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By G. de B. van Niekerk

This paper briefly outlines some mining technology that is used with success in Australia but is not yet fully utilized in South Africa. The following aspects are discussed: improved rotary-drill bit performance, use of trucks and load haul- dump units underground, long-hole raising, blasting techniques, and the use of butterfly roofbolt plates for support.

Jan 1, 1989

COUNCIL FOR 1988/89 President C.E. Fivaz President-elect Dr O.K.H. Steffen Senior H.G. Mosenthal Vice Presidents Junior R.D. Beck Immediate Past President B.C. Alberts Honorary Treasurer Dr H. Wagner

Jan 1, 1989

Professor H.R. Philips was born in South Wales. After graduating with a B.Sc. degree in electrical engineering from the University of Bristol, he joined the National Coal Board's management training programme. Mr B. Moore was born in Coventry, England. He matriculated at Bablake School and then atended Birmingham University, obtaining a B.Sc. Mining Engineering degree in 1953. Professor J .S.J. (J annie) van Deventer matriculated at Swelendam High School. He studied chemical engineering at the University of Stelenbosch, and obtained the degrees of Hons. B. Ing. in 1978 and Ph.D. (Ing.) in 1985. Professor M.D. Brayshaw received most of his education in England but obtained his Ph.D. (Eng.) at the University of Natal. Rock fragmentation by blasting The Third International Symposium of Rock Fragmentation by Blasting will be held in Brisbane, Australia, from 26th to 31st August, 1990. The Third International Symposium of Rock Fragmentation by Blasting is designed to inform delegates on the state of the art in explosives and blasting technology, and to build on the standards of excellence set by the previous symposia in Lulea, Sweden (1983) and Keystone, Colorado (1987). Delegates with an operational, technical, or research focus on blasting will gain from this interactive symposium. Recent journal Mineral resources engineering, edited by C. T. Shaw, T.L. Car, and M. Karmis. London, Taylor & Francis, 1989. Published quarterly. US $107 per year. Risk management The Cost Engineering Association of Southern Africa (CEASA) is to hold its 3rd Biennial Symposium at Indaba, Midrand, on 25th and 26th January 1990. The title of the Symposium is Risk Management in Promotion of Capital Projects. The present political and economic environment in South Africa is characterized by a lack of financial resources, and of technical and management skills, on the part of project owners, designers, and contractors/ vendors.

Jan 1, 1989

By J. le Grange, M. Tullmin, A. Strauss, F. P. A. Robinson, C. A. O. Henning

An experimental feritic stainless steel with a chromium content of 40 per cent was welded by laser and electron beam (EB) welding processes. These techniques were found to be particularly suited to the welding of this alloy in that the impact toughness of the weld metal and heat-affected zone (HAZ) of the laser welds compared favourably with those of the parent aloy. When the EB process was used, the impact toughness of the weld metal was over 180 J/cm2. Grain growth in the HAZ was minimal for welding with these two processes. Corosion tests, conducted in a solution consisting of 20 per cent sulphuric acid and 100 p.p.m. of potassium thiocyanate, and In a highly corrosive industrial solution, indicated that the laser and EB welds were free of sensitization effects, thus confirming the metalographic results.

Jan 1, 1989

By J. J. Schoeman

In South Africa and in the rest of the world, the two mica minerals that have the most important commercial value are muscovite and vermiculite. Muscovite has been making a comparatively small but steady contribution to South Africa's mineral exports since about 1960. Vermiculite mining and concentration were started by the late Or Hans Merensky at Phalaborwa during 1946. Vermiculite has enjoyed good overseas sales since then, and during the past four years has become an important earner of foreign currency for South Africa. The various aspects of the micas that could be of general interest are briefly reviewed, such as the history of their exploitation, their mineralogy and chemistry, and their mining, concentration, production, sales, and future

Jan 1, 1989

By J. C. David, G. Coetzer

The effect of varying aliphatic, olefinic, and aromatic groups in the N- and S-positions of dithiocarbamates was investigated in the selective and bulk flotation of a mixed copper-lead-zinc-iron ore. Selective and bulk flotation were found to be dependent on the type of functional group, as well as on the position of substitution.

Jan 1, 1989

By H. A. D. Kirsten

The effects of the mining of deep-level tabular reefs are usually evaluated by use of continuum, elastic mining simulation analyses. This paper gives the results obtained from a series of analyses in which stopes of limited span are considered to be excavated in a non-linearly non-elastic, jointed and fractured rockmass. In particular, the theoretical influence of soft backfill in these conditions is evaluated. It is shown that the stress distribution and behaviour of the rockmass, alternately taken as an intact-elastic and as a fractured non-elastic medium, are completely different. The relevance of the energy-release rate commonly calculated in mining-simulation analyses, and the efficacy of its correlation with seismicity and the associated rockbursts, are reviewed. In deep-level mining operations, it is not practically feasible to obviate releases of seismic energy. The fact of their occurrence should therefore be accepted and, rather than considering the reduction of energy release as the primary objective, efforts should be concentrated on minimizing the effects of such release. Analytical results are given to demonstrate that this approach is not only correct, but also the only feasible solution to the rockburst-seismicity problem in deep mines.

Jan 1, 1989

By R. P. H. Willis

This paper describes the economics of backfilling, hydro-power, and mechanization when they are combined in an integrated stoping system. These three technologies have been shown to be viable, and the mines of the Gold Fields Group are introducing backfilling where the depths exceed approximately 2000 m below surface and in other highly stressed areas. addition, a number of mines are installing hydro-powered systems, and the first trackless stope within the Group may soon be a reality. The main emphasis in the paper is placed on the quantifiable effects of trackless stoping, including a basic risk analysis by use of a spreadsheet model. It is concluded that a substantial decrease in working costs and an increase in revenue are possible, resulting in a marked increase in working profit.

Jan 1, 1989

This paper considers the probability of the occurrence of potential rockfals in deep-level gold mines where there is point support (props, pipesticks, and timber sticks). The investigation described gave rise to the following implications: natural joints subparalel to the direction of strike have a controlling influence on the potential occurrence of rockfals; with discrete types of support such as props at typical sparings, there is a significant probability of the occurence of potential rockfals; the use of headboards oriented in the direction of strike reduces the probability; and loss of support from a prop increases the probability.

Jan 1, 1989

Mr D. Wilson was born in Vereeniging, where he also completed his schooling, matriculating from General Smuts High School in 1977. Mr K.A. van Gessel was born in 1937. His final studies were conducted at Delft University, where he graduated with an M.Sc. degree in mining engineering. Mr J.G. McCaUum was born in 1938 and matriculated at Jeppe Boys' High School, Johannesburg. Mr H. Scot RusseU started his mining career at Randfontein Estates Gold Mining Co. Witwatersrand, Limited, where he served as temporary Geological Assistant, Sampler, Surveyor, Shift Boss, and Mine Overseer. Mr A.M.P. Henderson was born in 1950, in Kiel, West Germany. Mr J.L. Nel matriculated in 1957. This was folowed by his atainment ofthe folowing degrees: B.Sc. (Chemistry, Physics) in 1961, B.Sc. Hons. (Metalurgy) in 1965, M.Sc. (Metalurgy) in 1967, and MDD (student of the year) in 1981

Jan 1, 1989

By G. Coetzer, J. C. Davidtz

The substitution of functional groups in covalent trithiocarbonate collector molecules influences the selective and non-selective bonding of collector molecules to mineral surfaces, as well as flotation efficiency in a mixed sulphide ore. These effects were concluded to be related to the metal-sulphide solubility products and electron densities on the sulphur atoms in the collector

Jan 1, 1989

By J. Levin

The Bond standard grindability test provides a Work Index that is widely used to estimate the energy required for grinding, but the test cannot be applied to fine materials such as plant tailings and middlings. For such materials, a comparative grinding test must be used in which a reference material from an operating plant is ground in a laboratory mill to determine the 'equivalent' energy consumption per revolution of the laboratory mill. As the Bond grindability test mill and its operating conditions are specified, its equivalent energy consumption per revolution should be a constant, here designated as B. Once B has been determined, the mill can be used to estimate the grindability of fine materials without the need for reference materials. A value of B can be calculated from any Bond grindability test, and 245 tests that were conducted at Mintek were examined to determine its value. A wide range of values was found, but most of them were grouped around 198 x 10- 7 kWh/rev, which is taken as the best estimate of B that is available at present. Values of B that are not close to this figure are obtained from materials for which the Bond grindability test gives misleading or 'spurious' Work Indexes. These spurious Work Indexes lead to the apparent departure of B from its true value. Some limitations of the Bond grindability test arise from its use of a mill without litters and of screening, instead of classification, to close the circuit.

Jan 1, 1989

By A. Nicotra, E. H. Roux, J. H. du Plooy, D. H. de Jagger, P. De Waal, G. J. van der Linde

This paper reviews the geology, history, current beneficiation practices, uses, marketing, and future outlook of phosphate in South Africa. The vastness of the reserves, and the industry's efficiency and competitiveness in world terms, are highlighted.

Jan 1, 1989

By O. K. H. Steen

Significant political and economic changes have taken place in our society in the past year that are going to impact on our minerals industry, and therefore also on our members. Surely, it is not coincidence that the economic and political changes have occured simultaneously? South Africa, by virtue of its infrastructure and technology, is strategically placed to develop the potential of Africa's mineral wealth. In this address, I give my personal views on the ability of the mining industry to participate in the wider mineral resources of the African continent.

Jan 1, 1989

By G. E. Blight

Rates of erosion have been measured for the slopes and top surfaces of a number of gold-tailings dams in the Germiston-Johannesburg-Roodepoort area of the Transvaal. Preliminary results were given in an earlier paper. The present paper gives results for a four-year period of observation, and identifies the major factors affecting the rates of erosion from the surfaces of gold-tailings dams.

Jan 1, 1989

Arthur Robert Owen Wiliams died on 18th May, 1989, at the age of 84. ARO, as he was known, was educated at Malvern in England, and graduated from the Royal School of Mines in 1926. He went to South Africa as a Learner Miner with Consolidated Gold Fields at Robinson Deep.

Jan 1, 1989

By I. J. Barker, D. A. Vetter, G. A. Turner

The modeling of the uranium-leaching process, and the logging of data from a plant for the evaluation of the model, are reported. A phenomenological approach was adopted in the development of the model. A set of eight chemical reactions was chosen to represent the complex chemistry of the process, and kinetic expressions for these reactions were incorporated in differential equations representing mass and energy balances. These equations were coded in FORTRAN to form a program that simulated the process, and that allowed averaged and continuous data from the plant to be compared with the model. This allowed the model to be 'tuned', and to reveal a number of minor

Jan 1, 1989

By A. W. de Villiers

This paper explores the behaviour of methane in the goaf during longwall mining, together with some methods for the control of methane emissions into the goaf, the working face, and the ventilation system. Experimental work done at Twistdraai Colliery, Sasol Coal, is referred to, as well as the gas-drainage system being practised at West Cliff Colliery in New South Wales, Australia. Gas drainage is discussed briefly, and certain suggestions are made in regard to coal mining in South Africa.

Jan 1, 1989

By G. T. G. Emere

With the assistance and encouragement of Mr B.C. Alberts, the Institute's immediate Past President and Iscor's Senior General Manager: Mining, the Committee of the Johannesburg Branch recently organized a two day excursion for members to the northern Transvaal. The itinerary included visits to the Grootegeluk colliery, the Matimba power-generation utility, and the Thabazimbi iron-ore mine.

Jan 1, 1989

The confusion caused by the different numerical representations of time in the ever-increasing international exchange of information has underlined the need for a world-wide uniform representation of time.

Jan 1, 1989