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By AIME AIME

T HE new Secretary of the Institute has been asked to address the members through the medium of MINING .AND METALLURGY, and it is perhaps well that he should do this at the first opportunity after his election. The duty of the Secretary, as the present incumbent understands it, is that of attempting to carry on the functions of the Institute in a manner that 'will tend to make it serve its most useful purpose. What is its most useful purpose or purposes? This was concisely answered by Dr. Joseph W. Richards in the June issue of MINING AND METALLURGY under the title "Why is the Institute?" And yet its most useful purposes are not 'fixed ideals or definitely determined things, they vary from year to year, changing with the development of the nation, conforming to needs and anticipating future requirements. Many men of many minds cannot always see eye to eye. The ideas or ideals of one may seem trivial to another, an obvious necessity to one is an entirely useless activity to the minds of others. A number of the activities upon which the Institute is now engaged might have been looked won, a few years since, as uncalled for, unnecessary, and un- desirable. The participation in public affairs was one of these questions. The publication of three volumes in one year may have been a questionable thing to do, but it was an achievement. A monthly magazine that will pay for itself by carrying the Institute's message to its members has its detractors, and yet to many members it seems one of those things that are quite worthwhile. Fortunately, we have a large membership, and fortunately the majority of an intelligent body of such size is apt to have in common many ideas that are right and proper. If these ideas can be ascertained

Jan 1, 1921

By Robert B. Parsons

"Canadian income tax legislation contains a number of provisions which serve to facilitate the structuring of business arrangements, including mineral resource ventures. These rules are often fairly complex and not easily understood. This article attempts to explain in plain and understandable language the mechanics and benefits of one of the more frequently encountered provisions, the ""Section 85 election"".IntroductionThe Canadian resource industries are probably singled out for more special attention under this country's tax legislation than any other industry. This special treatment is, of course, not always welcomed by the industry, such as where unnecessarily restrictive taxation is perceived to exist or where agonizingly complex tax legislation must be dealt with. On the other hand, certain provisions in the tax legislation treat the industry in a relatively favourable manner, including a number of rules which, in recognition of the high risk and capital requirements of the resource sector, serve to facilitate the structuring of resource ventures."

Jan 1, 1984

By Neil Westoll

But First, An Overview of the Selwyn Basin and Its Resources ?World-renowned sedimentary-exhalative (SEDEX) deposits of zinc, lead, silver +/-barite ?Significant reserves/resources remain and vast tracts of prospective stratigraphyremain under-explored and untested. ?More details are at the Yukon Geological Survey?s Selwyn Basin Metallogenysite:http://www.geology.gov.yk.ca/metallogeny/selwyn/ Overview of Metal Price and Demand Trends ?The pace of economic change in China has been extremely rapid since the start of economic reforms just over 25 years ago. According to official statistics, economic growth has averaged 9.5% over the past two decades and seems likely to continue at that pace for some time. National income has been doubling every eight years. Such an increase in output represents one of the most sustained and rapid economic transformations seen in the world economy in the past 50 years.? Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development 16-Dec-2005

May 1, 2006

By Fred Bond

THERE is acute need for a method that will measure the size distribution of finely di-vided materials, particularly when the par-ticle sizes are smaller than the openings of the finest screen cloth regularly available for testing. Several methods and types of apparatus are in common use, but none are entirely satisfactory for all purposes. The commonest methods are microscopic grain counts, elutriation by liquids or air, and sedimentation. Valuable results have been secured by air elutriating devices, typified by the Haultain Infra-Sizer and the Pearson Air Analyzer. These are especially useful in obtaining sized fractions that can be examined and analyzed separately. They are particularly advantageous because the sizes of the sam-ples produced are adequate for a consider-able amount of subsequent manipulation and testing. The sedimentation methods, such as the Wagner and Klein turbidimeters, and the sedimentation balance, do not deliver sized fractions, but they do provide a means for reasonably rapid comparative determina-tions of fineness and surface area, which are important in many industries. The sedimentation balance consists essen-tially of a balance pan suspended in a liquid that contains falling particles. These are weighed as they settle onto the pan, and the time rate of settling is determined. The size distribution is computed from the set-tling rate. The balance appears to be in-herently more accurate than any of the other methods, and it has served a useful purpose in the study of numerous problems, but there have been limitations which have re-stricted its scope of application. Because of the essential simplicity of the method, it was felt that intensive investiga-tion might lead to modifications that would make it a valuable tool for the operators in industries that require precise information regarding the results secured from grinding equipment. A large number of size-distribu-tion determinations below 200 mesh were required in connection with a particular research problem in fine grinding. The sedimentation balance was used, in this investigation, and a technique was gradually developed that ultimately gave good results. A serious difficulty appeared, early in the work. It was discovered that less material always settled on the sedimentation pan and more on the bottom of the containing jar than could he accounted for by calculation, and also that the material that settled to the bottom of the jar outside the edges of the pan was considerably finer than that on the pan. This segregation was so great that the dis-tribution obtained for the finer sizes was obviously very much in error; material ground to about the degree of comminution of cement might have only 60 per cent of the calculated weight actually settling on the pan, and the error increased with the fine-

Jan 1, 1939

By Fred C. Bond

THEM is acute need for a method that will measure the size distribution of finely divided materials, particularly when the particle sizes are smaller than the openings of the finest screen cloth regularly available for testing. Several methods and types of apparatus are in common use, but none are entirely satisfactory for all purposes. The commonest methods are microscopic grain counts, elutriation by liquids or air, and sedimentation. Valuable results have been secured by air elutriating devices, typified by the Haultain Infra-Sizer and the Pearson Air Analyzer. These are especially useful in obtaining sized fractions that can be examined and analyzed separately. They are particularly advantageous because the sizes of the samples produced are adequate for a considerable amount of subsequent manipulation and testing. The sedimentation methods, such as the Wagner and Klein turbidimeters, and the sedimentation balance, do not deliver sized fractions, but they do provide a means for reasonably rapid comparative determinations of fineness and surface area, which are important in many industries. The sedimentation balance consists essentially of a balance pan suspended in a liquid that contains falling particles. These are weighed as they settle onto the pan, and the time rate of settling is determined. The size distribution is computed from the settling rate. The balance appears to be inherently more accurate than any of the other methods, and it has served a useful purpose in the study of numerous problems, but there have been limitations which have restricted its scope of application. Because of the essential simplicity of the method, it was felt that intensive investigation might lead to modifications that would make it a valuable tool for the operators in industries that require precise information regarding the results secured from grinding equipment. A large number of size-distribution determinations below 200 mesh were required in connection with a particular research problem in fine grinding. The sedimentation balance was used in this investigation, and a technique was gradually developed that ultimately gave good results. A serious difficulty appeared early in the work. It was discovered that less material always settled on the sedimentation pan and more on the bottom of the containing jar than could be accounted for by calculation, and also that the material that settled to the bottom of the jar outside the edges of the pan was considerably finer than that on the pan. This segregation was so great that the distribution obtained for the finer sizes was obviously very much in error; material ground to about the degree of comminution of cement might have only 60 per cent of the calculated weight actually settling on the pan, and the error increased with the fine-

Jan 1, 1939

By Frederick Sharpless

THE term "segregation," as here used, means the separation of certain natural resources into groups, consisting of one or more members, with the idea that when thus segregated, each group may be more easily and effectively administrated. We may, for example, consider surface rights as distinct from underground rights, and stop there; or we may go further, and deal separately with timber, water, and agricultural rights, or, going underground, we might deal separately with such groups as precious and base metals, clay, oil, gas, etc. The present paper contemplates only the separation so far as practicable, for administrative purposes, of surface from mineral rights. "Classification," in this paper, has reference to the groups into which the government has divided, is dividing, or will hereafter divide its natural resources; first, into the broad classes of mineral and agricultural lands; and, second, into coal, oil, phosphate, brine lands, etc., the central idea being the separation into natural groups for the purpose of simplifying administration and for the purpose of encouraging maximum development and minimum waste. The two subjects are in some respects quite distinct, but as my argument develops, I think it will be obvious why they are discussed in the same paper.

Jan 4, 1914

By Donald Barton

THE elastic, earthwaves produced naturally by earthquakes -have been used for a long time as evidence from which to draw conclusions in re-gard to the constitution of the interior and crust of the earth. The elastic earthwaves produced artificially by occasional explosions and recorded by seismological observatories were used to draw conclusions regarding the-geology of the intervening area. Intentionally pro-duced elastic earthwaves in the past five years have come to be used extensively in the investigation of very local geologic structure. The seismic method of work-ing geologic structure, which makes use of artificially controlled explosions and the resulting earthwaves, has developed almost `clairvoyant power in handling certain geologic situations, and in the discovery of salt domes in the Gulf Coastal: Plain region of Texas and Louisiana has 'scored the, most brilliant success. The. first, proposal for the use of artificial earth-quakes in the study-of velocity of elastic earthwaves in the surface formations of the earth's crust was made before 1888 by the English seismologists, Mallet and Abbot. Partly on the basis of their work, A. Schmidt in 1888 proposed- the use of the time-distance graphs of artificial earthquakes to study the variation of ve-locity with depth. Belar in 1902 proposed the practical application of such investigation in connection with boring tunnels. Galitzen repeatedly (1912, 1913) pro-posed the use of explosions to study the velocity of the longitudinal and transverse waves in the uppermost formations and pointed out that the velocity depended in a high degree on the physical character of the beds and that from changes in the velocity, conclusions could be drawn in regard to the compositions of the beds. Somewhat the same thought: was proposed by von dem Borne (1908), by Benndorf, Udden, and others.

Jan 9, 1928

By Barton, Donald C.

THE elastic, earthwaves produced naturally by earthquakes -have been used for a long time as evidence from' which to draw conclusions in regard to the constitution of the interior and crust of the earth. The elastic earthwaves produced artificially by occasional explosions and recorded by seismological .observatories were used to draw conclusions regarding the-geology of the intervening area. Intentionally produced elastic earthwaves in the past five years have come to be used extensively in the investigation of very local geologic structure. The seismic method of working geologic structure, which makes use of artificially controlled explosions and the resulting earthwaves, has developed almost `clairvoyant power in handling certain geologic situations, and in the discovery of salt domes in the Gulf Coastal: Plain region of Texas and Louisiana has 'scored the, most brilliant success.

Sep 1, 1928

By Poplawski R. F

A 32-channel PSS seismic monitoring system was commissioned at Mt Charlotte mine in 1994, and at the time it was the first such system in Australian mines. The system continuously observes the occurrence of seismic events and locates them accurately in space and time. Mt Charlotte has a history of seismicity, with the largest event in recent years of Richter magnitude 4.3. The decision to 'go seismic' was made despite some uncertainty regarding its potential usefulness. However after the first year of operation, benefits have been realised in terms of less production downtime, improved mine safety and mine planning, and better understanding of the nature of Mt Charlotte seismicity. The seismic network has performed well, recording 550 events in its first year of operation to a location accuracy averaging ¦ 12 metres. System reliability is excellent, with very little downtime, and acceptable operation and maintenance times and costs. Observations show major distinct changes in the rate of mining induced seismicity over time periods of weeks and months. Events have tended to cluster in specific mine areas and on particular faults and structures. Case examples of pillar preconditioning, breakout around an orepass, and a major stope rockburst, illustrate the role of seismic data and the benefits it brings to safety, productivity and planning.

Jan 1, 1995

By Frank Chiappetta, Karl Zipf, Robert Hopler, Brian Stump, Francois Heuze, Bob Martin, Vindell Hsu, William Walter, Craig Pearson

The Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) was accepted for signature at the United ,Nations in September of 1996. It ‘now awaits ratification by its signatories, ~including the United States. After the Treaty is in force, the main concern of the international community twill be to verify that no nuclear test is performed.

Jan 1, 1998

By T. P. Kostek

"Historically, gear pumps and motors have been popular in the mining industry because of their competitive cost, simple yet rugged construction, ease of rebuild, and relative long life and insensitivity to contamination. However, with the ever increasing ""popularity"" of fire-resistant hydraulic fluids, both users and manufacturers of gear equipment must make special considerations to enable the equipment to continue giving satisfactory performance even with the water-containing fluids.The paper discusses 60-40 invert emulsions and waterglycolsIntroductionMuch information has been published on the specific characteristics of the various types of fire-resistant hydraulic fluids. Fluid manufacturers' literature and other publications have dealt with such specifics as fire resistivity, seal compatibility and wear rate characteristics. Gear pumps and motors have been, and will continue to be, applied successfully in hydraulic systems employing both the ""invert"" emulsions (60-40) and water-glycols as the hydraulic fluid.Because most external spur gear equipment has been designed to function with petroleum oil as the fluid medium, certain guidelines must be followed to ensure satisfactory service life. FluidsThere are a number of different types of fluids which fall in the category of"" fire-resistant"" , the most common'being phosphate esters, water-in-oil emulsions, oil-in-water emulsions and water-glycols. The two in most prevalent use today as hydraulic fluids are the water-in-oil emulsions and the water glycols"

Jan 1, 1980

By Ian McFeat-Smith, Robert J. Fowell

Roadheader machines have a specific place in modern tunnelling, not simply as a compromise between drill and blast techniques and full face machines, but as an economic and versatile form of mechanised tunnelling where the method of excavation is easily integrated with tunnelling operations. In the past, roadheaders have been subjected to misuses by engineers who failed to realise that, as in all mechanised tunnelling, a planned and systematic approach is essential if the full potential of these machines is to be gained. An increasing awareness of this, together with the introduction of the more powerful roadheader carrying their cutting potential into the hard range of rock is changing this situation and now makes the prospect of using roadheaders particularly attractive (1). The advantages gained by employing these machines can be considerable and Table 1 lists some of them. This table illustrates that from both cost, and installation points of view, the roadheader has considerable benefits over the full face machine. However, the principal advantage gained is in broken ground where heavy supports can be installed immediately at the tunnel face. In addition, access for planned maintenance and repairs to most working parts of the machine is at a premium and average machine utilisations of 40 - 60% can be expected. In comparison to drill and blast methods, up to 40% better progress can be regularly achieved, and the subsequent savings in overbreak costs alone would more than pay for the cost of a roadheader used to drive a 3km long tunnel. As with full face machines, ground disturbance is minimal and for short tunnels in urban areas a road-

Jan 1, 1979

By Morrison RD, Simmons CJ

A bewildering array of process control instrumentation is currently available for mineral processing plants. For sequencing control, special purpose microprocessors or the process control computer can be used. Where continuous control is required, then the choice is between pneumatic controllers, electronic controllers, shared display micro- processor systems and direct digital control. The benefits of each system are discussed and the advantages of using direct digital control in mineral processing plants are outlined. The factors which need to be considered when selecting control systems for new plants are listed. Instrumentation systems designed by Fluor Australia are used as case studies to illustrate the selection process. For established plants, conversion to direct digital can be advantageous, and case studies are given. However, replacement of existing systems requires justification based on a productivity improvement which will allow the control equipment to be paid for within a specific time period. Productivity improve- ments maybe assessed in terms of increased

Jan 1, 1978

The mining industry in Australia frequently uses the services of specialist engineering and managing contractors and consultants for a majority of the work required for project development, from feasibility studies to project commissioning. The project owner's prime objectives are to achieve predictability and competitive advantage for their project. As the majority of this work will be carried out by contractors, the effective evaluation, selection and management of these contractors in the most appropriate forms of contracts is an essential ingredient to project success. The first stage to project development should be for the owner to examine its own resources to establish the role that it will fill and thereby identify the role and scope of contractors' involvement. Once the owner has developed this work plan, the selection of contractors and consultants should be structured to ensure that the owner acquires the appropriate expertise and experience to achieve its project objectives. The sequence of selection procedures is: 1. Pre-qualification of prospective contractors according to the owner's adopted criteria, through the use of a pre-qualification questionnaire. 2. Evaluation by the owner tender board according to predetermined mandatory criteria. 3. Preparation of tender documents for submission to qualified contractors. 4. Evaluation of tender submissions by the owner tender board using a pre-determined, weighted matrix of technical and commercial criteria. 5. Final selection and contract negotiation.

Jan 1, 1990

By Lawrence K. Nordell

This paper reviews practices used In the selection and sizing of belt conveyors and stacker systems commonly used in crushing and grinding plant facilities. Historical and modern methods of sizing this equipment are presented. The new methods Include: 1) probability theory applications for establishing component reliability, 2) "Monte Carlo" simulation techniques used in evaluating alternative system designs and in establishing service factors and corresponding availability Indices of each system, 3) quantifying the system and component operating characteristics using computer assisted modeling tools simulating rigid body and elasto-mechanic behavior for starting and stopping large and/or complex belt conveyors.

Jan 1, 1982

By Charles M. Cooley

THE continual improvements in. the two extremes of the drilling, unit, the drill and bit, have prompted critical examination of the drill steel, the weak link of this drilling unit. Obviously, little is to be gained from the betterment of the drill and bit if the drill steel which transmits the force needed for drilling from the machine to the bit cannot stand long hard service. The technology of the bit has advanced from the integral type to steel detachables, thence to the tungsten carbide insert. The carbide insert is the most significant advance in the bit, bringing it to the level of a machine tool with its performance records under constant surveillance. Long steel changes have become advantageous because the carbide bit will drill greater footages without replacement than did the steel bit: The development of the tungsten carbide insert opened new fields of endeavor in drilling with percussion drills here- to fore known, but limited by the steel bit. After the introduction of the tungsten carbide bit, drill manufacturers began promotion of long feed shells, lighter drifters and stopers, and easily handled auxiliary equipment. Ultimately this promotion of better equipment was intended to increase the bit-against-rock time of the drill shift. Advantages of the uninterrupted drilling period of a long steel change and faster setup time of lighter drill machines are lost when the shank fails in the machine, rod failure requires continual changing, or the bit breaks off in the hole. The quest for reduced

Jan 1, 1952

By A. J. Harrison

"The introduction of an amendment to the Mines Regulation Act in the Province of British Columbia, passed in July 1974, and similar amendments since enacted by other provinces introduced the Canadian underground mining industry to the use of fire-resistant hydraulic fluids.Few, if any, of the hydraulic circuits in use in underground mining at that time were specifically designed for use with fire-resistant fluids, compared with the increasing number of such circuits conceived and in production today. The technology required in designing equipment for use with fire-resistant fluids may be likened to that associated with conventional mineral oils, but, in many respects, a variety of additional and / or alternative considerations must be taken into account. The fast-increasing use and development of fire-resistant fluids throughout all facets of industry, world wide, during the past 20 years has led to a whole new technology in system construction and component design, whereby acceptable performance can be achieved . However , the transition from conventional mineral hydraulic oils has not been without its problems, particularly when retro-fit of existing units was involved."

Jan 1, 1981

By C Thompson, D Connelly

The history of mill liners has evolved over time and this paper tracks the changes and development of liner technology. It provides an overview of the primary types of liners, the design and the materials of construction. The design of a mill liner is driven by application, materials of construction, casting technology and handling issues. The choice of solid steel, grid liners, rubber or composites and magnetic liners is based on many factors.The methods used for monitoring wear and predicting eventual change out time are many and varied. The contribution of discrete element modeling (DEM) analysis in predicting wear profile is discussed.Mill trajectory and DEM software programs are used with great effect to predict the effect of lifter height, face angle, high low lifters or mill speed. In the field, trial and operational experience is used or improvements/design concepts at one operation are applied to another. Broken mill lifters, accentuated wear and other problems can be better understood using hardness testing, chemical analysis and photo micrograph analysis of pearlitic or martensitic structure along with fracture face observations. This forms a part of the typical root cause analysis. However given correct and sound liner and lifter, feed and discharge design media selection, and materials of construction, the majority of premature liner or bolting failure is normally attributed to incorrect operational methods such as excessive high ball to feed ratio, incorrect mill speed relating to lifter ball throw, incorrect media selection, "tramp" material entering the mill charge from upstream or recirculating process and understanding the specific mill operation in question.It is hoped that this paper will benefit mill operators who are faced with challenges of improving wear life and at the same time optimizing mill throughput and performance.CITATION:Connelly, D and Thompson, C, 2013. The selection design and application of mill liners for large wet grinding mills, in Proceedings MetPlant 2013 , pp 133-140 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Jul 15, 2013

By B. E. Protheroe, C. Allen, A. Ball

The results of laboratory abrasive and abrasive-corrosive tests carried out on a range of carbon, Iowalloy, and stainless steels are compared with underground tests conducted on similar materials on prototype shaker conveyors carrying gold-bearing quartzitic rock. The dry-abrasion resistance of all the steels was found to be better than that of mild steel. When the added effect of corrosion was tested, the stainless steels proved to be much superior to proprietary abrasion-resistant alloys both in the laboratory and underground. The ferritic stainless grades were shown to be superior on the basis of cost per unit of volume lost. This investigation has shown that laboratory tests on materials can provide valuable information on their possible performance in situ, and can thus be used to replace lengthy experiments on site.

Jan 1, 1981

By Hobart M. Kraner, E. B. Snyder

THIS paper shows that volume stability, low porosity and decreased pyroplasticity are desirable for blast-furnace linings, particularly for the hearth. It shows further that a hot load test is a valuable means of testing the fusion or softening behavior of a refractory at operating temperatures. The effect of carbon monoxide on commercial blast-furnace refractories in their as-received condition and after refiring is reported, showing that many commercial blast-furnace refractories disintegrate badly but that refiring decreases the effect and certain special refractories are now available which are almost free of the tendency. FACTORS AFFECTING CHOICE OF REFRACTORIES If one were to depend entirely upon experience or trial in the selection of clay refractories, the solution of a problem would be a slow process. Furnace campaigns are so long and attended by so many variables that it is difficult to draw fine distinctions within a reasonable period of time in regard to the quality of refractories used. It could be said, of course, that if service results do not yield the proper information for intelligent choice, there is no difference in the quality of brick being considered, but this is not necessarily true. Conventional ceramic tests are designed to give the ceramic engineer information as to the refractoriness and firing temperature, which he in turn interprets in terms of volume stability, ability to withstand load at high temperature (pyroplasticity), permeability, chemical stability and resistance to the action of slag. In most refractory applications several of these factors are involved. In a particular instance, one requirement may be predominant, while in others some other factors may be of primary importance. In this country, clay refractories are generally made from mixtures of plastic and flint fire clays. The process of firing a clay refractory is one of slowly melting the constituents, and during this operation its porosity is gradually reduced. The process is arrested, of course, in its incipient stages and the progress is determined by measuring slight changes in. porosity, volume, bulk gravity, etc., that have taken place. Often the temperatures to which clay refractories are exposed in service are higher than those employed in their firing. However, if the manufacturer were to fire them at such high temperatures the brick would distort. Therefore it would be difficult for the manufacturer to fire all of his clay refractories to temperatures . at which they are to be used, although in many cases it would be desirable from the user's point of view if he would do so. The porosity of clay refractories decreases by firing, to a minimum limit, after which a further increase in the temperature causes expansion in certain clay constituents and bloating in others. -Both may occur in the same refractory containing two such clays.

Jan 1, 1944