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By David J. Krichten

A method of retrofitting air-fuel burners with oxy-fuel capability overcomes the potential problems associated with oxygen combustion in aluminum melting furnaces. The retrofit burner uses the existing combustion air connection, burner housing, and burner tile and replaces the gas tube with an oxy-gas burner. Maintaining a portion of the air flow to the burner reduces the potential for localized overheating. Proper design of the burner reduces NOx emissions by moderating the flame temperature with furnace gas recirculation. Economic analysis of using oxygen shows the benefits are increased productivity and reduced overall unit cost of melting. In practice, the melt rate in rotary furnaces increases by up to 50% and by up to 35% in reverberatory furnaces. Oxygen utilization reduces total melting cost by 112-314 cents per pound of aluminum melted.

Jan 1, 1997

By Zingano A, Costa J. F

Brazilian amethyst production is mostly obtained from underground mines in the southernmost part of the country, involving approximately 6000 miners and generating an income of US$ 20 million per year. Amethyst-bearing geodes are hosted by Cretaceous continental flood basalts of the Serra Geral Formation. The economic zone occurs in the massive (colonnade) intermediary section of the Sao Gabriel Basalto. The tunnels and stopes follow the occurrence of geodes leading to an erratic and complex layout. A ground control survey revealed excessive roof convergence. Topographic results show excessive roof deformation and some roof falls have already been reported. To understand the ground conditions, prevent roof falls and better define the pillar dimensions detailed geomechanical mapping was carried out using the scanline method. Uniaxial compressive strength tests provided complementary information for rock mass classification. Results of the geomechanical classification were used to modify the mining layout taking into account the roof and pillar geomechanical characteristics. Retreat pillar mining minimised ground instability.

Jan 1, 1997

By Victor Stancovski, Uday Pal, Stephen C. Britten

"An in situ electrochemical technique for measuring the concentrations of easily dissociable oxides in slags at temperatures between 1200-1600°C is being developed. The technique utilizes a partially-stabilized-zirconia solid electrolyte (PSZ), which conducts oxygen ions, to separate a reference-gas compartment from the slag of interest. Three types of measurements are currently under investigation which yield different information concerning the slag phase and hence will be combined into a single amperometric device for monitoring the properties of easily dissociable slags.Type I utilizes an open-circuit-voltage measurement between the reference gas and the slag phase. Type II utilizes a potentiostat to apply a direct current potential step or sweep between the inner and outer compartments of the electrolyte, driving oxygen ions from the slag into a reference gas. With the use of open-circuit-reference electrodes, the resulting current-potential profile reveals the dissociation potential and concentration profile of dissociable oxides such as those of iron, manganese, and chromium. Information on the transport properties of the cations can also be generated from these measurements. Type III utilizes a potentiostat with reference electrodes to carefully electrolyze a known volume of slag by removing large quantities of oxygen ions from the slag to the reference gas. The coulombs of charge removed at different applied potentials can be used as a direct indication of the concentration of each dissociable oxide species present within the slag."

Jan 1, 1997

The story of the Penjom gold mine located near Kuala Lipis on the Malay Peninsular demonstrates the valuable role successful exploration companies can play in the development of the gold mining industry. Avocet Mining PLC ('Avocet') began exploration in the area on a limited budget in 1989, securing land tenure around the Penjom alluvial workings in July 1990. The lease granted, known as Block 7, formed part of a land package offered at the time by the Pahang State Government to develop the resources of the area. Until the late-1980s, the Kuala Lipis region, situated approximately 180 km north west of Kuala Lumpur, had restricted accessibility for security reasons precluding serious exploration or mining activity. The situation has changed dramatically in the 1990s, with several foreign explorers active in the Peninsular, targeting old alluvial and underground workings adjacent to the north-south trending Raub-Bentong Suture. Deeper drilling of these prospects has shown there is potential for both small- to medium-scale open pit mining and possibly underground operations, providing companies such as Avocet with an ideal mining investment opportunity.

Jan 1, 1997

The Key Issues - An Overview Minerals industry needs Mining companies want technologies which are ò cost-effective, ò high likelihood of delivery (ie transfer existing technologies from other industries), ò highly useable, ò an evolutionary rather than revolutionary approach, and ò to be developed in partnership with the mine, supply groups and researchers, For example, `soft' systems for information collection to better manage the mining process rather than mechanical systems.

Jan 1, 1997

By D. N. Adams, M. M. Wong, M. J. Robison

Islais Creek Contract E, a transport/storage tunnel in San Francisco, was visited on a fieldtrip during construction by delegates to the 1995 RETC. This paper is a follow-up to that fieldtrip. The project’s two tunnels are 3.7 m and 3.2 m finished diameter, 155 m and 77 m long, respectively. The contractor used 1,000 overlapping jet grout columns to pre-treat the weak Bay Mud along the tunnel alignments, then mined them with an open faced tunnel shield, eliminating the need for compressed air tunneling. This paper documents the jet grouting program and the tunneling operation used on the project.

Jan 1, 1997

By Liu Cheng-si

Variable airway is controllable, which is an important discovery in ventilation research in recent years. For this reason, conventional calculating methods are no longer suitable to solve this problem. I used Mayeda-Seshu and Newton methods to solve the above problem before, they have been proved feasible. However, it is troublesome and difficult to apply to operation with a large amount of calculations. In this paper combination theory and simplified formula are used in determine all control plans and its parameters. This new method with less calculation is easy to understand and master, so it is more important in research and application.

Jan 1, 1997

Saturday, June 28 A pre-convention activity kicking off the 93rd RMCMI meeting was a Saturday evening June 28 reception for all Mine Rescue participants, their convention registered spouses, professional evaluators and RMCMI Board of Directors. This was at Buddy's Run in the Sheraton Steamboat Resort, Colorado. An estimated 100 persons enjoyed the buffet: fresh vegetable erudite with ranch dressing, fresh fruit and cheese displays and silver dollar rolls filled with ham or turkey. Blue golf shirts and red caps and convention packets were distributed to each Mine Rescue team member. Evaluators received red shirts and blue caps during the reception. Meeters and greeters from the Reception Committee wore red RMCMI arm bands and were stationed at strategic hotel spots, answered attendee's questions and gave directions to the registration area. Convention packets were first distributed Saturday afternoon by Julie Cummings and Lorraine McDonald. Sunday, June 29 A 7:30 a.m. shotgun scramble kicked off the golf tourney at the Sheraton course for 145 golfers. Yes, 145! as Lois Egan, President Tom's wife, completed a five-some with Tom and their three sons. A continental breakfast preceded the tourney. Another 65 golfers began play at 1:00 p.m. making this a record number of 210 golfers! Julie Cummings and Loren Linville sold $2,620 worth of $10 mulligans to the golfers with proceeds to the scholarship program. [ ] Both golf tourneys were co-chaired by Dave Mallak and Gordon Merriam who distributed prizes at 4:30 p.m. Monday. Prizes were donated by Amax Coal Sales West, Inc.; Austin Powder Co.; BHP Minerals-Navajo Mine; Bucyrus International, Inc.; Commercial Testing & Engineering Co.; Empire Machinery Co.; Ingersoll Rand; The Jeannot Group, Komatsu Mining Systems; Long-Airdox Co.; Marston Environmental Inc.; MEGA Corp.; The P&M Coal Mining Co.; Scandura, Inc. and TerraMatrix. [ ] RMCMI registration was an all day venture headed by chair Julie Cummings and assisted by Pat Johnson. [ ] Nearly 40 persons met for a Chef Demonstration and wine tasting at the Sheraton at 11:00 a.m. Executive Chef Jacques Wilson prepared broiled achiote shrimp with cantaloupe, grilled duck stuffed blue corn pancakes with herb grained bread and fresh fruit meringues. Wilson shared his recipes with the group and appropriate wines were served with each course, all sampled by the attendees. The chef arranged an impromptu showing of the main kitchen following the demo. [ ]

Jan 1, 1997

By H. Ranjbar

The Darrehzar porphyry Cu deposit is situated in the Urumieh-Dokhtar magmatic suite of Central Iran. The REE and trace element data suggest that the deposit lies within a continental margin setting. Phyllic and propylitic alteration are pervasive in the area but potassic and argillicalteration are not readily recognized on the surface. This is possibly the result of super gene weathering of the surface rocks or because of an intense phyllic overprint. Poor soil development and abundant outcrop make the area suitable for a case study of lithogeochemical exploration technique for Cu deposits. A total of 262 rock samples was collected over the area and analyzed for 15 elements. The geochemical data cor-relate with the mineralogical composition of the rocks with the phyllic zone being marked by high-er concentrations of Si, Al, K, and by a high sericitization index while Ca, Mg, Sr, total Fe and Mn are more abundant in the propylitic zone. The lithogeochemical study indicates a metal zonation from a Cu + Mo-rich core to a Zn + Pb ± Ag-rich outer zone. Principal component analysis is useful for separating element associations, which in turn reflect the alteration halos. Principal components 1 and 2 depict alteration zoning, where-as 3 shows an association of Cu and Mo, that roughly defines the mineralized area.

Jan 1, 1997

By Malcolm Scoble, Nick Vagenas, Greg Baiden

Recent advances in underground communications technology have demonstrated the feasibility of teleoperation and automation in underground metal mines. One major challenge lies in the automation of underground mobile machines from surface, with the potential to reduce significantly the need for human involvement in underground operations. This paper reviews the evolution of underground metal mining automation, principally related to the development of teleoperation and automation of mobile mining machines. Examples of prototype systems are given and the associated benefits that have been observed are reviewed.

Jan 1, 1997

Geological hazards such as faulting, basement ridges, and zones of "thin" (< 6 m) coal have a major impact on mining economics of underground operations in Huntly Coalfield. Experience has shown that drillhole-based investigations do not yield sufficiently detailed models of the coal seam to allow management of the planning risks associated with these hazards. Consequently, operational performance is affected by unplanned costs associated with lower productivity, loss of coal reserves, and expensive strata control remedies in problem ground conditions. Huntly Coalfield is a challenging environment for acquisition of good quality seismic reflection data due to the very thick (10-85m) weathering layer. Since 1994, successful acquisition of 2D and 3D data has been achieved through a combination of careful testing of technical parameters and experimental trials prior to committing to production recording. High resolution seismic reflection (HRSR) is proving to be an investigations technique which generates accurate and reliable models of the coal seam and associated structures, such as normal faults and topography of the surface on which the coal seam rests. The HRSR technique has been applied and developed in the Okowhao Sector where Huntly East Mine is developing and extracting coal reserves. Results of a recent 3D survey demonstrate that this technique is capable of revolutionising risk management in mine planning for underground mines in structurally complicated coal deposits.

Jan 1, 1997

By José Roberto de Oliveira

Based on literature review one can see that the main objectives of MnO reduction is the comprehension of slag interactions and reactions with other elements beyond carbon. That's because it is worthwhile to study pure MnO reduction, where there will be not oxides interaction and just carbon will be the reduction agent. By a thermodynamic analysis we know that Si can react with MnO, then it's important to study this influence, so as Mn content. Our work aims to develop kinetics parameters for the MnO reduction, varying Mn and Si contents in bath. This has been given by pressure measure of CO in a Fe-C bath. The CO is generated by the oxide reduction with carbon. It has been proved that: - Mn content decreases the MnO reduction; - the MnO reduction is mainly influenced by Si content in a bath containing Iron, Carbon and Manganese so as Silicium

Jan 1, 1997

By A. J. Basu

Rock mass properties testing for determining strength parameters is an integral part of geomechanics. These tests are performed either in a laboratory environment or in a field (in-situ). The authors share their experience in using numerical modelling in simulating the laboratory test procedures. This approach helps studying the rock breakage and failure mechanism more efficiently and provides a high degree of visualization. Moreover, imperfections and discontinuities can be easily incorporated in these models. This capability of providing arbitrary fractures and discontinuities facilitates in building a large knowledgebase of rock strength and failure mechanisms. This knowledgebase may then be used to generate heuristics for determining rock strengths for rock mass with fractures and discontinuities.

Jan 1, 1997

By L. Henry Smith, David C. Arthur

The Williams Mine is Canada's largest gold producer, with annual production of 14,000 Kg (450,000 ounces) from 2,300,000 tonnes of ore. Highly mechanized and automated underground mining practices are employed in order to achieve and maintain high levels of productivity and minimize costs. The Mine Ventilation System is modified to include a new Vent Raise and Variable Pitch Vane-Axial Fan. This addition allows several fan installations underground to be decommissioned. A substantial net savings in installed horse power is achieved. Heating costs associated with underground ventilation air are a significant portion of mine operating costs. Air heating costs are substantially reduced by recovering heat from upcast exhaust air, mine water and compressor cooling circuits. This waste heat is used to supplement propane fired air heating systems for underground ventilation air. An additional benefit is the availability of a heat sink for summer cooling of the compressors. System design, energy savings data and payback calculations are presented.

Jan 1, 1997

By R. W. Lawrence

"The management of acid rock drainage( ARD) to prevent impact when tailings are disposed of in the environment requires understanding of the phenomena giving rise to acidic drainage, a rigorous evaluation of the weathering characteristics of the tailings, and the successful implementation of control measures that will be effective in the long term. This paper provides a brief theoretical background to the complex reactions taking place in mill tailings containing residual sulfide minerals which must be appreciated to enable waste characterization program to be effective in predicting the future behavior of the tailings and in designing control methods which will work. The principals and practice of prediction and control as part of an ARD management strategy will then be discussed.Paper Not Available at Time of Publication"

Jan 1, 1997

By Christopher Mark

The demographics and safety record of the pillar retreat segment of the U.S. coal industry was analyzed using statistics collected by the Mine Safety and Health Administration. Pillar recovery is practiced primarily by mines in Appalachia and the Midwest. Using 1993 data, the accident rates and productivity of a large sample of pillar re- mines were found to be similar to other room-and-pillar mines in the same geographic areas. Pillar recovery apparently accounts for about 10% of all U.S. underground production, but has been associated with about 25% of the mf and rib fatalities during 1989-96. However, of the 28 fatalities that were analyzed, only 4 occurred for which no citations were issued for violations of mining law. Nearly one- half of the fatal incidents occurred during the mining of the last lift or pushout. All four no-citation incidents occurred during the removal of the last lift during a "Christmas tree" extraction sequence.

Jan 1, 1997

By K. S. Whiting

Elevated concentrations of copper, cobalt, and arsenic within the Panther Creek Basin sediments in north central Idaho prompted an evaluation of the sources of the metals. Potential tailings and waste rock source samples collected at the head of Blackbird Creek were compared to sediment samples in the Panther Creek Basin using electron microprobe techniques. The mineral types, degree of alteration, and the morphology of the metal-bearing sediment grains within Blackbird and Panther Creeks were found to consist of copper-, cobalt-, and arsenic-bearing sulfide minerals.

Jan 1, 1997

By Gabriel Babut, Ion Matei, Roland Moraru

Several controlled recirculation systems are in operation wor1dwide. As an unconventional technique of ventilation the implementation of such a system requires particular safety conditions and a well-founded set of feasibility factors and parameters. On the other hand, many mines in Romania are facing problemms in meeting the growing ventilation demands, so that controlled air recirculation could give an answer. The present paper presents the results of the work in this field, based on a detailed theoretical approach. Parameters wich must to be taken into account were identified and analysed, numerical simulation are carried out and an experimental test-scale model is presented.

Jan 1, 1997

By M. C. Fuerstenau

With increased emphasis on controlled blasting, which is the first and least-costly stage of comminution, ore grindability and plant throughput can be increased by 5% to 10%, and energy savings of up to 10% appear possible. Crushing and grinding efficiencies are presented for ore blasted under regular and adjusted field conditions. An economic analysis of drilling and blasting through crushing and grinding is presented, suggesting that cost savings approaching 10% may be achieved

Jan 1, 1997

DuPont is a chemical and energy multi-national of approximately 90,000 employees. Often regarded as the world leader in injury reduction and process safety management, DuPont operate 140 manufacturing sites around the globe. Conoco is a wholly owed subsidiary of DuPont which is involved in oil, gas and coal exploration.   Throughout this paper I will discuss DuPont statistics, developing a safety culture and training process as well as discussing possible short comings in the New Zealand safety focus. I will conclude with my recommended improvements and issues for New Zealand companies to focus on.   It is very difficult to compare DuPont and New Zealand statistics through lack of compatibility in recording methods and my ability to interpret ACC's Injury Statistics. However through considering DuPont's statistics, and comparing them to your own companies or departments, you will agree they are indeed impressive. I hope that by discussing DuPont's safety philosophy, and possible shortfalls within New Zealand Legislation many of you will find ideas and inspiration which will help you to further reduce your own injury rates.

Jan 1, 1997