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By B. G. Belew

Recent operating improvements at the Phelps Dodge Chino Smelter, coupled with intensive capital expenditures since 1987, have resulted in a safer, higher quality, more productive smelter. This paper briefly reviews the flowsheet of the Chino Smelter with emphasis on recent capital expenditures. The main focus of the paper is to provide case studies of how operating functions have been improved. Case studies presented include: (1) safety, (2) anode quality control, (3) flash furnace cross-over build-up control, and (4) flash furnace temperature control. Most of these accomplishments have been achieved by providing specific measurable goals and subsequent feedback to operating crews.

Jan 1, 1993

By Trevor Hamm, Nick Holl

"Cameco Corporation is operator of the world's richest uranium project, the Key Lake mine/mill complex, located within the Athabasca region of Northern Saskatchewan. Mineable resources from the Key Lake ore bodies with an average U,08 content of 2.5% will be exhausted by the year 2000 and open pit mining at Key Lake will be phased out at that time. The mill will continue to operate at increased capacity, using high grade ore from the McArthur River project, a new underground mine at a distance of about 80 km from the Key Lake site. The McArthur River ore with an average U308 content of about 15 % will be blended with separately stockpiled low grade materials from Key Lake with a U,08 content of about 0.1 %. The average (blended) mill feed grade will be about 4%, similar to peak concentrations found in Key Lake ore.The Key Lake ore tailings are presently being placed in the mined out Deilmann pit under sub-aerial conditions, using spigots and a highly efficient pit/tailings drainage system. The tailings resulting from the processing of the blended McArthur River ore will be deposited on top of the Key Lake ore tailings under sub-aqueous conditions. This staged approach shows distinct technical and environmental advantages over an alternative, fully sub-aerial in-pit deposition scheme.The first part of this paper presents an overview of site specific geotechnical and hydrogeological features found at Key Lake and details some of the extensive test and modelling work that was required for environmental impact predictions during the development phase of the facility. The second part of this paper deals with tailings modifications, innovative placement technologies and drainage methods that have been (and will be) employed at the Deilmann Tailings Management Facility {TMF) to produce a highly consolidated tailings body under non-buoyancy conditions. The application of this technology at Key Lake is expected to produce a tailings ""plug"" in the Deilmann TMF which will have a permeability similar to or lower than the original in-situ Deilmann ore, resulting in a minimization of contaminant mass loadings to the environment both during operation and after decommissioning."

Jan 1, 1998

By W. C. Joughin

A risk evaluation model has been developed that enables the quantification of expected injuries and economic losses resulting from rockfalls associated with a support system in a given geotechnical environment, which is described in Part I (Joughin et al., 2011b). Part II presents the validation of the risk evaluation model. Underground mapping of joints and rockfalls was carried out to provide data for field calibration of the model. This survey was limited to small rockfalls, due to the relatively short period of mapping. Therefore the model was also correlated with rockfall and rockfall injury data collected by mine personnel. The analyses showed that the model provides a reasonable estimate of the expected frequency and size of rockfalls and the frequency of rockfall injuries, but further work is required to enhance the model. Three case studies are presented, which show the benefits of improved support systems from both economic and safety perspectives. This work has demonstrated that the risk evaluation model and the software developed are immediately useful, but further work is required to develop and improve the tools.

Jan 1, 2012

By Franklin P. Wood

Unnumbered ages have passed since the time when nature's laboratories were working without the aid of capital or labor unions assisted only by earth's cooling crust and old Sol's rays, to lay the prodigious coal beds of the earth and distil the oils which now furnish the basis for the world's great industries. Strangely enough rays from the same old sun probably somewhat diminished in intensity are still drawing from earth to clouds the water that will run down hill and through man-made devices produce energy to compete with that made with the products created in ages past. So now we find that within the past century vast human industries have grown up around the products of these agencies and here we are today discussing the many problems connected therewith and among the others the subject of this paper, which is essentially the relation of COAL to OIL in industry. The problems involved are those of human relationship and are not fundamentally unsolvable when engineering skill and knowledge is properly applied. The last few years has developed a brand of pessimism that is especially prevalent in the coal industry, at any rate in the west where we come in contact with it. In any general discussion with coal men, a very short time only is required to bring out the feeling or expression that the coal business is on the rocks and the reasons run the gamut of human deviltry. We have heard that in the not far distant past corn was so cheap that the farmers were compelled to burn it and thus deprive the coal mines of their well earned right to sell coal for this purpose. We have heard that the flood of oil is so vast that it was being burned in preference to coal, and to heap insult on injury that the rail- road locomotives were burning oil in order to pull coal away from the mines. We have heard that the union was responsible for all the woes to which the industry is subjected. We have heard that the family tin lizzie is so depleting the family exchequer that coal could not be purchased and if purchased could not be collected for. We have heard that producing mines are so numerous that the profits are a negligible quantity. These are but a few of the reasons assigned for making the coal producers a class of pessimists which is not good for the industry. All these reasons given and all the others must be taken collectively and these are not the cause but the effect of a rapidly changing civilization. An analogy may be found in the experience of many of us in the electric industry a few years ago. You may remember that less than 20 years ago the high efficiency Tungsten electric globe was introduced. It was so much more efficient than the old carbon lamp that only one-third of the current previously required was needed to produce the same illumination. Consternation seized the ranks of electrical men who had little or no vision, for the out- look was that so little current would be sold that everyone would be bankrupt. This limited vision, however, did not prevail, for all engaged in the industry spurred on by necessity, accomplished many of the things that we are now enjoying the fruits of be- cause the electric industry has grown and is growing by leaps and bounds and every highly efficient improvement is greeted with rejoicing. It is well known that when the old type of carbon arc lamp began to be replaced by modern units the manufacturer of carbon rods thought his doom was sealed and yet these same manufacturers have so adjusted them- selves to conditions that the dry battery business of today is of vastly greater volume and profit than was the carbon rod business of the past. Of course, there are industries that should not have survived anyway that have gone down and out to makeway for vastly improved conditions and can

Jan 1, 1925

By Christopher M. St. John, Michael P. Hardy

The paper discusses an approach to geotechnical monitoring of a geological repository constructed for the purpose of isolation of high-level nuclear waste, and describes the conceptual framework for development of an integrated monitoring scheme that is initiated during the earliest phases of site investigation and continues through facility decommissioning. The approach that is proposed recognizes the need to provide specific data to support the licensing process for the repository while avoiding adverse impact upon the system performance. Further, it recognizes present and inherent limitations in both the instrumentation and techniques that night be used within a monitoring scheme.

Jan 1, 1982

By S. P. Barber, G. W. Cutting, V. Alesse, M. Ciriachi

Just what is happening in the preparation and mineral separation stages are questions frequently asked about most processing plants. It is unusual to find the answers readily available in the operating metallurgical data. Knowledge is nominally available from metallurgical balances about the head ore grade, grade and recovery of the concentrates, and the plant tailings. However, the mechanisms which control grade recovery and losses are seldom monitored in such a way as to permit specific analysis: Thus, when questions about the effectiveness of the process are asked, the answers are based frequently upon intuitive professional judgments and local expertise. Detailed investigations of process functions are extensive in terms of manpower, time, and interference with production. An investigation method in which process operating conditions could be provided in a cost effective manner would assist in local process assessment and control. Such a collection of process operating data is defined as a process audit and the development of the necessary techniques forms the subject of this paper. A typical application to a lead-zinc concentrator highlights both the manner of implementing a process and the plant data made available for local use.

Jan 1, 1980

By Paul D. Tomlingson

Modern production equipment has been designed with greater productive capacity and higher reliability to meet the rigorous operating demands of the mining industry. These improvements have also made the equipment more complex and challenging to maintain. Whether these equipment enhancements contribute to more effective mining operations depends on the overall quality of maintenance. Maintenance is not a stand-alone activity. Although its quality depends primarily on maintenance, cooperation and support from other departments, coupled with the skillful guidance of mining managers, greatly influence maintenance success. Therefore, maintenance risk management must look beyond maintenance itself. Successful maintenance risk management begins with an assessment of the maintenance-related interactions of all mining departments within the mine’s stated operating strategy.

Jan 1, 2005

By D R. Seaman, B Adamson, F Burns, B A. Seaman, P Manton

The Telfer concentrator, located in the Great Sandy Desert of Western Australia, consists of a dual train gold/copper operation processing ore from one underground and, currently, two open pit mines with differing mineralogy. The flotation circuit of each train was designed to operate in several modes depending on the feed mineralogy. The majority of ore mined at Telfer is processed in a sequential mode where copper minerals are first floated into a saleable copper concentrate followed by the flotation of an auriferous pyrite concentrate which is treated in an on-site hydrometallurgical plant (carbon-in-leach (CIL)). Gold is recovered as a gravity product within the primary grinding circuit, to the copper concentrate, and to a lesser extent, the CIL circuit.Since Telfer was re-opened, with a new concentrator, in 2004, the processing plant has struggled with poor copper concentrate grades, partially due to the excessive entrainment of non-sulfide gangue minerals in the copper flotation circuit and, more recently, due to composite copper particles produced when processing ore from a supplementary satellite pit that has not previously been processed through the new Telfer concentrator. Gold recoveries in the CIL circuit have also been below industry standard. This paper presents the implementation of recent changes made to the circuit to address these performance issues. The reconfiguration of the circuit has involved the installation of the following major equipment items: two ISAMillsÖ in ultra-fine grinding applications (one in the copper circuit and one in the pyrite circuit), two Jameson Cells to improve fine gangue rejection and a bank of 5 + Outotec TC30s to recovery copper and gold from the reground pyrite stream. The equipment was purchased direct from vendors and an engineering firm contracted to design and install the multi-vendor reconfiguration upgrade.CITATION:Seaman, D R, Burns, F, Adamson, B, Seaman, B A and Manton, P, 2012. Telfer processing plant upgrade - The implementation of additional cleaning capacity and the regrinding of copper and pyrite concentrates, in Proceedings 11th AusIMM Mill OperatorsÆ Conference, pp 373-382 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Oct 29, 2012

Aberfoyle sought to reduce Hellyer project development risk to a greater degree than usual. Consequently the ore reserves estimate and feasibility study were particularly comprehensive. A detailed ore reserve study was completed based on extensive drill core and underground sampling, large scale pilot plant work and a detailed feasibility study. Leading external consultants were used for advice on commercial matters which impact on ore reserves and to audit major technical conclusions, including the results from pilot plant work and the ore reserve estimate. Other project risks were diminished by negotiating a State agreement covering security of title, royalty formula and environmental management procedures, by obtaining sales contracts, and by analysing Hellyer's position on an industry cost curve. The task of financing the project was much simplified by the extent and quality of information available from the ore reserves estimate and feasibility study report.

Jan 1, 1990

By Michel Aubertin

Les rejets miniers sont communément utilisés, depuis plus de 60 ans, comme matériau de remblayage des chantiers souterrains. Les roches stériles et les rejets de concentrateur sont employés comme remblais car ils sont disponibles sur les sites miniers à un coût réduit pour aider au support de terrain. Le remblayage des ouvertures est également avantageux car il permet de réduire la quantité de rejets entreposée en surface. Dans les mines souterraines, le remblai des chantiers doit aider à maintenir un espace de travail sécuritaire, tout en favorisant la récupération du minerai et le contrôle de la dilution. Il est alors essentiel d'évaluer précisément les pressions exercées par le remblai sur les murs et sur les barricades installées près de la base des chantiers. Dans cette présentation, des solutions existantes pour évaluer les pressions dans les chantiers sont brièvement revues. Les auteurs présentent ensuite des solutions analytiques récemment développées à cette fin, qui permettent de tenir compte du transfert des contraintes du remblai aux parois des chantiers et des galeries. Les solutions proposées, qui sont basées sur la théorie de l?effet d?arche, prennent en compte l'influence de la géométrie des ouvertures et de la position des barricades. La méthode de calcul permet aussi de calculer l?effet des pressions d?eau pour un remblai partiellement ou totalement submergé. Les solutions s'appliquent au cas d?un remblai récemment mis en place, alors que l?effet de la pression interstitielle ne peut pas être négligé, et aussi à plus long terme sous une condition drainée. Des résultats expérimentaux et des simulations numériques sont utilisés pour valider les équations proposées. Les résultats analytiques et numériques montrent notamment que la pression totale sur une barricade peut être grandement augmentée par la pression d?eau, tandis que la contrainte effective peut être réduite par les pressions interstielles (par rapport à la condition drainée ou sèche). On discutera aussi des implications pratiques de ces résultats pour l?application des remblais souterrains.

Nov 1, 2008

By M. Jacobs

Keywords: Smelting, converting, sulphide, sulphide smelting, platinum, platinum group metals, PGM, base metals, nickel, copper, matte, slag, furnace, electric furnace, Söderberg, electrode, granulation, converter, flash drier, sulphuric acid, acid plant, Ausmelt, Sirosmelt, pyrometallurgy, metallurgy, Anglo Platinum, South Africa Waterval Smelter complex is situated in Rustenburg, in South Africa?s North West Province. The smelter objective is to process wet concentrate to produce crushed, slow-cooled, sulphur-deficient nickel-copper matte rich in platinum group metals (PGMs), gold, and base metals for despatch to the Magnetic Concentration Plant at the Base Metals Refinery. Throughout its history, the smelter complex has been continuously upgraded in line with increasing production demand, changing feeds, environmental initiatives, and advances in available technology. The smelter receives filter cake and slurry from Anglo Platinum concentrators and joint ventures. Wet concentrate is fed through a flash drying process utilising coal-fired, fluidised bed hot-gas generators, to produce dry feed material for the electric furnaces and slag-cleaning furnace. For primary smelting, two electric furnaces are used, each with a rated capacity of 34MW. Furnace matte, containing the bulk of the base metal sulphides and PGMs, is tapped periodically into refractory-lined ladles and granulated using high-pressure water jets, then dried through electrically powered pneumo-driers to become the main feed to the Anglo platinum Converting Process (ACP). Slag is tapped semi-continuously, granulated, and treated through the slag mill. The ACP treats the combined matte output of Waterval, Polokwane, and Mortimer smelters. It is a top-blown furnace, with furnace matte, air, and oxygen being injected into the converter via a lance submerged in the slag. Converter matte is tapped and bottom cast into moulds, slow-cooled, crushed, and despatched to the refineries. Slag is granulated and dried for recycling to the slag-cleaning furnace. ACP slag is fed to the slag-cleaning furnace along with a reductant and a sulphur source. Slag-cleaning-furnace matte is granulated for processing by the ACP, while slag is granulated and processed in the slag mill. The slag mill and flotation circuit treats granulated slag from the electric furnaces and slag-cleaning furnace to recover entrained matte containing valuable PGMs and base metal sulphides.

Jan 1, 2006

By G. Hangone

Paper written on project work carried out in partial fulfilment of MSc thesis This paper investigates the effects of thiol collectors: xanthates, dithiophosphates, dithiocarbamates and mixtures of these on the froth flotation performance obtained with a bornite-rich copper sulphide ore from Okiep Copper Mine with a feed grade of 1.8%copper. Batch flotation tests were used to assess the performance in terms of mass-water recovery, sulphur grade-recovery and copper grade-recovery relationships and the Klimpel rate constant for copper recovery. The results showed that the di-ethyl-dithiocar-bamate (di C2-DTC) was the weakest collector of copper sulphide minerals. Highest copper recoveries were obtained with the di-ethyl-dithiophosphate (di C2-DTP), which were accompanied with more watery froths and lower copper grades demonstrating frothing properties in addition to collector action. Superior copper recoveries were obtained with the 90% ethyl xanthate (C2-X):10% di-ethyl-dithiophosphate (di C2-DTP) and 90% ethyl xanthate (C2-X):10%di-ethyl-dithiocarbamate (di C2-DTC) collector mixtures compared to that obtained with ethyl xanthate at an equivalent collector dosage of 0.139 mol/ton ore (a dosage equivalent to 20 g sodium ethyl xanthate per ton ore). A superior copper grade was obtained with the 90% ethyl xanthate: 10% di-ethyl-dithiocarbamate collector mixture at a dosage of 0.0695 mol/ton ore compared to that obtained with ethyl xanthate at the same equivalent dosage. Keywords: flotation, collector mixtures, copper sulphide ore

Jan 1, 2005

By Lon Santis

In 1923, Ralph Assheton compiled a report for the Institute of Makers of Explosives (IME) on accidental explosions in manufacturing plants. The report chronicles the type and amount of explosive involved in the event and the effects and distances to nearby buildings and workers for over 100 events from 1880 to 1916. Apparently, this report was never published but served as the origin of the IME’s first intra-plant distance table published in Pamphlet No. 3 in 1926. The effort was a parallel effort to the IME’s development of the American Table of Distances. The intra-plant distance table has never been changed by the IME and follows the US Department of Defense (DoD) standard very closely. This paper freshly compiles the data from the 1923 report and analyzes it with modern methods not generally available in 1923. Interestingly, the analysis indicates that the original intra-plant distance tables were established primarily to protect workers from serious injury and that preventing propagation was a side benefit. The data shows that a strong relationship exists between the probability of injury and the traditional K-factor. The data indicate that people in the open are better protected than those inside structures and that barricades reduce risk close to an event. Individuals at the intra-plant distance had a 95 percent chance of receiving no worse than a minor injury. A comparison of the data to explosive event consequence models indicate the models are overly conservative in regards to risk inside inhabited building distances.

Jan 1, 2010

By P Vix

A thermodynamic model of the copper Peirce-Smith (P-S) converter has been developed to predict the behaviour of magnetite in the converter slag, the amounts of slag and matte, the compositions of slag and matte, the volume of the bath, the bath temperature and the SEMTECH OPC signals. The predictions of bath temperature, slag and matte compositions and magnetite content in the slag have been validated by the industrial data. The effects of fluxing strategy, returns and skim charges, oxygen enrichment and temperature on the magnetite formation in the slag have been predicted and discussed. Some industrial applications of this model have been presented.

Jan 1, 2005

By R. M. Bowen

To help solve problems associated with the optimization of complex coal preparation systems, a mathematical model has been assembled which can simplify calculations pertaining to the core of the plant, i.e. the coal cleaning section. It uses algebraic expressions, derived by fitting hyperbolic equations to Mayer curves, to calculate optimum settings for a specified array of coal cleaning units and feeds. This is done without search procedures, and with usually only minor iteration of a simple calculation to specify optima within 0.02% of specified product ash contents. The key to the calculation is a relationship derived via the analytical geometry of conic sections facilitating easy application of the incremental ash theory of separations. The model has been assembled in a generalised form to cater for N processes in parallel, each giving M separations to produce P final products. Examples are given involving assessment of some complex circuit options.

Jan 1, 1986

By Hans W. Schreiber, David W. Neuhaus

INTRODUCTION The Sunshine Mining Company's 16-to-1 silver deposit and mine project are located 384 kilometers (240 miles) southeast of Reno and 360 kilometers (225 miles northwest of Las Vegas, near Silver Peak in Esmeralda County, Nevada, at an elevation of about 2,300 meters (7,000 feet). The deposit was being developed, in 1980, with an anticipated mining and milling rate of 150,000 tons per year (500 tons per day). Mining is by underground, blast-hole open stoping with rubber-tire haul-age out of the mine to a straight cyanide plant about 5.5 kilometers (3.5 miles) from the mine. The product is a gold-silver dore which may be further refined at Sunshine's new refinery in Kellogg, Idaho. The cash required for investment was obtained through the sale of $25 million worth of 6 l/2h silver-indexed bonds. Some $15.0 million were directed toward development of the 16-to-1 Mine. These bonds, which were underwritten by Drexel Burnham Lambert of Chicago in April of 1980, are redeemable on or after April 15, 1985 or payable at maturity on April 15, 1995 at the greater of either $1,000 or the market price of 50 ounces of silver. Behre Dolbear acknowledges the kindness of the Sunshine Mining Company (Sunshine) for allowing the presentation of the subject material for this Case Study. APPLICABILITY AS CASE STUDY Reasons for Choosing 16-to-1 The reasons for choosing the 16-to-1 Mine as a case study follow: 1. The project is simple and compact. 2. The mine is small -- thus relevant to other contemplated precious metal operaions in the western states. 3. The areas of risk are readily identifiable. 4. A change to project financing was under consideration. 5. A substantial decline in the price of silver was experienced during development. 6. Behre Dolbear undertook one of the first feasibility studies of The 16-to-1 and thus has some familiarity with the project. Historical Summary The following history serves as a setting: 1. Late 1920s -- minor "production"(?) via shallow pitting. 2. Mid-1930s -- neighboring Nivlok Mine successfully put into production. 3. Late 1950s (?) -- Callahan Mining Company acquired rights and drilled -- results inconclusive; Callahan turned property back to Arthur Baker, who had originally interested Callahan in 16-to-1 on the basis of its similarity with Nivlok Mine.

Jan 1, 1985

By Frank W. Schmechel

The subsidence monitoring program at the Old Ben No. 24 Mine was planned in 1976 as part of the on- going demonstration of longwall mining. The construction and installation of the network of surface subsidence monuments was started in Play of 1976 and completed four weeks later after which an initial reference survey was made of all surface monuments. Mining of the first longwall panel started in September of 1976 and was completed in May of 1977. Mining of the second panel started in August of 1977 and is continuing at this time. The Automatic Data Acquisition System (ADAS), which is the subject of this paper, was installed over the second panel on March 29, 1978 near the panel center (Figure 1) and approximately 104 meters (370 feet) in front of the face position at that time. Mine No. 24 is located approximately 5 kilometers (3 miles) Northwest of Benton, Franklin County, Illinois. Coal is being mined from the Illinois (Herrin) No. 6 seam which is at a depth of about 189 meters (620 feet) at the site. The Herrin No. 6 is up to 2.7 meters (9 feet) thick in the mine but a constant thickness of 2.1 meters (7 feet) is being mined by the demonstration longwall with both roof and floor coal being left for stability. Although the seam is flat laying at the mine, it dips north- ward regionally. Topographically, the surface over the demonstration panels is essentially flat and low laying with several areas of standing water. The Rend Lake Dam (United States Army Corps of Engineers) is about 305 meters (1000 feet) north of the demonstration site.

Jan 1, 1979

By M Thompson

"The Jaguar concentrator, 60 km north of Leonora, Western Australia (WA), consists of a standard closed circuit semi-autogenous grinding (SAG) and ball mill producing a float feed of approximately 60 micron at 70 t/h. Following comminution, separate copper and zinc concentrates are produced by differential flotation. These concentrates are subsequently dewatered by thickening and then filtration.Separate audits of the Jaguar Operation’s copper and zinc concentrate thickeners were conducted to evaluate their performance, following occasions where site personnel had identified unnecessary loss of copper and zinc concentrate to the thickener overflow. The feedwells were identified as the source of the observed problems due to the following issues with their design/duty:lack of retention time in the feedwell as current design is completely opennot conducive to effective mixing required for efficient flocculationdiameter of the zinc concentrate thickener feedwell was undersize for its duty.To improve the performance of the thickeners, it is planned to replace both concentrate thickener feedwells with a high rate design for their respective duties in February 2016. The audits also identified that the feed system requires modifications with particular importance placed on minimising air entrainment of slurry into the thickener feedwell. Minimisation of air entrainment is hoped to be achieved by providing constant head pressure through installation of weir arrangements in the feedboxes and redirecting each feed pipe so that it feeds tangentially into the feedwell. In addition, improvements to the control philosophy of both thickeners will be made with the installation of an ultrasonic bed level probe and bed mass sensor, in order to make real-time adjustments to the underflow pump speed to maintain steady state operation.Following the feedwell replacement and modifications to both thickeners it is expected that losses of recovered copper and zinc will decrease to undetectable levels. Subsequently it is anticipated that a more consistent, homogenous underflow can be produced for downstream filtration.Citation:Thompson, M, 2016. Concentrate Thickeners Feedwell Replacement, in Proceedings 13th AusIMM Mill Operators’ Conference 2016, pp 273–278 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne)."

Oct 10, 2016

By Seth T. Reese

REPORTS received from operating companies by the Bureau of Mines, United States Department of the Interior, indicated marked progress in the reduction of injuries to employees in the coking industry in 1951 as compared with 1950. The fatality rate (0.14) per million man-hours of exposure declined 33 percent and was the second best performance since statistics on the industry were first collected in 1916. The nonfatal-injury rate (10.94), the best since 1940, declined 8 percent and was bettered only in 8 of the past 36 years. The nonfatal rate is based on all injuries resulting in loss of time for more than the remainder of the day on which the injury occurred. The exposure to hazard, as represented by the number of man-hours of work time during the year, was 7 percent higher than in 1950 and, except for the year 1943, was the highest since 1920. The fatality rate for men employed at beehive-coke ovens decreased 16 percent and the nonfatal-injury rate 23 percent, while the man-hours of work time or exposure increased slightly over 16 percent. The fatality and nonfatal-injury rates at byproduct ovens declined 33 and 2 ½ percent, respectively, while the number of man-hours worked increased 6 percent.

Jan 1, 1954

By S. P. Singh, V. J. Hucka

There are a number of problems associated with underground coal mining, but the most serious and important are often related to the ground control. The influence of the prevailing geological conditions and features on the stability of underground mining has been outlined in this paper. Special emphasis has been given to the importance of geological techniques in the evaluation of coal mine roof conpetency prior to and during the mining operations. In addition to this, typi- cal ground control problems owing to the geological abnormalities have been depicted by appropriate case histories from coal seams in the State of Utah. The interdependence between longwall design and road- way stability on the one hand and geologic features on the other hand are shown in this study.

Jan 1, 1983