Search Documents

FOR some time past keen interest has been shown in both America and South Africa in the mining drill-steel problem. This interest has extended to Australian mining fields, and Australian drill users, ever desirous of increasing efficiency, are vigorously attacking the problem. The writer has recently been engaged in the investigation of the problem on two of ,the biggest mining fields in Australia, and has formed very definite conclusions concerning the causes of many drill-steel casualties. He puts these views forward in the hope that they may be of interest to, both drill manufacturers and drill users. The subject is here dealt with mainly from the aspect of the properties of the steel and the modifications of these properties whensubjected to various manipulations. It is generally admitted that the drilling machine has greatly increased in power and efficiency during recent years, and the consequence is that the machine is demanding better service from the steel. This is being impressed on the drill users by an increase in steel casualties. This fact has led many mining people to the view that the machine has developed so rapidly that the steel maker has not been able to keep pace, and that consequently the steel isfailing by fatigue 0:1; so-called crystallization. This view is rather depressing. The writer, on the other hand, is inclined to discountenance fatigue as a serious factor under good normal working conditions where the steel is carefully manufactured and supplied to the user under suitable structural and sound conditions, and has subsequently received kind treatment at the hands of the drill sharpener and the drill user.It is not reasonable to attribute failures to fatigue until it has definitely been proved that the steel is fundamentally sound and is in the best structural condition to resist the stresses it is called upon to withstand, and, this being so, that all fundamental principles of...

Jan 1, 1923

By V. Kecojevic

Environmental and economic costs related to equipment fuel consumption and carbon dioxide (CO2) emission present a substantial challenge to the mining industry. Haul trucks are an integral part of the overall surface mining system and they consume a significant quantity of fuel. Consequently, they produce a significant amount of CO2. The objective of this research is to (i) establish a mathematical relationship among a truck?s fuel consumption, power and engine load factors and (ii) determine the amount of a truck?s CO2 emission and the associated cost that may arise from potential CO2 legislation. In order to achieve these objectives, the authors have considered original equipment manufacturer (OEM) haul trucks, which are commonly used in surface mining operations. The research presented here may be used by mining professionals to help determine the cost and environmental burden of the trucks? application and efficiently manage energy consumption.

Jan 1, 2010

By W. Z. Zu

In proved reserves of vanadium-containing titanomagnetite in Panxi, China, iron grades of ores were 50% ~ 15%. China?s metallurgical industry departments defined the iron ores containing 50% ~ 20% TFe as exploitable resources and the extreme lean iron ores containing 20% ~ 15% TFe as temporary unexploitable resources, the extreme lean ores were as waste rejected into waste dump in mining process. This paper researched process mineralogy of the extreme lean ores, adopted mineral processing technology responded to the properties of the ores to treat the ores and obtained quality vanadium-iron concentrate, titanium concentrate and sulfur concentrate, therefore successfully utilized the extreme lean ores, changed the ores from waste resources to exploitable resources.

Jan 1, 2014

By G. R. Purdy, J. A. Malcolm

The isothermal dendritic precipitation of y in p CuZnSn is compared with the isothermal formation of Widmanstatten a plates in p CuZn. Although both precipitates are evidently bounded by semicoherent interfaces, the dendritic shape of y evolves through smooth "sinuoidal" shape perturbations, while a-p interfaces tend to be strictly planar, or rnicroscopically faceted. An estimate of the average inter-facial free energy of cube-oriented y in p through the Mullins-Sekerka analysis indicates that it is low (of the order of 50 ergs per sq cm). Interface mication is apparently controlled by volunle dij'usion, and the observed anisotropy in growth probably results from anisotropy of inter facial free energy. Studies of the grain boundary precipitation of y in p indicate that the precipitate can grow in both $ grains, but becomes unstable with respect to the grain with which it shares a mobile semicoherent interface. Facets observed at the tips of Kurdjumov-Sacks-oriented Wid-manstatten a plates correspond to variants of an irrational hahit, near (231)0. Comparison with Hu and Smith's determination of relative interfacial free energies of a-(3 boundaries suggests that this system possesses an extremely deep o cup, which results in an ej'ective low-o zone. The possible effects of such a cup on the stability of a-p interfaces are discussed, a needles, grown during rapid continuous cooling, possess microscopically smooth interfaces, and are characterized by a high degree of' damage in the region of the boundaries. These boundaries, induced to move on tempering at 200"C, become faceted as equilibrium is approached, which seems to indicate that boundary structure and mobility in this system are dependent on the local degvee of departure from equilibrium MULLINS and sekerkal have elucidated the phase boundary stabilizing effect of surface tension. a factor not taken into account in previous treatments of morphological development. Their analysis applies to the isothermal growth of a pure spherical precipitate (planar in the limit of infinite radius) in a slightly supersaturated solution, under conditions of inter-facial local equilibrium and isotropy of interfacial free energy. More recently, several other factors which might tend to stabilize planar interfaces have received attention. These are: i) interface diffusion;4"8 and ii) slow interfacial reaction. cahn7 included a slight anisotropy in interfacial free energy, and showed that it has no stabilizing effect, but forces shape perturbations to reflect the anisotropy. shewmon4 noted that dendritic morphologies are rarely observed in solid-solid systems, and, in particular, postulated that slow interfacial reaction occurs at all boundaries between proeutectoid ferrite and austenite, except those which propagate parallel to {11 l)y planes (for Kurdjumov-Sachs [K-S] related phases). Previously, Aaronson~ had proposed interfacial reaction at the broad faces of Widmanstatten plates, and expected that the lateral motion of high-mobility incoherent ledge edges would produce planar precipitates bounded by law-mobility semi-coherent interfaces. The problem of interfacial reaction during the dif-fusional formation of precipitates has often been ignored, although it is apparent that a small component of chemical reaction must exist at any moving interface." Further, all solutions of the diffusion equations for boundary conditions corresponding to isothermal growth predict infinite growth rate at time zero, so that elements of interfacial reaction would be most easily detected at early times. However, reported deviations from diffusion control are comparatively rare," and the local-equilibrium diffusion-control model appears adequate for the description of many isothermal growth systems.'2"9 Cahn14 has treated the problem of migration of an interface which is able to reach positional energy minima, and concluded that such an interface, if subjected to a high local ther-modynamic "driving force", may migrate normal to itself without the benefit of ledges. As local equi-

Jan 1, 1968

By Clemens Jones

An interesting paper by J. E. Merion and Edward Hart, in Volume I., No. 2, of the Journal of Analytical Chemistry, on the Decomposition of Blast-Furnace Cinder by Acid, describes a plan of sampling the cinder by means of a previously-heated iron bar thrust into the cinder car or into the cinder at the notch, and then allowed to cool, thus chilling the cinder which adheres to the bar, and rendering it decomposable by hydrochloric acid, of 1.12 sp. gr. A short series of results is given, from which the deduction follows that blast-furnace cinder " is decomposed perfectly when chilled." Where many silica determinations are to be made, this method, if reliable, would effect notable economy of time and reagents. The conversion of insoluble silicates by fusion with an alkaline carbonate, together with the subsequent solution, evaporation, drying, etc., is destined to remain the standard method. But all fusionmethods are time-consuming and expensive. Chilling appears to render the supplementary method available for all practical purposes, in the determination of silica in cinder. But, with a view of securing more evidence on the subject, and in view of the fact that uniform results were not obtained by employing this method, it was decided to test the method in the laboratory of the Thomas Iron Company where a large number of silica determinations are made. The experience met with may not be devoid of value, both theoretical and practical. Mr. Iles's paper, in the Chemical News, Volume L., 1881, doubtless suggested to several chemists, connected with iron metallurgical

Jan 1, 1888

By Ronald P. Hollenbeck

This study reviews and discusses the fluorspar industry in the Eastern United States, with emphasis on factors controlling the industry such as production, consumption, uses, and transportation. The greatest potential for increased consumption of fluorspar in the immediate future was found to be in the manufacture of fluorine chemicals and steel. Important factors affecting the future domestic industry include imports and the maintenance of adequate domestic fluorspar reserves. Exploration, commercial deposits, mining and milling, reserves, and new developments in the industry are covered.

Jan 1, 1967

"The main objective of this research is to identify the mechanisms of control of respirable dust generation in coal mines. Full understanding of the mechanics of crack propagation in coal is of fundamental importance in studies of the generation and control of respirable dust.The main objectives of this fracture investigation are: 1) to determine reliable data on the fracture toughness of coal as a parameter controlling unstable crack propagation; 2) to determine fracture propagation velocity in coal providing data on the terminal velocity at which crack bifurcation occurs and fine fragments of coal material are generated; and 3) to apply the critical strain energy density criterion to model mixed mode crack propagation in coal.The development of the protocol, laboratory procedure and equipment necessary to conduct an extensive mixed mode fracture toughness testing program has been completed. About 80 mixed mode fracture toughness tests, 10 good fracture velocity records and over 50 fracture surface examination with the SME are available. The details of the mixed mode fracture toughness testing are available in a paper titled, ""Development of Mixed Mode Testing System for Geologic Materials"" which is available from the center. The average fracture toughness and critical strain energy density values for the three seams investigated to date are included in the attached Figures 71, 72, 73."

Nov 1, 1988

By Howard J. Pincus

The purpose of the study is to investigate the effects of fracture fillings and associated alteration on the mechanical behavior of rocks. Experimental results are presented for 98 specimens from the Climax mine, which were tested since the annual report (May 1973). The conclusions reached are based on both these results and those reported in the annual report. The locations studied are the Climax and Henderson mines in Colorado and the San Manuel mine in Arizona. The rock types studied from each location are from: 1) Climax, medium-grained granite, fine-grained granite, granite porphyry, schist, and gneiss; 2) Henderson, rhyolite porphyry; 3) San Manuel, quartz monzonite and quartz monzonite porphyry. A description of the rocks was made including: color, texture, mineralogy, composition and fabric of fracture fillings, density, apparent porosity, and optical diffraction patterns. Unconfined and triaxial compression tests were run on the Climax and San Manuel specimens. Sonic velocities were measured during the compression tests; Shore sceleroscope hardness was measured before the compression tests. Conclusions are that some relation appears to exist between compressive strength and the following properties and features for all specimens: dynamic Young's modulus, sonic velocity, density, rock composition, slope of velocity curve, composition and fabric of fracture fillings-veinlets, and apparent porosity. There appears to be some relation between compressive strength and Shore scelerscope hardness for the quartz monzonite (San Manuel). A relation appears to exist between texture and compressive strength and the extent of failure on fracture fillings for schists, gneiss, and fine-grained granite (Climax). The amount of swelling clays (montmorillonite, hydromicas, etc.) present in the rock and the relative number of fractures in which they constitute of major portion of the fracture fillings are related to the strength of the rocks. Possible tests for checking the amount of these clays present is presented including saturation, dyes, and X-rays. A useful index relating to rock strength, as revealed in this study, is the presence of swelling clays in detectable abundances. These clays can be detected in the field with a simple wetting and striking test; in the laboratory they can be detected by X-ray and dye methods.

Jan 1, 1974

By L. B. Gittinger

Sulfur is a nonmetallic element widely distributed in nature. It constitutes 0.06% of the earth's crust but only a very small portion occurs in sufficiently concentrated amounts to justify mining. Sulfur occurs in practically all animal and plant life. It constitutes approximately 0.09% of the elements in the oceans; it has been found in meteorites. Sulfur was known and used by man before recorded history. The American Chemical Society approved spelling for the element is sulfur. The English spelling sulphur is used commercially in the United States. In ancient times, sulfur was called brimstone, literally "burning stone." Today the term brimstone is used interchangeably with the term elemental sulfur. Sulfur is found naturally in the elemental form in subsurface deposits associated with gypsum and anhydrite in salt domes and sedimentary formations in evaporite basins and in solfatara-type deposits associated with volcanoes and mineral springs. Sulfur occurs also in molecular combination in ferrous sulfides (pyrites and pyrrhotite) and nonferrous sulfides (copper, lead, zinc, and nickel), and in mineral sulfates (gypsum and anhydrite); as hydrogen sulfide contaminant in natural gas; as organic compounds in crude oil and tar sands; and as pyrite and organic compounds in coal and oil shales. Sulfur resources are abundant and exist throughout the world but the extent to which they can be classified as reserves is greatly circumscribed by prevailing prices and technology. Estimates of world sulfur reserves are compiled by the U.S. Bureau of Mines. A compilation of reserves by area and source of sulfur published in 1970 and presented here as [Table 1] totaled 2.47 billion tons (Lewis, 1970). The effect of the decline in prices which has occurred since the earlier estimate is dramatically illustrated by the 1972 estimate of the U.S. Dept. of the Interior which shows world sulfur reserves of only 1.2 billion tons (Anon., 1972d). Sulfur is produced commercially from one or more sources in nearly 70 countries of the world. World production of sulfur in all forms totaled 41.6 million tons in 1971. (Sulfur statistics given in this chapter are long tons.) Native deposits, sulfides and oil and gas contributed, respectively, 31, 41, and 25% of world production (Table 2). Of the sulfur produced from native deposits, salt domes accounted for 54% and evaporite basin deposits, 44%. Volcanic deposits are of little significance except for local consumption. The past two decades have seen important shifts in the world's sulfur sources. In 1950, native deposits and sulfides each supplied about one-half of the world's production. During the 1950s, sulfur recovered from oil and natural gas grew rapidly, representing about 10% of the total by 1960. Since then, the petroleum industry has continued to increase its relative importance as a source of sulfur, representing more than 30% at 1972 year-end. Sulfur is generally classified as elemental or nonelemental for statistical purposes. Elemental sulfur is sulfur produced in the pure, uncombined form. It includes production from native deposits, as well as that recovered in the elemental form from oil and natural gas or other sulfur-bearing materials. When produced from other than native deposits, it is generally referred to as recovered elemental sulfur. Nonelemental sulfur is that which is utilized commercially in molecular combination with other elements, such as sulfides or sulfates. Elemental sulfur is being produced from salt dome deposits in the Gulf Coast region of the United States and the Isthmus of Tehuantepec in Mexico, and from evaporite basin deposits in west Texas, Poland, Sicily,

Jan 1, 1975

By S. H. Chauvenet

THE binding of the boshes and in walls of blast furnaces has always been an expensive piece of work. When the old stone stack was replaced by the iron shell, the brickwork was kept at a thickness of five feet or more. These five-foot walls were still too thick, and the practice now is to have as thin walls as possible and to have a free circulation of air about the brickwork of the furnace. The "basket," or lattice-work binding, accomplishes this object, but it is expensive, as to first cost, and, if any change in the diameter of a furnace has to be made, it necessitates an alteration of the binding or of the thickness of the walls.

Jan 1, 1882

By Edwin Higgins

INTRODUCTION IT is the purpose of this paper to set forth the relation and functions of the various organizations and institutions engaged in the promotion of safety iii the iron mines of the Lake Superior region; also to indicate the value of this work. Ten to 15 years ago there was practically no organized safety work; the accident rate was high, excessively so in some districts, and dangerous practices and conditions existed in many of the mines. During recent years, however, a gradual change for the better has been made. The chief causes of this change have been (a) public opinion, which has set the stamp of disapproval on the disregard for human life; (b) certain State laws which have made the operators responsible in dollars and cents for injuries to workmen; and (c) the humanitarian attitude of many of the operators, who have always decried the great loss of life in the mines. Today the Lake Superior region as a whole stands second to no other metal-mining district in the United States in its efforts to promote the welfare and safety of the miner. Dangerous practices in and about the mines are fast disappearing. The operators are ready and eager to adopt any expedient, rule, or device that holds forth a reasonable promise of reducing the hazards of the miner. Today the value of a mine captain or shift boss is reckoned, not alone on his ability to "get the ore," but also on his capacity for reducing accidents. While the progress made has been remarkable, there still remains much to be done, for the accident records of the Lake Superior iron mines, while lower than those of the chief metal-mining regions of the United States, still compare unfavorably with those of the metal mines of practically all foreign countries.

Jan 10, 1914

By R. D. Clark, Heinz Althoff

"The advantages and disadvantages of a mobile crushing plant with a belt conveyor system compared to a stationary crushing plant with haulage by heavy trucks are described. The capital expenditure and operational expenses are compared and the individual cost factors are explained.Every open-pit mine or quarry, however, is different and has to be assessed and analyzed individually in order to find the optimum and most economical solution. Due to the high truck haulage costs, many open-pit mines tend to the more economical solution with mobile crushing plants and continuous belt conveyor operation. IntroductionFor the material haulage within an open-pit mine the heavy truck is the most flexible means of transportation. However, due to the high fuel consumption, wear and labour costs, it is also the most expensive one. Therefore, many open-pit mines are looking for alternative solutions for the material transport A mobile belt conveyor system is most likely to meet the requirements because it is efficient and economical with regard to the power consumption. The material , however, has to be crushed at the mining face to lumps which are suitable for conveyor operation. For this purpose a mobile crushing plant is required.In some open-pit mines the crusher is also used to crush the material to lumps of smaller particle sizes in order to save crushing costs in the preparation plant.Although a cost comparison between a system with stationary crusher and truck haulage and a system with mobile crusher and belt conveyors favours in most cases the belt conveyor system, up till now only a few open-pit mines and quarries benefit world-wide from the advantages of the mobile crushing plant with continuous belt conveyor operation."

Jan 1, 1986

By William Yutmeyer, Meredith Hardwick

Since 1996 there have been at least two teams formed within the U.S. Government to develop a consistent set of risk-based standards to be used to govern safety. The first of these was the Risk and Lethality Commonality Team which developed risk criteria associated with protecting personnel during launches at the national test ranges. The second team titled the Risk-Based Explosives Safety Criteria Team (RBESCT) is the subject of this paper.

Jan 1, 2007

By K. Noda

Tamano Smelter of Hibi Kyodo Smelting Co., Ltd. started its operation adopting the Flash Smelting Furnace with Furnace Electrodes (FSFE). Thereafter, it developed a coke combustion technology based on C() concentration control, which made possible a low cost and high productivity operation without using electrodes. However, increase of treated concentrates and upgrading of matte grade for production expansion started to cause difficulties in operation control with then existing operation control system. This paper outlines recent improvements for stable operation of the Tamano Type Flash Smelting Furnace (T-FSF), such as computer aided operation guide system.

Jan 1, 2001

By W. N. Lacey, B. H. Sage

An apparatus is described for the measurement of the pressure-volume-temperature relations of pure substances, simple mixtures and complex mixtures with an over-all absolute uncertainty, which is usually not more than 0.2 per cent. The equipment is suitable for studies in the gaseous, two-phase, and liquid regions. The behavior of such systems may be investigated at pressures as high as 10,000 lb. per sq. in. for temperatures between 70 and 600 F. The methods of measurement and the construction of the apparatus are described in some detail. The measurement of the volumetric behavior of multicomponent systems requires the simultaneous measurement of the pressure, volume, temperature and weight of each component of the system. In the present apparatus a sample having constant weight is investigated at a number of independently controlled pressures and temperatures, therefore it is necessary only to establish the weight of each component added before a given set of measurements. This method is in distinction to that in which the total volume remains constant and the pressure is varied by addition or removal of material, the system having variable weight. An objective in the design of the apparatus to be described was to develop equipment that would yield results involving no uncertainties larger than 0.25 per cent throughout the range of pressures from 150 to 10,000 Ib. per sq. in. at temperatures between 70" and 600" F. Although this over-all absolute uncertainty of measurement may not appear to be small, it necessitated care in the plans for control and measurement of each of the fundamental variables. In general, any uncertainty greater than 0.05 per cent in the pressure, volume, absolute temperature or weight of each component was considered undesirable; therefore the attempt was made to obtain a precision of measurement in each case such that the absolute uncertainty would be only half this amount except in certain regions near the ends of the experimental range of the variable under consideration.

Jan 1, 1940

By E. J. Donovan, O&apos

The use of Dynamic Analysis techniques in the design of conveyor systems is extremely limited. The most frequent use of the technique is in large and expensive systems where the emphasis is on insurance against failure caused by catastrophic tension waves. This paper sets out to illustrate a much wider range of applications where dynamic analysis has been successfully employed. The examples chosen deal with identification and correction of dynamic low tension problems, the variability in take-up movement as other system parameters change, the requirement for proper tuning of starting controls and finally the absolute necessity for a complete understanding of the entire system when specifying brakes for critical applications. The intent of the paper is to get designers to view a conveyor as a system of interacting flexible components rather than as a single rigid body.

Jan 1, 1993

By Alexander L. Holley

A CHARACTERISTIC, and, to Americans, an amusing discussion of the three-high rail-mill, arose out of the reading of Mr. Lauth's paper on three-high plate-mills, at the Glasgow meeting of the Iron and Steel Institute. From the report of the meeting in the English papers, it appears that Mr. Menelaus, the celebrated rail-maker of Dowlais, could not wait for the discussion of Lauth's plate-mill, but launched at once into the British objections to the three-high rail-mill, which is quite another matter. The American mill, which is very different in principle and ar288

By A. McCracken

Probabilistic methods for assessing the reliability of engineering systems in mining are the way of the future. So agreed the delegates of a recent short course on the subject, entitled 'Reliability-based Approach in Mining engineering Design'. This was a very successful five-day technical course sponsored by The South African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy and held at Mintek from 7th to 11th March, 1988. The main lecturer for the course was Milton E. Har, Professor of Geotechnical Engineering at the School for Civil Engineering of Purdue University, Indiana, USA. Professor Har was ably assisted by Dr Dirk van Zyl, a former student. Science quiz Teams of pupils from 37 schools within a radius of 12 kilometres of the Council for Mineral Technology (Mintek) competed in a science quiz held by Mintek at its headquarters in Randburg on Tuesday, June 7th, 1988.

Jan 1, 1988

STANDING COMMITTEES Executive CHARLES F. RAND, Chairman. JAMES F. KEMP, JOSEPH W. RICHARDS, ALBERT R. LEDOUX, BENJAMIN B. THAYER. Membership BENJAMIN B. THAYER, Chairman. KARL EILERS, JOHN H. JANEWAY, Jr., JOHN D. IRVING, HERMAN A. PROSSER. Finance EDWARD L. YOUNG, Chairman. KARL EILERS, JAMES GAYLEY. Library JAMES F. KEMP, Chairman.1 JOHN HAYS HAMMOND,3 E. GYBBON SPILSBURY,2 ALEX. C. HUMPHREYS,4 BRADLEY STOUGHTON.

Jan 1, 1914

By James R. Evans

Forecasting demand is an art as well as a science, and much personal judgment is required. National forecasts made for sand and gravel, crushed stone, and/or aggregate may be misleading or unhelpful locally. This is because of significant variation in demand within different geographic and/or political areas in the US, and/or the use of an inadequate data base and forecasting methodology. The best forecasts may be made for local or regional market areas, irrespective of geographic or political boundaries, provided a proper data base is available.1 The Bureau of Mines compiles detailed statistics on commodities sold or used in the construction industries and, therefore, is in an advantageous position to make national aggregate demand forecasts. Definitions of some terms used in this presentation are necessary before proceeding.

Jan 1, 1980