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By J. Richard Lucas

The coal industry, one of the great basic industries in the nation, plays a major role in the American economy. Coal is the principal fuel used in generating tremendous quantities of low-cost power so necessary to the nation. Two-thirds of the electrical energy and one-fourth of all energy consumed in the nation is produced from coal. Large-scale production of steel, cement, and chemicals is vitally dependent upon this natural resource. Because of extensive reserves and low mining cost, it is one of the few natural resources in which the United States is a significant exporter. During 1965 in excess of 500 million tons of coal were produced, almost 10% over the previous year; more than 50 million tons were shipped to foreign markets. The utility market gained approximately 8% during the year for a total of 242 million tons.

Jan 2, 1966

By Leslie H. Sharp, Martin J. Gavin

"Introduction.Investigations of the oil shales of the State of Colorado were begun February 1, 1920, by the U. S. Bureau of Mines and the State of Colorado, under cooperative agreement entered into by the Bureau and the State, funds for which were provided by the State. The investigations are for the purpose of determining by large-scale Laboratory retorting tests, those conditions which will produce optimum yield of best quality products from Colorado shales. (For an outline of the work and description of the apparatus, see Gavin, Martin J., and Sharp, Leslie H., ""investigations of the Fundamentals of Oil-shale Retorting,"" Reports of Investigations, Bureau of Mines, July, 1920.)In the preliminary work which is usually required when a new material is being dealt with, certain physical and chemical constants of the shales being investigated, and their products, were determined; these data will be of much value not only to the thorough retorting tests now under way at Boulder, but to engineers who will design and construct oil-shale plants. While the figures presented in this report apply only to the shale used in the determinations, strictly speaking, the shale used was selected to represent, as well as possible, an average of the massive type of oil shale encountered in Colorado. The figures, therefore, can probably be applied with little danger of serious error to any massive Colorado oil shale which yields in the neighborhood of a barrel (42 gallons) of oil to the ton.This paper is based on a more complete article now being prepared in which experimental methods are explained in full, and complete experimental data. For the purpose of presenting the data with as delay as possible, it has been decided to anticipate the more complete article with the present report."

Aug 1, 1920

By Norman Pilling

The deleterious effect on the mechanical properties of copper, resulting from heating in contact with reducing gases, is well known, but the mechanism of the action does not appear to have been definitely established. The purpose of the present investigation was not to determine the exact variations in physical quality of commercial copper, with its various impurities, as dependent upon the composition of the gas, temperature of exposure, etc., but rather to study the nature of the action and the conditions under which it occurs. The physical result of the so-called "gassing." of copper has been generally described as the development of "brittleness." There appears to be a striking decrease in tensile strength, associated with a considerable loss of ductility, and a small copper strip or wire affected in this way can he snapped in two when bent. Larger articles may have an outer layer alone affected, which can be detached from the core by hammering or bending. Perhaps the earliest reference to this subject is that of Heyn1 in 1900, and among the later observers may be mentioned Archbutt,2 Bengough and Hill,3 Johnson,4 Mathewson and Thalheimer,5 and Ruder .6 Bengough and Hill, while working with arsenical copper, were the first to suggest the possibility of the formation of gases within the copper itself, while Ruder endeavored to explain the action by the reduction of the

Jan 10, 1918

By Marcin Borecki

Una de las condiciones para aumentar los efectos económicos y la seguridad del trabajo consiste en la mejora de la preparación de los licenciados de escuelas mineras, la profundización de sus conocimientos de especialidades determinadas, la introducción de disciplinas básicas para el trabajo en la industria minera y el perfeccionamiento permanente del sobrestante en servicio. En ese sentido, el presente texto señala el uso de métodos analíticos y operacionales que se adecúen al modelo tecnológico y moderno a través del empleo de la técnica electrónica de cálculo, de forma que ayude a tomar decisiones óptimas en el proceso de gestión.

Jul 1, 1974

By P Stoker

The need for quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) in the sampling and assaying of minerals is fundamental to the reliability and confidence of a mineral resource estimate, reserve estimate and possibly profitability of a mine. In spite of this, QA/QC practices in the mining industry are commonly applied poorly, or misunderstood. As New Leaders, we should aim to correct the poor practices and become fully informed on appropriate procedures. This paper uses worked examples that show the usefulness and importance of best practice QA/QC procedures. Fundamentals of reviewing the performance of the laboratory by examining the results of client inserted standard reference material (standards), blank material and duplicate samples are discussed. To do this, three examples from Australian data sets have been used. For each example, simple and efficient plotting techniques are suggested with subsequent evaluations of each plot. The first case study compares the results of internal standards from a laboratory with blind standards (where the expected value is unknown to the laboratory) submitted by the client. It was demonstrated over time that the laboratory was unintentionally analysing the internal standards in a different manner to the remainder of the sample batch. In this example, not understanding the cause of a high negative laboratory bias could have led to poor understanding of the depositÆs grade and in the extreme a proposed mining operation may have reached operational stage with a subeconomic grade. The second case study discusses the quality of blank material submitted by a mining operation to monitor cross-contamination within the laboratory. The blank material contained background levels of the element under investigation. This created uncertainty in the assay results, which could have led to the need for additional assays and drilling programs. Finally, the third case study demonstrates the use of the relative paired differences (RPD) technique to cross-validate the results from duplicates and repeat analyses from two laboratories. The three examples given show either laboratory or operational error. If left undetected, each example could have had serious implications for the mineral resource estimate and ultimately, the mining operation. These examples are not isolated occurrences; poor QA/QC practices are an industry wide problem exacerbated by rapid staff turnover and increased contractor positions on-site. New Leaders must be equipped with a thorough grounding in QA/QC best practices to improve its application and confidence in the results of sample analysis.

Jan 1, 2009

By Ignatius P. O. Lam

This paper presents information on design analyses of large diameter piles using conventional p-y curves as recommended by the American Petroleum Institute (API RP2A, 1993). API RP2A adopted the soft clay criterion developed by Matlock (Matlock, 1970) based on 12.75-inch piles. API RP2A also adopted the API sand criteria originally introduced by Reese, Cox, and Koop (Reese et. al., 1974) based on 24-inch piles. Since Matlock and Reese published their original papers, there have been several publications recommending changes to their p-y criteria, especially regarding the need to adjust the Matlock p-y curves for pile diameter effects. The following sections attempt to clarify the issue of diameter effects on p-y curves.

Jan 1, 2013

By R. E. Hurst, D. E. Ramsey, J. M. Moore

The "frac" method of well stimulation has been applied successfully to all producing formations in the Permian Basin area. During the five years since its development, many changes and improvements have been made in treating materials. procedures, and equipie11t. A number of fluid carrying agents, having different physica1 and chemical properties, have been developed to meet variorus well requirements. The current trend is toward larger gallonage treatments, employing higher injection rates. The use of "down-the-casing" techniques has greatly reduced high surface working pressures, attributable to friction losses resulting from injection throrugh tubing. Petrographic studies of various Permian Basin formations, coordinated with laboratory and well log data, have been found a valuable guide in planning frac treat111o1t.s. A knowledge of the extent (and orientation of naturally occurring fractures and planes of weakness in the formation, aid in predicting the ultimate drainage pattern resulting from the frac treatment. INTRODUCTION The South Permian Basin covers an area in Wcst Texas and New Mexico about onc-half the size of the state of Texas, This vast region has been called the "Permian Basin" for so long that the term will he used here. It includes an area south of the Matador Arch. approximately 250 miles wide and 300 miles long. Structural features of importance within the basin are the Northwest Shelf, Eastern Platform, Midland Basin, Central Basin Platform, and Delaware Basin. The principal producing formations include sand, limestone and dolo-mite, with lesser amounts of shale, anhydrite. chert. and various silicates. All of the producing formations in the Permian Basin have responded to some type of frac treatment. Essentially, a frac treatment may be defined as the injection, into a formation. of a fluid carrying agent containing a particulated solid (usually sand), for the purpose of increasing production. The application of this method of well stimulation to many differing Permian Basin reservoirs has necessitated numerous changes and improvements in carrying agents, solids, service equipment. well equipment. and treating techniques. CARRYING AGENTS A number of different types of fluid carrying agents have been developed since the introduction of the frac method of well stimulation. These agents have different physical and chemical properties, and in many cases the extent of production increase derived from the frac treatment depends on the choice of fluid carrier. Unfortunately, due to many different systems of nomenclature used in the oil field, these differences are not always recognized by the oil Operator. In general, carving agents may he divided into the following broad classi-

Jan 1, 1956

By Hassell E. Hunter

The Wyoming Mineral-Conoco Crownpoint Project represents the first time that big hole drilling has been exclusively used to develop totally a privately financed mine below a depth of 1000 feet. Three shafts, one ten feet in diameter and two six feet in diameter, were successfully drilled to depths of 2243', 2188' and 2188' respectively and cased with hydrostatic designed steel casing. The largest shaft is to be used to handle muck and water from station excavation and enlargement of the other two shafts. A reverse circulation system with potassium chloride base mud was used for drilling. The mud was cleaned by settling in steel lined tanks with assistance by cyclone type separators. Deviation was monitored by gyroscopic surveying at 30 foot intervals and did not exceed 16 inches off plumb. Casing was designed to withstand hydrostatic pressures with a 1.5 safety factor to the large shaft and 1.25 safety factor for the smaller shafts. All casing welds were x-ray tested prior to lowering the casing in the hole. Cementing the annular space completed the operation. The total time to mobilize, drill and move off the three shafts was 363 days. The drilling operation was completed ahead of schedule and under budget.

Jan 1, 1983

By James P. Bennett

The successful reuse/recycling of refractory materials after removal from industrial service is limited because of contamination, the low value of spent materials, the low cost of virgin raw materials, the lack of driving forces such as regulations or taxes, and low disposal costs. Most spent refractory is disposed in landfills. Concerns over future liability for waste materials, corporate images, and IS0 14000 have helped to encourage recycling at some companies. The recycling practices and application for spent refractory materials at facilities successfully recycling used refractory materials will be discussed, with emphasis on similarities.

Jan 1, 2002

By W. Spencer

An examination is made of quality standards in castings produced by the South African foundry industry, and some examples are given of the consequences of poor quality to the user. Corrective measures are suggested.

Jan 1, 1981

By Nadir Ansari, Brian W. Wilson, Marina S. W. Li

"A hybrid Deep Mixing (DM) shoring system was recently constructed for a high-rise development in downtown Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada for the temporary support of a five-level basement excavation. The site is bounded by an existing bridge off-ramp structure along its longest side and by city streets on the other two sides, which formed a truncated triangle in plan. A conventional secant pile wall was installed along the longest side, about 380 ft (116 m) in length, of the site. Hybrid shoring walls (HSW) 1 and 2 were installed along two shorter sides with each being 235 to 246 ft (72 to 75 m) long. HSW 3 completed the excavation support system along the shortest side with a length of about 55 ft (17 m). Cutter soil mixing (CSM) was proposed by the excavation and shoring design-build team in lieu of conventional secant piling. CSM was the preferred method to construct the infill panels between soldier piles because of the speed at which the shoring system could be constructed in the variable fill, peat, wood waste and overburden. Design ConsiderationsTo minimize the impact on buried utilities along the outside perimeter of the excavation, the temporary shoring was designed to limit the lateral displacements to less than 0.8 in (20 mm). Factors taken into consideration for shoring design included the lateral earth pressures from the fill and native soils, groundwater pressures, temporary construction loads (e.g., crane or heavy plant/equipment), and permanent structural requirements. The subsurface conditions at this site typically consisted of fill (cohesive and granular), overlying peat and/or wood waste, overlying clayey silt to sandy silt, overlying weathered to dense to very dense clayey silt till to sandy silt till with silt layers. Localized, perched groundwater was observed within the fill, peat, wood waste and sandy silt layers above the dense till."

Jan 1, 2017

By Joseph P. Hodgson

JOSEPH P. HODGSON.-As to ".Safety First," I did not deal with that, but I will say that in 1913, the number of .men killed was nine, and that year the "safety first" program was commenced; the next year, 1914, the number was reduced to five. In 1915, I am pleased to say that the number was reduced to two in the Copper Queen's entire property, and we have none so far this year. THE CHAIRMAN (G. F. G. HERMAN, Bisbee, Ariz.).-I can say, further, that we have from eight to nineteen men per month incapacitated for more than 14 days. Those are classified in this State as serious accidents. The number of men injured has apparently increased, -but that is clue to our improved method of recording and classifying accidents, no matter how slight. C. W. GOODALE, Butte, Mont.-The importance of cooperation among the members of the staff of an industrial organization is well brought out by Mr..Hodgson's paper.

Jan 12, 1916

By George L. Reiter, George B. Clark

Commercial strip mining of coal was first begun in the state of Illinois in 1911.l The annual tonnage of coal produced from coal strip mines in the state was very small until 1924, when the strip mines shipped 1.68 pct of the total state shipping mine tonnage. Since then, strip mines have gradually come into their own by producing a sizable percentage of the coal produced in the state. Table 1 shows the coal tonnage shipped from both underground and strip coal mines in the state of Illinois for selected years. The table illustrates the major role that strip mines play in the state's coal industry. Today, strip mining is generally conducted in areas where the coal seams lie so close to the surface of earth that a stripping method of mining the coal seam is cheaper than an underground method. Strip mining not only recovers 100 pct of the coal deposit, but may also be used as a method of mining large acreages of coal abandoned by the closing of underground mines. Open cut or strip mining is a very highly mechanized method of producing coal and is carried on in three distinct and separate operations. The first of these is uncovering or exposing the coal seam so that the coal is made available for mining. The second operation is that of actually mining the coal. The third operation is the washing, crushing and grading of the coal according to the producer's market. Description of Shovel The Marion 5560 power shovel is used in the first of these three operations. The large electric-powered shovel works forward and back across the coal deposits, removing the overburden of dirt, rock, and clay in successive cuts of 30 to 60 ft deep and 40 to 80 ft wide. The shovel has a maximum cutting height of 95 ft, but around 60 ft is considered to be the maximum economical cutting height by the operators. The smaller the depth of cut, the more economically the shovel will operate until a minimum cut of 15 ft is reached, below which the efficiency decreases rapidly. The Marion shovel may be used in tandem stripping in excessive depths of overburden. The other type of excavating equipment used in the tandem team is generally a dragline with a long boom of about 180 ft. In tandem stripping, the dragline is used to remove the upper portion of the cut and to place it at a maximum dumping radius from the place of removal. The Marion 5560 power shovel is then used to remove the overburden left above the coal seam and to deposit it at the shovel's maximum dumping radius. The Marion 5560 power shovel is of gigantic proportions. It has a 102 ft 6 in. boom and 32 cu yd dipper and is

Jan 1, 1950

By Harry Jomini

Introduction The Wakefield plant of the Aluminum Company of Canada, Limited - a member of the Aluminum, Limited, group of companies - produces magnesia, magnesia fertilizer ingredient, and hydrated lime, from brucitic limestone. Wakefield is on the Gatineau river in Wakefield township, Quebec, some 22 miles north of Ottawa. The plant is near the western bank of the river adjacent to the Ottawa-Maniwaki highway and branch line of the Canadian Pacific railway. The plant is unique in the sense that it is the only place in Canada where brucite is processed. It is also distinguished for its outstanding safety record, as not a single lost-time accident occurred during either 1948 or 1949. The plant is amply provided with safety and comfort provisions in keeping with the standard practice in all of the twelve plants operated in Canada by Alcan and its associated companies. History Following the identification of brucite in the Rutherglen and Bryson districts in Ontario, occurrences of the mineral were discovered in the Wakefield area, Quebec, in 1939. After exploratory work on these deposits and investigation by the Bureau of Mines, Ottawa, on a method of extracting the brucite from the ore, a plant for treating the ore from the Maxwell property was built in 1941 by the Aluminum Company of Canada and commenced operations in early 1942. The process used is more or less in accordance with the method worked out by Mr. M. F. Goudge of the Bureau of Mines.

Jan 1, 1950

By I. E. Puddington, F. W. Meadus

The beneficiation of barite in mill tailings using an agglomeration technique has been demonstrated. Barite was selectively absorbed from a conditioned aqueous slurry into a collector oil by mechanically mixing slurry and oil. The resulting oil-bonded barite-containing agglomerate was washed, to remove gangue material, and further mechanically contacted with dilute H2SO4 This treatment resulted in the transfer of barite into the aqueous phase. Grades as high as '97% BaSO4, with recoveries of 80%, have been obtained using this technique.

Jan 1, 1973

Predict the cumulative hydrologic impact of mining on the environment. Approach A comprehensive set of computer models has been developed to predict the impact of mining on ground water. Mine inflows, drawdowns in aquifers, and ground water quality can be predicted. How It Works The Prickett-Lonnquist finite-difference groundwater model was specially modified for the hydrologic problems of mining. This model, developed at the Illinois Water Survey in the 1960's,

Jan 1, 1982

By I Doye

Acid mine drainage is a serious environmental problem caused by the oxidation of sulfide minerals responsible for highly acidic, sulfate and metals-rich drainage. Several methods of mine waste management have been developed that reduce liabilities on environment. Layered co-mingling of waste rock with compacted tailings, covers with capillary barriers effect, and co-disposal of waste rock and tailings are these new methods which are used to reduce the formation of acid mine drainage. These methods shield waste rock dumps from oxygen. These techniques could prevent oxidation reaction. In this study, alkaline industrial wastes are used with acid generating tailings to inhibit acid mine drainage. The alkaline wastes selected are cement kiln dust (CKD) and red mud bauxite (RMB). These alkaline materials are used to keep neutral conditions in the fine material layer and to inhibit the metabolic activity of Thiobacillus ferroxidans which catalyses the oxidation of sulfide minerals. A series of timed static leaching tests were performed by reacting samples of mine tailings with two, five and ten per cent alkaline material in order to characterise geochemical balance between liquid and solid phases. Column tests have been set up with oxidised tailings, waste rock, CKD, and RMB. Column tests have been carried out to simulate layered co-mingling, covers, liners, and co-disposal of waste rock and tailings. Column leach tests were conducted in order to investigate the long-term neutralisation potential of alkaline materials and the drainage water quality. Bacteria counting were performed on each sample after testing. The results obtained show that the addition of alkaline materials permit the retention of near neutral conditions in the fine material layer, thus increasing water quality and preventing bacteria development. In fact, the pH results show that the use of five per cent, ten per cent CKD or ten per cent of a mixture of CKD and RMB permit the retention of neutral pH conditions in the reactive layer. At these percent rates, the concentrations of Al, Fe, Cu, Zn, and SO4 in solution are significantly reduced compared to those obtained with the tailings only. In presence of waste rock, the relative position of the fine material layer is important. When the fine material layer overlaying reactive waste rock is composted of reactive tailings with ten per cent CKD and ten per cent (CKD:RMB), a delay was observed before achievement of near neutral pH. The neutral pH conditions remain stable over time. The mixture of CKD and RMB provides a better short-term neutralisation than the use of CKD alone. The use of alkaline materials is beneficial in order to reduce the concentrations of Fe and other metals such as Cu and Zn as well as the number of viable bacteria. The use of ten per cent RMB alone does not involve the neutralisation of reactive tailings. In the cases where the fine-grained layer are below or mixed with the waste rocks, the near neutral pH values are directly reached with ten per cent CKD. However, the pH values decrease rapidly and the number of viable bacteria increases.

Jan 1, 2003

By Ted M. Noskiewicz, James A. Ramsay

INTRODUCTION During the various stages of an underground project from inception through design and construction, probably the single factor of most interest and concern is the nature of the ground. The ground conditions more than any other item govern costs and feasibility; and although the methods available for assessing the ground have become increasingly reliable during the past thirty years, it is still very difficult in many cases to predict the behaviour of soil and rock during and after excavation. To help in this ground evaluation process, we have frequently supplemented the boring program with one or more large diameter inspection holes; and during the past eighteen years, seventeen of these holes have been constructed on tunnel projects which we have designed. There are references in the literature to similar inspection holes (1); however, as far as we are aware, no detailed description of them has been published. The behaviour of soil or rock during and after excavation and the effect of ground water on tunneling operations are of vital interest to tunnel designers and contractors. A comprehensive geotechnical investigation is therefore among the early and most important tasks carried out on a tunnel project and the backbone of every geotechnical investigation is the boring program. A series of borings, typically 50 to 100 mm (21 to 4 in) diameter, are drilled from which soil samples or rock core are recovered and the ground water observed.

Jan 1, 1979

By Enid C. Plante

This paper deals with the flotation of the mineral fluorite (calcium fluoride) and of two associated gangue minerals, calcite and quartz. The aim of the investigation was to produce "acid-grade" fluorite, which must contain less than one per cent of silica. Several reagents are used successfully in practice for floating fluorite from its ores. Oleic acid is the most widely used collector, usually at temperatures above 60°C, with sodium silicate as a dispersant for quartz and quebracho or tannin to depress calcite. Sulphides (e.g., galena) are often removed first by xanthate flotation. Many investigators23 report results in which more than 80 pct of the fluorite is recovered in a concentrate assaying 96 pct or more of fluorite and less than I pct of silica. This investigation was undertaken with the intention of floating the gangue, which is the minor constituent of the ore, from the fluorite. Hence emphasis was first placed on the cationic compounds that float quartz. No satisfactory separations were obtained in this way, and other reagents were investigated to discover whether these were more effective than oleic acid in floating fluorite from quartz in the usual way. The first part of the paper describes experiments with several long-chain collectors available commercially. Most of this work has been by captive-bubble and cylinder flotation tests, with some batch tests in a flotation machine. The second part describes the use of sodium cetyl sulphate as a collector for fluorite and includes laboratory tests and extension of the work to batch tests in the flotation machine. A method for determining the adsorption of sodium cetyl sulphate on fluorite has been developed and is described. Theory of Collection by Paraffin-chain Salts It may be assumed that these compounds are adsorbed at the mineral surface in one or more of three ways outlined by Kolthoff:12 1. Exchange adsorption between lattice ions in the mineral surface and collector ions in solution. Closely related is adsorption by the collecting mechanism postulated by Taggart,17 in which there is metathesis between the collector and the mineral cation or anion. 2. Exchange .adsorption between adsorbed gegen ions (p. 67, ref. 19) and collector ions in solution. 3. Adsorption of nonelectrolytes (polar-nonpolar) without displacement of adsorbed ions. With cationic collectors, inorganic cations in the solution (e.g., hydrogen ion) compete with the collector ions and therefore act as depressants, while inorganic anions have the same effect with anionic collectors. From this follows the general conclusion that ions of the same charge as

Jan 1, 1949

By F. Chiesa

Forty aluminium A356 castings were poured on a Low Pressure Permanent Mould industrial machine, 500x700mm in platen size. The 152mm wide casting comprised three steps, 25mm, 13mm, 6mm in thickness and a 2.5mm overflow which allowed to assess the thin wall capability of the process. The casting campaign, which produced 40 parts, allowed to test the influence of various production parameters including the time of application of the pressure in the crucible, artificial cooling of the mould and casting rate. The thermal history in the mould was recorded over the 40 cycles, which allowed to construct a reliable thermal model of the mould/casting assembly. The metallurgical quality of castings representative of the various conditions was assessed in the 25mm, 13mm and 6mm plates. This included measuring the level of microporosity, the dendrite fineness (DAS), along with the tensile properties in the T6 condition. The radiographic quality per ASTM E155 was also determined. Modelling filling and solidification allowed to verify the validity of the predictions based on available relationships relating microporosity, secondary dendrite arm spacing (DAS) and local tensile properties (Quality Index, Q) to the local thermal solidification parameters.

Jan 1, 2007