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By T. S. Lundy, J. Askill

J. Askill and T. S. Lundy (Oak Ridge National Laboratory)—Moore has proposed a simple correlation between the activation energy for solute diffusion in fee metals and the atomic volume of the diffusing species using both tracer and chemical-diffusion data. The first point we wish to make is that it is wrong to attempt such correlations without separating the two types of data. Activation energies obtained using tracer techniques cannot, in general, be directly compared with those obtained from chemical-diffusion experiments. A knowledge of the variations of chemical potentials with composition is necessary and chemical-diffusion data must be corrected for such variations, even for dilute alloys, before a comparison is possible. Secondly, for nickel, iron, aluminum, and lead, Moore neglected a number of recently published works, e.g., Al26 and Mn54 in aluminum,46 cr51 in nickel,47 and Fe55 in iron.48 These and others should have been used. If one considers only the tracer diffusion data, there is left no simple correlation of the type proposed by Moore. For example, in the case of solute diffusion in aluminum the only reliable tracer data listed by Moore are for zinc and aluminum. The nickel, cobalt, and iron data of Agarwala49 are representative of near-surface diffusion-not bulk diffusion. In conclusion we suggest that for tracer diffusion data in these fee metals there is no justification for proposing any simple correlation of activation energy with atomic volume using the limited data that are presently available. R. H. Moore (author's reply)—The writer has proposed a simple correlation which is useful in estimating the internal consistency of diffusion data. The accuracy of the correlation is, of course, a function of the number of data available. Lundy and Askill take issue with the writer's decision to include data for the systems: nickel, iron, aluminum, and lead, taking the view that the data are insufficient to establish the correlation. The writer agrees that the data are insufficient and has cau- tioned the reader that the correlation is tentative in these instances. Inclusion of these systems is justified by the interesting trends the correlation reveals. For example, the distinction between interstitial and substitutional diffusion may be clearly established, Figs. 4 and 6, and the behavior of transition elements and nontransition elements is indicated to parallel the behavior illustrated by the silver and copper systems. Lundy and Askill have singled out the aluminum system for special criticism. The writer chose to discuss the data for diffusion of iron, nickel, and cobalt in aluminum in the terms used by the original authors9 and has included the comments of Balluffi.l0 The writer did not intend the reader to conclude that data for these elements should correlate with data for the nontransition elements as Lundy and Askill have evidently assumed. Iron, nickel, and cobalt form intermetallic compounds with aluminum, so the activity coefficients of these elements may be expected to deviate markedly from unity. This may account for the low frequency factors observed by Hirano.9 The nontransition elements, on the other hand, yield relatively simple phase diagrams with no evidence for intermetallic compound formation as in the case of iron, nickel, and cobalt. In dilute solution, Henry's law should be closely obeyed, the activity coefficients should not deviate markedly from unity, and the effect on the activation energy should not be large. The accuracy of the correlation applied to these systems will improve as the data is extended. It does not seem unreasonable to conclude that its extension should be encouraged.

Jan 1, 1965

The Kyaukpahto gold deposit is located at latitude 23¦ 47Æ 55" N and longitude 95¦ 56Æ 35" E in the Kawlin-Wuntho district, Sagaing Division, Myanmar. Gold mineralisation is hosted in sandstone of the Male Formation (Eocene) and occurs as stockworks and disseminations. The high-grade gold mineralisation is locally concentrated in a breccia zone. The gold deposit is closely associated with a NNE-SSW trending fracture system that forms tensional open fractures. These tensional zones are thought to be directly related to the Sagiang transfer fault system that experienced several hundred kilometres of northward dextral movement during the post-Upper Miocene. Major sulfide minerals are pyrite and arsenopyrite with minor galena, chalcopyrite and sphalerite. Gold mineralisation is associated with intense silicification, sericitisation and argillic alteration. Primary Type I fluid inclusions in the quartz from the mineralised zone are 5 to 15 ¦m across and yield homogenisation temperatures of 239¦ - 310¦C and salinities of 1.2 - 10.9 wt per cent NaCl equivalent. Laser Raman spectroscopic analysis indicates the presence of CO2 and CH4 in Type II fluid inclusions. Sulfur isotope analysis of disseminated pyrite in the ore zone by the laser ablation method indicates d34S values from -5.48ë to +5.53ë. The geology, alteration, ore mineralogy, fluid inclusion microthermometry and sulfur isotope data of the Kyaukpahto deposit are consistent with an epithermal ore deposit model for the deposit. However, the presence of CO2-liquid bearing fluids and the detectable CH4 in the gaseous phase of the fluid inclusions conflict with a typical epithermal origin for the Kyaukpahto deposit. The host siltstone and mudstone sequence, trace element geochemistry, and the disseminated nature of sulfide and gold mineralisation are also common characteristics of a sedimentary rock-hosted gold deposit, and these features may indicate a Carlin-like affinity. An EXTENDED ABSTRACT is available for download. A full-length paper was not prepared for this presentation.

Jan 1, 2008

By John E. Young

United States Steel Corporation's Winifrede Mine is operated by Lynch District in the mountainous region of Eastern Kentucky. This region is characterized by narrow mountain ridges and precipitous slows which present both an opportunity and challenge in the design and selection of coal handling facilities for the movement of coal from the section belts to the railroad cars. The narrow finger ridges precluded use of underground haulage and, thereby, presented the opportunity to use high capacity equipment on the outside bench. The precipitous mountain slopes, steepest at the Winifrede seam horizon, presented a challenge to select a solution for lowering the coal approximately 1000 feet from the seam level to the valley floor railroad load-out point. It was evident from the start of planning that these two factors predominated; namely, rail haulage and coal lowering, and solutions to these would determine the final design of the Winifrede Mine coal handling facilities.

Jan 1, 1970

By Bruce K. Hebblewhite

BHP Billiton Illawarra Coal operates Dendrobium Mine in an area 10-20km west-northwest of Wollongong in the Southern Coalfield of New South Wales, Australia. The mine recently completed longwall mining in Area 3A adjacent to an overhanging rock feature known as Sandy Creek Waterfall, which had been identified as a significant, and potentially sensitive natural surface feature of the environment. This waterfall lies within the Sydney drinking water catchment area, in a surface terrain of variable topography where non-conventional subsidence behaviour such as valley closure, and far-field horizontal movements are known to occur, over and above conventional subsidence responses to mining. As a part of the conditions of approval to mine, Illawarra Coal undertook to protect the waterfall and the section of Sandy Creek immediately upstream of the waterfall from the effects of longwall mining using an innovative management process and an array of very high resolution monitoring systems. This paper outlines the type of non-conventional subsidence effects that can occur; the range of different monitoring regimes adopted in response to such effects in order to develop an understanding of the valley closure phenomenon in proximity to the waterfall and provide suitable early warning data. The paper also describes the management processes that were adopted, incorporating the use of these monitoring regimes in order to successfully protect the waterfall from the valley closure effects of mining four adjacent longwall panels in close proximity to the waterfall while continuing to maximise recovery of the coal resource in the area. The management structure adopted involved a technical committee, a steering committee, and an external independent reviewer. The technical committee was responsible for design of the monitoring systems, interpretation of the results, and making timely recommendations to the company steering committee who were then able to make informed decisions on when to cease mining each adjacent panel. The steering committee comprised Illawarra Coal management and technical personnel. Although the steering committee took advice from the technical committee, all decisions relating to mining were made by the steering committee. An external reviewer was engaged by the steering committee at the end of each longwall panel to review the results, interpretation and management decisions. This management structure was effective in successfully protecting the very sensitive structure of Sandy Creek Waterfall from potential impacts of nearby mining in the midst of active ongoing natural erosion processes.

Jan 1, 2014

By R. H. King

Underground coal mining machinery utilizes portable electric sables, "trailing cables." to obtain power from load centers or distribution boxes. Cables are frequently damaged since mobile equipment, poor lighting, and restricted space are inherent to coal mining operations. Normally, the damage is repaired by splicing--the joining of one or more severed conductors and replacing insulation and jacket. Figure 1 illustrates a typical single conductor splice. Although the repair seems simple, difficulty of the splicing process is exemplified by the many safety hazards and frequent production delays that result from defective splices. Forty-two cable splice related injuries were reported to the U.S. Bureau of Mines in 1972 and 1973. Additionally, 17 splices related fires were reported in the three year period prior to December 1972. Assuming the damaged area is quickly located, an average splice time for a two conductor cable is twenty minutes. Some operators estimate this delay is incurred once per day per operating section. If one ton per minute is averaged throughout the shift, each unit could loose 4800 tons per year from splice delays. An estimated cost for materials and labor to make a splice is $20. The expenditure could result in a $4800 annual cost per section. The estimated expense does not include wages of other personnel waiting for the repair to be completed. Nevertheless, labor and materials cost is minor compared to the income lost from decreased production.

Jan 1, 1975

By Patricia Pride, Mike Robison, Jon Bergenthal, Wojciech Klecan

"The Lower and Middle River Des Peres (LMRDP) CSO Storage Tunnel is the largest single component of Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District’s (MSD) CSO control system improvements planned to meet consent decree requirements for MSD’s Lemay Service Area. The 13.7-km (8.5-mile) long, deep, hard rock tunnel will have a finished diameter of 9.1 m (30 ft). Beginning at the Lemay Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP), the alignment follows the channelized River Des Peres to the outfall of the existing Forest Park tubes, as indicated in Fig. 1.The project includes three construction shafts, 34 intakes and a deep, cavern-style pump station located adjacent to the WWTP. The tunnel will be driven from the Defense Mapping shaft to the Macklind shaft. Another shaft is located near the midpoint at the tunnel in River Des Peres Park.The Forest Park intake, located at the upstream end of the tunnel just beyond the Macklind shaft, is a large, tangential vortex intake structure. With a peak flow rate of 170 m3/s (6,000 cfs), it will have a 6.1-m (20-ft) diameter dropshaft to transfer flow into the tunnel.The project includes another three large tangential vortex-flow intake structures with peak flow rates ranging from 28 to 44.5 m3/s (990 to 1,570 cfs). These large intakes are located at points where three large sewers (formerly creeks) enter the River Des Peres. Dropshaft diameters for these intakes range from 3 to 3.7 m (10 to 12 ft) in diameter. The 30 remaining intakes are smaller tangential vortex-style, with dropshafts in the range of 0.8 to 1.7 m (30 to 66 in.) in diameter.Each intake structure drops flow into a deaeration chamber constructed adjacent to the tunnel at tunnel depth. Intake tunnels transfer flow from the deaeration chambers to the main tunnel. Most of the intake tunnels are short. However, two are long. The Glaise Creek tunnel will extend 762 m (2,500 ft) from the main tunnel to the Alaska Park intake, while the Rock Creek tunnel will extend 823 m (2,700 ft) from the main tunnel to the Rock Creek intake. The dewatering pump station, located at the downstream end of the tunnel, will be built inside a large, horseshoe-shaped cavern with two access shafts. Excavation of the cavern and its access shafts will be performed by the tunnel contractor. Build-out of the dewatering pump station will be performed under separate contract."

Jun 1, 2019

By Richard Franchot

IN the inevitable conquest of the blast furnace by metallurgical science in the solution of the problem of how to make more and better iron or to burn less coke, or both, it is highly desirable first to find out why the efficiency of the furnace generally is no better than it is. The immediate need would seem to be a theory to account for the existing facts. Explanation for the quantitative results obtained in current practice has been strangely lacking. One reason for this may be found perhaps in the custom of think-ing of efficiency in terms of coke consumption. Before efficiency can be explained there should be a fairly exact knowledge of what it is. A statement of the pounds of coke used per ton of iron made may have value in indicating comparative results in smelting similar ores with similar cokes, but it tells very little of the efficiency of the operation. When the materials are different, one practice burning 1800 lb. may be less efficient than another using 2000 lb. A better measure is the pig and slag per unit of coke. What is needed is a specific description of efficiency as a' definite quantity having an exact meaning. Such description is afforded by expressing efficiencies in terms of the respective proportions of the fuel energy absorbed in and chargeable to the various actions known to be -taking place in the furnace. Concretely, the energy value of a pound of coke having 85 per cent carbon blown with air heated to 1200° F. is about 7650 lb.-cal. (13,770 B.t.u.). And the work done in smelting a pound of average iron from hematite, comprising reduction and melting with production of a half pound of free running slag from an equal weight of limestone,

Jan 9, 1926

By I. Fatt

A recently developed system for measuring electrical resistivity of liquids without use of electrodes offers some interesting possibilities in electric logging technology. The equipment as supplied by the manufacturer is satisfactory for continuous mud logging on a drilling rig or for measuring mud or filtrate resistivity in the laboratory. A simple modification of the commercially available instrument makes it suitable for measuring resistivity of core samples in the laboratory. The continuous measurement of mud resistivity on a drilling rig is a convenient means for detecting mixing of formation water with the drilling mud. Such information is useful to the geologist, the mud engineer and the logging engineer. However, continuous mud resistivity logging by conventional electrode-type resistivity cells is beset with difficulties. The mud, sand and rock chips abrade the electrodes, thereby changing the cell constant and eventually destroying the cell. Also, additives and crude oil in the mud may poison the electrodes by coating them with a nonconductive material. An electrode-type resistivity cell. therefore, may give erroneous readings under certain conditions. Electric logging companies circumvent the electrode poisoning problem by using a four-electrode resistivity cell for measurement of mud resistivity. In this cell, change in electrode area does not change the cell constant. However, the four-electrode cell is difficult to adapt for continuous reading and does not solve completely the problem of electrode abrasion by the sand and cuttings in the mud. The measurement of electric logging parameters on core samples in the laboratory encounters some of the same problems discussed in connection with mud logging. Ideally, the electrical resistivity of a core sample should be measured by placing platinum black electrodes in direct contact with the plane ends of a cylindrical or rectangular sample. Platinum black electrodes however, are much too fragile and easily abraded to be brought in contact with a rock sample. Also, oil or other constituents in the fluid contained in the sample will poison platinum black. In practice, gold-plated brass electrodes, in an AC bridge circuit operating at about 1,000 cps, are used for routine core analysis. For more precise work in research studies, a four-electrode scheme is used.',' Preparation of the samples for the four-electrode method is much too involved for routine core analysis. An apparatus for measuring resistivity of liquids without use of electrodes was described by Guthrie and Boys3 in 1879. They suspended a beaker, containing the electrolyte, by a torsion wire and rotated a set of permanent bar magnets around the vessel. The eddy currents induced in the electrolyte reacted against the rotating magnetic field to develop a torque, which was measured as a deflection of the torsion wire. In 1879 this method could not be made precise or convenient because of the lack of strong permanent magnets. The writer described a very greatly improved apparatus similar to that of Guthrie and Boys, but it was not suitable for continuous measurements or core samples.' Many electrodeless resistivity devices using radio frequency current are described in the literature.5, 6 These generally are suitable only for noting the end-point in a chemical titration. They do not measure resistivity, instead measuring a complex quantity which includes the dielectric constant and the magnetic permeability. The first description of the apparatus to be discussed in this paper was given by Relis.7 Improvements and modifications are described by Fielden,s Gupta and Hills,> and Eichholz and Bettens.10 DESCRIPTION OF APPARATUS The apparatus used in this study is based on the principle that the solution under measurement can form a loop coupling two transformer coils, as shown in Fig. 1. For a fixed AC voltage applied across Coil A, the voltage appearing across Coil B is a function of the resistance of the liquid-filled loop. The details of the voltage generating and measuring circuits are given in Refs. 7, 8, 9 and 10. A block diagram of the equipment is given in Fig. 7. Special features worth mentioning are the operating frequency of 18,000 cps and the automatic temperature compensation which results in the given resistivity readings being automatically correlated to 25°C. The liquid loop supplied by the manufacturer, shown in Figs. 1 and 2, was modified for use in core analysis (Fig. 3). The core sample under test is substituted for a section of the original loop. As shown in Fig. 3, the unit accepts only plastic-mounted cylindrical core specimens. A Hassler-type sleeve easily can be designed for the unit if unmounted cores are to be measured. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE MUD LOGGING A simulated mud line was set up in the laboratory.

By R F. Weinberg, R A. Armstrong, A G. Tomkins

We investigated the duration of formation of the giant Ok Tedi porphyry copper-gold deposit in Papua New Guinea using zircon SHRIMP U-Pb dating. The intrusions that host the Cu-Au mineralisation have a maximum age of 1.43 ¦ 0.22 Ma. Since previously published K-Ar dates on the same intrusion constrain the last thermal event at 1.11 ¦ 0.05 Ma, we conclude that the magmatic-hydrothermal event that produced the deposit lasted ~0.45 million years (Myr). A comparison of Ok TediÆs calculated volatile fluxes with those from arc volcanoes and active mineralising hydrothermal systems suggests that the efficiency of metal deposition is a key factor in determining the duration of deposit formation. An EXTENDED ABSTRACT is available for download. A full-length paper was not prepared for this presentation.

Jan 1, 2008

By Rodolfo Nava

El presente texto señala las innovaciones tecnológicas en los sistemas de soporte de las minas Industrial minero México S.A. con el objetivo de incrementar los factores de seguridad y productividad. Dichos factores son: marcos de madera, marcos de acero, anclas de concha de expansión, anclas de varilla corrugada y cemento inyectado a presión, anclas de cable de acero y cemento inyectado a presión, tubos ranurados de fricción, anclas de varilla corrugada y cartuchos de resina, concreto lanzado; solo o en combinación con alguno de los tipos de anclaje anteriormente citados. En ese sentido, se considera las experiencias desarrolladas en la Unidad Taxco, con los tubos ranurados de fricción, que es el tipo de anclaje de más reciente aparición en el mercado de los Estados Unidos.

Mar 1, 1981

By L. Webster Wickes

The bad effects of arsenic in commercial copper are well-known to metallurgists. The refining of copper by electrolysis eliminates practically all of the arsenic, provided certain requirements are fulfilled. The first, and most important, of these requirements is, that the voltage of the depositing current shall not be too high. It has been known for some time that the percentage of arsenic in the deposited copper increases with the voltage. To investigate the relation between the electro-motive force (e.m.f.) and the freedom of the precipitated copper from arsenic, the experiments were made, of which a brief summary is here given: I made three copper-arsenic alloys, containing respectively 3.56, 2.24 and 0.96 per cent. of arsenic. From these alloys I cast several anodes. For cathodes I used sheets of thin copper,

Jan 1, 1905

By Nelson G

The construction and placement of tunnels by means of jacking is continually advancing. This paper presents an outline of the construction of a major highway tunnel placed by a combination of mining and progressive placement by hydraulic jacking of precast units. Features of the project were the relatively shallow ground cover between rail and road routes over the tunnelling and jacking operations and also the weight of tunnel sections to be moved into position.

Jan 1, 1993

By Regina N. Tempel, Timothy E. Eastep, R. Craig Ford, Bryce R. Roming, Geoff Clothier, Maggy F. Lengke

The Climax Mine, near Leadville, Colorado treats acid drainage in a lime neutralization chemical treatment system. Chemical treatment has been successful in reducing the concentration of metals to below surface water discharge effluent limits, but lime usage has not been optimized. A geochemical modeling approach has been developed to increase the efficiency of lime neutralization. The modeling approach incorporates two steps: (1) calibration, and (2) calculation of amount of lime needed to increase pH and remove metals. Results of our work quantify the lime treatment process and improve our ability to predict overall water quality.

Jan 1, 2000

By Floyd JM

Conventional smelting reactor systems were designed to recover only one main element from their feedstocks. They did not possess sufficient flexibility to allow optimisation of co-production of multiple values from a complex feed.New reactors such as Sirosmelt and Top Blown Rotary Converters are providing new possibilities for making separation between components and this is of great significance for the complex feeds which are becoming prevalent in the metal extraction industry.Process routes using chemical procedures which take advantage of the flexibility of these reactors will be discussed in relation to a number of possible feedstocks.

Jan 1, 1985

By René Dufour

Jusqu?à son acquisition par MM René Dufour et Alain Robin en 1994, les claims miniers et les droits de surface de la propriété étaient détenus depuis 1953 par la société Québec Columbium, une filiale de la socité américaine Kennecott Copper qui y a réalisé d?importants travaux miniers. En 1995 la compagnie NIOCAN inc. fut incorporée; ses actions furent inscrites à la bourse de Montréal en 1997, et à la bourse de Toronto en décembre 1999. Jusqu?à maintenant, NIOCAN a investi plus de 7 millions de dollars dans le développement de sa propriété minière de niobium située à quelques 40 kilomètres au nord-ouest de Montréal. Le haut rendement économique des deux gisements principaux que compte exploiter la compagnie, le S-60 et le HWM-2, a été établie par des études de faisabilité effectuées par le consortium Met-Chem/SNC-Lavalin. La mission que s?est donnée NIOCAN inc. consiste à mettre en production ses deux gisements et à devenir ainsi productrice de ferroniobium dans les plus brefs délais. Figure 2 Le projet est présentement à un stade avancé d?obtention du certificat d?autorisation du ministère de l?Environnement. À plus long terme, la compagnie compte aussi exploiter les sous-produits de ses gisements (apatite, forsterite, magnétite, calcaire et terres rares).

May 1, 2003

By B. Lustman

IT has been known for a number of years that the addition of certain alkaline-earth and rare-earth metals to nickel-chromium base electric resistance alloys causes marked increase in their oxidation resistance as measured in an intermittent oxidation test similar to the ASTM—B 76-39 test. However, the mechanism whereby such additions confer protection is still unknown. On the basis of the experimental observation that the increase in life in intermittent tests of nickel-base alloys is proportional to the atomic radius of the added element, Hessen-bruchl has proposed that the added metal ions occupy holes in the oxide lattice which prevent diffusion of nickel ions in the oxide. Horn2 has postulated that the effect of such additions is to accelerate the rate of diffusion of chromium atoms in the metal and thus to favor the formation of Cr2O3 scales. Hickman and Gulbransen3 concluded from electron diffraction observation that the addition of the elements in question results in the formation of a barrier to the diffusion of nickel ions to the surface. In connection with some experiments conducted to develop a test for the resistance to oxidation of alloys in massive form under conditions of intermittent heating and cooling, some features of the oxidation of nickel-chromium base alloys were revealed which may serve to elucidate the mechanism of protection conferred by rare-earth and alkaline-earth elements. Specimens of cylindrical shape 0.360 in. diam x 0.37 in. long were placed in alumina thimbles and inserted into and withdrawn from a Globar-heated furnace operating at 2150°F at 7.5-min intervals. The weight of oxygen absorbed as well as the weight of oxide spalled were measured at intervals. With the particular experimental conditions used, the specimens in a 7.5-min cycle were at temperature for 2 min which corresponds to the heating time of the ASTM test. The weight changes of similar specimens under conditions of continuous heating in air at 2150°F were also measured. The specimens after oxidation were examined metal- lographically and samples of the spalled oxide collected for X-ray diffraction identification of the phases. The specimens used were from the same lot of material used by Hickman and Gulbransen3 and had the compositions shown in table 1. Included in table I are results of ASTM life tests on the materials in the form of wires. These materials, their composition and the ASTM life test data thereon were all supplied by F. E. Bash of the Driver-Harris Co. It may be noted that alloy 13246 of 80 pct nickel, 20 pct chromium nominal composition showed the shortest life in the ASTM test; alloy 12246 with the addition of small amounts of the elements zirconium, calcium, and aluminum, intermediate life; and alloy 12046 with the further addition of silicon, the longest life. In fig. 1 are shown the results of intermittent oxidation tests made on bulk specimens at 2150°F as well as continuous tests conducted at the same temperature. Duplicate tests were made on each specimen. The ordinate scale, inches of metal oxidized, was derived from the experimentally observed weight gain of oxygen by assuming the scale to be entirely Cr2O3. It may be noted that the metal-loss curves during intermittent oxidation show a constant or continuously increasing rate of weight

Jan 1, 1951

The number of employees required to operate a continuous operation was determined. The fixed and variable costs of the operation were separated, generally along the lines of labour and stores components. Proprietary `MicroPlanner' scheduling software was used to assess resource utilisation under the constraints generated by seven-day operation to determine the level of resources required and ensure that the maximum use was being made of all resources. The mine economic model was used to account for both the fixed and variable costs of the various task to determine the cost and net revenue of the various scenarios. The analysis indicated that mine output could be increased while reducing the unit production cost. Several eight- and 12-hour, seven-day rosters were sourced and ranked for their potential to improve production and communication, and for their effect on employee health and lifestyle.

Jan 1, 1995

By Bell LC

Overburden removal, mining and reclamation are now accepted as the basic operational steps involved in the winning of coal by open cut methods. To attain the lowest operational cost, the recontouring and revegetation of spoilpiles must be planned concurrently with the planning of overburden removal and mining. The earthworks associated with reclamation work on spoilpiles often account for 75 - 90 per cent of total reclamation costs. Experience at Callide Mine has shown that the way that spoilpiles are contoured does influence water retention and can reduce erosion from rainfall run-off. However, provided the recontoured slopes meet'Mines Department specifications, the quality of reclamation work is judged not by the quality of the earthworks but by the plant regrowth on the reshaped surface. Thus it is the quality of the revegetation which is of prime importance. For vegetation to be successful, time must be spent on planned research into methods of overcoming plant nutrient deficiencies and selection of suitable grass and tree species. The research programme undertaken at Callide Mine consists of three stages :- laboratory studies glasshouse trials field trials

Jan 1, 1978

By F. M. Boler

The U.S. Bureau of Mines has configured a flexible data acquisition and analysis workstation, which incorporates control and analysis software written in-house for use in mining research experiments conducted in the laboratory and in operating underground mines. This data acquisition system combines computer-automated-measurement-and-control (CAMAC) modular instrumentation with a Unix-based graphics workstation. The data acquisition front-end hardware can be interfaced to almost any computer. CAMAC instrumentation modules adhere to mechanical, electrical, and digital interface standards and can be custom designed or purchased off the shelf. Communications along the CAMAC bus are regulated by the crate-controller module, which contains the only hardware link to the computer interface. Software support for the data acquisition and analysis workstation consists of a series of functions and programs written in the "C" programming language designed to provide flexible and fast data acquisition, processing, and analysis. The user can interactively control the digitizers and other CAMAC modules by sending standard CAMAC read, write, and command function codes from a menu-driven program. Automated data collection is achieved through software that responds to hardware interrupts triggered by acoustic emission or microseismic events. Graphics display routines are used to plot part or all of the data and provide the ability to process and store signal information selectively.

Jan 1, 1990

By Michael S. Wieland

This report investigates whether it is tractable and thereupon reasonable to remove the booster influences when ranking the toxic fumes of non-cap-sensitive mining explosives. The hazard potential is represented by relative fume toxicity RFT, the resultant influence computed from a formulated rule with a restricted set (tally) of fume components and multiplying constants. The RFT result is compared to the rule criterion that represents the worst case tolerable toxicity stipulated by regulations or otherwise. The typical nonstoichiometric booster composition can render notable unwanted influence on the RFT ranking results. Historically, the remedy was to shoot the booster separately and reduce the trial concentrations by the relevant subtractions. Unreal negative concentration results were noted on rare occasions, revealing the faulty nature of the reduction procedure. With thermodynamic reaction chemistry codes TDRC, on the other hand, the booster ingredients can be retained in or removed from the reactant tabulation, yielding reduction factors taken as the concentration ratios for the two circumstances. The underlying presumption regarding reduction factors is that the ratios of component concentrations with and without the booster ingredients when resolved theoretically ought to equal those rendered experimentally, when tractable. Upon rearranging the presumed relationship, the unadjusted fume concentrations divided by theoretical reduction factors yield the wanted readjusted fume concentrations, thereby removing the booster influence without generating unreal negative concentrations. The work principle from thermodynamics restricted by the constraint of zero-net interaction loss is utilized in conjunction with the TDRC to resolve the wanted (Z-state) fume spectrum. This circumvents the recognized difficulty with traditional hydrodynamic detonation theory that is related to the nonideal reaction characteristics of typical mining explosives. The tacit characteristic of the Z-state resolved from the non-trajectory work principle is that it can not be remedied or tampered with, unlike the traditional trajectory techniques where the reaction products can be readjusted by changing formula representations, nullifying specific reactions or otherwise manipulating the thermodynamic trajectory process. Though the work principle theory is an unfinished formulation, the Z-state results prove worthy enough for rendering trends and comparisons and reaching otherwise useful conclusions. Further refinements should yield more reliable fume spectra and indicate explosive composition readjustments that would reduce toxic effects within underground mines and the wider world environment.