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By Terry W. Mellors, Robert J. F. Goodfellow

The underground industry has been forced to reconsider risk management sincethe introduction and implementation of the “Joint Code of Practice for Risk Management of Underground Works in the UK” published in 2003 and the subsequent international version published by the ‘International Tunneling Insurance Group’ (ITIG) in January 2006.What does this mean for major tunnel projects in the US and elsewhere? The discussion will highlight the implementation of the Codes to date, risk management principles embodied in the Codes and the use of risk registers as a projectmanagement tool and the management of risk.

Jan 1, 2007

By R. J. Colony

DEPOSITS of iron are widely scattered in the folded Cretaceous rocks and the associated igneous intrusives of Puerto Rico. Most of them are too small for commercial development, but a few have aroused some scientific and economic interest, among them the large body of residua] limonite at the west end of the island near Mayaguez1-6 (Fig. 1) and the mixed hematite and magnetite deposit on the southern slopes of the Sierra de Cayey, about four miles north of Arroyo.7-9 Neither of these orebodies has been developed, nor have investigations of the widely distributed deposits of magnetite, which include all the remaining occurrences of iron deserving of economic consideration, proceeded beyond the exploratory stage. With the possible exception of the mixed deposit near Arroyo, the magnetite is directly associated with andesitic and dioritic intrusives, which invade the Cretaceous rock section, and the bulk of it, occurring in calcareous sediments, is clearly of contact-replacement origin. The small deposit on Rio Portugues, north of Ponce, is found in a limestone band near its contact with an andesite dike.10,11 Two deposits of unde-

Jan 1, 1935

By J. C. Stankus

To protect mine personnel and moving equipment at underground roof fall areas, mine operators typically install steel sets, which are covered with wooden blocks and backfilled with an expanding type cement material. In large roof falls, the cost of void backfilling becomes prohibitively high causing some mines to leave the voids open. However, the durability of wood over time and the capability of the steel set and wood lagging to resist falling rock are unknown. This has caused concerns for the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) and ground control engineers. During past two years, Keystone Mining Services, LLC designed and developed various impact-resistant steel set designs that were approved by MSHA and installed in various underground fall rehabilitations. This paper presents the patent pending impact-resistant steel set design methodology, including (1) steel set design per AISC national standard, (2) design, development, and laboratory testing of a water proof composite impact resistant lagging panel, and (3) impact resistant steel set design based on Law of Conservation of Energy. Two underground cases will be included detailing the application of the system.

Jan 1, 2011

By Miller F. S

The famous Golden Mile of Kalgoorlie in Western Australia was, between 1888 and 19ft, one of the richest and most important gold camps in the world. Annual production, which reached a peak of nearly 1,300,000 oz. in 1903, however dropped to below 400,000 oz. after 1920.Depression seized the camp, and many mines closed down. The output from this old field is now steadily mounting under the stimulus. of a higher price for gold. In 1935 300,000 oz. of precious metal were recovered and the future is bright. Total production from the field is 21,400,000 oz., whereas something like £23,600,000 have been paid in dividends.The Golden Mile has been studied by many geologists. Their somewhat diverse findings were published for the most part in the Australian technical press which, unfortunately, is not sufficiently represented in foreign libraries.The following article is based on an eighteen months' study in the district for Gold Mines of Kalgoorlie Ltd., preceded by four years' experience with almost identical rock types in the, Porcupine district of Ontario. The excellent record of observed fact left by previous invesigators, augmented by talks with observant mining men...

Jan 1, 1937

By D. Bienstock

As part of the development of the hot-carbonate scrubbing process by the Bureau of Mines, the corrosion rates of steel in boiling solutions of potassium carbonate saturated with carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide were determined, and the effectiveness of various inhibitors was evaluated by Bureau researchers. The highly corrosive solution of carbonate saturated with carbon dioxide can be inhibited with a 0.2-percent concentration of either potassium chromate or sodium metavanadate. Solutions of carbonate saturated with carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide are mildly corrosive, 0.01 inch per year. Complete absence of corrosion is obtained with 0.2 percent sodium metavanadate or 0.15 percent vanadium pentoxide. Oxidizing inhibitors such as potassium chromate are destroyed in the alkaline sulfide mixture, N-alkyl trimethylene diamines, at a concentration of 0.1 percent, lower the corrosion rate to about 0.005. Sodium metasilicate, at a concentration of 0.6 percent, completely inhibits the corrosion but may deposit free silica in the system. Commercial cladding materials such as the epoxy coatings also prevent corrosion.

Jan 1, 1962

At Great Boulder Gold Mines Ltd. a number of attempts were made to remove water soluble copper and iron salts from calcined pyritic concentrates but variou~ problems arose and the methods were abandoned.A method of rapid washing has been developed and although some problems still exist a workable process was established which resulted in substantial savings of reagents used for the cyanidation of calcine.INTRODUCTIONIn the Great Boulder flowsheet crude ore is ground in cyanide solution, then thickened, agitated and subjected to two stage filtering. Secondary filter discharge is pulped with flotation circuit water, gassed with sulphur dioxide to precipitate soluble gold and activate pyrite, and after the addition of copper sulphate and xanthate, the pyrite and tellurides are recovered by flotation. Flotation tailings are thickened and pumped to the disposal area and concentrates are calcined in Edwards roasters. Calcine is washed to remove water soluble copper and iron salts and the washings pumped to the flotation section where the copper is used as an activator. The washed calcine is cyanided and returned to the crude ore circuit via the thickeners. Solution for precipitation in the Merrill Crowe is drawn from the crude ore thickeners.Prior to the introduction of calcine washing the calcine contained 7 lb/ton copper of which approximately 60 per cent was water soluble. It also contained approximately 90 lb/tol'l of water soluble iron salts. Both the copper and...

Jan 1, 1964

By Parker A. J, Ruane M, Wadley L. G B

Copper, sulphur, nickel, cobalt, palladium, silver, and gold can be recovered from the copper sulphide precipitated from the "copper boil" of the Sherritt-Gordon nickel process used at Western Mining Corporation's Kwinana nickel <refinery. The method is based on an oxidative ammonia leach of copper, nickel, and the precious metals at temperatures below 40°C to produce, in part, elemental sulphur, in the residue. This is followed by heating to decompose thiosulphate and remove some ammonia with precipitation of some of the copper, palladium, gold, and silver. Addition of sulphur dioxide to pregnant liquor precipitates copper, as either Chevreul's salt or copper(I) ammonium sulphite, together with the remaining gold and silver. Less than 10 per cent of the dissolved palladium and less than 1 per cent of nickel and cobalt precipitate to this stage.In one option, the Chevreul's salt is dissolved in a solution of copper(II) sulphate, acetonitrile, and water to generate a solution of copper(I) sulphate. Gold and silver do not dissolve. The solution of copper(I) sulphate is thermally disproportionated by distilling acetonitrile to give exceptionally pure copper powder, with desirable characteristics for powder metallUrgy. Nickel, cobalt, and ammonium sulphate are recovered from the motherliquor of the Chevreul's salt precipitation by return to the Sherritt-Gordon process, where recovery procedures already exist. Palladium is recycled for eventual removal as a sulphide with the gold and silver.In the other option, solid copper(I) ammonium-sulphite is <thermally disproportionated in water at 150°C to copper powder.

Jan 1, 1978

By S. J. Jung

The most frequent causes of accidental injury and fatality are carelessness and ignorance; and the most common accidents are haulage accidents, fall, drowning, and fire. However, in this modern day and age, severe injury has become the dire consequence of an ever-increasing number of industrial and mining accidents as well as sport-, military- , etc. Mine accidents have declined dramatically in number and severity through decades of research, technology, and preventive programs. However, preventing recurrence of disasters like those of the past remains a top priority requiring constant vigilance by management, labor, and government. The goal of the present research is to investigate and identify root causes associated with types of mining accidents (victim being caught by an equipment, bodily motion, over exertion, etc) and nature of injuries such as (sprain and strains, fracture, dislocation, amputation, etc). Further, we hope to discover the impetus of the root causes occurring more and more often in this modern day of technology and quality awareness. With the different dimensions of accidents and injuries brought into the fold, there is the need for researchers and mining operators to comprehend and better still visualize significant patterns of associations among these variables of interest. We assume that, there is a high correlation between many dimensions of nature of injuries and types of accidents. This suggested a principal component analysis to reduce the dimensions for easy and amenable interpretation.

Jan 1, 2012

By A. R. Miller, G. Desrivières, T. MacKinnon, H. Bursey, M. C. Bétournay, B. Replogle, D. L. Barnes, P. Laliberté

"A mine production locomotive, the world’s first applied industrial fuel cell vehicle, has been designed and tested in the context of a number of proof-of-concept projects supported by the Fuelcell Propulsion Institute, an international consortium of stakeholders dedicated to facilitate the commercialization of fuel cell vehicles.The locomotive’s simple electric-powered motor and controller system was ideal to study a number of requirements related to fuel cell power application: hydrogen power plant operation, underground hydrogen use, risk and regulatory requirements, production performance versus the conventional battery- powered locomotive version under measured duty cycles and production requirements, power plant design improvements for other fuel cell vehicles, and cost benefit aspects.This article will focus on the design and testing aspects of this project which has led to successful performance demonstrations of the vehicle under surface and underground conditions at two mines. It will also present information on the creation of a safe, reliable, and efficient power plant that fulfilled its design objectives, including longer productivity time for a given vehicle fill-up."

Jan 1, 2004

By Gene Baker

A new Safety Library Publication (SLP), SLP-27, which is titled “Security in Manufacturing, Transportation, Storage and Use of Commercial Explosives” was recently released by the Institute of Makers of Explosives (IME). SLP-27 makes recommendations for both general security and enhanced security at explosives sites when security risk levels, declared by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) using its Advisory System, have temporarily increased.

Jan 1, 2006

By Louis R. Iverson

Analysis of seed numbers present in topsoils (a grazed area, an ungrazed area, and two stockpiles) indicated that seeds of the most prevalent colonizers (e.g., Kochia scoparla, Setaria virdis, and Salsolo collins) were not present in the topsoil upon respreading but rather appeared by immigration from the surrounding areas. The grazed site had a seed density of over 7,700 seeds m-2 (of which 43% were from weedy species) and the ungrazed site had 3,900 seeds m-2 (of which 7% were weeds); the stockpiled topsoils had very low seed densities (255 and 520 seeds m-2). Seed densities and diversity decreased with depth on both the grazed and ungrazed sites; this was especially true on the grazed site where 94% of the seeds were found in the surface 7.5 cm. Several species were present in the seed bank (e.g., Hedeoma hispida, Artemesia ludoviciana, A. frigida, and A, abslnthlum) which were also found on the three and four year old mined sites in the aboveground vegetation survey. Seeds from these species may germinate after several years of dormancy, thereby starting populations on mined sites and enhancing plant diversity. Seed bank analysis was also undertaken on mined sites ranging in age of 2 to 6 years (plus an unmined site). Mined site seed densities ranged from 1630 to 3980 seeds m-2, with the four year old site having the greatest density (largely because of high Melilotus spp. populations); unmined site and stockpiled topsoil sample had lower seed densities. A significant positive correlation between total viable seed content and soil-water saturation percentage indicated that soil texture may influence seed viability/ dormancy (the. finer the material, the higher the seed population). As with the previous part of this study (and other studies), there was a poor correlation between the aboveground flora and the belowground seed composition.

Jan 1, 1982

By W. E. Coates

The social ecology of surface mining in urban areas is illustrated by a case study of a recent application for the opening of a new gravel pit in the city of Guelph, including the design of a progressive extraction-rehabilitation sequence for the property, investigation of the ecological impact of the proposed operation, history of the application procedure for a zoning change and the relationship of the operating plan to provincial legislation controlling surface mining.

Jan 1, 1972

By Pedro Condori

Usualmente, la minera Atacocha está expuesta a grandes precipitaciones pluviales durante una larga temporada húmeda. Por lo que es necesario eliminar gran parte del agua colectada por las lluvias a través de las plantas de tratamiento de aguas de exceso que garanticen los contenidos metálicos por debajo de los limites máximos permisibles. En ese sentido, el presente texto describe la aplicación de un modelo matemático para comprender, manejar y optimizar las diferentes variables que afectan al proceso del tratamiento. El modelo está basado en los fenómenos de transporte de solución a través de la pila y la cinética de cianuración de los metales contenidos en el mineral, el cual permitirá simular los cambios en los parámetros operacionales y metalúrgicos como diferentes tipos de mineral, flujos entre plantas Merrill Crowe y CIC, un mejor tratamiento de excesos de agua para minimizar su efecto en la producción de oro y el manejo óptimo de soluciones y predicciones a futuro de producción de oro.

Sep 9, 2007

Effect of Matching Relationship Between Bubble Size and Particle Size on Kaolinite Flotation

Sep 13, 2010

By W. C. Phalen

During the search for deposits of soluble potash salts in the United States, carried on by the United States Geological Survey, much infor- mation was collected on the salt resources and industry of the United States. The more important features of the information thus gath- ered, compiled, and digested may be classified under five headings, as follows: 1. Geology of the salt deposits of the United States. 2. Theories relating to the origin and formation of salt deposits. 3. Chemical composition of saline materials in the United States, principally rock salt and natural and artificial brines. 4. Statistics of salt production in the United States. 5. Technology of salt production. The first four items are not discussed in this report, but their treatment will comprise a separate report published by the Geologi- cal Survey, which will supplement this report, relating to salt- making processes, and will describe comprehensively the salt resources of the United States. Persons desiring a copy of that report should apply to the Director of the United States Geological Survey, Wash- ington, D. C. In addition to the discussion of processes, this report gives a brief description of the more important sources of salt in the United States. This description has been abstracted from the much length- ier description contained in the report to be published by the Geo- logical Survey.

Jan 1, 1917

By S. H. Lorain

This paper, which describes lode gold mining in Idaho county, Idaho, is one of a series on western mining districts being published by the Bureau of Mines. It describes mining and milling practices, gives costs, and discusses transportation, climate, power, labor, and other conditions that affect them. The materiel upon which the paper was based was gathered during a field survey in the summer of 1937.

Jan 1, 1938

By S. A. Aye

Vibration levels on a variety of equipment in a South African opencast mine were measured in this study. The well-established ISO 2631-1 (1997) standard methodology was used for the computation of weighted root mean square (WRMS) and vibration dose value (VDV). This method was used to evaluate the whole-body vibration (WBV) on a wide range of equipment in the opencast mine using the two main parameters, namely the daily exposure A(8) which is based on the WRMS concept and the VDV which measures shocks. The results obtained show that while the majority of the equipment rendered exposure levels that are below the exposure limit value (ELV), exposure levels on about half of the equipment do exceed the exposure action levels. The study also highlights the importance of shock in the observed responses.

Jan 1, 2011

By C S. Szentesy, K Howie

The Rosia Montana gold deposit is located within the æGolden QuadrilateralÆ area in the Apuseni Mountains of Transylvania, Romania. The deposit is situated approximately 85 kilometres north of the regional centre of Deva, within the province of Alba, at elevations of up to 1100 metres above sea level. The Rosia Montana deposit contains a current resource of 344.07 million tonnes at an average grade of 1.3 grams per tonne (g/t) gold (Au) and 6.0 g/t silver (Ag) for a total (measured, indicated and inferred) contained resource of 14.29 million ounces of gold and 67.00 million ounces of silver. The resource was calculated using a 0.6g/t Au cut-off, a 10 x 10 x 10 metre block size and multiple indicator kriging. The low sulfidation style epithermal mineralisation at Rosia Montana is hosted within Tertiary age dacite intrusions and related vent breccias. Mineralisation is generally disseminated and associated with silica, adularia, illite, pyrite and carbonate alteration of host rocks, with minor late carbonate-base metal veins. Precipitation of precious metals is generally considered to have occurred as a result of over-pressurization, boiling and subsequent brecciation. The dacite intrusions are hosted in Cretaceous shallow marine and deltaic shales and slates, which overlie older Paleozoic sedimentary and metamorphic rocks within uplifted sections of oceanic sea floor.

Jan 1, 2002

By P R. L Browne

Study of geothermal systems in the Taupo Volcanic Zone (TVZ) has significantly advanced our understanding of the processes of epithermal mineralisation. The three main lessons learnt are: 1. knowledge of their chemical anatomy; 2. precious metal transport and deposition; and 3. hydrothermal alteration zoning. These are described in the context of ore formation and exploration.

Jan 1, 1997

By Ray L. Tobie, Douglas E. Julin

GENERAL DESCRIPTION Block caving is a distinct caving method applied mostly to large, massive, ore bodies because of its in¬herent low cost and high production capabilities. Areas of sufficient size are removed by undercutting so that the mass above will cave naturally. Drawing of the caved ore at the bottom of the ore column causes the caving action to continue upward until all of the ore above the undercut level is broken into sizes suitable for handling. When properly applied, block caving results in a lower mining cost per ton than any other under¬ground method. There are three distinct forms: (1) dividing the horizontal area into rectangular or preferably square or nearly square blocks, drawing evenly over the entire area to maintain an approximately horizontal plane of con¬tact between broken ore and caved capping; (2) divid¬ing the horizontal area into panels across the ore body, retreating by undercutting manageable areas from one end of the panel to the other and maintaining an in¬clined plane of contact between the broken ore and caved capping (thus the name panel caving); and (3) no division of horizontal area of the ore body into defi¬nite blocks or panels (this is termed mass caving). Undercutting may be from wall to wall, retreating from one end of the ore body to the other, maintaining an inclined plane of contact between the broken ore and caved capping. The total active caved area is deter¬mined by the size of block that will not produce undue stress on workings below the undercutting level and by total production requirements. This type of operation is also referred to as panel caving at some properties. SUITABLE ORE BODIES Block caving in its various forms is applicable to deposits of various shapes and ores of various strengths. Its success is governed by rigid requirements and limi¬tations. In unsuitable deposits or where improperly em¬ployed, the loss of ore may exceed that of any other mining method. Good planning, systematic work pro¬cedures, careful supervision, and good judgment con¬tribute to its success. Ore Characteristics Included as a necessary characteristic in an ore body suited to a successful block-caving operation is a proper fracture pattern. Ore hardness should be another gov¬erning factor, and the toughness or softness of the ore should be considered. There must be sufficient horizon¬tal area available for expansion of the undercut, if neces¬sary, to start the caving process. Large, massive, ore bodies usually meet these conditions. Veinlike deposits must be wide and dip rather steeply to conform to the block-caving limitations. The capping must be of such a nature as to cave when the underlying ore is being removed since the weight of the overburden aids in crushing the ore. The most favorable capping character¬istic is that it breaks into coarse pieces and resists attrition as the block is drawn. Soft capping, by breaking into fine pieces and sifting into the ore or channeling through the ore to the drawpoints, can seriously dilute the ore and hinder the extraction of clean ore from the blocks. Types of Ore In block caving, a fairly uniform distribution of val¬ues in the ore is necessary. Grade values may range from low grade to high grade, but most often the sys¬tem is applied to low-grade ores. Wide veins, thick beds, or massive deposits of homogeneous ore overlain by ground which will cave constitute suitable ore bodies. The ore must be such that it can be supported while blocks are being developed and undercut but breaks up readily when caved. Some applications include porphyry copper, disseminated molybdenite, hematite in the Lake Superior iron district, limonite deposits in northern Spain, the diamond mines of South Africa, asbestos and nickel in Canada, and massive magnetite in Pennsylvania. Size and Shape Outline of the ore body should be fairly regular, and the sides of the ore body should dip steeply. It may not be economical to mine small portions of ore extending into the walls of the deposit, and low-grade inclusions in the ore cannot be left unmined. Some dilution of the ore, as mining progresses, by low-grade or barren cap¬ping is inevitable and, unavoidably, some clean ore is left between drawpoints. Determining Cavability The use of rock mechanics is sometimes advantageous in helping to determine the cavability of an ore deposit. The US Bureau of Mines has information and testing ability which can assist in determining the cavability of ore types. Several competent consulting orga¬nizations knowledgeable in rock mechanics can also as¬sist in evaluating the cavability of an ore body. Some recent work has been done to better define the cavability index of various ore bodies; an example of how this was determined is discussed by McMahon and Kendrick (1969). The intensity of the fracture pattern is a critical parameter to be analyzed. The question to be answered is, "How intense must the fracture pattern be?" Table 1 is a tabulation of the size of rock fragments that appear at the drawpoint of various block-cave mines around the world. These are indicative of the fracture-pattern spac¬ing and, as can be seen, they vary substantially from the almost sandy material at the Mather mine to fairly sizable blocks at the Grace mine. Several sets of fractures are essential to promote good caving. Ideally, two vertical sets at nearly right angles to each other and a third set nearly horizontal are required to insure a good caving ore body. Since initial caving of an ore mass is almost always by the action of gravity acting on these planes of weakness, it is doubtful

Jan 1, 1982