Search Documents

By William A. Price

The objective of this paper is to outline the approaches used in British Columbia to address the challenges posed by metal leaching and acid rock drainage (ML/ARD). Challenges include the large financial costs, the need for site-specific assessments, the large information requirements, the need for mitigation measures to be designed and financed in a manner that permits long-term performance, the lack of long-term operating experience, the ongoing changes in many important processes, the need for pro-active detection and resolution of concerns, difficulties in predicting the potential for ARD or significant metal leaching, the need for new tools, and the multidisciplinary, highly specialized nature of the work. Consequently, mines must be planned, operated and closed in a manner that permits regular review, detailed monitoring and adaptive management. Proper consideration of the challenges involved, including a plan of how all outstanding concerns will be addressed, studies to address areas of significant uncertainty and caution in the absence of the required understanding, should ensure environmentally safe practices in the future.

Nov 1, 2002

By Michael W. Neill, O&apos

The engineering profession generally does not accept vibro-driven piles as bearing piles unless their capacities can be verified by restriking with an impact hammer, which significantly reduces the economic benefits of vibratory driving. In part, the concern for capacity development in piles driven by vibration arises out of observations that vibro-driven piles do not develop capacities equivalent to those driven by impact (e. g., Mosher, 1987). Nonetheless, if capacities are predictable, vibratory installation may be more cost effective than installation by impact, due to savings in time of installation, even if capacities are lower than those of impact-driven piles. Throughout the past few decades, a number of attempts have been made to develop capacity prediction methods for vibro-driven piles, mostly along the same lines as methods for impact-driven piles. That is, (1) totally empirical formulae, (2) power balance / power transfer formulae, and (3) "time domain-nonlinear" (TDN) computational procedures such as the wave equation. Some of the formulae have been based partly on field experience, but the majority have been developed from simple theoretical models with parameters evaluated from laboratory studies. Neither these formulae nor the TDN solutions have been systematically checked (or modified) by recording appropriate field data over a variety of site

Jan 1, 1989

By Takashi Sasaoka

A great deal of coal will be left under the final end-walls in Chinese surface coal mines because of lower slope angle in shoveltruck mining systems and larger mining depths. In traditional surface mining systems, the coal under the end-walls will be buried by the inner dumping site, and these coal resources are generally abandoned. Considering these situations, the application of end-wall mining systems was considered in order to recover the residual coal around the end-wall. This mining system can improve economic benefits by exploiting haulage and ventilation roadways from end-walls and utilizing the existing transportation systems. In order to develop the appropriate pillar design methodology for the end-wall mining system, several empirical formulas and methods were discussed based on the formulas developed so far and the mechanics properties of coal and rocks in the Chinese coal mine. From the results of a series of theoretical and numerical analyses, it can be concluded that the coal pillar width calculated by the Mark- Bieniawski formula may serve as an important reference for pillar design in end-wall mining systems, and the end-wall mining system can increase the coal recovery from residual coal resources around highwall and reduce the effect of underground mining operation on slope stability

Jan 1, 2013

By Richard LeSar

Sustainability requires more from engineering than the development of technology. Engineering must also take into account the effects of that technology on the integrated social, economic, and environmental processes that constitute our society. Schumacher introduced the powerful concept of an appropriate technology, by which he meant a technology that is appropriate to the environmental, educational, cultural, and economic situation for which it is intended. While the principles of appropriate technology have been most commonly applied in the developing world, they are equally valid in the developed world as well. In this paper we will review appropriate technology and discuss its role in helping to define a way to think about this broad view of sustainable engineering. We will end by presenting one strategy for introducing the concepts and applications of appropriate technology in an engineering curriculum.

Jan 1, 2010

By Helen S. W. Chow, Harry G. Poulos

Most modern buildings involve the construction of a basement, often of several levels, to maximize the floor area ratio. The basement walls are generally designed for excavation retention purposes only, and are infrequently considered as elements which can help to support the structural loads from the superstructure. However, the basement walls can provide substantial stiffness and resistance to structural loads, and may contribute to the overall foundation capacity and stiffness. This paper presents a simplified approach to approximate the overall foundation capacity and stiffness considering the various components of the foundation system, including the foundation piles, the basement floor slab, the basement walls and interaction between each foundation component. The effect of the basement walls in enhancing the foundation stiffness values is examined by reference to the results of finite element analyses which consider a foundation subjected to vertical, horizontal and moment loadings. The approximate approach is found to give results that are adequate for a preliminary assessment of the effects of basement walls on the overall foundation response, without the need for detailed three-dimensional finite element analyses.

Nov 1, 2022

By M. M. Hajdasinki

A project's rates of return (RORs)1, be it the internal rates return (IRRs) or one of the many IRR surrogates, frequently needs to be approximated. The success and efficiency an ROR- approximation procedure depend on the quality the approximation-initiating parameters, such as bounds or seed values (guesses). The existing approximation procedures commonly use bounds and guesses suggested by intuition rather than supported by mathematical considerations. This paper presents three mathematically founded ROR-bounding and eleven ROR-guessing approaches and examines their suitability by using examples of typical project cash-flowpatterns (CFPs). The calculated bounds and guesses not only improve the approximation efficiency, but also allow the process of the ROR discovery to be automated, thereby making it more convenient and reliable.

Jan 1, 1999

By R. Laplante, P. Radziszewski, P. De Ciccio

"Predicting the effect of wear can lead to improved control strategies that can possibly minimize the risk of catastrophic failure due to wear while maximizing useable life. In the field of geological exploration, diamond drill rod wear illustrates just such a case. Wear conditions vary with geological formations and compositions. The objective of this paper is to determine a general relationship, based in theory and practice, that will approximate drill rod wear and therefore predict remaining drill rod life in the context of Canadian, Australian and South American drilling campaigns. Simulation results allow the definition of simple graphical tools that permit the estimation of the potential drill depth remaining on a given drill rod string. IntroductionWear, in many industrial processes, is an undesired phenomenon for which enormous efforts are made to control, if not eliminate. However, wear, in many other cases, is an intrinsic phenomenon of the given process. In such cases, predicting the effect of wear can lead to improved control strategies that can possibly minimize the risk of catastrophic failure due to wear while maximizing useable life. In the field of geological exploration, diamond drill rod wear illustrates just such a case where abrasive conditions vary with geological formations and compositions.A number of studies have been published on drill rod wear especially with regards to the petroleum industry over the last thirty years (Lewis, 1968; Rollins, 1968; Smith, 1978; White 1978; Rowe and Wilson, 1981; Cheng, 1982; Eustes, 1986; Dudman et al., 1989; Besaisow et al., 1990). Of these, most studies covered management techniques (Rollins, 1968; Smith, 1978; White, 1978; Rowe and Wilson, 1981; Besaisow et al., 1990) and some described case histories (Cheng, 1982; Eustes, 1986; Dudman et al., 1989). However, little (Lewis, 1968) was presented that could aid in predicting wear in the particular case of diamond drilling in the metal mining industry.The objective of this paper is to determine a general relationship, based in theory and practice, that will approximate diamond drill rod wear and therefore predict remaining drill rod life in the context of Canadian, Australian and South American diamond drilling campaigns."

Jan 1, 2002

Approximation of Surface Area of Fines in Blast Induced Fragmentation The surface area of fragmentation, especially in the finer size fractions, is a useful property to characterise the mechanisms of rock breakage. In the past, researchers have made assumptions with regard to the shape of fragments in order to estimate surface area, such as that all fragments are the same shape or all fragments are spheres. Often these assumptions were developed with inappropriate measures and returned considerable variability and error for the calculation of surface area. This paper reports a model to estimate fragmentation surface area from sieve sized raw data and a density measurement, with experimental validation down to a size fraction of -45 + 38 ?m in a range of rock types. After characterisation of particle shape, a range of fragment shapes was found to be in each size fraction. Nevertheless, in the ?2 sieve series the average fragment mass, volume and the size fraction standard deviations could be predicted reasonably accurately. Ellipsoid geometry was used to describe particle shape. Using these parameters and the number of fragments (also predicted) in each sieve size the individual surface area of each fragment was simulated.

Sep 13, 2010

By Renato Cortes, Claudia Lopes, Ewerton Campos, ALEXANDRE CALDELLAS BARBOSA

São diversas as razões para se utilizar a realidade virtual (RV) em treinamentos, dentre elas pode-se destacar a redução de custos, redução de riscos ao ambiente e envolvidos e também a possibilidade de reproduzir ou simular situações impossíveis, muito complexas ou ainda em outro lugar ou até mesmo em outro espaço temporal. Nesse trabalho será apresentado um estudo exploratório sobre o uso de RV, realizado uma pesquisa de mercado e apresentado o estudo de caso de como a ArcelorMittal Tubarão vem trabalhando essa tecnologia nos seus treinamentos corporativos no ano de 2019. A aceitação da tecnologia pelos empregados nos treinamentos foi acima de 98% e também foi demonstrado que além de aumentar a atratividade e a retenção do conhecimento, os ganhos foram ligados também a redução de riscos, redução de tempo de treinamento, experimentação de situações críticas, redução de custos, ou seja aumentou a eficiência e eficácia do treinamento.

Oct 1, 2019

By Ernesto Diez-Canseco Yañez

El siguiente trabajo señala los modos de aprovechamiento del mineral de carbón denominado "andracita", en tanto materia combustible de producción de las briquetas. Es decir, se busca crear un producto biocombustible que mantenga su calidad ecológica y que a su vez genere mayores posiblidades de venta en el mercado internacional, Para ello es necesario, evaluar el nivel de los aglutinantes en su composición y tratar de conservar sus características primigenias de dicho producto.

Jun 20, 1954

By L. Harris

Los finos de coque son materiales que se producen en toda planta de gas y coque y que no pueden ser usados directamente en los hornos metalúrgicos debido que sus propiedades físicas y quimicas ison ndeseables. En este sentido, los finos de coque se producen en altos hornos de fierro y plomo, donde una capa de carbón sin aglomerar y parcialmente coquificado, permanece en la parte superior de la carga y es durante esta descarga que se separa del coque grueso. Sin embargo, el coque descargado es muy grande para el horno y debe reducirse a un tamaño pequeño. Por tanto, el texto señala que para que el coque llegue a los hornos debe contener más de 20% de finos y en el caso de los hornos de plomo, es necesario que se separe de los finos debido a que puede generar un sofocamiento en el rendimiento de los hornos. Así también, describe la operación de la planta de coque en La Oroya, como las características deseadas del coque.

Nov 20, 1967

By Evandro Moraes da Gama

Os solos de capeamento de minas de minério de ferro, calcário, gnaisse, granito, entre outros, possuem um característica em comum, são solos lateríticos gerados a partir das intempéries e alteração das rochas citadas. Este fato proporciona a formação dos minerais caulinita, goethita, ilita, etc. na composição mineralógica desses estéreis. Em função de suas características químicas e mineralógicas esses estéreis argilosos podem ser utilizados como matéria-prima para produção de ligantes de alta resistência e de múltiplas aplicações. Nesse trabalho é apresentada a tecnologia flash para calcinação de solos de capeamento de minas para produção desses ligantes (PI 0604142-6A). Essa tecnologia permite processamento termoquímico de material pulverulento, ou seja partículas finas, o que não é possível em fornos convencionais de calcinação. No reator flash as partículas de estéreis argilosos são expostas a temperaturas moderadas durante frações de segundo, provocando o fenômeno de desidroxilação dos minerais hidratados contribuindo para a formação de metacaulinita, metagoethita, metailita, etc. Em função das condições cinéticas e termodinâmicas reinantes no processo os constituintes mineralógicos produzidos são amorfos e possuem uma alta superfície de reação, permitindo alcançar valores típicos de área superficial do ligante acima de 90 m2/grama. Os ligantes produzidos a partir desses estéreis apresentam aplicações em diversas áreas tais como indústria cimenteira, construção civil, pavimentação e metalurgia.

Aug 1, 2018

By Juliana Simões Chagas Licurgo

Este trabalho tem por objetivo avaliar o efeito da incorporação de até 40% em peso de um resíduo gerado na forma de lama proveniente da etapa de lapidação da fabricação de vidros em cerâmica vermelha. Inicialmente o resíduo foi caracterizado pelo emprego das técnicas de fluorescência de raios-X, peneiramento e sedimentação e dilatometria ótica. A plasticidade das composições foi determinada pelo método de Atterberg. Corpos-de-prova foram obtidos por prensagem uniaxial a 20 MPa e queimados nas temperaturas de 900 e 1000ºC. As propriedades físicas a mecânicas avaliadas foram: retração linear, absorção de água e tensão de ruptura à flexão. Os resultados indicaram que o resíduo é apropriado para o uso em cerâmica vermelha em mistura com argilas, contribuindo para reduzir a absorção de água e aumentar a resistência mecânica da cerâmica nas temperaturas investigadas.

Aug 16, 2017

By Aline da Luz Pascoal

A crescente preocupação com a produção e descarte de rejeitos advindos da exploração mineral, principalmente no que diz respeito aos fatores econômicos e ao meio ambiente, tem aguçado a procura por novos métodos de processamento que ajudem a minimizar este fato. De maneira que, serão avaliados e discutidos os dados de produção de um concentrado (sinter feed fino) em um circuito de concentração magnética na empresa Pedreira Um Valemix em Catas Altas/MG, tendo como alimentação da planta de beneficiamento um blend composto pelo rejeito outrora gerado nesta mesma planta (teor 40,0%) Fe e o ROM (teor de 42,0% Fe). Os resultados encontrados mostraram-se promissores, alcançando uma recuperação mássica e recuperação metalúrgica de, respectivamente 60,15% e 79,75%, e também geraram maior estabilidade do processo, prolongamento da vida útil da mina e maior receita devido à utilização de um produto que outrora era considerado como rejeito.

Oct 30, 2017

By José Velasquez, Peter Espinoza

El presente estudio se centra en el cálculo y análisis de las velocidades de las ondas P y S, y su relación con el mapeo geomecánico en diferentes formas (GSI, RMR, Q), con el objetivo de establecer que el parámetro “b” y su relación con estas velocidades son indicadores estructurales de la calidad de las rocas en yacimientos mineros. Esto proporcionaría una aproximación más precisa del mapeo geomecánico realizado por medio del sistema de monitoreo microsísmico instalado en la mina Pencas de la veta Choloque en la U.P. Marañón correspondiente a Compañía Minera Poderosa S.A. y su evaluación en campo

Sep 29, 2023

By John Mills

THREE case histories from professions other than engineering will serve to introduce ideas basic to this discussion. Case (1) Date, about 1900. A young man, B. D. from a three-year graduate course in a prominent divinity school, was for two years a successful pastor of a small church; then friction over theological matters arose with a fundamentalist deacon of the "Bible belt" type. He resigned, returned to his university for a four-year medical course, interned for two more, and thereafter was successful and apparently happy as a physician. We may assume that he was converted in early adolescence and vowed himself to service as a minister. Acceptance of his announced career by parents, friends, and teachers plus his own determination confirmed his choice until illiberal criticism threatened his usefulness and he awoke to the fact that his inner needs were not along the direction in which inertia and his conscience had constrained him.

Jan 1, 1947

By Augusto V. Ramírez

"El presente texto revisa algunos aspectos de la historia minera en los Andes Centrales -particularmente la negociación minera de Aguas Calientes, ubicada en Casapalca. La mina data de 1917, cuyo propietario fue Ricardo Bentín Sánchez. Asimismo, se revisa los antiguos procesos de extración y ventilación, la oficina de concentración, enfermedad y accidentes de trabajo y los aspectos sociales de la vida en Aguas Calientes. "

Feb 1, 2017

By Augusto V. Ramírez

El presente texto describe el proceso e historia de una de las minas más importantes del Perú: Santa Bárbara, ubicada en Huancavelica (Sierra Central). El D. Amador de Cabrera, natural de la ciudad de Cuenca (España), fue el primer propietario de la mina Santa Bárbara - en tanto granjeó de la estirpe del cacique Navincopa –cinabrio cristalizado– en los cerros de Huancavelica desde mucho antes de la llegada española. Posteriormente, fueron los godos, quienes introdujeron el conocimiento empírico del azogue como base para obtener mercurio o hidrargiro, sin intuir que luego el cinabrio sería importante para procesar el mineral argentífero. En 1560, Bartolomé de Medina divulga su método de "purificación de la plata" por medio del mercurio, convirtiéndola en condición sine qua non para la producción de plata en las colonias. Este afán lo realizarían por ‘factorización’, donde se concesiona el transporte a un súbdito español dado al comercio bajo, cuya responsabilidad se limita al azogue hasta las minas. El azogue será realizado en cientos de miles de pequeñas bolsas especiales forradas con cuero de llama o carnero que llamaron badanas y cuya principal bondad era encajar perfectamente en los lomos de las llamas para no dañarlas.

Aug 1, 2016

By Fausto Valdeavellano

El presente texto es una sistematización sobre políticas de desarrollo minero y sus interrelaciones con la realidad nacional a través de un marco conceptual metodológico adecuado. Para ello, se considera las dimensiones del desarrollo minero, las alternativas tecnología-producto, los aportes de la minería al desarrollo integral y los instrumentos relevantes para la aplicación de las políticas que interesan. Asimismo se presenta formas de formular, aplicar y evaluar políticas y planes mineros, así como se perfila la búsqueda de un consenso nacional para la adecuación de dichas políticas.

Nov 20, 1978

By H. Rosenthal, A. L. Jamieson

Stress-corrosion cracking of copper-base alloys is of considerable importance and has been the subject of many investigations which employed various accelerated tests and long-time service tests. The outstand¬ing accelerated tests used are variations of either the mercury cracking test reported by Rogers in 1905( 1)2 or the ammonia test reported in 1910(2). The ease of applica¬tion of the mercury test is probably the reason industry adopted it. Subsequent investigation of this test(3,4) revealed that a minimum threshold stress was necessary before mercury cracking could develop. Since season cracking has been found in some instances in caliber 0.3o ammunition which has passed the mercury test, it is evident that the threshold stress value of the mercury test may be too high for dis¬tinguishing between acceptable and un¬acceptable caliber 0.30 cartridge cases. This condition has naturally led to the study of an ammonia test with its ability to cause cracks with almost any stress level. But the lack of a definite threshold value means that standards are necessary for evaluating the results of the ammonia test.

Jan 1, 1945