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By R. H. Beaton

"About 1905, a plant was constructed at C1ayburn, in the Lower Fraser valley, 4'5 miles east of Vancouver, to process shales from Sumas mountain into heavy clay products. In time, mining operations were found to be more favourable on the opposite side of the mountain, and by 1913 a plant, which soon became the centre of activities, was completed at Kilgard. Destroyed by fire in 1949, the plant was rebuilt on modern lines, and a second plant was established at Abbotsford, six miles to the west. The Company, from its beginning, has grown with development of the Province. In recent years, operations have kept abreast of latest developments, particularly in materials handling. Latest innovation has been the complete conversion of fuel from Bunker C oil to natural gas. In 1957 the Company became associated with Harbison Walker Refractories, Limited, a leader in its field in the United States, and its title was changed from Clayburn Company, Limited, to Clayburn-Harbison, Limited. Currently, the Kilgard plant produces sewer pipe, agricultural tile, and flue liner; the Abbotsford plant, refractories and facebrick. Improvement of products and development of new ones are tasks of a recently-completed testing and research laboratory.Almost all ware produced is marketed in Western Canada or Washing-ton State. The Vancouver area absorbs the bulk of structural clay products."

Jan 1, 1959

By S. N. Monteiro, C. M. F. Vieira, M. M. Ribeiro

"This work has as its objective to evaluate the effect of incorporation of the powder waste retained in the eletrostatic precipitator of the sintering stage from an integrated steel making plant on the physical and mechanical properties of a red ceramic. Formulations were prepared with incorporation of the waste in amounts up to 20 wt.% into a kaolinitic clay. Rectangular specimens were prepared by uniaxial mold-press at 20 MPa and then fired at 750, 900 and 1050°C. The evaluated physical and mechanical properties were: linear shrinkage, water absorption and flexural rupture strength. The results showed that the waste has a potential to be used into red ceramics. The incorporation of the waste enhanced the properties of the ceramic, decreasing the water absorption and increasing the mechanical strength at all investigated temperatures.IntroductionThe sintering stage of an integrated steel-making plant is dedicated to the agglomeration of a mixture of iron ore, coke or coal, fluxes and water [1]. It is a common practice in this stage to use of solid wastes with great amounts of iron in the form of sludge and powder. One of the atmospheric pollutants generated during the sintering process is the particulate material, which is normally retained in an equipment denote as electrostatic precipitator. This equipment retains very small particulates, present in the gaseous emissions by application of an electrical potential difference in between the plates that the fluid is forced to go through. [2]."

Jan 1, 2011

By Haydn H. Murray, Sam H. Patterson

The term "clay" is somewhat ambiguous un¬less specifically defined, because it is used in three ways: (1) as a diverse group of fine-¬grained minerals, (2) as a rock term, and (3) as a particle-size term. Actually, most persons using the term "clay" realize that it has several meanings, and in most instances they define it. As a rock term, clay is difficult to define be¬cause of the wide variety of materials that com¬pose it; therefore, the definition must be gen¬eral. Clay is a natural earthy, fine-grained ma¬terial composed largely of a group of crystalline minerals known as the clay minerals. These minerals are hydrous silicates composed mainly of silica, alumina, and water. Several of these minerals also contain appreciable quantities of iron, alkalies, and alkaline earths. Many defini¬tions state that a clay is plastic when wet. Most clay materials do have this property, but some clays are not plastic; for example, halloysite and flint clay. As a particle-size term, clay is used for the category that includes the smallest particles. The maximum-size particles in the clay-size grade are defined differently on various grade scales, Soil investigators and mineralogists gen¬erally use 2 micrometers as the maximum size, whereas the widely used scale by Wentworth (1922) defines clay as material finer than ap¬proximately 4 micrometers. Some authorities find it convenient to use the term "clay" for any fine-grained, natural, earthy, argillaceous material (Grim, 1968). When used this way, the term includes clay, shale, or ar¬gillite, and some argillaceous soils. Even though no standard definition of the term clay is accepted by geologists, agronomists, engineers, and others, the term is generally un¬derstood by those who use it. Clay is an abun¬dant natural raw material, and it has an amaz¬ing variety of uses and properties which will be discussed in this chapter. Clays rank among the leading industrial min¬erals in both tonnages produced and total value. Their importance is indicated in Table 1, which lists the 1970, 1971, and 1972 production and values according to the U.S. Bureau of Mines (Ampian, 1972). Adequate reliable statistical data on which to summarize world production of clay are un¬available; this paragraph outlines the world re¬quirements for clay only in a very general way. According to one estimate, the world bentonite production in 1972 was 3.5 million tons (Anon., 1973a), but in the authors' opinion it was prob¬ably at least 5 million tons. The total fuller's earth produced was at least 1.5 million tons and may have been as much as 2 million tons. The total world kaolin production in 1972 was more than 10 million tons. Approximately 7 million tons of this total was produced in only two regions-the Georgia-South Carolina kaolin belt in the United States and the Cornwall re¬gion, United Kingdom. The world's 1972 out¬put of ball clay, which is also produced pri¬marily in the United States and the United Kingdom, was approximately 1.5 million tons or perhaps a little more. The total world fire clay production in 1972 was probably about one and one-half to two times and the miscellaneous clay production three times the United States production. As industrial minerals, clays are a complex group that consists of several mineral commodi¬ties, each having somewhat different mineral¬ogy, geologic occurrence, technology, and uses. In this chapter these commodities are organized

Jan 1, 1975

By B. F. Buie

Included in the general category of clays is a large and varied assemblage of nonmetallic silicate minerals which characteristically occur as fine-grained particles having flaky, sheetlike, or rod-shaped form. Most, though not all, are hydrous aluminum silicates. Amount and kind of impurities vary greatly, and these strongly influence the uses of the various clay types. Clays occur in a wide range of geological situations: as bedded sedimentary deposits composed of the weathering products of feldspar and other minerals; as alteration products of igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks weathered or hydrothermally altered in place; and, to a more limited extent, as hydrothermally introduced materials. TYPES AND MARKETS On the basis of chemical composition and crystal structure, two major groups of clay minerals recognized are the "kandites" or kaolin group, and the "smectites" or montmorillonite group. Another major type is illite, particularly important as a constituent of shales. Two additional mineral species having economic importance are attapulgite (palygorskite) and sepiolite. For present purposes, however, a classification based on utilization is more appropriate. The U.S. Bureau of Mines recognizes six types of clay: kaolin, ball clay, fire clay, bentonite, fuller's earth, and miscellaneous clay. Kaolin The kaolin group of minerals consists of the mineral species kaolinite, halloysite (metahalloysite), dickite, and nacrite, although the latter two are not being produced commercially. Kaolin, also called china clay, is a high-purity white material. Perhaps it is best known as a principal ingredient in the manufacture of chinaware, porcelain, and other high-quality ceramic products. However, by the mid-1970s very close to 50% of the kaolin produced in the United States was going to the paper industry for use as a filler and coating material. Manufacture of refractories uses about 12% of U.S. production. Kaolin is also used in plastics, in the rubber industry as a filler in footwear, electrical cable, and similar products, and as a conditioner of rubber for automobile tires to add strength and abrasion resistance. Smaller amounts are used in printing ink, paint, and adhesives; as insecticide carriers; in the production of catalysts for the petroleum refining industry; and in many other industrial and commercial applications. Production and use of kaolin in the United States doubled in the ten years from 1946 to 1956, and doubled again by 1966. Growth continues at a rate of about 7 % per annum.

Jan 1, 1976

By Haydn H. Murray, Sam H. Patterson

The term clay is somewhat ambiguous unless specifically defined, because it is used in three ways: (1) as a diverse group of fine-grained minerals, (2) as a rock term, and (3) as a particle-size term. Actually, most persons using the term clay realize that it has several meanings, and in most instances they define it. As a rock term, clay is difficult to define because of the wide variety of materials that compose it; therefore, the definition must be general. Clay is a natural earthy, fine-grained material composed largely of a group of crystalline minerals known as the clay minerals. These minerals are hydrous silicates composed mainly of silica, alumina, and water. Several of these minerals also contain appreciable quantities of iron, alkalies, and alkaline earths. Many definitions state that a clay is plastic when wet. Most clay materials do have this property, but some clays are not plastic; for example, halloysite and flint clay. As a particle-size term, clay is used for the category that includes the smallest particles. The maximum-size particles in the clay-size grade are defined differently on various grade scales. Soil investigators and mineralogists generally use 2 micrometers as the maximum size, whereas the widely used scale by Wentworth (1922) defines clay as material finer than approximately 4 micrometers. Some authorities find it convenient to use the term clay for any fine-grained, natural, earthy, argillaceous material (Grim, 1968). When used this way, the term includes clay, shale, or argillite, and some argillaceous soils. Even though no standard definition of the term clay is accepted by geologists, agronomists, engineers, and others, the term is generally understood by those who use it. Clay is an abundant natural raw material, and it has an amazing variety of uses and properties which will be discussed in this chapter. Clays rank among the leading industrial minerals in both tonnages produced and total value. Their importance is indicated in Table 1, which lists the 1978, 1979, and 1980 production and values according to the US Bureau of Mines (Ampian, 1980). Statistical data summarizing world production of kaolin, bentonite, and fuller's earth are compiled by the US Bureau of Mines (Ampian and Polk, 1981). The total world bentonite production in 1980 was 6,625,204 st of which the United States produced 4,184,619 st. The total fuller's earth produced in the world in 1980 was 1,952,600 st of which 1,534,000 st was produced in the United States. The total world kaolin production in 1980 was estimated at 22,971,000 st. Approximately 13 million tons of this total was produced in two countries, the United States and the United Kingdom. World production data on ball clay, fire clay, and miscellaneous clays are not available. As industrial minerals, clays are a complex group that consists of several mineral commodities, each having somewhat different mineralogy, geologic occurrence, technology, and uses. In this chapter these commodities are organized as follows: (1) bentonite and fuller's earth; (2) kaolin, ball clay, halloysite, and refractory clays; and (3) miscellaneous clay and shale. Bentonite and fuller's earth are grouped together because they are closely interrelated. Though bentonite is a term based on mineral composition and fuller's earth is a term based on use, the two are virtually inseparable, because much, but by no means all, clay sold as

Jan 1, 1983

By Jessica Elzea, Haydn Murray

The term bentonite was first proposed in 1898 by Knight, a year after he had named this clay taylorite, because taylorite had been previously used for another mineral. The name taylorite was after the Taylor ranch, the site of the first mine, near Rock River, WY, and the name bentonite is from the Benton Shale in which the clay was thought at that time to occur. The Benton Shale was, in turn, named after Fort Benton, MT, located more than 640 km miles north of Rock River. Early in the 20th century, several geologists recognized that bentonite, mainly in beds in Cretaceous and Tertiary rocks, originated from transported volcanic materials. This recognition led to definitions based on origin, the one most widely quoted and generally accepted by geologists is the following definition by Ross and Shannon (1926): "Bentonite is a rock composed essentially of a crystalline clay-like mineral formed by devitrification and the accompanying chemical alteration of a glassy igneous material, usually a tuff or volcanic ash; and it often contains variable proportions of accessory crystal grains that were originally phenocrysts in the volcanic glass. These are feldspar (commonly orthoclase and oligoclase), biotite, quartz, pyroxenes, zircon, and various other minerals typical of volcanic rocks. The characteristic clay-like mineral has a micaceous habit and facile cleavage, high birefringence and a texture inherited from volcanic tuff or ash, and it is usually the mineral montmorillonite, but less often beidellite." The difficulty in applying the foregoing definition to bentonite as an industrial mineral commodity is that it is based on origin and is restricted to an ash, tuff, or volcanic glass parent material. Therefore, deposits consisting of the clay minerals required by this definition, but having uncertain origin or parent materials, cannot properly be called bentonite. Furthermore, many deposits in the western United States and in other countries that have formed from rocks other than the types required by the definition are being mined and sold as bentonite. Perhaps the best definition of bentonite as an industrial mineral is one given by R.E. Grim in a plenary lecture at the International Clay Conference (AIPEA) at Madrid, Spain, June 27, 1972. According to this redefinition, which will be used in this chapter, bentonite is a clay consisting essentially of smectite minerals (montmorillonite group of some usages), regardless of origin or occurrence. This definition solves the problem of the difference between the geologic and industrial usages of the term and overcomes the difficulty in assigning a name to smectite clay that formed from igneous rock other than ash, tuff, or glass, or those of sedimentary or uncertain origin. However, bentonite, when used with this meaning is still a rock term (consisting of more than one mineral), and it will not be possible to distinguish it from fuller's earth in many instances. One way of classifying bentonite is based on its swelling capacities when wet or added to water. Bentonite having sodium (Na+) as either the dominant or as an abundant exchangeable ion typically has very high swelling capacities and forms gel-like masses when added to water. Bentonite in which exchangeable calcium (Ca++) is more abundant than other ions has much lower swelling capacities than sodium varieties. Some calcium types swell little more than common clay, and most crumble into granular masses in water. Intermediate calcium-sodium bentonites, the so called mixed types, tend to swell moderately and to form gels of lesser volumes than equal masses of the sodium type bentonite. Because of the general relationship of swelling and exchangeable ion characteristics bentonite is commonly divided into the high swelling or sodium, low swelling or calcium, and moderate swelling or intermediate types. The term sub-bentonite (Davis et a]., 1940) is used inconsistently in industry for the low or moderate swelling varieties. The authors believe the use of this term should be discouraged because of its implication of low quality or low value and the lack of a mineralogical or use basis for it. In the United States bentonite is also classified by geographic location and the uses for which it is sold. Inasmuch as most of the low swelling calcium type occurs in states bordering the Gulf of Mexico, this variety is commonly called Southern bentonite. The largest high swelling sodium bentonite deposits and the major producing districts are in Wyoming and adjacent states. Therefore, this bentonite is commonly called the Wyoming or Western type. Such terms as drilling mud bentonite, foundry bond bentonite, and taconite bond bentonite relating directly to use are applied in marketing. Other terms including high and low yield bentonite, high and low gel bentonite, and high and low strength bentonite are also used to distinguish different grades. The varied classifications notwithstanding, bentonite occurs in so many different varieties that some cannot logically be classified according to any of the foregoing groupings. One of these types is hectorite, which is a high swelling lithium-bearing variety of smectite occurring mainly in California and adjacent states. It is, therefore, not a Wyoming type, and it occurs even farther west than the so called western bentonites. Others are bentonites having magnesium (Mg++) or hydrogen (H+) as the most abundant or dominant exchangeable ion. These types are neither sodium nor calcium varieties, and apparently some are low swelling, whereas others have rather high swelling capacities. Still another type of bentonite, the so-called potassium type, K-bentonite, or metabentonite, occurs in Ordovician and other Pa-

Jan 1, 1994

By G. Armand, G. Arnold, A. Giraud, C. Auvray

The knowledge and understanding of the mechanical behavior of claystone is of critical importance in the aim of nuclear wastes storage. In this study, specimens of Callovo-Oxfordian claystone (COx) have been obtained from the ANDRA underground research laboratory in Meuse/Haute-Marne (France). This claystone is composed of carbonate inclusions (10-50µm) embedded in an argillaceous matrix (representing expanding clay minerals, such as smectites). The matrix itself is also multiphase and composed of clay aggregates of 1µm-size carbonate and quartz inclusions. This multiphase microstructure leads to a high heterogeneity witch was analysed through nanoindentation test grids. Moreover, the mechanical behavior of the claystone matrix is highly sensitive to humidity and temperature. The nanoindentation tests were performed in a climatic (i.e. temperature and humidity controlled) chamber at relative humidity levels from 50% to 98% and at two temperatures: 20°C and 60°C. In a first step, the curves of indentation were analysed using the commonly used Oliver and Pharr’s approach. Other wellknown parameters as the creep factor were also extracted. In a second step, Fisher-Cripps model (Fischer- Cripps, 2004) and Vandamme and Ulm model (Vandamme & Ulm, 2006) were used to identify viscoelastic properties. A statistical analysis is used in order to extract mechanical characteristics of the different phases. Hardness and elastic modulus decrease drastically with saturation (above 80% humidity) and to a lesser extend with temperature.

Jan 1, 2015

By AIME

COAL, its acquisition and consumption, has loomed large enough in the lives of many of us at one time or another, not from a technical standpoint, perhaps, but on a utility basis, to keep the house warm and the plant going. The Chairman of the Coal Division was much like many of us in that respect until after his graduation from Northwestern in 1928. Then he went to work as geologist for the Zeigler Coal Co., investigating strip coal possibilities in western Illinois, and also did research in the microscopy of coal at the Illinois Geological Survey. His interest in coal was originated and stimulated by Gilbert H. Cady, of the Illinois Geological Survey. With his advice, and with the co-operation of M. M. Leighton, Survey chief, the results of his research work on the mineral constituents of coal at the Survey were accepted as a thesis for his doctorate which he received from Harvard in 1935. Nine days before the Christmas of 1906, Clayton Garrett Ball was born at Wauconda, Ill. His father was professor of geology at Northwestern until he retired in 1946; retirement didn't lessen his active interest in his profession; he's still teaching geology at the University of Kansas City. So it was only natural for Clayton to study at Northwestern. In 1937, following a year's connection with the Bell &

Jan 1, 1948

By G. R. Hart

The expected 1990 Clean Air legislation is providing electric utilities with a series of challenges and decisions as the utilities prepare strategies to comply with the resulting regulations. This paper addresses the strategy development of a coal-based utility --the legislation, the process used, the fuel issues, the options available, and the decisions to be made.

Jan 1, 1991

By K. Hasselwander, K. Knabel

"A significant area of Outotec’s business involves fluidized bed roasting. With several decades of experience, more than 300 reference plants and strong R&D capabilities, the company provides several industries with optimum processing solutions. Applications include oxidation and sulfation of sulfides found in copper, pyrite and zinc concentrates. Gold production and de-arsenifying roasting are also within this scope. This paper describes the latest furnace developments and includes novel trends. Moreover, hot and wet gas cleaning systems are examined focusing on unit operations related to the removal of components such as dust, SO2 for sulfuric acid production, fumes, halides, Hg, hydrocarbons, nitrous oxides and metals.INTRODUCTIONGenerally, when defining roasting processes, it can be stated that the respective primary pyrometallurgical reaction is exothermic, of gas-solid nature and relates to a value solid product. These processes are a key focus within Outotec’s scope and include: (i) dead roasting (ii) sulfating roasting (iii) partial de-arsenifying roasting and (iv) two-stage, de-arsenifying roasting.Dead roasting involves the oxidation of a given sulfide, thus allowing for a subsequent leaching process, and has been applied to producing ZnO. Dead roasting of pyrite has also been extensively utilized with a primary goal of producing sulfuric acid. In contrast, sulfating roasting involves converting a sulfide to its sulfate, enabling a selective sulfation of components, such as Cu or Co, and their separation from ferrous components during leaching (produced sulfates are soluble). Partial roasting involves partially oxidating the metal sulfide to its oxide with the simultaneous production of gaseous As4O6, which is handled during gas cleaning. The solid product, containing hardly any As, is rich in S and can be fed to a respective smelter (e.g. in the case of Cu). Alternatively, if the production of oxide is required, a dead roasting step is added after the partial roasting step, with the overall process considered as two-stage roasting."

Jan 1, 2012

By D. B. Eccleston

Natural gas and mixtures of natural gas and hydrogen were used as fuels in a laboratory engine to determine the relationship of emissions to air-fuel ratio and to establish practical lean limits for air-fuel ratio. Synthetic gas manufactured from coal (Synthane) and natural gas were used as fuels in a vehicle to obtain comparative data on emissions and performance. Results showed that lean limits for air-fuel ratio when using hydrogen-enriched natural gas were extended significantly beyond Chat of natural gas. Synthane pro¬duced exhaust that was significantly less reactive than exhaust from natural gas. With lean air-fuel ratios, the acceleration performance of a vehicle fueled with Synthane was improved over its performance when fueled with natural gas.

Jan 1, 1972

By A. J. Forney

A high-Btu gas was made at the Bruceton, Pa., laboratories of the Bureau of Mines to demonstrate the feasibility of using the gas as a nonpolluting fuel for automobiles. The pilot plants at Bruceton were revised to combine the processes of coal gasification, gas purification, and catalytic methanation in one overall system. Tests in the Bureau's test automobiles at Bartlesville, Okla., showed the Synthane gas was less polluting than natural gas.

Jan 1, 1972

By R Memary

The environmental and economic impacts of a significant dependence on fossil fuels are affecting the future of sectors such as of mining. These impacts are prompting the Australian Government to seek solutions for reducing its dependence on fossil fuels more generally, such developing clean energy and improving energy efficiency. However, limited research has been undertaken to assess the potential synergies between clean energy and mining in an uncertain global future. This paper analyses current energy use by mining in Australia and reviews the drivers and opportunities for energy efficiency and cleaner energy technologies to be coupled to mining under three future scenarios. Linkages between mining and clean energy are investigated for three global scenarios for mining and metals to 2030, developed by the World Economic Forum (WEF), namely Green Trade Alliance, Rebased Globalism and Resource Security. These scenarios are applied to assess how they could change the barriers, opportunities and trade-offs required for the development of a more sustainable energy sources by the minerals industry in Australia.

Nov 22, 2011

By L. L. Anderson

Western bituminous coal can be processed to low sulfur liquid fuels by fast reactions. A process (LEFCO) under development at the University of Utah uses coal and catalyst under hydrogen pressure to convert 60 to 70 percent of the coal matter to fuel liquids and gases. Coals have been processed in small diameter (less than 1/2 inch) tubes and at reaction residence times of less than 10 seconds. Effects of process variables on the yield and quality of products have been studied. General features of the process and the properties and characteristics of the products produced are presented. Special features of the process that distinguish it from other liquefaction processes under development are also discussed.

Jan 1, 1975

By Jean P. Murray

The extractive metallurgical industry is a major consumer of high-temperature process heat. It is, consequently, a major contributor of C02 emissions and other greenhouse gases derived from the combustion of fossil fuels for heat and electricity generation, or from the process itself. These emissions can be substantially reduced by replacing fossil fuels with solar energy as the source of process heat. Concentrated solar radiation can supply a large amount of thermal energy to endothermic reactions at temperatures exceeding 2000 K. Another potential for C02 emission reduction exists as well. Thermodynamically, the total amount of energy required for metal production at any given temperature is the enthalpy change of the reaction, AH. Of this total, an amount equal to the Gibbs free energy AG must be supplied as high quality energy in the form of electrical work or by using a reducing agent. Many conventional metallurgical electrolytic processes and reducing furnaces are unable to add only the thermodynamically required electricaVchemical energy due to process inefficiencies. Electrical work in excess of AG for the reaction may be used to supply process heat, or excess chemical reducing agent burned to supply process heat. Besides the thermodynamic and economic drawback, this inefficiency results in excess C02 emissions derived from the combustion of fossil fuels. With these practices, energy becomes an important cost element of the metal produced. Highly-concentrated solar energy has the demonstrated potential to separate these two forms of process energies, allowing the addition of only the thermodynamically required high-quality energy while high-temperature solar process heat is provided to the reactor. Examples of metal oxide reduction processes that have been studied experimentally in solar furnaces include the production of Fe, Al, AI/Si alloy, Mg, Zn, Tic, Sic, CaC2, TIN, Si3N4, and AIN by carbothermic reduction of their oxides, and the high-temperature solar- electrothermal reduction of ZnO.

Jan 1, 1999

By C. V. Baltzer, E. L. J. Bingham

Compliance with the EPA's emerging Clean Water Act regulations can be challenging. Open pit copper mines in Arizona have found themselves in a tangled web of changing rules, regulations, and guidance documents regarding storm water and process water discharges. Large mining properties must come up to speed on a myriad of issues including the definition of zero discharge, what constitutes a process related spring or seep, and tailings and waste rock Best Management Practices. The example of the Pinto Valley Mine in Arizona is used to illustrate National Pollution Discharge Elimination System regulatory issues.

Jan 1, 2001

By Florence Munter

This paper provides a discussion of the various federal and state laws governing water quality as related to mining operations. The specific laws addressed are the Clean Water Act, and the Arizona Mined Land Reclamation Act. Topics that will be addressed are mine water and process water discharges, storm water discharges, pollution prevention, dredge and fill, spill prevention control and countermeasure plan, and surface water protection. Proposed changes to the laws and regulations will be discussed. Compliance strategies will be suggested to prevent potential noncompliance and enforcement.

Jan 1, 1996

By G. M. L. Robinson

The Clean Water Act, as administered by the Environmental Protection Agency, has mandated industry, government and the public to comply with potentially conflicting and vague water quality statutes, regulations and guidelines. Universal regulatory strategies have been developed which have introduced and have created regulatory, compliance and institutional conflicts. Conflicts have been created because National water quality performance goals and design standards are vague, and, in many cases, cannot be scientifically justified. Because of regulatory technical requirements to define background and environmentally impacted water quality characteristics, the ability to achieve regulatory compliance is difficult. Difficult issues requiring resolutions includes but are not limited to site specific surface and ground water quality classification systems, water quality standards and guidelines, point and non point pollution sources etc. Because of these statutory and regulatory complexities, a confrontational regulatory system has been created as it relates to: - defining performance criteria in relation to design criteria; - resolving water quality statistical compliance conflicts; - defining laboratory precision requirements; - determining background groundwater characteristics; and - locating a representative point of compliance. Because of these complex regulatory issues, the ability to balance goals, needs and economics has not been achieved or in many cases has not been attempted, without legal intervention. A few examples illustrating where water and waste management compliance conflicts have been experienced.

Jan 1, 1992

By E. F. Jr. Young, H. E. Steinman, G. C. Smith

Through a progressive laboratory and pilot-plant program Jones & Laughlin Steel Corp has analyzed and corrected mine drainage pollution problems at all of its coal mines. In conducting this program, the company found no "typical" drainage discharge. Each discharge point at each mine was unique, so that varied approaches were needed to eliminate stream pollution. To illustrate the variety of these approaches, the treatment of drainage from foul, discharge points at three mines in Pennsylvania will be considered here. The flows and critical analyses of the drainage sources and treated effluents arc shown in Table I. Hydrated Lime Works at Thompson Borehole The discharge stream from the Thompson bore- hole at the Vesta No. 5 mine flowed into a small branch creek where it created a "yellowboy" deposit and affected aquatic life. Investigation indicated that hydrated lime would neutralize the acid and precipitate ferric iron without aeration. Treatment of the 150.000-gpd flow, however, created about 4000 gpd of wet sludge for which there was no nearby accumulation site. With State approval, this sludge was deposited through an unused borehole into an abandoned section of the Vesta No. 6 mine several miles away.

Jan 1, 1970

By J Seppelt, B Akerstrom, J Bubnich, D Seaman, T Waters

The Cadia Hill concentrator at Newcrest’s Cadia Operations has undergone several modifications and upgrades to treat an increased throughput rate of harder ore from the Cadia East block cave mine.Subsequent to the commissioning of the expanded circuit, the flotation cleaner block has undergone a systematic optimisation programme tackling all facets of circuit operation. This included debottlenecking circuit constraints and installation of Jameson cell technology to enhance copper and gold recovery while rejecting fluorine and gangue from the concentrate.This paper outlines the improvements over the course of the project and results obtained from the implemented actions.CITATION:Akerstrom, B, Seppelt, J, Waters, T, Bubnich, J and Seaman, D, 2018. Cleaner circuit optimisation at Cadia Operations, in Proceedings 14th AusIMM Mill Operators' Conference 2018, pp 457–476 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Aug 29, 2018