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By M. Arlandi, J. C. Monge

In this paper, the finite element method is used to obtain deformations of a rock tunnel. More than 3,000 numerical simulations and calculations were carried out. The analysis of this results has allowed to achieve mathematical formulations and graphs, to obtain in advance support monitored displacements in tunnelling construction, so they can be predicted before excavation and supporting woks. The application of the presented formulations and charts will aid engineers to control tunnel monitoring, reducing decision time when problems occur. The analysis is limited to cases involving elastic behaviour of the terrain for tunnels of average to good quality in rock, and to excavation sections of average or smaller dimensions for road tunnels. The results show that, in all cases, mathematical expressions to obtain induced displacements around tunnel excavations, have similar pattern than Kirsch (1898) expressions for circular excavations. As corollary of the achieved results, a method to estimate in situ natural geostress ratio K0=sh/sv , by means of convergence measurements, is presented. In diesem Beitrag wurden die Verschiebungen eines Tunnels durch die Methode de Finiten Elemente berechnet. Mehr als 3000 numerische Simulationen und Berechnungen wurden ausgeführt. Die Analyse dieser Resultate hat es ermöglicht, mathematische Formeln und Grafiken zu entwickeln, die zur Voraussage der Verschiebungen in Tunnel dienen, auch unter Betrachtung der verschiedenartigen Abstützungen. So können die Verschiebungen vor den Erdarbeiten und dem Bau der Abstützung abgeschätzt werden. Die abgeleiteten Formeln und Grafiken werden vor allem einen grossen Dienst für Ingenieure bei der Mithilfe zu zeitsparenden Entscheidungen im Tunnelbau und bei der Tunnelkontrolle leisten. Die analysierten Fälle sind auf eine elastische Modellierung des Baugrunds beschränkt, sowie auf eine mittlere bis gute Qualität des Felsens und auf die Aushebung von Abtragungsabschnitten mittlerer oder geringer Grösse für den Strassenverkehr. Die Resultate zeigen, dass in allen Fällen die hergeleiteten Formeln zur Berechnung der durch den Tunnelbau verursachten Verschiebungen um den Tunnel die gleiche mathematische Struktur haben wie diejenigen von Kirsch (1898) für kreisförmigen Bodenaushub. Als Korollarium der ausgeführten Berechnungen wird eine Methode zur Abschätzung der vorherrschenden in situ Geospannungs-Verhälniss K0=sh/sv angegeben, die von den Messungen der Verschiebungen im Tunnel ausgeht. Dans cet article, la méthode des éléments finis est utilisée pour obtenir les déformations d’un tunnel creusé dans la roche. Plus de 3000 simulations numériques et calculs ont été effectuées. L’analyse de ces résultats a permis de définir des modèles mathématiques et des abaques afin de prédire, avant l’excavation et les travaux de soutènement, les déplacements auscultés pendant la construction du tunnel. L’application de ces modèles et abaques permettra donc aux ingénieurs de contrôler les déplacements durant l’auscultation du tunnel et de réduire le temps de décision lorsque des problèmes surviennent. L’analyse est limitée au cas du comportement élastique du terrain pour des tunnels creusés dans de la roche de moyenne a bonne qualité, et à de sections d’excavation de petites à moyennes dimensions pour des tunnels routiers. Les résultats montrent que, dans tous les cas, les expressions mathématiques permettant d’obtenir les déplacements induits autour des excavations de tunnel, présentent des similitudes avec celles de Kirsch (1898) pour des excavations circulaires. Comme corollaire aux résultats obtenus, une méthode pour estimer le rapport des

Jan 1, 2003

By Robert V. Berryhill

Reconnaissance studies of beach deposits along approximately 220 miles of the shoreline of Bristol Bay, Alaska, were made to determine if more detailed investigations were warranted. In addition to preliminary mapping of the deposits, samples were obtained from auger borings spaced at 1-mile intervals in key areas; shovel samples were collected to supplement the borings. Most samples were roughly concentrated in the field; magnetic separation tests, petrographic analyses, and determinations for radiometric equivalent uranium, gold, platinum, iron, and titanium were made in the Bureau of Mines laboratory at Juneau, Alaska. Spot samples from some beaches along the shores of the Alaska Peninsula indicate small deposits containing up to 10 percent recoverable titaniferous magnetite; some larger deposits were indicated to contain from 1 to 2 percent total heavy metal, principally as titaniferous magnetite. Significant amounts of other commercial minerals were not detected.

Jan 1, 1963

By Michael J. Klishis

Accident rates continue to show that underground mining jobs areamong the most hazardous occupations in the United States and roof bolter operators continue to have one of the highest accident incident rates (MSHA, 1991) despite efforts by labor, government, and industry to reduce and eliminate work-related hazards. In the last two decades we have seen technical innovations such as the ATRS, and there has been an increased emphasis on hazard awareness through programs such as MSHA's REAP, but bolter operators continue to be injured and killed. Researchers at West Virginia University examined risk in the roof bolter's job and developed new approaches to accident and injury prevention. The study concentrated on the workers' job performance, machinery and the work environment to identify miner's risk and hazard exposure while bolting.

Jan 1, 1993

By S. Y. Tshipeng, A. T. Kaniki

"RÉSUMÉ La lixiviation acide d’un minerai oxydé cupro-cobaltifère en milieu non réducteur et en milieu réducteur en utilisant le Fe2+ et le métabisulfite de sodium (SMBS) a été étudiée et les résultats ont été comparés. Les tests de lixiviation ont été effectués à température ambiante, dans une pulpe à 30 % solide, avec une vitesse d’agitation de 600 tr/min, un potentiel redox de 350 mV pour les tests en milieu réducteur, et un pH de 1,8. Les tests de lixiviation avec usage du SMBS comme réducteur ont donné la meilleure cinétique de lixiviation du cuivre. Pour le cobalt, c’est l’usage du Fe2+ qui a donné la meilleure cinétique de lixiviation. L’augmentation de la dose du fer dans la solution au-delà de 5 g/L a influencé négativement les rendements de lixiviation du cuivre et du cobalt. ABSTRACT Acid leaching of a copper-cobaltiferous oxide ore in a non-reducing environment and in a reducing environment using Fe2+ and sodium metabisulfite (SMBS) was studied and the results compa¬red. The leaching tests were performed at room temperature, in a 30% solids pulp, with a shaking speed of 600 rpm, a redox potential of 350 mV for the tests performed in the reducing environment, and a pH of 1.8. The leaching tests using the SMBS as a reducing agent produced the best copper leaching kinetics. As for cobalt, the best leaching kinetics was achieved using Fe2+. An increase in the amount of iron in the solution above 5 g/L negatively influenced copper and cobalt leaching yields. INTRODUCTION La République Démocratique du Congo (RDC) est un pays reconnu dans le monde pour son sous-sol qui regorge d’énormes quantités de cuivre et de cobalt (USGS, 2014; Palisade Research, 2016). La technique qui semble être la plus recommandée pour extraire à la fois le cuivre et le cobalt des minerais oxydés cupro-cobaltifères est la lixivia-tion acide en milieu réducteur. Cette technique est appliquée par la majorité des sociétés minières qui exploitent ces minerais dans l’ex-province du Katanga en RDC, à savoir: Tenke Fungurume Mining, Mutanda Mining, Kamoto Cop¬per Company, Sicomines, Gécamines, Boss Mining, Chemaf, Ruashi Mining et Somika. L’usage d’un agent réducteur est indispensable pour l’obtention d’un bon rendement de lixiviation du cobalt. En effet, plusieurs chercheurs s’accordent sur le fait que le cobalt trivalent de l’hétérogénite (CoO·2Co2O3·6H2O) est insoluble à l’action de l’acide seul; il ne devient soluble qu’après réduction en cobalt bivalent (Mwema, Mpoyo, & Kafumbila, 2002; Mulaba-Bafubiandi, Ndalamo, & Mamba, 2007; Ferron, 2008; Seo, Choi, Kim, & Tran, 2013; Stuurnam, Ndlovu, & Sibanda, 2014)."

Jan 1, 2018

By Elwin L. Fisk

The Cordero mine is located in the Nevada portion of the Opalite Mining district that straddles the Oregon-Nevada state boundary. The mercury deposits of the district occur along the margins of the broad east-west graben valley of McDermitt Creek. The only other major producers, the Opalite and Bretz mines, on the northern margin of the graben have thus far exploited only shallow deposits within 100 feet of the surface. Through December 1965, Cordero has produced 94,680 flasks of mercury, the most of which came from the large underground cinnabar deposit. Nearly all of the mercury ore deposits in this district have been found in Miocene rhyolitic intrusives, flows, tuffs, and lake beds. These rhyolites have been argillically altered at depth and extensively silicified at or near the surface. These silicified areas or "opalite" masses were the original cinnabar-bearing outcrops.

Jan 1, 1968

By Giorgio De Tomi, Ricardo Tichauer

Mineral exploration is a critical step for success in mining. However, small-scale mining often ignores exploration best practices. This paper introduces the Tichauer-DeTomi Matrix, a tool for assessment of geological uncertainty in small-scale mining. This matrix, which measures the level of compliance of exploration programs in small deposits with industry best practices, has been applied to three small mining projects in Brazil: an artisanal gold mine in the Amazon, a small-scale manganese mining venture in the Northeast, and a small manganese deposit in the Southeast. The application of the matrix resulted in indexes that reflect the actual level of maturity of the mineral exploration program in each project. Therefore, the matrix has shown potential to be an effective tool for assessment of the geological uncertainty remaining in small-scale mineral projects, as well as to identify priority exploration activities for reduction of risks associated with the geological uncertainty. As a risk assessment tool, the TichauerDeTomi Matrix may be helpful in promoting investment and sustained development in and around small mines.

By S. Glen

Cyanide management practices on modern gold plants are becoming more onerous, due to environmental pressures, particularly for signatories to the International Cyanide Management Code. Operations are therefore seeking to reduce levels of weak-acid dissociable (WAD) cyanide reporting to spigot discharge as well as to any eventual discharges from the tailings storage facility (TSF). Current gold industry standard processes primarily include the oxidation of cyanide by means of sodium meta-bisulfite (SMBS, or SO2) with air, Caro&apos;s acid (H2SO5) or hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). These processes require the transport and usage of expensive oxidizing reagents, along with the safety and environmental issues associated with these corrosive and toxic chemicals. Maelgwyn Mineral Services (MMS) has developed the MMS CN-DTM process, which utilizes the Aachen ReactorTM, a high-energy mass-transfer superoxygenation system, in conjunction with an activated carbon-based catalyst and no additional reagents, to increase the rate of cyanide oxidation to cyanate, the thermodynamically more stable form. Testwork conducted at the Maelgwyn Australia testwork facility in Perth Australia is described, at both pilot scale and continuous bench-scale, on a sample of tailings effluent obtained from an Australian gold plant. WAD cyanide is demonstrated to be lowered using the MMS CN-DTM process from an influent of 130 mg/L to the required levels for discharge to TSF (<50 mg/L). The continuous test results showed stable operation over three residence time turnovers. The pilot-scale results demonstrated the efficiency of the process at the reasonably large scales required for engineering cost estimation.

Jan 1, 2011

By Les Gutzwiller

Fan applications in the mining industry have changed during the last 70 years. In 1922, J.R. Robinson authored a technical volume entitled Practical Mine Ventilation. At that time, atmospheric control had only recently shifted from natural to mechanical. The large, mechanical draft fans that were used then were centrifugal. The fans ran at low speeds, about300 rpm. Most were steam-engine driven. In the late 1920s and early 1930s, mines became larger, increasing the pressure and volume requirements of the fan equipment. Axial fans were designed to run at much higher speeds (710 to 880 rpm) and were driven by electric motors. They were also smaller and less expensive to install than the cumbersome centrifugal units. However, changes in mining have resulted in progressively higher static-pressure requirements. So centrifugal fans are once again proving to be a good choice.

Jan 1, 1999

The rush for alternate iron-units in the last few years spurred a true outbreak of new alternate iron units projects many of them incorporating new process in what can be classified as the.most fruitful and innovative technology outburst, in the steel industry, in decades In a recent paper we focused on what would be, in our opinion, the ultimate targets of the use of alternate iron-units by mini-mills: 1. to improve quality, 2. to reduce cost, 3. to increase plant productivity, and 4. to improve `supplyability&apos;. With these objectives in mind liquid hot-metal, among all possible scrap substitutes, has been proven to be by far the best. This conclusion stems from many different authors who have reviewed the `value in use&apos; of hot-metal against other alternate iron units and measured its impact on steel-shop productivity and cost (Figure 1).

Jan 1, 1999

By F Farías, D Villa

Codelco’s Salvador Project has been operating a block/panel caving mine for more than 50 years. This underground mining method dynamically mixes the ore and dilution. As a result, forecasting grades is difficult and achieving 100 per cent extraction of the reserves is practically impossible. A substantial volume of the ore mixed with dilution becomes remnant ore and remains to be subsequently extracted.A potential open pit mine is under evaluation at Codelco’s Salvador Project, which includes the extraction of remnant ore post-block caving extraction. An effective methodology has been implemented to estimate what is left behind once the underground mine has closed. A new mixing method using the Cellular Automata (Alfaro and Saavedra, 2004) approach has been used to allow estimation of the remnant ore with a sufficient level of confidence to be included as part of the open pit reserve.A remnant block model is created using elements such as in situ block model, drawpoint layouts, historical production records and the drawpoint extraction. Using this information, simulations of the extraction of the mine by month from 1959 to 2019 were completed, using different mixing scenarios and trying to replicate the tonnage and grade extracted.Finally, the remnant block model is categorised using a score card with four inputs to assess the risk of the estimation of this material into a category class (measured, indicated and inferred).CITATION:Villa, D and Far&#237;as, F, 2016. Remnant ore model generation and categorisation post-block caving extraction at Salvador Mine, in Proceedings Seventh International Conference and Exhibition on Mass Mining (MassMin 2016), pp 461–470 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

May 9, 2016

Endless lines at service station gasoline pumps, limited travel at reduced speeds, thermostats set at an uncozy sixty-eight degrees in the dead of winter-these are but a few of the inconveniences and discomforts that awakened Americans to a realization that our domestic minerals resources, traditionally taken for granted, are not boundless. We begin to accept and practice principles of conservation, yet we are aware that this alone cannot appreciably forestall the inevitable depletion of our minerals, metals, and fossil fuels-resources critical to our Nation&apos;s economy. The key to warding off shortages is the development of technology that will insure a continuing, adequate supply of minerals and energy from reliable sources at the lowest possible costs to society and the environment. The mission of the Bureau of Mines is to develop this improved technology. Established in 1910, the Bureau of Mines of the Department of the Interior is the Federal Government&apos;s primary research arm in the minerals and fossil fuels fields. In addition to its research role, the Bureau keeps the Government informed of the Nation&apos;s mineral posture. The Bureau also seeks to stimulate private industry, through the awarding of grants and contracts, to produce minerals and fuels at a rate compatible with the country&apos;s increasing demands.

Jan 1, 1974

By D. Babich, L. Alcorn, E. Spencer, A. Smith

Noise is one of the most pervasive health hazards in mining. A compilation of Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) noise survey data for Fiscal year 1990 shows that approximately 40% of the total samples taken for longwall occupations exceeded the Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) of 100% [Gigliotti et al. 1991]. In order to properly determine workers’ exposures on longwall coal mining systems, it is necessary to provide accurate baseline measurements for these mining systems. This research was designed to develop guidelines and test procedures for identifying all noise sources that are major contributors to the underground noise exposure of longwall coal mining system workers. Once the high noise sources are identified, promising engineering controls can be tested and evaluated to reduce the noise of the sources. The measurement system used to analyze the noise sources included stationary dosimeters in a documented repeatable pattern and a time-motion study of the cutting cycle and operator’s work cycle. Significant results from the underground measurements show that the highest sound levels recorded are at the stageloader discharge segment and tailpiece controls and remained at about the same level throughout the test.

Jan 1, 2007

The risk associated with mining induced seismicity is one of the major threats to the safety and sustainability of deep underground mines. This paper describes techniques that allow site practitioners to efficiently control such risks in mines. The proposed approaches rely on ground support to strategically control seismic risk and re-entry time to tactically control this risk. The strategic approach is based on the detailed understanding of past seismicity to as certain the seismic hazard of individual sources throughout the mine. This approach also relies on assessing the potential damage that these sources can induce on nearby excavations using the excavation vulnerability potential (EVP) and rockburst damage potential (RDP) concepts proposed by Heal et al. (2006). It is then possible to investigate how to reduce the risk of experiencing damaging seismicity in mine drives by locally enhancing the ground support system. The tactical approach relies on a proposed methodology to estimate reliable re-entry times or exclusion periods based on the seismic decay following blasting. Some examples of how these techniques have been applied in Australian mines are given.

Jan 1, 2009

The Bulli Seam, New South Wales, comprises medium to low volatile bituminous coal, generally of coking quality. It is worked over an area embracing 300 square miles.Variations in several factors are found.1. The seam is somewhat disturbed and dissected by various structural features.2. This structure, and present topography, have resulted in depths of cover from very shallow to approaching 2,000 ft in the presently worked areas.3. Wide variations of seam thickness occur.4. Gradations of rank occur from place to place.5. Variations in seam gas content and wide variations in seam gas composition are experienced.6. Variations in coal strength occur.These factors may contribute to the occurrence of stress and gas phenomena in mining exploitation.INTRODUCTIONThe Bulli Seam, the most extensively worked seam in Australia, is the uppermost seam of the Illawarra Coal Measures, which comprise the southern portion of the Sydney Coal Basin. Generally, the rank of the seam and its assemblage of types make it ideal for the production of hard metallurgical coke. The thickness and relatively flat dips render the seam suited to mechanized bord and pillar mining, and this method is used almost without exception. At the north-eastern corner of the field, stress and gas phenomena have occurred during mining.Various data have been assembled on physical, chemical and geological conditions of the seam which may influence the occurrence of stress and gas phenomena. This material is presented in an attempt to explain the location of such phenomena to date, and to enable variations in conditions to be considered when future possibilities are being assessed.

Jan 1, 1963

By T. H. Oxnam

INTRODUCTION. THE predominating value of the ores now being treated by the Palmarejo and Mexican Gold Fields, Ltd., is silver, although some gold is also carried. The present method of treatment consists of wet-crushing and concentrating, followed by the cyanidation of the unroasted sands and slimes. The sands are treated by leaching and the so-called accumulated slimes by a system of agitation and decantation. It is only within very recent years that the cyanidation of unroasted silver-ores has been commercially successful. In fact, at the time operations were begun at the cyanide-plant at Chinipas, February, 1902, I knew of no other leaching-plant treating similar ores successfully. The cyanide treatment of the Palmarejo ores differs but little from the ordinary practice in cyaniding gold-ores; and perhaps but little, if any, new information concerning the metallurgy of silver is to be gleaned from it. PALMAREJO MINE. The Palmarejo mines are located in the southwestern part of the State of Chihuahua, Mexico, on the foothills of the Sierra Madre mountains, at an elevation of 3,200 feet. The mills, 12. miles distant, are situated on the Chinipas river, near the town of Chinipas, which is about 150 miles northeast of Agiabampo, on the Gulf of California. Supplies are shipped via this port as this route is the best and most direct to the property. The ore-bodies in the Palmarejo mines have been deposited. along a series of rock-fractures, caused by an intrusion of eruptive rock. The most important of these fractures or fissures, both in width and value, are the Prieta and Blanca veins, which.

Jul 1, 1905

By M. E. Volin

The tungsten potentialities of the Combination mine were examined by a mining engineer of the Bureau of Mines in 1947. A report based upon his personal knowledge of the mine and the results of the examination contained recommendations for further investigation. This report presents factual data from Bureau of Mines field investigations begun in August 1947 and continued until December 1948, except for a 5-month recess during the first winter. The Combinat.ion mining property of 52 patented claims and 15 patented mill sites is in the Black Pine mining district, Granite County, Mont., 11 miles northwest of Philipsburg. The altitude in the mine vicinity is approximately 6,500 feet.

Jan 1, 1952

By David A. Hall

We present an analysis of the propagation in a uniform tunnel of semi -circular cross section that contains two axial conductors. In particular, we show that, even if one of these conductors has high ohmic loss, one of the two propagating modes has relatively low attenuation. This corresponds to the situation where an unloaded dedicated wire is used to improve radio frequency communication in a mine tunnel that contains a heavily loaded trolley wire.

Jan 1, 1978

By D. A. Singer, J. C. Griffiths

"One of the most useful approaches to a complex problem is to model the system which gives rise to the problem and to perform simulations through the model to find appropriate solutions. The Engel Model may be used as such a simulator to investigate the problem of the exploration for natural resources.The Engel Model is based on a two-stage search procedure in which a known area (A) which contains m prizes is subjected to search by n coverings. During the first-stage search the sensor system records signals which may be a response from prizes (that is, true signals) or may be false. Signals tend to cluster around a prize and a cluster size consists of s signals. If a circle of radius R is drawn around each signal some will overlap and the overlap from s signals contains a prize. The cost of a single covering in which each point of the area comes under observation once, is designated E1. Second-stage detailed search is expensive and is confined to areas of overlap of s circles; it leads to the location of prizes. Second-stage search of the whole area costs Ea units. The expected value, V, of a prize is known and its development cost is E3 units.The sensor system characteristics are defined by the circle of radius R around a signal, which should be small compared with the total area A and enters the model as a parameter a x R2/A. The probability of a false signal during a single covering of a circle of radius I is a known constant, A.This model was applied to the search for uranium ore bodies using two different types of occurrence. In the first, the Wyoming Basin type, the area is relatively large (A = 1 496 square miles) and a few (m = 4) large prizes occur (expected value V = $30 million). In the second area, which represents the Ambrosia Lake region of New Mexico, the area is smaller (A = 212 square miles) and contains many (m = 200) smaller prizes (expectedvalue of a prize V,$2 million). The three costs, E1, E2, E3, are adjusted to the different circumstances in the two areas.Simulations were performed using n = 1 to 40 coverings with cluster sizes s = 0 to 19; the radius R was varied from 0.52 to 3 miles (and, therefore, a = 0.002 to 0.133 0, respectively, dependent on the area of interest). The value of A was varied from 0.01 to 0.10.Profitable programs were found over a wide range of the parameters; the two areas required different strategies to achieve maximum profit. In the Ambrosia Lake region a few passes (n = 4 to 6) with small cluster sizes (s = 2 to 6) are more profitable, whereas in the Wyoming Basin region a large number of passes (n = 35 to 40) and cluster sizes of s = 5 to 10 are most profitable.As pointed out by Allais (1957) the larger prizes are the most important in deciding the successful outcomes of exploration programs, and the profit margin in the search for a few large prizes is sufficient to yield success over a wide range of programs. Such programs require very large investments if they are to be successful.To refine the Engel Simulator as a decision-maker in selecting the most profitable exploration programs it is necessary to obtain firm estimates of the sensor system characteristics, that is, of R, a and ? (lambda)."

Jan 1, 2014

By Jr. Gabler

Methods for the direct spectrochemical determination of impurities at the parts-per-million level in tungsten metal and oxide are presented. Several published procedures were investigated and numerous modifications were made in establishing procedures with improved precision and extended lower levels of determinability. Details of standards preparation are presented, experimental work is described, and three preferred methods are described in detail. A germanium carrier-distillation procedure is applicable to the determination of 13 elements in tungsten powder; a silver chloride carrier-distillation procedure provides for the determination of 24 elements in tungstic oxide, and a sustaining ac arc method is applicable to 26 elements in tungstic oxide. The choice of methods to be used depends upon sample form, elements and concentrations to be determined, and the precision and accuracy required. The investigations reported here were undertaken to develop direct spec-trochemical methods with increased accuracy and precision to determine impurities in high-purity tungsten and tungstic oxide, to define the lower concentration levels of detectability and measurement for the common impurities in tungsten by direct spectrographic means, and to present the details of the developed or modified methods that have proved applicable.

Jan 1, 1965

The ready solubility of gold in dilute aqueous solutions of the cyanides of the alkalies or alkaline earths provides a convenient method for the separation of the precious metal -from the large surplus of associated materia1. The finely ground ore is pulped with a weak solution of cyanide, agitated to dissolve the gold, filtered and washed. The lowgrade filtrate is then clarified and the gold precipitated by some electronegative agent, the most usual being finely divided zinc or zinc dust. The slight precipitate is collectedon some form of filter coated with a filter aid, the filter cake being then known as &quot;gold slime&quot;.A typical analysis of this slime is given in Table 1.

Jan 1, 1956