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By R. C. Timberlake

In the past three years there has been a great amount of attention given to phosphates world wide, and in particular to the Florida Phosphate Industry. I would like to relate some of the most recent history of the industry and give you a personal outlook for the future. Phosphate rock has been produced in Florida since its discovery on the Peace River in the 1880's. Through 1976, approximately 720 million ST of rock had been mined from Florida reserves, and it is my opinion that there are at least 1.2 billion tons remaining which are consolidated, accessible and can reasonably be expected to be permitted for mining. Over half the 1.2 billion tons will be deeper, more scattered, leaner and will produce lower grade rock than the Bone Valley of Central Florida has tradition-ally produced. In 1973, '74, '75 and '76 the Florida Phosphate Industry produced 32.6, 34.0, 38.2 and (38.0) (P) million ST of phosphate rock respectively. This rock was produced by ten mining companies, Agrico, Borden, Brewster Phosphates, Gardinier, Grace, IMC, Mobil, Occidental, Swift, and USS Agri-Chem; mines are located -17 in Polk County, one in Hillsborough County and two in Hamilton County, Florida. Phosphate rock is used by local companies in Florida primarily to produce phosphoric acid from which DAP and TSP is manufactured. Florida acid producers use about 15 million STPY in acid plants in Florida, and another 7.5 million STPY is consumed by acid producers in plants on and near the Mississippi River. Somewhat

Jan 1, 1977

By M. William Lallman

Potash production from natural brines of the Bonneville Salt Flats has a comparatively long history dating back to the start of World War I. However, it vas sot until the late 1930's that a successful commercial potash operation was achieved by a firm known as Bonneville Ltd. While improvements in operating techniques, pond design and equipment have been incorporated as they became available it should he understood that the basic technology developed in the late 30's and early 1940's by Bonneville Ltd, for potash production has not been changed significantly. The purpose of this paper is to present a brief review of the history, geology and hydrology of the Bonneville Potash operations and discuss the cur¬rent methods employed for brine collection, solar evaporation and the recovery of potash and other brine chemicals. A detailed study of the hydrogeology of the Bonneville Salt Flats wan made by L. J. Turk,1 Ph.D. thesis for Stanford University in 1969, under the auspices, of Kaiser Chemicals the Industrial Chemicals Division of Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corporation. Turk's thesis furnished much of the information presented in this paper.

Jan 1, 1976

By D. W. Alexander

Researchers from the U.S. Office of Mine Safety and Health Research (OMSHR) of the U.S. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) completed field trials during coal mine rescue contests using simulated gas detectors in place of placards. The gas monitor simulator (GMS) devices replaced static, paper placards to deliver gas concentration data. Eleven teams were observed during the field contest, which was approved by the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA). GMS devices were given to three team members (the captain and both gasmen). Observation of teams revealed that team members changed behavior by acknowledging and sharing information more often while using the GMS. As a result of this research, it has been demonstrated that under the existing contest format, the newly developed GMS device may be used with no adverse impact on team contest performance. Furthermore, when GMS technology advantages are used, contest realism is improved. In the future, competency assessment may be incorporated.

Jan 1, 2012

By ZHONGLING ZHAO, WANTING SONG, GUOZHONG LIU, LEIXIN SHI, ZUI WANG, YUANYUAN LIU, KE GAO, DONGHONG JIANG, WANG LUO, PEICHAO LU, Jianwei Cheng, WANCHENG ZHENG, Gang Zhao, YUNGANG WANG, JIANBING ZHAO

Coal spontaneous combustion is one of the major disasters in coal mines, and it can have devastating effects on the normal mining and production activities of mines. This paper presents the field investigation, field measurement, data analysis, and formulation of fire-extinguishing measures conducted to extinguish the fire from a coal spontaneous combustion incident that occurred in a high-gas coal mine in China.

By Brian F. Taylor

The Mexican fluorspar industry is faced with and will face serious problems, some of their own making and others beyond their control. However, they still offer the most secure source of fluorspar for North American' consumers. Since 1975, even in light of declining markets, they have, increased then production capabilities' as shown in Table #1. In analyzing Table #1, we note that Compania Miners Rio Colorado has closed down due to their ore reserves being exhausted. Fluorita de Rio Verde expanded their acid grade fluorspar capacity in anticipation of additional North American business. Campania Miners Las Cuevas presumably increased capacity to meet their North American contractual commitments and to supply their own hydrofluoric acid plant (Fluorex) at Juarez, Mexico. Historically, the Mexican fluorspar industry has relied on the United States as the mainstay for their sales. As shown in Tables #2 and #3, the Mexican share of the United States market has moderately decreased. However, as noted in Table #4 the volume loss is substantial as explained below.

Jan 1, 1985

By Yang Ge, Yuzhu Pan, Mansheng Chu, Jue Tang, Cong Feng, Lihua Gao, Zhenggen Liu

Increasing attention is being paid to laterite nickel ore as an alternative to nickel sulfide ore to act as a feedstock for nickel metal production. While laterite nickel ore accounts for a lion’s share of global nickel resources at approximately 72 percent, it accounts for only 42 percent of the world’s nickel production. In addition, the processing of nickel sulfide ore is confronted with enormous challenges due to deeper drilling requirements, higher production costs and depleting reserves. The nickel content in the nickel laterite ore associated with hydrated iron oxides and silicate minerals limits the application of physical beneficiation methods for the removal of iron. Thus, magnetic reduction roasting followed by magnetic separation has been regarded as one of the attractive routes to concentrate and separate the valuable metals from the impurities. 

By R. K. Mensah-Biney, M. T. Hepworth, K. J. Reid

The loading characteristics of gold-bromide species onto activated carbon were evaluated using a batch system. The overall loading of gold onto activated carbon was rapid for the first few hours, but it continued without cessation as a result of the reduction of gold. Therefore, conventional equilibrium considerations were not applicable. Although loading continued slowly after several days, an abnormally high, loading capacity value of 10-12 meq/g carbon (650-800 kg Au/t) could be attained in 72 hours. The loading of gold-bromo species by activated carbon was by the mass transfer of (AuBr4)- species to the external surface to be reduced to metallic gold by carbon. Elution of gold from loaded carbon was feasible provided the carbon had not been loaded to high capacity values. If loading is carried to high levels, complete elution becomes impractical, and the gold may be recovered by ashing the carbon. For the high loading capacities observed, this option would appear to be cost effective. The effect of several variables on the loading capacity of the activated carbon for gold-bromo species is discussed.

Jan 1, 1994

By Dennis E. Peterson

Land subsidence had been observed in recent years throughout the Southwest. Particular examples of this phenomenon that have gained wide publicity axe in the Long Beach and Central Valley areas of California and, the Houston area of Texas. Less well known is the fact that the land surface Is subsiding in many parts of Arizona, including the Phoenix area. The causes of this problem vary from place to place, as do also the rates of subsidence. In Houston it has been related to pumping water from artesian aquifers; in Long Beach to the development of oil fields; and in the Central Valley to both the lowering of artesian pressures in deep aquifers and the wetting of poorly consolidated surficial deposits. The mechanism by which subsidence occurs in southern Arizona, even though it can be correlated with the continued lowering of ground water levels, is not as apparent as in these other cases. It is the purpose of this paper to examine both the causes and affects of land subsidence in southern and central Arizona.

Jan 1, 1965

By J. C. Irvine

A recent development in underground drilling has been the introduction of the down-the-hole drill, an old and very familiar tool to the surface operator. The idea of moving such a rig underground is not new. Tests were conducted at INCO in Canada and Mt. Isa, Australia in the early 1960's, and St. Joe used one for underground exploration in their Missouri lead mines in the mid-1960's. However, the trend to full scale production programs did not start until the mid-1970's. The first successful North American test was at INGO in early 1973. This led to a large-scale pillar recovery and open stoping program which en¬compassed 25 drilling units by mid-1976. Meramec Mining Company tested a unit using air boosted up to 200 psi (140, 000 kg(m2) in the summer of 1973 which by 1976 led to an open stope and pillar drilling program using 12 units. By mid-1976, production units using boosted air were also in use at Pilot Knob in Missouri and at St. Joe in Balmat, New York. Experimental and utility units were in use in several other mines and down-the-hole drills were being seriously considered for at least one major new underground mine.

Jan 1, 1976

By Dennis S. Kostick

Soda ash is produced in over 39 countries by the Solvay ammonia-soda process or by mining natural sodium carbonate deposits. The total production of soda ash in 1980 is estimated at slightly over 29 million metric tons. Synthetic production accounted for over 75% of this amount with the balance of production originating from natural sources (either trona or sodium carbonate-rich brines) found primarily in the United States, Mexico, Kenya, and Chad.

Jan 1, 1981

By M. Duane Lackey

Electric drives hire done outstanding job in many-fields that are related to the mining industry. The equipment that is offered for electric-trucks was developed from the traction equipment which is used on the diesel electric locomotive. Rotating equipment available for use on electric trucks is identical in principle to that which is used on these locomotives. In as far as it is practical, similar controls are used. Another descendent of the diesel electric locomotive can be found in the oil well drilling industry, Here, locomotive traction motors and. electric controls have been modified to fit the particular requirements of the drilling industry, One 2400 H.P. diesel electric drilling rig drilled a 24,000 Ft. well in West Texas with an electrical maintenance cost in the order of 7¢ per hour This was a new rig and the costs are less than the average maintenance costs will be for the life of the equipment, Even soy since it took one (1) year to drill this well, this 7¢ per hour has real significance. Electric shovels use a similar type of electrical equipment; they too have shown real savings over the equipment they replaced. Since electric drives have done so well, in other fields, they warrant consideration for use in high horsepower, large capacity trucks.

Jan 1, 1961

By Walter Kahn

Increasing consideration is being given to simplifying traditional methods of tracing pipelines and maintaining required temperatures of stored fluids. Because of their reduction in capital costs, virtual elimination of maintenance. ease of control and "cleanliness"; interest in electrical techniques has accelerated. 1,2 Resistance cable and other heaters have been given some attention. but less well known in the recent introduction of thermal conductive coatings. This paper is addressed to the use of thermal conductive coatings for heating fluid-transport piping and storage tanks. Emphasis will be given to the simplicity, efficiency, and versatility of design and application which their unique properties further contribute to the general economics of electrical heating.

Jan 1, 1965

By J. Ludden

By Sims Some two years ago we began investigating low coke button bituminous coal for use at our Bound Brook, New Jersey plant as a replacement for anthracite. Since August, 1957 the plant has been operating continously on this coal with the exception of a new 200,000#/hr, cyclone boiler. This study was motivated not from our desire to conduct combustion research, but for the sole purpose of reducing our steam costs, The indications were that the economics were greatly in favor of the use of the bituminous coal. The attempts to reduce the costs have developed some knowledge that has enabled this program to succeed reasonably well as will be discussed later by Mr. Ludden. The production of steam size anthracite is dependent upon either the reclamation of old culm banks or the breakage in the production of the domestic sizes. The anthracite industry has not as yet been able to cut, its mining costs to the point where the production of steam sizes has become a profitable business. This has resulted in two basic problems: (1) A constantly rising price in an attempt to have those sizes carry their share of the cost and, (2) Periodic shortages of supply when the demand is good but the market price prohibits the mining of anthracite to produce those sizes only, These conditions have made the long range forecast appear as though the price would go even higher and/or the supply at times be critically short.

Jan 1, 1958

By Dan Nilsson

The Luossavaara "Research Mine" is the First large, offensive effort in mining research conducted by the Swedish state. Over a 5-year period, 1981-1985, the Swedish Mining Research Foundation works in the "Research Mine" on the development of mining systems and equipment. The purpose is to bolster the competitive strength of the Swedish mining and mining equipment industry. The previosly abandoned Luossavaara mine in Kiruna, in northern Sweden, has been reopened especially For the project. Ore is mined and sold during the course of the research project. The income from the sales covers a large portion of the costs for teh research.

Jan 1, 1985

By Irving Hauser

The determination of new ways to cut costs in then times of economic uncertainty is essential in running a successful business. Arco Petroleum Products Company a Division of Atlantic Richfield Company recognized an opportunity for a substantial cast savings in transporting calcined petroleum coke to market by simply building an economical port facility at a location that would enable them to drastically cut their normal rail haulage distance.

Jan 1, 1982

By Harrison H. Roberts

A. We are aware that many who are in the audience have perhaps heard before some of the material which will be presented. Since our firm is more closely associated with the heavy construction industry our experience is more oriented in that direction. Notwithstanding this, the subject your program committee has asked us to present centers mainly in the earth-moving field. We find a common denominator between say, the stripping of a site to uncover an ore-body which will be developed by open-pit methods, and that of excavating & transporting materials for an embankment dam, airport or other project. Both are earth-moving problems and we offer for your consideration a means of determining the most favorable method, equipment selection and resultant cost. We do considerable studies involving rock excavation for tunnels, underground powerhouses, inclined and vertical shafts for penstocks, muck-removal, electrical cable & other related underground work. Hence, we believe we speak the same language.

Jan 1, 1972

By J. C. Norman

The boron review arrived too late for the June issue. The United States was the world's largest producer and consumer of boron compounds during 1993. Boron mineral concentrate and chemical production in the United States totaled an estimated 958 kt (1.05 million st), yielding 526 kt (580,000 st) of B203, according to the US Bureau of Mines. Estimated value was $322 million. This level of production was about 5% less than 1992 revised production figures. The United States continued to provide essentially all its own boron while maintaining a strong position as a source of sodium borate products and boric acid to foreign markets. Domestic employment in the mining and beneficiation of boron products in 1993 was 900 people, about the same as in 1992. That was down from 1988 levels of 1250 people. Total world production of boron in 1993 was about 2.5 Mt (2.75 million st), yielding about 1.2 Mt (1.3 million st) of B203. World production in 1993 was about equal to revised 1992 levels. Production United States In 1993, mines and processing operations in southern California were the only domestic sources of boron mineral concentrates and chemicals. Domestic producers, in order of quantity of production, were: • US Borax and Chemical Corp., which operates an open pit kernite and tincal mine at Boron, CA, producing boric acid and borax products, • North American Chemical Co., which produces boric acid and borax products as coproducts from chemical operations at Searles Lake, CA and • American Borate Co., which produced small amounts of colemanite and shipped from inventories from its operation in Death Valley, CA.

Jan 1, 1994

By H. V. Fairbanks

It is estimated that millions of tons of coal fines are unsaleable each year due to difficulty of drying them economically with conventional mechanical dewatering and thermal drying equipment. The difficulty is due to the fact that coal of small particle size presents a large surface area with polar groups which have a great affinity for water. In order to remove this water thermally, a high temperature is necessary which oxidizes the surface of the coal. This substantially reduces the heating value of the coal. If drying could be satisfactorily carried out at a lower temperature, much more of the heating value of the coal fines could be retained. It was conjectured that acoustic energy applied during the drying process might prove to be of value since acoustic energy has the property of producing cavitation at a liquid-solid interface when the intensity is sufficiently great. This cavitation process produces water at room temperature which can be carried away from the solid surface by a flow of relatively cool air. Hence, moisture removal is made possible at a lower temperature.

Jan 1, 1966

By Colleen A. M. Gibbs

On July 30, 1979 New Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) regulations for implementing the procedural provisions of the decade-old National Environmental Policy Act went into effect. These new regulations replace approximately seventy different sets of agency regulations, providing some uniformity throughout the Federal government in the conduct of environmental reviews and preparation of environmental impact statements (EIS). This attempt by the Federal government at a general improvement in the preparation and quality of EIS's presents an opportunity for the mining industry to evaluate how the EIS process for mining proposals can be expedited. The environmental impact statement is often a key element on the critical path of a major mining project. Preparation of the EIS is ordinarily the responsibility of the Federal agency with primary decision-making authority over the project. Still, the proponent, i.e. the mining company, can play a major role in the process and have a major impact on the timeliness and adequacy of the effort. Typically, the Proponent will conduct (or will hire consultants to conduct) environmental baseline studies of, for example, air quality, wildlife, geology, water quality, vegetation and archaeology. These studies are then compiled into an environmental report and submitted to the agency. The agency verifies the data and incorporates them into the environmental impact statement.

Jan 1, 1979

By Martino Scialpi, Miriam Piemontese, Claudio Cimiotti, Matt Kendall, Nicholas Karlin, Roberto Schuerch

The Los Angeles, California JWPCP effluent outfall tunnel will transport secondary-treated effluent from the Joint Water Pollution Control Plant in Carson to the White Point Manifold. Upon completion, through ground conditions ranging from soils to hard rock, the tunnel will be approx. 7 miles (11 km) long with a finished internal diameter of 18-ft (5.5 m). This paper will present the Tunneling Condition Assessment Report (TCAR) and Tunnel Operation Plan (TOP) developed prior to construction, as well as the actual TBM performances achieved along the northern portion of the alignment in soft ground, shallow cover, and beneath a densely urbanized area.

Jun 23, 2024