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By G. Zhan, P. Mousset-Jones, G. Danko, J. J. K. Daemen, C. Mezei

Paper presented at the conference Risk assessment in the extractive industries, held in Exeter, 23-24 March 1994, and first published London: IMM, 1994, preprint volume. 18pp., 12 refs. (Originally entitled: Tunnel roof diagnosis using a robotic sensor test bed.) An integral roof diagnosis method is proposed to assist in assessment of risk regarding the stability of an excavation. A Robotic Sensor Test Bed (RSTB) is being developed for the characterisation of roof stability. The sensor test bed consists of a sonic/ultrasonic wave response sensor, a laser surface profiler and a surface temperature sensor. These sensors are mounted on an articulated robot manipulator for performing remote-controlled or fully automated diagnoses. A number of laboratory and field sonic/ultrasonic tests were conducted. A high-energy ultrasonic transducer and an impact device were used to resonate rock slabs. The fracture depths of the slabs were found to be inversely related to the measured resonance frequencies. The agreement between identified and actual dimensions was acceptable. Field tests also showed that loose rock on the surface can be clearly distinguished from solid formation by comparing their wave responses. The robotic laser profiler part of the RSTB was used to measure surface geometry. Different scanning methods are being developed to achieve the fastest and most precise measurements and to provide pertinent information about rock joints and major fractures

Dec 1, 1994

By J Kokado, N Hatta, S Yabushita

A theoretical model is described for prediction of the capacity of fines from porous ores, such as cokes and sintered ores, to be removed by a pneumatic, horizontal-type classifier prior to charging into a blast furnace. First, the influence of variation in the apparent density and drag coefficient of porous ores on removal efficiency is analysed from a stochastic standpoint. The effect on efficiency of collisions between particles in the classifying region is then examined analytically in relation to the ratio of the mass flow rates of particles and air (the loading ratio). Finally, a theoretical model is constructed that takes these factors into account. Theoretical and experimental results are compared and classifying efficiency is discussed from both experimental and theoretical viewpoints.

Dec 1, 1993

By H. K. Taylor, B. Denby, L. D. Smith

Contributions by H.K. Taylor and G.A. Davis discuss the three papers published in Transactions IMM A, vols. 103 and 104, with responses by Smith and Dowd

Dec 1, 1995

By B. S. Terry, C. L. Harris

Reduction kinetics from slags containing CuO(0.5), ZnO, PbO, NiO and SnO into a Cu-based metal phase were subjected to computer simulation using a previously developed model for the kinetics of metal-slag-gas reactions that assumes mass-transfer control in all phases. The effects were examined of changing bulk Fe oxide activity, gas reducing potential, temperature, Fe content of the Cu phase and metal/slag ratio. The results permit practical conclusions to be drawn about industrial slag-cleaning practice, but the model is still limited in terms of thermodynamic inputs and the idealisation of reaction conditions

Aug 1, 1995

By J. Konnerup-Madsen, T. Unlu, H. Stendal

Paper presented at the conference Economic geology in Europe and beyond II, models for mineral deposits in sedimentary basins, held in Keyworth, UK, 13-14 April 1994. The region includes the Deveci siderite/goethite deposit and the Hasancelebi, Karakuz and Kuluncak magnetite/goethite deposits; Deveci is the only mine in operation. The area consists of a serpentine-gabbro complex overlain by a volcano-sedimentary sequence hosting the iron ores. At least three generations of hydrothermal alteration have affected all rock types except the latest trachytic dykes. The Deveci deposits occur in a pyroclastic volcano-sedimentary sequence with shales and carbonates equivalent to the main mafic sequence, whereas the other three deposits formed contemporaneously with the intrusion of trachytic dykes. The deposits are of the volcanic-exhalative type, with syngenetic siderite in pillow lavas or stratiform layers the primary and main Fe-bearing mineral. In the west hydrothermal alteration has replaced siderite in pillow lavas with magnetite or has remobilised sideritic iron into magnetite veins

Apr 1, 1995

By M. J. Scoble, L. M. Daneshmend, C. Hendricks

Paper presented at a meeting on: Artificial intelligence in the minerals sector, held in Nottingham, UK, 20 April 1993. An attempt is made to relate emerging technologies to education and training requirements by examining the nature of the Canadian mining industry's human resources. Particular attention is given to the trends evident in mine automation and their likely impact on instructional needs. The characteristics of "computer-aided instruction" systems are reviewed and related to the implementation and support of mine-wide monitoring and communication networks, which are seen as fundamental to the eventual automation of underground hardrock mines

Apr 1, 1994

By S. J. Parry, D. M. Evans, D. L. Buchanan

The reef is a PGE-enriched sulphidic zone, stratigraphically associated with and overlapping the C1d chromitite layer, that was formed by magmatic processes at the 1e-1d subunit boundary. Two distinct patterns of PGE enrichment are related to the presence or absence of Cr2O3 oversaturation during sulphide liquation that occurred during a complex sequence of changes at this boundary

Apr 1, 1996

By G. Richards

Research shows that having more women in the top mining jobs can bring bottom-line benefits. Mining companies are starting to embrace the need for greater gender diversity at board and senior management levels, figures and examples are given.

Jul 1, 2015

By G. J. Hearn

between particles in the classifying region is then

Apr 1, 1995

By M. Foguenne, A. van Lierde, P. Henry

Leaching experiments were carried out on a spent catalyst sample with a honeycomb structure, containing 47.5% Ti, 5.8% Mo, 2.7% Si, 2 035 ppm As, 52 ppm Pb and 8.8 ppm Hg. More than 93% of the Mo and As was removed by direct alkaline leaching after grinding to 80% -36 micrometres. The residue contained 0.3% Mo and 60 ppm As. To obtain a TiO2 matrix with 30 ppm As, acid leaching at controlled pH with 90 kg/t Al scrap was followed by oxidising alkaline leaching. Treatment of the direct alkaline leach solution or of the mixed solutions from the two-stage process involved two successive operations: purification by neutralisation with Al(OH)3 addition to raise the Al concentration to 4 g/l, and ion exchange on Amberlite IRA 94 S resin. Whatever the type of solution treated, elution with 200 g/l NH4OH solution gave an eluate of very high purity containing 164 g/l Mo, less than 70 mg/l V and less than 2 mg/l As

Jun 19, 1905

By D Macdougall, J Otto

The financing of large mining projects in developing countries is often achieved, at least in part, by limited-recourse financing methods. Financing agreements are affected by the basic accord that is struck between the host government and the sponsors of the project. It is concluded that governments and project sponsors should take into account the requirements of lenders when structuring such mineral development agreements to maximise the potential for attracting project financing. Lenders are likely to be most interested in aspects such as fiscal arrangements, calculation of taxable income and general accounting rules, royalties, transferability of payments/dividends overseas, corporate structure and control, staged development, financing, loan support and state guarantees/approvals, political risk, provisions for default, product marketing, settlement of disputes and environmental issues

Aug 1, 1994

Paper presented at the IAGOD international symposium on mineralization related to mafic and ultramafic rocks held in Orleans, France, 1-3 September 1993. Phases of the Ir sub-group are present either as inclusions in or interstitially to chromite and are unaffected by (or only altered in situ during) hydrothermal processes. By contrast, almost all phases of the Pd sub-group are located in a secondary textural setting - in fractures in chromite or between fragments of brecciated chromite. The different settings indicate that the mineralisation episodes were associated with magmatic and hydrothermal stages respectively. The presence of an included Pd-group mineral in a hydrothermally Pd-group mineralised chromitite sample suggests that the hydrothermal Pd-group minerals were at least partly derived by remobilisation from magmatic deposits in the chromitite pod. These observations indicate that Pd-group elements are more mobile than Ir-group elements under hydrothermal conditions and point to the potential for hydrothermal platinum and palladium mineralisation in favourable environments

Apr 1, 1994

By A. Dean, J. Roberts, I. Stone, J. R. Merefield

Paper presented at the conference: Risk assessment in the extractive industries, held in Exeter, UK, 23-24 March 1994, and first published London: IMM, 1994, preprint volume, 10pp., 11 refs. No completely reliable method for characterising and quantifying airborne dust risk exists. A new monitoring technology has been developed whereby dust collected from four-way directional and high volume samplers is analysed for mineral content and particle size for integrated dust mapping. A dust database was set up for the area surrounding the Ffos Las open cast coal site in South Wales. It included XRD directional traces from 17 gauges over 20 months, XRD traces from window ledges in the nearby communities, the major soil types in the area, dust data from haulage roads and public roads and reference-type mineral samples. The database can be accessed relationally to compare and analyse the data using mineral, direction, time, weather and geographical relationships. The data has been used to assess areas of low, intermediate and high levels of risk from dust fall-out

Apr 1, 1995

By D. C. Goldring

Many high-grade iron ores are considered to result from the supergene enrichment of banded iron formations. The secondary processes may be related to either present-day or ancient erosion cycles and may reach a considerable depth. Other high-grade ores hosted by banded iron formations are regarded as either sedimentary or metamorphic in origin although often also subjected to the secondary processes. The evidence for this multiplicity of origins is reviewed with descriptions of selected deposits: Kedia d'Idjil and M'Haoudat in Mauritania, Bomi Hills and the Nimba Range in Liberia, the Itabira district in Minas Gerais, Brazil, and El Pao in eastern Venezuela. Emphasis is placed on the recognition of textures that show that some ores are tectonites, the precursor materials having undergone pervasive deformation accompanied by metamorphism. The question whether such ores are pre- or syntectonic is difficult to resolve, the evidence being inconclusive, but a diagenetic/early deformation origin is preferred. The possible range of origins has to be taken into account in exploration, particularly as regards the depth of drilling, and in the characterisation of ores for metallurgical use

Jul 1, 1991

By D. K. Bose, R. H. Rakhasia, V. D. Shah, J. C. Sehra

A series of experiments was conducted to determine the effects of roasting temperature, soaking period and quantity of soda ash added. At a laboratory scale, under optimum conditions of roasting at 873 K for 2 700 s with soda ash 10 wt% in excess of stoichiometric, molybdenum recovery was 99%. The investigations indicate the technical feasibility of producing high-purity MoO3 by combining the roasting process with carbon adsorption/desorption. The process uses low-cost chemicals, can be scaled up readily and is free of the SO2 pollution generated by conventional roasting, as the sulphur content of the concentrate is converted to sodium sulphate

Jun 18, 1905

By J. A. Finch, Zhenghe Xu, Z. A. Zhou

A particle-bubble collision model was used to investigate the minimum recovery zone height, H(r,min) required for flotation columns. The criterion used to define H(r,min) is that height which gives unit collision probability. It is shown that H(r,min) is determined by particle and bubble size, gas hold-up and bubble-bubble interaction. Under typical operating conditions, for flotation of particles less that 10 micrometres in size H(r,min) is greater than 10 m, but it reduces to less than 1 m for particles greater than 100 micrometres

Aug 1, 1995

By J. A. Every-Brown

Case studies are presented of three derelict sites in Kent and Essex that provide a good cross-section of opportunities for second-generation commercial uses of former chalk, limestone, clay and gravel workings. A 240 ha abandoned chalk quarry at Grays in Essex, now known as Chafford Hundred, is undergoing mixed development to include leisure facilities, a range of housing and commercial areas and an enhanced environment. The 120 ha of Stone Marshes now comprises the Crossways business park and the Dartford international ferry terminal. Reclamation and servicing required more work than had been anticipated and the fact that the area was within the green belt added to the delays, but Blue Circle was eventually able to provide a comprehensive development of the entire area to a high environmental standard. Stone Pit 1 landfill, at Dartford in Kent, is a former chalk quarry 40 ha in area and with an original average depth of 35 m. Landfilling commenced in 1976 and during the period 1979-1984 the site operator designed, developed and installed a gas collection and flaring system. From 1986 a gas plant supplied up to 5 000 000 therm/yr of landfill gas to a local cement works and in 1989 a 1 MW power generation scheme, later expanded to 3 MW, was commissioned. Gas is currently also supplied to a metal refining company for use in internal combustion engines

Aug 1, 1994

By I. L. Whyte

apparent density and drag coefficient of porous ores on

Apr 1, 1995

By G. G. Barbante

An understanding of the thermodynamics of smelting copper anode slimes is a prerequisite for improvements to the process. During slimes smelting, a silver-copper selenide matte is formed and subsequently oxidised to silver metal. As part of a series of investigations, molten silver selenide matte was oxidised at 1 100 degrees C with pure oxygen. The chemical potential diagram for the system was developed and used for qualitative prediction of the results of the experiments. A simple, computational thermodynamic model of converting is presented, the adjustable parameters of which were determined by matching the model with the experimental results. The practical usefulness of the model was demonstrated by predicting the effect on silver recovery of smelting temperature and of using either oxygen or air as the smelting gas

Jun 21, 1905

By R. Allington, G. Walton

The approach has been applied with success to the restoration of chalk workings in southern England, and research and trials relating to restoration blasting and the replication of limestone dale landforms have been undertaken. An essential prerequisite for application of the technique is rigorous geomorphological analysis of the locality to ensure that final quarry landforms are consistent with the local geomorphological and landscape setting. It is always important to ensure compatibility of the final landform with the intended after-use, and to achieve this it is also essential that such restoration schemes have a sound geotechnical basis. A disadvantage of the approach is that final slopes tend to be flatter, especially in weaker strata where natural slopes are not steep; the implications for reserves may be unacceptable, particularly in quarry extensions

Aug 1, 1994