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By Felicia F. Peng

The naturally occurring aged manganese oxide coated on the granular media was found to have a catalytic effect on the removal of low concentration of Mn(II) (-1 ppm) from drinking water. Applying this principle, a manganese removal technique was developed for removal of higher concentration of Mn(II) (-100 ppm) from mine drainage by using various aged filter media and synthesized granular media with manganese oxide coatings. Laboratory-scale continuous granular media column experiments were conducted to assess the feasibility of manganese oxide-coated granular media for Mn(II) removal from synthesized mine drainage. The removals of Mn(II) were evaluated as a function of operation parameters including solution pH, manganese oxide concentration coated on the media, interstitial velocity, and oxidant concentration of influent. Higher solution pH and/or higher manganese oxide concentration promoted the removal of Mn(II) on the oxide-coated granular media under low interstitial velocity. Addition of sodium hypochlorite as an oxidant in the influent resulted in continuously regenerated oxidized surface to serve as the catalyst for Mn(II) oxidation reaction on the surface of oxide-coated media.

Jan 1, 1994

By John A. Riddle

Some of the pitfalls and problems in selecting and applying corrosion-resistant materials in uranium plants are discussed, together with some suggested solutions. Includes some cost data.

Jan 1, 1979

Powder River Basin (PRB) mines were originally built to serve power plants designed specifically for their coal. Sulfur was the major concern, with BTU and sodium limiting the market for some. The Clean Air Act has extended the PRB market into plants converting from other coals. These new customers are more sensitive to constituents affecting boiler and precipitator performance. At the same time, the prospect of deregulation is forcing power companies to control cost more stringently than ever. Jacobs Ranch Mine has responded to the changing marketplace with an expanded coal quality and customer service program.

Jan 1, 1998

By Dr. Jagdish C. Agarwal

Kennecott Copper Corporation has developed a new hydrometallurgical process for extracting nickel, copper, cobalt and molybdenum from maganese nodules. This process (KCC Cuprion Process) utilizes a reduction leach operating at atmospheric pressure in the temperature range of 45 C to 50 C and has been successfully demonstrated in a continuous pilot plant processing 800 lbs of nodule ore per day. The chemistry, basic flow sheet and operating characteristics are presented and discussed.

Jan 1, 1978

By B. Eiter, M. Barham, T. Bauerle

Fatigue-related risk is a persistent safety concern for the mining industry. However, fatigue and sleepiness are often treated interchangeably, which can lead to confusion and potentially less effective reduction of safety risk. To provide clarity, we present an overview of similarities and differences between work-related fatigue risk and sleepiness including definitions, theories, measurements, and mitigation strategies. As a supplement, a summative visual model which highlights these similarities and differences is presented. Expanding industry knowledge in this area will assist safety professionals in crafting more targeted risk management practices appropriate for work-related fatigue risk, sleepiness, or both.

Feb 1, 2023

By Daniel W. H. Su

The ability to predict the effects of longwall mining on topography and surface structures is important for any coal company in making permit applications and anticipating potential mining problems. The sophisticated finite element model described and evaluated in this paper is based upon five years of underground and surface observations and evolutionary development of modeling techniques and attributes. The model provides a very powerful tool to address subsidence and other ground control questions. The model can be used to calculate post-mining stress and strain conditions at any horizon between the mine and the ground surface. This holds the promise of assisting in the prediction of mining-related hydrological effects.

Jan 1, 1986

By Andrew S. Prokopovitsh

The Bureau of Mines is concerned with all the approximately 60 industrial minerals, although its research program currently is focused on 10 of them--bauxite, chromite, clay, manganese, phosphate, potash, refractories, sulfur, titanium, and zirconium. To alleviate reliance on imported materials, particular attention is directed to those minerals having a potential for production from domestic resources. Another important consideration is environmental problems associated with the production of industrial minerals, principally in mining and mineral processing operations, The Bureau also is looking at the opportunities to substitute more abundant minerals for scarce raw materials such as rutile, fluorspar, and bauxite. In its overall minerals surveillance, the Bureau's mining and metallurgical research and development are coordinated with its minerals information activities from which reviews, projections, and forecasts identify the potential for critical disruptions and short supply situations.

Jan 1, 1975

By L. D. Boughton

Solution mining projects are conducted through one or more boreholes which penetrate en ore body. Proper drilling, completion and maintenance of the boreholes, therefore, is essential to the success of any solution mining operation. Wells drilled for solution mining encounter problems quite similar to problems encountered by the petroleum industry in drilling, completing and maintaining wells for the production of oil, gas or water. Many of the services developed and much of the experience gained by the petroleum industry is applicable to solution mining wells. As in the petroleum industry, each individual wellbore and ore body in a solution mining project provides its own problems. These vary greatly from well to well, and it is not possible to set down data or outline programs that will apply to all wells. Instead, the design of the drilling, completion, production and maintenance programs should be worked out for each individual well. The purpose of this paper, then, is to generally describe materials, equipment and techniques available for these programs and to discuss the purpose and sequence of their use.

Jan 1, 1971

By Bruce F. Bohor

Silica sand has been mined in Illinois from the St. Peter Sandstone since the turn of the century, especially in the area around Ottawa on the Illinois River in the north-central part of the state. Production of this sand, consumed mainly by the glass and foundry industries but also sought after for many other uses, has grown with the economy, and last year's output in Illinois exceeded 4,000,000 tons. Such an important commodity was given the early attention of the Illinois State Geological Survey, and a very complete report was issued in 1928, authored by J. E. Lamar. The mining and processing of the sand has changed very little during the intervening 40 years, so that much of Lamar's data and descriptions are applicable today. More recently, the stratigraphy of the St. Peter Sandstone in north-central Illinois has become better known from the work of Willman and Payne (1942). The present authors have borrowed generously from Lamar's publication, and we wish to acknowledge the contribution of both of these studies to our work.

Jan 1, 1969

By G. Paul Anderson

Personnel at Utah Copper Division's Bingham Canyon Mine use current computing technology to compile pertinent production statistics and mining plans. Within hours after the day's work has been completed, concise reports summarizing the previous day's production statistics, actual production vs. budget statistics, the location of shovels relevant to the mining plan, the performance of equipment, equipment next scheduled for maintenance, etc. are available at the terminals located throughout the mine. Also, engineering personnel us e computerized systems, directly from their offices, to assist them in the timely development of mining plans. Timely and concise reporting and planning capabilities such as these assist mine personnel in their efforts to review mining progress and equipment performance, and as such they are in a better position to detect adverse trends early and to seek appropriate resources or make changes in plans or practices.

Jan 1, 1977

By J. A. Organiscak

This paper describes the research con-ducted on bit wear and respirable dust generation conducted by the US Bureau of Mines (USBM) and West Virginia University (WVU), a member of the Generic Technology Center on Respirable Dust. The USBM investigated wear, energy and dust characteristics of various conical bit designs when cutting rock. WVU studied the functional relationships between wear, cutting force, energy, and dust of one conical bit type when cutting coal. The objective of the USBM study was to identify qualitative bit selection guidelines for cut-ting rock; WVU's research objective was to determine optimum bit replacement guidelines. These research studies both found that bit geometry (a function of bit design and wear) influences energy consumption and dust generation. Bit selection and replacement recommendations are given.

Jan 1, 1995

By K. Whiting

In October 1993, the first two of a series of full scale passive biological treatment cells were constructed to treat mine drainage from the Burleigh Mine (located approximately 48 km west of Denver, Colorado in the Clear Creek/Central City Superfund Site). The two cells are each 19-21 m long, 10.7 m wide and 1.2 m deep. Each cell contains approximately 216 cubic meters of substrate (composted manure) and is designed to treat 60 L/min of mine flow. One cell is designed as an upflow reactor and the other cell is designed as a downflow reactor. The differences in flow hydraulics and treatment efficiencies will be tested in these two cell for approximately nine months before the remaining cells are built to treat all the discharge. The substrate material was selected based on a series of bench scale tests. During the tests, the amount of metals removed was determined. The design flow rate was based on a sulfide generation rate of 400 nanomoles of sulfide generated per cubic centimeter of substrate per day. Metal removal results for the first three months of operation of the two cells will be presented and compared to results of bench and pilot studies at other sites.

Jan 1, 1994

By Mark Van Dyke, Ted Klemetti, Jake Beale, Zoheir Khademian, Joe Wickline

In 2016, a 3.7-ML magnitude event caused by mining activity occurred at a longwall mine in southwestern Virginia which was recorded by the United States Geological Survey (USGS) and felt by local residents. The event was the largest of its kind since a global mine design change by the operator was instituted in 2008 following three large events in 2005, 2006 and 2007 (3.4, 4.3, and 3.4, respectively). Two of the three pre-2008 events (2005 and 2007) damaged ventilation controls in the mine which fueled a mine fire. In 2016 the mine’s management requested researchers from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) to access geological data and determine what parameters could possibly lead to events of a magnitude of 1.0 ML or greater. Evaluation of 2,152 geological data points and modeling revealed three major geological factors in common with the majority

By Emanuele Catelli, Paolo Vicentini, Manuel Petitat, Paolo Lanfranchi

"More than 800 million tons of material will be excavated during large underground projects such as tunnels, undergrounds and power plants by 2030 in Europe only. The raw material excavated is often classified as waste, which involves environmental impact and transport issues: landfill areas, CO2 emissions and noise. But how can such massive amounts of material be transported, processed and deposited? Using the example of the AlpTransit Ceneri Base Tunnel (15.4 km), we show that suitable excavated materials can be used sustainably as a primary resource for tunnel concrete. This requires careful planning of the installations and storage areas by the client, timely building of the processing plants and other handling facilities outside the tunnel and a continuous evaluation of the raw material quality. 1. INTRODUCTION Spoil management is a central element of large construction projects. The systematic reuse of suitable excavated material not only saves natural resources, reduces transport distances and landfill volume, but can also decrease overall construction costs. Ideally, all of the concrete needed for tunnel lining can be produced with this on-site material. Such a natural resource management concept was applied for the construction of the new Gotthard Base Tunnel (L = 57 km). Spoil management concepts are, how-ever, difficult to implement and call for innovative techniques, sophisticated logistics and organization. In the context of large projects, environmentally friendly transport, processing and storage of millions of tons of excavated loose material represent another logistics challenge (Simmen & Lieb, 2010). This paper shows key factors that led to the successful completion of spoil management at the Ceneri Base Tunnel, which constitutes a part of the AlpTransit Gotthard Project (Figure 1)."

Jan 1, 2016

By J. J. Schwoebel

Resource Enterprises, Inc. (REI) is exploiting the coalbed gas resource by working in unison with active underground mining operations. At REI?s pilot project at the Soldier Canyon Mine, Carbon County, Utah, REI has drilled nearly 15,250 m of horizontal in- seam and slant boreholes during the initial two years of drilling activity. Produced gas has been sold to a natural gas transmission company on a continuous basis since mid 1983.

Jan 1, 1986

By George J. Simchuk

The selection of a stripping method and subsequently, the stripping equipment, are two of the most important decisions confronting a project engineering staff during the initial feasibility study of a new coal stripping operation. The selected stripping units average from 60 to 70 percent of the total capital outlay for mine equipment and their selection will affect the type, size, and quantity of the attendant equipment, such as loading shovels, drills, haulage trucks, and bulldozers. This paper is intended to report on an in depth study by Utah's Technical Services Staff regarding the selection of stripping equipment for the Goonyella Coal Mine in Queensland, Australia. We will touch briefly, on the objectives considered in this selection; the various alternatives which were explored; the general assumptions that were followed throughout the engineering and design of an appropriate stripping system; and computations necessary to determine the amount and size of stripping equipment. INITIAL EXPLORATION Utah Development Company (presently 90% owned by Utah Construction & Mining Co. and 10% by Australian investors) commenced systematic geological studies of the Bowen Basin coal fields of Central Queensland in 1961. The Blackwater Mine as shown in Figure 1 has since been established in this area and is now producing 3.0 million tons per annum of washed coking coal. Geological reconnaissance was then extended to the northern part of the Bowen Basin and in 1963 Utah's coal prospecting area covered 2444 square miles of Central Queensland. The authority to prospect north of Blackwater has since been trimmed to 810 square miles by relinquishments to the State.

Jan 1, 1971

By John K. (Original by) Berry

The handling and disposal of mine water is a much larger problem than is apparent at first glance. Many more tons of water are removed from underground coal mines in the United States each year than tons of coal. In the old anthracite region of Pennsylvania the average was around 32.7 t (36 st) of water for each ton of coal produced, while bituminous mines average about 4.5 or 5.4 t (5 or 6 st). Water encountered in the mines may come from several different sources. In mines with light cover and without a firm solid roof, rain may seep directly into the workings. This is also true of deeper mines where pillar falls have broken the roof to the surface. The top under creek beds is generally faulty and broken and water comes through the roof at this point. Deeper mines are frequently overlain by water-bearing strata and pillar breaks and faulty top can admit water, while places running to the dip often accumulate water which comes up through the bottom. In all cases, except where passing under a year-round stream, the amount of water made is usually pretty closely connected with the weather-more water during the rainy season, less in the dry, although the deeper a mine is, the longer it is before changes in rainfall are felt. Another source of water, not connected with seasonal changes, is old water, accumulated over a period of time in abandoned workings of the mine, or from flooded adjacent mines. Here the water filters through the coal, the parting, or comes up through cracks in the bottom. Similarly, core holes, drilled to prospect the property, can be a source of unexpected water and modern safety requirements for dust-allaying water at the working faces can turn a pleasant working area into a soggy mess over the weekend if the system is not properly maintained and operated. Why water must be disposed of is obvious. If allowed to accumulate, sooner or later the mine will fill up, or at least it will become "roofed" in low places, blocking ventilation and traffic. It must be controlled long before it reaches this stage. Water standing in the working faces is unpleasant for the men who have to work there and also cuts down on the amount of work they can do, as they must watch where they step all the time. It is especially unpleasant in low coal.

Jan 1, 1981

By J. Kuti

In room and pillar mining a large number of working points are arranged to follow a mining pattern. Geological and roof control problems can be overcome or their effect minimized by varying this pattern. Longwall mining on the other hand, fixes the mining pattern for anyone panel. This aspect of longwall mining leads to constancy, so that a well-conceived organization, ventilation, dust and roof control systems lead to daily repetition and subsequent simplicity of control. All the same, a fixed mining pattern calls for a very careful consideration and selection of design parameters. (Ref. 1.)

Jan 1, 1971

By James C. Irvine

Pea Ridge Iron Ore Co., previously Meramec Mining Co., a joint venture by Bethlehem Steel Corp. and St. Joe Minerals Corp., mines and pelletizes iron ore at the Pea Ridge mine. The Pea Ridge property, now wholly owned by St. Joe, is located near Sullivan, MO, about 112 km (70 miles) southwest of St. Louis. The ore body was delineated in the mid-1950s by St. Joe during a lead exploration program. The first test holes drilled on the Pea Ridge magnetic anomaly revealed the presence of a large magnetite deposit; further drill¬ing in 1956 and 1957 confirmed that the ore body was minable. Meramec Mining Co. was incorporated in 1957 and shaft sinking began late in the year. Pro¬duction commenced in April 1964. The ore body is overlain by about 396 m (1300 ft) of flat-bedded sediments. It is tabular, about 792 m (2600 ft) long, and up to 182 m (600 ft) thick. It dips about 1.39 rad (80°) and is of unknown depth. The ore is mainly high grade magnetite with small zones of specular hematite. The wall rock is a Precambrian rhyolite porphyry. The mine was initially started with five major levels on 45-m (150-ft) intervals. Crosscuts were driven across the ore body on 58-m (190-ft) centers. Banks of stopes were mined between the crosscuts by a modi¬fied shrinkage stoping method (Fig. 1). This was done by undercutting a 12 m (40 ft) wide by 45-m (150-ft) long block and blasting horizontal "lifts" drilled on 1.5-m (5-ft) intervals. A 20-m (65-ft) sill was left between levels which contained the slushing drift, fin¬gers, crown pillar, and adequate thickness for support. By 1971 a "lattice" of pillars had been left and mining had progressed to the point that an orderly pillar re¬covery program was necessary (Fig. 2). INITIAL PILLAR RECOVERY PROGRAM The program was started in the upper western por¬tion of the ore body, furthest from the shafts. Due to the fact that the ore body narrows in the western extremity, the stope orientation was changed to mini¬mize required development. This left pillars 18 to 24 m (60 to 80 ft) wide and up to 79 m (260 ft) in length. The area selected for the start of the program had been developed between the uppermost level at 419 m (1375 ft) below surface and the 510-m (1675-ft) level. Due to the 91-m (300-ft) difference in depth, sublevels were driven on 15-m (50-ft) intervals and the ore was taken by rather classical sublevel stoping methods (Fig. 3). This left a structure with accesses compatible with drilling with 114-mm (41/2-in.) bore drifters mounted on columns. Most holes were drilled 63.5 mm (21h in.) diam and reamed to 100 or 127 mm (4 or 5 in.). Practical depth capability was about 21 m (70 ft) for holes above horizontal and 13 to 15 m (45 to 50 ft) for holes below horizontal. The interdependence of these long pillars necessitated that several of them be blasted simultaneously, making large blasts the only practical approach. Due to the required length of such loading cam¬paigns, it was necessary to select an explosive which could stand in the hole in an underground mine for a 4 to 6 week period. After some consideration a pump¬ able water gel was selected for both uphole and down¬hole loading. This afforded a high velocity, high density explosive which could be handled in large quantities. Loading the downholes was a fairly straightforward process. The holes were lined with an 8 mil polybutylene plastic sleeve and water gel was pumped into them with a double diaphragm pump mounted on the bottom of a stainless steel tub with a 81-kg (180-1b) capacity. Potential leakage into cracked areas of the pillar was

Jan 1, 1982

By Michael A. Werner

"A Yieldable Structure for Use in Areas of High Rock Stress & Deformation." Rock stress of up to 9000 psi have been recorded in the mines of the Coeur d'Alene Mining district. Associated with these large stresses are rock fractures and deformation. In order to maintain openings required for mining, large wood preparation structures are constructed to provide access to the work areas for men and materials. These wood raise preparation structures are costly to construct and maintain. Therefore a steel-foam concrete structure was designed and proposed for testing which would be less costly to construct, require no maintainence and maintain its structural integrity while allowing up to 53 inches of wall rock deformation.

Jan 1, 1984