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By R. Krog, S. Schatzel, H. Dougherty

Longwall coal mine operators in the U.S. are required to ventilate multipanel longwall districts, but may have little or no knowledge about what happens to the ventilation air between the inlet evaluation points (IEPs), bleeder evaluation points (BEPs) and bleeder fans. The effectiveness of bleeder performance can directly influence the ability of a ventilation system to remove and dilute coal bed methane emissions. U.S. coal mining stakeholders have acknowledged their belief that the T-junction split at the longwall face tailgate corner is very important in controlling the distribution of ventilation air. To obtain direct measurements of bleeder performance, a tracer gas, sulfur hexafluoride (SF6), was released into the ventilation air stream on active and inactive longwall panels. Testing was performed on multiple longwall panels that included various phases of longwall development and variable path lengths of ventilation air transport to bleeder fan installations. Changes in the T-junction ventilation air distribution over the life of a longwall panel, and its variable effect on panel ventilation airflow are discussed. These findings will assess the effectiveness of commonly applied ventilation strategies for improving air distribution and ventilation controls to meet statutory requirements.

Jan 1, 2011

By Michael E. Henderson

The U.S. Bureau of Mines (BOM) constructed the Hydraulic Transport Research Facility (HTRF) to investigate the hydraulic parameters relating to the transport of coarse coal. To achieve these goals in a timely and efficient manner, the Bureau contracted to Boeing Services International, Inc. (BSI) the responsibility of operating the HTRF and providing technical support. This data report is a summary of the testing and data results for the period from 6 September to 9 September 1983. The testing covered herein is for coarse 2-in by 0 (minus 50 mm) Pittsburgh Seam run-of-mine (ROM) coal in a 12-in (300 mm) pipeline, at velocities ranging from 8 to 16 ft/s (2.4 to 4.9 m/s) and at concentrations ranging from 15 to 50 pct.

Jan 1, 1985

By G. B. Shea

In 192b, there wore 47 fatal accidents in the California petroleum industry, 14.6 per cent more than occurred in 1927 when 41 men lost their lives in the drilling, producing, manufacturing, and marketing divisions of the industry. This increase in the number of fatal accidents for 1928 has caused the first upward trend in the fatality curve of the California petroleum industry since 1923. In no other year during the 6-year period have the fatalities in any one year been greater than those for the preceding year. This fact should be given serious consideration and study by the petroleum industry, and an endeavor should be made to cause the number of fatalities again to decrease and conform to the previous gradual declining trend of the fatality curve. The following chart shows the trend of fatal accidents during the past six years:

Jan 1, 1929

By Josué Claudio Metz

A concepção de desenvolvimento sustentável tem resultado no aumento de pressões ambientais para a melhoria da eficiência na utilização de recursos, e para a significativa redução das emissões e da geração de resíduos. No processo de fabricação de aço nas siderúrgicas com fornos elétricos a arco ocorre a geração do resíduo sólido denominado pó de aciaria elétrica (PAE). O PAE é constituído por diferentes óxidos metálicos. Contém cromo, chumbo e cádmio e, por isso, é classificado como resíduo classe I – Perigoso pela NBR 10004 [1]. Gerado em grandes quantidades diariamente em todo o país, o PAE é disposto principalmente em aterros industriais. A indústria da construção civil, devido a quantidade de matérias-primas consumida e variedade de produtos disponíveis – cimento, concreto, agregado, cerâmica, entre outros, apresenta-se como alternativa para a reciclagem de resíduos gerados em outros setores da econômica. Estudos indicam o potencial uso do PAE na produção de materiais da construção civil, tais como cimento e concreto. O objetivo deste trabalho é apresentar uma revisão da literatura sobre a viabilidade técnica da adição do PAE ao cimento como alternativa de valorização desse resíduo. Os estudos sugerem que em quantidades próximas a 1%, a adição de PAE não afeta de forma significativa as propriedades do cimento.

Aug 16, 2017

By V. R. Spironello

Operating variables affecting the efficiency of the basic oxygen furnace (BOF) and the level of contaminating elements in the steel product were investigated by the Bureau of Mines. Steel was made in a 400-lb-capacity BOF designed to rotate on its vertical axis to increase the area of hot metal surface subject to oxygen attack. Hot metal for the BOF was made by melting pig iron and scrap in an 18-inch (ID) cupola. The variables were BOF speed of rotation, rate of oxygen flow, number of jets and angle at which they were machined into the oxygen-lance tip, temperature of hot metal, reactivity of lime, and temperature of scrap for the BOF charge. Experiments were arranged according to a two-level fractional-factorial design. The effects of the seven variables were evaluated for 13 responses. The greatest ingot yield occurred while using the larger angle lance tip and jets. The most carbon burned per unit volume of oxygen resulted from rotating the BOF and using the smaller angle lance tip. The largest sulfur transfer to the slag occurred at the higher hot metal temperature levels and higher rate of oxygen flow.

Jan 1, 1970

By Ana E. Bohé, Georgina De Micco, Juan P. Gaviría, FEDERICO J. POMIRO, Gastón G. Fouga

Chlorination and carbochlorination processes have industrial applications in metallurgical activity for extraction and purification of uncommon metals such as rare earth elements (REE). This study reviews the chlorination and carbochlorination reactions of light REE (LREE) oxides with chlorine considering the thermodynamic, stoichiometric, and kinetic aspects of the reactions. Lanthanides between lanthanum to gadolinium were considered as LREE, in agreement with previous literature, and the results were detailed in this review. LREE were analyzed taking into account their oxidation states and were divided into three groups accordingly. The results presented show that, although the LREE are chemically similar, their behaviors during the reactions with Cl2 and Cl2–C, and the different LREE-O–Cl compounds formed, have particularities. It was observed that gadolinium, in both thermodynamic calculations and experimental results, presents some differences, and it can be considered intermediate between light and heavy REE; i.e., reactions between LREE2O3 and Cl2(g) begin at approximately 250 °C, except for Gd2O3 that begins at 327 °C. The present work will contribute to a better understanding of the chemistry of LREE oxides and Cl2 under different conditions and the products obtained in the LREE–O––Cl2(g) and LREE–O–C–Cl2(g) systems.

Oct 15, 2021

By William F. Jahn

Because of the' situation in Europe during the summer of 1939, with the possibility of war and consequent curtailment or loss of supplies of tin to the United States, the Bureau of Mines undertook an investigation of domestic tin resources. This was permitted by the Strategic Minerals Act of 1939, which authorized investigation of possible domestic resources of strategic minerals necessary in a national emergency. The minerals selected were in short supply, and the United States depended almost entirely on imports to meet normal requirements. The Black Hills of South Dakota were selected for investigation as one possible source of tin because of the occurrence of the mineral there has been known since 1876, although production had never been important. The Tinton area, in the northern part of the Hills, had received the most attention and contained some minor indicated and inferred tin deposits.

Jan 1, 1949

By A. Modi, C. Li, R. Kabwit, W. Y. Xinchao, R. Joshi

The KIMIN copper project can treat 1.7 million dry t/a copper-cobalt ore. It has three mills in operation, two using conventional milling in water and the third in raffinate. We introduce the project process circuit and the capital and operating costs of using the raffinate process compared with conventional milling in water. There is a capital saving of approximately 11.5% for major equipment by removing the pre-leach thickener. In addition, it also achieves an annual operating cost saving of USD 2.1 million due to an increase in 49% of acidic raffinate recycled and reduction in lime consumption. The features of CITIC’s new duplex stainless-steel ball mill ,as the key equipment of the system, are also introduced

Jan 1, 2023

By A. J. Basu

An overview of the evolution of computerized mine planning and design has been given, emphasizing the need for a knowledge-based system for planning and design of underground coal mines. An outline for the development methodology and procedure has been provided. Problem structuring guidelines have been used to incorporate intelligence and integration to the design modules. A skeletal model for a mine planning and design expert system has been prescribed, and the development process has been documented in detail. A feasibility prototype has been developed to test the structure of the skeletal model and to ensure completeness of the design process. The feasibility prototype development and its contribution toward proto typing has been addressed in this paper. At present, prototype development is underway. The prototype is expected to be avail-able for testing and implementation in early 1991.

Jan 1, 1991

By Douglas A. Elkins

The unique characteristics of plasmas, their current applications, and ongoing research into new applications are described. Major technical and economic problems in application of plasma technology are discussed. Examples of potential applications of plasma in extractive metallurgy are described and evaluated. The report includes a selected bibliography of articles on plasma and related high-temperature technology.

Jan 1, 1969

By Oscar V. Mauró Obando

El presente texto describe la energía que contienen los explosivos para sensibilizar a los trabajadores que realizan las tareas de perforación y voladura. Las causas que originan los accidentes relacionados a explosivos son actos y condiciones subestándares, relacionados con el almacenamiento, transporte, manipuleo y uso de los explosivos y accesorios. En ese sentido, se busca la prevención de accidente por voladura, identificación de peligros y cómo eliminar correctamente los tiros cortados en la voladura subterránea, desde un análisis de os ingenieros de seguridad y explosivistas.

Apr 1, 2015

By S. N. Monteiro, E. B. Zanelato, J. Alexandre, M. T. Marvila, A. R. G. Azevedo, G. C. Xavier

The incorporation of industrial waste into ceramic tiles is a major trend in the search for alternative raw materials, and also in the search for environmentally correct disposal of waste. In order to evaluate the effect of the incorporation of residues from the ornamental stone industries, in the properties of ceramic tiles, incorporations of up to 40% by weight of the residue in ceramic mass were studied. It is noteworthy that this residue is constituted basically by limestone and its characterization was performed by grain size analysis, Atterberg boundaries, grain density and chemical analysis by X-ray fluorescence. The specimens were burned at 800 °C and the following properties were evaluated: linear retraction, water absorption and bending rupture stress. The results indicated that the residue of ornamental rocks is a material with potential to be used as a component in the mass of red ceramic tiles.

Mar 1, 2018

By J. L. Henry

The development and status of technology for producing titanium from U.S. resource materials are summarized in this Bureau of Mines report. Commercially feasible processes and investigations of alternative procedures are reviewed in order to identify techniques that could make existing operations more effective or areas in which future research may lead to the development of new production methods. Procedures are described for producing concentrated titanium dioxide from starting materials such as sands, massive deposits, and mineral processing residues containing rutile, ilmenite, and perovskite; producing and purifying titanium tetrachloride from concentrated rutile, ilmenite, and titaniferous slags; reduction of titanium tetrachloride to titanium sponge metal using metallic magnesium or sodium; purifying and consolidating titanium sponge and scrap by arc melting or induction melting techniques; purifying sponge, scrap, and alloys by molten salt electrorefining; and electrowinning titanium from chloride salts.

Jan 1, 1987

By B. Maybee, J. Venter, J. Wesseloo

The selection of open-pit slope angles involves high-value decisions with small changes in slope angle, often representing significant changes in net present value. The existing methods used to define design acceptance criteria have evolved from factor of safety to probability of failure (P[F]) to risk consequence to risk frontiers, which represents current state of the art. Current design acceptance measures are based on references to published tables representing the experience and judgement of their authors, who did not specify the purpose of the measures contained therein. As the purpose of the published design acceptance criteria is not specified (i.e., definite stability, marginal stability, optimization, etc.), such tables cannot be used to achieve optimum slope angles that maximize profitability. This paper develops a design acceptance criterion that maximizes profitability by defining a formulation for optimum risk that balances expected risk and reward. The model developed is titled the Mining Risk Model (MRM), and is applied to open-pit slope angle selection through an equation for optimum probability of downside (P[D]O) that balances the upside or opportunity, the P[F], and the downside impact. This formulation for optimum risk is unique, as many authors have presented objective functions for their risk models that can be optimized, but none of the sources reviewed contained a formulation for optimum risk. The MRM is sufficiently flexible to allow the design performance measure that drives P[F], and hence P[D]O, to be selected based on the intended goal. Furthermore, the essential information that must be known to quantify optimum risk is defined. This allows users to determine what information to collect for optimum risk decisions. A further benefit of the MRM is that slope angle decisions and pit shells can be ranked to select the best option, and a threshold is provided that separates acceptable from unacceptable decisions. Finally, the workflow and information required to determine optimum risk are presented.

Sep 9, 2024

By József Faitli, Imre Gombköto, Barnabás Csoke, Tamás Magyar, Beáta Oláh, Sándor Nagy

"Raw materials are among the main building blocks of a growing economy. Without raw materials, no matter whether it is primary or secondary, production is not possible. Products with high added value require special materials. Recently, worldwide production of some important raw materials mainly comes from a handful of countries, for example: China (Rare Earths Elements (REE)), Russia, South Africa (Platinum Group Elements (PGE)), Democratic Republic of Congo (Cobalt), etc. In the EU as well as in Hungary, the importance of the so called 14 critical raw materials has been recognized. Within the frame of the TÁMOP-4.2.2.A-11/1/KONV-2012-0005 - CriticEL project, the Institute of Raw Materials Preparation and Environmental Processing in cooperation with the Institute of Mineralogy and Geology of the University of Miskolc are working on the exploration of the primary and secondary sources and developing innovative preparation technologies of critical raw materials in Hungary. The research work showed in this article, focused on the recovery of critical materials from LCD TVs and monitors. There are high deviations in different literatures regarding to concentrations of critical elements in displays (e.g.: indium), probably because of the differences in production year, producers and recovery technologies. During the research - described in this study - a well specified sample of quite large amount of displays had been used. The exact place and shape of the ITO (indium-tin oxide) layer were determined by SEM analysis. The applied preparation technology was developed based on the results of our investigations and by technologies found in the literature. The developed process accomplishes two main parts: the mechanical preparation (mainly the liberation of different display layers, removal of liquid crystal) and the acidic dissolution of indium."

Jan 1, 2014

By Francis Gray

Mr. F. W. Gray: It is not my intention to read my paper as it is too long, so I will touch only on the high lights. The Sydney field is the most favourable example of undersea coal mining that exists, and I have not been able to find anything like it elsewhere. The nearest approach to it is a field in England where the Whitehaven collieries are operating, but it has a lot of faults. The net result of these faults so far met with in the seaward advance of the workings has been to increase, by something over 100 feet, the gain in depth of cover, in a distance of approximately three and three-quarter miles. In the Sydney field there are no faults of any consequence. On the east side, the English measures rise. In Australia the sea bottom fell and the cover became too light. On Vancouver Island the coal ran out, and in Japan the seams are steep and contorted. The Chilian fields resemble our own to some extent. An inundation of two collieries took place there some time ago, due, it is said, to the rise workings being allowed to approach the sea bottom too closely in the vicinity of a fault. The Cape Breton undersea field has been proved over a frontage of about thirty miles and has been attacked and penetrated for a considerable distance along that front. We have passed the prospecting stage and now generally use developed land areas as points of attack to win the undersea coal. Of our mining under the sea, it can be said that, with the exception of No. 1-B and Princess colliery, Sydney Mines, no real attempt has been made to win the undersea coal.

Jan 1, 1927

By Frank E. Cash

Published or available data on safety in quarries are few except those pertaining to blasting issued by manufacturers of explosives. During the past 25 years the quarrying industry (including various types of quarries producing many different materials) has had a markedly improved accident experience. The downward trend has not been phenomenal or has it been uniform from year to year, owing to occasional major disasters; but from the information at hand it appears that improvement during the 25-year period has been definite.

Jan 1, 1941

By Jorge Nelson Rivera Guillén

"La tierra es una unidad de un complejo astral que se observa desde la antigüedad en sus aspectos exteriores y su dependencia del sistema solar. En ese sentido, el presente texto señala la génesis y evolución de los minerales comprendido en la tierra a través de cuatro libros denominados ""Los misterios del planeta tierra"", donde se mencionan los aspectos tectónicos preliminares y preparatorios para la disgregación de la Pangea Nueva, cuya “lenta explosión” ocasionó la separación de las placas tectónicasy la acción de fuerzas distensionales que actuaron sobre los fragmentos que generan desequilibrios barotérmicosinternos y la formación de zonas magmáticas y metalizaciones."

May 1, 2015

By John Stubbles

Data are presented on the global warming issue to reinforce the decision by the U.S to reject the Kyoto protocol. The evidence that CO2 is a problem rather than a benefit is inconclusive and will be discussed in this paper. Nevertheless, for economic reasons alone, the US steel industry will continue to minimize CO2 emissions (and the release of real pollutants) per ton of steel through energy reduction programs. However, relative to inevitable increases in absolute CO2 emissions from the utility industry and the transportation sector, future reductions by the steel industry will be inconsequential in the "big picture."

Jan 1, 2004

By Pedro Gamio

El Perú tiene un compromiso para reducir contaminación y emisiones —que nace en el Tratado de París del 2015— en atención al cual debe acelerar un cambio gradual en su matriz energética, encaminarse de forma eficiente hacia las energías limpias, y lograr un crecimiento sustentable y descentralizado. Como política de Estado, ello supone un planeamiento estratégico con metas de corto, mediano y largo plazo para construir una transición energética, que comienza por un uso eficiente y mayor del gas natural y las tecnologías renovables. El desafío implica manejar con sumo cuidado y prudencia los recursos naturales renovables y no renovables que el país tiene a su alcance, así como fortalecer el factor humano y tomar en cuenta los aspectos culturales y sociales vinculados con el manejo de los recursos. De acuerdo con el autor de este artículo, un primer paso en este cometido es la alfabetización ambiental y el planeamiento estratégico en la formulación de políticas públicas para promover el crecimiento sustentable de las actividades económicas. Hay que trabajar indicadores de monitoreo y calidad de la gestión, además de crear política rural, empoderar a la gente y articular políticas públicas sociales y económicas.

Nov 30, 2018