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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 G. Thorsen

An alternative way to the normal practice of precipitation of jarosite, goethite, or hematite for removal of iron from zinc sulphate process liquors/ is to employ the techniques of solvent extraction. The process presented avoids the addition of any external alkali for the extraction of iron by integrating the leaching and solvent extraction steps in a hydrometallurgical zinc plant. By starting the leaching of zinc from the solid zinc calcine material with an organic solution of an acid liquid cation exchanger, the organic phase is loaded with the organic zinc salt from the direct reaction with zinc oxide. The residue from the organic leaching is transferred to a hot acid leach circuit where the remaining zinc oxide and the zinc ferrites will dissolve form¬ing an aqueous sulphate solution of zinc and iron. In the subsequent solvent extraction of iron from this aqueous leach solution, iron is exchanged with zinc from the organic phase. The commercial carboxylic acid Versatic 10 (Shell) is highly efficient for this integrated process of leaching and solvent extraction. The resulting iron-loaded organic phase is heated to 150-200 C in the presence of water whereby the iron will be directly precipitated from the organic phase as iron oxide of high purity and the regenerated organic acid is recycled to the organic leaching step for reloading with zinc.

Jan 1, 1980

By Ehsan Moosavi, Kamyar Tolouei

In open-pit mines, the long-term production scheduling optimization problem (LTPSOP) is a complicated problem that contains constraints, large datasets and uncertainties. Due to its dimensions and NP-hard nature, it is usually difficult to find an ideal solution to the LTPSOP. The optimal schedule generally restricts the ore, metal and waste tonnages, average grades, and cash flows of each period. In this paper, to synthesize grade uncertainty into the strategic schedule, a stochastic integer programming (SIP) framework is presented to LTPSOP. The objective function of the SIP model is to maximize the net present value and minimize the risk of deviation from the production targets considering grade uncertainty simultaneously while satisfying all technical constraints and operational requirements. Instead of applying one estimated orebody model as input to optimize the production schedule, a set of equally probable orebody realizations is applied to synthesize grade uncertainty in the strategic schedule and produce a more profitable and riskbased production schedule. To solve the LTPSOP, the hybrid approach with the augmented Lagrangian relaxation method, the Harris Hawks optimization, the Random Forest method and Monte Carlo method was proposed. To indicate the applicability of the model, a case study on a gold mine was implemented. The framework displays the capability to minimize risk and improvement in the expected net present value and financial profitability .

Jun 25, 2023

By Gary A. Campbell, William A. Vogely

INTRODUCTION The theory of mineral demand often is slighted in the study of mineral economics. The supply side of the mineral industries usually commands a great deal more attention and effort by mineral economists than the demand side does because the study of mineral supply includes topics such as exploration, resource availability, and exhaustion theory that are generally considered unique to the mineral industries. Mineral demand, on the other hand, is thought of as being more general in nature and therefore of less concern to mineral industries specialists since it is similar to the demand for other inputs of production. This similarity with other inputs of production, however, does not negate the importance of a thorough understanding of mineral demand. It is the interaction of supply and demand that determines market behavior and not supply alone. Mineral demand is a key component among the factors that influence mineral production; there- fore, a good understanding of mineral demand can give one better insights into the industry behavior and trends than one would otherwise have. A strong working knowledge of the demand side of the mineral industries is a powerful tool for analyzing and predicting mineral market behavior. The material presented in this chapter does not depend on any special background in economics and should be accessible to all interested readers. The chapter is organized so as to permit an orderly progression of the basic topics of the theory of mineral demand while allowing digressions on related issues of special interest. The first section of the chapter is on the determinates of mineral demand. The discussion be- gins with the introduction of consumer demand and some of the necessary terminology of economics and proceeds to the particular case of the derived demand for an input of production such as minerals and the characteristics of such demand. The second section of the chapter is on the response of mineral demand to changes in economic variables like price and aggregate income. This second section of the chapter be- gins with a general presentation of elasticity of demand and continues with the particular case of the price responsiveness of mineral demand and its nature in the short and long-runs. A brief look at the response of mineral demand to price changes for other products is also included. The chapter concludes with a discussion on the effect of aggregate income changes on mineral demand and its nature in the short and long-runs.

Jan 1, 1985

By Ronald E. Yarbrough

As a result of concern for the citizens of the State of Illinois who owned structures above underground mine workings, the Illinois State Legislature passed House Bill 158 in 1978. This bill amends the Illinois lnsurance Code and creates the Mine Subsidence Reinsurance Fund which is an insurance pool that is to receive a state appropriation of $500,000 as "start-up" money. One hundred thousand dollars has been paid to the fund as of October, 1982. The Fund is to return this appropriation to the State and is to remain self-supporting from premiums. The Fund utilized a pre-existing institution, which also was an insurance pool, the "Fair Plan Facility" and its governing Board, consisting primarily of insurance executives, to administer the program. The Mine Subsidence lnsurance Act went into effect October 1, 1979, and the bill provides that property owners in the State of Illinois may purchase up to $50,000 of mine subsidence insurance which is attached to their fire insurance policy. The deductible is normally 2%, but cannot be less than $250 or more than $500. The annual rate structure for residential structures in 1981 for $50,000 coverage is $10 (frame), and $12 (masonry). The rate structure for commercial buildings is based on the value of the building and the rates for $50,000 maximum coverage is adjusted upward. The insurance was mandated by the State Department of lnsurance and rolled onto the insurance policies of the homeowners in 34 counties which had been recognized as having sufficient exposure to subsidence damage to be covered by the Act. One percent or more of the land surface is undermined in each of the 34 counties. In the other counties undermined in the State of Illinois, insurance is available to the homeowner upon request to the private insurance carrier.

Jan 1, 1982

By Amoussou Coffi Adoko, Shevaune Zeng, Sebastian D’Hyon, Gareth Kennedy, Eleonora Widzyk-Capehart

Inertization of coal dust with stone dust is a common control implemented within underground coal mines to mitigate the hazard of a coal dust explosion. To achieve adequate inertization, the total incombustible content (TIC) of the coal/stone dust mixture is required to meet certain percentages depending on the risk and relevant legislation. Current methods for determining the TIC of a mixture involves laboratory analysis, colorimetric comparison, or the use of portable instruments. This paper provides preliminary analysis of determination of a sample’s TIC in real-time with chemometric modelling, using portable instruments employing near-infrared (NIR).

Feb 1, 2024

By M. Moats, J. Young

Short term laboratory cell electrorefining experiments were performed to examine the impact of electrolyte composition, current density and temperature on deposit structure, roughness, and adhesion to 2B mill finished 316L stainless steel. Copper electrodeposits were produced using synthetic electrolytes with thiourea and the continuous addition of glue. Deposit structures were evaluated using X-ray diffractometry. Surface roughness was measured using profilometry and analyzed using scaling analysis. Finally, an internally developed method was used to measure the force required to remove the electrodeposited copper from stainless steel to determine adhesion strength.

Mar 2, 2022

By M. E. Buzon, M. E. Gunter, B. D. McNamee

A Google search on talc asbestos yields more than 500,000 hits due to the growing number of civil lawsuits in this area. Historically, the litigation was centered on amphibole-containing industrial talc. There was no debate these talcs contained amphiboles, but the issue was the definition of asbestos and whether the amphiboles had an asbestiform habit. Ultramafic-hosted talcs, however, are formed in such a way as to not favor the formation of amphiboles in the talc, but they can occur in the surrounding black-wall. In these deposits, the serpentinite host rock is in direct contact with the talc, therefore, allegations can be made that non-asbestiform amphiboles or non-regulated serpentine group minerals can occur in the final products. We analyzed talcs from both metamorphosed carbonate- and ultramafic-hosted talc deposits using polarized light microscopy (PLM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), electron microprobe (EPMA) with wavelengthdispersive spectroscopy (WDS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) with EDS, and powder X-ray diffraction (XRD). Compositions of minerals determined by EDS alone are not sufficient to confidently identify asbestos, despite common practices by some researchers. We emphasize, using both historical samples, and analyses of currently contested minerals, the importance of determining both the structure and composition of a mineral, as well as defining its morphology, before concluding whether it is asbestos.

Jan 1, 2018

By Peter G. Chamberlain

Many mining engineers considering in-place leaching for the first time are uncertain as to how to evaluate ore bodies for potential leachability. Evidence presented in this report emphasizes the critical role of permeability in such evaluations. Whether an engineer is considering leaching "tight" formations typified by the porphyry copper deposits of the southwest or the permeable uraniferous sandstones of Texas and Wyoming, permeability measurements are the keystone of any testing program. Permeability tests range from cheap and easy to highly expensive and sophisticated operations. Constant head, variable head, and pumping tests all have application in evaluating ore bodies for in-place leaching. Costs of these tests will not unduly deflate the pocket- books of most mining companies. The basic procedures for selecting and running these field tests-including preparing suitable wells--are reviewed for the benefit of newcomers to in-place leaching.

Jan 1, 1979

'IM existing predictive methods were chosen for evaluation; an influence function (Bals Theory) and a profile function (hyperbolic). These ere applied to several field measured subsidence profiles over United States coal mines. The effect of homogeneous versus non-homogeneous overburden on surface subsidence is demonstrated and the utilization of Bals Theory as a subsidence predictive method for both types of overburden is examined. The major factor affecting subsidence profile characteristics is the migration of the inflection point toward the centerline of the longwall panel. A computer program was written to aid in the analysis.

Jan 1, 1982

By C. R. Kuhn

From 1968 to 1975, most work in surface modification of inorganic materials involved silane coupling agents. A silane coupling agent can be described simply as an oganosilicon chemical having a general formula RSi-X3 wherein the R group is attached to a silicon in a thermally and hydrolytically stable manner, and X is a hydrolyzable group usually having an alkoxy functionality. About 1975, Kenrich Petrochemicals brought into the market place titanate coupling agents. Titanate coupling agents usually consist of one alkoxy group and three functional groups attached to a central titanium atom. Zircoaluminates became available in about 1982. Zircoaluminate organometallic coupling agents, which vary principally in their respective organofunctionalities, arise from a basic technology in which two different types of organic ligands are selectively bound to a low-molecular weight zircoaluminate backbone.

Jan 1, 1995

By K. Feledi

"A booster fan is an underground mechanical ventilation equipment installed in series with a main surface fan that is used to boost the air pressure provided by the surface main fan passing through it. As mining continues to expand and go deeper, the need for improved and efficient ventilation increases. This has led to the use of booster fans and other auxiliary ventilation devices in underground mines. This paper details experiments and results carried out at Missouri S&T Experimental Mine that investigated air leakage and recirculation caused by the use of booster fans. The results were compared with the situations where booster fans are used and not used.The variables considered were the booster fan blade angle and the fan combinations. Air quantity measurements were taken at each individual stopping under a number of scenarios and across four blade angle settings. The first set of situations examined were; the main surface Joy fan only running, the main Joy, and the west booster fan running, and the main Joy fan and east booster fan running. Observations were made which lead to the conclusion from the experimental analysis that booster fans affect the behavior of leakage and recirculation. The locations of the booster fan and the blade angle setting have the most effect on leakage and recirculation. To limit the potential for system leakage and recirculation, the location and size of a booster fan in a ventilation system should be thoroughly evaluated.INTRODUCTION Missouri S&T Experimental Mine ventilation system The Missouri S&T Experimental Mine has two shafts. One currently serves as the main intake shaft. Air is forced through the main shaft by a Joy Manufacturing Vane Axial fan and follows the direction shown on the map on Figure 1. The air is currently naturally exhausted through the Wheeler portal. As indicated on the map there are eight stoppings in the mine, with stoppings number 2 and 8 fitted with man doors. The mine also consists of three raises which are either fully or partially blocked, two portals with one acting as an exhaust and the other generally closed by a hydraulic Kennedy door."

Jan 1, 2015

By J. J. Webb

At Kerr-McGee's Galatia Mine in southern Illinois, the need for safe and efficient longwall moves prompted a detailed planning effort. Galatia Mine operates two longwalls on separate coal seams with different geologic conditions. An overview of the longwall move planning as related to manpower training, roof control, ventilation, transportation, equipment recovery and setup will be discussed. The impressive safety record achieved during each of the longwall moves at Galatia Mine verifies that health and safety planning does play a major role.

Jan 1, 1994

The floatability of a bituminous coal in NaG solutions was evaluated using a modified Hallimond tube to delineate the role of the electrostatic interaction between bubbles and particles in determining the coal hydrophobicity. Zeta potential measurements showed that bubbles are negatively charged in the entire pH range tested, while coal particles are positively charged below pH 6.0 and negatively charged above it. Also, both sodium and chloride ions were confirmed to act as indifferent ions without any specific effects for both coal particles and bubbles. Flotation as a function of pH exhibited a maximum and minimum at low salt concentrations which is shown to be determined mainly by the coal hydrophobicity as measured by a new hydrophobic levitation technique. At high salt concentrations (above 0.1 mole/dm3), the flotation without such maximum or minimum is controlled by the electrostatic interaction between the bubble and the particle.

Jan 1, 1992

By John F. Papp

Chromite is used both as a metallic and nonmetallic mineral. Chromite ore is used as the source of chromium by the metals industry and is used, without chemical alteration, in the refractory and foundry industries. Chromite ore is also the source of chromium for the chemical industry. On average worldwide far more chromite ore is used by the metallurgical industry than by any other industry. Thus, although the primary purpose of this chapter is to describe the nonmetallic uses of chromite, the metallurgical uses must also be discussed in order to provide a complete description of this commodity.

Jan 1, 1994

By Nader Shahcheraghi, Verya Nasri, Mehdi Bakhshi, Ali Haghighat

An accidental fire load is one of the major loads considered in design of segmental linings in transit tunnel. Typically, a two-dimensional coupled thermo-mechanical finite element analysis (FEA) is conducted. The conventional approach involves using standard fire curves (temperature-time curves) which can lead to a significant overestimation of fire load and tunnel lining thickness in metro tunnels. The focus of this paper is on the cutting-edge approach, using 3D computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis of real train fires in metro tunnels and coupled thermo-mechanical finite element analysis (FEA) to accurately and cost-effectively design fiber-reinforced concrete (FRC) segmental tunnel linings for large-scale metro projects.

Jun 23, 2024

By Kenny Lo

"SummaryFor more than a century, ground freezing has been a construction technique used in stabilization of ground by means of lowering the temperature of surrounding soil strata. This technique is used in circumstances where conventional grouting method is unable to achieve the degree of consolidation required to prevent settlement and water ingress during the execution of underground excavation. Whilst ground freezing is effective in imparting self-supporting characteristics to the excavation profile, it poses significant challenges when it comes to the New Austrian Tunneling Method (NATM) where sprayed concrete is used to support the freshly excavated ground. Sprayed concrete, if used in an appropriate manner, provides a fast, efficient and structurally-reliable means of supporting the structure, especially in underground construction. The evolvement in sprayed concrete technology is attributed to the development of concrete know-how, improvement of spraying technique with the use of automation spraying equipment, more in-depth understanding of sprayed concrete behavior and enhancement of materials used in production of high quality sprayed concrete Not only has this markedly escalated the prominence of sprayed concrete on wider perspective,. the positive development has also pushed sprayed concrete beyond its boundaries, enabling it to be embarked on area of application not considered possible decades ago. Nevertheless, sprayed concrete, for all its placement versatility, still depends largely on the technicality provision very similar to concrete to achieve the required quality. Parameters such as raw material grading composition, curing temperature and cement quality are some of the factors that can easily sway the quality of concrete from one extreme to another. Conducive ambient temperature is critical in ensuring optimum hydration of concrete. This is more important in sprayed concrete where temperature plays a pivotal role in influencing the early strength and long term strength development. The low temperature imposed by ground freezing is everything but ideal for competent hydration to take place. This paper outlines how the innovative use of sprayed concrete helps to overcome the adverse ambient temperature in the construction of a 110m underground pedestrian walkway utilizing ground freezing technique in Hong Kong."

Jan 1, 2016

By R. W. Utley

Over one half billion tons of coal per year is scalped, classified, deslimed, drained and rinsed, dewatered and final sized on rotary, vibrating, shaking or stationary screens. The vibrating screen is the industry work horse and performs the bulk of the screening functions in the coal preparation plant. There are two major types of brute force mechanical vibrating screens used in coal preparation plants: (1) the two-bearing one-shaft inclined screen and (2) the four-bearing two-shaft horizontal screen. Both of these types are familiar to coal producers.

Jan 1, 1966

By Richard F. Hewlett

The purpose of this paper is to provide a framework within which problems in the evaluation, development, and operations of a mineral property can be solved, Solution of these problems must be made with a computer because of their complex nature, Individual problems will be collectively discussed in terms of an overall objective - computation of the optimum mine limits. The concept of quantifying geologic and mine sampling data has been advanced and demonstrated in the United States by two pioneers in the application of statistics. These men are, respectively, Dr. W. C. Krumbein Northwestern University, and S. W. Hazen, Jr., U. S. Bureau of Mines, Dr. H. S. Sichel and D. G. Krige of South Africa have pioneered specific applications of statistics, particularly to gold deposits. Implementation of statistical and mathematical methods to the solving of problems in the mineral industry creates the need for a computer. The steps required to solve evaluation, development, and operational problems with a medium sized computer are discussed in this paper.

Jan 1, 1963

By K. Thirumalai

The Bureau of Mines has developed and tested a new concept of combining thermal and hydraulic energy processes for hard rock cutting. The study shows that this novel combination method overcomes the fragmentation limitations of the thermal process in nonspalling rocks and the cuttability limitations of the hydraulic process in high-strength rocks. The method effectively cuts hard rocks at moderate hydraulic pressures (below 30,000 psi). Theoretical predictions of the rock damage process are made and are correlated with experimental results obtained by using both single pulse and continuous water jet hydraulic systems. Traversing point heating and line heating techniques were used for heating rocks preceding the continuous jet impingement. Heating induces structural weakness of the rock material and assists fragmentation by the water jet impingement. The thermohydraulic process is effective if the significant depth of heat penetration induced by the surface heating exceeds the cutting depth produced by the jet impingement. Hydraulic specific fragmentation energy values reduce by about an order of magnitude using the combination technique. The process efficiency and the rate of themohydraulic hard rock cutting increases significantly by increasing the intensity and duration of heating.

Jan 1, 1973