Search Documents

By T. Kelly

The Cannon Mine is located in Chelan County, near Wenatchee, Washington, at the eastern foot of the Cascade Mountains. The mine is situated about two miles from the Columbia River, in the arid Columbia River Valley. Two hydroelectric dams provide electricity for the area, the Burlington Northern Railroad has a switch yard and loading facilities in Wenatchee. Approximately 25,000 people live in the area. The principal industry is fruit farming. Underground mining techniques are used to provide feed for a 2,000 tpd flotation concentrator at the site. The techniques are low- cost, high productivity methods which allow for a high extraction rate along with a high rate of recovery of the minable reserve.

Jan 1, 1986

By Tuncel M. Yegulalp

This article summarizes some of the results of the continuing research activity at the Henry Krumb School of Mines, Columbia University, directed towards a better understanding of the stochastic behavior of slurry flows in underground coal-slurry pipeline systems. The slurry system under consideration here replaces all conventional haulage systems between the coal face and the coal preparation plant on the surface. At the beginning of the pipeline system, flow rate and frequency of coal slurry is very closely related to the activities of production equipment at the coal face. Due to several scheduled and unscheduled interruptions in continuous miner's coal mining activity, resulting slurry flows possess stochastic characteristics. Proper understanding of these characteristics is believed to lead to a more realissic and economic design of slurry handling equipment. Fundamental ideas supported by field observations are presented and a Semi-Markov model of the slurry flows is developed. As a result of this formulation, behavior of combined slurry flows from N independent coal faces can be expressed in analytical form. The contents of a slurry surge tank receiving slurry flows with certain stochastic characteristics is investigated as a function of discharge pump characteristics and time.

Jan 1, 1981

By S. D. Rosenthal

"This paper will share my ‘shift in career direction’ journey from corporate mine engineer, with 31 years of mining various commodities with a wide range of responsibilities in a variety of countries, to the world of academia. There are times in one’s career that a change is required, albeit perhaps not as drastic of a change as moving to teaching. This paper will share how the transition arose, the decision to make the change, the challenges of the first year in academia, and the journey within academia going into the second year. INTRODUCTION As a graduate of the Montana College of Mineral Science and Technology (Montana Tech) with a B.S. Mining Engineering degree in May of 1982, my first job with Utah International in the Farmington area took me back to my home state of New Mexico. Some of you will remember that the early 1980’s was not a period of prolific opportunities for mining engineers; given low commodity prices, especially for copper (for example, Anaconda Company had been taken over by Arco and was in the midst of closing down its Butte operations). Coal was good and the learning opportunities abounded with Utah (which became BHP and then BHP Billiton). Gold was taking off in the mid to late 1980’s thanks to use of cyanide and heap leaching technology improvements, coupled with deregulation of the gold price, so I ventured off to work in the gold industry with a (then) junior Canadian company called Barrick at a new acquisition of theirs known as Goldstrike. That same gold surge was causing a shortage of iron ore mining engineers in Australia so after a few years in Nevada, I uprooted the family and left for a little town in the Pilbara of West Australia, known as Newman, to work in the iron ore industry with BHP Iron Ore. An initial short overseas posting turned into six plus years before transferring to BHP’s Indonesian steam coal mines in Kalimantan on the island of Borneo. BHP was going through a rough period following some ill-fated projects (Magma copper purchase, Beanup and HBI) and was reviewing assets and staffing so internal opportunities became scarce. Employees were encouraged to ‘leave the company and find work elsewhere.’ So, off I go to Argentina to try copper mining in the Andes with Minera Alumbrera. This short stint in South America was followed by a move to another mining town, Morenci, Arizona, and a posting with Phelps Dodge (now Freeport McMoran). After 12+ years without living close to snow we moved to the Denver area in a new position with Newmont Mining Corporation. Along the way I became a Professional Engineer (Nevada) and completed a Masters in Project Engineering and Management. After 11 years with Newmont, I moved to Butte, Montana where I accepted a position as Assistant Professor of Mining Engineering."

Jan 1, 2015

By V. E. Gall, A. Vonthron, J. Ninic, A. Marwan, M. König, G. Meschke, A. Alsahly

"In current tunneling practice, finite element simulations have become an integral element of the planning and design process. These models are most often manually generated using 2D CAD drawings, which is a laborious and time consuming process. In this paper, we propose a BIM based approach, in which the 3D FE-model is automatically generated through a set of compatible geometries of individual components, i.e. the geology, alignment, lining and the TBM. The BIM model also includes all relevant model parameters of the tunneling project that can then be incorporated into subsequent analysis to be performed during the tunnel drive. The setup and the execution of the FE-analysis are performed automatically utilizing all required data from BIM. The applicability and efficiency of the proposed strategies is demonstrated by means of project data from the Wehrhahn-line metro project in Düsseldorf, Germany. Both the design as well as the construction stage is considered. INTRODUCTIONIt is recommend to employ Finite Element (FE) simulations in order to ensure a high degree of safety and quality for any given project (Guglielmetti et al. 2012). As such, FE models form an integral part in the design and planning stages of modern tunneling projects. These models are often time consuming to construct and require data from many different sources. This data is most often not centrally stored and therefore not easily accessible. Additionally, the formats in which project data are stored are typically not compatible with the formats required by an FE program. This is especially true in the case of geometrical data, such as CAD drawings. Although existing design drawings are most often used as the basis for a FE model, a direct import into a FE program is most often not successful as the imported data generates a geometry that does not fulfill the requirements of a FEM model, such as model connectivity. Even if a geometry is successfully imported, other necessary aspects of an FE model, such as boundary conditions and material properties, must be applied manually. These incompatibilities inevitably result in the creation of a new model, which, especially in the case of complex 3D models, is a time consuming process."

Jan 1, 2016

By Jan Reimann

Increasing individualization with smaller quantities, growing competition from low-wage countries, and the continuous drive towards digitalization are the challenges that industrial companies in high-wage countries must face. The example of the Flender One gearbox modular system demonstrates how consistent standardization and digitalization are the enablers for AI, and thus already enable new business models and business approaches today.

Feb 22, 2026

By R. Kent Comann

Introduction This article describes ways to maximize employment potential for those looking for a job in the minerals industry. Advice on the right way to prepare a resume is followed by tips on where and how to look for a job and ways to make the best of an interview. Information on current salaries is also included. RESUME NAME: Give home and college addresses and telephone numbers, ADDRESS: if still in school. Otherwise, give home address and TELEPHONE: telephone plus business telephone number. JOB OBJECTIVE: What do you want to do? EDUCATION: List degree(s), name of college(s), location(s), and date(s) degree(s) received or to be awarded. Do not list your high school but do include postgraduate education, training, or seminars. WORK EXPERIENCE: List your most recent experience first, and the rest in reverse chronological order. Include dates (month and year) and company names. First show the entire time spent with each employer, then list the various jobs (with dates and duties) you may have had with this employer. MILITARY SERVICE: List dates, branch of service, and duties. If you did not serve, delete this section. COLLEGE ACTIVITIES: Show organizations, sports, and offices held. Only list these if you are a graduating senior, otherwise delete this section. PERSONAL DATA: List age, marital status, height, weight (optional), foreign languages spoken, professional memberships, and health (if good or excellent, otherwise do not mention it in the resume). If you prefer a certain location and would not accept a job anywhere else, list the location desired. Otherwise, do not restrict yourself. Also list special skills, hobbies, or interests that will help sell you to the company. Be brief in this section and use good judgement as to what you say. REFERENCES: Furnished on request. Resume Guidelines There are some things to remember when preparing a resume. These include: • Limit your resume to one page, unless you have a lot of experience. Then it should be a maximum of two pages. • Use 8.5 x 11 plain bond paper, white or off-white. Stay away from colored paper, odd size paper, and cute resumes. They are counter-productive. • Make certain your resume is typed professionally. Be sure to check for spelling, grammar, and typographical errors. • Have your resume reproduced by copier or printing shop. Do not use carbon copies. • Keep your sentences and remarks short and punchy. Use action verbs. • Have a good layout that is easy to read, brief, and uncluttered. Allow some white space in your resume. There are also some things you should not do when preparing a resume. These include the following: • Do not include a photograph or mention your religion, race, or sex. • Do not leave gaps of time unaccounted for in your resume. • Do not include your college transcripts with your resume or list all the courses you took in college. • Do not list all the articles you have written. Only list one or two, if appropriate for, say, a research and development job. • Do not include reference letters with your resume. Any good, prospective employer will make telephone reference checks. • Do not use "Curriculum Vitae," use "Resume." • Do not include unnecessary data such as your social security number, passport number, or PE registration number. If you are a PE or EIT, be sure to mention that in your resume. Do not mention US citizenship or US work permit unless you have a foreign education or are not a native US citizen. • Do not include present salary or salary requirements. This will come out in the interview. • Do not use the word "I" in your resume or refer to yourself in the third person. • Do not lie, distort, exaggerate, or editorialize in your resume. • Do not have your resume prepared by an outside resume service. This is unnecessary, costly, and generally not effective.

Jan 2, 1985

By Stefan Lorenz, Robert Galler

"The technical lifetime of underground structures does not only depend on the long-term behavior of individual support elements and material characteristics, but also on various boundary conditions, which influence the entire long-term system behavior of the structure. Thanks to the construction of second tunnel tubes and the corresponding cross passages sampling of support materials such as shotcrete, concrete of the inner lining and rock bolts including sheet membranes is possible. To evaluate the stresses and the supporting effects of the tunnel shells, flat-jack tests and different simulations were performed. With these simulations the percentage of the load bearing behavior of the shotcrete shell can be determined. From the results, conclusions for new design approaches for tunnel construction should be generated. New concepts, in which the outer lining is part of the permanent support elements can be considered. This approach would be applicable for conventional as well as mechanical tunneling. INTRODUCTION Tunnels are an indispensable part of modern transport infrastructure. As multi-generation structures their long-term preservation as well as their technical service life is of central importance. The current state of research in the field of durability of structural elements must be considered separately. In almost all areas a prediction of materials and structural components towards lifetime exists. System-wide investigations were rarely performed, so that there is no technical lifetime consideration of the outer lining in systems included. In this study the mechanical behavior of the interface connection in a double shell lining (DSL) tunnel was investigated in laboratory tests. Objective The target of this work is, at first, to create a large database with the lifetime of different structural elements and materials, which may be the basis of durability considerations of tunnels. Secondly, the goal of these investigations is to optimize tunnel designs and their dimensioning regarding to the technical lifetime. For that matter, it is necessary to analyze the selected approaches of the loss of strength and stiffness of the outer lining."

Jan 1, 2016

By Y. C. Kim, M. Preston, F. Martino

Because of the high cost of obtaining coal washability samples, it has been difficult in the past to obtain washability variograms. As a result, it could not be determined if the geostatistical prediction tool known as kriging can be applied to predict in situ coal washability characteristics. This paper presents the obtained variogram models for the Upper Freeport coal seam in western Pennsylvania. Variogram model parameters are presented for a total of 27 models. They are for four different variables: float- weight, ash, sulfur, and Btu, at seven different specific gravities: 1.275, 1.300, 1.325, 1.400, 1.600, 1.800, and 1.80,Sink. Based on the obtained variogram results, it can be con¬cluded that all attributes of coal washability show definite spatial correlation structures, and, consequently, geostatistics can be used to predict the in situ coal washability characteristics.

Jan 1, 1990

By Eric Lundgren

The mining paradigm is changing on the continent of Africa. Jessica Kogel?s closing statement from her September 2013 President?s Page (ME, September 2013, pp. 6) has never been more appropriate, ?Africa is shaping up to be the next mining powerhouse, and there is huge opportunity for local communities, national governments and private industry to work together to create a win-win situation for all.? Supporting this notion, attendance at numerous industry conferences around the world demonstrates the shift toward a more sustainable, more environmentally conscious extractive model. But questions remain: How effectively is the industry making this transition, and how willing are companies to learn from the experiences of others? The international development community, as we like to call ourselves, is going through a parallel shift. We are experiencing our own funding crisis; governments are not as flush with resources as they were pre-economic meltdown. But more importantly, after a half century of implementing development programs, we must admit that while some of our programs have been fantastically successful, too many still fail to achieve the goal of poverty alleviation for the world?s poorest. Moving forward, we are forced to recognize that achieving success in scale and sustainability is not always accomplished from our work alone. As the director of international programs for Africare, a nonprofit with more than 40 years of experience implementing community-based development programs in Africa, I can report that our organization is changing the way we think about successful development partnerships. Africare recognizes that for too long the mining sector and nonprofits have been at odds, choosing noncommunication as a ?solution? to the problem. Both sides now recognize that this standoff is outdated, and Africare, specifically, is ready to cross the proverbial line. We see the potential benefits of mining for local communities and, when done responsibly, the opportunity to properly manage Africa?s resource boom as a benefit to all. There are challenges in this conversation. Many mining professionals view nonprofits as whistle-blowers, ready in a pinch to speak to news sources and complain about poor operational standards. Those are advocacy organizations, and while their role is important, they are not the only nonprofits interested in mining operations in developing countries. Organizations like Africare, with decades of experience implementing poverty reduction programs, approach this differently. We know we can work with mining companies to promote economic opportunity in the communities where mining operations are occurring. We recognize that the conversation is difficult, and we are open to discussions about how we can bring our unique experience to bear on the problems faced by mining companies in carrying out their investment programs.

Jan 1, 2014

By Z. Kowalski

In the non-operational ?Górka? quarry, there are situated both a waste disposal site of an area of 6.7 ha, containing approximately 1 million ton wastes from high aluminium content materials (incl. about 400000 t of wastes from aluminum hydroxide production), and a pond of an area of roughly 3 ha, up to 15 m deep, with about 400000 m3 of polluted water and infiltrates from the disposal site mentioned. The basic problem related to the effluents in the Górka pond is both their high alkalinity (pH 12-13.4) and a variable analysis of pollutants whose level increases appreciably with the pond?s depth. The solution offered provides, first of all, remedial pumping and a treatment of effluents retained in the Górka reservoir. Effluents would be treated in a reverse osmosis plant according to a process verified so far on a quarter-commercial scale. The treatment process by-product, a brine solution (containing about 25% NaCl) whose amount may reach up to 100000 m3 might be supplied to the Debiensko Mine, which produces technological salt from salt-bearing mine waters. In parallel, an intake of underflows of infiltrates would be provided (previous geochemical identification) in order to take them away from the high aluminum site (by means of deep wells, and possibly girdling ditches). Such effluents would be subject to treatment. The successive stage is the utilization of approx. 50000 m3 of bottom slurry, left in the emptied reservoir, in the production of self-solidifying mixtures, which would be then used for sealing the bottom and the banks of the Górka reservoir. The empty and sealed reservoir would be filled up with a volume of approx. 600000 t of ashes, coming from coal burning in the thermal-electric power station. For the last stage, instead, is scheduled the rehabilitation of the entire waste disposal site in the Górka quarry. The site will be drained, covered with a leveling, sealing and rehabilitating layer, which will allow to introduce plants on the rehabilitated waste site. Later on, the area could be turned into a town park

Jan 1, 2006

By Aldo Bellone, Francesca Rossano, Massimiliano Bringiotti

"In 2004 works started for the now completed seven-level automated car park accommodating 480 parking spaces inside the pre-existent “Morelli cave”, located in a strategic area in Naples. Since 470 BC Greeks initiated the growth of the fascinating world of the underground Naples, of which this cave belongs. It seems that once here the god Mithras was worshiped. It’s also became a quarry for tuff extraction and in 1600s it became an aqueduct serving the area. In 1853 the Bourbon Tunnel, a project commissioned by King Ferdinand II of Bourbon to allow easy escape from the Royal Palace in case of riots, was connected to this network of tunnels. The cavern became an air raid shelter during the Second World War, then a deposit of cars and motorcycles in the '50s and' 60s, a disposal area and it has been abandoned in the last 40 years before it’s new utilization. INTRODUCTION Over time, the overcrowding and congestion of major cities’ historic centres has led to seeking spaces underground that can accommodate activities and car parks, as in the case of the Morelli cavity, site of the future car park by that name. Before describing its characteristics, design solutions, and executive problems, it is necessary to introduce the site historically into the broader landscape of the cavities present below ground in the municipality of Naples. The province of Naples, which includes the area of the Municipality of Naples, has a large number of cavities. The existence of “Naples underground” is connected with the morphological and geological conformation of its territory, consisting of tuff stone which has entirely special features of lightness, brittleness, and stability. The first transformations in the territory’s morphology, taking place thanks to the Greeks starting from 470 BC, initiated the growth of the fascinating world of Naples underground. These transformations were dictated by water provision requirements, which led to the creation of underground cisterns to collect rainwater, and by the need to recover construction material to erect the buildings of Neapolis. In subsequent centuries, the city’s expansion led to the construction of a proper aqueduct, which allowed drinking water to be collected and distributed thanks to a series of cisterns linked to a dense network of tunnels. During Roman rule, the existing aqueduct was expanded and perfected, but with the rise of the Angevins in 1266, the city saw great urban expansion, which obviously corresponded with increased extraction of tuff from the subsoil to construct new buildings. This confirmed a particular feature of Naples: that of having been generated from its own innards, with buildings rising directly above the quarry that provided their building material."

Jan 1, 2016

By John P. Weir

The coal industry is ever changing and complex. This article discusses some problems that must be faced and their projected economic effects. Coal's dominant market is for electric power generation. While growth rates in the 1980s will be nominal compared to historic growth rates, such growth will be substantial in absolute terms because it comes from a very large base. Higher growth is expected in the 1990s. History When looking toward the future, an examination of the past is helpful. Figures 1 and 2 present production and consumption statistics (expressed in short tons) on bituminous coal and lignite in the US from 1945 onward. After an all-time peak of 572 Mt (631 million st) in 1947, total production dropped to 356 Mt (392 million st) in 1954. Sustained growth in total production did not begin until the 1960s. Coal production from under-ground mines declined from more than 400 Mt (440 million st) in 1947 to about 295 Mt (325 million st) during 1965 to 1970. A further decline ensued until a strike in 1978 reduced production to only 218 Mt (240 million st). Underground mines produced 283 Mt (312 million st) in 1983. Coal production from surface mines has increased steadily since the early 1960s. While some of this increase has come from mines east of the Mississippi River, most has resulted from surface mines developed in the West. Production from surface mines west of the Mississippi River was 224 Mt (247 million st) in 1982. Total coal production from under-ground and surface mines, other than Western surface mines, continues to approximate levels of 40 years ago. In spite of several wage increases, increasing productivity in surface and underground mines enabled the coal industry to hold the average value f.o.b. mine to about $5.50/t ($5 per st) from the end of World War II to 1969. Under-ground mine productivity peaked at more than 13.5 t (15 st) per man-day in 1969. The Coal Mine Health and Safety Act of 1969 was a major factor in underground productivity declining to 7.6 t (8.4 st) per man-day in 1978. However, pro-

Jan 7, 1984

By R. T. Hukki

The paper describes a two-stage industrial hydraulic classification system including hydrocyclones for primary classification and newly developed cone classifiers for secondary classification. Performance data based on large scale grinding and classification tests are presented.

Jan 1, 1981

By R. L. Neman

Southern Oklahoma (including the Arbuckle Mountains) has outcrops of rocks representing Precambrian, Paleozoic, and Cretaceous ages. Thus, rocks of every geologic age in the Paleozoic and Mesozoic Eras, except the Jurassic and Triassic Periods, are present in south-central Oklahoma. With rocks of such an enormous age range present in a relatively small geographic area, it is little wonder that a wide variety of economic rock and mineral resources are locally present. This report will describe the occurrence, mining, processing, and end-uses (dictated by chemical and physical properties) of the Precambrian Troy Granite, the Cambrian Royer Dolomite and Fort Sill Limestone, Ordovician silica sands of the Simpson Group, Ordovician limestones of the Viola Springs and Welling Formations, and Ordovician Sylvan Shale. In general, the more the end-use depends upon chemical composition and purity, the greater the price that can be demanded for such-minerals. The not-so-successful attempts to mine zinc, manganese, copper, and iron from the Arbuckle Mountains also will be discussed briefly, and I will provide a sermonette on analytical chemistry and its usefulness to corporate CEOs. I may be one of the few persons at this Forum on the Geology of Industrial Minerals who is not a professional geologist. I am an analytical chemist specializing in geochemistry. In particular, I investigate trace elements in rocks and their consequences in industrial processes. As such, I have consulted to the mining industry (and their clients) for two decades, always with the intent of improving service and product quality.

Jan 1, 1999

By Werner Bilfinger, Claudio Nahas, Marcelo Waimberg

"INTRODUCTION The so called Porto Maravilha Project consists of the re-urbanization of a 500 ha area in the Rio de Janeiro port region. Several changes in local infrastructure are being implemented, including a significant change in the road system, with the demolition of the former “Via Perimetral” viaduct and construction of 4 new tunnels: • Saúde tunnel - 35 m long (Waimberg et al, 2014); • “Binária tunnel” - 1012 m long; • “Via Expressa” twin tunnels - 1850 m long each way. The tunnels were excavated almost completely in rock using conventional drill and blast methodology and only some short stretches in weathered rock, associated to faults zones, residual soils and marine sediments close to the tunnel portals. During excavation of access shaft and “Via Expressa” and “Binária” tunnels significant ground settlements as well as settlements of buildings founded both on shallow and deep foundations were measured. These values could not be associated to conventional tunneling induced settlement troughs. This paper focuses on the “Via Expressa” tunnels, presenting a brief description of the project as a whole, its geological and geotechnical background, monitoring results, and a discussion of possible causes of the measured settlements. PROJECT DESCRIPTION The Porto Maravilha Project is an integrated multidisciplinary action on behalf of the Rio de Janeiro city council with support from the State and Federal Governments. In addition to creating new conditions for working, housing, transport, culture and leisure for the resident population, it also promotes expressive economic development in the region (Portonovo, 2015). Porto Maravilha Project is carrying out actions for the recovery of the region’s historical heritage, as well as promoting the population´s social and economic development. One of the main benefits of the Porto Maravilha Project is the construction of the new traffic system in the port area, consisting of the Express and Binário roadways. The new project, which will replace the current Perimetral Rodrigues Alves viaduct system, will increase traffic flow capacity by 27%."

Jan 1, 2016

By V. A. Kharchenko, V. M. Yeremeev

INITIAL PRECONDITIONS To solve tile problem of using the potential reserves of the different coal ranks efficiently (the coal reserves being many times superior in quantity to those of natural gas and oil) one must realise an integrated estimation of the coalfields' and coal deposits' reserves. The actuality of this problem increased especially in the recent years, when the Russian coal industry is being restructured. A structural reorgaisation of this industry, in order to in- crease its efficiency, covers a large spectrum of social and economic problems, comprising a withdrawal from mining the coal reserves that are unsafe from the standpoint of economy and labour protection. According to the information supplied by the 'Rossoogol' company, the Russian coal industry, accounting for abut a fifth of the world coal reserves, has a rather unsafe resource base, for about 5% of the reserves involved in mining do not correspond to the world practice conditions, regarding the coal grade, thickness, geological conditions, proneness to coal and gas outburst hazards. These concern first of all the Moscow, Kizelovsk and Donetsk coal basins, the Prokopievsk-Kiselevsk district of the Kuzbas basin and several other coalfields. Thus, the problem of efficient potential coal reserves' utilization calls for a paramount solution of two basic problems, namely: a) a comparative coalfields' and sections evaluation, and their ranging, in accordance with their industrial importance; b) choosing the 'active' reserves good to be efficiently mined under the present-day conditions. PRINCIPLES OF EVALUATION The investigations that had been carried out make it possible to formulate the following basic principles of the coalfields' reserves' estimation (or assessment). 1. The necessity, possibility and expediency of coal reserves' industrial exploitation are determined by a set of natural, technical, technological, practical, economic, environmental and social factors, thus calling for an integrated and gradual approach to problem solving. 2. One cannot consider the results of same reserves' estimation as being invariable because the former depend both upon constant (mainly natural) and market demands for different grades of coal (those of different power engineering and technological situations), capital investments, material and labour resources, economic (price-forming), technical, technological, environmental and other factors. 3. The rational size and sequence of the operating mines' and reserve sections' resources' involvement into mining depend upon the final aim of posing the problem, whose variants may be (the corresponding limitations being considered) providing for a maximum run-of-mine output (these essentially featuring the past stages of the industry's evolution); providing for a maximum efficiency, measured possibly by the specific or absolute indices of profits an expenses, labour productivity e. al. ; providing for a maximum extraction (maximum integrate utilization) of the known reserves. In this case an important park goes to the economic evaluation (or assessment) of useful application of the by-products being extracted (methane, mine water, rack) compared to the expenses necessary for their utilization. Regarding the steam coal (posing the problem any way it be possible), and extreme limit to the absolute non-efficiency of the coal reserves' exploitation may be posed, using the proportion of energy obtained from the possible amount of the coal to be extracted to the energy consumption necessary to extract, prepare, haul and consume this amount of coal. 4. The most reliable and efficient solutions providing for opening the reserves can be obtained for group of mines, rather than at the level of an individual mine section or an individual mine because it is only in the former case that the possibilities to re- distribute the expenses necessary to develop the good for mining and worse sections and seams can be realized to the greatest extent. Therefore the prospective approach to be considered is the one providing for an integrated organization and choice of the optimum combination of the variants of the ways to use the mines in operation and the free sections of the region in order to satisfy the growing up requirements for coal rather than the one providing for individual mine sections' resources' evaluation. 5. The future possibility and expediency of coal reserves' industrial exploitation will depend upon the prospects to implant at the mines in operation and reserve sections new engineering and technological elements and coal extraction technologies which may essentially change the actual idea concerning the coal reserves worth of being developed in an efficient way. For example, reserves not available to be exploited using conventional coal extraction technology may be regarded as potential resources for in situ gasification, e. g. the operating mines' reserves (non-commercial and non-mined commercial ones), balance and outside balance reserves of the free sections having proved not available to be mined using conventional coal-extraction technologies, as well as the non-extracted reserves of the abandoned and closed mines.

Jan 1, 1996

Since 1992 the Grasberg Mine, located in the remote regions of Indonesia, has utilized the Modular Mining System. Over the last several years, major steps have been taken to maximize this productivity enhancement system. These steps include; the Automated Lineup, the Linear Program upgrade, tracking of Mean Time Between Failure, a MEDS system interface, a VMIS system interface, and implementation of the new Graphical Operator Interface Console with Global Positioning, This application of new technology and innovation has lead to improved performance, understanding and reporting, as well as the quality of the Indonesian Engineers. These efforts have contributed 10 Grasberg achieving one of the lowest mining costs in the copper industry.

Jan 1, 1998

By R. Allan Wallis

In the past mining engineers have tended to rely heavily on the advice of fan manufacturers in relation to fan equipment issues. A more adequate approach was advocated in a paper [ Wallis, 1965 ] submitted to the Eighth Commonwealth Mining and Metallurgical Congress held at Surfers Paradise, Australia during 1965. At that time Mount Isa Mine were in the process of installing 3 large 6096mm (20ft) diameter vertical axial flow surface fans of an advanced type [ Mathews et al, 1967 ]. The preliminary feasibility studies prior to preparing the detailed job specification for this project were extremely thorough with the result that it was possible to include detailed information and instructions in the document, ensuring the procurement of equipment that was satisfactory in all respects. Full advantage was taken of expert services provided by external organizations during the large coordinated multi-disciplinary exercise. My continuing activity and development in relation to the technology of axial flow fans is now at a stage where all known design and performance data are accessible through CAD programs [ Wallis and Kipp, 1987 ]. The extensive calculations that were necessary in 1983 can now be carried out in a mere fraction of the time, and with complete confidence. Model testing in order to validate the fan and duct design proposals is, in my view, no longer essential. The first of the computer programs enables a mine ventilation engineer to study a large number of alternative axial fan arrangements for comparison with the centrifugal alternative. By entering the volume flow rate, fan pressure and air density, he can then with ease, and rapidly, investigate the effect of various blading arrangements, downstream evasee area ratios, and hub ratios, on fan diameter and speed, with their related attainable fan efficiencies. This procedure had its origin back in the 60s when I was advising mining companies on new fan equipment. At that time such an investigation was quite lengthy and lacked the precision and completeness that is now available within the present programs. To obtain the major benefit from these outputs, it is most important not to be disconcerted by the three very important nondimensional parameters, namely, the tip flow coefficient (LAMt), the fan pressure coefficient (Kt or Kit), and the swirl coefficient (Es and/or Ep) as these are important when assessing the various design proposals. When seeking an understanding of the role and importance of each of these variables, ample help is provided in the user manual; the design recommendations are summarized in the help screens which are readily accessible within the design programs.

Jan 1, 1989

By John R. Riede

The use of radioactive gages in beneficiation plants is relatively new However, enough applications have been made so that it is now possible to positively state that these gages have definitely progressed from a laboratory device to a very rugged and reliable on stream process measuring instrument. Gamma Ray Gages of the type presently being used in the beneficiation industry consist of three basic components: (1) A source of radiation (2) A radiation detector (3) An electronic amplifier The source is usually a radioisotope such as cesium-137, or cobalt-60. This source, adequately protected and ruggedly mounted, is most commonly placed on one side of a pipe or vessel. The radiation detector is then mounted on the opposite side, Since the absorption of gamma radiation as it passes through various materials is a function of the density of the material, the change in radiation measured by the detector is proportional to the change in specific gravity of the product in the pipe or vessel. One popular type of detector in use today is a cell which converts radioactive energy directly into electrical energy1. This electrical energy, when amplified, presents a usable output for metering and control devices. There are, of course, many other components which are part of a working gamma gage installation, such as zero compensators, lead shielding, mounting brackets, equivalent absorbers, etc.

Jan 1, 1958

By George Mandarakas, Johan van Zyl, Karl-Heinz Becker

The world’s climate today has changed compared to 10 or 20 years ago. Many countries face water shortages; water sourcing for mining activities has become harder to secure. ESG’s focus on the industry has made us more aware of the need to preserve and responsibly use the water needed for wet processing in our milling and sorting activities. In a recent greenfield project in South Australia, 10 Gigalitres per annum would be required to process 5Mtpa of magnetite [1]. Published information indicates that the mining industry consumes approximately 12 EJ per year—or 3.5% of total global final energy consumption globally [2] or 3.33 trillion kilowatt hrs. This energy consumption is significant, considering the critical role mining plays in extracting and processing essential minerals for economic development and human progress. The perception of the mining industry is that not only does it consume significant power, but it also consumes a lot of the freshwater in the world. In fact, it consumes approximately 5% [3] of the total freshwater demand. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), by 2050, 60% of the world’s population will be living in countries that are classed as water-stressed [3]. As more and more emphasis is placed on renewable energy sources, the amount of water used in mineral processing will increase because more and more raw materials require a water-intensive process. This increases the pressure on the mining industry to try and find water-saving initiatives. As part of this review, recent advancements in magnets have enabled magnetite processing facilities to achieve between 30 to 40% dry gangue material rejection before the wet beneficiation process (grinding and sorting). This reduction in energy consumption allows the reduction of energy consumption. Secondly, there is less material ground in the mills, which requires less water for mineral downstream processing.

Feb 1, 2025