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By Roland Loewen

A review of the aqua regia method for the recovery of gold from jewelry shop wastes is given. Also outlined is a specialized procedure for the recovery of the silver that occurs in these wastes. A classic method for the recovery of platinum and palladium is, given. There is a brief review of other gold and silver refining methods. Environmental conditions are discussed and a few perhaps, new and useful processes ,are mentioned. References are by author or editor and are listed alphabetically. Suggestions for further information in the field of precious metals, are given in a final list.

Jan 1, 1989

By J. Hurdley, J. A. Plant, H. Robotham, P. R. Simpson, G. C. Lalor

Paper presented at the 28th International Geological Congress held in Washington DC, July 1989 (International geochemical mapping sessions). The results of orientation studies for a regional geochemical survey of Jamaica and the CARICOM countries of the Caribbean region are described. The survey is designed to provide systematic geochemical information for a wide variety of applications and, especially, to form a basis for agricultural development in the region

Jul 1, 1991

By Amir Karami, Scott Munro

This paper focuses on remediation of a 3.6 km long water conveyance tunnel that suffered two large falls of ground (FoGs), one of which subsequently progressed to the ground surface, resulting in full collapse of the tunnel. The tunnel is part of a network of water conveyance tunnels and open channels that direct water into two turbines located in an underground powerhouse, originally constructed in the 1970s. At the time of construction, the tunnel was partially supported with shotcrete or rock bolts, with no further ground support added since construction. Two sonar surveys in 019 and 01 identied two adacent large FoGs in the tunnel, approimately 1.2 km from the tunnel outlet. Historical geological and geotechnical information indicated that the FoGs occurred within a 60 m wide fault zone. Remediation plans were developed, which included stabilization of the outlet channel, the portal, the tunnel leading up to the FoG areas (1.2 km length) and the FoG areas. Several remediation options were considered to restore the tunnel, including construction of a diversion tunnel to bypass the FoGs or remediation of the FoG areas with steel ribs and backlling the void above the FoGs to surface.

Jun 23, 2024

By Donald O. Capstick

A mineral survey of the approximately 144,000-acre Borah Peak study area was conducted by the U.S. Bureau of Mines in 1985 at the request of the U.S. Forest Service. The area studied included the Borah Peak RARE II roadless areas (No. 14210, 119,864 acres of land recommended for wilderness designation; and No. X4210, 18,440 acres of land recommended as non-wilderness) and other contiguous Forest Service administered land. The study area is in Challis National Forest in southeast Idaho about 30 miles south-southeast of Challis, ID. Burnt Creek, a conterminous study area to the northeast, on lands administered by the U.S. Bureau of Land Managment, was examined concurrently. Dolomite and limestone inferred reserve bases exceed 1 billion tons each within the Borah Peak study area. The material is widespread and of high quality. Extensive sampling and more detailed mapping are required to better define the resources; however, ample dolomite and limestone occur nearby, outside the study area. Dolomite is the main constituent of several geologic formations within the study area. Sample analyses indicate that the more than 1,000-ft-thick Jefferson Formation dolomite is the most pure and is equivalent to material being mined at a dolomite-to-magnesium processing plant near Addy, WA. Analyses from limestone-bearing formations underlying much of the study area indicate that large quantities of the limestone may be suitable for a variety of uses.

Jan 1, 1987

By Bob Miller

"All industries have parts and equipment that are exposed to some type of destructive wear. Hardfacing is a cost-effective tool that will minimize wear and increase service life. At first glance, hardfacing can be confusing and troublesome. In reality, it is not.Postle Industries, a manufacturer of hardfacing products, has found that the 22 answers to frequently asked questions may help operators select hardfacing products that are most appropriate for their application. The first 10 questions are addressed in these pages, the full list can seen at Mining Engineering online under the Web-Only Content section.1. What is hardfacing?Metal parts often fail their intended use not because they fracture, but because they wear by abrasion, impact, metal-to-metal contact or some other form of wear, which causes the parts to lose dimension and functionality. Hardfacing, also known as hard surfacing, is the application of a buildup or wear-resistant weld metal onto a part’s surface by means of welding to extend the life of the part. The weld metal may be applied as a solid surface or in a pattern, such as a waffle pattern, herringbone or dot pattern, etc.Hardfacing is becoming increasingly important for many industries to protect equipment that is exposed to wear and abrasion including parts used in mining, earthmoving and construction, oil and gas drilling and steel making and forging. Extending the life of wear parts can save thousands of dollars and improve productivity. Hardfacing can be used to recondition parts that have already been exposed to wear and have lost their useful life, or used in the manufacture of new parts to improve their life before they are put into service.There are three main types of hardfacing applications:• Build-up or rebuilding.• Hardfacing or overlay.• A combination of build-up and overlay.2. What base metals can be hardfaced?Carbon and low-alloy steels with carbon contents of less than 1 percent can be hardfaced. Medium carbon and low-alloy steels are very common since they provide higher strength than mild steels and better abrasion resistance. High carbon alloys may require a special buffer layer.The following base metals can be hardfaced:• Stainless steels.• Manganese steels.• Carbon and alloy steels.• Cast irons.• Nickel-base alloys.• Copper-base alloys."

Aug 1, 2016

By Terry S. Cory

This report describes the results of a measurement program to determine the broad spectral characteristics of both differential and common mode noise on phone lines in three coal mines; and, signal attenuation spectral characteristics on the same broad basis over phone line strings with taps/branches. The frequency range used was baseband -1000 Hz for resolution bandwidth ranging from 100 Hz near baseband to 30 KHz near I MHz. The signal attenuation measurements were performed on all three "legs" of taps where possible and applicable. Results were obtained comparing shielded and unshielded phone lines In one mine. The results include an improved electromagnetic noise chart for coal mines showing variations with types of mines, topology, and location of noise sources; also, fundamental high-frequency limit on untreated phone lines in coal mines is identified

Jan 1, 1981

By Jack Levin

Dr Laurence AlIison Bushel, a former President of the Chemical, Metallurgical and Mining Society of South Africa, now The South African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, was born in Queenstown on 20th June, 1910, and died in Johannesburg on 4th November, 1991. There were three distinct periods in the career of Laurie Bushel, each enlivened by some special interests or achievements.

Jan 1, 1991

A model has been developed for drum scrubbing which allows selection of geometry and power input. Specific aspects considered are: Calculation of total static and operating volumes. Total residence time based on total operating volume. Solids residence time based on solids operating volume. Selection of the aspect ratio. Alteration of operating fill to allow for smaller or larger feed openings. Selection of proportion of critical speed. Calculation of shell and motor power requirements. The model uses either solids or total residence time to calculate the required operating volume. The solids residence time is based on the proportion of coarse solids in the feed. Material finer than the reject size is considered as part of the slurry. The solids operating volume is the static volume plus the surcharge on the discharge weir required for flow of the solids from the unit. The total operating volume is the static volume plus the surcharge on the discharge weir for the total flow to exit the scrubber. The burden density is calculated from the coarse solids bulk density and the slurry density that includes all the fine solids. Power is calculated using the Liddell and Moys correlations for burden position and shape, and the operating rotational speed. Results from the model (especially power) have been verified from industrial installations of significant size. Predicted and observed power draws are within two per cent. A check against the JKMRC mill model shows power draw prediction agreement to within four per cent.

Jan 1, 2004

By J. H. Morris, G. M. Steed

Paper presented at Mineralisation in the Caledonides, the Mike Gallagher memorial meeting held in Edinburgh, 27-28 June 1996. Oxygen isotope analysis indicates that quartz, carbonates and muscovite could all have formed in near-isotopic equilibrium with the mildly saline H2O-CO2 ore fluid at 330 degrees C. Calculated values for O, C and S in the ore fluids imply derivation from a deep, homogeneous source region and are consistent with formation either as a direct or an indirect result of igneous processes. Values for delta-O18 plot a little outside the accepted magmatic range, but have almost certainly been modified by exchange reactions with wall rocks. These reactions were also the most likely cause of deposition of the ore constituents. The chemical and isotopic character of the fluid was similar to that in many Archaean and later mesothermal auriferous vein systems, especially the Mother Lode region of California. If the Southern Uplands-Longford Down accretionary complex conceals an Ordovician arc, the tectonic setting was also broadly comparable

Jun 19, 1905

By J. D. Lowell, L. Quevedo

I will talk today about a porphyry copper exploration program now underway in the Amazon jungle in the southeastern part of Ecuador near the border with Peru. The project is unusual for two reasons: first the deposits are of Jurassic age, 153 m.y.o., which is unusually old for porphyry copper deposits and they may be the most significant pre-Tertiary age porphyry deposits known. Second, the district was found only six years ago which makes this the most recent discovery of a totally new porphyry copper district. The new porphyry district, known as the Zamora River Copper Belt, or the Corriente Copper Belt, is a north trending area 50 km long by 10-15 km wide, which is nearly aligned with the axis of the Jurassic age Zamora batholith and with the course of the Zamora river. Gencor in 1994 initiated a regional grassroots gold exploration program based on reconnaissance geologic mapping and geochem sampling which did not find a gold mine, but which identified the San Carlos porphyry copper system in April, 1995. In a later reorganization between Gencore and Billiton the Ecuador project was transferred to Billiton and between the Gencore work and Billiton’s a total of 10 porphyry copper systems were found over the next four years. In the period of 1997 - 1999 Billiton drilled a total of 11,000 meters of wide spaced core holes in the San Carlos, Panantza and Kutukus prospects. In October 1999 Billiton concluded a farm-out, joint venture agreement with Corriente Resources and Lowell Mineral Exploration for additional exploration of the Zamora property. This is funded by Corriente and managed by Lowell Mineral Exploration and a total of 28,000 m of core drilling was completed through August 2001. An immediate result of the Corriente Lowell project was the discovery of potentially commercial ore reserves in two new deposits at Mirador and Warintza. Additional closer spaced drilling was done in the Panantza deposit and additional drilling is planned at San Carlos, in targets related to Warintza, and elsewhere.

Jan 1, 2002

By D. van Rensburg

Jointed rock slopes are generally stable, as there is no freedom of movement for blocks of rock. In an open- pit mining environment, blasting opens up space into which blocks of rock can fail, resulting in the common occurrence of slope failure. Prior to the blasting of a trim pattern, the immediate highwall is scaled, where loose rock material is removed by means of a mechanical scaler. As mining of the pit progresses, the height of the scaled highwall from the pit floor progressively increases. These highwalls are never scaled again for the remainder of the pit life, and time-dependant deterioration contributes to these highwalls becoming subject to rockfall and, sometimes, slope failure. This paper documents the development of a South African innovation, a remote-controlled mechanical highwall scaler, a world first for the mining industry. The scaler will enable open-pit highwalls to be scaled from crest to toe whenever the need arises. It will reduce the risk associated with highwalls and deliver on the Anglo American promise of producing safe, profitable platinum.

Jan 1, 2012

By Ian McFeat-Smith

Despite a present, short-term economic recession, a remarkable enthusiasm exists in Hong Kong for building infrastructure including major tunnel projects. This paper provides details of current and recent bored tunnel works together with an insight into the impressive list of future underground projects planned by the MTRC,KCRC, Highways Department and Drainage Services Department for the next decade. Risks for each of these works including pipejacking, mixed face and rock tunnelling generally in Hong Kong are also identified. From this is evident that the scale and difficulty of such works continues to increase, requiring the use of more sophisticated methods of construction, the need for better methods of assessing and managing risks and for Government to utilize improved, more equitable Conditions of Contract for such major tunnelling projects.

Jan 1, 2001

By J. A. Theron

"This paper provides guidelines on performing mass and energy balance modelling involving coal and coal derivatives. Usually, the inputs to a pyrometallurgical process would be specified in terms of elements and compounds. Reliable thermochemical data is more widely available for species involving uniquely defined, relatively smaller molecules. However, in the case of coal, the molecules are extremely large and not uniquely defined. Consequently, modelling processes involving coal and its derivatives involve several potential pitfalls. These are outlined in the present paper.It was found that coal proximate analysis should not be regarded as absolute; it could vary with several parameters, including heating rate. For modelling, the use of ultimate analyses should be considered a preferable option to proximate analyses, where ‘fixed carbon’ and ‘volatiles’ are not defined in terms of chemical composition. Significant errors could be incurred if the larger molecules are neglected during calculation of the calorific value (CV) of coal gas (the gas liberated when coal is heated in the absence of oxygen).For elemental analysis determination, the oxygen content (which is calculated by balance) should be checked to ensure it is within the expected range. For representation of sulphur in coal, one should avoid doublecounting due to SO3 in the ash analysis.Potentially, oxygen in coal could be represented as O2, H2O, CO, or CO2.However, use of some of these species without considering the experimentally determined gross CV leads to significant errors in the energy balance. If coal enthalpy is calculated from elemental analyses without correction, representation of coal oxygen as H2O(l) gives reasonable accuracy. Coal volatiles could be represented by a complex mixture of compounds, even using different oxygen-containing species than these four, provided the enthalpy is corrected.It is recommended that an ‘enthalpy correction value’ be incorporated in energy balances involving combustion, devolatilization, or conversion of coal and coal derivatives, e.g. coke, char, or tar. That would imply that proximate analysis, elemental analysis, as well as the gross CV would be required for all solid or liquid coal-derived substances being modelled. No other correction due to carbon being present in a form other than graphite should be used, as that would imply double-counting some effects."

Jan 1, 2015

By Peter M. Power

A microscopic study was made of a series of simultaneous slag and metal samples taken from a low carbon basic open hearth heat. An attempt was made to identify the various micro-constituents found. As the various impurities in the bath are oxidized, the metal structure changes from that of high-phosphorus white cast iron to that of low.-carbon steel. A detailed study of phosphorus distribution is included. The acid run-off slag has an .acicular orthosilicate structure which changes on 'shape-up' to a very basic tri-calcium silicate and calciuim ferrite structure. Many unidentified minor constituents are present in the slags. Though metallography will never replace chemic.al analysis of the bath, the microsopic study of polished slags has some promise of being useful in slag control work.

Jan 1, 1956

By T. J. Driscoll

Methane-air mixtures can ignite as a result of sparking or rubbing of materials, particularly by impact involving light alloys and rusted steel where an exothermic thermite reaction can occur. This report reviews the published literature and describes a new method utilized by the Bureau of Mines for studying the processes occurring during collisions of light metals with rusted steels. The method involves measuring the spectra of sparks and explosions in methane-air mixtures using a photodiode array. Initial results obtained using magnesium and aluminum alloy 6061-T651 projectiles striking rusted steel are reported. These results indicate that the continuous parts of the spectra show a larger intensity for incendive sparks compared with nonincendive sparks, with the largest relative change in the higher energy, ultraviolet region. An unexpected shift of the intensity maximum for the continuous parts of the spectra towards the infrared region was observed for the more incendive sparks. Evaluation of rusted steel samples with electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectrography, and Auger electron spectroscopy after they had been impacted by aluminum alloys indicated that aluminum was transferred to the steel in the form of islands that became larger as a function of increasing projectile velocity.

Jan 1, 1982

By W. G. Spencer, E. Sulis, P. M. Tiley

"Dome Mine's No.8 shaft is located about 1 km northeast of Dome's No.3 shaft and mill complex in South Porcupine, Ontario.No.8 shaft was brought into production in 1984 to hoist ore and waste for the complete mine as well as to service the mine from the 1600 level and below. Access above 1600 level is provided by No. 3 shaft.The rectangular shaft has six compartments consisting of two skips, a cage, counterweight, manway, and a service compartment. The over-all size of the shaft is 14 ft 7 in. by 20 ft by 7 in. (Fig. 1). A 7th compartment for shaft deepening is incorporated in the bottom 500 ft of shaft. The shaft is 5470 ft deep. The loading pocket is located at 5300 ft and the dump 61 ft below the collar.Surface facilities consist of a concrete headframe and a structural steel hoistroom which houses the cage and production hoists . The service hoist is a 12-ft diameter double drum, with one 1750 HP DC motor, and the production hoist is a 15-ft diameter double drum with twin 1750 HP DC motors.Both hoists have a single clutch and a single reduction gear train built by Orenstein & Koppel, and equipped with Canadian General Electric drives. The cage hoist is equipped with a disc pinion brake.The skips were originally aluminum 14-ton capacity, Rolla-chute design with steel liners on three sides and 4 in. of rubber on the back, to absorb the loading impact. The original guide rollers consisted of fixed 10 in. pneumatic tires. The face-to-face units were eventually replaced with larger airplane-type tires mounted on a spring loaded pivot arm."

Jan 1, 1993

By Diana Pérez Escobar

O efeito do caminho de solidificação de um aço High Temperature Processing (HTP) API 5L X65 com 0,09 %Nb, 0,039%C e 0,54% Mn (percentagem em massa) na segregação, microestrutura e distribuição dos precipitados de Ti,Nb(C,N) foi estudado por microscopia ótica, eletrônica de varredura (MEV) e simulação computacional (ThermoCalc e DICTRA). Os resultados foram comparados com os de um aço microligado comercial com 0,04 %Nb, 0,09%C e 0,97 %Mn. Foi encontrado que o principal parâmetro que influencia no caminho de solidificação é o teor de C, o que está de acordo com a maior micro e macrossegregação observada no aço microligado comercial, em comparação ao aço HTP.

Oct 30, 2017

By Ashutosh S. Dhar

Cast-in-place piles were examined in this paper from the viewpoints of construction quality, axial capacity, and load-displacement responses. The results of ten 450 mm diameter (18? f) bored piles, installed in a soil deposit of silt to medium dense sand using the method of percussion drilling, were tested under static loads. The results of the pile load tests were used for evaluation of various design methods of calculating pile capacity. The study revealed that the design methods based on the concept of critical depth underestimated the ultimate skin fiction. Thus, the applicability of the critical depth concept for design of bored piles under the soil condition considered may be unreliable. The estimated skin friction factor, ß, was too low in these methods. The Tomlinson method and the Neely method provided the best prediction of the ultimate skin friction. The methods used for calculating end bearing resistance were found to provide a conservative estimate of the resistance. During pile load tests, a settlement of 5 to 6 mm was required for full mobilization of skin friction for the piles in loose sand, while larger settlements (> 10 mm) were required for piles in denser soil. The ultimate skin frictional resistance was observed to be low for piles in loose sand.

Jan 1, 2006

By Steve Colburn

The CRITERION Survey Systems utilize both theodolite mounted and hand held reflectorless distance meters. These are eye safe, easy-to-use, and specifically designed to endure the harsh environments characteristic to the mining, quarry and explosives industries. Survey data collected by the systems is digitally stored in a ruggedized data collector and then processed with a specialized, Windows-based, interactive software program which can be run on any standard PC.

Jan 1, 1997

By R Araya, G Harbort, D R. Seaman, L Huynh, P D. Munro

In today’s operating environment many conventional cleaner circuits struggle to produce final grade concentrate with acceptable levels of non-sulfide gangue and/or penalty elements. This is primarily due to poor selectivity and the entrainment of gangue, and is further exacerbated by the processing of lower grade ores with more complex mineralogy that require finer grinding for liberation. In new concentrators, the standard approach to cleaner circuit design is to define the number of stages of mechanical cells required to achieve the desired concentrate grade. Residence time is the primary factor to size cells and to determine the number of cells required to attain target recovery. While it is required for recovery, a bank of mechanical cells is not the ideal solution to maximise concentrate grade. Relatively coarse bubble size means slow flotation of fines, requiring long residence times. The combination of long residence times and no froth washing means higher entrainment as the pulp becomes more barren and froth stability decreases down a bank.In recent years, the Jameson Cell technology has been retrofitted into a number of concentrators around the world to solve both cleaner circuit capacity and concentrate grade issues. Jameson Cells have been installed at the head of conventional cleaner circuits to produce final grade concentrate in a single step of flotation using a single cell (referred to here as ‘cleaner scalping’ duty). The experience gained from these installations has provided the platform for the design of improved and simpler cleaner circuits that will perform better and be more robust to operate. This paper analyses traditional cleaner circuit designs and explains the philosophy behind new hybrid cleaner circuits, which use Jameson Cells to produce final concentrate and mechanical cells for a ‘cleaner scavenger’ duty. The advantages of the new cleaner circuit design are demonstrated by a case study from an operating plant. Engineering studies show that the better metallurgical performance can be achieved with less equipment than conventional cleaning designs, reducing capital cost, operating cost, and with more than 30 per cent energy savings.Finally, the paper describes simple modifications to the standard laboratory flotation test procedures which accurately simulate this new cleaner circuit using routine equipment.CITATION:Huynh, L, Araya, R, Seaman, D R, Harbort, G and Munro, P D, 2014. Improved cleaner circuit design for better performance using the Jameson Cell, in Proceedings 12th AusIMM Mill Operators’ Conference 2014 , pp 141–152 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Sep 1, 2014