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By R. T. Langland

The U.S. Bureau of Mines has conducted underground tests and computer analyses to study coal mine roof behavior. Southern Ohio Coal Company provided test sites it) their Heigs mines located near Athens, Ohio. Testing apparatus was adapted for monitoring roof behavior at the face of mining from a remote surface location. Finite element analyses were applied to study the structural conditions present. Test sites were located at three different intersections of entries and crosscuts of the room-and-pillar mine. Electrical read-out instruments were used to record roof bolt loads, roof sag, and roof-floor convergence. They were installed during the roof bolting cycle of a conventional mining section and data was recorded for several months. Normal mining operations continued throughout the test period with minimal interruptions due to the installation and monitoring of the instruments. A computerized data acquisition system, partly underground, partly on surface, permitted continuous monitoring of data and its retrieval, display, manipulation, and storage. The finite element code used to model the test sites accounted for three-dimensional geometry, nonlinear material behavior, and the mining excavation and bolt installation sequences. Results of the test are highly variable. Comparable values between test and analysis results were obtained by applying statistical averaging of. roof test data. Results of the analyses indicate that bolts have a lesser effect on the gross behavior of mine roofs than has been indicated and that bolt load changes are strongly influenced by mining excavation sequence, bolt-placement sequence, and face distance

Jan 1, 1977

Phelps Dodge Mining’s Bagdad, AZ copper facility uses a large series of cone crushers and ball mills to reduce copper ore to very fine particles. The solids are mixed with water to create a slurry. Milk of lime is added to this slurry to raise the pH. Small amounts of reagents are also added, including a frother to make bubbles, as well as a collector chemical that causes the copper minerals to stick to those bubbles. This material is pumped to a series of froth flotation cells to concentrate the copper. Air is blown into the flotation cell tank and the pulp mixture is vigorously agitated. Rising bubbles carry the copper particles over the edge of the flotation tank. The bubbles break after they flow over the edge.

Jan 1, 2005

By C. Allen

Vale Inco Ltd. is trialing several energy conservation initiatives in an effort to minimize costs and reduce green house gas emissions. The Ventilation on Demand (VOD) concept is a major project being carried out in various phases at Vale Inco mines. Due to the complex nature of a dynamic VOD system, Vale Inco is taking a systematic approach of testing VOD system components with milestone evaluations of each project. Coleman Mine was selected to pilot test the functionality and robustness of automated louvers in the underground environment; with the goal of optimizing mine airflow such that ventilation would be available for developing a new ore body. This project involved installing automated louvers in the exhaust raises; and installing variable frequency drive (VFD) starters on auxiliary supply fans. Because the VOD project created efficient utilization of the ventilation air in the 153 OB, the 170 OB is currently being developed without increasing the total fresh air into the mine. This paper describes the louver system component of VOD as applied at the mine.

Jan 1, 2009

By Johnny Lyons-Baral, John Kemeny, Don Kraemer

Ground vibrations from blasting can result in the degradation and failure of rock and soil exposures, as well as damaging neighboring houses and buildings. At the same time, vibration provides an opportunity to regularly monitor the rock and soil exposures. If a geophone or accelerometer is attached to a rock block or wedge on a mine slope, for example, then blast vibrations will regularly “sound” the rock block and the resulting vibrations can be used to assess the stability of the rock mass in the neighborhood of the accelerometer, as well as monitoring the properties of the blast. This paper describes the development of a wireless sensor network based on inexpensive MEMS accelerometers for blast monitoring and rock and soil structural health monitoring. The wireless sensors are placed at various locations in and around an open pit mine or quarry, and transmit data to a central source after ground vibration events occur. As described in the paper, a variety of wireless and non-wireless accelerometers were tested in actual field conditions. This includes the monitoring of over 30 blasts at an open pit mine in Arizona with as many as nine simultaneous accelerometers. Matlab was used to process all the data and develop innovative methods to view and interpret the data. This includes the use of the wavelet transform to determine resonance frequencies, and the use of both ground resonance frequencies and scaled-distance peak particle velocity (ppv) relationships to assess slope stability. As part of this research, a three-dimensional point cloud environment for viewing and analyzing the vibration data from the sensors has also been developed.

Jan 1, 2014

By Franklin D. Cooper

The value of nonfuel raw mineral production in the United States for 1977 increased over that of 1976 by 5%, from $16.7 billion to $17.5 billion. Metals declined by 5% from $6.1 billion to $5.8 billion, chiefly because of strikes in the iron ore industry and a depressed copper market. Subsidization of mining industries in some foreign countries accounted in part for the excess of copper and some other metals on world markets. Weak metal markets and continued slowdowns in the world economy were the main reasons of the virtual absence of new mine projects. Increasing domestic governmental involvement affecting mineral industry activities, such as pricing controls, public land withdrawals, and the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act, effective August 3, continued to be controversial and to be criticized by various segments of the industry.

Jan 1, 1980

By Robert S. MacPhail, Chilombo Henry, Arnold Kabamba, David Mukelebai, Suresh Thirunagari, Bukali Victor, Yoram Kapai, Chomba Leonard, Kanna Amarasingham

"FLEX 31 is a chemically enhanced sodium isopropyl xanthate. Developed by Charles Tennant & Co (Canada) Ltd and has shown improved collection properties over SIPX for sulphide minerals flotation. Improvement of recoveries, grades, faster kinetics, lower dosages, high pyrite and pyrrhotite rejection capabilities have all been exhibited by FLEX 31. Recent plant trial carried out in the copper circuit at one of the largest copper mine in Zambia shown over US $ 2.00 Million annual improvement on the bottom line over SIPX at current copper prices. Data produced also showed superior grade and recoveries from rougher concentrates that previously had not been attainable with other reagents effectively. Flex 31 has also shown positive outcomes with zinc, Copper/Zinc, arsenopyrite and copper/molybdenum ores.IntroductionSodium Isopropyl Xanthate (SIPX) is one of the most popular flotation chemicals on the market today. Somewhat more specific than amyl xanthate, SIPX is used in a variety of ores like copper/zinc, lead/zinc, arsenopyrite/pyrite, and many others (Melis et al., 1991). An investigation carried out by the research division of Charles Tennant & Company (Canada) Limited has produced a chemically enhanced SIPX. This product has shown all the advantages of normal SIPX along with improved recoveries of copper and copper activated minerals. The product was named “FLEX 31”."

Jan 1, 2016

Impala Platinum?s No.16 Shaft mine is currently under construction and is expected to reach full production of 256 500 tons per month by 2014. Mining will start at 1 260 m below surface with a maximum mining depth of 1 535 m where virgin rock temperatures of 56.6°C will be experienced. As a result of depth, high virgin rock temperature and narrow reef mining, an expected total of 31.5 MW[R] of air cooling capacity will be required to achieve acceptable underground conditions. This will be achieved by cooling mine intake air in a single dedicated air cooling installation located on surface. The compact installation includes air cooling spray chamber, refrigeration machines, condenser cooling towers, evaporator and condenser water reticulation as well as all electrical and control systems. Construction and commissioning of the first phase of this air cooling installation has recently been completed on a turn-key contract basis.

Jan 1, 2009

By Richard Gertsch, Jack Eloranta, Leslie Gertsch

An ongoing research program is characterizing the ore qualities that most affect mine and mill processing of iron. Current practice uses assays of magnetic iron and silica, but additional qualities are needed for advanced process control. If additional qualities can be measured from core, blastholes, or process samples, they can be modeled and controlled similarly. What qualities, other than assays, hinder or facilitate beneficiation at each processing step, and how can they be measured in the mine/mill ore stream? This paper describes preliminary determinations of the effects of ore chemistry, hardness, blasthole drill performance, fragmentation control, and grindability on mill performance.

Jan 1, 2005

By R. M. Goldhoff, J. W. Spretnak, R. Speiser

IT has been observed by Grange and Garvey' that the homogenization of boron-treated steels could lead to complete elimination of the hardenability effect caused by boron. The experimental conditions leading to this conclusion involved the heating of steel specimens with and without boron at 2350°F for 24 hr. To prevent oxidation and decarburization, the specimens were encapsulated under vacuum in silica tubes. This observation of permanent deterioration of boron effect was noted in both a 0.63 pct plain carbon steel and a 0.25 pct C low alloy steel, both of which had been treated with ferroboron and homogenized at 2350°F for 24 hr. In another series of boron-treated steels which had been homogenized for shorter times, the effect was to reduce, but not completely eliminate, the boron effect. Under these circumstances, it was presumed that longer heating times would cause permanent deterioration of the boron effect in this series of steels also. Since the characteristic grain boundary constituent could not be formed in any of these steels after homogenization, it was concluded that possibly boron was being converted into an ineffective form through chemical combination resulting from prolonged heating at high temperatures. Assuming the validity of this observation, a series of experiments to establish the relationship between temperature of homogenization and kinetics of deterioration was contemplated. Initially an attempt was made to reproduce the results just described. For this purpose commercial lots of AISI 8640 and AISI 86B40 steels were used. The analyses of these steels appear in Table I. Hardenability evaluation was on the basis of the hardness of normalized sections. Grange and Garvey' pointed out that these steels are air hardening to some extent and such a technique can be used. For these tests the specimens were held for 20 min in a salt bath at 1600°F and then cooled in still air. Several evacuated silica capsules containing pairs of the test steels were made up and heated for 24 hr at 2350°F. A number of failures occurred among these capsules, but evaluation of the specimens successfully treated indicated a complete deterioration of the boron effect. However, examination of the surface of the treated specimens showed that some reaction, probably with the silica tube, had taken place, since none of the specimens was bright. One further test was made at 2350°F for 12 hr, using a pair of specimens wrapped in tantalum foil prior to encapsulation. These specimens appeared bright after treatment, and their hardenability evaluation showed that no deterioration had taken place. Since these steels are extremely sensitive to de-boronization at high temperatures and particularly at long times of holding, the experimental observations raised some doubt as to the real occurrence of the permanent deterioration effect. To resolve this question an experiment was undertaken in which the high temperature portion of the treatment was completed in vacuum. For this purpose a molybdenum wound resistance furnace capable of maintaining good vacuum was used. All the pertinent accessories to this furnace were machined from molybdenum stock in order to withstand the high temperature involved in the experiment. With this equipment a temperature of 2400 °F was obtained and held under a pressure of 5x10-" mm Hg for 24 hr. A specimen of each of the two test steels was suspended in the furnace and both were heated simultaneously. Temperature was measured with a standardized Pt—Pt-13 pct Rh thermocouple, whose millivoltage at 2400°F was extrapolated from the standardization equation, good up to 2200°F. The complete evaluation of these specimens is shown in Table 11. The hardness values attained by each steel after normalizing, both before and after the prolonged high temperature treatment, remain the same. A microscopic study of the decomposition products present in the microstructures of specimens at various points in the heat treatment correlated with the hardness values observed. It seems that no permanent loss of boron hardenability effect occurs, at least in these Grainal-treated steels, when deboronization is circumvented. Acknowledgments This work was conducted under the sponsorship of the Aeronautical Research Laboratory, Wright Air Development Center, under Contract No. AF 18(600)-94, and their support and permission to publish is gratefully acknowledged. A note of thanks is also extended to the Republic Steel Corp. for supplying the materials used in the work. References ' R. A. Grange and T. M. Garvey: Factors Affecting the Harden-ability of Boron Treated Steels. Tro.ns. ASM, 1946, vol. 37, p. 136.

Jan 1, 1957

By George J. Conroy

To provide data as a basis for proposed acceptance standards and procedures covering permanent splices in trailing cables, the Bureau of Mines conducted testing programs on the flexure life in flat types W and G dc trailing cable splices and ground conductors. Primary reliance was placed on laboratory testing, although some cross comparisons were made at manufacturers' plants and mine operations Besides providing data for acceptance standards and procedures, results of the program should promote the general improvement of commercially available splice kits.

Jan 1, 1977

By S. Ganguly, R. Kononov

Carbothermal reduction of manganese oxides and manganese ores in the solid state was studied in hydrogen, helium and argon at different temperatures, ore compositions and carbon to manganese oxide ratios. Wesselsore (South Africa) and two grades of the Groote Eylandt ore (Australia) with different level of impurities were examined. Ores were characterised by XRD, X-ray fluorescence, optical microscopy and scanning electronmicroscopy. Isothermal and temperature programmed carbothermal reduction experiments were conducted in a fixed bed reactor in a vertical tube furnace, with on-line monitoring of gas composition by the CO-CO2 infrared sensor. The reduced samples were characterised by XRD, SEM and LECO analyses. Extent of reduction was calculated using data on the off-gas composition, and LECO carbon and oxygen contents in the reduced sample. Manganese oxides in the ore were reduced to a-Mn and carbides Mn23C6 and Mn7C3 depending on the carbon to ore ratio. The reduction rate of manganese ores in hydrogen was higher than in helium and argon. Key words: Manganese, Carbothermal Reduction, Hydrogen, Argon, Carbon Monoxide, Helium, Kinetics.

Jan 1, 2007

By F. S. Kendorski

This report presents the results of a program to improve, using existing and proven technology, unstable highwall conditions through better blasting practices in Appalachian strip coal mines. Better borehole blasting agent distribution and optimization of burden, spacing, and delay periods allowing satisfactory breakage with minimal backbreak were the objectives. At a selected field site, geologic conditions were closely examined with regard to joint orientation and spacing, and resulting slope stability considerations. A test series of eight blasts was completed and the resultant highwall monitored by repetitive photography. The study of drilling and blasting economics along with equipment performance led to an economic model of blast parameters and the identification of blast design cost benefits. The work demonstrated that small strip mining companies' are able to achieve a more stable highwall excavation utilizing presently available technology, equipment, and explosive products at improved operational cost and safety.

Jan 1, 1981

By Rolf Katzenbach

The principle questions related to the design of deep foundations especially in soft soils are the stability and the cost optimised settlement reduction to prevent possible damages and to minimise the deformations of the adjacent infrastructure. The present develop­ments in the design of deep foundations lead to the design approach of the Combined Pile-Raft Foundation (CPRF) which offers a lot of new possibilities, e.g. the utilisation of the CPRF for horizontal loading or the use of the subsoil as a geothermal storage system.

Jan 1, 2006

By K B. Holm

This paper deals with the advances made at Syferfontein Colliery in the calculation and control of dragline methodology. The high capital outlay and operating cost of a dragline necessitates strict control of all aspects of the dragline operation. Before purchasing a dragline, a complete evaluation of all the parameters that can affect the viability, now and in the future, of the dragline operation needs to be completed. Such parameters as thickness of burden, material properties (swell), “castability”, pit width and pit length, etc. need to be considered.

Jan 1, 1994

By N. Loganathan, Tan Boon Tee, Joe O’Carroll, Richard Flanagan

In recent years, tunnelling activities in Singapore have increased considerably with the construction of extensions to the existing sub-surface transport system, a deep tunnel sewerage disposal system, and tunnels for the laying power cables and other utilities. These tunnels are excavated through urban areas, adjacent to high-rise buildings, depressed road structures, beneath other tunnels, and buried services. Earth pressure balance (EPB) tunnel boring machines (TBM) have been used extensively in Singapore with great success. The risk associated with soft ground tunnelling, including tunnelling through Old Alluvium, can be minimized with an understanding of the geology, geotechnical parameters, and the tunnelling-induced behaviour of Old Alluvium (OA The purpose of this paper is to present some design and construction aspects of EPB TBM tunnelling through Old Alluvium.

Jan 1, 2005

By Luis Giraldo

The installation procedure of fully grouted rebar bolts requires that the bolt be pushed through the resin grout until it is fully inserted in the borehole. Resin grout is a highly viscous fluid that is forced to flow through the annulus between the bolt and the borehole as the bolt advances. Variables such as bolt insertion speed, bolt vs. borehole diameter and grout viscosity determine the magnitude of the pressure generated ahead of the bolt tip. Under weak rock conditions, the magnitude of the pressure of bolt insertion is often sufficient to initiate hydraulic fracturing along joints or bedding planes that allow injection of grout into the strata leading to significant loss of bolt encapsulation. The grout pressure front has also been linked to gloving, a bolt installation problem that reduces bolt effectiveness. A series of tests were conducted to characterize the pressure of bolt insertion during bolt installation under various conditions. Analysis of the data shows three distinct stages of pressure build up during bolt installation. Understanding of the mechanisms involved may allow development of strategies for controlling the pressure buildup and its negative impact during roof bolting under weak rock conditions.

Jan 1, 2006

By Chao Li, Shuai Wang, Hongxu Li, Lifeng Zhang, Xie Yang

The method of chloride-hypochlorite leaching has the advantages of short process, low pollution and higher in reaction rate compared with the traditional leaching method. In this research, NaCl - NaClO solution is used to leaching gold from a refractory gold concentrate, and the influence of NaCl and NaClO concentration, reaction time to the leaching rate were investigated in this experiment. The raw materials and the leaching residue were characterized by a series of analysis methods such as XRD, XRF, SEM and EDS. Results indicate that the leaching rate and the desulfurization rate can be achieved at 96.26% and 98% with most optimum conditions as follows: NaCl concentration 50g/L, NaClO concentration 200g/L, Liquid-solid ratio 10:1, the best reaction time was 150 mins. And these conditions should be guaranteed pH<8.0, ORP>900mV.

Jan 1, 2015

By M. M. Singh, J. W. Brown

Three rocks of highly varied physical properties are selected for the first reported experimental study concerning microseismic activity of rock under tension to determine the effects of static fatigue, loading rate, repeated loading and rock anistropy compared to compression and bending loads. The microseismic method of detecting rock under deformation may be a great potential tool in surveillance and location in situ of dangerously stressed strata, as well as predicting rock failures. Noises emitted under load or the rate of energy (energy of noise pulses generated per unit time) are computed for varying conditions. The tests are conducted at constant load on a dead weight loading machine to eliminate all possible extraneous noises — an indispensable precaution — at various load levels. Experimental results are reported including the relation of total energy emitted to tensile strength of rock and the possibility of simulating a phenomenological model for microseismic activity. Plots of some of the experiments are included. INTRODUCTION Rock failure, whether on a large scale faulting in the earth&apos;s crust and rock bursts in mines, or on small scale ruptures of laboratory test specimens, generates transient vibrations in the rock mass. Mechanisms of intermittent deformation, such as twinning and cracking through and between mineral grains, also produce similar vibrations, but of very small amplitude. Such vibrations from both deformation and failure are referred to as microseismic activity, rock noise, or occasionally seismo-acoustical activity. An individual rock noise is sometimes

Jan 1, 1967

By Arthur Wade

The most important development in connection with the search for oil in Australia during 1940 was on the legislative side. Prior to 1939 legislative enactments in the various states with regard to prospecting for petroleum were such as to prohibit large-scale effort and to bar the major oil companies from operating. The preparation of the Wade Model Bill for the Commonwealth Government in 1939 and the acceptance of the Bill in principle by all States, has gone far to remove these obstacles. Amending Acts, largely based on the Alodel Bill, have now been passed by all States with the exception of New South Wales and Tasmania. In New South Wales an Amending Bill is being drafted, while the Govern-ment of Tasmania is preparing to introduce an Amending Bill provided there is any demand for it. Noteworthy developments followed immediately on the passing of these Amending Acts. The Shell Company (1)1 and the Superior Oil Company of California (2) too$ up large areas in Queensland and com-menced work during 1940. Caltex acquired a big tract of country in the Kimberley district of Western Australia (3) and has made application for an area in the Territory of Papua. An Australian company, The Phoenix Oil Extraction Co., has obtained a permit to prospect over an extensive area bordering the south coast of Western Australia (4). Other developments are foreshadowed. The Shell Company is making an intensive examination of its area in Queensland (I). Geological, geophysical and aerial surveys are in progress. Caltex has three geological parties in the held in Western Australia while Superior Oil Company of California has done some geological work in the interior of Queensland (2). None of these concerns envisages a drilling campaign in the near future. Much exploratory work is necessary. Further work has been done by the companies that were already operating in 1939, though an important Australian company - Oil Search—has abandoned the work of prospecting in Australia. This company has subleased its holdings, at North West Cape in Western Australia (;), to Caltex on a royalty basis. The company also maintains its holdings in, and connection with, the Australasian Petroleum Company Proprietary Limited, which is a combination of Standard Oil (New Jersey), Anglo-Iranian and Oil Search. This company is operating in the territories of Papua and New Guinea. Drilling Victoria.—Although a good deal of drilling was done in the LaBes Entrance Tertiary Basin of Victoria (7), no appreciable production of oil was obtained. In order to test the extent and possibilities of the oil-bearing sand in this region, the Commonwealth and State Governments jointly put down six scout boreholes to depths of between 1200 and I500 it. The results were nega tive. A deeper exploratory horehole put down by the Governments at Seacornbe, or 26

Jan 1, 1941

By Arthur Wade

The most important development in connection with the search for oil in Australia during 1940 was on the legislative side. Prior to 1939 legislative enactments in the various states with regard to prospecting for petroleum were such as to prohibit large-scale effort and to bar the major oil companies from operating. The preparation of the Wade Model Bill for the Commonwealth Government in 1939 and the acceptance of the Bill in principle by all States, has gone far to remove these obstacles. Amending Acts, largely based on the Alodel Bill, have now been passed by all States with the exception of New South Wales and Tasmania. In New South Wales an Amending Bill is being drafted, while the Govern-ment of Tasmania is preparing to introduce an Amending Bill provided there is any demand for it. Noteworthy developments followed immediately on the passing of these Amending Acts. The Shell Company (1)1 and the Superior Oil Company of California (2) too$ up large areas in Queensland and com-menced work during 1940. Caltex acquired a big tract of country in the Kimberley district of Western Australia (3) and has made application for an area in the Territory of Papua. An Australian company, The Phoenix Oil Extraction Co., has obtained a permit to prospect over an extensive area bordering the south coast of Western Australia (4). Other developments are foreshadowed. The Shell Company is making an intensive examination of its area in Queensland (I). Geological, geophysical and aerial surveys are in progress. Caltex has three geological parties in the held in Western Australia while Superior Oil Company of California has done some geological work in the interior of Queensland (2). None of these concerns envisages a drilling campaign in the near future. Much exploratory work is necessary. Further work has been done by the companies that were already operating in 1939, though an important Australian company - Oil Search—has abandoned the work of prospecting in Australia. This company has subleased its holdings, at North West Cape in Western Australia (;), to Caltex on a royalty basis. The company also maintains its holdings in, and connection with, the Australasian Petroleum Company Proprietary Limited, which is a combination of Standard Oil (New Jersey), Anglo-Iranian and Oil Search. This company is operating in the territories of Papua and New Guinea. Drilling Victoria.—Although a good deal of drilling was done in the LaBes Entrance Tertiary Basin of Victoria (7), no appreciable production of oil was obtained. In order to test the extent and possibilities of the oil-bearing sand in this region, the Commonwealth and State Governments jointly put down six scout boreholes to depths of between 1200 and I500 it. The results were nega tive. A deeper exploratory horehole put down by the Governments at Seacornbe, or 26

Jan 1, 1941