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By S. J. Cohen

Changes in our energy, national security, and commerce needs have necessitated identification of new sources of minerals, such as rare earths, lithium, copper, silver, aluminum, titanium, and the minerals on the U.S. Geological Survey’s (USGS) list of critical minerals (USGS, 2022). With the need to domestically produce these minerals, more mining will be required within the U.S. Some of these critical minerals deposit with naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM), therefore, mining these minerals may concentrate NORM to the point that some states may require licensing and radiation protection programs. NORM is not regulated by the Federal government; it is regulated by the individual states. Consequently, overall national state of NORM regulation is chaotic with each individual state either choosing to regulate or not regulate NORM, and, if a state chooses to regulate NORM, then that state develops its own unique regulations. Further complicating the regulatory environment, states utilize a wide variety of strategies for regulating NORM, which sometimes results in inappropriate regulations, inconsistencies with specific radionuclides that are regulated, and inconsistencies with specific NORM types that are regulated. This paper will review the nature of NORM regulations, identify regulatory traps, and provide general guidance for identifying NORM and potentially avoiding regulatory jeopardy. Because of the chaotic nature of NORM regulations nationally, seeking guidance from qualified professionals with relevant expertise is recommended. Also, contacting the appropriate regulatory agency to gain a complete understanding of the NORM regulatory environment is useful for maintaining compliance.

Feb 1, 2023

By Natalie Chaves de Siqueira

Aços inoxidáveis austeníticos fundidos por centrifugação, da classe HP, são comumente utilizados na indústria de óleo e gás para a fabricação de tubos usados em fornos de reforma e pirólise. Essas ligas possuem uma elevada resistência à oxidação, elevada estabilidade térmica e elevada resistência à fluência em altas temperaturas, sendo esses requisitos necessários para aplicação nos fornos. Mudanças microestruturais, conhecidas como envelhecimento, podem ocorrer durante a operação, influenciado na resistência à fluência. Desta forma, a caracterização dos estados de envelhecimento de uma liga HP torna-se necessária para avaliar a sua vida remanescente. O objetivo deste estudo é caracterizar duas condições microestruturais de uma liga HP com a microscopia eletrônica de varredura e o ensaio não destrutivo de ultrassom. O processamento do sinal ultrassônico, utilizando a Transformada Rápida de Fourier (Fast Fourier Transform – FFT), foi realizado sobre o segundo eco de fundo do sinal ultrassônico, permitindo correlacionar a análise espectral do sinal com a microestrutura do aço HP. De acordo com a metodologia proposta, os dois estados de envelhecimento foram caracterizados através do processamento do sinal ultrassônico.

Oct 30, 2017

Mining and the related extractive and processing industries are chiefly responsible for America's high standard of living. Enormous quantities of sand and gravel, limestone, copper, iron and a myriad of other mineral commodities are required to sustain our growing nation. However, the mineral deposits, both domestic and foreign, are becoming increasingly difficult to find. Adding substantially to the problem, is the fact that the conditions are worldwide. Foreign politics are increasingly affecting mineral commodity availability. Figure 1, taken from Bureau of Mines, "Status of the Mineral industries 1976" illustrates our dependency (in some cases total) on foreign sources for vital mineral commodities. While few nations are capable of exerting an OPEC-like influence on any one mineral commodity, the threat of cartel arrangements and related control strategies is evident. Nationalization of entire industries, once they become self-sufficient, is also exerting a disruptive influence on a large portion of the mineral industries.

Jan 1, 1977

Outokumpu Technology’s HSC Chemistry process calculation software enables the user to simulate an entire chemical or physical process. The HSC Chemistry 6.0 contains 21 calculation modules and 11 databases for reaction, equilibrium, heat balance, heat transfer, petrological and simulation applications. Most of the calculation modules automatically utilize the same extensive thermochemical database which contains enthalpy (H), entropy (S) and heat capacity (C) data. This database has been expanded to include more than 20,000 species.

Jan 1, 2007

The State of New South Wales is highly favoured in having vast deposits of coal adjacent to and within easy reach of the coastal Ports. Not only is the quality of the fuel generally superior to any found in the other States, but it is greater in extent than in any other part of the Continent. For interesting and reliable details of the history of the discovery of coal, the geology of the coal bearing strata, analysis of the various coals and other valuable data, the readers are referred to the book recently issued by the New South Wales Government, entitled The Mineral Resources of New South Wales, by Edward F. Pittman, A.R.S.M., etc., by the direction of the Hon. T. L. Fegan, Minister for Mines. The mining community is indebted to the Minister for having had published the most valuable condensed record of the mineral resources of the State extant.For the purposes of this paper we will only give such a general description of the coal fields as will make it intelligible in connection with the subject of the coal mining in the State of New South Wales.

Jan 1, 1904

By A. K. Anyimadu

Ongoing development work on ultra-fine grinding for various applications at the Group?s concentrators has been conducted by Anglo Platinum over the last few years. Current potential applications for mainstream grinding and concentrate grinding are the subject of a group-wide research and development programme. The first 10 000-litre 2.6 MW IsaMill was jointly developed by Anglo Platinum, Xstrata Technology and Netszch for installation at the Western Limb Tailings Re-treatment project in Rustenburg, South Africa. The unit was commissioned in late 2003/early 2004, and has operated in an intermediate concentrate regrind application successfully since. This paper describes the operational performance to date, as compared with the original duty specifications and objectives. The first mainstream M10 000 IsaMill with a 3 MW drive will be operational in November 2006 at the Potgietersrus Platinum (PPL)?Platreef? Sandsloot Concentrator in South Africa?s Limpopo Province. Keywords: Western Limb Tailings Re-treatment Plant, IsaMilling, Platreef, platinum, palladium, PGMs, tailings.

Jan 1, 2007

By J. Drelich

The highly-efficient and economically-feasible technology for bitumen recovery from US oil sands using a water extraction approach was developed at the end of the last century. This water-based bitumen extraction process has been optimized based on observations and analysis of microscopic mechanisms of bitumen release from oil sands and the bitumen transfer to a froth product as well as measurements of interfacial properties of bitumen. The wetting mechanisms that occur in the diluent-assisted water-based processing of US oil sands include bitumen film rupture and recession on sand grains and bitumen transfer to nucleated and injected gas bubbles. These mechanisms are reviewed in this contribution.

Jan 1, 2007

By John C. Machisak

INJURY experience and employment data at all metal mines in the United States and Alaska are presented in this Information Circular for the calendar year 1958. This publication covers the metal mining industries, and contains statistical data on injuries and employment pertinent to metal mines, ore-dressing plants, and primary nonferrous smelters, refineries, and reduction plants. These operations report injury and employment information annually to the Bureau of Mines on a voluntary basis. The Bureau is authorized to make requests for such data, and the information submitted contributes immeasurably to the promotion of safety in the metal mining industry. Every effort has been made to make the annual canvass as complete as possible. This publication contains, along with production and development workers, the office employees at the mine location. The metal mines identified in this publication are classified according to the mineral ores mined; that is, copper, iron, lead-zinc, gold-silver lode, gold placer, and miscellaneous metals.

Jan 1, 1962

By A Raza, D P. Kohn, D A. Foster, A J. W Gleadow

A large and increasing data base of apatite fission track results from sedimentary and granitic rocks exposed within the south-eastern highlands and along the continental margin ofAustralia provides constraints for the tectonic development of the south-eastern passive margin. The fission track results suggest that many regions of the south-eastern margin of Australia experienced distinct episodes of relatively rapid cooling during the middle Cretaceous to early Tertiary that can be attributed to the effects of rifting. One cooling episode is middle Cretaceous in age and related to denudation of the south eastern highlands from Tasmania to northern New South Wales between ~90 - 100 Ma. Rocks exposed along the present coast line record a later episode of rapid cooling, which is diachronous and decreases in age northward from ~80 to 90 Ma in northern Tasmania to southern New South Wales, ~60 - 80 Ma in central and northern New South Wales, and to ~50 - 60 Ma in southern Queensland. The results are consistent with models suggesting that underplating occurred inward of the rift along the eastern margin of Australia as a result of the onset of continental extension in the Tasman Sea at ~96 Ma. This resulted in a significant change in base level and km-scale denudation of much of the southeastern highlands. Subsequently, as breakup commenced during the Late Cretaceous at ~80 Ma and continued into the Paleocene at ~60 Ma, the second stage of cooling was imprinted on the rocks along the margin. This cooling is probably due to the relaxation of elevated geothermal gradients associated with rifting as well as some denudation. Because rifting was oblique to the present-day coast, different regions record different ages of cooling associated with the rift. The southern regions of New South Wales and Victoria yield ages associated with earlier rifting while regions of northern New South Wales and southern Queensland give ages associated with later rifting.

Jan 1, 1995

Instabilities occurred as a result of climate changes caused to investigate the rock behavior dependency to temperature changes, in this paper. In the natural earth condition, the phase transition of pore water has known to be the most effective factor causing different rocks mechanical properties due to temperature changes. So, the temperature range of [-30, 30]°C is selected in laboratory tests of this study. P-wave velocity, unconfined compressive strength (UCS) and elasticity modulus of rocks at different temperatures are studied by developing a temperature adjusting apparatus. The tests were performed on three rock types. The results show that firstly, the temperature reduction and pore fluid freezing improves these rock?s mechanical properties. Secondly, the dependency of rock properties to climate changes depends on the type and shape of its porosity as well as porosity percent. The improvement of rock mechanical properties in jointed rocks exceeds rocks with spherical pores. Finally, maximum changes in rock?s properties occur at [-10, 0]°C, which includes the phase transition of pore fluid. Keywords: Temperature; Rock Mechanical Properties; Pore Fluid; Porosity.

Feb 27, 2013

By Fernando Bermejo

La compañía minera Raura ha desarrollado una política ambiental donde se busca el cumplimiento de la normativa ambiental a través del uso de la tecnología que comprende los principios establecidos dentro del diseño racional de procesos limpios. En este sentido, el presente trabajo señala las ventajas del uso del diseño del método HERBER, el cual consiste en una adsorción de los iones cromatos en la superficie de la pirita en el circuito de remolienda medios. Asimismo, este no requiere de un pretratamiento condicional, no afecta la recuperación del zinc, mejora el grado del concentrado y la concentración de iones cromatos después del tratamiento está por debajo del límite permisible establecido por el Reglamento de la Ley General de Aguas.

Oct 6, 1999

By F. Pagliacci

Retaining walls for the construction of underground urban infrastructures have to be executed considering the impact of a deep foundation job-site within an urban network. Traditional excavation systems, based on the use of grabs and bentonite mud, involve serious problems such as: the opening of trenches adjacent to existing buildings; the cleaning of the working area; the site installation for the production and storage of the bentonite mud; the transport and disposal of soil contaminated with bentonite mud. Alternative solutions have therefore been developed in order to overcome these problems. For temporary works soil consolidation methods, combined with the use of sheet piles, have been implemented, by a combination of traditional mixing methods and jet grouting systems to speed up the operations, consequently reducing the construction time. For permanent works two new techniques named respectively CSP (Cased Secant Piles) and CDW (Continuous Diaphragm Walls) have been studied, applied and tested.

Jan 1, 2000

By C. E. Wood

A special appropriation made by Congress in July 1940 provided funds for the investigation of methods for recovering manganese from low-grade [ ] domestic deposits. These funds were assigned to the United States Department of the Interior, Bureau of Mines. A committee, identified as the Technologic Committee on manganese of the National Research Council, National Academy of Sciences, was appointed to recommend the allocation of the funds for investigation of the more promising projects.

Jan 1, 1942

By McHenry Mosier

The Bureau of Mines, United States Department of the Interior, has established a testing adit on the Government reservation at Mount Weather, Virginia, to facility to research on the fundamental tats of mining under actual metal-mining conditions. A number of sites in several Eastern States were investigated, out Mount Weather was selected because the rock seemed best suited for rock drilling and other mining tests and because the ground was already owned by the Federal Government, the site having been acquired in 1902 for use of the Weather Bureau. The testing edit has an advantage over en active metal mine for certain investigations because variable conditions affecting any particular research problem can be controlled and maintained in a fixed status, whereas in an operating mine this seldom is feasible. Operations were begin September 1935, with a crew of four laborers under a resident engineer. The laborers were recruited from, nearby farms, and. although they had no previous mining experience, they have developed into satisfactory miners.

Jan 1, 1939

By C. E. Wood

A special appropriation made by Congress in July 1940 provided funds for the investigation of methods for recovering manganese from low-grade [ ] domestic deposits. These funds were assigned to the United States Department of the Interior, Bureau of Mines. A committee, identified as the Technologic Committee on Manganese of the National Research Council, National Academy of Sciences, was appointed to recommend the allocation of the funds for investigation of the more promising projects.

Jan 1, 1942

By L. A. Haas

In this Bureau of Mines investigation, conditions were determined to form an iron sulfide adherent coating with a metallic golden luster on steel upon anaerobic heat treatment with sulfur. The sulfide formation rate was determined in the temperature range of 105° to 500° C with reaction times up to 68 hours. The optimum temperature and time to form an adhering decorative coating on mild steel was in the range of 105° C for about 70 hours to 285° C for 1 hour. The golden coating consisted of an inner layer of pyrrhotite and an outer layer of pyrite. At temperatures higher than about 300° C, the outer layer thickness decreased owing to the decomposition of pyrite to pyrrhotite.. Small quantities (<0.5 wt-pct) of petroleum oil accelerated the sulfide growth rate. The sulfide coating decreased the corrosion rate of steel in a neutral aqueous medium by a factor of two. The dissolution of pyrite in water was dependent on particle size and surface area with the flat pyrite coatings exhibiting the lowest dissolution rate.

Jan 1, 1974

By Frank L. Wideman

THE TREND towards larger quantities of waste in materials handled at metal and nonmetal mines (excluding fuels) continued. A gain of 10 percent from 1962 in the tonnage of waste removed in mineral operations reflects the kind of technological problems being encountered. Technology has a major role in the mineral industry in the task of supplying raw materials obtained from resources occurring beneath the surface of the earth and used in manufacturing commodities essential to modern living. Changes in technology are often brought about by such factors as variations in economic conditions, differences in physical properties of raw material and changes in mineralogical compositions of ore. Mining is usually begun on the richest and most accessible of known deposits, and when these are exhausted, is continued with leaner ores or with less accessible deposits that are either lying at greater depths or are more remote from markets. The increasing difficulties of extraction and depletion of reserves are offset by improvements in extraction technology, improved transportation, and exploration for new deposits. Although depletion has prevailed at many individual mines and in many districts, technology has been the means of providing for increasing demands of an expanding economy with adequate supplies of minerals despite either the changing character or decreasing grade of certain ores. This has been accomplished by various methods applicable to minerals. Among the implements of technology are utilization of lower grade or more complex refractory ores by mass mining, concentration, processing, recovery of byproducts, and mechanization. Better methods to find concealed deposits or to penetrate to greater depths also have been helpful in maintaining a supply of particular minerals.

Jan 1, 1964

By H. C. Fuller

This paper discusses 105 production runs at Boulder City, Nev., in which titanium metal was made in 200-pound batches. It describes the equipment and techniques used in preparing raw material, the reduction process, and the removal of the reaction mass from the reaction vessel. Also, some data on man-hour requirements are presented. The main emphasis was on producing ductile-grade titanium and developing a standard procedure for obtaining a consistently pure product. Some departures from techniques used before were found to be desirable. The most important of these was the use of a sealed room with a controlled dry atmosphere in which the reaction vessel was opened and the reaction mass removed. This minimized the moisture taken up by the magnesium chloride in the reaction mass, and it could be purified successfully by vacuum distillation. Using the dry room also made it possible to leave al-inch shell of the reaction material on the walls of the vessel, which lowered the iron contamination and eliminated the labor and time-consuming job of cleaning the vessel after each reduction. Another change was lowering of the temperature during reduction to 750° C. instead of 850° C. This was found to give good results more consistently. The first poke to break the crust during reduction was eliminated, as it was found to be unnecessary and only added more work and was another possible way of introducing air. A rotating feed arm was installed in the reaction vessel to distribute the titanium tetrachloride over a larger area and, thus, prevent local overheating. The process, conducted in a batchwise manner as described and followed by good purification and fusion, produces a metal adequate in quality for nearly all purposes.

Jan 1, 1952

By J. Garretson

When mining accidents occur, workers often become trapped and/or incapacitated. Current rescue operations can be dangerous and too slow to produce favorable outcomes. Currently, no method exists for rescue crews to scout ahead at critical times to assess the situation. Sandia National Laboratories (SNL), through a National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) sponsored program has developed the Gemini-Scout mine rescue platform. The Gemini-Scout was created to assist in underground mine rescue missions. It has been designed to go into potentially hazardous environments to assess the conditions (structural, air quality, temperature). In addition, it will enable two-way communications with potential survivors prior to human rescue teams being able to enter the area. The Gemini platform is a dual tracked-chassis design, which gives the robot excellent mobility in unstructured environments. The design includes a passive 2-degree of freedom joint between two identical bodies allowing for ±30deg of pitch and roll. In addition to the base mobility platform, the Gemini-Scout incorporates many other features to help it succeed in its underground mission. The electronics are mounted in explosion proof housings to ensure safe operations in hazardous gas environments. The platform is also able to operate in up to 18in of standing water with its elevated pan/tilt cameras for navigation. A four-channel video link and Two-way audio on the vehicle help to ensure located survivors can communicate with the robot operators. The platform also incorporates a Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) approved multi-gas sensor to monitor air quality. SNL believes that this technology is broad enough to be appealing to other first responders, such as police, firefighters and medical personnel. Gemini could easily be fitted to handle earthquake and fire scenarios, and it could provide relief in currently inaccessible situations.

Jan 1, 2012

By H. G. Hammon

Uranium miners have been shown to develop lung cancer in direct proportion to the time of exposure in the mine and the concentration of radioactivity (cumulative working level).1 Radon gas is continually evolved from the uranium ore, but because of its shoe half-life, 3.82 days, it is soon decomposed into particulate daughter products, which along with the dust in the mine, become deposited in the miners&apos; lungs. At present, massive ventilation is the only effective method of reducing the radioactivity concentration in the mines. However, the Bureau of Mines is evaluating the possibility of using coatings on the mine wall that will have sufficiently low permeability to radon that the gas will decompose into the particulate daughter products before it can permeate the coating. Permanently trapped in the coating, the daughter products would be prevented from dispersing in the mine atmosphere. Lawrence Livermore Laboratory was asked to aid in this investigation. The direct determination of radon permeability is more difficult than that of the other noble gases because of the short half-life of the gas and radioactive contamination of the apparatus. We felt that it should be possible to estimate radon permeation coefficients from other noble gas permeation coefficients. It was noted that the log of the diffusion constants for helium, neon, argon, and krypton, as reported by Meares2,3 plotted to a straight line-against the square of-the gas molecularddia meter. The log of the permeation coefficients also plotted to a straight line against the square of the gas molecular diameter. Thus, by determining the permeation coefficients of such gases as argon and krypton through various films and coatings, it appeared likely that radon permeation coefficients could be estimated. In addition we felt it should be possible to find some relationship between polymer structure and he noble gas permeation coefficient that would aid in the selection of coatings materials as radon barriers.

Jan 1, 1975