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By Richard D. Hagni

Ore microscopy is a useful technique to detect and study the ore minerals that are associated with sediment-hosted and volcanic-hosted deposits of finely disseminated gold and silver. Ore microscopy can be used to determine the: 1) precious metal-bearing minerals in some ores, 2) associated ore minerals that may form geochemical exploration halos, 3) character of iron sulfide grains, 4) extent of sulfide oxidation, 5) character of oxidized iron minerals, 6) character of original sulfide grains from a study of the hypogene and supergene oxidized ores, 7) relative time of oxidation, 8) character of organic matter, 9) minerals that may consume excessive amounts of cyanide solution, 10) extent of silicification and silica encapsulation, and 11) possibility of salting.

Jan 1, 1987

By G. H. Khoe

Although some hydrometallurgical process liquors contain significant amounts of ferrous and arsenate ions, no reliable thermochemical data for the aqueous complexes and the solubility of the ferrous arsenate precipitate are available. The complexation of iron(11) with arsenate has been investigated using the potentiomemc titration method. The results indicated that virtually no complexation of iron(@ with arsenate has been observed. This is in contrast to the significant complexing reported for iron(1n) with arsenate. The solubility product of the precipitate was calculated using the concentrations of appropriate arsenate species pertaining to the observed precipitation pH's. The fit of the observed precipitation points on the solubility curve of the computed stability diagram was used to assess the appropriateness of the equilibrium model.

Jan 1, 1991

By Armin D. Ebner

A hetero-f1occulation model is developed to calculate the net force exerted on a paramagnetic nanoparticle that is moving in the proximity of a magnetite particle that is fixed or supported within an open flow and magnetically energized packed bed. Important variables investigated include the size and surface charge of the particles, the magnetic field, the ,flow velocity, the electrolyte concentration and the magnetic susceptibility of ,the nanoparticle. The ?influence: of other naturally occurring forces, such as hydrodynamic and DLVO(Le., van der Waals and electrostatic) forces on the magnetic attractive forces between the magnetite particle and the nanoparticle are also examined. This model reveals the feasibility of using magnetite particles instead, of stainless steel as the energizable element for high gradient magnetic separation.

Jan 1, 1999

By Bingyi Bai, Wangjun Peng, Yanling Guo, Jieyu Zhang, Guoding Gao

The phase transformation of bayan obo ore with high concentration of iron and calcium was reduced at temperatures no more than 1000℃ were investigated in this study. The samples with insufficient carbon were treated at the temperature using a vertical furnace with a thermogravimetry (TG). The mineral phases and content were examined using Xray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF) respectively. The complex phases of bayan obo ore transformed to some simple phases after treated with different content of carbon at the same temperature for 10 hours. The result of XRD、 XRF and TG showed that the reduction degree of Fe3O4 phase formation varied with the temperature and the carbon content of bayan obo ore.

Jan 1, 2015

By Cui Wang, Qian Li, Kexin Jiao, Haibin Zuo, Jianliang Zhang

Abstract：A rational cooling water system is the assurance for long campaign life of blast furnace．In the paper, the heat transfer of different furnace period and different furnace condition based on the water quality characteristics were analysed, and the reason of the heat flux over the normal from the hydrodynamics was analysed. The results showed that, the vapour-film and scale existence significantly influenced the hearth heat transfer, which accelerated the brick lining erosion. The water dynamic characteristics of the parallel inner pipe or among the pipes were the main reason for the abnormal heat flux and film boiling. As to the reasonable cooling water flow, the gas film and the scale should be controlled and the energy saving should be considered.

Jan 1, 2015

By J. Alexandre

The use of bricks of soil-cement is proving to be an important constructive methodology due to low environmental impact in the production process of these blocks comparing with conventional bricks are burnt, besides being easy to produce. However during the process of production of bricks, which are compressed, knowledge of the properties of the soil used is critical to the quality and durability of the blocks. The objective of this work is to evaluate the feasibility of using soil from the municipality of Goytacazes for the production of soil-cement bricks. Assays were performed the compaction, liquid limit, plastic limit, particle size analysis, EDX and X-Ray diffraction for later pressed blocks and analyze their compressive strength and water absorption.

Jan 1, 2015

By Ilona Johnson

United States metals and non-metallic minerals manufacturing consume about 5,000 trillion Btu annually. Various studies estimate that as much as 20 to 50 percent of this energy is lost as excess or waste heat. Recovery of waste heat can conserve energy, reduce operating costs, and lower environmental emissions. It would be valuable to quantify recoverable waste heat sources and identify the barriers that hinder its recovery. This paper provides an overview of waste heat losses specific to high temperature processes in primary metals and minerals manufacturing. It summarizes findings from a broader study conducted for the Department of Energy Industrial Technologies Program; the study evaluates energy losses, recovery practices and opportunities, and R & D needs for waste heat technology development.

Jan 1, 2008

By D. A. Horne, V. R. Daiga

Certain steel mill wastes contain significant amounts of zinc oxide due to the use of galvanized scrap during the steel making process. Typically electric arc furnace (EAF), and basic oxygen process (BOP) flue dusts contain 20 to 30% zinc oxide and 40 to 50% iron oxides, along with smaller quantities of lead and cadmium. These materials can be recovered from the flue dusts by using a proven rotary hearth furnace (RHF) process. By-products of the recycling operation include a crude zinc oxide fume, which is captured in a baghouse filtering system, and sponge iron that may be recycled into the steel making operation. Crude zinc oxide properties plus the operating experience from two commercial RHF installations utilizing MR&E's DRyIron™ Process will be presented.

Jan 1, 2000

By Y. H. Liu

Several foaming aluminum samples of different density were prepared in a semi?industrial scale experimental system, Their properties such as the energy absorption characteristics, mechanical properties, heat conductivity and acoustical properties were measured. The results showed that the foaming aluminum with a density of 0.5 to 0.6 g/em3J has the best energy absorption and this makes it suitable as the ensuring bar of the automobiles and also as a cushion material for the engine. The foaming aluminum with a density of 0.25 to 0.4 g/em3 has the best acoustical properties and heat conductivity resistance, which is suitable for the door filling material, the ceiling and the partition or the car engine.

Jan 1, 2003

By J. W. Perez

In the treatment of process effluents containing metal ions, it is sometimes desired to remove all of the heave metal ions while at other time it is, desired to remove one heavy metal ion from another, selectively. Ion and precipitate flotation processes were evaluated to perform these functions using the copper-iron aqueous system as a model. Because preliminary foam fractionation experiments proved to be relatively inefficient, most of this work has focused on precipitate flotation using both hydroxide and sulfide precipitation. Test results indicate that by proper control of reagents and operating conditions, it is possible to substantially reduce the froth volume over that achieved with foam fractionation and to separate copper from iron selectively. Mechanisms for collector attachment to precipitates were studied.

Jan 1, 1992

By V. V. Kutumbarao, M. T. Nimje, G. Balasubramanian

Wastes from the aluminium industry such as red mud from the alumina refinery, fly ash from the captive power plant and spent pot lining from the smelter, have been successfully converted into glass-ceramic products. The process involves addition of a small quantity of glass former along with traces of nucleating agents to aid crystallization, to a specific mixture ofred mud, fly ash and spent pot lining, followed by melting at around 1300°C and vitrification by cooling. The resultant glass is then converted into a glass- ceramic by a suitable heat treatment at around 700 - 750°C. The glass-ceramic products show excellent wear resistance, besides possessing an aesthetic appearance. The major application foreseen for such products is as decorative tiles in the building industry.

Jan 1, 2000

By He De-wen

The influence of coal desulphurization by fungus was experimentally studied. The present results suggest that fungus can effectively remove inorganic and organic sulfur in coal. The main factors that influence the desulphurization by fungus such as pH value, temperature, coal slurry concentration and coal granularity are studied by orthodox experiment and the optimal experimental conditions are as follows: pH value 6, temperature 45 C, coal slurry concentration 10% and coal granularity 100 m. Under the above conditions, fungus can remove up to 44.96 total sulfur and 54.87 inorganic sulfur within two days and their desulphurization rates will increase along with time. Compared to sulfolobas, desulphurization by fungus is steady and more effective and has the advantage of high speed.

Jan 1, 2006

By R. Gordon Bloomquist

The economic benefits of the co-production of minerals from geothermal brines far exceeds the potential revenue stream from the sale of marketable by-products such as silica, zinc, manganese, lithium and a number of rare earths. Extraction of silica can avoid scaling problems often associated with many geothermal power projects and may allow for additional power production through the use of bottoming cycles or the use of the brine in direct use applications now impractical due to scaling problems. An additional benefit of silica removal is the opportunity to use the geothermal brine as a source of water for enhanced evaporative cooling ? a technique that can significantly improve the summer power output from binary power plants employing air cooling for condensing the working fluid.

Jan 1, 2006

By Jeff M. Kuhn

A new solvent extraction process for the removal of halides from zinc sulphate solution was tested in pilot plants at both a 0.1-L/min scale and at a 3-L/min scale. Teck Cominco?s process is called the HalogonTM process, for which patents are pending. Mixer-settlers were used for the 0.1-L/min pilot scale and two BATEMAN pulsed columns for the higher rates. Pilot testing was performed with commercial zinc sulphate solutions containing variable amounts of chloride and fluoride. Sulphate extraction was also controlled and deleterious halides were loaded and stripped into a form suitable for disposal. The engineering aspects and economics of this solvent extraction process for halide removal are also reported.

Jan 1, 2003

By V. Bhagavathy

This paper describes a method for the determination of traces of rare earths using energy dispersive x-ray fluorescence spectrometry (EDXRF) after preconcentration of their oxine complexes onto activated carbon. Various parameters that influence adsorptive preconcentration of rare earths onto activated carbon viz. pH, amounts of activated carbon and oxine, time of stirring and aqueous phase volume were systematically studied. A numerical method based on simple least square procedure using fifth order polynomial with 25 consecutive values was developed for smoothing and differentiation of EDXRF data which was previously digitized and averaged. First order derivative EDXRF in conjunction with adsorptive preconcentration on activated carbon enables to determine as low as 10 ppb of each of individual rare earth elements.

Jan 1, 1989

By M. F. Chambers

Neodymium metal was electrowon from a molten-chloride electrolyte at 650° C using a molten-metal cathode. A 50 mol pct NdC13-50 mol pct KC1 mixture served as the electrolyte. Binary metal alloys of 'Mg with Zn and Mg with Cd were used as molten cathodes. Under the best conditions, current efficiencies were 90 pct with a Mg-Zn cathode and 80 pct with a Mg-Cd cathode. Vacuum distillation was performed at 1,100° C for 30 min under a vacuum of 10-3 to separate the cathode metals from the neodymium. Neodymium metal of 99.9+ pct purity was recovered from the Mg-Cd alloy cathode. Almost 2 pct zinc remained in the neodymium recovered from the Mg-Zn alloy.

Jan 1, 1989

By V. K. Kalyani

The present paper discusses a three layer feed forward artificial neural network (ANN) model, trained using the error back propagation algorithm, has been established to simulate the column flotation circuit used for beneficiation of Sillimanite. Parameters such as superficial air velocity, wash water rate, froth height, % solid, feed velocity, sodium silicate and oleic cid are considered as process operating variables and % yield of Sillimanite is the output of the experiment. The results from the ANN modeling, involving the non linear relationship between inputs and outputs, indicate good agreement with experimental observations. The network model validates the experimentally observed trends. The optimal model parameters in terms of network weights have been estimated and can be used for computing parameters of the process over wide-ranging experimental conditions.

Jan 1, 2006

By D. D. Harbuck

The U.S. Bureau of Mines recently identified a significant new source of scandium in an Oklahoma tantalum waste residue (approximately 0.24 pct Sc). Because scandium is a strategic and critical metal which the Department of Defense has classified for special consideration, the Bureau is researching methods of recovering scandium and associated metals from this and other process residues. A variety of operating parameters were evaluated to determine the best technique for recovering scandium. Testing showed that by sulfating the residue at temperatures as low as 150' C for reaction times as short as 0.5 hr, over 94 pct of the scandium converted to a water soluble form. Solvent extraction using DEHPA selectively recovered 100 pct of the scandium from the water leach solution.

Jan 1, 1992

By J. Y. Aubut

The modernization of the CCR Refinery to permanent cathode technology is presently underway. The 360,000 mt/y refinery is being retrofitted to accept the Kidd process. Part of this modernization includes the installation of Kidd stripping machines, and the total replacement of the materials handling equipment. It also involves the reinforcement of building structures to accept the new equipment and the ability to operate in different modes. The future equipment will interface with some existing apparatus, which is being retained for future operations. The whole operation will be automated and will allow product traceability for quality purposes. This retrofit poses important challenges given the size and scope of the modernization project and because it is being undertaken concurrently with normal plant operations.

Jan 1, 1999

By Gary A. Campbell

This article is an analysis of world consumption of copper for the years 1976-1996. It is done to provide a comparison of what has happened over this time period with the trends of previous years in order to learn more about world copper consumption and to forecast world copper consumption trends into the new millennium. The analysis begins by documenting the geographic trends of consumption of copper for the years 1976-1996 by both region and key individual countries. Then, variables based on the intensity-of-use hypothesis and the intensity-of-use technique are selected and tested against the observed consumption behavior by using the correlation coefficient technique. The statistical results and their implications for the consumption of copper into the new millennium are discussed.

Jan 1, 1999