Search Documents

By J. R. Ruark

Because of the importance of oil-shale reserves the Bureau or Mines resumed research investigations in this field beginning in 1944. The Bureau early decided to build a Large-scale demonstration plant to accomplish the dual purpose of obtaining design data and to produce crude shale oil for refining studies. Two 40-ton-Capacity batch N-T-U (Nevada-Texas-Utah) retorts were completed for this purpose in 1947. After a preliminary operation, the plant was used to investigate process variables of air rate, recycle gas rate, and shale particle size and crude. Correlations obtained from these variables are presented in this report. Researchers concluded that recycle gas was not necessary for efficient operation of the process. Short comings of the batch method of processing the oil shale are pointed out in the report. Several periods of prolonged production operations were carried out. During these periods, the retorts were operated to produce as much crude oil per day as possible. The lifetime operation of the N-T-U retorts was divides into three periods, namely, preliminary operation, process variable study, and production operation. During the preliminary operation, 187 runs were made with a total of 7,596 tons of raw shale used to produce 3,688 barrels of crude shale oil. During the process variable study, 179 runs were made with a consumption of 7,494 tons of raw shale and a production of 4,218 barrels of crude shale oil. The production operation consisted of 554 runs in which 22,457 tons of raw shale was used to produce 12,359 barrels of crude shale ail. The overall total for the lifetime operation of the retorts consisted of 920 runs with a total consumption of 37,547 tons of raw shale and a production if 20,265 barrels of crude shale oil.

Jan 1, 1956

By O. Rondon

Localized uniform conditioning is a technique developed to spatially locate selective mining unit grades that have been derived using uniform conditioning for the assessment of recoverable resources. The technique has the advantage of producing selective mining unit estimates conforming to the uniform conditioning panel-specific grade-tonnage curve while introducing spatial information at the scale of the selective mining units. This paper describes an alternative technique to localized uniform conditioning which does not explicitly require the uniform conditioning panel-specific grade-tonnage curve to localize the selective mining unit estimates. The technique can therefore be implemented in mining software where uniform conditioning is not available.

Jan 1, 2014

By O. Rabeau, M. Legault, A. Cheilletz, L. Z. Cheng, J. J. Royer, M. Jébrak

"By compiling geological, structural, geophysical, and geochemical information into a 3D geological model, we evaluated the orogenic gold potential in the vicinity of a hidden segment of an important Archean fault zone, the Cadillac-Larder Lake fault (CLLF) in the region of Rouyn-Noranda. The segment of CLLF in the present study is partly covered by Proterozoic sedimentary rocks. Because more than 2000 t Au have been extracted along the CLLF to date, our objective is to evaluate the gold potential at depth along a poorly known segment of this fault. A 3D geological model (50 km × 9 km × 1.5 km) including the covered segment was built through the compilation and homogenization of available geological data and the construction of 23 cross sections. The geology under the Proterozoic cover was evaluated using geophysical inversions, drill holes (42 in total), and surrounding geology. All available assays were filtered and upscaled to a 250 m × 250 m × 250 m regular cell grid to determine and quantify spatial relationships between geological features and mineralized occurrences using the weights of evidence method. Structural features, such as E-W-trending faults and fault intersections, and certain lithologies with a high primary porosity such as volcanoclastic rocks of the Blake River Group and Timiskaming sedimentary rocks, proved to be very prospective, yielding favourable factors with a weight of evidence index W+ > 0.24. These salient features were then assigned a combination index for ultimately evaluating the orogenic gold potential under the sedimentary cover. The zones resulting in an optimization of exploration targeting were attributed the highest probability, representing ~1% of the initial volume. La compilation des données géologiques, géophysiques, structurales, et géochimiques et leur intégration au sein d’un modèle géologique 3D a permis d’évaluer le potentiel aurifère dans les environs d’une importante zone de faille archéenne sous couverture protérozoïque. Cette méthodologie a été développée en utilisant le cas de la Faille Cadillac-Larder Lake (FCLL) dans la région de Rouyn-Noranda. Puisque plus de 2000 t d’Or ont été extrait à proximité de la FCLL, l’objectifs des travaux est l’évaluation du potentiel aurifère en profondeur de ce segment. Un modèle géologique 3D (50 km × 9 km × 1.5 km) incluant le segment sous couverture de la FCLL a été construit en utilisant l’ensemble des données géologiques disponibles et 23 coupes géologiques. La géologie du socle archéen sous la couverture protérozoïque a été interprétée avec des inversions géophysiques, des forages (42 au total) et les contacts géologiques exposés. Les teneurs aurifères dans le secteur ont été filtrées et ajusté à une grille régulière de 250 m × 250 m × 250 m afin d’évaluer et de quantifier les relations spatiales existantes entre certaines entités géologiques et les emplacements minéralisés en utilisant la méthode du poids de la preuve. Les failles de direction Est-Ouest, les intersections de failles ainsi que certaines lithologies possédant une porosité primaire importantes comme les certains tuf du Groupe de Blake River et les sédiments du Timiskaming se sont montrés très prospectifs avec des valeurs de W+ > 0.24. Ces entités géologiques ont ensuite été utilisées par le biais d’un indice de combinaison pour évaluer le potentiel en or de type orogénique sous le couvert sédimentaire. Cette méthodologie permet une optimisation des campagnes d’exploration puisque les zones pour lesquelles la probabilité de minéralisations a été évaluée à la plus haute valeur représentent 1% du volume initial."

Jan 1, 2009

I had hoped when the time came for me to address this meeting that gold mining would be in a much happier position than we find it to-day.As it is, and because of the demands of national security, we find this great and valuable primary industry relegated to the background and in danger of temporary extinction.These notes refer mainly to gold mining in Western Australia, whence comes the major portion of Australia's production, and their purpose is to record a brief review of the industry immediately prior to the general disorganization that is following the call-up of men from the mines.During this period of reduced production the loss of comparable statistical data will make it impossible to follow the progress of the industry, and, since the period may be long, it occurred to me that information might be derived from an examination of the trend of recent production that would indicate what may be expected of the industry when full production is resumed in the future.Since the revival of gold mining, which started in 1931, most of the old-established mines have reorganized and, in some cases, completely renewed and enlarged their equipment in order to achieve maximum production, and old mines hitherto unpayable have been re-opened and equipped. At the same time large sums have been spent in scientific prospecting and in search for new mines, and it is safe to say that at the end of 1939, when gold production reached its peak, practically every known mine in Western Australia that could be worked profitably was in production.During this period the number of men employed in the industry rose from 5,961 in 1931 to approximately 15,000 in 1939. From the outbreak of war in 1939 to the end of 1941 the output from the mines was maintained at full pressure, maximum tonnage beingrecorded in 1940, although a reduction in the grade of ore treated caused a slight falling off in gold production.During 1941 there was a. fall in both tonnage and grade. The decline in tonnage was due partly to the closing of the Lancefield and Mount Magnet mines, and partly to the shortage of labour brought about by the response of the goldfields to the call for men for the fighting services, the average number of men in the industry in this year being reduced to 12,929.With the entry of the United States into the war in December last and the pooling of the resources of the allied nations, the need for gold as a purchasing medium passed, and with its passing there arose the demand for the transfer of the man-power engaged in gold mining to other fields of industry directly connected with the war effort.There was a ready response by those connected with the industry who...

Jan 1, 1942

By A. Dale Wunderlich

Since Sept. 11, 2001, the author has been asked by several mining companies and mining publications to share some of his insights on how the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center (WTC) and Pentagon might affect the mining industry globally. Until now, the author has been reluctant to express his thoughts in a publication that could possibly fall into the hands of terrorists and give them some ideas that they may not have been previously considering. However, the author discussed the contents of this article with several friends and acquaintances in the international intelligence community. They said that nothing commented on here is new to the terrorists. Potential terrorist targets Sources within the worldwide intelligence gathering community have told the author that current intelligence data indicates that it is likely that the Islamic fundamentalist groups responsible for the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001will likely be directing their effort at foreign business entities. Any overseas or any domestic businesses of highly visible companies that are part of the anti-terrorism alliance should consider themselves a potential target.

Jan 1, 2002

By R. Mark, R. Richards

The Washington National Cathedral is one of the largest masonry structures in the USA, and like many of its European Gothic counterparts, it required nearly a century to construct. The design was altered during this period, resulting in greater loadings than were originally anticipated on the soil beneath the foundation. When signs of continuing differential settlement were observed in the early 1990's, the Cathedral approached the US Bureau of Mines (now the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)) for assistance in monitoring the movements of the massive towers and walls. An array of dual-axis tiltmeters was installed about 40m above ground level to measure wall and tower inclination, with the data sent over a dedicated phone line to the NIOSH Pittsburgh Research Laboratory for processing. Mechanical gages and string-potentiometers are also being used to measure motion across cracks and joints, and differential pier settlement is being monitored with optical-level surveying. Data have now been collected for almost 7 years, and they show a long-term settlement trend masked by dramatic diurnal and seasonal thermal movements. The paper discusses the major findings of the study, implications for the future of the Cathedral, and conclusions regarding the use of geotechnical monitoring at major national monuments.

Effects of DA as a Grinding Aid on Selective Grinding of Low-Grade Bauxite Effects of DA (a copolymer of acrylic acid and acrylamide) as a grinding aid on selective grinding of low-grade bauxite were investigated in this study. The addition of DA into the grinding system enhanced the selectivity of grinding and increased the A/S ratio in the coarse fraction of ground product, leading to improved throughput of grinding mills and alumina recovery. The results showed that DA decreased the viscosity of slurry significantly and hence improved grinding efficiency due to low viscosity at a high slurry concentration. Both the hydrogen bond formation and chemical adsorption existed between DA and the surface of bauxite particles. The adsorption of DA on the surface of bauxite could decrease stress needed for crack initiation and extending during grinding, prevent new-born crack surfaces from rejoining, and promote the expansion of the cracks.

Sep 13, 2010

By Bernhard Leist, William D. Leech, Johann Kröyer, Holger Evers

Landsvirkjun—the national electric power company of Iceland—is building the Kárahnjúkar Hydroelectric Project in eastern Iceland. Two glacial river systems will be dammed and channeled through a series of tunnels into a 690 MW underground powerhouse. The Project has a total of 73 km of tunnels to be excavated of which mosthave been completed. From three access adits, three large diameter (7.2 m to 7.6 m),main-beam, gripper-type, Tunnel Boring Machines (TBMs) are being used to complete50-km of the waterway tunnel. Using the TBMs was a first in Iceland to excavate the complex Icelandic basalt formations, which consist of inclined layers of hard basaltic flows with weaker scoriaceous and sedimentary interbeds. Faults, fissures and dykes that frequently cross the lava flows posed both geologic and hydrogeologic difficulties to the TBM tunneling. This paper describes the extreme challenges that the men and equipment had to endure to complete the tunneling, including the harsh winter weather on the surface and the cold, abundant ground water inflows within the tunnels.

Jan 1, 2007

By Rick Deschamps, Brian Barkauskas, Aled Hughes, Abigail Stein

In central Washington, six miles south of the small town of Vantage, the flow of the Columbia River is harnessed by the Wanapum Dam which is part of the Priest Rapids Hydroelectric Project owned and operated by Grant County Public Utility District (GCPUD). Extending more than 8,300-feet from bank to bank, the dam includes left and right earth embankments, left and right concrete gravity sections and a 10-unit powerhouse. Adjacent to the right embankment is a concrete gravity spillway featuring radial gates measuring 50-feet-wide and nearly 70-feet-high. In the early 1960’s when Wanapum Dam was built, these seven-story spillway gates were the highest in the world. In late February 2014, 50-years into its service life, during a routine maintenance inspection, observant workers noticed a slight misalignment in the roadway deck curbs and handrails located on top of the spillway. Further survey and inspection efforts uncovered a 65-foot-long by two- inch-wide crack that spanned the full length of Monolith 4. On discovering the extent of the damage, GCPUD initiated immediate drawdown of the reservoir to relieve pressure on the spillway monoliths. Wanapum Reservoir and the areas directly downstream of the dam were immediately closed, boat ramps and inlets were left completely dry, campsites were closed and boating activity was banned on the lake until further investigations and remedial procedures were in place and completed. An extensive root cause analysis ultimately led to the conclusion that errors in the initial design calculations and late changes to the final spillway design led to a condition that generated tensile stresses in the concrete at the upstream face, which over a period of 50-years resulted in the formation of a crack along a horizontal lift joint located about 85-feet below normal pool elevation. Further analysis showed that, although visible distress was found at Monolith 4, there was nothing preventing this issue from happening at other locations along the dam spillway. Although no visible cracking was found in the other monoliths, repair procedures for Monolith 4 would have to be replicated at the remaining monoliths.

Jan 1, 2018

By John C. Taylor

A resource document, prepared for the Royal Commission on the Health and Safety of Workers in Mines, which outlines aspects of occupational health and safety in the Canadian metallurgical industry has been expanded to provide examples of some practical solutions. General process descriptions are provided in conjunction with some of the major potential hazards associated with each step. Emissions to the working environment, particularly around converters, are discussed. Newer metallurgical processes, the role of automation and other advances in the metallurgical industry are described with respect to their impact on the work place. The role of staff and unit employees in providing safe working conditions in the complex metallurgical plant of today is outlined and the need for close cooperation within the human sector emphasized. The technology is available and is being applied to integrate the complex process requirements with realistic regulations to control emissions and provide a safe, healthy environment in metallurgical plants.

Jan 1, 1978

A201 aluminium alloy is a high strength casting alloy with a nominal composition of Al-4.6Cu-0.3Mg-0.6Ag. It is strengthened by the O(Al2Cu) phase and the ??(Al2Cu) phase during heat treatment. Further strengthening of this alloy system can be obtained through the addition of transition elements, but care must be taken as other elements might have adverse effects on the mechanical properties. The objective of this study is to determine the influence of Mn on the tensile properties of rheo-processed Al-Cu-Mg-Ag alloy A201. ThermoCalc software was used to predict the different phases that can be expected in the alloys, and scanning electron microscopy(SEM) with energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) was used to investigate the actual phases that formed. The influence of these phases on tensile properties is quantified. SEM and ThermoCalc revealed that there is an increased amount of the Al20Cu2Mn3 with increasing Mn. The tensile properties showed that high amounts of Mn do have adverse effects on the tensile properties of alloy A201, especially the ductility. Keywords Semi-solid metal (SSM) forming, alloy A201, intermetallics, Al20Cu2Mn3

Jan 1, 2011

By Stavros H. Constantopoulos

Mediterranean regions such as Greece, Turkey, Cyprus, Corsica and New Caledonia have experienced epidemics of malignant mesothelioma as a result of non-occupational, ??domestic?? exposure to tremolite asbestos and fibrous erionite. This exposure to tremolite asbestos and fibrous erionite is typified ??domestic?? due to its prevalence in regions with natural deposits of tremolite asbestos (or fibrous erionite) where the material from tremolite asbestos or fibrous erionite is used for domestic applications such as whitewashing. However, these exposures may be useful in examining the potential consequences of even small amounts of amphibole asbestos fibers in the ambient air. It can also elucidate the effects of fibers that behave like amphibole asbestos. However, this type of exposure is not useful for studying the potential effects of small amounts of asbestos in the ambient air of big cities due to the differing nature of the fiber types and modes of exposure between the regions. © 2008 Published by Elsevier Inc. Keywords: Tremolite asbestos; Erionite; Domestic; Environmental; Exposure

Jan 1, 2007

By Isabelle Demers, Audrey Jalce

L’industrie minière génère chaque année une quantité considérable de rejets miniers, principalement sous forme de stériles ou de résidus de l’usine de traitement. Les stériles sont des roches sans valeur économique, excavées pour atteindre la roche minéralisée. Ils sont usuellement empilés en surface formant des haldes à stériles. Les résidus miniers sont des roches finement broyées, mélangées avec de l’eau, résultant du traitement du minerai. Ils sont généralement pompés et entreposés en surface dans des parcs à résidus. Cependant, leur stockage peut être sujet à des instabilités géotechniques, mais également géochimiques, pouvant entrainer des problèmes environnementaux majeurs, tels que le drainage minier acide (DMA). Le DMA se produit lorsque des minéraux sulfureux, contenus dans ces deux types de rejets, s’oxydent au contact de l’eau et de l’oxygène [1]. Le DMA se caractérise par une solution acide (pH inférieur à 6) riche en métaux, contaminant les eaux souterraines et de surface et représentant alors un danger pour la faune, la flore et la santé humaine [2]. La remise en état et la fermeture des sites miniers doivent donc être pensées dès la phase d’étude du projet d’exploitation, afin de proposer une méthode de gestion des rejets qui permettra de limiter les impacts environnementaux pendant et après l'exploitation.

May 2, 2024

By E. H. Herron, J. H. Perry

Mathematical simulation of reservoir behavior may be used to help understand reservoir processes and to predict reservoir behavior, thereby leading to the most economically desirable form of exploitation. In addition, simulation can be used as a tool for reservoir description to learn more about the physical nature of the reservoir and the mode of primary recovery. This use is essential in most reservoir studies and represents one of the more significant applications of simulation. Prediction of reservoir behavior provides information concerning displacement efficiency, optimum well locations, and the comparison of alternative producing processes. Since oil, water and gas all commonly occur in many reservoirs, a simulation that takes into account the simultaneous flow of three immiscible phases is a prerequisite for obtaining such information. Furthermore, a simulation that describes this flow in two dimensions provides the capability of evaluating combination gas- and water-drive reservoirs with either an areal or a cross-sectional description. Many reservoir problems require such a simulation. The objective of the research described here was to develop a mathematical model and associated computer program for accurate, efficient, and economical prediction of the reservoir flow of three phases in two-dimensional geometry. Several authors have discussed multidimensional reservoir simulation of two phases.l-3 Gottfried et al.' presented an analy- sis of three-phase simulation in one dimension. Fagin and Stewart" and Garrett6 have discussed the simulation of three-phase flow in two dimensions, but their solution techniques were different from the method discussed in this paper. In particular, previous models and computer programs have usually involved either fewer capabilities or inefficient and less rigorous descriptions resulting in limited applicability. In the following sections, we present a description of the model, an evaluation of the method, and the application to reservoir problems. Additional and supporting material is presented in the Appendix. The Three-Phase Model General Description The three-phase model consists of the mathematical description of the flow of oil, water and gas in a reservoir. Conceptually this description considers flow in all three space dimensions, but in the subject simulator it is assumed that no flow occurs in the third dimension. The model includes the effects on reservoir behavior of fluid and rock compressibility, viscosity, gravity, capillary pressure, relative permeability and gas solubility. Within the two-dimensional restriction, the reservoir considered may be completely heterogeneous and anisotropic. The differential equations governing multiphase, multidimensional flow in a reservoir are too complex to be solved analytically, so they are approximated by a system of finite difference equations and solved

Jan 1, 1970

By Guomin Jiang

Potassium ferrate is an excellent multifunctional reagent for wastewater treatment, but its preparation is crucial. The improved hypochlorite oxidation method was used to prepare potassium ferrate in this study. Iron nitrate, the preferred iron source, was added into hypochlorite solution and then the stabilization agent was added during the purification process of product. The influence of available chlorine content, iron molecular proportion, reaction temperature and reaction time on potassium ferrate preparation was investigated. The optimal condition for potassium ferrate preparation is 15% of available chlorine content , 0.6 of iron molecular proportion , 30i of reaction temperature , 45min of reaction time. The yield of potassium ferrate is about 67% with high purity (> 99%). The structure and performances of the product was characterized by XRD, EDX, SEM, TG and IR and the results show that the prepared product is consistent with the properties of potassium ferrate(VI).

Jan 1, 2010

By R. Heersink, C. H. Wells

Innovations in communications and real-time information systems are providing industry opportunities to improve profitability. Real-time operating data is collected from equipment across a site or even several sites into a central server for secure PC and PDA-based Internet access. This paper includes discussion of how operating staff can use wireless devices to see equipment and processing data from anywhere throughout the mines and concentrators, and how management can view results from multiple mines, all in real time. Additional opportunities enabled through the remote access by equipment vendors or mining consultants is also presented, as well as an overview of typical benefits and current installations.

Jan 1, 2002

By K M. Brodie, D I. K McLeod, J Ruddock

Environmental incidents involving mine tailings and waste rock inevitably become highly publicised and serve to damage the credibility of the entire industry. The recent serious incident involving a spill from a Romanian mine, was blamed for triggering æone of the worst environmental catastrophes in Eastern EuropeÆ. It is important to clearly demonstrate to the general public that these incidents are not representative of the industry as a whole. Where such incidents have occurred, the causes are generally related to poor design and/or construction, inadequate supervision and/or monitoring and maintenance, lack of independent expertise, inadequate risk identification and treatment and no provision to ensure that rehabilitation and long term management of the site occurs. Many people are unaware that these issues have been considered and provided for at the Martha Mine. Despite the fact that the first tailings storage facility has performed very well over fifteen years of operation, the long term safety and security of the tailings storage facilities continues to be questioned and debated by the public. The best way to address this is to provide quality information to enable a better understanding amongst the general public.

Jan 1, 2002

A Simulation Study on Two-Stage Grinding with High-Pressure Roller Mills By the application of high-pressure roller mill (HPRM) in the field of mineral processing, computer simulation can be used to predict overall performance of a grinding circuit based on data obtained from HPRM comminution test in pilot scale or industrial scale. Using the model developed by Klymowsky and Liu for HPRM comminution and an extended Plitt's model for classification, steady-state of a closed circuit grinding can be calculated by means of a virtual locked-cycle-test conducted on computer. This paper presents the result of a simulation study on two-stage grinding with HPRM as the comminution device. The emphasis is put on the influences of circuit-configuration and way of recirculating classifier's coarse-product on the overall circuit performance. The results show that two-stage grinding with HPRM has its merit and flexibility in meeting demands of various grinding tasks in mineral processing.

Sep 13, 2010

By B. W. Roberts, V. A. Phillips

A copper alloy containing- 25.5 at, pct Zn and 19.0 at. pct Ni, which was previously found to show an anoma1old.s hardening effect on quenching- from 600 "C and aging- at 400oc, has now been examined by neutron diffraction. No evidence of long-range order was found. The aged sample showed diffuse scattering- consistent with clustering. The anomalous hardening effect is now attributed to lattice strains caused by clustering rather than (long-range) order hardening. SOLID-solution Cu-Ni-Zn alloys (the commercial 'nickel silvers") have been reported to show anomalies in: change of resistivity on cold working,1-6 temperature coefficient of resistance,2-12 resistivity at low temperatures,13,14 parameter (vs temperature),2"4 calorimetric data,2,4 specific heat,15,16 dilation,2-4 and elastic modulus.17 The structure responsible for the anomalies is produced by annealing typically near 400°C and is rather loosely referred to as the ('K-Zustands" (K state), a term coined by Thomas1' who apparently meant simply that the arrangement of atoms on the sites deviated from that expected statistically. Thomas proposed that the K state occurred in a variety of (solid-solution) alloys such as Cu-Ni-Zn, Ni-Cr, Ni-A1, Ni-Cu, Fe-A1, and Fe-Si and is recognized because its formation is strongly temperature-dependent and results in an increase in electrical resistance which can then be decreased by cold working. Later workers on ('nickel silver" have interpreted the K state variously as short-range order, long-range order. or a combination. The present work was prompted by the discovery by Phillips and Jones19 of a substantial hardening effect when an 18 pct "nickel silver" alloy which is fairly close to the Cu2NiZn composition, was reheated in the range 150" to 450 C after previously quenching from 600°C or, alternatively. was slow-cooled from 600°C or above. The phenomenon was attributed to (long-range) order hardening. Due to the similarity in the atomic scattering factors of copper. nickel, and zinc atoms, the ''nickel silvers" are unfavorable for X-ray diffraction studies aimed at detecting ordering. Nevertheless Bialas et a1.,20 using a powder sample containing 47.96 wt pct Cu, 24.03 wt pct Ni, and 27.98 wt pct Zn, slow-cooled from 400" to 200°C taking 500 hr, observed weak super lattice lines. Further unpublished work" using an anomalous dispersion X-ray technique indicates that zinc atoms are regularly ordered at the corner points of the lattice cell, while the nickel and copper atoms are statistically distributed on the remaining sites. Köster 17 also observed X-ray superlattice lines, for example, in an alloy containing 43.5 wt pct Cu, 28.6 wt pct Ni, and 27.9 wt pct Zn superimposed on the basic fcc cell with a = 3.62 kX. He proposed a Cu3Au-type superlattice with the Ll2 structure in which the A sites were statistically occupied by copper and nickel atoms and the B sites by zinc. He adds that substitution must be possible so that zinc atoms partly occupy A sites. Below about 35 pct Cu, Koster had some evidence for a CuAu-type superlattice with the Llo tetragonal fcc structure with a = 3.82 kX, c/a = 0.88 which could be preserved by quenching. This is suggested17722 to correspond to CuNiZn. While the present work was in progress Hirabaya-shi et a1.23 made an independent comprehensive neutron-diffraction study of a single crystal containing 50.05 at. pct Cu, 26.57 at. pct Ni, 0.25 at. pct Mn, 0.13 at. pct Fe, balance zinc. The presence of manganese and iron is surprising since the crystal was supposedly grown from high-purity metals. The homogenized crystal showed evidence of long-range ordering after an anneal of 5 months at about 300°C. Three possible crystal models were proposed. A curious feature of their results23 is that they could not find any neutron-diffraction evidence of ordering in a powdered polycrystalline near-stoichiometric Cu2NiZn alloy. There appears to be some essential difference between a near-stoichiometric Cu2NiZn alloy and one somewhat further off stoichiometry as used by the present authors. Thus Sato14 was able to reproduce the low-temperature resistivity anomaly reported by one of the authors13 on the present alloy if he used a similar composition, but found the normal behavior of the residual resistivity in a near-stoichiometric alloy. satol2 found that the resistivity of a cold-drawn slightly off-stoichiometric alloy increased to a maximum on isothermally annealing at 300°C and then decreased ("over-aged"). Since he could not explain this on the basis of ordering phenomenon, he proposed that zinc atoms were segregating to stacking faults (Suzuki effect) and found etching bands on the surface by replication which were attributed to the widening of faults. Sato suggested14 that the hardening effect observed by Phillips and Jones19 is partly due to the Suzuki effect. EXPERIMENTAL The starting material was 1/4-in.-diam hard-drawn rod of a commercial 18 pct "nickel silver" alloy identical with that used in a previous study by Phillips

Jan 1, 1967

By M. Karimi

Artificial neural networks (ANNs) have found their applications in the modelling of unit operations of mineral processing plants. In this research, laboratory-scale tests were conducted, using a three-inch diameter Mozley hydrocyclone. Main parameters included pressure drop at inlet, solid per cent, vortex and apex diameter were adjusted. The corrected cut size (d50c) and the flow rates of underflow and overflow were determined. Multi layers perceptron (MLP) feed forward network architectures were designed to predict the responses. The results showed a good correlation between experimental and network output, for corrected cut size and flow rates. Keywords: hydrocyclone, artificial neural network, corrected cut size, flow rates.

Jan 1, 2010