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By J. Kretschmann, K. Sakamornsnguan

"Sustainable development is an influential ethical concept in modern mining management. However, the concept is not culturally neutral because it is based on Christian, Western values. These values can be very different from traditional values in emerging mining countries like Thailand, where Buddhist values are dominant. When applying the concept of sustainable development, these differences should be taken into account. Different values imply different interpretations of ‘good mining’. They have a significant impact on how mining operations are evaluated, perceived, operated and managed. This paper attempts to integrate Buddhist principles with approaches of the sustainable development concept. When local values are appreciated and maintained, mining companies and their external stakeholders can identify objectives and approaches that match with their own values and contexts. Practices based on this integrated ethic can help to promote sustainable mining and to minimize communication risks for enterprises in mining countries like Thailand. INTRODUCTION The objective of this paper is to integrate Buddhist principles to the application of sustainable development concept to mining activities. The structure of this paper is divided into four parts. An introduction provides basic information about Thailand, its mining industry and the role of Buddhism on the past development. The second part compares the differences between the sustainable mining framework and the implications of Buddhist principles on mining. In the third part, the core Buddhist teachings are integrated into the sustainable mining framework. This is followed by conclusions in the last part. THAILAND, BUDDHISM, AND MINING Thailand is a constitutional monarchy state in Southeastern Asia with a population size of around 65 million [1]. Its GDP in 2013 was 391 billion USD [2], predominantly deriving from manufacturing (38%), trade, transport and communication (24%), agriculture (8%) and mining and construction (4%). Still the largest part of the Thai workforce (39%) is working in the agricultural sector. The remaining part of the workforce is equally distributed across services, manufacturing, and mining and construction sectors. [3]"

Jan 1, 2015

By Stephen L. Bolivar

The Prairie Creek intrusion, near Murfreesboro, Arkansas, is the site of the only commercial diamond mine in North America. Three major lithologies are associated with the intrusion, a hypabyssal peridotite, a volcanic breccia in .which the majority of diamonds occur, and associated tuff. Previous studies, including mining history, geological, geophysical, petrological and whole-rock and mineral chemistry are reviewed. The recent suggestion, by other workers, that this intrusion may be more correctly called a lamproite is examined and supported. This has serious implications for diamond exploration in Arkansas and elsewhere in the U.S.

Jan 1, 1984

By D. H. Lynch

This paper is a general description of current Central Florida phosphate mining, beneficiation and product transportation. It is directed and believed to be of interest to engineers not familiar with this industry.

Jan 1, 1978

By W Frint

An area in Southwestern Wyoming is rapidly becoming the soda ash capitol of the world. Starting only 20 years ago from a unique deposit of trona, the out-put has rapidly increased until now about half of the soda ash produced in the United States comes from this area. Chemically, soda ash is sodium carbonate, a large tonnage, widely used alkali. The largest single industrial use is in glass manufacture, where 25 tons of soda ash are used in producing 100 tons of glass. Other big users are the detergent and chemical industries. The trona deposits in the Green River basin of Wyoming, were formed about 75 million years ago as part of a geologic period when an ancient lake alternately went through periods of being a large fresh water or smaller brine lake. Today these deposits lie from 800 to 3000 feet below the surface in a semi-arid, almost desert region just west of the Rocky Mountain Continental Divide at an elevation of 6200 feet. In this area there is a prevailing westerly breeze and almost every afternoon the velocity reaches very windy conditions. Rainfall is minimal, being only 6-8 inches of moisture per year with an evaporation rate exceeding 24-inches. Most of the moisture comes in winter snows or summer thunderstorms. Temperatures are low with below zero weather dur¬ing most of the winter and early morning frost is not uncommon during the summer months. There are many trona beds varying in thickness from a few inches up to 15 feet. The deposits now being mined vary from 8 to 10 feet in thickness. The ore is mined by driving tunnels either via conventional explosives or with continuous boring machines. It is transported to the shafts via conveyor belts

Jan 1, 1972

By Devan Naik, Matthew Stokes, Andy Nigro

This paper describes the surgical removal of a 24 ft dia. Slurry Shield TBM entombed beneath one of the country’s busiest commuter rail interlockings, the Harold Interlocking in Queens, NY, and the construction of the interface to a cut/cover tunnel which extended the mined tunnel section. A sophisticated SOE was built around the TBM to support active track loads within 8ft. of the excavation. Once the TBM head and guts were removed, a full round CIP lining was installed connecting the existing precast tunnel liner to the C/C tunnel under construction. All this construction was done on a narrow island of land without road access nestled between 7 mainline LIRR/Amtrak rail lines.

Jun 13, 2021

By Lourens Scheepers

Mining induced seismicity and rockbursts have been part of the deep level gold mining industry in South Africa for many years. One could be forgiven for thinking that we should know everything there is to know by now to have rockbursting under control to a level that it has minimal impact on safety and production. Well, we don’t… There are things we know that we know, and they are implemented, or should be. There are thigs we know that we don’t know, and they are researched, or should be. There are things we don’t know that we don’t know, and, well, we don’t know… We know that seismicity and the associated potential for rockbursts generally increase with an increase in stress (increase in mining depth and/or mining span and creation of remnants) and proximity to faults and dykes. We know there are a number of potential sources of events in a mine; that is: mining abutments, pillar abutments, mining faces and geological structures (faults and dykes). We know there are a number of event mechanisms associated with these sources; that is: slip on a geological structure, shear through intact rock and bursting of the rock near the edge of a mining excavation. One of the tools used more and more and with increased success to identify event source mechanisms is Moment-Tensor analysis (MT). This typically assist in differentiating between three event mechanism components: volumetric deformation component, axial deformation component and slip / shear component. The insight gained from MT assist greatly in identifying the most likely event source to assist in understanding the rockmass response to mining. We know that the seismic response in our mines are mining induced (not natural). This may seem trivial, but it is important to realise that we influence the seismic response with the way we mine, and by how much we mine (extraction ratio). Therefore we put design rules and strategies in place to reduce the seismic hazard and we install rockburst support in our mining excavations. We know the seismic response to mining is influenced by the properties of the rockmass, including strength, stiffness and brittleness, but quantifying its influence is typically more difficult than expected. We know numerical modelling can improve the engineer’s understanding of the potential rockmass response associated with designed mining layouts and strategies. For our environment (narrow, tabular large area) elastic boundary element modelling remains the most convenient and practical approach, but it overestimates the stress at mining abutments and underestimates the stress further away from these abutments. Adding a crushing (based in limit equilibrium) modelling approach vastly improves the boundary element modelling ability to simulate the deformed (interpret fractured) zones and associated redistribution of stress. We don’t know how to quantify what an acceptable seismic risk is. We don’t know if we can mine remnants at an acceptable seismic risk. Some remnants are extracted surprisingly easy, others serve us with devastating rockbursts. The limit equilibrium modelling shows potential to significantly improve our ability to quantify the rockburst risk. We don’t know if large-scale preconditioning is possible and will be effective to significantly reduce the seismic risk associated with remnant and pillar mining. Research is required (and has been initiated). Vast areas of ground have been extracted historically in the South African gold fields. Most gold reserves are now in deeper ground (4000 m) and historic remnants (areas left before due to mining difficulties) as well as pillars (regional stability pillars). If we cannot find ways to extract these reserves at acceptable risk levels, the future of the South African gold mining industry is very short.

Apr 26, 2022

By M. E. Smith

Chile is the world's largest copper producer and as such sets the standard of practice in copper SX/EW design. The authors summarize the liner systems used at many of Chile's major copper producers both operating and planned. The evolution in the state of the art is also discussed, considering both economic factors and Chile's burgeoning environmentalism.

Jan 1, 1994

By K. A. Heasley

The objective of this paper is to back analyze the August 6th, 2007, collapse at the Crandall Canyon Mine in Utah, in order to better understand the geometric and geomechanical factors that contributed to that collapse. In this work, the LaModel boundary-element program, along with the best available information, is used for the back analysis. To initiate the analysis, a six-step base model of the mining in the Main West area was developed. This base model included a step for each of the critical stages in the mining of this area. Next, calibrated values for the critical input parameters, rock mass stiffness, gob stiffness and coal strength, were developed and optimized based on the best available information. Finally, the model was used to simulate the final mining scenario. As a result of this back analysis, a number of conclusions can be made concerning the mine design and the August 6th collapse: 1) overall, the area was primed for a massive pillar collapse because of the large area of equal-size pillars, 2) the abutment stress from the active retreat sections and the adjacent longwall panels were significant contributors to the collapse and 3) from the modeling alone, it is not clear exactly what triggered the August collapse, although the active mining is a reasonable assumption.

Jan 1, 2010

By J. D. Miller

On the basis of nonequilibrium zeta potential measurements by laser-Doppler electrophoresis, the sign of the surface charge of alkali halides in their saturated brines has been established. The results are generally as expected from simplified lattice ion hydration theory. This recent electrokinetic information coupled with the stability and prevalence of collector colloids in such soluble-salt flotation systems suggests that the selective flotation of alkali halides is due to the adsorption of oppositely charged collector colloids by heterocoagulation. Experimental flotation results confirm this surface-charge/collector-colloid adsorption model and are presented herein.

Jan 1, 1992

By R. C. Runvick

Gypsum resources are significant in the midwestern United States, with specific deposits varying in "place value" relative to the major markets served. Underground and surface mining operations produce gypsum from sedimentary rocks ranging in age from Silurian through. Jurassic. Although reserves tend to be limited at individual operating properties, potential resources are vast and future development will hinge principally on market growth and changing economic conditions. Most critical of the variables affecting the industry in both the short and long term will be the availability, type and cost of energy and both processing and distribution.

Jan 1, 1980

By T. C. Crosby

Grinding has a marked effect on concentrator recovery and opera- ting cost, improved operation through automatic control can enhance plant performance. The correct application of automatic control can only be accomplished after the basic process variables and their effect on mill operation have been defined. This paper develops a control system for a closed circuit grinding system. Typical control systems such as feed, water flow, level and circulating load are discussed. A method of determining controllability is outlined using the calculated reaction curve technique. Various successful methods of automatic grinding control applications are discussed and future possibilities are outlined. Although this paper primarily deals with closed circuit wet grinding circuits, the principles involved can be readily applied to other processes.

Jan 1, 1966

By A. S. Ibrado

Research investigations on the chemistry of the adsorption of gold cyanide on activated carbon have mostly reduced the role of activated carbon as the provider of the large surface area needed for adsorption. Most do not go beyond suggesting that oxygen functional groups on carbon play a key role in the adsorption process. Our research shows that the nature of the material, specifically its structure, is a crucial factor in the adsorption equation. To delineate the effect of adsorbent properties, gold cyanide was adsorbed on a series of carbonaceous adsorbents, including lignite, coals, anthracites, carbon blacks, graphite and activated carbon, which covers wide variations of composition, surface acid group content, and degree of graphitization. The results show that the adsorption of gold cyanide per unit area of adsorbent is not related to the amount of oxygen groups on the surface or even the total oxygen content of the material. However, they show very strong correlation with the degree of graphitization of the adsorbent, which indicates that the graphitic plates of activated carbon play the most important role. The findings suggest that majority of the adsorption occurs on the plate faces of the graphite crystallites of activated carbon.

Jan 1, 1992

By M. R. Smith

Barrick Goldstrike Inc.'s Betze/Post Open Pit is located at the north end of the Carlin Trend, in Eureka County, Nevada, U.S.A. (see location Map, Figure 1). About ten open pit gold mines exist on the trend, which strikes northwesterly, through the north end of Eureka County and into Elko County. The final Betze/Post Pit configuration is shown in Figure 2, Pit Configuration. The final pit will be about 2450m long by 1550m wide, elongate in a west-northwesterly direction. The pit straddles the Barrick/Newmont property boundary. The highest elevation of the pit perimeter is 1800m at the south wall, with the east end pit bottom elevation at 1200m.

Jan 1, 1993

By R. Krog, M. Valente, R. Ochsner, W. Marchewka, R. Jensen, R. K. Zipf

A tube bundle system (TBS) is a mechanical system for continuously drawing gas samples through tubes from multiple monitoring points located in an underground coal mine for analysis and display on the surface. The U.S. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), in collaboration with Signal Peak Energy (SPE), LLC, Bull Mountains No. 1 Mine, operated a TBS during mining of two bleederless, longwall panels. This paper describes the gas analysis data and its interpretation. As verified by the TBS, coal at the SPE mine tends to oxidize slowly. It was known that a reservoir of low-oxygen concentration atmosphere developed about 610 m (2,000 ft) behind the longwall face. A bleederless ventilation system facilitates formation of an inert atmosphere in this longwall gob and decreases the likelihood of spontaneous combustion. Connections of the mine atmosphere to the surface through subsidence cracks could allow airflow into the longwall gob, revive coal oxidation and increase spontaneous combustion risk. The atmospheric composition of the sealed areas was homogeneous, except in the immediate vicinity of suspected ingassing points. The TBS verified that gases within the partially sealed, bleederless longwall gob expanded into the longwall tailgate area when barometric pressure decreased. The concentration of carbon dioxide in the back return airflow at the longwall tailgate was observed to increase by a factor of three and possibly up to 10 times the typical background concentration of 0.5 to 1.0%, depending on the size of the longwall gob and the magnitude of barometric pressure decrease. TBS have the inherent disadvantage of slow response time due to travel time of the gas samples and sequential gas analyses. A TBS or similar continuous monitoring system could be beneficial in detecting and providing warning of potentially hazardous gas concentrations, if the slow response time of the system is always understood.

Jan 1, 2013

By V. N. Kolesnikov

The Sikhote-Alin part of the Circum-Pacific Ore Belt is characterized by wide distribution of Sn, Pb, Zn, W; Au, Ag, and other mineralization. This mineralization is regionally associated with the Late Cretaceous-Tertiary East Sikhote-Alin volcanic belt where it overlaps the Taukha accretiollary-wedge terrane of the Early Cretaceous age. The Pb-Zn deposits of the Dalnegorsk ore district may be grouped into the skarn (about 80%) and vein types. The skarn deposits are of major commercial value. Their geological position is controlled by the carbonate units located within tectonic melange of the Taukha terrane. Some other lithological and tectonic factors also play a significant role ill distribution of the mineralization. The ore bodies are traced to the depth of 1000-1500 m below the surface, having a pipe-lens shape and vertical zonation. Major minerals of the ores are galena, sphalerite, pyrrhotine, chalkopyrite, hedenbergite, quartz, and calcite. The minor elements of the Pb-Zn mineralization are cadmium, silver, bismuth, and copper. The paper describes relationships between mineral suites and minor element contents in the ores, as well as their significance for processing the ores. The metallurgy applied allows high recovering of the major components (Pb -93.9%; Zn -91.4%). However the tails contain some minor components that may be of commercial interest.

Jan 1, 1998

By Harry Perry

A technology for producing liquid fuels from oil shale at prices competitive with crude oil prices is a necessary but not exclusive prerequisite for the development of a shale oil industry. Many other factors will affect the timing and the rate at which oil shale is commercially developed. Among the more important are: governmental policy concerning oil shale and oil resources (including the Outer Continental Shelf) that are under Federal control; oil import policy; Federal taxation of shale oil production including depletion allowances; regulatory practices; competition from other energy sources, both synthetic and natural; Federal treatment of factors affecting competing energy resources; and present legislation under which the public resources must be leased. Significant changes in any of the foregoing factors could have a controlling effect on the timing and rate of oil shale development. The effect of changes in each of these factors is evaluated.

Jan 1, 1969

By J. E. Lonergan

The in-pit placement of crushing and conveying equipment results in a flattening of the pit slope of a multiple-bench open pit mine. To maximize the economic benefit of lower haulage costs associated with in-pit conveying, one must minimize the cost of the flatter slope which is expressed in terms of additional stripping or tied up ore. A computer program that compares the tonnage aspects of various conveyor layouts will be discussed.

Jan 1, 1985

By C. D. Anderson

A variety of processing technologies exist for recovery from both primary and secondary sources of rhenium. Currently, there are no known primary rhenium deposits; thus, the method in which primary rhenium is produced is dependent on the commodity of which it is a byproduct, e.g., copper, molybdenum, uranium, etc. In addition, focus on the recovery of rhenium from secondary sources, such as alloy scraps and catalysts, is continually growing. This paper presents a review of both primary and secondary processing technologies for the recovery of rhenium.

By James R. Arnold

Over the past few years several commercial wetting agents and drying aids have been tested in the lab and in the plant at Gold Fields Mining's operations at Mesquite and Ortiz. The major goal was to increase recovery with these surfactants by improving the permeability of the pad and increasing the rate of penetration through the rock.

Jan 1, 1988

By A. G. Mayton, L. Adler

The paper under discussion provides an excellent and concise study of compartment ergonomics for thin seam equipment. However, in accomplishing this, some very important operational aspects were ignored. Since these are likely to be determinant, the authors' response is solicited. The novel shuttle car with its cross-car, end-mounted compartment is operationally very different from the current one. The latter can be considered a highly mobile extension of the continuous miner or loader, with a pass-through conveyor, dump boom, and extra storage. As such, the vehicle's kinematics are the simple "I," or shuttle pattern, bent for going around pillars, with an intermediate stop at the "change-out point" (Adler, 1986 ). The action of the cable reel adjusts well to this pattern. The proposed shuttle car's motion either superimposes a "Y," time is lost (5 seconds) for each cycle, space is needed, line of sight is compromised, and a cable anchor is probably required at the dump. A chute is almost prohibitive in construction time and cost. The lack of a dump boom further curtails flexibility in the proposal. The value of a standard hand and opposite standard hand configuration also needs consideration. Many front-end loaders have a rocker (overshot) capability that is designed to achieve an "I” pattern. And crawler loaders sometimes use a side dumping bucket variant for the same purpose. These examples indicate the pattern's importance. For underground, thin seam application, the ram car has become popular. This is an articulated truck, battery-powered, and with an ejector dump. Its operational patterns would be similar to the novel shuttle car, except without the loading flexibility provided by a conveyor. Since the cab location of the proposed shuttle car largely obviates some of the major advantages of the present shuttle car, the question arises whether this configuration could be adapted to the current ram car and scoop

Jan 1, 1991