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By Robert Hopler

A blast caused the destruction of a bridge and loaded freight train and the death of three men, near Chattanooga, Tenn., on May 16, 1907. The blast and its disastrous effect has been described by Mr. Hunter McDonald, M. Am. Soc. C. E., in a paper read before the Engineering Association of the South and reprinted in the Proceedings of the Association for April-June, 1907. The excessive damage was so largely due to coincidence and wreckage of the bridge and train so complete that the incident is worthy of notice.

Jan 1, 2008

The newly implemented mineral law framework exacerbated the need to clarify the roles and responsibilities of mine and land surveyors in the preparation and registration of plans and diagrams. The main concern is that survey tasks may be performed by persons who are not considered competent under the different laws. The methodology used was to analyse historic and present legislation on the issue in order to formulate a narrow interpretation of the current requirements. The major findings are tabulated to present a summary of who is responsible for which areas of survey.

Jan 1, 2010

By L R. Marshall, M J. Rubenach, T G. Blenkinsop, J S. Cleverley

The source and transport regions of fluidised (transported) breccias outcrop in the Cloncurry Fe-oxide-Cu-Au district, providing insights into the origins of other fluidised magmatic-hydrothermal breccias such as kimberlites. Discordant dikes and pipes with rounded clasts of metasedimentary calc-silicate rocks and minor felsic and mafic intrusions extend several kilometres upwards and outwards from the contact aureole of the 1530 Ma Williams Batholith into overlying schists and amphibolites. The brecciation initiated at depths >10 km and may have resulted in surface breaching. We used analytical equations for particle transport to estimate clast velocities (eÆ 20 ms-1), approaching volcanic ejecta rates (up to 80 ms-1). The wide range of CO2 fluid inclusion densities (up to 150 MPa), the localisation of the base of the breccias in contact aureoles, and the scale and discordancy of the bodies suggests the breccia transport process was triggered by an abrupt release of overpressured fluid. At these depths, such extreme behaviour may have been achieved by release of dissolved fluids from crystallising magma, in combination with a strongly fractured and fluid-laden source, sitting under a strong, low permeability barrier, and such parameters may be analogous to the asthenosphere/lithosphere boundary in the case of kimberlite initiation. The relationship of these breccias to the Ernest Henry iron-oxide-Cu-Au deposit suggests they may have been either fertile or æfailedÆ orebody feeders.

Jan 1, 2005

By Michel C. Frippel

This section of the Minerals Yearbook reviews the minerals industries of 29 countries: the 12 nations of the European Community (Belgium, France, the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG), Italy, Greece, the Netherlands, Denmark/Greenland, Spain, Portugal, Luxembourg, The United Kingdom, and Ireland); 6 of the 7 nations of the European Free Trade Association (Sweden, Norway, Finland, Iceland, Austria, and Switzerland); Malta; the 8 Centrally Planned Economies of Eastern Europe (the German Democratic Republic (GDR), Poland, Yugoslavia, Albania, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Romania, and Bulgaria); and the U.S.S.R. Western Europe Western Europe [loosely defined to include the 12 nations of the European Com-munity (EC) and the 7 nations of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA)] is the single largest trading area and consumer of raw materials in the world. If Western Europe was at one time an important mining sector, it has now increasingly relegated the role of supplying minerals for its minerals processing industry to its ex-colonies in North and South America, Africa, and Australia. In this regard, Western Europe is the most important determinant of raw materials consumption (and thus, indirectly, raw materials production). There is an important reason for this since Western Europe lies somewhere between Japan at one extreme and the United States and the U.S.S.R. at the other extreme as regards the availability of natural resources.

Jan 1, 1992

A mineral grain finder is described which is easily constructed to fit onto the stage of a standard reflected light ore microscope.The device is most useful in relocating particular grains or mineral associations on 30 mm diameter polished sections. The use of the grain finder in the teaching of ore microscopy is outlined.

Jan 1, 1988

By Manuel Gutierrez, Roberto Gomez, Juan Aravena, Johan Gjoevad

The use of explosives in mining operations is a process that involves the search for an ideal explosive for the type of geological condition of the mineral to be extracted. For the explosives present on the market the majority are based on Ammonium Nitrate. This as it is an ideal balance of high energy efficiency achieved with low development of gas emission. The manufacturing and loading operation of the explosive requires multiple process stages and different raw materials, which, if is not correctly supervised and controlled may cause the development of harmful gases or, in the worst case, even toxic gases. The majority of mining operations are located at remote locations without the presence of communities, and hence individuals, which could be affected by emission of the harmful or even toxic gases. In these operations the protection is mainly to protect the employees of the operation. However, if the operation is located near communities, the effect of these gases becomes a serious problem. The communities' perception of post-blasting gases, according to interviews carried out in this project, describes these as smells of black gunpowder, damp soil with a volatile permanence and medium intensity, sometimes a stinking tone is added. The legislation in Chile that controls the exposure of “workers” to different gases is Supreme Decree 594, 2019 (Decreto Supremo 594). Currently the Chilean Ministry of Environment and Sernageomin (Servicio Nacional de Geología y Minería) are taking actions to reform and strengthen oversight, seeking through a short law to provide more tools to the government to decentralize decisions in case of non-compliance with the decree. This paper describes the development and implementation of a permanent and remote gas monitoring system, considering the reasons for choosing the gases to be included in the equipment, the types of sensors and their capabilities, the way to verify in the field the correct functioning of the technology throughout the project, and finally how the data collected in the field is meeting the government's expectations in terms of permanent and online reportability. Additionally, it addresses the continuity of gas monitoring in the community that will disappear in the short term due to the expansion of mining operations, thereby ensuring the protection of both workers and affected communities.

Jan 21, 2025

By James Tarr, Matthew Eichler, Brent Tardif

ANFO was being used as one of the blasting agents on a construction site in New England. Groundwater was encountered in numerous blast holes. The blasting contractor was employing typical explosives loading procedures for wet conditions. An abutter to the project complained that blasting caused her well water to have an odd taste and smell. Through testing, it was determined that there were hydrocarbons and nitrates in the well water. Several days later a second neighbor complained of foul tasting water; again it was determined that hydrocarbons and nitrates were present.

Jan 1, 2003

Filtration of pulps of varying densities is an essential operation in the hydro-metallurgical production of zinc. The use of filters naturally applies only to the "wet" plants, and in these varying types and sizes are in commission. At Risdon, the Moore suction filter is used for the heavier pulps, except in one instance, where a modification of the Butters-Cassell filter is installed.Filter presses are in general use, and of these, one is a washing unit; the plates, and frames are of cast iron or mild steel, except in one case which is a centre feed press having wooden frames.FILTER DESIGNThe problem of filtration presented itself very early in the history of Risdon and the first developments occurred in what was termed the 250 -lb. plant. Here experiments were made with many types of filters, and as this was the pilot plant on which the design of the 10 ton plant (10 tons of zinc per day) was based, quick decisions were necessary.An Oliver type filter was chosen for the heavier pulp or residue, and a Shriver wooden frame filter press for the lighter pulps.To this day, but with a number of variations, filter presses continue to function unopposed in their particular field; however, the Oliver filter was soon superseded because it was found impossible to wash the filter cake efficiently without repulping; consequently its use was abandoned and the Moore filter adopted.Both- these filters have been modified and developed in many ways to meet the requirements of a zinc plant, but they retain their original basic features.

Jan 1, 1949

By P. Zamora

El yacimiento epitermal de alta sulfuración Au-Ag de Tantahuatay se encuentra en un campo volcánico situado en el sector nor-oeste del Distrito de Hualgayoc, región Cajamarca, norte del Perú. Desde Agosto del 2011, el yacimiento viene siendo explotado a cielo abierto por Cía. Minera Coimolache S.A constituída desde 1995 por Southern Peru como accionista del 44%, Cía. de Minas Buenaventura S.A.A del 40% y Espro SAC. del 16%. Dentro de 23,000 Has. de concesión se tiene al 31/12/2016, 1.0 Moz Au en reservas de mineral en óxidos, distribuidos en cinco depósitos, de los cuales dos son actuales tajos en operación. El LOM (Life-of-Mine) se ha trazado hasta el 2021 con una proyección hasta el 2024, si se integra 690 Koz Au de recursos y potencial actuales, como futuras reservas.

May 1, 2008

By Mark H. Balfe

Over the last decade, Fenway Park has undergone annual improvements to modernize the facility for players and fans. These renovations include the Monster Seats, the Right Field Roof expansion, a new pavilion behind home plate, expansion of the Red Sox clubhouse, additional roof seating, and concourse improvements. Retrofitting the historic ballpark to bring it up to current standards required installation of foundations to support the new structural loads for each of the alteration projects. This required evaluation of existing conditions, and in many cases augmentation of the foundations at existing columns to accommodate the structural changes to the park. New foundations, generally consisting of drilled-in micropiles, were installed in numerous configurations and conditions. Since 2003, a total of 215 drilled-in micropiles have been installed to augment various columns around the park. The micropiles range in capacity between 40 and 70 tons and are installed through Fill and Organic Soils and embedded into the dense Glaciofluvial Sand and Gravel layer. Issues and learning related to the foundation augmentation include schedule constraints (work is typically conducted during the off-season and schedule is very aggressive), encountering old/abandoned utilities or foundations, ventilation of equipment, and management of spoils during micropile installation.

Jan 1, 2011

(Published by courtesy of the Great Boulder Pty. Gold Mines, Limited)1. INTRODUCTIONThe faults described in the following paper are of a somewhat unusual character, and have presented a serious problem both in the development and mining of many ore-bodies on the Eastern side of the Boulder Belt. They are mentioned only briefly in the literature of the field, but were observed by, both Stillwell (1)t and Gustafson (2), and have been studied by other geologists and operators in various parts of the "Belt." Their effect on the lodes of Hamilton Section, Great Boulder Mine, was described by King (3) in 1937, and, during recent years, they have been encountered in most of the Great Boulder workings extending east of the Boulder Dyke.Although this paper is based mainly on a study of faulting and development problems on the Great Boulder mine, the general conclusions reached may be applicable to the solution of similar faulting problems in other mines throughout the field.In order to arrive at a clear understanding of the somewhat complicated relationships which the east-dipping faults bear to the lode systems it will be necessary to give a brief outline of the salient geological and structural features of the "Belt" before proceeding to describe the faults themselves.2. GENERAL GEOLOGYThe most recent descriptions of the geology of Kalgoorlie are those by Stillwell (1) and Gustafson (2) and the reader is referred to these as representing the basis of current knowledge of the geology of the field.The Boulder Belt is comprised of a central core of altered quartz dolerite which is flanked on either side by fine grained greenstones and lavas, usually referred to as the calc schists. Down the centre of the quartz dolerite mass there is an infolded bed of slate (2, p. 105) which has been intruded in lit par lit fashion by albite porphyry; the composite body of slate and porphyry so formed is known as the "Boulder Dyke." Numerous smaller porphyry dykes intrude both the quartz dolerite and the calc schist; these vary in composition and range from chloritised hornblende porphyrites to albite porphyries.The whole of the rock assemblage has been subjected tG a considerable amount of folding, faulting, shearing and fracturing, the greater part of which took place before the formation of the lodes.

Jan 1, 1941

By Shahé Shnorhokian

A study was conducted on the seismic activities and associated rockburst events that took place at an underground Canadian metal mine over a period of five years. In the first stage, a back analysis of the microseismic database led to the identification of clusters of major events. The locations of these clusters were identified with respect to the local geology and the planned mining sequence. In the second stage, a numerical model was constructed using the finite difference code FLAC3D to simulate the in-situ stress, mine geometry, local geology, and stope sequence. Mining-induced stress fields were compared against two rockburst events that took place during this period, as well as against the various geologic units present. It was shown that by combining microseismic analysis and numerical modeling, it was possible to provide a basis for evaluating the influence of the in-situ stress regimes and stope sequencing on mining-induced seismic response.

May 1, 2011

By T. Hadley, E. Catovic

"Northern Minerals Limited’s (ASX: NTU) flagship project is the Browns Range Rare Earth Project (the Project) located in Western Australia, consisting of a number of deposits with high value, heavy rare earth elements, in particular yttrium, terbium, and dysprosium. The deposits are dominated by xenotime mineralisation, which occurs within hydrothermal silicified and hematitic breccias. The Company delivered an initial JORC compliant resource estimate for the Project at the end of 2012 of 10,500 t of contained total rare earth oxides (TREO), which was increased to 28,084t of contained TREO in October 2013 and further enlarged to 47,997 t of contained TREO in February 2014. Concurrent with the growth of the Project resource base, significant progress has been made in developing the metallurgical process for the beneficiation and extraction of rare earth elements (REE’s) from the xenotime mineralisation. Development of the beneficiation circuit evaluated several process options and selected whole-ore flotation and magnetic separation, followed by flotation (hybrid circuit) as the two preferred flowsheets to pilot, following encouraging results on the bench of 83% and 86% recovery to a 20% TREO mineral concentrate respectively. Several downstream hydrometallurgical extraction flowsheets were evaluated. However, the following two preferred process flowsheets were ultimately selected for further detailed investigation during the prefeasibility study: 1. Sulphation bake, water leach, purification, oxalate precipitation, and/or calcination to produce a mixed RE oxide; 2. Sulphation bake, water leach, phosphate precipitation, caustic conversion, HCl leach, and oxalate precipitation to produce a mixed RE oxalate. Excellent heavy rare earth oxide (HREO) extractions (~ 90%) from beneficiation concentrates were achieved on the bench for both circuits, however flowsheet 1 was ultimately selected as the preferred flowsheet to pilot due to lower capital and operating cost. A mixed rare earth oxalate (42% TREO) or oxide (92% TREO) can be produced with low levels of Th and U of 3 ppm and 6 ppm respectively."

Jan 1, 2014

By Milton Camino Ramos

MARSA forma parte de los yacimientos vetiformes de la franja metalogenética aurífera del Batolito de Pataz, y políticamente se encuentra ubicado en la provincia de Pataz, La Libertad. En este sentido, el presente texto describe los resultados del programa de exploración 2010-2011, donde se dio el descubrimiento del primer cuerpo mineralizado del yacimiento, el cuerpo Esperanza, entre otras ocurrencias. Asimismo, se muestra que los cuerpos mineralizados de la franja metalogenética de Pataz, se formarian en estructuras de primer orden con evidencias de reactivacion, cuyo sistema estructural funciona como entrampamiento y en varias etapas de mineralizacion.

Sep 12, 2011

By Albert H. Fay

The first data compiled by the Bureau of Mines relating to coal- mine accidents in the United States were published in Bulletin 69," in which the total fatalities by years and States were tabulated from 1896 to 1912. Since the publication of Bulletin 69, further research has been conducted, with the result that the bureau is now able to publish for the first time all of the fatal accidents described in the State inspectors' reports by States, causes, and calendar years, from the beginning of inspection service to date. For the anthracite mines of Pennsylvania, there is a continuous record since 1870; the records of the Pennsylvania bituminous mines are continuous from 1877, and, with the exception of one year, the Ohio records are complete from 1874 to date. In fact, the records of all of the States, with few exceptions, are complete; and incomplete data for any year may generally be attributed to the fact that no report was published during that year. The magnitude of the coal-mining industry in the United States is such that too much stress can not be placed on the need of safeguard- ing the three-quarters of a million men employed. Although the figures given herein show an appalling record for past years, they are not published for the purpose of proclaiming the high fatality rate of the past. They are a record of experience covering a period of 45 years, showing causes and results of many accidents in the coal mines of the United States. They represent a diagnosis of the hazard of the mining industry, pointing out the principal physical causes of accidents, and make available a body of uniform facts that will serve as a basis of preventive measures for use in future operations. It is with these great purposes in view that the Bureau of Mines presents the classified data in this report. Classification and study of mine accidents on the basis of number of persons killed is common and very old, but fails to throw enough light upon the problem involved. Many serious accidents in mines have no fatal results, hence in a tabulation of fatalities they are overlooked and the real hazard of the industry is not made clear. An accident does not necessarily include an injury that may result therefrom. Such accidents as the breaking of a hoisting cable, an explosion of powder, gas, or dust, a runaway car or motor are all serious. Although no loss of life results, they should be recorded, investigated, and studied to prevent their repetition. No accurate data for the United States are available showing how far the personal element as related to the miner and his co-worker, the mine foreman, or to the superintendent and others in authority, contributes to accidents. Many accidents are due to inexperience on the part of the miner, his failure to heed orders, a misunderstanding of instructions and last, but not least, carelessness of himself or his fellow worker. A foreman or superintendent may fail to give proper warning regarding the conditions of certain parts of the mine; he may not have inspected certain rooms or entries on the day of a mine accident; the mine may not be properly equipped, or the operator may neglect to comply with the inspector's recommendations. There is, therefore, a personal element on the part of both the operator and the miner that must be considered. Legislation and the enactment of compensation laws will make the operator realize the seriousness of the mine-accident situation, when fatalities and injuries are to be paid for in legal tender of the realm. The miner must be educated and made to realize the dangers he encounters; he must learn that self-preservation and the safety of his fellow workmen should receive his first attention; he should cooperate with his employer, his asso- ciates, and the State mine inspector to the end that the mine hazard may be reduced to a minimum. "Cooperation for safety" should be the watchwords of the operator, miner, State inspectors, and all others in any way interested in the mining industry.

Jan 1, 1916

By Dayle Denton, Lloyd Buckingham, Kenneth G. Thomas, Jacques McMullen

"The dry grinding and leaching circuits of Barrick Gold’s new Roasting Facility at Goldstrike Mine in Nevada, USA incorporate well proven technologies in a unique combination. During the design of the plant, every effort was made to utilize the best available technologies from the perspective of capital, environment and operating costs.Crushing is a two stage process using gyratory and cone crusher. Ore is stockpiled and then reclaimed to two parallel dry grinding mills. The double rotator dry grinding mills include a drying chamber, coarse and fine compartments and utilize a gearless motor drive (GMD) or “wrap-around”. In-circuit product transfer is accomplished with air slides and bucket elevators. Finished product separation is performed by both static and dynamic classifiers with the final product captured in baghouses. Recycle of unfinished product utilizes cascade chutes.The final ground product reports to two 2000 ton roaster feed silos. The two-stage oxygen flu-solids roasters with their associated gas train are the subject of a separate paper.The cyanide leach circuit is a standard carbon in leach system with circular swept screens for interstage carbon retention. The loaded carbon is sent to the existing Goldstrike autoclave plant for stripping and regeneration. Tails, after cyanide destruction, are deposited in the existing tailings dam with tails from the autoclave facility.Throughout the circuit, Clean Plant Design criteria were used to assure environmental compliance, ambiental acceptability and ensure worker health and safety. The commissioning and operation of the double rotator grinding technology has been very successful at Barrick Goldstrike."

Jan 1, 2001

By Hernán Parra

El presente trabajo señala la fase de tratamiento metalúrgico de pirrotitas que contienen oro, donde en la concentración por flotación se encontró un esquema adecuado para tratar pirrotitas auríferas considerando las restricciones ambientales que no permitieron incorporar técnicas de cianuración directa, que es como suelen tratarse es-tos minerales en el mundo. Asimismo, se propuso el uso de concentradores centrífugos para recuperar el oro libre fino en una primera etapa gravimé-trica, y concentradores de mesa Gemeni para obtener concentrados de alta cali-dad disponibles para fundición.

Sep 9, 2007

By L. G. Stolarczyk, Y. Luo, S. S. Peng

Detection and assessment of severe geological anomalies ahead of a longwall face greatly benefits the mining operation. Electromagnetic-based Radio Imaging Method (RIM) is one of the most promising geophysical methods for this task. Based on two decades of development, the latest RIM instrumentation (RIM-IV) has expanded its operational range up to 1,800ft.A site demonstration of the RIM-IV technology was recently conducted within a longwall panel. An extensive ground truth study was performed to evaluate the accuracy of the RIM survey results. This study compared the generated RIM tomograms of attenuation rate with the mapped geological anomalies. Three different approaches have been employed to examine the accuracy of the RIM results and to correlate the measured signal attenuation rates with physical properties of the coal seam. The study shows that the RIM-IV technology is able to identify and delineate those geological features that would severely affect the longwall mining operation.

Jan 1, 2004

By Thomas Barkley

Recent developments in hardware and software have made accurate measurement of Underground Face (Development) Drilling a reality. New and compact laser profiling equipment makes it possible to measure drilled material left on the face as well as the actual tracks of the holes drilled in the rounds. Utilization of these available technologies makes it possible to correctly define the drilling accuracy and the blasting pull. Through the use of actual face round measurements, I will show the level of definition and amount of information that can be collected.

Jan 1, 2003

The quantity, quality and detail of project information increases as project development moves from initial scoping level studies, to pre-feasibility and option studies, then definitive feasibility study and basic engineering stages. Data accumulates from metallurgical and vendor testing from various ore types and composites carried out to assess physical characteristics and processing responses of the ore. Over-simplification or assumptions about the orebody for flow sheet development can result in using æaverageÆ information for design. Use of averages of data can have adverse implications on sizing of plant and equipment and consequently on definitive study cost estimates and detailed engineering. In practice, the treatment plant workforce is faced with managing a non-homogeneous or non-average orebody in a variable operating environment that is not always predictable. This paper presents views on how to use the data generated from testwork in project development and for process and plant design. Examples of process design risk or operating risk are presented. Although this topic is applicable to the broad range of process design decision making in the minerals industry, this discussion references comminution, flotation and extraction processes for gold and base metal ores.

Jan 1, 2004