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By Richard Miller

RECENT studies of creep have made it apparent that plastic deforma-tion may occur in metals under stresses less than the elastic limit as deter-mined from short-time tests. In summarizing conclusions drawn from creep tests by various investigators, Tapsell1 said: "It is evident that if a material has a true elastic range, the elastic limit must represent the maximum stress for no creep." The presence of a. definite elastic limit, represented in single crystals by a critical or threshold shearing stress, is claimed by Schmid2, Elam3 and others who have investigated the plastic deformation of single crystals. However, this "law of critical shearing stress" was deter-mined2 from short-time tests, and the measurement of the deformation was made with apparatus primarily designed to observe large amounts of plastic deformation, not to detect elastic changes. Experimental data recently obtained with highly sensitive instru-ments by A. W. Hanson4 on zinc and by Podaschowsky5 on rock salt indicate that the elastic range in single crystals is considerably narrower than formerly was supposed. Moreover, a theoretical possibility of permanent deformation, under the influence of even the smallest shear stress in single crystals above a certain temperature (Td), has been developed by G. I. Taylor6. This evidence seemed to warrant an examination of the elastic limit in large single crystals by means of creep tests. The first metal chosen for examination was zinc.

Jan 1, 1936

Common practice in mineral resource estimation consists of partitioning the orebody into several domains defined by grade intervals, prior to the geostatistical modelling and estimation/simulation at unsampled locations. This paper shows the pitfalls of grade domaining through a case study in which we compare the performance of several estimation schemes and demonstrate that the use of domains defined by grade cut-offs implies a deterioration of the resource estimates, mainly in what refers to precision and conditional bias. Then, several conceptual limitations of the grade domaining approach are stressed, in particular the fact that it does not account for the spatial dependency between adjacent domains and for the uncertainty in the domain boundaries. Also, this approach is shown to be sensitive to the cut-offs that define the domains, to provoke artifacts in the kriging maps, histograms and scatter grams between true and estimated grades, and to lower the kriging variance, a feature that may impact the mineral resource classification. An alternative approach is finally proposed to overcome these limitations, based on a stochastic modelling of the grade domains and a co-kriging of the grades using information from all the domains. Keywords: geostatistics, kriging, conditional bias, geological control, grade zoning.

Jan 1, 2005

By H. A. Schnell

"The Phase I Mill at Cluff Lake in northern Saskatchewan was designed to accommodate a very specific high grade uranium ore. As this high grade ore was depleted, construction was undertaken on a new mill circuit (Phase 2) to process a more conventional lower grade ore deposit.The Phase 2 Mill expanded the ore throughput to 800 tonnes per day. The new process employs crushing, grinding, leaching, counter—current decantation, solvent extraction and magnesia yellowcake precipitation and drying to produce a yellowcake concentrate.This paper discusses the process decisions required for this expansion and outlines the new mill circuit. Included is a review of the start up in August, 1984.1.,INTRODUCTION The Cluff Lake Uranium deposit is located 720 kilometers north of Saskatoon in northern Saskatchewan. A high grade deposit was discovered in 1970 with the first production taking place in 1980 after lengthy hearings. The original mill (or Phase 1 Mill) was specifically designed to accommodate this very high grade ore for a very limited plant life.Pilot plant work was carried out in 1981 on the other lower grade ores found in the immediate Cluff Lake area. Feasibility and process selection studies were then undertaken as the Phase 1 mill was nearing its end of life. These studies were completed in March 1983 when approval was given to construct the new Phase 2 mill."

Jan 1, 1985

By M. Maldonado, J. A. Finch

"A flotation bank consists of a serial arrangement of cells. How to optimally operate a bank remains a challenge. This article reviews three strategies for optimizing bank performance: air profiling, mass-pull (froth velocity) profiling and Peak Air Recovery (PAR) profiling. These are all ways of manipulating the recovery profile down a bank, which may be the property being exploited. Mathematical analysis has shown that a flat cell-by-cell recovery profile maximizes the separation of two floatable minerals for a given target bank recovery when the relative floatability is constant down the bank. Available bank survey data is analyzed in respect to recovery profiling. Possible variations on recovery profile to minimize entrainment are discussed.INTRODUCTION Flotation is used to separate valuable minerals from each other and from gangue. To reach a target metallurgical performance, usually assessed in terms of concentrate grade and recovery, feed is passed through stages such as roughing, cleaning and scavenging. All these stages comprise serial arrangements of flotation cells known as banks, lines or rows. Although a bank is the simplest interconnection of cells in a circuit, i.e. the tails of one cell is the feed to the next cell down the bank, how to operate each flotation cell in a way that the whole bank performance is optimized remains a challenge. Significant efforts have been made towards understanding the effect of operating variables on the flotation performance of an isolated cell (Lynch et al., 1981; Finch and Dobby, 1990; Gorain et al., 1998). However in the case of banks the variables that can be manipulated increase with the number of cells in the bank and the problem of how to manipulate them to achieve optimum performance is difficult even disregarding variation in ore characteristics (Lynch et al., 1981, p. 16). In general, the more manipulated variables available the better for optimization purposes, however without clear guidance how to effectively use them it becomes an “embarrassment of riches”."

Jan 1, 2012

By Joseph Clare, Elizabeth Anderson, Mike McGinley, Ron Hines, Judy Cochran

The South Lake Union Pipelines contract for King County Wastewater Treatment Division and Seattle Public Utilities in Seattle, Washington included three 1.8 m (72-in)inside diameter microtunneled pipeline segments totaling about 793 m (2,600 lf).Tunnel alignments were within street right-of-way of heavily traveled urban roadways. Project challenges recognized in the design included: high groundwater levels; contaminated soil and groundwater; variable soil conditions, including fill; and timber piles and other obstructions remaining from historic land uses. The tunnels were built using a Lovat MTS Microtunneling machine, beginning in spring 2003. Conditions encountered during construction presented additional challenges beyond those anticipated in the design process, and were successfully addressed by the owners, designer, and construction management consultant all working with the contractor. Problems included highly variable soil conditions, cracking of reinforced concrete pipe joints during pipe jacking, a timber pile trestle uncovered during shaft construction, and obstructions encountered in the second and third microtunnel runs.

Jan 1, 2005

The Martha Hill project operates with a nett surplus of water, due to the catchment of rainwater on the tailings dam and the requirement to de-water the open pit mine. It is necessary to discharge this surplus, treated as required, to the Ohinemuri River which flows past the process plant.   The treatment plant, adjacent to the process plant, handles all effluent from the Martha Hill operation including water pumped from the mine, excess water from the tailings decant, and seepage from the tailings dam underdrains. To-date the plant has treated and discharged over 800 000 tonnes of water.

Jan 1, 1991

By Anthony D. Szpak

The purpose of this program was to demonstrate the feasibility of Illuminating various types of underground coal mining machinery as required by the Federal Coal Mine Illumination Standards Part 75.1719 to 75.1719-4 Code of Federal Regulations Title 30. Nine various machines were illuminated and the illumination systems were evaluated for a 3 month period of operation. Factors evaluated were ease of implementation, reliability, ease of maintenance, acceptance by mine workers and operators, Illumination degradation and durability.

Jan 1, 1981

At the inception of the gold-mining industry at Kalgoorlie the small supply of firewood required for steaming purposes was naturally all drawn from the limited local areas, which promised soon to become denuded. With the advent of the railway toKalgoorlie came the ever increasing machinery and steam power, and the accompanying demand for firewood so increased that the fuel contractors began their operations, by following the timber belts along the Yilgarn railway line, and graduallygetting further westward, until at present we find them as far as Woolgangie, 63 miles from Kalgoorlie, and with the regular railway rates, I0. per ton per mile, this maybe considered the limit of payable timber at current rates. Although in the early days the reserve of timber along the railway line must have appeared as incalculable and inexhaustible as that of coal did in Europe a couple of centurys ago, the day is now near us when even this source will fail to meet the demands made upon it, for, although a good two years' supply is available or the areas under the axe, yet it is time to look ahead and find from whence the future supplies are to be drawn. Along the railways we find the zone of felling operations limited for want ofcommunication, and only such portions of the forests as are within six or seven miles of the railway come under the axe at present while virgin forests to the rear remain practically unexploited. It is only in the course of the past sixteen months that the firewood industry has developed...

Jan 1, 1901

By using knowledge-based technology to create a Virtual Mining Enterprise and integrating it with existing technical and financial computer systems, a gold mining company has been able to reduce the time taken to produce a mine plan from 14 weeks to less than one week. Typically, the mine planning process requires circulating and managing large amounts of information. Even with the use of computers in todayÆs business, this is often still a manual process involving file transfers and individualised spreadsheets. Mine planning also involves understanding and managing large quantities of complex and interrelated variables. Added to this is the ever changing dynamics and constraints associated with the business of mining. These issues not only hamper the planning process but also question the validity and usefulness of the mine plans being generated. By integrating the information and knowledge of the numerous departments involved in mine planning into one core Knowledge Base - so called æone version of the truthÆ, - mining companies are able to overcome these pitfalls experienced in traditional planning methods. Once set up, the Knowledge Base creates and runs a virtual mining enterprise with which to visualise and test various scenarios of mining, business and logistical activities. The final output is an optimised enterprise-wide plan with clear and detailed instructions for each of the divisions of the company.

Jan 1, 2000

By Michelle L. Ramos

INTRODUCTION The Ballard Siphon was built in 1935 and consists of two 91.4 cm (36-inch) diameter wood-stave pipes. These pipes convey sewer flowsunder the Ship Canal from northwest Seattle and the Ballard Regulator to the North Interceptor and the West Point Treatment plant. The siphons were constructed using open cut construction, are now buried in the sediment on the floor of the canal, and have severely limited ability to be dewatered, inspected, or cleaned. The existing siphon is 394.7 m (1,295 feet) long from the junction structure on the southern shoreline to the regulator structure on the north. The location of the Ballard Siphon is shown in Figures 1 and 2. The area around the Ballard Siphon has become more populated and developed since the siphon was built. Additionally, the Ballard Siphon is subject to high flows that are greater than the capacity of the pipelines. This has resulted in predict-able Combined Sewer Overflows(CSO?s) whenever a large, long duration rain event occurs. The aged pipeline of uncertain viability has become a critical piece of the sewer system infrastructure. Because of the age of the pipelines and their importance, a sonar survey was completed on both barrels of the Ballard Siphon in December of 2005. The sonar images appeared to indicate crown intrusion of the wood-stave pipes, which suggested that the pipes were in imminent danger of collapse. As a result, an Emergency Declaration was executed by King County and the Ballard Siphon Replacement Project was initiated. Staheli Trenchless Consultants was retained to perform feasibility studies to deter-mine the viability of using microtunneling and horizontal directional drilling (HDD) for replacement of the Ballard Siphon. For the evaluations, the preferred site location was determined to be at or near the site of the existing Ballard Siphon in order to minimize the ancillary sewer work which would accompany moving to a new site. To meet flow demands and hydraulic requirements, the replacement siphon needed a mini-mum equivalent diameter of 182.9 cm (72 inches). This could be accomplished with a number of different siphon diameters and configurations including, but not limited to, three 106.7 cm (42-inch) diameter pipelines, two 152.4 cm (60-inch) pipelines, or two 91.44 cm (36-inch) pipelines and a 121.9 cm (48-inch) pipeline.

By Nathan P. Schmidt

Climate and hydrology data are required during all phases of mining projects, including impact assessment, mine planning and design, operational water management and mine closure and reclamation design. In the Canadian north, data sources are spatially sparse and often short-term in nature, and design parameters are often estimated based on data collected at sites far distant. Confidence in such data can be increased by verification or modification using data collected during properly implemented baseline and operational monitoring programs. A data set that accurately reflects conditions at the project is more readily accepted by regulatory agencies during the permitting process, and allows development of more effective and economic water management, mitigation measures and compensation. Data requirements and collection methods for developing an adequate data set for mine development are reviewed. These are illustrated using examples from oil sands, diamond and metal mines in the Canadian north.

May 1, 2004

By K. Morsi

Carbon nanotube (CNT) reinforced metallic composites have been recently generating significant scientific interest, due to their expected superior properties compared with other composites. Out of the metallic matrices investigated for reinforcement with CNTs, aluminum has received considerable attention. A major problem has been the dispersion of CNTs in metallic matrices. This paper discusses preliminary results on the mechanical dispersion of CNTs in aluminum powder, powder processing, stability and characterization of aluminum dispersed with CNTs at reinforcement levels equal to and below 5 wt.%.

Jan 1, 2009

By H. J. de Haan, J. van Lookeren

In view of their size and favorable characteristics, Shell's heavy-oil fields on the eastern coast of Lake Maracaibo, Venezuela — known as the "Bolivar Coast" — are obvious candidates for the application of thermal recovery methods. During the last decade various methods have been tested, such as steam drive,', steam soak and in-situ combustion.3 Steam soak was discovered as a promising production method rather accidentally in 1969, during early steam drive testing in the Mene Grande Tar Sands1 When steam erupted at the surface due to breakdown of the overburden, the injection wells were back-flowed to relieve the reservoir pressure. This resulted in high oil production rates, all the more impressive because the reservoir is unproducible by primary means. It was concluded that injection of limited amounts of steam might be a very effective method for stimulation of heavy-oil wells. To obtain information that would be more widely applicable, testing of the process was continued in the eastern part of the Tia Juana field (Fig. 1). Here even more favorable results were obtained than in Mene Grande. This created sufficient confidence to prompt a large-scale project, which was considered essential for an adequate evaluation of ultimate recovery, steam requirements, mechanical problems and economic prospects. To obtain an early answer on the ultimate recovery a fairly depleted area was selected in the western part of the same field ("A" in Fig. 1). The first steam was injected in March, 1964. This paper describes the performance until the end of 1966. The production mechanism and well inflow performance are discussed in some detail. In view of the favorable results obtained so far, steam soak operations have expanded considerably since the start of this project. Presently, five other projects are under way, of which two are about the same size as the one under discussion, with further extensions being programmed. Description of the Project Reservoir Data Shell's part of the Main Tia Juana reservoir has a proven area of 8,800 acres and an average net oil sand thickness of 130 ft. It contained an initial quantity of 2,750 million bbl of stock tank oil (STOIIP), with an API gravity ranging from 10 to 15 API and a viscosity of 100 to 10,000 cp (at 122F). As a geological unit it is known locally as the Lower Lagun-illas member of the Lagunillas formation, which is early Miocene in age. The sand bodies are believed to be distributary channel sands deposited in a lower coastal plain. Most of the channel sands have lateral and some vertical communication. The field was developed mainly in the period from 1936 to 1950. The ultimate primary recovery is estimated at 18.1 percent of STOIIP, of which 12.5 percent STOIIP had been produced by the end of 1963 from some 540 wells. By then the average pressure had decreased from an initial value of 960 to 550

Jan 1, 1970

By N. Singh

Merensky Reef is mined extensively within the Bushveld Complex. In previously mined-out areas on the Merensky Reef horizon there are pillars, potholes and remnants that have not been mined. These unmined blocks of ground on the Merensky Reef horizon can influence the mining of the underlying UG2 Reef. The extent of the influence will depend on the size of unmined ground and the middling between the two reef horizons. This paper quantifies the influence of partially extracted Merensky Reef on mining of the UG2 Reef, and aims to provide recommendations for mining strategies, as well as regional and local support to achieve efficient and safe extraction of the UG2 Reef, for various middlings beneath the Merensky Reef horizon. In some cases it was found that relatively shallow UG2 Reef mining could encounter conditions similar to those experienced in deep and ultra-deep mining environments.

Jan 1, 2005

By P. A. Rossouw, G. A. Fourie

Several attempts have been made over the latter half of the twentieth century to devise a system for the classification of underground mining methods. None of these are found to be totally successful. A revised classification is suggested with three main categories being identified by reference to fill requirements, steep stopes and stratified geological environments. Methods always needing lasting mass or structure fill include methods with timber-structured stopes and those with mass-filled (or cut-and-fill) stopes. Methods associated with steep stopes are subdivided into steep-stope-specific caving and steep-stope-specific non-caving (or self-supporting) methods. Methods not in the first two categories, often used in stratified geological situations, are not necessarily restricted to stratified environments and include caving as well as non-caving varieties. This category is further divided into room-and-pillar mining, longwall and shortwall coal mining and the type of open stoping found in gold or platinum reefs comprising overhand, underhand and breast-stoping variations

Dec 1, 1996

By Arild Palmström, Castro Fresno

El presente trabajo se enfoca en la información recolectada a partir de testigos de perforación diamantina, dejando de lado cualquier otra fuente de información como serían los afloramientos rocosos, laboreos subterráneos, estudios geofísicos, ensayos de laboratorio o de campo, etc. Cuando consideramos un formato de logueo geotécnico de perforaciones diamantinas, primeramente debemos evitar la utilización de formatos extremadamente grandes y complejos, no se necesita recolectar una gran cantidad de información, se necesita recolectar la información necesaria.

Sep 1, 2017

By Nicholas R. Dixon

This report summarizes all work performed under Phases I, II and III of U.S. Bureau of Mines Contract H0387006, "Development of a Prototype Retrofit Noise Control Treatment for Jumbo Drills." The noise and vibration levels of four jumbo drills were characterized and a survey of percussive rock drill usage is reported. A Gardner-Denver DH 123 drill was chosen as a demonstration drill, and extensive noise diagnostic studies were performed. Noise control treatments were designed, developed and evaluated in a reverberant drill test facility. The treatments consisted of an integral enclosure/muffler for the drifter, vibration isolation of the drifter from the enclosure and feed, and a drill steel sheath. A 19 dBA reduction in overall sound power level was achieved with no loss in drilling rate. The prototype retrofit treatments were field tested in an aboveground mine and in a production section of an underground zinc mine. Long-term durability and operator acceptance of the enclosure/muffler treatment were excellent. Preliminary evaluation of the drill steel sheath was encouraging, although additional testing is required.

Jan 1, 1982

By C. R. Edwards

"The Cigar Lake project will develop the world’s second largest high grade uranium deposit. The Cigar Lake Phase 1 orebody contains approximately 226 million pounds U3O8 at an average grade of 20.7% U3O8. The mine, to be operated by Cameco Corporation, will use a unique water jet boring mining method to cut previously frozen ore. A distinctive ore handling design is required to handle the high grade ore slurry exiting the mining machines. The ore will be crushed and ground underground, with the ore slurry then pumped to surface. Loaded into purpose-designed containers on tractor-trailer units, the ore slurry will be trucked to Cogema Resources Incorporated’s McClean Lake mill. McClean Lake will leach all of the ore. Forty-three percent of the resulting uranium solution will remain at McClean Lake for processing into yellowcake. The other 57% of the uranium solution will be shipped to Cameco’s Rabbit Lake mill for processing into yellowcake there. Detailed design for the Cigar Lake project is now underway. Barring regulatory or market delays, production could start up as soon as early 2005.INTRODUCTIONThe Athabasca Basin in northern Saskatchewan hosts a number of large uranium mining and milling operations, including Cluff Lake, Key Lake, McArthur River, McClean Lake and Rabbit Lake. (Edwards 1988, Edwards 1992, Fielder 1998, Edwards and Oliver 2000, Edwards 2001) The latest project in the Athabasca Basin is the Cigar Lake project."

Jan 1, 2002

By D. Vogt

A brief summary of the propagation characteristics of rock provides the necessary understanding to design effective radar surveys. Measurements of the electrical properties of the major Bushveld platinum-bearing horizons and their host rocks show that radar is an excellent tool for both short -and longer-range mapping. Experimental work confirms the performance predictions. High frequency, 500 MHz ground-penetrating radar (GPR) is a first-rate tool for mapping features in the hangingwall of the orebody, locally known as a ?reef?, for the purposes of determining hangingwall stability. The triplet chromitites above the UG2 have been clearly mapped, as has the Leader Seam above the UG2. Borehole radar at lower frequencies has been used over longer ranges to map reef elevation. Potholes in the UG2 are clearly distinguished in range and elevation to within metre accuracy. The nature of the slump in the various footwall horizons is also apparent. In future, as GPR is routinely applied, it is likely to become used for other purposes. Borehole radar is being developed to operate at higher frequencies, which will allow it to be deployed from boreholes that are within 5 m of the target horizon. Keywords: GPR, borehole radar, Bushveld Complex, UG2, Merensky, pothole, triplet

Jan 1, 2005

By K. Y. Vasioutchkov, Y. F. Vasyuchkov, B. M. Vorobjev

In general a term "unconventional mining or "non-traditional mining technology" getting more and move familiar to the mining engineering media. There are several alternating terminological combinations such as "in situ mining", "borehole mining", "shaftless mining", "mineless mining", "geotechnology" etc.; specific terms denote particular method of unconventional mining technology: "underground coal gasification in situ", "underground coal combustion in situ", "borehole hydraulic coal mining" and others. Principal scheme of unconventional coal mining technology is shown in [Figure 1:] One of the greatest potential for coal utilisation during the beginning decades of on coming cetury is the synthetic fuel-gas derived from coal as a product of coal gasification. It is quite logical to enrich this gas before burning it with natural gas, that is methane, contained in coal measures. Thus it is reasonable to suggest a new concept of unconventional coal mining and utilization technology featuring integrated methane drainage with coal-gas combined cycle. Proposed unconventional technology of coal mining is characterized with: - opening up a coat deposit through boreholes, drilled from the surface and used for coalbed methane drainage as well as for coat gasification in situ; - aggregation of methane producing and coal gasification station on mining side with thermo power plant on the electric power generation side in one integrated industrial enterprise. The further improvement of the conventional coal mining technologies both surface and underground could give only insignificant results in economical, ecological and social aspects, but would not be able to provide basic requirements of the XXI-st century. Significant increase in economical efficiency, cardinal humanization of coal mining and basic improvements in environment protection would be achieved through introduction and implementation of innovative or unconventional coal mining technology. These considerations are applied on both coal production and coal utilization sides as far as coat based energy generation is concerned. Now a general opinion is widely spread that an application in the same manner of the traditional technologies of coal mining and electric power generation would inevitably cause further irreversible damage of the global eco-system, notwithstanding the certain environment protection measures being taken. Keeping the recent pace of the eco-system degradation the whole our civilization would be in danger. Thus the solution of this problem is to be found in developing, promoting and implementing in industry unconventional coal mining and modern advanced clean coal technologies. Coal reserves with favourable conditions at shallow depths are -being rapidly depleted in all countries with developed coal industry. So in nearest future more coat will be mined from deeper levels with higher operational expences and with lower labour productivity. For example in Russia only 20% of proven coal reserves can be specified in quality as easy mined reserves, i.e. coal reserves with a good minability. Unconventional (borehole in situ) coal mining enables us to mine difficult coal reserves, deposited under unfavourable geological conditions with higher economical and socio-ecological efficiency than that in conventional coal mining, in view of these the basic principles and concepts of coal mining and coal utilization for energy generation should be reconsidered taking into account the latest achievments in underground coal gasification/combustion, coalbed methane extraction, clean coat technology and advanced developments in environmental engineering. The authors have developed a new concept of ecologically clean and resource saving coal-gas electricity, protected by a patent of Russian Federation (1995). The main principles and technological features of these conceptual technologies are explained hereupon. It should be a break through into a coal mining technology of new generation, which is known as unconventional coal mining technology. Under current global energy policy, transection to the new generation of coal mining technology is inevitable. Now we are standing at the treshhold of the coat's regeneration based on integrated unconventional coal mining and innovative coal fueled electric generation technologies.

Feb 24, 1997