Search Documents

By I Mason, A Wellington, J Hargreaves

Many people are familiar with the use of marine echo sounders which are used by fishermen to monitor water depth and locate schools of fish. Similar technology has recently been used in some West Australian mines to provide detailed maps of ore contacts and other geological structures. Whilst drillhole intersections provide details of the location of a contact at a point, echo sounding can be used to obtain a continuous profile of the contact. A series of profiles together with drillhole intersection data can be used to build a more accurate geological model than can be inferred from drillhole intersections alone. The benefits of this are more complete ore extraction, less dilution and the ability to make more informed financial decisions. This paper presents a case history which demonstrates the successful application of the technology.

Jan 1, 2000

By Oliver C. Ralston

[This paper is an expanded revision of a report entitled "Froth Flotation and Agglomerate Tabling of Nonmetallic Minerals, " published in Transactions of the Canadian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (vol. 40, November 1937, pp- 691-726) and prepared a year previously. Revisions embodied herein brine the data up to January 1, 1938. References have also been added to make the earlier paper more complete for the period it covered.]

Jan 1, 1938

By Oliver C. Ralston

[This paper is an expmded revision of a report entitled "Froth Flota- tion and Agglomerate Tabling of Honmetdlic Idinerds, " published in Trans- actions of the Canadian Ir-stitute of Iriining and !,letdlurgy (vol. 40, November 1937, pp- 6? 1-726) and al'enared a year pr~viousl:~. Revisions en'oodied herein brinc the &ta I:T to Jn?uac"g 1, 193;. References have also been added to make the earlier paper more complete for the period it covered. This paper is an expmded revision of a report entitled "Froth Flota- tion and Agglomerate Tabling of Honmetdlic Idinerds, " published in Trans- actions of the Canadian Ir-stitute of Iriining and !,letdlurgy (vol. 40, November 1937, pp- 6? 1-726) and al'enared a year pr~viousl:~. Revisions en'oodied herein brinc the &ta I:T to Jn?uac"g 1, 193;. References have also been added to make the earlier paper more complete for the period it covered.]

Jan 1, 1938

By Edward A. Barrett

The ability to recognize visual cues commonly associated with roof and rib hazards is fundamental to the prevention of groundfall accidents. The perceptual skills that miners possess to visually search and assess hazardous ground conditions differ considerably. This U.S. Bureau of Mines report summarizes recent investigations on the use of stereoscopic (3-D) slides as a training aid for improving the ability of miners to recognize the various geologic and mining-induced irregularities that cause ground-falls. The feasibility of using 3-D slides for training and their effectiveness for representing roof and rib hazard conditions are discussed. Information is presented on equipment and procedures for creating a 3-D slide program that can be updated by mine trainers. Recommendations are made on selection of 3-D equipment and on the use of 3-D slides for training miners to recognize roof and rib hazards.

Jan 1, 1988

By F. A. Renninger

The terms environment and environmental control, when used in today's context, generally imply to the average individual, something to do with pollution and pollution control. These latter terms, likewise, impart visions of fouled air and dirty water attributable largely to the industrial segment of American society. We have been conditioned, by various means, over the past ten years to equate environ¬mental control with pollution control. We have been trained to think of industrial environmental control programs as efforts conceived only to comply with one or more of the recently imposed pollution control regulations. Almost automatically we; approach consideration of environmental control with a degree of pessimism that is we assume that pollution prompted the control program. It is the purpose of this discussion to demonstrate that environmental control. at least as it exists and has existed within the crushed stone industry, involves far more than simply control or reduction of air and water pollution. It involves a dedication to the enhancement of each of the several "mini-environments" which together comprise the total world surrounding any given crushed stone operation. Environmental control, exercised properly, is an optimistic, constructive, forward-looking, enhancing type of activity. It is a function which has been, and should continue to be, willingly and expectantly undertaken by informed management personnel. In short, environmental control. is an activity from which both industry and society can and should benefit.

Jan 1, 1972

By Felix E. Mutschler

Alkaline rock-related precious metal deposits include: • orthomagmatic platinum group elements (PGE) ± gold (Au); • porphyry copper-silver-gold (Cu-Ag-Au, ±PGE); • epithermal Au-only, and Au-Ag-base metals; • submarine exhalative Kuroko-, Cyprus-, seamount- and Yellowjacket-type deposits; and • enigmatic deposits akin to Olympic Dam. Coeval epithermal deposits related to porphyry deposits suggest the two types represent separate immiscible fluids evolved in oxidized, CO2-rich alkaline magma chambers. Alkaline rock provinces develop above mantle hot-spots, but crustal structures control the final distribution of magmas and ore fluids. Prospecting guides for alkaline rock-related precious metal deposits include the presence of evolved alkaline rocks, pervasive K-metasomatic, redox and carbonatic alteration and low level Au (±Te, etc.) anomalies. Although alkaline igneous rocks crop out in less than 1 % of the area of the North American Cordillera and craton, alkaline rock-related ore deposits have produced nearly 13% of the total United States and Canadian lode gold production. Large (31-t or 1 million-oz) deposits are common (Fig. 1), and additional deposits and reserves are being discovered. New genetic models are evolving, making alkaline rock-related precious metal prospects attractive exploration targets.

Jan 1, 1991

The recent paper by Bain (1981) contains an unfortunate, and potentially misleading typographic error. On page 9, second paragraph, Bain states that, "some samples of drill core from the (Candlow) Formation ... contain up to 90 ppm gold and 2 000 ppm arsenic". The gold value should read 90 ppb. In fact, in the original version of the paper (Bain, 1980), the gold value quoted was actually 60 ppb.Bain also refers briefly to some geochemical data which is attributed to me, and which I feel require some clarification.In addition, the paper contains some factual errors relating to the occurrence of carbonate and potential host rocks to Carlin-type gold deposits in the Candlow Formation.

Jan 1, 1981

By R. M. Goldhoff, J. W. Spretnak, R. Speiser

IT has been observed by Grange and Garvey' that the homogenization of boron-treated steels could lead to complete elimination of the hardenability effect caused by boron. The experimental conditions leading to this conclusion involved the heating of steel specimens with and without boron at 2350°F for 24 hr. To prevent oxidation and decarburization, the specimens were encapsulated under vacuum in silica tubes. This observation of permanent deterioration of boron effect was noted in both a 0.63 pct plain carbon steel and a 0.25 pct C low alloy steel, both of which had been treated with ferroboron and homogenized at 2350°F for 24 hr. In another series of boron-treated steels which had been homogenized for shorter times, the effect was to reduce, but not completely eliminate, the boron effect. Under these circumstances, it was presumed that longer heating times would cause permanent deterioration of the boron effect in this series of steels also. Since the characteristic grain boundary constituent could not be formed in any of these steels after homogenization, it was concluded that possibly boron was being converted into an ineffective form through chemical combination resulting from prolonged heating at high temperatures. Assuming the validity of this observation, a series of experiments to establish the relationship between temperature of homogenization and kinetics of deterioration was contemplated. Initially an attempt was made to reproduce the results just described. For this purpose commercial lots of AISI 8640 and AISI 86B40 steels were used. The analyses of these steels appear in Table I. Hardenability evaluation was on the basis of the hardness of normalized sections. Grange and Garvey' pointed out that these steels are air hardening to some extent and such a technique can be used. For these tests the specimens were held for 20 min in a salt bath at 1600°F and then cooled in still air. Several evacuated silica capsules containing pairs of the test steels were made up and heated for 24 hr at 2350°F. A number of failures occurred among these capsules, but evaluation of the specimens successfully treated indicated a complete deterioration of the boron effect. However, examination of the surface of the treated specimens showed that some reaction, probably with the silica tube, had taken place, since none of the specimens was bright. One further test was made at 2350°F for 12 hr, using a pair of specimens wrapped in tantalum foil prior to encapsulation. These specimens appeared bright after treatment, and their hardenability evaluation showed that no deterioration had taken place. Since these steels are extremely sensitive to de-boronization at high temperatures and particularly at long times of holding, the experimental observations raised some doubt as to the real occurrence of the permanent deterioration effect. To resolve this question an experiment was undertaken in which the high temperature portion of the treatment was completed in vacuum. For this purpose a molybdenum wound resistance furnace capable of maintaining good vacuum was used. All the pertinent accessories to this furnace were machined from molybdenum stock in order to withstand the high temperature involved in the experiment. With this equipment a temperature of 2400 °F was obtained and held under a pressure of 5x10-" mm Hg for 24 hr. A specimen of each of the two test steels was suspended in the furnace and both were heated simultaneously. Temperature was measured with a standardized Pt—Pt-13 pct Rh thermocouple, whose millivoltage at 2400°F was extrapolated from the standardization equation, good up to 2200°F. The complete evaluation of these specimens is shown in Table 11. The hardness values attained by each steel after normalizing, both before and after the prolonged high temperature treatment, remain the same. A microscopic study of the decomposition products present in the microstructures of specimens at various points in the heat treatment correlated with the hardness values observed. It seems that no permanent loss of boron hardenability effect occurs, at least in these Grainal-treated steels, when deboronization is circumvented. Acknowledgments This work was conducted under the sponsorship of the Aeronautical Research Laboratory, Wright Air Development Center, under Contract No. AF 18(600)-94, and their support and permission to publish is gratefully acknowledged. A note of thanks is also extended to the Republic Steel Corp. for supplying the materials used in the work. References ' R. A. Grange and T. M. Garvey: Factors Affecting the Harden-ability of Boron Treated Steels. Tro.ns. ASM, 1946, vol. 37, p. 136.

Jan 1, 1957

By JAMES SCULLY

For the last 4 years political leaders have found a new subject on which they can safely generalize wihout creating opposition. That subject is commodity prices. Since the four-fold increase in OPEC crude oil prices, public attention has focussed as never before on the subject of commodity prices. To advocate stabilizing commodity prices is akin to supporting motherhood or peace or better schooling. Everyone gives lip service to the concept that stable commodity prices are desirable. It is easier to state the principle than to achieve it. Prices that are stable in terms of one currency may be clearly unstable in terms of a different currency. This has become a troublesome matter since 1971, when the world's leading trading currencies were set free to float in relation to each other. To illustrate: consider copper prices in the interval between the end of 1974 and the end of 1977. During those 3 years, the copper price in pounds sterling on the London Metal Exchange rose by 25 per cent. During that period, however, in terms of the USA dollar equivalent, the price was unchanged. And during that period, in terms of the German mark equivalent the price shrank by 13 per cent while the Japanese yen equivalent fell by 20 per cent. Thus a price that appears stable in dollars, rose in terms of pounds sterling and fell in terms of marks and yen. Had this result been achieved as a consequence of an international effort to stabilize prices, an American would have said the effort was successful. An Englishman would have said it had failed to prevent a price rise. And a German or a Japanese consumer would have been happy to have covered his copper needs at a lower cost in terms of his own currency.

Jan 1, 1978

By G. F. Vander Voort

The accident at Unit No. 2 of the Three Mile Island nuclear reactor (TMI-2) on 28 March 1979 was the worst nuclear accident in US history and crippled the nuclear industry. An international Vessel Investigation Project was formed to assess the integrity of the vessel. However, it was not possible to remove specimens from the lower head until January?March 1990. Fourteen of the fifteen specimens removed by electrical discharge machining were from under the debris pile that accumulated on the lower head due to melting of approximately 19 000 kg (45%) of the core. Specimens were previously cut from the lower head of a cancelled reactor of very similar size and design destined for Midland, Michigan. These specimens were subjected to controlled heating cycles with peak temperatures from 800°C to 1100°C for periods of 1 to 100 minutes. The initial study qualitatively compared the structures in the 15 specimens from TMI-2 to the control specimens from the Midland lower head. The writer used the same specimens and employed microindentation hardness traverses, electron microprobe analysis, and selective etching followed by quantitative metallography (by image analysis) to obtain a far more detailed description of the thermal exposure experienced.

Jan 1, 2013

By T Casten

Freeport IndonesiaÆs DOZ (Deep Ore Zone) mine is scheduled to commence production in the second half of 2000. The DOZ will produce 25 000 tpd using mechanised block cave mining methods and will have a number of major improvements when compared to previous block cave mines in the district. The DOZ will have an independent and improved ventilation system, a flexible and efficient truck haulage system, and a more reliable crushing and conveying system than in previous underground mines in the district. This paper will describe the mine plan, haulage, and ventilation systems, and compare them to those used in other operations in the district.

Jan 1, 2000

By John J. Mulligan

The Bureau of Mines investigated coal deposits at Mount Gran (latitude 76°59' S, longitude 161°07' E), Victoria Land, Antarctica, during the austral summer of 1959-60 as part of the continuing U.S. Antarctic Research Program, which is under the auspices of the National Science Foundation. The coals and associated rocks were measured, sampled, and analyzed. Five coalbeds, ranging in thickness from over 10 feet to scattered fragments of coaly material in sandstone, occur in a sandstone-coal series overlying a series of crossbedded red-buff sandstones. Both series are part of the Beacon group of sediments, and both show some evidence of pressure metamorphism. The sandstones are poorly cemented and are composed dominantly of rounded and often frosted quartz grains. The sediments have been broken and uplifted by a series of massive diabase sills. The broken nature of the sediments precluded an estimate of the amount of coal present. The Mount Gran coals are highly attrital banded anthracites and semianthracites that have most commonly a moderately dull luster but do include bright bands. Coal in contact with or near diabase intrusives is partly graphitic but shows no evidence of coking. Apparently the coal was beyond coking rank before emplacement of the adjacent intrusives. Fragments of the plant Glossopteris indica found with the coal suggest Permian age but do not prove it. The coals appear to be derived from plant remains that collected in shallow basins; individual coalbeds would tend to be lenticular bodies that formed in different places as the dominantly sandy sediments were deposited. The wide distribution of coal indicates that coal-forming conditions prevailed over much of the continent; the great thickness of Beacon sediments indicates that similar conditions may have persisted through a long period of geologic time. Generally similar coal deposits may occupy widely separated stratigraphic positions.

Jan 1, 1963

By W. C. Babcock

This report covers Phase V of .a continuing program to apply a new liquid membrane process called coupled transport to the recovery pf metals from hydrometallurgical leach solutions. During this phase of the program, a membrane system of moderate scale was constructed and field-tested at the Exxon Highlands Mine and Mill Co. site near Douglas, Wyoming. The test unit contained four hollow-fiber membrane modules, each with 100 ft2 of membrane area. In the field tests, about 1000 gallons per day of leach solution was processed. The unit was operated on the leach solution for about 50 days. Leach solution entering the unit contained 100 ppm uranium. This concentration was reduced to about 5 ppm by coupled-transport treatment, and the uranium was concentrated to about 2 wt% as a uranyl carbonate product. Under these conditions, a transmembrane uranium flux of about 2.5 lb/ft2-year was obtained. An economic analysis showed that the cost of recovering uranium from this leach solution via coupled trans-port is about $1.20/lb. At higher concentrations of uranium in the leach solution this cost is reduced. For example, at 1000 ppm the cost of uranium recovery is about $0.30/lb.

Jan 1, 1983

By L. G. Hagenbuch

Several factors need to come together in creating an integrate mining equipment dispatching system. At the hub of these factors ace the central dispatching formulas. This paper details the development of these central dispatching formulas and explores the combining of these formulas with other elements to create an integrated dispatching decision. WHY DISPATCHING? Truck dispatching implies and in reality should equate to mine equipment efficiency. Good truck dispatching will yield good mine equipment efficiency while poor truck dispatching will yield the alternative. Truck dispatching can either be automated through a computerized, process or it can be manual. Every mine with haul trucks has a truck dispatching system whether it is recognized or not. Even a system wherein the hauler operators determine where they are going for their next load is a truck dispatching system.

Jan 1, 1987

By T. Güyagüler, A. Güngör

Labour protection, that is prevention of occupational disease and reduction in the frequency of accident, has always been a matter of major concern of mining industry. Management and the government should promote and maintain high safety standards through some measures to reduce accident frequency and occupational disease. This can be achieved by using the science and technology for improving the working conditions, educating workers and managers about accidents and prevention techniques. The detailed analysis of an accident requires knowledge of many factors such as location, time, type, cost of accident, victim, nature of the injury, personal and environmental factors etc. that can be obtained from the standard coded accident report form. There is a need to prepare safety data in a common format to produce a common safety reporting system and ‘Occupational Health and Safety Management Tool’ is being designed to manage this by using database and Internet technology. Precautions should be taken according to results from database queries by providing comprehensive and accurate national data. To have an accident is unfortunate, however, to have an accident and learn nothing from it is unforgivable. Keywords: Occupational health and safety, Accident report form, Accident database, Occupational diseases and accidents, Safety reporting system.

Jan 1, 2003

By H. Fayed

Two-phase (water and air) flow in a self aerated WEMCO flotation machine has been investigated using computational fluid dynamics (CFD). A 0.8 m3 model is considered. The flow is modeled by Euler-Euler approach, and transport equations are solved using a commercial software ANSYS-CFX5 [1]. Because of the lack of circumferential periodicity in this machine, the entire machine is modeled and unsteady simulations are conducted in the whole volume of the bulb. Uniform bubble diameter is specified, and the effects of bubble diameter are determined by conducting simulations for three diameters of 0.5, 0.7, and 1.0 mm. The unsteady air flow rate through the machine is predicted as an outcome of the simulations. Air volume fraction contours and velocity field in different parts of the machine are presented and discussed.

Jan 1, 2012

By D. R. Pyke

Many of the gold deposits in the Timmins• area show a close spatial association to ultramafic metavolcanics. Available analytical data suggest that ultramafic rocks contain significantly higher gold contents than other major rock types. In addition, recent analyses by Keays (1975) suggest that talc-carbonate alteration of ultramafic rocks releases significant quantities of gold. It is proposed that the ultramafic volcanics formed the principal source of gold for the deposits in Timmins, and that the gold was derived from the ultramafic flows when they were extensively carbonatized. Carbonatization of the ultramafic rocks and emplacement of the auriferous quartz-carbonate veins was probably coincident with the last major period of deformation in the gold camp. Delineation of hitherto unrecognized ultramafic volcanics could be an important guide to the discovery of further gold deposits.

Jan 1, 1976

The Minerals Data Source Directory is a compilation of descriptive information on the availability, content, and location of minerals data in the Federal Government. It is intended to assist Government personnel and the general public in locating and acquiring minerals information. Included in the Directory are descriptions of data bases, publications, information systems, and information offices containing data pertaining to ail aspects of mineral production, consumption, trade, and related information. These mineral data sources include the Federal agencies such as the Department of the Interior's Bureau of Mines and Geological Survey whose major mission is the collection and dissemination of mineral information. Also included are agencies such as the Departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Labor, State, Transportation, and Treasury, the Central Intelligence Agency, the Environ- mental Protection Agency, the Federal Reserve System, the interstate Commerce Commission, and the Securities and Exchange Commission, whose primary mission is the collection of data in nonmineral subject areas, but in which the mineral industry is a component.

Jan 1, 1983

By Mary Ellen Bruce Large, Antonio Marinucci, Silas C. Nichols

Tip post-grouting of bored pile (drilled shaft) foundations refers to a method where cementitious grout is injected beneath the tip of a shaft to improve the overall performance of the constructed foundation. This technique, when performed satisfactorily and in the appropriate ground conditions, enhances axial load-displacement performance by improving the mobilization of pile’s resistance. Potential benefits associated with tip post-grouting include reduced settlement under loading, better alignment of load transfer curves, and improved ground beneath the base of the bored pile. However, to be able to realize the benefits attributed to this method, the design, construction, of both the bored pile and the post-grouting system must meet a minimum level for quality assurance. The various factors affecting the successful installation and performance of a bored pile (e.g., workmanship, base cleanliness, borehole integrity, and concrete placement) have been discussed by numerous practitioners and researchers in the available technical literature. For a conventional (i.e., ungrouted) bored pile, acceptance is based on a combination of visual inspection, material testing, and the results of integrity and/or performance testing of the constructed pile. A properly executed tip post-grouting program can be a relatively comprehensive and complex process, which is typically evaluated throughout the construction process based on the results of prior projects and/or on test pile(s) at the particular site. For tip post- grouting programs, verification procedures and acceptance criteria should be established during and incorporated into the design process to ensure design intent and objectives are achieved. Project specifications should be produced to ensure performance requirements are achieved. This paper will present and discuss factors affecting the successful execution of tip post-grouting, including grouting criteria, instrumentation, reliability and uncertainty with the method and outcome, and verification and acceptance. INTRODUCTION Constructing bored piles (drilled shafts) is increasingly more challenging given the lack of ideal site locations, tight project site confines, difficult or restricted access, greater demands on drilling equipment, and close proximity to adjacent structures. To evaluate the feasibility of bored piles as an appropriate foundation system, a myriad of factors is evaluated during design, including site conditions and constraints, budgeting and scheduling, reliability and risk exposure, presence of and depth to adequate load bearing soils/rock, and the magnitude of the imposed loading. Moreover, updated design codes increased load demand per element, and improved material strengths have led to more complex foundation designs, larger foundation elements, and significant increases in load magnitude. Monopile (monoshaft) foundations have been utilized where one large bored pile is used in lieu of a group of piles connected via a pile cap. In addition, to accommodate the design criteria, site conditions, and imposed loading, the geometry of the bored piles being designed and installed have been as large as 13 feet (4 m) or greater in diameter and to depths in excess of 260 feet (80 m).

Jan 1, 2018

By Robert W. Geehan

The Bureau of Mines developed, by core drilling, the property of Nevada Scheelite, Inc., from October 5, 1943, to February 24, 1944. Claims of the corporation are near Rawhide in the northern portion of Mineral County, Nev. The purpose of the work was to determine possible reserves in the lateral and vertical extensions of a tactite zone which was being mined for scheelite. Production from this zone to January 1, 1944, was said to be 64,500 tons, with a recovery of 50,618 units of tungsten trioxide. The development work was done by the Bureau of Mines in cooperation with the U. S. Geological Survey and comprised a study of the geology, mapping the areas, and exploring the deposit by diamond drilling, trenching and sampling. Eleven holes were drilled for a total footage of 2,365 feet of holes.

Jan 1, 1950