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By Yehia El-Ibiary, M. P. Evans

One way of increasing conveyor systems productivity is by monitoring the key parameters in the systems. In this paper, a new line of smart bearings will be presented and discussed. The new bearings are capable of monitoring temperature, vibrations, and belt speed for early detection of potentially serious problems. The new smart bearings have built in sensors that are carefully integrated and protected for long life service. These bearings are going to be the key to increasing the up time of belt conveyors in the future.

Jan 1, 1996

By C. J. Pritchard, R. D. Jacksha, K. V. Raj, C. Sunderman

"In underground metal/nonmetal mines, repeated short-term exposure to high levels of airborne contaminants can become a serious health issue. Currently there are no common mechanisms to control or mitigate these localized short-term high exposures to contaminants. To improve miners’ health and safety, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Spokane Mining Research Division (SMRD) is developing a Smart Monitoring and Control (SMAC) system for real-time monitoring of mine air quality, with integrated countermeasures to reduce these high concentrations of airborne contaminants in localized sections of mines. To develop and test a SMAC system that could be implemented in an underground mine, researchers at SMRD built a test apparatus incorporating a fan, louver, ducting, and sensors combined with atmospheric monitoring and control software. This system will institute effective countermeasures to reduce contaminant levels, improving miner safety and health. INTRODUCTION Underground metal/nonmetal mines continue to expand production by employing large equipment in greater numbers and by mining into hotter and more challenging environments which are typically further away from fresh air sources. This challenges the ventilation system to provide adequate quantities of fresh air to the workplace and increases the potential for air contamination that could result in immediate and long-term health and safety issues to miners. Currently, airflow and contaminant concentration in mines are typically based on full-shift sampling which may not identify repeated short-term exposures to high levels of airborne contaminants such as NO2, CO, diesel particulate matter (DPM), and dust with high silica contents. Repeated short-term exposure to these high levels of airborne contaminants over long periods can lead to serious health issues which are documented in several studies [1-3]. Based on data from ventilation surveys and contaminant measurements, mines often attempt to minimize exposures by sending more fresh air to the working areas where contaminant concentrations are found to be high. Real-time monitoring and control allows mines the option to monitor contaminants and implement controls in real-time. Real-time monitoring and control of the underground mine atmosphere has been a subject of research since its beginning in Finland at Outokumpu’s Pyhäsalmi Mine in 1969 [4]. More recently, the real-time monitoring and control problem has been addressed using ventilation on demand (VOD) systems [5, 6]. A VOD system attempts to deal with this issue on a global level by controlling fans, louvers, and doors to increase airflow to active work areas and reduce contamination. However, a VOD system only controls the distribution of airflow and may not be helpful in mines where the airflow is at maximum capacity. Researchers at SMRD are developing a SMAC system for real-time monitoring of mine air quality with an integrated ability to trigger countermeasures to reduce high concentrations of airborne contaminants in localized sections of mines. The SMAC system will be designed, tested, and refined in the laboratory environment before being demonstrated in an underground mine. This system will not only try to minimize the gaseous contaminants by regulating the airflow locally, but will also potentially employ a filtration system to reduce the airborne contaminants in case the maximum airflow capacity is reached. This paper presents development of the test apparatus for the SMAC system."

Jan 1, 2017

By C. J. Pritchard, R. D. Jacksha, K. V. Raj, C. B. Sunderman

In underground metal/nonmetal mines, repeated localized short-term exposure to high levels of airborne contaminants can become a serious health issue. Currently, there are no common mechanisms to control or mitigate these short-term high exposures to contaminants. To improve miners’ health and safety, the U.S. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health’s Spokane Mining Research Division (SMRD) is developing a smart monitoring and control (SMAC) system for the real-time monitoring of mine air quality, with integrated countermeasures to reduce high concentrations of airborne contaminants in localized sections of mines. To develop and test a SMAC system capable of being implemented in an underground mine, SMRD researchers built a test apparatus incorporating a fan, louver, ducting and sensors combined with atmospheric monitoring and control software. This system will institute effective countermeasures to reduce contaminant levels, improving miner safety and health.

Jan 1, 2018

By A. Johnson

When are SMART transmitters the smartest choice? To answer this question requires a closer look at SMART transmitter technology. It is necessary to understand this technology in order to recognize how it can best be utilized to give the greatest value for the application. And, once the decision to buy transmitters has been made, it becomes a question of whose SMART transmitter to buy. For, although the under-lying technology is similar, the differences that exist in how the technology has been implemented can make a dramatic difference in the end result. What prudent users of SMART technology do is to analyze their needs by application before making their buying decision.

Jan 1, 1988

By William Gleason

"The mining industry tends to focus on very large numbers, whether it’s talking in terms of size of deposits, tons of material mined, the equipment used or the dollars spent. The numbers associated with mining projects are often in the hundreds of millions, but sometimes it’s the little things that can have the biggest impact.Take, for example, the Rosemont Copper Project in Arizona. Owned by HudBay Minerals, the Rosemont Copper project, when in production, is expected to be one of the largest copper mines in the United States, accounting for about 10 percent of total copper production with annual production expected to be 110 Mt/a (243 million lbs/year). However, the project is currently mired in a years-long permitting process. At the 2017 SME Arizona Conference in Tucson, AZ, Kathy Arnold, director of environmental and regulatory affairs for Hudbay Minerals, spoke about the project and the efforts to get it into production.She opened her presentation with the unfortunate news that her 2017 presentation would not be that much different than the 2016, 2015 or 2014 presentations she gave to the same conference. That’s because, as of Dec. 4, 2017, the project had been in the permitting process for 3,797 days, more than 10 years. The process began when Rosemont submitted its initial mine plan in 2006 and a revised one in 2017. The official start to Rosemont Copper’s National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) started in 2008.In June 2017, the project received its Final Record of Decision from the U.S. Forest Service, moving it a step closer to production. Yet it still faces stiff opposition from opponents while it works to secure the Clean Water Act Permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and to complete its final mine plan of operations.In her presentation, Arnold said the long process taught her many lessons, including approaching things with a different mindset. More than 130 pages worth of public comments have been collected over the years. The concerns expressed range from lighting issues to pavement to preserving land for a jaguar that was spotted on the property and named El Jefe.“A lot of things that people worry about seem to be small things, but we had to have a different mindset and be open-minded to the concerns,” Arnold said. “That is the commitment we made.”"

Jan 1, 2018

By Georgene Renner, Chee Theng, William Gleason

"With more than 900 booth spaces sold and 630 exhibiting companies displaying their wares, there was something for all 7,804 attendees on the exhibit floor of the 2015 SME Annual Conference & Expo in Denver, CO Feb. 15-18. The following is a sample of what was offered at the 2015 meeting.3D Laser MappingData collection and data analysis are changing how mining is done. One field in which technological advancements have made safer and more efficient operations possible is through site and slope monitoring.3D Laser Mapping, a United Kingdom-based company, was on hand at the 2015 SME Annual Conference and Expo to display its solutions for the mining industry, including its SiteMonitor4D system.The state-of-the-art laser measurementbased system was developed in partnership with geotechnical engineers and mining surveyors, and is a simple-to-use, reliable solution that has the flexibility and performance to function in a range of monitoring applications.The system measures and monitors the stability of rock faces, landslips and man-made structures, including ongoing, periodic measurement of volumes - stockpiles, cutbacks and waste dumps and has high-speed laser scanning for regular mapping of large areas by mounting the scanner on a vehicle.With specifications that other monitoring techniques cannot achieve, laser scanning opens up a new dimension in mine measurement and monitoring.www.sitemonitorsystems.comA.R. Wilfley and Sons Inc.Founded in 1919, A.R. Wilfley and Sons Inc. has been manufacturing dynamic-seal and static-seal pumps in Colorado for nearly 100 years, delivering its high-reliability, low-maintenance, heavy-duty process pumps and slurry pumps to the global mining industry. The family-owned company is now in the hands of the fifth generation."We are the dynamic-seal experts," regional sales manager Cesar Murillo said. "Most other companies are unable to do 100 percent dynamic seals and have to use mechanical seals or packing," he said, but Wilfley’s sealing technology does away with the need for mechanical seals and packing and their associated problems. As a result, solids and slurry handling capabilities are high, the pump can be run dry, and product dilution is eliminated. The pump can tolerate more misalignment, more cavitation, and more vibration in the pump during operation."

Jan 1, 2014

By Georgene Renner, Chee Theng, William Gleason

"More than 6,300 people attended SME’s 2016 Annual Conference & Expo in Phoenix, AZ and many of them made the trip to the conference to take part in the excellent technical sessions that are presented on a yearly basis by the Society.Holding true to form, this year’s conference was full of options. In fact, this year there were 121 technical sessions and 751 presentations to chose from. The following is a sample of some of the technical sessions as seen through the eyes of the editors of Mining Engineering and SME technical papers.SME Sections Sharing Success: Changing thePublic Perception of MiningThis session was a workshop on how several local sections were effective in getting the message out to their communities and schools about the value of the extractive minerals industry. Several sections shared their outreach successes, including the Mining in Society merit badge activities by the Minnesota Section by Julie Lucas and SME’s participation in the World Scout Jamboree in Japan by Frank McAllister.Dan Alexander highlighted activities by the Pittsburgh Section, such as preparing minerals kits and pamphlets for elementary school classes and regional science fairs. The West Virginia University Student Chapter used the kits as handouts at their local gem and mineral show. School speakers in full mining gear were especially interesting to the young children.Other speakers were Michael Linn, Paradise Valley Unified School District — Business and School Partnerships; and Greg Kruse, Central Wyoming Section of SME — What makes a successful section?Engineering Competency ModelAmerican Association of Engineering Societies and the U.S. Department of Labor, with a grant from the United Engineering Foundation, developed a guide to the set of skills necessary for success in the engineering community -- Knowledge – Skills – Abilities — needed for all disciplines.Various engineering societies are now writing the Tier 5 occupation-specific requirements. The Competency Committee is charged to write concise and discipline-specific mining engineering, mineral processing engineering, geological engineering, and geophysical engineering by Sept. 30, 2017."

May 1, 2016

Jan 1, 1998

By Georgene Renner, William R. Yernberg, William Gleason

American Commercial (ACI) offers a selection of ground control solutions. Beginning with steel liner plates installed in the Gratiot Avenue sewer system in Detroit, MI 1920, ACI is one of the leading designers and manufacturers of underground steel supports in North America. ACI is also a leader in fire-proofing underground structures with its Promat Fire Protection Boards. The sandwich panels have been used in many new and retrofit tunnel and underground construction projects worldwide. Ease of installation and replacement, cost effectiveness and superior performance have made this product line the premier choice of owners and designers for structural protection, fire-life safety requirements and architectural finish needs.

Jan 1, 2007

Allis Mineral Systems' Grate- Kiln system can economically convert low-grade iron ore into high- grade iron-ore pellets suitable as feed material for blast furnaces for making steel. These pellets can also be fed to a direct reduction process for making sponge iron. The Grate- Car system combines the company's [ ] Grate-Kiln system for iron-ore pelletizing and Accar system for iron- ore reduction. The Grate-Car system consists of a traveling grate, a ported rotary kiln and a rotary cooler that are coupled in series. This system eliminates the pelletizing plant's rotary kiln and annular cooler. It reduces the need for some auxiliary equipment. This results in lower capital cost and lower energy consumption. The traveling grate provides that static bed handling necessary for heat hardening pellets before their discharge into the kiln. The ported kiln provides the reducing atmosphere with a more precise means of controlling the kiln axial temperature profile than conventional rotary kilns.

Jan 1, 1997

By Emily Wortman-Wunder

Attendees at December?s Arizona SME Section Conference at the Hilton El Conquistador Resort outside of Tucson, AZ were feeling optimistic and ready to get to work after a year of steady growth and recovery in the mining industry. During the two-day event (Dec. 5-6, 2010) and the preceding American Mining Hall of Fame banquet and awards ceremony, the focus was on copper, worldwide population growth and regulatory pressures, with several smart new projects featured alongside updates to traditional large-scale copper development projects. Keynote speaker Timothy Snider, chair of the University of Arizona?s Lowell Institute for Mineral Resources, hit the mood of cautious optimism when he analyzed the global demand for resources, using the case example of copper. Over the next 20 years, he said, the world?s population is expected to grow to 9.2 billion and the average annual per capita copper use is expected to rise from 2.2 to 4.5 kg (5 to 10 lb). The increase in demand will provide tremendous opportunity for mining companies, he said, but cautioned that the opportunities are balanced by negative influences on demand and pressures on supply. While demand for copper is currently growing, Snider noted that there were significant downward pressures on demand as well. These included a western world that is overbuilt, in-creasing use of substitute materials in new construction and the rise of wireless devices. He also noted new regulatory pressures, and pointed out that resource development now had to occur within a context of sustainability on several levels.

Jan 1, 2011

By Steve Kral

In 2002, many in the mining industry — companies, academia and government — realized that the industry would soon be facing a serious shortfall in salaried and hourly employees. Depending on whose numbers are to be believed, 20 percent to 50 percent of current mining professionals are expected to retire within five to 10 years. And there are not enough students currently enrolled in mineral-related programs to the fill the need. Part of the impending shortage in professionals was brought on by the industry’s negative image, which discouraged students from enrolling in mining engineering programs. Another part was that the industry was in the doldrums and was seen by the public as a dying industry.

Jan 1, 2006

Two years ago, about the only US mining ventures that could turn even marginal profits were precious metals. In 1986, the price of gold dramatically increased, as did earnings from precious metals, mostly gold mines. First quarter results for 1987 show that gold will again be the most profitable type of mining in the US. All this money being made in gold resulted in many new mines being opened and hundreds of old workings being re-evaluated. The Society of Mining Engineers has put together a technical program to aid in developing precious metals mines. Small Mines Development in Precious Metals will take place Aug. 30-Sept. 2, 1987 at Bally's Hotel, Reno, NV. For registration and hotel information see page 426 or contact Meetings Department, SME, P.O. Box 625002, Littleton, CO 80162-5002, 303-973-9550. Topics at this meeting will include Problems Facing Small Miners; Understanding Geology and Ore Reserves; Mining-Production Options to Maintain Competitiveness; Processing for Precious Metals; Financing and Economics that Work for Small Miners; and Understanding the Environmental and Permit Maze. Problems facing the small miner The small miner has found and started most of the productive mines in the world, says Alfred G. Hoyl, of Coal Fuels Corp., Rollinsville, CO. Hoyl will state his case for small mines development in the opening session of the program. He will make the point that government regulations must never restrict the small mine or miner. And the mining industry must be careful not to crowd out the independent miner. "To restrict small mining is to say to our young men and women entering the mineral industry `There is no place for you as an independent.' Small is a relative term and we must never feel that starting small will restrict our possibilities of becoming big." In the same session, David J. Starbuck, Starbuck Minerals Management, Mayer, AZ will take a look at why smaller precious metals mines are profitable. Mining companies have changed their perspective on reworking previously mined properties. They are looking at abandoned properties in older mining districts. The attitude is that smaller operations in these districts can be profitable with the present economic climate, more advanced technology, and better management. Small, independent mining companies may not have the same resources to draw from as the majors. But there are affordable technologies available that fit into the independents' budget. Betty Gibbs, of Gibbs Associates, Boulder, Co will explain how a personal computer can help a small operation to analyze data more effectively and respond quickly to changing conditions. Scenarios will be developed that will describe how PCs can be incorporated into all phases of an operation. Financial institutions are becoming more willing to consider venture capital for small precious metals mines, according to Stanley Dempsey, Denver Mining Finance Co., Denver, CO. This may be in the form of equity or debt, he says, but they want to receive assurances of the quality of the resource. And they will ask about the ore reserves. Next, the potential lender will want to know about the mining method and en¬vironmental regulations. Dempsey will discuss these requirements. Once a high grade gold mineralization is located and reserves proven, it must be evaluated to determine which recovery process is best suited for this deposit. Robert Martinez, Amselco Minerals, Ely, NV will evaluate processes for such a deposit located in Mexico. Heap leaching, vat leaching, and a carbon-in-pulp circuit are all viable options, he says. He will explain which recovery process proved to be the most economic. Other papers in the introductory session include How to Best Use Consulting Firms to Accelerate the Development Process, by H. Schreiber and R.P. Fronk, both of Behre Dolbear-Riverside, New York, NY. And W. Mayrsohn of Asamera Minerals, Denver, CO will present Marketing Fundamentals that Work for Small Mines. Understanding geology and ore reserves In the current scheme of fast-track exploration and mine development, insufficient time and thought is given to understanding the geology of a deposit as it relates to controls of mineralization and subsequent mine development, say D.S. Bolin and J.W. Rozelle, of Pincock, Allen & Holt,

Jan 6, 1987

By Jean-Michel Rendu

On April 30, 2003, representatives of the Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration, Inc.(SME) met with the staff of the Division of Corporation Finance of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The meeting was held to discuss issues related to the estimation and publication of mineral resources and ore reserves. It took place in the Washington, D.C. offices of the SEC. SEC staff members included Roger Schwall, assistant director, Division of Corporation Finance; Jill Davis, senior accountant; Roger Baer, senior mining engineer; Carl Chavez, chief mining engineer; Ron Winfrey, senior petroleum engineer; and John Murphy, senior petroleum engineer. SME committee members included JM Rendu, independent consultant and chairman of the SME Committee on Resources and Reserves; Ian Douglas, manager of deposit modeling and reserve estimation with Newmont Mining; Art Graham, director and mining engineer with Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas; Larry Smith, chief geologist with AMEC Mining and Metals Consulting; and George MacDonald, vice president of exploration with Freeport-McMoRan Copper and Gold.

Jan 1, 2003

By Trevor R. Ellis

In August 2011, the Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (SAIMM) contacted mining institutes and related societies internationally to assess their interest in participating in coordination of the review of the South African Code for Mineral Valuation (SAMVAL) with reviews of other mineral valuation standards. The main mineral valuation standards are the CIMVal Standard of The Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM), the VALMIN Code of The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (AusIMM), the SAMVAL Code, and the extractive industries? guidance note of the International Valuation Standards Council (IVSC), Valuation of Properties in the Extractive Industries, GN 14, designed for application within the full set of International Valuation Standards (IVSs). By January 2012, SAIMM had concluded that the level of respondent interest was adequate to organize a meeting. A meeting was scheduled for April 18, 2012 in Brisbane, Australia in conjunction with a VALMIN mineral valuation conference organized by the AusIMM. The stated purpose of the meeting was to develop an accord on terms of reference for pursuing harmonization of mineral asset valuation standards adopted by the participating mineral institutes. SME decided that, although it has not developed its own mineral valuation standard, it should participate in the Brisbane meeting and the harmonization process, as also did the American Institute of Minerals Appraisers (AIMA).

Jan 1, 2012

The minerals industry consumes billions of dollars in raw materials, equipment, tools, services and chemicals. The industry, though, has turned overmuch of the research and development (R&D) for these products to manufacturers and suppliers. Now the industry and its suppliers must decide how much R&D the mining industry should be responsible for and what role the suppliers should play. Promoting R&D As a result of the current environment in the mining and minerals industry, there has been a substantial decrease in R&D. Depressed prices, stagnant growth, cost cutting and rationalization are evident.

Jan 1, 2000

By Barbara B. Newlin, Emily Rosenberg, Marianne Snedeker

Whose longwalls perform best in Eastern underground mines? What is the latest legislation affecting slurry pipelines? What are the trace element constraints on magma genesis? How can process set points be controlled more economically without affecting product quality? Where can I get a paper presented at the Australian Coal Preparation Conference? If answers to questions like these can help with your management decisions, exploration plans, or market positioning, your firm should know about Information on Demand. Information on Demand, Inc. (IOD) is a research service available to SME members to help them get the facts needed to develop business plans. IOD can function as a research staff and data bank specialist for geologists, planning specialists, production managers, and engineers in all levels of the mining industry. Just dial 415-549-3259 and ask IOD for a copy of an obscure article, a comprehensive literature search, or a background report on a company, a process, or a product. Within a short time, IOD will have the information you need delivered to your office or worksite. Information on Demand has a bank of dial-up terminals that provide access to more than 200 business and technical data bases, including Lockheed's Dialog, CompuServe, InfoLine, The New York Times Information Bank, and other systems. These data banks contain more than 95% of the world's technical literature published in the last 10 years. There is no input required from individuals or companies. The data bases are maintained by publishers and are constantly updated with abstracts of articles, reports and reviews, and other text appearing in more than 5,000 engineering publications, as well as thousands of other trade and technical publications. The data bases are organized by subject and offer a speedy comprehensive survey of world literature. One data base, called Compendex, provides worldwide coverage of engineering publications, meetings, and reports. The Metadex data base abstracts literature on the science and practice of metallurgy, and can be accessed by commercial, compositional, and numerical alloy designations. PatSearch and Claims data bases enable IOD to determine what patents have been filed by a given entity, what international patents are equivalent to a US patent, and other vital patent information. In the non-technical arena, the Commerce Business Daily has daily updates of federal procurement information. The Federal Register is abstracted on-line in a data base, and ABI/Inform is a data base full of marketing and management information for all industries. IOD offers a free pamphlet listing these and other data bases. A typical literature search from IOD will produce 60-200 references with abstracts, and can be printed out off-line and mailed or transmitted directly to an electronic mailbox. Abstracts will often give all the information needed by the reader. At times, when the complete article or technical report is needed for further study, IOD will send a photocopy of the full text for a small additional fee. Patents, books, securities exchange filings, standards, and specifications can also be supplied by means of IOD's network in major libraries, such as Harvard, MIT, and The Library of Congress. A technical translation service is available for foreign

Jan 12, 1983

By Raymond O. Dannenberg

Potential processes for the recovery of precious metals and copper from diverse types of complex electronic scrap were investigated. Leaching-type processes were not successful, and attempts to physically separate the various gangue metals and plastics from more valuable components were also unsuccessful. The most promising approach was a smelting process, followed by electrolytic treatment to separate precious metal from copper. Recovery of precious metals from the anode sludge may follow conventional procedures. An alternative to the above process is incorporation of the scrap with the concentrate fed to an industrial copper reverberatory or converter furnace, possibly preceded by direct melting to form an assayable bullion and dross.

Jan 1, 1970

The Janet Annenberg Hooker Hall of Geology, Gems and Minerals, located in the National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, in Washington DC, opened in September, nine years after initial fundraising efforts were begun. The 1,858-m2 (20,000-sq ft), $16-million hall was mostly funded by private groups and individuals, including $1.7 million from 43 National Mining Associa¬tion (NMA) member companies. Companies that contributed more than $100,000 included Cyprus Amax, Phelps Dodge, Asarco, Homestake Mining, BHP, Caterpillar, Cleveland Cliffs, Exxon Coal and Minerals, Freeport-McMoRan, Newmont Mining and Peabody Holdings. The mining industry's contributions funded a walk-through Mine Gallery. It. features diora¬mas of four mines, as well as numerous specimens associated with the mines. The Mine Gal¬lery demonstrates to the public the importance of mining. The hall was named in honor of Hooker. She contributed $5 million in cash plus the Hooker Yellow Starburst Diamonds to the project. The hall is touted by the Smithsonian as the "most comprehensive earth science complex of its kind." It consists of seven galleries, each devoted to different aspects of gems, minerals and rocks. In addition to the Mine Gal¬lery, the hall contains a collection of gemstones and jewelry pieces, an extensive collection of minerals, a gallery devoted to plate tectonics and a gallery devoted to the moon, meteorites and the solar system. The new hall is a complete makeover of the old and outdated Geology Hall. It was built in the 1960s and finally closed to the public in 1995.

Jan 1, 1997

By A. E. Ketler

Optical smoke monitoring fills an important gap in ventilation and fire safety: namely monitoring of smoky, low temperature fires where little CO and heat are generated. Smoke monitoring also avoids the nuisance alarms due to diesel exhaust, battery chargers, blasting and welding. The smoke optical density (OD) fire alarm standard specified by MSHA presents an opportunity for improved safety. Experience of actual mine usage of the SmokeBoss*100 is reviewed, with particular regard to effectivity, maintenance and cost.

Jan 1, 1995