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By P Geddes, K Grohs, C K. McKenzie, M Morrish

Low grade surface gold mining at the Acacia Resources, Union Reefs Gold Mine in Australia's Northern Territory, involves the excavation of benches in three slices after blasting. Blast patterns span zones of high and low grade ore, as well as zones of waste, and selective excavation is required in order to maintain economical head grades for the carbon-in-leach processing plant.

Jan 1, 1998

By K. E. Waters, M. Mirnezami, R. Gauvin, A. Jordens, K. W. Malas

"There is currently very little information on the physico-chemical properties of rare earth elementbearing minerals, or on their processing. With the increasing demand for rare earths, this is something that needs to be addressed. This paper introduces some surface chemistry analysis of fergusonite (YNbO4), and the bubble-particle attachment. Zeta potential measurements indicate adsorption of sodium oleate and, to a lesser degree, potassium amyl xanthate onto the surface, and an increase in attachment to an air bubble is observed at pH 4.5 and 6.5. At a pH of 10.5, no attachment is observed, whether in the presence of the reagents or not. This analysis, although initial, will be used to initiate flotation tests, in order to facilitate the selective recovery of fergusonite. INTRODUCTIONRare earth elements (REE) are increasingly in demand, due to their prevalence in both renewable energy devices and high-end electronics. An article in the New Scientist highlighted the importance of a number of REE, many of which most people are be unlikely to have heard mentioned (Crow, 2011). From batteries (lanthanum and cerium) to magnets (dysprosium and neodymium) and lighting (yttrium), the REE are crucial to the advancement of technology and energy saving devices. For example, neodymium is finding most use in the high end magnets that keep the motors turning that power wind turbines and electric cars. In the case of yttrium, the demand outstripped the supply in 2010, emphasising the need to develop deposits containing this and other REE (Crow, 2011). The impact of our dependency on REE has become even more apparent with the reduction in exports by China, which currently controls 97 % of the world’s rare earth production (Pitts, 2011).With the increasing demand for rare earth elements (REE), there is a drive to exploit the known resources around the world. However, the physical beneficiation of the rare earth element bearing minerals is a subject which will require a great deal of investigation to fill the knowledge gaps surrounding these developing rare earth projects. There are numerous articles on REE mineralogy as well as the hydrometallurgical processing of REE concentrates (Alex, Suri, & Gupta, 1998; Peter Gromet & Silver, 1983; Ring et al., 1993; Schnetzler & Philpotts, 1970; Uda, 2000), however a common feature amongst these resources is the lack of detailed descriptions of the physical beneficiation processes required to concentrate REE-bearing minerals. There is work being conducted into reagents and methods for use in recovering some rare earths from their associated ores (Bulatovic, 2010; Ni, Parrent, Cao, & Liu, 2011), but much more in-depth research is required."

Jan 1, 2012

By Camier R. J, Perry G. J

Extensive deposits of brown coal exist in the Gippsland Basin, primarily in the Latrobe Valley. The total quantities of economically winnable coal in this region of Victoria and in other smaller fields are large enough to adequately assure Victoria's future electricity needs and to also provide large quantities for alternative applications, including liquefaction. As a result of the recent conflict in the Middle East attention has again been focussed on the production of synthetic fuels from coal. There have been many investigations over the years into the production of oil from Victorian brown coal. The purpose of this paper is to summarise the scope, objectives and major findings of these studies, with the emphasis on the direct hydrogenation route for converting brown coal to oil. The principal alternative processes are carboniastion and hydrotreatment of the product tar, or gasification and Fischer Tropsch synthesis of liquids from the product gas. The attractions of Victorian brown coal which have encouraged these studies include: ò the vast reserves of Victorian brown coal and the favourable conditions for low cost mining, ò the high quality of the coal (low ash, sulphur and nitrogen contents), ò the high reactivity of the coal giving high yields of product in hydrogenation to liquid fuels, ò the extensive data base available on the resource and its characteristics, and ò the availability of a skilled workforce and extensive infrastructure in the Latrobe Region to support a major resource development project. These advantages have been partially offset by: ò the high moisture content of the brown coal and the cost of drying, and ò the priority previously given to electricity generation in the allocation of the brown coal resource.

Jan 1, 1992

By Erle C. Donaldson

The pendant drop interfacial tensiometer is being used to study interfacial phenomena that influence the production of crude oil. A description of the instrument showing the modification of the cell and cell holder is presented. The modified cell and cell holder allow formation of a precise and reproducible drop size, and the image of the drop is easily alined and focused. Interfacial tension measurements and observations of film formation can be conducted at various temperatures with the jacketed cell.

Jan 1, 1967

By Anthony J. Konya

"This paper was written during part of the author’s student co-op with Cargill Salt at its Avery Islandunderground salt mine in Louisiana. Blasting salt is a unique type of blasting that is different than blasting other rock types. The plastic nature of salt, along with its large swell factor make salt a challenge to blast. The Cargill salt mines use and have tested a variety of different methods for breaking salt in an efficient manner, however these blasting methods are rarely used in other operations nor talked about today."

Jan 1, 2016

By M. J. Collins, B. Parekh, A. Hasenbank, B. Hewitt

Newcrest Mining Limited, originally as Lihir Gold, has operated a pressure oxidation plant for the recovery of gold from refractory ore since 1997. The mine and gold plant are located on Lihir Island in Papua New Guinea. Design of the original pressure oxidation circuit was based on the results of pilot plant tests conducted by Sherritt in Fort Saskatchewan. Following a decision to expand the plant in 2008, Lihir Gold contracted Sherritt to design a new autoclave. The design exercise utilized the original pilot plant test results, commercial process results at Lihir, and an understanding of advances in autoclave technology since the original plant was built. The new Lihir autoclave will be the largest horizontal, multiple-compartment autoclave in the world. The design process for the pressure oxidation expansion is described in this paper.

Jan 1, 2011

By F. P. Nichols, F. A. Renninger

At one time, mineral aggregates were considered physically and chemically inert substances whose junction was that of an inex-pensive, easily obtainable source of bulk. This philosophy applied regardless of the use to which the aggregate was put. Research approaches dealing only with such gross physical properties as hardness, toughness, impact resistance, etc., dominated the early growth years of the industry and influenced specifications to a large extent. The accelerated pace of highway construction, which began toward the end of the depression years, focused attention on the need for extensive aggregate research. The realization in the early 1940's that aggregates interacted chemically as well as physically with their environment provided the stimulus necessary to translate the drab, systematic aggregate technology of the early 20th century into the changing, dynamic, challenging field it is today. Current research problems are discussed in detail. These efforts being pursued by contract research organizations, universities, governmental agencies, and industry transcend many fields. The mineral aggregate industry is the world's largest mining and processing endeavor, yet it is graced with little of the romance or public awareness that accompanies mention of gold, silver, iron, copper, uranium, or aluminum mining efforts. Much of this reaction is undoubtedly due to the fact that the uses to which crushed stone and sand and gravel are normally put are not fully recognized or appreciated by the general public. Almost 2 billion tons of mineral aggregates are quarried or mined, processed, and sold yearly in the United States alone.= The largest uses to which this vast tonnage is subjected are as ingredients of portland-cement concrete, bituminous concrete, and dense-graded aggregate-base course mixtures in the highway and building construction fields, two industries closely related to the expenditure of public funds. It is for these uses, partially in justification for the expenditures of vast sums of public funds, that mineral aggregate research truly finds its emphasis. The research efforts expended relative to the highway and building construction uses to which mineral aggregates are subjected are those of primary concern to the industry. These efforts, while of direct consequence to the industry due to the volume market represented, are of interest as well to public agencies, universities, and contract research firms. All actively conduct research, exchange information, and make contributions to the overall knowledge relative to aggregate usage and limitations. The research efforts of the mineral aggregate industry is the subject to be discussed throughout this paper. It covers all aspects of highway and building design, construction, and technology. The effects of research pertaining to quarrying and mining methods, blasting and processing techniques, storage and handling facilities, and equipment employment and development have left their mark on the crushed stone and sand and gravel industries. Such specialized efforts have resulted in dramatically increased production rates which in turn have served to keep costs, and hence prices, down. Despite the many inflationary pressures over the years, the cost of a ton of aggregate today is little more than it was 25 or 30 years ago. Mention is made of these efforts simply to emphasize the diversity of research in the mineral aggregate field. The remainder of this paper focuses on the complexity of what might be termed "product knowledge" research.

Jan 1, 1971

By F. Cadena, Fred C. Bond, Walter L. Maxon

Grinding is one of the major problems in present-day milling practice, and in many cases, it represents one of the main items of expense. It becomes necessary from time to time, to compare grinding practice in one plant with that in another plant, and in making such comparisons, it would be very desirable were there available accepted standards of grinding resistance for the materials involved. Such a set of grinding constants would also be of considerable value in planning new grinding installations. There have been some tests published, notably those of Lennox,' which have been generally cited as a basis for such comparisons. Most of the tests made have been based upon open-circuit grinding, in which a weighed sample of the ore was crushed to pass a certain mesh, and was then ground under certain conditions, either wet or dry. Grinding was continued until a certain desired fineness was attained, and the comparisons based on the grinding time, or the samples were all ground for a certain specified length of time and comparison based upon the screen analysis of the products. Such methods have been acceptable where the ore was to be ground in open circuit. However, in modern milling practice, many grinding problems involve closed circuits wherein the oversize returns to the mill and a large circulating load builds up. A method of testing that does not take the circulating load into consideration might yield results quite different from those to be expected in practice, because the minerals in the ore that offer maximum resistance to grinding will accumulate in the circulating load up to an equilibrium value. Thus the nature of the ore charge in the mill at any instant may differ greatly from that of the new feed, with a consequent error in the rate of grinding determined by such a method. For example, let it be assumed that an ore to be tested consists of equal parts of difficult grinding mineral and easy grinding mineral. This is to be compared with an ore used as a standard, and consisting of minerals which are all of about the same grindability. If a comparison

Jan 1, 1935

By V A. Tsukerman

Prospects a new energy saving method for an efficient destruction of the sturdy and hard materials (rocks, ores, frozen soils, concrete blocks, etc) û the Electric Pulse Discharge (EPD) method of materials destruction for green processing in mining and processing of mineral raw materials are considered.The EPD-technologies give additional possibilities for solving ecological problems at the expense of increase of integrated approach of utilisation of minerals and industrial wastes. The scientific and technical level of executed development of EPD method is sufficient for organisation of design work to develop substantially new equipment. A number of plants have been developed and tested, including plants for processing raw material with minerals of jewels, plants for selection of mica from rocks, and plants for processing the merging of artificial mica.

Jan 1, 2002

By V. V. Morozov, Ganbaatar Zorigt, Delgerbat Lodoy, Y. P. Morozov

"At the processing plant Erdenet, a new facility for advanced ore diagnostics in-stream (at the conveyor), based on optical analyser of mineral composition, was tested. Such systems provide highly accurate in-stream measurements of ore properties. The system provided information on the ore mineralogical composition, the particle size distribution and the impregnation of minerals. A special flatbed facility for optical spectrum-based estimation of fine-crushed ore has been developed, being incorporated into the existing system of ore sampling and analysis. Application of the flatbed facility renders possible a high accuracy of determining ore mineralogical composition. High precision of the optical spectrum-based estimation is achieved using special devices, installed in the sampling and the sample analysis flow sheet, applied by the technical control department. Modern systems for optical spectrum-based estimation of ore grade provide a basis for effective automated control of ore benefication processes, based on the principle of advanced ore grade control. Process management task of grinding and flotation was to choose options that take into account the composition and grade of the ore coming. The calculation data array comprises consumption of reagents, ore processing, grind size etc. The systems implemented at the processing plant contributed to increasing copper and molybdenum recovery. INTRODUCTION In-stream ore grade analysis is a new trend in effective control of ore benefication processes. This is realised based on radiometric measurements in the X-ray and visible spectrum regions, in which mineral components of the initial ore (Sbárbaro and Villar, 2010) or the benefication products become apparent (Hyotyniemi and Ylinen, 1998; Haavisto and Hyötyniemi, 2010). An important advantage of such methods is in-stream measuring ore parameters, including mass fractions of individual minerals, which makes it possible to use the information obtained in the processes of automated control."

Jan 1, 2018

By J. A. L. Napier

By use of a functional model of capital expenditure developed earlier, a prototype cash-flow model is formulated as a basis for the investigation of the economic consequences when the production rate of a mine is manipulated as fundamental design variable. The optimum production capacities that maximize the common economic criteria of net present value, present-value ratio, and wealth growth rate are determined. It is shown that these choices depend certain key groupings of the economic parameters, and that they have a fixed interrelationship. The basic cash-flow model is extended further to include the effects of a constrained rate of production buildup and the imposition of State taxation on generated income. An approximation to the initial tax-free period of a new mining venture is developed, and, by use of these results, the optimum choice of production level is analysed when both the buildup rate is constrained and tax is imposed. This extended model permits a comparison between the performance of existing mines and the predicted theoretical production levels for these mines.

Jan 1, 1981

By Anthony G. Fonseca

About 45% to 50% of the coal mined in the United States passes through coal preparation plants. East of the Mississippi River, this number increases to about 75% to 80%. Although the cost for coal preparation is worthwhile to some, the coal industry faces the challenges of continuing downward pressure on the price of coal and the impact of new environmental regulations. Coal preparation is an effective process that achieves 75% to 80% ash reduction, 15% to 80% trace element reduction and 85% to 90% Btu recovery. It is less effective for pyrite reduction (35% to 70%) and on-line operating time (40% to 60%). It also suffers from obsolete control systems. In coal preparation, raw coal is modified to a more preferred form to enable its use. The methods used to achieve this modification must be cost-effective and appropriate to the raw coal, the scale of production and the end-user requirements.

Jan 1, 1995

By F. S. Peabody

ANYTHING that may be said about "too much coal" must seem rather incongruous just at this time when two-thirds of the mines in the United States have been idle for nearly four months and a temporary coal shortage looms as more and more of a possibility. It is the purpose of this article, however, to deal primarily with the fundamental ills of the bituminous-coal industry, which, when summed up, can be expressed in one word-overdevelopment. During recent years the bituminous-coal industry in the United States has been seldom, almost never, in a state of normal business health with production run-ning evenly, prices steady and the market absorbing the output from week to week. There has been either a condition of feverish activity or apathetic sluggish-ness. We have had, for example, the intense strain on production during the war years with heatless days and lightless nights, followed by the slump late in 1918 which lasted through the greater part of 1919 when coal was a drug on the market. Then came the panicky demand of 1920. Competitive buying forced prices up to the highest levels in history. This demand in turn fell off suddenly in November, 1920, and the market remained apparently paralyzed all through 1921. During the latter year, lack of buying forced intermit-tent suspension of mining in all fields and prices averaged less than actual cost of production.

Jan 8, 1922

By Edward F. Courtney

Loss of life, loss of sight, crippling injuries, and property damage nearly always result from accidents involving explosives. The severity of such accidents has prompted lawmaking bodies to pass laws concerning the transportation, handling, and use of explosives; manufacturers of explosives publish manuals 'describing explosives and practical methods of handling then; and mining companies and others who use large quantities of explosives publish rules based on actual experience for the guidance of their employees. Careless storage of explosives by thoughtless or incompetent persons, particularly if they are left where children or saboteurs have access 'to them, has led to many serious accidents. Many contractors and mining operators who use explosives are extremely careless about storing them. It is the purpose of this paper to discuss the explosive-handling practices of a large western mining company, which are considered better than most.

Jan 1, 1946

By Juergen Antrekowitsch, Stefan Steinlechner

"Waelz oxide from steel mill dust recycling is usually sold to the primary zinc industry, where it is first charged to the roasters to eliminate the remaining fluorides and chlorides. This limits the overall amount of secondary materials which can be used because of different operating problems in the roasters. Another option, in the case where the halides are low, would be direct leaching with low or medium concentrated sulphuric acid. Unfortunately, because of the carryover of some steel mill dust, iron is also present in the Waelz oxide, reaching contents up to 5 wt.%. Since the objective is to treat the solution more or less directly by electrowinning, with only a few simple preliminary purification steps, iron in the solution is a very important factor. Various trials have been done to investigate the dissolution behavior of the iron contained in the Waelz oxide. Although the zinc extraction should reach a maximum, all other elements, especially iron, should be low. This paper describes the results of our research in this area and offers possible options for Waelz oxide utilization. There is also a focus on how other elements, present in the material, influence the dissolution behaviour of zinc and iron, and whether a loss of zinc is unavoidable, if low iron dissolution is required.INTRODUCTION One of the most important secondary zinc resources is the zinc oxide originating from steel mill dust recycling. For the treatment of high zinc containing steel mill dusts, the Waelz kiln process is the so called “best available technology” and it dominates the industry, with roughly a 90% market share. The product Waelz oxide contains mostly zinc oxide, but it also contains lead compounds and halides due to evaporation with the zinc. In addition, it contains iron and some slag compounds due to mechanical carry-over. The presence of halides limits the use of the material as an alternative concentrate for primary zinc electrowinning. Such halides can be reduced to a certain extent by washing and/or solvent extraction (see following chapter). Although lead is not troublesome and theoretically represents a second recoverable valuable metal, iron is unwanted and causes additional problems during leaching. Even though Waelz oxide is generally a highly welcome input material in primary zinc metallurgy, due to its high zinc content, it still contains halides, and in the majority of cases, the oxide must first be treated in a roasting process. Different circumstances, like accretion formation because of the lead and halogen compounds as well as unwanted cooling effects in the roaster, limit the amount of Waelz oxide which can be substituted for the primary concentrate. Another, even more limiting factor, is the allowable concentrations of chlorides and fluorides in zinc electrowinning, the last step in the primary zinc processing route (Ruetten, 2011)."

Jan 1, 2016

By C. J. Hodgson

"IntroductionThe Kitsault molybdenum mine is located 600 m above sea level on Lime Creek at the head of the inlet of Alice Arm, 140 km northeast of Prince Rupert, British Columbia (Fig. 1). The area of the mine is characterized by rugged topography and deeply incised creeks which drain into the Portland Canal - Observatory Inlet fjord system. Access is by air service or boat from Prince Rupert, or by secondary road from Terrace.HistoryThe deposit was first staked in 1911, at which time the main feature of interest was a polymetallic vein with values in silver located southeast of the molybdenum deposit (Woodcock and Carter, 1976). Turnbull (1916) was the first to describe the extensive zone of crisscross quartz stringers with Mo~ on the banks of Lime Creek which, although it clearly had the potential to contain a major deposit, was not then believed to be of commercial value.Following sporadic work through the 1920s and early 1930s, the ground lay idle unti11959 when Kennco Explorations (Western) Ltd. commenced a program of systematic diamond drilling on the stockwork-type mineralization adjacent to Lime Creek. In late 1964, Kennco announced the presence of an orebody of 36 million tonnes averaging 0.230Jo Mo~ which was to be put into production at a rate of 5450 tonnes per day under a new subsidiary, British Columbia Molybdenum Ltd., at a forecasted capital cost of $20 million (revised to $30 million).Between January 1968 and April 1972, 10.4 million kg of molybdenum were produced from 9.3 million tonnes of ore, at an average mill recovery of 90%, and with an average mill head grade of 0.206% Mo~. The ore was mined in an open pit with a waste to ore stip ratio of 1.5 to 1. The. operation was terminated in 1972 due to weak molybdenum prices and escalating costs.In May 1973, the deposit was purchased by Climax Molybdenum Corporation of British Columbia, Limited and in 1979 transferred to affiliate Amax of Canada Limited. In early 1979, following completion of detailed feasibility studies, Arnax commenced construction of the 10 900 tonne per day Kitsault mine and mill complex based on a mineable open pit reserve of 95 million tonnes at an average grade of 0.192% Mo~, sufficient for a mine life of 25 years. The original capital cost estimate was $143 million; it subsequently escalated to approximately $200 million."

Jan 1, 1995

By Wm. J. Wright

RECORDS of crude oil in India date back for nearly 100 years, and modest attempts were made to develop the oilfields of Assam about 75 years ago. We have no record of production until 1892 when the fields near Digboi, Assam, yielded about 700 bbl. Since that time, the production of the Digboi fields has increased slowly, but steadily, and new fields have been opened at Badarpur, in Assam, and Khaur, in the Punjab, until the production in India in 1918 was about 293,700 bbl. and the possible production at the present time is approximately 300,000 bbl. per year. In the meantime, the English oil companies in India have been slowly adding to their holdings until they have taken up practically all of the promising territory that is readily accessible, and only about one-tenth of their properties has been touched by the drill. All the producing oilfields of India, and as far as we know all the prospective fields, are confined to areas underlain by rocks of Tertiary age. These rocks consist of more than 20,000 ft. of dark sandstones and shales, with the Nummulitic (Eocene) limestone at the base. In parts of Assam, the lower measures contain economic deposits of bituminous coal. In the Punjab, the upper part contains thick beds of conglomerate. Visible organic remains are rare; except in the limestone and the coal measures. In general, the hardness of the measures increases from top to bottom, but there is an alternation of relatively hard and soft beds throughout the whole series. The rocks are everywhere folded and, in some instances, severely faulted. The crests of eroded anticlines usually stand up as ranges of hills in which the individual ridges are underlain by the relatively' hard beds. Thus structural features are suggested and often clearly defined on the topographic maps.

Jan 3, 1924

Adsorption Isotherm Measurement of Sodium Oleate on Haematite Using Differential Thermal Analysis

Sep 13, 2010

By J. Hartikainen

Kemi cardboard mill is founded on the alluvial bed of Kemi river at the north-eastern cost of Botnic Culf in Northern Finland. The alluvium consists of sandy and silty layers underlain by thick medium dense silty moraine layer. The first cardboard machine, having a belt width of 7,4 m, was constructed in 1972 on 7,5 to 9,5 m long wedge-shaped precast driven piles. Because of the excessive differential settlements and sometimes unexpected dynamic malfunctioning of the machine it was decided to strengthen the foundation before installing the partly new machine and increasing the running speed from 500 to 750 m/min. Piling was done under extremly strick limitations concerning space, vibrations, settlements, dust etc. Extra vertical support was made by using 23...25 long x-form steel piles driven by compressed air pile hammer down to rock. The piles were held together with old piles by a conctrete frame with diagonals, which made the total system - machine - foundation frame, piles and ground - ridgid enough to avoid resonance during dynamic loading.

Jan 1, 2010

By John C. Machisak

DATA ON INJURY experience at quarries and related plants of the United States are presented in this publication under the following general sections: A) General injury experience: Tables 1-4: Contain current data on number of injuries, injury-frequency rates, work location, accident agency, degree of injury, and related employment data. (B) Injury experience at different kinds of quarries: Tables 5-6: Current data on number of injuries, injury-frequency rates, work location, accident agency, degree of injury, and related employment data. (C) Injury experience by States: Tables 7-19: Current data on the number of injuries, injury-frequency rates, accident agency, degree of injury, and related employment data. (D) Selected injury data: Tables 20-30: Current data on various selected factors of operating conditions at different kinds of quarries, including employment size-groups, length of shifts, comparative severity of injuries, and injury data and related employment experience at dimension-stone and crushed and broken stone quarries, and underground quarries. (E) Mining methods and historical injury experience: Tables 31-32; Employment data and injury experience in the quarrying industries of the United States, by mining method and work location, 1953-58; and historical injury experience and employment data in the quarrying industry, 1911-58.

Jan 1, 1962