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By Jamal Rostami, Mark Board, Clayr Alexander, Muthu Vinayak Thyagarajan

In the past several decades, many major equipment manufacturers have ventured into developing new technology for underground hard rock excavation. This includes variety of configurations for full and partial face mobile excavation units. Mining industry prefers machines that can excavate noncircular, flat invert profiles and be able to make tight turns in hard rock. The need to use disc cutters for cutting hard rock has impeded the development of such machines due to the need for gripper system or large mass of a machine to support the force requirements of the disc cutters. Most of the prior attempts have been partially successful and the operations have faced some practical limits and challenges. Among the units that have been successfully used, one can name mobile miner, which was used for rock excavation in some projects. A redesigned mobile miner, called the “Remote Vein Miner,” or RVM, has been developed by Epiroc for underground hard rock mining in Hecla’s Lucky Friday Mine. This equipment potentially opens numerous opportunities for innovation in civil tunneling projects, where the operational flexibility and accessibility of a TBM’s limited tunnel path, design of the profile, and cost are limiting factors. This paper explores the application of the RVM in tunneling projects, its advantages and possible areas of innovation in tunnel planning and design.

Jun 13, 2021

By C. Patrick

Longwall face-to-face equipment transfers or moves are, for many companies, the largest single source of non-productive time in a longwall mining system. Detailed planning and resourceful thinking are paramount for economical, safe, and timely longwall moves. New equipment and innovative techniques are frequently tested in order to reduce overall move time. Determining the cost effectiveness of these ideas is difficult since the decision is influenced by many subjective factors. A project scheduling simulation model of the longwall move process was developed in order to analyze and assess the economic viability of innovative transfer methods and equipment. The model provides a project duration frequency distribution and lists of critically indexed activities and paths. It compares the monetary savings from reduced transfer time and capital costs for several innovative ideas.

Jan 1, 1994

By J. S. Lewis

Beneficiation and physical and chemical processing of non-terrestrial materials borrow strongly from terrestrial experience, but also involve the necessity of handling literally un-Earthly feedstocks, reagents, and environmental conditions. The present state of scientific and engineering understanding of the processing of non-terrestrial minerals, gases and hydrocarbons is reviewed with the production of rocket propellants, life-support fluids, structural metals, and refractories as the goal.

Jan 1, 1992

By A. Wang

This paper defines the elements of a basic economic model for decision-making when considering a methane drainage system for an underground coal mine. A drainage system will require significant capital and operating expenses; hence the decision to utilize drainage must be made carefully. The model outlines the basic structure of decision-making and considers the costs and benefits when the methane is marketed and when the methane is vented to the atmosphere. The effects on mine safety and the dust levels in the mine are also considered, both in a general format and as economic variables. Sources of information for executing this decision-making are provided for an actual mine decision.

Jan 1, 1997

By Andrew Thomson, Peter Wright

"A section of a London Underground expanded segmental lined tunnel constructed in the 1970’s progressively deteriorated after 2001, with extensive radial joint spalling and mid-segment cracking. As part of the PPP contract Tube Lines Ltd and their partners carried out various analyses of the tunnel, including analysis of laser scans of the tunnel, geotechnical testing through the tunnel walls, geotechnical desk studies, real-time monitoring and even full-scale segment testing. This paper discusses the behaviour of the tunnel lining in this setting, the causes of failure and the lessons that can be learnt from this rare example of a tunnel which was progressively failing in service. It is finally noted that a replacement tunnel lining was installed during night-time possessions and completed in 2015. INTRODUCTION In 2003, Tube Lines Ltd. was established under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) scheme to provide maintenance services and upgrade projects for London Underground (LU). The Deep Tube Tunnel Knowledge and Inspection Programme comprised the assessment of all tunnels, shafts and other underground structures. This included a number of lengths of tunnel constructed using segmental concrete linings. First used by LU in the 1960s, the savings both in cost and speed of construction led to concrete linings replacing cast iron for new tunnel construction in all but a few cases. During the initial scoping phase of this programme, inspections identified potential issues with the expanded concrete segmental linings on the Jubilee line. The inspections found a number of segments with surface spalling (Figure 1a), which did not appear on the post-construction defect records. These were generally relatively shallow, up to 40mm deep, spread over a wide area of segment. These were different to spalls caused by handling damage, which are typically localised at segment corners. Subsequent inspections over the following years identified an increasing number of segments with these types of spalls as well as an increased incidence of longitudinal mid-segment cracking (Figure 1b). The increasing occurrence of these defects was hypothesised to be caused by tensile stresses developing in the vicinity of the joint."

Jan 1, 2016

By Y. Zhang, C. Zhou, M. Girman

Wireless technologies are increasingly being implemented in underground mines for various purposes such as communications, tracking, remote control, remote sensing, and environmental monitoring. However, the adoption comes with risks as common wireless systems, such as WiFi, Bluetooth, IWT (Innovative Wireless Technologies) wireless system, often operate in the unlicensed ISM (industrial, scientific, and medical) band. The shared nature of the ISM band can lead to interference among devices and consequently cause performance degradation and reliability issues. In this study, we developed two wireless communication evaluation boards as a tool to evaluate the performance and reliability of a wireless system with the presence of electromagnetic interferences (EMI) from other wireless systems in underground environments. We adjusted various parameters including signal power from adjacent frequency channels, noise power within the same channel, the movement of personnel, and communication packet size. Our findings indicate that, while the power of the EMI source plays a key role, the motion of personnel in the tunnel also has a strong impact on performance, and this impact increases as the power of EMI sources increases. In noisy environments, smaller packet sizes are preferable as they enhance the likelihood of successful transmission. High levels of interference or noise can lead to increased packet loss or error rates, potentially causing communication links to fail completely or become ineffective. The evaluation boards utilized in this study are based on a practical wireless transmission system deployed in a remote controller for a heavy mining machinery used in underground coal mines. The results and findings presented in this paper can aid in the design of wireless systems that are resilient to EMI in underground mining environments.

Feb 1, 2025

By Kenneth R. Hancock

The importance of "Mineral Pigments" can best be shown by noting that the world production is estimated to be in excess of 47 billion kilograms (52 million st). This quantity if pack- aged in the common 22.6 Kg (50 Lb.) bag and placed end to end would circle the world over 500 times. This world production figure is based on a broad concept that pigments, extenders, and fillers have essentially similar functions. In this paper mineral pigments are products produced synthetically or from selected minerals and through pulverization have characteristics of pigments.

Jan 1, 1985

By J. P. Allen

Cobalt, nickel, and manganese can be recovered quickly, cleanly, and selectively from cobalt-rich manganese crust by leaching in dilute acid solutions in the presence of hydrogen peroxide. Common selective precipitation methods can then be used to recover these metals from the leach liquor. The leaching reaction produces only oxygen as a byproduct, and the waste residue from leaching was tested and found to be non-hazardous under existing EPA specifications. The leaching process is effective in either fresh water or seawater. This research is a part of the Bureau of Mines program to identify the mineral resources of the Exclusive Economic Zone and devise methods for recovering their valuable components.

Jan 1, 1990

By S. E. Sankey

High anionic functionality acrylamide co-polymers and poly(sodium acrylate) are used as red mud flocculants in bauxite processing operations. These synthetic polymers are effectively displacing starch as the dominant polymer in red mud settling. The performance of these polymers is primarily dependent on the bauxite mineralogy, the alkalinity of the red mud slurry, and the anionic functionality and molecular size (viscosity) of the polymer. In this paper, the physical and chemical properties of the synthetic watersoluble polymers will be reviewed. The relationship between polymer structure and red mud slurry properties as they control polymer performance in settling red muds common to digester and washer circuits will be illustrated. The availability of polymers of varying functionality and viscosity will permit bauxite processors to make significant improvements in the economics of red mud disposal and valuable reagent recovery.

Jan 1, 1982

By John Hayden

The nation runs on energy. It is essential for the economic growth and national security of the United States that the nation has an adequate, sustainable, environmentally acceptable and economically viable balanced supply of energy sources, (e.g., coal, petroleum, nuclear, natural gas, solar, wind, geothermal, biomass, hydroelectric power). Therefore, the allocation of mineral raw materials to the energy-producing sector of the economy must be a top priority that requires the total demand for energy-related materials be judged in terms of domestic supply (Fig. 1).

Jan 1, 2012

By J. H. Wilhelm

Continuous thickeners can be sized either from previous experience, continuous pilot-scale test results, or from batch settling tests. Although it is a relatively simple process to size full-scale thickeners when previous experience or pilot-scale operating data are available, batch testing is often the only realistic method for sizing thickeners due to time restrictions, budget limitations and availability of sample material. Many authors have, therefore, suggested means of running batch tests and analyzing the resulting data. Fundamental thickening theory had its beginning with the work o£ Coe and Clevenger(1). In order to determine the size of the thickener settling area, they proposed that a series of batch settling tests be run at various initial concentrations. The solids handling capacity at each concentration can then be determined and the lowest capacity (maximum area requirements) used to size the thickener. Kynch(2) developed a mathematical analysis in which the relationship between solids concentration and settling rate can be obtained from a single batch settling curve. Talmage and Fitch(3), Yoshioka(4)(5) and Dick(6), have enlarged upon these works to give a basis for methods of sizing thickeners.

Jan 1, 1979

By E. R. Torak

Custom Coals, International has installed and is presently testing a 225 kg/hr. (500 lb/hr.) micronized-magnetite, fine-coal cleaning circuit at PETC's Process Research Facility (PRF). The cost-shared project was awarded as part of the Coal Preparation Program's High Efficiency Preparation Subprogram. The project includes design, construction and testing of a fully-integrated, bench-scale circuit, complete with feed coal classification to remove the minus 30 micron slimes, dense-medium cycloning of the 300 by 30 micron feed coal using three different size micronized-magnetite mediums, and medium recovery circuits using drain and rinse screens and various stages and types of magnetic separators. This paper describes the project circuit and goals, including a description of the current project status and the sources of coal and magnetite which are being tested.

Jan 1, 1996

By K. Oraee

A comprehensive, harmonic and sustainable development has always been a real concern of state policy makers. To reach such development, regional planning is an approach which is widely applied. This paper deals with policies adopted by a given country with rich mineral deposits, in order to accomplish a mining growth as well as economic development in relatively poor regions. In this regards, first, some worldwide experiences belonging to China, with large scale mining operations and Nigeria with a small scale mining industry, are studied. The mining industry in Iran is then considered as a case study. The study continues by categorizing and prioritizing Iranian regions based on their mining potential and the degree of development, using statistical analysis and Taxonomy and AHP techniques. Results obtained serve to provide recommendations as to where capital investments in the mining industry would produce highest returns. The approach used, together with the practical policies suggested in this paper, can be used to adapt appropriate strategies for mining development in a way that contributes to regional development and a more effective income distribution.

Jan 1, 2012

By Charles Banks Belt

In 1925, Niggli (1925, pp, 1-69), formulated a physico-chemical, explanation for the origin of hydrothermal ore deposits, from a concept that had appeared earlier in the literature in the writings of Von Groddeck, Stelzner, Beck, de Launay, Kemp, and Lindgren. Niggli proposed that pressure at depth could force volatiles from deep-seated magmas. The volatiles would In turn form pegmatites and then ore deposits as the fluids cooled. This is one view of a general theory of ore genesis that gained secondancy for years among such prominent geologists as Fenner (1926, p, 697) and Emmons (1936, pp. 29-70). It was, proposed that ore deposits were precipitated from solutions or fluids that had escaped or been separated from a deep-seated magma by means of liquid immiscibility or crystallization or gas transfer. This theory is based on the presence of igneous rocks close in space and age to hydrothermal ore deposits in many mining districts of the world. As is well known, there are many ore deposits apparently of hydrothermal origin that are neither spatially nor chronologically related to igneous rocks, In still other localities where there are no hydrothermal ore deposits, igneous rocks occur that are similar in composition to those in mining districts. In view of such facts, the applicability of the Niggli theory to all hydrothermal ore deposits may well be questioned. The chief purpose of this paper is to test the Niggli theory by studying the primary petrology, hydrothermal alteration, and distribution of copper and zinc in silicic igneous plutons supposedly genetically related (in the Niggli sense) to nearby hydrothermal ore deposits, Silicic Tertiary plutons in three New Mexico mining districts were chosen, the Hanover-Fierro intrusive at Hanover and Fierro, the Granite Mountain pluton at Magdalena, and the four outliers of the Lordsburg stock at Lordsburg. First, it had to be established whether the observed plutons were or were not the source of the adjacent ore deposits. This was done by studying the relation between the copper or zinc distribution-and the primary or secondary features in the plutons studied, and the time relations between instrusion and ore deposition. Primary igneous features of a pluton are defined as the minerals, texture, shape, and character of the pluton which were formed prior to the complete solidification of the rock, secondary features include all changes that took place in a pluton after solidification. They are identified by their cross cutting nature or as replacing primary minerals, Under the Niggli concept, it is proved that the ore ions did not originate from the parts of the pluton now visible as immediately adjacent to the ore deposits; it must then be established, if possible', that the ore ions were separated from deeper parts of the intrusive, Some idea as to whether the copper or zinc ions originated from a related magma at depth may be gained by a comparison between the primary (that is, pre-alteration) zinc and copper abundances found in ore localizing intrusive studied and the average abundances for copper and zinc in silicic igneous rocks most recently given in the literature. Finally, the relation between ore deposition and hydrothermal alteration was studied on a regional as well as on a local scale.

Jan 1, 1958

By F. M. Doyle

Ion flotation shows great promise for recovering and removing metal ions from dilute process streams, either for environmental compliance or to recover values. This technique uses an ionic collector to concentrate non-surface active colligend ions of the opposite charge from a bulk solution at the solution?vapor interface. With a sufficiently large solution?vapor interfacial area (provided, for example, by sparging gas through the solution), the colligend can be concentrated and removed along with the collector in a foam phase. A key limitation on using the technique in the minerals industry, where many process streams contain a variety of ions and have relatively high ionic strengths, is the need to control which ions are interacting with the collector. Here the effect of three different chelating agents, namely dodecyldiethylenetriamine (Ddien), ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) and triethylenetetraamine (Trien), on the selectivity of copper, nickel and cobalt, or copper and alkaline earth metal ions, is reported. The results are discussed in terms of their implications for adoption in the minerals industry.

Jan 1, 2009

The effect of the chemical composition of pulverized bituminous coal particles on their physical transformation during the initial stages of combustion has been investigated. The results suggested that cenosphere formation does not require extensive thermal decomposition of the coal particles. The vitrinites in the bituminous coal softened earlier and developed larger cenospheres than the othe macerals. The coal particles swell to a higher extent during combustion than in pyrolysis; however, the cenospheres formed in the former process experienced a higher extent of fragmentation. The development of microporosity occurred predominantly after the resolidification of the swelled char particles. The type of macerals originally in the coal did not significantly affect the microporosity of the chars. Conversely, the morphology and anisotropy of the chars were strongly dependent on the maceral composition of the coal.

Jan 1, 1986

By M. Polat

A combined heavy medium-flotation process which incorporates the advantages of two widely employed cleaning methods, namely, heavy medium separation and flotation was used to achieve improved separation of coal from ash at fine sizes and to recover the heavy medium as a substantially recyclable product. The investigation was carried out in two successive phases. In the first phase, tests were performed to deter-mine the effect of different variables such as the medium density, flotation time, magnetite type, etc. on the efficiency of the process using in-plant samples from Homer City Coal Preparation Plant. In the second phase, the optimum conditions determined in the first phase were employed to determine the applicability of the process to a few Central Pennsylvania coals. It was observed that the process was very effective in recovering the magnetite. In most of the cases investigated, the magnetite was separated from the non-magnetic material at approximate-1 to 99 % recovery with a grade ranging from 95 to 99 %. The grade of magnetite decreased with increase in ash content of coal and with decrease in size of magnetite.

Jan 1, 1992

By J. Richard Tonry

In portland cement manufacturing, the raw materials axe changed to clinker in the burning operation. Generally the rotary kiln is used for this purpose and involves many processes, including pelletizing and nodelizing. This transformation is called clinkering, and is analyzed as now generally practiced in cement making, from the raw material to the resulting clinker.

Jan 1, 1963

By Robert F. Shurtz

This paper suggests that pre-occupation with the random process model notised by geostatisticians may result in neglect of more promising techniques, especially since the random process model does not appear to be essential to current geostatistical procedures. This point of view is emphasized pictorially. To emphasize the potential of new techniques a simple application of the conventional Brownian function is described. The probabilities estimated in this truly random way are different from those estimated by Kriging

Jan 1, 1980

By Y. Numata

2-Mercaptobenzothiazole (MBT) is a heterocyclic-mercaptan and belongs to a group of molecules containing nitrogen and sulfur as electron donor atoms. MBT has been employed as a collector in flotation under names of MBT, Captax, and Flotagen. It is a major constituent of reagents in the 400 series of the American Cyanamid Co. Current applications of the reagent include flotation of copper minerals, tarnished or oxidized lead, copper activated sphalerite, and nickel ores. It has been used successfully in the flotation of pyrite in acid circuits in the range of 4 to 5.

Jan 1, 1990