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By Wang Wenqian, George W. Poling

"Devices and flowsheets for recovering fine placer gold are reviewed. Inefficiencies of gravity processing techniques are documented and discussed. Prospects of combining gravity and froth flotation techniques are presented. Possibilities of using other separation techniques, such as magnetic and electrostatic devices are also discussed.IntroductionSeveral new methods for beneficiating different types of placer ores have been developed in the last two decades. Improved efficiencies in the recovery of fine particles have been achieved by improving gravity flowsheets and machines as well as by developing multiple treatment techniques involving flotation, magnetic and electrostatic separations. Placer gold processing, however, has been an exception to some extent. Gravity concentration using riffled sluices accompanied by mercury amalgamation is still the main method in use today. Because of this, the recoveries of fine gold and the other associated values are often similar to those achieved several decades ago. For example, very few sluice systems recover significant placer gold finer than 100µm in size.Only a few proposals for using alternatives to simple gravity methods for recovering fine placer gold can be found in the published literature. The fixed, low gold price discouraged research in this field for many years. Development of more efficient processes has not kept pace with the recent rapid escalation in the price of gold. Froth flotation for saving fine placer gold might now prove economic, for example. This paper reviews literature published on the recovery of fine placer gold over the period 1907 to 1980. Suggestions for improving the performance in this field, based on the authors' current testwork, are also presented."

Jan 1, 1983

By D. M. Morrison

"Microseismic systems at five mines in the Sudbury Basin provide the basic data for Falconbridge Limited's rockburst research. Daily and long-term analysis of this data as well as underground observations has confirmed the fault-slip mechanism of rock bursting at three mines. A detailed analysis of the complete history of Falconbridge Mine is being conducted and Distinct Element numerical models are being used to simulate both the stick-slip behaviour of faults and the dynamic effects of the induced vibrations on rock and backfill. University research includes acoustic tomographic imaging of the rock mass based on seismic wave propagation and collection of full micro seismic waveforms to allow application of advanced seismic and statistical analysis techniques. INTRODUCTIONFalconbridge Limited currently has five mines operating in the Sudbury Basin: East, Lockerby, Onaping, Fraser, and Strathcona Mines, which along with the Falconbridge open pit produced 2.8 million tonnes of ore in 1986. The underground mines range from about 600 m to 2000 m below surface and one of the consequences of mining at these depths is the occurrence of rockbursts.Research into rockburst phenomena at Falconbridge began over 25 years ago and research is continuing in an effort to avoid the problem by improved mine design, to protect mine openings from damage by design of effective support systems and to better understand the processes which precede a major fault slip rockburst. Since the early 1980s, significant progress has been made due principally to micro seismic monitoring and advances in microcomputer technology coupled with detailed underground investigations.It is now possible to identify the fault-slip mechanism as the cause of many of the rockbursts which occur at Falconbridge mines. By gaining an understanding of effect of mining-induced stresses on the pre-existing geological structures, areas which may experience rock bursting can be identified and can be protected against severe damage by appropriate support techniques."

Jan 1, 1989

By W. A. Wilkinson

Mining companies today are under increasing pressure to boost output from their existing mines and to bring new projects online quickly. Fundamental to the long-term performance of an operation is geologic modeling and mine planning. To maximize mine profitability, planners and schedulers must account for a staggering array of variables and create accurate mining plans that meet production and profit targets. Not surprisingly, this can be a difficult task, and getting it wrong can result in large unforeseen costs and significant lost revenue opportunities. This paper discusses the top five challenges geologists and engineers are facing in developing mining plans.

Jan 1, 2012

By Smith C. B

Major diamond pipes discovered in Western Australia in the late-1970s exhibited a number of unique features that not only resulted in Australia becoming the largest diamond producer in the world in volume terms by 1986 but also changed geological thinking on the primary occurrence of diamond. They were: - lamproite is an alternative primary diamond host to kimberlite. - the extremely high mean grade of the Argyle lamproite pipe at 5 ct per tonne. - the tectonic setting of the lamproite pipes in mobile zones mar- ginal to the Kimberley Craton in contrast to the traditional African setting within stable cratons. Diamond was one of the earliest economic minerals discovered in Australia but 128 years elapsed between its first recognition and the first Australian economic pipe discovery (Argyle). During that period some 200,000 ct of alluvial diamonds were mined in Australia (mostly in New South Wales), but such alluvial output is insignificant on the world scene where annual production today runs at 95 million ct of natural stones some 76010 of which comes from primary pipe sources such as Argyle which alone produces 30 million ct per annum. Of particular significance therefore is the geological nature of the primary diamond source rocks in Australia. The Argyle and Ellendale Pipes are lamproites, differing from kimberlite in their mineralogy and geochemistry, and characterised by the presence of typical lamproite minerals such as leucite, priderite, potassic richterite, and the abnormally high content of chemical elements incompatible with ultramafic rocks. But not yet widely appreciated is that many other Australian olivine-rich lampro- phyres also contain diamond. Such picritic alkaline rocks can

Jan 1, 1988

The ability to increase and maintain dragline productivity is a key mine driver for the Coal Creek Mine. The Coal Creek Mine is owned by Arch Coal Inc subsidiary Thunder Basin Coal Company; located near Gillette, WY. Coal Creek Mine overburden stripping is primarily accomplished by a BE-1570W walking dragline in combination with cast blasting and dozer assist for bench preparation. The two main variables impacting dragline performance are maintenance reliability and operator skill levels. The mine?s most recent process improvement efforts have focused on its most valuable asset - the operator. Various techniques have been used to reduce variability in the dragline operator?s digging performance. Utilization and communication of operator performance data, statistics, and video reviews have been of great value towards achieving this goal. Operators are given a chance to critique operational tendencies from a third-person point of view, and are also presented statistical feedback to support observations. From these sessions, operators gain knowledge as to what portions of the dig cycle can be improved in order to reduce cycle time and increase productivity. BACKGROUND The BE-1570W walking dragline was commissioned at Coal Creek in November 2006 after relocating from Arch of Wyoming located in southeast Wyoming. The first two years of operation the machine was performing simple side cast stripping due to the low ratio. Coal Creek Mine is a multiple seam operation with overburden thickness ranging from 24 to 140 feet. Early in 2009 the ratio increased to the point where transitioning to cast blast/extended bench stripping was necessary. The current mining conditions consist of a mixture of both stripping styles where the ratio allows. The dragline crews running the machine consist of a mixture of experience levels ranging from 30+ years to only a few years. It has been in this digging environment and slightly inexperienced personnel that the focus has been set for improvement in dragline performance.

Jan 1, 2011

In February 1995, Falconbridge Limited approved the construction of a nickel mining and milling facility on its Raglan property situated in the Nunavik region of northern Quebec, Canada. The construction period successfully terminated with the commissioning and start-up of the plant and concentrator in early-December 1997. The estimated life of the project is 20 years with an annual mining rate of 800 000 tonnes of ore, producing 21 000 tonnes of nickel per year. This paper discusses the subject of æRemote Mining in the Canadian ArcticÆ as it applies to the Raglan mine process and people. During the feasibility stage of the project, many assumptions were made which influenced the design and operating parameters of the facilities and the equipment. Transportation, communication, remote logistics techniques and standard industry practices required to support a æfly-in/fly-outÆ operation were reviewed and either adopted or rejected for use at Raglan. These assumptions were æmade to fitÆ the uniqueness of our planned operation. It was also acknowledged that many of them would ultimately impact on the people required to staff the operation following construction. Therefore, their suitability and applicability were examined from an economic, operational and human perspective. In a continuing effort to improve the quality of life for Raglan employees, as well as the economics of our mine operations, these assumptions are under constant review and scrutiny. There is no doubt that experiences gained, and willingly shared by other North American arctic mining operations, proved invaluable and are a big reason for RaglanÆs overall success thus far. The mining industry is being challenged technically to develop lower grade orebodies at the lowest possible cost. In addition to environmental constraints, serious social, political and moral questions are being asked and added to this list of challenges. Miners throughout the world must improve their operating standards and public image if we want to attract the best possible employees. Remote mining operations provide a unique opportunity to experiment with various human resource concepts as well as demonstrate the industryÆs commitment to environmental and community concerns.

Jan 1, 1998

Eagle Plains Resources? Exploration in the Northern Cordillera ?Eagle Plains Resources Ltd. (EPL) is actively exploring for Zn-Pb deposits in the northern Cordillera in both carbonate-hosted and shale-hosted (sedex) environments. ?This presentation will review some of the significant carbonate-hosted Zn-Pb showings occurring in the Mackenzie Mountains, NWT and make limited comparisons with sedexdeposits in the adjacent Selwyn Basin.

May 1, 2006

By I. O. Salyer

This research was conducted with the objective of suppressing the respirable dust in coal mines by foam application. A formulation was developed for making a water-based, high-expansion, and limited stability foam. A horizontal boring machine was used as a laboratory coal mining model for generating coal dust. A modified laboratory foam generator was built. Foam was applied directly to the point at which dust was being formed by the cutter of the boring machine working against a block of coal. Coal dust was sampled with an impinger and analyzed for the particle count and particle size distribution. Coal dust suppression test results on freshly generated dust have demonstrated very clearly that in laboratory scale experiments over 90% of the respirable coal dust can be suppressed by foam. These tests were run when initial coal du t concentrations were 10 and 70 million particles per cubic foot (mppcf).

Jan 1, 1970

By George Fowler

THE history of the production of sulfur from salt domes in Louisiana and Texas originated with the operations of the Union Sulphur Co. at Sulphur, La., followed by the Freeport Sulphur Co. at Bryanmound, Tex. Including the present development of Grande Ecaille by the Free-port Sulphur Co., which constitutes the tenth dome to be equipped for the production of sulfur in the Gulf Coast, less than 10 per cent of all the known domes have proved to contain sulfur in commercial quantities. The Grande Ecaille salt dome is in the tidal marsh of the Mississippi River delta in Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana. It is 10 miles southwest of the right descending bank of the river approximately 45 miles below the city of New Orleans and is within 4 miles of the shore line of the Gulf of Mexico.

Jan 1, 1934

||Abad, Leopoldo F., Min Engr, Div of Mines, Bureau of Science Manila, P I '23 Abadilla, Quirico A, Geol, Lago Pet Corp Box 172, Maracaibo, Venezuela '20 ||Abbey, Robert Graham, The W W Sly Mfg Co Train Ave, Cleveland, Ohio '21 Abbott, A. N., Mines Supt, Mazapil Copper Co, Ltd Concepcion del Oro, Mexico '23 Abbott, Clarence E., Mgr, Mines & Quarries, Tenn Coal, Iron & R R Co, 1242 Brown Marx Bldg, Birmingham, Ala. '04 Abbott, Louis Benjamin, Chief Engr , Consolidation Coal Co , Elkhorn Div Jenkins, Ky. '16 Abbott, Robert R., Met Engr , Peerless Motor Car Co Cleveland, Ohio '12 ||Abbott, Wells Osborn, Ray Consolidated Copper Co Hayden, Ariz. '23 Abeel, George H, Jr., Cons Min Engr 4612 West 17th St , Los Angeles, Cal '18 Abel, Albert E., Asst to Pres, Valley Mould & Iron Corp Sharpsville, Pa. '19 Abernathy, George Elmer, Prof of Geol & Min , Kansas State Teachers College, Pittsburg, Kans. '20 Abey, Hiroshi, Min & Met Engr, Min & Met Dept, The Higher Technical School, Osaka, Japan. '17 ||d'Ablaing, Philip R, Chem , Anaconda Copper Min Co Great Falls, Mont '25 Aborn, Robert H , Research Assoc., Mass Inst of Tech Cambridge, Mass '19 Abouchar, Sylvain Sley, Min. Engi & Geol , care of S H Sekaly, 13 Rue El Nimr, Cairo, Egypt '17

Jan 1, 1923

By Alexis Baca

La presente investigación busca optimizar la producción y la ventilación en la industria minera, utilizando el método de ratios de energía y producción. Para ello, hace la estimación del consumo de energía en ventilación, obteniendo los ratios de producción en la unidad Huarón y aplicando estos para determinar la eficiencia del consumo en cada zona, logrando un comparativo de costos para conseguir una distribución eficiente de la ventilación. Asimismo, recomienda formas de optimizar el consumo de energía por ventilación mediante el uso de los ratios de energía y producción.

By William C. Larson

This Bureau of Mines report discusses uranium in situ leach mining in the United States to acquaint the public with an overview of this emerging mining technology. This report is not intended to be a technical discussion of the subject matter, but rather should be used as a reference source for information on in situ leaching. A list of in situ leaching publications is included as well as engineering data tables for almost all of the active pilot-scale and commercial uranium in situ leaching operators. These tables represent a first attempt at consolidating operational data in one source, on a regional basis. Additional information is given that discusses the current Bureau of Mines uranium in situ leaching research program. Also included is a listing of various State and Federal permitting agencies, and a summary of the current uranium in situ leaching operators. Finally, a glossary of terms has been added, listing some of the more common terms used in uranium in situ leach mining.

Jan 1, 1978

By J. D. Sargent

Selenium might be described as a paradoxical element, being a metal or a nonmetal, a conductor or nonconductor, amorphous or crystalline, colorant or decolorant, and a hydrogenator or dehydrogenator. Selenium was discovered in 1817 by the Swedish chemist, Berzelius, while studying flue dust from the lead chambers of the sulfuric acid works at Gripsholm, Sweden.

Jan 1, 1954

By Eric L. Hoffman

Sample preparation technology changes Rock Soil Vegetation Analytical Innovation Assay or Geochem Choice of Digestions Choice of analytical method Whats new in analytical technology? Innovations in surface Geochemical Methods Hydrogeochemistry Biogeochemistry Soil Gas Hydrocarbons (SGH) Selective Extractions Glacial Environment Arid Environment

May 1, 2008

By J. Palarski

In the Polish coal mining industry, the use of mine waste in underground backfill has been the most common means of providing ground support to minimize surface subsidence, increasing extraction ratios, and reducing the quantity of waste for surface disposal. Over the last decade attention has been focused on the use of different waste as filling material of underground workings and grouting of roof fall rocks in caving area. In the paper, a brief history of the development of fill technology in Polish coal mining industry is presented. Next, the paper discusses various criteria that should be taken under consideration in the preparation process of a fill slurry and grout, fill distribution systems, mining geometry and placement methods. Moreover, in the paper evaluation of the potential of utilizing coarse and fine waste as a resource material in the production of a backfill slurry and grout for filling and injection in abandoned mines is presented.

May 1, 2007

By R. Van A. Mills

This preliminary paper is intended to answer briefly some of the inquiries coning to the Bureau of Mines regarding the so-called "paraffining", of oil wells and methods of preventing and remedying that trouble. The increased difficulties in operation and the losses of production caused by the deposition of gummy and waxy hydrocarbons, commonly called paraffin, in the wells, tubing, other pumping equipment, and in the pores of the productive sands, have long been recognized but the trouble has not been overcome. The nature and causes of the trouble, together with some of the possible methods by which it may be diminished or overcome, are outlined below. Character of the Peraffining Materials. The so-called paraffin that collects in oil wells end in the pores of the oil-producing sands immediately around the wells, is generally made up of amorphous wax or uncracked paraffin, asphalt, or other gummy hydrocarbons mixed with more or lees water, oil, and inorganic silt. Some of the samples of this "paraffin" collected from oil wells in different fields and examined by the Bureau of Mines contain as mach as 20 per cent by weight of water and inorganic silt, whereas other samples are composed entirely of waxy hydrocarbons and oil. The inorganic silt accompanying this "paraffin" is mostly fine sand, clayey materials, common salt and finely disseminated precipitates of calcium and magnesium carbonates. Sulphates of calcium, barium, and strontium are less common constituents of the "paraffin."

Jan 1, 1923

By George J. Skoronski

The economics of pellet plant operation, in terms of fuel and power consumption, flexibility in the selection of the cheapest fuel source, system availability, maintenance costs, and the simplicity of process design, contribute to the determination of building and profitably operating a pellet plant. Design innovations, sup- ported by actual field data, have been initiated into the GRATE-KILN System design to positively address these factors. This paper presents the recent state of the art design concepts which have helped the GRATE- KILN System assume worldwide acceptance status.

Jan 1, 1983

By M. B. Myers

The subject matter of this paper will be discussed under three main headings. 1.-Fire-Resistant Fluids: (a) the need for such materials, based on historical events; (b) a definition of fire -resistant fluids; (c) general description, characteristics, operational parameters, advantages and disadvantages of oil-in-water emulsions (HFB), water-polymer fluids (HFC) and anhydrous or synthetic fluids (HFD). 2.-A review of equipment associated with the use of fire-resistant hydraulic fluids; (a) performance testing of hydraulic equipment, i.e. gear pumps, vane pumps, axial and radial piston pumps, hydraulic motors, etc., pressure, speed, filtration limitations, etc., and effects on valves, elastomers, paints, etc.; (b) hydraulic system design features and selection of suitable units; (c) types of mining applications currently employing fire-resistant fluids. 3.-Test methods used to evaluate fire-resistant fluids: (a) fire testing methods, i.e. wick tests, spray ignition testing, hot manifold tests, factory mutual tests, all to establish fire-resistancy parameters and acceptance; (b) new developments in fire-resistancy evaluation; (c) the examination of other performance tests, e.g., effects of evaporation, sliding wear, life of rolling element bearings, etc.

Jan 1, 1979

By P. M. Soupios

An integrated suite of environmental methods was used to characterize the hydrogeological, geological and tectonic regimes of the study area, to determine the geometry of the landfill (depth and spatial extent of electrically conductive anomalies), to define the anisotropy caused by bedrock fabric fractures and to locate potential zones of electrically conductive contamination. The study area which covers an area of about 0.08 Km2 is a municipal solid waste site (MSW), located 20Km West of Herakleion in the central part of Crete (S. Greece). The landfill is located in a northwest oriented valley with highlands to the northeast and southwest. The combination of geophysical methods and chemical analysis are commonly implemented for characterization and management of land-fills. At the particular site, geophysical methods were focused on studying the electrical insolating properties of the materials, electrical con-ducting properties of fluids (leachates) and electromagnetic properties of the disturbed regolith materials in the burial zones. Three different types of geophysical surveys were performed: 1) 2D electrical tomography (ERT), 2) electro-magnetic measurements using very low frequencies (VLF) and 3) electromagnetic conductivity (EM31). Furthermore, in order to calibrate the geophysical methods dielectric spectrometry measurements are conducted. To evaluate the environmental degradation of the area, soil and liquids samples were collected.

Jan 1, 2005

By M. A. Vos

"Cretaceous sands and clays underlie an area of approximately 5,000 km2 in Northern Ontario, southwest of James Bay. The deltaic deposits occur as a wedge of continental sediments to the north of an east-trending fault scarp referred to as the Precambrian Escarpment. They rest on older sedimentary formations of the Moose River Basin (Jurassic, Devonian) and are covered by glacial tills and marine sediments of the Quaternary period. Outcrops are restricted to occasional exposure in the deeply incised riverbeds.In 1975 and 1978, drill programs sponsored by the Ontario Government provided new information on the extent and quality of the deposits. Fourteen holes at approximately 12-km intervals were drilled to a maximum depth of 189 m by reversed- circulation chip drill methods. Some core was obtained as well. Analytical results show that the thickness of Cretaceous deposits exceeds 100m in several instances. Abundant kaolinitic clay and quartz sand of glass-grade quality, both unique materials in Ontario, are available in an area where hydroelectricity and lignite resources combine to enhance the energy outlook.IntroductionThe presence of refractory clay in deeply incised riverbeds in Northern Ontario was known to geologists travelling the rivers as early as 1875. Robert Bell (1877) reports outcrops of clay and lignite on Coal Brook, a tributary of the Missinaibi River. E.B. Borron in 1880 collected a sample of clay from the bed of the Missinaibi River which H.H. Croft of the University of Toronto considered to be ""nearly if not quite, equal to the Cornish clay used in the manufacture of English porcelain"" (Keele, 1920, p. 42). The Cretaceous age of the clay, sand and lignite deposits was determined with the help of plant remains collected by Keele. He referred to the deposits as the Mattagami series, which later became the Mattagami Formation."

Jan 1, 1982