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"It’s been 80 years since Charles Warman invented the iconic Warman slurry pump, a pump that revolutionized the mining industry and continues to push the boundaries of pump performance to this day.In honor of this legendary brand, Weir Minerals hosted an event at the end of May in Kalgoorlie, Western Australia. Throughout the evening, attendees relived Warman pumps’ history and gained an insight into some of the future innovations planned.“It was a privilege to share this special night with some of our key customers, past and present employees, and members of the Western Australian School of Mines,” said Ricardo Garib, divisional president of Weir Minerals. “Warman is one of our leading brands. It has truly shaped the mining industry over the past 80 years and is a product we are all very proud of. The Warman pump, invented to solve high wear issues in slurry pumping, created a thriving industrial business that is now the cornerstone of Weir Minerals with more than 8,000 people, and more than 150 manufacturing and service centers across the globe.”Always inventingCharles Warman invented the Warman slurry pump in Kalgoorlie in 1938. It was a hardwearing slurry pump that used replaceable liners and a replaceable impeller, something that had never been done before.“Charles Warman was a visionary and an innovator. The use of rubber lining in the pump was groundbreaking as it reduced total ownership costs, was safer to handle and offered extended wear life in many abrasive slurry applications. It is a great example of solving customer problems with material science, and is still taught in universities today,” said Marcus Lane, global product manager for centrifugal pumps at Weir Minerals.It was quickly adopted throughout the goldfields in Western Australia and by the 1950s, as customer demand rose, Warman expanded his business by opening offices in Sydney and Perth.During the 1960s the rapid growth of the business continued with manufacturing and sales outlets established around the world. The Warman Series ‘A’ pump was accepted and became a world leader in its field. Further work on the Warman AH pump resulted in the development of interchangeable metal and rubber wearing components."

Jan 9, 2018

By S. M. Smouse

Total world energy consumption is projected to continue its strong growth of recent years. Because coal is the most abundant fossil fuel, it will likely remain an important energy source, particularly for power generation, into at least the early years of the next millennium. Clean coal technologies are available today that can economically reduce air pollution, primarily SO2 NOx and particulates, and for the higher efficiency technologies, CO2, from power generation. U.S. Department of Energy analyses show that the adoption of clean coal technologies could decrease carbon emissions worldwide while creating a strong export market with attendant creation of jobs in the U.S.

Jan 1, 1998

By E. J. Rorem

Rockfall and unstable rock slopes can be con-trolled by using steel wire-rope net systems as barriers or as slope draping. The chief advantage of such systems over rigid type barriers is the flexibility of wire rope netting. This flexibility and strength permits kinetic energy dissipation with low maintenance requirements. Mining activities can produce temporary or long-term unnatural slopes and unstable rock faces that may produce rockfall hazards. Such conditions can necessitate efforts to minimize the hazard to workers, structures and equipment.

Jan 1, 1996

By J. Herbst, J. Groppo, A. Noble, R. Q. Honaker

"Coal and coal byproducts produced annually contain enough rare earth elements (REEs) to meet current U.S. demand. The REEs exist in the form of minerals, ion-exchanged elements associated with clays and chemically bonded elements within the organic coal matrix. Researchers at three universities have collaborated to evaluate the effectiveness of existing physical and chemical concentration processes for the recovery of the REEs. The efforts have found that physical separation processes can increase the total REE content in the thickener underflow material collected from a Central Appalachian coal cleaning facility from around 300 ppm to values greater than 17,500 ppm on an ash basis. On the other hand, leaching was effective in recovering REEs from coarse middlings materials collected from multiple coal basins as indicated by recovery values exceeding 80%. Based on material characterization data and process evaluations conducted for several potential feed coal sources, economic recovery of the REEs will require byproduct production of both clean coal and REE concentrate using a process flowsheet that is unique for each source. INTRODUCTION Recent studies initiated by NETL showed that U.S. coals contain significant amounts of rare earth elements (REEs), suggesting that rare earth minerals (REMs) and/or REEs can be produced as byproducts [1]. According to the report, the richest source of REEs is the Central Appalachian coal. At present, there are 208 coal preparation plants located in the region (WV, KY, PA, VA, AL, TN) with a capacity of 166,495 tons/hr or more than 1 billion tons annually [2]. If only a portion of these plants are retrofitted with advanced separation processes, the U.S. coal industry can become a significant producer of RE minerals as byproducts. An inherent advantage of becoming a byproduct producer of REEs is that no mining cost needs to be part of the product cost. Other researchers have also shown that coal can be a significant source of REEs. The average sum of the rare earth plus yttrium (REY) concentration of the world coal is approximately 68.5 ppm, which is lower than the corresponding upper crustal concentration (UCC) (168.4 ppm). However, the average REY content of the mineral matter in the world (404 ppm) and U.S. coals (517 ppm) are 3 times higher than the average UCC. Some of the mineral matter in Russian and Chinese coals have REY concentrations in the range of 0.68 to 2.03% and contain a better source of higher value REYs than many primary rare earth deposits [3]."

Jan 1, 2017

By M. P. Smith, C. Hughes-Narborough, Y. T. Man

"Money and reputations can be lost in bad projects. Causes of bad mineral processing projects include poor contract definition and purchase of equipment without adequate test work. However, the root cause of many of the problems that can lead to bad projects is not any inanimate object, bad weather or catastrophic natural event but the people working on the projects. Because the people are so critical to the success of a mineral processing project, one must have suitably qualified and experienced people (SQEP) in all key positions. Characteristics that define SQEP include people who have successfully executed projects of similar size before; have undertaken projects treating the same minerals and producing the same valuable products and people who are familiar with designing, operating and implementing the required technologies and unit operations.To minimize the likelihood of future bad mineral processing projects, five recommendations are put forward in relation to the people aspect of a project.1. Attempt to retain SQEP during any down turn in the mining economic cycle so thatthe knowledge and experience can be kept within the industry.2. Increase the effort in attracting young people into the industry and retaining them.3. Set up robust training program to give young professionals a firm foundation of what real life projects and operations are like.4. Provide mentoring and continuous training for people after they have completed their formal graduate training program. Their career progression should be appropriately monitored and controlled.5. People working in projects must be exposed to as many detailed design and other finer issues as possible so that they can comprehend the amount of work required to deliver a project successfully."

Aug 1, 2016

By James J. Fallon

The industrial minerals industry is defined loosely and a specific list is presented. Criteria by which to judge prospects and examples are provided. General trends of the industry are observed.

Jan 1, 1984

Application of flotation for the removal of hydrophobic compounds from soils was studied. Bench scale flotation tests were conducted on artificially contaminated soil, using both conventional mechanically agitated machine and flotation column. Flotation parameters tested include surfactant collector type, conditioning time, flotation time, surfactant dosage, pulp pH, solid/liquid ratio in conditioning and pulp temperature. It is found that with conventional flotation 74% removal of the contaminant was achieved from soil particles in the range of 75-830 µm; with column flotation up to 80% of oil could be removed from the 250-830 µm soil fraction, and 65% from the 75-830 µm fraction. Flotation was found to have considerable potential for cleaning up contaminated soils.

Jan 1, 1998

By Linda D. Raedeke

The main platinum-group metal (PGM) deposit in the Stillwater Complex is associated with a stratiform zone formed by magma mixing. In general, the intrusion is a large, layered body of Archean age which formed by repeated magmatic injections in- to a single, large, hypabyssal magma chamber. The Complex is broadly divided into the lower Ultramafic series of olivine ± orthopyroxene rocks (1000-2000 m thick) and the upper Banded series of predominantly plagioclase-rich rocks (24500 m thick). The latter is further divided into Lower, Middle, and Up- per Banded zones. The Ultramafic series, plus most of the Lower and Upper Banded zones formed from repeated injections of an olivine-saturated magma, the rocks accumulating from the floor upward with a crystallization order of olivine, or- thopyroxene, plagioclase, clinopyroxene. The olivine-bearing subzones of the Middle Banded zone formed predominantly from a magma which crystallized in the sequence plagioclase, olivine, clinopyroxene. Olivine-bearing subzone I, with which the PGM mineralization is associated, occurs generally -400 m above the Ultramafic series-Banded series contact. Ore grade mineralization is usually found in plagioclase or plagioclase-olivine cumulates. The platinum-group elements are associated with disseminated base-metal sulfides dominated by the assemblage, pyrrhotite-chalcopyrite-pentlandite. Olivine-bearing subzone I marks an interruption in the crystallization sequence of the Lower Banded zone, with the reappearance of cumulus olivine and an associated change of the crystallization sequence. These changes indicate the addition and mixing of a secondary magma of the same composition as that which later dominated in the formation of the Middle Banded zone. Characteristics associated with mixing include laterally discontinuous but well-developed layers, xenoliths of ultramafic rocks, and sedimentary-type structures such as slum- ping and graded layering. The influx of new magma caused sulfide saturation by one or more of several chemical changes including addition of sulfur, decrease in oxygen fugacity, decrease in FeO, or increase in SiO2. Once an immiscible sulfide liquid was formed, platinum-group elements were scavenged from the magma by the sulfide liquid and segregated.

Jan 1, 2013

By Halter L. Gould

Since the turn of the century there has been a marked increase in population, industrial and economic growth, and in energy requirements in the United States. During this time our energy needs have been met largely by natural gas and petroleum, but as our reserves of these materials are depleted, we are going to depend more and more on our large reserves of coal. The mining of coal for electrical power production has increased at a rapid rate during the past decade. Over half the coal produced in the United States in 1971 came from mines utilizing surface mining operations (Paone, et al, 1974). Surface mining is expected to increase as the rising cost of oil places more demand on coal for energy. About 57 percent of the coal reserves in the United States lie in the area west of the 100th meridian. About one-quarter of this can be mined by current surface methods. This would involve the disturbance of approximately 1.5 million acres (600,000 hectares). By the year 2000, projections indicate disturbance of about 200,000 acres, or 300 square miles, in the West. Mined areas receiving more than 250 mm of annual precipitation can usually be revegetated without irrigation if the spoils are properly shaped, the surface layer consists of suitable plant growth media, and proven techniques in rehabilitating disturbed rangeland are applied. Areas receiving less than 250 mm of annual rainfall or with high evapotranspiration rates pose a more difficult problem. Revegetation of these areas can probably be accomplished only with major inputs of water and good management (National Academy of Science, 1974).

Jan 1, 1978

Planning the primary development of a mineral deposit usually is done only once during the life of a mine. As a consequence, not optimizing the primary development of a mineral deposit can cause disadvantages over the whole life of a mine and can lead to higher costs. As a contribution to an improved primary development design procedure beyond the already existing work a study of the identification and quantification of the influence of parameters on primary development based on operational data from working mining operations has been completed. Based upon such a quantification of the influence of parameters a sequenced decision model was developed, that enables to develop an initial concept for the design of the accesses from the surface based upon a few critical parameters. Such a model will not replace detailed planning work within a feasibility study, but it is intended to reduce the amount of planning efforts at an early project stage through providing information what are most likely economic solutions, based on simple rules.

Jan 1, 1997

By John J. Dran

Large mining companies use a number of sophisticated analytical techniques for introducing the element of risk into the valuation of mineral reserve sites. These methods include, but are not limited to, sensitivity analysis, computer simulation, conditional probability, and portfolio theory. Such techniques enable the managements of these large companies to have an awareness of the many possible ramifications of their investment decisions. On the other hand, small mining companies and individuals in the mining business, due to limited financial and technical resources, still rely primarily on single point estimates of the value of mineral reserves. These small miners introduce the aspect of risk only through the application of an appropriate "speculative" discount rate. This paper illustrates the application of a technique for the introduction of risk into investment analysis. The method appears to be most suitable for use by small mining companies and individuals contemplating a large investment in a new mineral reserve site.

Jan 1, 1974

By A.M. Wala

A new radioactive tracer method to measure airflow in inaccessible airways has been developed for situations when studies of the mine ventilation system are not possible using conventional flowmeters (anemometers). The new method has been tested in the ventilation laboratory at the University of Kentucky and in the Experimental Underground Coal Mine at the U.S. Bureau of Mines. This new tracer method has been utilized in leakage, dilution and flow velocity measurements in laboratory and field (mine) experiments.

Jan 1, 1996

By William Gleason

"What will the mine of the future look like? Will it resemble the current operations that supply the world with the products it needs to function, or will it be something totally different? How will the demands from the communities that are most affected by mining operations shape the mine of the future? How will technology and innovation be used to help miners reach deposits that are getting harder to access, and what are the dangers of this new world? Who will work at the mine of the future, and what will that work look like?These are questions that do not yet have definitive answers, but they are questions that need to be asked for the mining industry to move into a future that is as filled with uncertainty and challenge as it is with promise and opportunity.On Feb. 16, the 2015 SME Annual Conference and Expo and the 117th CMA National Western Mining Association conference began with a keynote address, "The mine of the future: Forecasting opportunities and challenges for the global mining industry." Panelists from five sectors of the mining industry participated in the session, which was followed by the conference and expo, that in large part, were also trying to answer the question of what the mine of the future will look like.In coming months, Mining Engineering will continue the discussions and answer some of the questions submitted by members of the 2,000-person audience during the keynote address in a monthly feature called, "Predicting the Mine of the Future," and in Thought Leaders Podcasts with the panelists and other industry experts."

Jan 1, 2014

By Ning Wang, Tengfei Guo, Wanyan Li, Hanjie Wen, Hannian Gu, Zehai Li

Bauxite residue (red mud) is an alkaline waste derived from the industrial process for extraction of alumina from bauxite ore. Some bauxite residues contain considerable concentrations of critical metals, for example, rare earth elements. Lithium in red mud was also reported as a potential resource. In the current study, a Li-rich red mud was leached using acetic acid to investigate the leaching behavior of lithium followed by neutralizing with hydrochloric or oxalic acid. By neutralizing red mud using diluted hydrochloric acid (0.01 mol/L), 58.04–60.27% of lithium was leached using 25% acetic acid at 95 °C for 60 min. In the meantime, more than 95% of sodium and 85% of calcium were also dissolved in the leachate solution. While oxalic acid (0.5 mol/L) was used to neutralize red mud prior to acetic acid leaching, lithium performed lower leaching efficiencies (42.41–46.88%) in comparison of using of hydrochloric acid–neutralized red mud. Nevertheless, these leaching efficiencies of lithium were close to that of calcium and much higher than those of sodium under the condition. In this study, 25% (v/v) of acetic acid, at 85 °C for 60 min, was demonstrated as optimum conditions for lithium extraction from oxalic acid–neutralized red mud using acetic acid. The results would be useful and of interest for lithium recovery and purification from red mud.

By Y. A. Attia

A study was performed on selective flocculation and dispersion for ultrafine coal cleaning. A totally hydrophobic polymer, FR-7A, was employed as the selective flocculent for coal, sodium metaphosphate (SMP) as the general dispersant for shale and a synthetic polymeric product, polyacrylic acid-xanthate (PAAX), as the selective dispersant for pyrite. In the adsorption tests, nephelometry and spectrophotometry were employed for determining the concentration of FR-7A and PAAX in the solutions respectively. The adsorption tests indicated that: a) FR-7A has a higher affinity toward coal and pyrite than that for shale; and b) PAAX has a much higher affinity toward pyrite than toward coal and shale. In the selective flocculation tests, the ash-forming minerals can be efficiently rejected using sedimentation as the separation method. However, due to their relatively high specific gravity, pyrite particles co-settle with the coal flocs. To reject fine pyrite, a froth flotation was used for floc separation. The one-step flocculation-flotation process could reject more than 70% of each of the pyritic sulfur and ash minerals, while recovering more than 85% of the coal.

Jan 1, 1990

By Steve Kral

When discussing stock market investments, a company's performance is important. But so is the financial community's perception of that performance. To be sure, a good product or service, coupled with sound manage¬ment, remains important but is no longer enough. How stock analysts view a company's performance has become equally important. A major task of a mining company's investor relations officer, then, is to build and maintain a positive perception of the company to mining analysts throughout the world. That's a tough assignment in any market. The subject here, though, is gold. And, with its weakened price, gold companies must work harder to convince analysts their company is still a good investment. The analyst, on the other hand, must see through the corporate hype and decide whether it's worth recommending to clients as an investment. No simple task, either. Annual reports, 10-K forms, and quarterly reports only tell part of the mining company's story. Site visits, complete with discussions (sometimes interrogations) with a mine's principals, oftentimes tell an analyst more about a company's investment potential than the annual or quarterly report. So it was that three of the nation's major gold companies arranged a three-day tour of their gold operations in Nevada for a group of 22 analysts and a pair of mining industry scribes. The analysts represented investment houses the US, Canada, and England. The host companies and mines visited included FMC Gold's Paradise Peak mine, Amax Gold's Sleeper and Wind Mountain mines, and Battle Mountain Gold's Surprise and Fortitude mines.

Jan 1, 1989

By D. E. Munson

The Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) Project was established in 1975 by the Department of Energy (DOE) under Public Law 193 to develop the necessary technology for safe disposal of radioactive wastes from the defense programs of the U.S. The technology development involves extensive theoretical, numerical, and laboratory programs, as well as construction of the WIPP facility in southeastern New Mexico for in situ testing and waste storage demonstration. If after the demonstration, the facility is found to comply with regulations of the Environmental Protection Agency, then the facility will become a repository for Transuranic (TRU) waste. The underground portion of the facility is 655 m beneath the ground surface in massive natural salt deposits of the Salado formation, as shown in Figure 1.

Jan 1, 1991

By H. D. Lelono, M. Walden, G. Johnson

3D modelling can be used throughout the mine lifecycle and has proven to be a powerful tool for consultants and mining companies. One of the most significant benefits of 3D models is their ability to enhance collaboration, communication, and understanding between the mine owner, design engineers, and other relevant stakeholders that have a shared interest in responsible mining and site management. Tailings and mine waste management is an interdisciplinary effort that requires effective coordination and communication between a wide range of consultants, operators, and stakeholders alike. The increased emphasis on Environmental, Social, and Corporate Governance (ESG) highlights the importance for mine operators to engage and communicate with all parties involved in the planning, permitting, operation, and closure of mine sites. 3D models are valuable tools that can be used for development of geotechnical conceptual models, allowing for improved design and monitoring of Tailings Storage Facilities (TSFs). A clear conceptual understanding of a TSFs subsurface geology and foundation characterization is essential for proper tailings management, design, and planning. Visualization with 3D modelling can simplify the interpretation of the, oftentimes intricate, mine sight subsurface settings and allows for quick and effective geotechnical conceptualization. 3D models can be used to identify data gaps, optimize field investigations, and streamline the development of numerical stability or groundwater models. They can help communicate the complex nature of subsurface and TSF interactions in a clear, concise, and accurate manner to both technical and nontechnical stakeholders. This paper discusses some of the benefits of 3D modelling in relation to geotechnical analysis for tailings management and provides methodologies for how to improve upon some methodologies that are considered industry standards.

Feb 1, 2023

By S. A. Sass

The design and construction of Solvay Minerals (formerly Tenneco Minerals) Soda Ash Expansion Project, which is the world's most modern natural soda ash facility, is detailed. Along with a discussion of design considerations, the international joint venture ownership and teaming arrangement for design and construction companies is examined.

Jan 1, 1994

By James R. Hindman

Vermiculite is the mineralogical name generally applied to a group of hydrated, trioctahedral ferromagnesian aluminum platty or micaceous silicate minerals. In microscopic particles the mineral as mineral is differentiated from montmorillonite by a higher Si:AI ratio of approximately 3:l and a higher layer charge and higher cation exchange capacities. Commercial vermiculite, the vermiculite which is mined, beneficiated, and discussed in this chapter, is an important industrial mineral which is formed by the alteration of macroscopic particles of biotite and iron-bearing phlogopite. In natural form it has the size and shape of mica, while possessing the ion exchangeable properties of zeolites and some clays. Within the internal structure of vermiculite lie water molecules, which when rapidly heated to high temperature, transform into steam causing the vermiculite particles to increase in volume. This process of thermal exfoliation produces a lightweight product which finds use in various construction products, agriculture, horticulture, and other industrial applications. In exfoliated form it has the low density and biological inertness of expanded perlite, while maintaining a chemically active surface. Most of the uses of vermiculite are for the thermally exfoliated material. In addition, the cation exchange potential of vermiculite and its layer-silicate structure are properties which can be used as the basis for numerous products including intumescent coatings and gaskets, inorganic films, and the treatment of nuclear and other toxic waste. When chemically and physically modified, it possesses some properties common to organoclays and synthetic compounds. In high purity concentrates and manufactured products, these properties can be altered and optimized in applications to produce superior performance. GEOLOGY Mineralogy Vermiculite was first described as a mineral by Thomas H. Webb in 1824. Webb believed vermiculite to be a variety of talc and described its diagnostic property of thermal exfoliation thusly: "If subjected to the flame of a blowpipe, or that of a common lamp, it expands and shoots out into a variety of fanciful forms, resembling most generally small worms having the vermicular motion exact." Observing that with one exception, all commercial vermiculite has formed by the alteration of iron-bearing phlogopite, a simple definition of vermiculite might be the alteration product of trioctahedral micas, macroscopic particles of which display marked exfoliation when heated rapidly to temperatures above 374°C (the critical temperature of water). The first vermiculite described was found near Worcester, MA, but it was later pointed out by Brush (1866) that vermiculite had been known for some time in Japan as a children's novelty. Because the techniques for mineral analysis were somewhat primitive com- pared to those routinely available today, and because the structure and crystal chemistry of the micas and related minerals were not widely understood, the early literature generated at least 20 "new" minerals which were nothing more than variations in the color and chemistry displayed by vermiculite. Trade names such as Dugarlite, Mandolitem, Strong-LiteTM, and Zonolitem are sometimes used to denote commercial vermiculite, thermally exfoliated vermiculite and their products. Vermiculite particles resemble mica and vary in color from colorless through tan and green to black, depending on the chemical composition. Most physical and optical properties are close to those of biotite, with perfect basal cleavage, hardness between 1.5 and 2.5 Mohs, and specific gravity between 2.2 to 2.8. Fine-sized particles will feel talcose, especially when wet. However, for commercial vermiculite the diagnostic test is that of thermal exfoliation. Vermiculite can display a wide range of compositions, depending on the composition of the original mica and the change of chemistry during weathering and ion exchange. Chemical data for some commercial vermiculites are given in [Table 1]. There are numerous analyses for vermiculite given in the literature, and the analyses of vermiculites from commercial deposits will fall within the range indicated by the average analysis in the table. Many analyses separate the adsorbed water (H2OP) from crystalline water and water as hydroxyl (H20+). The basis of separation of adsorbed water is generally considered to be 100°C. However, hydrate water within the vermiculite interlayer begins to be lost at 75°C and lower. Therefore, measured water content and loss on ignition are combined in the table as H20[total].

Jan 1, 1994