Search Documents

By A. Bascetin

The mining industry in Turkey has been developing in the last 10 years. Mine wastes and tailings have thus been increasing, depending on the rising production rates. There are many problems related to accidents that occur in tailings damps. In this study, the applicability of the surface paste disposal (SPD) method for a Pb-Zn mine in western Turkey was examined. Density was 3.084 and specific surface area was 0.899 m2/g. The mill tailings have very low plasticity and show characteristics of clays and silts in terms of the Unified Soil Classification System. The particle size distribution of the tailings was 39.2% particles finer than 20 µm. The results of this study showed that the physical and chemical properties of mill tailings make them suitable for SPD.

Aug 1, 2013

By A. A. Brant

Self-potential methods are based ?on measurements on the surface of voltage distributions caused by natural sub-surface oxidation phenomena. The attempt is made to. correlate voltage minima or maxima with the location of mineral materials or geological conditions which may give rise to such naturally produced spontaneous potentials. Any orebody undergoing oxidation is a source of electric current. Ground waters carrying free oxygen attack the upper surface of the body, rendering this the positive pole of a galvanic cell, with the lower portion of the body the negative pole and the surrounding weak acidic waters the electrolyte. Current flow is from positive to negative through the orebody and negative to positive through the electrolyte, i.e., through the surrounding rock. The upper end of a steeply dipping, tabular orebody is hence indicated as lying below the point on the surface where the largest negative potential is observed(l). From its basis, it is apparent that the self-potential method was developed primarily for ore exploration.

Jan 1, 1942

By Philip W. Johnson, Charles D. Haynes

"Abstract - The coalbed methane industry has become a prominent source of domestic natural gas, with its technology having evolved over the past 30 years. Whereas most coalbed methane wells are able to produce without major interruption over their economic lives, wells operating in an underground mining area are subject to being mined-through. If mine-through occurs, the productivity of the well is at least compromised, and may even be terminated. The economic consequences of mine-through may be relatively simple if mineral ownership and extraction rights are common for the coal and coalbed methane. However, if ownership is not common and a superior coalbed methane lease exists, the coalbed methane ownership must be compensated for lost production caused by mine-through. This paper presents a relatively straightforward method to calculate the value of the lost production caused by the mine-through. It uses technology from mining and petroleum engineering, as well as simple economics and financial management techniques.Sommaire - L’industrie de la production de méthane houiller est aujourd’hui une source importante de gaz naturel domestique dont la technologie a considérablement évolué au cours des trente dernières années. Bien que la plupart des puits de méthane houiller peuvent être mis en production durant l’entièreté de leur vie utile sans interruption majeure, les puits implantés en périphérie de mines souterraines sont sujets à être recoupés par ces dernières. Un tel recoupement peut compromettre, ou même mettre fin à la production d'un tel puits. Les conséquences économiques du recoupement par une mine souterraine peuvent être relativement simples quand les droits miniers et les droits d’extraction sont détenus en commun pour le charbon et le méthane houiller. Si toutefois ces droits ne sont pas détenus en commun et qu’il y a eu octroi d’une concession de méthane houiller de qualité supérieure, les détenteurs du méthane houiller doivent être compensés pour la perte de production résultant du recoupement par une mine souterraine. Cet article présente une méthode relativement simple pour calculer la valeur des pertes de production suite au recoupement par une mine souterraine. Cette méthode fait appel aux technologies de l’industrie minière et pétrolière ainsi qu’à des techniques simples d’économie et de gestion financière."

Jan 1, 2006

By M. E. Holter

"Three main potash members are recognized within the Prairie Evaporite Formation of Saskatchewan and have been designated, in ascending order, the Esterhazy, Belle Plaine and Patience Lake members. Each is composed of sylvinite near the geographic center of the member and becomes increasingly carnallitic marginally. Each stratigraphically higher member has a narrower carnallitic margin. The sharp contact between carnallitic and non-carnallitic components of the formation describes a surface which may be traced regionally and is not related to bed-ding. The contact rises higher in the stratigraphic section toward margins of members. Within each of the three members, analyses indicate that carnallite becomes more abundant toward the north whereas sylvite and insolubles, increase toward the south. Within each member, areas rich in carnallite are coincident with areas in which the member as a whole is thicker than averag,e. The Belle Plaine Member contains the highest concentrations of carnallite, the Esterhazy the lowest. A maximum content of about 30 per cent sylvite is common to all three members. Insoluble contents increase in successively higher members.Map studies are combined to outline the economic potential of the potash beds in terms of depth to the top of the Prairie Evaporite, ""salt-back"" thicknesses and sylvite grades for each member."

Jan 1, 1971

By John F. Gartner

"Traditionally, the geologists of Canada have been occupied with the tasks of finding new mineral bodies, locating gas and oil fields or hunting for economic deposits of industrial minerals. A very minor percentage of graduate geologists have applied their skills to solution of the ""urban blight"" or employing their understanding of ""Nature"" for the optimum use of land by mankind. However, things are changing quickly. The role of the geologist in the planning process is being established. It is an exciting time! Geologists are now being consulted on a wide range of urban planning problems. These vary, tor example, from assessment of the geological environment for the new communities of Erin Mills and Meadowvale, which will have total populations in excess of 100,000 people (truly a satellite city), to a complete geological/ geohydrological assessment of the new sanitary landfill for the city of Guelph.Use of geologic techniques and methods for urban studies must be enhanced with certain skills not taught, in the past, to the geologist. These include airphoto interpretation, soil mechanics, geohydrology, municipal engineering and highway engineering to mention a few. The geologist has the unique training to assess the natural environment and to discover, warn and explain the implications of man's attempt to command his environment."

Jan 1, 1972

By V. Bruned, K. Mohamed, A. Michaut

Orano Mining Somaïr uranium treatment plant (Niger) uses a pugging-curing process to leach uranium. Sulfuric acid, nitrates and water are added to the finely grinded ore in a rotary drum to leach uranium bearing minerals and solubilize uranyl sulfate ions. Reagents, sulfuric acid and nitrates, are the main OpEx of this process step. The economical optimization of their addition requires a thorough knowledge of the ore behavior in solution with these reagents. Orano Mining technical direction and Somaïr laboratories developed a model to predict the curing process uranium recovery surface with a limited number of parameters. Experimental laboratory work to fit the model needs to be done for each type of ore which can require a lot of metallurgical tests and would be time consuming. In order to optimize the required number of tests, an innovative experience plan was designed in parallel to the development of this model reducing the required number of tests to only eight. Once the parameters of the models are correctly fit, the comparison between the estimated values and the actual values for the uranium recovery is excellent (less than 0.5% error in average). Associated with an updated cost model of the curing process, this new recovery model helps the plant operator find the best set of reagents to maximize curing process profitability in the Somaïr plant day after day.

Jan 1, 2020

By R W. Hutchinson

Cupreous pyrite deposits in Cyprus have many geologic similarities to Canadian massive sulphide copper-zinc ores as well as certain significant differences. A comparison of the Cyprus and Canadian deposits indicates a complex genetic history for the latter and suggests that their origin should be re-examined. The Cyprus ores occur in subaqueous extrusive rocks near and at the top of a Cretaceous volcanic pile or igneous complex. The rocks have not been deformed, nor have they been deeply buried or deeply eroded. Apparently the ores formed near or at surface in the top of the volcanic pile by a volcanic-exhalative process and from an ore-fluid of volcanic derivation. The Canadian deposits are of comparable composition and have similar geologic set-tings, but occur in the most ancient Precambrian rocks. Their enclosing Keewatin greenstones have, in most places, been deformed, regionally metamorphosed and invaded by granitic intrusions. Comparison suggests that the Canadian ores also formed initially near surface in ancient Keewatin volcanic complexes by a syngenetic, volcanic-exhalative process. Subsequently, during orogenesis, they were deformed, remobilized under conditions of elevated pressure-temperature and re-emplaced as epigenetic bodies into

Jan 1, 1965

By Wm. Snow, J. R. Wallace, E. P. Duchemin

"GeneralA NOT INCONSIDERABLE proportion of the Canadian economy is dependent on the coal mining industry. This is particularly true of the eastern portion of Canada and especially so of the ( authors') province of Nova Scotia. Much has been said about the trying economic straits of the coal industry in Nova Scotia ( 1), faced, as it is, with difficult mining problems, with considerable distance from large markets, and with •competition from other (and usually foreign) fuels. It is of particular interest, at this time, therefore, to discuss one of the larger outlets for coal -that of the production of metallurgical coke.Scope of PaperWhile the title of this paper indicates that it deals with Metallurgical Coke in Canada, the authors beg leave to treat the Canadian industry very briefly and to deal specifically with coal, •coke, and smelting problems with which they are familiar, namely, the operation of the Dominion Steel and Coal Corporation in the Sydney, N.S., area. No mention is made of metallurgical coke for use in the •many foundries in Canada or in the non-ferrons metallurgical industries.Coal and Coke StatisticsA few statistics of the total output of .Canadian coal, production of metallurgical coke, and similar figures for the Dosco holdings (Sydney area only) are shown in Table I."

Jan 1, 1955

By J. M. Livingstone

"This paper covers some of the problems confronted by Canada's railways in moving bulk materials from their source to the dock-site. The ""cost center"" concept is presented, and hypothetical examples of its use given. Also discussed are systems design, the unit train and pipelines.INTRODUCTIONCANADA LIVES BY RER EXPORTS and the Port of Vancouver by the exports of the Mountain and Prairie Empire at her back. The most recent estimates of off-shore shipments of bulk from the Port of Vancouver rise to 35.8 million shipping tons in 1985 and deep-sea general cargo estimates, in and out, are estimated at 7.6 million shipping tons for the same year. This compares to 7.67 and 2.87 million shipping tons, respectively, in 1965."

Jan 1, 1968

By P. Fossi

This report describes a pilot-scale study of a hydrometallurgical process to treat high-grade nickel matte or a nickel-cobalt sulphide precipitate to produce high-purity electrolytic nickel. The first step of the process is the oxidative leaching of the nickel-bearing material by nitric acid; the nitrous gases generated during leaching are reconverted to nitric acid. The crude nickel sulphate nitrate solution is purified and is then subjected to a denitrification step. Nitrate separation is effected either by the crystallization of nickel sulphate or by precipitation of basic nickel carbonate. The electrolyte is prepared from the nitrate-free material and nickel is then recovered by electrolysis of the sulphate solution using insoluble anodes. Some technical and economic problems encountered with this processing route are discussed and the method is compared to the "all-chloride" process developed by Société Le Nickel.

Jan 1, 1977

By A. Karzhau, B. Aldamzharov, Y. Tussupbekov

"This case study produced for the metal mine operating in Kazakhstan, which has ventilation controlled manually and working continuously at maximum speed to keep air flowing through each part of the mine 24 hours a day. The mine auxiliary ventilation has been designed with the maximum length of ducting systems with extra air volumes to compensate for potential leakage. The mine provided auxiliary ventilation to all production stopes even to those, which for various operating reasons become temporarily inactive. However, mine safety has to consider risks associated with the deficit of fresh air for mine gases dilution and removal. The mine needs additional investments for re-designing ventilation network and therefore needs to estimate financial risks associated with it. The aim of this study is to conduct risk analysis for ventilation network optimisation processes at the operational metal mine in Kazakhstan. Mine ventilation surveys were undertaken for validation of the computerised ventilation model. The mine ventilation network modelling has been undertaken to be compliant with Kazakhstan mining regulations. Results of the mine ventilation optimisation processes were analysed in terms of financial risks for investments into reconstruction of the ventilation shafts, extension of the ventilation network, variable speed fans and automated regulators. Savings were resulted from improving ventilation system efficiency by reduce airflow in areas without mining activity and redistributing existing ventilation capacity. Based on savings derived from the optimised ventilation network an additional NPV has been received. Stochastic modelling use Monte Carlo simulation producing representation of possible outcomes for the additional NPV considering electricity pricing as a major variability. As result probability distribution for the optimised ventilation network demonstrates the additional NPV in a range of 1.6 - 2.2 million US$ in the corresponding defined value of 90%. Moreover, there is only 5% chance that the additional NPV to be less than 1.5 million US$. Conducted risk analysis for ventilation network optimisation processes gives considerations on volume of investments into the mine ventilation system.INTRODUCTIONCosts for mine ventilation are typically increasing when mines expand to deep levels. Some underground mines in Kazakhstan still use continuously operating fans at its maximum capacity. This is not helping to save energy and costs that are in many cases very significant. This case study produced for the metal mine operating in Kazakhstan, which has ventilation controlled manually and working continuously at maximum speed to keep air flowing through each part of a mine 24 hours a day. The mine auxiliary ventilation has been designed with maximum length of ducting systems and extra air volumes to compensate for potential leakage. The mine provided auxiliary ventilation to all production stopes even to those, which for various operating reasons become temporarily inactive. However, mine safety has to consider risks associated with the deficit of fresh air for mine gases dilution and removal from the mine workings (Sabanov, 2019). The mine needs additional investments for re-designing ventilation networks and therefore need to estimate financial risks associated with it. The aim of this study is to conduct risk analysis for ventilation networks optimisation processes at the operational mine in Kazakhstan. Mine ventilation surveys for validation of the computerised ventilation model have been undertaken"

Jan 1, 2019

By J. A. Russell

"UNTIL the last few years, the collieries of the Dominion Coal Company, Limited, while highly mechanized as to the cutting and transportation of the coal, still relied on the hand-loading of coal from the seam onto face conveyors. In these circumstances it was possible to assure that no large proportion of extraneous materials would be loaded with the coal, and the product could be quite well cleaned for the market by screening and hand-picking.Within the past few years, however, the Company has introduced an intensive programme of mechanization which will result in the virtual elimination of hand-loading .of coal. It has been the experience of other producers that mechanical loading inevitably leads to a very large increase in the amount of impurities in the product. This is occasioned by the fact that, at least up to the present, all types of loading machines have relied on the coal being broken from the seam by under-cutting and shooting. In this operation, a certain amount of roof and pavement material inevitably becomes mixed with the coal and, since selective loading is impossible with a loading machine, all this foreign material is loaded out with the product."

Jan 1, 1952

By G. Eaton

Safety management is an important mortal and business function in construction. Contractors have traditionally tracked and reported lagging indicators, e.g. fatalities and lost-time accident rates, to measure their safety performance and stay in compliance with relevant regulations. Over the last several decades, contractors became more proactive in their approach to safety and developed programs that track leading indicators, e.g. safety audits and safety climate. In particular, safety climate measures workers? perception of safety management and its effectiveness in the workplace. Past literatures indicated that, while some industrial construction contractors ignore safety climate measures, others are limited by a lack of a formal means to measure safety climate. In this study, a survey approach is used to measure an industrial construction contractor?s safety climate through three key areas: management commitment, job control, and general safety climate. As a pilot study, a total of 214 individuals at a fabrication facility participated in the survey to verify the validity and effectiveness of the proposed survey approach. This survey study also confirms that job control and management commitment have a positive correlation and that worker demographics have an effect on respondents? perceptions of management commitment.

Aug 1, 2013

CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamic) models have been developed and validated for a pulsed column with disk-doughnut internals, as used for solvent extraction. First a single phase model was developed to simulate the turbulent oscillating flow around the internals of the column. This model was successfully validated using detailed PIV measurements of velocity taken at eight different phases through the pulse cycle. Second, the CFD model was extended to allow for a continuous aqueous phase and a dispersed organic phase (kerosene) flowing counter-currently. The model was a two-fluid model that accounts for droplet breakup and coalescence, and solves for droplet size distribution using a population balance model incorporated into the CFX4 package. PDIA (Particle Droplet Image Analysis) measurements were taken on a pilot scale solvent extraction pulsed column to determine droplet size distribution for calibration and validation of the CFD model. The measurements were made under pulsing intensities ranging from 10 mm/s to 32.5 mm/s.

Jan 1, 2007

By A. F. Gregory

"AbstractA resumé of aerial radiation survey studies performed by and for Eldorado Mining and Refining, Limited, since 1943 is presented. Flight tests were initiated in 1947 and were followed .by intensified use and study of Geiger counters and other radiation detectors. Development of an aerial scintillation counter began in 1948, but •a sensitive large crystal unit was not available for exploration purposes until 1950. Modifications of this unit have been used in all subsequent surveys.For the Eldorado detector, several limiting conditions were established for successful radioactivity detection, the most important being that natural vein exposures can only be assuredly detected .at distances less than 150 feet. Sedimentary and pegmatitic radioactive occurrences can be detected at much greater distances. A helicopter investigation technique appears to •have •a useful prospecting potential.IntroductionAerial radiation surveys were first proposed in the early 1940's. However, it was not until 1949 that airborne detectors were extensively used in the search for radioactive minerals. Eldorado has flown about 50,000 miles of exploration flights, exclusive of tests, using a variety of •detectors and aircraft. Considerable data have •been gathered for .the evaluation of the several techniques employed. Much of the early work was performed with the co-operation of the National Research Council of Canada ( 1). More recent work was done in conjunction with the Commercial Products Division of Atomic Energy of Canada, Limited. The Development Department of this latter corporation designed and built the scintillation counter used in recent Eldorado surveys."

Jan 1, 1955

By W. Basuki, B. Setyotomo, L. Hakim, R. Hendrajaya

Due to high crack sensitivity of slab product of gas and oil line pipe application, its steel making process and alloy composition were evaluated and then improved to overcome its critical solidification process and reduced surface defects. The study was conducted at Slab Steel Plant Krakatau Steel. The purpose was to improve slab surface quality by reducing surface defects so that the slab surface doesn't need to be totally repaired. The method applied was by performing plant trial process, which the secondary process parameters such as alloying method and the casting parameters such as casting powder selection, metallurgical cooling, mould level control, and superheat were continuously monitored and then adjusted to the surface quality of the product. Based on the calculation of Ferrite potential of the steel, the chemical composition was designed to achieve optimum casting parameters in order to avoid high shrinkage during solidification. The results of the study are decreased surface defect quantity, and smooth casting process. The quantity of crack decreased by almost 90%. The slab surface repairing was significantly reduced from 85. % to less than 10%. These new casting parameters and developed alloy composition are then used and standardized for the mass production of the steel.

Jan 1, 2005

By Courtney E. Cleveland

THE gold deposits of the Pioneer and Bralorne mines, in the Bridge River district of British Columbia, are closely associated with a long, narrow intrusive body of extremely variable composition, outcropping on the northeast side of Cadwallader creek and lying almost entirely within the property boundaries of the two companies. Other masses of the same type of intrusive rock are found in the district, more or less along the line of the main axis of the Pioneer-Bralorne in trusive, and have associated with them variable amounts of gold-quartz mineralization (Figure 1). The ore deposits of the district have been the subject of investigation by officers of the Geological Survey of Canada at various times during the past 25 years, and articles on the geology and mines of the district have been published by various individuals in technical journals. A list of the more important re-ports follows: SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY

Jan 1, 1938

By Du Xinfeng

The resource quantity of the low rank coalbed methane (CBM) accounts for 47% of the total resource quantity of CBM in China. Compared with the exploration and development of the high rank CBM in Qinshui Basin, China and the low rank CBM in Powder River Basin, USA and Albert Basin, Canada, the exploration and development of the low rank CBM are still in the initial test stage. In this paper, on the basis of analyzing the mining geological conditions such as that the Huanglong Jurassic Coalfield is largely situated in the hills and gullies zones, and the coal reservoir has the features such as the low metamorphic degree, large coal seam thickness, simple coal matrix texture, high permeability and small CBM content and so on, it discusses the key technologies such as the development pattern of CBM, well location arrangement, drilling and well completion technology and fracturing technology and so on. It indicates that the underbalanced drilling and the cavity well completion based on the reservoir protection will be the development directions of the CBM development technology in this area.

Aug 1, 2013

"Ground control research in underground coal mines has been ongoing for over 50 years. One of the most problematic issues in underground coal mines is roof failures associated with weak shale. This paper will present a historical narrative on the research the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health has conducted in relation to rock mechanics and shale. This paper begins by first discussing how shale is classified in relation to coal mining. Characterizing and planning for weak roof sequences is an important step in developing an engineering solution to prevent roof failures. Next, the failure mechanics associated with the weak characteristics of shale will be discussed. Understanding these failure mechanics also aids in applying the correct engineering solutions. The various solutions that have been implemented in the underground coal mining industry to control the different modes of failure will be summarized. Finally, a discussion on current and future research relating to rock mechanics and shale is presented. The overall goal of the paper is to share the collective ground control experience of controlling roof structures dominated by shale rock in underground coal mining.INTRODUCTIONThe National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health’s (NIOSH) Office of Mine Safety and Health Research (OMSHR), formerly the United States Bureau of Mines, has been conducting research on ground control safety for over 50 years. The overall objective of the research is to reduce underground mining injuries and fatalities by characterizing roof conditions, improving roof support performance and application, and optimizing pillar design and mine layout. Underground mining has one of the highest fatal injury rates of any industry in the United States—more than five times the national average compared to other industries (CDC, 2012). Roof fall injuries can be severe, resulting in lacerations, bone fractures, amputations, and death. Non-injury roof falls can also be problematic, resulting in lost production, delays, blockage of primary escape routes, disruption to ventilation, and hazardous rehabilitation conditions.Coal mining is increasingly subject to more adverse geological conditions. Weak roof can be found in all coal mining regions in the United States, but there are a few geographically isolated areas with higher roof fall rates contributed to by particularly poor roof conditions, as represented in Figure 1. This figure shows that when non-injury roof fall rates are normalized to production, the Illinois Basin and Central/Northern Appalachia regions have the highest rates. These isolated regions have inherently weak roof even before mining has occurred, and this roof is easily damaged during the mining process. The weak roof in these regions consists primarily of shale. Shale can be troublesome in underground coal mining because it can appear massive but easily splits along bedding planes and is often moisture-sensitive."

Jan 1, 2015

By D. F. Coates

Slope problems arise on mining properties from cuts for roads and railroads and from open pits. When it is 'realized that 1,000,000 extra tons of waste may have to be mined as a result of an average slope being reduced by 1 ° it is easy to appreciate that the slope problems connected with open pits are of far greater importance than the others. The type of slope failure that can occur can be classified in different ways. The most useful classification would be one that separates the causes in such a way as to provide a basis for studies to deal with problems of prevention and control. Using this criterion the types of slope failures are classified into four groups. Having classified the problems in this way an understanding can be gained of the various mechanisms involved in failure ..

Jan 1, 1961