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By H. Do, R. Yoon

Mineral flotation is effective over a relatively narrow particle size range of approximately 10 to 100 µm. If the upper particle size limit can be increased, however, a run-of-mine ore may be coarse ground, and only the middlings are ground further to achieve required grades. This will result in significant energy savings and increased throughput. In this communication, methods of increasing the upper particle size limit will be discussed on the basis of a flotation model that can predict flotation from both hydrodynamic and surface chemical parameters. An example of increasing flotation recovery by control of a chemistry parameter is given.

Jan 1, 2007

By R. L. Virta

Sixteen companies mined fuller’s earth in 11 states during 2004. Production during 2004, based on a preliminary survey of fuller’s earth producers, was 3.96 Mt (4.3million st) valued at $340 million. This compared with3.6 Mt (3.9 million st) during 2003, valued at $346 million. The 3.96 Mt (4.3 million st) probably includes some crude clay tonnage. And production of finished product probably was closer to 3.2 Mt (3.5 million st) in 2004. Georgia was the leading producer state of attapulgite-type fuller’s earth, followed by Florida. Georgia also was the leading producer state for montmorillonite-type fuller’s earth. It was followed, in descending order, by Mississippi, Missouri, Florida, Virginia, Illinois, California, Tennessee, Kansas and Texas.

Jan 1, 2005

By A. Jarosz

The surface manifestation of underground mining usually entails five distinct types of surface movements, which can affect or damage surface structures, facilities and renewable resources. These movements developing at the surface can be described by (Bell, 1975; Bhattacharya and Singh, 1984): - vertical displacement, i.e. subsidence, - horizontal displacements, - slope or tilt, i.e. the derivative of the vertical displacement with respect to the horizontal distance, - curvature, i.e. the second derivative of the vertical displacement with respect to the horizontal distance, and, - horizontal strain, i.e. the derivative of the horizontal displacement with respect to the horizontal distance.

Jan 1, 1986

By A. Korchevisky

Environmental self-monitoring is one of the advanced approaches for industrial sustainability programs. Organization for Economy Cooperation and Development (OECD) defines self-monitoring as ?the system of organizational and technical measures put in place and financed by [the] regulated subject? in order to ensure their compliance with regulatory requirements?1. Self-monitoring is beneficial for industrial operators, communities, and governments. Industrial companies use self-monitoring as a central element of their compliance management that allows them to fulfill their duties, obligations, and to avoid citations. When industries control their emissions and ensure workers are not exposed above the regulated limits, communities are better. It is impossible for an EPA, OSHA, or MSHA inspectors to be close to every emission source or workplace full-time. It is much more effective for industries to self-monitor, under due supervision. Occupational conditions are a very important part of industry and health and safety self-monitoring should be highly prioritized. In this paper we will research the regulatory basis and best practice of occupational self-monitoring. We will show that not only is self-monitoring a vital element of an occupational health & safety management system, but that you need a management system for affective monitoring.

Jan 1, 2012

By Karen Mikkola, Gerald Luttrell, Jaisen Kohmuench, Glen Oswald, Michael Mankosa, Tracy Westerfield

Hydraulic separators are commonly used for particle size classification and gravity concentration of minerals and coal. Unfortunately, the efficiency of these processes can be quite low due to poor equipment design and variations in feed consistency. To help alleviate these problems, an industry-driven R&D program has been undertaken to develop a new generation of hydraulic separators that are more efficient and less costly to operate and maintain. Two of the most promising technologies, the CrossFlow and HydroFloat separators, have now been tested at industrial sites. The data obtained from these sites have been used to illustrate the potential performance improvements that can be realized through the application of these high-efficiency separators.

Jan 1, 2005

By S. Slottee

The technology of making and using ?paste? from mine tailings is increasingly well known by the minerals industry. The primary applications are water recovery and ?stacking? of tailings with minimal use of dams and ponds. This paper highlights some applications, other than water recovery and stacking, that have come to the attention of a paste thickener equipment supplier. As generated by thickeners, paste (also called ?thickened tailings?) is a non-settling, relatively high concentration, suspension of solids that can be pumped. Paste deposits with an angle of repose, allowing minimal use of dams. High solids concentration allows more water recovery at the paste thickener than is achieved in conventional and high rate slurry tailings thickeners. This paper is based on paste as produced in a flow sheet that includes a thickener, underflow pumps that are typically centrifugal, transfer pumps that can be centrifugal or positive displacement, and a distribution system at the deposition site. Examples of paste applications other than water recovery or stacking include: ?mine? an existing tailings pond by removing slurry, recovering coal or iron ore values, and return the new tailings to the pond as a paste that does not res-suspend; use paste to seal an existing tailings pond from leaking to groundwater or to an underground mine; extend the life of an existing tailings pond by thickening the tailings to paste; move an existing dry tailings impoundment to a new location by slurrying, pumping, paste thickening, and redeposit; minimize the size of a filter by paste thickening the feed; operate a paste thickener and filter in parallel on a tailings stream with re-mixing to achieve a high solids concentration. The use of paste tailings technology has been expanding over the last 15 years. The applications, both implemented and under consideration, are increasingly diverse and include all minerals tailings. Tailings handling designers should always consider a paste option to the conventional slurry solution.

Jan 1, 2011

By K. A. Lewandowski

Binders have been suggested as an aid for agglomeration to improve copper recovery in heap leaching operations. However, it has not been established if the use of binders would negatively affect the solvent extraction process, which is used to purify the pregnant leach solution from the heaps and remove any contaminants. Such negative effects would lead to an increase in processing costs or a decreased in copper production. The controlled studies reported here have shown that some binders (a polyacrylamide and a waste treatment additive) did not interfere with the solvent extraction process. Other binders (a polyvinyl acetate emulsion and tall oil pitch) negatively impacted copper solvent extraction and, therefore, should not be used in copper heap leaching plants.

Jan 1, 2009

By Charles W. Daugherty

INTRODUCTION The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority's (WMATA's) rapid transit system, Metro, ultimately will comprise 162.5 km (101 miles) of line divided among 10 routes. As shown in Figure 1, about 24 km (15 miles) of the system will consist of mined rock tunnels distributed along the A, B, C and K Routes. The structural construction contracts for all of the A, C and K Route rock tunnels are complete and trains are running in about one-third of them. A contract for construction of rock tunnel section B-9, the southernmost third of the B Route, was awarded on June 27, 1980. The final design of Sections B-10 and B-lla, the remainder of the rock tunnel portions of the B Route and the Metro system, are well advanced and should be under con¬struction by 1982. Of Metro's 87 stations, 11 will have been constructed by mining in solid rock, a not inconsiderable achievement, since each structure must be over 183 m (600 feet) long, wide enough to accommodate two trains and one or two passenger platforms, and high enough to achieve a stable arching action without encumbering columns. With the passage of years, some original priorities have been reordered, and ways have been sought to streamline and simplify this most complex of Metro structures without grossly violating the architectural standards that make it unique. This paper will summarize that search, and describe the design and construction aspects of the resulting product, the dual chamber rock tunnel station.

Jan 1, 1981

By A. Haghighat

The Missouri University of Science and Technology?s (Missouri S&T) Experimental Mine is a teaching and research facility which has been excavated in limestone by mining engineering students over almost 100 years. The mine is currently being extended to a second level. Available fans for ventilation are two surface fans of 24 kW and two underground booster fans of 12 kW. The design of a ventilation network in conjunction with multi surface fans and booster fans entails a complex procedure. Ventsim Visual software modeling has been used for network analysis to determine the optimum surface and booster fans locations, blade settings, and speeds. Both natural and mechanical induced ventilation pressures have been taken into account. Three working faces on each level have been designated as target points that minimum air quantities are required. The model has been calibrated against a pressure and quantity survey. Design of ductwork, door/stopping positions and different fans characteristics have been examined. The optimum flow rate at identified working faces, efficiency and minimum energy losses and annual network power cost determine the best scenario. The optimum design has been determined for the ventilation network for the next 100 years. The optimum flow rate across working faces is the key criterion selected.

Feb 23, 2014

By Charles N. Alpers, D. Kirk Nordstorm

A variety of approaches have been used in the recent literature for the estimation of pre-mining (or natural background) metal concentrations in areas affected by mining. The following is a list of some of these approaches: (1) historical and anecdotal data, (2) remote analogues (other similarly mineralized areas), (3) proximal analogues (nearby mineralized areas), (4) sediment sampling (streambeds, lakes, estuaries, floodplain deposits, and soil profiles), (5) stable isotopes (hydrogen, oxygen, sulfur, and carbon), (6) geochemical modeling (forward, equilibrium-based), (7) geochemical modeling (forward, kinetic- and transport-based, and inverse), (8) statistical analyses, (9) mass balance on oxygen flux, (10) mass balance with age determination of weathered material. Examples of each approach are described, and the strengths and limitations of each approach are discussed.

Jan 1, 2000

By Jack E. Brockway

As tunnel boring machine technology has expanded, so has its range of application. Tunneling machines (TBM's) are tackling tasks today that fifteen years ago were considered "inappropriate". A case in point is incline/decline TBM boring. An incline or decline bore presents peculiar design considerations that differentiate it from a horizontal bore. This paper reviews those design considerations as they apply to TBM's, backup, muck handling and other tunneling subsystems. In addition, several abbreviated case studies are presented. By the review of real life tunneling techniques as well as design considerations, the "appropriateness" of TBM incline/ decline boring today becomes apparent. INCLINE Introduction In contemplating the impact of incline versus horizontal tunnel boring system design, the obvious consideration is gravity. Up-hill boring can be quite different than horizontal boring. Muck, water and machine weight all tend to slide down the incline. In addition, hydraulic and lubrication systems if unaltered, will find their fluids pooled in the lower corners contentedly ignoring such higher elevation items as gears and bearings. In order to address this inherent gravity problem, a review of

Jan 1, 1983

In recent years there have been significant advances in computing power and programming technology, enabling more complicated processes to be modelled in greater detail. This has led to increased understanding of these complex processes, including mineral processing circuits. JKSimMet was developed over the past 35 years, incorporating outcomes from various research projects conducted at the Julius Kruttschnitt Mineral Research Centre (JKMRC), part of the Sustainable Minerals Institute at The University of Queensland. It is a steady-state software program that allows the user to mass balance, model fit and simulate crushing, grinding and classification circuits. JKSimFloat has been developed over the past 20 years, incorporating outcomes from the JKMRC and other institutions around the world through the AMIRA International P9 project ? The Optimisation and Simulation of Mineral Processing Circuits. It is also a steady-state software program, similar to JKSimMet, but is focused on analysing flotation circuits. Both programs have been used in a wide variety of optimisation and design projects over many years. This paper provides an overview of both JKSimMet and JKSimFloat and examples of how both programs have been used to better understand, develop and optimise mineral processing circuits around the world.

Feb 27, 2013

Gary R. Steele is vice president, corporate marketing with Energy Fuels Resources. As such, he knows the global uranium market. The following are some of his thoughts on uranium?s place in the global energy picture. ME: What are Energy Fuels Resources? thoughts on the global nuclear power industry? Steele: The global nuclear power industry is a major contributor to the electrical needs of the world. Though generation by nuclear reactors has primarily attracted attention through the reactor accidents at Three Mile Island and Chernobyl, nuclear power continues to quietly and safely provide power to a growing and power-hungry world population. As of March 2008, 30 countries were operating 439 nuclear power reactors. Nuclear power plants provided about 15 percent of the world?s electricity production in 2007. France leads the world in nuclear utilization, with 77 percent of its power coming from nuclear plants. And Lithuania, Slovakia and Belgium each derive more than 50 percent of their power needs from nuclear plants. For much of the developed world, nuclear generation has already been contributing significantly to the supply of electricity. Additionally, 34 new nuclear plants are under construction in 14 countries. Leading the rush to build new nuclear generating plants are China, Russia and India. Each of these countries is building six new nuclear power plants. These 18 plants, totaling almost 12,000 MW of generation capacity, will require about 7.25 kt (16 million lbs) of U3O8 for their initial fuel load and will consume about 2.45 kt/a (5.4 million lbs/year) for the rest of their operating lives. The rest of the world, outside of the United States, has used nuclear power as a viable and economic generation alternative since the commercialization of utility nuclear reactors. And current activity supports the strong future of the nuclear alternative internationally.

Jan 1, 2008

By I. J. Duckworth

During the last twenty years computers have be-come widely used to assist with the simulation and design of large scale, primary ventilation systems. However, to date there are few computer programs available to help with the modeling of auxiliary ventilation in dead-end headings or tunnels. This paper presents the results of the first year of a research and programming study dedicated to the development of a user-friendly duct simulation tool. Included is a literature review that summarises publications on duct leakage and resistance, on previous programs developed for the simulation of airflow in ducts, and case studies on extended ductlines in mines and tunnels. The methodology behind the development of Ductsim, a Windows based simulation program is presented.

Jan 1, 2000

By C. J. Roos

Ground engaging tools are used to prevent damage to the main components of earth-moving equipment. These tools consist of everything from shovel teeth to replaceable drill bits to dozer wear plates. The costs of these ?consumable? items are increasing with the costs of raw materials. This project developed a tool to be used by Newmont Mining Corporation to predict the consumption of excavator teeth. This paper presents the results of a Montana Tech research project in which an equation was developed to predict excavator teeth consumption based on production rates and rock properties.

Jan 1, 2009

By Reed Thorne

To many people, rescue from elevated, sometimes vertical, locations brings about thoughts of heroism mixed with brawn and self-sacrifice. Images are conjured of cliff rescues where the technical effort is hanging from a few seemingly small nylon ropes hundreds of feet above the ground. Such is the vertical realm of technical rope rescue. This is a technical field in which the author serves professionally as battalion chief of (rope) operations for a northern Arizona fire district, and as a private sector instructor to mines in the United States and Canada.

Jan 1, 1996

By A. D. Davis

Limestone-based technology for arsenic removal from water is an innovative and promising method. The technology offers the potential for low-cost disposal of a stable waste product after arsenic removal, either in an ordinary landfill or by encapsulation in concrete. Leaching research described in this paper shows that the limestone waste, after encapsulation in concrete, passes the Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure (TCLP) test. Leaching was less than 0.05 mg/L, which is 1/100 of the U.S. EPA?s standard for disposal of arsenic in a landfill. Disposal of arsenic-enriched waste is critical for commercial viability of arsenic-removal technologies. Low-cost disposal gives the limestone-based method an advantage that could help communities meet the new maximum contaminant level of 10 parts per billion for arsenic in drinking water. The ability to recycle the waste material in concrete could add a significant economic benefit, further reducing overall costs.

Jan 1, 2009

By D. S. Saxena, Jack K. Tuttle

Lack of understanding of useful applications of explosives on construction work stem primarily from the fact that explosion is commonly associated with destruction. On rock excavation and other construction works a certain quantity of explosive is harnessed to perform useful work at the source e.g. blasts to disintegrate rock. Development in rock blasting techniques, including the use of multiple-row blasting with short delay ignition, have made it impossible to excavate rocks close to or below buildings even in closely built-up areas. To permit the use of explosives on construction projects, in ways that will not damage existing structures, guidelines have been developed from careful measurements of intensity of ground vibrations. Accurate electronic instruments are now available for doing this. PLANNING AND CONTROL Blasting operations must be carefully planned and carried out to avoid discomfort to persons or damage to property. This increase in the use of rock blasting in city areas alone has led to a number of problems due to ground vibrations, air shock waves, and the psychological effect of noise. While the latter seldom if ever causes damage, it does create irritation and discomfort to persons living or working near the blasting sites. A result of this is a steady increase in the number of complaints in respect of damage to houses and other premises. Many such complaints are genuine and damage may undoubtedly be caused when incorrect blasting techniques are used.

Jan 1, 1997

Ceremonies for the induction of five mining industry pioneers into the National Mining Hall of Fame are scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 25, 2004 at the Las Vegas Hilton in Las Vegas, NV. The 17th Annual Mining Hall of Fame Induction banquet will begin with a reception at 6 p.m., followed by the dinner and program at 7 p.m. The five inductees are Georgius Agricola, David William Brunton, Herbert E. Goodman, David Ray Mitchell and Robert Peele. Georgius Agricola (1494-1555) wrote De ReMetallica, an original and valuable work that discussed everything known about mining during the first half of the 16th century. In De Re Metallica, Agricola reviewed practical means of finding ores, methods of surveying and mining, the assaying of ores, types and uses of mining machinery, smelting, mine administration and more. David William Brunton (1849-1927) is best know

Jan 1, 2004

By Hyung Jeek Kim, Jongmin Joo, Jonguk Kim, Jai-Woon Moon, Kyeong-Yong Lee

"Co-rich ferromanganese crusts (Fe-Mn crusts) distributed on seamounts in the western Pacific are potential economic resources for cobalt, nickel, platinum, and other rare metals in the future. Evaluation and selection of a mining site can be established based on abundance and grade of Fe-Mn crusts in the site as well as topography that should be smooth enough for mining operations. Therefore, acquisition of shipboard echo-sounding and acoustic backscatter data are prerequisite to the selection of potential mine sites in addition to visual and sampling operations. Acoustic backscatter data can be used to locate crust-covered areas on a regional scale with the understanding of acoustic properties of crust through its correlation with visual and sampling data.During an expedition that took place from January to March 2014, KIOST collected geophysical and geologic data to assess the resource potential for Fe-Mn crusts on three seamounts (guyots) in the Western Pacific. In OSM11, one of the three surveyed seamounts, three camera tows were performed to observe the distribution of Fe-Mn crusts on the summit and slopes of the seamount. Although sediments of various thicknesses generally cover most of summit region of OSM11, several regions with high backscatter signals occur on the periphery of the summit. The occurrence of Fe-Mn crusts, observed during the camera tows, on those high backscattered regions suggests that the backscatter signals of shipboard multi-beam sonar can reflect changes in the geology of the seafloor from sediment layer to Fe-Mn crust deposits. The Fe-Mn crust deposited around the summit region is worthy of notice because of its topographic characteristics, including shallow depth, flat or gentle inclined surface, and smooth relief, which are more suitable for mining operation compared to the flanks of seamount."

Sep 1, 2014