Search Documents

By J. E. Nesset, S. R. Rao, J. A. Finch

"For base metal sulphides, iron rejection starts in mineral processing. This review focuses on changes in plant practice specifically to improve iron sulphide rejection by control of contaminant ion effects and discusses selected general innovations in mineral processing that can be expected to play a role. One group of changes to control contaminant ions is in size reduction (the use of stage grinding and inert stirred milling) and another is in system chemistry (order of reagent addition and exploitation of the flexibility of sulphoxy reagents). Plant examples illustrate the successes, indicating that there are several options available. The general innovations start by considering the new tools for measuring gas dispersion properties and quantifying froth characteristics by imaging. Examples of their application to improve concentrate quality illustrate the potential. Other innovations stress adapting geostatistics to model variation in milling and flotation response to provide feed forward control and rigorous application of statistical experimental methodology in plant test work. An example from one concentrator shows improvements in concentrate quality from application of basic principles can be impressive.INTRODUCTIONThe more iron control (rejection) that can be accomplished in mineral processing the lower the subsequent metal extraction costs and environmental implications of iron disposal, particularly in hydrometallurgical processes. Iron rejection has been a contributing target to periodic attempts to apply mineral processing to nickel laterites and bauxites but the prime application is control of pyrite and pyrrhotite (iron sulphides) in the treatment of sulphide ores by flotation. In this paper some new concepts and innovations introduced in sulphide flotation plants over the past ten years or so (i.e., since a previous review [1]) will be outlined with examples of how they have contributed to improved “iron control”.To increase rejection of iron minerals, first the recovery mechanism should be understood. There are four principal ones, two physical in origin: 1, via locked particles (i.e., flotation of composite particles due to insufficient size reduction to liberate the minerals) and 2, through entrainment in the water reporting to the float product (an unselective process); and two originating from a response to the system chemistry: 1, true flotation (i.e., iron sulphides becoming hydrophobic) and 2, as a result of iron sulphides forming aggregates with hydrophobic particles (e.g., ”slime” coatings). There has been considerable effort to diagnose which of these dominates iron sulphide recovery; in many cases it is due to “chemistry”, in particular true flotation. The flotation effect often appears related to contamination by metal ions [1]. This can reduce selectivity in two ways: 1, metal ion species may activate iron sulphides, or 2, cause general depression which demands more vigorous flotation conditions (e.g., additional collector) with consequent loss of selectivity. This is where the review will start, by considering ways to control contaminant ions."

Jan 1, 2007

By A. H. Mokken

Failed attempts at amalgamation of a gold/osmiridium concentrate, recovered behind pebble mill liners during re-lining, led to the discovery that the gold particles were coated and that nitric acid only could remove the coatings. Following this treatment amalgamation was rapid and resulted in a complete recovery of the gold that otherwise would have been lost in plant residues. Investigations into the nature and formation of the coatings led to the realization that the coatings were impregnations of harder elements, associated with the gold during grinding and driven into the softer gold surface by high pressure, impact and attrition. It was further realized that this phenomenon could be part of gold ore milling, world-wide. With these thoughts in mind the question is asked whether concentration down to micron sizes prior to cyanidation, should not play a greater role in gold recovery.

Jan 1, 1999

By Y. Özçelik

Rocks show a variety of engineering and physical properties that affect typical quarry operation such as diamond wire cutting in the marble quarry. The physical and mechanical properties of rocks depend on their mineralogical and petrographical characteristics. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of mineralogical and petrographical properties of a rock, such as grain size and mineral content, and how these affect the wearing of diamond bead and cutting rate in a diamond wire cutting operation in a marble quarry. Statistical analysis is used to carry out the study. Three different rock types were examined, namely, hard rock (andesite) and softer rocks like limestone and marble. The study revealed that the mineralogical and petrographical properties of the rocks, such as percentage of quartz, biotite, plagioclase, matrix minerals, and opaque minerals, are important. In addition, the grain size of quartz and plagioclase in andesitic rocks and calcite grain size for carbonate rocks significantly influenced the wear rate and cutting rate in diamond wire cutting operations.

Jan 1, 2005

By E. Eccleston

The ConRoast process for the production of platinum group metals involves the use of a fluidized bed reactor for the removal of sulphur from ore concentrates by roasting prior to smelting in a DC-arc furnace. Test work was carried out in 2007 at Hazen Research in Golden, Colorado to provide the data necessary for a commercial roaster to be designed by Technip. This paper discusses the rationale behind the test work, the goals for calcine composition to be used as smelting furnace feed, the results of various roaster operating parameters in terms of calcine composition (particularly residual sulphur and the fate of trace elements), and the impact of the results in terms of a commercial roaster design.

Jan 1, 2009

By D A. Vogel

"Sampling may be mandatory for safety or environmental reasons. It may be because the value of a sale needs to be determined or to provide important data for investments. Whatever the reason, an incorrect sample will come at a risk. Only the person that relies on sampling data can imagine what the potential cost of such risk is.Sampling itself has a cost too; the direct cost of a quality control department and indirect cost for interrupting a process, such as stopping a conveyor belt during loading. If all material is the same then only one small sample is enough. But if all the material is different, then a very large sample must be tested; in the conveyor belt scenario it must be stopped very frequently and the associated cost will be high.A good sampling plan finds the proper balance between risk and cost. A good sample must be small enough to handle yet large enough to be representative for what information is required. All good samples have three things in common: there was proper access to the material the sampling tool allowed equal probability of particles being selected nothing was disregarded, everything was included.This too is the core of Gy’s ideal sampling scenario, where all particles have the same probability of being selected and included in the sample. There is risk of bias when part of a lot is excluded from the sample. Extra care is needed when sampling particularly heterogeneous, segregated or layered materials. The sampling tool should never systematically leave out a portion; it shall not push aside large or hard particles. Wet samples shall not stick to the sampling tool. This extends to sample preparation too when reducing particle size and dividing the sample in the process.CITATION:Vogel, D A, 2017. Access, select, include – a review of the commercial sampling of traded bulk commodities in the context of Gy’s Theory of Sampling, in Proceedings Eighth World Conference on Sampling and Blending, pp 367–378 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne)."

May 9, 2017

By C. W. Davie

"This paper is the second of a series of progress reports4 on a study of the hydrometallurgy of manganese which is being conducted in an endeavor to make possible utilization of the large deposits of low-grade domestic manganese ores that occur in several States.There are at least four processes in which a knowledge of the action of SO2 gas on manganese oxides at elevated temperatures may prove of value.One of these involves dissolution of manganese from ores. The Bureau of Mines has investigated the hydrometallurgy of manganese by a process in which SO2 gas, a waste product at many smelters, is passed into water to form a solvent for manganese. Although several manganese minerals were readily dissolved, rhodochrosite (MnCO3) was attacked but superficially.5 Recent experiments have shown that a roast at 650 to 9000 C. converts the manganese of rhodochrosite to a form that is quickly dissolved by a weak SO2 solution.6 Introduction of smelter gases containing much as 5 per cent SO2 during such a roast would not add much to the cost of the operation, and might result in the formation of considerable water-soluble manganese sulpate.Another case involves a subsequent step in the hydrometallurgical process, namely, the formation of oxides of manganese with simultaneous evolution of SO2 by the heating of the MnSO4 produced by evaporating its solution.A third has to do with the roasting of zinc sulphide ores containing manganese as a preliminary to leaching. During purification of the solutions to be used for the electrolytic deposition of zinc the iron must be oxidized to make possible its removal. Manganese dioxide has been used for this purpose,7 and since manganese compounds are present in some zinc concentrates,8 it is of interest to learn what happens to the manganese in a zinc sulphide or on roasting, and what portion of the manganese in the roasted product might be available for oxidation."

Oct 1, 1930

By Morgan L. Race, Matthew R. Glisson

"Most driven pile projects have plumbness limits from 0.25 in/ft (21 mm/m) to 0.5 in/ft (42 mm/m) to control bending stresses. For two projects, the project teams performed static load testing to evaluate performance of piles with sweep. One project, located in Grand Forks, North Dakota, used 9.625-inch (244-mm) diameter piles with a wall thickness of 0.395 inch (10 mm) and lengths ranging from about 130 to 160 feet (40 to 49 m). Measured pile sweep (lateral offset distance of the pile toe from the pile top) was between 12 and 17 inches (305 to 432 mm). Static load testing indicated that the piles could support the design load with axial deflection of less than 1 inch (25 mm) but only provided about 80 to 90 percent of the ultimate resistance at axial deflections of about 1.9 to 1.7 inches (49 to 43 mm), respectively. The other project, located in Shakopee, Minnesota, used 9.625-inch (244-mm) diameter pile but with a wall thickness of 0.352 inch (9 mm) and lengths around 50 to 90 feet (15 to 27 m). The measured sweep varied between about 20 and 63 inches (508 and 1,600 mm) for 9 of 214 piles driven at the site. Load testing indicated that these piles could provide the required design resistance with less than 0.3 inch (8 mm) of axial deflection and support the required ultimate resistance with about 0.5 to 0.6 inch (13 to 15 mm) to of axial deflection.INTRODUCTIONAnyone who has observed a significant number of piles has seen that, inevitably, the pile is not perfectly straight after driving. In spite of the best efforts of contractors, there are a whole host of reasons for piles to end up out-of-plumb or to have a curve, sometimes referred to as pile sweep. Most project specifications set limits for plumbness typically between 0.25 in/ft (21mm/m) and 0.5 in/ft (42mm/m) (USACE, 1991; PDCA, 2007; MnDOT, 2016; MoDOT, 2016). Closed-end pipe piles, including monotube or tapertube, are the only pile type that allow actual measurement of the final alignment of the pile.As Nadeem, et al. (2015) note, buckling failure of long, slender piles is the predominant mode of pile failure in soft soils. Pile sweep is just one source of buckling failure in long, slender piles. The nonlinear buckling analysis showed that increasing slenderness ratio and/or increasing degree of curvature decreases the loadcarrying capacity of a driven pile. Nadeem, et al. (2015) considered solid, steel pile with lengths from 24 to 66 feet (7.5 to 20 m), diameters from 9.75 to 26 inches (244 to 660 mm), initial bends from 2 to 6 inches (50 to 150 mm), and half- and quarter-sine shapes."

Jan 1, 2017

By C. Dirscherl, M. Combes

"Declining ore grade, leading to increased material transport and plant throughput requirements, is one of the major challenges in the current mining environment. This is accompanied by rising energy and labor costs, decreasing plant productivity and the requirement for highest plant availability. Siemens’ answer is the latest gearless drive technology for grinding and conveying. Gearless drive solutions are surpassing the mechanical limits of conventional drive systems serving to utilize the principle of economies of scale. By elimination of various components of the drive train the maintenance activities and spare parts inventories are reduced. The advantages are culminating in the incomparable availability of the Siemens’ gearless drive technology of 99.46 to 99.71% - as confirmed by real operational data from the Antapaccay mine in Peru. It was the first plant worldwide to use gearless drives for both applications.INTRODUCTION – THE GEARLESS PRINCIPLE The principle idea behind a gearless drive system is to reduce the number of components and diversity of parts. Especially those components that are at the edge of current manufacturing or power limits are eliminated. The used equipment provides the possibility to scale up and increase the power transmitted to the driven machine. This finally results in a possible increase of throughput respectively transported or processed material. In order to apply this principle of simplification we will take a look at the components of a conventional drive system consisting of: - Driven equipment (mill, conveyor, slurry pump) - Components altering the rated speed (gearboxes, girth gear / pinion) - The electric motor - Starting devices for the motor (VSD, CCV, LRS, clutch), which are necessary because a direct across-the-line start of high power motors with load would result in a significant drop in the line supply voltage - Alternatively a variable speed drive (VSD) or cycloconverter (CCV) to utilize the possibility of speed variation during operation - The electrical supply system (cables, switchgear, transformers, protection equipment)"

Jan 1, 2014

By Jerry Pyatt

Lead has been used by mankind since before the Egyptian pyramids were built. Its durability provides for a continuum of innovation. As the largest integrated lead producer in the Western Hemisphere, The Doe Run Co. is committed to locating, mining, processing and sup-plying lead in ways that are responsible and sustainable. It takes ingenuity and resolve to successfully operate in the heavy industry field today. Doe Run is committed to applying responsibility through sustainability, lean manufacturing, safety, environmental stewardship, education and workforce development, and com-munity support.

Jan 1, 2008

By John S. Hutchins, David L. Wassum

Mining engineers are ready to take a big step into a new field-oil mining. To understand the subject, one must look at the world's oil supply and demand as well as petroleum technology successes and failures. The US has an abundance of solid hydrocarbon and uranium energy resources, but 75% of its energy for industry, transportation, manufacturing, and space heating comes from liquid petroleum and natural gas. So there are increasing efforts to discover new oil reserves; today the number of drilling rigs operating in the US is at an all-time high. But with 80% of the world's wells already located in the US and Canada, good new exploration prospects are difficult to find. The cost of drilling deep new wells has also greatly increased. The US faced a similar situation in the early 1950s, when primary oil production declines began. During that time, the petroleum researcher introduced secondary recovery techniques such as water flooding and gas injection. This increased the average amount of extractable oil from discovered US reservoirs from 17% to 33%. Production soared and the world petroleum price remained stable until the end of the 1960s. Secondary recovery techniques were then supplemented by tertiary oil recovery technologies-increasing sweep efficiency with such things as CO2 injection-that are, so far, only partially successful in most petroleum fields. Even so, these technologies could raise cumulative recovery expectations to 35-38%. The "lost" oil in depleted US reservoirs equals 48 km3 (300 billion bbl) of conventional oil, or 12 times the current recoverable reserve base. At the present rate of US consumption-1 km3/a or 6 billion bbl/a-this is enough to run the US for 50 years without importing any oil. Moreover, there are 16-24 km3 (100-150 billion bbl) of as-yet unrecoverable heavy oil and tar sands in the US.

Jan 12, 1981

The leaching characteristics of a number of Australian uranium ores were determined under acid and alkaline conditions. Ores from the Ranger, Nabarlek and Koongarra deposits in the Northern Territory were readily leached in dilute sulphuric acid. Suitable processing conditions were: leaching at 35-40°C, pH 1·52·0 and redox potential -475 mV for periods of 16-24h with ore ground to 50 per cent -200 mesh CB.S.S.). Ore from the Roxby Downs deposit in South Australia required leaching at 55°C and a redox potential of -650 mV to achieve a satisfactory recovery. All ores contained refractory minerals which were not leached under conventional conditions, limiting uranium extraction to 86-96 per cent.Carbonate leaching of carnotite in calcrete ores from Yeelirrie and Lake Way in Western Australia yielded uranium extractions of at least 98 per cent. Leaching rates were considerably faster than those reported for other applications of alkaline leaching as the slow oxidation step was not required.

Jan 1, 1979

Separation of Iron Particles from Banded Haematite Quartzite (BHQ) Ore by Selective Magnetic Coating The separation of fine iron particles from banded hematite quartzite (BHQ) has been studied using selective magnetic coating. The BHQ ore assays as 38.9 per cent Fe, 42.5 per cent SiO2 and 1.0 per cent Al2O3. Mineralogically, the ore contains hematite and quartz as the major mineral phases where as goethite and magnetite is present in minor entities. Natural magnetite of very fine size and oleate-magnetite in colloidal form, prepared synthetically in the laboratory are used as the coating material on the surface of hematite particles. The selective coatings of oleate-magnetite on BHQ surfaces followed by magnetic separation studies have indicated that, it is possible to achieve 62.3 per cent Fe with 8.5 per cent SiO2 at 85.4 per cent iron recovery. The recovery of iron values is found to be superior in comparison to the conventional magnetic separation techniques. The selectivity of coating for enhancing the magnetic response of iron particles is achieved by controlling the surface properties of the particle via electrokinetic potential adjustment by controling pH and addition of oleate-magnetite. In the separation process, the effects of pH, magnetic intensity and addition of oleate-magnetite are studied to achieve the maximum grade and recovery of iron values. The optimum separation is observed at pH of 7.5, oleate-magnetite concentration of 0.25 ml/g of BHQ ore and a magnetic intensity of around 0.8 Tesla. The X-ray diffraction (XRD), Infra-red spectroscopy (IR) and UV-visible spectroscopic studies strongly suggest preferential coating of magnetite on hematite surfaces. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) studies have brought out the semi-quantitative features of BHQ ore. The recovery of iron values from a lean grade ore such as BHQ is carried out looking into the future needs of this ore in India for iron and steel making.

Sep 13, 2010

By Warren E. Morrison

INCREASED production and utilization of minerals fuels and power accompanied the overall expansion in U.S. economic activity during 1963, which saw continued advances toward higher production, employment, and purchasing power. During 1963, record levels of wages, profits, and consumption were attained, while costs and prices maintained the stability exhibited throughout most of the recovery period. Expanding industrial production, the average index of which went from 118.3 in 1962 to 124.3 in 1963, narrowed the gap of unused manufacturing capacity to an estimated 5 percent. Gross national product (GNP), another major indicator of economic activity, reached a record level of $583.9 million (current dollars) during the year, this being $27.7 billion, or 4.9 percent above 1962. These achievements were somewhat marred by unemployment, which remained at 5.5 percent of the labor force in 1963, and the continued deficit in the U.S. balance of payments. Against this general background, total national consumption of energy resources for the year was equivalent to 49,816 trillion British thermal units (Btu), an increase of 4.2 percent over 1962. This represented a somewhat lower rate of growth than for GNP during the year.

Jan 1, 1964

By Christian Besson

This article describes the implementation of a new jointing process for use between diaphragm wall panels. This process was initially introduced on the SOCATOP work site in uburban Paris (which involved the closing of the western section of the A86 bypass road), on a tunnel ventilation shaft. This brand new system upgrades the potential offered by other types of joints available and enables both ensuring the continuity of panels for structures over 40 m in depth under the strictest safety conditions and constructing shafts with diameters of less than 15 m. A patent for this process has recently been filed.

Jan 1, 2002

By Y. X. Tong

The simplicity off Ø=0 analysis has been taken advantage of to evaluate the geotech­nical problems of open caissons, slurry trench walls and piles in Shanghai. Undrained shear strengths obtained by various testing methods are correlated with case record and experimental data. Some problems posed by the construction of tall buildings are briefly discussed. Comments on applications are made to help engineers deal with practical problems.

Jan 1, 2010

By K J. F Logan, P W. Leaman, B A. Tucker

"An EXTENDED ABSTRACT is available for download. A full-length paper was not prepared for this presentation. The Nam San copper-gold deposit was discovered in 2011 and is a likely blind extension of the Permian age Phu Kham structurally deformed porphyry/skarn copper-gold deposit.The Nam San mineralisation is hosted within a dominantly sericite altered schist unit located to the north of the current Phu Kham open pit operation and is overthrust by an allochthonous barren cover sequence of limestone, granite and sandstone. Reinterpretation of the Phu Kham geology developed the concept of a possible telescoped porphyry copper-gold system at depth. Initial drilling intersected remobilised copper mineralisation in a basal conglomerate, confirming the concept. A reconnaissance vector array induced polarisation (IP) survey identified a deep chargeability anomaly from which a drilling target was developed from 3D inversion modelling of a detailed follow up dipole-pole-dipole anomaly. Drilling of the chargeability anomaly intersected the blind Nam San copper-gold mineralisation beneath the thrusted cover sequence.The key discovery parameters are the result of an integrated exploration program that included reinterpretation of the local stratigraphy, which developed the concept of a deep blind orebody, IP surveys capable of penetrating through the barren cover and a commitment to a deep directional drilling program to test these concepts and targets. The inferred resource remains open at depth, and further assessment will most likely be through underground development.CITATION:Leaman, P W, Tucker, B A and Logan, K J F, 2015. The discovery of the Nam San copper-gold deposit, Phu Kham, Laos, in Proceedings PACRIM 2015 Congress, pp 515–520 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne)."

Mar 18, 2015

By Napisporn Memongkol

Syntheses of Al-TiC-Al2O3 and Al-SiC-Al2O3 composites were obtained in situ by carbothermal reduction of mixtures of Al powder, TiO2 powder and activated carbon powders and Al powder, SiO2 powder and activated carbon powders. The reductions were carried out in a horizontal tube furnace under flow of inert gas. The standard Gibbs energy minimization method was used to calculate the equilibrium composition of the reacting species. The synthesized products were mixtures of aluminum reinforce with titanium carbide and alumina and aluminum reinforce with silicon carbide and alumina. The effect of the reaction temperature (1000 o C ? 1200 o C) and condition of precursors on the Al powder, TiO2 powder and activated carbon powders and Al powder, SiO2 powder and activated carbon powders were investigated using XRD and SEM method. The synthesized products showed those composites with aluminum matrix and titanium carbide and alumina as reinforced phases and aluminum matrix and silicon carbide and alumina as a reinforced phase was formed.

Jan 1, 2006

By Dean Lindsay, Inna Dymov, Mariam Melashvili, Jim Smolik, Chris Fleming

"This paper presents results from the proposed cyanide detoxification circuit for Seabridge Gold’s KSM project. The proposed flowsheet uses a two-stage CCD (counter-current washing/decantation) circuit to transfer the flotation products CIL(carbon-in-leach) barren solution to a SART process (Sulphidization, Acidification, Recycling of precipitate, and Thickening of precipitate) to recover copper and free cyanide from the copper cyanide complex. The SART barren solution is then treated by an AVR process (Acidification, Volatilization of HCN gas, and Reneutralization) to concentrate the cyanide that was liberated in SART for recycling to leach. The washed CIL barren pulp (the CCD underflow) is treated with the SO2 /Air process to oxidize residual cyanide.The goal of this complex flowsheet is to recover and recycle as much cyanide as possible and produce a final effluent containing less than 0.5 mg/L copper and CNWAD at the lowest cost. The SO2/air process is capable of achieving low residual CNWAD (<1 mg/L) in the final product, but the persistence of aqueous copper above the target level has been detected in the treated solution in some instances. The expected high concentrations of copper and cyanide in the KSM CIL barren ( >200 mg/L each species) and the difficulties this might create for the SO2 /air process was a key factor in the decision to consider including the washing, SART and AVR steps in the project flowsheet.The target concentrations of CNWAD and Cu were readily achieved after aging the SO2 /air treated pulp, as would occur in a tailing or polishing pond. This suggests no additional treatment will be required to sustain low levels of these species in the final plant effluent."

Jan 1, 2015

By P. G. Semple

"In January 1985, Equity Silver Mines Limited began operation of a cyanidation circuit to scavenge precious metals from the flotation tailings. At present, this process is treating 270,000 tonnes of tailings per month and is recovering in excess of 0.20 grams of gold per tonne. To obtain these results Equity is operating a carbon-in-leach circuit that utilizes pressure stripping, zinc precipitation acid washing and thermal reactivation. A cyanide destruction circuit is also required to minimize the deleterious effects on reclaim water in the flotation stage. This paper describes the existing scavenger plant, and details the start-up problems encountered and the modifications made to correct these problems.INTRODUCTIONEquity Silver Mines Limited , a 68% owned subsidiary of Placer Development Limited , is located 38 km southeast of Houston in north central British Columbia. The geographic location of Equity Silver Mines is shown in figure #1. In September 1980, production first began with the ore being supplied from the Southern Tail open pit. In March 1984, the Southern Tail deposit had reached its economic pit depth, and since then ore has been supplied by the Main Zone pit the gold mineralization in the Main Zone is less refractory than the Southern Tail and cyanidation of the flotation tailing appeared to be a viable alternative.An extensive test program was undertaken and the results confirmed that considerable gold and silver values were amenable to cyanide leaching. A feasibility study showed that these values could be economically recovered and the detailed engineering work began."

Jan 1, 1987

By Douglas Rudenko

Have you ever had a neighbor complain about a blast one day, but says the next day’s blast was better, even though the Peak Particle Velocity (PPV) increased? How about neighbors that complain about a small trimming shot, but don’t complain about a big production shot? Have you ever reduced the pounds/delay and gotten more complaints? Mine operators are often bewildered when trying to correlate blast design parameters to homeowner complaints.

Jan 1, 2002