Search Documents

By E. Kouame, M. D. Everell, D. Hodouin, T. Kasongo

"To properly operate a mineral beneficiation plant it is often necessary to have systematic evaluations of the performances of a piece of machinery, of one of the processes or of the plant as a whole. The state of a process can be described from a collection of data: flow-rate values, particle-size distributions and chemical compositions of the various streams of the circuit studied.However, the obtained raw data are generally redundant and inconsistent from a material balance viewpoint, due to natural disturbances, sampling errors, unreliable instrument readouts and laboratory analysis inaccuracies.BILMAT is a computer program which upgrades mineral processing data, adjusting them in a least-squares sense in order that they may verify material conservation constraints. As a consequence, the program is able to calculate the best values of unmeasured flow rates (such as. circulating load ratios). BILMAT is a very general program in the sense that it can accept various data from any type of mineral processing circuit, and its usefulness is demonstrated here for three processing circuits of a pyrochlore concentration plant: grinding, desliming and flotation.IntroductionComputation of the material balance around any metallurgical process, that is the determination of stream flow rates and composition. is a basic step in its evaluation. In spite of the simplicity of the physical laws of mass conservation. and of the very fundamental need to know the flow of components around a process. it appears, particularly in mineral processing. that material balancing is quite often a difficult task. The reasons for this involve the problems associated with collecting measurements in mineral dressing plants. They are generally poorly instrumented and invariably data must be collected through hand sampling. Due to the heterogeneous nature of the streams, segregation occurs and samples are often not adequately representative, a problem made worse by the lack of circuit sampling facilities, which are often completely ignored by plant designers. Furthermore, the nature of the measurements to be performed (for instance particle size distributions in the fine range) frequently gives inaccurate results."

Jan 1, 1981

By T. C. Boberg, R. B. Lantz

This paper presents a method for calculating the producing rate of a well as a function of time following steam stimulation. The calculations have proved valuable in both selecting wells for stimulation and in determining optimum treatment sizes. The heat transfer model accounts for cooling of the oil sand by both vertical and radial conduction. Heat losses for any number of productive sands separated by unproductive rock are calculated for the injection. shut-in and production phases of the cycle. The oil rate increase caused by viscosity reduction due to heating is calculated by steady-state radial flow equations. The response of successive cycles of steam injection can also be calculated with this method. Excellent agreement is shown between calculated and actual field results. Also included are the results of several reservoir and process variable studies. The method is best suited for wells producing from a multiplicity of thin sands where the bulk of the stimulated production comes from the unheated reservoir. The flow equations used neglect gravity drainage and saturation changes within the heated region. INTRODUCTION This paper presents a calculation method which can be used to predict the field performance of the cyclic steam stimulation process. The calculation method enables the engineer to select reservoirs that have favorable characteristics for steam stimulation and permits him to determine how much steam must be injected to achieve favorable stimulation. While the calculation represents a considerable simplification of physical reality and the results are subject to numerous assumptions which must be made about the reservoir, it has been found that realistic calculations can be made of individual well performance following steam injection. The duration of the stimulation effect will depend primarily on the rate at which the heated oil sand cools which, in turn, is determined by the rate at which energy is removed from the formation with the produced fluids and conducted from the heated oil sand to unproductive rock. A complete mathematical solution to this problem is a formidable task, and finite difference techniques would undoubtedly have to be used. The calculation method pre- sented here utilizes analytic solutions of simple related heat transfer and fluid flow problems. The method is sufficiently simplified that it can be used as a hand calculation, although the calculations are somewhat lengthy and laborious. For that reason, the analysis was programmed for an IBM 7044 digital computer. Well responses observed at the Quiriquire field in eastern Venezuela&apos; have been matched using this program after making suitable approximations for reservoir and wellbore conditions. One of the most valuable uses of this calculation method is to assess the effect of reservoir and proc-cess variables on the stimulation response. This paper contains results of several studies made of key reservoir and process parameters. Among the most important of these is the influence of prior wellbore permeability damage. If a well is severely damaged prior to stimulation, a higher stimulation response will be observed than if it is undamaged. If a portion of this damage is removed, a permanent rate improvement will occur. THEORY I)ES(:KJJ&apos;TION OF CALCULATION METHOD The process of cyclic steam stimulation is essentially one of reducing oil viscosity around the wellbore by heating for a limited distance out into the formation through the injection of steam. Suitable modifications of the calculation technique presented here can be made so that stimulation of wells by hot gas injection or in situ combustion can also be calculated. A schematic drawing of the heat transfer and fluid flow considerations included in the calculation method is shown in Fig. 1. In brief, the calculation assumes that the oil sand is uniformly and radially invaded by injected steam. For wells producing from several sands, each sand is assumed to be invaded to the same distance radially. In calculating the radius heated rn energy losses from the wellbore and conduction to impermeable rock adjacent to the producing sands are taken into account. After steam injection is stopped, heat conduction continues and oil sands with r < ra cool as previously unheated shale and oil sand at r > r, begin to warm. The effect of warming of oil sand out beyond r, has little effect on the oil production rate compared to the effect of cooling of the oil sand nearer the wellbore than ra. Thus, in computing the oil production rate, an idealized step function temperature distribution in the reservoir is assumed where the original temperature exists for r > rn and where an average elevated temperature exists for r < rn. The average temperature in the oil sand for the region r < rn is computed as a function of

Jan 1, 1967

By J. W. Bolton

THIS paper discusses some fundamental metallurgical principles involved in production of sound cast bronze. In a previous paper the writers advanced the theory that "oxidation" in bronze castings is due to incipient shrinkage, and showed the effect of reducing melting atmospheres. In the present paper the effects of certain impurities and of actual oxidizing conditions are shown. The appendix deals with the appearance of various inclusions. For many years the prevailing opinion has been that unsoundness, dark colored fractures and other phenomena accompanying porosity and weakness in bronzes are due to oxidation. The actual troubles are caused by fissures of intercrystalline type, which are often mistaken for intercrystalline films. These weaken the metal and make it porous. Grave doubt regarding the accuracy of the oxidation theory appears when several research papers presented within the last 10 years are reviewed critically. In 1919, Comstock conducted metallographic researches, attempting to identify "oxides" in synthetically prepared metals. He found that oxides of tin, aluminum, zinc, etc. are different from the intercrystalline films (or cavities) to which porosity is due. Apparently he believed that these "oxide films" may be caused by volatile oxides of zinc or of phosphorus or by dissolved gases thrown out of solution during solidi-fication of the metal. In 1923, Woyski and Boeck3 definitely questioned the accuracy of the oxidation theory and indicated the danger from reducing atmospheres. They say that "oxidation, gassing and shrinkage may produce effects very similar."

Jan 1, 1930

By Taylor L. M

Accurate computer prediction of the muck pile produced by a conventional blast requires modeling of the physics that occurs during the rock motion phase of a blast. The ability to predict the motion and the subsequent muck pile can have a significant economic impact on the mining industry. Some of the computer programs previously used to predict rock motion employed polygonal elements with comers and sides to model the rock (Cundall, 1971; Walton, 1982; Taylor, 1983). This approach allows the elements to bulk because of the corners and the aspect ratio. However, tracking the many interactions of the comers and sides of the elements is a computationally intensive process. Several other rock motion computer programs were developed that employed spherical elements, (Schamaun, 1984; Gorham-Bergeron et al, 1987) but they lacked correct bulking mechanisms or could not be vectorized for efficient execution on vector processing machines. A new spherical element code called DMC (Distinct Motion Code) (Taylor and Preece, 1989a, 1989b) has been developed this past year. DMC was designed and written to take advantage of super-computer vector processing capabilities. The efficiency has also been increased through the use of spherical elements, explicit time integration and a new contact search algorithm. When spherical elements were chosen for efficiency, some physically correct mechanisms for capturing the bulking behavior of the rock mass also had to he developed. This paper will treat several mechanisms that were developed to allow spherical elements to exhibit correct hulking behavior.

Jan 1, 1990

By P. R. A. Andrews

"Graphite is one of the most versatile of non-metallic minerals because of its diversified properties, for example: it is unctuous; it marks readily; burns slowly; is almost chemically inert; is flexible over a large temperature range; is a good conductor of heat and electricity; is hydrophobic; has a negative temperature coefficient of resistivity; has excellent weathering properties; tends to emulsify with water-in-oil; is readily soluble in iron; and after oxidative treatment, can exfoliate like vermiculite. These properties give rise to its major uses in lubrication, refractories, marking instruments, electrical products and paints.Flake graphite is the variety which commonly occurs in Canada; the provinces of Ontario and Quebec contain the deposits of economic significance, although graphite occurs in other provinces. The beneficiation of graphite has been the subject of many investigations at CANMET, thus reflecting graphite &apos;s importance as an industrial mineral. Thirty-eight studies relating to various aspects of beneficiation were conducted between 1918and 1989anda review of some of the more important studies is presented. The information includes mineralogy, beneficiation methods and results; flotation parameters and reagent concentration data are presented in tabular form. By so arranging the principal data, the research worker and production metallurgist will be assisted in the evaluation of graphite ores from a variety of origins."

Jan 1, 1992

By C. P. Sandberg

INTRODUCTION. NOTWITHSTANDING the growing importance of this subject, no work specially devoted to it has hitherto been published. Having had to inspect during the last twenty years nearly a million tons of iron and steel rails for various countries, I have obtained experience of what rail manufacturers can practically execute, as well as of what railway engineers practically require. Bearing these two points in mind, I have from time to time published observations with a view to unite both interests, -that of the producer and that of the consumer,-and to reduce the specifications and the forms of sections to standards, or types, in order to facilitate the execution of the works and to improve the construction of permanent way. The Swedish government railways, as well as private companies owning railways in Sweden, Norway, and Denmark, have during the time above mentioned consulted with me and intrusted to me their rail inspection. I therefore owe to these countries much of the opportunity which I have enjoyed of gaining experience and position. Next to Sweden, America is the country which has most liberally favored me with its confidence in placing these matters in my hands. Through circumstances not under my control there has been little exportation to, and less work done by Europe for, America during the last six years ; but the recent revival of the rail trade has been the more gratifying to me, seeing that almost all the importers of American rails are still specifying for the Sandberg rail sections and inspection. It is therefore with .feelings of gratitude that I now beg to lay before the American Institute of Mining Engineers, and I hope, through that body, before the American railway world, the results of some experience which I have gained in the execution of work for their country, and which therefore belongs rightfully to

Jan 1, 1881

By Hong Yong Sohn, Miguel Olivas-Martinez, Zhixue Yuan

A novel flash ironmaking process that directly reduces iron oxide concentrate particles by gas is under development. The goal of this work was to study the possibility of reoxidation of iron particles in various gas mixtures. As the product iron cools down in the lower part of the flash reactor, conditions may become favorable for reoxidation because of equilibrium and high reactivity of iron particles. The effects of temperature (823 – 973 K) and H2O partial pressure (40 – 100 pct., Ptotal = 86.1 kPa) on the reoxidation rate were examined. The pressure dependence was first order with respect to water vapor, and the activation energy was 146 kJ/mol. A complete rate equation that adequately represents the experimental data was developed. For oxidation in O2-N2 mixtures, the effects of temperature (673 – 873 K) and O2 partial pressure (5 – 21 pct., Ptotal = 86.1 kPa) were determined. Reoxidation in pure CO2 was also investigated at 873 – 1073 K for comparison.

Jan 1, 2014

By Wilson R. G

The Bulli and Wongawilli Seams, the two principal sources of coking coal for the Port KKembla steelworks of Australian Iron and Steel Pty. Ltd., vary in rank and in type over the Southern and -South Western Coalfields. The Bulli Seam, ranging widely in type, produces coke varying from weak to strong. The Wongawilli Seam, more consistent in type, produces coke of more consistent strength, but considerably less strong than that from the best Bulli Seam coal. Plans of seam variation show the regional trends in rank and type for each sear. The strongest coke is derived from coal containing between 45 and 55 per cent vitrinite, m.m.f. This is obtainable from the Bulli Sean in a zone embracing Bulli and Appin Colleries.

Jan 1, 1969

By R. L. Marovelli

ANTICIPATING the eventual use of the huge tonnages of nonmagnetic taconites of the Mesabi range of the United States, the Federal Bureau of Mines is classifying and evaluating these deposits in detail. This introductory report describes work begun in 1954 as part of a long-range program to sample, classify, and evaluate important occurrences of nonmagnetic taconite on the Mesabi, range. Included in this report are brief discussions of the geology, history, and potential of the Mesabi range district and mining industry, together with a more detailed presentation of the sampling and metallurgical evaluation of these nonmagnetic taconite deposits. A total of 898 field samples was collected. Most of these were taken in the region between Grand Rapids and Chisholm, Minn., but a few came from the area between Chisholm and Buhl, Minn. Of the total samples, 865 were from open pit bank faces where the greater vertical distances presented by the cherty members facilitated the taking of a large number of samples. Conversely, the narrow face presented by the slaty members confined and limited the areas from which samples were taken. In addition, 33 of the field samples were taken from rock dumps in order to determine, in a preliminary way, the characteristics of these materials.

Jan 1, 1961

By R. V. Norris

The anthracite coal trade, with a shipment averaging about 70,000,000 tons per year, differs essentially from other coal business, iii the fact that the larger sizes, comprising about 65 per cent. of the total, are used almost exclusively for domestic purposes, principally during the winter months; and that for proper combustion close-sizing is imperative, so that eight sizes are made; broken, egg, stove, and nut, known as prepared sizes, and pea, buckwheat, rice, and barley, known as steam sizes. These sizes are made in the regular course of preparation, and but little variation in the natural percentage of each is practicable. Thus it is necessary either to work the collieries intermittently, or to dispose of all the varying sizes in their fixed proportions. Unfortunately, the market does not at all times absorb the coal in proper proportions, and rather than interfere with the regular operation of the mines it has been found economical to provide storage for the excess. While the cellars of&apos; the consumers are the great storage-plants of the country, this capacity is not under the control of the trade, except so far as reduced prices during the spring and summer months may tempt the use of this reserve. The same remark applies but with less force to the retail yards, which, though usually small, store in the aggregate a large amount of anthracite. While every effort is made to utilize to the utmost the individual storage-capacity of the country, there still remains the necessity for taking care of the irregularities of the market by the construction of storage-plants under the direct control of the producers. Such plants are usually the property of the railroads, and are situated at points most convenient from a traffic stand-point.

Jan 1, 1912

By William E. Stanley

The paper examines the problems that arise in undertaking socio-economic impact studies to meet the requirements of environmental-impact legislation governing new mine development or expansion. An approach to undertaking socioeconomic impact studies is outlined, responses to specific problems are discussed and ways in which the mining company can use these studies to meet its general objectives are explored. The paper concludes by examining how a socio-economic study, as required by legislation, can be used to assist the mining company in achieving some general objectives it will have in developing a mine.

Jan 1, 1979

By H. Sahay

"DISCLAIMER NOTICEThe views and conclusions contained in this presentation are those of the author and should not be interpreted as necessarily representing the official policies or recommendations of the Department of Mines and Energy, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador. ABSTRACTThis paper describes the main testing procedures that should be carried out to evaluate the capacity and capability of the service brakes on the large-size diesel-electric trucks now in common use at open-pit mining operations. Brake testing programs in general are described, and then consideration is given to different techniques of service brake testing, brake performance evaluation, braking energy and typical performance characteristics.IntroductionThe first diesel-electric truck with a capacity of about 85 tons was introduced in 1963 by Unit Rig and Equipment Company of Tulsa in cooperation with General Electric Company, who successfully developed and supplied the most important component- motorized wheels. Since then, its popularity and numbers have continued to grow, and now more than 3700 such units are in operation in mines around the world. In Canada alone, their number is more than 700, including about 150 in the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador. Similarly, their size has also grown from that initial capacity of 85 tons to 350 tons.Although the introduction of the electric trucks proved to be invariably economical, their indiscriminate use was not without severe consequences. Many runaways and even fatalities occurred when the dynamic retarder failed while the truck was travelling loaded down severe grades. The service brakes in such cases proved incapable of stopping runaway trucks, mainly due to their limited capability and the fading caused by excessive heat produced during the act of braking itself. This eventually led the various governments, the open-pit operators and the manufacturers to seriously question the braking capability as well as function of both service brakes and dynamic retarders. Extensive testing"

Jan 1, 1980

By F. W. Lane

[The rapid expansion of the petroleum industry, the steadily growing use of oil fuel or steamships, the increasing transportation of oil in tankers and the extensive use of petroleum oils for many land industries, has resulted in pollution of our coastal eaters by these oils. On account of the great importance of this problem to the petroleum and shipping industries its, the Bureau of Mines, in cooperation with the American Petroleum Institute and -he American Steamship Owners Association has undertaken to ascertain the extend of petroleum oil pollution along the coasts of the United States and to indicated the principal so arcs of such pollution. Certain typical methods and devices in use and proposed for the separation of oil from water, and for the disposal of oily castes from ships and industrial plants have been studied. An attempt has also been made to point out the nature of the fire hazard resulting from oil pollution and to indicate the effect of such pollution on bathing beaches.]

Jan 1, 1924

Jan 1, 1999

By N. A. Eilertsen

The Aroostook manganese-bearing deposits lie within a rectangle 30 miles wide and 70 miles long. Over 40 different deposits have been discovered in this area, but they have not been mined because the ores are difficult to treat. In 1949, the Maple Mountain area was selected for detailed investigation by the Bureau of Mines, because study by the State of Maine and the Federal Geological Survey indicated that it was the most promising in Aroostook County for developing a large tonnage of reserves. Investigation by the Bureau of Mines disclosed that all of the reported deposits of the central district were located on the limbs of a syncline underlying a pear-shaped area of 283 acres between the crests of Maple Mountain and Hovey Mountain. The ore area has been outlined by trenching and drilling along three sides of the perimeter, while the remaining side is defined by a fault. The area has a length of 6,300 feet and a maximum width of 3,100 feet. Diamond-drill holes have intersected the deposit as deep as 1,550 feet below surface, but additional deep drilling would be required to determine the intensity of folding or warping at depth. The Maple Mountain-Hovey Mountain deposit lies in the slates of Ordovician age and is classified into three zones, of which the upper, averaging about 57 feet thick, is designated manganiferous purple and red slate. The central zone, also averaging about 57 feet thick and containing the highest manganese content, is manganiferous, banded hematite. The lower zone is manganiferous, interbedded hematitic and green slate with an average width of about 33 feet. Manganese minerals occur with hematite in all three units. Trenching on the northwestern slope of Hovey Mountain uncovered other disconnected deposits of manganiferous rocks of earlier age than the ore of the syncline. The general strike of these deposits, which range from 15 feet to 75 feet in thickness, is southwest a length of 5,000 feet. They dip steeply southeast. The ore of the syncline is predominantly deep, hematitic red, inclining to red-dish black, fine-grained, dense, and thinly laminated. It is hard and siliceous. Hematite has, in places, been altered to magnetite. Because of the fine-grained texture of the ore, the manganese-mineral constituents are difficult to determine. Of the manganese silicates present, braunite is the most readily identified. Manganese carbonates and oxides are found also.

Jan 1, 1952

By Motohisa Kanda

The time and amplitude statistics necessary to adequately describe electromagnetic (EM) noise in mines are illustrated through computer software techniques. They are 1) Allan Variance Analyses (AVA), 2) Interpulse Spacing Distributions (ISD), 3) Pulse Duration Distributions (PDD), 4) Average Crossing Rates (ACR) , and 5) Amplitude Probability Distributions (APD) . These statistics are illustrated using data taken from a rather large store of raw analog data recorded in operational mines. The curves generated for the illustrations characterize the noise environment in the mines from which the corresponding data were taken, and should aid in the design of reliable communication systems for such mines.

By Anson Hayes, John Chipman

The quality of sheet and strip products made of rimming steel is closely related to the structure and chemistry of the ingots. The variation in composition throughout the ingot, as affected by segregation, is of great importance, as are also the form and distribution of the voids that result from the gases evolved. It is because of this importance that the considerable literature in this field has accumulated. No attempt is made in the present paper to compile a bibliography of the excellent work that has already been done, as this has been adequately covered in the many excellent reports on the heterogeneity of steel ingots prepared by a joint committee and published by the Iron and Steel Institute.&apos; From time to time, in any field of investigation new tools and new technique are developed, which make further progress possible. In the field with which this paper is concerned, this is true. The development of the vacuum-fusion method as a means of following oxygen segregation, and a technique for obtaining the volume and composition of the gases evolved during solidification, have opened the way to obtaining data by means of which some considerable progress has been realized in developing more of the detailed mechanisms of solidification and segregation in rimming-steel ingots. General Theory of Segregation The basic cause of segregation lies in the fact that the impurities are less soluble in solid than in liquid iron. The solid that forms from the impure liquid is more nearly pure than the liquid itself. If solidification proceeds slowly enough, or if the liquid and solid phases are maintained in contact with one another for a sufficient time, a condition of equilibrium is set up, which may be represented by a phase diagram. Portions of the

Jan 1, 1939

By Anson Hayes, John Chipman

The quality of sheet and strip products made of rimming steel is closely related to the structure and chemistry of the ingots. The variation in composition throughout the ingot, as affected by segregation, is of great importance, as are also the form and distribution of the voids that result from the gases evolved. It is because of this importance that the considerable literature in this field has accumulated. No attempt is made in the present paper to compile a bibliography of the excellent work that has already been done, as this has been adequately covered in the many excellent reports on the heterogeneity of steel ingots prepared by a joint committee and published by the Iron and Steel Institute.&apos; From time to time, in any field of investigation new tools and new technique are developed, which make further progress possible. In the field with which this paper is concerned, this is true. The development of the vacuum-fusion method as a means of following oxygen segregation, and a technique for obtaining the volume and composition of the gases evolved during solidification, have opened the way to obtaining data by means of which some considerable progress has been realized in developing more of the detailed mechanisms of solidification and segregation in rimming-steel ingots. General Theory of Segregation The basic cause of segregation lies in the fact that the impurities are less soluble in solid than in liquid iron. The solid that forms from the impure liquid is more nearly pure than the liquid itself. If solidification proceeds slowly enough, or if the liquid and solid phases are maintained in contact with one another for a sufficient time, a condition of equilibrium is set up, which may be represented by a phase diagram. Portions of the

Jan 1, 1939

By Irving Hale

The superiority of electric power for mining purposes was recognized in a general way as soon as the electric motor be-

Jan 1, 1897

of our good friends and fellow members: W. S. Worthington H. W. Bullock who left the world better for their having lived in it.

Jan 1, 1932