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By W. A. Green

Introduction While pilot-mill operations were being carried on at Flin Flon, as described by R. E. Phelan (1), a detailed topographic map was being made of the area in the vicinity of the ore-body for later use in laying out plans for the final plant. The area covered by this survey was 6,600 feet by 6,600 feet, with contours on 2-foot intervals. As mentioned by Mr. Phelan, it was definitely decided at the end of November, 1927, to take up the option on the Flin Flon property and to proceed immediately with the plans for construction of a metallurgical plant at Flin Flon to treat 3,000 tons of ore per day, and of a hydro-electric power plant at Island Falls, Saskatchewan, to supply power for the future operations at Flin Flon. Railway Built From The Pas to Flin Flon Just as soon as the decision was made to go ahead with the construction work and opening-up of the property, it was of course essential to give immediate attention to the building of a railway to the mine. Many years previously, a preliminary survey had been made for a railway to branch off the Hudson Bay railway at a point 4.7 miles northeast of The Pas, and, during certain negotiations in 1925, the Provincial Government of Manitoba had agreed to guarantee the railway bonds necessary to finance the building of the line, so that it was possible to organize for this work immediately. A contract was let by the newly organized Manitoba Northern Railway Company to the Dominion Construction Company, Ltd., and Tomlinson, for the building of the railway to the mine, a distance of approximately 87 miles (see Figure 1). The Manitoba Northern railway is a subsidiary to the Canadian National railway, and all engineering and supervision of the contractors was done by the Canadian National engineers. Actual construction work was started in January, 1928. The first 52 miles of the railway from The Pas to Cranberry Portage is over fairly level, although slightly rolling, country, and a considerable portion of the route is over muskeg area. Rails were laid on top of the frozen muskegs. Gravel deposits were opened-up along the line and, before warm weather; sufficient ballast .was distributed in the muskeg areas to prevent thawing under the track, and thus give the necessary support to allow uninterrupted transportation over the line.

Jan 1, 1935

By Jr. Reistle

The tests reported in this paper were made in the East Texas field in the summer and fall of 1932 as a part of the Bureau of Mines study of the operation of flowing wells and reservoir performance; and to determine, if possible, the minimum reservoir pressure necessary to produce the wells in this field by natural flow through different sizes of flow strings. The minimum reservoir pressure that would be required to Maintain natural flow through 2 1/2-inch tubing was determined experimentally for the existing energy conditions in the East Texas field. With the present available data, however, it is impossible to predict accurately or to determine by calculation the necessary energy requirements for maintaining the vertical flow of oil and gas mixtures under all conditions. Although some valuable data were obtained which seem to have application to the solution of problems involving vertical flow, this important research of the petroleum industry is so involved that more study of the complicating factors influencing the flow of oil-gas mixtures through vertical pipes is required.

Jan 1, 1933

By John I. Kasteler

The Rambler mine is in the Douglas mining district, Albany County, Wyo. (fig. 1). The property was first operated about 1870 for gold found in the outcrop of a leached ore body. Copper and metals of the platinum group were discovered, in 1900, or soon thereafter, and intermittent mining was done until 1918, when a fire destroyed the surface plant, and the underground workings caved. The mine has since been idle. The Bureau of Mines conducted a development project on the property from October 1942 to October 1943, with a recess period between November 1942 and August 1943. Ten diamond drill holes, totaling 1,859 linear feet, were drilled on the property (fig. 2). The mine dump was sampled after preparation with a bulldozer. Assay determination and spectrographic analyses disclosed small quantities of copper and metals of the platinum group in the samples. Determinations were made on 11 samples from the diamond drill holes and 23 samples from the mine dump. The assay results and spectrographic analyses are given in tables 1 and 2. The logs of the diamond drill holes are given in an appendix to this report.

Jan 1, 1949

By F D Durao, Muge F. H, Rogado J. Q

In the scope of the project named CAPUME II (EEC BRITE/EURAM contract - project MA2M-CT90,-0042(SMA)) for the development of an integrated mine planning system for underground mines, two of the main tasks were the development of a short-term mining planning procedure (module) and a numerical simulator of the mineral processing plant of Pirites Alentejanas - PA. The short-term mining planning module defines the mining sequences by solving a constrained minimisation problem. The ore grade variability is the objective function subject to the geometrical constraints of the mining method and to the maximum of `internal blending'. The optimisation problem is solved by applying a dynamic programming algorithm. The plant simulator is an essential tool of the planning system allowing the preview of metal grades/recoveries of copper, lead and zinc of concentrates streams, given the corresponding metal assays of the run-of-mine ore, defined by the short-term mine planning module. This way, the management can plan the short-term mining operations (the weekly sequence of exploration blocks and the internal planning) in order to fulfill given required conditions, based on a shipment schedule and on a purchaser's formula. In this paper, after a short description of the short-term mining planning module and of the simulation package named SIMUL, a synthesis of the main model development steps and the results of some simulation runs are presented and discussed.

Jan 1, 1995

By R. W. Schenker

INTRODUCTION Environmental and occupational safety and health requirements often have a major impact on the design of comminution circuits, leading to increased capital and operating costs and reduced income. A project's capital cost can be increased by environmental permitting delays and the addition of dust collection equipment. Income can be reduced by lost production during unscheduled plant shutdowns for dust collection equipment maintenance. Dust collection equipment must be carefully selected and sized to minimize impact on the project. The equipment performance must comply with environmental regulations and allow working areas to comply with occupational safety and health regulations. Unnecessary overdesign could jeopardize the project's desirability from an economic standpoint. The equipment must be sufficiently reliable to avoid interference with production schedules. This chapter provides practical information on the selection and sizing of comminution circuit dust collection equipment that is consistent with the requirements stated above. It presents information on the reasons and general principles of dust collection; various types of dust collection equipment; and design criteria for ventilation hoods, duct systems, fabric filter dust collectors, and fans. An example discussing the selection and sizing of dust collection equipment for a simple comminution circuit is also presented. REASONS FOR DUST COLLECTION Dust collection equipment should be installed in comminution circuits for a variety of reasons, some of which are discussed below. These include compliance with government regulations, minimization of housekeeping requirements, product recovery, and improvement in public and employee relations. Compliance with Government Regulations Dust emissions from comminution circuits must comply with both air pollution control and occupational safety and health regulations. The regulations that may influence the selection of comminution circuits are discussed in more detail in Chapter 2. Air pollution control regulations limit the emission of dust, as well as visible emissions to the atmosphere and the concentration of dust in the ambient air. These regulations minimize the degradation of air quality and impact to other environmental considerations such as the health of the general public,

Jan 1, 1982

It is possible from simple gas behavioral theories to develop more complex relationships which allow prediction of transport phenomena such as diffusivity and viscosity of gas mixtures. Such physical data can be used in engineering calculations for both bulk gas movement and gaseous chemical species movement. Both of these are important in the solution of mines ventilation systems. There are specific limits of flammibili!'y of some common mines gases.

Jan 1, 1983

By James R. Jones

The Surface Mining Control & Reclamation Act is a complex piece of legislation signed into law on August 3, 1977. It is the culmination of more than six years of debate by the Congress over the need for a national regulation of surface mining as opposed to the prior concept of regulation by each concerned state. It departs from the more normal type of law in that it includes very specific requirements, limitations and performance standards. In its procedural aspects, it is somewhat similar to the Clean Air Act and the Water Pollution Control Act in that it places primary responsibility at the state level, provided the state meets minimum national requirements. At the time of writing this paper, in late December 1978, the Interim Regulatory Program has been in effect for seven months. The proposed regulations for the Permanent Program, the draft Environmental Impact Statement, and the draft Regulatory (Economic) Analysis ware available for eight weeks before the close of the comment period on November 27. We are now awaiting issuance of the final versions of these documents. The states in which coal is mined, for the most part, have made sere revision to their state laws and are in the process of revising their regulations, or have just completed the revision, to comply with the Initial Regulatory Procedures. They are now faced with another new major effort to analyze and plan for compliance with the Permanent Regulatory Program, which is expected to be promulgated by the Office of Surface Mining of the Department of Interior by the time this paper is presented.

Jan 1, 1979

By A. Rahmanab, A. Torpy, M. I. Pownceby, M. N. Zaman, N. Haque, W. Bruckard, J. Tardio

Ilmenite is the principal feedstock for producing TiO2 - used in paints, plastics and paper and the production of Ti metal. The Brahmaputra River system in Bangladesh represents a potentially new source of ilmenite concentrated within sandbar placer deposits and the current study presents results from beneficiation and characterisation studies conducted on Brahmaputra River Fe-Ti oxides. Characteristic of fluvial systems, the ilmenite concentration is low (~0.5 wt-%), however extensive annual dredging for waterway navigation provides the economic impetus to recover saleable ilmenite. The Fe-Ti oxide suite derived from magnetic fractionation comprises homogeneous ilmenite, titanohematite and hematite, although many grains exhibit complex exsolution within the (Ilm-Hem)ss series. The textural variability results in difficulty generating a pure ilmenite feedstock with the bulk concentrate typically being low in TiO2, containing 31.0 wt-%TiO2 and 62.7 wt-% (Fe2O3). Results are interpreted via an analysis of the implications for producing a commercial-grade ilmenite concentrate suitable for TiO2 production. Keywords: Ilmenite, titanohematite, Fe-Ti oxide exsolution, TiO2 production

Jan 1, 2020

By Jorge Rojas E

El presente trabajo describe el proceso de segregación en seco utilizado como método factible en cualquier tipo de mena oxidada de cobre como en metales preciosos. La segregación es un método de separación o migración del cobre de la mena a otro lugar. Las especies minerales contenidas en las menas a ser tratadas por segregación en seco son: atacamitas, azuritas, malaquitas, brochantitas, cupritas, crisocolas, dioptas vidrios verdes. Tanto la menas con ganga básica como ácida son suceptibles a ser tratadas por segregación en seco y en las mismas condiciones química y física con una excepción de la variación en porcentaje de sal. Una vez tratadas las menas se convierten en óxidos y sulfo-óxidos que se encuentran en zonas superficiales donde los costos de explotación y transporte son más económicos, así como el mineral oxidado conserva su estado por mucho tiempo. En este sentido, con el proceso de segregación en seco se obtiene en el peor de los casos recuperaciones de 85%, y en las mejores condiciones, 94% aproximadamente.

Aug 20, 1965

By G. C. Adams, J. H. Fowler

Canada's gypsum industry began more than 200 years ago in the Maritime provinces when farmers attempted to supplement their incomes by selling "land plaster" to traders bound for the United States. Rising from such humble beginnings, gypsum now contributes significantly to the economies of nine of Canada's 10 provinces. Thirteen open-pit and three underground mines produced a total of 8.4 Mt (9.3 million st) of crude gypsum, and 17 processing plants manufactured 2.5 Mt (2.8 million st) of finished products in 1985. Recent economic growth in North America has resulted in steady increases in gypsum production. However, competition from foreign producers and by-product gypsum pose a growing threat to Canada's gypsum mining industry.

Jan 1, 1987

A failure criterion for coal is proposed in which a distinction is made between brittle and "pseudo-ductile" failure. This criterion is then used in the development of new equations for coal pillar strength, including a transition from brittle fracture to pseudo-ductile yielding. In addition, equations are obtained which allow the äritical minimum pillar dimensions to be calculated to avoid "catastrophic" and "ultimate failure". The use of these formulae is then demonstrated by comparing the results with pillar case histories derived from the literature.

Jan 1, 1986

By H. S. Auvil

[The shrinkage of coke after formation is one of the variables that affects the net expansion of the change in both industrial and test ovens. Various test results have been interpreted as indicating that cokes from certain coals shrink to a marked extent and that other cokes show very little shrinkage; out no comprehensive experimental study of the shrinkage of coke after its formation and of the factors influencing this shrinkage has come to the attention of the authors. While investigating the reactivity of cokes made by the BM-AGA method,6/ Reynolds7/ found that granular low-temperature cokes shrink considerably then reheated to higher temperatures. This shrinkage was large enough to influence the behavior of the charge (net expansion or contraction) in a coke oven to a marked extent. Since that time the Bureau of nines has investigated the shrinkage of coke different methods, all of thick had one common objective - the elimination of the effect of other factors, such as swelling in the plastic range, which could either partly or completely mask the shrinkage of the coke. Only parts of these studies have been published8/9/ in abbreviated form in]

Jan 1, 1940

By Carl F. Lutz, Robert F. Mehl

A layer of brass was formed on 0 brass using a vapor-solid reaction technique. The variation in composition with distance within the phase layer and across the a -ß interface was determined by an electron probe. The diffusivities were calculated as a function of concentration; the diffusion coefficient in brass was found to change by a factor of twenty-five over a compositional range of 8 at. pct. An explanation is proposed to account for the large change in the diffusivity, based on possible stresses in the diffusion zone; it is suggested that the concentration dependence of the thermodynamic factor might decrease the activation energy with increasing zinc content. ALTHOUGH the body of data on diffusion coefficients (D- values) in terminal solid solutions and in isomorphous systems is quite large, there is but little quantitative information for intermediate alloy phases. This paper recounts measurements of D-values for the ? phase in the Cu-Zn system. The experimental method employed consists in the forming of alloy layers and determining and analyzing the concentration-distance (c-x) curve. The experimental method employed could have been applied to several systems; the Cu-Zn system was chosen because the D-values in the a and ß phases are well known, and can thus be used for purposes of comparison. The rates of growth, of intermediate alloy layers are known for a number of systems. In nearly all cases the thickness varies parabolically with time, as to be expected if the rate of growth is controlled by the D-values. In a few cases, nonparabolic behavior has been noted.1 Nonparabolic growth may be the result of a) a variation of the composition at the phase interface with time, b) interface-controlled kinetics, c) short diffusion times coupled with long vacancy lifetimes (in vacancy diffusion),2 and d) crystal reorientation during diffusion in anisotropic systems.3 In the Al-Ni system4 and in the Al-u5 system parabolic growth kinetics are slowly approached after an initial transient period. In general those phases stable at a given temperature in a system A-B appear as separate phase layers when A and B are put in contact and given a diffusion he at-treatment. In most cases the compositions at the interface of adjacent phase layers are those read from the phase diagrams for the termini of the respective phases. This discontinuity in concentration is taken as independent of time, and the growth of one phase at the expense of another is assumed to be independent of interface kinetics, i.e., the rate of interface movement is controlled by volume diffusion in the phases concerned. wagner6 has given many solutions for multi-phase diffusion processes, assuming that the chemical diffusion coefficient, D, is independent of concentration, as have others. Jost7 has pointed out that the familiar Boltzmann-Matano solution is as valid for a (c-x) curve exhibiting concentration discontinuities at phase boundaries as for the usual single-phase case. Heumann and associates8,9 have applied this solution to the multi-phase case, but lacking concentration data within the several layers were forced to assume linear concentration gradients, thus calculating only average D-values. The purposes of the present study were: 1) to determine the dependence of D on concentration, 2) to calculate the intrinsic diffusion coefficients D?Cu and D?Zn, 3) to establish the time-law for the movement of the interface, 4) to determine the concentration limits at the ß-? interface, and, 5) to attempt to clarify the mechanism of diffusion. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE The ? phase is exceedingly brittle; conventional solid couples and conventional sectioning methods were thus inapplicable. Vapor-solid couples were accordingly employed. Unfortunately the equilibrium vapor pressures of Zn for the ? phase are unknown; to escape this awkwardness, samples were enclosed in a capsule containing powder of an alloy of known composition, sufficiently large in quantity as to be effectively an infinite source, maintaining the concentration of Zn at the sample surface constant with time. The sources of Zn-vapor which can be employed in reaction with Cu, or a brass, or ß brass, to form a layer of ? brass satisfactorily wide in concentration range, are alloys of the phases ?, or ? + E or ? + d (depending on the temperature).

Jan 1, 1962

By Daniel C. McLean

Chemistry plays a more important role in milling operations than is generally recognized, particularly in fluid- solid separation processes. Chemical aspects are also very important insofar as plant water quality is concerned, and in the manner in which this water quality effects plant design and operation. Aside from the inherent chemical characteristics of plant water, the mineral preparation industry is becoming increasingly more dependent on the use of mining chemical reagents--relatively new to the coal industry, but items of I standard usage in complex metal recovery plants. These chemicals have many useful properties and can produce significant improvements in operations and metallurgical efficiencies when used properly and intelligently. They can produce poor results and sometimes severe losses when used improperly. Most reagents are relatively expensive on a per pound basis, hence costs can be excessive if they are used wastefully or inefficiently.

Jan 1, 1968

By André L. B. Bittencourt

The copper content in the waste slag represents the greatest loss in the process of Caraíba Metais' Smelter. By identifying the variables responsible for copper stabilization in the slag, a minimization on these losses is expected, producing a granulated waste slag with a copper content lower than 0.7%. Statistics resourses such as control charts, Pareto's diagram and correlations curves were applied for the data obtained in the first semester of 1992. The magnetite and the calcium oxide contents in the slag of the Flash Smelter Furnace were most prominent variables. Some operational changes introduced during and after this investigation have shown good results.

Jan 1, 1994

By Henrik Gudbrandsen, Geir Martin Haarberg, Ana Maria Martinez, Karen S. Osen, Sverre Rolseth

"The Several approaches were tried for developing an electrochemical route for producing high purity silicon from molten salts. K2SiF6 and metallurgical grade silicon were used as the source of silicon. Molten LiF-KF and pure KF with additions of K2SiF6 were used as electrolytes at temperatures from 550 - 900 oC. Silicon was cathodically deposited and anodically dissolved in the fluoride electrolytes. High electrorefining efficiency was obtained for many elements after electrolysis experiments at constant potential or constant current. The main challenge was to reduce the contents of boron and phosphorus. Another difficulty was to remove inclusions of solidified electrolyte. The lowest energy consumption was estimated to be ~ 3 kWh/kg Si, while the best current efficiency for Si deposition was found to be ~ 95 %.IntroductionSilicon is the most important material for photovoltaic power generation devices because of high feasible efficiency, low ecological impact and slow degradation. Development of a new and less expensive route for producing silicon of the desired quality is necessary in order to make solar cells competitive. Electrochemical routes may be an alternative possibility, and many laboratory studies have been reported over the past few decades. Most of the studies have been performed in molten salts, chloride or fluoride, at moderate temperatures so that solid silicon was deposited at the cathode. The production of high purity silicon has shown an annual increase of about 25 %, due to the increasing demand of solar grade silicon (SoG-Si). For future increased use of solar energy it is important to develop alternative, more energy efficient and cheaper processes for SoG-Si production compared to the Siemens process.Common silicon sources have been SiO2 and K2SiF6 for electrowinning and MG-Si in the case of electrorefining. A serious challenge is to find an oxygen evolving anode for electrolytes containing dissolved oxides. Especially at moderate to high temperatures and in molten fluoride electrolytes this is a difficult task.Many experimental results have been reported in molten chloride electrolytes. Nohira et al. [1-3] and Chen et al. [4] cathodically deposited silicon by electrodeoxidation of solid SiO2 in molten CaCl2 by potentiostatic electrolysis. An alternatice approach is to use electrorefining of low-cost metallurgical grade silicon (MGSi) to produce SOG-Si. In previous studies [5], an MG-Si anode was used, and silicon was successfully electrodeposited on a molybdenum wire in a CaCl2 based melt. It was found that the anode was strongly passivated due to the precipitation of silicon. Also, some deposits detached from the molybdenum wire because of the poor adherence to the cathode.Considering the Cu-Si alloy which has a good segregation effect for some impurities, and should not passivate, could be a good candidate anode for electrorefining. [6]."

Jan 1, 2014

The new generation of computer environment provides mineral processing plants with convenient tools to store and retrieve or to analyze on-line process variable values as given along time by the various sensors installed in the plant. The paper describes the application of classical tools, such as time series analysis, to retrieve the hidden information contained is such data. The concepts used in single signal processing (autocorrelogram, power spectrum, ARIMA descriptors) and multi-signal processing (cross-correlogram, cross-spectrum) are briefly reviewed. Some examples are given to illustrate their application (sampling, data filtering, process behaviour prediction, process evaluation, data synchronisation). Examples are taken from mixing, flotation and leaching processes.

Jan 1, 1990

By LeRoy D. Loy

The coal mining industry must be able to compete with alternate sources of fuel for the utility and industrial customers. If the industry is unable to control transportation costs, either due to government interference, or for other reasons, then mining costs must be kept down. Australia, South Africa, Canada, (and later Colombia) will take larger shares of the export market if mining costs are not kept competitive. The government's environmental regulations must be met without incremental increases in mining costs. Entrepreneurial instincts must be retained by the industry to provide for their investment in the future. What are the Problems with Existing Research? Government funding for coal mining research has been reduced or virtually eliminated. BCR (Bituminous Coal Research) is now a membership- supported organization, but its primary focus has been on health and safety-oriented research. BCR, however, is now attempting to widen its scope and conduct other types of research. There are almost no funds in EPRI's (Electric Power Research Institute) program for coal mining research. Large mining companies do some research for their own purposes and needs, but this is proprietary and therefore results are not shared with the remainder of the industry. The mining industry as a unit is not undertaking productivity (systems) oriented research in any common or cohesive manner.

Jan 1, 1983

By James Paone

This report shows the feasibility of predicting drillability, analytically, by using regression analysis techniques. The approach is new in diamond-drilling research. Further, the study shows that this technique may be of value to drill manufacturers and others in mathematically delineating performance characteristics of new drills in specific rock types. Another application might be the prediction of penetration speeds in extraterrestrial material based on the physical properties of the materials as samples become available. Prediction equations for penetration rates are presented for 9 rocks drilled in the laboratory and for 20 rocks drilled under field conditions. The prediction equations are based on drill operating parameters and on characteristics of the rock penetrated. No single physical property appeared consistently in the best predictor equations, and all the physical properties were found to be highly correlated with each other.

Jan 1, 1966

By Major N. R. Junner

Although manganese-garnets are rarely seen in hand specimens of the manganese ores and associated rocks, they have been detected by the writer in thin sections of all the ores and wall rocks that have been sliced, with the single exception of the Insuta deposit. Rhodonite, and an almost colorless amphibole, which appears to be manganiferous, are less common. Types of Occurrence (a) Rocks Composed of Manganese-garnet and Quartz The best known examples of this type are from near Bole and Wa in the Northern Territories of the Gold Coast, and from near Chama in the Gold Coast Colony. Normally these are fine and even-grained rocks, in which the garnets cannot be recognized in hand specimens. They are often stained with secondary manganese oxide. Thin sections examined microscopically are seen to be composed of aggregates of minute crystals of garnet in a matrix of mosaic quartz. Some manganese oxide and braumite (?) is often present, but other minerals are exceptional. The relative proportions of garnet and quartz in these rocks vary greatly and there is a complete gradation from quartz-rock to garnet-rock. (6) Rocks Composed Mainly of Manganese-garnet and Manganese Oxides Rocks of this type are known from Kalimbi Hill near Siripe, Pabini Hill near Bangwon, near Odumase and Konongo, and in the Ya Ya creek, about 5 miles east of Dunkwa. These are usually fine-grained banded dark-colored rocks, composed of abundant minute garnets in a matrix of black manganese oxide and braunite (?). A little microcrystalline is often present, and occasionally a little colorless amphibole. quartz (c) Rocks Composed of Rhodonite and Manganese-garnet Rocks of this type are not common. They are known from near Chama, and from the road between Senyong and Mangkuma. Some quartz is usually present. All these rocks resemble closely in texture and composition certain rocks from India, described by Fermorl as "gondite;" and they also resemble certain rocks described by Derby2 from the Queluz district,

Jan 1, 1927