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By H. Nematollahi

The comminution laws The grindability of the ores or minerals is an important factor that could not be deduced from their mineralogical characteristics (Testut, 1958). Many theories have been proposed to determine the amount of work required in a comminution operation as a function of the nature of material, size and shape of the minerals before and after of comminution. The most important laws are proposed by Rittinger, Kick and Bond. According to Rittinger (1867), the work is directly proportional to the new surfaces produced during the comminution. Kick (1885) believes that the work needed to produce similar modification is proportional to the volume or mass of the material. Bond, during his 25 years of experience and research, reached to the conclusion that on the average the energy required for a known comminution is between the Rittinger's and Kick's laws (Bond, 1952). According to Bond's Third Theory, the work input is proportional to the new crack tip length produced during the particle breakage, and equals the work represented by the product minus that represented by the feed. The work input is given by the following equation: [111W = 1 Owi( FP FF(1)] where W is the The energy input to the mill, (kWh/st); F is the Feed size based on 80% passed, (µm); P is the Product size based on 80% passed, (µm); and W; is the Work Index, (kWh/st) Methods to determine the Bond Work Index Various methods have been proposed by Bond to determine the Work Index. There are some problems with the Standard Bond Grindability Test: •Requiring a special mill. •Requiring a relatively large amount of sample. •Being relatively time consuming and tedious. [ ] During the recent years, numerous attempts have been made to install faster and easier methods to determine the Work Index. A complete description of these methods is presented by Yap et al. (1982). Determining the Bond Work Index by a new size ball mill During the recent years, researchers at the University of Tehran determined the Bond Work Index, using the Anaconda simplified methods by its Denver 305- x 127-mm (12 x 5-in.) laboratory wet ball mill. The equation used to calculate the Work Index for the above mill containing 16.12 kg (35.5 lbs) of steel balls is as follow: [1 _ 1-1W;=0.54x [P [)(2)] In addition, an attempt has been made to determine the Bond Work Index similar to standard Bond ball mill procedure but by a different ball mill, smaller and in consequent portable and less laborious than the Bond ball mill. Method description Just as the standard Bond grindability test, this method is a locked-cycle dry grinding and screening process that is carried out until steady state condition is reached. Test equipment The test is conducted in a special ball mill, called the New Size Ball Mill (NSBM). The mill is scaled down with a coefficient of two-thirds from the standard Bond ball mill. It measures 200 x 200 mm (8- x 8-in.) inside (instead of 300 x 300 mm or 12 x 12 in. in Bond ball mill). Just like the Bond

Jan 1, 1995

By F. G. Schora

The Institute of Gas Technology (IGT), under sponsorship of the U. S. Department of the Interior, Office of Coal Research (OCR), and the American Gas Association (A. G. A. ), has been undertaking the development of one of several processes to convert coal to high-Btu gas as a means of supplementing natural gas supplies. It is anticipated that there will be a significant need for such gas in the foreseeable future in order to meet the ever increasing demands for this preferred fuel form. HISTORY The development of the HYGAS® Process is based on various studies conducted at IGT starting back as far as 1945. Initial work was directed toward production of synthesis gas with subsequent catalytic methanation. By 1964 the concept of the direct hydrogenation of coal to produce methane noncatalytically was well-founded and the chemistry was reasonably well established. Work up until this point in time was financed by the American Gas Association. In 1964 the U. S. Department of the Interior, Office of Coal Research joined with A. G. A. to support the program. The objective at that time was to develop the necessary know-how to enable the design of a pilot plant, a necessary step in the ultimate commercialization of the process. Work for the next three years (1964-1967) emphasized investigation of fluidized-bed technology in the hydrogasification step, where moving-bed technology had been previously employed, as well as identification of commercially available catalysts acceptable for catalytic methanation of the CO and hydrogen in the hydrogasifier effluent under operating conditions in the system. By 1967, the preliminary design of a 3 ton/hr pilot plant had been finalized, and IGT received authorization from OCR to proceed with the detailed design and construction of that facility. The pilot plant was designed to study the following problems:

Jan 1, 1972

By Agus Sasmito, SRIVATSAN JAYARAMAN SRIDHARAN, Akash Adhikari, Purushotham Tukkaraja

The amount of toxic fumes produced during blasting operation depends on the types of explosives used, product formulation, degree of confinement, conditions of use, and reactivity of the explosives with the host rock. Ammonium nitrate and fuel oil (ANFO) is still the explosive of choice due to its lower price and ease of use/loading. If not properly monitored and controlled, toxic fumes produced from blasting operations can have serious health hazards [1]. This paper presents a novel technique developed to track trapped fumes during a development blasting.

Aug 1, 2022

By R. W. Macqueen

Organic matter commonly associated with Mississippi Valley-type (MVT) lead-zinc deposits may be used to assess the burial/thermal history of host rocks and sulfides. Organic matter may also have been involved in the genesis of H2S required to precipitate sulfide ores. Pine Point, Northwest Territories, Canada, provides an example. Located on the south shore of Great Slave Lake, Pine Point is an operating world class deposit which has produced 58 million tons of ore containing 3.0 percent Pb and 6.1 percent Zn from more than 40 Individual orebodies. Well-documented paleokarst features in a Middle Devonian carbonate complex are the main ore hosts. Sphalerite and galena ores are mainly open space fillings, and, from fluid inclusion studies, were deposited from saline fluids at temperatures of up to at least 100°C. Forms of organic matter occurring in the Pine Point barrier-reef complex Include indigenous organic matter, heavy oil and bitumen. Based on numerous geochemical criteria, it is clear that heavy oils and bitumens were derived locally from indigenous organic matter. The geochemical character of the Indigenous organic matter demonstrates that the barrier-reef complex is immature to marginally mature with respect to petroleum generation, and has not been heated above about 60°C maximum. Thus sphalerite with fluid inclusions that yield temperatures up to about 100°C represents former thermal anomalies. Bitumen is of two main forms at Pine Point: widespread soft, tarry material soluble in organic solvents (unaltered bitumen); and hard, brittle, glassy material that is mostly solvent-insoluble, and associated with white sparry dolomite and lead-zinc ores (altered bitumen). There are also partly altered bitumens. Unaltered bitumens have atomic H/C ratios of about 1.4, sulfur contents averaging 7.8 percent, and sulfur isotope ratios 634S) of approximately +4.6 per mil. Altered bitumens have atomic H/C ratios averaging 1.02, sulfur contents averaging 22 percent, and 634S values of about +12.9 per mil. These data and the organic geochemical character of a large suite of bitumen samples analyzed, strongly support the concept that some bitumen has been involved in the thermochemical reduction of sulfate to produce the H2S required to precipitate the ores. Mass-balance calculations indicate that the amount and degree of alteration of bitumen is more than enough to account for the reduced sulfur species deposited as metallic sulfides at Pine Point. MVT deposits, including Pine Point, seem to require the coincidence of available metallic Ions, pre-existing pore space, and a precipitating agent. A close look at organic matter in more MVT settings may outline trends in distribution or alteration which can be used as indicators of past thermal environments and processes of ore deposition.

Jan 1, 2013

By R. L. Miller

The potential for recovery of enriched uranium from spent nuclear fuel which has been consolidated into a nuclear waste form was explored in the studies reported here. The waste form of interest is iron-enriched basalt (IEB)--a silicate-based, fused-cast ceramic. IEB samples were prepared containing fuel assembly materials that simulate the core debris of Three Mile Island Unit II;1,2 the nominal composition of the consolidated waste form is given in Table 1. Ore Types The IEB samples, or man-made uranium ores (MMUO), are in two different mineralogical forms. Each MU0 was made by melting the constituent materials and holding at about 1500°C for 1 h. The MMUOs were then heat treated to control crystallization and crystal growth and then cooled to room temperature.

Jan 1, 1983

By K. R. Weller

In recent years, a variety of new or substantially modified grinding machines have been offered to the mining industry with claims of improved performance relative to standard grinding machines especially rod and ball mills. The incentive for developing such new machines is high, because costs associated with grinding are a very substantial part of the total costs of processing run-of-mine ore, and gold ores are no exception in this regard. The incentive is also high because of the very low conversion of input energy to comminution energy in most tumbling mills. If the most energy-efficient means of mechanical size reduction is slow compression of single particles, then this energy amounts to only about 3% of that used in tumbling mills. It would seem, therefore, that there is a huge potential to do better. This paper examines three types of grinding machine for which claims of higher energy utilisation ( amongst other beneficial claims) have been made, namely the high pressure grinding rolls, the vibrating drum mill and various styles of stirred mill. It presents evidence concerning the claims, examines the range of particle size and particle size reduction over which benefits might reasonably be expected to accrue, discusses the major issues in contention and briefly describes the research the CSIRO Division of Minerals has in progress, both independently and collaboratively, the latter mainly with the Julius Kruttschnitt Mineral Research Centre (JKMRC) via the Cooperative Research Centre for Mining Technology and Equipment (CMTE) and the Australian Mineral Industries Research Association (AMIRA). There are many criteria which may be chosen to assess relative performance of grinding machines. Those used below are:

Jan 1, 1995

By Takahide Wakamatsu

In Japan all the complex sulfide ore deposits of base metals have been developed as underground mining. The underground mining cost is extremely high as compared with open pit mining case. Therefore, in milling section of base metal mines, technical advance for maximum recoveries of valuable constitutents in ore has been required all the time to utilize as much ore mined as possible. At present, in mill plants treating "Kuroko", complex sulfide ore, concentrates of copper, lead, zinc, pyrite and barite are produced, with gold and silver contents in the copper, lead, and zinc concentrates being estimated as extra profit. As in the case of Kuroko milling plants, gold and silver contents in the lead and zinc concentrates of lead-zinc ore milling plants are also varuable from an economical viewpoint. Silver content is very high in Kuroko crude ore as well as lead-zinc ore.

Jan 1, 1982

By Kerry Spickelmier

With the dissolution of the former USSR and a welcoming of foreign, minerals expertise by a host of developing countries, a "new," more international, world of minerals is open to the mining industry. However, even in the new frontier, the old laws of nature still apply. For those attendees of the 98th annual Northwest Mining convention, the adage "survival of the fittest" commanded particular attention. Miners, engineers, geologists and other unique species traveled to Spokane in December to learn of adaptations they can make to assure, or at least prolong, their place in the mineral industry's land of the living. You have heard the tales of the spotted owl and the desert tortoise, but add to this endangered list the North American mining industry. During a session on international investment criteria, D. Silver of Balfour Holdings (Littleton, CO) blamed excessive environmental regulation, 1872 Mining Law revision and the anti-mining-and-business attitude of our government for migrations from and extinctions within the domestic mining population. "We've been on a death curve for some time," Silver said, "with a lower birth rate and a higher death rate. In the last four years, we've lost 60% of the gold producers in North America, and we're down to 110 companies. The entire industry has lost about 400 companies and is now down to 2800." Unreasonable regulation founded on emotion rather than scientific fact has been the chief cause of death, according to many of the convention speakers. B.J. Kennedy, president and chief operating officer of FMC Gold (Reno, NV), emphasized, "We have accepted a regulatory environment - but we oppose being strangled to death by unreasonable regulations."

Jan 1, 1993

By Michael C. Stanley

The set of discoveries for a mining district or camp is a reflection of the exploration history. In the western Abitibi greenstone belt of Ontario, future exploration can be guided by a study of statistical trends of known gold deposits. In this area simple trends indicate a strong decrease in the contained quantity of gold discovered through time. Much of this decrease is attributed not to falling mining grades but to smaller tonnages of ore. A plot of the largest discovery in each ten year time period suggests that deposit discoverability is following a size-biased sampling model. Cumulative ounces of discovered gold indicate that an asymptotic value has been reached where exploration is not expected to add significantly to known reserves. This is substantiated by a downward trend in the exploration success ratio of the number of new deposits discovered versus the number of new mineral prospects. The set of discovered deposits reflects a non-random sampling process where size- biased modeling suggests that the largest deposits will be discovered early in the exploration effort. It is the exceptionally large deposit contributing to the observed size-biased distribution. Although this pattern is observed for the western Abitibi the model is complicated by recent, large reserve additions that are attributed to the original discovery. There is present in this area a subtle learning process in exploration leading up to the largest discovery. For comparison a learning model was estimated using cumulative size of discovery per unit of time. This model yielded results consistent with the statistical trends and is thought to be a superior forecast of future discoveries in this region.

Jan 1, 1992

By H. Hinds

Plant testing of DuPont's Activator Technology in the vat leach circuit of the Homestake mine shows increased gold recoveries of 3-5%. Activators are catalysts of gold dissolution in cyanide solution. DuPont received the patent for this technology in January, 1996. The test was run in the west sand plant alternating control and activated vats to reduce the variability in head grade and cyanide consumption. Activated vats had gold in the preg solutions earlier, higher gold recovery, and lower gold residuals. Activator addition did not adversely affect mill operations or the environment. Optimization of the technology continues.

Jan 1, 1997

By A. A. El-Midany, R. M. Farag, A. M. Salem, S. E. El-Mofty

Bentonite represents one of the main players in the stability of the drilling mud. Its particle size and particle size distribution affect the physical properties of the drilling mud especially the rheological properties. Therefore, a specific particle size distribution was recommended by American Petroleum Institute (API) for use in drilling mud. To clarify the effect of individual size and size distribution, in this study, the bentonite sample was classified into different size fractions. Each size fraction was tested separately in terms of controlling properties such as filtration loss, plastic viscosity, gel strength, cake thickness, and packing density. The effect of each size fraction on the rheological properties of the suspension was correlated to the behavior of the whole particle size distribution in the bentonite sample. The results indicate that the coarser the particles, the higher the rheological properties; in this case, the API mixture is the highest. The filtration loss and cake thickness for the API mixture are lower than that of the individual size fractions due to its wider size distribution due to the filling of voids between larger particles with smaller ones, which lead to bed compaction and consequently lower fluid loss and cake thickness.

By Ziyan Ouyang, Haotian Zheng, Spencer Quiel, Mike Mooney, Clay Naito

This paper summarizes the results of an experimental program conducted to characterize the moment-rotation behavior of skewed flat radial joints from large diameter (45 ft) tunnel lining. Both positive and negative joint moment-rotation behaviors were measured experimentally using two-segment joint combination assemblies. The results are compared to closed form methodologies used by designers, e.g., the Janssen method. The differences in observed and model behavior are discussed within the context of design practice.

Jun 23, 2024

By George Biro, Christoph Mueller

A number autonomous operations is in place in several, mainly in fenced areas, where safety is assured by locking off the entire area for other traffic. However autonomy can be brought much further if functional safety is assured and a real mixed traffic of autonomous and manually operated vehicles is possible. MobileTronics has created a modular software and control framework for autonomous machines. The paper covers application examples in which the deterministic object recognition in combination with probabilistic algorithms and sensors is used as a basis for functional safe certification of mixed traffic autonomy.

Jun 25, 2023

By Paul W. Patton, Christopher Scott Smith

The use of ceramic-in-rubber pulley lagging on bulk material belt conveyors is increasing. Many of the applications have been on pulleys originally installed with rubber lagging. There is a consensus that the fiction characteristics of the ceramic material are significantly better but the factors quoted vary, possibly because the more complex traction mechanism of the dimpled ceramic elements on the belt is not well understood. In this paper we will report and evaluate field data from a number of field installations to provide a study of actual friction characteristics in successful applications for those who desire reliable data for using ceramic-in-rubber lagging in new conveyor designs.

Jan 1, 2004

By R. C. Jr. Babcock, V. S. Znamensky

The Pyke asbestos deposits were discovered by Kennecott Explorations (Australia) Pty. Ltd. in 1969 during the course of base metal exploration on the South Island of New Zealand. Extensive occurrences of chrysotile asbestos were found associated with the Red Mountain ultramafics in the headwaters of the Pyke River, and to the north and south along the ultramafic belt for a distance of 70 km. Surface evaluation and drilling by Kennecott in 1970 and 1971 identified numerous small deposits of good grade fiber in the Little Red Hills between the Pyke and Barrier Rivers. Additional drilling and three adits have been completed by other companies since that time. The property is presently held by Lime and Marble, Ltd., of Nelson, New Zealand, and Kennecott Explorations (Australia) Pty. Ltd. This chapter presents the regional and local setting of the asbestos deposits, including the geology and nature of mineralization. In addition, the exploration methods used by Kennecott in the discovery and evaluation of these deposits are outlined. Subsequent work by other companies is mentioned, but not de- scribed in detail. This subsequent work did not alter Kennecott's conclusions or produce any serious changes in the interpretation of geology and mineralization. The author acknowledges the contribution of the many employees of Kennecott Explorations (Australia) Pty. Ltd. who have been involved in the project. In particular, thanks go to Ramon Farmer, N.G. Corner, and A.W. McConie, who were responsible for completion of field work and reporting on the project. The responsibility for the conclusions and interpretations of this chapter are solely that of the author and result from his involvement in the discovery of the deposits and management of the exploration program. REGIONAL SETTING Ultramafic rocks on the South Island of New Zealand are thought to be Permian in age and occur between crystaIline and metamorphic continental rocks of Precambrian through Cretaceous age in the west, are thought to have once been part of the Antarctic subcontinent, and the extensive geosynclinal graywacke deposits of the Mesozoic New Zealand geosyncline in the east. They consist of the Dun Mountain ultramafics, a 130 km long segment of ultramafic rocks located at the north end of the South Island, and the Red Mountain ul- tramafics that occur in a zone 200 km long in the south half of the South Island as shown in Fig. 1. These two belts, once contiguous, have been offset a distance of 560 km by the still active Al- pine fault, which is analogous in character and offset to the San Andreas fault of the United States. The ultramafic rocks occur within a sequence of Permotriassic volcanic and sedimentary rocks that probably formed at the eastern margin of the continental plate. The ultramafics appear to be tectonically emplaced between Permian lithologies in the Dun Mountain belt (Coleman, 1966), and at the base of or between Permian volcanics and sediments in the Red Mountain belt. The Permotriassic ultramafic volcanic sequence of the Red Mountain ultramafic belt appears to be a typical ophiolite sequence. Ultramafic rocks, mixed mafic intrusive rocks and volcanics, volcanic rocks, and volcanoclastic sediments occur in apparent superposition from east to west in the area of Red Mountain. Farther south, ultramafic rocks are associated with basaltic volcanic rocks and some sediments, and still farther south are emplaced entirely in sediments. These structural compIications of the normal ophiolite sequence have resulted from the coincidence of Permian subduction, early Mesozoic extension and sedimentation, and Cretaceous subduction along the same plate margin (Landis and Bishop, 1972). The general geology in the area of the Red

Jan 1, 1986

By Boris J. Kochanowsky

In the mobile crushing unit system trucks are replaced by a conveyor resulting in a "continuous" almost "fully-automated" operation with all its attendant advantages. In consequence, overall operating costs are greatly reduced. Because of the new designs of large mobile crushing units that have been brought on-to the market, the use of these plants has increased significantly during the last three years. This paper describes the designs of new mobile crushing units, and emphasizes the advantages that such plants offer to the rock products and mining industries. It examines operating costs, and indicates the conditions in which the application of these plants is most profitable.

Jan 1, 1968

By Yoginder P. Chugh

About 65% of the U.S. coal production (835 n tons was surface mined. A similar proportion of the Illinois basin's production (112 m tons) is also surface mined. The state of Illinois is the third largest producer of surface mined coal in the United States, after Wyoming and Kentucky. The Illinois coal basin encompasses Illinois, southwestern Indiana, and western Kentucky, as shown in Figure 1 (dotted lines). The estimated surface mineable coal resources in the basin amount to about 27 billion tons, and about 69 m. tons of coal is surface mined annually (Tab1e I).

Jan 1, 1981

By Anna Marabini

This paper provides a summary of the studies performed over a period of more than fifteen years by the Italian National Research Council's Mineral Processing Institute in Rome to develop applications for the use of chelating reagents in the flotation of metallic minerals. A description is given of the various phases through which the studied progressed, starting with the combined use of commercial chelating reagents and a neutral oil and then moving on to the synthesis of new long-chain chelate collectors for the flotation of sulphide and oxidized Pb, Zn and Cu minerals. After a series of preliminary tests which confirmed the possibility of floating various metallic minerals with commercial reagents containing chelating groups exerting specific action on given cations, the studies were addressed to the development of a theoretical method of choosing chelating groups that exert selective action on one metallic mineral rather than others. The theoretical approach was based on thermodynamic data concerning the chemical equilibria in solution. The validity of the method has been proved in numerous cases by flotation tests on pure minerals. Subsequently the research was directed towards the design and synthesis of reagents with a mixed aliphatic-aromatic structure containing chelating groups for Pb and Zn and an alcoxyl chain of various length, position and configuration. The flotation results obtained on oxidized and mixed Zn-Pb ores provided interesting pointers for designing the nonpolar portion. The structural criteria identified via these studies were interpreted on the basis of chemical and steric considerations. A description is given of a new synthetic chelate collector which is effective in the selective flotation of Cu minerals from complex sulphides. The fact that this reagents is more selective than xanthate is demonstrated by comparative flotation tests on actual ores.

Jan 1, 1994

By Martin Wehrli, Oliver Schneider

"MOTIVATION Tunnel construction companies must keep costs low, finish projects in less time and still meet the high quality and safety standards. Therefore, their main goal is always to optimize the tunnel excavation process. Traditional geodetical methods are used since more than 100 years to ensure an exact breakthrough of a tunnel. Evolving sensors, sensor fusion and increasing computation resources opened new fields of application for geodetic solutions in tunneling. These solutions offer new ways to reduce costs and risks in tunneling. INTRODUCTION Nowadays in tunneling, geodetical measurement methods are not only used for guidance, but also for various other applications. This paper gives an overview about where geodetical measurements are used today and highlights their benefits for safety and costs aspects. Furthermore, advanced solutions are introduced. In progressive projects, they have already become state of the art technology and are in use daily. STANDARD GEODETICAL MEASUREMENT APPLICATIONS In drill & blast tunnel construction processes, there are many standard geodetical applications used in the different construction phases, each having different requirements regarding accuracy. In the excavation construction stage, guidance tasks and setting-out of various positions is done by the foremen. Thanks to simplified measurement tools, the foremen are enabled to carry out these measurement tasks themselves without requiring deep surveying knowledge. In contrast, deformation analysis and network measurement campaigns need sophisticated planning and a profound education in surveying. Therefore, these tasks are carried out by surveyors. Profile control and as-built documentation is required in each construction phase. Depending on the requirements of the project, this task can be carried out either by the foremen or a specialized surveyor. Table 1 provides an overview over typical surveying tasks in an underground project including information about who is doing the job and the according accuracy requirements. The listed tasks are described in more detail below."

Jan 1, 2016

By John C. Braithwaite

Gold production commenced in New Zealand during the gold rush of 1861, and recovery to date is over 900 tonnes, almost 60% of which was alluvial. New Zealand pioneered development of bucket line dredges during the 1880's. The advent of the modern hydraulic excavator and increased gold price led to a resurgence in alluvial production with about one hundred plants in operation in 1988. The processing plants are mainly floating, with throughputs of 50-100m3/hr fed by backhoes of 20-40 tonne operating weight. Some larger plants with more sophisticated recovery systems have commenced over the last few years, with the largest using a 180 tonne backhoe.

Jan 1, 1989