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By N. A. Abdel-Khalek

The objective of this investigation was to compare the results of counter-current flotation column versus conventional flotation cell for the cleaning of a sulphur ore and its discrete size fractions. The tests were carried out using diesel oil as a collector and alcohol as a frother. Generally, flotation column produced concentrates of higher grade. For example, the grade of a rougher concentrate for a given feed obtained with the column increased by 33% higher than that produced with the flotation cell. Such higher grade could not be obtained using conventional cell even after 3 cleaning stages. Moreover, the column gave superior results for flotation of fine and ultrafine particles.

Jan 1, 1991

By Thomas R. Hightower

The Thunderbird plant was erected in Sullivan County in Indiana during 1958-1959. It was first put in operation in March of 1959. At the present time the source of the raw coal is from the Indiana No. 6 seam. The underground operation at present consists of two continuous mining units and two conventional units. The underground is all belt haulage and the first unit with which this paper is concerned is the slope belt. It is a 48-inch-wide inclined belt with 980-foot centers and a lift of 275 feet. The belt is powered with a 350 H, P, motor and has a rated capacity of 600 Tons per Hour. The belt is equipped with a Merrick Scale Company Weightometer, The raw coal moves from the belt to a 6'x12' extra heavy Allis-Chalmers Ripl-Flo equipped with 6" round-hole screens. The over product of the screen is fed into a 10'x20' long McNally- Pittsburg rotary breaker equipped with 4-l/2" round-hole screens. The oversize rock is discharged into a bin that is emptied with a refuse truck. The through-product of the breaker, along with the through-product of the Ripl-Flo, passes either directly to the McNally Giant washbox or to a 36" belt that transports it to a 1000-ton storage bin,' The change from either to the washbox or to the storage bin is made by use of a motorized gate controlled by the plant operator,

Jan 1, 1961

By M. M. Carpenter

Specialty chemicals are widely used in the industrial minerals process industry for many different purposes including beneficiation, filtration, flocculation, dispersion and biological control. Optimal use of such chemicals can confer benefits both in terms of cost efficiency and end product attributes. In this paper we will review recent progress in the fundamental understanding of mineral additive interactions and present data which show how optimization can lead to improved products.

Jan 1, 1999

By F. Milton Lewis

In 1977 a paper was presented which reviewed the cost trends in producing copper by conventional processes for five years, 1972 through 1976. In this paper these costs have been updated to include the years 1977 and 1978.

Jan 1, 1979

By H. S. Castro

The by-product molybdenite technology in Chile is reviewed. Flowsheets, reagents and some operation features for the actual six Chilean moly plants(Chuquicamata, El Teniente, El Salvador, Andina, Las Tortolas and Pelambres), are presented. The chemical and physicochemical factors involved in the depression of copper and iron sulfides during the selective flotation of molybdenite, with sodium sulfide, sodium sulfhydrate, anamol-D and LR-744, are discussed. Advances in technology to solve problems of excess of lime (precipitation with sulfuric acid); excess of residual flotation reagents (activated carbon and kerosene); and optimization of depressant consumption (Eh control, nitrogen and low-oxygen air), are discussed.

Jan 1, 1998

By R. F. Davis

The evaluation and selection of coals for producing metallurgical coke is indeed a com- plex process simply because coal is a complex and variable substance which is sensitive to how it is treated from the time it is mined until it is transformed into coke. A review of the the more common evaluation tests made on coal and how the test results are applied in commercial practice. Parameters used to select coal blends for wet and preheated charges should also be of interest.

Jan 1, 1980

By T. A. Doyle

Column and batch test methods are used to simulate and model the leaching of various mining by-products. Batch tests are simpler, while column tests more intuitively represent the field conditions to be simulated. Projects that have included different types of leaching tests illustrate the strengths, limitations, and associated uncertainties of each. Column and batch tests have been used to evaluate arsenic solubility in leachate from treated copper smelter flue dust, to simulate the leaching of pit wall rock from a proposed gold mine, and to simulate the release of uranium from aquifer materials.

Jan 1, 1998

By C. N. Bensley, S. K. Nicol, R. Lamb, G. W. Kidd

Flotation circuits in the metalliferous industry recover high value concentrates from very fine (minus 0.lmm), low grade, slow-floating feeds. Flotation columns acting as final cleaners within these circuits offer the benefits of higher grade concentrates, reduced circuit complexity, improved control and reduced power consumption. By contrast, in the coal industry, these benefits have not been realised, principally because columns are not well suited to the treatment of conventional coal flotation feeds (minus 0.5m). However, this does not imply that columns do not have a place within the coal industry, rather that they must be applied in a role where all the unique advantages of column flotation can be of benefit. The development of a commercial scale column to recover discarded ultrafines from the Riverside preparation plant of BHP-Utah Coal Limited is discussed. Particular emphasis is placed on the column design features pertinent to the recovery of ultrafine coal. Pilot and commercial scale column performances are compared. The results of the commercial scale testwork indicate that a full installation at the 5.5 MTPA Riverside plant would annually recover additional coal worth $US 6.6M.

Jan 1, 1988

By Robert L. Marovelli

Organizational development that attempts to simultaneously deal both with training and with job design parameters as they relate to mine health and safety, productivity, and quality of life is one of several areas of research that the Bureau of Mines is pursuing. The Bureau sees potential in this particular effort for reducing accidents and injuries, improving worker satisfaction and health, and increasing productivity.

Jan 1, 1981

By C. C. Harvey

As we move towards the 21st Century there are several factors that will influence the markets and processing requirements for industrial minerals. Traditional markets for many industrial minerals in the developed world are frequently stagnant or decreasing because of their maturity or due to environmental factors such as reclamation, recovery of byproducts, and recycling. Some industrial minerals are greatly affected by these factors, while others are either immune to or have adapted successfully to meet these challenges. In the developing countries of the world, there is rapid market growth and resource exploitation. The future of specific mineral commodities in several markets will be discussed.

Jan 1, 1997

By Keith G. Wallace

The effect of face resistance on ventilation air leakage through stoppings was measured in a twin development heading. Face resistance was varied by alternately tightening or loosening the face line brattice to change the line brattice leakage. Results indicated that tight brattice lines are necessary to maintain acceptable airflow at the face but result in higher leakage throughout the entire system, reduced overall ventilation efficiency, and higher operating costs. Conversely, a low face resistance which simulated an auxiliary fan/duct system gave reduced stopping leakage losses, higher quantities of air at the last open cross-cut and greater entire system efficiencies

Jan 1, 1984

By William J. Shampine

This map shows general trends of the chloride concentration of water in the upper part of the Floridan aquifer. Below this part of the aquifer, high chloride water can be found everywhere in the State. The accompanying cross section shows the depth to salty water across central Florida. In the center of Florida, fresh water may be found as deep as 2.000 feet, whereas, along the coast it may extend no deeper than about 200 feet. Chloride concentration in small local areas may deviate from the values represented on both the cross section and the main map. This map shows general trends of the chloride concentration of water in the upper part of the Floridan aquifer. Below this part of the aquifer, high chloride water can be found everywhere in the State. The accompanying cross section shows the depth to salty water across central Florida. In the center of Florida, fresh water may be found as deep as 2.000 feet, whereas, along the coast it may extend no deeper than about 200 feet. Chloride concentration in small local areas may deviate from the values represented on both the cross section and the main map.

Jan 1, 1966

By Paul H. Muller

The configuration of remote seal DP cells for specific gravity measurement is described and the calculations for calibration are presented. The error induced by ambient temperature change is investigated as it relates to capillary dynamics and electronic considerations. Instrument specifications are discussed in the light of accuracy requirements and the calculation of error vs. ambient temperature is described.

Jan 1, 1984

By M. Soderstrom

In a solvent extraction (SX) plant, stage efficiency calculations are used to determine mixer efficiency. With modern extractants and mixing equipment, it is generally taken for granted that stage efficiencies will be above 95%, but this is not always the case. Dependant on mixer/solution conditions, stage efficiencies can occasionally be low, therefore leading to higher reagent usage. Proper methods to identify when stage efficiency performance is below expectations, and ways to identify if it is an equipment or chemical issue are valuable tools for a plant metallurgist. With these tools and skills an on-site metallurgist can more quickly return their SX plant to proper operation. This paper will discuss methods for analyzing stage efficiency, evaluating factors that may affect stage efficiency, and evaluating the impact of stage efficiency on the overall operation.

Jan 1, 2010

By Karoly C. Kocsis, Kyle A. Scalise, Marcelo Bandeira Teixeira

Understanding the effects of various ventilation and climatic parameters on the work conditions and comfort in underground mines is critical for efficient ventilation system design and cost savings and to ensure the health and safety of mine workers. To understand the effects that the thermal damping effect (TDE) and the thermal flywheel effect (TFE) have on the ventilation system design and potential cooling system, this paper compares and analyzes the wet and dry-bulb temperatures at the bottom of an intake shaft using two modeling software packages, Ventsim™ and Climsim™. The comparison shows the consequences and importance of taking into account the TDE/TFE when predicting the climatic conditions in future underground mines, especially when deciding on whether a cooling system should be employed in order to provide adequate climatic conditions in the production stopes, dead-end development headings, and throughout the mine. Ventsim™is able to account for the TFE, while Climsim™does not. Both software packages have their uses and are used within the mining industry, but it is useful to understand their limitations and where the future of underground climatic modeling will lead.

Oct 9, 2020

By H. G. Stephenson

Canada and the United states are both developed countries with economies which are extremely dependant on oil. Canada exports 37% of its production (to the United states) and imports 35% of its consumption (mainly into Eastern Canada), making the country self-sufficient in oil. Canada is attempting to increase its oil production so as to simultaneously reduce its dependence on foreign oil while producing more oil for export. The United states -imports no less than 50% of its total consumption of 17 million barrels/day. Canada's exports to the United states form only 7% of the United States total imports. The United States would clearly prefer to achieve self-sufficiency in oil. Consequently both countries are dependent on foreign oil. The united States is however in the sensitive situation of depending, for its imports, on countries which are susceptible to destabilizing political events. It is the author's hypothesis that recent developments in underground oil recovery from the Athabasca oil Sands of Alberta may well, for both countries, form part of the solution to these problems.

Jan 1, 1991

By J. D. Vincent

The Henderson mine site is located at Red Mountain on the eastern slope of the Rocky Mountains, approximately 50 miles west of Denver, Colorado. The mill site is on the west slope of the Rockies and mine and mill will be connected by an underground railroad. All designs were for a 30,000 ton per day molybdenite processing plant with provisions for future expansion up to 50,000 ton per day if required. This plan did not just happen, but slowly evolved over the course of about three and one-half years. Many plants cannot afford such a delay, but the Henderson project will take about 10 years from the time it was first discovered until production starts, and these 3 !1 years were well spent in determining the best possible plant site and flowsheet. This paper describes some of the problems and the decisions made in arriving at the final location and flowsheet. The paper does not go into the specific details of how protection of the environment went hand-in-hand with all other project considerations. This particular aspect of the planning has been well-reported on other occasions and considerable information on it is readily available.

Jan 1, 1972

By D. P. Caplice

On behalf of the Ontario Water Resources Commission, I would like to express my sincere appreciation to your Institute for presenting us with this opportunity to outline the regulatory control programme as it relates to the mining industry in the Province of Ontario. In Canada, and particularly in Ontario, we are blessed with an abundance of natural resources. Fresh water in the form of lakes and rivers covers nearly 17 per cent of the area of the Province. (Total area of the Province of Ontario is 412,582 square miles.) The mining industry, which had its beginning in the early 1800's with a small iron ore plant, has progressed with the major discoveries of nickel and copper in 1883, silver in 1903, gold in 1908, iron in 1939 and uranium in 1953, to the point where, in 1966, almost one billion dollars in mineral wealth was mined in Ontario. Water, in spite of its great abundance and with due respects that it may become a natural resource worthy of export in the foreseeable future, has become increasingly precious in Ontario, particularly in the more urban areas in the southern part of the Province.

Jan 1, 1968

By R. L. Miller

"Why should we care about diesel quality amidst the complexity of mining for minerals? Mining companies use a large amount of diesel fuel in their worldwide operations, both for moving ore from the mine to the processing mills or transportation hubs, and to generate power for onsite processing. This creates a large carbon footprint and poses both environmental risk with the production of emissions, and public perception of how those companies do their business as stewards of the environment while incurring a huge fuel expenditure. To improve diesel quality and create incremental value and greater environmental stewardship, the opportunity is broken down into several segments: 1. Mining industry diesel consumption 2. Fuel quality issues 3. Impacts on operations, economics, and emissions 4. Potential solutions 5. How improved fuel quality saves fuel expenditures 6. Economics of improved fuel quality 7. Recommended testing process 8. Fuel quality analysis checklist MINING INDUSTRY DIESEL CONSUMPTION The average grade of mined Australian ore bodies has halved, while the waste removed to access the minerals has more than doubled over the last 30 years, thus increasing energy consumption by 70%, (http://eex.gov.au/industry-sectors/mining/). Energy consumption and intensity in mining and mineral processing is rising at around 6% per annum. The mining industry is a huge consumer of diesel fuel worldwide, and the SRS Rocco Report of 4 August 2014 gives a better picture of recent trends. To better understand the reasons to reduce both fuel costs and consumption, we need to compare metrics on the amount of diesel consumed per each ounce of gold produced over the last decade. The rate of diesel consumption in gallons per each ounce of gold produced for the top five worldwide gold producers has doubled in the last 8 years from 12.7 gallons per ounce in 2005 to 25.8 in 2013 as shown in Figure 1 below.This is caused by 1) lower ore grades requiring more hauls to get same amount of finished gold product, and 2) haul trucks moving ore from deeper sources in open pit and underground mines. For one large multi-national gold mining company, the 2005 waste rock / production ratio was 52 metric tons/gold ounce; by 2013 that ratio had grown to 113 metric tons/gold ounce per the same SRSrocco 4 August 2014 report. Using the metrics above, the top 5 gold miners used over 591 million gallons of diesel fuel in 2013. The cost of diesel in dollars per ounce of gold has increased from $30.48 in 2005 to $101.14 in 2013, an annual appreciation of 16.2% as shown in Figure 2 below."

Jan 1, 2017

By D. Marino

Over the last 20 years, the manufacturing sector of our country has been called upon to comply with ever core stringent environmental standards. The primary metals sector was particularly hard hit early on, to develop the technology, acquire the equipment, and implement the programs to eliminate or reduce the by-products of metal making. To this end, through a combination of technological innovation and extensive capital expenditures, the metals industry has met, and in many cases, exceeded the minimum standards. It is to this escalating cost - liability exposure issue - that Dereco has addressed itself. As we move into the decade of the 90's, the challenge facing the metals industry concerning the environment will be even more difficult than the previous decade. To focus in on one major aspect of legislated environmental regulations, the issue we will address today is; now that the by-products of metal production have been identified, accounted for and collected, how are they to be disposed of? During the course of this presentation, actual data will be presented from our 4 1/4 year on-site experience at J & L Specialty Products

Jan 1, 1992