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By Helmut Hass, Michael S. Shultz

For many tunneling, deep shaft and deep excavation projects ground freezing is one of the best if not the only technique available to create a watertight and load bearing temporary support system in soft ground conditions. When appropriate attention is given to the details of the ground freezing system design, ground freezing is a very safe method and is economically viable with competing techniques and combinations of techniques. Recent innovative uses of the technique in Europe are highlighted in this paper and compared with current uses in North America.

Jan 1, 2005

By J. E. Forciea, O. E. Palasvirta, L. G. Hendrickson

AH pilot and commercial plants working with Mesabi Range taconite employ wet magnetic separation. Progress is being made with a dry magnetic process, but this has not yet been applied to taconite except in the laboratory and pilot plants. Flowsheets in all five plants are similar, including multiple stages of grinding, each followed by magnetic separation, which rejects a finished tailing. The flowsheet in Fig. 1 is used in the preliminary and commercial plants of the Erie and Reserve mining companies and in Unit C of Oliver's Pilotac plant. At Erie the desliming operation is omitted. In the Reserve plants two ball mills are used with each rod mill. Pilotac uses flowsheet 2 in Unit A-B and has also tested flowsheet 3. Principal differences in the three flowsheets are the number of grinding stages and the type of roughing. The terms open-circuit roughing and closed-circuit roughing are best defined by the diagrams. Special Test Data Given in Table I: For the Erie and Reserve commercial plants, Table I reflects routine conditions. Pilotac, the experimental plant, has been run with several flowsheets, including those followed at Erie and Reserve's commercial operations. Pilotac data for these last two flowsheets are similar to commercial plant results and are not repeated in Table I; statistics are given, however, for special test conditions. using other flowsheets. when the objective was to 'to extra-grade concentrate, Variations Among Taconites: Although crude ore tributary to these plants is generally classified as taconite, there are important differences in mineralogy and fineness of dissemination.

Jan 1, 1959

By A. Krishnan

Keywords: Tantalum extraction, SOM Technology, inert anode, membrane stability The Solid Oxide Oxygen Ion conducting Membrane (SOM) technology offers great potential for environment friendly and energy efficient extraction of high-energy content metals. This work was performed to demonstrate the technical and commercial viability of the technology to produce tantalum metal directly from tantalum oxide and ore concentrates using a solid-oxide, oxygen-ion-conducting membrane (SOM). The process can be used to efficiently produce tantalum metal without expensive pre-processing of raw materials and without harmful by products. The work reported in this paper is: the proof that high purity tantalum metal can be produced, study of the electrochemical behavior of the cell and the method to increase membrane stability.

Jan 1, 2005

By N. Kyriazi

The U.S. Bureau of Mines subjected the CSE SR-lOO self-contained self-rescuer (SCSR) approved by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) to a series of laboratory treatments designed to simulate various environmental conditions in underground coal mines. The tests were designed to predict the ability of the self-rescuers to withstand those environmental stresses without causing a decrease in wearer protection. The apparatus were heated to 710 C for 48 h, cooled to -450 C for 16 h, vibrated for 9 h, and dropped 1 m on each axis. A critical concern was internal damage to an apparatus, without any obvious external signs, that would cause it to malfunction or seriously degrade its performance. Carbon dioxide (C02) levels in apparatus with combined treatments were higher than in apparatus with individual treatments and untreated apparatus. The higher levels remained within safe limits, however. None of the treatments caused venting of the small oxygen cylinder that provides starter oxygen. Some bottles were found to be empty because of manufacturing defects in the burst disks. This problem was corrected in later models. The heat treatments did make the case ends more difficult to remove and the breathing bag sticky and subsequently more difficult to unfold. An apparatus that was dropped and vibrated had a broken desiccant bag that released some of its contents which compromised the seal of the relief valve. The case was dented from the drops. As with the first-generation self-rescuers, if there is visible damage to the case of the apparatus, the apparatus should be considered to be internally damaged and must be removed from service.

Jan 1, 1990

By Dwayne C. Kicker

This paper introduces the concept of design theory and methodology as applied to rock mechanics for more innovative and efficient design. This is a "frontier" research area in rock mechanics because although design is a fundamental foundation to all engineering branches, very little attention has been paid to this aspect in mining. In discussing the theoretical premise of design, this paper identifies the principles which form the basis of design activity. Also, from a practical viewpoint, the findings from a series of interviews with mine design engineers are presented. These findings lead to the identification of needs arising from overlooked design methodology in practice.

Jan 1, 1989

By A. C. Johnson

This circular is one of a series published by the Bureau of Mines describing mining and beneficiation methods and costs at various mining operations throughout the United States. Inclusion of the Abbott mine in this series is of particular interest, as the complex geology and the character of the deposits make their exploitation a unique operation. The mine operates on a high-cost, comparatively small-scale basis, and only the persistence of an aggressive management has enabled it to maintain its rank among the major mercury producers of California. Rising costs and decreasing metal prices, which continuously threaten the low profit margin, are reflected in increased efficiency of operation. This report summarizes past operations and describes, in detail, the geology and ore deposits; exploration and mining methods; and furnacing and condensing operations. It covers the entire operation from initial exploration to the actual production of mercury. Comparative production costs for 1944 and 1958 are of special interest.

Jan 1, 1962

CENTRAL mine ore consists mainly of galena and marmatite in a siliceous and rhodonitic gangue, the average assay values being approximately 11.5 oz. per ton Ag, 14.5% Pb, 14.5% Zn, 1.3% Ox Pb, 0.3% Ox Zn.Owing to the 1923 fire in the underground workings, much of the ore now being mined has been subjected to a certain amount of oxidation, as shown by the oxidised values above.This factor is of great importance from a flotation point of view, as a sulphide surface which has been subjected to the influence of oxidation is not as amenable to flotation concentration as a fresh sulphide surface. The importance of this factor is increased when a differential flotation is to be made, and, as in the case of Central mine ore, the sulphide, which is to be floated first, has been oxidised...

Jan 1, 1931

The Mineralogy and Reactivity of Pyrrhotite from Selected Nickel Ore Deposits and its Effect on Flotation Performance

Sep 13, 2010

This paper was developed as part of an effort by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) to identify risk factors associated with bumps in the prevention of fatalities and accidents in highly stressed, bump-prone ground conditions. Changes of failure mechanism with increasing confinement, from extensional- to shear-dominated failure, are widely observed in the rupture of intact specimens at the laboratory scale and in rock masses. In the previous analysis conducted in 2018, both unconfined and triaxial compressive tests were conducted to investigate the strength characteristics of some specimens of a Utah coal, including the spalling limits, the ratio of apparent unconfined compressive strength (AUCS) to unconfined compressive strength (UCS), the damage characteristics, and the post-yield dilatancy. These mechanical characteristics were found to be strongly anisotropic as a function of the orientation of the cleats relative to the loading direction.

Jan 7, 2020

By Johnson N. W

After an unsuccessful transfer from the laboratory to the pilot plant of galena flotation technology which used sodium metabisulphite and ethyl xanthate, laboratory flotation tests were conducted to identify any unusual variables which had a deleterious effect on the position of the lead rougher grade recovery curve for Hilton and Mount Isa silver-lead-zinc ores. Two variables (pulp temperature and contact time for ethyl xanthate and sodium metabisulphite) had important deleterious effects.The findings allowed a successful transfer of the laboratory process to a pilot plant scale process. The effect of temperature was important because the higher temperature (40°C) in the pilot plant pulp increased significantly the rate of reaction between ethyl xanthate and sodium metabisulphite. In the laboratory process at 20 to 25°C, the reaction rate was lower and did not interfere significantly with the process. The contact time for the two reagents was also important in the pilot plant scale process because of the higher reaction rate at 40°C.To employ ethyl xanthate in the pilot plant process, special precautions were required. Further, a collector (Aerofloat 241) from the dithiophosphate family was used successfully in the pilot plant process.

Jan 1, 1988

By R. G. Hamm

A brief outline covering the shovels and draglines in use in the open-pit mines of Western Canada, including British Columbia, Alberta and the Yukon, is given, followed by the procedure for the selection of the correct wire rope for each application. Such fa ctors as wire rope constructions, lay directions and types of cores are mentioned. Once the correct wire rope has been selected, there are variousfactors that can affect the service fife ofthe rope and the reduction ofdown-time during rope change-overs. Factors such as hairpin winding, types of Becket loops, and shovel drum and bail adaptors are described.

Jan 1, 1979

By E. Henry, C. Mayer, H. Rott

Hangingwall deformation monitoring at Kiruna mine is a major concern for Luossavaara- Kiirunavaara AB (LKAB) since underground production is deepening toward the town of Kiruna. In the quest for more effective monitoring techniques, LKAB decided to evaluate the ability of satellite-borne synthetic aperture radar (SAR) interferometry to monitor ground subsidence by generating continuous deformation maps from satellite radar images. While adopted by other geoscience-related industries, SAR interferometry is still relatively untested in the mining industry. This paper describes the basic principles of SAR interferometry and describes how subsidence is monitored at Kiruna mine. The encouraging results are discussed as well as the benefits (continuous deformation mapping, low cost, fast, etc.) and limitations (sensitivity to snow and vegetation cover) of the technique.

Jan 1, 2004

Drilling in the south of the Rapahoe Sector at Greymouth Coalfield has demonstrated the existence of thick coal seams in the upper Rewanui Member. Seam correlation is handicapped by complex lithostratigraphy and laterally variable geophysical log profiles. An integrated investigation of coal measure stratigraphy, coal petrology, and proximate analyses, suggests a feasible model whereby most of the major seam intersections belong to a single horizon. Coal properties vary laterally in response to original swamp conditions, which are believed to have ranged from well-drained to ponded. A new model of peat accumulation is proposed for the northern Rapahoe Sector, whereby Upper Rewanui peat accumulation occurred on a flood plain between the levees of a major south southwest-flowing fluvial system in the east and the toe of a western alluvial fan.

Jan 1, 1985

By E. L. Garton

Michigan is becomining one off the important oil-producing States of the country, The amount of crude oil produced within its boundaries has increased from only 4,000 barrels in 19253/ to nearly 16 million barrels in 1935.4/ The Bureau of Mines method of crude-oil analysis and classification indicates that the oils from the several producing fields are predominantly paraffin-intermediate-base, wax-bearing crudes. In general, they will yield 25 to 35 percent of highly paraffinic gasoline and about the tame amount of kerosene and gas-oil combined, 12 to 15 percent of lubricating oil stock, and 20 percent of residuum with a carbon residue of about 6 to 7 percent. In addition, there appears to be some correlation between certain properties of the crude oils and both the geographical location and geological structure of the oil-producing areas within the State. These general conclusions are based on the analytical data presented in this report, which is one of a series of papers that record the general characteristics of crude oil from the many producing fields of the United States. This report discusses briefly the oil fields of Michigan and the characteristics of the crude oils produced from them. The analyses of 15 samples are given. These samples were obtained from 13 fields in S counties in the lower peninsula and represent crude oils produced from the Berea sandstone, Upper Traverse and Traverse limestones, and the

Jan 1, 1937

By C Jia, J Graindorge, L M. Olssen

Picking up abandoned mining tenements and looking to recover remnant resources around old operations is an opportunity that comes with its own challenges and risks. Reliance on information released to government departments (such as the Department of Mines and Petroleum (DMP) in Western Australia) by the previous owners, can compound the risk.This paper explores Alto Metals Ltd’s Lord Nelson and Lord Henry deposits and surrounds near the town of Sandstone in Western Australia. The Lord Nelson and Lord Henry open pits produced around 2 Mt of ore for over 250 koz of gold during production between 1999 and 2010. There has been no further work carried out in the area between 2010 and 2016. The deposits are open at depth and along strike.Alto Metals picked up the tenements in 2016 and has subsequently re-estimated remnant resources around Lord Nelson and Lord Henry, and publicly reported updated Mineral Resources in accordance with the JORC Code 2012.All of the information was manually compiled from data released to the DMP and annual reports. This paper highlights the challenges and risks arising from this data compilation, geological interpretation, re-estimation and classification process, together with future opportunities and challenges for further developing the area.CITATION:Olssen, L M, Graindorge, J and Jia, C, 2017. Starting from scratch – defining remnant resources from publicly available data: a case study from the Lord Nelson and Lord Henry gold deposits, in Proceedings Tenth International Mining Geology Conference 2017, pp 175–188 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Sep 20, 2017

By William J. Campbell

This report describes a Bureau of Mines study undertaken to determine the applications and limitations of solution techniques as a general method of fluorescent X-ray spectrographic analysis. Systematic errors due to variations in particle size, surface preparation, and sample inhomogeneity are eliminated by the use of solutions. The range of applicability of fluorescent X-ray spectrography is increased in two ways: (1) Samples in the form of wire, filings, turnings, etc., can be analyzed as solutions, and (2) samples submitted as solutions can be analyzed as received 0 The lower limit of detectability varies from 0.14 gram per liter for sulfur, atomic number 16, to 0.0015 gram per liter for strontium, atomic number 38. Most elements have limits of detectability between 0.02 and 0.002 gram per liter.

Jan 1, 1959

By John Lindsay

Outline ??Recovery plant requirements and concepts ??Common recovery plant unit processes ??Recovery plant design considerations ??Peripheral issues Process Design ??Liberation ??Separation ??Recovery Processing ??Density 3.5 g/cm3 ??Luminescent under x-ray ??Hydrophobic (non wettable) surface ??Non-magnetic ??Inert to strong acids / bases

Apr 1, 2005

By M. Massinaei, M. R. Yarahmadi, S. Zeidabadi, M. Oliazadeh

"Although the majority of new flotation column installations continue to be for cleaning or recleaning, an increasing number of flotation projects are specifying columns for roughing or scavenging duties. NICICO has recently installed flotation columns operating in rougher, cleaner and re-cleaner circuits at three new copper concentrators; Miduk, Sungun and Sarcheshmeh. Miduk is probably one of the unique operations that use flotation columns in a rougher circuit. The Miduk rougher circuit comprises five CISA parallel columns. The rougher concentrate constitutes 88% of final concentrate and reports to concentrate thickener. The rougher tailings are scavenged with ten 50 m3 mechanical cells. The scavenger concentrate is then reground and cleaned in three 3.2 m columns in parallel. The cleaner tailings are scavenged in six 50 m37mechanical cells. The cleaner tailings along with the rougher scavenger constitute final tailings.In Sarcheshmeh, the cleaner concentrate is re-cleaned in a column. The column tailings are sent back to the cleaning circuit and the concentrate is reported to the concentrate thickener.This paper reviews performance details of the flotation columns utilized in rougher circuits at Miduk and compares their metallurgical performances in an industrial scale with columns at cleaning circuits for copper flotation. Practical limitations for applying the flotation columns in rougher circuits will be discussed in details.INTRODUCTIONThe use of flotation columns has grown rapidly since the first successful commercial application at Mines Gaspe, where columns were used in a cleaning circuit to float molybdenite. Early applications of columns were restricted to replacing or adding final cleaning stages in existing circuits. Columns can achieve superior cleaning as compared to conventional cells due to their ability to support a large froth depth and the use of water for washing froth. Wash water travels down through the froth and crosses the pulp/froth interface, replaces the entrained particles reporting to the froth from pulp and improve the concentrate grade."

Jan 1, 2011

By M. G. Dellow, D. W. Hendriks

"In early 1988 the decision was made by Noranda Minerals Inc. to install pressure filters at the GECO mill to replace the vacuum disk filters and bunker-C fired rotary kiln dryers. Two filters were installed, one for copper concentrate and one for zinc concentrate. Completion of the project was scheduled for the third quarter of 1989. The filters were made operational in October 1989. Some work remains to be done yet on loadout conveyors for total project completion. Capital expenditures for the project have been approximately $2,700,000 to date. The paper describes the selection criteria for the filter, the installation, startup and associated problems.1. INTRODUCTIONThe filter model chosen for the project was the Verti-Press model VP-50-6(7) (Figures1 ,2 and 3) by Filtra Systems of Farmington Michigan, USA. The decision to purchase the Filtra Systems filter was based on gaining familiarity with a different, mechanically simpler pressure filter than the Larox design and to a lesser extent a necessity for repairs to the the disc filter, rotary kiln dryer system used at the GECO operation for its' copper and zinc concentrates. The fact that it is manufactured in North America was an important consideration. The same basic principles of pressure filtration as the Larox machine are used but the implementation is quite different and somewhat simplified with some interesting innovations. 2 filters were installed to allow direct and immediate comparison of the same machine on both fine and coarse materials. Copper concentrate is reground for cleaning on the flotation circuit while zinc is not. Screen analysis of composited samples of concentrates for 1988 indicated that expected copper concentrate would be approximately 66% minus 400 mesh and zinc 50% minus 400 mesh (Tables 1 & 2).The filter is composed of six horizontal chamber module layered vertically and held together in a frame by 1 O large bolts; torqued down to 4000 ft-lbs. 6 individual belts are used; each with its own drive system. The belts themselves are of a 3 piece design with a filter cloth portion, a support belt and a rubberized intermediate portion. They are held together with steel clipper lacings. A basic description (1) of the filter operation is as follows. ""The horizontal filler chamber is closed by hydraulically pressurizing seals across each end of the filter chamber to 200 psi. The feed pump then pumps slurry into the filter chamber. Suspended solids are retained on the filter belt and the filtered solution drains into a lower drip tray and flows from the filter by gravity. At the end of the filtration or feed cycle, a rubber diaphragm in the filter chamber is pressurized hydraulically to 100 psi pressure. This removes all free liquid from the filter chamber and the filter cake. After the diaphragms are retracted the filter cake is blown with compressed air to remove any residual cake moisture. The seals are then retracted and the belt is advanced to discharge the filter cakes. During the cake discharge the belts are washed with a spray header located at the drive end of the filter. The belt assemblies move one (1) complete revolution during the cake discharge cycle. The cycle automatically repeats until the filter is shut down by the operator."

Jan 1, 1990

By John J. Sammarco

The U.S. Bureau of Mines has developed a regulated, intrinsically safe, rechargeable power supply for portable electronic equipment for underground use. The regulated output is ideal for microprocessor power requirements and is suited for operation in hazardous environments. Two rechargeable, sealed batteries are contained within the power supply. Provisions are made to use an external source of power if these batteries fail. Provisions are also made to charge these internal batteries when needed. The circuit is composed of three main circuits: the main regulator circuit, the input protection circuit, and the output protection circuit. The main regulator circuit provides remote voltage sensing, current sensing, fault monitoring, and internal thermal protection. The input protection circuit checks for excessive input current and low battery conditions. The output protection circuit contains two overvoltage detection devices. Schematics, a parts list, and a calibration procedure are provided in this report to enable readers to fabricate the power supply.

Jan 1, 1989