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By Wayne A. McCurdy

I welcome the opportunity to meet with you and discuss the work and program of the Office of Coal Research. Our programs are oriented to serve the conservation objectives of the Johnson Administration and of the Nation by seeking out the most efficient and best uses for coal. We believe that even if only a portion of our program is successful, the coal industry and the Nation will benefit far out of proportion to our expenditures. Operating with a budget of $7,220,000 in Fiscal Year 1966, OCR sponsors contract research which offers potential for achieving benefits to the coal industry in the form of new production and new markets. This directs us into many areas of research activity: in coal combustion, in advancements in mining methods and coal preparation, in new uses for coal, and in associated economic and marketing research.

Jan 1, 1966

By David Beck

In Australia, Safe Work legislation requires mines to have a documented ‘Safety Case’ explaining how a mine will safely manage all major hazards. A similar requirement is legislated or inferred by regulation in all jurisdictions. For small scale, instabilities leading to day-to-day seismic hazards, a ‘Stability Safety Case’ built around observational methods and measurement triggered responses can be effective because adverse situations are easily identified and the costs of lower control measures are not onerous. Also, if the influence of a volume of yield on the mine load system is small, the response of the system will be more predictable. However, for episodes of large scale mine instability, the hazard derives from the widespread, multi component influence of the event on the mine load system. As the system response depends on interactions between many parts, the resolution of predictions will be lower and situations can arise without local precedent. Further, as episodes of large scale instability change the stiffness and nature of the connectedness between parts of the mine load system, the behavior of the system before the event will be a poor empirical basis for forecasts of event related hazards. Most importantly, Triggered Action Response Plans (TARPs) and ‘traffic light’ warning systems cannot make design choices or identify new hazard phenomena. They are ‘lower’ control measures targeting explicit human-made instability hypotheses. As such, the Safety Cases related to management of hazard from potential large scale seismic events and mine instability cannot rely solely on TARPs. Mines that successfully manage meaningful dynamic instability always acknowledge the ultimate reliance on expert human intuition, knowledge and imagination to appreciate the range of possible hazard scenarios, to make stability hypotheses and propose solutions. Complex analysis, TARPs and measurements are critical steps in the human decision cycle, but only support the making and testing of ‘Stability Hypotheses’ made by expert engineers. Relying on expert skill and judgement as essential components of a Safety Case, however essential, introduces human vulnerabilities. Another challenge is that the expert decision making process is hard to document. Beck et al 2019 first described an organizational and procedural framework for maintenance of an ongoing large-scale ‘Stability Safety Case' where a degree of expert judgement and imagination is needed to manage a seismically active mine. The structured data appreciation process outlined sufficient measurements, analysis and appreciation to confirm the stability state of the mine and was applicable to all underground mines. After several years of implementation in various forms in stoping, caving and room and pillar mines, this update addresses lessons learned and describes some considerations for numerical forecasting to establish a base case, and some challenges for empirical hazard identification.

Apr 26, 2022

By Reese E. Mallette

This paper makes five major points which may be contributions to the art of limestone sinkhole engineering. First, solution cavity development in limestones is dependent in great measure on pyrite contained within the limestone. Second, rock failure is rarely involved in sinkhole problems, while soil failures are almost always the mode of occurrence. Third, draw down, depression of the water table, is a primary causative factor in sinkhole development. Fourth, lateral movement of vadose water along the soil-rock interface, sub-soil erosion, is the mechanism by which soil is stoped, raveled, piped, or removed from the soil cavern. Fifth, the ultimate or triggering factor in localizing a sinkhole collapse is any superposed mechanism which disrupts the continuity of an impermeable clay soil overburden. The above theses are presented as extensions of our observation and of published literature, with the suggestion that additional study of these mechanisms is warranted.

Jan 1, 1975

By Ramon S. Pizarro

The Masbate Province, Philippines, has been a gold producer for many years. Several gold properties were profitably operating until the outbreak of World War II in 1941. One of these properties was the Masbate Consolidated Mining Company that at the time showed an impressive production rate of more than 4,000 metric tons of ore per day and one of the lowest milling costs on record in the country at that time. Interesting enough, t was the milling equipment left abandoned at Masbate that gave birth to one of the giant copper producers in ASIA. In 1955, Atlas Consolidated Mining and Development Corporation started a new operation at its copper property in Cebu with the seven 2.4m 0 x 3m long (8'0 x 10' long) ball mills left abandoned at the old Masbate Gold Mine. Now, 25 years later, Atlas is processing over 100,000 metric tons of copper ore per day through its three copper concentrators, and, the seven old mills are still grinding, copper ores now.

Jan 1, 1981

By M. E. Hinkle

Concentrations of He, CO2, and O2 in soil gases were measured regularly for more than a year at a site near Golden, Colorado. Samples were collected from a hollow probe at 0.75-m depth and from a plastic hemisphere on the ground surface. Soil temperature, air temperature, percent humidity, And barometric pressure were also measured. Soil moisture was measured only indirectly as amount of rain or snowfall. Higher concentrations of CO2 in both the 0.75-m and surface samples correlated with higher soil and air temperatures, which suggests that CO2 was produced by bacteria. Lower concentrations of helium in both the 0.75-m and surface samples correlated with higher soil and air temperatures. Rain and snowfall appear to affect helium concentrations. Carbon dioxide concentrations were lowest when snow lay on the ground for extended periods of time. No correlation was seen between barometric pressure or percent humidity and concentrations of He, CO2, or O2 at 0.75-m depth or at the ground surface. No correlation, either positive or negative, was seen between concentrations of CO2 and O2.

Jan 1, 1988

By J. I. Adetunji

Mining activities usually affect the soil, subsurface layers, water resources, the atmosphere and in general the lives of the people. The effects can be mechanical, biological, ecological and economical in nature and these effects can be characterized by their intensity, frequency, duration and scale. In Oyo State, Southwestern Nigeria efforts are being made to employ a sustainable method in the exploration and exploitation of abundant industrial minerals present in the state. The minerals exploited include talc, clay, marble, sillimanite, tantalite, niobium, beryl, tourmaline aquamarine, rock aggregates, etc. Results of this sustainable approach show that the environmental impacts of surface and underground mining of industrial minerals are not spread far beyond the mines site acreage. More lands are being reclaimed, the amount of dust released into the air has been minimized, the quality of sewage waters produced during operations are minimized, top soils removed during subsurface mining are preserved, the tonnages of minerals exploited are being monitored and controlled. All these point to a positive development in practicing sustainable methods in mineral exploitation to meet the developmental needs of the Oyo State at present and to conserve for the future.

Jan 1, 2003

By J. G. Groppo, B. K. Parekh

A series of performance studies were conducted using countercurrent column flotation to recover a marketable clean coal product from existing preparation plant fine waste streams. The test work was conducted at several preparation plant sites in Kentucky and Virginia using a 150-mm (6-in.) inside diameter column that was 5.8 m (19 ft) high. Both thickener feed and classifying cyclone overflow with a typical size distribution of 150 µm (100 mesh) X 0 were tested. The percent solids of the column flotation feed varied from 1.5% to 15% while the ash content ranged from about 30% to 60%. The concentrates produced contained 2% to 10% ash with Btu recoveries of nearly 90% using 0.12 to 1.25 kg/t (0.25 to 2.5 lbs per st) fuel oil and 0.12 kg/t (0.25 lbs per st) MIBC. These results were consistent with or better than results obtained in preliminary laboratory scale column flotation evaluation. Test results from seven different seams are discussed as well as scale-up relationships used to design a full-scale installation presently in operation.

Jan 1, 1991

By M. J. Sanzotti, C. J. Bise

This paper examines the potential for controlling longwall-induced subsidence by pneumatically backstowing waste rock into the void created by mining. The paper also examines scheduling the process as a unit operation of the mining activity. Based on a review of background literature and interviews with representatives of various mining companies, public-interest groups and state and federal regulatory agencies, a hypothetical case-study evaluation of pneumatic stowing at a southwestern Pennsylvania mine was conducted. The study indicated that current stowing technology cannot keep pace with the production potential of longwall systems in the United States. Further, at the mine used in this case study, concomitant stowing would reduce subsidence by only 50% of what would normally be incurred during full longwall caving, and the longwall coal-production rate would decrease from 3,630 t (4,000 st) per shift in the nonstowing case to 1,360 t (1,500 st) in the stowing case. A preliminary cost analysis reveals that pneumatic stowing would add from $5.79 to $11.57 per t ($5.25 to $10.50 per st) to the operating cost of producing coal at the case-study site.

Jan 1, 1997

By S. Kesler

Rössing Uranium Limited has operated since 1976 a large open pit uranium mine and extraction plant at a remote site in the Namib desert, South West Africa/Namibia. The geology (Berning, I., et al. Economy Geology) and the technical aspects concerning mining, grade control and metallurgy have previously been described (Rössing Uranium, Mining Magazin and Whyllie, R.J.M. "Rössing Uranium reaches rated production", World Mining). The improvement of leach 'extraction has been reported in 1984 (Kesler, S.B. et. al. "Uranium extraction at Rössing") and the installation of a central process control system has been described (Kesler, S.B. et al. "The introduction of a central process system at Rössing"). At the beginning of 1983 a decision was made to develop a computer system for metallurgical plant optimisation which included mass and volumetric balances, analytical assays for up to 5 chemical elements and the costs for the major consumables. Within 10 months this computer system was developed and implemented. A large number of test runs were made and computer studies were undertaken. The metallurgical division now has a scientific tool for production; planning for actual comparison with plant results and for strategic investigations and decision making.

Jan 1, 1986

By W. S. Fyfe, G. Southam, T. J. Beveridge

Sporosarcina ureae was able to grow in the presence of tip to 10-ppm L-asparagine complexed gold. However, 10 ppm Au3+ was found to be highly toxic to Sporosarcina ureae, killing 109 bacteria/mL within a few seconds. To compare the effects of these responses on gold mobility, an in vitro bacterial biofilm model was developed to examine the interaction be¬tween Sporosarcina ureae and ionic gold or L-asparagine gold complexes in gravity fed columns. The immobilization of ionic gold was between 80% and 90% over a period of one week. But, as the available cellular reactive sites became saturated, immobilization decreased to 14% within two weeks. In the L¬asparagine-gold system, gold immobilization in the cytoplasm occurred at a high rate (80% to 90%) throughout the experi¬ment, with limited toxicity towards Sporosarcina ureae. The bacterial immobilization and detoxification of L-asparagine¬complexed ionic gold was associated with a low molecular weight, i.e, <5,000 dalton (atomic mass unit), intracellular protein fraction. This peptide-complexed gold would allow for the continued biogeochemical cycling of gold under ambient (<100°C) surface or near-surface conditions.

Jan 1, 2000

By Brian Fulcher

The Fort Lawton Parallel Tunnel was built in 1990 - 1991 by Morrison Knudsen Corporation (MK) as an integral part of Seattle METRO&apos;s planned expansion of the Westpoint Treatment Plant. The project included a concrete lined 2542 m (8,340 ft) long tunnel bored in sands and clays under the presence of methane gas and over 27.4 m (90 ft) of ground water table. The tunnel roughly paral¬lels an existing and still operating 3.65 m (12 ft) diameter tunnel originally completed in 1909. The parallel tunnel was constructed using a Lovat 4.72 m (15 ft-6 in) earth pressure balanced TBM with ribs and timber lagging as primary support. The tunnel alignment crossed under as much as 91.4 m (300 ft) of overburden as well as twin mainline railway tracks; terminating in a shaft adja¬cent to the Seattle ship canal. The project was completed in June, 1991 after a final "wet-tap" tie-in to the existing brick-lined sewer; over five months ahead of the contract schedule. This paper will describe the construction methods, job site conditions and difficulties encoun¬tered on this very challenging and successful project.

Jan 1, 1993

By P. H. Lu, M. J. DeMarco, J. R. Koehler

Beginning in late 1985 and continuing through 1987, US Bureau of Mines personnel investigated longwall chain pillar and entry design in two and three-entry gateroad systems at a deep underground coal mine in central Utah. To evaluate their respective stability characteristics, four chain pillars and two longwall panels within the two separate entry systems were instrumented with Bureau hydraulic borehole pressure cells to continuously monitor vertical and horizontal pillar and panel stresses through adjacent panel retreat. In addition, supplemental entry closure information was obtained from sites located in the vicinity of the instrumented pillars. The findings presented in this report demonstrate the practicality of evaluating mine pillar stability using in situ methods and support three significant conclusions regarding ground control aspects of the investigated two-entry system: (1) Total areal entry loading was considerably less for the two-entry system, as opposed to the three-entry system, (2) a smaller percentage of opened ground in the two-entry system contributed to a marked reduction in rooffalls, and (3) lower areal loading in the two-entry system suggests improved ground conditions when mining the underlying seam.

Jan 1, 1987

By A. D. Davis, C. J. Webb, T. V. Durkin

This project took a watershed approach in the evaluation of water-quality impacts from past mining activities and current restoration projects in the Bear Butte Creek basin, a small and well-defined drainage in a heavily mined area of the northern Black Hills. The basin contains numerous inactive and abandoned mines, as well as a heap-leach surface gold mine. Bear Butte Creek normally loses all of its discharge to sinkholes in the Madison Limestone aquifer. Thus, it can affect the water quality of this regionally important water resource. Water-quality data were analyzed, stream surveys were conducted and two abandoned-mine restoration projects were monitored to evaluate the effectiveness of the watershed approach and to identify practical remediation techniques that could be applied to other watersheds. A geographic information system (GIS) was developed to organize information on stream quality, abandoned mine locations, and other geologic and hydrologic data. The watershed approach toward assessing and reclaiming abandoned mines appears to be effective when compared to a point-source approach that might improve water quality at specific sites but not result in significant overall improvement to the watershed because of adjacent sources.

Jan 1, 2000

By J. T. Sitarski, R. C. Emmett, L. W. Luinstra, R. P. Klepper

A mining operation in Zimbabwe produces a pyritic gold concentrate that requires oxidative pretreatment prior to cyanidation in order to liberate 80 percent of the gold values. Bio- oxidation offered the potential of increased gold recovery and was considered to be an economically advantageous alternative to the existing practice of roasting the concentrate. Based on bench- scale test work, a small bio-oxidation plant, capable of processing approximately 50 percent of the concentrator production, was installed at the mine to evaluate this approach. The plant included two 57 m3 bioreactors in series and the ancillary equipment needed to prepare the feed concentrate, to wash the leached residue prior to cyanidation, and to neutralize the waste liquor. The plant was operated for a year-and-a-half, and the conditions needed to achieve a 90 percent liberation of gold values were determined. A number of critical technical problems were encountered, and many were resolved on-site. Others have been addressed since the pilot plant was moth-balled in June 1988. Valuable insight was gained from the operation of the pilot plant, which has provided useful guidance for continued process and equipment improvement.

Jan 1, 1990

By S. Mathur

The southern Florida phosphate deposits that will be mined in the future contain significant amounts of dolomite. Because high MgO levels are undesirable in phosphoric acid production, several flotation schemes for the removal of the dolomite have been attempted. Alternatively, selective flocculation has been suggested as a potential process. A high MgO rock was simulated with a 30:10:60 mixture of apatite, dolomite and silica, respectively. Single mineral selectivity was observed in the apatite-silica and dolomite- silica systems using Polyacrylic acid (PAA) and Poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) flocculants, respectively. However, no single mineral selectivity was observed in the apatite-dolomite system using PEO. Heteroflocculation, suspected to be the major reason for the loss of selectivity, was minimized by the addition of a site blocking agent (SBA), consisting of a lower- molecular-weight fraction of PEO. Process parameters such as size reduction schemes, flocculant/SBA dosage and pH were investigated to achieve the desired separation. The selectivity obtained in binary mixed-mineral tests was also achieved in the ternary mixed-mineral system, namely, the apatite-dolomite-silica system. In this report, surface chemical characterization of the samples and their flocculation behavior are discussed.

Jan 1, 1995

By Robert J. Timko, R. Lincoln Derick

The Bureau of Mines evaluated the integrity of escapeways in a three entry underground coal mine. A center conveyor belt entry (secondary escapeway), was flanked by an intake (primary escapeway) and a return entry. Diesel equipment was used throughout the mine for material and personnel haulage. A carbon monoxide monitoring system, tied to a data recording computer on the surface, was deployed throughout the belt entry and at selected sites in the intake and return entries. Previously, the company had a fire of unknown origin in another mine, which prompted an interest in the performance of their escapeways. An initial, qua1itative evaluation was performed by burning approximately 14 kg of coal at the mouth of the intake entry. The first test was followed by a similar burn at the mouth of the belt entry. These initial trials showed a high quantity of leakage between entries. In several follow-up evaluations, simulated fires, using a tracer gas, were set in the intake and belt entries. Tracer gas concentrations were obtained in all entries at four different underground locations. The results of these tests showed that permanent stoppings could not guarantee isolated, contaminant-free escapeways.

Jan 1, 1989

By J. L. Kohler

The knowledge-based expert systems (KBES) is a potentially powerful technique to the mining engineer in traditional areas of mine design and operations, as well as in the emerging areas of mining automation and robotics. Since KBES is still experimental in many respects, caution must be exercised as this "high tech" tool is developed and applied to mining. The objective of this paper is to demystify expert systems by introducing the elements of KBES, discussing the strengths and weaknesses, and identifying some areas of application in mining, based on the authors&apos; experiences.

Jan 1, 1986

By John R. Duble

Through 1980, demand for cement in the Pacific Basin countries still seemed to exceed output. Availability of cement in the industrialized and developing countries of East Asia, Southeast Asia, and Australasia for the 1975 - 1980 period are discussed in this report. Quantitative data includes production, imports, exports, and apparent consumption. An account of new cement plants and plant extensions is provided. Countries and areas covered include: East Asia---Japan, South Korea, North Korea, Taiwan, China, Hong Kong, Philippines; South east Asia---Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia; Oceania (Australasia)---Australia, New Zealand, New Caledonia, Fiji.

Jan 1, 1982

By M. A. Klugman

[This paper represents a portion of a lager study, concerning dispersion patterns of major, minor and trace elements in wall-rock about ore-bodies in part of the Colorado Mineral Belt. This phase of the work pertains to the Mg/Ca ratio variations in wall-rock adjacent to ore-bodies in two mines of the Alma-Horseshoe Mining District of Central Colorado. The mining district is located 80 miles southwest of Denver (Figure 1) on the east flank of the Mosquito Range. The area is typified by rugged relief with altitudes from 10,500 to 14,000 feet.]

Jan 1, 1962

By P. C. Thakur

Horizontal drilling in coal mines is a relatively new technology. The earliest recorded drilling in the United States was done in 1952 at the Humphrey Mine of Consolidation Coal Company for degasification of coal seams. Spindler and Poundstone experimented with vertical and horizontal holes for eight years. They concluded in 1960 that horizontal drilling in advance of underground mining appeared to offer the most promising prospect (for degasification) but effective and extensive application would be dependent upon the ability to drill long holes, possibly 300-to 600 m, with reasonably precise directional control and within practical cost limits.(1) Mining Research Division of Continental Oil Company, the parent company of Consolidation Coal Company, began a research program in the early 1970&apos;s to achieve the above objective. The technology needed to drill nearly 300 m in advance of working faces was developed by 1975 and experiments on advance degasification with such deep holes began in 1976. Preliminary Its of this research have already been published.(2) To date nearly 4500 m of horizontal holes have been drilled for advance degasification and earlier results were reconfirmed. In summary, these are: 1) The greatest impact of these boreholes was felt in the face area where methane concentrations were reduced to nearly 0.3 percent in course of two to three months from original values of nearly 0.95 percent.

Jan 1, 1979