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By D. Sohn

Work accidents have an essential impact on the economy of a country and in final consequence on each company. The main purpose of industrial OHS is to maintain and promote the health of all employees. Healthy working conditions increase efficiency and motivation and safeguard the success of the business against the background of the extremely dynamic processes of change. Maintaining and promoting the health of all employees, weather in operation, administration or on the mining site, has become therefore not only an ethical requirement but also an economic must. Creating a suitable working environment for people today entails much more than just preventing accidents and work-related illnesses. It is important to be proactive in establishing an even better culture of prevention and to convince everyone, workers and managers alike, of its importance. Especially in the age of rapid changes and above all in view of global competition we are more dependent than ever on healthy, enthusiastic, competent and creative employees. OHS provides you with the necessary competitive edge.

Jan 1, 2007

By Malcolm Ross

The Reserve Mining Co., in the processing of taconite iron ore quarried from the Peter Mitchell Pit, deposited the finely crushed waste rock into Lake Superior near Silver Bay Minnesota. In the early 1970s The U.S. Environmental Protection agency filed a lawsuit against Reserve Mining Co., asking the court to force the company to stop dumping into the lake. On April 20, 1974, after a lengthy court battle, the U.S. District Court concluded that the Reserve Mining discharge into Lake Superior violated federal and state pollution laws and thus ordered Reserve Mining Co., to halt the lake disposal of taconite tailings. At the time many feared that some of the mineral particles contained in the tailings (alleged to be asbestos or asbestos-like) would cause human health problems. This Conference was thus convened to readdress the problem of the mineral content of the Biwabik Iron Formation and to whether any minerals contained in the ore could cause human disease. The four papers given in this session address the nature of the mineral particles in the taconite rock, the definition of the term ??asbestos?? and the history of the legal controversy over the possible health effects of certain mineral particles contained in the Biwabik iron range ores. Paper 1?Geology of the Biwabik Iron Formation and Duluth Complex Mark A. Jirsa, James D. Miller, Jr., G.B. Morey The Biwabik Iron Formation was a principal source of ore for the American steel industry during the 20th Century. The unaltered iron deposits, called taconite, contain approximately 30% iron and 50% SiO2. About 75% of the iron in taconite resides in the mineral magnetite, the remainder is largely in iron carbonate and several iron-silicate minerals.

Jan 1, 2007

By Cadman S. J

( The central part of the Gippsland Basin is surrounded by existing major Petroleum accumulations and although six exploration wells have been drilled in the area, none are significant petroleum discoveries. Post drilling analyses indicate that the wells were drilled off structure due to the presence of high-velocity Miocene channels. These channels contain carbonates of significantly higher interval velocity than the surrounding sediments. Problems with seismic interpretation were thus encountered in the development of prospects in the central part of the Gippsland Basin as part of a BMR prospectivity study. The seismic interpretation problems associated with the Miocene channels are two-way time pull-ups at the underlying top of Latrobe Group and deeper levels on the seismic sections. Interpreted seismic sections passing through some of the exploration wells and the Miocene channels are presented to illustrate the configurations of these channels and the pullup effect associated with them. Two different methods of depth conversion were applied, one for the area below the high velocity channels and the other for the area away from the channel. The application of these two methods of depth conversion were found to be reasonably successful in correcting for the pull-ups caused by the high velocity Miocene channels. Mapping of the events near the top of Latrobe Group and near Base Lower L balmei seismic horizons has led to the identification of several potential structural closures. Further exploration efforts are necessary in this area to test these closures.

Jan 1, 1992

By J. Baird

The Sappington Bridge, a steel arch span bridge constructed in 1904 over the Meramec River, was demolished due to its advanced state of deterioration. The demolition was a project to benefit Crawford County, Missouri, the U.S. Army, the Missouri Department of Transportation, and the University of Missouri – Rolla (UMR) was conducted jointly by the UMR Rock Mechanics and Explosives Research Center (RMERC) and the UMR Center for Infrastructure Engineering Studies (CIES). By arrangement with Crawford County, a 55-foot span of the old bridge was brought to the University Structures Laboratory in Rolla, while the longer, 200-foot span of the bridge was demolished using preburning and explosives. Originally, the longer span was to be blown up by C Company of the 5th Engineer Battalion (from Ft. Leonard Wood, Missouri) under the supervision of personnel from UMR. Unfortunately, permission for the operation from the Department of the Army could not be obtained in time to meet permitting requirements for the demolition. Therefore, a commercial demolition contractor was employed to perform the demolition, and to remove the scrap.

Jan 1, 2003

By Steven Rupprecht

"The South African Code for the Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves (the SAMREC Code or the Code) sets out minimum standards, recommendations and guidelines for public reporting of exploration results, mineral resources and mineral reserves in South Africa. The Code is being rewritten and updated, with work on-going since 2013. The revision is being undertaken to ensure the Code remains relevant, incorporates developments within the international mining industry and keeps abreast of technology. Some of the changes and their reasons are discussed. INTRODUCTION The South African Code for the Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves (the SAMREC Code or the Code) sets out minimum standards, recommendations and guidelines for public reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Mineral Rreserves in South Africa. The Code is being rewritten and updated, with work on-going since 2013. The proposed 2016 update is not significantly different from previous versions of the Code. The revision is being undertaken to ensure the Code remains relevant, incorporates developments within the international mining industry and keeps abreast of technology. The Code sets out minimum standards, recommendations and guidelines for public reporting. However, reporting may be unclear, ambiguous, selective, obscure, distorted or unintelligible. Part of the purpose of the update is to provide better guidelines to Competent Persons (CPs) to ensure that the material information is being reported and that reporting is transparent in accordance with the guidelines of the Code. The information provided should, as required by the Code, be adequate to inform the “reader/investor or potential investor to make a reasonable and balanced assessment of the significance of the information”. The Committee for Mineral Reserves International Reporting Standards (CRIRSCO) highlights the importance of the reporting Codes, as provided from a quote from their website (www.crirsco.com): The mining industry is a vital contributor to national and global economies. It is a truly international business that depends on the trust and confidence of investors and other stakeholders for its financial and operational well-being. Unlike many other industries, it is based on depleting mineral assets, the knowledge of which is important prior to the commencement of extraction. It is therefore essential that the industry communicates the risks associated with investment effectively and transparently in order to earn the level of trust necessary to underpin its activities."

Jan 1, 2015

By M. C. Chapman, P. L. Swanson, A. T. Iannacchione

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) evaluated microseismic activity from three field sites to compare and contrast the characteristics of microseismic emissions from very different geologic, stress, and mining environments. Recently, NIOSH has embarked on a research program to evaluate the use of microseismic monitoring information to identify roof fall failure processes and to assess its potential to warn of unstable roof conditions. Large roof instabilities, such as roof falls and certain roof caving events, have proven difficult to anticipate representing an increased risk to miners working in these inherently hazardous areas. When local failure processes are better understood, appropriate control measures can be engineered to mitigate these hazards. This study used microseismic emissions to help identify three local rock failure processes. It was also shown that analysis of microseismic emissions can aid in assessing the degree of instability associated with these local rock failure processes.

By Qingzhu Li

The brewing industry byproduct, spent grain (SG), was evaluated for its ability to adsorb Ag(I) from aqueous solutions. Ag(I) adsorption was dependent on solution pH, contact time, adsorbent dose, initial Ag(I) concentration and temperature. The kinetic data were well described by pseudo-second-order kinetic model, indicating that chemical adsorption was the rate-controlling step. The equilibrium data followed Freundlich isotherm rather than Langmuir isotherm, suggesting heterogenity of the adsorption sites on spent grain. Ag(I) desorbed from Ag(I)-loaded spent grain was also evaluated in this study. HCl, NaOH, Na2S2O3 and ultrapure water were chosen as eluants and desorbed Ag(I)-loaded spent grain for 30min, Ag(I)-loaded spent grain desorbed in 0.1M Na2S2O3 exhibited higher elution efficiency as compared with other eluants. The results indicated that application of spent grain for adsorption and recovery of silver from aqueous solutions was feasible.

Jan 1, 2009

By Silver EA

The Finisterre Range on the north coast of Papua New Guinea is the uplifted forearc riagio.n. of a modern arc-continent collision. The core of the range is composed of the P- nisterre Volcanics, an Oligocene''-arc terrane. The southern flank of the range consists of a clastic sedimentary sequence which is an uplifted accretionary wedge and collision complex. This clastic sequence can be subdivided into three distinct units. To the south of aiid structurally below the Finisterre Valcanics are the Mebu beds, an Oligocene- $arly Miocene sequence of volcanolithic turbidites. The Erap Structural Complex is south of, and structurally below the Mebu 43eds. , It consists of three subunits; the 3rly Pliocene micaceous turbidites of the Sukurum unit, contemporaneous pillow basalts AF{ the Basalt unit, and Late Pliocene to Pleistocene volcanolithic turbidites of the -Nariawang unit. The Quaternary Leron Formation, a fluvial to shallow marine 'clastic unit, is the southernmdst. and structurally lowest unit of the clastic -sequence The Finisterre Range is dominated by a fold-and-thrust belt with most thrusts "dipping steeply N. Melange fabric _ is developed in the vicinity of major thrusts. "ffle thrust belt strikes NW, oblique to the regional convergence direction, but no strike-slip motion is observed along NW striking faults.

Jan 1, 1991

By K. Biswas, F. C. Felipe

Paste backfill, because of its colloidal or water-holding properties, does not produce run-off water when placed underground. Paste backfill is generally, prepared from relatively low water content, full mill tailings with a certain proportion of ultra-fine particles and mixed with cement, thus producing early and better strength. Mill plant discharge tailings and other materials available at or near the mine site such as sand, aggregates or waste rock are used as blending materials in the mix design. This study investigates the influence of the above-mentioned blending materials on the mechanical characteristics of paste backfill, as well as the grading, shape, specific surface area, mineralogy and workability of the different mix design.

Jan 1, 2000

By A. V. Roschin, N. V. Malkov, V. N. Karnoukhov, V. E. Roschin

Reduction interactions in solid phases are widespread and occur in most complex metallurgical processes. Among these processes, reactions between oxides and carbon have a special importance. The authors conducted experiments for comparison of reduction by different reducing agents of impregnated chromite ores, in which grains of the reducible chromite spinel are isolated from direct contact with the reducing agent by layers of non-ore material. The results of the experiments have revealed that the beginning of reduction is preceded by thermal and impurity order-disorder transformation of the oxide lattice whilst the transformation of the oxide lattice into the metal lattice takes place as a result of removal of oxygen anions from the zone of metal germ nucleation. Since anions are charge carriers, increase of their mobility can be monitored by changes in electrical conductivity of oxides. Respective measurements of electrical resistance of ores of different metals and a number of pure refractory oxides under heating have indicated that the beginning of reduction coincides with the time of drastic (tens of thousands times) increase of conductivity of the oxides. Besides, the temperature of the beginning of carbon-thermal reduction is in line with the Tammann temperature, i.e. the temperature of transition from the predominantly surface diffusion to volume diffusion. Segregation of metals from the oxide lattice occurs as a result of merging of anion vacancies with defect electrons on defects of the oxide lattice. The transformation of the oxide lattice into the metal lattice requires a certain concentration of anion vacancies and inflow of electrons from the reducing agent to the site of metal segregation. Such inflow has no difficulties due to the mixed anion-electron nature of high-temperature conductivity of oxides. Thus, the reduction is not determined by oxygen diffusion, it is determined by oxygen vacancies diffusion whose speed exceeds the speed of oxygen diffusion by orders of magnitude. This determines that the kinetics of reduction considerably exceeds the kinetics of oxidation at similar temperatures since oxidation proceeds by means of mass transfer of oxygen through the layer of the generated oxide.

Jan 1, 2004

1. Paper1?Identification and enumeration of asbestos fibers in the mining environment: mission and modification to the federal asbestos standard Arthur M. Langer Asbestos-related disease is increased with cumulative exposure (the concentration of asbestos in the air and duration of exposure). The maximum duration is assumed to be a working lifetime so federal agencies control cumulative exposure by limiting the airborne concentration of asbestos fibers equal to or greater than 5 lm in length. Air samples are collected in the environment of interest by entraining the airborne particulates including fibers on membrane filters and then counting the number of fibers using phase-contrast light microscopy. In addition to length, the fibers must have a length to width ratio of at least 3 to 1. This ratio is also referred to as the aspect ratio. Some counting strategies placed an upper limit on the fiber width restricting the counting to respirable fibers. Airborne asbestos is controlled by monitoring a sub-population of the airborne asbestos. No asbestos fibers shorter than 5 lm or fibers of any length having widths less than the resolution of the light optical method are counted. In the non-occupational environment, the Environmental Protection Agency requires the use of analytical transmission electron microscopy and fibers and counting fibers with lengths of 0.5 lm or greater and aspect ratios of 5 to 1 or greater are counted. The permissible exposure limit for asbestos has been reduced by more than 120-fold since 1969, when the standard was 12 fiber/ml and the current monitoring methodology was developed. The manufacturing and mining worksites are regulated by two different federal agencies and the asbestos exposure limit was higher in the mining environment until recently (Mine Safety and Health Administration 30 CFR Part 56, 57, and 7, Federal Registry, February 29, 2008). Currently the permissible exposure limit (PEL) is the same in both types of workplace and it is 0.1 fibers per milliliter (fiber/ml) over an 8-h shift as a time-weighted average (TWA). A milliliter (ml) is equivalent to a cubic centimeter (cc) and sometimes this standard is reported as 0.1 f/cc. As the phase-contrast methodology was used to monitor lower exposures and environments, other fibrous mineral particulates were incorrectly characterized as asbestos. These occurred in talc deposits and taconite ores from the Eastern Mesabi Range.

Jan 1, 2008

By Tim O’Neil

“America’s mining industry brings good jobs to communities across America and provides the energy, minerals and equipment that are vital to our economic security and our way of life.” That was the surprise videotaped greeting from President George Bush at the official opening ceremony of MINExpo 2004in the Las Vegas, NV Convention Center. Jack Gerard reinforced the upbeat mood at MIN-Expo. He praised Nevada Gov. Kenny Guinn for his support of the mining industry, the state’s largest manufacturing sector. Gerard is the president and chief executive officer of the National Mining Association, the sponsor of MINExpo 2004.

Jan 1, 2004

COUNCIL OF ECONOMICS OF AIME Formerly Mineral Economics Division Established as a Division December 15, 1948 Established as a Council February 26, 1957 Douglas Donald, Chairman Sheldon Wimpfen, Vice-Chairman (Mining) A J Phillips, Vice-Chairman (Metals) E Connaughton, Vice-Chairman (Petroleum) J S Vanick, Contact AIME Director A H Lindley, Jr Secretary-Treasurer Lehman Brothers 1 William Street New York 4, N Y COUNCIL OF EDUCATION Formerly Mineral Industry Education Division Established as a Division January 15, 1932 Established as a Council February 26, 1957 L E Shaffer, Chairman J D Forrester, Vice-Chairman O Cutler Shepard, Past Chairman , Contact AIME Director

Jan 1, 1959

COUNCIL OF ECONOMICS, AIME Formerly Mineral Economics Division Established as a Division December 15, 1948 Established as a Council February 26, 1957 Sheldon P Wimpfen, Chairman John D Ridge, Vice-Chairman (Mining) A J Philips, Vice-Chairman (Metals) Warren B Davis, Vice-Chairman (Petroleum) COUNCIL OF EDUCATION, AIME Formerly Mineral Industry Education Division Established as a Division January 15, 1932 Established as a Council February 26, 1957 James D Forrester, Chairman Charles V Kirkpatrick, Vice Chairman (and Chairman-elect) Lysle E Shaffer, Past Chairman Truman H Kuhn, Secretary-Treasurer Colorado School of Mines Golden, Colorado John S Bell, Contact AIME Director

Jan 1, 1960

By Eugene T. Sheridan

The 22d annual survey of the packaged-fuel industry by the Bureau of Mines, United States Department of the Interior, revealed that 26 plants in 8 States were in operation and reported production in 1956. The demand for packaged fuel in the United States has declined gradually since the end of World War II, and the number of operating plants has decreased from 70 in 1946 to 26 in 1956. Annual productive capacity of the industry has decreased also during this period, and the decrease in capacity was about proportional to the decrease in operating plants. Packaged-fuel plants are relatively small, and 85 percent of the active plants in 1956 had an annual capacity of less than 10,000 tons. The same situation prevailed in 1946, when 84 percent of the plants had a capacity of less than 10,000 tons. Total capacity for the 26 active plants in 1956 was 174,600 tons, an average of 6,715 tons per plant. Operating rates in 1956 were the highest since 1951, and the rate of production for the industry averaged 37 percent of capacity.

Jan 1, 1958

By P. Lefebvre, J. Sargent, K. Major, B. Darnton

"Stillwater Mining commenced mining operations at Nye, Montana in 1987 for the recovery of platinum and palladium. Exploration identified that the J-M Reef extended for 43 km. In 1998 Stillwater Mining made the decision to develop the East Boulder mine complex, located approximately 13 miles from the Stillwater mine complex at Nye, to increase production. This paper describes the design, construction, and start-up of the East Boulder process plant.INTRODUCTIONStillwater Mining Company have been producing Platinum and Palladium from their Nye, Montana operations since 1987. The mine production from Nye had been increased in stages with mine production being delivered through several portals and one vertical shaft.The deposit is narrow veined which prevents the application of bulk mining methods and thus limits the production capabilities.In order to increase the production of platinum (Pt) and palladium (Pd) Stillwater made the decision to access the ore from the J-M Reef from the East Boulder site. The East Boulder mine site is located about 21 km (13 miles) from Nye, however as shown in Figure 1, the travel distance is closer to 188 km (114 miles). Distance, on strike, and space availability at Nye precluded the expansion of the Nye concentrator to handle the increased mining rate and supported the decision to install a new concentrator at East Boulder."

Jan 1, 2003

By I. M. Ahmed, R. S. Hassan, M. I. Aly

Extraction and separation of La, Sm and Dy ions from acidic sulfate-phosphate solutions was investigated using a cation exchange extractant, bis(2,4,4-trimethylpentyl) phosphinic acid, CYANEX 272, in kerosene. The influence of shaking time, equilibrium pH, extractant, sulfate and phosphate ion concentrations, diluent type and temperature was studied. The extraction was found to be pH-dependent, and increasing the phosphate ion concentration inhibited the extraction which was found to be endothermic. The stoichiometry of the extracted metal species was found to be MOH.H2OHSO4H2A.A2. Aliphatic diluents were found to enhance the extraction compared to aromatic diluents. The results showed that there was a separation mode between the metal ions when varying the hydrogen ion and sulfate ion concentrations, under the used experimental conditions. The investigated process was used for the recovery of La, Sm and Dy from the acid solution resulting from the leaching of low-grade monazite.

By Sparrow G. J

The effect of polyelectrolyte flocculants on the de-watering of a tailing suspension of very fine clay was investigated.Sedimentation and filtration experiments were carried out in the labqratory to characterise the de-watering properties of the tailing. The results were used to calculate the effect of flocculant additions on the drainage and vaporation components of the de-watering of a clay suspension ponded on to a sand drainage bed.A flocculant increased the drainage rate, but decreased the volume of water that could be removed by drainage leaving more water to be lost by evaporation.The sorptivity values measured in the laboratory were used in the de-watering equation previously established for the tailing to estimate the effect of flocculant additions on the time required to de-water the suspension from 18.2 to 60 per cent solids w/w. The calculated de-watering times were found to increase or decrease depending on the volume of water removed by drainage and the prevailing evaporation rate.

Jan 1, 1980

By K. Lombard

"‘Roof support awaiting time’ (RSAT) is a term used at Goedehoop Colliery’s Simunye Shaft to describe the potential production time lost due to the continuous miner (CM) standing idle waiting for roof support to catch up. Investigations revealed that in 2013, Simunye Shaft had approximately1400 hours of RSAT, which suggests that the mine could have potentially produced an additional 280 000 t of coal. This project consisted of two parts. Firstly, the causes of the high RSAT and means to improve the situation were investigated. Secondly, as insisted by mine management, the CM cutting sequence was investigated as a possible cause of high RSAT. Machine-related challenges due to the roofbolter installing support too slowly, geological conditions (mostly hard roof conditions and slips),logistical challenges pertaining to the CM cutting sequence, man-related challenges related to operator fatigue, re-support, operator inexperience, and the absence of support targets were identified as main contributors to RSAT. Furthermore, results showed that the roofbolters in the sections at Simunye Shaft are slower than the CMs. A target of 28% reduction in RSAT was set. Experts from Kennametal and Fletcher were consulted to find solutions for the identified causes. In total, eight solutions for RSAT were identified, but the solution that contributed most significantly to reducing RSAT was to use hard roof drill bits as a standard product at Simunye Shaft. Calculations showed that by using hard roof drill bits, RSAT can be reduced by 43%, which is more than the specified 28% target. The cutting sequences at Kriel, Greenside, and Simunye Shaft, togetherwith three newly developed cutting sequences, were simulated using the UCMS (Underground Coal Mining Simulation) program. A re-aligningprinciple was incorporated into the newly developed cutting sequences toalign the cutting sequences to general support work and to reduce RSAT. A decision matrix revealed that a cutting sequence in which boxing takesplace in R3 (third road to the right of the belt road) and in which the re-aligning principle has been incorporated will be the best option for Simunye Shaft. The recommended cutting sequence will lead to a 5% increase in production.The work presented in this paper was carried out as partial fullfilment for the degree BEng (Mining Engineering)"

Jan 1, 2015

The mining industry continues to experience a skills shortage and this is having an impact on the ability of mining companies to operate sustainably. Apart from a few exceptions, there is a dearth of geologists, mining engineers, metallurgists as well as environmental scientists and other professionals in the global mining industry. This relates to both quantity and quality. It makes good business sense for mining companies to employ local professionals rather than expensive expatriate staff. In some cases a mining company could employ more than 10 local mining engineers for the cost of one expatriate. However, in many countries local professionals are not always equipped professionally to work on mine sites. The result is that many companies are not operated optimally due to human resources gaps. In some cases, particularly in key areas such as mine planning, this threatens the sustainability of the operation or at the very least results in sub-optimal resource utilisation. This paper briefly presents some of the issues and strategies being implemented and that might be implemented to maintain a sustainable supply of quality minerals graduates to the industry in 2011 and beyond.

Jan 1, 2011