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By Marketa D. Evans

The mining industry has a significant opportunity to capitalize on its past learnings in order to build better social relationships. The industry?s relationship with society is both critical and under pressure. Rising levels of public opposition and social conflict are already having material impacts on operations around the world. Industry has an opportunity to shape the future direction of this social engagement, build public trust and proactively respond to a material risk to operations, but first it needs to better understand the nature of the challenges and the urgency of addressing them.

Aug 1, 2013

By Rolando Jesús

En los próximos años, el Perú debe decidir el futuro de la matriz energética que permita una verdadera transición energética acompañada de una transición económica y ecológica sostenible en el tiempo de cara al año 2050. El estudio revisa el comportamiento histórico de la matriz energética del Perú. El estudio concluye que el Perú no cuenta con una Política Energética a largo plazo que permita integrar las energías renovables a pesar que posee la ventaja competitiva de ser un país con un alto potencial de energías renovables de 108 000 MW de los cuales solo se utiliza 5 700 MW (5.3%).

Sep 29, 2023

By Gilberto Fernandes Lima, Leonardo Neves, Getúlio Fonseca dos Santos

O refino secundário é um processo onde a homogeneização do aço e as flotações de inclusões ocorrem no banho metálico, cujo conhecimento do tempo de mistura é necessário na produção de aços limpos. A panela, principal vaso onde ocorre o processo, contem plugues ou bicos de injeção de gás inerte, podendo ser utilizados argônio ou nitrogênio, que são responsáveis pela rinsagem do aço. Devido à importância desta etapa neste processo, este trabalho objetivou realizar o estudo do escoamento bifásico do aço na panela com duas configurações diferentes, sendo a configuração um com dois plugues de gás inerte: ambos a meio raio e a configuração dois com dois plugues de gás inerte, um a meio raio e outro no centro da panela. Neste projeto foi utilizada fluidodinâmica computacional, CFD, para a realização das malhas e simulações que forneceram as curvas de traçador e o perfil de velocidade para ambas as configurações. Os resultados simulados indicam que a configuração dois é a mais indicada para o escoamento bifásico, sendo a melhor opção para ser utilizada no modelo de panela industrial.

Oct 1, 2019

By Walter S. Bergholz, Michael L. Schreder

"Since Escondida began operations in fiscal 1991, a series of aggressive expansion projects have enabled market share to be increased and ever larger profits to be realized. This was possible due to the very large size of the ore body and its high grade - averaging 2.7% copper from startup through fiscal 1997. The situation has now changed: ore grade is falling rapidly and is projected to be only 1.55% by 2003. Since revenue is directly proportional to ore grade, while costs are proportional to quantity of ore processed, profits will begin to fall dramatically. The Phase IV Expansion Project is intended to forestall this drop in profits by increasing ore processing capacity by over 85%.The Phase IV concentrator is designed for a nominal capacity of 110,000 MTPD and the key to achieving this value is through the proper design of the grinding circuit. This paper presents the general design criteria for the grinding circuit, as well as a description of the facility.INTRODUCTIONThe Phase IV Expansion Project consists of a new copper concentrator located 8.5 km south of the existing operations, a new tailings disposal and water reclaim system, a new concentrate slurry pipeline to the coast, and added concentrate handling capacity at the port of Coloso. The new concentrator has a nominal capacity of 110,000 tonnes per day (MTPD), compared to the existing concentrator’s capacity of 127,500 MTPD. The Laguna Seca concentrator is based on using the largest and most efficient ore grinding mills now available.The concentrator has been designed for a 110,000 MTPD nominal capacity. The process design criteria for the Phase IV project were established from in-house operating information and from test work. Unlike a green field project, Escondida already had an operating plant and it processes ore from the same pit that feeds the Phase IV plant. It is expected that the current mineralization will be similar for the first 6 years of operation of the new project. Therefore, some of the current plant operating conditions were incorporated directly into the design criteria."

Jan 1, 2004

By Wilton Pacheco de Araújo

A siderurgia gera grandes volumes de escória de aciaria como coproduto e precisa incrementar o aproveitamento desse material em novos processos para evitar a disposição em aterros, aumentando a competitividade do setor. Este estudo tem como objetivo caracterizar a escória de aciaria LD da Usiminas em Ipatinga-MG, buscando avaliar o seu potencial para uso como corretivo agrícola e fonte de nutrientes para agricultura. Foram utilizadas técnicas analíticas tradicionais e microscopia para determinar suas principais características. Os resultados mostraram que uma etapa a mais de separação por peneira (2 mm) no processo rotineiro de remoção de metálicos é possível produzir um produto com características químicas e granulométricas estáveis para se constituir um corretivo agrícola comercial. O material apresenta características superiores aos corretivos tradicionais, pois além de corrigir o pH, fornece nutrientes importantes para a agricultura. O processo mais lento de hidratação dos silicatos e de liberação dos nutrientes pode ser interessante para o fornecimento progressivo desses compostos dando longevidade ao corretivo, reduzindo potencialmente o custo de aplicação.

Aug 16, 2017

By Breno Totti Maia, Luiza Siqueira de Magalhães, Vanessa Rodrigues de Medeiros Santos, Inamara Amanda Souza Santos, Brenda Caroline Gurgel, Aline Lima da Silva

O sucesso da utilização do método de reparo/prevenção de refratários de convertedores LD chamado Slag Splashing tem relação com as propriedades físico-químicas da escória, em especial a sua viscosidade. Através de uma simulação termodinâmica feita no software FactSage que tomou como base a equação de Einstein-Roscoe utilizando uma escória de composição representativa de uma escória industrial, junto de uma simulação a frio utilizando soluções representando escórias com variadas frações sólidas, foi possível correlacionar a viscosidade do modelo a frio, avaliando a possibilidade de transposição de resultados desse modelo para a prática industrial em escórias com frações sólidas de até 20%, sendo que acima desse valor um modelo mais assertivo deve ser restabelecido. Por simulação física a frio em um modelo de conversor de escala de 1/10 em relação aos conversores de 340 toneladas da Ternium Brasil, utilizando soluções representativas de escórias industriais com frações sólidas de 10 a 40%, avaliou-se a influência da viscosidade na intensidade na projeção de escória durante o processo do Slag Splashing, deixando claro o efeito da fluidez ou da alta viscosidade na altura, localização e qualidade das projeções.

Oct 1, 2019

By Renan Gurgel Pinho

O objetivo deste trabalho é investigar a esferoidização do aço SAE 1080 e os respectivos efeitos da variação do tempo na microestrutura final e na dureza do material. O aço SAE 1080 foi submetido a recozimento isotérmico, por tempo prolongado, utilizando-se 90, 100 e 120 horas de aquecimento à temperatura de 715ºC. Os resultados mostraram que é possível esferoidizar o aço SAE 1080 nos respectivos tempos escolhidos e perceber aumento da quantidade de esferoiditas, assim como decréscimo na dureza.

Aug 16, 2017

By G. Biles

The Eskay Creek Mine, a high-grade gold and silver underground mine in northwestern British Columbia started operations in late 1994. For the first three years of operation, ore was crushed to minus 2 inch; blended to satisfy smelter terms and direct shipped to smelters in Japan and Canada. Before commencing the above operations, preliminary evaluations had indicated that an extremely complex metallurgical facility, requiring a large capital investment, would be required to recover the precious and other economic metals. Subsequently markets for raw ore were identified and underground mining and ore transportation operations, at a nominal production rate of 300 tonnes per day, were commenced. Exploration diamond drilling in 1995 and 1996 discovered additional lower grade mineralized zones, which are less economic or uneconomic as direct shipping ore. Testwork demonstrated that these lower grade zones could be upgraded to marketable concentrates in a simple flotation mill. The mill was built in 1997 and has been in operation since late 1997. The mining rate now has increased to 400 tonnes per day including 250 tonnes per day of the direct shipping ore and ISO tonnes per day of the mill ore. Prime Resources Group Inc. wholly owns the Eskay Creek Mine. Homestake Canada Inc. owns 50.6% of Prime's shares and manages and operates the mine on Prime's behalf. This paper discusses the mining and milling operations as well as ore shipment and smelter contracts' administration.

Jan 1, 1999

By G. Biles, K. Loughran, R. Anand

The Eskay Creek Mine, a high-grade gold and silver underground mine in northwestern British Columbia started operations in late 1994. For the first three years of operation, ore was crushed to minus 2 inch; blended to satisfy smelter terms and direct shipped to smelters in Japan and Canada. Before commencing the above operations, preliminary evaluations had indicated that an extremely complex metallurgical facility, requiring a large capital investment, would be required to recover the precious and other economic metals. Subsequently markets for raw ore were identified and underground mining and ore transportation operations, at a nominal production rate of 300 tonnes per day, were commenced. Exploration diamond drilling in 1995 and 1996 discovered additional lower grade mineralised zones, which are less economic or uneconomic as direct shipping ore. Test work demonstrated that these lower grade zones could be upgraded to marketable concentrates in a simple flotation mill. The mill was built in 1997 and has been in operation since late 1997. The mining rate now has increased to 400 tonnes per day including 250 tonnes per day of the direct shipping ore and 150tonnes per day of the mill ore. Prime Resources Group Inc. wholly owns the Eskay Creek Mine. Homestake Canada Inc. owns 50.6% of Prime’s shares and manages and operates the mine on Prime’s behalf. This paper discusses the mining and milling operations as well as ore shipment and smelter contracts' administration.

Jan 1, 1999

By Garry Biles

The Eskay Creek Mine is a high-grade gold and silver underground mine in northwestern British Columbia. The mine started operations in late1994. For the first three years, ore was crushed to -50 mm(-2 in.), blended to satisfy smelter terms and shipped to smelters in Japan and Canada. Preliminary evaluations indicated that a complex metallurgical facility, requiring a large capital investment, would be required to recover the precious and other economic metals. So markets for raw ore were identified and underground mining and ore transportation operations began at a production rate of 300 t/d (330stpd).

Jan 1, 2000

By P Crorkan

Within the framework in which future exploitations for Codelco-Chile Divisi=n El Teniente are situated, regarding the deepening of its reserves and the geotechnical problems that affect their recovery, it becomes strategic to evolve with new variants, which make deep mining possible. Codelco ChileÆs Divisi=n El Teniente is progressing within its long-term planning the exploitation of a sector called Esmeralda, which includes its removal through the gravitational caving method (panel caving). It is planned to use pre-caving, which basically consists of developing and undermining the undercut level, without having developed the infrastructure of the production and transport levels. This is carried out in order to achieve a better redistribution of the stresses, thus obtaining higher quality in the infrastructure development of these levels as well as less risk. The extraction reserves for this area, estimated through the opportunity cost selection criteria, were determined at 348 million tons with an average grade of 1.014 per cent Cu. The project carried out geological and geotechnical studies in order to prevent the geomechanical risks of the sector to be exploited, which is a site conformed totally by primary ore. Lithologically, it occurs mainly in Andesite, located at the western limit by Brecha Braden Pipe. There are also varieties of porphyries and hydrothermal breaches of anhydrite. The Esmeralda Mine production program will increase from 4000 tpd (average) in 1998 to its 45 000 tpd rate of production estimated for the year 2005. The approved investment for the period 1995 to 1999 is $US 150 million, out of a total $US 213 million for the project. At feasibility study level and before the project, it showed a Net Present Value of $US 342 million, an Internal Rate of Return of 37 per cent and an IVAN indicator of 2.3 for a ten per cent discount rate and a copper price of 100 US cents/lb.

Jan 1, 2000

By Peter Woodall, Paul Telford, Pengfu Tan

"Arsenic enters the Mount Isa copper circuit in the form of arsenic rich minerals in concentrates from both the Mount Isa and Ernest Henry copper mines. Arsenic is a volatile metal, and will partition in the copper smelter between smelter off gases, slag and anode. Most of the volatile arsenic will report to Isasmelt Electrostatic Precipitator (ESP) or Waste Heat Boiler dusts where it will form a re-circulating load within the smelter. ESP dust is produced at a rate of 15,000 - 20,000 t/y and is currently removed from the precipitator and leached in the new ESP Dust Recovery Plant to separate copper and arsenic from the ESP dust. This paper describes the laboratory test works of ESP dust leaching, neutralisation and cementation processes. The planttrial, commissioning and operation have been presented as well.1. IntroductionThe flue dusts generated in the process of copper smelting contain appreciable amounts of copper and other valuable metals including precious metals. These flue dusts also contain appreciable amounts of arsenic trioxide where arsenic occurs in the ore body. The copper smelters processing concentrates generate residuals, such as ESP dust, containing arsenic trioxide. ESP dust contains impurities such as arsenic and bismuth which are harmful to the copper refining process if they report to anode. These impurities are fumed off in the smelting process and report to the dust as arsenic and bismuth oxides.The content of arsenic in the feed of Mount Isa copper smelter is about 0.1 % to 0.4%. Arsenic is a volatile metal, and will partition in the copper smelter between off gases and anode. Most of the volatile arsenic reports to Electrostatic Precipitator (ESP) and Waste Heat Boiler dusts where it will form a re-circulating load within Mount Isa Copper Smelter. Unless arsenic is bled from the smelter circuit, it will build up to a point where both anode quality and smelter hygiene are adversely impacted."

Jan 1, 2011

By T. Marcher, C. Mathiesen, M. Allende, S. Bauer

"A unique pumped hydro storage facility using the ocean as a lower reservoir, combined with solar PV to create consistent, clean power will be presented: the Espejo de Tarapacá Project is comprised of a 300 MW seawater pumped storage hydroelectric plant using the Pacific Ocean as its lower reservoir and an existing natural concavity at the desert as its upper reservoir. The plant site is located in Chile’s northern coast 90 km south of Iquique. The site is characterized by a rocky shoreline and about 600 m of flat terrain moving inland, with an abundance of rock outcrops, after which there is a steep 700 m cliff. The power house and all waterways will be underground. The main focus is to present the rocks being expected in the underground works. As one of the actual most tectonically active regions of the world the seismic activity is particularly relevant and will be outlined in the presentation. INTRODUCTION Valhalla Energy is an independent Chilean-owned power development company. It focuses on the development, ownership and operation of renewable power projects. Valhalla was founded in 2011 with the goal of developing Chile’s natural renewable energy resources and strategically diversifies the country’s energy matrix away from an overdependence on imported fossil fuels. Valhalla began developing pumped storage hydro projects to provide scalable, clean, competitive, and reliable electricity by combining Chile’s superior solar resources with the country’s unique and extensive coastline suitable for storage.The capacity for renewable energy supply is driven by two distinct and unique natural characteristics found in northern Chile: (1) the abundant and reliable solar irradiation in the Atacama Desert and (2) a coastal site that benefits from a steep cliff and a natural concavity both within a relatively small land mass (see Figure 1). There are several potential sites in the northern part of the country that can be developed. The “Espejo de Tarapacá Project” is the first one to be built and subject of the present paper."

Jan 1, 2016

By José Héctor Figueroa Paredes

La industria del procesamiento de minerales tiene problemas respecto a la disponibilidad de agua para sus operaciones -en tanto la escasez del recurso hídrico plantea incorporar en los procesos productivos alternativas de procesamiento orientados a optimizar el consumo de agua. En este sentido, Southern Copper Corporation, considera tecnologías de espesamiento de alta densidad a fin de maximizar la recuperación de agua de los relaves de Cuajone, para asegurar los requerimientos de agua para sus proyectos de expansión. Por ello, el presente trabajo señala la factibilidad de recuperar agua de los relaves Cuajone en la Southern Copper Corporation, a través del método de espesamiento de alta densidad que permita el manejo de pulpa densificada, sin la necesidad de formarse una pasta.

Sep 14, 2009

By Andreize Raphaela Costa

O espessamento é o método mais amplamente utilizado para desaguamento na indústria mineral. O objetivo desse trabalho foi verificar a viabilidade de espessamento conjunto de rejeito e lamas, considerando a utilização de sistemas existentes de espessamento, bombeamento e disposição de rejeitos, para reduzir capex em projeto de expansão. A metodologia utilizada nesse trabalho consistiu na realização de ensaios de sedimentação em proveta variando a proporção de rejeito/lamas, dosagem de floculante e a concentração de sólidos na alimentação. Os resultados indicaram que o espessamento conjunto reduz a área unitária e aumenta a concentração de sólidos no underflow (UF) do espessador.

Aug 1, 2018

By Thokozani Lehae Hanes Malinga

O complexo Minas-Rio da Anglo American iniciou suas operações em agosto de 2014. A usina de tratamento produziu, em 2016, cerca de 15,5 milhões de toneladas secas de concentrado. O minério, explorado no município de Conceição do Mato Dentro (MG), passa pelas etapas de cominuição, classificação, concentração e separação sólido-líquido antes de ser bombeado por 529 km até o município de São João da Barra (RJ), onde é filtrado, estocado e embarcado para exportação. A lama e o rejeito da flotação são enviados para um espessador de 90 metros de diâmetro. Testes de sedimentação em bancada mostraram o efeito positivo da sedimentação dessa mistura de lamas e rejeito. A lama, composta predominantemente por partículas finas de hematita e argilo minerais, se adere a ao quartzo do rejeito, que possui maior diâmetro. Apesar dessa mistura aumentar a velocidade de sedimentação, ela propicia a formação de uma espuma com elevada estabilidade, devido a presença de finos da deslamagem e espumante da flotação. Foram feitos testes de bancada objetivando-se avaliar o efeito da retirada do rejeito da alimentação do espessador. A partir dos resultados foram traçados cenários com diferentes participações desse material e suas implicações no processo de sedimentação foram estimados.

Oct 30, 2017

By Lucas Xavier Soares de Souza

No contexto de eficiência energética nos setores automobilístico e aeronáutico, a redução de peso em estruturas assume um papel importante. Como alternativa para isso, as espumas metálicas, mais especificamente, as espumas de magnésio e de ligas de magnésio, surgem com grande potencial. Isso se deve, primeiramente, às propriedades desse elemento químico, que é o mais leve entre os metais estruturais. Já a estrutura em forma de espuma aparece como fator capaz de potencializar as propriedades desse elemento. Um dos processos para produção de espumas de magnésio é a metalurgia do pó e uma das etapas desse processo é a compactação dos pós. Busca-se com este trabalho, avaliar a densidade relativa de amostras que foram compactadas a partir da prensagem uniaxial a frio de pós da liga de magnésio AZ91 com hidreto de titânio. Foi verificado que para uma mesma pressão, variando a granulometria da liga AZ91 e a quantidade de hidreto, a variação nas densidades relativas é desprezível. A partir das curvas obtidas nos ensaios de compactação foi possível verificar que na faixa de 130 a 230 MPa ocorreu deformação plástica dos pós de forma gradual e foi possível constatar que a partir de 300MPa não ocorre variação significativa da densidade relativa com o aumento da pressão.

Oct 30, 2017

By Wilfredo A. Lyons

La formación geológica del distrito minero de Castrovirreyna-Huachocolpa está constituída por derrames y piroclásticos de composición andesítica, cuyos volcánicos se encuentran asentados sobre formaciones paleozoicas y mesozoicas altamente plegadas e instruídas por cuerpos ígneos de dimensiones batolíticas. En esta perspectiva, el objeto del texto radica en describir la formación estructural de las minas del distrito e indicar el movimiento relativo de las diversas fracturas del área. El sistema de fracturas se divide en tres grupos: el primero tiene orientación WNW - ESE; el segundo NE - SW, y el tercero, NNE-SSW, los cuales cuentan con características y orientaciones definidas, respectivamente. El origen de las fracturas responde a fuerzas de impresión prientadas NE-SW que formó un sistema de grietas cuyos esfuerzos de cizallamiento se encuentran ubicados a un ángulo menor de 452 a dichas fuerzas y son paralelas a las fuerzas de compresión.

Aug 20, 1965

By N. S. Dalal, X. Shi

"SUMMARYElectron spin resonance (ESR) measurements provide direct evidence for the involvement of the glutathionyl radical, as well as an isolable Cr(V)-glutathione intermediate in the Cr(VI) glutathione redox reactions. These results indicate a new mechanism for the reduction of Cr(VI) by glutathione in relationship to cellular environment and suggest that synergistic reactions of Cr(V) and GS· might be responsible for the (unexpected) increase in the Cr(VI)-induced DNA-strand breaks at high glutathione levels.INTRODUCTIONWhile the reduction of Cr(VI) by glutathione (GSH) is thought to be a critical' step in the pathogenesis of the Cr(VI)-exposure related carcinogenesis1- 4, the exact reduction mechanism is not yet understood. The following reaction steps have been suggested :(A) Initial step:Cr04 2- + GSH - GSCrOa - (1)(B) At high GSH levels:GSCroa- + GSH - Cr( IV) + GSSG (2)(C) At low GSH levels: GSC rO a - - Cr ( V ) + GS ·(3)Thus far, however, in these reactions, the GS· radical has eluded spectroscopic detection, while the evidence for the Cr(V) formation has been reported positives as well as negative2·. Her~ we present spin-trap ESR evidence for the formation of the GS· radical, and a definitive ESR detection of an isolable cr(V)-GSH intermediate in Cr(VI)-GSH reactions.MATERIALS. AND METHODSESR spectra were obtained at X-band (-9.7 GHz) using a Bruker ER200D ESR spectrometer. The magnetic field was calibrated with a self-tracking NMR Gaussmeter (Bruker, Model ER035M) and the microwave frequency was measured with a Hewlett-Packard (Model 5340A) frequency counter. The spin probes, a-(4-pyridyl-1-oxide) -N -tert-butylnitrone (4-POBN) and 5,5-dimethyl~1-pyrroline-1-ox1de (DMPO) were purchased from Aldrich, K2Cr201 from Fisher and used without further purification. All experiments were done at room temperature."

Jan 1, 1989

By X. Shi, V. Vallyathan, N. S. Dalai

"Electron spin resonance (ESR) measurements show that grinding of quartz particles in air produces silicon-based (Si- and SiO-) radicals which decay with aging in air. ESR spin trapping measurements provide evidence for the generation of hydroxyl and possibly superoxide radicals from a suspension of fresh quartz particles. The hydroxyl radical generation potential of the fresh quartz particles decreases on storing in ambient air and on the addition of catalase, superoxide dismutase, desferoxamine, or DMSO. Silica-induced lipid peroxidation also decreases on storing the fresh particles in ambient air. These findings suggest that oxygenated radicals play a role in the biochemical mechanism of pneumoconiosis in general and acute silicosis in particular.INTRODUCTIONThis communication summarizes our electron spin resonance (ESR) investigation of the formation of oxygenated radicals by freshly crushed quartz particles in a cell-free aqueous medium, and its potential role in the biochemical mechanism of acute silicosis. This study was undertaken because the mechanisms by which the quartz particles exert their toxic action on cells and the process(es) by which these actions progress to fibrogenesis are still not well understood. 1-3 It is generally believed, however, that the action of quartz particles on the cell membrane is the starting point of the silicotic process. 1,4 Since the first step must involve surface reactions, characterization of the chemical structure of the surface of quartz particles has been the subject of several recent studies!-' For example, we reported that mechanical crushing of quartz under normal atmosphere generates silicon-based (Si• and SiO•) radicals which decay with time, and that these radicals are associated with a higher cytotoxicity of fresh quartz dust as compared to that of an aged dust from the same stock. 6,8 Independently Fubini and coworkers' have also reported on the formation of Si• and SiO• -type of radicals from quartz particles crushed under atmospheric conditions. Gulumian and van Wyk9 have reported that quartz particles react with hydrogen peroxide (H202) to generate hydroxyl (•OH) radicals. These authors9 suggested that this process might contribute to quartz's pathogenicity but the mechanism of the -OH radical formation was not clarified. Earlier, Gabor and Anca10 had suggested that the cytotoxicity of quartz particles might be associated with the generation of some factor or factors possessing the properties of a free radical and hence capable of promoting the peroxidative chain cleavage of polyunsaturated fatty acid moieties of the phospholipids in the cell membrane. More recently, Weitzman and Graceffa 11 reported that asbestos is able to catalyze the generation of -OH radicals from H2O2. Their later work12 indicated that lipid peroxidation might be one of the mechanisms of tissue injury by asbestos."

Jan 1, 1989