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By D. Lauriski, E. D. Thimons, A. C. Smith, D. C. Fredley

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and Northwest Barricade LLC (NWB) conducted a study to evaluate the effectiveness of a novel fire blocking gel for use in underground coal mines to extinguish or retard the growth of a coal fire. The gel agent was subjected to controlled laboratory testing to assess its ability to delay coal ignition. It was then evaluated to determine if manual fire hose application could be used to apply the agent to mine roofs and ribs to provide a safe egress for mine rescue teams from a fire area. The gel agent was also evaluated in a water sprinkler system to determine its potential for use in conveyor belt fire suppression systems. The agent was then tested in live-fire exercises to examine its effectiveness in retarding and extinguishing a deep-seated coal fire and wood fire. Lastly, the ability of a mine rescue team to quickly and safely apply the gel agent to a mine entry during a simulated mine fire exercise was determined.

Jan 1, 2011

By C. Wildman

Prospectivity modeling of seafloor massive sulphide (SMS) deposits has been completed over the Kermadec Arc-Colville Ridge area using the GIS based weights of evidence and fuzzy logic modeling techniques. SMS deposits are the current equivalent of ancient onshore volcanogenic massive sulphide (VMS) ore deposits. These high-grade deposits are formed on the seafloor and commonly consist of a black smoker and metal rich sediment mound complex resulting from the discharge of hydrothermal fluids (up to 400°C) from fractures on the seafloor. Metal sulphides are continuously precipitated in response to mixing of high-temperature hydrothermal fluids with ambient seawater. Accumulation of metal sulphides has led to SMS deposits being potentially major sources of copper, zinc, lead and other metals such as gold, silver, which to date remain untapped. Modeling of SMS deposits was undertaken to illustrate the power of GIS modeling for seafloor resource evaluation and how it can be used to quickly identify and rank in terms of the most likely prospective areas of the seafloor where new SMS deposits might exist. The mineral deposit modeling was constrained by the mineral systems concept which defines those parts of a mineralisation system that are critical to the ore-forming process. The deposits are typically formed in extensional tectonic settings, including both submerged tectonic margins and sea-floor spreading. Volcanic vent systems and underlying dykes, stocks and sills are the sources of heat that are responsible for converting sea water drawn down through fractures in the oceanic crust into an ore-forming hydrothermal fluid. This fluid is then capable of leaching metals and elements from surrounding footwall rocks, which are then transported upwards via the convection of hydrothermal fluids. The ore materials are then precipitated within the black smoker field as massive sulphides due to the mixing of high-temperature (250-400°C), metal-rich hydrothermal fluids with cold (about 2°C) oxygen bearing seawater.

Jan 1, 2011

By Marlene Olivares Cruz

The particles that make up the deep-sea sediments have two main sources: 1) those that are created in situ from dissolved components and 2) those that are washed into the ocean in solid phases from the continents, atmosphere, space and interior of the Earth. Many particles as they sink through the water column reaches the seabed and are known as pelagic sediments with terrigenous, biogenic, authigenic, and cosmogenic components. Among the minerals found in the terrigenous fraction of pelagic sediments are quartz, clay minerals, feldspar, micas, ferromagnesians, and the biogenic fraction with remains of siliceous organisms, such as, radiolarian and diatoms. The chemical nature of marine sediments is controlled by the contribution of particulate matter derived from various sources with varying compositions for the fixing of elements during deposition and the compositional changes carried out within the sediments during diagenesis. In the last decade there have been several studies on the mineralogical composition of seabed sediments, suspended particulate materials and cores, together with paleontological and geochemical data are used for paleoclimatic and paleoenvironmental reconstructions, analyze changes in sea level, stratigraphic correlations and identify past and present sources of sediment and terrigenous input pathways and to describe the current ocean mass (Martins et al., 2001, Oliveira et al., 1998). There is also a scientific and economic interest in the authigenic fraction of pelagic sediments formed from other materials for polymetallic nodules. The study of sediments associated with polymetallic nodules helps to know the genesis, evolution and occurrence of these deposits (De Koven et al., 2003, Dubinin et al., 2008).

Jan 1, 2011

By Shenghui Guo, Dongbo Li, Lijun Liu, Chengdong He, Jinhui Peng, Libo Zhang

In present study, partially stabilized zirconia (PSZ) was prepared by CaO doped fused zirconia heated by microwave furnace at the temperature of 1450 oC and holding time of 120 min. The XRD results showed that untreated fused zirconia mainly consists of crystalline compounds of cubic ZrO2 phase; while the roasted one mainly is composed of crystalline compounds of cubic ZrO2 phase and monoclinic ZrO2 phase. It is shown through the optimization of structures of two phases that structure of cubic ZrO2 and monoclinic ZrO2 reject each other, revealing its difficulty in forming coinciding interface and linkage of two phases being of Ca atom. Introduction Due to advantages of zirconia, such as high melting point, chemistry inertia, low heat transmission and so on. Zirconia is always taken as megathermal refractory material[1]. However, in the heating and cooling processes of pure zirconium oxide, martensitic transformation will take place associated with greater shear force and volume change, which severely limits the industrial application of pure zirconia in some areas. Such as: Refractory materials, grinding materials and high temperature insulation materials[2]. Through adding a certain amount of MgO, CaO, or Y2O3 stabilizer, etc.[3,4], the zirconia can change into fully stabilized zirconia, which exists in cubic phase. But this high purity fully stabilized zirconia cracks easily because of thermal stress. Therefore, the thermal shock resistance variation is one of the most important quality indicators of zirconia-based materials. According to the heat treatment, the fully stabilized zirconia can be changed into the partially stabilized zirconia (PSZ)[5], which exists in cubic phase and monoclinic phase and has superior mechanical properties, such as anti-heat, low thermal conductivity, large coefficient of thermal expansion and stability, as well as good wear resistance[6].

Jan 1, 2011

By William L. Rice

This Bureau of Mines Open Pile Report on cobalt is one of a series of minerals availability commodity deposit abstracts. Nonconfidential information from the Minerals Availability Program data base covering domestic and foreign cobalt properties and deposits has been abstracted for use in his report. Abstracts include applicable data on location, published reserves and resources, geology, mine and beneficiation systems, and operation information.

Jan 1, 2011

By Jean Cayouette, Paul Blatter, Paul Cousin

"The Laronde mill was commissioned in 1988 and has been treating the Laronde Penna ore since 2000. The Laronde plant, situated in the Abitibi region of Quebec, has experienced mill expansions to accommodate 7500 mtpd and to recover gold and silver as well as important amounts of base metals (Cu, Zn, Pb). Ten sequential metallurgical and environmental processes are responsible for metals recovery and process viability. Over 200,000 ounces of gold, 4,5 million ounces of silver, 7000 tonnes of copper, and 78,000 tonnes of zinc are produced annually.In 2008, the Goldex plant began trucking high grade (35-45 g/t Au) pyrite sulphide concentrate (TCGO) for gold extraction at a newly constructed treatment plant, increasing gold output at Laronde by 40,000 ounces. In 2009, the high gold grade Lapa ore processing facilities were annexed to the Laronde plant increasing output by 120,000 ounces of gold. TCGO and Lapa productions are forecasted until 2018 and 2015 respectively, with known reserves of each mine.Today, up to 140 permanent employees run and optimise the Laronde plant operation. As a result, Laronde has intricacies intrinsic to a large and varied operation. The paper will outline the metallurgical highlights, challenges, and future outlook related to the treatment of each ore type (Laronde, TCGO, and Lapa).INTRODUCTIONFollowing the 2000 to 2003 expansions, the Laronde plant evolved into a mature milling complex with developed processing, man power, and water treatment capabilities able to accommodate the complex Laronde ore. The ore requires a series of grinding, copper/lead flotation and separation, zinc flotation, zinc tails precious metals leaching, followed by a counter-current decantation circuit and Merrill Crowe precipitation. A paste backfill and SO2-air cyanide destruction operate intermittently. The tailings area has a dedicated cyanide destruction and metals precipitation plant prior to water recycling to the mill. A biological water treatment plant was put into service in 2004 to address the build-up of thiocyanate in the tailings ponds at Laronde. This was the result of the high sulphide content of the Laronde ore and 90% recirculation of the process water. The plant uses bacteria to oxidize and destroy thiocyanate, and removes phosphate from the water before it is released to the environment."

Jan 1, 2011

By Jesús E. Gómez

Verification and production testing of soil nails requires debonding the upper section of the soil nail to isolate the portion of the soil nail intended for testing within a specific ground type. In pre-drilled soil nails, debonding can be accomplished relatively easily because the bar can be fitted with a debonding sheath before its installation. However, debonding of hollow core bar soil nails requires special procedures to achieve the intended result. This paper is a summary of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Hollow Bar Soil Nail (HBSN) Test Program, which is described in detail in FHWA-CFL/TD-10-001. The program was developed to establish a suitable debonding procedure to test hollow core bars in soil nailing applications, and to initiate a database on typical bond values of HBSNs. The investigation showed that it is possible to debond hollow core bars for testing. It was also found that hollow core bars installed in granular soils may present ultimate bond values that are significantly higher than those typically used for design of conventional pre-drilled soil nails.

Jan 1, 2011

By Fernando J. A. S. Barriga

Exploration for active seafloor hydrothermal vent fields has been highly successful, and more than 300 such fields have been discovered to date. Some will most probably be mined, given their high metal grades (Cu, Zn, Au and others). However, the current practice detects active systems, and activity rates, not the size of the deposits. This strategy may leave undetected some of the best targets, for several reasons as follows: 1. Large hydrothermal plumes are a measure of dispersion of ore components, not of efficiency in the generation of orebodies; 2. Deposits formed a few hundred years (or more) before present will generally have ceased their activity and will not be detected by plume studies; 3. Deposits formed under a cover rock (up to a few meters of sediments, volcaniclastics, or the like) may exhibit only minor seafloor hydrothermal activity, possibly diffuse flow. Cover rocks will often host hanging wall rock alteration, expressed in geochemical and mineralogical haloes. It has been demonstrated in many instances, especially for deposits formed in the geological past, now exposed on land, that ore genesis under a cover rock is one of the most suitable processes for generating large massive sulfide deposits. One of the great challenges for submarine resource knowledge will be to develop adequate exploration strategies for sizeable orebodies, not necessarily hydrothermal vent fields, sometimes hidden under a cover rock.

Jan 1, 2011

By Irina A. Pulyaeva

Hydrogenetic Fe-Mn crusts are ubiquitous in the ocean basins and play an important role in marine mineral-deposit research because of their widespread occurrence and high concentrations of valuable and rare metals. Directed research, which started in the last quarter of the 20th century, has provided significant results, with substantial amounts of data produced on Fe-Mn crusts structure, composition, and distribution in the global ocean. Detailed study of several seamounts has given confidence about the scale of Fe-Mn crust development and their characteristics. Now, commercial interests gain more and more attention. However, at the same time some theoretical questions related to Fe-Mn crust history including controls on metal sources and concentrations have not yet been answered. Here, we present the overview of age, composition, distribution, and geological setting of hydrogenetic Fe-Mn crusts from Pacific and Atlantic seamounts and discuss the geological evolution and conditions that led to the formation of potentially economic concentrations of metals. The age, composition, and distribution of Fe-Mn crusts in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans were determined by using a Fe-Mn deposits database compiled from our original data, published papers, published databases, and other international sources. Comparative analysis of Fe-Mn deposits from the Atlantic and Pacific oceans shows that there are similarities in basic characteristics of crust formation in both oceans. Simultaneously, there are significant differences in the scale of Fe-Mn crust distribution and composition that can be explained by differences in geological settings and characteristics of the deposition environment.

Jan 1, 2011

By Paul Doherty

It is known that the axial capacity of a displacement piles installed in clay varies with time. Consolidation theory suggests that dissipation of porewater pressure set-up during pile installation would lead to increased effective stress and hence higher pile resistance. In recent years a number of case histories have reported time dependent capacity increases for piles installed in sand. Although there is some debate regarding the physical mechanisms controlling this phenomenon, known as ageing, it is unrelated to pore pressure dissipation as piles in sand are installed in primarily drained conditions. A series of field tests designed to investigate ageing effects in soft clay are presented in this paper. Full-scale load tests on 6m long 250 mm square concrete piles, which were driven into soft clay are described. The piles were first tested approximately 100 days after installation, at which stage full equalization of the excess pore pressures had occurred. Static load tests were then performed up to 10 years after pile installation. The piles exhibited significant ageing, with their shaft resistance increasing by up to 66% over a 10 year period. Possible mechanisms for such aging characteristics are explored.

Jan 1, 2011

By Hans Smit

The face of mining as we know is changing as mining companies all over the globe realize the reality of accessing the vast mineral wealth contained on, and under, our ocean floors. With some land based mineral deposits being fully exploited across the world, deep sea mining is set to revolutionize global approaches to the search for precious metals and other sought after minerals. Previously, the financial and technological implications of deep sea mining outweighed the benefits of access to the mineral rich deposits identified all around the world. The process of marine diamond mining off the west coast of southern Africa started in the late 1950s, and subsequently continued by De Beers to the present day, has proven to be an excellent proving ground for the development of technology and mining systems that ensure a sustainable and financially viable business.

Jan 1, 2011

By Paul M. Vercruijsse

Deep sea mining operations by nature are performed (or planned) in challenging environments. Another typifying characteristic of deep sea mining operations is the relatively high investment cost. This combination challenges engineers to design configurations able to mine the desired production rate in an efficient way. As design choices made for individual systems impact other parts of the system, it is vital to follow an integral approach to establish the one optimal overall system. Dredging and especially dredge mining learns that the excavation system, the slurry transportation system and the processing plant cannot be considered as individual sub-systems. These systems in any ?traditional dredge mining? operation interrelate to such extend that they must be developed towards an integral solution. The nominal production, peak production and variability of these figures must match for all subsystems in the overall mining system to optimize the mining efficiency. We call this the ?game of capacities?.

Jan 1, 2011

By John Halkyard

Deep ocean mining is experiencing a rebirth following many years of low levels of activity. Large scale mining is being projected as just over the horizon. A lot has been made of the advances in deep water oil and gas developments over the last thirty years, and how this technology is directly applicable to ocean mining. The authors present their views on this from a perspective of a legacy of participating in the development of manganese nodule mining systems in the 1970s, followed by thirty years in the deepwater oil & gas arena. While it is true that great advances have been made in subsea technology, the differences between mining and oil and gas recovery should not be diminished. Fundamentally, oil and gas are stored in compact reservoirs under pressure. Any intervention leads to flow of the material up a pipe to the surface. The seabed hard minerals are stuck in place, either adhering to sticky pelagic sediment (nodules) or bonded together as hard rock (massive sulfides). The minerals require complex machinery in order to be extracted, sized, concentrated and lifted to the surface. Once at the surface the ore must be dewatered, de-fined and transferred to shore for processing. The overflow from this dewatered product must return to the sea in an environmentally satisfactory manner. These steps involve technology unique to mining that has to be addressed in a methodical fashion before commercial mining systems can be designed. The presentation will discuss the critical technical challenges of deepsea mining and thoughts on different routes to commercialization. The program will address the critical technical challenges, as perceived by the authors, and steps required to address them. Alternate development programs will be discussed focusing on nodules and sulfide. Keywords: manganese nodules, polymetallic sulfides, ocean mining

Jan 1, 2011

By Daowu Yang, Zhuo Ren, Hui Liu

"In this paper, the photochemical catalysis degradation effect of photocatalyst obtained by charcoal-supported nano TiO2 (nano TiO2 / charcoal) on the formaldehyde in the air was studied. The influences of the nano-TiO2 loading and the photoreactor structure on the efficiency of photochemical catalysis degradation of formaldehyde was reviewed.The nano - TiO2 / bamboo charcoal adsorption of formaldehyde, as well as the influences of a certain amount of formaldehyde after adsorption on its photochemical catalysis effect were discussed. The sol preparation process of Ce-doped nano-TiO2 was described. Experimental results indicated that: the surface of bamboo Charcoal still has a strong formaldehyde adsorption capacity after Supported by Nano TiO2.After adsorbing formaldehyde, the photochemical catalysis degradation efficiency of formaldehyde of the catalyst at a steady state is basically the same with new prepared catalysts’. When the thickness of the catalyst layer of the multi-ladder-type structure photoreactor is 2mm, the interval is 20mm, the absorption efficiency of formaldehyde of Nano- TiO2 / bamboo charcoal is the best . Nano-TiO2 undoped Ce responded with no degradation of formaldehyde after 2 hours, while the degradation rate of formaldehyde of the Ce-doped nano- TiO2 reached 15% 2 hours late, and the formaldehyde decontamination of the equipment reached 94%.IntroductionEmerging out of home decoration in the distribution of formaldehyde, benzene, ammonia and other indoor pollutants have been proved to be very harmful to the human body. Photocatalysis can eliminate air pollutants, in particular, can effectively degrade the air volatile organic compounds, it is a new method of air purification developed in recent years. the biggest advantage of photochemical catalysis degradation is green, this method can be available at normal temperature and pressure to degrade formaldehyde and other organic matter into carbon dioxide and water without secondary pollution.Nano-TiO2 have become the most studied photocatalyst due to its stable, non-toxic harmless, superior photochemical catalysis properties [1]. Initially nano-TiO2 powder was used as a photocatalyst, but it’s difficult to recover and easy to wear and tear [2,3]. Later, the TiO2 was used in the form of film loaded on some carriers, such as glass beads [4]. As the photochemical catalysis reaction occurred on the catalyst surface, only the organic matter adsorbed on the catalyst surface can be degraded, so the catalyst was requested that must have a strong adsorption. Combined the adsorption properties of bamboo charcoal and the photochemical catalysis activity of nano-TiO2 together. Made the photocatalyst by loading the nano-TiO2 on bamboo charcoal to degrade organic matter in the air. Nano-TiO2 semiconductor photocatalyst has a strong catalytic oxidation due to the photo generated hole of the surface [5,6],and has a potential application. Some studies have shown that nano-TiO2 photocatalysis activity can be increased by doping certain metal ions [7,8].The aim of our work in this study was to use bamboo charcoal load Ce-doped nano-TiO2 photochemical catalysis oxidation to degrade formaldehyde,and design a multi-ladder structure photoreactor, also prove the availability of the device from the theoretical and experimental."

Jan 1, 2011

By Raymond A. Binns

Exploration for high-value massive sulfide deposits on the ocean floor typically commences with a search for chimney fields in appropriate geological settings, followed by collection and assaying of standing chimneys. Individual chimney fields are generally too small in aggregate volume to constitute viable resources in their own right. Unless numerous small fields occur in reasonably close proximity, presence of plentiful sub-seafloor mineralization with acceptable metal tenor is the more likely requirement for potential exploitation. Expensive drilling is required to prove up mounds of collapsed chimneys, or dilatory sheets and veins or replacements of massive/semimassive sulfide (?stockworks? or ?manto?-like bodies) in underlying host rock. Where multiple targets have been defined, as many parameters as possible are desirable to help rank them for drilling.

Jan 1, 2011

By E. Dernedde

A few studies have suggested that the rate of adsorption of hydrogen fluoride on smelter grade alumina is determined by kinetic factors. However, no performance equation for dry scrubbers has appeared in the literature so far. Experimental data from a pilot dry scrubber with co-current flow were compared with results of kinetic models of adsorption, film diffusion and pore diffusion. The pore diffusion model was deemed the most appropriate. It was transformed into a performance equation for steady-state operations of dry scrubbers by the inclusion of the alumina recirculation. Operating results of industrial dry scrubbers with co-current flow were successfully evaluated by means of the performance equation. The average fluoride content of the alumina was also estimated by using the pore diffusion model.

Jan 1, 2011

The Iron Ore Company of Canada (IOC) is the largest manufacturer of iron ore pellets in Canada and its customer base covers North American, European and Asian steel producers. The company operates a mine, concentrator and a pelletizing plant in Labrador City, Newfoundland and Labrador, as well as port facilities located in Sept-Iles, Quebec. It also operates a 418-km (260-mile) railroad that links the mine to the port. IOC has approximately 1,900 employees. Its shareholders are Mitsubishi Corp. (26.18 percent), Labrador Iron Ore Royalty Income Fund (15.1 percent) and the international mining group Rio Tinto, which is its major shareholder (58.72 percent) and operator, with activities in more than 40 countries throughout the world. The IOC was incorporated in 1949 and by 1954 it had completed the Quebec North Shore and Labrador (QNS&L) rail line. IOC began mining in Schefferville, Quebec by 1954 and closed those operations down in 1982. In 1962, IOC commissioned the present day Carol Project consisting of mining, concentration and pelletizing facilities in Labrador City, Newfoundland. In 2004, IOC shipped its one-billionth tonne of ore on the QNS&L Railway. In 2005, IOC celebrated 50 years of mining history. The company expressed an interest in reducing the amount of oversize material (>1 m x 1 m x 1 m or 3.2 ft x 3.2 ft x 3.2 ft) being produced and its subsequent downstream effects, including in-pit sorting and reduction, damage to mobile equipment and significant delays in the loading pockets and the primary crushers. To achieve this goal, an oversize reduction project was undertaken by the mine that, to date, has significantly improved upon baseline measures. One key approach used to reduce the amount of oversize was the implementation of thicker emulsion. The introduction of a thicker emulsion provided more resistance to the forces created by dynamic water and reduced the infiltration of the emulsion into the cracks and fissures of the rockmass, resulting in reduced amounts of oversize and more consistent fragmentation throughout the muckpiles. Additionally, a significant reduction in nitrates leached into the mine water discharge has been realized. To determine the effectiveness of the oversize reduction project, IOC used a first-of-kind technology to assess fragmentation presented to the shovel at the digging face. A digital vision system (DVS) was installed on one of the shovels to capture images that were stamped with GPS locations. A large population of digital images were analyzed to produce a robust fragmentation distribution baseline that was used as one of the mine key performance indicators (KPI). Changes to blasting practice were subsequently measured against the baseline KPI to assess effectiveness.

Jan 1, 2011

By E. Dalgaard

During linear friction welding of titanium alloy Ti-5A1-5V-5Mo-3Cr (Ti-5553), the weld zone exhibits beta (B) grain refinement and alpha (a) phase depletion that have the combined effect of deteriorating the mechanical performance of the weldment. In this work, linear friction welded Ti-5553 was subjected to pre- and post- weld heat treatments in order to determine the conditions under which a phase depletion could be mitigated in the weld zone and thermomechanically affected zone (TMAZ). The mechanical response of the welded samples to the heat treatments was determined by performing tensile testing at room temperature. While the pre-weld heat treatments had no significant effect, the post-weld heat treatments were instrumental in restoring the strength of the starting (heat-treated) material.

Jan 1, 2011

By R. Pinksen

The IOC Mining and Operations Departments expressed an interest in reducing the amount of oversize material (>1.0 m x 1.0 m x 1.0 m; 39 inches x 39 inches x 39 inches) being produced and its subsequent downstream effects including in-pit sorting and reduction, damage to mobile equipment, and significant delays in the loading pockets and the primary crushers. To achieve this goal an oversize reduction project was undertaken by the mine and to date has significantly improved upon baseline measures. One key approach used to reduce the amount of oversize was the implementation of thicker emulsion. The introduction of a thicker emulsion provided more resistance to the forces created by dynamic water and reduces the infiltration of the emulsion into the cracks and fissures of the rockmass. Reduced amounts of oversize and more consistent fragmentation throughout the muckpiles has been a result. Additionally, a significant reduction in nitrates leached into the mine water discharge has been realized. To determine the effectiveness of the oversize reduction project, IOC used a of first-of-kind technology to assess fragmentation presented to the shovel at the digging face. A Digital Vision System (DVS) was installed on one of the shovels to capture images that were stamped with GPS locations. A large population of digital images were analysed to produce a robust fragmentation distribution baseline that was used as one of the mine key performance indicators (KPI). Changes to blasting practice were subsequently measured against the baseline KPI to assess effectiveness.

Jan 1, 2011

By Rodney Pinksen, Remi Proulx

The IOC Mining and Operations Departments expressed an interest in reducing the amount of oversize material (>1.0 m x 1.0 m x 1.0 m; 39 inches x 39 inches x 39 inches) being produced and its subsequent downstream effects including in-pit sorting and reduction, damage to mobile equipment, and significant delays in the loading pockets and the primary crushers. To achieve this goal an oversize reduction project was undertaken by the mine and to date has significantly improved upon baseline measures.

Jan 1, 2011