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By A. C. T. Bigg, Y. Kocak, N. K. Bodur

The Gumuskoy silver mine, owned by the Etibank, in the province of Kutahya, Turkey, has been operating since 1987 with primary, secondary and tertiary crushers, and two parallel single stage ball mill circuits. Continuing problems with crushing and feeding of the ore to the ball mills, because of the moisture retaining and sticky nature of the ore, prompted an investigation into the possibility of converting the grinding circuit to an autogenous or semiautogenous grinding circuit. This would remove the bottleneck associated with the secondary and tertiary crushing. At the same time the target feedrate is to be raised from 140 t/h to 175 t/h. This paper demonstrates the response of five ore types, and blends of ore types in an onsite pilot plant test program, and also suggests how the variations can be handled in a SAG mill/ball mill circuit incorporating just one of the present ball mills.

Jan 1, 2000

By Winfield G. Wright, Philip L. Verplanck, Philip L. Hageman, Douglas B. Yager, Dana J. Bove, M. Alisa Mast

Geological, hydrological, and geochemical information synthesized in a Geographical Information System (GIS) for water and rock surrounding South and Middle Forks of Mineral Creek, northwest of Silverton Colorado, was analyzed to distinguish between the natural and the mining-related sources of metals to dace waters in the watershed An important natural source of metals to surface water emanates from a porphyry molybdenum deposit south and upslope from the Middle Fork of Mineral Creek. Interaction of surface and ground water with fractured, altered rocks and permeable, Quatemay-age surficial deposits produces downstream water quality that does not meet current State of Colorado water quality standards for metals and pH. GIS site characterization and three-dimensional modeling distinguish surficial deposits as volumetrically substantial, significant sources of naturally occurring metals that strongly influence water quality and complicate ongoing mine-site mitigation efforts. Our findings indicate that regional hydrologic and geologic information needs to be evaluated before realistic water quality guidelines are established and mitigation recommendations are confidently implemented.

Jan 1, 2000

By T S. Giraudo

The Macraes Gold Project, operated by GRD Macraes Limited, engaged GRD Minproc Limited to assist with the evaluation of a pressure oxidation circuit, this being the key component of a recovery enhancement project. The initial study gave sufficient confidence in the process to enter into project execution. GRD Macraes Limited was the first company to license Newmont Mining Corporation's pressure oxidation technology, which aims to improve gold recovery from the carbonaceous sulfidic flotation concentrate. This paper outlines the fundamental chemistry of the process followed by a description of the plant that was ultimately installed. A summary of the commissioning is given together with an overview of the production results to date. The project ramp-up was rapid, with design temperature and throughput being achieved within days of hot commissioning. Gold recoveries have exceeded expectations, improving from around 70% prior to the installation of pressure oxidation to above 84%. The project has increased the nominal gold output at Macraes from 120,000 oz/y to 170,000 oz/y. On-going plant optimisation for process parameters is discussed, giving rise to flexibility in gold production, with key controlling parameters exceeding design.

Jan 1, 2000

By Lars Olaf Höglund

MiMi has been set up to be i) visionary, ii) strategic and iii) long-term. The planning as well as the executive phases involves industry, academia and authorities in close co-operation. MiMi focuses on improved, economically efficient management of mining waste, a challenge that requires combined and integrated research efforts across discipline boundaries. The MiMi programme is financed by the Swedish Foundation for Strategic Environmental Research (MISTRA) with support from the mining industry. The first programme phase covers the period 1997 - 2000, with intentions for additional phases. Planning, experience and results from the first programme period are highlighted. INTRODUCTION Most of the mining activities in Sweden takes place in the No

Jan 1, 2000

By Satyendra K. Singh

If the extraction is beneath massive roof strata, the roof tends to 'bridge' across large spans without failing, the caving behaviour is complex and irregular. Understandably, these give rise to many geotechnical problems with safety implications and involving sometime huge direct and indirect costs. Only two important problems, 'feather-edging' in pillar mining and `severe periodic weighting' in longwalling, are discussed in this paper in the background of geomechanics investigations in Australia at Blue Mountain Colliery and in South Bulga Colliery respectively. `Feather edging'- a major source of injury and fatal accidents in Australia and South Africa in such situations, refers to a phenomenon where the roof, at the goat edge, falls as a thin wafer of rock often suddenly, over-riding conventional timber breakerlines. The results of the first comprehensive, monitored trial in an Australian pillar extraction coal mine, suggests how the roof falls into feather-edging caving (generally) because of multiple shear-planes (interpreted) and how it may be alleviated. Because of complex fracturing behaviour of massive roof strata, periodic weighting at a longwall face is certain to manifest itself as 'yielding supports', heavy conditions', rapid convergence and in the worst case, as a cause of face stoppage. After briefly discussing the programme of instrumentation (in a chain-pillar and over the would-be goal) and results, this paper attempts to improve mechanistic understanding of the related geotechnical issues associated with the weighting behaviour and aims at establishing a 'threshold' value of weighting severity index (suggesting intensity of periodic weighting) with an objective to optimise operational controls before mining through potential (future) weighting areas.

Jan 1, 2000

By C Katonga

Mindola mine is currently the deepest mine in the Zambian copper belt. Stoping is currently active to 1330 m below surface with long range plans indicating future production from 1590 m level. The orebody is tabular and dips between 55o to vertical. The thickness varies from 8 to 14 m. The vertical crater retreat method of mining was first introduced at Mindola mine in the late-1980s following several trials that helped define the design criteria for its application. Over the last ten years the method has been continually modified to improve safety and maximise ore production. For example, due to the weakness of some rock units within the orebody formation and the instability of the hanging wall, the last VCR slices are usually between 8 - 10 m thick, and efforts are being made to strictly apply shrinkage method in order to reduce dilution. Recent advances in mining technology in the areas of equipment, blasting techniques, rock mechanics and materials handling have been employed to increase the overall productivity of the mine. Large down-the-hole machines capable of drilling 165 mm diameter blast holes, up to 80 m long are used in stoping. Each stope produces up to 20 000 tonnes of ore per month and can last for three months. Heavy systematic ground support of VCR development has significantly enhanced safety for mining crews and equipment. Crater mining has not only improved productivity and enhanced safety, but also overcome various problems associated with conventional sublevel open stoping previously employed at the mine. This paper discusses the technical and operational aspects of vertical crater retreat mining at Mindola mine during the last ten years. The changes in mining method are often accompanied by changes in mine design, blast design, mining equipment, ground support and operating practices.

Jan 1, 2000

By Ken Mills

A program of stress change and roadway deformation monitoring was undertaken to measure the forward abutment load distribution about a retreating longwall panel at Dartbrook Mine. The results of this monitoring allow roadway conditions observed at various stages of mining to be ranked according to the estimated vertical stress they have experienced. This ranking also provides a means to predict and visualise future roadway conditions at various stages of mining. This paper presents the results of the monitoring and describes the approach developed to predict future roadway conditions. The monitoring results show the vertical stress distribution associated with the front abutment from a longwall goal decreases exponentially away from the goaf edge. The vertical stress distribution peaks at the goaf edge at 5 to 6 MPa stress increase and decreases to 1 MPa within 50 m becoming imperceptible beyond 100 m By scaling this measured distribution to reflect the loading environment, the vertical stress can be estimated for different overburden depths and different stages of mining. Photographs of roadway conditions at particular vertical stress levels provide a way to visualise roadway conditions at various stages of mining in the future

Jan 1, 2000

By Carla Lupi

NiMH sealed cells (portable cells) are today widely used in all consumer applications replacing primary alkaline batteries: wireless mobile communication, portable computers and camcorders, are the largest application segments. The Italian market. of NiMH cells is steadily growing, following the impressive penetration rate of the cellular phones. The organization of a national collecting system and correct recycling process are the key factors to prevent environmental impact associated to these wastes, while the metal values recovery can improve the feasibility of the recycling process The University of Rome, Texeco Engineering S.d, and MO.SMO.DE. S.a.s. have developed a combination of mechanical and hydrometallurgical processing to recover Nickel, and Cobalt salable products and rare earths intermediate products. A new plant located in South Italy, designed after this technology, is able to recycle waste Ni-MH batteries collected in the Italian territory, together with other industrial and portable batteries based on different chemistries. The process is able to treat both individual cells and plastic power packs and includes as basic steps an original crushing and elutriation treatment to separate plastic, metallics, and active mass components that are subsequently treated by a hydrometallurgical process to recover Ni, Co, and RE. The hydro metallurgical main steps are: acidic leaching, RE separation, multistage precipitation of Ni, Co and Fe and final solvent extraction on dissolved Ni and Co salts. For each operation the operative condition have been determined.

Jan 1, 2000

By John Brown

Let’s talk about things that you, the driIl boss, the pit boss and the driller can do to eliminate the trend in drilling related accidents that have come to plague our industry in recent years. My paper will focus on reaI issues, problems and solutions that will affect our everyday outlook and attitudes about our jobs and lives. There are some real hard facts we must address if we are going to reverse this terrible killing trend.

Jan 1, 2000

By H. Bai, B. G. Thomas

"A three-dimensional finite difference model has been developed to study the liquid steel-argon bubble two-phase turbulent flow in continuous casting tundish nozzles. Experiments have been performed on a 0.4-scale water model to verify the computational model by comparing its prediction with velocity measurements using PIV (Particle Image Velocimetry) technology. The computational model was developed using CFX and then employed to investigate the effects of various casting process variables. A fast, simple inverse model to quantify relationships between those process variables was developed, based on interpolation of the numerical model results, using Bernoulli's Equation and advanced multivariable curve fitting methods. Predictions using this model compare well with plant measurements. The model has been applied to present trends and observations on the relationship between casting speed, tundish depth, slide gate opening, and argon gas injection rate. The results can also be used to predict .the theoretical steel flow rate through the nozzle, so that clogging conditions can be identified in the plant.IntroductionTundish nozzle geometry is one of the few variables that are both very influential on the casting process and relatively inexpensive to change. Designing an effective nozzle requires quantitative knowledge of the relationship between nozzle geometry and other process variables on the influential characteristics of the flow exiting the nozzle. This relationship depends on the flow pattern within the nozzle components. Most previous modeling studies of flow in the nozzle have focused on single-phase flow [1-4]. Argon injection into nozzle is an efficient and widely employed method to reduce nozzle clogging, even though the real working mechanism(s) are still not fully understood [5]. Argon injection may greatly affect the flow pattern in the nozzle, and subsequently in the mold. Therefore, two-phase flow modeling is needed to improve understanding of fluid flow in the nozzle."

Jan 1, 2000

By D Nicoli, P Feltoe

The operation of grinding circuits are vital to the success of most mineral processing operations in the provision of effective size reduction whilst maximising throughput. However these same circuits, and especially semi-autogenous grinding (SAG) mills, are highly interactive with product re-circulations and long time delays. This makes the optimal control of these difficult by conventional controllers, such as PID, which generally places a heavy reliance upon operations for control. In order to account for the peculiarities (such as ore type changes) and the abnormal situations that continually beset these circuits, it is necessary to adapt linear control techniques to cater for these situations. The Honeywell Hi-Spec Solutions SmartGrindTM controller is a marriage of multivariable predictive control (MPC) with techniques that provide adaptation of the control to optimise the circuit under all conditions. Optimal control is achieved by incorporating pattern recognition techniques to detect and act on discrete events (eg ore type changes) and adaptation of the MPC to account for known process and equipment non-linearities. AlcoaÆs Wagerup Refinery is the first site worldwide to have this technology applied to the SAG milling circuits and this has resulted in throughput increases in excess of two per cent and significant improvements in circuit operations. This paper describes the implementation of the control to the refineryÆs Mill 3 bauxite grinding circuit and the capacity/operational improvements achieved thereof.

Jan 1, 2000

By Peter Wells, Gordon Marrs, Dominic Fragomeni, Warren Holmes, Daryl Macnamara

"LocationThe Strathcona mill ofFalconbridge Limited is located in Onaping, Ontario, 50 km northwest of Sudbury.GeneralOre from the Falconbridge mines in the Sudbury Basin (Strathcona, Fraser, Onaping, Craig and Thayer Lindsley mines) is processed through the Strathcona mill with 8500 t of nickel ore and 1500 t of copper ore being treated daily. Current capacity is -3 Mt of ore at 1.8% Ni, 1.9% Cu combined grade. Custom feeds are also processed. The valuable minerals in the ore are pentlandite (FeNi)9S8, chalcopyrite (CuFeS2) with some cubanite (CuFe2S3) and very minor nickel sulphides/ arsenides. Cobalt is present mainly in solid solution in pentlandite. There are small but economically important concentrations of precious metals including platinum, palladium gold, and silver. The common non-sulphide gangue minerals are feldspar, quartz, mica, talc, and chlorite while pyrrhotite (Fe7S8) is the major gangue sulphide. The pyrrhotite contains between 0.6% and 1.2% nickel in solid solution and additional nickel as exsolved pentlandite in micron sized blebs. The nickel and copper ores are batch-crushed in a two stage dry crushing plant and then ground in separate circuits. Concentration by flotation and magnetic separation produces a nickel concentrate assaying approximately 16% nickel plus copper and a copper concentrate assaying 30% copper and 0.4% nickel. The nickel concentrate is trucked as a slurry to the Falconbridge smelter while the copper concentrate is trucked as filter cake to the Kidd Division of Falcon bridge"

Jan 1, 2000

By Tim O’Neil

The search for precious metals opened up the American West. And Nevada was right in the heart of this development. In the mid-19th century, prospectors seeking gold roamed the hills of Nevada and discovered the ComstockLode. The development of this huge silver and gold deposit began in1859 and was responsible for Nevada’s early entry to statehood. Mining was Nevada’s first industry. In more recent years, the Nevada mining industry has led the nation in gold, silver and barite production. Nevada also produces many other minerals. These include aggregates, clays, copper, diatomite, dolomite, gypsum, lime and limestone, lithium and magnesium compounds, perlite, salt and silica. Even today, Nevada’s mining industry continues to be a major economic force in the state. The mining industry has made more than $10 billion in capital investments in Nevada since 1985. And the value of Nevada’s mineral production last year was about $2.7 billion.

Jan 1, 2000

By Douglas Bartley, Robert McClure

This paper discusses the advances in programmable, testable high accuracy electronic detonator technology. The operation and safety of electronic detonator systems are required to meet rigid safety standards and withstand the demanding environment of in-field applications. These requirements are discussed through comments on existing safety requirements in Europe.

Jan 1, 2000

By Derek H. C. Wilton, David T. W. Evans

"Abstract - The Midas Pond gold prospect, central Newfoundland, is hosted by sheared and altered felsic and mafic pyroclastic rocks of the Tulks Hill volcanics, Victoria Lake Group, and has been trenched and tested by 19 diamond-drill holes. Gold values are sporadic, with the best diamond-drill intersection assaying 7.3 g/t over 0.9 m, and the highest grade channel sample containing 14.7 g/t over 1.15 m. Alteration and mineralization are confined to a 200 m wide brittle-ductile shear zone. This shear zone formed in response to regional D1 deformation, and the shear zone fabric parallels the regional S1 foliation. D2 deformation resulted in broad Z-shaped flexuring of the shear zone. The deformation was probably related to the ca. 396 Ma to 420 Ma Salinic Orogeny.Advanced argillic alteration and an extensive halo of Fe-carbonate and pyrite surround the gold mineralization. Alteration minerals include pyrophyllite, paragonite, quartz, plagioclase, chlorite, fluorite, Fe-carbonate, and pyrite. As such, the alteration seems to reflect combined epithermal (argillic) and mesothermal (carbonate) mineralizing environments. The argillic alteration and fluorite represent a regional hydrothermal effect on the felsic volcanic rocks; whereas, the Fe-carbonate and pyrite represent a mesothermal alteration associated with auriferous quartz veins. The Au, which is spatially associated with pyrite, occurs in three structurally-controlled vein sets. These veins are confined to the contact between a highly deformed breccia (the banded mafic tuff) and structurally overlying, altered felsic tuffaceous rocks. The vein sets include: V1 boudinage veins that parallel the shear-zone fabric (C-shear veins), and V2 and V3 extensional fracture veins which are controlled by an S2 fracture cleavage. V1 veins are the earliest and contain the lowest concentrations of Au. V2 and V3 veins are concentrated within the hinges of the D2 flexures.Pb isotope data for galena separates indicate that the Pb in the vein systems was probably of local derivation. Sulfur, C, and O isotope data for mineral separates are similar to data for typical mesothermal lode gold deposits. Fluid inclusion data suggest the presence of at least three hydrothermal fluid types in the region, viz., (1) an early saline fluid which produced the argillic alteration, (2) a CO2-bearing fluid directly related to the auriferous mineralization, and (3) H2O-NaCl fluids which flowed through the Midas Pond shear zone at a lateral distance from the zone of mineralization. The mineralizing fluids are interpreted to have been CO3 -2-rich types which originated through metamorphic dehydration and decarbonation of mixed island-arc and continental crustal rocks. Gold precipitation resulted from the reaction of these fluids with the Fe-rich breccia unit. Pre-existing and simultaneously crystallizing pyrite served as loci for Au precipitation."

Jan 1, 2000

By Dave Otto, Ron Elliot, Ed Hatch

This paper is a summary of the work carried out by an international team of specialists in the successful explosive compaction of the sand fill core of the Molikpaq offshore oil production structure. The sand fill core is an essential element for the stability of the structure. The sand core must resist liquefaction forces caused by heavy wave action, ice loading, and earthquakes. Explosive compaction methods were used to improve the stability of 220,000 cubic meters of coarse dredged sand placed in the core area. This project was challenging for a number of reasons. It was performed offshore in Russia, seven kilometers off the East Coast of Sakhalin Island. Logistics were a challenge, not just in getting the men and materials to the site, but also working with restricted headroom inside an operating oil drilling platform. This project called for the use of specialty explosives, strict blast vibration controls requiring a complex sequential blast design, and use of custom designed drill rigs. As Russian equivalent explosives were not available, the project involved getting approval for use of North American explosives in Russia, and use of a combined Russian - Canadian blasting crew. The blasting program was carried out successfully, meeting the required densification target _in a safe, effective manner, with no damage to the structure.

Jan 1, 2000

By K. J. Martchek

"This introductory presentation will highlight recent efforts to quantify the positive value of recycling metals such as aluminum, magnesium, lead, zinc, nickel and copper in relation to the three pillars of ""sustainable development"" - environmental protection, economic development and improve social consequences.This presentation will provide an overview of life cycle assessment profiles increasingly being utilized by customers, regulators and environmental advocacy groups to holistically evaluate the environmental performance of materials and products. The environmental profiles of prodi.lcts containing recycled metal will be presented based on rules established by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO).Significant to the life cycle profile of metal products is recent confirmation. that recycling has the potential to reduce materials production energy consumption by 95% for aluminum, 80""/o for magnesium and lead, 75% for zinc, and 70% for copper. Furthermore, . ""metals are eminently and repeatedly recyclable, while maintaining all their properties (1 ). "" Their durability relative to many hydrocarbon based materials enhance .their life cycle performance. However, the persistence of metals when dispersed into our natural environmental makes recovery and recycling particularly important Overall, when considering life cycle effects, recycling is critical to a sustainable future for metal products.Finally, regional and international regulations will be highlighted which will effect the efficient recovery and recycle of metals and their overall contribution to environinental protection, economic development and the enhancement of society."

Jan 1, 2000

By Florian Kongoli

New operating conditions and process parameters are often necessary in today's industrial practice of non-ferrous smelting and converting in order to accommodate various new chemical compositions of mineral charges and environmental requirements or to conceive new and more efficient industrial technologies. An important parameter in non-ferrous smelting and converting is the liquidus surface of multicomponent slags. This surface is affected by multiple factors such as temperature, gaseous potentials, the content of each component in the slag, etc., and cannot be quantified by the existing ternary liquidus diagrams. In this work a new type of representation of the liquidus surface of multi component systems has been presented by means of a thermodynamic model. This representation waives the need of the multidimensional representation of multi component systems and yields practical two-dimensional diagrams, which can be easily used in the industrial practice.

Jan 1, 2000

? Hollow Stem Auger ? Drill Bits ? Leads/Torque Arm ? Hydraulic Gearbox ? Hydraulic Power Unit ? Grout Pump ? Crawler Crane

Jan 1, 2000

This paper discusses the requirements for a successful simulation modelling study, and the steps involved in the modelling process. Advantages and disadvantages of simulation are described, and a case study highlights how not to go about it. Two other case studies, for a decline truck haulage and a block caving production operation, are used to illustrate the types of variables whose impact may be investigated. Typical results are presented to indicate the sorts of presentation styles the author has found useful for conveying study results to project sponsors. Standard spreadsheet charting techniques can be very useful in this respect, but the possibilities are limited only by the imagination of the study team.

Jan 1, 2000