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By Michael J. Miller

In the design of a modem mill, a stockpile storage system for raw and/or semi-processed ore has become almost indispensable. This paper discusses the benefits of such stockpile storage as well as the various types of belt conveyor stockpiling units available. Particular attention is given to large radial stackers since they offer the greatest flexibility. Stacker control systems and accessory equipment are briefly discussed. Various alternative reclaiming arrangements for stockpiles are reviewed and a discussion of the advantages and drawbacks of each arrangement is included.

Jan 1, 1979

This chapter contains the edited transcript of the "Gold Heap Leach Information Exchange" session that was held at the 1990 SME/AIME Annual Meeting in Salt Lake City, Utah. The exchange occurred on the afternoon of February 27, 1990. The session was intended to act as a forum for discussing some of the more prominent operating problems associated with heap leaching precious metals. The information exchange was very successful. The exchange consisted of several panelists introducing and discussing different topics, follow by a comment and question period. This transcript contains the panelists' presentations as well as comments and questions from the floor and the panel. Extraneous comments and remarks have been edited out. Some wording has been changed for clarity, but the transcript is basically an accurate account of what was said. At the end of the transcript are two papers submitted as part of the panel discussion

Jan 1, 1990

By J. A. Halt, E. Larsen

"The Sydvaranger magnetite mine closed in 1996 due to low iron ore prices and was reopened in 2009. The flowsheet has remained more or less as in the old plant, based upon two grinding steps followed by magnetic separation. The magnetite is free of harmful elements and should be attractive on the high quality market. This requires a concentrate containing less than 2% SiO2, which previously was achieved by amine flotation. Amine was preferred because it could be used with sea water. The use of amine is now restricted by the Norwegian Climate and Pollution Agency. Therefore, testwork to replace cationic with anionic flotation was done. Activation of quartz with Ca or Mg ions prior to anionic flotation was shown by research from 1960 to 1980 to be effective under laboratory conditions. The old research results have been followed up in order to make a commercial process for Sydvaranger. Calcium activation works excellently with all Sydvaranger ores, including the ones containing amphibole minerals, but Ca activation requires the high and not environmentally friendly pH of 12.4. Magnesium activation at pH 10.5 is a little more challenging, because the maximum concentration of MgOH+ is about 100 times lower than that of CaOH+. Fortunately, the major impurity in the main Bjornevatn orebody is quartz, which responds well to Mg activation. The process does not appear to depend much upon water quality, as the silicates may already be activated during grinding and magnetic separation in recycled water. The new process is environmentally friendly, as only well-known household reagents are used; oleic acid or tall oil, dextrin, sodium hydroxide and magnesium chloride at pH 10.5.IntroductionThe processing plant of Sydvaranger Gruve AS (SVG) is located in the port town of Kirkenes in the northernmost part of Norway, 10 km by rail from the high-grade deposit of Bjornevatn. This plant has been able to beneficiate magnetite ore to up to 99.5% purity, as described by Sandvik and Malvik (2001). Using the magnetic properties of the ore and making the most out of its enviable liberation characteristics, the original plant consisted of ball mills and 600-mm magnetic separators. The plant was shut down due to market conditions in 1996 but reopened in 2009."

Jan 1, 2015

By A. Rai

"This paper provides an overview of the current use of auxiliary ventilation product and the challenges with limited air quantity in dead-end entry or working face. The PVC low frictional factor, low physical constraint and minimum leakage ventilation duct was development with ""made in US and used in US"". The PVC duct development covering operational and total cost of ownership with on-going success will be presented. This paper will discuss mine sites using new PVC vent duct underground and the results from operational and technical side making a difference. INTRODUCTION The Turquoise Ridge Joint Venture (TRJV) is located in northern central Nevada, and is situated within the Basin and Range province, near the northeast end of the Osgood Mountains (see Figure 1). The TRJV mine consists of typical Carlin type- gold mineralization characterized by low strength rock of altered limestone’s, siltstones, and mudstones. The weak nature of the ground facilitates the underhand cut and fill mining methods [3].Mining Method; Underhand cut and fill : The mine uses underhand cut and fill method which has 12’x12’ top cuts and several different size undercuts. The ore body is accessed off of a secondary development heading, utilizing a heading with a cross section of 14W x 14H or 15W x 16H configuration. In the wider and more massive zones, two headings in a production panel may be worked at any one time. Drift round lengths are determined by the type of drilling machine being used. An example of a typical topcut and associated undercut layout is shown in Figure 2. SECONDARY / AUXILIARY VENTILATION IN UNUNDERGROUND METAL MINES The auxiliary ventilation system provides the required air volumes at the face of dead-end developments and production workings, which in many cases may be considered as the primary method of assuring that the air quantity and quality standards in these working areas are satisfied. The Auxiliary fans and ducting systems are usually the primary means of delivering the required air volumes to the face of dead-end developments and production workings. Both centrifugal and axial-flow fans are used in underground auxiliary ventilation systems, usually electric powered. The internally direct driven axial-flow fans tend to be more popular because of their compactness and adaptability to staging. The most commonly used materials for ridged tubing are coated steel, alloyed steel, fiberglass and resin. Flexible (collapsible) ventilation tubing is also used and is usually made from neoprene-coated or nylon material. To add stiffness and reduce collapsibility these fabric ducts can be formed over a steel spring frame. A very important factor in the design of an auxiliary ventilation system is to minimize leakage and reduce the frictional pressure losses along the auxiliary ducting systems by minimizing their friction factors (K)."

Jan 1, 2015

By J. Korak

Belt conveyor systems, long the standard transportation technique in soft-rock open-pit applications, are encountering growing interest in the hard-rock open-pit sector as economic factors force companies to seek an alternative to costly truck haulage. A general review of mine conveyor systems is followed by detailed analysis of the mobile and semi-mobile in-pit crushing plant essential to successful use of mine conveyors. A final section presents case studies of three crusher-conveyor systems handling overburden, copper ore and granite.

Jan 1, 1985

By S. D. F. Rocha, A. L. A. SANTOS, E. M. A. BECHELENI, R. M. Papini, P. R. M. Viana, F. P. C. Silvas

The kinetics of atmospheric sulfuric acid leaching from a Brazilian nickel laterite ore was assessed using distinct reducing agents and ore mineralogy. This transitional ore contains 1.63% Ni distributed as 1.27% in coarse size (− 500 + 150 μm), mainly as silicates (lizardite and chlorite—28.6%), and 2.06%in the fines fraction (− 75 μm), mainly as iron oxy-hydroxides (goethite and hematite—49%). The effects of temperature, acid concentration, reducing reagent type, and concentration were evaluated. The − 75 μm fraction limited the leaching efficiency and the use of reducing media with thiosulfate improved leaching and Ni-Fe selectivity. However, at constant Eh of 626–743 mV and a pH range between 0.2 and 1.1, no substantial rise in metals extraction, except for Co and Mn, has been observed. In order to determine the process control at 95 °C, two regions in the extraction curves were used in combination with the shrinking core model. Control by porous diffusion was observed and the kinetic constant was found to be in the order kFe<kNi<kMn<kCo<kMg for atmospheric leaching without Eh control. In reducing media for the first 15 min of leaching, the kinetic constant was found to be kFe<kNi<kMg≅kCo<kMn as derived from Ni disseminated into iron oxides structures.

Oct 7, 2020

By R. Houot, C. Leschevin, G. Gillet

In mineral processing, conventional magnetic separators are equipped with traditional magnetic circuits (magnetic iron yoke with copper coils or iron-clad solenoid) that develop magnetic fields of less than 2 T&apos;. For minerals of low magnetic susceptibility, use of these circuits has many disadvantages. Only a separator with a superconducting magnet can contribute to solving the problems and produce a high magnetic field. This paper presents and describes a magnetic separator having a superconducting magnet with integrated closed circuit for helium liquefaction. The system generator and maintenance are simplified by extensive automation realized by a versatile program- mable autocontrol unit. A comparative study if the results on concentration and purification of different raw materials with the new and with conventional separators is described.

Jan 1, 1987

By J. J. Harrington

Manufacture and mixing of flotation reagents at the mill site provides an economic and convenient method of maintaining a continuous and fresh supply of reagents for concentrator operations. Kennecott Copper Corporation has designed and built a Reagent Mixing Facility which incorporates new ideas in construction and fail-safe operation at its Nevada Mines Division concentrator. Highly sophisticated automation and instrumentation techniques are combined with safety procedures and equipment that meet and exceed all Federal and State safety requirements. Installation of the facility has minimized hazardous working conditions for the operator, isolated reagent preparation from production personnel and equipment, and reduced the time required for reagent preparation from three shifts to one shift per day.

Jan 1, 1976

By Jerry M. Whiting

Greater awareness of the increasing need to develop supplementary energy sources is accelerating us towards many basic decisions regarding future utilization of mined energy materials -- uranium, coal, oil sands and oil shale. The latter material comprises a major potential source of oil which will require creation of unusually large and low-cost underground mining systems. In this paper, the author briefly outlines and analyzes several of the factors which continue to provide the somewhat unique character of oil shale nine planning and mine operation.

Jan 1, 1974

By H. Fayed

Two-phase (water and air) flow in a self-aspirated WEMCO flotation machine has been investigated using computational fluid dynamics (CFD). The geometric model is a replica of a 300 m3 cell. A 72-degree sector containing two blades of the ten-blade rotor has been modeled and periodic boundary conditions are applied in the circumferential direction. Simulation of a sector of the machine allows acceptable resolution of the mean flow field using 4x106 grid points. The flow is modeled by Euler-Euler approach, and transport equations are solved using a commercial software ANSYS-CFX5 [1]. Unsteady simulations have been performed. In a self-aspirated machine, airflow rate is not known a prior; it is an output from the CFD simulation. Uniform mean bubble diameter of 0.7 mm has been specified as an input for the simulation. Air flow rate and power consumption have been monitored with time, and results indicate a stable operation. Air volume fraction contours and velocity field in different regions of the machine are presented and discussed.

Feb 27, 2013

By Linda D. Raedeke

The main platinum-group metal (PGM) deposit in the Stillwater Complex is associated with a stratiform zone formed by magma mixing. In general, the intrusion is a large, layered body of Archean age which formed by repeated magmatic injections in- to a single, large, hypabyssal magma chamber. The Complex is broadly divided into the lower Ultramafic series of olivine ± orthopyroxene rocks (1000-2000 m thick) and the upper Banded series of predominantly plagioclase-rich rocks (24500 m thick). The latter is further divided into Lower, Middle, and Up- per Banded zones. The Ultramafic series, plus most of the Lower and Upper Banded zones formed from repeated injections of an olivine-saturated magma, the rocks accumulating from the floor upward with a crystallization order of olivine, or- thopyroxene, plagioclase, clinopyroxene. The olivine-bearing subzones of the Middle Banded zone formed predominantly from a magma which crystallized in the sequence plagioclase, olivine, clinopyroxene. Olivine-bearing subzone I, with which the PGM mineralization is associated, occurs generally -400 m above the Ultramafic series-Banded series contact. Ore grade mineralization is usually found in plagioclase or plagioclase-olivine cumulates. The platinum-group elements are associated with disseminated base-metal sulfides dominated by the assemblage, pyrrhotite-chalcopyrite-pentlandite. Olivine-bearing subzone I marks an interruption in the crystallization sequence of the Lower Banded zone, with the reappearance of cumulus olivine and an associated change of the crystallization sequence. These changes indicate the addition and mixing of a secondary magma of the same composition as that which later dominated in the formation of the Middle Banded zone. Characteristics associated with mixing include laterally discontinuous but well-developed layers, xenoliths of ultramafic rocks, and sedimentary-type structures such as slum- ping and graded layering. The influx of new magma caused sulfide saturation by one or more of several chemical changes including addition of sulfur, decrease in oxygen fugacity, decrease in FeO, or increase in SiO2. Once an immiscible sulfide liquid was formed, platinum-group elements were scavenged from the magma by the sulfide liquid and segregated.

Jan 1, 2013

By N. Zouridakis

Radon is an established lung carcinogen and remains the most important environmental radiation exposure. It was estimated that inhalation of radon and its short-lived decay products accounts on average for about one half of the effective dose equivalent from all natural sources of radiation. Radon contained in household water can transferred into room air as a result of agitation or heating. An indoor air concentration of 400 Bq/m3 is obtained if the radon concentration in household water is 4 kBq/L. A typical concentration of radon in ground water is about 1000 times lower than this concentration but sometime elevated concentrations of some kBq/L in ground water are reported. In this work a Liquid Scintillation counting system is used to obtain fast and accurate measurements of radon (222Rn) in water samples from Argolida, Greece.

Jan 1, 2007

By R. Harris, M. Misra

Column flotation technology has a demonstrated potential for recovering clean coal from high-ash waste fines. The effect of different variables such as air flow rate, frother addition, depressant addition, percent solids and particle size on the quality of separation are discussed. Results indicate that air flow rate and depressant addition are the important variables which control the selectivity in the flotation of fine coal in a column cell. Separation efficiency achieved with column cells is significantly better than that with conventional flotation cells. Under appropriate experimental conditions with a deep column, more than 80 percent coal can be recovered in the concentrate containing 10 percent ash from waste fines containing over 60 percent ash.

Jan 1, 1988

By O. H. Rostad

The importance of geology in ore reserve estimation has been stated by several authors. King et, a1 (1982) reported that the geological factor was the key deficiency where serious weaknesses in ore reserve estimation appeared, especially in grade. The foundation for a successful mining operation is an ore reserve estimate that neither overstates nor understates the true situation as to tonnage and grade. Overestimation of reserves can have devastating economic results. Overestimation of tonnage may lead to wasting money on an overbuilt plant or worse yet, if grade is seriously overestimated also, to undertaking an operation that is doomed to economic failure from the outset. Understated ore reserves can result in building a plant that is smaller than optimum which may result in higher unit costs. At worst, understated tonnage of ore reserves can result in a missed opportunity for a profitable operation. Failure of the ore reserve estimator to properly take into account all geologic and allied factors pertaining to the deposit can result in an ore reserve estimate that is overstated either as to tonnage or grade or both. This paper will focus on these factors and will not discuss rules about distances above or below a drift that should be given a classification of proven or probable, etc. Each deposit has its own particular characteristics which often require modification of general rules for defining limits of proven and probable ore blocks that work satisfactorily in another deposit. A number of references are included which discuss some of these problems. Definitions of ore reserve classifications and an illustration are given in the Appendix.

Jan 1, 1985

By Malcolm J. A. Swallow

In June 1997, Mount Polley Mining Corp., a division of Imperial Metals Corp., completed an 18-kt/d (20,000 stpd) gold-copper mine in central British Columbia. Fast-track construction and extensive off-site construction were combined with an aggressive project schedule to build the mine in one year. This was three months ahead of schedule and 7% below the original budgeted cost of C$123.5 million (US$86 million). The Mount Polley Mine was the first of a crop of new open-pit mines in British Columbia. The Mount Polley deposit has been explored since the mid-1960s when it was known as the Cariboo Bell property. From 1988, Imperial Metals completed drilling and metallurgical testing on the deposit. This led to a positive feasibility study and the issuing of a Mine Development Certificate in 1991. The project was later shelved due to falling metals prices and the strength of the Canadian dollar. In late 1994, Imperial merged with Bethlehem Resources Corp., bringing a strong project team to the company. The deposit was then re-evaluated, ore reserves revised and additional metallurgical testing was performed. The result was a revised project plan. It indi¬cated that a financially feasible gold-copper mining op¬eration could be constructed at Mount Polley operat¬ing at 18 kt/d (20,000 stpd). In May 1996, an agreement was reached with Sumitomo to jointly fund and develop the project. By early 1996, final plans and permits were being prepared for construction, scheduled to begin in June 1.996. On-site work commenced on May 28th, 1996 following lifting of the road restrictions. Mount Polley Mining acted as its own project manager. Construction was completed in June 1997. Plant runup took place in July and full production began in August. Through the use of off-site construction and the careful selection of contractors who cooperated to complete some 12 major contracts, it was possible to reduce the mine and mill construction time from 16 to 13 months. Off-site construction for all possible aspects of the work and the use of used milling equipment allowed significant savings in overall capital costs of construction. Total costs for the mine, mill and tailings dam equated to C$6,100/t/d of throughput. The mill design incorporates several innovative features that will aid maintenance and allow flexibility of operation. The operation is designed as a closed system and meets the latest environmental standards. Concentrate is shipped by truck to the port of Vancouver. Revenues for the mine come from the mine&apos;s production of about 3.1 t/a (100,000 oz/year) of gold and 10.8 kt/a (24 million lbs/year) of copper during the first four years of the 12-year mine life.

Jan 1, 1998

By Hamid Mazouz, Mohammed Hakkar, Rim Jouraiphy, Fatima Ezzahra Arhouni, Ahmed Mahrou, Aziz Boukhair, Mohammed Fahad

The wet process is the most commonly used worldwide for phosphoric acid (PA) production, in which phosphate rock (PR) is reacted with strong acid mainly sulfuric acid. This work aims on studying the rare earth elements (REEs) distribution during the production of phosphoric acid using different qualities of phosphate through various industrial technologies. At the onset of this work, the process started with 12 samples of PR, PA, and phosphogypsum (PG) being taken simultaneously from two different Moroccan basins (Ouled Abdoun mine represented by K09 and Gantour mine depicted by G10, G20, BG) and various production lines at two processing platforms (Jorf Lasfar and Safi). Afterward, collected samples were prepared and analyzed for REE characterization using an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Based on the analysis results, a transfer factor ( TFX) was introduced with the aim of gauging the REE distribution between PA and PG. The results showed that the total concentration of REEs in different phosphate qualities ranged from 411 to 631 ppm; the major part of this concentration was attributed to the four elements: Y, La, Ce, and Nd which constitute more than 77%. The REE distribution between PA and PG depends on neither the phosphate quality nor the industrial technology used since that the distribution results showed that 55 up to 66% of the initial REEs in phosphate rock ended up in the PG. The behavior of each REE was common except for the element scandium, which transferred mainly to the phosphoric acid.

Nov 3, 2021

By T. R. Kostecki, A. J. S. Spearing, A. Hyett, M. Gadde

Ground control research for underground coal mining has progressed significantly over the past several decades. With this progression, and the ability to analyze and model underground conditions, underground working conditions have significantly improved. In order to progress further, the behavior of roof support must be known and be adequately modeled, such that models can be used for support design under different geological and mining conditions. This paper discusses the results from a research project funded by the U.S. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and undertaken by Southern Illinois University Carbondale and Peabody Energy. The research involved installation of active and passive instrumented bolts in mines, recording relevant in situ data and then attempting to model the behavior of the bolts as mining progressed. Such calibrated models could aid in design of roof supports under different geological and mining layouts and thus, hopefully, further improve rock related safety.

Jan 1, 2012

By James B. Cathcart

Marine phosphorite deposits occur in Brazil, in the Bambui Group of late Precambrian or Early Cambrian age. The phosphorite is laminated, isoclinally folded, and is composed of black, elongated apatite pellets and quartz grains cemented by quartz and muscovite. Abundant, narrow quartz veinlets cut through the rock at right angles to the elongation direction of the pellets. The phosphorite is 0 to 80 meters thick and contains 5 to 30 percent P205. The deposit is elongate towards the northeast, and the central, thickest, and richest part is bounded by faults. Measured reserves are about 250 million tonnes that average about 13 percent P205. Preliminary testing indicates that grinding, scrubbing, and desliming will produce a material usable for fertilizer manufacture at a cost competitive with imported phosphate fertilizers.

Jan 1, 1977

By T. Y. Yan

A method has been developed to remove calcite from the leaching circuit in the uranium in situ leaching system. The process involves injecting the leachate and a pH control agent tangentially into an inverted cone reactor containing calcite seed catalyst. The leachate can be treated at high throughput to obtain clear effluent containing 5 ppm or lower Ca. Both lime and ammonia are effective pH control agents and consumed according to stoichiometry.

Jan 1, 1983

By Jessica M. Wempen, Dallan J. Coons, Bailey S. Simmons, Michael K. McCarter

Gate-road yield pillars are subject to increases in stress as the longwall face advances toward the pillars. Increases in pillar stress can be inferred by measuring roof/floor convergence surrounding the pillar. This paper presents a case study of convergence measurements surrounding a two-entry gate-road yield pillar in the head gate of a coal mine. Convergence was measured over a six-month period, as the longwall face approached and passed the pillar. Measurements were collected at eight locations surrounding the pillar: four locations in the travelway and four locations in the beltway. In addition to convergence stations, the pillar was instrumented with an array of seismometers. In future analysis, convergence measurements will be compared to seismic interpretations. This study reports on the geology and geometry of the longwall panel, the roof and rib support, the change in convergence over time, and the physical properties of coal and parting. Additionally, the convergence measurements are compared to pillar safety factor distributions derived from a finite element model. The convergence measurements contribute to the knowledge of when yield pillar abutment loading, caused by the encroaching longwall, is first detected. Knowing when abutment loading begins to yield the pillars can help define when standing secondary roof supports are required for head gate entry support.