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By Alfonso W. Ovalle

INTRODUCTION The block-caving mining method is one of the most economical ways existing today to extract ore from nature. It is undoubtedly the least costly of the underground systems and moreover it compares favorably to open-pit mining. In addition to its low cost characteristic, the block-caving mining method permits a great extraction volume as can be exemplified by El Teniente's output capacity of over 22 million tons of ore per year. These characteristics of block-caving give assurance that, even though it is a very old mining system, it will be a good answer to the many future large massive low ore grade deposits to come and a1 so to rep1 ace open-pi t mining as such operations get deeper with higher stripping ratios. These are the reasons that induce further study of block-caving. In this paper block-caving at El Teniente is analyzed with due consideration to the major problems that this mine will encounter. Emphasis is given to the factors influencing the mining of soft ore which accounts for most of the ore to be extracted in the next ten years. A separate paper is devoted to a major modification introduced to block-caving hard primary ore at El Teniente by means of LHD equipment extraction. DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT MINING Ore Production and Flow Over 62.000 tons per day of ore are extracted 359 days per year at the El Teniente Mine. The Teniente 8 train haulage level at 1.983 m takes 29.000 tons daily to the Col6n Concentrator. Two trains make the 8 km haul with 16 cars per train. Car capacity is 90 tons. The Teniente 5 train haulage level 298 m above takes 33.000 t per day to the old Sewell Concentrator. Ore is produced from three production areas in two different levels. The so called North Mine produces 42.000 tons daily from the Teniente 4 level 65 m above the Teniente 5 haulage level. The Central Mine produces 1.000 tons from the first hard rock block caved at the Te- niente 4 level. The combined 43.000 tons per day production is sent through inclined 2 m dia- meter raises to the Teniente 5 haul age level , where 33.000 tons are taken 2.5 km to the Sewell Concentrator and 9.000 tons are hauled 0.5 km to a 5 m diameter vertical ore pass which sends ore to Teniente 8. The haulage is by 7 trains, 15 gabble-bottom cars per train. Car capacity is 20 tons. The so called South Mine produces 19.000 tons per day from the Teniente 1 level 645 m above the Teniente 8 haulage level. Ore is transferred by 2 m diameter inclined raises to the Ten 1 Retram level 22 m below, where 5 trains with 20 Sandfor Day cars per train, 8 tons capacity per car, haul the ore 1.5 km to two vertical 5 m diameter ore passes which connect to Ten 8. Starting in 1982 the Central Mine will in- crease production to 6.000 tons per day. An in- dependent loop haulage system will start operat- ing at the Teniente 5 level to feed a new under- ground 1.372 mm (54 in.) gyratory crusher which will send minus 152 mm ore (9 in.) to Teniente 8. In two or three years time the North Mine will only feed the 33.000 tons to the Sewel 1 Concentrator with its old Teniente 5 haulage system. The Col6n Concentrator will be fed from the Central and South Mines. Figure 1 shows the transfer systems and ore flows. The Ore Body In plan view at the Teniente 4 level the ore body has a kidney shape 1.800 m long and between 400 to 700 m wide. The north-eastern section of the ore body was washed away by the Teniente River. At the Sub 5 Level, 125 m below Teniente 4, the mineralization completely surrounds the circular 1.000 m diameter steep-sided barren breccia pipe (Braden pipe) . The ore body rock is 73% andesite, 14% diori te, 13% dacite and 6% mineralized breccia. Most of this ore is secondary enrichment sulfides which apart from the dacite is strongly fractured being chal cocite, cove1ine , bornite and

Jan 1, 1981

By AIME AIME

THE petroleum economics session," held on Wednesday morning, Feb. 20, 1929, presided over by Campbell Osborn, chairman, proved to be of un- usual interest and resulted in serious and constructive discussion of the papers presented. The first paper on the program, "Gasoline Economics and Refinery Operation," was by H. J. Struth, petroleum economist of the Gulf Publishing Co., Houston, Tex. While this paper was intended to cover the re- finery situation, it also presented the author's reasons for believing that the oil producer should give cognizance to gasoline demand as a most reliable barometer by which to parallel the production of crude petroleum. The discussion which followed brought out some interesting points in connection with the immediate outlook for the industry as a whole during the present year. Some advanced the opinion that, regardless of the out- come of proration efforts, the refiner is in a position to conduct his operations on a reasonably profitable basis, provided that he exercises control over them. This would mean running less crude and resorting to wider utilization of cracking to produce the gasoline demand. Thus, if the refiner uses diligent care in scheduling his still runs, the producer will be obliged to carry over a large stock of crude this year, unless he is able to keep production below the limits prescribed by the demand for gasoline.

Jan 1, 1929

By J. E. Tobey, David R. Mitchell, J. H. Kerrick

DETAILED knowledge of purchase specifications established by coal consumers is essential to the successful design and operation of a coal-preparation plant. ANTHRACITE Specifications should be considered by both the consumer and the producer as guide posts outlining a certain path for both to follow. Plants differ, therefore specifications must differ to meet the varied requirements. Specifications are not of themselves a "cure all" or an assurance of complete satisfaction in fuel utilization. Specifications should not be regarded as a license to engage in an orgy of buying any and all coals that may happen to fall within their limits. This would lead to the indiscriminate mixing of coals which may vary in their burning characteristics. Different coals of equal grade tend to be individualistic in their burning characteristics. Rather, specifications should be used to help simplify coal selection, to reduce the actual number of coals used over a given period; in other words, to have a stabilizing influence on coal or customer turnover. In the final analysis, the use of too many coals per year in a plant is costly to both the consumer and the producer. Too many sources usually result in higher operating and maintenance costs for the consumer and higher sales costs for the producer. Finally, the statement included in the report accompanying the com¬prehensive Coal Selection Charts prepared by the Coal Committee of the National Association of Purchasing Agents, and released in 1938, is significant. This Committee worked diligently for a period of 15 years seeking to find a scientific and reliable method for selecting coals. The two following paragraphs are quoted from its report: More important is the fact that no ready-made classification or set of specifications can possibly replace the judgment and resourcefulness of an experienced combustion engineer or fuel technologist, nor the usual need for full scale plant tests under the exact conditions of use before a final decision is made ...

Jan 1, 1943

By Zárate G. E.

Practical and statistical considerations concerned with the sampling, sample preparation and chemical analysis of precious metal ores are reviewed. The principal requirements related with the characteristics of sample cutter, sample preparation, equipment and methods are discussed. The main errors introduced in the different stages of the sampling systems are defined. The application of statistical techniques to evaluate these errors to determine the ore grade variation and to design the number of increments needed to get an accurate assay are presented. Finally, results obtained with the application of this method to gold and silver ores are analyzed and some recommendations are given.

Jan 1, 1984

By R. Lee-Aston

HALLOWAY mine of Tennessee Copper Co. at Copperhill, Tenn., has been under development for several years. It has two shafts, the A shaft, 1336 ft deep from the surface to the 16 level, and the B shaft, lying 500 ft to the southeast and extending 1385 ft deep from the 10 level down to the 24 level. A section through the two shafts, Fig. 1, shows the development work entailed by the proposal and the area involved. The Problem: For operational reasons it was necessary to extend the B shaft from the 10 level to surface, and the pilot hole and raising method was chosen. This method had been used to extend the Company's Boyd manshaft from the 10 to the 14 level in 1954, but no satisfactory hole surveying method had been employed. In that instance, when the hole was located it was found to be about 8 ft from its calculated position. The success of this shaft extension method lies in the ability to keep the pilot hole within the proposed shaft diameter for nearly the entire length. The approximate 670 ft of extension distance in one hole was thought to be excessive because of deflection encountered locally in other core drilling. Since a connection between the two shafts, intermediate between the surface and the 10 level, would be required at some future date, the pilot hole drilling was done in two sections. This intermediate level was fixed at the 6 level and distances became 470 ft from surface to the 6 level and 230 ft from the 6 to the 10 level. A rock pentice of 25 ft was left temporarily in place just above the 10 level.

Jan 3, 1958

By G. A. Reinhardt, H. J. Cutler

ThE Youngstown Sheet & Tube Co. has produced a large tonnage of 0.35 to 0.45 carbon forging steel, the acceptance of which was based on the physical properties of test specimens obtained by forging the original 5 3/4-in. (14.5 cm.) square bloom to a 3/4-in. (1.9 cm.) round. Annealed and tempered specimens were required. The test bars were annealed by heating from 900" to 950' C. and cooling slowly in mica. The test bars were tempered by heating to 825' to 875" C., quenching in water, and drawing to 515" to 535" C. Immediately after heat treatment, the test pieces were machined to a diameter of 0.534 in. (1.38 cm.) and tested. Very good physical properties were obtained and no difficulty was experienced in meeting the specifications called for. UlTimate Strength.. Elongation, Lb. pER Sq. In. PEE Cent.. in 4 In. Not LeEs Than Annealed specimens.............. 78,230 to 92,450. 18 Tempered...................... 120,000 to 149,350 9 After experience on this material, production of slightly higher carbon forging steel was started. The method of testing this material required that test blooms be either normalized or annealed. The normalizing consisted in heating to 850" to 900" C. and cooling in still air; the annealing, in heating to 850" to 900" C. and cooling in the furnace or in mica. From the treated bloom, the test pieces were taken either by core drilling or by sawing from points midway between the edges and the intersection of the diagonals. The cores or blocks were turned to a standard 2-in. test piece with a diameter of 0.564 in. and tested without further treatment. The physical requirements of the test pieces were: yield point, pounds per square inch minimum, 44,800; ultimate strength, pounds per square inch, 89,600 to 112,000; elongation, per cent. in 2 in. not less than 17. Difficulty was encountered as soon as work on this material was started. Many precautions and refinements were instituted but it was found very difficult to secure the required elongation.

Jan 1, 1920

By Allen J. Johnson

Anthracite coals have been divided into three groups: (I) meta-anthracite, a high-carbon coal that is usually very slow to kindle and difficult to burn, at least on conventional equipment; (2) anthracite, a high-carbon low-volatile coal of widely accepted value as both a domestic and industrial fuel; and (3) semianthracite, a coal lying between anthracite and bituminous coal in carbon and volatile content, and also, generally speaking, in burning characteristics. Anthracite Groupings The technical differentiation between these groups, as defined by the A.S.A.-A.S.T.M. Sectional Committee on the Classification of Coals, is as shown in Table I. Tables 2 and 3 show typical analyses of anthracites and semianthracites and Figs. I to 3 show graphically the range of analytical samples. Table 4 shows the commercial sizes of coals. Meta-anthracite and Graphitic Anthracite Typical analyses from virtually every field in the United States indicate that there are few if any extensive deposits of meta-anthracite. Some of the anthracites of Rhode Island contain almost negligible quantities of volatile and would thus fall into the meta-anthracite grouping on a basis of analyses alone. However, their other characteristics indicate that it is doubtful whether they should be considered as fuels at all, but rather as graphite. In fact, this material is being mined for use as foundry facings and furnace linings.4 A typical analysis of Fenners Lodge graphite,4 from Rhode Island, is: graphitic carbon, 55.9 per cent; silica (ash), 40.6; sulphur, 1.6; moisture, 1.9; volatile, o. Other Rhode Island coals possess percentages of volatile that would throw them into the normal anthracite rather than the meta-anthracite class. However, this "volatile" is nearly all noncombustible,3,4 being composed almost entirely of carbon dioxide and inert gases, therefore its definition as volatile is open to discussion, leaving the exact classification of the fuel a moot question. One factor is certain, Rhode Island coal is so different from nor-mal anthracite in both analysis and burning characteristics that it should have a

Jan 1, 1944

By Allen J. Johnson

Anthracite coals have been divided into three groups: (I) meta-anthracite, a high-carbon coal that is usually very slow to kindle and difficult to burn, at least on conventional equipment; (2) anthracite, a high-carbon low-volatile coal of widely accepted value as both a domestic and industrial fuel; and (3) semianthracite, a coal lying between anthracite and bituminous coal in carbon and volatile content, and also, generally speaking, in burning characteristics. Anthracite Groupings The technical differentiation between these groups, as defined by the A.S.A.-A.S.T.M. Sectional Committee on the Classification of Coals, is as shown in Table I. Tables 2 and 3 show typical analyses of anthracites and semianthracites and Figs. I to 3 show graphically the range of analytical samples. Table 4 shows the commercial sizes of coals. Meta-anthracite and Graphitic Anthracite Typical analyses from virtually every field in the United States indicate that there are few if any extensive deposits of meta-anthracite. Some of the anthracites of Rhode Island contain almost negligible quantities of volatile and would thus fall into the meta-anthracite grouping on a basis of analyses alone. However, their other characteristics indicate that it is doubtful whether they should be considered as fuels at all, but rather as graphite. In fact, this material is being mined for use as foundry facings and furnace linings.4 A typical analysis of Fenners Lodge graphite,4 from Rhode Island, is: graphitic carbon, 55.9 per cent; silica (ash), 40.6; sulphur, 1.6; moisture, 1.9; volatile, o. Other Rhode Island coals possess percentages of volatile that would throw them into the normal anthracite rather than the meta-anthracite class. However, this "volatile" is nearly all noncombustible,3,4 being composed almost entirely of carbon dioxide and inert gases, therefore its definition as volatile is open to discussion, leaving the exact classification of the fuel a moot question. One factor is certain, Rhode Island coal is so different from nor-mal anthracite in both analysis and burning characteristics that it should have a

Jan 1, 1944

By Charles L. Harness

STRONTIUM is an essential constituent of celestite (strontium sulphate), of the rarer strontianite (strontium carbonate), and of a few very rare minerals. Celestite is the chief ore but strontianite is more valued except for making the purest strontium salts, because of its ease of processing. The public knows strontium mainly as the source of the red flame in fireworks but it has many other uses. PROPERTIES The celestite of commerce is a massive mineral of varying texture: coarsely crystalline, fibrous, bladed, very fine grained or earthy. The color varies greatly with the nature of the impurities but the purer specimens are light blue (Latin, caelum, sky) or white. The strontianite of commerce is a massive mineral, more or less coarsely crystalline. The color varies with the impurities. Distinctive characteristics are effervescence with acids, density (3.68 to 3.71), and crimson strontium flame. A typical British celestite before World War II analyzed: SrSO4, 96.55 pct; SrCO3, 0.17; BaSO4, 0.25; CaSO4, 0.54; MgCO3, 0.15; R20,, 0.90; Si02, 1.38.10 A German strontianite analyzed: SrCO3, 90.9 pct; CaCO3, 7.5; BaCO3, 0.1; Fe2O3, 0.05; A1203, 0.1; SiO2, 0.04; S, 0.1; P, 0.005.10 ORIGIN AND MODE OF OCCURRENCE According to Clarke,9 strontia forms about 0.02 pct of the crust of the earth and is present in most igneous rocks, but in smaller quantities than barium. Under certain conditions, large masses of celestite are deposited from sea water with anhydrite. The presence of large amounts of celestite in some saline deposits and its absence in others suggests that the deposition of celestite depends on whether certain as yet undetermined concentrations of sulphate and chloride ions are reached in the brines. The most extensive of these sedimentary deposits are those of the Keuper (Triassic) in England, of the Zechstein (Permian) in Germany, and of various Cretaceous formations in Texas, Arkansas, and Utah. Of the deposits of southeastern California and western Arizona,

Jan 1, 1949

By Walter S. Weeks

CONFUSION appears to exist in the discussions of fan testing because engineers do not agree on what energy should be credited to the fan in certain cases, and because certain terms that are used in the discussions seem to have double meanings. The purpose of this paper, therefore, is to discuss the useful energy that should be credited to the fan and the methods of determining this energy, and to suggest changes in nomenclature for the sake of clearness. The instruments commonly used in the measurement of fan pressures are the manometer, the static tube, and the impact tube. The static tube is a tube with small pinholes in it. When connected to one leg of the manometer and placed in the air current with the holes facing at right angles to the direction of the current, this tube causes the manometer to register the static pressure, unaffected by the impact of the air. The impact tube is a tube with an opening that faces the air current. When connected to one leg of the manometer, this tube causes the manometer to register a pressure which is the static pressure modified by the impact of the flowing' air on the end of the tube. If the static tube is connected to one leg of the manometer and the impact tube to the other leg, and both instruments are inserted close together in the air current, the static pressure is eliminated and the manometer registers the impact pressure. The efficiency of a fan is the percentage of the expended power utilized in useful work. The items to be included as useful work are a matter of convention, and as the conventions are not universal I feel that the matter is open to discussion.

Jan 1, 1929

By GILBERT E. SEIL

GREAT advances in the preparation of ores for reduction to ferro-alloys have been made, although standard methods of reduction have been continued at most plants. Efficiencies, yields per furnace, and energy requirements per ton are generally better than previously attained. The advantages of sizing and conditioning of ore, fluxing stone, and coke have been realized. Conditioning varies from drying the furnace burden to chemical rearrangements to facilitate reduction reactions and sometimes to furnish some of the energy required for the reaction before the burden reaches the furnace. During the war period it is impossible to discuss in detail many of the advances made. They are subjects for postwar papers. However, the new procedures mentioned in the following paragraphs are indicative of the work already done and in progress.

Jan 1, 1944

By CARLE R. HAYWARDC

BEFORE discussing this subject it is necessary to define somewhat the meaning of the tern metallurgical.. When I was a student at M. I. T. ore-dressing was not thought of as metallurgy in any sense of the word, but it was considered as more closely allied to mining, enabling the miner to market an otherwise unmarketable product, or at least to market it to better advantage. Progress in ore-dressing has gradually allied it more closely with smelting, for at present the raw material received by the smelter is predominantly concentrates and smelting practice has been profoundly affected by the products of the concentrating mill. It is not surprising therefore that in many schools ore-dressing is frankly considered as metallurgy and although there may be some dissenting opinions it will be considered as such in this discussion. Twenty-five years ago at M. I. T. metallography was taught in a few optional lectures. This subject has developed rapidly and been expanded into the new and increasingly important field of physical metallurgy. To many metallurgists the -term metallurgy means only physical metallurgy. They know little or nothing about smelting and leaching and even less about ore-dressing. Having then broadened the scope of the term metal¬lurgy to cover ore-dressing, smelting, leaching and phys-

Jan 1, 1930

The Committee on Nominations begs to submit the following names as its nominees for the respective offices indicated: For President, SIDNEY J. JENNINGS, New York. For Vice-Presidents, WALTER H. ALDRIDGE, New York; MARK L. REQUA, San Francisco. For Directors, J. E. JOHNSON, JR., New York; ALLEN H. ROGERS, Boston; HOWARD N. EAVENSON, West Virginia; ROBERT M. RAYMOND New York; WILLET G. MILLER, Canada.

Jan 12, 1916

By H. Evans, L. A. Hunt

In the pellet-producing industry it is sometimes claimed that "The pellets are made in the concentrator," or that "The key to good pellets is in the balling operation." However, one claim is generally agreed on: If you can put in, on, and through the indurating furnace a good green ball of Proper size and adequate strength to withstand the handling, load, dehydration, and thermal shock until it is properly heat-hardened, you will have the pellet product you desire-that is, a "competent" green ball. The strength requirements that enable a competent green ball to withstand the environment of the indurating furnace are usually less restrictive than those for transporting the green ball from its source of production to the furnace. Experience has shown that different types of material may have different balling characteristics which may impose limitations on the quality of the green ball that can easily be produced under normal conditions. Therefore, if a specific material will produce a green ball that meets the physical requirements for competency in the furnace, but not for handling or transportation, various practices must be instituted to overcome this deficiency. In other words, if a normal handling system is too rigorous for the green balls that can be produced under standard conditions, then "handling with care" should be tried.

Jan 5, 1967

By John A. Gann

THE Iron and Steel Division has shared in the general increased activity of the industry. The fall meeting at Chicago was not only well attended but particularly characterized by the virility and scope of the discussions at the various sessions. The program for the February meeting indicates a similar interest in technological developments. The Blast-Furnace Committee continues to have the hearty support of the industry with discussions of such a nature as to be of real help to the operator as well ass the technologist. The work of the Open-Hearth Committee continues to be outstanding, with ever increasing attendance and ever mounting interest in the meetings. Formation of a conference on the physical chemistry of steelmaking has given those interested in this phase of work an organization allowing the same

Jan 1, 1936

By I. D. Hagar

WHEN the history of American business during these momentous war years is written, an absorbing chapter will be devoted to the Maclntyre Development, in northern New York. It will tell of a timely mining project, deep in the wilds of the Adirondacks, blasted into being by Axis torpedoes. It will recount the labors of 1500 engineers and workmen, miles from a highway, rail line, or power source, who built a huge enterprise in a few short months' time. And it will list these major contributions to the war effort: more than a quarter million tons per year of ilmenite, source of titanium dioxide-man's most opaque white pigment-to be used in paints for warships, tanks, guns, planes and the plants that build them; as a co-product, over 500,000 tons each year of magnetite-an important type of iron ore- to help feed the cavernous maw of America's wartime steel industry.

Jan 1, 1942

For the year ending February, 1917 PRESIDENT L. D. RICKETTS,1 NEW YORK, N. Y PAST PRESIDENTS BENJAMIN B. THAYER 1 NEW YORK, N. Y. WILLIAM L. SAUNDERS,2 NEW YORK, N. Y. FIRST VICE-PRESIDENT SIDNEY J. JENNINGS,1 NEW YORK, N. Y. TREASURER GEORGE C. STONE,1 NEW YORK, N. Y. SECRETARY EMERITUS ROSSITER W. RAYMOND, NEW YORK, N. Y SECRETARY BRADLEY STOUGHTON NEW YORK, N. Y.

Jan 10, 1916

For the year ending February, 1917 PRESIDENT L. D. RICKETTS,1 NEW YORK, N. Y. PAST PRESIDENTS BENJAMIN B. THAYER,1 NEW YORK, N. Y. WILLIAM L. SAUNDERS,2 NEW YORK, N. Y. FIRST VICE-PRESIDENT SIDNEY J. JENNINGS1 NEW YORK, N. Y. TREASURER GEORGE C. STONE,1 NEW YORK, N. Y. SECRETARY EMERITUS ROSSITER W. RAYMOND, NEW YORK, N. Y. SECRETARY . BRADLEY STOUGHTON NEW YORK, N. Y.

Jan 5, 1916

For the year ending February, 1917 PRESIDENT L. D. RICKETTS,1. NEW YORK, N. Y. PAST PRESIDENTS BENJAMIN B. THAYER,1 NEW YORK, N. Y. WILLIAM L. SAUNDERS,2 : NEW YORK, N.Y. FIRST VICE-PRESIDENT SIDNEY J. JENNINGS,1 NEW YORK, N. Y. TREASURER GEORGE C. STONE,1 . NEW YORK, N.Y. SECRETARY EMERITUS ROSSITER W. RAYMOND, NEW YORK,. N. Y. SECRETARY BRADLEY STOUGHTON NEW YORK, N.Y.

Jan 1, 1917

By Hannon, J. W. G.

Silicosis is today's most important industrial disease and probably dates back to the Stone Age. Since the industrial revolution, increasing attention has been paid to those occupations where mineral dust is present in the air breathed by the workers. For many years it was assumed that the inhalation of all mineral dusts was hazardous. but investigations conducted in several countries pointed the statistical finger of guilt at free silica in any of its numerous physical forms as a dust of outstanding toxicity. Recognition of silica as the chief hazard has resulted in widespread use of the term "silicosis." Depending upon the concentration of finely divided silica dust to which the individual is exposed and the duration of exposure, silicosis may become a disabling condition in from one to thirty years. The structure of the lung and respiratory passages is such that only minute particles of silica can gain entry to the air cells in the lung (5 microns or under are most toxic). When these minute particles gain entry to the lung tissues they stimulate certain protective cells in the lung to multiply at an excessive rate. The cell's undergo inflammatory changes which result in nodular scars and a low-grade inflammation of the lung tissue. These progressive changes in the lung structure gradually encroach

Jan 1, 1949