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By D. Z. Mraz, R. S. Jones

Unlike in coal mines where caving methods are used, the subsidence over potash mines in Saskatchewan, Canada, is a function of gradual mining convergence. Because of the presence of high pressure water aquifers over the evaporite salt formations, the mines have to be designed as regionally stable and no caving is allowed. The extracted area converges gradually and the convergence is mainly a function of the extraction and the mining method employed. Consequently, the subsidence rate is very slow and the bridging of the over-lying strata is a considerably more important phenomenon than elsewhere. The paper evaluates a case history of convergence and subsidence in a deep potash mine in Saskatchewan.

Jan 1, 1986

By S. Rivard

"This paper demonstrates the selection of grinding circuit technology for a number of recent projects including discussion of the key drivers and the role of energy efficiency. Decreasing head grades combined with a strong and sustained increase in operating costs has forced miners to examine increased project size, increased equipment capacity and efficiency improvements in order to reduce their unit operating costs and improve overall project economics. Comminution energy consumption, safety and capital cost considerations play a critical role in the success of projects. This paper presents some key guidelines for a successful and cost effective comminution circuit design and includes a case study on three projects, outlining the issues and the drivers which led to the ultimate circuit selection and the critical role that energy efficiency played.IntroductionComminution circuits for minerals processing are selected based on their suitability and efficiency in reducing run-of-mine ore to the desired feed size for the downstream process. The input material (ore) properties and downstream process requirements are the key determinants and there are standard approaches for each circumstance.The minerals processing industry has been a fast adaptor of efficiency improvements based on increasing capacity of equipment (e.g. trucks, crushers, mills, pumps) but less successful in adapting radically new technologies that disrupt incumbent flowsheets or processes.The installed power of grinding mills has increased linearly over the past 25 years (Meka & Lane, 2010) and pumps and classification equipment have kept pace. The autogenous grinding (AG) and semi- autogenous grinding (SAG) mills displaced stage crushing as a dominant method of coarse rock breakage in many applications causing crusher manufactures to increase the capacity of cone crushers to meet the competitive demand.Examples of new comminution technology in the 20th and 21st centuries are the development and adoption of cyclone classification in the 1940s (Newtech, 2016), AG milling in the late 1950s, vertical grinding mills in the 1980s, high pressure grinding rolls (HPGRs) also in the 1980s and ultrafine milling technology in the 1990s (Meka & Lane, 2010)."

Jan 1, 2017

By B. Solar Menéndez, M. B. Díaz Aguado, I. Á. Fernández, C. González Nicieza

The analysis of subsidence due to the opening of an underground void (mining, water exploitation or civil works hole) is a problem usually hard to solve. First of all, it requires a predictive model, in order to define both the displacement magnitude and area affected by subsidence. Such model should be validated with measurements of the actual movements sustained on the surface, in order to adjust it properly and enable influence of future behaviour in a reliable way. Two different kinds of problems might arise. On one side, it is necessary to control and measure surface movements in a very exhaustive way during a long period of time, beginning before underground works take place and finishing years after they are over. Furthermore, three factors bring in errors, some times of magnitudes higher than the displacement magnitudes measured. These include: the fact that reliable and long-term information cannot always be achieved; the precision of measuring devices; and the design of the topographical network itself. In addition, the predictive models more widely used only apply to certain excavation geometries, mainly to horizontal holes. In light of this background, the Group of Rock Engineering, of the University of Oviedo Mining Department, has developed a working methodology and a specific software tool, Subsidence 3D, to estimate ground displacements and strains. The program will allow for predictive models to be defined and also allows the treatment of data related with topographical marks and its comparative analysis with calculated results. The software has been programmed using Visual C++. Graphical outputs however are generated using AutoCAD 2000. This paper mainly refers to a practical situation, an underground coalmine, remarking the main difficulties arisen during the study of the available information and proposing how to solve them. A predictive model in subsidence 3D was established and validated. The actual behaviour of the ground was that in the model.

Jan 1, 2003

By Adrian Rosen

When one thinks of innovation and leadership in wireless communications, one would rarely consider a potash mine to be leading the way. Agrium Incorporated has proven that they are leaders and innovators, as is evident in their recent deployment of a large-scale 802.11 wireless network in their underground potash mine located at Vanscoy, Saskatchewan. 802.11 is an IEEE standard for Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) technology. Rather than simply replace an aging communications infrastructure, Agrium chose to let technology provide the framework for future success

May 1, 2006

Construction of the Boddington Mine 130 km (81 miles) southeast of Perth, is about 89 percent complete. When the $2.9-billion development is finished, it will be the largest gold mine in Australia, producing 31 t/a (1 million oz/year), according to project majority owner Newmont Mining. Newmont?s acting regional group executive for Asia Pacific, Philip Stephenson, told a gold conference in Australia that the project would be ?the biggest thing for Newmont this year.? The project has been in the works for more than 10 years, but because of a three-sided ownership and fluctuating gold prices, it struggled to get started. However, Newmont is set to become the full owner of the project and is moving ahead on the low-grade project. ?We are targeting annual production of 31 t/a (1 million oz/year) for each of Boddington?s first five years. When it is in full production, Boddington will be the largest gold mine in Australia,? Stephenson said. ?The mine?s costs applicable to sales will be around US$9.64/g (US$300/oz) and that puts Boddington into the bottom quartile of the global cost curve. ?Strategically for Newmont, Boddington coming on-line will improve Newmont?s overall global geopolitical risk profile as it delivers greater exposure to an AAA-rated country.? Boddington has a projected mine life of 20 plus years. It has current total reserves of 622 t (20 million oz) and rising. Stephenson said Boddington has the largest reserve base of all gold projects in production or those that are about to go into production in A-rated countries or better. And it will be an important asset for many years to come. Newmont will acquire the remaining 33 percent share held by AngloGold Ashanti in a deal that should be concluded in the next two months. Australian miner Newcrest Mining Ltd. had exited the joint venture several years ago. Newmont had come into the project through the take-over of then Australia?s leading gold miner Normandy Mining, while AngloGold Ashanti gained entry through

Jan 1, 2009

By G. van Hout, D. Rahal

Caving is a mass mining method that is normally applied to large, low grade orebodies because of its low production cost and high capacity. However, equipment breakdown and poor draw management can cause mining costs to exceed that of all other mining methods. One way to minimize the effect of disruptions in the mining cycle is to use Mixed Integer Linear Programming (MILP) for long-term scheduling. This paper describes a MILP goal program which has the dual objectives of minimizing deviation from the ideal draw profile while achieving a production target. Schedule optimization is performed using a life of mine approach in which all production periods are optimized simultaneously. The underlying assumption being that material mixing in the short-term (between monthly optimization cycles) has a minimal effect on the long-term state of the panel. Schedule optimization is carried out using six general constraint types to model and control production. The constraint types define: deviation from ideal practice, panel state, material flow conservation, production quality, material flow capacity and production control. These constraints define production targets and drive production toward the ideal profile while maintaining correct mining practice. Application of the model using production scheduling data for a De Beers kimberlite mine. It is shown how different production control constraints regulate production from individual drawpoints as well as recovery of the ideal panel profile by implementing an optimised draw schedule.

Jan 1, 2003

By M A. Lund, C D. McCullough

In Australia and worldwide, open cut mining has become increasingly common over the last few decades through changes in excavation technology and ore economics. However, such operations frequently leave a legacy of open mine pits once mining ceases. Pit lakes will then form in mine pits that extend below the water table when dewatering operations cease. Pit lake waters are typically contaminated with metals, metalloids, saline or acidic/alkaline and rarely approach natural water body chemistry. Physically, pit lakes have unique bathymetries, are often strongly wind sheltered and have very small catchments. Nevertheless, pit lake waters often constitute a vast resource but of limited beneficial use (due to water quality issues); with a potential to contaminate regional surface and ground water resources. Water in pit lakes has the potential to be useful for a range of purposes in the Australian context of characteristic hot, dry climate and relatively few natural water bodies. Consequently, pit lakes can be seen to represent either a significant liability or a water resource to mining companies and regional communities. However, the lack of knowledge on pit lakes continues to hinder their proper management. This paper summarises the limited information currently available on water quality associated with Australian pit lakes. Information on pit lake occurrence, distribution and water quantity and quality is not nationally collated and requires immediate and ongoing attention from both mining companies and regulating authorities. Lack of a readily available database for pit lake occurrence, distribution and water quality fails to realise the potential for these water resources by both mining companies and Australian communities. Lack of access to pit lake quantity and water quality data may also lead to failure to manage this significant source of mining environmental risk.

Jan 1, 2009

By Michel Fontaine, Bruno St-Cyr

"The mission of the CENTRE DE RECHERCHE INDUSTRIELLE DU QUEBEC (CRIQ) is to stimulate economic development by guiding businesses in their pursuit of innovation.With a comprehensive approach to their needs, CRIQ provides businesses with expertise based on the most recent developments and insights in the fields of:Research and Development ServicesAutomation and production processesDevelopment of industrial equipmentEnvironmental biotechnologiesTesting and Product Qualification Services Industrial and Technological Information ServicesConsultancy and competitive intelligence servicesIndustrial information bankStandardization ServicesElaboration of standards and product certificationSystems registrationEXPERTISE COMPETENCE, INNOVATIONSince its founding in 1969, CRIQ has been involved in over 100,000 projects. The results of its research and development services have enabled it to build over one hundred pieces of equipment, almost all still in operation today. CRIQ has been and remains the driving force of innovation and expertise on the industrial scene, offering highly competitive solutions to a clientele from numerous industrial sectors.CRIQ became a crown corporation operating on a commercial basis on June 30, 1997. This change in its corporate structure has enabled it to put a marked emphasis on trade and implement an array of new operational practices.The formation of marketing companies with private partners, the opening up to corporate business and international markets, the new directions for internal research and the strengthening of its marketing component are among the activities CRIQ has initiated over the last fiscal year to finally reach its cruising speed."

Jan 1, 2000

By R. Tyreman, G. Ritson

"The Red Lake Mine is situated in Balmer Township, Red Lake area in northwestern Ontario. It is an underground mine that has been in production since 1948. The property was originally known as the Dickensen Mine and was shut down in 1996.A feasibility study was carried out in 1998 and it was determined that a new mill should be constructed with a throughput rate of 600 stpd. The life-of-mine average gold grade was projected to be 1.35 oz/t with gold predominantly associated with arsenopyrite and pyrite. Metallurgical testwork indicated that the optimal flowsheet for gold recovery would include an autoclave for oxidation with a carbon circuit for adsorption. To limit capital cost and establish cashflow, the mill was constructed without an autoclave. The recovery by gravity and cyanidation was projected to be 83%. A flotation plant was constructed at the tail end of the circuit to recover the additional gold associated with sulphides from the leach circuit tailings. This material is being stockpiled onsite for future oxidation treatment.Detailed engineering was started in early 1999 and the first gold was poured in August 2000. One feature of the project was the use of Contact Lake equipment from Cameco’s Contact Lake project. The entire mill was purchased and equipment re-used where possible. The capital cost for the process facilities was C$3 1.5 million."

Jan 1, 2001

By T P. Fischer, S N. Williams, N C. Sturchio

Chemical and isotopic analyses of fumarole gases from Galeras Volcano, Colombia provide significant insights into the origin of volatile components in the magma. Water comprises a mixture of magmatic (rock-equilibrated at high temperature) and meteoric, with the relative proportions varying through time. Carbon isotopes are most consistent with a mantle source, although other contributions to the system cannot be ruled out. Nitrogen most likely originated from organic matter in subducted oceanic sediments. All of these 'primary' components have been modified somewhat by interaction or exchange with other reservoirs during ascent to the surface. In addition to information on the origin of the gases, these data show significant temporal variations precursory to eruptive events. Chemical ratios change and water becomes more meteoric in character prior to eruptions.

Jan 1, 1995

By Iann Bouchard

Introduction à l?abrasion et l?érosion Avec le temps, tout solide va éroder et user les métaux les plus durs; de plus, la Corrosion va aussi laisser une couche mince et faible d?oxydation qui sera rayée du substrat. Solutions et guide de sélection Les polymères de Henkel Loctite® peuvent: ? Réduire l?abrasion par glissement ? Protège contre les agents corrosifs ? Prévenir la cavitation ? Augmenter l?efficacité ? Réduire la turbulence ? Résister aux hautes températures?

Feb 1, 2008

THE method depends upon:--1. The position of the mill.2. The space available for stacking the residue.3. The nature of the residue as discharged from the mill.4. The value of the residue for re-treatment.5. The requirement of the residue for underground filling.Originally the conditions in this district varied mainly in the position of the mill, some mills having an elevated site with plenty of dumping space for the time being, whilst others had a flat site, and very little dumping space near at hand; but in most cases the residue discharged was in the form of filter-press cakes, suitable for conveying on belts, or in trucks, and stacking in a high clump; and, while a portion of the residue was used for underground filling, the dump was regarded as a valuable asset, to be re-treated later. Under these conditions, conveyor belts, electric trams, aerial trams, and hose trucks, all gave satisfactory results, and the following figures, taken from "'West Australian Metallurgical Practice," will show how these methods compared as regards costs...

Jan 1, 1909

By Grant Loveday, Vincent Dieudonné, Andrew Jonkers

Bateman Minerals & Metals supplies the APIC Technologies which include the under-bed air-pulsed APIC jig and related technologies such as the JigScan controller and advanced mathematical models of the jig process. Bateman have developed a methodology for predicting process performance for jigs from simplified testing and modelling, based on batch equipment matched to industrial designs. Batch tests conducted on laboratory scale air-pulsed jigs can process small batches of material, such as those obtained from drill core samples. The novelty comes from using an advanced jig process model, ASTRAD, to link the results of batch and continuous jigs. The batch jig presented as a novelty in this paper has been designed to be hydraulically equivalent to the full-scale APIC Jig, allowing the generation of equivalent pulse shapes and using JigScan controller. Lump and fine ferrous ore material have been separated in this unit and any feed >1mm can be tested and extracted. The global test procedure and further modelling focus on the stratification of material, with emphasis on key aspects such as pulse shape, feed characteristics and residence time. The splitting of rejects from concentrates is itself more difficult to reproduce in batch jigging, however the ASTRAD model includes a separation imperfection module, and the APIC Technologies have extraction systems adapted to each type of material. Air pulsed batch jigs are available in several locations and are relocatable. They have been used to treat samples from Australia, South Africa and India as part of studies into ore processing using jigs. Each test layer is available for various physical testing procedures (density and chemical analyses). Test-work is performed on a case by case basis, and analysed using an advanced model ?now available over the internet. Some fundamentals of air-pulsed jigging are recapped along with some of the features of APIC jigs. The process of designing a ?hydraulically equivalent? batch jig test is then described. Some results from jigging tests are presented plus the results of the ASTRAD advanced jig model, which was first developed at the JKMRC with ferrous ores and coal and is now being supported and further developed and utilised by Bateman.

Jan 1, 2006

The ore is very 'refractory. It consists essentially of arsenical pyrites, iron pyrites, zinc blende, galena, antimony as sulphide and probably, in combination with galena, as Jamesonite, magnesium, and aluminium silicates with quartz. Some of the oxidized ore, of which there is very little, has a very interesting composition. A specimen shown to me by the ,general.manager, Mr. F. B. Stephens, consisted of hydrated arseniate of iron, orpiment, pyromorphite, lead oxide, with magnesium silicates and quartz. The ore found in the mine with a composition similar to this specimen was valued for gold contents at 60 oz. per ton. This ore is found as a small leader, which runs parallel to the main ore body, at intervals cutting through it.The ore is conveyed from the mine to the reduction works by means of a double road tram line. The mine is situated about rooo feet above the plant on a hill. The grade is so great (about I in 2) that the loaded trucks coming down are able to pullthe empty ones up, thus obviating the necessity of motive power for haulage. All that is necessary is two large grooved pulleys, fixed at the summit of the hilI, and provided with a rope-break for steadying the speed of the trucks down the hilI.

Jan 1, 1903

By P. J. Bartlett

Premier Diamond Mine exploits a kimberlite orebody using cave mining methods. A drilling level is established at the base of a block of ore to effect undercutting that leads to caving of the overlying ore. A second level is developed some 15 metres below the undercutting level to allow extraction of the ore once it has caved. As much as 45 per cent of the rock is removed on the extraction level creating a series of pillars. Undercutting creates abutment stresses, as high as 3 times the virgin stress, which affect the rock mass to a distance of 20 metres from the undercut face on the undercut level and on the extraction level 15 metres below. If the extraction level is completely developed prior to undercutting, where stress levels exceed 20 percent of the rock mass strength, extensive rock mass and support damage occurs as the undercut passes overhead. Rock mass damage takes the form of movement along existing joints and minor shear failure through intact rock. Support damage takes the form of cracking in rigid concrete linings. Where induced stresses exceed 50 per cent of the rock mass strength it is often impractical to keep excavations on the extraction level open. Rock mass damage takes the form of extensive failure of the rock in shear which evidences itself as propagation of the fracture zone around tunnels and footwall heave. Support damage results in destruction of shotcrete linings and concrete footwalls. As the interbolt support fails, badly fractured rock ravels around the steel tendons. Observation and monitoring at Premier Mine and on other cave mines has shown that induced stress levels and consequent damage are a function of :?the extraction ratio on the undercut and extraction level prior to undercutting ?the shape of the undercut face ?the rate of undercut advance ?the distance of leads and lags between adjacent tunnels on the undercut level. To ensure the stability of excavations, all of the above parameters must be carefully planned and the planned mining sequence rigidly enforced. The minimum of development is completed on the extraction level prior to the undercut passing overhead. Required development is then rapidly completed once the area has been de-stressed. Support is installed in three phases: ?Rockbolts are installed as soon as excavations are developed ?Wire mesh, steel tendon straps and a layer of shotcrete sufficient to protect the mesh and straps from damage by blasting and LHD loading is installed as soon as practical thereafter. Inevitably the shotcrete lining has to be replaced once the undercut has passed overhead.. ?Rigid shotcrete linings and concreted footwalls are completed only after the undercut has passed overhead and the area has been de-stressed.

Jan 1, 2000

By C. Musingwini

The subject of optimal planning of level and raise spacing for inclined narrow reef deposits has received intermittent attention over the years because the subject matter is inherently complex. Previous work has approached the problem as simply that of simultaneously minimizing the total excavation and haulage cost associated with the development workings. However, when level and raise spacing are altered, other factors such as productivity are negatively affected, thus requiring a delicate trade-off of contradicting planning or optimization criteria. The paper concludes that the problem is actually of the multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) type, contrary to traditional thinking that the planning problem is achieved solely by minimizing waste development.

Jan 1, 2010

By M. B. Boyer, C. H. Herty, F. A. Hartgen, G. L. Frear

"DEFINITION OF VISCOSITYViscosity has been defined as the resistance experienced by one portion of a liquid moving over another portion, such as one molecular plane moving over an adjacent plane. A measure of viscosity is the force required to keep one plane in motion at Unit velocity, the other plane being considered stationary. Figure 1 illustrates the general idea that the surface friction between two adjacent areas will be greater the larger the molecules. Therefore it may be assumed that viscosity will be increased by molecular association or agglomeration, and likewise dissociation rill decrease viscosity. According to Maxwell (1)6 the unit of viscosity, the poise, is the tangential force per square centimeter of area of either of two horizontal planes 1 centimeter apart, one of which is fixed while the other moves with unit velocity, the space between being filled with viscous liquid of unit viscosity.The need for a satisfactory apparatus and experimental procedure for the determination of viscosity of high-melting materials at temperatures corresponding to those in pig-iron and steel making has been recognized during the past few decades. The condition of the slag during the smelting and refining periods in the iron- and steel-making processes exerts an important influence on the metal product obtained, this slag condition really meaning the state of viscosity or, vice versa, fluidity, which the slag attains under certain conditions."

Jun 1, 1934

By C J. de Beer

The Kwaggashoek East pit is one of the four production areas of Thabazimbi Iron Ore Mine. The Kwaggashoek East Open pit mines through the abandoned sublevel caving operations of the Kwaggashoek East underground workings. A risk assessment indicated that the primary risk is the occurrence of surface subsidence. Based on local knowledge, a hypothesis, that most of the cavities were filled with broken rock as a result of roof collapse and bulking of failed material was formulated. To test the hypothesis a number of geophysical methods as well as probe drilling was utilized. The results of the resistivity, gravity and ground penetrating radar surveys were inconclusive in determining the position of voids. Either there were no voids present or the resolution of the surveys was not high enough to pick it up. It is accepted that only small voids remained, and that the supported roof hypothesis is valid. As a precautionary measure all the production blast holes within the caving area were over-drilled by forty percent. This would collapse the roof of any small voids or tunnels immediately below the block. This operation proved to be successful as two of the three underground levels have been mined out with no subsidence occurring in the pit floor.

Jan 1, 2006

In late 1989, first-pass reconnaissance exploration delineated a 4km x 6km geochem- ically anomalous area centred 10km WNW of Kainantu in the Eastern Highlands Province at 6¦13'S and 145047'E. The area, named the Basangka prospect, lies between 2 200 and 2 400m asl. Interest in the area was prompted by a 14ppm Au assay of a silica-pyrite breccia float sample taken near Henkai village. The prospect was defined after several acid-leached silica- pyrite breccia and comb textured quartz float samples returned assays above lppm Au and relatively high Ag. Very encouraging and anomalous Au values were obtained from panned concentrates, despite the absence of visible Au colours. Several pan concentrates returned greater than 1mg Au and it is believed that the Au occurs as inclusions within iron oxides which were originally pyrite. In this early stage of prospect exploration, any Au value above 0.lppm in- 150# fraction stream sediments is treated as anomalous. Rock chips, panned concentrates and -150# fraction geochemistry all vividly define the areas of interest at Basangka.

Jan 1, 1991

Misiman society is matrilineal and despite relatively long contact with Europeans and mining, it retains its traditional consensus style of decision making. Many Misimans at least understand English, and this has encouraged comfortable communication between the people and the company (Misima Mines Pty Limited). Company care in monitoring the environment (mostly using Misiman staff), its policy of maintaining a largely Misiman workforce, and its emphasis on training and safety, have all created an environment compatible with Misiman society. In addition, the company has constructed and/or upgraded community facilities such as the airstrip, roads, the health centre, police station and schools, and has actively promoted local business endeavours. All these initiatives have been accomplished by constant dialogue with the largely Misiman workforce, and with the Misiman people, both before and during implementation. Constant, careful communication, using traditional Misiman consensus methods, appears to be the key to continued community acceptance of the project.

Jan 1, 1991