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Flawed mining studies have been major contributors to poor investment decisions in mining for many years, contributing to the long period of poor industry profitability. Most of the major mining houses have now adopted quite formal processes and quality standards for mining studies to reduce the potential for poor investment decisions in the future. Other organisations such as the World Bank also have specific requirements for particular types of studies, such as bankable studies. This increasing requirement for rigour and discipline means a highly structured and phased sequence of studies is now required along with the development and adoption of industry-wide standards in mine ventilation studies. New terms in the study process such as ?independent peer review? and ?hold and review? are assisting in this process. More traditional terms such as ?feasibility study? and ?pre-feasibility study? now have much more precise technical definitions. Specific standards for the ventilation components of the various phases of a mining study are proposed in this paper.

Jan 1, 2009

By Maurice Deul

For the first half of the 21st century, the United States will rely on the same mix of fuels it has for the past 50 years. Petroleum for the United States will cost more and availability will decline as developing nations modernize. Increased use of natural gas for electric power generation will result in stress on the gas supply. Coal will be the fuel of last resort. More than half the petroleum used is imported, about the same amount as used for transportation. Only coal can provide relief by fueling railroads through electrification while encouraging “piggy-back” trailer haulage, co-generation for manufacturing and expanded passenger service.

Jan 1, 2002

By John Sleavin

As part of the Link Light Rail project in Seattle, WA, work was completed at the Pine Street Stub Tunnel (PSST) in early 2007 for the Central Link project. This tunnel was excavated using cut-and-cover construction within the limits of Pine Street. The stub tunnel provides a turn back via double crossover for light rail trains running in the Downtown Transit Tunnel (DTT), as well as a connection point for the next phase of the project, the University Link (Fig. 1). Designing the new University Link tunnel connection to the existing PSST was a tricky task. The on-site geotechnical conditions, buried obstructions, geometry, requirements for construction and balancing operational considerations and neighborhood stakeholder concerns associated with the recently completed PSST combined to create a uniquely challenging assignment.

Jan 1, 2010

global mining boom and in-creased demand for iron ore has lead to a resurgence in the mining industry in Minnesota. At the combined 81st Annual Minnesota Section of SME Meeting and 69th Annual University of Minnesota Mining Symposium, April 15-16 in Duluth, MN, this resurgence was the hot topic as new mining projects were featured in the keynote session. The meeting attracted more than 400 mining industry professionals, including engineers, executives, mining managers and suppliers from around the world. This year?s theme was ?New Ventures in Mining.? The meeting included concurrent technical papers sessions, a keynote session that featured three distinguished speakers and a panel discussion that provided updates on new mining developments in the state. The Minnesota Section of SME technical papers were presented in concurrent sessions, one on mining and one on mineral processing. The mining session included papers on drilling, ore blending, slope stabilization, dust control and operations management. The mineral processing session included papers on plant-control technology, ball mills, pellet strength and fans. Also offered was an SME short course titled ?Simulation based pellet induration optimization.? The Minnesota Section of SME held its annual business meeting during the conference. The 69th Annual University of Minnesota Mining Symposium technical sessions were held on April 15 and also consisted of concurrent sessions on mining and mineral processing. Mining session topics included logistics management, real-time performance measurement, uses for taconite aggregate and environmental issues. The mineral processing session included papers on ore liberation characteristics, zeta potential studies, induration modeling, fuel optimization and conveyor belts. The combined conference included a tradeshow with more than 80 booth spaces featuring vendors offering products and services to Minnesota?s booming mining industry. More than 900 people, including conference registrants and special invited guests of the vendors, at-tended the tradeshow opening reception. This was the largest trade show in many years ? an indication of the vitality of the mining industry in Minnesota.

Jan 1, 2008

By A. M. Elmahdy

An amphoteric collector was tested for dolomite removal from phosphate ore. The effects of some operating parameters and their significance on the flotation of dolomite were studied using statistically designed experiments. The parameters studied were impeller speed, pH and collector dosage. Analysis of the results showed that pH is the most significant parameter. Moreover, a concentrate containing 0.53% MgO and ~31.1% P2O5 with a recovery of ~ 90% can be achieved at optimum values of studied parameters, i.e., a pH of 12, an impeller speed of 1,000 rpm and a collector dosage of 2.5 kg/t.

Jan 1, 2007

By Donald W. Gentry

This section deals with one of the most fascinating aspects of mining the evaluation of mine investment opportunities. Be-fore proceeding further, it is important to clarify the meaning of some fundamental terms used frequently in the text. 6.0.1.1 Mine Valuation vs. Evaluation The words "valuation" and "evaluation" in a mining context are often used interchangeably. However, for the purposes of this section, a distinction is made between the two terms in accordance with commonly accepted practice. The word valuation in a mining project context has the rather narrow meaning of placing a dollar or other currency value on the worth of the project as a whole. In other words, the value of a mining project refers to a measure of the desirability of ownership of that property. As such, the major item of interest is, "what is the mine worth?," or `what is the value of the mine?" The value of a mining project may actually be determined in the marketplace at any specific point in time, or it may be estimated by one of several methods. The topic of mine valuation is discussed in more detail in Chapter 6.1. The word evaluation in a mining project context connotes the broader meaning of determining the numerical values of all

Jan 1, 2008

By Donald W. Gentry

This paper presents some of the results of a rock mechanics in¬strumentation program designed for, and implemented at, longwall panel 4N at the York Canyon Mine near Raton, New Mexico. The objective of this particular instrumentation program was to determine the response of the rock mass to longwall mining of a thick coal seam utilizing shield-type supports. Measurements were made in the rock along the ground surface, above the coal seam, in the coal seam and immediately below the coal seam. Longwall test panel 411 had a total developed length of 762 m (2500 ft) and a face width of 168 m (550 ft). The seam mining height in the panel area was approximately 3 m (10 ft). The average depth of overburden above the panel is 107 m (350 ft) al¬though it ranges from 73-134 m (240 - 440 ft). Roof support at the face was provided by Hemscheidt shields. These shield-type supports weigh 11.4 metric tons each.

Jan 1, 1977

By J. L. Ellenberger

The U.S. Bureau of Mines has cooperated with Cyprus Casa Grande Corporation Cyprus Casa Grande Mine, Cas a Grande, Arizona, since 1988 to assess the hydrology of an in situ leaching test facility. This work has resulted in an in situ design for leaching copper oxide ore that takes advantage of the increased mineral access associated with poor quality rock surrounding mine drifts. Blasting and bulkheads are used to produce readily-leachable rubble and contain and control solution movement, respectively. The design reduces the need for handling solution under high pressures in an injection/recovery system for in situ leaching of underground ore bodies. Early work at the site recognized a stress redistribution zone and increased transmissivity near drifts. Fracture data from a corehole oriented parallel to the dip of the ore body indicated an increase in fracture frequency around drifts a distance of 21 m (70 ft) away from the 5 m (16 ft) diameter drifts.

Jan 1, 1994

By W. G. Pariseau

Introduction Caverns of 50 m in linear dimension at depths below 2300 m with a life of more than 25 years are proposed for the next generation of water-filled neutrino detectors. Little precedent exists for excavations in such an extreme environment, although some guidance is available from mining experience at great depths, for example, in South Africa, in Canada and at the former Homestake Mine in the U.S.A. Unlike mining for ore, there are choices available in the construction of such caverns that may mean the difference between success and failure. These choices should be informed by rock engineering principles. Recently proposed guidelines for orientation of brick-shaped caverns where the long dimension is a small multiple of the short dimension indicate that the most favorable orientation is with the long and short dimensions parallel to major and minor preexcavation principal stresses (Pariseau, 2005). Numerical analyses at reduced strength indicate some yielding at cavern walls should be expected but that an equilibrium state is quite possible and is aided by arching the back into a spherical dome when the cavern is an empty cylinder (Tesarik and others, 2002). The same indications of stability occur with brick-shaped caverns. However, the most dangerous situation occurs during the excavation sequence to final cavern dimensions. There are any number of excavation sequences that lead to the same final cavern shape, so there is an opportunity to partially optimize the sequence with construction guidelines that minimize peak stress concentrations during construction. This contribution discusses three practical excavation sequences that lead to the same brick-shaped cavern in the strong, massive Yates formation at the Homestake Mine where considerable rock mechanics data has accumulated through the years(e.g., Pariseau, 1985, Pariseau and others, 1995) and where actual mining on the 8000 Level indicates a strong possibility of successful investment in the next generation of large, deep neutrino detectors. The main results are: (1) a favorable brick-shape is one with dimensions in the same proportion as the preexcavation principal stresses (compressionpositive), and (2) favorable orientation of the most extreme but temporary shape of excavation is also best for the construction sequence. Analysis results from a mix of Homestake Mine data and possible excavation geometry illustrate the advantages of these guidelines.

Jan 1, 2006

By Tony S. Calayag

Throughout the mining industry today, new bearing materials - ZA* high-performance zinc-aluminum alloys - are reducing costs of maintaining and rebuilding a wide range of equipment. As replacements for bronze bearings, installed in original equipment at the plant or during maintenance and repair operations in the field, the zinc alloys frequently provide better or equal performance at lower cost. The ZA Alloys The ZA alloys are a family of three high-performance zinc-aluminum alloys that compete in cost and performance with cast iron aluminum and bronze. The growing number and uses testifies to the versatility of these alloys and is encouraging their consideration in a wider range of applications. The ZA alloys are referred to as ZA-8, ZA-12, and ZA-27, the numbers corresponding approximately to the percentage of aluminum each alloy contains. ZA-8 is a permanent-mold casting alloy and is usually selected for decorative purposes; ZA-12 provides both performance and cosmetic benefits; ZA-27 offers the greatest functional strength. The term high performance ZA alloys distinguishes them and their improved engineering properties from traditional zinc die casting alloys. Maintenance Savings At its mine in Timmins, Ontario, Kidd Creek Mines Ltd. operates over 40 Joy VCR- 150 crawler-mounted air-powered rock drills. Most of the drill components undergo severe stress as the drill batters through the under-ground rock. As the components wear, the drill bits wobble; when the wobble becomes excessive, the drills are rebuilt. In the gear train, which rotates the drill steel, there are three planetary gears with - historically - bronze bushings. Since the planetary gear bushings are wear items, they are routinely replaced during overhaul. The bronze planetary gear bushings (three bushings per assembly) were replaced up to five times annually. With 43 drills in use, bushing consumption approached 600 per year. At the manufacturer's replacement part cost, the 600 bushings and gears would cost more than $20,000 a year. Even though a major saving was achieved by having the bronze bushings manufactured locally, the 600-unit annual usage provided ample incentive to investigate other ways of lengthening drill life and reducing the part costs. One approach was to consider using a bushing material that offered good bearing properties, but was lower in cost. About three years ago, ZA-12 zinc-aluminum casting alloy, costing less than half as much as bronze, was evaluated and selected for testing. One hundred ZA bushings were manufactured and placed in service as the drills came in for rebuilding. At the next rebuild the "drill doctor" (drill maintenance mechanic) noticed that, although the bronze bushings were completely destroyed, on occasion the zinc alloy bushings were not. In addition, he noted that some of the ZA bushings showed less wear than the bronze bushings. Because the bushings were changed routinely during each overhaul, the actual operating life of each bushing was not determinable. Therefore, it was not possible to statistically compare the life of the ZA bushing against the bronze. However, the desired life of the part was from overhaul to overhaul. So the ZA alloy obviously met the objective, giving equal or better life than bronze at a significantly lower price. Based on the favorable results of the testing under actual operating conditions, Kidd Creek maintenance personnel decided to switch permanently to the ZA bushings for rebuilding the VCR-150 rock drills. Original Equipment Application As one of the leading companies marketing the ZA alloys, as well as a zinc -copper-silver mining company, Kidd Creek is interested in developing applications for the alloys by original equipment manufacturers such as joy Manufacturing. Kidd Creek marketing representatives provided joy with information on the Timmins mine tests, along with ZA-12 bushings for evaluation and testing. Based on this information, joy installed ZA bushings in 12 new VCR-150 units and delivered them to customers for use in such areas as granite quarries and copper, lead, zinc, and limestone mines. During the following year, joy engineers closely monitored repair reports to verify the performance of the ZA part. The engineers' findings convinced them of the advantages of ZA-12. As a result, joy now uses ZA-12 bushings in the manufacture of its VCR-150 air tools. Advantages for Casters and Users In the foundry, the new alloys have proved their castability and profit potential in sand and metal permanent-mold processes, as well as the new graphite permanent-mold gravity casting process. The energysaving, pollution-free and ease-of-machining benefits they offer are important to all of these processes. Most recently, the high-performance alloys entered the arena of cold-chamber die casting, where they provide properties beyond those of

Jan 7, 1983

By Mokhinabonu Mardonova, Yosoon Choi

Open-source technology for supporting the Industry 4.0 has become the target of academic research in many sectors. This study reviewed the trends of open-source technology, its forms, and some industrial applications. As a case study using open-source hardware and software for the mining industry, this study proposed a low-cost environmental monitoring system for non-metallic underground mines to support mine safety and occupational health issues. The system was developed using open-source hardware, Arduino and 3D printer, to design the monitoring device. An open-source software, MIT App Inventor, was used for developing an Android application for smartphones to enable remote communication with the system. Field experiments were conducted at an underground tunnel and a non-metallic underground mining site to assess the performance of the system in both mobile and static modes, respectively. Although a few limitations related to the precision of the low-cost dust and gas sensors still exist, the findings of the experiments show that the mining industry can benefit from open-source technology deployment when considering cost factors

By Mokhinabonu Mardonova, Yosoon Choi

Open-source technology for supporting the Industry 4.0 has become the target of academic research in many sectors. This study reviewed the trends of open-source technology, its forms, and some industrial applications. As a case study using open-source hardware and software for the mining industry, this study proposed a low-cost environmental monitoring system for non-metallic underground mines to support mine safety and occupational health issues. The system was developed using open-source hardware, Arduino and 3D printer, to design the monitoring device. An open-source software, MIT App Inventor, was used for developing an Android application for smartphones to enable remote communication with the system. Field experiments were conducted at an underground tunnel and a non-metallic underground mining site to assess the performance of the system in both mobile and static modes, respectively. Although a few limitations related to the precision of the low-cost dust and gas sensors still exist, the findings of the experiments show that the mining industry can benefit from open-source technology deployment when considering cost factors

By Rafael C. Castro, Geoffrey Hughes, Fredrick (Rick) Vincent, Philip H. Albert

Seven pairs of drop and ventilation shafts, between two and nine feet in diameter, will convey combined sewer flow to a 230-foot-deep, 26-foot diameter storage tunnel. This paper will present case histories for each site. Discussion will include functional requirements, program and site access constraints, structural design, geology, the variety of excavation and lining construction methods used, and lessons learned. Noteworthy observations include the importance of assuring competent ground sup-port at the soil-bedrock interface and of achieving tight verticality tolerance using both top-down and raise bore excavation methods.

Jan 1, 2007

By Hans Adden, Anne Lehan, Markus Thewes

"1. INTRODUCTION AND MOTIVATION Traditionally design processes are focussed at creating new tunnels for lowest building cost. But the trend towards sustainable constructions in tunnelling has greatly increased in recent years. A critical subtask of this approach is to realize the potential for optimizing and reducing the life-cycle costs (LCC) of tunnels and their components. To evaluate underground infrastructure projects from an economic point of view is therefore a highly topical subject of public authorities as well as private companies participating in Public Private Partnerships (PPP) projects. Nowadays, in the case of public works contracts, the contracting authorities shall draw up rules not only for the design but also for life-cycle costing. Within the scope of the decision-making process of building a new tunnel, planning the maintenance activities or the refurbishment of a tunnel in operation, the decision-makers need detailed knowledge about the current and future financial conditions of the planned projects and selected sub-measures. But in practice, the initial costs still represent the primary decision criterion in the planning phase, whereas the subsequent or follow-up costs, respectively, are only estimated roughly. Although tunnels are the key components and the most costly parts of the transport infrastructure, only a small number of scientific papers deal explicitly with the calculation of life-cycle costs for underground infrastructure. And in these cases, most authors use as the starting point only the basic form of the Net Present Value method which is known as the frequently applied life-cycle costing technique in building construction. The present study explains the strategic concept of life-cycle costing and its fundamental instruments for operational implementation. It shows the necessity to take into consideration that there are fundamental methodical problems when the life-cycle concept is transposed without modifications from building construction to civil engineering. The paper will discuss in detail some selected associated problems with the net present value method. On the basis of operational and safety related tunnel equipment it is shown, what impact this may have on principle determining the LCC of tunnels. Selected best-practices of maintenance planning for tunnels undertaken by the German Ministry of Transport fill the theoretical approach of the concept with life and give a practical orientation. In particular government authorities but also construction companies are interested parties in modern cost management considerations. The reason for this development is the replacement of aged excisting structures and the advancement of technical standards. The increase in the total numbers of tunnels (Fig. 1) as well as the need for future re-investments in existing tunnels show the overall economic impact and justify the change towards the life-cycle perspective."

Jan 1, 2016

By D. Brady

The need for onsite gas monitoring during, or following, a major incident at an underground coal mine has long been recognised. Recommendations from inquiries following Queensland mine disasters have included ?qualified persons and equipment for rapid analysis of gas samples be available in times of emergency? and that ?this may be accomplished by either mobile laboratories or laboratories established in each mining locality.? Following the Moura No. 2 disaster, the Queensland Government allocated funds to Simtars for a mobile laboratory to respond should such a disaster occur again in the future. This vehicle was commissioned in 1997 and has been used at many mine sites under a wide range of scenarios. Simtars, armed with over ten years of operational experience with this mobile laboratory, has taken an active role in the design and construction of a modernised replacement unit. With a twenty point tube bundle system and ultrafast gas chromatograph the result is, arguably, the best equipped mobile gas analysis laboratory for mine emergency response in the world. This paper outlines the features of the new laboratory, its capabilities and the philosophy behind the design and inclusions.

Jan 1, 2012

By Steve Kral

The mining industry in northern Ontario is known mostly for its huge nickel deposits. Inco’s and Falconbridge’s nickel mines in the Sudbury Basin are the best known. And with nickel prices being what they are, interest in the region continues. And how. Inco and Falconbridge want to merge. Teck Cominco wants Inco, but without Falconbridge. Xstrata made a hostile bid for Falconbridge, which Falconbridge rejected. And, in June, Phelps Dodge trumped them all when it made an approximately US$40-billion friendly offer for Inco and Falconbridge in a two-part deal.

Jan 1, 2006

By Joseph Ribak

Grunerite asbestos (amosite) has been shown in epidemiological and experimental animal studies to cause lung cancer, mesothelioma and pulmonary fibrosis commonly referred to as asbestosis. An overview of the human and experimental animal studies describing the health hazards of grunerite asbestos (amosite) is presented. Of the many human studies describing the health hazards of asbestos, only three factories using mainly, if not exclusively, grunerite asbestos (amosite) have been studied. The first is a series of reports on a cohort of 820 workers from a plant located in Paterson, NJ. Among this cohort, 18.7% died of lung cancer and 17 mesotheliomas occurred. The Paterson factory closed in 1954 and moved to Tyler, Texas where it operated until 1972. Among the 1130 former workers in the Tyler plant 6 mesotheliomas were reported with 15.8% lung cancer mortality. The third grunerite asbestos (amosite) exposed cohort was an insulation board manufacturing facility in Uxbridge, United Kingdom. Here 17.1% of the workers died of lung cancer and 5 mesotheliomas occurred. The lung content from 48 Uxbridge workers was analyzed by analytical transmission electron microscopy for mineral fibers. The relationship between grunerite asbestos (amosite) concentrations in the lung correlated with grades of fibrosis and asbestos bodies and was lower than the concentration found in the cases with malignant tumors. The lung cancer cases contained more grunerite asbestos (amosite) than mesothelioma cases, and in the cases of non-alignant disease the concentrations were still lower. In both types of malignancies the concentration of grunerite asbestos (amosite) was very high-over a billion fibers per gram of dried lung tissue. Occupational exposure to airborne concentrations of between 14 and 100 fibers of grunerite asbestos (amosite) per milliliter after 20 year latency causes marked increases in lung cancer, mesothelioma and pulmonary fibrosis (asbestosis). © 2007 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. Keywords: Grunerite asbestos; Amosite; Mesothelioma; Asbestosis

Jan 1, 2007

By Jose A. Gomez, Javad Sattarvand

Failures of tailings dams have been happening lately. Due to the lack of laws on particular design criteria and stability requirements related monitoring during construction and maintenance, they are thought to be more fragile than hydraulic dams. Monitoring the dam is therefore necessary to understand its current condition and guarantee its safety. The physical condition of the dam could be evaluated with the early identification of seepage. Additionally, due to their adaptability and capacity for high-resolution data collecting, UAVs are an excellent choice for efficiently covering the tailings dam site. UAVs may capture high-quality photos when equipped with a high-resolution RGB camera, thermal sensors, or multispectral sensors. When these sensors are paired with image processing and machine learning algorithms, the result is a reliable estimate of the dam condition.

Jun 25, 2023

By H. Lowers, P. Hageman, S. Diehl, D. Fey

Understanding relationships between mineralogy, texture, microstructural features, and element distribution and residence in minerals, is critical for accurate modeling of mineral weathering in waste-rock piles. The morphology of minerals and deformation structures, such as veins and faults, are important factors that control: (1) fluid access to the mineral surface to initiate dissolution, (2) the distribution of trace elements, and (3) formation of secondary minerals. We characterized the mineralogy, textures, and chemical properties of waste-rock material at three sites at scales ranging from outcrop to micrometer scale. A comprehensive hand-sample to thin-section scale methodology utilizing light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, electron microprobe, and laser ablation ICP-MS was used to thoroughly characterize the waste-rock material.

Jan 1, 2007

By J. Bickson, C. DeGennaro, J. Homer, M. Girman

Powered haulage and haul truck-related fatal accidents are among the most frequent at surface mines. Industry organizations developed guidance on accident scenarios to address haul truck and mobile equipment collision-related accidents. However, there is a need to investigate accident data to prioritize these scenarios and identify factors relevant to developing validation methods for collision warning/avoidance technologies and determining their capabilities and limitations. Standards and effective validation methods are necessary for improving system efficacy within mining operations and promoting industry adoption. To address these needs, researchers from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) investigated available powered-haulage and machinery-related fatal accident reports documented by the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA). Their objective was to gain a perspective for informing the development of test protocols and validation methods through determining the most prevalent accident scenarios and related factors. Our findings afford insight for addressing the most prevalent haul truck scenarios and relevant factors within U.S. surface mining environments.

Mar 2, 2022