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By N. C. Joughin

Progress during the last two years in the Chamber of Mines programme for the development of mechanized stoping methods is reviewed, and advances in the basic technology are outlined. Specifically. advances in the understanding of rock fracture around stope faces. in rockbreaking techniques, in rockhandling techniques, and in engineering are described. The state of development reached with mining systems based on cutting, impacting. and blasting is also described.

Jan 1, 1978

COLLOQUIUM PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS OF INSTRUMENTATION IN THE MINING AND METALLURGICAL INDUSTRIES Rapporteur: J. Laschinger A colloquium and general meeting of the Institute held jointly with the Instrument and Control Society of Southern Africa at Kelvin House, Johannesburg on 18th October, 1972, had as its theme "Practical Applications of Instrumentation in the Mining and Metallurgical Industries" Dr J. P. Hugo (President) was in the chair and about 200 members and visitors were present.

By A. O. Filmer

A study of the dissolution of gold from a pyrite concentrate and from various calcines is reported. The percentage extraction of gold was found to decrease with increasing sulphur content in the material leached because of the porosity of the materials, and particularly because of the passivation of the anodic dissolution of gold when the gold was In contact with other conducting minerals. This is explained in terms of the current-potential curves for the oxidation of gold and the reduction of dissolved oxygen.

Jan 1, 1982

By G. T. C. Emere, E. C. Hunter

The use of cylindro-conical settlers for the clarification of underground water by E. C. HUNTER- (Associate) G. T. C. EMERE-, B.A. (Hons.) (Keele) (Visitor) This paper analyses the performance of conical settlers on Harmony Gold Mine from 1959 to the present time, and describes the investigation that was undertaken to substantiate and improve the use of conical settlers for a new pump chamber in another part of the mine.

Jan 5, 1977

By A. A. Hazell

Mine management by objectives By A. A. HAZELL The author discusses the objective areas of mine management. Setting objectives is seen to be a conscious process which starts at the highest level of management. This enables clear objectives to be set at each lower management level. The methods of setting objectives in the areas of stope production, productivity and manager performance are set out in detail. In the area of manager performance emphasis must be placed on the practice of management. It is concluded from results obtained that "management by objectives" produces better than average perormances.

By G. J. McDougall

After defining activated carbon, the author describes its structure and outlines the physical characteristics distinguishing one type of activated carbon from another. The adsorptive properties of these carbons, the raw materials used, and the manufacturing processes-chemical activation, and physical or thermal activation-are outlined. The high-temperature thermal route (which is the most important for the products employed in gold recovery) using coconut shells or coal as the raw material is then discussed In some detail.

Jan 1, 1991

By V. M. Lovell, N. P. Finkelstein

Fundamental studies of the flotation process: The work of the National I nstitute of Metallurgy N. P. Flnkelsteln and V. M. Love Presented at the Colloquim on Flotation, March 1972, and published in the Journal, July, 1972. AUTHORS' REPLY TO DISCUSSION In his contribution to our paper Dr Lloyd makes two criticisms: The first criticism, as we interpret it, is that the agglomerate flotation process that we described is not really necessary because previously described processes effect almost the same results or could be made to give the same results by including sufficient paraffin in the reagent combination.

By O. K. H. Steen

Significant political and economic changes have taken place in our society in the past year that are going to impact on our minerals industry, and therefore also on our members. Surely, it is not coincidence that the economic and political changes have occured simultaneously? South Africa, by virtue of its infrastructure and technology, is strategically placed to develop the potential of Africa's mineral wealth. In this address, I give my personal views on the ability of the mining industry to participate in the wider mineral resources of the African continent.

Jan 1, 1989

By R. J. E. Stewart

Another very successful evening meeting was organized by the Johannesburg Branch of The South African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy on 20th November, 1990, when Mr R.D. MacPherson, General Manager of Richards Bay Minerals, gave a presentation on the Richards Bay operations. The function was held in the Ballroom of the Johannesburg Country Club, and the very high attendance (some 250 people) was indeed a reflection of the high profile of the subject mater. It was also a fitting reward for the efforts of Mr MacPherson and his team, who spent a considerable amount of time and effort traveling the country to present 'the other side of the story'.

Jan 1, 1991

By A. B. Cook

The South African socio-economic history started with pastoral and agrarian communities which had low levels of industrialization and small needs for energy. The discovery of diamonds (in the Northern Cape in 1867) and of gold (in the Transvaal in 1886) heralded economic and industrial development, with a concomitant demand for energy. The energy needs of the fledgling mines, and mining towns, were met by the combustion of wood, cut locally, or by coal, hauled laboriously from the primitive collieries, and sold to the mining companies and townships at high prices.

Jan 1, 1994

By S. A. C. Liedberg, M. H. Fricker

The conference was divided into a total of 12 different sessions. Apart from the keynote addresses, the papers covered many aspects of open-pit mining, from mine design and blasting techniques to mining operations and equipment, as well as water management and rehabilitation. A number of case studies were also presented. Most of the 68 papers originated from Australia; however, presentations were also made by representatives from Chile, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, and South Africa. The keynote papers dealt with subjects such as the economics of open pits, project planning of a new large copper deposit, management principles, and rehabilitation strategies.

Jan 1, 1993

By J. C. Paynter

A review of copper hydrometallurgy by J. C. PAYNTER, B.Sc. (Chem. Eng.) (Visitor) Copper hydrometallurgy is discussed with special reference to the treatment of chalcopyrite concentrates under South African conditions. The following processes are described and illustrated: Sherritt Gordon's ammonia pressure leachilng, the Arbiter Process, sulphuric acid pressure leaching, roasting processes, the Cymet Process, and the ferric chloride process developed at the National Institute for Metallursy. These processes are then compared with respect to the form of sulphur produced (elemental sulphur or sulphate), the character of the iron product and the handling of different types of ore.

Jan 11, 1973

By D. Brazier, W. Laing, D. Nixon

Keywords: Pyrometallurgy, furnace, smelter, copper, Palabora The Palabora copper smelter has operated for the past 38 years, treating concentrates produced at the mine site. Palabora has reduced captive material by almost 40 per cent with the transition from a large open-cast to a smaller underground mine. The smelter and refinery complex was designed to treat 120 kt contained copper units per annum, with the underground only supplying 70 per cent of the feed. The agreed strategy was to import enough concentrates to maximise production and reduce operational unit costs. This transition has presented the Palabora management with new challenges both in technical and financial aspects.

Jan 1, 2006

By N. von Stade, G. du Plessis, W. van Niekerk, H. Bosman

Exploration, and other, boreholes are drilled to obtain information about the geological environment. Knowledge of the exact position (dip and direction) of the holes is important to ensure compatibility between the hole and the geological information. Kumba Resources traditionally used mechanical methods to determine the hole characteristics. These are cumbersome and expensive, and as a consequence a new method, the IVEC (Iscor Video Exploration Camera), was developed which utilizes a charged coupled device (CCD) image sensor focused on a three-dimensional compass. This system is rugged, relatively inexpensive and gives real-time results during borehole logging. Keyword: Borehole inclination, deviation, dip and direction, geophysics, exploration.

Sep 1, 2001

By R. T. White, A. Higginson, M. Phil

Samples of water that had been collected underground from eight gold mines in South Africa were subjected comprehensive analysis of the quality of the waters, and their corrosivity on mild steel was measured by the laboratory techniques of extrapolation from Tafel plots and of polarization resistance. The results indicate that, if such factors as pH, Langelier index, and degree of aeration are beyond certain specified limits, the corrosivity ofthe water is affected. The applicability of the corrosivity index in predictions ofthe degree corrosion is questioned. Suggestions are included for future work involving the fundamental characterization of the corrosivity of mine waters.

Jan 1, 1983

By D. F. Williams

The modelling, simulation, and design of processes for the recovery of gold from solution by absorption on carbon require the combination of a suitable rate expression with a description of the flow conflguration of the system. By the use of a suitable rate expression from the literature, methods are presented for the design of multi-stage countercurrent absorption systems corresponding to the commonly used carbon-in-pulp and carbon-in-column contacting systems. The sensitivity of the recovery to various design parameters is illustrated. These results have important implications in the choice and design of equipment.

Jan 1, 1985

By M. J. Daly

Historically, engineers and scientists, particularly those involved in the coal-mining industry, have been slow to adopt statistical methods. However, the need to obtain the maximum information .from expensive exploration and development programmes, and the current focus on total quality management, have led to a change in perceptions if classical statistical and geostatistical methods and their application as planning tools. Some if the underlying issues associated with the generally poor communications between statisticians and engineers/physical scientists, which contribute to some if the misconceptions relating to statistical methods, are discussed The potentially profitable application if a number if statistical techniques in the fields if geological evaluation and mine planning! development is also reviewed, with specific reference to the coal industry.

Jan 1, 1995

By Z. Zitron, G. J. de Korte, D. W. Horsfall

This paper summarizes work carried out on the treatment of fine coal, nominally classified as minus 0,5 mm (wedge-wire screen), which is removed from the raw coal prior to the treatment of the plus 0,5 mm sizes. The minus 0,5 mm coal divides, for treatment purposes, into fines, nominally between 500 and 150 !tm, and ultrafines, nominally minus 150 !tm. Studies on processes for the treatment of minus 0,5 mm coal are discussed, and the lower size limit beneficiated is indicated for each process. The installation and operational results from a pilot froth-flotation plant treating minus 150!tm coal are described.

Jan 1, 1986

By T. A. Claasen

Exceptionally low yields in the coking-coal fields of the Soutpansberg area in the northern Transvaal, are taxing the skill and ingenuity of preparation engineers. The coals are highly intergrown, and a series of crushing and washing steps may be required to extract the maximum usable tonnage. In addition, novel preparation techniques may have to be employed. This paper, which is a case study of work recently undertaken, gives a general account of raw coal properties, emphasizing those related to maximum recoveries, and outlines the steps involved in the design of appropriate flow sheets based on laboratory studies.

Jan 1, 1980

By G. S. Bartlett

The theme of this Colloquium, survival strategies, not only conveys a sense of urgency but also takes cognizance of the fact that, as in the political arena, tough decisions have to be made and acted upon in the years to come. It is therefore appropriate that the SAIMM, as spokesman for the metallurgical industry, should be dealing with these issues at this time, and I wish to commend the organizers of this Colloquium for focusing on a mater as important as the future of this great industry. In view of this, I regard it as an honour and privilege to officiate on this occasion, where the best of South Africa's brain power in the metallurgical field will be harnessed with a view to moulding strategies for survival.

Jan 1, 1993