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By Dirk van Zyl

It can systematically assess if the control and management systems designed for protection of sensitive ecosystems are adequate. The results of the assessment can help to identify key elements in the project that pose higher risks due to uncertainties in design. These assessments can then be used to make recommendations to further manage and reduce risks as the project is developed. QUALITATIVE RISK ASSESSMENT The general principles of a risk assessment are well summarized by Kaplan and Garrick (1981): "In analyzing risk we are attempting to envision how the future will turn out if we undertake a certain course of action (or inaction)." Fundamentally, therefore a risk analysis consists of an answer to the following three questions: What can happen? (i.e. what can go wrong?) How likely is it that that will happen? If it does happen what are the consequences?" Risk assessments can be performed using various levels of sophistication depending on the amount and accuracy of data available. A qualitative risk assessment uses descriptors throughout to express the level of risk. The definitions of the descriptors are presented in terms of the magnitude or concentration of contaminants. The results of a qualitative risk assessment can be used to: a)Document the evaluation and decisionmaking process. Although differences of opinion may exist about the definitions of the descriptors, the process is well-documented; b)Express the relative risk associated with specific activities or design elements; and, c)Select those failure modes or release mechanisms that may result in significant risks. These mechanisms can then be further developed in quantitative risk assessments. A qualitative risk assessment can be performed in a systematic approach using four steps (Van Zyl, 1987): A qualitative environmental risk assessment can be used to describe the risks associated with the development of a new mine and to make an evaluation of the adequacy of its design for environmental protection. The relative magnitude of risk associated with selected failure modes and exposure/consequence scenario assessments is the final result of a qualitative risk assessment. These failure modes are based on site specific areas and components, and mining and construction phases. The four steps of a risk assessment (hazard assessment, exposure assessment, consequence assessment, and risk characterization) are used in the development of a qualitative risk assessment. Relative magnitudes (using a five point scale of negligible to high) for each step, can be quantified in a qualitative risk assessment. Development of the descriptors for the relative magnitudes in each step is a very important part of a qualitative risk assessment. The success of a qualitative risk assessment depends on the adequacy of the information base and the subjective judgements made in each step. The quality of the risk assessment is, therefore, dependent on the experience of the assessors. A mining project in a sensitive coastal environment is presented as an example to demonstrate the application of a qualitative risk assessment. INTRODUCTION Environmental impacts from mining operations have been a significant factor in the last century. This was especially the case prior to the development of a better understanding of environmental processes and the potential impacts of acid rock drainage (ARD), and associated heavy metals, or the uncontrolled disposal of tailings and waste rock (Smith, 1987). Much care has been exercised over the last two decades in designing and operating mines to limit the environmental impacts as far as possible. All new mines are specifically designed with mitigative methods to manage such potential environmental impacts. Attention is directed to ARD impacts, safe disposal of mine waste rock and tailings, transportation and storage of chemicals and fuels, and final reclamation. A qualitative risk assessment can be used to address all project systems and activities that may potentially pose a risk to the environment.

Jan 1, 1992

By Alan English

This paper reviews the process control systems used in early commercial pelletizing plants, traces the development of these systems into present day practice, and briefly outlines advanced automation concepts being considered for future installations. It deals specifically with controls for the balling circuit, pelletizing machines, and related material handling and combustion equipment. The importance of instruments for visual observation and data logging is discussed, and the potential use of computer control is evaluated.

Jan 1, 1965

By Y. Pan, P. Tukkaraja, R. BHARGAVA, V.V.S. VYTLA, S.J. SRIDHARAN

Panel caving is an underground bulk mining method that uses gravitational force to mine massive, steeply dipping and deep-seated ore deposits at lower operating cost. To control dust and gas emissions entering the production level during the extraction of ore from the draw points in a panel cave, relatively negative pressure is created in the cave by installing an exhaust fan in the exhaust drift located on top of the cave. As caving is a dynamic process, designing an effective ventilation system is challenging; therefore, estimating the airflow resistance offered by the broken rock inside the cave is critical. This study investigates the effect of changes in the bulk porosity of the broken rock on the cave airflow resistance using the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) approach. The results show an inverse relationship between the cave airflow resistance and the bulk cave porosity. The pressure-quantity characteristic curves presented in this paper provide valuable information for sizing and operating an exhaust fan used for a mature panel cave ventilation.

Nov 1, 2022

By Wayne R. Hopkins

Southern Arizona has one of the world's principal concentrations of copper ore bodies. Twenty miles south of Tucson, close to the Mexican border at Sahuarita in Pima County, is the Twin Buttes mine. In mid-1973, the Anaconda Company and American Metals Climax Incorporated (AMAX) established a 50-50 partnership to operate and expand the Twin Buttes property. Anamax Mining Company was established as the operating company for this joint venture. The production from the Twin Buttes mine is shared between the two partners who market independently. A major expansion of the Twin Buttes operation has included an accelerated stripping programrne for the pit, an expansion of the sulphide concentrator, the construction of an oxide leach plant and a 57 MW diesel generating power station. Part of this major expansion, the large tonnage oxide processing plant was brought on stream in 1975 and is now close to design capacity. The "mine to market gap" has been closed by producing high-purity copper cathodes at the mine site from oxide ore reserves. By using a hydrometallurgical process route, copper production is possible with negligible effects on the environment.

Jan 1, 1976

By C. Zhou, B. Whisner, J. Carr

Proximity Detection Systems (PDSs) are used in the mining industry for protecting mine workers from striking, pinning, and crushing injuries when they work in close proximity to heavy machines such as continuous mining machines (CMMs). Currently all Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) approved PDSs are magnetic field based systems which can be influenced by the presence of wire mesh that is commonly used for supporting roof and ribs in underground coal m ines. In this paper, researchers at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) characterize the influence of the mesh on the performance of magnetic PDSs by measuring the magnetic field difference around a CMM caused by the presence of the mesh. The results show that the magnetic fields are generally enhanced by the mesh which causes the PDS detection zones to be increased correspondingly. It was discovered that the fields around the joints of two mesh sections have the greatest enhancement and thus deserve more attention. In addition, it is found that the presence of mesh can also cause a variation in the generator current. The influence of mesh is characterized by the change in the generator current with respect to the distance between the generator and the mesh. It was found that the generator current change caused by the mesh can be significant (on the order of ten) when the mesh is extremely close to the generator (e.g, less than 1 cm) and is negligible when mesh is relatively far (greater than 0.15 m). The findings in this paper can be used to develop guidelines and best practices to mitigate the influence of mesh on PDSs. INTRODUCTION The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) requires operators of underground coal mines to equip place-changing continuous mining machines (CMMs) with proximity detection systems (PDSs) to protect mine workers from striking, pinning and crushing injuries when they work around these heavy machines. Although a variety of technologies can be implemented for proximity detection, the magnetic-field-based PDS that was originally developed at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has shown great effectiveness in challenging mining environments and currently all MSHA-approved PDSs are magnetic-field-based systems. As shown in Figure 1, a magnetic PDS typically includes two major components----the magnetic field generator and the Miner Wearable Component (MWC). Magnetic fields are generated by injecting a high electric current into a ferrite-rod antenna sealed in the generator. The magnetic field strength detected by an MWC varies with the distance between the MWC and the generator. In a typical PDS, multiple generators are mounted on different locations of the machine. The relative location/zone of an MWC is determined based on the field strengths from different generators picked by the MWC. Ideally, for a PDS to work properly in the underground, the magnetic fields generated by the different generators should be stable and not vary with the environment, as the system would interpret any variation of the magnetic field as a result of the distance change between the machine and the miner wearing the MWC. In reality, however, this is not always the case since magnetic fields can be altered by a number of environmental factors such as the presence of steel wire mesh that has been widely used in underground coal mines for supporting roof and ribs In this paper, the influence of mesh on the PDS performance is investigated and the magnetic field change caused by the mesh is measured.

Jan 1, 2019

By T. W. Camm

The Bureau of Mines conducts studies of the economic impacts of regulations on federal lands. These studies are part of the Bureau Potential Supply Analysis (PSA) program. To meet the needs of these studies, a methodology was developed to estimate operating and capital costs for a mineral deposit given its tonnage, grade, and depth. The format for the cost models in this study was developed at the Bureau's Western Field Operations Center (WFOC), Spokane, W. A., for studies of known and undiscovered resources on Federal lands. These cost models are described in a Bureau publication by Camm (1991).

Jan 1, 1993

By Gerald P. Kelton

Over the past quarter of a century, the success of the hydrocyclone as a classifier in closed circuit grinding installations has permitted the introduction of the cyclone into virtually all fields of wet industrial processing. Research and experience gained in these applications have established the optimum cyclone sizes and designs necessary to provide the required performance. Although cyclones are used in widely diverse liquid-solid applications, their use for ultrafine separation clearly demonstrates the importance of a familiarity with previous case studies. Krebs Engineers is firmly dedicated to serving the process industry and has acquired the unsurpassed knowledge and experience to handle all types of separations and classification problems. Cyclones have been used for a number of applications to make what might be considered fine separations. A typical example is in an iron ore grinding circuit where a 381 mm diameter cyclone will classify an overflow product to 85% -44 micron. There is no question that this is a fine separation, but still finer separations are possible, and these are known as ultrafine separations.

Jan 1, 1983

By E. C. Watkins

The fiber glass industry is an industry that. hopefully is still in its infancy and far from a mature business. Fiber glass, as will be discussed in this paper, deals with continuous strand glass as used in the textile laminate and reinforced plastics industries. More specifically, we are speaking of glass used for printed circuit boards, tapes, paper, cloth, pipes, tanks, boats, recreational equipment, roofing shingles, and automotive applications. Compared to the flat, container and decorative glass industries, we are very young. The early patents on fiber glass applications were issued in the 1930's. The type of glass most commonly used in the world and that discussed in this paper is designated as "E" glass. This is a boro-silicate type glass having specific chemical and electrical resistance and low thermal expansion properties.

Jan 1, 1986

By Bob Miller

"All industries have parts and equipment that are exposed to some type of destructive wear. Hardfacing is a cost-effective tool that will minimize wear and increase service life. At first glance, hardfacing can be confusing and troublesome. In reality, it is not.Postle Industries, a manufacturer of hardfacing products, has found that the 22 answers to frequently asked questions may help operators select hardfacing products that are most appropriate for their application. The first 10 questions are addressed in these pages, the full list can seen at Mining Engineering online under the Web-Only Content section.1. What is hardfacing?Metal parts often fail their intended use not because they fracture, but because they wear by abrasion, impact, metal-to-metal contact or some other form of wear, which causes the parts to lose dimension and functionality. Hardfacing, also known as hard surfacing, is the application of a buildup or wear-resistant weld metal onto a part’s surface by means of welding to extend the life of the part. The weld metal may be applied as a solid surface or in a pattern, such as a waffle pattern, herringbone or dot pattern, etc.Hardfacing is becoming increasingly important for many industries to protect equipment that is exposed to wear and abrasion including parts used in mining, earthmoving and construction, oil and gas drilling and steel making and forging. Extending the life of wear parts can save thousands of dollars and improve productivity. Hardfacing can be used to recondition parts that have already been exposed to wear and have lost their useful life, or used in the manufacture of new parts to improve their life before they are put into service.There are three main types of hardfacing applications:• Build-up or rebuilding.• Hardfacing or overlay.• A combination of build-up and overlay.2. What base metals can be hardfaced?Carbon and low-alloy steels with carbon contents of less than 1 percent can be hardfaced. Medium carbon and low-alloy steels are very common since they provide higher strength than mild steels and better abrasion resistance. High carbon alloys may require a special buffer layer.The following base metals can be hardfaced:• Stainless steels.• Manganese steels.• Carbon and alloy steels.• Cast irons.• Nickel-base alloys.• Copper-base alloys."

Aug 1, 2016

By Alexander N. Winchell

"The wash ore area on the Mesabi iron range covers a regionof the iron bearing formation extending from Grand Rapids on the west to the Hibbing district, about forty miles eastward. Not all of the developed ore bodies are of wash structure; some are of such grades that they can be shipped direct as merchants able ore. It is safe to say, however, that 65 per cent of the ore is of a possible wash structure and of too high a silica content to be classified as merchantable ore. The increase in the number of washing plants completed each year on the western Mesabi shows that ,the product must be of a structure desirable for furnace operation. The following is a list of plants which were . in operation, under construction, or with plans completed, at the end of 1918:"

Jan 1, 1920

By Robert M. Cox

The principal factor that must be determined for the effective design of a coal mine roof bolt support system is the maximum stable tension that can be developed with a given bolt assembly in a particular roof rock. There are four basic types of roof bolt anchorage techniques available: (I) the splitwedge; (2) mechanical expansion units; (3) resin point anchors or grouted expansion units; and (4) the cone shell which is placed in a reamed hole. A study of this problem has been made which includes theoretical analyses, laboratory experiments and field tests. A static free-body analysis of each of the anchorage techniques has provided formulas for predicting the anchorage capacity for a particular rock from the results of standard pull tests. The formulas also provide an insight into the anchorage mechanism of technique and allow for a comparative evaluation of the methods for design purposes. The theoretical analyses also indicate clearly the pertinent variables affecting the anchorage mechanism of each method.

Jan 1, 1977

By Louis A. Panek

Research on roof bolting has developed significant information with respect to the functions that can be performed by properly installed bolts and the methods that can be used to ensure that effective installation has been achieved. The present paper brings together results that are pertinent to the design of a bolting system for reinforcing horizontally stratified mine roof with vertical bolts. The design approach is based on the use of bolts to decrease the maximum bending stress within an arbitrary sequence of roof strata (such as shown by figure 1) in which the only loads are the weights of the individual beds. The use of rock bolts to achieve other objectives, such as to stabilize a fractured rock mass on the periphery of a mine opening (3), is excluded from consideration herein.

Jan 1, 1964

By Christoph Wels, Michael Royle, Shannon Shaw

Intrinsic remediation is the effect of natural attenuation mechanisms - dilution, dispersion, sorption/precipitation and biodegradation - reducing contaminant concentrations in ground water to specified levels at predetermined compliance points in the aquifer. Current monitoring and modeling for post closure was used to assess the current and long-term potential of intrinsic remediation of contaminated seepage originating from a large reactive (sulfidic) tailings impoundment near Questa, New Mexico. It is concluded that the natural attenuation mechanisms of precipitation within the tailings (as a result of buffering) and dilution/dispersion within the aquifer are currently active and likely sufficient to reduce contaminant concentrations to below state standards in the long-term. Other natural attenuation mechanisms such as sorption and biodegradation within the receiving aquife4s) were not assessed here, but are likely further reducing contaminant concentrations. Active interception and recovery of the seepage water is being maintained until monitoring demonstrates that intrinsic remediation has successfully achieved the level of water quality control required.

Jan 1, 2000

By C. J. Im

As market conditions become more competitive, U.S. coal producers are faced with the increasing need to find methods of lowering production costs in their operations. One area worthy of investigation is the additional recovery of fine coal that is normally discarded in the preparation plant waste stream. United Coal Company is currently assessing the capability of the Deister Flotaire, a new application of a column flotation cell, to recover additional, saleable coal from preparation plant waste. This paper presents the technical data obtained to date. Work with a 0.76 m (30 inch) diameter cell installed in a plant shows considerable coal recovery is possible from a nominal 0.595 run (28 mesh) X 0 refuse stream.

Jan 1, 1986

By T. J. Durbin

At some surface and underground mines, control of ground-water inflow involves significant costs. These costs include the capital costs for installing a dewatering system, power and other costs to operate and maintain the system, and costs to treat and dispose of the water that is collected. To minimize these costs, design of a dewatering system utilizing wells has been formulated in terms of a nonlinear operations research problem using quadratic programming. Using this formulation, the locations, depths, pumping rates, and pumping schedules of wells are selected so as to minimize the total costs of the dewatering system.

Jan 1, 1993

By G. Castillo, J. Mortensen

"INTRODUCTION Molybdenite is typically produced as a co-product in the copper ore flotation process. At the Rio Tinto Kennecott Concentrator (RTKC) in Copperton, Utah, the molybdenite is initially floated with copper sulfides and other value minerals producing a Cu-Mo concentrate. This is then separated in the molybdenum plant by depressing copper sulfides and pyrite and floating only molybdenite. The molybdenum plant in RTKC comprises the rougher circuit and several stages of cleaning to achieve a certain grade requirement of Mo. The rougher circuit is where the first stage of separation occurs. Cu sulfides and pyrite are depressed in the rougher circuit by adding NaSH under nitrogen and in the cleaner circuit by adding NaSH under air. The depression of Cu sulfides (and pyrite) by NaSH is related to the redox activity1. It is important therefore to maintain a reducing potential in the circuit in order to achieve effective Cu-Mo separation. If the rougher circuit is under air, like RTKC’s molybdenum cleaner circuits, it is harder to maintain the target redox potential because NaSH oxidizes rapidly in the presence of air thereby increasing NaSH consumption significantly. CU-MO SEPARATION AND ROLE OF PULP POTENTIAL The collector adsorption on copper sulfide minerals is through an electrochemical mechanism2. The collector changes the surface chemistry of the Cu mineral allowing it to float. Molybdenite, or MoS2, on the other hand, floats readily in the presence of a frother as it is naturally hydrophobic. Usually, hydrocarbon oil extenders such as diesel or burner oil are added to enhance Mo recovery. In order to effectively separate Cu from Mo, the collector complex on the copper surface needs to be destabilized or desorbed using a reducing agent such as NaSH or Nokes. As long as the circuit is under highly reducing conditions, the collector remains detached from the sulfide mineral surface allowing Cu sulfide depression. Therefore, it is important to measure the oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) continually and maintain the reducing condition with addition of NaSH. For a given collector each mineral will have a characteristic potential or electrochemical window for flotation to occur3, therefore, it is necessary to reduce the potential outside of this window in order to effectively separate Cu and Fe sulfides from MoS2 minerals2. In RTKC plant, the target reducing condition is between -450 to -550 mV to effectively destabilize the collector and depress Cu and Fe minerals. Typically the dosage of NaSH used in the molybdenum plant could range from 6 to 30 gallons/min (gpm). The high dosage of NaSH could pose risk of H2S exposure. RTKC wanted to evaluate alternatives to NaSH in order to reduce its consumption and minimize risk of H2S gas generation."

Jan 1, 2016

By Edwin H. McKee

Eruption of rhyolitic ash-flow tuffs in the area of the McDermitt (Cordero) caldera began about 17.4 m.y. ago and continued for about 1.5 m.y. During this period of silicic eruptions, a circular area about 30 km in diameter collapsed to form a caldera that subsequently filled with sedimentary and volcanic rocks. 3 A total of more than 200 km of silicic rocks was erupted from the volcano. The final phase of igneous activity, about 15.5 m.y. ago, included resurgent doming and intrusion in the central part of the caldera. Three to 4 m.y. later +I2 m.y. ago), hydrothermal solutions using the northern part of the caldera ring fractures as conduits deposited cinnabar, pyrite, alunite, and other minerals in tuffaceous lake beds and volcanic rocks accumulated within the caldera. The ore-forming solutions may have been a residuum from the silicic magma or connate water or ground water heated by the still-hot resurgent magma in the central part of the caldera. The source of the mercury has not been identified. Later oxidation of the sulfide minerals and redistribution of the supergene minerals corderoite, several mercury nitro-oxychlorides, marcasite, iron, and titanium oxides in the sedimentary rocks account for most of the newly discovered ore body at Cordero.

Jan 1, 1976

By J. E. Miller

The development of a new means of measuring the relative abrasivity of a slurry came about by necessity in 1967 during a full scale loop test of a 560 H.P. reciprocating pump handling magnetite slurry. In order to evaluate the life of expendable fluid end parts, the question of the amount of attrition in a re-circulated slurry had to be considered. An expected reduction in abrasivity as a result of this attrition would certainly give erroneous data on a parts life test. There- fore, some means of measuring such change in abrasivity became imperative. Several test methods were investigated1 but it was felt that these did not fully represent the wear due to back and forth rubbing action associated with a reciprocating pump. A "rubbing block" device used some years ago to determine the quality of hard facing materials was recalled, along with its shortcomings, in that an attempt was made to suspend a small percentage of abrasive particles in a colloidal viscous "mud". Erratic results were attributed to the fact that it was difficult to maintain a consistent slurry concentration under the metal wear block and the reciprocating speed was not great enough to maintain good agitation.

Jan 1, 1973

By G. C. Hambleton

There is sufficient indication of the existence of a basic misconception in the Coal Mining industry (on a world-wide basis) as to what computer control really does, what it costs, how it works and how and what it achieves as to make this presentation a welcome opportunity to present the case in what we hope is a simple, meaningful way. A plant cannot be said to be "automated" unless the control system has the capability to react automatically in accordance with predetermined programs under a great multiplicity of operational situations.

Jan 1, 1981

By Robert H. Shannon

Coal is the primary fuel for U.S. electric per generation -- over 78% of U.S coal production. In 1987 over 56% of electric per generation was from coal-fired plants. Areas of concern confronting the expanded use of coal for per generation include environmental, political and the nation's energy security and economy. These matters and available alternatives and options directed to the expanded use of coal are reviewed.

Jan 1, 1989