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By A. D. Fowler, M. T. Anderson

A phenomenological model is presented that relates Pb-Zn mineralisation to proximal geopressure zones. Typically, geopressure zones (GPZ) consist of masses of undercompacted sediment encapsulated within impermeable shales and are characterised by high formation fluid pressures. Heat flow is perturbed in some GPZ on account of their insulating properties. Geothermal gradients as high as 150 degrees C/km have been observed over short distances in the sediments of the US coast of the Gulf of Mexico. Some modern geopressure zones are known to reach temperatures of 120-150 degrees C at depths of 2.5-3.5 km. It is demonstrated that the zones may act as proximal sources of hydrothermal fluids, thus explaining the high temperatures of mineralisation observed in the deposits, which are hosted in basins characterised by thick, rapidly deposited, shale-rich clastic sequences

Jan 1, 1991

By Keith A. Heasley, John L. Ellenberger, Paul W. Jeran

In this paper, a state-of-the-art, three-dimensional, full waveform, microseismic system was used to analyze the rock failure around a deep (> 750 m (2500 ft) of cover) bump-prone longwall panel. The microseismic system consisted of both underground and surface geophones coupled through radio telemetry and a fiber-optic network to produce pseudo real-time detection and location of seismic events surrounding the coal seam. This was the first microseismic installation of this scope at a U.S. coal mine, and the system was intended to help determine the exact strata mechanics associated with the redistribution of stress and the associated gob formation at one of the U.S.’s deepest longwall mines. Overall, 5,000 calibrated seismic events were recorded during the mining of one panel, including a Richter magnitude 4.2 event which occurred inside of the array. Analysis of these events provides a number of notable insights into the rock mass behavior. For instance, the longwall panel was widened during the retreat process, and the mining-induced seismicity shows a distinctly different behavior between the start of the panel, the mining of the narrow part of the panel and the mining of the wider part of the panel. Also, in itself, the acquisition of the ML 4.2 event was a major milestone in geomechanical and bump research. This is the first time that such an event has been recorded with this detail and accuracy at a bump-prone coal mine in the U.S. The analysis of this single event has set distinct new limits on the relationship between mining seismicity and coal bumps.

A modified liquation technique was developed for recovering tin from tinhouse scruff metal or hardhead containing about 10 per cent iron and 15 per cent occluded flux, palm oil, and moisture. This was effectedby heating the scruff metal to 950°C followed by rapid cooling to suppress the formation of FeSn2 and FeSn, and then subjecting it to the ordinary liquation and drossing processes of refining. By this method it was possible to recover about 83 per cent of the original tin content and, with subsequent smelting of the irony drosses, an overall recovery of 92 per cent was obtained.

Jan 1, 1969

By J. E. Hipp

Three electrostatic field sensing proximity warning devices were tested using full-scale cranes and power line systems, a scaled model facility, environmental testing facilities, and theoretical/numerical analysis. The design objective of each device is to assist in safe crane operation near overhead power lines. Several design deficiencies (varying from device to device) were observed, including inadequate overlap in sensitivity ranges, utilization of vacuum tubes and electro-mechanical parts, temperature sensitivity and inaudible alarms. In addition, the testing showed major device limitations including sensitivity to boom orientations and length, polarization dependent responses, and unreliable operation in the presence of multiple power line circuits. The multiple power line circuit problem is intrinsic to electrostatic sensing devices. The remaining deficiencies and limitations are correctable within a state-of-the-art design. This investigation is not intended to evaluate the safety aspects or policy of utilizing proximity warning devices. Rather, the purpose is to determine the performance characteristics of such devices in relation to the criteria specified in proposed MSHA regulation 77.805-4 (i. e., the devices must alarm at a distance of 10 feet from the power line).

Jan 1, 1980

By John P. Borovsky

A 3-year study was conducted to evaluate the problems and benefits of using vegetation to stabilize tailing from a potential Minnesota copper-nickel milling operation. The project consisted of three separate investigations: a waste characterization study, a greenhouse study and a field study. With few exceptions, the physical and chemical characteristics of the tai ling were found to lie within the range of properties of Minnesota soils. The tailing lacks organic matter; is deficient in nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium; and may contain elevated levels of soluble salts and heavy metals, particularly copper and nickel. Numerous grasses, forbs and woody plants will tolerate the tailing as a rooting medium. Peat incorporation and topsoil dressing provided few benefits to the revegetation process which were not provided by a fertilizer application. With fertilization, grass/legume production in the tailing was comparable to local agricultural yields. Concentration of heavy metals in grasses grown in the tailing were generally below suggested tolerance limits for plants and animal forage. Legumes tended to accumulate higher concentrations of copper and nickel, and metal uptake of most plants was positively correlated with rate of fertilization. Tailing drainage water contained elevated levels of heavy metals, and establishment of vegetation had little effect on the quantity and quality of tailing drainage water. However, topsoil dressing significantly increased drainage water volume when compared to unvegetated control plots. Copper-nickel tailing revegetation recommendations were developed.

Jan 1, 1983

The development and introduction of a preventive maintenance scheme in the coke ovens department, coal preparation section, of The Broken Hill Proprietary Co. Ltd., Newcastle steelworks, is described together with its operation and the results achieved during the first 12 months.'fhe scheme consists essentially of an engineering analysis of the plant to establish maintenance schedules, and to record the details on reference cards.Items are reviewed progressively and a weekly work schedule is prepared, from which work orders are passed on to the maintenance foremen. These foremen in turn originate action orders and issue inspection sheets as required. Results are then reported back to the maintenance planner and used to revise norms, practices, and cycles.INTRODUCTIONWhat is maintenance? Some people consider maintenance to be the work involved in putting things together again after they have fallen apart. The author regards it as the mechanical care and repair of plant machinery and equipment to keep it operating in sound mechanical condition, without undue interference with production processes.Maintenance may be organized or haphazard, and, too often, what has been fondly imagined to be nicely controlled and organized maintenance proves, under pressure, to be more correctly described as haphazard. Haphazard maintenance deals with breakdowns as they occur, and frequently finds itself confronted with more breakdowns than can be handled. Even organized maintenance, if not based on sound planning, can, at times, be found in a chaotic state, because of unexpected and unanticipated breakdown.Properly planned and scheduled maintenance permits an orderly and controlled approach to the problem of maintain...

Jan 1, 1961

Plant survey data has shown that gold recovery through a specific copper concentrator was significantly lower than copper recovery. Size-by-size analysis revealed that this was due to poor recovery of+75 µm and ?23 µm gold containing particles. In order to further investigate the nature of the gold losses, experiments were conducted at laboratory scale. Gold deportment studies on the laboratory flotation products revealed that coarse gold (+75 µm) reporting to the rougher tailing was predominantly associated with non-sulphide gangue. Further grinding of the plant rougher tailing improved recovery of gold and copper, while not affecting iron recovery, due to improved liberation of gold from non-sulphide gangue in coarse size fractions. EDTA extraction to remove surface contaminants showed a similar improvement for fine, liberated gold flotation.

Jan 1, 2003

By R. Emmett Hughlett

The Bureau of Mines has developed a statistical approach to the laboratory evaluation of response bias and precision in gas detectors. The techniques described employ a computerized analysis and a new method of data presentation called composite graphing. The underlying theory, its practical application to the data, and the experimental equipment and procedure are described.

Jan 1, 1982

By R. H. Colquhoun

"INTRODUCTION The Holt-McDermott Mine is wholly-owned gold mining operation of American Barrick Resources Corp. that begun operations in June 1988.The property is located 0.5 km. south of Highway 101 East in the Harker-Holloway Townships of Northeastern Ontario, 7 miles south of Lake Abitibi and 15 miles west of the Quebec-Ontario border.Employees of the operation travel daily from various communities in the area, predominantly from Kirkland Lake, Ont., which is located 65 km. to the southwest.The significance of the operation is that it is the first full scale operation associated to the Oestor-Porcupine Fault to go into full production in recent history as well as the first Carbon-in-Leach (CIL) operation in the province owing to the natural occurring carbonaceous ores that are associated to the ore body and the geological fault systems.GEOLOGYThe Holt-McDermott deposit is located in the Abitibi Greenstone Belt, a short distance west of the Ontario-Quebec border. Ore grade material follows the footwall contact of a fault zone known locally as the McKenna Fault, which is thought to be a splay off of the Oestor-Porcupine Fault, itself a major feature in the Abitibi belt.The McKenna Fault strikes approximately east-west (as does the Oestor-Porcupine) and dips to the south at sixty-five to seventy degrees. The fault lies within a package of mafic volcanic rocks (basalts). These rocks have been strongly altered and mineralized adjacent to the McKenna Fault, and the resulting lens-like ore bodies constitute the mining targets."

Jan 1, 1989

By Innes J. A

The structural variations occurring in pellets of finely divided mixtures of iron ore and coke breeze, metallized by firing at elevated temperatures, have been examined microscopically. For any given pellet composition, time and temperature are the two most important factors in determining the development of the bonding processes.INTRODUCTIONThe success of sintering and pelletizing processes in the agglomeration of fine iron ores for blast furnace use has brought about rapid changes in thinking relative to methods of preparing furnace burdens. Increases in productivity with the use of sinter emphasize the advantages of a stable, uniformly sized furnace feed. Current practice is to produce a self-fluxing sinter containing most of the lime requirements of the furnace incorporated as a stable medium (Figgis and Charker, 1962). The elimination of fine material from the burden allows greater stack permeability and smoother operation.Sintering and pelletizing of iron ores with or without the incorporation of fluxing compounds has conditioned operators to the extent that it is now considered possible that all components of the burden may eventually be beneficiated in one form or another. Investigations are in hand to improve the quality and sizing of coke, which occupies the major part of the burden volume (Callcott, Innes and Brown, 1961; Innes, Gregory and Worner, 1963). Interest is also being revived in methods of pre-reducing iron ores prior to charging to the furnace (Hansen, Melcher and Fine, 1961). Recent experiments in a small experimental blast furnace (Melcher, 1963) show that charging of semi-metallized pellets can give rise to a production increase of 55 per cent...

Jan 1, 1963

By Richard E. Thill

Elastic wave velocities and moduli were determined by both the pulse and resonance methods in a large number of specimens of St. Cloud Gray Granodiorite and Tennessee marble under the same moisture, temperature, and stress environment. Long cylinders were first tested by the resonance method to obtain longitudinal bar and torsional wave velocity. The cylinders were then sectioned in half and tested by the pulse method to obtain the transient pulse velocity. These velocities were later used to obtain various moduli for comparison. Statistical comparisons between the Young's, shear, and bulk moduli and Poisson's ratios obtained independently by the pulse and resonance methods indicate that the methods do not give equivalent results in nearly isotropic rock. The amount of difference varies for each modulus, with the least difference (less than 5 pct) occurring in the shear modulus and the greatest difference (as high as 34 pct) in the bulk modulus. Moduli determinations in aluminum show much closer agreement between the pulse and resonance methods than in rock. The discrepancy in pulse and resonance results probably is caused by frequency dispersion effects and by differences in error sensitivity in the various formulas used to calculate the moduli.

Jan 1, 1974

By Fredrick L. Johnson

Tungsten is the principal mineral commodity in the Laurel-McGee RARE II area; copper and molybdenum would be recovered as by-products with the tungsten. Indicated and inferred tungsten marginal reserves at the Hard Point Mine (fig. l, no. 10) are 16,000 tons (14,000 t) averaging 1.0 percent tungsten trioxide (W03). The mine is outside the RARE II area, but the geologic structure that it is on extends into the area. Indicated subeconomic zinc, silver, copper, and lead resources at the Lucky Strike Prospect (fig. 1, no. 7) are nearly 6,200 tons (5,600 t) averaging 5.45 percent zinc, 0.5 oz silver per ton (19 g/t), 0.40 percent copper, and 0.32 percent lead. Although tungsten has been produced at the Tiptop Mine (fig. 1, no. 12), resources were not calculated because of the spotty nature of the tungsten mineralization. Additional exploration at the Tiptop and Hard Point Mines could reveal significant resources. The potential for tungsten resources at the Payday Prospect, Tungsten Prospect, and Morhardt Mine is also high. The Pine Creek Mine custom mill, located about 35 mi (56 km) southeast, could process tungsten concentrates from the area. Tungsten production has been recorded from three properties, the Hard Point, Morhardt, ant Tiptop Mines. Output was about 405,000 lb (184,000 kg) of W03, nearly all from the Hard Point.

Jan 1, 1983

By Michel Aubertin

Les haldes à stériles contenant des minéraux sulfureux réactifs constituent un milieu favorable à la production du drainage minier acide (DMA). Au sein de ces haldes, les processus physiques, géochimiques et biologiques qui mènent à la production du DMA sont nombreux et complexes. Un des aspects critiques qui affecte la génération de DMA est la distribution et le mouvement de l?eau dans les roches stériles. La modélisation numérique est un outil qui permet de comprendre, pour éventuellement contrôler, les mouvements de l?eau (et donc réduire la production du DMA) dans les haldes pendant la période d?exploitation de la mine et à sa fermeture. Plusieurs simulations numériques des écoulements non saturés dans des haldes ont été effectuées. Pour ces simulations, on a considéré divers types de matériaux, diverses conditions atmosphériques et diverses configurations géométriques. Les simulations réalisées montrent que l?on peut contrôler les mouvements de l?eau en introduisant des couches de matériaux fins intercalées dans les haldes formées de matériaux grossiers. Des couches horizontales ne sont cependant pas appropriées puisqu?elles peuvent, dans certains cas, favoriser la création de zones humides susceptibles d?amplifier les effets du DMA. Une faible inclinaison des couches de matériaux fins vers l?extérieur permet de palier à ce problème. Les couches inclinées favorisent un drainage des haldes vers la périphérie. Ceci a pour effet de garder sèche une grande partie des stériles et de réduire, par le fait même, la production du DMA.

Nov 1, 2002

By J. L. Holman

The Bureau of Mines has extended its previous development of cast Mn-Cu damping alloys to powder metallurgy (P/M) consolidation of alloys containing 55 to 75 wt-pct Mn. Blends of minus 200-mesh elemental powders were compacted cold in directional and isostatic presses. With 1 pct binder, typical green densities ranged between 76 and 80 pct of theoretical when pressing at 30 or 48 tsi. Green strength increased with compacting pressure and copper content. As-sintered tensile strengths ranged to 60,000 psi fox a hydrogen, sintered 60Mn-40Cu alloy, along with 5-pct elongation. Sintered densities ranged between 90 and 96 pct of theoretical. Sintering (a as effective when holding for 1 hr at maximum temperatures of 900° to 1,040` C, dependent on composition. Strength and ductility were considerably lower than for equiva¬lent cast alloys. When aged to the damping condition, alloys containing 60 to 70 pct Mn exhibited >40 pct specific damping capacity (SDC) at 5,000-psi stress, considerably higher than values reported for equivalent cast material. Effects of 1 or 3 pct Sn or Zn additions on SDC and other properties were assessed. Trials were conducted on consolidating rings and gears of the 65Mn-35Cu alloy on industrial-type P/M equipment.

Jan 1, 1979

By Ernest J. Conway

This report presents engineering drawings for six material handling devices for underground coal mines. The devices were designed under a U.S. Bureau of Mines program to reduce injuries from material handling during mine and equipment maintenance. The six devices are (1) scoop-mounted 1411: boom, (2) swing-arm boom, (3) heavy-component lift-transport, (4) mine mud cart, (5) container-workstation vehicle, and (6) timber car. Each device is described briefly, and recommendations are made concerning the design of new devices.

Jan 1, 1989

The discussion in this paper centres on examples of mining that are drawn mainly from the coal mining industry. The intention is to review the opportunities that exist for incorporating environmental planning into mining industry practice in New Zealand. The coal mining examples serve to make some general points which have some application for many types of mining.

Jan 1, 1981

Gippsland has perhaps the most colourful history of exploration of any area in Australia. Hydrocarbons were first discovered in the Gippsland Basin in 1924 when a water well at Lakes Entrance encountered oil and gas shows. In 1942, the Commonwealth and Victorian Governments, in an effort to supplement a wartime oil shortage, sank a shaft near this well and produced 8000 barrels of low gravity oil up to 1956, when the field was abandoned. A total of 64 shallow wells had been drilled in the Lakes Entrance area by that time. Elsewhere in the onshore Gippsland Basin, 30 wells were drilled from 1925 to 1941. In 1960 BHP Ltd was granted an exploration permit covering much of the offshore area of the Gippsland Basin. Esso Australia Ltd joined BHP in 1964 and drilled the Barracouta-1 gas discovery in 1965. Since then over 100 exploration and appraisal wells have been drilled in the basin resulting in the discovery to date of some 3.6 billion barrels of recoverable oil and 8.8 trillion cubic feet of recoverable gas (Current remaining recoverable reserves are 906 million barrels of oil and 5.7 TCF of gas). Exploration in the offshore areas is actively continuing today and new discoveries are still being made.

Jan 1, 1992

By S C. Dominy

Various styles of gold mineralisation pose problems during sampling because of their complex gold grade distribution and presence of coarse gold. Effective sampling and sample preparation forms the basis of resource estimates. The design of a sampling and assaying protocol must be based on a thorough understanding of the mineralisation in question, which should include consideration of gold particle size and mass distribution. The proportion of coarse gold within samples has a profound effect on the requirements for sample preparation and assaying. Choice of preparation procedure and assay type is of critical importance if sampling errors are to be minimised. Traditional fire assays, using small charge sizes, often understate assays gained from large charge sizes and techniques such as screen fire assay and LeachWELL. Proper application of the Theory of Sampling reduces errors during collection, preparation and assaying. A quality control/quality assurance program must be implemented and critically assessed. A case study from the Ballarat mine is presented, which is characterised by substantial quantities of coarse-gold hosted in quartz veins. Diamond core drilling is the key input into resource delineation. A number of different sampling and assay options have been trialled over the recent project history. The current sampling protocol utilises whole drill core, using LeachWELL assays after logging and photography.CITATION:Dominy, S C, 2017. Sampling coarse gold-bearing mineralisation – developing effective protocols and a case study from the Ballarat mine, Australia, in Proceedings Eighth World Conference on Sampling and Blending , pp 71–84 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

May 9, 2017

A key driver to the success of a tunnelling project (the project) is the management of hydrogeological risk. The hydrogeological risk, if not managed, may cause significant impacts on the overall performance of the project. Impacts may include groundwater quality impairment due to contaminant transport and acid drainage from disturbed geology to groundwater, and groundwater lowering. The groundwater lowering and quality impairment may cause tunnel failure, with consequences such as injury to humans, as well as reduced property and environmental values, potentially costing millions of dollars to sponsors of the project. Depending on the nature of the contaminants and level of hydraulic connection of bedrock fracture along the length of tunnel, the contaminant transport may reduce structural strength of the tunnel due to corrosive action of contaminants such as acid drainage. The groundwater lowering can lead to varying degrees of ground settlement, posing threat of tunnel collapse. The management of hydrogeological risk includes:detection of potential pathways for contaminants into and around the tunnel,identification of factors responsible for the lowering of groundwater, and development of strategic measures to control groundwater lowering and contaminant transport. The paper presents an in-house hydrogeological risk management model named Vedanta-THRM (tunnel hydrogeological risk management). The model uses Risk Management Standard AS/NZS 4360:2004 (Standards Australia, 2004), Pressure State Response framework developed by Organisation of Economic Cooperation and Development, and Interaction Matrices. The Vedanta-THRM identifies important characteristics, processes and events of potential hydrogeological risk and develops control measures for managing hydrogeological risk throughout the life cycle of the project. The Vedanta-THRM was applied for a project in the early stages of planning and found to be useful in assessing, evaluating and reducing the hydrogeological risk in a managed approach that potentially increased the performance of the project. The application results also provided management options for use by project sponsors and insurance industry, which included tunnel risk financing options and options for equity investors to choose among various returns under different tunnel credit ratings.

Jan 1, 2008

By M. Felsenthal

Engineers are frequently faced with the problem of having to predict oil recovery from a solution gas drive reservoir in the early life of a field. This is often the time when actual laboratory or field-derived gas-oil permeability (kg/k0) data are not yet available. Although excellent collections of k0/k0 data for various types of rocks may be found in the literature,1,2,3 a need exists for a more detailed correlation of k0/k0 data with core properties such as porosity, permeability, clay content or pore-size distribution. It is the purpose of this article to present this type of correlation for sandstone material. The correlation is based on laboratory tests performed on over 300 core samples from 19 reservoirs in the United States and Canada. EXPERIMENTAL Cores were analyzed by routine procedures, using samples of conventional size (7/8-in. diameter, 7/8-in long) cut parallel to the bedding planes. Air permeability was measured at 1.67 atm mean pressure in a Hassler-type apparatus. Porosity was determined with the aid of a Ruska bulk volume meter and a Boyle's Law rock volume meter, An evaporation method' was used to evaluate irreducible water saturations. Core samples were saturated with 25,000 ppm NaCl brine. The brine was reduced to the irreducible saturation, and the remainder of the pore space was filled with kerosene. This was followed by multiphase flow tests using the so-called "dispersed feed" technique.5 n this technique, gas and oil (kerosene and kerosene-saturated air) were dispersed with the aid of a porous Alun-durn feed head, the face of which contained a waffle-shaped system of Lucite-lined grooves. Oil entered the back side of the feed head and emerged at the raised areas of the front face. Gas was introduced directly into the system of grooves at the front face. The gas-oil mixture then entered the test core which was kept in capillary contact with the feed head. Permeabilities were determined from rate and pressure measurements and saturations from weights. All determinations were performed at equilibrium or steady-state conditions. Pore-size distributions were determined on selected samples by a mercury injection technique.6 GENERAL CORRELATIVE TRENDS When examining data from a given reservoir, it was noted that k0/k0 vs saturation curves became generally less steep as specific air permeability increased, a development that has a favorable effect on oil displacement efficiency by solution gas drive. This trend has also been reported by others in the literature.' An effect of porosity on k0/k0 data was also noted. This effect was not generally discernible in a study of relative permeability data for a given reservoir but became apparent when data for sandstone reservoirs of similar lithology but differing average porosity were compared. For instance, in a comparison of argillaceous and/or calcareous sandstones from 11 reservoirs ranging in average porosities from 14 to 28 per cent, a definite trend was noted, indicating that for a given permeability k0/k0 curves became less favorable (i.e., steeper) as porosity increased. A similar trend was observed for a group of comparatively clean sandstones from five reservoirs ranging in average porosities from 15 to 21 per cent. For a given permeability and porosity, comparatively clean sandstones gave more favorable k0/k0 curves than argillaceous and/or calcareous sandstone or chert reservoirs. The laboratory studies also showed that least favorable k0/k0 curves were exhibited by shaly sandstone, conglomerate, and sandstone containing carbon inclusions. Table 1 lists the various source reservoirs classified by lithology types. To facilitate a correlation of k0/k0 data with core characteristcis, it was found expedient to work with