Search Documents

By Forrest T. Moyer

To keep the mineral and allied industries informed of trends in the causes of accidents, and to point out the need for corrective measures, the Bureau of Mines collects, analyzes, and periodically publishes health and safety statistics. This report includes data for 1963 on injury experience, with related employment statistics, at coal mines in the United States. These data are presented in tabular form under the following headings: General Injury Experience Tables 1 to 6: Current data on number of injuries, degree of injury, frequency and severity rates, average severity, and related employment and production data by work location.

Jan 1, 1966

By Steve Kral

Commodity price down cycles are a fact of life in the mining industry. And companies pre-pare for them as best they can. Evenso, operations are still curtailed or closed during those cycles, profits shrink, layoffs are inevitable and many companies do not survive. However, one of the few good things that occurs during down cycles is the new, innovative exploration, mining and processing technologies that come about during hard times. To survive the lean times, the mining industry turns to improved technology to decrease costs and hold the bottom line. And, because mining is a cyclical business, each down cycle brings about technology improvements that carry over into the good times.

Jan 1, 2004

By Paul-Dominique Oudenne

For many years, CMI NESA has gained considerable experience in the field of alternative thermal processing processes by which useful by products result in addition to the destruction of the raw wastes. The CMI NESA pyrolysis process has been extensively applied to a wide range of sewage, industrial sludge and residues. This paper describes in details the development works carried out at the pilot stage as well as the key parameters of the process. Some of the industrial realisations are briefly described, the most recent one being the erection of a sludge pyrolyser on predried sludge at 90% dryness of a capacity of 100 tons of dry matter per day for the Valenton plant of the SIAAP (city of Paris).

Jan 1, 2006

By William Babcock

Augered, Cast-In-Place (ACIP) piles can be an economical, reliable, versatile foundation system. They have also been a part of projects that were behind schedule and the subject of lawsuits. The ACIP pile is a specialty system that is more workmanship dependent than most deep foundation systems and is especially vulnerable to the problems and abuse of poor specifications and contract language. Many of the original specifications were based on grouting methods, and numerous misconceptions have followed the method. The Deep Foundations Institute (DFI) has been the leader in debunking the mystique that has hovered over the method and attempted to standardize the industry through publication of the manuals describing the method and how it should be inspected. DFI should be applauded for taking the lead and producing a reference document that can be used to educate the specification writers, designers, inspectors, and owners. It must be must appreciated that there have been other organizations that would not acknowledge ACIP piles as a legitimate member of the deep foundation family. Some consultants and designers have gone to the extreme of making it policy to not recommend the method for use. This presentation is one practitioner's view of the causes of problems as they can be traced back to the contractual conditions. It is intended to provide a broader and different perspective than those provided by the technical specialists. It does not necessarily reflect the position of the DFI or any of the organizations associated with the ACIP pile industry. It is intended to further the spirit of partnering on every ACIP pile project, to further the acceptance and promote the use of this unique system, for the benefit of all the parties. It should be recognized, however, that all of the participants can and do play a role in getting a project into trouble. My view is that projects that get into trouble usually have an early flaw that leads the project to the edge, and the project participants blindly follow the original mistake right over the cliff like lemmings. This instinctive reaction may be a survival tactic by going along with the group, because any one party that departs from the program or shows a position of weakness is a candidate for sacrifice.

Jan 1, 1997

Total mechanisation in the Western district of New South Wales is quite a recent addition to productive methods in that State, for it was only in 1940 that the first colliery was equipped for this method of winning coal. Now almost all mines either are totally mechanised or are planning to get their coal by these means.This marked change in recent years is explained by the salient features of the industry's history. Collieries in New South Wales had generally been subjected to low selling prices forced on them by over-production and severe competition. Little money was available out of profits to purchase machinery, and returns on capital were so poor that inducement to invest money in the industry was nonexistent.The second world war brought price fixing at the already low prices. It was not until the post-war period that there has been any inducement to mechanise.Much credit for mechanisation can be given to the Joint Coal Board, a government body formed in 1948. Pursuing a broad plan for the rejuvenation of the industry, this Board, purchased large quantities of machinery for use in, mines under hire-purchase agreement. These agreements encouraged machine mining, and this fact, together with the ensuing production economies, has improved the financial position of the industry.The Board has also been instrumental in the granting of increases in the fixed price of coal, so that the industry has been given an even greater boost in the direction of mechanisation.

Jan 1, 1954

By Pengfu Tan

A thermodynamic model of KIVCET lead smelting process has been developed. The model has the capability to predict the distribution behaviors of Pb, Zn, Fe, S, O, As, and heat balance in KIVCET direct lead smelting furnace. The compositions of lead bullion, matte, slag and gaseous phases, and heat balance are calculated. The effect of the ratio between oxygen and feed on the chemistry of the smelt and heat balance of the coke checker has been simulated and discussed. The thermodynamic model also helps to understand the tapping issue of the lead bullion. In this paper, some applications of this model in the industry have been presented.

Jan 1, 2006

By H. C. Meister

THE zinc-smelting industry of the United States has grown very rapidly in recent years and bids fair to outrival that of all other countries in the future. On account of the geographical situation of the chief ore-supplies, the industry may be divided into two main groups, the eastern and the western. The eastern and older group includes the works of Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Virginia, which practically control their own ore-supply. The western group includes the works of Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Wisconsin and Indiana, which do not control their own ore-supply, but are compelled to buy the ore in the open market. It is for this reason that the western zinc-smelting industry has been undergoing continual changes since its inception 40 years ago. During the early discoveries of lead- and zinc-ore in the lead- and zinc-districts of Wisconsin and northern Illinois, the zinc-ore (sinithsonite or " bone " as the miner calls it) had no value and was considered waste; but later, when this ore was found in large quantities, it attracted the attention of metallurgists, which finally resulted, during the early sixties, in the building of the Matthiessen & Hegeler Zinc Works at LaSalle, Ill., the pioneer zinc-works of the West. A few years later, zinc-ore was discovered associated with the lead-ore in Jefferson county, southeastern Missouri, which started the industry at Carondelet or South St. Louis. Still later, the discoveries of zinc-ore in the lead-ore region, first' at Granby and then around Joplin, lead to the introduction of the industry in the southwest Missouri and Kansas districts. At first the development of the industry was slow, but it progressed steadily and it is now one of the leading metallurgical industries of the middle West.

Jan 1, 1905

By S. Kodama

Starting on a small scale, the equipment for processing synthesis gas to form liquid hydrocarbons was expanded to handle 100 m) 3/hr. This reactor was successfully designed and constructed, and a basis for future design methods was established. Because, however, this work was carried out on an empirical basis, it is felt that a more thorough theoretical study should be made in an effort to increase the efficiency of the process, particularly in the development of a simpler converter.

Jan 1, 1951

By Flavelle IV

A survey is made of changes in the technical status of a number of western world copper extraction and refining operations over the past 20 years. Specific developments in pyro- and hydro-metallurgy and refining practices are identified together with factors in the changing environment of the industry which has influenced their adoption. Nickel extraction and refining is similarly discussed.The replacement of traditional technology by more attractive alternatives has occurred in a considerable number of operations. The develop-ment and status of new continuous smelting processes, advances in hydrometallurgy and refining innovations which emerged during the 1960s and early 1970s is discussed. The varying experience in commercial acceptance of these new technologies is noted.Finally some possible future directions are canvassed for both operators and the research and development institutions.

Jan 1, 1985

By Thomas Glück

Established and emerging mining companies face significant challenges in managing their operations and projects. Outcomes often do not meet the expectations of all the stakeholders of particular developments. This paper reviews typical management practises used by mining companies to undertake mining projects and improve their operations. A simple application of the House of Quality (HOQ) tool used in the Quality Functional Deployment (QFD) management approach is presented. It is shown that a QFDMMPtg approach could lead to innovation in mining processing plant development practice.

Jan 1, 2015

By Paul J. Sabatini, Yazen A. Khasawneh

"A Demag CC1800 crawler crane was partially erected on crane mats adjacent to a seawall when settlements near a corner of the crane mat area were observed to be slightly larger than previously assessed. A ground improvement program including installation of dry soil cement mix (DSM) piers was implemented to improve soil bearing capacity. Due to near-surface obstructions, only 75 percent of the DSM piers were installed to the design depth. Because of the partial installation of the DSM piers, an evaluation of the crane pad stability and the effect of the crane loading on the stability of an adjacent 10-ft high concrete seawall, which was believed to have limited (if any) reserve capacity, was required. A two-dimensional finite element model was developed to evaluate the responses of the partially improved ground and the sea wall to the loads imposed by the crane. Geotechnical site investigation and laboratory testing programs were performed to better define the subsurface conditions near the area where settlements occurred and to provide the required mechanical parameters for the soil constitutive model. Analysis results indicate that total and differential settlements of the crane pad and the increase in load on the seawall were tolerable provided limited excavation and replacement of weak dredged soils outside the DSM area would be implemented.INTRODUCTION & BACKGROUNDA Demag CC1800 was erected on 8 ft × 16 ft crane lattice mats at about 12 ft from an existing seawall. Approximately 3.5 in. of subsidence was observed at one corner of the crane mats, while the crane was partially erected and stationary. The approximate location of the crane mats with respect to the existing seawall when the subsidence occurred is shown on Fig. 1.The seawall consists of a reinforced concrete wall connected by reinforced concrete bents to a composite section of sheet pile wall; the total depth of the seawall is about 29 ft. The bents are spaced at about 20’4” and supported by five piles at each bent location. The composite sheet pile consists of concrete and a sheet pile section with a reinforced concrete wale section. The retaining wall is about 10 ft in height and is supported at three levels. The first support level comprises a 2-½” diameter steel rod near the top of the wall spaced at 40’8” the second and third level supports comprise 1-½” diameter steel rods spaced at about 5’6”. The second level support is inclined at about 10 degrees below horizontal and the third level support is oriented horizontally through the wall footing. A schematic of the seawall section is shown on Fig. 2.A geotechnical site investigation was implemented soon after the subsidence was observed. The program included advancing four borings to a depth ranging from 16 ft below ground surface (bgs) to about 30 ft bgs. In general, the investigation showed sandy material (likely fill that was used behind the retaining wall) from the ground surface in two borings located immediately behind the retaining wall. The other two borings furthest from the retaining wall showed very soft to soft clay (possibly dredged material) from the ground surface to a depth of about 10 ft bgs. Based on this information, the ultimate bearing capacity of the subsoils was estimated to range from 1,200 to 2,000 pounds per square feet (psf). From the anticipated crane loading (weight of the crane and loading lifts), a minimum allowable bearing capacity of about 1,500 psf would be required for safe operation. To achieve the required bearing capacity a ground improvement program was selected and implemented."

Jan 1, 2017

By W. G. Pariseau

This Bureau of Mines report is an evaluation of the state of knowledge about gravity flow from bin hoppers, the most commonly used method of handling bulk materials where the force of gravity is used. The requirements for flow to be initiated and to continue, formulas developed experimentally or mathematically from various assumptions to describe the materials flow, and the question of whether or not a material will flow over the entire cross sectional area of the bin hopper according to the flow regime developed are the primary areas discussed. The work of A. W. Jenike, whose pioneering investigations raised bin hop- per design from the trial and error state, is examined in depth and its limitations and assumptions are pointed out. Bin hopper design depends heavily upon prior experience, and suggestions for further studies of bin hopper flow to include the effects of feeders are made.

Jan 1, 1972

By V. F. Parry

This report is the first substantial description of the carbonizing process and the details of experimental work conducted at the Denver laboratories under a coopeative agreement between the Bureau of Mines and the Texas Power & Light Co. It presents the results of tests on several Texas lignites and other typical western coals that have been processed in the first pilot plant operated at Denver. Investigations on drying fine coal in the entrained and fluidized state have been under way at Bureau of Mines Denver laboratories for several years. Reports on this work were published in 1949 and 19505/ describing the theory and practice of re-moving inherent moisture from the lower -rank coals. The investigation did not include a study of the removal of surface moisture from fine fuel. Private industry in Canada became interested in the possibilities of drying fine coal, employing the closed-circuit system and techniques recommended by the Bureau. Large, commercial-scale drying units were built by a Canadian company, which successfully demonstrated that surface moisture could be removed from fine coal at high efficiency and capacity ill drying units similar in design to those developed by the Bureau.

Jan 1, 1953

By Peter J. Clarke

The petroleum industry continued to be the most important mineral activity in Bahrain during 1978-79. Revenues generated by the petroleum sector increased from $378 million' in 1977 to an estimated $419 million in 1978 and approximately $522.5 million in 1979, despite decreasing production over the 2 year period. There were two oilfields that produced revenues for Bahrain, the Awali oilfield, the nation's only onshore producer, and the Abu Sa'fah oilfield, located in the Persian Gulf, north of Bahrain, The Await oilfield has been decreasing output from a high of 27,973,000 barrels in 1970 to 19,000,000 barrels in 1979. Bahrain shared the revenues from the Abu Sa'fah oilfield with Saudi Arabia, as settlement of an ownership dispute. For the first time, in 1978, revenues from the Abu Sa'fah oilfield represented over 50% of the total receipts from the petroleum sector. The years 1978-79 saw the gradual takeover of the Bahrain Petroleum Co. (Bapco), formerly a subsidiary of the California Texas Petroleum Co. (Caltex), by the Government-owned Bahrain National Oil Co. (Banoco). By yearend 1978, Banoco owned 60% of Bapco, and Caltex the remaining 40%. The Government-owned company controlled exploration concessions, managed domestic marketing of petroleum products, and controlled natural gas production and marketing. On December 15, 1979, the Bahrain Government completed full takeover of the Bapco operations. Bapco will continue to own and operate the 250,000-barrel-per-day oil refinery located near Sitrah, as well as handle foreign marketing of petroleum products.

Jan 1, 1981

By M Bannear, C Stanton

Since 2008, Arrium has been developing and commissioning a new low-grade hematite ore benefication plant (or OBP) at its Iron Baron mine site.The Iron Baron mine, which was closed in the 1990s, could not consistently yield the high-grade hematite required for pelletising. However, in todayÆs market, the 12 Mt of waste dumps represent a significant low-grade hematite resource, ideal for benefication.Initially, an internal scoping study and several sampling campaigns were conducted to determine the ability to upgrade the available low-grade dump material to a product suitable for export. Test work was conducted at Mineral Technologies (formerly CPG), and included high intensity magnetic separation, spiralling and jigging. Due to promising results from a wet processing circuit, Arrium engaged Mineral Technologies to design a flow sheet that could provide 1 Mt/a of a mixture of high-grade lump (-32 + 8 mm) and fines (-8 mm) products for export.With construction of the plant completed in late January 2012, Arrium, in conjunction with Mineral Technologies, began two commissioning phases. Each phase ended with a toll gate to prove the plantÆs capacity to reach rate and desired grade. After an initial period of running on water, feed solids were introduced to the plant and troubleshooting of bottlenecks began. The first toll gate, whereby the plant was required to run for 24 hours at an average feed rate of 200 t/h (80 per cent of design rate), was completed on the 1 March 2012. Further troubleshooting and resolving of issues allowed the plant to steadily increase feedrate while maintaining good availability and grade. The second toll gate required the plant to run for 72 hours at an average feed rate of 200 t/h while meeting grade, yield and water consumption targets. Sampling campaigns were conducted during this period to track the performance of key equipment. Completion of the test, and full handover of the plant to Arrium, was completed on the 21 April 2012.Although the formal commissioning phases had been completed, ongoing optimisation of the OBP continued, ensuring that all major equipment was working to produce the optimum yield and grade. Sampling campaigns were conducted on the jigs and spirals, with results and correlations used for operations documentation.Overall, with successful completion of the final acceptance tests, the commissioning of the Iron Baron OBP has been established as a major success achieving all production and quality targets as per the original design intent.This paper will focus on the successful commissioning and ramp-up performance of the plant however reference will also be made to the key development stages involved with the development of the project.CITATION:Stanton, C and Bannear, M, 2013. ArriumÆs Iron Baron hematite beneficiation plant - a success from start to finish, in Proceedings Iron Ore 2013 , pp 547-552 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Aug 12, 2013

By J. E. Hawley

"The zinc-lead deposit of the Lake Geneva Mining Company is on lot 7, con. VI, Hess township, Sudbury district, Ontario, about 10 miles northwest of the northern rim of the Sudbury Basin. Though a relatively small deposit, it shows some rather interesting relations to cross-cutting, pre-ore, quartz diabase dykes, which merit description.The deposit was discovered in October 1924 by J. H. Collins beneath iron-stained drift and oxidized sulphides. This proved to be the northwestern extremity of the orebody, the remainder of which extends southeast below swampy ground. Exploration began in 1927. In 1928 a vertical shaft was sunk to 250 feet and a level established at 235 feet. Later the shaft was deepened to 400 feet and new levels opened at 315 and 375 feet. In 1943 an inclined winze was sunk below the vein from the 315-foot level to a vertical depth of 640 feet, and two additional levels were opened at 525 and 615 feet respectively.The geology of the area has been described by T. T. Quirke (1), F. F. Osborne (2), F. J. Alcock (3), and Ralph Tuck (4). Private reports have also been made by Carl Tolman, J. E. Gill, and K. W. Fritzsche. Tuck's paper, covering the work completed to 1930, gives a detailed account of the character of the ore and enclosing rocks.Up to May 1944, when the property was closed, all ore above the 375-foot level and a small tonnage from below this elevation had been removed. Ore mined from 1941 to 1944 yielded the following:"

Jan 1, 1954

By Frank G. Schwartz

VARIABLES OF composition and environment affecting storage stability of gasoline-type fuels were studied, utilizing radioactive tracers and other analytical techniques. Changes in gasoline composition brought about by aging were determined and correlated with gum formation. The amounts of reaction of selected gasoline components, measured by radioactive tracers, were determined in a gasoline-type blend and in a mixture of 17 selected pure gasoline components. The data show that sulfur compounds, nitrogen compounds, polycyclics, and olefins enter into gum-forming reactions. Certain sulfur and nitrogen compounds were found to be most reactive in the gum-forming process. Results of this study indicate that the aromatic constituents of gasolines may contribute substantially and directly to gum formation. A mixture of tetralin and indan-type compounds is reactive, and this mixture appears to be the main aromatic portion entering into gum formation. A secondary but significant amount of naphthalenes also appears to have reacted in the gum-forming process. Analyses of the sulfm compounds in a fresh and an aged fuel indicated that elemental sulfur, hydrogen sulfide, thiols, sulfides, and disulfides were depleted during aging, but thiophenes and residual sulfur compounds were not depleted by fuel deterioration.

Jan 1, 1964

By Matthew N. Rubin

This report summarizes the work performed under USBM Contract No. H0155155. The purpose of this work was to obtain operational data on retrofit noise control treatments suitable for use in coal preparation plants. This data was obtained by evaluating the performance of four categories of noise control treatments which were installed in a commercial coal preparation plant. The four categories of treatments were resilient screen decks, resilient impact pads, chute liners, and curtains. The selection, installation and initial evaluation of the treatments was documented in the Volume I report issued in 1977. This Volume II report summarizes the results of the long-term evaluation of the original treatments, as well as some additional tests which were conducted on elastomer-clad (resilient) screen decks. This project demonstrated the feasibility of a number of retrofit noise control treatments, some of which also proved to be quite durable over the long term.

Jan 1, 1982

By J. I. Paige

As part of a continuing effort to develop technology that maximizes mineral and metal recovery from domestic resources, the Bureau of Mines investigated a method to totally utilize copper converter slags without recycling them back through the matte smelting furnace. The research was directed toward (1) recovering the contained copper in converting slags by producing a recyclable copper-iron matte, (2) carbothermically reducing the slags to recover the iron, and (3) producing slag wool from the depleted slags. This report deals with the reduction of three industrial converting slags, containing 2.0 to 7.3 wt-pct Cu, in an 800-kVA electric arc furnace to produce a recyclable copper-iron matte. The addition of sufficient iron pyrite to provide 29 to 113 pct of the stoichiometric sulfur (based on producing 40-pct-Cu matte) produced a recyclable matte (36 to 61 pct Cu) at an energy consumption of 520 to 700 kWh per ton of solid material charged. The expected energy saving for treating molten slag in an electric furnace (5-to 9-MVA range) is about 400 kWh per ton of molten slag treated.

Jan 1, 1982

By J. A. Botín

In modern mining, the core of mine planning and design is the block model, a simplified representation wherein the ore deposit is divided in a number of virtual rock cubes, each characterized by technical and economics parameters. Mining engineers use this model to design the mine and develop production schedules. Traditionally, sustainability issues are not considered in the mine design, planning and engineering processes but rather are incorporated in the later stages of the feasibility evaluation as necessary expenditures and operating costs. This paper describes the results of a research project aiming to develop a methodology to incorporate sustainability parameters directly into the block model, so that they become an integral part of the design, planning and scheduling processes. It is considered that the incorporation of sustainable parameters into the block model would yield a more responsible mine design and improve mining projects sustainability performance

Feb 27, 2013