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Delivered at the University of Sydney, on June 4th, 1954.THE TORCH WE HOLDLast year Our Institute celebrated its Diamond Jubilee, coincident with the holding of the Fifth Empire Mining and Metallurigcal Congress in Australia and New Zealand. We can be proud of our growth over the 61 years since the inaugural meeting in Adelaide in April, 1893, which followed suggestions from a provisional committee of mining men, formed in 1892 in Broken Hill.We can also be proud of our technical achievements in the fields of economic geology, mining and metallurgy.Should we be content with the growth of our mining and metallurgical industries over these years? My answer is in the negative. The discovery of new mineral deposits is essential for the continuance and development of the industries we represent.Let me review the background and trends of our industry in an attempt to emphasise the changing factors influencing the search for minerals and their exploitation.Australia was blessed with the discovery of coal in New South Wales in 1796; copper in South Australia at Kapunda, Burra, Wallaroo and Moonta in the eighteen-forties; gold in Victoria and Eastern Australia in the 'fifties; tin at Mount Bischoff, Tasmania, and gold at Charters Towers, Queensland, in the 'seventies; lead-silver at Broken Hill, New South Wales; gold and copper at Mount Morgan, Queensland, and copper at Mount Lyell, Tasmania, in the 'eighties; and gold at Kalgoorlie, Western Australia, and zinc-lead atRosebery, Tasmania, in the 'nineties. As well, the iron ore deposits of the Middleback Ranges, South Australia, and Yampi Sound, Western Australia, were known before...

Jan 1, 1954

By G. Paquet, E. Godin

"Since the mid fifty's, worlwide pellet production capacity has constantly risen (Fig. 1, Ref. 1 l. There was however at that time no real incentive to decrease production costs but only to produce as many pellets as possible. State of things changed with the iron and steel market recession, starting in 1975, and is currently leading producers to improve pellet quality and to reduce fuel and power consumption.At the Port-Cartier pellet plant, the energy needed for the induration of pellets ranks first in overall operating costs. An important step was made when starting admixing coke breeze in 1980. Oil prices justified the use of coke breeze as a direct replacement in terms of dollar/ton, however, while gaining expertise in using solid fuel a significant decrease in energy consumption was observed (Fig. 2, Ref. 2).In 1985, the ""Centre de Recherches minérales"" was commissioned to undertake research work to investigate the effects of further increasing coke addition to the pellet mix. The positive results of that work led to a 1,5% coke addition plant trial during the fall of 1985. Both laboratory and industrial results are discussed in this paper."

Jan 1, 1986

By V. A. Marple, K. L. Rubow, B. A. Olson

"INTRODUCTION Inertial classification, gravitational sedimentation centrifugation, and thermal precipitation arc techniques that can be used to collect particles for subsequent analysis or for particle classification. The inertial classifiers, which include impactors, virtual impactors, and cyclones, are widely used in the sampling or particles. Settling chambers, which include centrifuges as well as gravitational settling devices, are less widely used. Thermal precipitators arc seldom used.Impactors, in particular, have been used extensively, studied both theoretically and experimentally, and arc the instrument or choice for the determination or aerosol mass size distributions. Many versions or impactors arc available commercially and many more have been designed, built, and used in special studies.Virtual impactors are a more recently developed inertial classifier and possess a feature not round in conventional inertial impactors; namely, that the particles remain airborne after classification compared to the conventional impactor, where the particles arc collected on a solid surface. The feature or keeping particles airborne is important for transporting the particles to other particle-analyzing instruments, or to filters, and in concentrating particles larger than the cutsize in a small fraction of the total now."

Nov 1, 1995

By H. E. Peterson, W. L. Anderson

"INTRODUCTION The great demand for tungsten incident to the war has led to the exploration of a large number of low-grade tungsten deposits. To properly evaluate the low-grade deposits it is essential to have available a dependable method of analysis applicable to all types of low-grade tungsten ores. Results reported on the tungsten content of the ores have often varied quite widely and have led to confusion. The Bureau of Mines has been requested by Government lending agencies and by companies interested in the production of tungsten to publish a general method for the determination of tungsten in low-grade ores. To meet this need, the Bureau of Mines is herein submitting two methods for analysis that have been proved on a large number of tungsten-bearing ores various types in the Bureau of Mines laboratory in Salt Lake City. Also, a third method was developed that requires no cinchonine and has proved to be applicable on most tungsten ores. The cinchonine method is the generally accepted for analysis of tungsten ores. Very reliable results can be obtained by this method if certain precautions are taken, as outlined in this report."

May 1, 1943

By Johan Svard

"Two years of field testing have shown that blasting results are improved both in surface and underground applications when Nitro Nobel electronic detonators are used. The delay times canbe chosen with an accuracy of 1 millisecond over the entire time range (1 to 6250 ms). Since ordinary.high explosives have detonation velocities of up to 6000 metres/second, these high velocities make accurate and flexible delay times very interesting."

Jan 1, 1992

This summary of State laws on explosives wag compiled primarily to ascertain what subjects relating to their control have been acted upon by each State legislature and, in general, how they have been treated. It does not Include any legislation passed after 1942, or any proclamations, regulations, or administrative orders. It does not purport or attempt to be authoritative. If any problem arises involving interpretation of the statutes of any particular State, the original source must be consulted for the exact words used by the legislature. This summary, however, will be useful in determining whether relevant statutes exist, and in locating them quickly, with a minimum of effort. It will be of value also in comparing statutes in other States to determine what construction has been placed upon them by the courts of these jurisdictions or to contrast the varying provisions of many States upon a similar subject. To make these comparisons easier, the statutory provisions for each State have been grouped under several major topics in outline form. Although this sometimes has resulted in disruption of the continuity of individual acts, the increased general clarity and availability of comparable sections have more than justified the procedure followed.

Jan 1, 1943

By M. A. Stoakes, H. D. S. Miller

Surface subsidence is becoming an increasingly important factor in the economics of mining Louisiana salt domes due to, amongst others, excessive shaft deformations and land loss to encroaching sea water. The vast majority of subsidence studies have been undertaken on bedded, tabular deposits. It is important to understand the causes of subsidence due to mining domal salt and how it can be minimized. The paper will review the major differences between subsidence caused by domal and tabular evaporite mines, the problems encountered in predicting subsidence, the factors that influence subsidence and, finally, possible alternative mining methods.

Jan 1, 1986

Pressing-Drill Method - A Representative Method for Taking Analysis Samples from Recycled Materials

Sep 13, 2010

By John Popovich

The MICON RokLok binder system including component and consolidation processes and safety and its first aide are described. The implementation procedures and selection of injection parameters are discussed. Finally a case example of recovering a 30-ft. long roof fall in mainline haulage entry is used to illustrate the economic potential of preventive measures by RokLok injection.

Jan 1, 2001

By Yufeng Guo

Mineralogy and physico-chemical characteristics of a nickel hydrometallurgical residue and recovery of iron-bearing minerals by flocculation-magnetic separation were studied. The results show that the nickel residue is super-fine and fraction less than 0.045mm reaches 85.4%. Ferrous minerals are chiefly magnetite and ferruginous glass. Magnetite accounts for 31.7% and exists as free magnetite. Ferruginous glass is of multicomponent amorphous substances with low-iron grade but strong magnetism, and accounts for 39.9% of total iron minerals. Addition of flocculants increases granularity and magnetic force of fine iron-bearing particles and improves iron grade and recovery. The tests with flocculation separation show that a concentrate assaying 56.68% Fe with 81.72% recovery was obtained in a magnetic tube. A concentrate with 56.92% iron grade and 67.96% recovery was obtained by flocculation-magnetic separation with a magnetic cylinder.

Jan 1, 2006

By Dennis L. Paisley, Thomas P. Turner

Laser slapper detonators are the next generation detonator under development at the Detonations Systems Group at Los Alamos National Laboratory and function very similarly to an electrical slapper. A fiber optic transmits a laser pulse to ablate a thin metal film. This film, or flyer as it is commonly called, is launched through a short barrel to km/s speeds. The flyer shock loads or slaps a high density pressing of secondary explosive, setting off a detonation therein. Laser slapper detonators afford a number of safety advantages over other conventional detonators. Most important they require very high peak laser powers to operate, orders of magnitude larger than possible sources of natural or man-made accidental stimulus. Because light is transported over fiber optics, laser slappers avoid many of the electrical hazards associated with detonators. Use of insensitive, secondary explosives makes these detonators safer to handle, manufacture, transport, and deploy.

Jan 1, 1994

A number of impending and actual pit wall failures have been observed and documented, which have been interpreted to initiate on newly generated structural features. This infers failure through intact rock. Failure mechanisms have been postulated resulting from circumferential stress, extensional strain and brittle flexure. These will be discussed in the context of the failures and the associated monitoring. The implications of failure initiating on ?unknown? features has a significant impact for deep open pit mines where designs are based on the expected structural regime. Being able to anticipate such failures is important for design. Equally important is management of such changes as they arise. In this context, monitoring using high resolution microseismic techniques will be discussed as a means of providing early warning of such failures.

Jan 1, 2006

By Jack A. McQuiston, Thomas A. Cross

Corrosion of equipment and machinery in the coal industry is usually the result of three main agents: acids, chlorides, and abrasion. Acids and chlorides are especially troublesome in coal preparation plants where soluble salts and sulfur in the coal produce a highly corrosive wash solution. Abrasion is common in all operations where coal is handled or conveyed. Together, the acid-chloride-abrasion combination results in some of the worst corrosive conditions found in any industry. The variety of equipment and structures in the coal industry calls for different corrosion control techniques. Table 1 lists the areas of concern for a number of items. Just as there is a wide variety of corrosion problems, there is a wide array of coating materials available. Tables 2 and 3 are selection charts to provide guidance in narrowing down the choices. Experience has shown that a limited number of coating systems work best on coal equipment and structures. These systems are described in Table 4. The good-better-best designation in the table refers to coating system longevity. Good indicates the least costly and shortest service life. In nearly all cases the lowest annualized cost can be achieved by using the coating system rated best, due to the avoidance of costly repaints and unnecessary downtime. The most expensive coating system, though, is worthless unless the coating system is properly applied. Field inspection to insure compliance with specifications is an important aspect, and is a service available from many coating suppliers. Even the best coating systems require periodic maintenance to achieve satisfactory results. Spot rusting from mechanical damage should be repaired annually to maximize the coatingsystem's results.

Jan 2, 1980

Gold, silver and palladium may be separated from the other base metals and sulphur contained in copper sulphide precipitates derived from the Sherritt-Gordon nickel process using a process involving an oxidation roast, a reduction roast and a Cu(II)/acetonitrile leach. Sulphur is removed as SO, in an oxidation roast and the hot calcine is reduced with carbon, or with carbon plus cuprous chloride. The resulting product contains metallic copper which is readily dissolved with cupric ions in aqueous acetonitrile solution. Copper powder is recovered by thermal disproportionation. The residue contains the bulk of the iron and precious metals and may be treated by a number of methods, including direct cyanidation or melting with suitable fluxes. Melting the residue will produce a copper alloy containing the precious metals and remove the iron as a slag. The alloy can be recycled to the copper leaching stage or sent for toll refining depending on the precious metal content. Impurities from the leaching circuit are controlled by a bleed circuit which in one approach utilizes the SO, from the calciner to produce Chevreul's salt and separates copper from the soluble cobalt and nickel. Alternatively, the bleed may be directed back to the main refinery copper boil stage or oxydrolysis stage.

Jan 1, 1982

By Nicholas Adrian Barcza

"What affects and influences one’s perspective of the mining and metallurgical industries?One’s perspective of the industry we work in changes over time as a function of our experience as well as from the interaction we have with colleagues locally and probably even more so with those internationally. Furthermore, the ever-changing environment continues to impact the context in which one sees things. Living mostly in South Africa through its changes in the past fi fty years but also having the opportunity to travel extensively and work on projects abroad adds an invaluable richness to this more global perspective. One of the greatest challenges is how best to use this experience to endeavour to support the many potential opportunities in southern as well as sub-Saharan Africa. However, one has also to face the realities of how the best interests of the country and its peoples are sadly often not well served for various unfortunate reasons. Investment, education, regional stability, and good governance are some of the most critical considerations for the prosperity and survival of the region.The mining and metallurgical industry in southern and sub-Saharan Africa changed significantly during the post-colonial and apartheid eras as a result of global and regional developments that have impacted the ownership of businesses, the technologies used, and products produced in a manner that was not envisaged even fi fty years ago. Southern Africa’s mining and metallurgical industry has progressed from one based mostly on diamonds and gold in the late 19th century to a much more diverse one that involves the production of a variety of other precious, base, and ferrous metals and minerals as well as coal and industrial minerals. The infrastructure and manufacturing capacity was largely developed to meet the needs of this industry during its growth phases, but even though the dynamics have changed there is still a need for more efficient and effective support systems in the region."

Jul 1, 2019

By H. K. Lin

Deepwater discharges of sulfide flotation tailings have been practiced for several decades. Oxygen penetration and organic matter content in such environments are the two major factors that determine their reduction-oxidation condition and hence the rate of sulfide mineral dissolution under such discharge environments. In this study, the effects of solution redox potential and pH on the dissolution of some heavy metals from sulfide flotation tailings were examined. Zn, Pb and Cu concentrations in solution were all higher at a higher redox potential and lower pH. Dissolved Zn concentrations reached 100 ppm even at a low redox potential of 105 mV and near neutral pH after 33 days. Pb concentrations were below 2 ppm at 105 mV and near neutral pH after 165 days. At 105 mV, the Cu concentrations were below 0.2 ppm at near neutral pH after 165 days. At pH 2.3, the Fe concentrations were higher at 420 mV than at 105 mV. But at pH 6.8, the Fe concentrations were lower at 420 mV than at 105 mV, due to the oxidation of Fe2+ to Fe3+ and the subsequent precipitation of ferric hydroxide. Arsenic concentrations in solution were all less than 0.002 ppm. For Zn, Cu and Fe, no significant differences were observed between the tests in solutions prepared using seawater and those using distilled water. However, Pb concentrations reached higher levels in solutions prepared using seawater.

Jan 1, 2009

By F. Lindroos

A cornerstone in the LKAB Green Pellet concept is to produce pellets with a small footprint in terms of energy con-sumption, CO2 emission and emission of other elements harmful to the environment, like dust, sulphur dioxides, nitrogen oxides, chloride and fluorine. The concept also encompasses our determination to make pellet products that contribute to low environmental impact and low energy consumption in our customer?s processes. The presentation will focus on the pelletizing process. It will describe both how we have attempted to decrease the generation of unwanted components in the process gas, and how we have tested or evaluated equipment for external gas cleaning. We will discuss and give examples from recent and on-going efforts and outline some of the future challenges we see, to meet our own environmental standards and also the tough demands imposed by EU and national legislation, while striving to boost production.

May 1, 2011

Newmont Gold's methods for deposit modeling vary, depending on geology, mining and processing methods, economic feasibility and availability of historical information. It is argued that successful modeling requires understanding these factors, knowing the strengths and weaknesses of the various modeling techniques and being flexible in selecting the appropriate methods. Newmont is one of the world's largest gold mining companies, with operations in the United States, Peru, Mexico, Indonesia and Uzbekistan. And it is active in exploration worldwide. At the end of 1996, Newmont declared a total reserve of 1.15 equity kt (37.1 million equity oz) of gold and 2.17 equity Mt (2.39 million st) of copper. The gold deposits managed by Newmont totaled 752 Mt (829 million st) of ore containing 1.28 kt (41.3 million oz) of gold averaging 1.71 g/t (0.05 oz/st). In addition, Newmont is developing a porphyry copper-gold deposit that totals 9.1 Gt (1 billion st) of ore containing 380 t (12.1 million oz) of gold and 4.82 Mt (5.32 million st) of copper. (In May 1997, Newmont Gold Co. merged with Santa Fe Pacific Gold Corp., thus increasing Newmont's reserves to 1.72 kt or 55.2 million oz of gold and 2.17 Mt or 2.39 million st of copper.)

Jan 1, 1998

The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) defines an independent contractor as “any person, partnership, corporation, subsidiary of a cor-poration, firm, association or other organization that contracts to perform services or construction at a mine.” Contractors that perform specific types of work are required to report the number of employees who work at coal mines and noncoal mines.

Sep 1, 2007

By S. G. Gendler

The choice of ventilation schemes in the Northern Mujsky railway tunnel and definition of the nec-essary quantities of air ensuring regulated radiation conditions in the tunnel system has been accomplished. The influence of natural draught on the stability of tunnel ventilation has been estimated. The design of a portal venti-lation gate allowing minimal influence from natural factors is described. The dependence of pressure loss in the sliding ventilation gates on their spanning value of the vehicle tunnel section has been determined. The selection of parameters for an atmospheric air heating system in winter has been carried out. The operation regimes of air heaters, dependent on the temperature of atmospheric air, have been established.

Jan 1, 2009