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By Peter Schmäh

Pipe-jacked tunnels are considered for a large variety of applications from water and sewage, cable ducts to challenging pipeline crossings or landfall construction. In most cases, Slurry MTBMs are used to carry out these projects. Continuous further development of technological features for pipe jacking plays a key role to overcome feasibility limits and to meet increased project requirements. As tightened safety regulations in terms of accessibility and escape routes increasingly limit the options of small segment lining tunnels in the diameter range below 4 m, 13 feet, pipe jacking has partially taken over. During the last decades, a growing number of large-diameter and long-distance pipe jacking projects have been completed. Experienced contractors successfully use the technological capacity of the MTBM equipment. The machine and cutting wheel have to be designed according to the ground conditions. Bentonite lubrication and interjacking stations are key factors to keep push forces moderate. For long pipe jacking drives, a so-called push module can be installed in the machine can, to be able to switch from pipe jacking to segment lining in case the machine gets stuck. The overall aim is to provide clients and the tunnel construction industry with safe and economical solu- tions for successful project execution. This presentation will present international milestone projects and will also discuss the latest developments in automation, related opportunities and limitations, and the future of digitization and artificial intelligence in pipe jacking.

Jun 23, 2024

By Dan Swidrak, Bill Zietlow

Halfway through a 17,770-ft long stormwater tunnel, an 11-ft diameter TBM encountered a karst void below the Mississippi River in Missouri, resulting in significant inflow. It was decided that the TBM could not safely advance without external intervention. Low-mobility grout was pumped from the surface. A rescue shaft was constructed and a conventional tunnel with spiling support was mined back to the machine. The TBM was removed and a 14-ft diameter TBM equipped with probing drills was relaunched. Probing from the new TBM encountered one additional karst feature but the machine advanced after grouting and successfully completed the tunnel.

Jun 23, 2024

By Charles E. Glass

As partial implementation of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977, the Office of Surface Mining (OSM), Department of Interior, has requested each state to inventory hazardous abandoned mining areas within their boundaries. Primary interest is in such areas .as unstable waste-banks, subsidence and slumping, contamination of water supplies, and preservation of overall aesthetic qualities through reclamation. In addition to the concern expressed for abandoned mining areas, the legislation requires a complete inspection of operating mines quarterly and a partial inspection monthly. In Arizona copper has been mined for over 100 years and coal and uranium mining promises to expand in future years. The OSM requirement for a waste inventory and frequent monitoring of Arizona's large, widely spaced mines places a severe demand on limited personnel and operating budgets. Remote sensing by satellite provides an attractive and effective approach to aid the inventory and monitoring requirements of the OSM legislation.

Jan 1, 1979

By Preusse. Axel

Underground coal mining can cause seismic events. There is currently no way to predict such phenomena reliably, in particular stronger events. That is why, according to the current state of the art, empirical methods are employed in this field. Some assessment criteria, which relate to the geological and mining situation and either stimulate or rather help to avoid seismic events, are presented in this paper. These criteria are examined for a practical mining situation in Germany, with a view to estimate possible seismic events.

Jan 1, 2009

By David F. Gibson

This paper presents an outline of several models that have been developed to aid surface mine planners evaluate alternative mining methods and dragline sizes. The models presented belong to a larger group of models that are incorporated in the SEAMPLAN computerized mine and reclamation planning system. SEAMPLAN was developed in the College of Engineering at Montana State University. Initial funding for the development was derived from the USDA Forest Ser- vice and EPA. Enhancements to SEAMPLAN are currently being funded by DOE (Contract DE-AC22-80ET-14173). SEAMPLAN is a comprehensive surface mine and reclamation planning tool that contains a number of major modules: Data Entry and Review, Production Analysis, Reclamation Analysis, and Impact Analysis. The Production Analysis Module contains programs that enable the user to evaluate alternative methods of removing overburden in a surface coal mine and then to assess auxiliary activities required to support the overburden removal operation. A set of these programs addresses the use of draglines for removing overburden. Six basic dragline mining techniques have been modeled. For one-pass dragline operations four methods can be analyzed: (i) simple side cast, (ii) side bench, (iii) extended bench, and (iv) extended bench with side bench. Two methods of two-pass operations are modeled: (i) single dragline, and (ii) tandem draglines.

Jan 1, 1982

By A. L. Mula

Pasaremos revista brevemente a 10s fundamentos de 10s ciclones, considerando un ciclón típico. Los datos gráficos disponibles en la literatura han sido convertidos en ecuaciones matemáticas por conveniencia. Se suministran los procedirnientos preliminares para seleccionar y diseñar tanto los ciclones como las bombas, y se facilita con algún detalle un ejernplo de cálculo para un hipotético circuito de molienda. En general, debe consultarse a 1os proveedores de ciclones y bombas para determinar un disefio definitivo. Algunos suministradores de ciclones emplean normalmente computadores digitales para el diseño definitivo con objeto de asegurar una gran precision.

Jan 1, 1982

By S. Chander

The use of various electrochemical techniques to study mechanisms of sulfide mineral- flotation reagent interactions is briefly reviewed in this paper. Prior to such studies it is desirable to thermodynamically determine solution conditions favorable for formation of hydrophobic species deemed to be responsible for flotation. The thermodynamic equilibrium involving both the stable and metastable species can be conveniently represented by an Eh-pH diagram. Thermodynamics can also be used to predict conditions where a mineral might not float if depressants are present. Under favorable conditions of flotation there is competition between reactions leading to formation of hydrophobic species with reactions that lead to formation of hydrophilic species. Due to the sluggish nature of the reactions involving sulfide minerals, a knowledge of the kinetic behavior of the system is necessary. Electrochemical methods of investigation are wed in laboratory studies to (1) control the state of oxidation, (2) determine the type and amount of electroactive species present at the mineral surface, and (3) study kinetics of electrode processes. By combining electrochemical techniques and wetting measurements the identification of hydrophobic species that might be present at the mineral surface could be achieved. Both contact angle measurements at mineral electrodes or flotation in a cell equipped with a particulate bed electrode can be used for the wetting measurements.

Jan 1, 1987

By A. T. Visser

The expansion of surface mining has led to the development of very large off-highway trucks currently capable of hauling payloads in excess of 290t. Mine haul roads have historically been designed empirically, relying heavily on local experience; the trend in increasing truck size will thus render the current pavement systems inadequate. Since truck haulage costs can account for 10%-50% of the total costs incurred by a surface mine, not only would the maintenance costs of existing roads of inadequate design increase, vehicle operating and maintenance costs would also increase prohibitively. There is thus a need for improved design technologies encompassing the construction and management techniques of mine haul roads, appropriate for the wheel loads of vehicles now in use. The aim of the paper is to present the different components of a mine haul road design and management system and to demonstrate the value of its application through case studies. The system has been applied at several South-African surface mines and distinct benefits have been derived. The improved structural design of a new road resulted in a 29% saving in construction costs and also provided better service, whilst the optimal selection and management of wearing-course materials provided better functionality at lower total transportation operating costs.

Jan 1, 1999

By Roderick Eggert, Dipesh Dipu

We look at the empirical evidence of coal block auctions in India to understand how competitive intensity affects the bid amounts in common value auctions. The results suggest that competitive intensity measured through the number of bidders for a coal block is instrumental in determining the bidding outcomes. The presence of higher numbers of bidders in the auction leads to higher bids - every additional bidder causes the bid amount to rise by INR 142.67 per tonne of coal for auctions studied for 127 coal blocks from 2014 to 2023. The paper also examines the moderating and mediating effect of competition on bids and on excess of bids from the comparative market price of coal from alternative source of Coal India Limited. The results indicate that competitive intensity does not have statistically significant impact on the relationship between common value of coal blocks and bids, neither as a moderator nor as a mediator. The strategic behavior of the bidders has also been observed as bidders have been seen to bid in a higher than market price in order to outbid the competitors.

Feb 1, 2025

By John G. Whellock

Over the last decade new constraints have emerged in the metallurgical industry which challenge the very basis of design and construction of smelters and refineries. The hackneyed designs of the past will not now serve the revised objectives of: - minimal cost of ownership - improved productivity - reduced energy consumption - greater flexibility in feed or product - minimized recycle loops and by-products - more stringent environmental control The impact of these constraints has been channeled constructively into process intensification - exemplified at the large scale by the introduction of flash smelting technology and at the smaller scale by the application of rotary process vessels and converters for augmented heat and mass transfer. The design of successful process plants depends on the understanding of the unit operations and their interactions which is the discipline of systems engineering. With the advent of increased process intensification the importance of a systems approach to process design and implementation becomes paramount. This paper describes the systems approach with specific reference to medium scale projects in the primary and secondary metallurgical industry.

Jan 1, 1985

By O. Ozcan, J. D. Miller, Z. S. Nickolov

The production of soda ash from trona (sodium sesquicarbonate, Na2CO3•NaHCO3•2H2O) resources has completely displaced the production of synthetic soda ash in the USA. Further, the utilization of other trona resources is under consideration in China, Turkey, etc. Recent research has been concerned with the development of flotation technology for the trona industry. In this regard studies on the flotation behavior of sodium carbonate salts: trona, sodium carbonate monohydrate and decahydrate, as well as the flotation behavior of sodium bicarbonate, are reported for both cationic (dodecyl ammonium hydrochloride) and anionic (sodium dodecyl sulfate) collectors. It has been found that strong flotation of sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) can be achieved with 100% recovery, while the other sodium carbonate salts do not float well. These results have been explained by FTIR analysis of aqueous solutions of Na2CO3and NaHCO3in a range of concentrations from very dilute to saturated conditions. The changes in the shape of the O-H stretching band of water are correlated with the flotation behavior of Na2CO3salts and NaHCO3. In addition, the absorption band of the carbonate ion at ca. 1385 cm-1is used to monitor its interactions with water and/or other ions in solution. The infrared results demonstrate thatNa2CO3acts as a water structure maker, leading to an extensively hydrated surface that accounts for the poor flotation of most sodium carbonate salts. In contrast, NaHCO3does not have this characteristic and consequently complete flotation is possible with both cationic and anionic collectors. These results support the previous water structure analysis for soluble salt flotation of alkali halides and other oxyanion salts.

Jan 1, 2003

By Fathi Habashi

METALS COMMONLY leached may come from one of the following sources: 1) Occurring in nature in the native state, e.g., gold, silver, platinum metals, copper. 2) Produced as by-product of a metallurgical process, e.g., gold, silver, platinum metals, selenium. 3) Produced by reduction of an oxide ore, e.g., copper, nickel. GOLD AND SILVER Cyanidation According to Mellor (1923) the alchemists of the eighteenth century knew that gold was soluble in aqueous solution of potassium cyanide, and the early jewelers probably utilized this fact in gilding. He also mentions that Scheele in 1783 and later Bagration in 1843 noted the solvent action of aqueous solutions of alkali cyanides on gold. Yet it was not until 1887 that the value of this observation was recognized, when MacArthur and Forrest (1887) made use of it in leaching gold from its ores. Since then, the process has spread to every gold and silver mining district in the world.

Jan 1, 1970

By D. R. Babich, E. R. Bauer

Noise induced hearing loss (NIHL) continues to be a problem in the mining industry. New noise standards (Part 62) promulgated by the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) are aimed at reducing NIHL in the mining industry. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is conducting a cross-sectional survey of noise sources and worker noise exposures to address NIHL in mining. Noise surveys, including full-shift worker noise exposure and equipment noise profiling, have been completed in several surface coal mines, with an emphasis on draglines. The results of these studies are reported, their implications concerning worker NIHL are addressed, and their application to administrative and engineering controls is discussed.

Jan 1, 2003

By Kugan Kuganathan

Pastefill is being increasingly considered as a viable fill by underground mine operators. Mount Isa Mines (MIM) chose pastefill to fill their deep copper mine (>1200m deep) after considering various other types of fill in the feasibility studies. During the development of pastefill at Mount Isa (1996 - to date) the Mining research of MIM developed two cost effective, reliable and simple testing methods and used. With the help of these tests the behaviour of MIM pastefill was studied thoroughly and the most optimum mix design for pastefill was achieved. The MIM's pastefill plant, the largest in the world with a capacity of 450rph continuous pastefill production and unique in the process used, has been built (1998-1999) to produce pastefill to the specification developed through extensive testing program using the Flow Cone and Mini Slump cone Tests. As a consequence, it is now possible to select the optimum pastefill mix designs and predict their flow behaviour in bore holes or pipe lines using only these tests. MIM Blended Tailings Pastefill (BTPF) uses 3-3.55 Portland cement and the cost of pastefill is much lower than the total tailings pastefill, that could be produced from the same tailings.

Jan 1, 2001

By Guido Venturini, Giorgio Martinotti, Luca Delle Piane, Paolo Perello

This paper presents a critical review of geo-structural mapping methodologies applied to deep tunneling projects in complex mountain chains such as the Alps. Geological forecastings are often a crucial part of tunneling projects, which should allow contractees or contractors to assume their own risks. Despite this, often adequate methodological criteria are not applied in the realization of these studies, with consequent increase of costs and delays. A discussion should hopefully start in the world of tunneling in order to define a correct approach.

Jan 1, 2003

By K. Hanumantha Rao, K. S. E. Forssberg, F. Su

The influence of reagents dosage, pH, temperature, and particle size on the kinetics of apatite flotation response from magnetite has been investigated. The first-order models characterizing rectangular distribution and fast and slow distributions (F-S model) of floatabilities gave an excellent fit to the results of apatite flotation when compared to other models. However, the latter model is found to be better than the former in the goodness of fit and also in the description of flotation performance. The kinetic parameters in the F-S model are estimated by using a nonlinear least squares fitting program. The ratio of fast and slow rate constants is observed to be an important parameter for identifying the optimum levels of the variables and to outline the selectivity between apatite and magnetite. The influence of collector dosage is realized from the model parameters by relating it to the fraction of slow- floating particles. An attempt has been made to describe the apatite flotation behavior with the determined model parameters.

Jan 1, 1999

By Herbert D. Drechsler

La financiación minera está inter-relacionada con los siguientes aspectos: "determinatión de los recursos totales a utilizar en una empresa minera; adjudicación eficiente de estos recursos a los varios multiples activos de la empresa; y obtención del mejor balance financiero en relación con la situación general de toda la compañia". La primera parte comprende un repaso de los problemas financieros a traves del estudio y análisis del Balance General y Cuenta de Explotación. La parte siguiente es una exposición de la naturaleza de los criterion desarrollados en el estudio de viabilidad. La tercera parte describe las fuentes de financiación del capital, y la parte final describe casos prácticos de financiación minera.

Jan 1, 1982

By E. Medina, W. Callupe, R. Sharon

Slope stability in Barrick’s Pierina Mine open pit is significantly influenced by the structural geology, the variably argillized rock mass, and locally by perched groundwater. Development of an extensive surface water diversion network continues at Pierina, which is necessary to minimize highwall and adjacent natural landslide movement and erosion during the wet season. Slope movements are effectively monitored using optical survey methods, strobe light extensometers, gap monitors, and piezometers. The slope stability program at Pierina is focused on improving the understanding of the stability mechanisms in order to ensure continuous safe operating conditions. Priorities are placed on developing an accurate detailed engineering geological model, enhancing groundwater depressurization, and optimizing highwall controlled blasting procedures.

Jan 1, 2003

Mineral processes are relatively simple and metallurgical accounting would also be simple if it were not for the nature of the raw materials and the large scale of operations. Essentially the balance between input and output requires only weighing and assaying of the feed, salable products, and waste. but because of complexities to be described in the following pages there are few plants that do not encounter difficulties that cause some sacrifice of precision for economy and practicality. In arriving at a sound compromise, capable

Jan 1, 1985

By C. Frenzel

Tunnel boring machines (TBM) utilize disc cutters as the primary means for excavating hard rock. Depending on rock excavatability and rock abrasivity disc cutters can exhibit significant wear. A detailed analysis has been carried out to characterize failure modes and wear patterns of disc cutters. The relationship between rock properties, op-eration of the TBM, and failure modes of cutting tools is clearly high-lighted. On that basis a prediction tool for disc cutter consumption has been developed that allows to estimate not only gross cutter life, but accounts for cutterhead design, premature cutter changes, and disc cutter repair costs.

Jan 1, 2011