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By D. G. Krige

Using chip sample data and spatial structure parameters from a large mined-out section of a South African gold mine the advantages to be gained from a regular underground borehole drilling programme have been investigated for short- and medium- to long-term planning based on block valuations. The results have been compared with the current position, which relies invariably on the extrapolation of limited peripheral sampling data from raises, gullies or stope faces. Some preliminary work has also been done regarding the implications of such underground drilling on costs used for the present pay limit calculations. The results of the study, though preliminary, show that the net advantage of advance regular underground drilling could be substantial and that a more intensive follow-up research is warranted.

Jan 1, 2003

By J. N. Van der Merwe

The data base of failed coal pillars in South Africa was analysed with regard to the time of failure in an effort to develop a method to predict how long after their formation coal pillars will fail. It was found that meaningful results could only be obtained by splitting the data base up into groups that displayed similar behaviour. It was postulated, based on observation and experience, that coal pillars fail by a process of progressive weakening progressing into the pillar from the edges. Minimum pillar dimensions to ensure failure were calculated?these were the dimensions that corresponded to a minimum ?real? factor of safety. From the scaling distance required to reach the minimum safety factor, rates of scaling for the failed pillars were calculated based on the observed real lives of the pillars. It was found that the rates of scaling were unique for different mining areas and that they correlated directly with mining height and inversely with time. Using the derived scaling rates, the predicted pillar lives were back calculated for the pillars in the data base of failed pillars. In two of the three groups, the predicted lives correlated well with the observed lives on a one-to-one comparison. In all cases, the predicted lives were in the same time range as the observed lives. Overall, the frequency of predicted lives closely replicated the observed frequency of observed lives of the pillars in the data base of failed pillars. The method was successful in distinguishing between the data base of failed and a representative sample of intact pillars. While the predictions matched the observed lives of failed pillars, the predictions of expected lives for intact (hitherto unfailed) pillars were orders of magnitude greater. It is now possible to estimate the frequencies of future pillar failures for the purposes of mine closure and undermining of surface structures within broad bands.

Jan 1, 2003

Analysis for pillar extraction potential (A-PEP) is an intelligent tool, which could be used as a preliminary output indicator when considering the secondary extraction of regional support pillars in the Witbank and Highveld coalfields of South Africa. The safe and economic extraction of underground coal pillars is of paramount significance and importance to the South African coalmining industry to ensure continuity of supply of this fossil fuel. Pillar extraction practices in South Africa have been responsible a significant proportion of safety and fatality statistics in relation to its relative output (less than 5 per cent of total South African coal production) and, as a result, research was undertaken in local pillar extraction operations and extended to similar operations in New South Wales, Australia to assess a way forward for pillar extraction in South Africa. It was found that, although little in the way of new technologies has emerged in this field in the recent past, significant contributions could be made in the field of risk analysis to obtain a generic design methodology for pillar extraction in South Africa. The resultant A-PEP tool to assess pillar extraction potential is based on certain physical, risk and economic factors, which combine to indicate operational success in terms of economic, health and safety attributes. At the time of A-PEP?s development there was alack of operating underground coal pillar extraction operations, which made it difficult to validate its applicability. Since then, however, A-PEP has been successfully tested and validated against two unique underground coal pillar operations, which is the discussion of this paper. One operation is situated in the Witbank coalfield and is extracting pillars, which are 20 years old and at a depth of 80 metres below surface, while the other operation is situated in the Highveld coalfield-which is extracting 6 month-old-pillars underneath a massive dolerite sill at a depth of 220 metres. A-PEP has shown that its predictive nature is consistent the workings at both operations, irrespective of their unique conditions, and as such it can be successfully used as a mine planning tool. The A-PEP mine planning tool thus represents a positive step toward an integrated approach to underground coal pillar extraction when considering legal and operational aspects, which could form the basis for legislative guidelines when considering the future of pillar extraction in South Africa.

Jan 1, 2005

By T. Kagogo, M. Neser, C. Knobbs, E. Gerryts

"Contrary to the way it is often portrayed, the average organization or company is far from being a cold, calculating machine. It is actually a highly emotive place where interaction with people is a fundamental part of its ability to perform satisfactorily.The company, through its employers, expects employees, including new graduates, to have the ability to cope adequately with this emotive environment. The graduate is frequently unable to meet this expectation because he/she has not been developed to do so. Technical knowledge is his only asset. This deficiency manifests itself in leadership shortcomings, both intrapersonal and interpersonal. Further analysis reveals a deficiency in three elements of leadership - self-awareness, oral communication, and an ability to work cooperatively in teams.To address these three elements of leadership, Sasol Coal, a subsidiary of the big petrochemical company in South Africa, sponsored a leadership programme at the University of Pretoria for their final-year bursary students in the faculty of Engineering. This programme, the Sasol Engineering and Leadership Academy (SELA), consisted of a number of interventions designed to address the three areas of self-awareness, oral communication, and cooperative behaviour in teams. These interventions varied from an intrapersonal nature to interpersonal aspects. Psychometric assessments were followed by experiential modules dealing with the three constructs.SELA was evaluated at the end of the year. The results showed a positive shift in the main constructs of self-awareness, communications, and cooperation. This was measured quantitatively and qualitatively. Conclusions were drawn and recommendations for improving the programme were proposed."

Jan 1, 2014

By C. Knobbs

Contrary to the way it is often portrayed, the average organization or company is far from being a cold, calculating machine. It is actually a highly emotive place where interaction with people is a fundamental part of its ability to perform satisfactorily. The company, through its employers, expects employees, including new graduates, to have the ability to cope adequately with this emotive environment. The graduate is frequently unable to meet this expectation because he/she has not been developed to do so. Technical knowledge is his only asset. This deficiency manifests itself in leadership shortcomings, both intrapersonal and interpersonal. Further analysis reveals a deficiency in three elements of leadership ? self-awareness, oral communication, and an ability to work cooperatively in teams. To address these three elements of leadership, Sasol Coal, a subsidiary of the big petrochemical company in South Africa, sponsored a leadership programme at the University of Pretoria for their final-year bursary students in the faculty of Engineering. This programme, the Sasol Engineering and Leadership Academy (SELA), consisted of a number of interventions designed to address the three areas of self-awareness, oral communication, and cooperative behaviour in teams. These interventions varied from an intrapersonal nature to interpersonal aspects. Psychometric assessments were followed by experiential modules dealing with the three constructs. SELA was evaluated at the end of the year. The results showed a positive shift in the main constructs of self-awareness, communications, and cooperation. This was measured quantitatively and qualitatively. Conclusions were drawn and recommendations for improving the programme were proposed.

Jan 1, 2014

By Y. Mitani, M. Xie, G. Zhou, T. Esaki

The assessment of landslide instability and risk has become a topic of major interest for both geoscientists and engineering professionals as well as for local communities and administrations in many parts of the world. In this paper, based on a new developed Geographic Information Systems (GIS) grid-based 3D deterministic model and taken the slope unit as the study object, the landslide hazard is mapped by the index of the 3D safety factor. Assuming the initial slip as the lower part of an ellipsoid, the 3D critical slip surface in the 3D slope stability analysis is obtained by means of a minimization of the 3D safety factor using the Monte Carlo random simulation. The failure probability of the landslide is calculated by an approximate method in which the distributions of f,c and the 3D safety factor are assumed to be in normal distributions. The assessment of the earthquake triggered landslide hazard is done by the dynamic displacement analysis using the index of the Newmark displacement. All the calculations are implemented by a computational system call 3DSLOPEGIS in that a GIS component is used for fulfilling the GIS spatial analysis function. Besides the results of 3D safety factor and probability, the possible landslide body and boundary can be three-dimensionally quantitatively identified. L’ estimation des glissement de terrain et des risques impliqués est devenu un des principal sujet de préoccupation pour les géotechniciens, mais aussi pour les ingénieurs specialisés ainsi que pour les communautés et administrations locales dans de nombreuses région du monde. Dans cette étude, basé sur un modèle de maillage 3D et une approche déterniniste couplée au Système d'Information Géographique (SIG), étudiant la stabilité des versants , le lieu d'étude à risque est maillé suivant le facteur de sécurité calculé en 3D. En supposant que le glissement initial soit la partie inférieure d'un élipsoïde, l'analyse de stabilité pour le glissement critique 3D d'un versant 3D est obtenu grace à une minimisation du facteur de sécurité en 3D utilisant la méthode de simulation aléatoire de Monte Carlo. La probabilité d'un glissement de terrain est calculée par une méthode approximative, supposant la distribution de c, f et du facteur de sécurité 3D normale. L'estimation d'un risque de glissement de terrain causé par un tremblement de terre est faite grace à une analyse du déplacement dynamique suivant l'index de Newmark. Tous les calculs sont effectués par le biais d'un système de calcul appellé 3DSLOPEGIS dans lequel te GIS est utilisé pour gérer l'analyse spatiale. En plus de cela, les résultats du coefficient de sécurité en 3D, des probabilités, le terrain susceptible de glisser, et ses limites, peuvent être quantitativement évalués en trois dimensions. Die Bewertung von Erdrutsch-Instabilität und risiko sind zu einem Thema von großen Interesse für sowohl Geowissenschaftlern und Ingenieuren als auch von Gemeinden und Verwaltungen in vielen Teilen der Welt geworden. In dieser Arbeit, basierend auf einem neu entwickelten Geografische Informationssysteme (GIS) gitterbasierten 3D deterministischen Modell und mit der Böschung als Untersuchungsobjekt wird die Erdrutschgefahr durch den Index des 3D-Sicherheitsfaktors kartografiert. Unter der Annahme, dass der erste Rutsch der untere Teil eines Ellipsoiden ist, wird die 3D kritische Schlupfoberfläche in der 3D-Böschungsstabilitätsanalyse mit einer Minimierung des 3D-Sicherheitsfaktors mit der Monte Carlo Zufallssimulation erhalten. Die Fehlerwahrscheinlichkeit des Erdrutschs wird mit einer Annäherungsmethode berechnet, bei der die Verteilungen von f,c und dem 3D-Sicherheitsfaktor als innerhalb normaler Verteilungen angenommen werden. Die Beurteilung der Erdbeben-ausgelösten Erdrutschgefahr wird mit der dynamischen Verdrängungsanalyse mit dem Index der Newmark-Verdrängung gearbeitet. Alle Berechnungen werden mit einem Berechnungssystem mit der Bezeichnung 3DSLOPEGIS ausgeführt, bei dem eine GIS-Komponente zum Erfüllen der GIS räumlichen Analysefunktion verwendet wird. Neben der Ergebnissen des 3D-Sicherheitsfaktors und der Wahrscheinlichkeit kann der mögliche Erdrutschkörper und der Umfang dreidimensional quantitativ identifiziert werden.

Jan 1, 2003

By Rajendra Singh

Underground depillaring of contiguous coal seams/sections is a difficult problem, which becomes even more complex if the interburden/parting between them is thin. Conventionally, the depillaring with caving of contiguous seams/sections is done in descending order. However, if the parting is thin, the influence of the top sections/seams working over the standing pillars of bottom the sections/seams becomes extremely important for the safety and optimal exploitation of coal. Field investigations were carried out at Nowrozabad East mine where superimposed pillars of the Johilla top section were depillared above the developed pillars of the Johilla bottom section with a 3 m thick parting between the two sections. The competency of the 3 m thick parting (which consists of alternate layers of shale, sandstone and shaly sandstone) was improved by reinforcement (underpinning). The strata control investigations did not show any considerable instability problem of the 3 m thick reinforced parting and pillars of the bottom section due to top section depillaring. On the basis of this field investigation and a laboratory study on simulated models, simultaneous extraction of both the sections, along with reinforcement of the parting, was suggested for the geomining conditions of the Johilla top and bottom sections. Adopting the suggested simultaneous depillaring process, two sub panels of Johilla top and bottom sections have successfully been extracted without any strata control problem. This paper presents this case study along with the results of the strata monitoring conducted to evaluate performance of the underground structures during the field trial.

Jan 1, 2004

A South African gold mining rock-related fatal accident database has been analysed in order to determine rock-related fatality trends in the gold mining industry over the period 1990 to 1998. This analysis was extended further to include some of the individual reefs mined and focused particularly on the Carbon Leader Reef, the Ventersdorp Contact Reef, the Vaal Reef and the Basal Reef. Rock-related accident locations are also presented. A stope rock-related risk is proposed, where the fatality rate in terms of rock-related fatalities per million square metres mined for the gold mining industry as a whole is compared to individual reefs, allowing a stope rock-related risk to be attributed to the individual reef. This comparison is extended further by removing the contribution by the reef being evaluated from the industry data, thereby allowing this reef to be directly compared to the rest of the industry with respect to a stope rock-related risk.

Jan 1, 2001

By D. Boldini, R. Lackner, H. A. Mang

ABSTRACT: In this paper, the strong interaction between the hardening shotcrete lining and the surrounding ground in NATM tunneling is investigated by means of axisymmetric analyses, accounting for the three-dimensional nature of the excavation process. The effect of the hydration of shotcrete on strength, stiffness, chemical shrinkage as well as microcracking and creep are accounted for. For the description of the mechanical behavior of the ground, a multi-surface plasticity model is employed. The performed analyses of the excavation process provide insight into the influence of each phenomenon accounted for in the material model for shotcrete on the response of the ground-shotcrete compound structure. ZUSAMMENFASSUNG: In diesem Beitrag soll die Interaktion zwischen dem erhärtenden Spritzbeton und dem Boden auf der Basis axisymmetrischer Berechnungen untersucht werden. Derartige Berechnungen ermöglichen die Berücksichtigung des drei-dimensionalen Charakters des Vortriebprozesses. Die Auswirkung der Hydratation auf die Entwicklung der Festigkeit, Steifigkeit und der chemischen Schwindverzerrungen, sowie das Reißen und das Kriechen des Spritzbetons wurde berücksichtigt. Das mechanische Verhalten des Bodens wurde mittels eines Mehrflächenplastizitätsmodells simuliert. Die durchgeführten Berechnungen des Vortriebprozesses geben Einblicke in die Auswirkungen der Spritzbetoneigenschaften auf das Tragverhalten des Boden-Spritzbeton-Komposits. RÉSUMÉ: La stricte interaction entre le soutènement en béton projeté durcissant et le terrain dans un tunnel creusé avec la NATM est étudiée par des analyses axisymétriques, compte tenu de la nature tridimensionnelle des processus de creusement. Les effets de l’hydratation du béton sur la résistance, la rigidité et la contraction chimique, ainsi que sur la micro-fissuration et le fluage, sont mis en compte. Pour la description du comportement mécanique du terrain on emploie un modèle de plasticité multi-surface. Les analyses conduites mettent en évidence l’influence de chaque phénomène considéré dans le modèle constitutif du béton projeté sur la réponse de la structure composite terrain-béton projeté.

Jan 1, 2003

By A. J. Van Der Merwe, J. F. Erasmus

One of the valuation approaches applied to Advanced Exploration Areas and Pre-Development Projects is the so-called ?in situ Mineralization Method? or the ?Yardstick Method?. This method is based on the concept of a known undeveloped Mineral Resource being worth a certain fraction (the ?Yardstick?) of the contained commodity value (?metal in ground?), using commodity prices ruling at the date of valuation. The Yardstick value is derived usually from an average market-based figure obtained from an analysis of recent transactions and is expressed as a monetary value per ounce or per tonne. It maybe modified to accommodate the quality (e.g. grade) and category (e.g. confidence level) of the Mineral Resource/Reserve involved and the time, effort and expenditure expected to be involved in bringing the project to fruition. Some eighteen recent and relevant transactions were analysed, allowing the following general conclusions to be reached: ? a Yardstick with which to value undeveloped PGE mineral resources is likely to range between 0.5% and 2.5% of the in-ground contained metal value ? the expected method of mining (especially with regard to mining costs) and the grade of the mineralization both have a strong influence on the Yardstick ? the status (classification) of the Mineral Resource has some influence on the Yardstick and ? the ruling price of platinum and the regional location of the deposit appear to have insignificant influences on the Yardstick.

Jan 1, 2006

By W. A. Naismith

On 16 July 2004, at 07:10 a collapse of about 1.8 million m3 (about 4 ½ million tons) took place on the north wall on Nchanga Open Pit. This collapse was the result of a developing instability that was first identified when the benches in this area were exposed during September 2002. The NOP geotechnical and survey departments closely monitored the development of the failure. Control measures were implemented to reduce risk to men and equipment. These measures were continually improved and adjusted in reaction to observations and changing conditions. The purpose of this paper is to describe in detail the monitoring results that were obtained both by traditional methods and the novel slope stability radar system (SSR). Difficulties encountered in establishing critical deformation levels and deformation rates that can be used to predict the onset of collapse are described. Details of the monitoring and control measures, which led to the successful completion of mining in the area, are also described in this paper.

Jan 1, 2005

By F. H. Cornet, D. Ask, O. Stephansson

We have conducted a stress analysis of overcoring stress measurements undertaken at the Zedex Test Site (ZTS) in the Äspö HRL, Sweden. Two different types of overcoring cells have been used at the site: the 9-gauge Borre Probe (CSIR-type) and the 12-gauge CSIRO HI cell. Inversion programs based on the least-squares criterion were developed and calibrated. The primary and secondary stress field in the ZTS were back-calculated using strain data from individual cells as well as from combining data from both cells. We propose that the combination of strain data from the two cells significantly improves the determination of the stress field. A striking result is the good agreement between the re-analysed overcoring data and the existing hydraulic fracturing data. The deviations for the horizontal stresses between the re-analyzed overcoring data and the existing hydraulic fracturing data are approximately 3 MPa. The deviation in the orientation of maximum horizontal stress is approximately 10-20°. Nous avons analysé les résultats de mesures de contrainte par surcarottage réalisées sur le site Zedex, du laboratoire souterrain HRL d’Aspö, en suède. Deux types de cellule de mesure ont été utilisés sur ce site : la cellule à 9 jauges (du type CSIR) et la cellule à 12 jauges (du type CSIRO HI). Un programme d’inversion mettant en œuvre une norme par moindres carrés a été développé et validé. Les champs de contrainte primaires et secondaires du site Zedex ont été évalués d’une part en considérant chaque mesure isolément, d’autre part en intégrant l’ensemble des données de déformation dans une inversion unique. Nos résultats suggèrent que l‘association des diverses mesures dans une intégration unique améliore nettement la détermination du champ de contrainte. Un résultat intéressant est le bon accord entre ces nouveaux résultats et les résultats des mesures par fracturation hydraulique. Les écarts sur l’amplitude des contraintes horizontales est de l’ordre de 3 Mpa, les écarts sur les orientations de l’ordre de 10-20°. Auf dem Zedex Test Gelände im Äspö Festgesteinslabor (HRL) wurde eine Spannungsanalyse mittels Overcoring Spannungsmessungen durchgeführt. Hierzu wurden zwei verschiedene Methoden verwendet: das 9-kanal Borre Gerät (CSIR- Ausführung) und die 12-Kanal CSIRO HI Zelle. Inversionsprogramme, die auf dem “least-squares”- Kriterium basieren, wurden entwickelt und kalibriert. Das primäre und sekundäre Spannungsfeld des Zedex Test Geländes wurde sowohl aus Verformungsdaten individueller Zellen als auch aus Kombination beider Zellen ermittelt. Wir nehmen an, daß die Kombination der Messergebnisse beider Geräte die Bestimmung des Spannungsfeldes signifikant verbessert. Überzeugender Beweis hierfür ist die gute Übereinstimmung der überprüften Overcoring Daten und Ergebnisse aus existierenden Hydraulic Fracturing Versuchen. Die Abweichungen der horizontalen Spannungen aus beiden Datensätzen ist etwa 3 MPa und Abweichungen der Orientierung der größten Horizontalspannung liegen bei etwa 10-20°.

Jan 1, 2003

By C. -T. Mutale, A. S. Tuling

Titanium can exist in three different oxidation states. Its oxides are numerous and in presence of iron and oxygen, iron-titanium oxide compounds can also form. Some of the oxides are non-stoichiometric, making the determination of the thermodynamic properties of titanium and its oxides in molten steel and in slag difficult. Therefore, for the assessment of titanium activity in molten steel using the electrochemical measurements of oxygen partial pressure, the identification of oxides in equilibrium with titanium is important. This paper reports on an investigation of solid titanium oxide inclusions, which have been identified by combining different methods of analysis on quenched samples. These samples were taken from a Fe-Ti-melt at 1600°C, quenched in cold water then mounted and polished for optical microscopy. The oxide inclusions were analysed using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) with energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). Both single crystal and polycrystalline diffraction patterns were used to identify the oxides by comparing the d spacings with those in the ICDD X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) database. XRD was used to analyse the oxide particles on the top of slow cooled samples. It was found in the TEM study that the similarity of the diffraction patterns of the various phases meant that unique identification was difficult to achieve in some of the diffraction patterns. However, TiO, Ti2O3, Ti3O5, Ti4O7were identified in quenched samples, while TiO2, FeO.TiO2and iron oxides were seen in slow cooled samples. It was also confirmed that the type of oxides is related to titanium content of the samples. Keywords: Titanium, Titanium Oxides, Iron, TEM, XRD, thermodynamic.

Jan 1, 2004

By M Lipalile, A B. Tunono, A W. Naismith

Konkola No 3 shaft experienced severe mining induced stress and time related deterioration in ground conditions in an area where an over-cut and bench (OCB) mining method was used to extract a shallow dipping wide orebody. This caused an unacceptable risk for safe mining operations to sustain the required levels of production. After a review of the conditions it was decided to change the mining method to CASCADE to recover ore in the affected area and modify the OCB method and use a modified over-cut and bench method (MOCB) for new mining sections. This paper describes the geotechnical criteria included to derive the mining standards for the MOCB. The geotechnical risks are identified and taken into account to develop stope design parameters, stoping sequences and support requirements. A monitoring programme to assess conditions as mining progresses is also discussed.

Jan 1, 2005

By W. Stumpf

Mean flow stress analyses from plant mill logs for the conventionally produced hot rolled low carbon steel from the Ispat Iscor Vanderbijlpark strip producing plant, indicated a higher temperature sensitivity than that found for the equivalent SAE 1006strip steel produced in the compact strip plant of Saldanha Steel. This was confirmed quantitatively through detailed hot deformation studies on an as-cast structure as well as on a finer grained condition on the same steel. In the conventionally produced steel, activation energies for hot deformation of 309 kJ.mol-1and 388kJ.mol-1for the two respective starting structures were found, both values extending over the entire normal hot deformation temperature range of 1140 to 900°C. These and other experimentally determined constitutive hot deformation constants were applied to the hot rolling austenite grain size development model used earlier. From this, it is predicted that dynamic recrystallization occurs only in the first two break-down passes at the Vanderbijlpark plant and thereafter static recrystallization occurs after exiting from all of the remaining ten or eleven roughing and finishing passes. This is significantly different from what was predicted earlier for the Saldanha Steel plant with its lesser number of passes where static recrystallization is predicted to occur only in the last three passes. The effects of this process difference and other observed product differences between the two types of product are discussed. Keywords: Low carbon steel, hot rolling of strip steel, rolling mill log analyses, austenite grain size, grain size modelling.

Jan 1, 2004

By R. J. Pine, J. M. Rance, J. S. Coggan

ABSTRACT: The safe design of excavations created in a fractured rock mass is of paramount importance in rock engineering. Depending on the nature of the stress regime acting on an excavation, and the associated deformational behaviour of the rock mass surrounding the excavation, a number of potential failure mechanisms exist. These involve a combination of shear failure on existing joints, extension of critically oriented joints and propagation of new fractures through previously intact rock. Conventional numerical codes usually adopt either a continuum or discontinuum approach; this often results in significant over simplification and kinematic limitations particularly when modelling complex rock mass behaviour in the close vicinity of excavations. This paper describes the results from several case examples using a combined finite element-discrete element code, ELFEN that incorporates a crack propagation mode. Through the use of selected rock engineering examples, the authors demonstrate the potential of the code in the realistic simulation of complex rock failure both in underground and surface excavation applications. RÉSUMÉ: La conception sûre des excavations créées dans une masse de roche fracturée est d'importance primordiale dans la géotechnique. Selon la nature du régime d'effort autour d’une excavation, et le déformation associé de la masse de roche autour de l'excavation, il exsite un certain nombre de mécanismes potentiels d'échec. Ceux-ci comportent une combinaison d'échec de cisaillement sur les joints existants, la prolongation des joints d’orientation critique et la propagation de nouvelles ruptures dans la roche précédemment intacte. Les codes numériques conventionnels adoptent habituellement l’approche, soit d’un continuum, soit de discontinuum; ceci a souvent comme conséquence une sursimplification significative et les limitations cinématiques en particulier en modelant le comportement complexe de la masse de roche très proche des excavations. Cet article décrit les résultats de plusieurs exemples de cas en utilisant un code qui s’agit d’une combination d’élément discret et d'élément fini, ELFEN qui incorpore un mode de propagation de fissure. Par l'utilisation des exemples choisis géotechniques, les auteurs démontrent le potentiel du code dans la simulation réaliste de l'échec complexe de roche pour les applications aux excavations soit au fond soit à l’extérieure. ZUSAMMENFASSUNG: Das sichere Design der Aushöhlungen, die in einer zerbrochenen Felsenmasse verursacht werden, ist vom paramount Wert in der Felsentechnik. Abhängig von der Natur des Druckregimes, das auf einer Aushöhlung und dem dazugehörigen deformationalen Verhalten der Felsenmasse umgibt die Aushöhlung fungiert, bestehen eine Anzahl von möglichen Ausfalleinheiten. Diese beziehen eine Kombination des Scherausfalls auf vorhandenen Verbindungen, Verlängerung der kritisch orientierten Verbindungen und Ausbreitung der neuen Brüche durch vorher intakten Felsen. Herkömmliche numerische Codes nehmen normalerweise entweder ein kontinuum oder discontinuum Annäherung an; dieses ergibt häufig bedeutende Übervereinfachung und kinematische Beschränkungen, besonders wenn es kompliziertes Felsenmasseverhalten in der Nähe der Aushöhlungen modelliert. Dieses Papier beschreibt die Resultate von einigen Fallbeispielen mit einem kombinierten begrenzten Element - getrennten Elementcode, ELFEN, das einen Sprungausbreitungmodus enthält. Durch den Gebrauch von vorgewählten Felsentechnikbeispielen, demonstrieren die Autoren das Potential des Codes in der realistischen Simulation des komplizierten Felsenausfalls bei Anwendungen für beide Tagebaue und Untergrundsaushöhlungen.

Jan 1, 2003

By A. H. Mokken

Failed attempts at amalgamation of a gold/osmiridium concentrate, recovered behind pebble mill liners during re-lining, led to the discovery that the gold particles were coated and that nitric acid only could remove the coatings. Following this treatment amalgamation was rapid and resulted in a complete recovery of the gold that otherwise would have been lost in plant residues. Investigations into the nature and formation of the coatings led to the realization that the coatings were impregnations of harder elements, associated with the gold during grinding and driven into the softer gold surface by high pressure, impact and attrition. It was further realized that this phenomenon could be part of gold ore milling, world-wide. With these thoughts in mind the question is asked whether concentration down to micron sizes prior to cyanidation, should not play a greater role in gold recovery.

Jan 1, 1999

By Henri Fredriksson, Rami Saario, Mark Weatherseed, Juri Matinheikki

"The challenges facing the mining industry include complex ores and declining grades, together with increasing capital costs and environmental regulations. In addition, future commodity price uncertainty makes investment decisions difficult. Shorter plant lifecycles mean that new projects need shorter payback and increased net present value. With regard to solvent extraction, the introduction of an innovative modular plant design will help to address these issues. The first such modular offering is Outotec’s VSF®X modular solvent-extraction plant that uses prefabricated and transportable modules. Reuse and recyclability have underpinned the design concept. The greatest advantage of the VSF®X modular solvent-extraction plant is its relocation possibility. Additionally, it is suitable for various metals and plant capacity is adjustable through a scalable modular structure. After a dedicated plant lifecycle, the plant can be dismantled and relocated to a new site. This reuse ability offers major benefits for short-term plants, making them more feasible due to higher residual value. A net present value analysis is made for two examples, a conventional plant with no relocation possibility and a modular movable plant with extended plant life cycle, in order to evaluate the feasibility of modular plants. Results indicate that modular plant design could offer an economical solution with the additional advantage of improved overall sustainability through its life cycle. INTRODUCTION The challenges facing the mining industry include complex ores and declining grades, together with increasing capital costs and environmental regulations. In addition, future commodity price uncertainty makes investment decisions difficult. Shorter plant lifecycles mean that new projects need shorter payback and increased net present value (NPV) (Mudd, 2010; Norgate & Jahanshahi, 2010) . Awareness of sustainability issues is also rising and sustainability reporting is now a key element of many companies’ public and investor relations. Major companies are now putting more effort in this area to earn legitimacy for new projects (Mudd 2010)."

Jan 1, 2015

By M. Hakala, P. Tolppanen

A method to predict stress-induced failures around excavations based on the mapped geological and rock mechanical information is studied. Totally of 7 km of newly excavated tunnels are mapped in the Inmet’s Pyhäsalmi mine in Finland at depth between 1000 - 1440 m from which the results and conclusions from the firstly mapped 1.7 km of tunnels are reported. The main rock type at the site is very hard volcanite having uniaxial compressive strength of 230 MPa in median and GSI-value 72 - 80. The maximum in situ stress around the tunnels is 65 - 85 MPa. The prediction of observed stress failures was preceded by comparing elastic 3-D simulation results of tunnels with three statistical yield criteria. Read’s or Hoek & Brown’s yielding criteria are found the most relevant, though, the effect of anisotropy was found to be significant. The most important parameters having a correlation with stress failures are the tunnel orientation and the foliation of rock. Also, the rock type and its strength, tunnel shape and the geological anomalies have their effects. Further, a delay time on mapping was found to clearly diminishing of the most violent failures. Une méthode de prédiction des contraintes à la rupture autour d'excavation, établie sur la base de cartographie géologique et d'information sur la mécanique des roches, à été étudiée. Au total, 7 km d'un tunnel nouvellement percé à une profondeur de 1000 à 1400 m ont été cartographiés dans la mine de Inmet’s Pyhäsalmi en Finlande. La roche principale du site est une vulcanite dur ayant une résistance à la compression uniaxiale de 230 MPa (valeur moyenne) et une valeur GSI de 72 - 80. La contrainte in situ maximale autour du tunnel se situe entre 65 et 85 MPa. La prédiction des contraintes à la rupture observées a été évaluée en comparant les résultats d'une simulation 3D d'un tunnel avec trois critères de limite d'élasticité statistiques. Le critère de limite d'élasticité de Read ou de Hoek & Brown’s se trouvent être les plus important, même si les effets de l'anisotropie sont significatifs. Les paramètres les plus importants ayant une corrélation avec la rupture sont l'orientation du tunnel et la foliation de la roche. De plus, le type de roche et sa résistance à la compression, la forme du tunnel et les anomalies géologiques ont aussi leur importance. Finalement, un délai dans la cartographie résulte en une diminution nette des ruptures violentes. Basierend auf kartierten geologischen und felsmechanischen Informationen, wird eine Methode untersucht, um spannngsbedingtes Versagen um Ausbrüche herum vorherzusagen. Insgesamt werden 7 km neu ausgebrochenen Tunnels in einer Tiefe zwischen 1000 und 1400 m in der Inmet Pyhäsalmin Mine in Finnland kartiert. Das hauptsächlich vorkommende Gestein ist sehr hart und vulkanischen Ursprungs mit einer mittleren einachsialen Druckfestigkeit von 230 MPa (Medianwert) und einem GSI-Wert von 72-80. Die maximale In-situ-Spannung im Tunnel beträgt 65-85 MPa. Die Vorhersage von beobachteten Spannungsversagen werden weitergeführt indem man elastische 3-D-Simulationsergebnisse von Tunneln mit drei statistischen Fliesskriterien vergleicht. Read's oder Hoek's Fliesskriteria werden dabei als die relevantesten Kriterien angesehen, obwohl auch der Effekt der Anisotropie als wesentlich erachtet wird. Die wichtigsten Parameter für eine Korrelation von Spannungsversagen sind die Orientierung des Tunnels und die Schieferung der Gesteinsschichten. Desweiteren haben Gesteinsart, Tunnelprofil und geologische Anomalien ihren Einfluss. Ausserdem zeigt sich, dass eine Verzögerung bei der Kartierung die ausgeprägtesten Versagen deutlich verringern.

Jan 1, 2003

By C. S. Chenga

Sustainable development is currently an extremely relevant concept worldwide, especially in developing countries like South Africa. Mining and metals companies are also directly affected by the sustainable development agenda. The Mining Charter?s requirements as well as new legislation (Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act) expect, among others, for mines to support infrastructure and poverty eradication projects in the communities surrounding the mines. The aim of this paper is to, against the background of a qualitative study of mining communities in the North-West Province of South Africa, put forward some critical factors for the sustainability of social development projects in the mining sector.

Jan 1, 2006