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By Dewey W. Marino

Conventional remote sensing applications for the exploration of natural resources has largely been the domain of low resolu­tion Earth orbiting systems such as Landsat™ which can sample a broad range of the spectrum. As the classic application of remote sensing, it has proven its worth through the discovery of numerous mineral deposits worldwide. Often this technique relies more on the spectral content of the imagery for narrowing potential sites on the ground, but often cannot reveal the detailed context of the observed response. As the dawn of the new era in remote sensing grows closer, high-resolution imagery is proving its worth for the definition of mineral potential and its cost sav­ing advantages for mine management.

Jan 1, 1998

By V. Carabias-Hütter, A. J. Basu

The paper aims at promoting sustainability assessment and reporting into practice using a globally acceptable set of guidelines and a common framework for internal and external reporting at a project/site level. Indicators are used for measuring performance, and this paper addresses development and implementation of performance indicators for sustainability assessment and reporting at local as well as global levels. The selection of a proper set of indicators is a challenging task. The indicators selected should provide the expected information for making right decisions. Relevant and credible sustainability reporting supported by a consistent performance indicator system can be the starting point for benchmarking environmental and social performance for the natural resources sector.

Jan 1, 2004

By Shawn Benner, David Blowes, Carol Ptacek

A full-scale reactive barrier was installed into an aquifer impacted by acid mine drainage in August 1995 at the Nickel Rim mine site near Sudbury, Ontario. The primary mechanism of water quality improvement is bacterially mediated sulfate reduction and metal sulfide precipitation. Dramatic changes in the groundwater chemistry are observed with up to 90% decline in Fe (from >18 to <2 mmol L-1) and increases in alkalinity from <1 to >10 mmol L-1 (as CaCO3). Over a 3 year period, the rate of Fe removal declines by approximately 35%. Primary controls on barrier performance are organic carbon reactivity, groundwater temperature, and variable residence time within the barrier.

Jan 1, 2000

By William E. Little, William R. Sharp, Edward R. Kennedy

Cost o f mechanical tunneling requires the knowledge of many machine/rock parameters such as rock types, machine power, penetration rate, cutter life, maintenance schedule, etc. Capital investment, labor requirements, and project scheduling will all play an important role in defining the economics of the overall project. Knowledge of the cost sensitivity of different project parameters will improve the overall success of any particular tunneling project if this information is incorporated into an effective management plan. Through the use of an interactive graphic computer program written for a microcomputer, one has the ability to quickly evaluate relative costs for a variety of parameters for either an existing project or for a proposed site.

Jan 1, 1983

By K. C. Vories, C. D. Elifrits, F. F. Haston

The required reclamation of land disturbed by surface coal mining often results in the creation of some oversteepened slopes that are prone to rapid erosion and sediment production. This natural activity on such slopes is not desirable nor allowed under current regulations. Experience has shown that novel approaches must be devised to address the problem. Research conducted on field sites in Missouri has indicated that construction, during the reclamation and grading processes, of a man-made drainage system will control the erosion. The drainage system must replicate or exceed the natural system in terms of drainage density and channel frequency. Basic design considerations are summarized in this paper, and field results are shown.

Jan 1, 1987

By Wm. Randolph Reed, John A. Organiscak

Haul trucks have the potential to generate large amounts of respirable dust. This respirable dust has been shown to be a health hazard to personnel, especially if it contains a high silica content. Lack of dust sampling data from haul trucks prompted the completion of a study to quantify respirable dust concentrations. These field studies were conducted measuring instantaneous respirable dust at stationary locations from passing haul trucks at a stone quarry and a coal mine site. Fugitive dust levels from haul trucks were analyzed to characterize dust dispersion. This analysis will indicate safe following distances for haul trucks and other heavy equipment to avoid over-exposure of respirable dust from the lead haul truck.

Jan 1, 2005

By S. Barkhoudarian, R. R. Gupta, R. F. Steinberg

A study of the feasibility of using acoustic signals to detect discontinuities ahead of excavation has shown that reflecting interfaces in a homogeneous rock can be easily identified. Moreover, discontinuity interfaces in a very complex field site (where the rock face was weathered, was full of jointed rocks, and had a destressed zone running along the mine walls) could be identified with a reasonable level of confidence, using a cross-correlation technique for signal processing. The results of this study go a long way toward proving the feasibility of the technique. However, further development work is needed to optimize an operating system in a hard rock environment where boring machines are used for excavation.

Jan 1, 1997

By K. H. McDaniel

Eight mine weather stations (MWSs) installed at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) to monitor the underground ventilation system are helping to simulate real time ventilation scenarios. Seasonal weather extremes can result in variations in the natural ventilation pressure (NVP), which can significantly affect the ventilation system. The eight MWSs, which previously collected and stored temperature, barometric pressure and relative humidity data for subsequent NVP calculations, were upgraded to provide continuous real time data to the site-wide central monitoring system. These data can now be utilized by the ventilation engineer to create real time ventilation simulations and can indicate trends that assist in the prediction and mitigation of NVP and psychrometric related events.

Jan 1, 1999

By Mark Gershon

This paper describes a linear programming (LP) application that schedules mining operations in an optimal manner. The model is developed such that it can be applied to a broad spectrum of mining activities. While linear programming has been applied to mine scheduling in the past, the models have been either site-specific or they have only optimized one aspect of mine operations without regard to others. The Mine Scheduling Optimization (MSO) concept makes use of a mathematical model to: (1) Determine the optimal operation of a mine, from mine to plant to market. (2) Account for mine-plant-market interfaces. (3) Optimize operations over the life of the mine. (4) Accomplish long, intermediate, and short range planning.

Jan 1, 1982

By Julian S. Edwards, C. Frederick C. Pearson, Sevket Durucan

Information gained at the site investigation stage of the Carsington aqueduct project led the designers to suspect that methane might be encountered during tunnelling and therefore gas detection techniques, including emergency shutdown systems, were introduced. After construction, on completion of the excavation and lining of the tunnels, a survey showed that methane was entering the aqueduct dissolved in infiltrating groundwater. General body air concentrations were very low but on closure methane concentrations rose rapidly within the aqueduct. A research project has now been initiated to investigate the mechanism of methane generation and entry rate into the system, the results of which are being taken into account in the preparation of future operating procedures.

Jan 1, 1989

By W. C. Smith

Even with conservative mine planning, rib instability can progress from a nuisance to a major safety hazard. This Bureau of Mines paper examines the mechanisms of progressive rib failure in high mine openings and discusses techniques to control rib slabbing. A field test site in a longwall mine was instrumented to investigate rib behavior during mining. While data analysis showed minor pillar dilation. sporadic zones of progressive rib instability were detected that culminated in eventual rib failure. The failure occurred despite conservative pillar dimensions and shallow depth. Models were used to demonstrate the mechanisms of rib failure and then evaluate the influence of support and other mine-related parameters on rib behavior.

Jan 1, 1991

The issues involved in mine closure are usually complex, and the risks are significant. Although environmental risks are paramount, other issues such as safety, community, legal, fiscal and technical factors need to he taken into account. This paper describes a simple empirical model based on the concept of the closure risk factor, which will enable decision-makers to analyze the mine closure risks at any site, regardless of the complexity of the issues and the scale, scope and location of the operation. The model enables all the issues to be captured and their individual and collective risk quantified. A number of case studies in Australia and the Pacific that illustrate the usefillness of the model are presented.

Jan 1, 2002

By Joseph J. Wojcik

INTRODUCTION A great deal more is involved in a sampling effort directed at a placer deposit than physically capturing a quantity of representative material and extracting the desired component. The distribution and dimensions of the sample sites must be chosen after consideration has been given to the type of deposit and the concentrating mechanism. Interpretation of the sampling results is likewise an extremely important part of the sampling program. SAMPLE SPACING The interpretation begins with the selection and design of the sampling program. A decision regarding genesis of the deposits and their geometry must be made in order to select a suitable technique and sampling pattern. Deposits differing genetically will have differing distributions and degrees of concentration.

Jan 1, 1992

By Stephen P. E. Redmond

A 15 km water supply tunnel is being constructed in Buenos Aires, Argentinata expand the capacity of the existing system. Two 4.3 meter diameter Earth Pressure Balance (EPB) tunneling machines operating at times from the same shaft on a congested work site and advancing through sedimentary deposits underlying this wonderful city pose interesting challenges. As of January 1999approximately 50% of the tunnel has been excavated. Combined machine production rates of 1026 m/month have been achieved. Presentations made in prior proceedings can be referenced for details of the overall Project scope and for details of the tendering process. The purpose of this paper is to compliment those presentations by addressing now the execution of the work.

Jan 1, 1999

By S. K. Sharma, ANKUSH GALAV, G. S. P. Singh

Providing a suitable protective water barrier pillar (PWBP) is common to reduce inundation hazards in underground coal mines. The imperative factors influencing its performance include the water head acting on the pillar, cover depth, pillar width, strength properties, and permeability characteristics. The mechanical failure of such pillar is a stress-controlled phenomenon, whereas the hydraulic failure is a strain-based phenomenon. A finite-difference numerical modeling approach was developed to study the hydro-mechanical coupled behavior of protective water barrier pillars. The mechanical stability was evaluated in terms of the percentage of failed (ZoF) and intact zones. The influence of the strain-controlled weakening on the permeability of the flow medium was studied through the coupling of the mechanical and hydraulic effects. The coupled steady-state model was used to estimate the outflow rate and its hydraulic stability. The adequacy of the protective pillar was also investigated by assessing mechanical stability and capability to resist hydraulic pressure against the maximum expected water head. A seepage rate-based classification system has also been proposed to evaluate the seepage potential and assess the hydraulic stability. The model has been validated for two case studies at the cover depth of 136–189.5 m and the existing pillar width of 16–42 m against the water head of 25–141 m.

Aug 18, 2022

By Hugh Jones

Mine planners are challenged to hold two seemingly opposing objectives: maximizing the mine?s operational efficiency while minimizing post-closure impacts. One of the most effective approaches to meet these objectives is to plan for mine closure from the start. Mine closure is typically viewed as the process that happens in the period of time when the operational stage of a mine is ending and the final decommissioning and mine rehabilitation is being undertaken. In reality, it is a continuous series of activities that begins with preplanning prior to the project?s design and construction and ends when long-term site stability is achieved and a self-sustaining ecosystem is established. Putting this model into practice as early as possible can significantly reduce the financial burden of mine closure and rehabilitation.

Jan 1, 2011

By J. J. Harrington

Manufacture and mixing of flotation reagents at the mill site provides an economic and convenient method of maintaining a continuous and fresh supply of reagents for concentrator operations. Kennecott Copper Corporation has designed and built a Reagent Mixing Facility which incorporates new ideas in construction and fail-safe operation at its Nevada Mines Division concentrator. Highly sophisticated automation and instrumentation techniques are combined with safety procedures and equipment that meet and exceed all Federal and State safety requirements. Installation of the facility has minimized hazardous working conditions for the operator, isolated reagent preparation from production personnel and equipment, and reduced the time required for reagent preparation from three shifts to one shift per day.

Jan 1, 1976

By J. H. Schuenemeyer

Uncertainty estimates on coal resources were computed as part of the U.S. Geological Survey’s National Coal Resource Assessment study of more than 60 coal beds and zones in the Appalachian Basin, the Colorado Plateau, the Gulf Coast, the Illinois Basin, and the Northern Rocky Mountains and Great Plains. The estimates were made to provide zone specific measures of uncertainty on the historical categories of geological assurance, namely measured, indicated, inferred and hypothetical. Previous estimates were based solely upon distance from a drill hole. These new estimates incorporate site-specific variability and spatial correlation and indicate that there is considerable difference in variability within and between regions. Uncertainty estimates for the measured category are discussed in this paper.

Jan 1, 2001

By M. Westendorf, T. Banerjee, S. Kaushik, D. Tinney

"The Copper Mountain Mine is located in Princeton British Columbia, Canada and produces 80 – 90 million pounds of copper annually, as well as gold and silver by-products. The ore processing plant has a conventional SAG/ball mill circuit with inline pebble crushing, followed by flotation. At most plants, much time is spent evaluating and optimizing the comminution and flotation circuits. The cyclones are a key contributor to the effective operation of the plant: They define the circulating load in the comminution circuit and provide the classification that ensures liberated material is passed through to flotation. If the cyclones are not performing as they should, the results are often a combination of lost recovery, grade, capacity and reduced throughput in flotation. For such an impactful unit operation, cyclones have historically been under-instrumented. Consider as well that the cyclones are typically located at the highest elevation in a plant, and it becomes clear why they often underperform. Copper Mountain Mine recognized the critical role that cyclones filled in their plant and worked to optimize their operation through the implementation of a Portage Cyclone Detection (PCD) system to identify plugging and roping incidents, Portage Pumpbox Control (PPC) to manage the flow to the cyclones, and AwaRE to control the grinding circuit. As a result, cyclones overflow stability has increased, switching out a roped or plugged cyclone now happens within seconds rather than many minutes, and both the grinding and flotation circuits perform better. INTRODUCTION Cyclones are one of the most extensively used pieces of equipment within the mineral processing industry because of their simplistic operating and maintenance philosophies. The cyclones are commonly used as classifiers within the comminution circuit to control the grinding product particle size for satisfactory performance of downstream operations. The cyclones are a key contributor to the effective operation of the plant and have a significant impact on the mineral processing plant operations. If the cyclones are not performing as they should, the results are often a combination of lost recovery, grade, capacity and reduced throughput. Similarly, an inefficient cyclone operation may also lead to low or high recirculating loads that impact the efficiency of the comminution circuit. This highlights the importance to have proper stability in cyclone operation while implementing any plant-wide optimisation strategy."

Jan 1, 2015

By W. D. Monaghan

One of the major ignition sources of fires and explosions in underground U.S. coal mines is flame cutting and welding. On May 20, 2006, a flame-cutting operation at the Darby Mine No. 1 led to an explosion that resulted in five fatalities. On Jan. 22, 2003, another explosion caused by flame cutting at the McElroy Mine resulted in three fatalities and three serious injuries. On June 22, 1999, a flame-cutting and welding operation at the Loveridge Mine caused a fire that required sealing the mine for an extended period. On March 19, 1992, an explosion initiated by welding at the Blacksville No. 1 Mine resulted in four fatalities. These examples of mine incidents demonstrate the need to conduct research to develop best practices for safely conducting flame cutting and welding in underground coal mines. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) conducted a study on fires and explosions in underground U.S. coal mines that were caused by flame-cutting and welding operations to determine the root causes of these types of incidents. The methodology included interviewing mining personnel who perform flame-cutting or welding operations in underground U.S. coal mines and visiting mines to observe these operations. In addition, MSHA reports of investigations and accidents statistics were analyzed. The findings were used to identify and compare differences between flame-cutting and welding practices and techniques in small and large mines, eastern and western mines, low-seam and high-seam mines, room-and-pillar and longwall mines, and between experienced miners and new miners. As a result of this study, best practices were developed to reduce the number of ?res and explosions caused by flame cutting and welding. This paper provides a summary of this research.

Jun 1, 2010