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By Ta M. Li

Recent economic and environmental setbacks have not slowed Occidental Oil Shale, Inc.'s program aimed at the commercialization of oil shale. In fact, the firm expects to have a 795 MI (500C) bbl) per day production unit working by the end of 1976. The key to Occidental's ambitious program is an in situ method that extracts the valuable oil by retorting the shale in place. The process will require practically no water and will leave the spent shale in place underground. Additionally, all plant operations are to be located within the mine. These factors thus serve to make the operation attractive from an environmental viewpoint, in contrast to proposed conventional schemes which call for extensive underground mining, crushing and grinding at the surface, and construction of a massive surface retorting facility.

Jan 12, 1976

By D Head

IonicRE acknowledges within our mining industry, there is a common belief that workplace health and safety, often referred to as safety, is just a matter of ‘common sense’ – something obvious and easy. However, at IonicRE, we hold a different perspective. We understand that safety is far from easy. We recognise the need to emphasise the importance of understanding and conveying the inherent difficulties of working safely. We are committed to implementing processes that support individuals in achieving our safety objective of eliminating fatalities and permanently disabling injuries. To build resilience and sustainability into safety performance, we draw parallels with the principles underpinning sustainable and exceptional production performance. Achieving sustainable safety performance demands effective leadership, meticulous planning, adept management, genuine care and unwavering commitment. We’ve leveraged various tools and techniques, such as DISC theory, Maslow’s hierarchy, process control, Kaizen, Six Sigma and Kirkpatrick’s 4 levels, among others, to facilitate this improvement. There methods play a pivotal role in developing a Safety Blueprint for enhanced safety performance. This paper provides an overview of IonicRE’s Safety Blueprint, a strategic framework for developing our safety capability. Our capability is underpinned by three key pillars. Firstly, a comprehensive risk management approach is imperative, encompassing the understanding of hazards, the identification of threats to our people and the associated risks. Secondly, it entails providing and enforcing accountability to sustain our safety capability. Lastly, it involves constructing an effective defence system against threats and harm. Implementing these pillars requires a meticulously devised change process. Anticipating resistance and potential setbacks, we underscore the importance of having the right people and a wellcommunicated vision for safety at IonicRE. A Safety Blueprint serves as a detailed plan outlining the path toward a future goal. At IonicRE, we contend that safety in the mining industry has generally lacked a coherent and effective Safety Blueprint – a comprehensive plan to navigate the journey toward a destination. Drawing parallels with NASA’s detailed plan for landing a man on the moon safely, we question why, as an industry, we cannot similarly eliminate fatalities. While progress has been made in the last century, we must not wait another 50 years to eradicate fatalities from our industry. Examining Safe Work Australia data from 2008 reveals that 47 per cent of mining fatalities result from vehicle activity and 40 per cent stem from individuals being struck by an object. As of December 7, 2023, seven lives have been lost in the mining industry in Australia this year, indicating a stubborn trend mirroring 2022, with limited improvement over the past 25 years. These incidents are not isolated or unexpected. We understand the hazards and controls, yet fatalities persist. IonicRE considers that the mining industry stands at a critical juncture – do we accept a plateau in mining safety performance, or do we rethink our approach? At IonicRE, we are thoroughly reassessing the hazards that threaten our people, systematically redefining effective risk control measures and establishing a robust framework to hold individuals accountable for the effective implementation of the control measure.

Apr 16, 2024

The National Mine Health and Safety Academy near Beckley, W. Va., is dedicated to reducing accidents and improving health conditions in the mining industry through education and training. Though this basic mission remains unchanged, the Academy now serves a much broader mining community than it did when established in the late 1960s. From its original emphasis on training federal coal, metal, and nonmetal mine safety inspectors, the Academy has expanded its programs to reach mining industry and labor representatives, state agency employees, and university students taking mining-related courses. The Academy's resident programs, short courses, seminars, and continuing education courses cover a wide range of subjects and various experience levels, but all have been developed with one idea in mind - to reduce accidents and health hazards through education and training of the widest possible audience.

Jan 11, 1979

By D. Baker

Alternative material handling methods are allowing material handling operations to be performed with increased cost savings. This allows for higher production levels with better returns. RAHCO International Inc.'s Continuous Mining Excavator (CME) has recently received a lot of attention due in part to its operating efficiency, flexibility, and associated low operating costs. The CME is designed to perform three primary functions. These include material excavation, sizing and loading operations. In many applications, a drilling and blasting process can be eliminated. The CME was developed originally in 1985 for open pit coal mining. See figure I. Since this time, it has been proven an effective system for excavating many other types of materials including friable and sticky materials. It has also been shown to suitably handle hard rock in certain site conditions.

Jan 1, 1998

During the second quarter of 1983, the economic recovery showed further strength abetted by the performances of consumer spending, residential investment, and the slowing down of inventory reductions. Real gross national product (GNP) increased from the first to second quarter at an annual rate of 9.2 percent, compared with 2.6 percent from the fourth quarter of 1982 to the first quarter of 1983 and an overall 1.9- percent decrease in 1982. Total industrial production increased 1.8 percent in July, and productivity as measured by output per man-hour increased 1.3 percent between 1982 and the first quarter of 1983 (table 1). Especially noteworthy .was the performance of real consumer durable goods expenditures, which increased at an annual rate of 32.0 percent from the first to the second quarter (about half of the increase consisted of automobile sales) and real consumer spending, which increased between these periods at an annual rate of 9.7 percent. Residential investment increased at an annual rate of 76.1 percent between the first and the second quarters,1/ and private housing starts by about 38,000 units in both March and May.

Jan 1, 1983

By Michael S. Miller

In 1986 and 1987, at the request of the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, the U.S. Bureau of Mines studied the nine separate parcels that comprise the 4,330-acre South Warner Contiguous Wilderness Study Area in order to evaluate their identified mineral resources. The nine parcels are along the east side of the South Warner Wilderness. They are, from north to south, the Granger, Milk, Cottonwood, Owl, Hornback, Eagle, Emerson, Barber, and Van Riper parcels. The Wilderness Study Area is underlain by basaltic, andesitic, and rhyolitic volcanic rocks and by sand and gravel deposits. Low-grade metamorphism is widespread in the volcanic rocks, with quartz, zeolites, datolite, chlorite, and calcite locally abundant in veins and amygdules. The rocks have been displaced by the mountain-front Surprise Valley fault and by crosscutting high-angle faults.

Jan 1, 1988

By Kritika Baxla, M. Mustafa Kahraman, Frank A. Drews, Yaxue Wang, Joel M. Haight, Kody Powell, Mohit Sobalkar, W. Pratt Rogers

In the opinion of these authors, technology alone can never give an organization an edge over competitors or provide an industry step change. However, history has shown that technology applied with correct logistics and strategy makes a significant difference. Never has the minerals industry faced such daunting challenges and been in such need of a step change. Application of autonomous systems has been steadily increasing in the minerals industry. Automation technology has changed the mining value chain from exploration to mineral processing and refining. The future state will only see additional in-roads of automation into more processes and the whole system design. To better understand the near-future potential of automation, it is useful to explore and review the current state of automation in minerals development. A review of the state of automation research is given. The review will consider three critical areas: automation technology, system’s engineering and management processes around automation, and the role of human factors engineering in automated and semi-automated systems. The review ends with a discussion on the social and political risks of automation in terms of shared value and sustainable development.

By Steve Kral

The third edition of the Underground Construction Association of SME?s (UCA) Cut-ting Edge series of conferences focused on a challenge every underground construction and tunneling project faces: controlling ground water. The conference, held in New York City in November, is a partnership between the UCA and The North American Tunneling Journal. It featured more than 20 technical presentations by professionals from around the world. Each described specific challenges unique to their projects and the solutions employed. More than 175 professionals attended the two-day conference that included an exhibition featuring 17 companies. In addition to the technical program, the Cutting Edge conference featured a site visit to the $10.4 billion East Side Access Project. Sponsors of the meeting included Soil Freeze, Traylor Bros., Kiewit, Skanska, Moretrench, Aecom and The Robbins Co.

By P. C. Dagneau

QUEBEC CARTIER MINING COMPANY was incorporated in 1957 to explore and develop low grade iron are deposits in Northeastern Quebec. Four separate deposits were located and identified as being of ore quality and size to support commercial development. Said deposits were located at Lac Jeannine, Mount-Wright, Fire Lake and Mount-Reed. In 1970, in preparation for the replacement of the depleting Lac Jeannine are reserves, construction of an SS-mile railway extension was initiated, towards the newly selected mine site at Mount-Wright. This orebody was selected because the physical and chemical characteristics of the ore were very much similar to those of Lac Jeannine, as well as its huge reserves, estimated at more than one billion tons. In addition to the railroad extension, a mine, concentrator and related facilities were constructed and the new town of Fermont was created. Total investment for the Mount-Wright project exceeded $700 million and initial production commenced in 1976. Quebec Cartier is presently (1992) the leading producer and seller of iron ore in North America at 15,5 million tons and employs some 2,300 people.

Jan 1, 1993

By E. W. Coderre, R. C. Baxter

"This paper describes the townsite of Wabush and the two railways operated by Wabush Mines for the loading and unloading of iron ore concentrate. The town of Wabush is located approximately 200 air miles north of Sept-Iles, Quebec and is in the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador. Construction of the town-site began in 1961 to provide housing accommodation for the construction force and permanent employees in the mining and milling operations located 4 miles away. Wabush Mines operates two short railway lines in loading and unloading concentrate between the concentrator, located at Wabush, and the pellet plant at Pointe Noire, Quebec. Both of these railways connect with the main line of the Quebec North Shore and Labrador Railway and provide a shuttle service between the two phases of the operation."

Jan 1, 1969

By W. Kobal

The extraction of nickel (Ni) and cobalt (Co) from the laterite deposit of Ramu nickel-cobalt Project in Papua New Guinea was performed in this study. Chemical analysis by Inductively Coupled Plasma (ICP-AES) atomic emission spectrometer, SPS-3000 (Seiko Instruments (Inc.), shows the ore contains 48% Fe, 1% Ni, 0.1% Co, 1.8% Al, 0.14% Mg, and 0.8% Mn. Characterization by X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis of the laterite ore obtained from the mine site shows the ore contains 70 to 80% goethite (FeOOH), assuming Fe content of 48% is mainly from geothite. The main leaching parameters investigated include; slurry temperature, leaching time and sulphuric acid (H2SO4) concentration to evaluate nickel and cobalt extraction. For all experiments, 10g batch samples are put into 300 ml beaker containing 100 ml of sulphuric acid of varying concentrations (1M, 2M, 4M). During the leaching period, 5 ml slurry samples are withdrawn at different times and filtered to obtain filtrate for ICP analysis to monitor nickel and cobalt extraction. Solid samples at the end of all tests are also obtained by filtration and after drying, XRD and ICP tests are performed to monitor nickel and cobalt contents. According to the test results performed at normal atmospheric pressure, over 99% of nickel and over 50% cobalt were extracted into solution within 120 min at 95ºC in 2M H2SO4 solution. Similar results were obtained when only temperature was reduced to 90ºC, but cobalt extraction increased to over 70% when leaching time was increased to 240 min. Further reduction in temperature to 80 and 60ºC resulted in reduction of nickel and cobalt extraction. At the end of each leaching test, magnetite was seen to attach to magnetic stirrer. The study showed nickel can be completely leached into solution but cobalt only up to 70%. Keywords: atmospheric pressure, sulphuric acid leaching, nickel laterite

Sep 1, 2012

By S. Gering, R. Ruiz, C. H. Calderon-Arteaga, J. Barrios

"INTRODUCTION Located in the northeast corner of Zacatecas State, Mexico, the Peñasquito Operation is comprised of the Peñasco and Chile Colorado (Brecha Azul) deposits. Open pit mining (pre-stripping) began in 2010 and full production commenced during 2011. The open pit mines feed both a sulphide concentrator (mill) and a heap leach pad. The project is owned by Goldcorp, Inc. Penasquito is a poly metallic deposit with Au, Ag, Zn and Pb being recovered as payable metals. As a consequence of lower grade ores expected with advancing mine-life Peñasquito is facing a declining metal production profile. To maximize returns and asset value plant modifications including the addition of a carbon pre-float circuit and a pyrite leach circuit to improve recovery are currently being undertaken. This carbon pre-float circuit will enable the recovery of precious and base metals from carbonaceous sediments. This material is currently being stockpiled. With the associated increase in complexity in the process circuit, the requirement of the ore control system to accurately predict ore feed characteristics is critical to maximizing metal recovery at the Penasquito operation. The addition of the carbon pre-float circuit was also a key driver in allowing the Chile Colorado open pit to be developed. These conditions alongside Goldcorp’s drive to increase profitability, and maximize net asset value has created challenges. These challenges are numerous and are multifaceted, however the ability to accurately route materials from the ore control system is critical to site success, and some of these challenges have been overcome by the adoption and implementation of a new ore control (OC) technology. Examples of these technological innovations in the ore control program are discussed in this paper and include improvements in geo-modeling, material routing and reconciliation. Successful implementation of these elements has led to significant improvements in selectivity, performance, and data management, while reducing the variance between planning and execution, thus helping to drive overall improvement across the operation."

Jan 1, 2018

By W. I. Nissen

As part of its program to provide technology for reducing undesirable environmental impacts of mineral processing operations, the Bureau of Mines developed the citrate process for desulfurizing industrial stack gases that contain from 0.1 to 2 vol pet S02. In this regenerable flue gas desulfurization (FGD) process, S02 is absorbed from cleaned and cooled industrial flue gas with a citric acid-sodium citrate solution. The absorbed S02 is subsequently reacted with H2S to precipitate marketable elemental sulfur and regenerate the solution for recycle. Laboratory investigations of process parameters provided information for designing larger scale continuous operations. Information gathered from operation of two pilot plants, one at a copper smelter and one at a lead smelter, confirmed the laboratory results. Data were obtained for design and construction of a commercial-sized demonstration plant at the George F. Weaton Power Station, Monaca, PA. A preliminary operation of the plant was demonstrated, under a cost-sharing Bureau-industry contract. This bulletin describes the citrate process and gives results of the laboratory, pilot plant, and demonstration plant studies, as well as corrosion investigations.

Jan 1, 1985

By A. P. Pavia

Investigation on profitable ways to recover significant quantities of silver remaining dissolved in highly concentrated chloride solutions frequently pass through the development of solvent extraction (SX) routes. In this work, the general pathways involving Ag(I) extraction by dibutylthiourea (DBT) or tetraethylthiuram disulfide (disulfiram, DSF), from concentrated acidic chloride solutions, are investigated. With this purpose, the dependence of Ag(I) distribution coefficient on ligand and chloride concentrations has been analysed. Furthermore, in order to check whether there is some protonation at any site of DBT or DSF after contact with adequate chloride phases, lH NMR has also been used. The collected spectroscopic data suggest that anionic Ag(I) extraction reactions are not likely to occur. Based on the overall results achieved, proposals for the most probable Ag(I) extraction reactions are made.

Jan 1, 2001

By Osvaldo A. Bascur

Most mining and metallurgical plants have developed predictive maintenance policies based on statistical analysis and special techniques, like vibration analysis, oil and lube analysis for critical equipment. Process control strategies have also been installed in several metallurgical sites. These control strategies require instrumentation maintenance from local personnel. The availability of real time and process history to identify the most critical part of the processing system from mechanical integrity is a must for global plant optimization. Specialized performance control monitoring algorithms are required to justify their existence and contribution to the bottom line. Emerging technologies are combining these techniques into a single total plant system. Tools are required to assist in troubleshooting and adapting these process control instruments and strategies. The key is the plant equipment and process control availability and utilization rather than just maintenance.

Jan 1, 1997

By Jianjun Tian, Changjiu Zhang, Chunmin Wang

Two lines of single stage autogenous milling circuits have been installed and commissioned as the primary grinding process for the Sino Iron project where magnetite ore is treated to produce iron concentrate via magnetic separation. Various challenges were encountered during the commissioning and ramp up stages which are discussed in the paper and include treating a highly competent ore in a closed circuit AG mill, operating the largest mills in the world and dealing with a number of engineering issues related to plant operability. Details of how these challenges were overcome are described as well as the observed operating characteristics of the mills and their optimisation through rigorous study, simulation and successful solution implementation. Further potential improvement opportunities are also discussed as part of the ongoing technical program at site.

Jan 1, 2014

By B. van Beek, J. H. Zietsman, A. Lexmond, N. J. Andrew

"In platinum group metals (PGMs) smelting, the slag-to-matte ratios are very high (approximately 4:1 to 9:1). The slag temperature therefore has a strong influence on matte temperature, which is a continual concern due to the low matte melting temperature and its resultant high superheat. Maintaining a stable slag temperature is therefore a critical safety and operational issue. This project aims to improve the understanding of the slag bath temperature drivers so that a more effective slag bath temperature control strategy can be implemented.With the aim of developing a multiphysics model of the furnace, extensive data analysis was performed to develop an in-depth understanding of the process before the start of modelling work. In this work, the effect of fluctuating furnace feed composition on slag temperature was examined. The results are based on equilibrium calculations using FactSage, implemented with ChemApp.A method was developed, using an equilibrium calculation at 25°C, to convert the available chemical assays to approximate mineralogical assays in order to determine the feed enthalpies. Actual 2013 furnace feed data was used and the average specific energy requirement to produce slag and matte at 1600°C was calculated to be 671 kWh/t concentrate. The furnace energy input was then kept constant, and it was found that the slag temperature varies significantly as a function of the feed composition. These results were compared to actual slag temperatures measured on site. It was found that close management of the furnace energy balance is important for maintaining a stable slag temperature."

Jan 1, 2014

By D. Tahija

"Carbonic acid prepared on-site from carbon dioxide gas is widely used in water treatment and increasingly in some industrial applications. It has not seen extensive use in mineral processing but is an attractive alternative to sulphuric acid for pH control, with the need to counteract high pH levels caused by cemented backfill of particular interest. The fundamental chemistry of carbonate solutions as applied to flotation and flocculation circuits is described as well as plant-scale application. A project to introduce use of carbon dioxide for pH control at the Hecla Greens Creek lead-zinc-silver-gold operation is planned to begin operation in the first half of 2015. INTRODUCTION Flotation pH Control and Backfill Most sulphide flotation circuits are run at pH values ranging from slightly acid to strongly basic, with slightly basic pH the most common. Lead sulphide circuits are typically run at values from 7.5 to 9, with zinc circuits running at higher values of 9.5 to 10.5. This has been the case with ores that produce a natural pH in the circumneutral range, so that the pH needs to be raised. Although lime [Ca(OH)2] is the cheapest reagent in use to raise pH, soda ash (Na2CO3) or caustic soda (NaOH) are also employed where sodium ions in solution are preferred to dissolved calcium, or, in the case of soda ash, the presence of carbonate is desired. The use of soda ash for pH control in lead circuits has been widely recommended for many decades (1). The situation is necessarily different at operations where cemented backfill is used in underground mines (2). Backfill, whether emplaced as rammed paste or pumped slurry, is composed of mill tailings mixed with around 10% Portland or similar cement. When later mining occurs near or adjacent to previously backfilled areas, a considerable amount of old backfill is inevitably mixed with new ore and shipped to the mill. Depending on orebody geometry, mining methods etc., the amount of backfill in mill feed can easily approach 20%, with periods of higher content not unheard of. The presence of so much backfill, with its high cement content, produces results largely indistinguishable from adding a large amount of lime to run-of-mine feed: mill pH in the grinding circuits can range above 11 and high concentrations of calcium ions are present. The need to raise pH disappears; the problem becomes to lower it."

Jan 1, 2015

By Hazel B. Comstock

[This material survey on magnesium and magnesium compounds is one of a series of Bureau of Mines publications designed to serve the needs of Government and industry for comprehensive, up-to-date information on mineral commodities and activities Magnesium, the world's lightest structural metal has become a most useful material in airborne and space vehicles, automotive equipment, machine tools, and consumer products. Use of magnesium on in basic refractories for iron and steel furnaces has expanded as the production of iron and steel has increased. Progress in converting steel furnaces to the use of oxygen has further increased the use of magnesium and magnesite brick.]

Jan 1, 1963

By Hazel B. Comstock

This materials survey on magnesium and magnesium compounds is one of a series of Bureau of Mines publications designed to serve the needs of Government and industry for comprehensive, up-to-data information on mineral commodities and activities. Magnesium, the world's lightest structural metal, has become a most useful material in airborne and spare vehicles, automotive equipment, machine tools, and consumer products. Use of magnesium ores in basic refractories for iron and steel furnaces has expanded as the production of iron and steel has increased, Progress in converting steel fun cares to the use of oxygen has further increased the use of magnesia and magnesite brick.

Jan 1, 1963