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By Jim Richards, Eli Choueiry, Brett Robinson, Amanda Elioff

The Los Angeles Metro Gold Line Eastside Extension (MGLEE) extends Metro’s light rail system to the densely populated and growing East Los Angeles communities. Much of the 6 mile alignment consists of at-grade track, but the project also features a1.7 mile underground segment in cut-and-cover and twin-bored tunnel structures. In light of past experiences with open shield construction, The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) specified, for the first time, use of Pressure Face Tunnel Boring Machines (TBM’s) to advance tunnels through soft ground. This paper describes the history of the tunnel design, construction management, and construction methods adopted that resulted in successfully completing the tunneling segment.

Jan 1, 2007

By Wei Victor Liu, Na Zhang, Chengkai Fan, Bei Jiang

The truck haulage data from open-pit mine sites are usually massive and multidimensional with multi-peak Gaussian distributions. Artificial neural networks (ANNs) are well-known machine learning algorithms to handle massive and multidimensional data for building models. Moreover, Gaussian mixture modeling (GMM) is a suitable option for processing the data under multi-peak Gaussian distributions and improving model accuracy. For the first time, this study used a back propagation neural network (BPNN), an extreme learning machine (ELM), and a Bayesian regularized neural network (BRNN) coupled with GMM to deal with the complex truck haulage data and build three weighted ensemble models (WE-BPNN, WE-ELM, and WE-BRNN models) to predict truck productivity at mine sites. Decision tree (DT), random forest (RF), gradient boosting machine (GBM), and extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost) were used to build models to be compared with the weighted ensemble models. The results showed that the WE-BRNN had a higher accuracy than the WE-BPNN and WE-ELM models. The proposed weighted ensemble models performed better than the benchmark models in predicting truck productivity, indicating that a weighted ensemble approach based on the GMM analysis significantly improved the model accuracy. Based on the relative importance analysis, haul distance was the most crucial input variable for predicting truck productivity. This study provides a new approach to predicting truck productivity, which will help mining companies make sound budget decisions and improve mine planning.

Mar 2, 2023

By William R. Yernberg

The combined 80th Annual Minnesota Section of SME Meeting and 68th Annual University of Minnesota Mining Symposium was held April 17 and 18, 2007, in Duluth, MN. About 350 mining industry professionals attended the conference, including engineers, executives, mining managers and suppliers from the United States, Canada, Australia, Finland and Brazil. This year’s theme was “Consolidation – Growth – Technology.” The 80th Annual Minnesota Section of SME meeting included concurrent technical papers sessions, a keynote session that featured two distinguished speakers and a general managers session in which taconite mine operators provided updates on their operations. The Minnesota Section meeting also offered an SME short course titled “Control the Feed, Control the Mill.” More than 50 individuals at-tended the short course.

Jan 1, 2007

By J. Humphries

With today?s turbulent markets and unprecedented global opportunities, the need to optimize net present value and internal rates of return from capital investments has never been greater. To help address the need, this paper presents an overview of the key processes and strategies for achieving maximum return from capital projects. Best practices discussed address stage gate management for project evaluation, selection, and oversight, project execution efficiency, value improving practices, operational readiness, and operational excellence. The paper also includes a model of key metrics and benchmarking with tips for application. [ ]

Jan 1, 2011

By R. E. Ray

Compared to conventional fully ducted axial and centrifugal fan systems, jet fans can offer a number of advantages for control of smoke during fire emergencies and dilution of diesel engine exhaust products in vehicular and rail tunnels. The success of jet fan applications is the result of a balance between the temperature de-rating of the fan, buoyancy forces and the installation momentum transfer efficiency. This paper provides a case study of a unique application of vertically-mounted jet fans in ventilation shafts used to provide both emergency ventilation and pollution control for an overbuild created by the construction of a series of commercial high-rise residential buildings over a portion of an existing passenger rail line. A detailed evaluation of a set of shafts for one building is presented, including a discussion of the calculation methods used to estimate the required jet fan capacity and the results of the subsequent numerical analysis using Computational Fluid Dynamics to simulate the performance of the jet fans during train car fire emergencies.

Jan 1, 2009

By X. Shi

This paper presents design and implementation details of a fuzzy-behavior-based controller for an automated excavator. The robotic excavator is equipped with sensors, actuators and an embedded control system. The excavator controller uses neural-networks to interpret forces and torques gathered during the excavation process from bucket-mounted force sensors. Implementation details card experimental results using the fuzzy-behavior-based excavation controller are given for several excavation tasks. These excavation tasks demonstrate some of the complex skills that are essential for an autonomous mining-excavator controller.

Jan 1, 1997

By S. Devasahayam

Acid production or acid drainage is a major environmental issue that also has negative implications on the aquifer system surrounding the mine tailings area. The approach to controlling acid mine drainage involves physical and geochemical characterization that affect acid production. The material permeability determines the availability of oxygen, which is paramount in acid production in coal rejects, and varies with depth. In this paper the author presents the variation in oxidized pyrite/acid production with depth in black coal mine washery wastes. Chemical kinetic parameters and the diffusive parameters have been used to obtain the variation in oxygen content and the oxidized pyrite content with respect to the depth and time. Its dependence on porosity and moisture content is illustrated.

Jan 1, 2007

By Landy Stinnett

"When performing a valuation of a mineral property, a developing mine or perhaps an ongoing operation, the appraiser is typically provided with a range of information prepared by the property owner. This information can include ownership records, geological interpretation, assay data, an estimate of the reserves or resources believed to be on site (tons and grade), mine plans, production forecasts, capital and operating cost projections, and so forth.The appraiser familiarizes himself with the data, analyzes the various reports and then prepares the appraisal. There is usually a site visit, and there may be some effort at comparison of the particular mineral deposit with others in the region or with those of similar depositional characteristics, but for the most part, the appraiser is relying on the corporate documents, tempered by his/her experience in the field. Time is usually of the essence, the cost for the assignment has been trimmed, and therefore independent verification of the various components comprising the underlying data base (legal review, redrilling portions of the deposit, collection of new samples, re-assaying, etc.) is unlikely in most situations.In the case of high-value commodities — gold, silver, diamonds, perhaps the platinum-group elements — there have been numerous examples of the property owners attempting to increase the value of their holdings by nefarious methods. Most of these involve salting the deposit in some fashion; i.e., introducing small amounts of the commodity into samples being sent to a laboratory for analysis so that the resultant assay shows a higher grade (Donaldson, 2002; Greeley, 2001; Lechler et al., 2008 and Meech, 2001). Other schemes to enhance the apparent worth of a property include the use of nonstandard assay procedures, incorrect handling or withholding of the underlying information, and false reporting."

Sep 1, 2016

By Mohammad R. Jafari

The Camp Dresser & McKee (CDM)/Hatch Mott MacDonald (HMM) joint venture has been engaged by the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) to provide engineering ser-vices in connection with the replacement of two existing siphons which cross New York Harbor between Staten Island and Brooklyn. The project involves the construction of a 72-inch diameter pipeline within a 12-foot diameter tunnel beneath the New York Harbor. The tunnel will be constructed using either slurry or an earth pressure balanced (EPB) tunnel boring machine (TBM). This paper presents the results of an extensive geotechnical field and laboratory testing program including advanced frozen soil tests (uniaxial compressive strength tests, triaxial tests, and uniaxial creep tests), in-situ vane shear and pressure meter testing, and a marine geophysical survey (seismic reflection technique) to ascertain the complex subsurface conditions along the tunnel alignment and shaft locations. The paper will also discuss the design and construction aspects and the challenges associated with each component of this project.

Jan 1, 2008

By S. C. Sun

Pennsylvania has ample reserves of high-alumina clays which are potential sources of alumina, but many of these clays contain large amounts of iron, which makes them unsuitable for treatment by acid processes(1). The purpose of this investigation was to determine the optimum conditions for the selective hydrochloric acid leaching of iron (2-4) prior to the sulfuric acid extraction of alumina from Pennsylvania ferruginous high-alumina clays. This was accomplished by first testing the iron-bearing minerals and the clay minerals most often encountered in Pennsylvania clays to determine their rate of dissolution in hydrochloric acid solutions. The results of individual minerals were then based for leaching Pennsylvania clays with a 19% hydrochloric acid solution at the boiling point of the acid for approximately 30 minutes to achieve as high as 90% iron removal and only 2-5% alumina losses.

Jan 1, 1968

By P. Conrad

Experience has shown that, since the passage of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act, over-compaction of spoil during the reclamation process has severely limited tree growth on reclaimed land. Researchers at the University of Kentucky have conducted a ten-year investigation at a surface mine in eastern Kentucky that monitored the changes in selected spoil physical characteristics for various reclamation and compaction alleviation methods. More specifically, research plots were developed for reforestation that employed three different levels of compaction and two different methods of ripping for overly compacted spoil. Each year measurements were made in the field of dry bulk density, using a nuclear density gage, and maximum penetration depth, using a recording cone penetrometer. In addition to good correlation between tree growth and selected spoil characteristics, the data demonstrated a gradual convergence of the measured spoil characteristic data over the study period.

Jan 1, 2008

By W. C. Goldberg, E. M. Frizzell

Monitoring slope displacement in open-pit mines can help predict collapses and prevent serious damage, injuries, and fatalities. Early detection of movement may indicate the need to modify slope geometry, initiate dewatering if the slope is wet, or consider artificial support measures such as cable bolting. Slope monitoring at the Berkeley pit was carried out with varying degrees of intensity and continuity for about 15 years. Some of the old mine records are still intact and accessible. Slope monitoring data can therefore be collected and published for the benefit of other mine operators. Because prediction of slope failures is empirical in nature, publication of several well documented case studies will be a valuable contribution to the industry. Background - Berkeley pit Open-pit mining of copper from the Berkeley pit, located on the east side of Butte, MT, began in 1955 and ceased in 1982. During that time, about 1 Gt (1.2 billion st) of material were removed to form a pit about 1.8 km wide by 2.1 km long (6000 ft by 7000 ft) at the rim, and 550 m (1800 ft) deep as measured from the high hill on the northwest side. From the south side, the pit only measures 365 m (1200 ft) deep. The Berkeley pit was first owned and operated by Anaconda Minerals Co., and subsequently by Arco. Following its closure in April 1982, the mine began to fill with water. Washington Construction purchased the property in 1986, and Montana Resources Inc. began mining to the east of the Berkeley pit in July 1986. Numerous instances of slope failure were recorded during the course of mining and several intensive geotechnical investigations were conducted in an effort to optimize the mine design. One of the last and most comprehensive studies was initiated in 1977. For purposes of geotechnical analysis, the mine was divided into nine design sectors on the basis of geologic conditions, geographic orientation, and economic importance (Fig. 1). Only two of these sectors - the concentrator and the southeast corner - are considered here. Material properties were obtained from several studies of samples collected from the mine and adjacent areas. The slope was monitored using standard surveying techniques to record the amount of movement in an area. The

Jan 1, 1989

By SH. Shahsavari, H. Akbari, M. Noaparast, M. Oliazadeh

Mejel valley zircon ore in Iran is located in north part of Iran and was sampled to evaluate its concentration. The aim of this project was to define the mineralogy of this zone and separating zircon from other minerals using gravity concentrators and magnetic separators. It is constituted of various valuable minerals, mainly zirconium, niobium-tantalum, titanium, rare earth elements particularly cerium-bearing minerals namely zircon, sphene and rare earth elements oxides. We used statistical method for designing of experiments. Yates method used for analysis of basic experiments results. The grade of zircon in primary sample was 1.1%. Different experiments were designed to optimize all required parameters. The final concentration with 75% zircon was produced and final recovery was 79%. Finally, lab-scale based flow sheet was prepared using experiments results.

Jan 1, 2005

Ceremonies for the induction of five mining industry pioneers into the National Mining Hall of Fame are scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 25, 2004 at the Las Vegas Hilton in Las Vegas, NV. The 17th Annual Mining Hall of Fame Induction banquet will begin with a reception at 6 p.m., followed by the dinner and program at 7 p.m. The five inductees are Georgius Agricola, David William Brunton, Herbert E. Goodman, David Ray Mitchell and Robert Peele. Georgius Agricola (1494-1555) wrote De ReMetallica, an original and valuable work that discussed everything known about mining during the first half of the 16th century. In De Re Metallica, Agricola reviewed practical means of finding ores, methods of surveying and mining, the assaying of ores, types and uses of mining machinery, smelting, mine administration and more. David William Brunton (1849-1927) is best know

Jan 1, 2004

By T. J. Batchler

Deformable materials are sometimes added to ventilation stopping constructions to prevent damage caused by convergence in coal mines. However, adding deformable materials can significantly reduce the capacity of a stopping to resist transverse loading. As part of its mining health and safety program, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has conducted research on the effect of various materials with different deformation properties on the transverse loading capability of a stopping wall. Based on a three-point hinge method of failure, a half-wall method of testing in the NIOSH Mine Roof Simulator was used to simulate full-scale wall behavior. This simulated the fracture initiation and eventual failure of the stoppings from transverse loading. The impact of the modulus of elasticity of various deformable materials was examined in this study. A polystyrene foam block with a low modulus of elasticity, which is commonly used as a deformable material, was shown to degrade the transverse load capacity of the stopping by as much 95%. Other materials with higher modulus of elasticity preserved more of the transverse load capacity of the stopping, but were not able to absorb as much convergence. This paper presents the results of a parametric study that quantifies the impact of various deformable materials in block stopping construction under transverse load conditions. Disclaimer: The findings and conclusions in this report have not been formally disseminated by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and should not be construed to represent any agency determination or policy.

Jan 1, 2009

By A. D. Davis

Limestone-based technology for arsenic removal from water is an innovative and promising method. The technology offers the potential for low-cost disposal of a stable waste product after arsenic removal, either in an ordinary landfill or by encapsulation in concrete. Leaching research described in this paper shows that the limestone waste, after encapsulation in concrete, passes the Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure (TCLP) test. Leaching was less than 0.05 mg/L, which is 1/100 of the U.S. EPA?s standard for disposal of arsenic in a landfill. Disposal of arsenic-enriched waste is critical for commercial viability of arsenic-removal technologies. Low-cost disposal gives the limestone-based method an advantage that could help communities meet the new maximum contaminant level of 10 parts per billion for arsenic in drinking water. The ability to recycle the waste material in concrete could add a significant economic benefit, further reducing overall costs.

Jan 1, 2009

By H. Walqui

This paper describes operating gains resulting from standardizing operating and maintenance practices to improve the performance of the pebble crushing circuit at he Empire Concentrator. Past efforts have led to improved operating time but no additional throughput gains. New Operating standards and checklists were developed and introduced. The content and frequency of the review process indicators was then changed to take advantage of the new practices resulting in an increased feed rate and availability through the pebble crushing circuit.

Feb 27, 2013

By A. Nivala, S. Ulgiati, M. Canino

Mining and processing of bastnaesite ore, (Ln)CO3F, for lanthanides extraction is investigated in this paper. This series of elements proved to be applicable for a wide range of high-tech uses. In spite of the strategic importance of lanthanides, no LCA and energy analyses of their extraction have ever been published. We perform in this paper a Life Cycle Assessment of the Lanthanide production cycle, based on available database and literature data from Mountain Pass mine (USA) and other worldwide mining and processing sites, most of which in China. We investigated three main steps: mining, milling (including transport, grinding and drying), and flotation (for lanthanide chloride extraction). We do not investigate here the separation of pure oxides from lanthanide chloride, a compound which is also marketed as such. The conventional LCA was integrated by means of energy and emergy evaluations, aimed at investigating respectively the global energy cost and the environmental sustainability of the process. Indicators of material intensity, thermodynamic efficiency, and environmental impact (including LCA and ecological footprint impact categories) are calculated and discussed.

Jan 1, 2005

By W. Langer

Of the 50 or so most often utilized industrial minerals, more than two thirds are, or have been, produced in the western states of Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, and Wyoming. Some commodities, such as natural aggregate, currently are produced in all 13 states; others such as beryllium and iodine are produced in only Utah and Oklahoma, respectively. Together, the 13 western states make a significant contribution to the US industrial minerals industry.

Jan 1, 2007

By S. Frimpong

Shovel excavation constitutes a significant component of production costs in any surface mining operation. This makes shovel loading an important cost center that needs to be improved to lower production costs. Optimization of tool design will improve energy efficiency in earthmoving operations. However, modeling the soil-tool interaction is a complex process due to the fact that forces for excavating particulate material are functions of many variables. The magnitude of this resisting force depends not only on the type of soil but on the size, shape and orientation of the cutting element. Moreover, part of this complexity is attributed to the fact that the behavior of the material during excavation is not yet well understood. For the past five decades, researchers have mostly used the passive earth pressure theory to study the soil failure patterns around a cutting tool and to develop force prediction models for design optimization with some success. Although the force models developed from the passive pressure theory have been successful to some extent, they can hardly be extended to a general case because of the underlying assumptions and simplification of tool shapes. This paper aims at reviewing some of the existing empirical and analytical methods of cutting and excavation tool modeling with a focus on their merits and limitations. The paper also explores the use of numerical methods, specifically the discrete element method, for dealing with the unresolved aspects of soil dynamics in excavation.

Jan 1, 2011