Search Documents

By Edward W. Parker

(Toronto Meeting, July, 1907.) NOTE.-The material from which this paper has been prepared was collected for the U. S. Geological Survey Bulletin, Contributions to Economic Geology, 1906, and appears also, though in somewhat more extended form without illustrations, in that publication. ALTHOUGH the briquetting of coals and lignites has been carried on for many years in Europe, and has reached a particularly high state of development in France, Belgium, and Germany, it has made comparatively little progress in the United States. The causes for the backwardness of the United States in this regard are several, and first among them has been the abundant supply of cheap raw fuel with which the manufactured article has to compete. With our millions of acres of coal-productive territory, from which the product can in most cases be cheaply extracted, it has appeared in many districts more economical to waste the slack or culm, which con¬stitutes a considerable percentage -of the product, than to attempt to save it at the additional expense required for briquetting. It is for this reason that the view in all sections of the anthracite-region of Pennsylvania is marred by the unsightly culm-banks which encumber the ground, and that in some of the bituminous-districts one sees huge piles of unmarketable- slack allowed to burn up in order to get rid of them. When the coal is of a coking quality, or when the slack can be used for steaming-purposes, these losses are not sustained, but many thousands of tons of what might be converted into usable fuel have been wasted every year simply because of the increased expense involved in its preparation.

Sep 1, 1907

By Richard S. Fowkes

This Bureau of Mines report describes the Human Factors in Mining Search System (HFMSS), a computerized information retrieval system that provides relevant human factors information from journal articles, research reports, seminars, conferences, etc. in terms of 19 mining-related categories. It is the only existing data base that stresses all of the areas of human factors as applied to mining. Examples of these categories are biomechanics and work physiology, human error and human reliability, work design and task analysis, manual materials handling and back injuries, hand tools, organizational and management practices, psychological factors, and training. Although the emphasis is on literature dealing directly with mining, applicable material from other areas of research is included for those categories in which little research has been done in mining. Each record in HFMSS can be recalled by any field such as title, author, date, source, descriptive terms or key words, as well as by any words found in an abstract that describes the purpose, procedure, and results of the research. This report describes HFMSS fields and subject categories, the annotated bibliography, user's manual, and thesaurus of key words. Example printouts in both brief and full formats are included as an appendix.

Jan 1, 1990

By J. R. Thoenen

In June 1929 the Bureau of Mines issued a 13-page information circular entitled "Mineral Wool," which was one of the first publications to present to the public Rome technical aspects of the mineral-wool industry. Since then several articles on the subject have appeared in the technical press as well as in publications of State organizations. Inquiries for information on mineral wool have continued to be received by the Bureau of Mines in large number, and in 1935 it was decided to make a field survey of the plants then producing and to collect therefrom technical data to be compiled in a paper for nubile distribution. With the cooperation of the industry, this survey was made, and Information Circular 6984, Mineral Wool, was published in January 1930. The issue was exhausted after a few months, and requests for copies continued to come to the Bureau. As opportunity arose, further field studies were made in American as well as Canadian plants. The present circular contains the essential information in Information Circular 6994 together with date from later field studies.

Jan 1, 1939

The United States Bureau of Mines frequently receives requests for information regarding the details of its organization and the nature of its activities. In response to such an inquiry a series of articles outlining the work of the bureau as a whole and of its different divisions was prepared and published in the United States Daily, Washington, D. C., during November, 1929. These articles are reprinted here in the hone that they may assist in giving the public a more complete understanding of the aims and purposes of the bureau and the methods by which it is laboring for the attainment of safer conditions and more efficient methods in American mineral industries. An index of these articles, with the dates of 'their publication in the United States Daily, is given below.

Jan 1, 1930

By H. F. Maulson

For the benefit of those who are not familiar with the history of the western Provinces-Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta-as regards our natural resources, a few words of explanation may be in order before taking up the consideration of the Mines Act of 1930. In 1867, The British North America Act was passed by the Imperial Parliament. That Act, which is our constitution, created a union between the provinces of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Upper and Lower Canada (now known as Ontario and Quebec respectively) under the name of the Dominion of Canada. Provision was made therein for embracing other parts of Canada from time to time. That portion of Canada which today comprises the Provinces of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta and the lands to the north of them, was then known as Ruperts Land and the North West Territory. In the year 1670, King Charles II had granted by Letters Patent to Prince Rupert and his associates, known as ?The Governor & Company of Gentlemen Adventurers of England, Trading into Hudson's Bay?, commonly known as the Hudson's Bay Company, the lands and territories therein described, being roughly all the lands adjacent to and west of Hudson's bay; also the gold and silver to be found or discovered therein and other rights as more fully described in said Letters Patent. The land so granted was called 'Ruperts Land'.

Jan 1, 1930

By Dante Santony

La empresa Pixis desarrolla para la SCM Miner Lumina Ccoper Chile, la creación virtual de treinta procedimientos de operaciones y mantenimiento de sus plantas de proceso. En ese sentido, el presente texto señala la aplicación de este entrenamiento virtual en la industria chilena - en tanto ofrece beneficios como una mejor capacitación del personal de planta en procedimiento de fallas, posibilidad de simulación de fallas y emergencias, el equipo puede ser entrenado antes del comisionamiento de la planta, sin riesgo y a menor costo y los cambios de planta y optimización en los procedimientos que pueden ser capturados, mejorando la efectividad de estos

May 1, 2014

By J. D. Miller, C. L. Lin

As the techniques and resolution for 3-D spatial analysis have advanced in the last decade, it is now possible to map in detail the microstructure of multiphase materials in three-dimensional digital space. In this regard, three-dimensional x-ray microtomography offers a unique imaging capability. Spatial resolution on the order of ten microns can be achieved with the use of microfocus x-ray generators. Recently, a state-of-the-art cone beam x-ray microtomography system has been installed at the University of Utah for the quantitative analysis of multiphase materials in three dimensions. This facility has been designed to obtain 2048 x 2048 pixel reconstruction over a 10-mm diameter, while also allowing for the imaging of somewhat larger (40-mm) objects. The system is capable of handling high-density materials, even materials having a density as high as 8.0 g/cm3. This unique, one-of-a-kind, instrument will be used to obtain three-dimensional spatial reconstruction for such applications as specific examples 3D liberation analysis, pore structure analysis of particle beds during filtration and air-void system of concrete structures. The utilization of x-ray microtomography not only will allow for quantitative analysis of multiphase systems but also allow for textural characterization and the determination of phase continuity. In this paper, we present information regarding the current use of this new facility and reviewed potential applications for the advanced analytical system.

Jan 1, 2001

By W. A. Dunkley, W. W. Odell

About two-thirds of the manufactured gas supplied to the public by the gas plants in the Illinois district is cnrbureted water gas. The leading generator fuel is coke, ma.de in by-product c.oke ovens or in retorts, chiefly from eastern gas coals. During the fall and winter of 1917-18, when the demand for coke by war industries and the restrictions of the Fuel Administration in connection with the transportation of coke from eastern States made it almost impossible for many gas companies to obtain their coke requireml'nts, several water-gas plants had to use bituminous coal as generator fud. Many operating difficulties were encountered, some of which were solved more or less satisfactorily in different plants. A number of plants attacked the problem rather blindly because facilities for making tests were lacking and because technical men were too busy with labor and supply problems to study thoroughly the conditions involved or to ascertain what other plants had done with this fuel. It was therefore with the hope of assisting the gas industry during this critical period, and of promoting the use of Central District coals for gas making, that the Illinois Mining Investigations, a joint agency of the U. S. Bureau of Mines, the University of Illinois, and the Illinois Geological Survey Division undertook the, tests discussed in this paper. • This report was compiled under the auspices of a technical committee appointed by Gov. Frank 0. Lowden to promote the use of Central District coals in gas manufacture as a war measure. This committee included the following representatives of the various agencies concerned: U. S. Bureau of Mines, E. A. Holbrook and W. W. Odell; Illinois Gas Association, C. W. Bradley and R. B. Harper; University of Illinois, Dean C. R. Richards, Prof. S. W. Parr, and Prof. H. H. Stoek; State Geological Survey Division, F. W. De Wolf, G. H. Cady, a.nd W. A. Dunkley. F. W. De Wolf was chairxnan of the committee and E. A. Holbrook was secretary.

Jan 1, 1924

After more than 20 years dependence on bituminous coal as a primary fuel for generating electricity, the Pennsylvania Power and Light Company initiated a one-year study on the economics of building an electric generating station using anthracite as a fuel. The study will be completed in December 1976. If the feasibility study so indicates, PP&L will consider installing four 400,000 kilowatt generating units for scheduled commercial operation in 1985. Each unit would consume up to one million tons of anthracite annually. Anthracite generally is more difficult and expensive to extract than bituminous coal, but it has a significantly lower sulfur content than the bituminous coal currently being used by PP&L, thereby eliminating the costs of installing sulfur emission controls at generating stations. Moreover, significant reductions in transportation costs may be realized because the utility's operating territory is situated in the center of the anthracite region in northeastern Pennsylvania. These advantages may indicate that the use of anthracite is more economical than bituminous coal to PP&L. ASBESTOS -Asbestos production in the U.S. dropped again in 1975 until it was just two-thirds of that in 1973. This was in spite of the very strong demand caused by the Quebec strike. The 7-month strike of the asbestos miners in Thetford Mines, Quebec cut off 55 percent of the normal supply of U.S. consumers. Apparent domestic consumption was less than 75 percent of that in 1974. The wage settlement will probably result in a 20 percent increase in asbestos prices.

Jan 1, 1975

By S. R. S. Sastri

By using the data of E.A. Hersam and F.C. Bond's equation for energy consumption in comminution, a method was developed to analyze the performance of industrial jaw crushers. The study showed that industrial jaw crushers are generally operated below capacity. The study also showed that industrial jaw crushers generally have sufficient installed power to operate at, full capacity. The method presented can be used to estimate the capacities and power requirements of jaw crushers.

Jan 1, 1995

By H Hoogvliet

The Goondicum Crater industrial minerals deposit is located about 30 km east of Monto, Central Queensland, Australia. Early exploration programs in the 1990s found alluvial ilmenite along the banks of the Burnett River. This mineralisation was traced upstream to the Goondicum Crater. The Goondicum Crater is a topographic feature centred on a roughly circular 6 km diameter layered gabbro complex. Significant ilmenite, apatite, titano-magnetite and feldspar mineralisation are present in a weathered horizon up to 25 m thick. After several drilling campaigns in the Crater and subsequent feasibility studies, the project was developed by Monto Minerals Ltd, an ASX listed company, in 2007. However, the project never achieved production performance expectations and ran out of commissioning funds. The company subsequently went into voluntary administration in August 2008.In 2009, the RMM Capital group, of Brisbane, took control of Monto Resources Pty Ltd, and renamed the company Belridge Enterprises Pty Ltd (Belridge). Belridge commissioned a redevelopment study aimed at recommencing mining and processing operations. As part of the redevelopment study the authors planned a drilling campaign, managed a quality control program and developed a block model. This paper describes the drilling program, analytical procedures, quality control procedures and the preparation of the block model.The block model for the resource estimate was created using 1 m high blocks, wireframes defining the main material types, and 2.5 m thick horizontal search ellipsoids with a radial pattern. The deposit was ‘flattened’ prior to modelling. To assist with the economic evaluation of the project, each block in the model was assigned a net dollar value based on economic parameters provided by Belridge, including anticipated revenues and costs. This modelling technique allowed for efficient investigation of various scenarios and was used extensively in the development and optimisation of the project’s financial model. At a zero net value per block, comparable to a break-even cut-off grade of four per cent ilmenite equivalent, the Indicated plus Measured resource is estimated at 51 Mt, averaging 4.1 per cent ilmenite, 1.9 per cent apatite and 2.5 per cent titano-magnetite.

Oct 5, 2011

By T Ladinig

Raise caving is a novel cave mining method, which has been proposed for mass mining at increasing mining depths in LKAB operations. The method makes use of the raise mining technology and an active stress management approach. For the implementation the method is split into two phases, namely a de-stressing phase and a production phase. In the de-stressing phase, a slot-pillar system is established. The purpose of slots is to provide stress shadows and the purpose of the large pillars is to control stress and seismicity. The production phase follows after the de-stressing phase. Required infrastructure in the production phase is developed delayed in stress shadows and bulk extraction takes place in de-stressed zones. Eventually the pillars crush and they are extracted in the production phase. A comprehensive research and development program has been launched to develop the raise caving method towards implementation. As part of this program a full-scale test site of raise caving will be conducted as well as raise caving operations are planned for depth extensions in LKAB mines. This paper discusses the design of raise caving operations in practice at the LKAB mines. In particular, the purpose of the paper is to focus on requirements for the development and design of a raise caving operation. The development of raise caving is discussed from a systems engineering perspective as well as from a management perspective. The functional requirements in the destressing and production phase are outlined and discussed in the paper. The discussion is on basis of the main elements of the raise caving system, such as slots, stopes, pillars and infrastructure. Critical rock engineering design requirements in the de-stressing and production phase are highlighted and dependencies between individual main elements are identified. The analyses show that pillars are especially important for the success of the mining method. Overall, the analyses show that raise caving is a complex system and that its development demands a multidisciplinary approach.

Mar 29, 2023

By Stephen Mansfield, Johannes Schoeman

In August 2006 a technical alliance was formed between Orica Mining Services and Century Mine to provide blasting solutions. The alliance is in the form of a Rock to Specification (R2S™) service, one of Orica’s Blast Based Services (BBS™). The ultimate goal was to facilitate the rapid expansion of material movement from 26 to 41M m3 (34 to 53M yd3) per annum while maintaining a reliable ore supply to the mill.

Jan 1, 2010

By S. Chatterjee, F. Suparno, A. Paithankar

Estimating reserves and quantifying resources stand as pivotal and intricate endeavours within the realm of coal mining operations. Intricate geological formations compound the challenges in resource estimation, thereby complicating reserve calculations. The uncertainties tied to geological attributes of coal, encompassing parameters like tonnage and coal quality, wield significant sway over resource and reserve computations within coal mines. This research delves into the domain of geological uncertainties, with a specific focus on calorific value, aiming to numerically characterise resources and reserves within an open-pit coal mine situated in Indonesia. To quantify resources, the coal seam geometry underwent simulation via a multipoint geostatistical technique known as single normal equation simulation. A geologically established coal seam served as the training image for generating 20 equiprobable coal models. To simulate CV, 50 realisations were generated for each simulated coal seam, utilising sequential Gaussian simulation. Deviations of the simulated coal seams ranged from -0.07% to 5.48% in comparison to the training image. The CV simulation yielded an average value of 5,920.29 kcal/kg, accompanied by a standard deviation of 586.54 kcal/kg. However, the average CV spanned from 5,305.26 kcal/kg to 6,526.55 kcal/kg across diverse simulations. For reserve calculation within the context of geological uncertainties, an algorithm rooted in maximum flow graph theory was employed to construct the ultimate pit for the coal mine. Within this final pit, the average stripping ratio was 1.62, coupled with a CV value of 6,019.66 kcal/kg. When juxtaposed with the deterministic model, the findings underscore that the stochastic ultimate pit delineates a more expansive excavation, accompanied by a heightened undiscounted cash flow.

Oct 2, 2025

By Yi Luo

Subsidence events occurring above inactive room-and-pillar (R&P) mines, including abandoned mines or sealed portions of active mines, are classified as unplanned subsidence, because of their timing and distribution are unpredictable. When investigating such subsidence cases, many uncertainties exist and disputes often focused on whether the observed structural damages are caused by mine subsidence or other natural or artificial causes. However, solid evidence to identify the cause is often lacking. In order to conduct a complete and impartial investigation, thorough knowledge of subsidence theories and other ground control topics, as well as broad experience, are required.

Jan 1, 2011

By M. Javier

In business mining, dilution is the result of the operating parameters that occur too often and cause serious consequences to mine performance, questioning TO WHOM BENEFITS DILUTION. Mining persists in changing perception of real meaning of dilution. The lack of interrelation between mineral processes and nature compromises the understanding of dilution; this absence of interrelation occurs due to the misinterpretation of nature, otherwise, Geomimic could be helpful to filling the gap of misinformation. NATURE provides LIMITED metals in low content deposits; it is a challenge to obtain them. Nature never considers dilution. Furthermore, though dilution is a human concept, dilution is accepted and promoted. Reality of dilution is in its errors accumulation that translates into technology level or status applied in nature. It is doubtful that dilution can continue surviving if it is ?meaningless?. It will discourse: Is dilution illegal? If the change occurs in the prediction of mining will prevail a different destiny, it is important to touch the cores of the business; otherwise, it would represent repetition of the same ?negative? effects, as usual. Mining defines many losses during the disturbance of nature, from NPV elaboration to the metal recovery to commerce, demanding BETTER DESIGN. This paper introduces and applies MANAGEMENT BY LOSS, as first steps, to limit risks and uncertainties in mining. As result, the management of dilution will be obtainable under mining practices which promotes its character of SUSTAINABILITY.

Feb 23, 2014

By Thomas Varley

"The literature on flotation of oxidized ores except for patents (especially for reagents) is very sparse. The Bureau of Mines in 1936, published a circular on the subject, by Ralston and Allen. The treatment of oxides by flotation was then in its infancy, but several of the most important mining companies in the Western United States and Mexico are now operating flotation plants for treating oxidized ores. The purpose of this present circular is to review the progress made and bring the subject up to date. One of the writers of the 1916 report (Mr. Allen) has been associated with some of the most important mining companies who have put into practical operation the process of flotation of oxidized ores; among these companies are the Shhttuck Arizona Copper Co., Bisbee, Arizona (now the Shattuck Denn Co.) and the San Francisco Mines of Mexico, Ltd., San Francisco Del Oro, Chihuahua, Mexico. His experience and other sources of information have been freely drawn on in pre-paring this paper. Mr. Ralston, assistant chief metallurgist of the Bureau of Mines, contributed many valuable suggestions and criticisms.Sulphidizing Reagents for Oxidize Ores.The various reagents and methods that might possibly be used for sulphidizing were summarized by Ralston and Allen as follows:""Sulphidizing (1) by the use of hydrogen sulphide on either the dry or the wet crushed ore, (2) by the use of solutions of the various sulphides and sulpho-compounds of sodium, (3) by the use of solutions of the various sulphides and sulpho-compounds of calcium, (4) by the use of sulphur vapor, (5) by the use of a sulphureted oil, (6) with colloidal sulphur."

Jun 1, 1927

By E. Isokangas

A mine is essentially a series of operations, including drilling and blasting, crushing, milling, flotation, and leaching, that are interconnected and therefore interrelated, with the performance of one operation affecting the performance of another. Optimizing each stage separately without considering the whole system often causes potential economic benefits and energy savings to be missed. However, the PIO methodology is a thorough approach which considers these individual process activities within the context of the whole process. The basic principle is to optimize the process as a whole, rather than each process step in isolation from the others. Metso?s Process Technology and Innovation (PTI) group offers a global consulting service for the mining and construction industries. A significant amount of this consulting work involves process integration and optimization (PIO) studies. When conducting a PIO study, every aspect of the process is considered. In addition to drilling and blasting, transportation, handling and storage, crushing, screening, grinding, flotation, separation, and recovery, other aspects including equipment utilization and energy consumption and even greenhouse gas emissions are also included if necessary. In a PIO project, it is very important to understand what type of material is being processed at any point in time. That is, which domain or domains is the material part of? This is necessary in order to observe the effect of different ore sources (and the blending of sources) on concentrator performance. Linking the ore from the pit to the concentrator required the development of an ore tracking system. As a result, PTI developed a radio-frequency based material tracking system called SmartTag?. This system allows tracking of ore from its source through blasting, run-of-mine (ROM) pads, crushers, intermediate stockpiles, and finally into the concentrator. Using the SmartTag? system, definitive correlations can be made between the performance of the plant and the plant feed characteristics, including the domain from which the feed ore originated. Since its commercialization in 2007, SmartTag? has been used in the majority of PTI?s consulting projects and several permanent systems have been installed worldwide1. Successful applications of the SmartTag? system have encouraged development to allow the system to be used in a wider variety of plants, in particular plants with finer crushing and screening stages. This paper describes how the SmartTag? system is being utilized by PTI and the benefits being gained by its use in PIO projects, as well as presenting some case studies.

Jan 1, 2012

By R. N. Edmondson, L. Mair, M. Tenenbaum

It is the policy of The Metallurgical Society to provide, in the TRANSACTIONS OF THE METALLURGICAL SOCIETY OF AIME, a prompt and accurate medium for publication of reports of significant new research in both the scientific and engineering aspects of metallurgy. Papers submitted to the Society are judged by competent reviewers according to established criteria for technical merit, accuracy, originality, and presentation. STAFF: Editor, Dr. Gerhord Derge; Editorial Assistant, M. A. Redmyrski; Staff Coordinator, James J. Burke. THE METALLURGICAL SOCIETY: W. R. Hibbard, Jr., President; J. C. Kinnear, Jr., Past-President; John Chipmon, Vice President; T. D. Jones, Treosurer; R. W. Shearman, Secretary. PUBLICATIONS COMMITTEE OF THE METALLURGICAL SOCIETY: A. w. Thornton, Chairman; Dennis Carney, John Chipman, J. C. Fulton I. H. Hollomon H. H. Kellogg, A. E. Lee, R. Maddin, J. D. Sullivan, and D. Swan. Review and selection of manuscripts is under the supenision of the following Publications Committees: Extractive Metallurgy Division: T. 0. King Chairman; S. J. Dickenson, R. P. Hermsdorf R. Schuhmann. Jr.. and P. T. Stroup. Institute of Metals Division: Robert Maddin, Chairman F. Lincoln Vogel Jr., Vice-chairman, W. A. Baikofen, R. W. Boliuffi J. H. Bechtold M. B. Beyer. R S. Busk, C. G. Gaetzel, Paul Gordon C. D. Groham, Jr., Robert F. Hehe-mann,' R. I. Joffee, F. c. Joumot Jr lrving R. Kramer A. J. Lena Harold Morglin, C. J. McHargue, Russell A: Meussner, J. B. Newkirk H. W. Paxton, G. E. Pellissier, I. S, Servi, Alon U. Seybolt, A. J. Shaler, and Jack Washburn. Iron and Steel Division: J. C. Fulton, Chairman; T. B King, F. C. Langenberg, W. 0.. Philbrook, and T. 0. Winkler. Published bimonthly by the American Institute of Mining Metallurgical and Petroleum Engineers Inc., 29 West 39th Street, New York 18, N. Y. Telephon: pEnnsvlvanio 6-9220. Subscription 522 Per year for non-AIME members in United States and North South and Central America; $25 foreign;, $5 for AIME members. Single copies, 54.00, single copies foreign, $5.00. The AIME is not responsible for any statement made or opinion expressed In its publications . . . Copyright 1958 by the American lnstltute of Mining Metallurgical and Petroleum Engineers Inc. . . . Registered cable address AIME New York , . . lndexed in Engineering Index Industrial Arts Index and Chemical Abstrats . . . Application for second class mail privileges ii pending at New York, N. Y. Volume 212, Number 4.

Jan 1, 1959

By R. H. Fernald

In 1900, as far as available records show, there were only two producer-gas power installations in the United States. In June, 1915, the number probably exceeded 1,000. Of this number, some 84.5 per cent comprised small plants using anthracite, and only about 15 per cent of the total number utilized bituminous coal and lignite. In addition to these, two plants used wood, and three or four used oil. In the main, however, the larger sized units are operating on bituminous coal and lignite.

Jan 1, 1916