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By Hervé Le Bissonnais, Jean-Pierre Janin, Anne Bergère, Pierre Renier

"The most important impact on the environment of a tunnel excavation is the creation of surface settlements. Nowadays, the mechanized tunneling allows minimizing the settlements, applying a confinement pressure which counterbalances the ground de-confinement. It is thus essential to determine the correct amount of confinement pressure. In this paper, the authors present a 3D numerical study simulating the EPB-TBM excavation of a water tunnel, in the Flanders clays (north of France). Firstly, a simplified 3D simulation, based on the concept of instantaneous longitudinal settlement curve, was performed to predict the surface settlements for different values of heading confinement pressures. Secondly, the same pressures were tested by the EPB-TBM in a monitoring zone. The comparison between the prediction settlements and the measurements was very satisfactory and allowed validation of the numerical approach and the choice of the optimal confinement pressure value for a sensitive area of the project. INTRODUCTION The excavation of a tunnel can create displacements of the surrounding soil which may affect existing structures and generate unacceptable dysfunction. The development of the closed shield tunneling has permitted to reduce the volume loss generated around the excavation and consequently the surface settlements. In this case, as explained by different authors (Clough et al., 1985; Kastner et al., 1996; Mair and Taylor, 1997), the ground movements are influenced by the TBM works: the heading confinement pressure, the shield overcutting and conicity, the annular void grout injection parameters, the segment concrete lining rigidity, the consolidation of the grout. Hence, in the tunnel design, it is important to take into consideration these different processes of the excavation works to simulate correctly the tunneling process."

Jan 1, 2016

By D. A. Peacock

"INTRODUCTION Outer space technology and exploration have reached a tipping point so that mining and mineral processing in outer space is now a certainty and not a dream. Several competing companies, worldwide, are well on the way to building spaceships to land on the Moon and eventually mine the Moon and asteroids for volatiles, rare earth metals and Helium-3. The Google Lunar XPrize offers a $30 million prize1. China has recently landed a spacecraft on the Moon. The European Space Agency, with cooperation from the United States, has landed a spacecraft, Philae, on a comet. And, Mars One is planning a one-way trip to establish a settlement of humans on Mars. How and why are the Moon and asteroids and their resources of interest to private space industry and companies? Why are the Moon and asteroids viewed as a potential business venue? GEOLOGY OF THE MOON AND ASTEROIDS –WHY DO WE WANT TO MINE THERE? Space enterprises are actively working towards establishing and operating lunar and asteroid mining locations for resource extraction, resource processing, conversion to salable products, and distribution of the products and services in space and to Earth and beyond2. Forty-five years ago, the Apollo manned missions to the Moon returned rocks and regolith to Earth, which were studied and analyzed. What they found was that the Moon contains valuable minerals and resources. These minerals are largely due to meteor and asteroid impacts, which have, over eons, created this mineral rich regolith. These impacts have occurred on Earth as well, for billions of years, particularly early on in the history of the solar system. However, on Earth, wind, water, and vegetation have erased most of these impacts. On the Moon, in contrast, the only weathering is caused by subsequent impacts and the solar wind. The Moon regolith contains valuable rare earth minerals, platinum-group minerals (particularly where the Moon has been impacted by asteroids), volatiles (useful for processing and habitation), Helium-3 and titanium. Almost non-existent on earth, Helium-3 is abundant and accessible on the Moon and can be used in nuclear fusion power plants, producing much more energy than fission reactions and with much less radioactive waste. One of the main reasons Helium-3 is sought after as a fusion fuel is because there are no neutrons generated as a reaction product. Governments and private companies focus on mining of Helium-3 on the Moon as a basis for their economic models. Moon Express, one of the private companies who is planning on mining on the Moon, will recover moon rocks to fund its early operations25. Subsequently, it will recover Helium-3, platinum, and rare earth metals, as it engages in surface mining operations."

Jan 1, 2016

By S. K. Kawatra, J. E. D. McDonald, S. C. Roache

"The formation of geopolymers from mine tailings using cold-bonding processes is known to be possible. Numerous cold-bonding methods exist, but the hydrothermal processes involving high temperatures and pressures in the presence of steam have been found to be the most ideal. This paper presents the results of successful preliminary studies to apply hydrothermal bonding processes to mine tailings agglomerates. Particle-size analysis revealed the particle size of the tailings waste to be 80 percent passing at 35 µm. The compressive strengths of the tailings pellets were shown to increase with time in the curing vessel, closely approaching the 400 lbf of standard iron ore concentrate pellets. These strengths are sufficient to allow use of the tailings pellets as aggregate materials for asphalt and cement. Additional applications may be possible, including reprocessing to extract more valuable materials and usage as agglomerated road-bed materials, backfills for building foundations, and replacements for sand and lime in cement.IntroductionMine tailings are a waste byproduct of ore concentration and are available in large quantities across the world. Despite their abundance, they have received little attention or consideration for beneficial use. One reason is that the chemical nature of the material is not well known. Another factor that has hindered direct usage is the fine particle size. This raises the questions: what is the composition of the tailings, and how can such fine solids be beneficially used? Because the mining industry produces concentrates, the tailings may be treated as concentrates and processed in the same fashion, but it would be inefficient to consider full sintering or induration conditions for materials that have little ore content. To achieve sustainable operation, the development of technologies to use these tailings is necessary. Mine tailings should not be considered waste, and an “out of sight, out of mind” mentality does not represent a sustainable solution for the future.One iron ore mine in Michigan is estimated to have accumulated more than 400 million metric tons of tailings during its last 30 years of operation, with an additional 180 million metric tons accumulated before the ore body is depleted. These mine tailings currently have no practical use, largely due to a scarcity of knowledge of their true physiochemical nature. It is thought that lack of quality control of the waste material prevents its use, but variability in the unprocessed ore prevents a consistent waste stream composition. The fact that the tailings are available in such great quantities makes them an extremely attractive resource. However, developing a sustainable, low-cost means of repurposing the mine tailings waste as a construction material may only be completed once the tailings are physically and chemically understood. Due to the high silica content of the material studied, cold bonding was determined to be the most viable method for processing the tailings into a usable product."

Jan 1, 2016

By D. Tahija

"Hecla's Greens Creek silver-gold-lead-zinc mill began using carbon dioxide rather than sulphuric acid to control pH in April, 2015. High pH levels in the grinding and lead flotation circuits are caused by the presence of re-mined cemented paste backfill in mill feed and need to be lowered to achieve good flotation response. Carbon dioxide has proven to be quite effective at controlling pH in the lead circuit with greatly improved pH target attainment. The allowable amount of carbon dioxide used is not limited by effects on lead-zinc selectivity and by poor froth characteristics, as was the case with sulphuric acid. Startup and implementation went smoothly, with few operational issues needing to be resolved. Early results from implementation of the system and its effects on mill performance will be presented. INTRODUCTION Hecla Greens Creek is a silver-gold-lead-zinc mine producing flotation lead and zinc concentrates, as well as a gravity gold concentrate. Besides their base metal contents, both the lead and zinc concentrates carry precious metals. The circuit is largely conventional, with SAG and ball mill grinding being followed by graphite removal preflotation, then conventional lead flotation and conventional zinc flotation. Both rougher concentrates are treated in regrind steps, followed by cleaner flotation. The cleaners tails are treated in an unorthodox bulk circuit to produce a low-grade zinc-lead concentrate marketed to Imperial Process smelters (1). BACKGROUND Backfill and Flotation pH The Greens Creek mine is an underground operation in which mined areas, after ore extraction, are backfilled, using rammed paste or pumped slurry. The backfill consists of mill tailings to which approximately five percent Portland or similar cement is added to enhance its compressive strength. Later mining near backfilled areas inevitably results in a considerable amount of old backfill being mixed with new ore before being shipped to the mill. Depending on orebody geometry, mining methods etc., the amount of backfill in mill feed is often 20% to 25% and sometimes even higher. Commercial cement, and consequently backfill prepared using it, contains excess lime. Because of this, backfill in mill feed is indistinguishable from the addition of a large amount of lime, so mill natural pHs often range above 10 or even 11. Similar situations have been recognized for many years at mines throughout the world (2)."

Jan 1, 2016

By M. S. Moats, A. Luyima, W. Cui

"Organic smoothing additives are used to produce dense, thick, high-quality cathodes in copper electrowinning. Glue had been used traditionally and is still used in operations that do not employ solvent extraction to produce the electrowinning electrolyte. With the advent of solvent extraction–electrowinning, guar started to be used and remained in use for many years as it does not affect the phase disengagement in solvent extraction. Recently, however, guar has been replaced by less-expensive saccharide- and polyacrylamide-based additives. This paper is the first of a series of four papers that examine saccharides and polyacrylamides as new additives for copper electrowinning. A review of previous research related to copper electrowinning additives is presented here, along with a selected review of additives in other copper electrodeposition systems.IntroductionThe recovery of copper from solution by electrowinning was first practiced in the early 1900s, but it was the combination of solvent extraction with electrowinning (SX-EW) in March 1968 at the Ranchers Bluebird Mine (Kordosky, 1992) that changed the landscape for the electrowinning process. Most copper electrowinning capacity is now associated with solvent extraction, though some copper is still won directly from leach solutions (Robinson et al., 2013). The ability to produce high-purity copper cathodes from SX-EW has taken the continued improvement of SX-EW technology over the past more than 40 years.One of the technologies that has seen improvement is that of the organic smoothing agents used during the electrodeposition of copper in the tankhouse. These organic additives are added to the acidic copper sulfate electrolyte during electrowinning to improve the smoothness, brightness and density of the copper cathodes. The organic additives that are presently in use are different from those used in 1999 (Jenkins et al., 1999). Over the past decade, many tankhouses have replaced the use of guar-based organic additives with those derived from other saccharides. Until now, there has been no comprehensive publication in the open literature on the behavior of these additives during copper electrowinning."

Jan 1, 2016

By M. Imazu, Ö. Aydan

"A new rock classification, Rock Mass Quality Rating (RMQR) proposed by the authors is briefly explained and its application for the design of tunnels and large underground openings support systems is described in this paper. RMQR is an index to evaluate the state of rock mass. The preliminary support design may be based on the concept to prevent structurally controlled failures of rock mass. RMQR can also evaluate the yielding characteristics of rock masses so that it is possible to design a support system to prevent or control the deformation of surrounding rock through the utilization of the proposed rock mass classification and some analytical and numerical techniques.INTRODUCTIONThe first three authors proposed a new rock classification system named Rock Mass Quality Rating (RMQR) (Aydan et al. 2014). RMQR quantifies the rock mass state, and using the classification system together with intrinsic geo-mechanical properties of intact rock, possible geo-mechanical properties of rock masses can be estimated. The instability modes of underground openings can be structurally controlled because of the orientation of discontinuities in rock mass and the in-situ stress induced (Aydan 1989; Aydan et al. 1993, 1996; Aydan and Genis, 2010). The authors (Aydan and Ulusay, 2013; Aydan, 2016) have also tried to apply this system to the design of a tunnel support system. The authors presented initial guidelines for the RMQR classification system earlier (Aydan and Ulusay, 2013).In this paper, the authors provide further guidelines and establish some criteria for support system design that considers loading conditions and types of underground structure according to RMQR. Guidelines are alsos proposed for selecting the proper size of rockbolts, rock anchors, shotcrete, steel ribs and concrete liner. These guidelines are based on past experiences with various underground structures, theoretical understanding and the anticipated behavior of rock mass under given in-situ stress conditions and excavation techniques. The authors also utilized some databases developed for large underground caverns and tunnels excavated in squeezing or rock-bursting ground conditions."

Jan 1, 2016

"Mining of ore bodies that are located at great depths enforces long distances to move the excavated rock masses to the surface. The excavated rock mass contains not only ore that can be economically extracted from the face but also waste, which is usually discarded several steps further downstream in the process. As a result, a large amount of rock is transported to the surface, influencing the costs at which the ore is produced. Reducing the amount of waste rock being transported to the surface by introducing a near-to-face sorting plant would improve the in many cases strained transport system in the deep mine. In this study, one of Boliden’s cut-and-fill mines was analysed with respect to the challenges related to rock transportation and increasing mining depth. The study aims to evaluate the potential use of a new near-to-face sorting system in the operating underground mine. Discrete event simulation was used to study and analyse the rock transportation system with and without the near-to-face sorting plant. The paper shows how the underground rock transportation system and the production were influenced when the near-to-face sorting equipment was added into the current system. INTRODUCTION The locations of waste rejection in the mining processes and the cost of removing waste from the system compared with the cost and energy necessary for further comminution are important parts in the material handling system (Bowman and Bearman, 2014). In an underground mine, longer material transportation distances generate the need for further investment in the mobile fleet and ancillary equipment in order to reduce the waste from the material handling as early as possible. One of the ways of reducing the waste (coarse particle size) in material handling is by use of pre-concentration. The benefits of pre-concentration are well known (Schena et al. 1990; Feasby, 1995; Peters et al. 1999; Klein et al. 2002), as well as the factors governing the feasibility of underground pre-concentration (Peters et al., 1999) and the mining integration issues (Klein et al. 2003). In the Onaping Depth orebody in Sudbury, Ontario the study of implementing the pre-concentration resulted in increased capital costs of 6% and a reduction in the operating costs of between 20-40% (Bamber et al, 2004). In this paper, the effects on the production and the transportation system of implementing underground pre-concentration by means of a near-to-face ore sorting plant in the Kristineberg mine are modeled and analyzed using the AutoMod tool. This tool is based on discrete event simulation (DES) (Banks, 2004), allowing high flexibility in customization and enabling the user to view the production of the system before ore sorting plant integration. The sorting plant selected in the simulation is built from modules. The material is fed by conveyor and goes through the comminution, classification, sorting and service processes after which the waste is redirected to backfill headings via trucks. The system mechanically ejects the particles from the feed stream on the basis of the information obtained from both the XRT sensor’s signal and 3D laser scanner based on both density and rate of refraction of light within a particular mineral. The sorting plant could pre-concentrate the metal ore up to 300 mm size. The plant requires little auxiliary infrastructure, is easily modularized for underground installation and can be easily relocated to different areas."

Jan 1, 2016

By Pooyan Asadollahi, Praveen Krishna, Michael Joye

"Durability design for underground structures is an increasing focus of designers and owners in the underground construction industry. Many owners have expanded their requirements for durability design, with specific requirements for structure lifecycle and designer certification of structural durability. This paper describes current trends and best practices including: defining the underground structure lifecycle, historically durable underground structures, design methods for underground structure durability built of reinforced concrete, and durability of materials. Criteria to be used for defining end of structure life and owner’s maintenance responsibilities are crucial to lifecycle contract requirements. Current practices of several major owners are presented. Design methods are presented including United States code requirements. Current best practices for enhancing the durability of materials used in underground construction are discussed including: low permeability concrete, steel reinforcement concrete cover, the use of steel fiber, and testing for verification. INTRODUCTION Durability design is increasingly being recognized as an essential component of good design practice. Infrastructure owners recognize that to serve the public interest, constructed facilities must be lasting and durable. The public understands that structures with limited service life result in increased costs and add to their daily inconvenience with frequent repair and reconstruction. Engineers are increasingly asking not only is the structure strong enough but will it last for generations. Durability design requirements are no longer just adherence to some accepted practices, but are based on analytical approaches, with results that can challenge our beliefs in what construction materials and details result in a durable structure. This paper describes current industry requirements and practices for durability design of underground structures, and offers some suggestions regarding future trends and developments. SERVICE LIFE DEFINITION The service life of a structure is the sum of the time to onset of deterioration, called initiation period (ti), and the subsequent time period of deterioration ending when the structure is no longer functional, called propagation period (tp). Figure 1 shows a conceptual service life diagram. These time periods can be substantially affected by the level of maintenance performed during the life of the structure."

Jan 1, 2016

By Ari Glazer

"Every year the tunneling business is expanding and collaboration with the International Society of City and Regional Planners (ISOCARP) for the future design of cities and urban communities is in the making. During the last half of this century, billions of people migrated to cities, and it is estimated that by 2030 almost five billion people worldwide will reside in urban communities. Hence, “Underground development will be an important tool in reshaping our urban areas to meet the challenges of the future without destroying their heritage or worsening their surface environment” (Esaki, 2005). In 2013, the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) estimated life expectancy to be around 80 years, meaning that in less than a decade we will need to bury billions of people in cities and urban communities, while trying to retain the deceased’s beliefs and customs. Religion plays a major role in our lives, and many people worldwide still decline to cremate their body after their death; therefore, cemeteries are essential for city inhabitants. Rites and traditions usually call for burials to be near the place of residence, which allows the remaining family members and friends to visit the grave frequently, at least in the first years. This is a challenge that urban designers and architects must confront while trying to solve the problems of future urbanization. In recent years, population growth, the rising cost of land and the extensive preservation of green areas have made cemeteries a burden and a nuisance, particularly for large cities and communities. Many graveyards that were once on the city's outskirts have become lifeless islands in populated areas (Fig. 1), rarely visited by the second and later generations. Cities worldwide face the challenge of allocating less land to maintain current burial practices. In response, some cities have begun to bury their dead at a great distance from the community; others have started to stacked burials, one on top of the other, while still others are constructing buildings and even skyscrapers for the practice of burial (Fig. 2)."

Jan 1, 2016

By Erika Moonin, Jim Nickerson, Marcus Jensen

"This paper will explain how the Contractor and Owner avoided a contractual dispute involving characterization, impacts, and final remedy for challenging ground conditions encountered during drill and blast excavation of the starter tunnel required for launch of the tunnel boring machine (TBM). During excavation more than 600 feet underground, the Contractor encountered a large complex fault zone subject to more than 14 bar of water pressure. Successive ground inflows from the fault complex over a six-month period presented significant technical and partnership challenges for the team and ultimately delayed the project by nearly one year. This paper will discuss how the Contractor, Owner, and their respective consultants worked together to address these challenges, make decisions, and ultimately move the project to successful completion. PROJECT BACKGROUND AND NEED Seven states of the western United States of America rely heavily on the Colorado River and its tributaries for their water supply. The primary source of water for the Colorado River is winter snow that falls in the mountains ringing the Colorado River basin, including the Rocky Mountains, the Wind River Mountains, and the Uinta Mountains. Flows in the Colorado River vary significantly from year to year, depending on the amount of snow and rain deposited in the basin. During the 1980s and 1990s, snowfall was relatively abundant and Colorado River flows were high on average. Beginning in the year 2000 and continuing to the present day, snowfall has been well below documented historical averages and Colorado River flows have diminished. In fact, a trend toward diminishing flows is evident during the period of the historical record. This variability in Colorado River flows and the trend to lower flows is represented in the following Figure 1."

Jan 1, 2016

By A. Suarez, M. Menendez, M. R. Gent, P. Riesgo

"Recent requirements to reduce thermal coal plant emissions, and ultrafine coal's tendency to produce these emissions due to its typically high ash and moisture contents have limited the use of ultrafine coal. Ultrafine coal in beneficiation plants are usually either disposed of in tailing ponds at a loss in combustible material or disposed of by blending with coarser higher-grade products, resulting in a reduction in marketed product quality. A study of the options for processing ultrafine coal, consisting of < 200 µm hydrocyclone overflow, with 38.8 percent ash content is presented here. Ultrafine coal was processed based on 200-µm sieve bend and 10-µm hydrocyclone classifications, enhanced gravity separation (EGS) and froth flotation concentration as well as combinations of these. Yield, combustible material recovery (CMR) and product humidity were evaluated as test results.Depending on the processing applied, product ash content could be reduced up to 49.7 percent, and up to 95.8 percent CMR of the actual run of mill feed could be attained. All of the processing options analyzed could reduce produced thermal electric plant emissions due to ash and moisture from 22 to 38 percent of the actual unprocessed ultrafine coal product.Froth flotation was found to be the optimal process, yielding a product with the lowest ash content attained of 19.5 percent and CMR of 92.3 percent. Being the most versatile of the processes evaluated, it is capable of producing coal with varied ash contents but is subject to potential variations in coal flotability. The most complicated of the processing options, a combined sieve bend recovery of the > 200 µm fraction and EGS processing of the 10 to 200 µm fraction was found to be the next best option, attaining a combined 90.1 percent CMR and 25.0 percent ash content. IntroductionMunicipal, regional and national objectives to reduce fossil fuel combustion emissions and their effects on air quality and global weather changes are affecting thermal electric plant operations. Plans and regulations such as President Obama's Clean Power Plan (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2015), the European Directive 2010/75/EU (European Commission, 2010) and China’s proposed Enhanced Actions on Climate Change (Wei, 2015) are of major significance to thermal electric plant operations. Although thermal plant efficiencies depend in large part on the losses of heat by plant components, the ash and humidity contents of thermal coal invariably reduce plant efficiencies and increase emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx) and dust.Any noncombustible material present in thermal coal will result in higher CO2 emissions per unit of energy produced. Since no particle emission control can be totally effective, it is to be anticipated that any reduction in coal ash content will also result in reduced particle emissions. Kurose, Ikeda and Makino (2001) reported that NOx emissions also increase with coal ash content. The effect of coal moisture content during combustion is complex. Kurose, Ikeda and Makino (2001) showed that an increase in coal moisture content significantly reduces thermal NOx to total NOx production, and Bosoaga et al. (2006) showed that it tends to reduce NOx emissions. Since the humidity, pyrite and ash content of thermal coals directly affect thermal electric plant efficiencies and emissions, minimizing these factors should facilitate, at least in part, compliance with thermal electric plant emission limits. This, in turn, would affect the specifications and prices of the coal preparation plant products."

Jan 1, 2016

By M. A. Vergara, J. A. Botín

"The decline of the “super cycle” has placed an end to a decade of production-focused strategies, with operating cost growing at rates higher than production. Today, the sector is placed on a tough ride and forced to shift focus to cash preservation and efficient cost management. However, most cost management systems in the minerals industry are not conceived as value driving tools but to meet financial accounting and reporting needs. This research draws from a the development of an innovative cost management methodology that applies Activity-Based Bottom-Up cost budgeting and continuous improvement tools to develop a value-driven cost management system for sustainable improvement of operational efficiency and cost reduction. The methodology was successfully tested in the Andina underground mine III Panel sector of Corporation del Cobre (CODELCO), in Chile. INTRODUCTION Cost management is fundamental to profitability of any industrial project. Even more essential in mining, an industry that deals with commodities, which prices are dictated by the market and are beyond the management capacity of the company. The end of the mining “super cycle” and the advent in 2008 of the Global Financial Crisis (GFC), placed an end to a decade of production focused strategies, with operating cost growing at rates higher than production. The sector was placed on a tough ride and forced to shift focus to cash preservation and efficient cost management. Many mining companies have seen themselves into the urgent need of cost management systems capable of achieving sustainable productivity gains and consistent profitability. Cost management is composed of three main processes: estimation, budgeting and control [1]. A number of conventional techniques have been used for cost estimation and budgeting for many years. However, most cost control systems in the minerals industry cannot be referred to as “cost management” since they are conceived to fulfil accounting and reporting needs, rather than to improve operational efficiency [2]. In general, conventional cost budgeting and control systems in mining use a “top-down” methodology, which lacks of necessary details, and fail as a management tool leading to undesirable results [3]."

Jan 1, 2016

By Bill Tucker, Mike Black

"PROJECT OVERVIEW Crossrail, Europe’s largest construction project, will increase London’s transportation capacity by 10% when it opens in 2018. The Crossrail scheme is a combination of surface and underground railway that stretches 118km east-west through central London from Reading, Berkshire and Heathrow airport in the west to Shenfield, Essex and Abbey Wood in the London Boroughs of Greenwich and Bexley in the east. Crossrail will serve 40 stations, ten of which are new, and bring 1.5 million people within 45 minutes commuting distance of London’s key central business districts. 21km of the Crossrail route comprises twin-tunnels beneath the heart of central London. It is the central section of the route, and the challenges that had to be overcome to construct its tunnels under the historic capital that forms the subject of this paper. The route of the Crossrail tunnels can be seen in Figure 1. These tunnels weave their way through the city’s underground landscape, linking eight new underground stations which connect to the existing London Underground network, providing interchanges with nine existing lines as well as the National Rail and Docklands Light Railway networks.Crossrail began construction of enabling works in May 2009 and launched the first of eight tunnel boring machines (TBMs) in May 2012. 42km of major tunneling work was completed in May 2015, and included 11km of sprayed concrete lined tunnels at the five mined stations (Bond Street, Tottenham Court Road, Farringdon, Liverpool Street and Whitechapel) in addition to the bored tunnel sections. The remaining three sub-surface stations at Paddington, Canary Wharf and Woolwich were constructed as large open boxes prior to the TBMs passing through. Crossrail, Ltd. is a special purpose company formed by the project’s joint sponsors, Transport for London and the Department for Transport, to manage design, construction and commissioning of the project. In 2009, Crossrail engaged Bechtel Ltd. as its delivery partner and a joint venture, Transcend (comprised of CH2M, AECOM and the Nichols Group), as its programme partner. The project is being managed by an integrated programme management team which is staffed by Crossrail and its partners. The railway, when opened, will be operated by Rail for London. With tunneling completed in accordance with the project’s master control schedule, the new railway is scheduled to commence dynamic testing in late 2017, with a phased opening of the tunneled sections and stations through Central London in 2018."

Jan 1, 2016

By R. L. Taylor, S. D. Abbott

"INTRODUCTION Mines are filled with a mixture of gases, some of which are toxic, flammable, explosive. Others can be early reporters of potential problems. It has previously been shown that analysis by gas chromatograph can the most accurate conventional analytical tool for common mine gas mixtures when used correctly. There are some other detection methods (e.g hand held sensors), but they do not detect many situations which are immediately dangerous to life or health (IDLH). Examples include explosive hydrogen mixtures, toxic carbon dioxide levels, and some explosive mixtures of methane with oxygen. (Reference our previous paper). There are several reasons for mines to consider onsite GC analysis. (1) Timeliness of results. Samples can be taken and analyzed immediately. Samples do not have to be shipped to a lab and wait for results. (2) Ability to run greater number of samples a lower for the same cost. This allows mine to increase the number of samples taken to be more informed about the gases/conditions of the mine without the worry of financial constraints. (3) Fewer sample media needed, and there is no wear and tear or cost from shipping them offsite. When samples are shipped offsite, those sample media cannot be used to take until the lab returns them when the analysis is done onsite, the sample media can be used again almost immediately. However there are several challenges associated with using GC to analyze mine gas samples onsite. To date there has been a clash of the requirements for a successful analysis, the capabilities of the technology, and the practicalities of implementation. The purpose of this paper is to discuss some of the difficulties in getting accurate reliable data and doing so in an economic way. This whole measurement activity is a cost center for a mine, so there are economic concerns for the mine to address. These concerns are mainly staffing costs, capital costs, maintenance, and consumables costs. A properly staffed and equipped analysis lab, including burdened overhead, costs about $500K per year. At a sampling rate of 10 per day, this is about $140 per measurement for a proper onsite lab."

Jan 1, 2016

By R. Scheffel, R. Washnock, G. Zarate

"The second survey of global copper leaching operations has been completed, the data published in 1998 has been updated. A survey questionnaire was sent to 40 identified copper leach operations around the world including those leach properties still in operation that responded to the 1998 survey. This paper lists the results of 26 operations that responded to the survey. Selected information from the survey is represented in graphical form. INTRODUCTION Copper leaching was first performed by truck dumping huge monolithic stockpiles of ore and flooding the surface with leach solution or lixiviant with little understanding to the parameters that support optimum recovery of the metal. Heap leaching has evolved into a controlled process whereby a complex low grade ore is stacked in shallow lifts (under 10 m in most cases). The ore is usually crushed and agglomerated, conveyor stacked on an engineered containment system (leach pad) and irrigated in a controlled manner. The lixiviant chemistry is designed to extract the optimum amount of metal from the ore. At first glance, heap leaching appears to be simple in nature. In fact, it is a very complex process. A plethora of technologies such as material handling, environmental control, analytical techniques, solution chemistry, hydrology and many others contribute to the design and operation of a heap leach. Heap leaching requires an inter-disciplinary approach between geologists, mining engineers and metallurgists. Many operational factors affect heap leaching. The process must address climatic factors, flexible operation, quality control before and after leaching, physical characteristics of the ore, geology, mineralogy, reagent consumption, solution application rate and methods (wobblers or emitters), particle size, and favorable conditions for bacterial growth and survival. Predicting, troubleshooting, and optimization of leach recovery is a significant challenge when considering the number of variables involved and their interactions The survey updates many of these key operating parameters to the current state of the art. It should provide the reader an excellent benchmarking summary of these factors on a site-by-site basis."

Jan 1, 2016

By Hee-Young Chung, In-Mo Lee, Jeongjun Park, Hangseok Choi, Seok-Won Lee

"When using a Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) during tunneling work, unexpected ground conditions can be encountered that are not predicted in the design stage. These reduce the stability of tunnels, and can result in considerable economic losses. This paper analyzes the potential risk events that may occur due to risky ground conditions. A resistivity survey is utilized to predict the risky ground conditions ahead of the tunnel face during construction. The potential risk events are evaluated considering both the occurrence probability and the impact. A TBM risk management system that can suggest proper solution methods for potential risk events is also developed. Multi-Criterion Decision Making (MCDM) is utilized to determine the optimal solution method to handle risk events. Lastly, an actual construction site, at which a risk event occurred during tunnel construction, is analyzed utilizing the Earth Pressure Balance (EPB) Shield TBM, to verify the efficacy of the proposed system.INTRODUCTION The Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) method has been widely adopted in numerous tunneling projects because, as a mechanized tunneling method, it is also environmentally friendly, exhibiting minimal noise and vibration when compared with conventional tunneling method. In addition, it provides considerable economic benefits that allow for a high advance rate for long drives during construction. However, the TBM method has a limitation, as it is unable to deal with unexpected situations during construction, as the system is not capable of moving backwards. This leads to delays or even stoppages, and a corresponding increase in construction costs due to the need to arrange for alternative equipment and solutions. It is essential to retain systematic management in order to prevent or deal with unforeseen consequences such as the collapse of a tunnel face, ground surface upheaval or settlement, and construction delay due to water leakage during construction. Therefore, a systematic risk management system that is applicable during the construction stage of the TBM tunnel should be developed, taking into account the predicted risky ground conditions ahead of the tunnel face in advance."

Jan 1, 2016

By T. Weatherwax, A. Rai, J. Poor

"This paper provides an overview of the current use of auxiliary ventilation products and the challenges with limited air quantity in dead-end entry or working faces. The PVC’s low frictional factor, low physical constraint and minimum leakage properties were ideal to develop as ventilation duct in conjunction with the concept of ""Made in the US and Used in the US"". The PVC duct supports the operational and total cost of ownership with on-going success. This paper will discuss the continuous improvement made in ventilation ancillary products for optimum results. The paper will also cover mine site usage of second generation PVC vent duct underground and the results from the operational and technical side making a difference in health and safety and overall auxiliary ventilation. INTRODUCTION The Barrick Turquoise Ridge Inc. (TR) is located in northern central Nevada, and is situated within the Basin and Range province, near the northeast end of the Osgood Mountains (see Figure 1). The TRJV mine consists of typical Carlin type- gold mineralization characterized by low strength rock of altered limestone, siltstones, and mudstones. The weak nature of the ground facilitates the need for underhand cut and fills mining methods.Mining Method; Underhand cut and fill: The mine uses underhand cut and fill method which has 12’x12’ and or 14’x14’ top cuts with several different size undercuts. The ore body is accessed off of a secondary tertiary heading, utilizing a heading with a cross section of 14W x 14H or 15W x 15H configuration. In the wider and more massive zones, two headings in a production panel may be worked at any one time. Drift round lengths are determined by the ground conditions and drift dimension. An example of a typical topcut and associated undercut layout is shown in Figure 2."

Jan 1, 2016

By Anna Kate Miller, James J. Brady, Hamza Jaffal, Ritika Sangroya, Chadi El Mohtar, Wing Shun Kwan

"The design of an appropriate pre-grouting program can be the difference between a successful tunnel construction and an expensive on-the-go repair. However, current grout design relies heavily on rulesof- thumb and outdated charts. The geotechnical investigation is rarely targeted towards grouting design and the final grouting decisions are made based on fines content or soil classification. The current paper presents an experimental study performed to determine the optimal grout for a tunnel in soft ground below the ground water table (GWT). The testing program consisted of sieve analysis and undrained static triaxial tests on reconstituted sonic samples. Rheological tests were used to compare the different grout mixes and identify best candidates before performing one-dimensional permeation tests. Pressure and volume measurements during the permeation tests, along with the unconfined compression strength results on the permeated soils, helped evaluate the filtration potential for the different grouts and select the optimal grout.INTRODUCTIONConstruction of the Millwoods Double Barrel Replacement Project commenced in 2009 and was expected to be completed by 2015. To facilitate ongoing city development in south Edmonton, the City implemented construction of a major sanitary trunk network along 91st Street and 30th Avenue. The project involved the design and construction of approximately 1.2 miles (2 km) of 7.8-ft (2,400 mm) sanitary tunnel and 2.1 miles (3.4 km) of 11.5-ft. (3,500 mm) and 9.5-ft. (2,900 mm) storm tunnel. Part of the project also involved the conversion of the existing double barrel storm and sanitary trunk to full sanitary service, and reconnecting the local storm sewers from the double barrel pipe to the new storm tunnel. The tunnels range in depth from 26-ft. (8 m) to 115-ft. (35 m) and are being installed using a one pass system with precast concrete segmental liners."

Jan 1, 2016

By D. F. Doerr, E. Blalock, D. R. Bush, K. D. Cohen

"BACKGROUND The design, development, fabrication, and test of a cryogenic supply for a refuge alternative is part of a larger effort funded by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and managed through a Space Act Agreement with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration at the Kennedy Space Center, FL to create cryogenically based life support equipment responsive to the needs of miners as required by the Miner Act of 2008. This work is done by a joint contractor/NASA team. In particular, the Cryogenic Refuge Alternative Supply System (CryoRASS) serves to provide a respirable air source to miners confined for 96 hours in a mine refuge alternative. This system stores liquid air in a zero-loss cryogenic reservoir (Dewar) until an emergency requires use. The system does not require electric power when in use by miners. Because of the very cold nature of the liquid air, considerable heat stress relief and reduction of humidity is provided in addition to the required replenishment of oxygen. Moderate dilution of CO2 also occurs.INTRODUCTION The design of this new cryogenic refuge alternative supply system (CryoRASS) uses NASA/Kennedy Space Center technology as a development baseline. The design stores cryogenic (liquid) air that is warmed in an air handler box and the resulting gaseous air is introduced to the chamber that not only causes air circulation, but relies upon environmental and human heat to expand the liquid air to a gaseous state. Therefore, the primary benefits of the liquid air source, besides atmosphere maintenance (oxygen), is refuge cooling and dehumidification. This results in reduction of human heat stress and this occurs without the need for electrical power in the refuge chamber. This reduction is a major factor in ""apparent heat"" and the human perception of comfort. Another benefit with introduction of ""air"" vs only ""oxygen"" is the dilution of carbon dioxide. The volume of new air will displace existing refuge air and this air laden with humidity/CO2/low O2 passes out of the refuge relief valves. These RVs should be strategically placed to vent stagnant air preferentially. An initial system test was conducted in our Florida facility in a production 10-person hard chamber for 96 hours. Last year (2014) the system was tested with a 23 person inflatable refuge alternative in Bruceton. For this test, the CryoRASS air handler was redesigned to offer superior characteristics when installed in a Built-in-Place refuge alternative. This report describes the results of the modified system being tested in the Pittsburgh Experimental Mine while attached to a 30 person refuge for 96 (+/-) hours."

Jan 1, 2016

By Todd Wanless, Daryl Poduska, Prakash Donde, Mahmood Khwaja

"The proposed Minne Lusa Stormwater Conveyance Sewer is part of the Phase 3 Major Combined Sewer Overflow projects to be scheduled as part of the City of Omaha’s Long Term Control Plan (LTCP). The system features a 6,100 foot long, 14-foot inside diameter tunnel to provide for conveyance of separated stormwater from previously completed and future LTCP sewer separation projects to the expanded Storz West and Pershing Detention Basins and subsequently, the Missouri River. The tunnel will operate as a pressurized system and convey flows of up to 2,500 ft3/s resulting from a 10-year, 24 hour storm event. This paper provides a synopsis of the project with a focus on the overall design aspects related to siting the tunnel alignment in an urban environment, the hydraulic analyses performed to choose a pressurized system rather than an open channel system, and expected geologic conditions. Tunnel alignment and profile and geological profile are presented, as well as an overview of the construction related impacts considered during design. PROJECT BACKGROUND The proposed Minne Lusa Stormwater (MLSW) Conveyance System will provide for conveyance of separated stormwater from previously completed, and future, LTCP sewer separation projects to the expanded Storz West and Pershing Detention Basins and subsequently, the Missouri River. The project location is representatively shown on Figure 1; the overall conveyance system is represented in Figure 2. The MLSW Conveyance System consists of three separate construction contracts under Contract Numbers: OPW-52004 – The Storz West Detention Basin to 31st & Paxton Tunnel; OPW-52454 – The Storz West/Pershing Detention Basin Grading and Improvements; and, OPW-52752 – The Pershing Detention Basin to ML Outfall Channel. This paper focuses on the project covered under Contract OPW-52004: design and construction of an approximately 6,110 feet 14-foot inside diameter (ID) tunnel, constructed using a Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM). The tunnel will receive flows from the Paxton Boulevard (PB) and the John Creighton Boulevard (JCB) Stormwater Conveyance Sewers and convey the flows to the Storz West Detention Basin, resulting in CSO volume and flow rate reductions to the Minne Lusa Outfall Channel and the North Interceptor."

Jan 1, 2016