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By Booker Morey, Ashok Gupta

Amid controversy, the resource recovery industry is rapidly approaching its first commercial operations. Some of the problems are reviewed along with some of the important systems that are being developed for resource recovery. Market specifications for the inorganic fraction recovered from municipal solid waste are reviewed along with the details of the unit operations that have been tested.

Jan 1, 1976

By G. M. Dunn

Pressure leach autoclave circuits are employed in the leaching of ores, concentrates, mattes, alloys and intermediates for the recovery of metals into solution. Once the metals are extracted into solution the value metals can be recovered by hydrometallurgical means such as by purification followed by electrowinning, hydrogen reduction, pyrohydrolysis, crystallisation and other unit operations. In many of these integrated flowsheets the pressure leach step is pivotal to the recovery of the value metals from the host material. In an expansion or a new project, a large component of the capital cost can be associated with the pressure leach step and process engineers frequently look for opportunities to mitigate costs. This paper examines a new route for increasing the capacity of an exothermic pressure oxidation leach for sulphide concentrates, sulphide and phosphide mattes and alloys.

Jan 1, 2004

By Courtney W. Shea, Dennis Clark

Reckless blasting can have tragic consequences: The death of an innocent traveler, the financial demise of a coal company, and even criminal prosecution. In June 1993, a Tennessee coal mining company was blasting to loosen overburden at its surface mine. The mine was located immediately adjacent to the right-of-way of the northbound lane of Interstate 75. The approved permit included special precautions to be taken when blasting in the area closest to the interstate, including monitoring traffic so as to blast when the northbound lane was clear.

Jan 1, 1998

By W. C. Ferguson

"This paper could be more appropriately titled ""The Application of Vacuum Filters to Underground Minewater Treatment. in a previous paper co-authored by the writer (1) the history and development of minewater treatment at the Sudbury District Operations of the International Nickel Company was outlined. It is the intention of this paper to dwell more specifically WIth the the application of the vacuum filter to a problem found in most, if not all, underground mining operations. In the preparation of this paper the writer has made liberal use of the illustrations and text of the paper previously noted.Last year we heard Mr. Nemeth discuss the basic mechanisms involved in vacuum filtration (2), and today Yr. Cunliff has exposed us to the selection of the filter media (3). I will now briefly review the various vacuum filter designs that generally lend themselves to metallurgical dewatering applications.DRUM FILTERSThe revolving drum-type which filters on its outside periphery is illustrated in Fig. 1. This is the Oliver or Drum filter and represents the first commercially available continuous vacuum filter. The original design dates back more than 50 years, but with the exception of the method of discharge, is identical to the units being marketed today. This filter is generally applied to slow filtering slurries. The cake may be discharged in several ways; strings, scraper blades, rolls or by passing the filter cloth over a small diameter discharge roller (belt discharge).THE DORRCO FILTERThe revolving drum type which filters on its inside periphery is illustrated in Fig. 2. Here the slurry lies in the drum and the cake discharges through a chute or conveyor. This type of filter is most often applied to fast-filtering slurries.THE DISC FILTERThe revolving filter which filters on the vertical plane of the disc is referred to as the Disc or American-type filter. This represents the most inexpensive design in terms of cost per square foot of filter area. This filter is widely applied, but is probably more suitable for slower draining pulps."

Jan 1, 1971

By Anderson DR, Tassell G

A major environmental impact study carried out in the sand dunes of eastern Cape York used image analysis of remotely sensed data to both select sites for ground investigation and categorise the different ecological units present. The approach adopted was particularly suited to the type of environment in question and allowed a high degree of quantification, at a high level of confidence, at costs several orders of magnitude less than conventional Methods.

Jan 1, 1987

By Nóra Schreithofer, Zoltán Jávor, Kari Heiskanen

"One of the challenges the mineral processing industry is facing is caused by the fact that water resources in mining areas are becoming very limited and the cost of water is increasing. The water sources in arid regions often have high salt content. Environmental regulations are forcing plant operations towards completely closing the water cycles within plants. This means that impurities (salts, reagents, ions dissolved from minerals, etc.) accumulate within the circuit that will affect the flotation performance. Water purification can significantly increase the operating costs therefore it should be carefully considered weather the impurities need to be completely removed or is there a tolerable level of impurities that can still be left in the process water without significant deterioration of the flotation performance? Several additional questions arise: what are the tools that help identify what is a tolerable level of impurities? How do the different impurities interact and what is their effect on the process? The effect of frothers on the dynamic properties of air/liquid interface in different size-scales has been extensively studied by the authors in the past. Based on these studies a frother characterization framework was developed that systematically examines the dynamic surface properties of the air/liquid interface in relation to the bubble size. This work can be considered as tool that could be used for the above mentioned purpose. The present study investigates weather the same frother characterization framework can be applied for systems where both frother and different types of salts are present. Nasfroth 240 was used as a frother, in combination with structure-breaker KCl or structure-maker NaCl and CaCl2. Bubble size measurements in laboratory scale mechanical flotation cell and laboratory flotation column and dynamic surface property measurements (dynamic surface tension and dilatational elasticity) were performed. The results highlighted the addition of salt to the frother solutions significantly decrease the bubble size and increase the froth high. The coalescence behavior of bubbles showed correlation between the D32 and ionic strength of salts. The results highlighted that the studied structure maker and structure breaker salts effect the dynamic surface properties in different way."

Jan 1, 2014

By W. A. Thomas

Steam is, and doubtless always will be, the basic power in the anthracite industry, either directly applied through engines and pumps or electrically. The rapidity with which electric power is being applied to the mining and preparation of anthracite leaves little doubt as to its utility and economy. There is practically no operation, except possibly the drilling of hard rock, that has not been successfully electrified and the matter of drilling is handled economically with electrically driven compressors and the standard compressed-air drills. Conservation and the seemingly ever-increasing cost of production, justify careful consideration of the possible results of the more extensive use of electric power in the industry. It is not planned to discuss, herein, the relative economies of individual applications but to consider the relative economy and flexibility of steam and electric power. The reports available for the year 1920 indicate a production of slightly over 80,000,000 tons of anthracite, of which 8,843,500 tons were used for power and heating purposes; in other words, over 11 per cent. of the production was used at the mines. Some of this was used to generate electric power at the mines, about 160,000,000 kw-hr., while 150,000,000 kw.-hr. was purchased from the public utility companies. One large producer, who is buying some electric power and generating some, used over 13 per cent. of the production for power and heating at the mines. Another producer, where considerable electric power is generated on the properties, is using less than 9 per cent. of the output for power and heating. One of the largest producers has a fuel consumption of over 15 per cent. of the output, besides which considerable power is purchased. A careful study of the field indicates that steam-operated plants use upwards of 13 per cent. of the production for power and heating, while electrically operated plants use about 1 per cent. for heating; so that, for steam-power purposes at least 12 per cent., or 268.8 Ib., are used for power out of each ton produced. In the complete electrification of anthracite mining operations, no set rule can be given for the power requirement, in kilowatt-hours per ton, as conditions vary widely in the matter of pumping, ventilation, and transportation, but the following cases are given as a basis of determining a range and a possible average power requirements:

Jan 1, 1922

By Paul Wellman

The energy problem of the U. S; was emphasized by the oil embargo of late 1973 and early 1974 and it seemed for a time that the Federal Government, under pressure from the general public, might take some corrective action. However, this was not the case. With the gasoline lines gone and an apparent plentiful supply of petroleum products, public concern quickly dissipated., This country is more vulnerable to an oil embargo today than we were in 1973-1974 and this fact should be of concern to all our people. Since 1968, we have used oil and natural gas at a much more rapid rate than we have been able to find new domestic sources; thus, there is an increasing gap between domestic production and consumption and we have filled the gap with ever increasing oil' imports. These imports have increased at an alarming rate in the recent past, some 58 percent in 1976 compared with 1975. Imports are nearing 8 million barrels per day. Then, by applying some simple arithmetic, at $12 per barrel, the resulting trade deficit is $96 million per day or $35 billion per year. Obviously, this cannot be tolerated by our economy over a long period of time. Historically, we have shifted from one fuel to another as is shown in this slide. In 1850 about 90 percent of our fuel requirements came from direct combustion of wood, by 1900 we shifted to coal for 70 percent of our fuel, and now about 78 percent of fuel requirements comes from oil and natural gas. The difference is that the previous shifts were voluntary and the one facing us now is of necessity.

Jan 1, 1977

By R. W. Raymond

[NoTE.—-This paper was presented at the Pittsburgh meeting in a partially completed form, and I fully expected to obtain, before the period of its publication, both the data and the leisure required for its completion. The hygiene of collieries was to have been separately considered, and the sanitary conditions of various metallurgical industries connected with mining were to receive an extended discussion, while at the same time the points treated in the paper as prosented at Pittsburgh were to have more ample illustration from American and European sources. Delay in obtaining expected information, and the continuous pressure of professional work, have prevented hitherto the execution of this plan ; and I can now publish only a portion of what I had designed to contribute to the subject. In the meantime this portion, but slightly changed, has been included as a chapter on the Hygiene of Metal Mines in a work entitled Hygiene and Public Health,, edited by Dr. A. H. Buck, of New York. An excellent chapter on the Hygiene of Coal Mines, contributed to the same work by Mr. Henry C. Sheafer, of Pottsville, affords me an opportunity to supply one of the deficiencies above alluded to. Mr. Shearer's chapter contains much material in the way of explanations not required by professional readers; And be moreover devotes a considerable space to the explosive gases, falls of roof, and other causes of accidents to life or limb—a branch of the subject not belonging strictly to bygiene. I therefore make extracts only from his treatise.—R. W. R ] It is convenient to divide mines, with reference to this subject, into two classes, collieries and metal-mines. Subterranean quarries, rock-salt mines, etc., present no conditions requiring them to be separated from the latter class.

Jan 1, 1880

Jan 1, 1966

By Ellis Clark

The greater portion of the brown ore in the vicinity of Easton, along the north slope of the Lehigh Mountain or Durham range of hills, is obtained from mines instead of from open cuts or quarries, as is the case in the ore-beds in the western part of Northampton County, in Lehigh County, and in Berks County. The reasons for this method of procedure are various, and the principal causes of the shaft and regular mine system of working being adopted instead of the open air cuts, are: First, the large amount of stripping that would be necessary, as the richer and more valuable portions of the ore do not appear to be found as near the surface as those in other portions of the Kittatinny valley; second, the occurrence of the ore in regular beds, interstratified with the clay, and, to a less extent, in pockets or erratic deposits, as is the case in the mines of Lehigh County; and third, on account of many of the mines being situated at the immediate base of the Lehigh Mountain, where the surface water would be in such large quantities as to be with difficulty handled, and where the subsequent caving in of the sides of the open cut would be almost certain to expose the gneiss rock, which is water-bearing, the large quantities of water coming from which would probably drown out the ore-bed. Shafts, and a regular system of gangways and mining are therefore required by the configuration of the surface, the depth of the deposits and their geological structure. The ordinary size of the shafts is about four feet square, but where an extensive plant of pumping machinery is required the size may be increased to eight feet by six, with two compartments for the hoisting and pump-shaft respectively. A man-way, consisting of ladders with rests at intervals of twenty or thirty feet, is comprised in the pump-shaft, the wire rope being used for purposes of ascent and descent only in exceptional cases, on account of accidents which

Jan 1, 1879

By C. E. Berry

Natural stone or manufactured porcelain pebbles are used as the grinding elements in pebble mills and the mills are lined with stone or porcelain blocks. Steel balls usually form the grinding medium in ball mills, and the mills may be lined with steel. Pebble mills are used to avoid contamination by metal of the material being ground, to avoid rapid wear due to corrosion, and for other specialized reasons. Belgian silex (silica) blocks formerly were used widely for lining pebble mills, because of their good resistance to wear, light color, and low cost, but the importation of these blocks was suspended early in the war. The stocks of Belgian silex diminished so rapidly that it was found desirable to compare the properties of a number of domestic substitutes for use in critical operations. Accordingly, a study was made to determine the best substitutes for fine grinding of white pigment and for certain heavy-chemical process work such as the disintegration of phosphate rock in weak phosphoric acid solution. A comprehensive survey of substitute lining materials was not contemplated. It was stipulated at the beginning of the investigation that only materials on the market, available in large quantities, would be tested and that these should be reasonable substitutes from a wear-resistance viewpoint as determined from known physical characteristics. Marble and limestone, for example, could be eliminated immediately. Quartzite, granite and porcelain were selected as likely substitutes for Belgian silex and were subjected to quality tests. Materials Tested 1. Belgian Si1ex.—Sample blocks of a standard grade were taken from crates in which they had been imported. The stone was light gray in color and contained inclusions of small clusters of quartz crystals as well as light colored portions that might be calcite. This was a siliceous rock which appeared to be of igneous origin. 2. Quartzite.—Samples of quartzite were obtained from a quarry in Minnesota. The blocks exhibited a crystalline fracture. The stone was pink in color and composed of fine quartz crystals bound together with a siliceous cement. 3. Granite A was a fine-grained granite quarried in South Carolina. 4. Granite B was coarse-grained granite quarried in South Carolina. 5. Granite C was a coarse-grained granite quarried in North Carolina. 6. Porcelain A.—Sample blocks of the pebble-mill lining material were obtained direct from the manufacturer. It was white in color and of lower specific gravity than the natural materials. It did not have a crystalline structure. 7. Porcelain B.—Sample pebble-mill lining blocks of the porcelain were received direct from the manufacturer. It was white

Jan 1, 1947

By G. W. P. Rengstorff, R. B. Fischer

A study was made of the effect of impurities on the bend ductility of cast molybdenum. High purity molybdenum was repared by re-melting under high vacuum. The ductility of "transverse-grain" specimens indicated that intergranular brittleness decreased with an increase in purity of the metal. THE production of as-cast molybdenum with high ductility at room temperature would make working of the metal easier and increase the usefulness of the as-cast metal. Furthermore, a .knowledge of the factors that influence the ductility of as-cast molybdenum might be applied to the problem of making fusion weldments having satisfactory room-temperature ductility. Individual grains of commercial as-cast molybdenum are slightly ductile at room temperature. However, the presence of carbides at the grain boundaries may cause the metal to fracture in a brittle manner. This behavior has been discussed.' The amount and distribution of the impurities in as-cast molybdenum would be expected, from previous research on the metal, to have considerable influence on its ductility. Some effects of oxygen and carbon on the mechanical behavior of the metal were discussed by Parke and Ham,2 Woodside,3 and Zappfe. Landgraf, and Worden.4 Parke and Ham2 found that, if a sufficient number of molybdenum oxide particles were present at the grain boundaries, the intergranular cohesion was reduced to the extent that arc-melted molybdenum would rupture intergranularly during hot forging. They also found that if the oxygen content was less than 0.003 pct, the cast molybdenum was hot forgeable. It is suspected, however, that forgeable molybdenum may contain a small amount of oxide that could reduce the ductility of the as-cast metal at room temperature. Also, there is the possibility of the unfavorable distribution of other impurities having a detrimental effect on the ductility of cast molybdenum. The results of a study of the influence of purity on the room-temperature ductility of cast molybdenum are presented here. Vacuum Arc-Melting to Produce High Purity Mo One way of determining the effect of impurities on the ductility of molybdenum is to prepare and test metal as free of all impurities as possible. Accordingly, the present investigation was undertaken with this in view. Arc melting in high vacuum (less than 0.1 micron of mercury) was chosen as the method for reducing the impurities below the concentrations occurring in commercial molybdenum. Commercial arc melting of molybdenum is carried out at about 50 microns pressure. During the arc melting, carbon and oxygen in the metal react to form carbon monoxide. By virtue of the vacuum process, the partial pressure of carbon monoxide is maintained at such a low value that the reaction greatly lowers oxygen and carbon contents. An excess of at least 0.03 pct C is used in commercial arc melting to insure that the oxygen content will be below 0.003 pct. The excess carbon remaining after the deoxidation step forms carbides on freezing. Some of the carbides precipitate at the grain boundaries and, as will be shown, have an unfavorable effect on the room-temperature ductility. In the present work, only the small amount of carbon (0.003 pct) contained in the commercial powder-metallurgy molybdenum used for melting stock was present. Partial removal of oxygen from the melt probably occurred as the result of the volatilization of molybdenum oxides, or by distillation of oxygen at the high melting tem-

Jan 1, 1953

By M. E. Poad, Donald Ross, G. G. Wadell

Because of the "energy crisis" emphasis has been placed on bringing coal mines into full production faster. To accomplish this, more is involved than a rapid excavation system. Mine design should have the freedom within the law to customize as mining conditions dictate as long as the maximum safety of the miner is insured. A year ago, safety was the most prominent "social-human factor"--now, safety and energy self-sufficiency are primary to our national policy. The Single Entry research program as designed satisfies both. It investigates the hypothesis that a single-entry system, for longwall development, supported in the center by open cribs and divided by a fire-resistant partition, can be regarded as being equivalent to or better than a multi-entry system. This paper provides an explanation for the use and advantages of a single entry system in development for longwall mining, explains the problems anticipated with single entries and presents the research approach needed to evaluate and solve the problems. Under study are ground control, ventilation, fire and explosions, emergency procedures, and industrial hazards. Described are measurements data on crib and roof bolt loads as entry heading advances and longwall abutment load is superimposed, stress field determinations and preliminary structural analysis of the double and single entry, and methane liberation and ventilation records as entry advances. Some of the mine operation problems and waivers of mining laws will be discussed. This project is a complete system study having progressed approximately two years in a five-year program.

Jan 1, 1974

By W. Rostoker, A. Siede

THE venerable problem of hydrogen embrittlement of ferritic iron lacks as yet a complete explanation. Possibly part of the difficulty has been the exclusive preoccupation with the total ductility prior to fracture. In the past few years it has been noted at least twice1,2 that hydrogen charged into iron has the ability to depress the upper yield point and, at room temperature, to eliminate completely the discontinuous yield phenomenon. Cracknell and Petchl rationalize that the depression of the yield stress is an example of the behavior of inhomogeneous stresses. Their explanation requires that microcracks exist in the annealed metal, and that hydrogen collect in these cavities under high hydrostatic pressure. The hydrostatic pressure of hydrogen generates localized tensile stresses in the iron which, with external loading, reach the critical stress for yield prematurely. The local plastic zones will spread across the specimen before the Lüders bands can be generated, and the yield-point elongation phenomenon is eliminated. This viewpoint will be discussed in succeeding paragraphs. Rogers,2 on the other hand, represents the depression of the initial flow stress as a result of the interaction of hydrogen with dislocations. He submits two alternative modes of interaction. In the

Jan 1, 1959

By R. Gunda

Due to the rapidly increasing production rates and deepening of mine working areas, there is a drastic rise in the number of thermal issues to be addressed for maintaining a safe mine environment. As high temperatures and humidity in underground mines could affect the health and performance of workers, and ultimately the production rate, it is necessary to provide a properly controlled safe environment. The backfilling of stopes in metal, non-metal mines results in different thermophysical properties for the hanging, side and foot walls, modeling of which is not provided by any existing mine climate simulation software. This paper presents the modeling of such a single stope using the MULTIFLUX (MF) software, developed at University of Nevada, Reno. A special case is presented in this paper, where a case study from the Homestake mine in the US with a drift and ramp connected to a stope with high Virgin Rock Temperature (VRT) and various spot heat sources is modeled in MULTIFLUX and CLIMSIM, and the results are compared against each other. Another case is presented in which the stope of the previous cases is modeled with walls, each having a different set of thermophysical properties. These results are compared with the former results to analyze the effect of anisotropic properties.

Jan 1, 2011

By Eugene A. Smith

Geological Relations. In his second report upon the Geology of Alabama, Prof. M. Tuomey calls attention to a rock occurring near Florence, in the Tennessee valley, the composition of which is as follows: Per cent. Carbonate of lime,.. .. .. ..16.41 Phosphate of lime,.. .. .. ..14.19 Peroxide of iron,.. .. .. .. .36 Quartz and other insoluble matters,. .. ..68.72 99.68 This rock was referred by Prof. Tuomey to the Carboniferous, because he found the Carboniferous limestones always resting conformably upon it, whilst both rest uncomformably upon the underlying Silurian or Devonian rocks. The recent discovery in Tennessee of phosphate-rock of this age (or approximately so) has stimulated the search in Alabama for similar rich material; but our search has been, up to this time, unrewarded by the finding in quantity of anything of better quality than the rock whose analysis is given above. It is, however, in high degree probable .that the rich phosphaterock of Tennessee will at some time be found to have its counterpart in Alabama. Materials of several kinds, containing a notable quantity of phosphoric acid, have been found in Alabama in both the Cretaceous and the Tertiary formations, and for our present purpose they may be most conveniently considered in their geological relations.

Jan 1, 1896

By Norman Orr, J. W. Gregg, Jack Wahl

The Pembina Cardium pool is a low permeability, stratified, solution-gas drive reservoir. Water-flooding has proven to be an effective means of pressure maintenance for all areas of the pool in which an economic rate of water injection can be maintained. The majority of water injection wells in the pool are converted oil well~ with capacities greater than 100 millidarcy-feet. If the average injection rate per unit of capacity can be in-creased the lower capacity areas of the pool can be economically flooded. Theory, laboratory work, and two . early miscible-flooding projects with-in the pool suggested that average water injection rates for converted wells could be increased two to three-fold by the initial injection of natural gas liquids and natural gas. How-ever, these two early projects received volumes of natural gas liquid!:' and high-pressure natural gas which would be economically prohibitive for routine stimulation. Area D, one of the Five-

Jan 1, 1962

By L. W. Saperstein

One of the most critical skills developed by underground coal miners is the ability to interpret natural warning signals in terms of impending roof failure. A miner receives a variety of signals which can be called warning and which can be classed broadly by sense: aural, visual, and tactile. This paper concentrates on those signals which are airborne and audible. These signals are creaks, cracks, pops, groans, snaps, booms, tears, rips, and other assorted pulses which emanate from the roof strata, coal pillars, and artificial support in response to the stresses induced by the mine opening. These pulses are sometimes referred to as "talk". Although it is clear that miners rely on roof talk to assess the roof's stability, it is not clear of what roof talk is composed. It has been described in a variety of figurative ways, but has not been scientifically characterized. As will be shown shortly, the purpose of this research is very specific. The ramifications, however, are very broad, and are, indeed, still being followed.

Jan 1, 1974

By W. E. Pugh

The object of the following is to discuss a few of the problems encountered in the practical field application of reflection seismology. Very little has been published on this phase of the work and it is to be hoped that discussions will be presented by many seismologists who have met with these problems in the field. No attempt will be made to discuss the general principles of reflection prospecting, nor to outline the general field procedure. These phases have been presented more or less in detail in previous publications1 while economy of space and time prevents their being repeated or amended here. If, in the following pages, some criticism is offered of those who have already given their time and efforts to present valuable papers on reflection shooting, we trust that it will be accepted in the constructive light under which it is offered. We do not wish to give the impression that the following paragraphs represent ultimate achievement in field procedure; they are presented more to illustrate methods we have found satisfactory thus far. We believe that the following three subjects are inexorably linked with the continued future successes and more widespread use of the reflection method which, at the present time, is the most

Jan 1, 1934