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By A. O. Filmer

An account is given of a study on the non-oxidative dissolution in aqueous acidic solutions of nickel sulphides of different stoichiometric composition, in which a rotating ring-disc electrode was used. The rate of dissolution was found to depend on the potential of the sulphide and the nickel-to-sulphur stoichiometric ratio. A maximum rate for the dissolution of nickel from nickel sulphides containing an excess of nickel was recorded at potentials around -0,2 to -O,3V. The rate decreased markedly at more anodic potentials. For nickel-deficient nickel sulphides, the nonoxidative dissolution rate increased with a cathodic shift in potential. Under open-circuit conditions, a nickel sulphide of a composition approximating Ni ,S. reacted most rapidly. The dissolution rate was controlled by either a chemical or an electrochemical reaction at the electrode surface, had an activation energy of between 50 and 65 kJ.mol-1, and was independent of stirring speed.

Jan 1, 1980

By Bordeaux Sciences Agro-INRA UMR 1065 SAVE, S. Piutti, E. Benizri, S. Lopez

Ultramafic soils display high concentrations of nickel (Ni) and a number of nutrient deficiencies (e.g. N, K, P). Ni-hyperaccumulator plants have evolved on such environments, developed specific metal homeostasis showing concentrations of Ni sometimes above 1% in their aerial biomass (Baker & Brooks 1989). Alyssum murale, a Ni-hyperaccumulator, is commonly found around the Mediterranean but can grow on non-ultramafic soils as well, with an altitudinal extension ranging from sea level to 2000 m.a.s.l. Rhizosphere bacterial communities associated with Ni-hyperaccumulator plants can differ from those of non-accumulating plants growing at the same site. Among edaphic factors that could influence the phylogenetic structure of the bacterial communities, altitude and metal-bioavailability and in particular nickel could be significant. However, most studies have focused on analyzing soils with techniques that provide little detail about the phylogenetic structure of these bacterial communities present in ultramafic soils. The objectives of this study were to understand the specific changes in the structure of A. murale rhizosphere bacterial community that occur across two gradients: 1°) elevation and 2°) Ni geochemistry, using pyrosequencing technique (454-pyrosequencing of 16S rRNA gene). It was found that the higher the soil chemically-available Ni contents, the higher the relative abundance of Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria. On the contrary, the abundance of TM7 decreased with increasing levels of available Ni. Moreover, Chloroflexi was present with 53 to 77% of relative abundance. These results demonstrate that soil chemically-available Ni drives the bacterial community diversity in the rhizosphere of Alyssum murale regardless the elevation gradient and other different soil physicochemical parameters. These results should now be confirmed in different ultramafic edaphic environments worldwide (e.g. ultramafic lateritic covers) and in the rhizosphere of different hyperaccumulator taxa.

Jan 1, 2016

By Kang-In Rhee

Nonferrous metal recycling not only provides energy saving and environmental benefits but also is a significant factor in the supply of various types of metals used in our society. Recycling plays an important role in establishing the sustainability of materials. The total amount of recycled nonferrous metals by weight accounts for less than 5% but their value is larger than 50% compared to ferrous metal recycling which consists of about half of the total metal recycling in weight. This paper describes trends and typical achievements in nonferrous metal recycling and overviews the present and future of nonferrous metal recycling technology and business in Korea.

Jan 1, 2006

By R. C. Troxell, S. C. Sun

EFFORTS to obtain definite quantitative data when employing the currently used bubble pick-up method1,2 as a pre-flotation investigation tool led to the adoption of the magnifying mirror method and the microscopic method modifications. Quantitative data obtained by these two methods were converted into bubble pick-up indices and bubble pick-up coefficients. Rough correlations were established between the calculated indices and the results of contact angle testing as well as actual flotation under the same conditions. The basic steps of the magnifying mirror method are as follows: 1—mixing 200 ml distilled water, sized and cleaned mineral particles of approximately 0.5 g, pH regulator, and flotation reagents in a glass beaker; 2—swirling the mineral particles to the center of the beaker to leave a clear circumference; 3—pressing an air bubble against the mineral particles for about 1 sec, and then moving the mineralized air bubble to the clear part of the beaker; and 4—dropping all the attached mineral particles of the air bubble by tapping the bubble holder, and counting the number of the dropped particles by looking at the magnified image in the mirror positioned beneath the beaker. This method is impractical for mineral particles which are transparent in water or finer than 200 mesh. The microscopic method is essentially similar to the above described magnifying mirror method, with the exception that the mineralized air bubble was drawn up into the bubble holder and subsequently discharged onto an externally placed watch glass, where the number of pick-up particles was counted with the aid of a microscope or hand lens. Drying was necessary when the discharged liquid interfered with the counting. The results of the bubble pick-up tests can be simply expressed in the form of the actual count. However, this can be misleading because the number of pick-up particles varies not only with the size of bubble but also with the size of particles. This short-coming is largely remedied by the use of the bubble pick-up index. as calculated from the following equation: PI = (pn/p) 100 [1] in which PI and pn are respectively the pick-up index and the number of pick-up particles under any test conditions, and p is the maximum number of pick-up particles of the same mineral under optimum flotation conditions, with the same size holder and particle. The bubble pick-up coefficient is a term coined to denote the difference between the bubble pick-up index of mineral particles in a liquid and that of the same mineral-liquid mixture plus a chemical reagent at the same pH value. For example, the difference between the pick-up index of a naturally floatable bituminous coal in a solution of water and kerosene and that of the same coal in water alone is a bubble pick-up coefficient. Compared with the contact angle method, the quantitative bubble pick-up method is inferior in accuracy but superior in sensitivity. Other advantages of the bubble pick-up method are that the apparatus can be easily assembled, the mineral sample is conventionally prepared, and the test procedure is relatively simple. References S. R. B. Cooke: The Flotation of Quartz Using Calcium Ion As Activator, Trans. AIME (1949) 184, p. 306. 'G. A. Last and M. A. Cook: Theory of Collector-Depressant Equilibrium at Mineral Surfaces. Paper presented at St. Louis Meeting, AIME (February, 1951).

Jan 1, 1954

By Raymond P. Maloney

The Rhyolite mercury prospect is on the south flank of Juninggulra Mountain--a large rhyolite intrusive in the Kuskokwim River region about 36 airline miles northwest of Red Devil, Alaska. Bulldozer trenching by the Bureau of Mines exposed bedrock at intervals in a 2,000-by 3,000-foot area where previous prospecting by the owners had disclosed abundant float and several in-place stringers containing cinnabar in widely varying amounts. The additional trenching indicated that the mercury mineralization in the limited area investigated was confined to erratically distributed short stringers and to small lenses, occurring in discontinuous zones in numerous silica-carbonate dikes and sills or along their altered contacts with sedimentary rocks. The geologic relationship of the mercury-bearing silica-carbonate dikes and the nearby rhyolite intrusive is similar to that existing at several other mercury mines and prospects in the. Kuskokwim region. The depth of over-burden and the presence of permafrost were serious obstacles to bulldozer trenching, and only a comparatively small part of the mineralized area was thus investigated.

Jan 1, 1962

By S Latchireddi

Close circuiting autogenous and semi-autogenous mills is an energy efficient way of grinding and a number of operations have utilised this in the design of their comminution circuits. Owing to the large flow of slurry through the mill that results from operating this way the grates and pulp lifters have to be designed to cope. However, the literature has little or no information on how grate and pulp lifter size and design are related to their ability to remove slurry from the mill. Over the last few years the JKMRC has been researching this area and has developed relationships between grate/pulp lifter design and flowrate capacity. At the same time it has determined the major causes of pulp lifter inefficiency and a solution to preventing this inefficiency (the Twin Chamber Pulp Lifter). This paper describes the models that have been developed through this program and uses industrial scale data to illustrate their accuracy. Results from the industrial trials of the Twin Chamber Pulp Lifter are also presented.

Jan 1, 2000

By J. Kallioinen

Theoretical considerations, experimental results and plant experience have lead to a new design concept called the unit reactor approach. It has been successfully implemented to the largest flotation cell on the market, the 4000 cu ft OK TankCell. The work has also lead to a new operating idea called size specific flotation. The paper discusses these concepts in the view of full scale field experiments. In large scale porphyry copper flotation experiments conducted in Chile the new large TankCell with its new low energy input Free Flow mechanism out-performed the more conventional designs. The recovery was substantially better, especially in the coarse fractions. In some experiments the difference in total recovery was up to 10%-units and the savings in total energy consumption at the same time over 40%.

Jan 1, 1995

By D. R. Parrish, V. J. Berry

Reverse combustion is one thermal method of recovering hydrocarbons from porous undergrortnd formations containing oil or tar. In applying this method, air is introduced via an injection well and the mixture of air and hydrocarbons is ignited in the production well. A combustion zone then recedes toward the injection well, counter-current to the air flow. If the combustion-zorie temperature is sufficiently high, the oil or tar irz place is distilled arid cracked. The hydrocnrhon flows as a vapor to the production well and subsequently is condensed at the surface. Maximum temperature and velocity of morcment arc the two dependent variubles defining the progress of the combustion zone. A theoretical analysis has been made of heat flow in the reverse-comhustion process as.srtrning linear flow in a homogeneous system. The differentirll equatious, which include the oxygen-hydrocar-hon rctrction rate, have been solved numerically. Rescllts indicate that the maximum temperature reached and he cornbustion-zone relocity both increase with an incrense in air-injection rote. Heat loss to surroundings has little effect on the maximum comhustion-zone ten?perature achieved, but it is reflected in a reduced com-bustion-zorzc, velocity. It is also predicted that an increase in the oxygen-hydrocarbon reaction rate results in a reduction in the maximum temperature reached. The calculated results are in agreement with results from reverse-combustion experinments using samples of a tar sand. INTRODUCTION Reverse combustion is one thermal method of recovering hydrocarbons from porous underground forma-tions containing oil or tar.' In applying this method, air is introduced into the underground formation via an in-jection well. In one or more adjacent production wells, the mixture of air and hydrocarbons is ignited at the sand face. The combustion zone thus formed recedes toward the injection well, counter-current to the air flow (Fig. 1). Under certain conditions, the rate of recession of the combustion zone is sufficiently rapid that only a small fraction of the hydrocarbon at any point in the formation is consumed by combustion. If the combustion-zone temperature is sufficiently high, the uncon-sumed oil or tar in place may be partially distilled or cracked. This material then can flow as a vapor with the gaseous combustion products to the production well and subsequently be condensed at the surface. Under other conditions, the combustion-zone temperature may be so low that little, if any, of the hydrocarbon is vaporized. Nevertheless, the viscosity of the hydrocarbon may be reduced enough so that other recovery methods subsequently can be applied to produce oil at attractive rates. The maximum temperature achieved in the combustion zone and the velocity of movement are the two dependent variables defining the progress of the combustion zone. Presumably. knowledge of these factors will permit estimates to be made of oil recovery efficiency, oil and gas producticn rates and average amount of injection air required per barrel of oil recovered. The maximum temperature and combustion-zone vclocity are, in turn, expected to be dependent upon air flow rate, heat losses to surrounding formations, physical properties of the rock and the hydrocarbon. the extent to which the porous formation is saturated with the hydrocarbon, the rate of oxidation of the hydrocarbon and the amount of heat released. It is desirable that the relative importance of each of these factors be understood so that the results of laboratory tests of oil recovery by reverse combustion can be properly interpreted in terms of expected field performance. It is particularly desirable to assess the importance of heat lcsses because these are difficult to control or eliminate

By R. F. Meel, J. K. Stanley

The recrystallization of cold-worked metals is studied ordinarily by determining the temperatures required for complete recrystallization to occur within a given arbitrary time period, usually within 15 min. to 2 hr. The results obtained are conventionally assembled in a three-dimensional diagram relating this temperature to the amount of cold-work (percentage deformation) and the resultant grain size, though sometimes other modes of representation are emp1oyed.l Such three-dimensional diagrams are not complete, for the number of variables exceeds the number represented. The process of recrystallization is characterized by a time-rate, a fact that is not portrayed upon ordinary recrystallization diagrams. It is known that recrystallization consists in the formation of new nuclei and the growth of these nuclei, a process that continues until the matrix is completely consumed and the original set of grains entirely replaced by the new. This knowledge is old.2 Truly heterogeneous reactions invariably proceed by nucleation and growth; the decomposition of eutectoid solid solutions provides an example about which much is known,3 and freezing, originally studied by Tammann, provides the classic example. Although recrystal- lization is not a heterogeneous reaction within the orthodox meaning of the term, the mechanism of the process is the same. As in eutectoid inversion and freezing, it should be possible to study the rate of isothermal recrystallization as a function of time, and it should also be possible to analyze the isothermal reaction curve into the component rates of nucleation and growth that determine them.* Other methods, not employing the rates of nucleation and growth, have been used to represent the rates of such reactions, but these in general have been artificial and have not led to progress. 4,5 The theory of recrystallization is not in advanced state; if recrystallization data were obtained in terms of the rate of isothermal recrystallization, and in terms of the rate of nucleation and the rate of growth of recrystallized grains, and in particular if the temperature coefficients of these rates were measured accurately, an adequate theory should be more readily developed.27 Such an effort requires proper experimental technique, but especially requires suitable methods of mathematical analysis to convert mcasurements made upon a surface of polish into values for the rate of nucleation and the rate of growth and to combine these into a rate of isothermal recrystallization. These methods are now available for the case of three-dimensional recrystallization (recrystallization of

Jan 1, 1942

By Yi Luo

Subsurface strata movements and deformations associated with underground mining activities could cause problems to subsurface structures and water bodies. By incorporating the methods for surface subsidence prediction with the subsidence parameters derived from collected subsurface subsidence data, methods have been proposed for the prediction of final and dynamic subsurface movements and deformations induced by underground longwall mining. Two new' types of strata deformations in the field of subsidence research, vertical and total strains that could he useful in assessing subsidence influences to the subsurface structures and water bodies, have peen introduced.

Jan 1, 2000

By L. S. Panyity

The question of natural-gas supply is receiving careful consideration in many parts of the country, as in the winter months it is quite a problem to have on hand sufficient gas to satisfy the demand. Increasing the output of wells by the application of vacuum has been tried with various results and large companies have attempted to keep up the supply with gas compressors. The possibility of storing natural gas in the sands of exhausted gas pools has been 'tried in a few instances with satisfactory results. This method may prove of practical value in solving the problem, especially in the case of towns that formerly obtained gas from their immediate vicinity but now must search for new pools. In all cases, only part of the available supply is utilized during the warm weather, so that many wells are shut-in, yet during the winter months, the supply is not sufficient even with all the wells on the line; in such cases it would be of great value if a large volume of stored gas were on hand, obtained through wells that would have been standing idle during the summer. Idle producing wells having considerable "rock pressure" will force gas into the exhausted, or storage wells, and this gas will be used only when the regular supply falls short (Fig. I). If two gas wells of different

Jan 1, 1920

By V Gumba, S Narendranathan, C Barker, R D. H Thomas, G P. Bungard

This paper presents the positive outcomes on an EPCM project, which was undertaken in a challenging environment, whereby the design team had to generate a design with a number of stringent serviceability criteria, any deviation from which would have had significant implications to the proposed design performance. The success of the design implementation within the tight time frame hinged upon the precise installation by a skilled contractor. The overall objective was achieved as a result of close collaboration between the designer and contractor ensuring all stringent quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) aspects were met and opportunities to optimise design without compromising on performance were identified and implemented, resulting in a cost saving of over A$13 M.CITATION:Narendranathan, S, Thomas, R D H, Bungard, G P, Gumba, V and Barker, C, 2012. The importance of collaboration between designers and contractors in implementing a design in challenging conditions, in Proceedings Eighth Open Pit OperatorsÆ Conference , pp 97-102 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Sep 18, 2012

By M. D. Johnson

Mina Santa Rosa, in west central Panama, is the first large-scale gold mine in Panama and will soon be the largest single-mine gold producer in central America (Fig. 1). At full production, the mine will process 1.8 Mt/a (2 million stpy) of ore and produce more than 1.8 t/a (60,000 oz/year) of gold and 9.3 t/a(300,000 oz/year) of silver. Mina Santa Rosa is a subsidiary of Greenstone Resources of Toronto, Ontario. Freeport-McMoRan geologists first visited the area in 1985. Their rock chip sampling adjacent to old shafts and adits confirmed widespread gold and trace element geochemistry anomalies. Surface mineralization appeared to be localized in and adjacent to narrow veinlets. However, they recognized astructural setting similar to the Nevada Tertiary volcanic-hosted epithermal gold systems.

Jan 1, 1996

By William Siegel

Kleinfelder provided foundation analysis and design for an expansion to a cement plant in Florence, Colorado. The expansion was a conversion from a horizontal wet process to a vertical dry process, and resulted in the construction of a number of structures with heavy foundation loads. [ ] The field investigation identified old fill and saturated sands and gravels above a shale/limestone bedrock environment. Based upon the anticipated loading, drilled piers socketed into bedrock were recommended. The structures were constructed in accordance with the design recommendations.

Jan 1, 2007

SPEAKING generally, it may be said that leaching is the simplest method of recovering copper from its ores. Likewise it is perhaps the oldest method of treatment used by copper metallurgists of the modern era. Reliable records indicate that as early as 1752 cupriferous pyrite was leached in the famous Rio Tinto region in Spain. Though the manipulation was quite different from that in use today at Chuquicamata, New Cornelia, Inspiration, and Andes, it resembled that employed by Phelps Dodge at Bisbee, as described in Chapter XIV. Leaching consists of subjecting ore to the action of a liquid solvent or menstruum (usually an aqueous solution) which dissolves the major part of the soluble copper minerals. The resulting pregnant solution is drained off or otherwise separated from the residual ore; and the copper in the solution is then recovered by some appropriate means of precipitation. When sulphuric acid is the lixiviant, as is usual, the simplest procedure is to pass the copper-bearing solution through large troughs containing scrap iron. The iron displaces the copper in the solution, precipitating it as a slime coating the iron and varying in color -from bright copper to a dull black. This may be washed off at intervals, collected as a sludge, dried, and melted with a little fluxing material to produce reasonably pure copper. Usually, of course, the mud is sent to a smelter where most often its destination is the converter or reverberatory furnace. Modern practice uses precipitation on iron only as a complemental process to electrolytic precipitation or deposition, wherein the pregnant copper-bearing solution, acting as the electrolyte in a cell having insoluble anodes and copper cathodes, is depleted of the copper it contains. Cathode copper, 99.5 per cent pure, is produced ready for the market as refined copper, or for a simple process of melting, fire-refining, and casting in

Jan 1, 1933

By C. Langer

Although the existence of precious metals, particularly those of the platinum group, in the nickel ores in the Sudbury district has been known for a good many years- almost as long as the ore deposits themselves- the Mond Nickel Company were the first to effect their recovery on a commercial scale. The precious metals values of the different Sudbury ores vary considerably, and are generally higher in the copper-rich ores. These values are so very small that a direct determination in the ores gives quite unreliable results. This is not surprising if one considers that some of the ores contain on1y one unit of total precious metals in about two million units of ore, and that this one unit will consist of seven different metals, each with a different chemical behaviour. It is only after the ores have been smelted to a Bessemer matte containing about 80 per cent combined copper and nickel that the precious metals content can be determined with some degree of certainty. From the figures thus obtained, the precious metals content of the ores can be calculated, provided the tonnage of ore used to produce one ton of matte is known. The recovery of these minute quantities of precious metals out of ?such a large amount of gangue and sulphides of iron, copper, and nickel seems at first glance a commercial and technical impossibility. Nevertheless, science has found a way to conquer all the difficulties, and quite substantial quantities of the precious metals contained in the Sudbury nickel-copper ores have been regu1arly recovered for many years by the Mond Nickel Company.

Jan 1, 1927

Flooded-bed scrubbers on continuous miners have been shown to be an effective respirable dust control technology, traditionally used during the extraction of extended cuts of up to 12.2 m (40 ft). To effectively use scrubbers in faces that employ exhaust ventilation, the return ventilation curtain or tubing should be located outby the scrubber discharge on the continuous miner, which results in a setback distance from the face of approximately 12.2 m (40 ft). The goal of this research was to compare respirable dust levels generated in 6.1 m (20 ft) cuts when using extended curtain setbacks with a scrubber operating to dust levels in 6.1 m (20 ft) cuts when using traditional exhaust face ventilation without a scrubber operating. Dust surveys were completed at three mines with area and personal sampling conducted to quantify respirable dust concentrations on a cut-by-cut basis. Sampling results did not show a statistically significant difference in respirable dust at the continuous miner or shuttle car locations with and without the scrubber operating. However, with the scrubber operating, respirable dust concentrations in the return airstream downwind of the miner showed reductions of 91%, 86%, and 40% at Mines A, B, and C, respectively. The reductions at Mines A and B were statistically significant. Likewise, reductions in respirable quartz dust levels in the miner return were observed at all three mines, with statistically significant reductions of over 80% observed at Mines A and B. Consequently, operation of the flooded-bed scrubber did not impact respirable dust levels in the face area but did significantly reduce respirable and quartz dust levels downwind of the continuous miner. These results were obtained with the mines operating at or above the minimum operating levels specified in their ventilation plans.

Feb 23, 2014

By G. A. Campbell

This paper looks at how changes in the economies and demographics of the eight largest copper-consuming countries have been affecting their consumption of copper. The period of 1976 to 2005 is considered. Annual changes in measures like intensity of use of copper, per capita consumption of copper, copper consumption based on per capita income, and copper consumption from industrial production for each country and in aggregate are calculated. Other factors like the change of industrial production relative to total GDP and population/age trends are also considered for the individual countries. Non-parametric and parametric statistical tests are used to determine the significance of observed trends and relationships for individual countries and in aggregate. The results give insights into how copper consumption is changing for the countries and what economic/demographic factors are driving these changes. These insights provide some guidance about where copper consumption trends are headed in the future.

Jan 1, 2007

By V. M. Paretsky

The basic work conducted by Prof. A.Yazawa has demonstrated that in order to ensure single- stage white metal production by autogenous smelting of copper sulfide raw materials, it is most favorable to use highly basic slags, in particular oxide systems CaO-FeO-Fe2O3-SiO2. The special studies have been conducted in the Gintsvetrnet Institute to investigate the composition and structure of slags produced on a semi-commercial scale when testing the KFP and FBP processes for white metal smelting. as well as the slag obtained in a full-scale KFP furnace at the Almalyk copper smelter. The investigations conducted have demonstrated why production of high-grade matte or white metal is associated with lower loss of copper in slag in a series: silicate slag I silicate-calcium slag I ferrite-calcium slag.

Jan 1, 2003

By Robert Glass Cleland

[NEW YORK OFFICE James Douglas President Chairman of Board Walter Douglas Vice-president President Louis S. Cates President Cleveland H. Dodge Vice-President Chairman of Board]

Jan 1, 1952