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By W. K. Tolley

The U.S. Bureau of Mines (USBM) is currently investigating the electrochemistry of mineral flotation. A significant need in this area is greater reliability of sensors. The USBM is testing electrolytic methods to clean and condition redox-sensing electrodes to improve the reliability and extend the service life of these instruments in the harsh physical and chemical environment of mineral processing slurries. A novel method for removing scale from fouled electrodes has been developed that includes anodic polarization to 1.2 V versus the Ag/AgCl reference potential, followed by brief potentiodynamic conditioning. Laboratory results show that this technique removes calcarious deposits from gold sensing electrodes and returns the electrode to useful service within approximately 10 min. Mechanical abrasion to remove the scale is thereby avoided.

Jan 1, 1994

By Ernest A. Kaarsberg

This paper presents the results of studies of the elasticity of some isotropic and anisotropic rock samples based on longitudinal- and shear-wave pulse velocity measurements. Experimental evidence from velocity measurements on isotropic steel samples is also presented to show, within error limits, that any two of the elastic constants required to completely describe the elasticity of an isotropic solid can be obtained from any two of the following four velocity measurements: longitudinal "rod,' "plate," extended medium (infinite medium equivalent), or shear wave. Measurements of three of these velocities in an approximately isotropic basaltic rock sample are used to illustrate this application to this type of rock. For the anisotropic study, a suite of Colorado oil shale samples is used. These rocks exhibited transverse isotropy. The five elastic constants required to completely specify this type of anisotropy are obtained from longitudinal- and shear-wave pulse velocity measurements made in directions parallel, perpen-dicular, and at 45° to the bedding plane. Density, velocity, and elastic modulus relationships among these shales are also given. Duvall 1 has described a method for determining the elastic constants of isotropic and, in two cases, anisotropic rock samples. This method is based on ultrasonic pulse techniques and on resonance-frequency measurements of rock samples in the shape of rods (diamond drill cores). Rock samples, however, are not always available in rod form. When this is the case, other methods can be used to study their

Jan 1, 1969

By J. F. Smith

ELASTIC constants of yttrium and eleven of the rare earth elements have been measured. This has been accomplished by measuring the propagation velocities of ultrasonic pulses. The velocity measurements were made by noting the elapsed time between an applied pulse and the appearance of successive echoes. The pulse-echo technique has become relatively common, and the basis of the measurement is outlined in several standard tests, e.g., Heuter and Bolt.1 Two important assumptions are made when using this method for the determination of elastic moduli. First, the pulse is assumed to propagate as a plane wave. To justify this assumption, the cross section of the test specimen should be large compared to the wave length of the transmitted pulse. For these measurements on the rare earth elements the minimum cross section wave length ratio was about 20. A second assumption which must be made when using polycrystalline specimens is that the grains are sufficiently numerous and randomly oriented so that the specimen may be approximated as elasti-cally isotopic. The grain size in the as-cast specimens which were used is believed to be sufficiently fine for this approximation, and the degree of preferred orientation is believed to be small. Supporting this viewpoint is the fact that elasticity measurements by the pulse-echo technique on as-cast specimens of other metals give results which are in satisfactory agreement with values obtained by other techniques. Hence, it is believed that the measured elasticity values for the rare earth elements are not apt to be seriously in error due to the assumption of elastic isotopy. The apparatus used in this determination was a modified Sperry Reflectoscope with a precisely calibrated time base circuit. Piezoelectric transducers were used both to generate the pulse and to detect the echoes. X-cut quartz crystals were used for the longitudinal modes, and Y-cut quartz crystals were used for the shear modes. Frequencies of 2.25 and 5 megacycles per sec were employed. Most of the specimens were 2.5 to 5.0 cm in length. Results Table I is a tabulation of the measured propagation velocities of longitudinal waves and of shear waves, together with densities obtained by Sped- ding, Daane, and Herrmann2 from lattice parameter measurements. The shear modulus, Poisson's ratio, and Young's modulus were calculated from the data in Table I through use of the following relationships: µ = pv32 [1] s=2-(vb/vs)2/2[1-(vb/vs)2] [2] and Y= 2µ(l+s) [3] where s is the shear modulus, Y is the Young's modulus, s is Poisson's ratio, p is the density, V0 is the longitudinal wave velocity, and v, is the shear wave velocity. The calculated quantities are shown in Table 11. Compressibility values can be computed from the relationship and the computed values may be compared with measured values obtained by Bridgman.8 Table III lists the data for such a comparison. The agreement is satisfactory, being particularly good for neodymi- um and gadolinium, poor for samarium, and intermediate for the other elements. Some variation is expected since Bridgman's measurements are isothermal, whereas the present measurements are adiabatic. In addition there may be some effect due to small variations in purity. Though most of the rare earth metals measured by Bridgman and all of the metals used in the present measurements were prepared at this laboratory, minor purity variations might exist since the samples came from different lots. Also, any imperfections such as dislocations, vacancies, voids, grain boundaries, microcracks, etc., should contribute to the volume change of a com-

Jan 1, 1958

By G. Stuart Jenkins

Conditions at the properties of the Consolidated Coal Co. had reached a point where improvements were almost impractical. The mines, sunk years ago, had shafts and entries so small as to preclude the use of large mine cars. A radical change was necessary in the type of mining and also in the type of mine to accommodate such haulage units. After due consideration, the company decided to enter the field of trackless mining, utilizing belt conveyors and chain-flight conveyors, the belt conveyors to take the long haul, and the chain-flight conveyors to be used for gathering. It was decided not to sink a shaft, hut to drive a slope on an inclination of 17½°, which the company believes to be about the limit on which coal can be carried on a belt without rolling back unduly. Sinking the Slope It was decided, in sinking the slope, to make an opencut until rock was reached, which was some 65 ft. below the surface, and then to drive the slope through an inclined tunnel from that point. In making the open-cut, the schedule called for the removal of about 25,000 cu. yd. of clay, holding the banks on an inclination of one and a half to one, the thought being to make this cut in a minimum of time, put in a reinforced concrete slope, and then back-fill. Difficulty was experienced because the clay was of a sort that was called "subsiding base" material by contractors visiting the job. In other words, a "squeeze" occurred, the pressure causing the floor of the cut to move up just as it does in many mines where the coal is underlain by thick fire clay and inadequate pillars have been left. It was necessary to move the waste banks back from the edge of the cut 700 or 800 ft., and even then the floor could not be controlled, the result being that almost 100,000 cu. yd. of clay was handled before the rock was reached. A concrete slope was then rapidly constructed, using 95 tons of special-shaped reinforcing iron. The floor of this slope was made 30 in. thick at the bottom, and 17 in. thick at the top, the sidewalls being 18 in.

Jan 1, 1940

By P J. Minehan

The investigation of the potential of the Webb/Baynes block of the Buller coalfield for anode carbon manufacture has generated much information on the physical beneficiation characteristics of the Buller coals in general. A further 36 drill holes of the block in question and several other samples have been analysed by sink/float analysis, either at a single density or over a range of densities. In addition, many samples have been beneficiated on a laboratory shaking table or by flotation. The ash content can be reduced by a variable factor. The reduction factor of between two and four by sink/float analysts is understandably less for tabling where separation is not perfect. All Buller coals behave similarly, there being greater ash reduction factors for higher ash coals.

Jan 1, 1983

By C. L. Schneider

The problem of predicting the liberation spectra produced by a closed continuous grinding circuit is of fundamental importance for the design, optimization and control of most operations in an ore dressing plant. The only known approach through which such a calculation can be performed is the population balance model equation. The latest and certainly most significant progress made in this area is the solution proposed by King (1990), which requires one textural parameter that can be measured directly from the ore being studied. The main advantage of King's solution is that it does not require the estimation of hundreds of arbitrary parameters that cannot be independently measured, as required by the existing conventional solutions. However, King's solution relies heavily on a knowledge of the detailed internal structure of the Andrews-Milm diagram (Andrews and Mika, 1975). This has never been measured for any ore. The characterization of the internal structure of the Andrews-Mika diagram requires the measurement of the liberation spectra at several progeny sizes produced by the breakage of monosize, monograde particles at several different grades. In this paper, a procedure based on magnetic fluid fractionation for generating seven narrow-size, narrow-grade samples is presented. Each of these samples was then broken into six progeny size classes in an ultrasonic mill. The one-dimensional liberation spectra of each of the 42 progeny and seven parent particle samples were then measured by image analysis. The measured linear-grade distributions are presented in this paper. The calculation of the correspondent volumetric-grade distributions is discussed.

Jan 1, 1994

By G. S. Hume

The total production of crude oil in Canada showed only a small improvement in 1936 over 1935, but developments of great importance took place in Alberta on the west flank of the Turner Valley field in the foothills southwest of Calgary. These have led to renewed activity in drilling such as has not been experienced for many years, and undoubtedly this will result in a very considerable increase in the oil production during 1937.

Jan 1, 1937

By Ali Kahriman, Alper Celtikc, Serdar Celik, Tuncer Gungor

This paper presents the results of ground vibration measurements carried out in Gülyali Hisarcik Basalt open pit mine located on the north side of the Anatolia near Ordu province in Turkey. Within the scope of this study in order to predict peak particle velocity level for this site, ground vibration components were measured for 5 shots during bench blasting. In blasting operations; ANFO (blasting agent), gelatin dynamite (priming) and delay electric detonators (firing) were used as explosives. Parameters of scaled distance (charge quantity per delay and the distance between the source and the station) were recorded carefully and the ground vibration components were measured for all blast events using 5 different vibration monitors (4 White Mini-Seis and 1 Instantel Minimate Plus Models). The absolute distances between shot points and monitor stations were determined using GPS. The equation of square root scaled distance extensively used in the literature was taken into consideration for the prediction of peak particle velocity.

Jan 1, 2013

The history and milestones in the evolution of support systems utilised in the mass-mined chrysotile mines of Shabanie and King are discussed in detail. The use of block caving, false footwall or sublevel caving mining methods brings with it some major support problems, which are exacerbated, in our low rock strength mining environments. The paper discusses the various support elements and systems that have been used successfully or otherwise in these operations. Some predictions for the future of rock reinforcing in our ground conditions are highlighted, in relation to geomechanics, levels of mechanisation and production risk analysis.

Jan 1, 2000

By W. R. VanSlyke

Scrubbing is gaining increasing recognition as a valuable tool in the treatment of Mesabi Range intermediate iron ores. In general, the earliest washing plants included log-washers in their various flowsheets. While log-washers certainly did impart a degree of scrubbing to the crude ore, such treatment bears little resemblance to the type of scrubbing being practiced today. At the time that these early plants were erected, only the true wash-ores were being processd. ("Wash-ores" are defined as crude ores in which relatively coarse chunks of almost completely liberated iron are found in a matrix of loosely-consolidated fine sand.) To treat ores of this type, sizing at approximately 65 to 100 mesh was sufficient to produce a merchantable concentrate. As crudes were being treated in which there was little "locking" of iron and silica, log-washers tended to disappear and large screens and classifiers took their place in Mesabi range flowsheets. The "screening and classification" type of flowsheet 'had its greatest usage in the 1945-55 period, generally speaking. During this same period, many operators found it necessary to supplement the "wash-ore" type flowsheet with heavy-media treatment.

Jan 1, 1959

By D. H. Forbes, I. B. Cadoff, H. M. Manasevit

Single-crystal silicon films have been obtained on several natural crystal faces of BeO using the thermal decomposition of silane and the hydrogen reduction of silicon tetrachloride. From an analysis of X-ray diffraction data it was determined that the following film-substrate orientation relationships exist: (111) Si 11(0001) BeO, (111) Si 11(1011) BeO, (100) Si 11f1010) BeO. and (110) Si 11(1010) BeO. An analysis of the crystallographic relationships between the film and substrate indicates that a match occurs between the silicon atoms in the film and the berylliuni ion sites in the substrate. This correspondence is in agreement with previous work on the deposition of silicon on sapphire.1-3 silicon on spinel: and tungsten on sapphire. The high resistivity, thermal conductivity, and radiation resistance of beryllium oxide make it an important substrate material for the deposition of thin films of silicon or other semiconductors. The importance of semiconductor-insulator composites to the field of integrated microelectronics has been well-documented in the case of silicon on sapphire.'-' The successful growth of large-area single-crystal silicon on an insulator, sapphire, was first reported in 1963.1,2 Since that time studies have been made of the crystallographic relationships between the deposited film and the sapphire substrate. On the basis of the observed relationships, a model has been proposed relative to the crystallographic requirements for epitaxy between the semiconductor film and the metal oxide substrate.3 It is proposed in this model that epitaxy is the result of a match between atoms of the deposited film and the metal ion sites of the substrate plane. This match is not limited to a 1 to 1 correspondence between sites in the two lattices. Sub- sequent studies of the deposition of silicon on spinel4 and tungsten on sapphire5 have yielded data which support this model. On the basis of this previous work it was felt that silicon on BeO should also fit this model. In the present study, the choice of substrate orientation was limited to the natural faces of synthetic BeO crystals. Of the faces available, the (0001) plane seemed the most favorable for epitaxial growth. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE Silicon films were deposited from silane and silicon tetrachloride in the apparatus shown in Fig. 1. The hydrogen ambient gas was purified by passage either through a DEOXO unit, molecular sieves, and a liquid nitrogen cold trap, or through a heated Pd-Ag thimble. The gas was then mixed with the silicon source materiai and passed over the substrate which lies on a spacer above an inductively heated silicon pedestal. The following deposition conditions were used: a hydrogen flow rate of 3 liters per min with silane and silicon tetrachloride concentrations of 0.2 mole pct and a pedestal temperature of 1175" * 5°C as observed with an optical pyrometer assuming an emissivity of 1.0. Deposition was preceded by a 15- to 30-min hydrogen-etch period conducted at a temperature of 1275°C (obs). Adherent silicon films from 2 to 10 u were grown on the various BeO faces. The substrates were synthetically grown beryllium oxide single crystals ranging from 5 to 10 mm in

Jan 1, 1967

By L. D. Wyant

[A convenient method for the, analysis of oil-wax mixtures has bean developed in the petroleum laboratory of the Bureau of Mines. This method has been found useful in studying the characteristics of the products obtained in petroleum refineries during the manufacture of ?wax distillate?, "foots oil", ?intermediate wax", and commercial paraffin. In this method ac-to-au is used as a selective solvent.]

Jan 1, 1924

L. C. Graton, Cambridge, Mass.—The subject of chalcocite occur; rence and its geological significance has, of course, a very important commercial bearing, as shown by the recent remark of a hard-headed mining .man: "This secondary enrichment business is one thing you geologists have put up which we can hang on to, and come out right." Most enrichments of copper ores depend upon the formation Of chalcocite from leaner sulphides. Recently it has been shown that not only does there exist this secondary or derived chalcocite, * but that in certain ores the mineral is present as an initial or original constituent, which therefore we may call primary. The desirability of distinguishing between these two kinds of chalcocite is evident and has recently been emphasized. That constitutes the first problem in this connection. I believe many who are working upon secondary enrichment of mineral deposits are giving much attention to that particular question. It is now possible to distinguish primary from secondary chalcocite in many cases. In such cases, what do we know of the' conditions under which this secondary or derived chalcocite was formed? , This is the second main question in connection with the subject. It is now plain, at least in many instances, that the formation of this derived chalcocite represents a phase of oxidation if we have in mind the primary ore as the thing acted upon. The next important question—and it is most important—is: does such oxidation go on above the zone where the rocks are saturated with water—that is, above the water level—or below, or indiscriminately above and below? Many of you have, or have had, opportunities to study at first hand, day after day, occurrences that' enable valuable conclusions to be drawn upon these and other important questions concerning the formation and significance of chalcocite. It is greatly to be hoped that your testimony will be made available and undoubtedly it will go far toward clearing up some of these doubtful points. John D. Irving, New Haven, Conn.—A short time before this meeting was called, H. V. Winchell, who was unable to be present, requested me to exhibit and describe these two samples of pyrite. (Exhibiting specimens.) They consist of fragments of pyrite inclosed in two small bottles. The first bottle shows fragments of pyrite which were immersed in water carrying copper sulphate but without SO2 for a period of two years. They remained comparatively clear and bright. No chalcocite has been deposited on them. The second bottle shows fragments of

Jan 1, 1915

By Hibbert W. D, Lottrey A

The behaviour of coal in a process is a function of both the coal properties and the processing conditions. In the case of the Loy Yang coal deposit, extensive testing has been undertaken to determine: ò the extent, distribution and structure of the coal resource; ò the variations in properties throughout the resource; and ò evaluation of the behaviour of the coal during processing. This has involved the conduct of an extensive borehole drilling program, backed by geological modelling and material characterisation (chemical, physico-chemical and petrological). Evaluation of the behaviour of the coal during processing has ranged from theoretical modelling, laboratory-scale investigations through to pilot scale and full-scale tests. Until recently, the bulk of the work was directed at evaluating the behaviour of the coal for existing pulverised fuel (pf) firing/steam boiler technology and a high level of understanding has been developed of both the coal resource and its behaviour within these systems. More recent efforts have been directed towards the evaluation of new technologies directed towards cheaper and more efficient power generation using this coal. Loy Yang coal has been evaluated in the following technologies: ò Hydrothermal dewatering/direct coal-fired gas turbine; ò Steam fluidised bed drying; ò Solar drying/densification; ò Briquetting; and ò Gasification.

Jan 1, 1992

By Luis Palomino

El siguiente estudio indica la importancia de la función que ejerce el Departamento de entrenamiento en la Cerro de Pasco Corporation. Para ello, la compañía reconoce el entrenamiento como herramienta básica en el aumento de la producción y reducción de costo, al tiempo que el Departamento asegura el perfeccionamiento de su personal de toda índole. En esta primera etapa de planeamiento, se proponen las siguientes actividades: orientación de nuevos servidores, entrenamiento de supervisores, curso de pre-capataces, curso de instructores, cursos técnicos, cursos vacacionales para universitarios, cursos por correspondencia y clases de castellano. Concluyendo que dicho programa, aumenta el rendimiento de los trabajadores, les crea conciencia y a su vez desarrolla actitudes proactivas, así como se destaca el adiestramiento de los supervisores sobre la técnica de enseñar a sus obreros, y por último, busca que cada compañía elabore su propio programa de acuerdo a sus necesidades de su entrenamiento y según las características de su personal.

Jul 20, 1955

By Raymond Mancha

WHEN calculating the pressure-volume characteristics of projected mine-ventilat-ing circuits by orthodox methods, certain basic assumptions are required in order to employ the various available empirical data. It is assumed, for example, that the mine air is an incompressible fluid subjected to isothermal flow, an assumption suffi-ciently accurate for practical purposes since pressure and temperature differentials are small throughout the average circuit. A more erroneous assumption, however, is that all air is accounted for as it travels throughout the mine. No attempt is usually made to evaluate stopping leakage as it occurs; instead, the air volume required at the last crosscuts is assumed to enter the mine, travel the vari-ous intake air courses intact, sweep the workings and travel out by the return air courses to the point or points of exit from the mine. Actually, there is a leakage of air from intake to return at every stopping, the quantity of this leakage depending upon the tightness of the stopping and the pres-sure difference across the stopping. Unfortunately, a lack of empirical data and knowledge of the condition of individ-ual stoppings makes an exact analysis of underground stopping leakage impossible. Generally, leakage is most severe through the old stoppings outbye the circuit. These are also subjected to higher pressure differ-ences than the newer inbye stoppings. Therefore the circuit air volume diminishes at a decreasing rate progressing from out-bye to inbye the circuit.

Jan 1, 1940

By Louis P. Domingues

As part of a study on high-temperature ceramic materials, the ammonium sulfate, carbonate, nitrate, oxalate, and sulfate salts of yttrium, lanthanum, and cerium were analyzed thermogravimetrically. The temperature ranged from room temperature to 1,500° C. Each salt was decomposed by heating at a rate of 2.5° C. per minute, and some of the salts were subjected to additional rates of 5° C. per minute or 10° C. per minute. The decomposition sequences have been identified, and the temperatures of formation of intermediate compounds and of the oxides have been determined. The minimum oxide formation temperature of a given lanthanum salt exceeds that for the similar salt of yttrium, and both exceed that for the same salt of cerium except for one cerium carbonate. Variation of the heating rate indicates a thermal lag in the materials and produces the shift of formation temperatures to higher values and loss of resolution in the weight-loss distribution as the heating rate increases.

Jan 1, 1962

By K Firmin

The Mt Tom Price orebody of Hamersley Iron Pty Limited consists of a folded hematite - shale sequence capped by a layer of goethite. Consequently, variations in iron content occur within the ore body, and as the overall grade is below that required to make specification products, selective mining must be carried out. A necessary preliminary to quality control of products based on selective mining is the production of advance data on the tonnages and grades of material to be expected in future mining areas. Bench plans showing zones of different grades and types of material anticipated are prepared from structural geological information. The grades of materials on a bench are essentially governed by the positions and attitudes of the shale bands. Quality control is exercised by blending different grades and types of material in primary crusher feed. Iron grade is the prime grade consideration although sometimes the level of phosphorus content must be considered. Pre-production grades are determined from assay of samples taken from blast hole cuttings. As shales are more friable than hematite, product fines are always lower in iron grade than the lump product. The realisation of contract specification grade is more difficult with fines than with lump, so maintaining the correct fines grade becomes a prime factor in quality control. Control of fines grade is presently effected by aiming for an appropriate feed grade to the primary stockpile. Studies to estimate fines grade directly by qualitatively taking into account material types are in progress. Quality control measures are checked by monitoring the crushing and screening plant output, and taking appropriate compensatory actions in the mine when required. Minor fluctuations in quality of fines can be blended out on stockpiles. The quality control measures described ensure constant quality products, and a good recovery of high grade material from the deposit.

Jan 1, 1971

By J. D. McCain

Magma's San Manuel smelter has adopted new operating techniques resulting in 21% increased productivity and 87% reduction in lost time accidents. Reverberatory furnaces were converted to coal firing from expensive natural gas and fuel oil. Slag and matte flow problems and safety were improved by implementing hydraulic slag stopping and matte tapping machines. Coordination of furnaces, converters and acid plant was improved by using a computer-aided converter controller/scheduler function. Manual mudding of converter lips after each collar pull was replaced with a gunning system for coating the mouth castings. One converter punch car was automated using robotic technology. An automatic anode take-off was installed with fewer moving parts and a mechanism for ear twisting one cell contact. Anode copper refining was improved by replacing propane/hydrogen mixtures with high pressure/velocity natural gas tuyeres. Improved converter scheduling increased acid plant production 43% with more autothermal operation time. Six dedicated computers/microprocessors are utilized for automation, data acquisition, process monitoring and on-line air quality information for the Supplementary Control System.

Jan 1, 1983

By E. Medina, W. Callupe, R. Sharon

Slope stability in Barrick’s Pierina Mine open pit is significantly influenced by the structural geology, the variably argillized rock mass, and locally by perched groundwater. Development of an extensive surface water diversion network continues at Pierina, which is necessary to minimize highwall and adjacent natural landslide movement and erosion during the wet season. Slope movements are effectively monitored using optical survey methods, strobe light extensometers, gap monitors, and piezometers. The slope stability program at Pierina is focused on improving the understanding of the stability mechanisms in order to ensure continuous safe operating conditions. Priorities are placed on developing an accurate detailed engineering geological model, enhancing groundwater depressurization, and optimizing highwall controlled blasting procedures.

Jan 1, 2003