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By Karl J. Benecke

Though the first patent on a bucket wheel excavator (BWE) was granted in 1881 in the US, this technology was developed in Germany to the high standards of today. However, this development was only possible in parallel with development of shiftable belt conveyors and boom stackers. The combination of these three types of equipment in the open pits of the Federal Republic of Germany has made lignite the cheapest energy source for power generation, despite the low heating value of German lignite on the order of 8500 kJ/kg (3600 Btu/lb) only. Comparing the costs for fuels used in power generating on the basis of their heating value, the relation between lignite, high quality black coal, and imported crude oil is on the order of 1 to 1.5 to 2.5, hence highly in favour of lignite.

Jan 8, 1979

By Marlin J. Veesaert

Urban quarries offer one of the greatest opportunities for profit in nonmetallic mining with limited financial risk-if properly evaluated, planned and developed to meet market needs. Location, with respect to market, is the prime consideration. Geologic considerations and quality of rock are nearly as important. Cost factors and return on investment (ROI) are the principal financial considerations.

Jan 8, 1979

By Ta M. Li

A change in priorities is perhaps the underlying motivation reflective of governments and people in the Far East nations of the Philippines, Indonesia, and Thailand. While in the past, local governments have focused on feeding their large populations, the transfer of modern technology to the agricultural sector has produced record crop years in many of these countries. As a result, agricultural objectives have become more manageable, prompting governments to shift priorities to the accelerated development of their industrial sectors. The basis of any sustained industrialization program, the governments concede, is the development of a vibrant minerals sector.

Jan 8, 1979

By W. N. Marchant, P. T. Brooks, P. B. Altringer, R. O. Dannenberg

The US Department of the Interior, Bureau of Mines conducted laboratory tests to devise a process for recovering a marketable grade of tungsten from the brine of Searles Lake, Calif. The brine contains only 56 ppm W (70 ppm W03). Using ion exchange resins synthesized by USBM chemists, 98% oft he tungsten was extracted from the brine and 92% of the tungsten was recovered as a marketable iron-tungsten concentrate containing 44% tungsten as tungsten trioxide. Although major technical problems have largely been resolved, research is progressing to escalate testing in a process research unit to provide more reliable data for an economic appraisal.

Jan 8, 1979

By K. H. Nimerick, G. P. Laflin

Laboratory data and field tests indicate that substantial losses of valuable coal can be caused by wind erosion. Wind tunnel tests show the effects of wind velocity and particle sizing on the amount of coal lost while in transit. Different coals were evaluated to determine the variables associated with wind erosion. The erosion losses can be substantially reduced by using a binder, or crusting agent, to consolidate the surfaces of the coal into a solid mass which resists erosion. This not only reduces economic loss but minimizes pollution.

Jan 8, 1979

By A. Hasbi Hassan

Stibiotantalite is a relatively rare mineral not commonly found in the major tin districts of the world, and its separation characteristics have not been documented adequately in the literature. The investigation described here has been carried out on a sample taken from a commercial tin concentrate containing a significant amount of stibiotantalite which would have to be substantially removed before the tin concentrate was smelted. The sample originated from Greenbushes, Western Australia. A mineralogical analysis was performed on the sample with the aid of the Frantz Isodynamic separator 1 and the results presented in Table 1. A screen analysis was also performed, and the results presented in Table 2. The minerals were found to be substantially liberated.

Jan 8, 1979

By J. E. Lawver, B. J. Clingan, R. E. Snow

Response surface methodology is a well-known and powerful technique for determining optimum conditions in flotation systems. One disadvantage is the onerous task of the numerical calculations and curve plotting. This paper describes a system in which the investigator simply selects the range of several flotation variables after which the design of the experiment, data analysis, generation of response surface equations, and response surface plots are automatically carried out using a digital computer and a computer-driven curve plotter. Several typical response surfaces of important variables in phosphate flotation are presented as examples.

Jan 8, 1979

By Terry S. Cory

This report describes a complete system design methodology for medium frequency (MF) wireless radio systems for use in coal mines. The emphasis Is on AC mines where no trolley wire exists and, for which, conventional trolley phone communications can not be used. The report constitutes an MF system design handbook and includes a compendium of all previous MF technology elements as well as a reference index with abstracts of all pertinent literature. A particular strawman system design analysis is included for the Helvetia Coal Co. Lucerne #8 mine in the Upper Freeport seam.

Jan 7, 1979

By Ta M. Li

This article draws freely on the experiences of the engineering and operating staff of P.T. Inco and its parent firm Inco Ltd. In addition, information was derived from papers presented during the recent International Laterite Symposium, held in conjunction with the 1979 AIME Annual Meeting, New Orleans, La., February 19-21. The author wishes to acknowledge all contributors and, in particular, Roy Aitken, president and managing director, P. T. Inco.

Jan 7, 1979

Through a unique Department of Commerce program a group of US mining equipment manufacturers spent 18 fruitful days in the, Far East, meeting with government and industry leaders in Thailand, Indonesia, and the Philip¬pines. The US Mining and Exploration Equipment Semi¬nar Mission, held April 3-20, 1979, was sponsored by the Special Activities Group of the Commerce Department's Office of International Marketing. The program included a series of technical overview papers presented by the manufacturers, aimed at promoting the sale of US products and services throughout the world.

Jan 7, 1979

By William D. Mayercheck

Introduction of continuous mining machines in the late 1940s created a new production bottleneck in room-and-pillar sections-the shuttle car. While continuous miners could cut and load coal at a nearly constant rate, the mining sequence was repeatedly interrupted as fully loaded shuttle cars changed places with empty ones. This wait-for-the-shuttle delay period forced the coal industry to reassess the shuttle's batch-type procedure with an eve toward continuous haulage systems that would allow uninterrupted coal flow from face to portal.

Jan 7, 1979

By Weldon B. Smith

When faced with excavating vast amounts of overburden at its surface coal mining operation in Centralia, Wash., the Washington Irrigation and Development Co. (Widco) chose to utilize a bucket wheel excavator and shiftable conveyor system. In the early 1970s, Widco-a subsidiary of the Washington Water Power Co.-held reserves of sub-bituminous C coal estimated at some 180 million tons (200 million st). Subsequent investigation of the overlying land formations revealed the need to excavate millions of bank cubic yards of material as part of the mining plans.

Jan 7, 1979

Consolidation Coal Co. is solving the abrasion problem and cutting maintenance costs at its Georgetown preparation plant by using ceramic alumina tiles from The Carborundum Co. The Georgetown complex handles the output of four deep mines and three strip mines in the Cadiz, Ohio, area-washing about 73 000 tons (80,000 st) weekly. Plant superintendent Duke Zinko is using wear-resistant Dura-frax® tiles in several applications, replacing wear plates, profile rubber, and other materials he has tried over the years.

Jan 7, 1979

Who's Who in Mineral Engineering - The 1979 Directory of the Society of Mining Engineers of AIME

Jan 7, 1979

By Barton K. Cross, Ronald J. Sparks

The question of' providing training for miners in the United States has been answered by Public Law 95-164, which stipulates not only that the mine operator will provide training, but generally how much and what material will be covered. At an operation employing 500 miners, the eight-hour refresher training requirement will necessitate an annual investment of over two man-years in labor, a figure that does not include the time spent in training new hires and job transfers. Such an investment can and should be cost effective, while catering to miners' needs.

Jan 6, 1979

By Wayne L. Dowdey

With proud humility and keen anticipation, I accepted the office of President of the Institute one year ago, and it is with a great deal of pride in you-our membership that I make this report. You are the reason for a productive and prosperous year for AIME. Superior, good or satisfactory results were experienced in 1978 from almost everything we did as a leading engineering technical society. I recognize and pay tribute to the WAAIME organization. Their work is vital to our efforts, and their programs have proven effective. WAAIME can depend upon our continuing support.

Jan 6, 1979

By John J. Elango

Strain gage load cells, the most widely used type of nonmechanical weight sensor, are capable of taking measurements between 0.45-4.5 million kg (1-1 million lb) with an accuracy of 0.05%. They are available in a wide range of standard capacities, configurations, and accuracies, and special load cells may be custom-manufactured to meet unusual requirements. Typical applications include automated batch processing, process monitoring and control, mixing of powders and liquids, weighing coal or other materials in silos, and in large platform systems that weigh trucks and railcars. Because the strain gage load cell produces an electrical signal proportional to the applied load, it readily interfaces with readouts, keyboards, computer terminals, and alarm systems.

Jan 6, 1979

By Paul C. Ragland, P. Geoffrey Feiss

The Piedmont province of the southern Appalachians is the focus of interest for many exploration geologists. In the past, only those deposits with significant surface exposure were exploited. Thus, few deposits have been found and relatively little exploration has been conducted in recent years. Modern geochemical and geophysical techniques can alleviate this problem of concentrating on exposed ore bodies by allowing us to "look through" the soil and saprolite to detect the presence of significant mineralization at depth. This paper will attempt to evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of several geochemical exploration techniques in the Piedmont province of Cabarrus and Stanly counties, N.C. The area chosen for study is shown in Fig. 1, lying almost wholly within the Mt. Pleasant quadrangle, N.C. The area is on the eastern boundary between the Charlotte belt, a zone of plutonic and intermediate grade metamorphic rocks, and the Carolina Slate belt, a series of complexly interbedded volcanic and sedimentary rocks of predominantly low metamorphic grade. The area is considered to be an early Paleozoic active, continental margin. 1 As is typical of most of the piedmont, outcrop is sparse. Figure 2 is a sketch map of the general geology of the area under study, showing the Charlotte belt rocks in the north-western quadrant and slate belt rocks to the east. Within the area are a number of old mines and prospects, the most famous of which are the Furniss and Phoenix mines in Cabarrus County. All are reported to have contained Au and Cu. Ag and Pb were reported from some. A summary of the deposits is given in Table 1.

Jan 6, 1979

By N. J. Themelis, R. V. Flint

In a four-year period between 1973-76, the Metal Mining Division of Kennecott Copper Corp. conducted a company-wide program of operations improvement which involved line and staff personnel from all company functions. Specialist teams performed detailed studies of all operational aspects at Kennecott's four copper mines and concentrators, four smelters, and two electrore-fineries. The specific recommendations that resulted may transform the Metal Mining Division into the country's lowest cost producer of copper by the mid-1980s. In this article, N. J. Themelis and R. V. Flint describe the mechanics of MMD's integrated approach to operations improvement.

Jan 6, 1979

By Lewis M. Cook, Robert H. Morse

The use of portable radon detectors has become routine in reconnaissance uranium surveys where water and sediment samples are analyzed in field labs for radon and radium, and in detailed work where drill hole locations are pinpointed by field determinations of radon in soil gas from shallow holes. During the drilling program itself, however, very few operators are taking advantage of radon and radium analyses to decide whether a barren drill hole was a near miss or whether the immediate area can be written off. The technique is effective both above and below the water table.

Jan 6, 1979