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By Dan Witkowsky

In an increasingly environmentally conscious world, mining's importance to society has often been misunderstood and even maligned by the public. Extreme and impractical ideas have often been presented to children because of the lack of accurate, timely resource materials available to educators. In the late 1960s. two mining engineers, S.P. "Pi" Warren and C.L. "Lindy" Barker, became aware of this situation. They proposed to develop a summer field course to provide a factual overview of the minerals industry for teachers. The pair believed that teachers could become better informed to educate students, and future generations, about mining. These two Colorado Mining Association (CMA) members felt that such a course could reduce much of the misunderstanding about this vital industry. This could be done by providing a balanced perspective of mining, not only for kindergarten-through-grade-12 teachers, but also for the students they would be teaching during their careers. Students who better understood the minerals industry could better formulate an unbiased view of it. The course would seek recognized authorities from industry, academia and government who would lecture in their respective fields of expertise. The course would provide a total concept of the coal, aggregate, metals and industrial minerals industries. It would include geology, geophysics, exploration, mining, processing, marketing, product applications, economic, mining history, careers, and environmental responsiblity. When possible, site visits would permit educators to view operations and to meet the men and women who are industry leaders. Teachers would pay a small tuition fee. The balance of the program expenses for each teacher would be paid through scholarships provided by industry and individuals. The "total concept" idea obtained the support of the minerals industry. The support of CMA's Education Committee and the Colorado School of Mines (CSM) was obtained in 1968. Colorado's Commission on Higher Education approved teacher recertification credits through CSM's Office of Special Progams and Continuing Education for those successfully completing the program. The first six-week series of classes presenting the total concept of the indus¬try was held at CSM in 1969. In 1977, the CMA Education Foundation Inc. (CMAEF) was established as a Colorado nonprofit corporation. The "Total Concept of the Mining Industry" (Total Concept) course was placed under its sponsorship. CMAEF is dedicated toward this continuing education program (Table 1). In 1994, the course was streamlined to four-weeks for six hours recertification credit.

Jan 1, 1997

By Jeff Easton, J Johnson, D. Foot

The Mina Santa Rosa mine in Panama was the victim of a mine closure 24 years ago that left the community in dire straits. The mine showed the potential resources of greater than 1M ounces of gold and 4.5M ounces of silver. Veragold Mining Company decided to reopen the mine and address all the issues that were involved in the startup of an historic mine. This paper provides methods to restore the community trust, provide a transparent process, and develop an environmentally sound flowsheet. Immense scrutiny surrounded the Tailings Storage Facility, and the company developed a plan focused on paste thickening and surface stacking to eliminate the need for a conventional tailings’ facility. Paste thickener principles and benefits are also provided.

Feb 1, 2024

By Goran Mathisson

PLASMARED is a process in which one well established and one new advanced technology have been merged into a practical tool for production of high quality direct reduced iron at lowest energy consumption and costs. Before describing the process, we have to reiterate the simple fundamentals of making metallized iron from iron ores: The main components necessary are: - Iron oxide - Carbon and/or hydrogen - Heat

Jan 1, 1982

By A. Ferreira Morgado

The sodium smectitic clays (bentonites), have more industrial applications in that class of mineral, a driving force to obtain this mineral. In Brazil, there are several occurrences of smectitic clays, unfortunately they are polycationic, with a distribution of several exchangeable cations, where the cation sodium occurs in minor quantity. In this work, the original polycationic smectitic clay was firstly proper characterized and then treated with sodium carbonate obtaining homoionic sodium smectitic clay. The rheological tests in the optimized sodium smectitic clay showed good results for drilling fluids, typical of a sodium bentonite ones.

Jan 1, 1999

By Xuebin Liu, Yi Shang, Can Zhou, Hongqiu Zhu, Junbo Du

In the neutral leaching process of zinc hydrometallurgy, the pH value directly affects the leaching rate of zinc calcine. However, due to the complex mechanism of the leaching process and frequent fluctuation of working conditions, it is difficult to control the pH value by manual control. Therefore, this study proposes a fuzzy control method based on rule extraction under multiple working conditions, and analyzes the pH control performance. Firstly, the different operating states are classified according to process mechanisms and the Pearson method. Secondly, under the framework of the active learning algorithm, the approximate linear dependence (ALD) method is introduced to iteratively select samples with rule information in the original sample set for manual annotation. Then, the support vector machine (SVM) method is used to extract fuzzy control rules in different working conditions. Finally, a fuzzy rule set is established according to the samples mapped by the support vector. The simulation results based on industrial data show that the proposed method has better control performance than conventional fuzzy control and proportional–integral–derivative (PID) control.

Apr 1, 2024

By F. K. Spragins

The growing demand and a diminishing supply of conventional crude oil in North America are bringing about an ever increasing interest in the so-called "synthetic fuels". With one commercial plant already in full production, another in the planning and engineering stage, and still others being seriously considered, the Athabasca tar sands is proving to be a leading center of interest. Here, and in the closely related deposits, reserves in place total over 700 billion barrels.1 This major source of new oil is about ready to play a significant role in the filling of ever increasing market demand. When and if fully developed, the Athabasca tat sands could make both Canada and the United States substantially independent of all off-shore supplies of crude for many years to come. Its product, a high-quality, low-sulphur synthetic crude, is beginning to enter the market place at a most favourable time.

Jan 1, 1972

By J. H. McNamara

A process has been developed for the successful hydrometallurgical extraction of copper from sulfide ores. The extracted copper in the form of a salt is converted by reduction to copper metal. Purification of the metal is described which includes a description of the casting of ETP quality copper wire bars.

Jan 1, 1978

By Ryan Ward

The Missouri River Intake Screen Structure and Tunnel (MRISST) is one phase of the Red River Valley Water Supply Project (RRVWSP), a vital piece of infrastructure in the state of North Dakota to transport water to drought-laden communities in the eastern half of the state. The scope of work consists of constructing a cofferdam in the Missouri River, mining a 1,600-foot by 74-inch tunnel from a secant pile shaft near the riverbank into a cofferdam, and erecting a 40-foot Y-shaped vertical pipe structure in the cofferdam to support the intake screens. Construction personnel worked in the river through the North Dakota winter to construct the cofferdam and contended with high hydrostatic pressures and raveling sands, gravels, cobbles and boulders while mining the tunnel. Diligent planning and meticulous execution were essential to overcoming the challenges encountered below the Missouri River.

Jun 13, 2023

By Robert M. Dreyer

Although lateritic deposits have long been a principal source of bauxite and are becoming an increasingly important source of nickel, the problems in the evaluation of such deposits are not generally understood. In the evaluation of lateritic bauxite and nickel deposits, there are many similarities, but there also. are significant differences. It has long been recognized that laterites with commercial concentrations of trivalent metals represent the ultimate in the intense leaching of tropical soils. Any factors which effect-the rate of soil leaching will effect the form of local lateritic concentrations. Although the most intense leaching generally occurs on somewhat elevated areas of gentle relief where there is a free downward flow of rain water, the- effect of local rock structures in effecting varia¬tions in soil metal concentrations has-not been well understood - primarily because the laterite forms a masking blanket over the rocks from which the laterites were derived. All of the-factors which facilitate downward movement of water may effect greater surficial concentrations of trivalent metals. Such features as zones of fracturing, zones of greater rock permeability, and areas of karst topography may, therefore, be responsible for greater leaching. The variations in rock structures and the vagaries of ground water flow pat¬terns impart, to the laterites, rapid lateral and vertical variations in thickness and metal concentrations. Because of such rapid

Jan 1, 1970

By Stefan Medel

As a pioneer Herrenknecht started in 2018 to automate the production of tunnel lining segments. Since then, many automation processes became state of the art. Robots cleaning and oiling the moulds, hydraulic units opening and closing them fully independently. Artificial Intelligence (AI) controls the works and ensures the quality requirements. Data management has become a massive tool from a simple data collector towards a control and optimization tool. Sensors controlling concrete maturity and supporting the precast team to optimize the concrete mix. These state of the art and new innovations will be presented in this paper.

Jun 23, 2024

By Robert Cook, Valeria Zarate, Jason Hallowell

The long hole open stoping (LHOS) method is widely used in underground mining. While methods to predict stable stope geometries are well established, the ability to maintain a stable back often assumes effective ground support across the full stope span. The efficacy of the support strategy is dependent on rock jointing, quality, density, top cut width and height, and the type, amount, and orientations of bolts installed. However, it is becoming increasingly common for operators to assume narrow top cuts in service of wider stope spans with minimal bolting coverage. Failure to account for the required top cut drift size and support requirements can ultimately lead to raveling type instabilities along stope shoulders that result in back collapse. A new method has been developed to evaluate the minimum top cut dimension necessary to accommodate wider stope spans with various rock bolting configurations. Due to the economic impacts of top cut development and support, this is a critical consideration in the accurate costing and scheduling of a LHOS operation. Tables 1 lists the acronyms are used throughout this paper.

Feb 1, 2025

By A. Frank Alsobrook

DOUG HALBE: Thanks, Terry. And in spite of your introductory comments, I'm going to attempt to continue our hallowed tradition of saying nice things about the speakers. This is really a serious comment now. We, as mineral processing and mill people, don't often talk to people outside our general operating area. One thing that we've tried to do in this operators' symposium is get speakers from various types of plant operations to help illustrate all the things we have in common. Our next speaker is from the industrial minerals area. I think there's a lot to be learned from industrial minerals operations. Some of the people in the last session learned some things about fine grinding in industrial mineral operations. I was a little surprised to see people there grind to 2 microns. Our next speaker is Frank Alsobrook. Frank is another nonmetallurgical engineer. He has a degree in geology, a master's of science from the University of Wisconsin. He's had his own very successful consulting company for a number of years. This is your 11th anniversary, Frank? Very good. He's also the immediate past chair of the industrial minerals division. I think the folks at the speakers' table should be ashamed. You have been so rowdy that Frank chose to sit in the audience. [laughter] We'd like you to come up now, Frank, and tell us some things that you've seen that might be useful to us. INTRODUCTION FRANK ALSOBROOK: The three topics addressed briefly are (1) teamwork and operations modeling, (2) the pitfalls of capital conservatism, and (3) the potential for by-product recovery. Ideas for improvements in these areas are not unique to industrial minerals but apply to metal mining and processing operations, as well. Several additional topics are suggested at the end of the paper.

Jan 1, 1998

By E. J. Wasp

The transportation of mine products incurs a cost which can have a significant bearing on the competitive position of the manufactured product. Clearly, the engineer who is responsible for selecting a mode of transport must base his decision, at least in large measure, on economic comparisons. And today, the engineer usually finds that he has to choose between several modes, including slurry pipelines. For the purpose of an initial economic screening, it is not necessary to go deeply into the technical details of a slurry system. What is usually needed, however, is a method with which the engineer can make a quick economic assessment to determine whether a slurry pipeline should be included in the detailed final analysis. This paper presents a rapid method for making such a preliminary appraisal. Experience with commercial slurry pipeline systems in several countries and with a variety of solid materials has shown that if several assumptions pertaining to critical design variables are made, it is possible to roughly estimate the transportation cost of a slurry system on the basis of only three factors: the specific gravity of the solid material, the length of the system, and the quantity of slurry to be pumped each year. It is assumed that conditions pertaining to field construction, corrosion inhibition, and the like, will be favorable. This assumption is critical because any factor which analysis shows to be particularly unfavorable will raise the total transportation cost estimate which this paper establishes. If the engineer employs this estimating procedure and decides that the use of a slurry pipeline is economically unattractive, his chances of being wrong are small. Conversely, if his quick appraisal indicates that the use of a slurry system is economically favorable, the engineer is justified in committing the time and money needed to make a more detailed investigation of the slurry pipeline potential.

Jan 1, 1969

By W. Perkins

The Smoky Canyon Mine has recently installed a PROMPTED GAMMA NEUTRON ACTIVATION ANALYSIS (PGNAA) on-line analyzer as part of a long-term advanced process control program. The on-line analyzer was adapted from a continuous dry analyzer and a large on-stream wet analyzer to a compact, multiplexed 3" slurry analyzer. The analyzation feed system utilizes a multiplexer system to accommodate up to fourteen (14) different plant process streams. The corresponding sampling system also provides for dewatering of sample streams too dilute for timely analysis. Key analysis includes, but is not limited to, phosphorus, aluminum, magnesium, calcium, and potassium. This data currently allows plant operations to be manually evaluated and controlled. Future development of a plant-wide supervisory control system will utilize the data for plant operations. This paper discusses the design, installation, and operation of the PGNAA on-line analyzer at the Smoky Canyon Mine.

Jan 1, 1996

By C. W. Schultz

The Alabama tar sands of the Hartselle Sandstone formation present a more difficult problem in primary extraction than do the Athabasca tar sands. In contrast to the Athabasca tar sands, the Alabama tar sands are "oil wetted" and the contained tar, or bitumen, is of much higher viscosity. A physical beneficiation scheme was developed in which clean sand from an external source was used as a scrubbing medium. High intensity scrubbing liberated the tars which are readily recovered by froth flotation. Locked cycle tests have shown that, after the use of an initial ration of clean sand, the system produced enough new clean sand to be self sustaining.

Jan 1, 1992

By Wm. I. Weisman

Sometimes in assessing where we are and where we are going it is informative to take a look at where we have been. Whether or not it adds to our understanding of the present, I think it may be interesting to review some of the past history of our industry. As a starting point I chose to use the famous Paley Commission Report, formally known as "The U. S. President's materials Policy Commission -Resources for Freedom."(l) The Paley Commission report said "Fluorspar is an essential raw material for the steel, aluminum, and chemical industries." Of course this statement is still true. It also said, "United States known reserves of fluorspar would be sufficient for some 15 years at present rates of consumption--about 426 000 short tons in 1960. Projected consumption for 1975, however, is several times as great, and reserves in other free countries do not appear adequate to supply United States deficiencies during the next 25 years." This simply demonstrates how even the most learned and competent people can observe all the facts avail-able to them at a given time and yet be unable to predict the future very accurately. We all know that reserves in other countries are more than adequate to supply the United States today, 25 years since the report was published. In fact, the report estimated free-world reserves at something over 36 million tonnes (40 million short tons). Contrast this with 246 million tonnes (271 million short tons) estimated as total world reserves from the section on fluorspar from Commodity Data Summaries of 1974, published by the Department of the Interior. (2) The Paley Report discusses other matters pertaining to fluorspar that are still of interest, such as improving mining methods. Furthermore, it certainly did a good forecasting job in noting that greater recycling should become possible in the aluminum industry in regard to fluorine lost in wastes and also concerning the substitution of fluorspar in the steel industry by other fluxing materials. It also suggested that non-fluorine containing propellants should be investigated as a replacement of those containing fluorine as a conservation matter. Some discussion was devoted to recovering the fluorine content of phosphate rock, which is being practiced today, but was in its infancy in 1950.

Jan 1, 1978

By Mollie Hunt, William Riley, Russ Downer, Kate Willa Brown Requist, Víctor O. Tenorio, Geoffrey Gill

One of the first activities after returning to the Moon will be finding sources of water and materials for the construction of human settlements and other infrastructure. There is evidence of the existence of deposits in the bottom of craters at the South Polar region and in flat areas around. Based on geological data from the Moon, a block model representing a deposit or icy regolith has been defined in the vicinities of Shackleton Crater, with unique characteristics of shape, thickness, and water contents. A mine plan utilizing surface mine modeling software for ore extraction from an open pit- type of excavation to a delivery point near a water processing facility is proposed, with monthly, quarterly, and yearly schedules. Production results, dashboard charts and progress of the topographic changes are also presented.

Feb 1, 2024

By John M. Smith

Kaolin is an important industrial mineral because of its unique properties and low cost. Strictly defined, kaolin is the name given to a group of hydrous aluminum silicates of which kaolinite is the most common mineral (1). Through common usage the mineral, kaolinite, is called "kaolin" or "china clay". In 1972 over 4, 000, 000 tons of kaolin will be beneficiated and shipped by domestic producers. By far the largest user of kaolin is the paper industry which utilizes approximately 65 to 70 per cent of the total production. Kaolin is used in paper as a filler in the interstices of the sheet and as a coating to impart smoothness, gloss, brightness, and printability to the paper. The rubber industry is also a large user of kaolin where it is used as a filler because it adds strength, abrasion resistance, and rigidity to both natural and synthetic rubber goods. Kaolin is used as an extender in paints because it is chemically inert, has a high covering power, gives desirable flow properties, and is low in cost. In ceramics, kaolin is used in whitewares, tile, insulators, refractories, and in some face brick where a white color is desired. Kaolin is also used extensively in plastics as a filler in thermosetting and thermoplastic mixes to give smoother surfaces, a more attractive finish, good dimensional stability, and resistance to chemical attack. Many other process industries use kaolin as a filler, suspending medium, or for color improvement.

Jan 1, 1972

By Jr. Chesson

"Phosphate" is a misnomer as often used. The word is increasingly used to refer to any material containing phosphorus - an element essential to any form of life. Phosphate rock, a mineral - fluorapitate - is recovered from Florida's sedimentary deposits in particle sires ranging from 0.1 to 13.0 millimeter. This product of mining, washing, screening, and flotation is commonly called "phosphate". Its phosphorus content, measured and reported as P2O5, varies from 29% to 35%, and is essentially insoluble. "Phosphate" is also used to describe products containing soluble phosphorus obtained from acidulation of phosphate rock with mineral acids; primarily, sulfuric acid. Many miners have nearby chemical plants wherein phosphate rock is converted into upgraded products such as phosphoric acid, superphosohates, and ammonium phosphates with 45% to 70% P205, soluble and suitable for use as fertilizer. The rock and upgraded products are all commonly called "phosphate"; the plants, "phosphate plants' and the producers collectively are known as the "phosphate industry". The public in Central Florida generally loses identification of the individual operators that include major corporations such as IMC. Williams Companies, W.R. Grace, Mobil, Embark, U.S. Steel, Borden, American Cyanamid and others. They all become just a "phosphate company".

Jan 1, 1978

By I. Cameron-Clarke

This paper describes the design of a wellfield to provide a water supply for a new mine in southern Africa. A hydrogeological investigation was conducted that included the drilling and test pumping of eight wells located within a highly jointed pyroxenite aquifer. The wellfield was designed using a simple probabilistic analysis. This approach allowed the variability of the aquifer parameters to be taken into account. A risk assessment analysis was then carried out to evaluate the level of assurance that a reliable water supply could be provided by the wellfield. The analysis was also used to assess the effects of supplementing the water supply by pumping from nearby flooded workings.

Jan 1, 1992