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By N Merry, T Cocks

The mineral exploration industry is increasingly aware of the importance of the relationship between mineralogical data and geochemical assay results. However, until recently, the cost and time constraints of most techniques for analysing alteration mineralogy have precluded detailed alteration studies. These impediments have been reduced by the development of the Portable Infrared Mineral Analyser (PIMA), a field portable infrared spectrometer that allows rapid (in field) and cost effective analysis of alteration minerals including subtle variations in mineral crystallinity and composition.   A major application of this technology is in mapping mineralogical variations within hydrothermal alteration systems. Using actual case study examples this paper introduces two approaches to using the PIMA data: 1. for directly mapping alteration systems and using the PIMA data to provide vectors to mineralisation, and 2. for establishing empirical relationships between geochemical data and PIMA spectral data. These applications demonstrate that this technology can be an invaluable tool for targeting and mapping alteration and mineralisation.

Jan 1, 1995

By AIME AIME

THREE of the addresses presented at this interesting and important session are printed in full else- where in this issue. The fourth, Mr. Hewett's paper, on "Cycles In Metal Production" has been issued as Technical Publication 183, and an abstract of it was published on page 162 of last month's issue. The general discussion that followed these four important papers is given in full below. S. A. TAYLOR: I would like to ask Mr. Veasey whether the control of oil in pools includes royalties, and, if so, in case of a new pool how are you going to control, or rather how are you going to describe the limits of that pool?

Jan 1, 1929

The Mount Lyell Mining Field is Australia's chief productive source of copper. It is situated near Queenstown, on the western flanks of the West Coast Ranges, about 20 miles from the west coast of Tasmania (Fig. 1).The following observations on the mineral composition of the copper ores of the Mount Lyell Field are based on a...

Jan 1, 1939

By L. Jeffrey

The Waterberg Coalfield has vast potential to become a significantmining and industrial centre in South Africa. Its future developmenthinges on a number of critical decisions that must be made jointly by government, power utilities and industry, and on some technical and economic challenges that must initially be overcome. Sufficient water is the primary key to enabling exploitation, together with an adequate market for the large volumes of low-grade coal. As the most likely consumer of this coal will be either a power station or a petrochemical complex, the need for additional energy will be a driving force in the development of this coalfield. Conventional mining methods can exploit the shallow coal resources in both the Grootegeluk and the Vryheid formations, but alternative technologies such as coalbed methane extraction and underground coal gasification are the only currently known technologies that may be able to exploit the deep Grootegeluk Formation resources. However, extensive research is still required into these procedures, particularly with respect to the Waterberg coals. Transport infrastructure to the region is currently not sufficiently well developed to support large-scale exploitation of the region?s coal resources. In particular, the railway line would have to be extensively upgraded to allow the increased export of coal. Alternative transport methods such as pipelines would also have to be pursued to serve a large Sasol-type petrochemical complex or coal gas extraction. The road network would also require improvement, as only the roads between the main commercial centres are currently tarred. Dr Con Fauconnier, Kumba CEO, concluded his presentation to the Investing in African Mining Conference 2004 with the words: Again, it?s all about infrastructure? when it?s there, it enables the development of bulk mining projects which attract the resultant economic benefits for the region and country as a whole. These words aptly sum up one of the stumbling blocks to the future development of the Waterberg Coalfield.

Jan 1, 2005

By R. B. Booth, W. F. Linke

The continuous interest of the American Cyanamid Company in producing superior polymeric flocculants and dispersants for the mining industry has resulted in a broad, general study of the physical chemistry of mineral-polymer systems. The aim of this program has been to establish a sound theoretical basis on which practical problems could be analyzed, and which would lead to the development of new and improved flocculating and dispersing agents. This study has required the cooperative effort of physical, analytical, and polymer chemists, as well as engineers familiar with mining problems. This report summarizes the results of some of our investigations over the past two years. Further studies along these and other lines are in progress and will be reported in the near future. MEASURING FLOCCULATION IN THE LABORATORY The foremost problem in studying flocculation in the laboratory has been to establish reproducible methods of comparing and evaluating the effectiveness of various reagents. Previous workers have measured settling -rates 1,8 filtration rates2 , and sediment volumes3 . Direct observations of the floc size, or the clarity of the supernatant liquid, can also be used. AIthough these parameters are all interrelated, they do not always measure the same physical properties of the suspensions, and hence are not equally useful or reliable. Whatever the method of comparison selected. the testing procedure must be carefully defined and standardized. The results must be satisfactorily reproducible, and for practical purposes must accurately reflect the results obtained in mill use. In order to compare the data obtained in these various types of test, the physical nature of the flocculated system must be examined in some detail. In an unflocculated system, only the larger or denser particles (the "sands") settle at a useful rate. The sediment can be observed to build up from the bottom of the cylinder, while the fines remain in suspension for a long period of time. If the system is not disturbed, even the microscopic fines can be seen to classify themselves as they fall over a period of days. When a high molecular weight polymer is added to the system, the colloidal particles are tied together randomly in flocs, and the sands and fines settle together. The line of demarkation between solid and liquid phases moves downward from the top of the cylinder. The settling rate of the flocs depends on their size and on their effective density. For a given mineral sample, the larger the flocs, the faster the settling. Since the large flocs cannot pack as closely as small ones, they produce a sediment with more pore spaces, and hence of larger volume, which is easier to pump and to agitate. Although it is nearly impossible to measure individual floc sizes, it is relatively easy to determine settling rates and sediment volumes. Of these two, the settling rate is simpIer to measure, and hence generally more practical. Reproducible sediment volumes can only be obtained by allowing the solids to pack for a rather long period of time (e.g., hours to days), and although the volumes thus observed are directly related to the degree of flocculation (average floc size), it is often impractical to wait so long for the results.

Jan 1, 1961

By Russell J. Foster

In this Bureau of Mines report a selection process has identified 14 nonstockpiled materials (cesium, gallium, hafnium, indium, osmium, rhenium, rhodium, rubidium, ruthenium, scandium, selenium, tellurium, thallium, and zirconium) that are linked to the continuing evolution of high-technology fields such as electronics, catalysis, and energy, and that have limiting factors associated with domestic availability. A qualitative assessment of the "potential criticality" of these materials was made through a consideration of end uses, demand trends and forecasts, production, mineral reserves, byproduct status, alternative supply sources, substitution and conservation options, and recyclability.

Jan 1, 1988

By Guan Jichang

An abandened breakwater, located at the rear of No. 2 berth in Dongdu Port area of Xiamen City, was not cleaned thoroughly when the backfilling of sand started. The uncleaned stone layer was about 2 to 3 meters deep, with the average piece of stone weighing about 1 to 3 kN. A large grain storing house, 220X 60m2 in area, was designed and built at the above mentioned complicated site. The foundation of the grain house are made up of the cast-in-situ piles. It is well known that it is difficult for the submarine engineering drill to go down through such large-sized stones. Having com-pared the various plans, a final decision has been made which involves explosions with small amounts of charge plus cone bit in the enlarging of the size of the pores. Such a method has successfully prevented the pores from slumping and made it possible to fulfill the project without any difficulties. This paper also introduces the ways in effectively dealing with each individual stone.

Jan 1, 1991

Process Options for Difficult Arid-Region Nickel Laterites In the absence of the discovery of significant nickel sulfide deposits, the future of Australia's nickel industry will increasingly depend on cost effect processes for low-grade nickel laterites. The problems encountered with the West Australian HPAL plants, resulting in three of the four plants being shut down, have caused the industry to revisit atmospheric leaching options, particularly heap leaching. West Australian laterites are characteristically very varied in grade, chemical composition and mineralogy with the result that, thus far, one process does not fit all laterites. In this paper the leaching of an especially refractory ore is compared using column leaching of whole ore and atmospheric leaching and HPAL processing of ground ore. The key characteristic is the resistance of the goethite phase to acid attack with low-to-moderate temperature leaching conditions. The refractory characteristic is attributed to the stabilising influence of chromium and aluminium and possibly manganese substitution in the goethite crystal structure and goethite morphology. A significant three-fold increase in both nickel and cobalt extractions under atmospheric leaching conditions was achieved by the relatively simple modification of bubbling sulfur dioxide into the reaction vessel to create a reducing environment. Recoveries increased from <30 per cent to 90 per cent nickel and 86 per cent cobalt after 10 hours of leaching at 95¦C. An even greater improvement was achieved under ambient conditions by heating the ore to temperatures above 250¦C for 30 minutes. Subsequent leaching at ambient temperature gave an eight-fold increase in both nickel and cobalt recoveries after 14 days bottle rolling. Both methods could be optimised and implemented in such a way as to increase laterite reserves in conjunction with a heap leach operation but may be better suited to vat or closed tank processing.

Sep 13, 2010

By J L. Mauk

Golden Cross is a volcanic-hosted, low-sulfidation, epithermal Au-Ag deposit in the Hauraki Goldfield. Irrespective of the rock type (andesite versus dacite), hydrothermally altered wallrocks are enriched in K, Rb, As and Sb around Au-Ag mineralised veins of the Empire vein system and stockwork. Sodium and Sr are strongly depleted around these veins, whereas Mg and Fe are locally depleted. Calcium and Si display mixed behaviour, varying from unchanged to depleted to enriched. Other elements including Al, Ti, Mn, Zr, Y, and Nb show little change or are immobile during hydrothermal alteration. Element enrichment and depletion trends are directly related to the degree of alteration and the alteration mineralogy. Addition of K and Rb and converse loss of Na and Sr in intensely altered wallrock surrounding veins corresponds to the replacement of igneous plagioclase by hydrothermal adularia. Sodium and Sr occur in moderately altered rocks on the margins or in æhard barsÆ that contain plagioclase. Locally, elevated Si concentrations and depletion of Mg adjacent to the Empire vein system reflects intense silicification of the wallrocks and the replacement of mafic minerals by quartz rather than by chlorite. The geochemical zonation patterns at Golden Cross are very similar to those at the McLaughlin deposit California, and shallow levels of the active Broadlands Ohaaki geothermal system. Therefore, determination of K, Na, Rb, Sr, and Ca enrichment and depletion patterns provides insight into alteration intensity and mineralogy that is complimentary to traditional trace element analysis of As, Sb, Hg, Au, Ag, Zn, and Pb used in the exploration of shallow level (< 500 m) epithermal Au-Ag deposits.

Jan 1, 2000

By Duane L. Abata

Toxic gases produced by the detonation of six explosives were measured in an underground hardrock metal mine during actual mining operations. The six explosives included two semi-gelatin dynamites, three slurry explosives and an ammonium-nitrate, fuel-oil/ammonia dynamite combination. Explosives were detonated at the face of a drift and the toxic gases produced by the detonation were trapped to the end of the drift by a bulkhead located a short distance away from the face. Toxic gas concentrations were then measured with direct readout instruments and together with the containment volume, the toxic gas volumes per mass of explosive were calculated. Toxic gas measurements were found in the following ranges (ft3/lbm): N02 0.010-0.035; N02, 0.003-0.019; CO, 0.08-0.30; S02, 0.00-0.05; and C02, 0.7-1.8. Results showed that toxic gas production (ft3/lbm) correlated with the densities (kg/m3) and energy densities (kJ/kg) of the explosives tested.

Jan 1, 1978

For a large scale open pit mining and concentrating operation, on a low-grade disseminated ore body, it is possible to set an approximate lower bound on economically feasible operating scales and an approximate upper bound on economically desirable scales in a relatively straight forward manner. The optimum scale ofplanned operations, with respect to the objective ofmaximisation ofthe net value ofthe orebody, will have to be arrived at by iterative planning runs, but it may be expected to lie close to this upper bound. The effects of infrastructural costs and of the addition of a risk premium to the cost of capital, to form the discount rate for planning purposes, are considered theoretically and by worked example. It is concluded that a perceived special, unsystematic, risk should not be accounted for by the use of such a risk premium as this is inducive to placing a greater amount of investment capital at risk, for no greater return-rate to investment.

Jan 1, 1986

By Daniel Ko, Ian Bell, Shahram Tafazoli, Bahram Sameti, Aylin Azmin

Image-based remote sensing of rock fragmentation in mining and quarry applications essentially treats each rock in the image as a data object in order to determine the rock size distribution. An obvious challenge after rock delineation in a 2D image is the scale of the delineated objects. Conventionally, either objects of known size are placed in the scene or parallel laser pointer are used, both making some assumptions, to calculate scaling factors. These assumptions are applied to the whole scene rather than sensing individual rock attributes.

Jan 1, 2015

By Frank E. Chase

During the past quarter century, coal mine geologists have evolved from providing a qualitative description of drill core and coal reserves into quantitative geotechnical specialists who bridge the gap between geology and engineering. In the late 1970?s and early 1980?s, hazard prediction mapping was in its infancy. At best, hazard maps identified rudimentary structures and conditions such as stream valley locations, sandstone/shale transition zones, and lineaments. A ?technical disconnect? had existed between geologists and mining engineers as each profession operated largely independent of each other. Engineers did not readily integrate geology and geologic conditions, with the exception of coal thickness, into mine planning. Geologists were relied upon for reserve estimates and did not participate in mine planning or design. The employment and market slump of the 1980?s and 1990?s combined with mining more challenging reserves mandated that this gap be bridged and forced geologists to learn to speak more ?numerically? to engineers so they could be understood. The purpose of this paper is to describe the procedures and thought processes used by coal mine geologists when determining various mineability and reserve extraction feasibility issues. The paper will also address underground geologic hazard mapping and prediction techniques. To achieve these objectives, the opinions and experiences of leading coal mine geologists, geotechnical and strata control specialists across the United States were solicited.

Jan 1, 2006

By Yoginder P. Chugh

Most mines are large producing 0-25 mmt annually. The coal is mine.) at depths ranging from .0-150 m 120-500 ft mining at 300 m .(,1000 ft) depth is anticipated in the future. Single and multiple seams ranging from 3-12 m 10-40 ft) in thickness are mined. Most overburden is unconsolidated and consists of sands, and sandy or silty clays. The stripping ratio (volume of overburden to volume of coal mined) varies from 3-L. The overburden and coal is mined in benches 8-12 m -(24-40ft) high; the high-wall angle is about 45 degrees. Bucket wheel and bucket chain excavators are commonly utilized for overburden and coal removal, Some of the large overburden stripping machines nave capacities. Ranging from 4400-10,000 bank cu ( 6000-14,000 BC) per hour. The overburden from the upper benches is transported around the pit using the trains and belt conveyors. It is deposited in the spoils using large stacker-conveyor systems capable of handling 2550-7300 cu m/hour (7500-10,000 cu yds/hour). The overburden from the bottom two or three benches is transported across the pit using the conveyor bridges which are computer controlled. Conveyor bridges capable of handling overburden up to 60 m (200 ft) high are currently in use; a 60 a (20e ft) high conveyor bridge has a capacity of 85 x 10 cu ( 118 x 10 cu yd) annually. The coal is loaded in the trains directly and shipped to power plants or coke oven plants.

Jan 1, 1980

By Ronald W. Schaefer

This report describes operations at the Rosiclare Fluorspar Works of the Aluminum Co. of America at Rosiclare, Hardin County, Ill. The works include the Fairview mine, the fluorspar mill, and related facilities. The publication covers exploration, development, mining and milling practices, mine-drainage problems, and other activities and is presented as part of the Bureau of Mines series of publications on mining and milling practices in various parts of the United States. The Rosiclare fluorspar area, for its size, has been the largest producer of high-grade fluorspar in the United States and probably in the world. The vein system in this area is over 5 miles long and 1/2 mile wide, and ore has been found as deep as 900 ft.

Jan 1, 1961

This report, the third in an annual series, outlines recent trends and developments in the minerals industry. Discussed are new methods, equipment, techniques, and systems used to more, effectively extract and process minerals and fuels. Environmental considerations, reduced ore grades, and the related increased quantities of material handled were the dominent concerns of the minerals industry in 1972. Productivity increased in most mineral commodities as equipment became more mobile, versatile, and sophisticated. Increasingly, equipment designs incorporated health and safety features. There was considerable interest in the field of energy and in pollution-free metallurgy processes.

Jan 1, 1973

LIST OF THE MEETINGS OF THE INSTITUTE AND THEIR LOCALITIES FROM ITS ORGANIZATION Transactions Number Place Date Vol Page 1 Wilkes-Barre, Pa May, ?71 1 3 2 Bethlehem, Pa August, ?71 1 10 3 Troy, N Y November, ?71 1 13 4 Philadelphia, Pa February, ?72 1 17 5 New York, N Y May, ?72 1 20 6 Pittsburg, Pa October, ?72 1 25 7 Boston, Mass February, ?73 1 28 8 Philadelphia, Pa May, ?73 2 3 9 Easton, Pa October, ?73 2 7 10 New York, N Y February, ?74 211 11 St Louis, Mo May, ?74 3 3 12 Hazleton, Pa October, ?74 3 8 13 New Haven, Conn February, ?75 3 15 14 Dover, N J May, ?75 4 3 15 Cleveland, 0 October, ?75 4 9 16 Washington, D C February, ?76 4 18 17 Philadelphia, Pat June, ?76, 5 3 18 Philadelphia, Pa October, ?76 5 9 19 New York, N Y February, ?77 5 27 20 Wilkes-Barre, Pa May, ?77 6 3 21 Amenia, N Y October, ?77 6 10 22 Philadelphia, Pa. May, ?78 6 18 23 Chattanooga, Tenn May ?78 7 3 24 Lake George, N.Y. Oct. ?78 7 25 Baltimore, Md. Feb. ?79 7 26 Pittsburgh Pa, May ?79 8 27 Montreal, Canada Sept, ?79 8 28 New York, N.Y. Feb, ?80 9 29 Lake Superior, Mich Aug, ?80 9 30 Philadelphia, Pa. Feb, 81 9 31 Staunton, Va May, 81 10 32 Harrisburg, Pa Feb, 81 10

Jan 1, 1938

LIST OF THE MEETINGS OF THE INSTITUTE AND THEIR LOCALITIES FROM ITS ORGANIZATION Transactions Number Place Date Vol Page 1 Wilkes-Barre, Pa May, ?71 1 3 2 Bethlehem, Pa August, ?71 1 10 3 Troy, N Y November, ?71 1 13 4 Philadelphia, Pa February, ?72 1 17 5 New York, N Y May, ?72 1 20 6 Pittsburg, Pa October, ?72 1 25 7 Boston, Mass February, ?73 1 28 8 Philadelphia, Pa May, ?73 2 3 9 Easton, Pa October, ?73 2 7 10 New York, N Y February, ?74 211 11 St Louis, Mo May, ?74 3 3 12 Hazleton, Pa October, ?74 3 8 13 New Haven, Conn February, ?75 3 15 14 Dover, N J May, ?75 4 3 15 Cleveland, 0 October, ?75 4 9 16 Washington, D C February, ?76 4 18 17 Philadelphia, Pat June, ?76, 5 3 18 Philadelphia, Pa October, ?76 5 9 19 New York, N Y February, ?77 5 27 20 Wilkes-Barre, Pa May, ?77 6 3 21 Amenia, N Y October, ?77 6 10 22 Philadelphia, Pa. May, ?78 6 18 23 Chattanooga, Tenn May ?78 7 3 24 Lake George, N.Y. Oct. ?78 7 25 Baltimore, Md. Feb. ?79 7 26 Pittsburgh Pa, May ?79 8 27 Montreal, Canada Sept, ?79 8 28 New York, N.Y. Feb, ?80 9 29 Lake Superior, Mich Aug, ?80 9 30 Philadelphia, Pa. Feb, 81 9 31 Staunton, Va May, 81 10 32 Harrisburg, Pa Feb, 81 10

Jan 1, 1937

LIST OF THE MEETINGS OF THE INSTITUTE AND THEIR LOCALITIES FROM ITS ORGANIZATION Transactions Number Place Date Vol Page 1 Wilkes-Barre, Pa May, ?71 1 3 2 Bethlehem, Pa August, ?71 1 10 3 Troy, N Y November, ?71 1 13 4 Philadelphia, Pa February, ?72 1 17 5 New York, N Y May, ?72 1 20 6 Pittsburg, Pa October, ?72 1 25 7 Boston, Mass February, ?73 1 28 8 Philadelphia, Pa May, ?73 2 3 9 Easton, Pa October, ?73 2 7 10 New York, N Y February, ?74 211 11 St Louis, Mo May, ?74 3 3 12 Hazleton, Pa October, ?74 3 8 13 New Haven, Conn February, ?75 3 15 14 Dover, N J May, ?75 4 3 15 Cleveland, 0 October, ?75 4 9 16 Washington, D C February, ?76 4 18 17 Philadelphia, Pat June, ?76, 5 3 18 Philadelphia, Pa October, ?76 5 9 19 New York, N Y February, ?77 5 27 20 Wilkes-Barre, Pa May, ?77 6 3 21 Amenia, N Y October, ?77 6 10 22 Philadelphia, Pa. May, ?78 6 18 23 Chattanooga, Tenn May ?78 7 3 24 Lake George, N.Y. Oct. ?78 7 25 Baltimore, Md. Feb. ?79 7 26 Pittsburgh Pa, May ?79 8 27 Montreal, Canada Sept, ?79 8 28 New York, N.Y. Feb, ?80 9 29 Lake Superior, Mich Aug, ?80 9 30 Philadelphia, Pa. Feb, 81 9 31 Staunton, Va May, 81 10 32 Harrisburg, Pa Feb, 81 10

Jan 1, 1952

LIST OF THE MEETINGS OF THE INSTITUTE AND THEIR LOCALITIES FROM ITS ORGANIZATION Transactions Number Place Date Vol Page 1 Wilkes-Barre, Pa May, ?71 1 3 2 Bethlehem, Pa August, ?71 1 10 3 Troy, N Y November, ?71 1 13 4 Philadelphia, Pa February, ?72 1 17 5 New York, N Y May, ?72 1 20 6 Pittsburgh, Pa October, ?72 1 25 7 Boston, Mass February, ?73 1 28 8 Philadelphia, Pa May, ?73 2 3 9 Easton, Pa October, ?73 2 7 10 New York, N Y February, ?74 211 11 St Louis, Mo May, ?74 3 3 12 Hazleton, Pa October, ?74 3 8 13 New Haven, Conn February, ?75 3 15 14 Dover, N J May, ?75 4 3 15 Cleveland, 0 October, ?75 4 9 16 Washington, D C February, ?76 4 18 17 Philadelphia, Pat June, ?76, 5 3 18 Philadelphia, Pa October, ?76 5 9 19 New York, N Y February, ?77 5 27 20 Wilkes-Barre, Pa May, ?77 6 3 21 Amenia, N Y October, ?77 6 10 22 Philadelphia, Pa. May, ?78 6 18 23 Chattanooga, Tenn May ?78 7 3 24 Lake George, N.Y. Oct. ?78 7 25 Baltimore, Md. Feb. ?79 7 26 Pittsburgh Pa, May ?79 8 27 Montreal, Canada Sept, ?79 8 28 New York, N.Y. Feb, ?80 9 29 Lake Superior, Mich Aug, ?80 9 30 Philadelphia, Pa. Feb, 81 9 31 Staunton, Va May, 81 10 32 Harrisburg, Pa Feb, 81 10

Jan 1, 1923