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By T. N. Moore, E. M. De Souza

This paper details a study conducted in Canada on the use of a drill with two different types of elastomer-covered handles in place of the standard steel handles. One type of handle was covered with a relatively stiff elastomer with a durometer of 70 (referred to as the plastic handle), and the other was covered with a more compliant elastomer with a durometer of 56 (refered to as the rubber handle). It was found that, compared with the steel handle, the overall acceleration at the interface between the plastic handle and the drill operator's hand was 2,5 times less, and that between the rubber handle and his hand was 3 times less. This reduction occurred predominantly in the frequency range above 500 Hz, and was greater with increasing frequency. However, an analysis based on the methodology of an international standard (which places greater importance on low-frequency vibration), indicated that the reduction in vibration levels was minimal. ~he driller himself felt that operation with the plastic and rubber handles was more comfortable, the rubber handle being preferred.

Jan 1, 1991

By W. Newcomen, D. Brox

The assessment of the stability performance of open pit highwalls has traditionally been based on consideration of surface movement rates. Although generally accepted in industry, this approach presents challenges for establishing appropriate threshold values to allow for safe mining operations and does not address the issue of total strain. Surface movement monitoring data from a limited number of open pit mining operations in North and South America has been evaluated in terms of highwall strain, rock mass quality and inferred mechanism of instability. Threshold strain levels for key stages of highwall stability proposed from previous work has been reviewed and are endorsed based on evaluation of additional data. An empirical highwall strain criteria for the assessment of highwall stability performance is postulated based on relatively consistent trends in highwall strain data. L’évaluation du niveau de stabilité des hauts murs de carrières a traditionnellement été basée sur les taux de mouvements de surfaces. Bien que cette approche soit généralement acceptée à travers l’industrie, elle présente des défis pour la définition de seuils appropriés concernant la sécurité des opérations minières et n’adresse pas la notion de déformations totales. Des données de mouvements de surface provenant d’un nombre limité d’opérations minières à ciel ouvert d’Amérique du Nord et du Sud ont été évaluées en terme de déformation des hauts murs, de qualité de la masse rocheuse et des mécanismes inférés d’instabilité. Des seuils de déformation pour différentes phases clefs de stabilité de hauts murs ont été revus et sont endossés, basé sur l'évaluation de donnés additionnelles. Un critère de déformation empirique pour l’évaluation de la stabilité des hauts murs est postulé, basé sur des tendances relativement consistantes de données de déformations de hauts murs. Die Beurteilung der Stabilität von hohen Felsböschungen basiert traditionellerweise von Oberflächenbewegungen. Obwohl dieses Verfahren im Allgemeinen akzeptiert wird, stellt es jedoch gewisse Probleme für die Festlegung von Grenzwerten für die Sicherheit dar. Die totalen Dehnungen werden bei dieser Betrachtungsweise vernachlässigt. Eine beschränkte Anzahl von Oberflächenbewegungs Daten von Bergbauwerke in Nord- und Südamerika sind in Bezug auf die Dehnungen von hohen Felsböschungen, Felsqualität und davon abgeleiteten Bruchmechanismen untersucht worden. Grenzwerte für die Belastung von hohen Felsböschungen während den massgebenden Bauetappen aus bisherigen Projekten sind begutachtet und durch zusätzliche Untersuchungen bestätigt worden. Gestützt auf relativ konsitenten Trends, ist hier ein empirisches Verfahren der Dehnungen in hohen Felsböschungen zur Beurteilung der Stabilität vorgestellt.

Jan 1, 2003

By D. A. Fenton

The structural design of large grinding mills, with reference to shell-mounted bearings by D. A. FENTON*, P. Eng. (Visitor) The paper outlines the advantages of shell-mounted grinding mills over mills having a conventional trunnionsupported shell. The growing use of larger mills in the past decade has led to a significant number of mechanical and structural failures, the most common being those at the junction of the head and the shell. Larger mill diameters favour the use of shell-mounted bearings. The elimination of castings, which have an inherent weakness to fracture, makes the shell-supported mill lighter and stronger than a conventional mill of the same shell thickness.

Jan 9, 1976

By A. R. Barnes, C. W. P. Finn

The prereduction and smelting characteristics of UG-2 ore were studied and compared with those of Winterveld chromite ore. The UG-2 ore proved more reducible, and substantial prereduction (over 70 per cent reduction after 30 minutes at 1250oC) was obtained. No difficulty was experienced in the production oh high-carbon ferrochromium alloy containing 48 to 50 per cent chromium. Calculations of the energy balance show that UG-2 chromite has lower total energy requirements (both on the basis of unit of ferrochromium produced and of total chromium content). More than 50 per cent of the energy required for reduction can be supplied outside the smelting furnace.

Jan 1, 1983

The finite element method of stress analysis is nowadays widely used in the fields of mining, mechanical and civil engineering. This paper presents a short description of the three-dimensional method, in which the elements used are arbitrary hexahedrons. Two examples of the application of the method are presented, namely, calculation of the elastic stress distributions in a coal pillar and in an opencast mine.

By M. R. MacIver, M. Pawlik, H. Alizadeh

Treatment of tailings is an integral component of mineral processing. Tailings with a high clay content are a challenge for the mineral processing industry; e.g. the clay slimes produced from production of phosphate in the mid-western United States and the fine tailings produced from oil sands production in western Canada. Dispersants are a commonly used process aid, but their impact on the structure and settling properties of high clay content tailings is not well understood. The paper describes the changes in composition and bitumen release that occur when mature fine tailings (MFT) are treated with a polymeric dispersant (lignosulfonate.) Synchrotron-source computed tomography (CT) was used to obtain high-resolution 3D images of samples prepared at varying dosages of dispersant. The CT method permits a powerful visualisation of the internal structure and composition of the samples. These insights will enhance our understanding of the structural characteristics of mineral tailings relevant to solid-liquid separation by flocculation and thickening. Keywords: Dewatering, dispersion, dispersants, chemical treatment, computed tomography

Jan 1, 2020

By P. R. Jochens, A. A. Hejja

The effect of the reactivity of lime on desulphurization efficiency in the basic oxygen furnace by A. A. HEJJA,D. D. HOWAT, andP.R.jOCHENS Published in the Journal March 1973. DISCUSSION R. E. Leyman* The authors discuss in detail the effects of transport and storage at the steel plant on the reactivity of lime as measured by the DIN Reactivity Test. They attribute the deterioration in reactivity to the absorption of water vapour and carbon dioxide, but make no mention of the possible role of atmospheric sulphur dioxide in this respect. The significance of the mineralogical and surface characteristics of gold grains in the recovery process by C. E FEATHER and G. M. KOEN Published in the Journal February 1973. AUTHORS' REPLY TO DISCUSSION (Published in the Journal July 1973) H. P. Carlisle Mr Carlisle's questions and observations will be dealt with in the same order as they were raised. 1. How were the mass percentages of the grains determined from the sizes measured in polished section?

Jan 3, 1973

Orange Free State Branch Minutes of a General Meeting held at the Welkom Mine Canteen on Wednesday, 21st November, 1973, at 4-.00 p.m. Present Mr E. T. Wilson (Chairman) in the Chair, 15 Fellows and Members, 12 Associates, Graduates, and Students, and 11 Visitors (Total 38). Book review Symposium on Environmental Engineering in Coal Mining The 20 papers presented at the symposium cover some 14 subjects related to environmental engineering in coal mines, such as dust, heat, gas emissions, ventilation, noise, and lighting. Competition for students Each year the Institute offers a prize (or prizes should the entries warrant it) of up to Rl00 for the best paper or dissertation on a topic appropriate to the interests of the Institute. A.8. & T.8. Trust The A.S. & T.S. Trust has been formed with the specific object of establishing a worthwhile source of funds which can be used to further the progress of science and technology in South Africa. Nim reports Report No. 1573 A pilot-plant investigation of a flotation model. Report No. 1597 The role of sulphur in the flotation of sulphide minerals. Report No. 1599 The analysis of silicate rocks and metallurgical slags by X -ray-fluorescence spectrometry. Report No. 1607 The analysis of ion-exchange resins by X-ray- fluorescence spectrometry. Report No. 1617 An electronic differential precision thermometer.

Jan 6, 1974

By G. Voiloshnikov, P. Koblova, Ye. Musin

Preg-robbing activity of the carbonaceous matter negatively impacts the process of precious metals recovery from gold-bearing ores and concentrates. In this paper, ore heap leaching (HL) using a blinding agent which inhibits ‘preg-robbing’ is a promising method. A carbonaceous ‘preg-robbing’ gold ore with head gold grade of 1.92 g/t from a Russian deposit was studied. Corg was 1.12%. In accordance with the Irgiredmet technique, preg-robbing activity was 65.3%. Surfactant reagent DN was used as the blinding agent. Column tests on the ore HL were conducted using two options. They were: a conventional flow sheet (Column 1) and a flow sheet with the reagent addition (Column 2). Gold recovery in Column 1 was 55.39% while gold recovery in Column 2 was 68.48%. The test results confirmed the efficiency of reagent DN. Keywords: Carbonaceous ore, organic blanking, preg-robbing, recovery

Jan 1, 2020

By J. Bai, C. Zang, W. Yuan, L. Zhuang

"This study evaluates the efficiency of using mechanochemical reduction to assist the extraction of zinc from zinc ferrites by alkaline leaching. The transition of zinc ferrite into a metastable state after mechanochemical reduction with metallic iron contributes to the ready dissolution of zinc from the activated zinc ferrites in alkaline solution. Zinc ferrites were mechanochemically reduced under conditions of Fe:ZnFe2O4 mole ratio of 2:1, using 5 mm diameter stainless steel balls as the activation medium at a mass ratio of balls to raw materials of 25:1. Subsequent leaching in 6 mol/L NaOH solution at 90°C resulted in more than 70% Zn extraction. These results may be used to further develop a hydrometallurgical process for recovering zinc from zinc ferrites in alkaline solution.IntroductionZinc is an important nonferrous metal required for various applications in batteries, solder, dielectric materials, and piezoelectric materials. High-grade, easily concentrated ores are becoming scarcer: to meet world demands for zinc, it is necessary to develop economical and environmentally safe metallurgical technologies that use secondary materials such as leach residues of roasted zinc concentrates and electric arc furnace dusts. The zinc in the majority of these wastes occurs in the form of zinc ferrite (franklinite, ZnFe2O4), which is very stable and insoluble in most acidic and alkaline solutions (Langova and Matysek, 2009; Youcai and Stanforth, 2000).Several pyrometallurgical and hydrometallurgical processes (Jankovi et al., 2014; Langova and Matysek, 2010; Morcali et al., 2012; Shawabkeh, 2010) have been proposed for the treatment of zinc ferrites. Pyrometallurgical methods are costly owing to high energy consumption and their emissions of toxic gases are considered an environmental problem; hydrometallurgical methods are preferred for process economy and environmental reasons (Copur et al., 2004)."

Jan 1, 2016

By J. Petersen, T. Moyo

Waste Printed Circuit Boards (PCBs) are a metals-rich fraction of electronic waste (e-waste) streams, and globally it has been demonstrated that they can be recycled gainfully to recover the metals. Reported successful cases of PCB recycling are carried out in large volumes, using high-level technology and high capital investment smelter house operations. This presents entry barriers for recyclers in developing economies where capital may not be accessible, and the waste volumes are not sufficient to warrant large scale operations. Hydrometallurgical processes have the potential to provide an option for the scalable processing of smaller volumes of PCBs and can be set up at relatively lower capital costs. However, to date, the hydrometallurgical treatment options available rely on precursor communition and classification processes that also require high capital and energy costs. This paper presents an overview of the work done under the Minerals to Metals signature theme towards understanding e-waste recycling processes and developing pre-processing and characterisation of PCBs in order to unlock potential for local end processing in developing economies, using South Africa as a case study. The structure of PCBs is reviewed, and the current size reduction techniques and the subsequent leaching processes are discussed. Keywords: Printed circuit boards (PCBs), PCB structure, pre-treatment, liberation, ammoniacal leaching

Jan 1, 2020

By A. Schippers, S. Hedrich

Chalcopyrite represents the most important copper resource and is currently mainly exploited using pyrometallurgy. Bioleaching is an environmental-friendly and economic alternative to conventional mineral processing technologies. The technical feasibility of stirred tank reactor bioleaching of copper ore concentrates using acidophilic iron-/sulfur-oxidising bacteria is proven, however, often incomplete due to inefficient chalcopyrite dissolution. A decoupling of bacterial growth from bioleaching activity in one bioreactor by adjusting appropriate temperatures for both process steps allows for almost complete chalcopyrite dissolution. Separation of copper and recovery of other metals from the PLS was possible by implementation of different biological and chemical techniques. The Ferredox process has been proposed to treat limonitic laterite ores for cobalt and nickel recovery by means of anaerobic reductive dissolution with autotrophic, acidophilic bacteria. As a modification, aerobic reductive dissolution of laterites with acidophilic bacteria has shown economic and environmental advantages over anaerobic reductive dissolution. The reductive bioleaching technology has the potential to increase metal recovery in existing mines, and transform unexploited ores and limonite stockpiles into valuable resources. Keywords: Biomining, bioleaching, chalcopyrite, laterite, Ferredox process

Jan 1, 2020

By A. Koursaris, Y. Turan

The object of this study was to investigate the i1Jfluence of nitrogen on the structure and properties of AISI 310S steel. Experimental ingots of the steel with nitrogen contents of up to 0,525 per cent by weight were prepared, hot-rolled, and tested after various treatments. The rollability of the material was adequate. The yield strength, tensile strength, hardness, and fatigue properties of the new alloys improved with increasing nitrogen content. The impact properties improved slightly. Empirical equations were developed for the calculation of the yield and tensile strengths, as well as the difference between these two properties, with increasing nitrogen content.

Jan 1, 1995

By M. Berjak, D. M. Hawkins, V. E. Marting, R. B. MacGillivray

Contributions to discussion V. E. Marting (Associate Member): The authors of this paper should be congratulated in having pioneered the application of the Sharapov predictor to local data, and in having made a valuable contribution to South African experience in the quantitative treatment of geological information using a digital computer. Although the existing set of three programmes has been described as a 'suite' it does not represent an integrated system in the accepted sense since the communication between runs is made in the form of punched card files to enable the mining engineer to exercise discretion and control over the data entered at each phase. Although the authors are justifiably proud of the successful results obtained through the application of this method, I feel that it is my duty to comment that the computer aspect of the work has not reached full development and is deserving of the financial support needed to increase its widest usefulness. At the present moment a routine to detect 'missing information' has not been commissioned. Due to the lack of documentation the use of the programmes is restricted since the format for the submission of data is known only to the authors. It is very unlikely that a profitable return on the development costs will be enjoyed before the programme is fully documented and made available to wider use. My criticism of the present incomplete state of the work is being voiced purely with the intent of focussing on the significance of this project and the fact that it is deserving of development on an industry basis. It should be noted that at the economical cost of R4.00 per sq ft of computer print-out, a mining engineer can hardly afford to miss the opportunity of using the programmes on other (e.g. metalliferous) mineral deposits of tabular formation. Since the publication of this paper I have had an opportunity to see the results of the programmes developed by Drs M. D. G. Salamon and F. Deist for designing bord and pillar workings. The basic data for these latter programmes are extracted from iso-line plans drawn conventionally by geologists, a task that could be considerably expedited through the use of Mr Hawkins' programmes. It appears that the efforts of these respective teams are complementary and it is in the interests of the industry that these individual components should eventually form part of an integrated system. E. Margo* (Member): This paper is a good example of how and where the backroom scientist-in this case the mathematical statistician-can aid the mining engineer to develop not only more accurate means for dealing with valuation problems but to develop a tool that can also cope with changed geological specifications.

Jan 1, 1969

By E. Schoeman

Ion exchange resins were investigated for the effective recovery of platinum, palladium, and gold from a pregnant cyanide heap leach solution. Screening results indicated that strong-base anion exchange resins proved to be most effective in the recovery of these metal cyanides. Gold was selectively recovered with the use of Minix, while effective recovery of gold, platinum, and palladium over the base metals, copper, and iron, was achieved with Amberlite PWA-5. Successful elution of these metal cyanides was possible from both Minix and Amberlite PWA-5, using a 2M potassium thiocyanate solution at ambient temperature. Acidic thiourea was unable to elute platinum from either Minix or Amberlite PWA-5. Effective elution of palladium and gold were, however, achieved with use of acidic thiourea. Using these results, two conceptual flow diagrams for the recovery of these metals from cyanide solutions are proposed.

Jan 1, 2012

1. New books from The Institute of Metals Physical and elastic characterisation, edited by M. McLean. 1989. 228 pp. £25.00.High nitrogen steels, edited by J. Foct and A. Hendry. 1989. 461 pp. £49.50. Proceedings of the First International Calcium Treatment Symposium. 1988. 116 pp. £15.Design for recyc/ability, by Michael E. Henstock. 1988. 150 pp. £15. Solidification processing. 1988. 549 pp. £45.Proceedings of the First International Calcium Treatment Symposium. 1988. 116 pp. £15.Marine engineering with copper-nickel. 1988. 103 pp. £18.Sir Henry Bessemer: An autobiography. 1989.380 pp. £16.95. 2. Other publishers Occupational safety and accident prevention. Behavioural strategies and methods, by C.G. Hoyos and B.M. Zimolong. Amsterdam, Elsevier, 1988. 218 pp. Dfl. 180.00. Algorithms in real algebraic geometry, edited by Denis S. Arnon and Bruno Buchberger. London, Academic Press, 1988. 274 pp. £15.95.

Jan 1, 1989

By A. J. Lynch, N. W. Johnson, D. J. McKee, G. C. Thorne

The behaviour of minerals in sulphide flotation processes, with reference to simulation and control. by A. J. LYNCH, Ph.D., N. W. JOHNSON, Ph.D., D. J. McKEE, Ph.D., and G. C. THORNE, B.Sc. (Hons.) (Visitors) In sulphide flotation processes, there are two mechanisms by which particles are transferred from the flotation pulp to the concentrate: adhesion to air bubbles and natural flotation, and entrainment in the froth. The entrainment mechanism is particularly important for particles of non-sulphide gangue, which do not absorb collector. The importance of controlling the recovery rate of water was illustrated in plant testwork in which selectivity between valuable sulphides and sulphide gangue, and between valuable sulphides and non-sulphide gangue, was altered by manipulation of variables affecting the water recovery rate. The two mechanisms should be recognized in the development of a control system. Most of the control schemes in operating plants have concentrated on reagent additions, which affect the natural flotation mechanism. Although control of the chemical environment is clearly of paramount importance in flotation, plant tests have shown that control of the variables affecting the entrainment mechanism is also important.

Jan 4, 1974

By T. T. Chiweshe, L. S. Mokhahlane, M. Welman-Purchase

This study examined an alternative technique of extracting tungsten from wolframite ore using a fusion method with ammonium phosphate salt. Current techniques use alkali salts to decompose tungsten ores and use various purification methods to produce ammonium paratungstate, which is a key intermediate precursor in the extraction of tungsten. In this study, a two-step extraction process, which involves thermal decomposition of the ore using fusion and a separation stage, is examined. The novelty of this technique is the ability to completely decompose wolframite ore and form an unstable tungsten oxide phosphate (WO2(PO3)2) compound. The instability of WO2(PO3)2 in deionized water enables selective isolation of tungsten as insoluble precipitates of WO3 and WO2. The decomposition reaction of WO2(PO3)2 is influenced by the presence of oxygen and determined to be first order under ambient conditions. Scanning electron micrographs and X-ray diffraction analysis showed above 80% of the tungsten precipitated compared with the amount that remained in the filtrate solution.

Jul 10, 2024

"Chairman: Dr R. E. ROBINSON Rapporteur: Dr R. P. COLBORNPapers:The simulation of crushing plants by W. J. WhitenSimulation of multi-component flotation plants by B. K. Loveday and G. R. MarchantComputer control of flotation at the Ecstall concentrator by M. P. Amsden C. Chapman and M. G. ReadingModel for the design and control of flotation plants by R. P. KingIn presenting his paper Dr W. J. Whiten outlined the basic concepts on which the control model was based and emphasized the fact that empirical models based as much as possible on theory were used to simulate each unit of the crushing plant. The final parameters of each model were computed using data collected from the plant. Unfortunately, the system did not permit accurate extrapolation but was successful when operating in the region from which the parameters were calculated.He concluded from the results of the test work that the crusher amperage was a critical parameter and that the utilization of the model gave a 15 per cent increase in the plant output. This was because the model predicted that a marginally fine grind would provide a significant increase in throughput. Dr Whiten elaborated on what constituted the multiple spline regression, explaining that it was a least-squares curve-fitting technique in one or more dimensions, where the calculation of coefficients in analytic expressions was replaced by the calculation of typical points on a very smooth curve called a spline function. The emphasis was placed on the shape and value of the curve or curves instead of on the coefficients as in analytic regression. A spline function was the line drawn between all points constituting the data set.Dr B. K. Loveday commented that the simulation was unusual in that the optimum throughput was considered to be the maximum throughput, which, surely, was limited by the crusher size. He also emphasized the importance of the interaction between both crushing and grinding circuits and added that in practice the optimum operating conditions were inter-dependent. Dr Whiten replied that in the case of the plant under consideration, the crushing process was not, in fact, the limiting operation.Mr C. E. Clifford indicated that the model was being used to simulate a number of crushing and grinding circuits at Mount Isa Mines. He reported that the model simulated the circuit satisfactorily for primary and secondary gap settings of 0,625 in. to 0,375 in., but that adjustment had to be made to the model parameters for gap settings of 0,250 in. to 0,125 in.In reply to a question from Dr D. M. Hawkins, Dr Whiten said that he preferred to use low-order splines with smaller segments rather than high-order spline functions with large segments."

Jan 1, 2014

Minutes of the Annual General Meeting held at the St. Helena Club on Wednesday, 27th July, 1977, at 7.30 p.m. Book review Advances in extractive metallurgy, 1977. Proceedings of the third symposium organised by the Institution of Mining and Metallurgy held from 18-20th April 1977. London, the Institution of Mining and Metallurgy, 1977. 244 pp. £18,50. Coal preparation A meeting of the Organising Committee of the Eighth International Coal Preparation Congress took place in Moscow on 24th and 25th May, 1977.

Jan 1, 1978