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By L. Sandbak

The Turquoise Ridge Joint Venture (TRJV) is located in northern central Nevada, and is situated within the Basin and Range province, near the northeast end of the Osgood Mountains (see Figure 1). The TRJV mine consists of typical Carlin type- gold mineralization characterized by low strength rock of altered limestones, siltstones, and mudstones. The weak nature of the ground facilitates the underhand cut and fill mining methods. TRJV has been working to optimize ground support and mechanize top cut drift sizes and eliminate operating hazards associated with jackleg drilling. Safety Factor analysis based on bolt strengths has allowed us to pursue larger sized top cut drifts and to evaluate bolt length sizes and spacing. Switching from jackleg sized drifts of 10?W x 10?H to a mechanized 12?H x12?W top cut drift design has the potential to decrease overbreak, provide more uniform drift design sizes and bolt patterns, and increase ore production by at least 38%.

Feb 23, 2014

The introduction of computer technology to the mining industry has produced many benefits for the mining engineer. The most significant is the dramatic increase in productivity realized by the individual user. This is important during times of competitive market conditions. Software for the minerals and energy industries has evolved substantially over the past decade. But even today it remains difficult to find a system that features the flexibility and integration capabilities to effectively (and cost-effectively) handle the needs of professionals in each phase of the mining industry - from exploration to reclamation. Several national software developers are now addressing this challenge. One Denver-based company, MINEsoft Ltd., offers a software package that is currently being used in each phase of the mining industry. The basic technology used in MINEsoft's database management system was developed in the 1960s. But during these early years of the computer industry, most of the technology was available only on mainframe computers, and then only as separate entities. MINEsoft's system unifies these various systems in one package that can be used on most computers manufactured today. Database Management System TECHBASE is a flexible, integrated database management system designed specifically for technical applications. The system features a database manager with no practical limit to the amount of data it can store, retrieve, and manipulate, according to the company. TECHBASE in¬cludes Applications Packages (TAPs) designed to meet the needs of professionals in a host of industries. Clients use the TECH BASE system to prepare many reports, including important EPA information. The package reduces data to a manageable level and enables users to increase productivity with a smaller staff. Mining engineers no longer need to do things by hand. What used to be a day's work can be accomplished in an hour or two. Exploration "Using the TECHBASE system to generate maps has probably saved us the expense of three or four draftsmen," says Ralph Fitch, regional manager and senior staff geologist with Chevron Resources in Portland, ME. "The system has great flexibility. You can treat it much like a spreadsheet. If you are halfway through with a particular project, the system allows you to add fields and calculations with ease but without starting over." Fitch uses TECHBASE for the "straightforward" plotting of results and generation of geochemical and geophysical profiles. "In exploration," he says, "these are the two key elements ... the generation of maps and data profiles. The system allows you to plot as many elements and variables in these areas that you like." Other aspects are important, too, says Fitch, including drill hole sections. "We use all the basic capabilities the system provides in the complete package," he explains. "When shopping for a system, TECHBASE was clearly dedicated to exploration in the

Jan 9, 1987

By R. C. Ford, W. L. Niccoli, J. B. Finley

All mining operations are superimposed on natural hydrologic systems. As a result, mining operations are influenced by natural hydrologic processes and require water management systems to successfully conduct mining activities. Managing water and mining-related solutions is a critical task at all stages of the mine life because of the time-dependent nature of natural and mining-related flows. Effective operation of the mining water management system requires a “systems” approach that integrates the time-dependent effects of all water and mine solution handling components. This paper discusses the concept and application of dynamic systems modeling to address the time dependent nature of mining water management systems.

Jan 1, 2002

By M. Haase

[ ] How important is a robust communications system for your mine site in order to meet operational and safety requirements? Do you currently have VSAT in place and need a low cost, high quality multi-line VoIP phone system at the site? By adding a single, compact piece of hardware, you can utilize your existing satellite internet connection and have as many as twenty-four separate phones lines from a single unit. The platform is scalable for any size of operation and can be implemented above or below ground.

Jan 1, 2012

By L. Lacerda, C. Rose, E. Zellers

Approximately six hundred air sample measurements were taken at several U.S. underground metal/nonmetal mines in 1998 and 1999. This air sampling effort was organized by the Nevada Mining Association to evaluate mining conditions and to evaluate the Mine Safety and Health Administration’s (MSHA) Proposed Rule on Diesel Particulate Matter Exposure of Underground Metal and Non-metal Miners. MSHA’s proposed air sampling method, NIOSH Method 5040, was tested under controlled conditions and under normal mining conditions. Unfortunately, NvMA sampling results have indicated that carbonaceous rock dust, oil mists and even cigarette smoking create severe sampling interference problems for NIOSH 5040.The main conclusion was that NIOSH 5040 did not distinguish between DPM and other airborne carbon particulate. Thus, it is not a reliable method of accurately and unequivocally measuring DPM in underground metal/nonmetal mines.

Jan 1, 2000

By D. Duvris

Health and safety issues are a very important aspect of mining activities. Although the application of scientific research and current technology shields workers from many dangerous aspects of mining, accidents do happen. Many companies and institutions worldwide have committed to a continuous effort to minimize such occurrences. In this study, the health and safety data pertaining to the Greek mining and quarrying industry for the last 3 decades are presented and critically evaluated with respect to number of workers, annual production, etc. Appropriate indices are also calculated regarding the incidence and frequency of accidents. Health and safety issues specific to mining in Greek are also discussed.

Jan 1, 2000

By C. Patrick

Longwall face-to-face equipment transfers or moves are, for many companies, the largest single source of non-productive time in a longwall mining system. Detailed planning and resourceful thinking are paramount for economical, safe, and timely longwall moves. New equipment and innovative techniques are frequently tested in order to reduce overall move time. Determining the cost effectiveness of these ideas is difficult since the decision is influenced by many subjective factors. A project scheduling simulation model of the longwall move process was developed in order to analyze and assess the economic viability of innovative transfer methods and equipment. The model provides a project duration frequency distribution and lists of critically indexed activities and paths. It compares the monetary savings from reduced transfer time and capital costs for several innovative ideas.

Jan 1, 1994

By R. T. Dec

A review is undertaken of existing mathematical models of compaction process in roll press. The example of plane-strain, plane-stress model is presented together with comparisons between computed and experimentally recorded pressure distribution in roll nip region. Next, the discrepancies between predicted and measured values are discussed and practical method based on experimental optimization of compaction process using laboratory roll press is proposed. Examples of the selection of optimum roll press operating parameters for calcium oxide fines, sodium chloride and iron oxide dust are presented to illustrate advantages of the method. Finally scale up procedure is discussed for estimating the performance of commercial size roll press based on the data collected on laboratory size equipment.

Jan 1, 2000

By R. Gensemer

A number of state and federal agencies are calling for development of aquatic life criteria for conductivity. These aquatic life criteria or ?benchmarks? are based on observed correlations between conductivity and benthic macroinvertebrate community composition, generally measured by composite metrics or indices. However, development of an aquatic life criterion for a composite variable like conductivity is made difficult by a number of factors. Based on a database from West Virginia, observed patterns of invertebrate community composition versus conductivity may instead be related to a combination of abiotic (e.g., ionic composition, habitat) and biotic (e.g., life history, colonization potential) factors. Many benthic invertebrate taxa also do not respond to increasing conductivity in a consistent relationship. Many states have determined that a composite variable, like conductivity or TDS, is not appropriate for criteria development, as many studies have shown that toxicity varies as a function of ion composition and can be mitigated by elevated hardness. We conclude that the relationships between conductivity and changes in benthic macroinvertebrate community composition are neither strong nor reliable enough to warrant derivation of a criterion based solely on conductivity.

Jan 1, 2011

By G. Delagrammatikas, M. Karmis, J. Mastoris

The evaluation of raw materials in terms of quality profile, mineralogical character and mechanical properties is of great importance to the cement industry. The variability of their chemistry and structure is among the decisive design parameters in the choice of any mining, handling and preblending systems. Furthermore, clinker and cement production require sound estimates of the above parameters, to help produce some appropriate and realistic raw mix configurations and achieve minimum standard deviation of the major components. This paper addresses this subject from the perspective of a cement producer and presents the principles of a methodology aimed at optimizing mine planning and process design. Finally, results from case studies on actual sedimentary deposits currently in operation are discussed.

Jan 1, 2002

By J. Winterton

Estimating the residual metal inventory of large heap leaching operations is desirable for many reasons. Several methods have been tried with limited success. Drilling data from the Valley Leach Facility at AngloGold Ashanti's Cripple Creek and Victor Gold Mine has been used to develop a robust inventory estimation technique. The technique is presented along with discussion of the particular inventory components and evaluation methodologies.

Feb 27, 2013

By M. M. Rajkovich

Just prior to the close of the century, the Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission issued its long-awaited decision in Berwind Natural Resources, et al v. Secretary of Labor, to usher in the new millennium. The case arose as a result of a mine explosion in Eastern Kentucky resulting in MSHA’s issuance of 225 citations, not only to the contractor, but to four affiliated entities of Berwind Corporation. While an Administrative Law Judge dismissed those citations as to three of the Berwind entities, both MSHA and the remaining Berwind entity appealed the case to the Commission. Although the Commission effectively left intact the Administrative Law Judge’s decision, it announced a new theory of liability that would apparently be applied in the future, namely the Unitary Operator Theory. This presentation will provide an in-depth look into the Berwind decision and explore the means under which MSHA might impose liability for contractor violations upon other entities in the future.

Jan 1, 2001

By V. T. McLemore

In-situ leaching (ISL) operations have been proposed to recover uranium from sandstone-uranium deposits in NM. ISL (also known as in-situ recovery, solution mining, solution-leach mining, leach mining) consists of injecting a leaching solution into the mineralized zone through injection wells. The leach solution migrates through the formation, dissolves uranium and is recovered through production wells. The uranium is then precipitated through a conventional uranium recovery system. Several criteria must be met in order for in-situ leaching to be successful, most important is that the ore body must be amenable to chemical leaching. A number of ISL operations have been conducted in NM in the past (Mobil, Crownpoint; UNC-Teton, Section 23; Grace Nuclear, Hook?s Ranch, Seboyeta, Church Rock; Anaconda, Windwhip). Kerr-McGee (later Quivera Mining Co., Rio Algum) successfully produced uranium from mine-water recovery (recirculated mine water) from the Ambrosia Lake mines (mid-1960s to 2002). Despite some difficulties, ISL is a viable alternative to recovering uranium and could be utilized in the Grants district with proper aquifer characterization and monitoring.

Jan 1, 2009

By E. A. Metz

Work related pulmonary diseases are in the top TEN causes of occupational disability and death in the United States. Likewise, it also ranks high inmost of the other industrial countries. It is difficult to know the true occurrence of occupational lung disease because of poor documentation. This is especially true when one examines workers’ compensation claims. Most frequently, silica and asbestos are paramount in our discussion of work related pulmonary disease. Little consideration is given to other “dust-related” diseases, irritant reactions, reactive airway responses, and hypersensitivity reactions. The major classification of occupational lung diseases will be discussed. This includes both acute and chronic disease that arises in the work place, especially, the mining industry. It’s more important to make an accurate evaluation and diagnosis for the prevention of disease among other workers.

Jan 1, 2000

By G. V. Campbell, O. T. Holdsworth, M. G. Nelson

A senior design project is required by all accredited mining engineering degree programs. Often referred to as the capstone of a student’s education, this project is expected to include all the important components of the preliminary economic assessment of a mineral prospect, including orebody modeling, grade and reserve estimation, selection of mining and processing methods, preliminary mine design, access and utilities, environmental compliance and reclamation, and financial analysis. Two of the authors (Campbell and Holdsworth) completed a senior project in 2021. They analyzed the Akie zinc deposit located in Canada. This paper summarizes the economic analysis portion of that project. The two primary objectives of this economic analysis were risk reduction and integration of economics and engineering. Addressing risk is important as risk is one of the primary concerns in mining investments. Risk reduction was the primary concern through the entirety of this economic analysis. Integration of financial analysis and engineering design was the first component of a risk reduction design. This allowed for financial and engineering design to be optimized in conjunction with one another. This produced benefits from both a financial and an engineering prospective. From a market, economic, and financial risk perspective, risk was reduced by forecasting multiple metal price scenarios, and then addressing the Akie project’s economic viability at each price point. Lastly, risk was address through consideration of nontraditional financing options. The project also sought to minimize financial and human capital risk, by proposing mutually beneficial cooperative social relationships and favorable work, schedules. Description of that work is not included in this paper.

Mar 2, 2022

By George J. Conroy

Results of a long-term program of electrical parameter measurement in under-ground coal mine working sections, performed by The Pennsylvania State University under U. S. Bureau of Mines sponsorship, are utilized as the basis for an analysis of the electrical energy requirements during operation. A model section is hypothesized, developed from the average or most representative characteristics as determined from tabulations of the measurements. Performance factors of the model section's machine complement are then analyzed, particularly with regard to the energy required per ton of raw coal cut and delivered from the section. Results are given in kilowatt-hours per ton.

Jan 1, 1977

Due to deposit shape and dimension, narrow vein makes reserve modeling, geological control, stope design, drill and blasting more challenging. It needs high standard quality control as errors can be created easily, which could cause significant amount of ore loss or dilution. From channel sampling, survey control, reserve modeling, drill hole design, blasting, communication with underground drillers to backfill, this paper illustrated every step and its quality control of a long hole stope mining. Compared to other narrow vein mining methods (cut and fill and shrinkage), long hole stoping means higher production, less labor, and significantly lower cost when deposit characteristics allowed.

Jan 1, 2012

By T. H. Eyde

Worldwide production of natural zeolites during 2001 was estimated to be about 3.5 Mt (3.85million st). Construction and agriculture continued to be the major consumers. Estimated production in North America during 2001, including the United States, Canada and Mexico, was about 40 kt (44,000 st). In the United States and Canada, the zeolitic tuffs are ground, extruded or modified for use as adsorbents, desiccants, ion-exchange media and carriers. In Mexico and the rest of the world, the zeolitic tuffs are cut into dimension stone that is used in construction. Zeolitic tuffs are usually composed of the minerals clinoptilolite, mordenite or both. They occur in a variety of colors and are easy to cut and shape. And they have low thermal conductivity. This construction application is classified with dimension stone rather than with chemical and agricultural uses.

Jan 1, 2002

By G. E. d’Aquin

Sources of sulfur have varied based on technology and societal needs. It has been mined in its elemental form for centuries. Twentieth century technology brought thermal mining (Frasch, 1894) to the forefront of sulfur extraction. Then, by the 1980s, petroleum processing generated almost 40 percent of the 50 Mt (55million st) of sulfur in all forms (SAF) produced in the world. Metals processing (the reclamation of effluent gas by various means as “sulfur in other forms,” or SOF) followed at 30 percent of all sulfur values produced and then Frasch at 22 percent. Petroleum and gas processing now generate most of the elemental sulfur produced in the world. Single Two Frasch mines remain, one each in Iraq and Poland. Conventional mining of small to insignificant volumes also survives in Russia, Latin America and Indonesia. The volume of “recovered” sulfur (the name commonly given by the industry to hydrocarbon-derived material) generated will increase faster than energy consumption as oil and gas with greater amounts of sulfur are used and environmental restrictions on the sulfur content of the fuel consumed become more stringent.

Jan 1, 2005

By Ronald E. Heuer

A 1995 RETC paper of similar title presented a method for estimating rock tunnel water inflow based on semi-empirical correlations with borehole water pressure tests. Since that time the author has found the method to be very useful, and it has been used by others in the industry. This current paper is an update which is intended to: A. More clearly explain assumptions and limitations of the method. B. Describe some case history examples. C. Respond to questions which have been raised; and extend the method to other considerations including distribution of inflow along the tunnel, panning requirements, interpretation of tunnel probe hole water inflow, and estimation of potential effectiveness of pre-excavation grouting to reduce water inflow.

Jan 1, 2005