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By E. McCullough

"Fostering positive community relations is a principal tenet of sustainable development, but conflict can test even the strongest of relationships. While conflict surrounding resource development projects has the potential to be destructive, it may actually pose opportunities for partnership and collaboration when managed effectively. It is therefore not only important for mineral resource professionals to recognize the financial and social costs associated with legal disputes among project stakeholders, but also for them to prioritize resolving social conflict using alternative channels that allow for win-win outcomes. A variety of dispute prevention and resolution techniques do exist, but successful practice is not yet the norm. Here we review the sources and consequences of social conflict in the context of mining projects, and discuss typical and alternative approaches to conflict management in light of their respective benefits and drawbacks. We also suggest implementation of conflict resolution lessons into resource-related university curricula as a critical step in the continued shift of the mining industry towards sustainable development. INTRODUCTION Social conflict is a recurring phenomenon in the human experience and serves as a critical mechanism for change [1-5]. It occurs when two or more parties perceive that their needs and interests are in direct competition with each other and believe they cannot be reasonably accommodated. Conflict over mineral resource activities, particularly the distribution of benefit and risk, has become an omnipresent issue throughout the world [6-7]. Contrary to common perception, however, conflict can be a positive, transformative encounter in some instances [2, 8-11]. For this to be possible, society and its acting agents must reconsider how to address conflict. What if conflict were only a challenge to try something different? It is well-understood that the mineral industries must manage an increasingly significant volume of social conflict [12-13], which can be a costly externality impacting all of whom are involved. Conflict is commonly considered in a two-party sense, but this can deeply over-simplify the true number of stakeholders. Besides mining companies and community members, government policymakers and regulators, public interest groups, and judicial systems, to name a few, bear the social expenses of poorly-managed conflict [4, 6, 12, 14-22]. It is desirable for interested parties to participate actively in a constructive way to pursue their needs rather than contributing to adversarial relationships, operational problems, and legal costs [1, 4, 12]. Some mining companies are of course already working to develop more productive relationships with their stakeholders, but there is undoubtedly still a gap between ideal and common practices. This gap can inhibit collaboration and threaten the potential for mutually-beneficial resolutions to complex social issues [12]."

Jan 1, 2016

By C. West

Structured or embossed HDPE and LLDPE geomembranes have been available to mine owners and designers for over ten (10) years. As many owners and designers discover and demand the consistent high quality characteristics of this type of geomembrane due to the unique manufacturing process, the use of these materials in new mines, mine expansions and final closure designs has steadily increased. Structured liner materials are available for double lined and final cover systems and are revolutionizing the way ponds, pads and final closures are constructed. This paper will discuss the structured or embossed geomembrane concept and manufacturing process. Additionally, the paper will present comparative testing illustrating the major advantages of using this type of product in these types of applications. Both technical and economic advantages are illustrated. The cost savings include lower installation costs, less material used, and third party inspection times not to mention better performance. These new systems will be presented.

Jan 1, 2011

The reduced need for traditionally trained and educated personnel in the mining industry is systemic to the changing mining industry. Our universities and other training institutions are doing just fine meeting the traditional skill needs required by the industry. But are the skill needs going to be the same in the near future? The answer may be NO!! Mining is changing: increased liabilities and costs of environmental and safety issues; lower grades of minerals in traditional mining activities; the advent of new bio-chemical processes and robotic equipment as more productive and economic alternatives; and, larger more sophisticated and automatic equipment. Engineering is more specific, accurate, precise and expensive. Measurement is more thorough and timely of progress, production, costs, and productivity. And we will be engaging in more undersea mining, possibly space bases processing, less human interaction, and more remote control of events than was ever thought possible in the past. This paper presents several of the systemic changes that are presently and will continue to change the face of mining. It will identify area where education and management will have to address these changes.

Jan 1, 2011

By W. L. Hollinshead

For more effective and cost saving production in tunnels, the machinery used on construction sites will be equipped with guidance systems combined with working procedure management systems. This paper describes sensors for these systems and various system configurations. A project is described which uses a computerized guidance system on an underground mining machine for guidance and profile control.

Jan 1, 1999

By Robert C. Maxton

The foundry industry is a basic source of structural component for all industry. Millions of tons of castings are produced annually in both ferrous and nonferrous alloys. These castings are subjected to a wide variety of heat treatments, finishing techniques, mechanical tests and machining operations. Through all of these steps the quality of the casting is of paramount importance to the end use of the product. The Quality Assurance Program at Minneapolis Electric Steel Castings Company is designed and established to provide a superior product for both original equipment manufacturers and the mining industry.

Jan 1, 1982

Critical safety tools to locate miners underground are featured by several exhibitors at MINExpo. Communication was the buzzword for health and safety products at the 2008 MINExpo, and it is still important in 2012. Products unveiled following the Miner Act in 2006 have been upgraded and improved. Saving lives and reducing injuries through better leadership, planning and practice is the goal of every mine professional.

Jan 1, 2012

"Mining of ore bodies that are located at great depths enforces long distances to move the excavated rock masses to the surface. The excavated rock mass contains not only ore that can be economically extracted from the face but also waste, which is usually discarded several steps further downstream in the process. As a result, a large amount of rock is transported to the surface, influencing the costs at which the ore is produced. Reducing the amount of waste rock being transported to the surface by introducing a near-to-face sorting plant would improve the in many cases strained transport system in the deep mine. In this study, one of Boliden’s cut-and-fill mines was analysed with respect to the challenges related to rock transportation and increasing mining depth. The study aims to evaluate the potential use of a new near-to-face sorting system in the operating underground mine. Discrete event simulation was used to study and analyse the rock transportation system with and without the near-to-face sorting plant. The paper shows how the underground rock transportation system and the production were influenced when the near-to-face sorting equipment was added into the current system. INTRODUCTION The locations of waste rejection in the mining processes and the cost of removing waste from the system compared with the cost and energy necessary for further comminution are important parts in the material handling system (Bowman and Bearman, 2014). In an underground mine, longer material transportation distances generate the need for further investment in the mobile fleet and ancillary equipment in order to reduce the waste from the material handling as early as possible. One of the ways of reducing the waste (coarse particle size) in material handling is by use of pre-concentration. The benefits of pre-concentration are well known (Schena et al. 1990; Feasby, 1995; Peters et al. 1999; Klein et al. 2002), as well as the factors governing the feasibility of underground pre-concentration (Peters et al., 1999) and the mining integration issues (Klein et al. 2003). In the Onaping Depth orebody in Sudbury, Ontario the study of implementing the pre-concentration resulted in increased capital costs of 6% and a reduction in the operating costs of between 20-40% (Bamber et al, 2004). In this paper, the effects on the production and the transportation system of implementing underground pre-concentration by means of a near-to-face ore sorting plant in the Kristineberg mine are modeled and analyzed using the AutoMod tool. This tool is based on discrete event simulation (DES) (Banks, 2004), allowing high flexibility in customization and enabling the user to view the production of the system before ore sorting plant integration. The sorting plant selected in the simulation is built from modules. The material is fed by conveyor and goes through the comminution, classification, sorting and service processes after which the waste is redirected to backfill headings via trucks. The system mechanically ejects the particles from the feed stream on the basis of the information obtained from both the XRT sensor’s signal and 3D laser scanner based on both density and rate of refraction of light within a particular mineral. The sorting plant could pre-concentrate the metal ore up to 300 mm size. The plant requires little auxiliary infrastructure, is easily modularized for underground installation and can be easily relocated to different areas."

Jan 1, 2016

By R. P. Aldis

A wide range of mineral-derived products are required by the electronics industry for it to function. In one form or another, almost all the known elements have been experimented with and tested for various electrical applications. The two major areas for which minerals are used in electronics are as conductors and semiconductors. Conductors provide the means to transport and distribute electricity, while the main application of semiconductors has been to manipulate electricity. Silicon is the most widely recognized semiconductor material, but gallium, indium, and germanium are rated as the most important metals to the semiconductor industry for future and near future technologies.

Jan 1, 1991

By Hubert E. Risser

At the outset of a discussion on the adaptability of Illinois coals for use in iron and steel production, it is perhaps well to define terms. ?Adaptability? as used in this context, means that a coal can be, adapted to use within a given technological and economic framework. For a coal to be adaptable, to use in the manufacture of metallurgical coke within the present technological and economic framework, it must possess, among other things, at least the following characteristics: 1. The coal must be capable of producing, alone or in combination with other coals, a coke that can meet at least a minimum standard of required performance in the present-day blast furnace. The coke must have sufficient strength, stability, hardness, and freedom from impurities to make it suitable. 2. If the coal in its raw form does not meet these requirements, it must be amenable to beneficiation or upgrading so that the requirements can be met. 3. It must be available in uniform quality and in sufficient quantities to meet the need. 4. Use of the coal must be economically attractive. If its quality is equivalent; to that of the coals with which it must compete, it must be no more expensive than they. If It is better, a premium price may perhaps be demanded. If, in any respect, it is the least bit less suitable, the cost must be lower to offset its disadvantages.

Jan 1, 1961

By T. J. Batchler, K. M. Mohamed, D. F. Gearhart, R. K. Zipf

Seals are explosion-resistant structures built in underground coal mines to isolate abandoned mining areas from the active workings. An equivalent single degree of freedom (SDOF) method such as the single-degree-of-freedom blast effects design spreadsheet (SBEDS) developed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers can be used to design seals to resist mine explosions. The critical input for the SDOF code is the seal resistance function. The objective for this study is to develop engineering data for design of plain concrete (PC) and reinforced concrete (RC) seals using finite element (FE) models. The FE models can then be used to generate resistance functions for different PC and RC seal designs, which can be used in the SDOF codes. The U.S. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) researchers designed and built a test fixture for use in conjunction with NIOSH’s Mine Roof Simulator to apply a four-point bending load on the face of the tested seal. Eight large-scale experiments for each PC and RC seal were conducted. The experimental design considered the effects of the foundation strength, hitching and roof-to-floor convergence. Calibrated FE models for PC and RC seals were developed using ANSYS Ver. 13. With a very limited number of engineering-based assumptions and a single set of data—including Young’s modulus, compressive strength, stress-strain relationships, etc.—the PC and RC seal models successfully calculated the recorded resistance functions and failure patterns for a wide range of boundary conditions. Plug and RC seals were assumed for a 1.83-m- (6-ft-) high entry to demonstrate the application of the calibrated finite element models for calculating the resistance functions of these seals. The resistance function of a particular plug seal case was found to be a bilinear relationship. The resistance function of a particular RC seal without shear reinforcement was found to be a nonlinear relationship.

Jan 1, 2013

By E. J. Wade

My subject is gold price forecasting and monitoring as an important aspect of gold marketing. While I 'm specifically addressing gold, it is understandable that many other commodities could be readily substituted. Gold marketing must be studied as three distinct processes, and it is my intention to cover each of these processes in turn. First I?ll cover the process of gold price monitoring and forecasting in some detail. In order to select a method, or combination of methods, to be used to sell gold a determination of the future price profile is essential. The profitability of the sales effort will be determined, to a large extent, by how accurately the future price behavior of the gold market has been forecast.

Jan 1, 1985

By M. K. McCarter

Surface mining applies to extraction of mineral resources from water and sediments of rivers, lakes, seas, and oceans; from solutions circulating through broken rock and soil; and from rock and soil excavated from the earth. Surface mining is responsible for the majority of mineral production in the United States and a substantial portion of the world?s total production. This section deals specifically with extraction methods which employ mechanical processes in a relatively dry environment to free minerals from the earth. The following section, Section 15, deals exclusively with aqueous methods. With recognition of the importance of reclamation in all activities which temporarily disturb the earth?s ecosystems, it is appropriate to classify mechanical extraction methods as either deferred reclamation or concurrent reclamation. Deferred reclamation is necessary when the shape and logistics of the excavation require that it remain open throughout the productive life of he project. Upon exhaustion of economic reserves, the opening is then reclaimed in a manner consistent with public safety, environmental acceptability, and land use policy. Methods employing deferred reclamation are commonly referred to as open pit or quarry mining. Metallic ores, industrial minerals, and coal are all extracted using open pit methods. Typical examples are provided in Chapter 14.1.

Jan 1, 2008

By R. M. G. Machunter

The presence of ultra-fine particles affects the separation performance of wet gravity separation equipment. Several studies have been undertaken to establish the maximum level of these particulates that can be tolerated by spiral separators and it has been found that unless the ultra-fine material is effectively processed, relatively low proportions in the ROM material combined with high feed rates can result in degradation in plant performance and/or excessive water consumption. The maximum level of particulate material in the process water has been determined by examination of separation performance of spiral separators under varying slime loading. This work has been conducted utilizing various feed sources and a robust ‘rule-of-thumb’ has been derived.

Jan 1, 2005

By H. G. Wickes

Virtually all fluorine consumed by the aluminum industry is as the electrolyte of the Hall-Heroult process for producing primary aluminum. A small amount of fluorspar is used but most fluorine is consumed as either aluminum fluoride or cryolite. Some fluorine- containing materials are used in secondary aluminum production, but the amount is negligible compared with primary production requirements. Any analysis of the future of the primary aluminum industry must take into account two powerful and closely related driving forces which are shaping that future. These factors are increasingly stringent restrictions on the emission of pollutants and the continuing cost-price squeeze. Nowhere do these factors combine more forcefully than in the area of fluorine consumption. We can safely assume that industry efforts to reduce fluorine consumption will be intensified and that these efforts will be fruitful. This paper will attempt to identify and quantify the factors and trends of fluorine consumption during the next decade. We will be concerned primarily with the demand for new fluorine. Sources of new fluorine will not be treated.

Jan 1, 1973

By William Detty

An architect representing the Atlanta office of the Brick Institute of America periodically presents a slide lecture to interested groups entitled "The First 10,000 Years of Brick". The title signifies the fact that brick, man's oldest manufactured building material, has been around for quite some time and will continue to be utilized by architects and builders in the foreseeable future. This is not to say that the brick industry can rest on its laurels and ignore the competition presented by newer more innovative products. The industry will have to be equally inovative and market oriented in order to maintain its market share of the predicted construction boom between now and the year 2000. The implication is made, however, that brick can be produced under rudimentary conditions and that the desire to use the product has been long standing. In addition, history has sham that there has been plentiful clay available to produce the product. This paper is an attempt to assess the climate in which the brick industry will operate during the next 26 years. An analysis of regulatory conditions affecting the manufacture of the product will be followed by an assessment of the materials environment in which the industry will be operating. These factors are then reconciled with a projected demand for the product to determine the ability of the industry to satisfy future demand for brick. From a mineral point of view this paper will address itself generally to the availability of and demand for clay. However, other than a brief overview of the uses of other specific types of clay, it will concentrate on the clays utilized in the production of structural clay products, specifically brick.

Jan 1, 1974

By N. C. Saxena, S. K. Puri, A. K. Pal

The condition-based monitoring system is an important innovation for reducing the downtime of costly, heavy earth- moving machinery (HEMM). Vibration severity measurements were made on the HEMM located at the Gevra Project, the largest coal opencast project in India. Whenever the vibration severity levels exceeded the permissible limits, necessary actions were taken to replace the defective parts of the ma- chine. The systematic vibration monitoring of 120-t (132-st) dumpers, followed by corrective measures led to a substantial increase in component life (8.18% for an 445E Dressor and 28.44% for an MK-30 Unit Rig). The associated costs (including spareparts) were reduced by 21.55% and 25.74%, respectively. Because of the reduced downtime, savings for these two dumpers over the period from March 26 to June 25,1998, were of the order of Rs.26.47 (US$0.649) million.

Jan 1, 2000

By William C. Peters

The frustration encountered by exploration crews in connection with land acquisition could be graphed to show a correlation with the natural law that everything tends to become more so. Figure I shows a rather common, situation. The combinations of ingredients are almost limitless and the resulting brew is often poisonous to an exploration man. A single step, that of taking a series of deep soil samples is often delayed until some sense can be made from "floating" unpatented claims which are obscure in orientation as well as position, placer claims overlapping lode claims, location posts with empty Prince Albert cans, and claims with no apparent assessment work for ten years. Add to this some patented claims with¬out monuments, a state or federal withdrawal area which may or may not invalidate pre-existing claims, a loosely defined tunnel site, and some ranchers who understandably resent the separation of surface rights from mineral rights. The picture is familiar to exploration men. One approach to such problems is to ignore them until someone voices an objection -- but then an even more chaotic situation is likely to develop. Another practice is to stake new claims to cover all ground that is "open" at first glance and then find out if there are conflicts so that the new claims can be adjusted accordingly.

Jan 1, 1970

By James K. Wright

This chapter will discuss the use of financial models as an evaluation tool for various phases of decision making from exploration strategy to the analysis of a producing mine. The text of this chapter was not received in time for printing.

Jan 1, 1979

By A. L. Hauff

As US Coal producers are looking more and more to the international markets, they face the complex job of planning and managing transportation logistics which make effective use of production capabilities, considers the various contract requirements to be fulfilled, Train, Truck and Vessel capacities, port restraints, etc. Pulling all the necessary pieces of information together to allow proper planning throughout the supply chain is often a time consuming, manual but necessary task. This paper will discuss the various constraints, requirements and considerations to supplying coal to a global market.

Jan 1, 2012

By D. Potter

Freeport Exploration initiated regional reconnaissance exploration programs in Irian Jaya, the easternmost province of the Republic of Indonesia in 1990 (see figure 1). Irian Jaya occupies the western half of the island of New Guinea. Freeport was awarded an initial contract of work which totaled 2.6 million hectares (6.4 million acres) and was subsequently awarded additional?concessions which added 1 million hectares (2.5 million acres). The concessions require work commitments and periodic relinquishments. Due to these relinquishments Freeport?s current land position totals l. 9 million hectares (4.7 million acres).

Jan 1, 1998