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By Bart Lorang

Mining and mineral processing companies have historically leveraged technology and science to the fullest to reduce costs and improve product. Information technology is arguably one of the fastest moving technologies used by the mining industry. However, the business model for managing that technology and IT professionals often is fundamentally the same model that evolved from 1960's mainframe era. This paper will present a perspective of today's technology; review emergent computing technologies and attempt to id- advancements in computing anticipated in this decade. It will then discuss how the traditional IT model fits the technologies of today and the next decade. It will suggest roles IT professionals may play in the future to best leverage these technologies.

Jan 1, 2002

By M. P. Adamson, Bryson D. Trexler, R. V. Ramani, Mark L. Koenig, V. Rajaram, Alan Burton, C. S. Crocker, Kim. Y. C., A. G. Law, William C. Larson

Another record year vas experienced by the mining industry as the value of nonfuel minerals production soared to $23.5 billion-up 15% from the previous year. Based on preliminary estimates by the Bureau of Mines, US mine output was the basis for about $225 billion worth of minerals-derived materials. Metal mining accounted for $8.5 billion, or 36%, of the total. Of the 22 metals produced in the US, 11 showed quantity increases, while 16 had value increases. Business Week's survey of 1200 companies (Mar. 17, 1980, pg. 81) revealed that 21 metals and mining companies had sales increases of 30% with earnings up 104%. Higher prices and increased demand for metals were primary factors behind the improved performance. The steel sector reported a 30% decrease in earnings for the year, but the slump was primarily the result of a $383-million loss for US Steel coupled with a 17% decrease in earnings at Inland Steel. Other firms did well in 1979, with earnings up 279% at Interlake and 269% at Kaiser Steel. Major obstacles facing the steel industry included substantial tonnages of dumped and subsidized imports, environmental expenditures, runaway inflation, and price controls. Turning to nonmetallic production, of the 49 commodities reported by the US Bureau of Mines, 29 had higher outputs and 39 had increased values. While production statistics may seem encouraging, government regulations continued to stifle industry efforts to develop needed new capacity. A case in point may be publication of the Environmental Protection Agency's simplified procedure to streamline five permit programs by consolidating them into one. The five included: hazardous waste management, national pollution discharge elimination, dredge and fill, underground injection control, and prevention of significant deterioration. The new procedure, published by EPA in the Federal Register, took 149 pages. AMC's J.A. Overton, Jr., noted that (MCJ, Nov. 1979, p. 39) to visually depict the complexity of the proposed regulations, Sell Oil Co. developed a flow chart mapping a path through one section. The chart required 10 days to map and two weeks for two draftsmen, using computerized drafting techniques, to plot the results. Overton said, "Perhaps the greatest service EPA has performed in preparing its proposal is to demonstrate again that federal regulations have become a complexity compounded by confu¬sion that culminates in a conundrum." While regulatory agencies promulgate new regulations, the lack of a cohesive government minerals policy remained a matter of significant importance to mine management. A non-fuel minerals study to provide input to the Administration for a national minerals policy program was a dismal shock, according to Rep. Jim D. Santini (D-NV). He said the first phase of the program, which was to identify industry problems, failed to come to grips with the hard decisions necessary regarding these problems, their impact, and their interrelationship. Santini said the report failed to acknowledge government's role in the process and absolved the government of any adverse influence on the domestic minerals industry. In response to the phase one report, eight senior mining executives testified before Santini's House Subcommittee on Mines and Mining concerning mineral supply, access to foreign sources, environmental protection, conservation and recycling, national security, and capital formation. By year's end, Rep. Santini promised to prepare a hard-hitting committee report on problems affecting the non-fuel minerals industry to provide a better base for subsequent policy recommendations (MCJ, Jan. 1980, p. 34). On the technological front, interest again centered on mechanization, automation, and scaleup to improve and expand production. Computer use increased for calculation of ore reserves, mine planning, operations research, and mineral processing.

Jan 5, 1980

By J. C. Harrison

When Exploraciones Eldorado, S.A. de C.V. finished their first phase of reverse circulation drilling at their La Trinidad property in Sinaloa, Mexico they began immediately with permitting and engineering activities. The first phase of drilling lasted four months and ended in April, 1994. The second phase of drilling ran from May through September of 1994. From May through December, 1994, Exploraciones Eldorado performed the permitting and engineering work for their La Trinidad heap leach mine. The mining permit was submitted to the regulatory agencies in February of 1995 and the first draft of the feasibility study finished one month later. The report outlines the permitting and engineering activities that took place during the second half of 1994.

Jan 1, 1996

By Kevin Lundberg, Philip Sander, Daniel Weinberger, John Reilly

Since the early days of risk management, developments in technology and guidelines (ITA, ITIG, OGG, UCA) have advanced risk management and probable cost estimating, which are now widely recognized. WSDOT’s CEVP risk-based cost validation process is now established after 20 years. This paper traces these developments, summarizes advanced techniques, and presents examples of US and international projects with results. A particular case of using advanced risk evaluation to allow enhanced-capability TBMs to be considered in a competitive bid process is presented. Further advances, including the use of digital twin risk-based representation of complex projects, are described.

Jun 13, 2023

By Tad S. Golosinsk

Use of computers for hoist evaluation and design dates back to the early 1960's. Mine hoist production calculations, repetitive in nature, were computerized first. More elaborate modeling of hoist operations followed soon. Typical for this, early period are the models described by Touwen (1973), and by Albert and McIvor (1984). Apart from the simple hoist production calculations, the models were very complex, typically written in Fortran, and often required advanced computing facilities and expertise to run the simulation. The early models were strictly deterministic, with no consideration given to the random nature of hoisting operations. The effects of randomness of the hoisting process on hoist performance were often accounted for by introduction of the deterministic factors, most notably of an "utilization factor" related to the hoist production. The value of the latter was based on observations of actual hoist performance, and could vary in a wide range. For example Harvey (1973) reports values of the "utilization factor" to be between 0.7 and 0.92.

Jan 1, 1989

By Siegmund Babendererde

1. Introduction In Sayreville, New Jersey, the Middlesex County Utilities Authority put the construction of a 1041 m long sewer outlet to tender in June 1989. It had an internal diameter of 3,36 m and was part of a sewage treatment works project for county Middlesex. The contract was awarded to the Lodigiani Company, USA, who employed Hochtief Incorporated as subcontractor to drive the sewer outfall. 2. Ground Conditions According to the preliminary geological site investigation, carried out by the consultants Metcalf & Eddy, the tunnel passed through marine deposits.

Jan 1, 1991

By Mark J. Zdunczyk

Short Mountain Silica mines the Clinch Formation, an orthoquartzite, for silica sand. The operation is located near Mooresburg, TN, about 80 km (50 miles) northeast of Knoxville. Short Mountain is a local geographic name given to an area of resistant sandstone (Fig. 1). The area is part of the Clinch Mountain system that extends from eastern Tennessee to southwestern Virginia. The thick sandstone unit is more technically called a quartz arenite (orthoquartzite) that forms most of the mountain. In 1980, a Knoxville resident brought the Clinch Formation - Short Mountain in particular - to the attention of the large silica-sand producers as a potential silica-sand mine. Working with a local contractor who owned several hundred acres on Short Mountain, the Knoxville resident contacted interested companies. Many silica companies reviewed the property including Ottawa Silica Co., Pennsylvania Glass Sand Co. (both now US Silica Co.),Unimin Corp.,The Morie Co. and others. AFG Industries was the main market for the glass sand product from this potential mine. It had two plants, both within trucking distance from the site. All the silica sand producing companies, however, declined to develop the site. A few years later, Unimin Corp. decided to drill and evaluate the deposit. From that evaluation, Unimin leased the property but later dropped it. The relatively limited market for the Short Mountain product as well as Unimin’s recent acquisition of Carolina Silica were reportedly instrumental in the company’s decision to let go of the lease. Several other companies-unrelated to the silica sand industry - looked at the site but no one was interested in developing it. In 1986, J.D. Nicewonder, owner of coal mines in Virginia and Kentucky, was approached to investigate the site. Nicewonder began to develop the site with the intent to produce glass sand to supply AFG Industries. In May 1988, the first shipment of sand was trucked to AFG Industries.

Jan 1, 1992

By R. P. King

INTRODUCTION It is now 21 years since Wiegel and Li published their paper on a random version of Gaudin's model for the mineral liberation phenomenon (Wiegel and Li, 1967). This paper was to revitalise interest in North America in one of the most fascinating, difficult and important problems in the field of theoretical mineral processing. Gaudin had many years previously (Gaudin, 1939) already presented a penetrating analysis of the problem and Wiegel and Li based their analysis very closely on the Gaudin model but they realised that the indeterminate geometrical structure of mineralogical materials demanded that only probabilistic models could provide the necessary quantitative information when working with real materials. They proposed and solved a randomised version of the Gaudin model but retained the essential geometrical simplicity of cubic mineral grains and a cubic fracture pattern. Although their model met with some limited success it was to be superseded in due course. During the 1940's and 1950's the classical field of geometrical probability spawned the mathematical discipline of integral geometry and as early as 1965, Bodziony (1965, a,b) showed that the techniques of integral geometry could accommodate the problems associated with the indeterminate nature of the geometrical mineralogical structure, provided that these were couched in probabilistic terms. In particular he showed that the quantitative description of the comminution process and that of liberation could be decoupled with the resulting economy of effort. This idea has profoundly influenced the course of research in liberation theory and has greatly facilitated its application and the measurement of liberation in a practical way. Bodziony demonstrated also that any theory that required the specification of the mineral "grain

Jan 1, 1989

By P. K. Davis

The results of a previous basic study of the flow and design characteristics of the hydrocyclone has shown that a recovery as high as 99% with a product rating of 0.95 can be achieved on a "batch?2 basis with a single, water-only cyclone if it is configured properly. The next logical step was to demonstrate continuous processing of gob for the efficient recovery of coal by means of a laboratory-size demonstration system. A project to design and construct such a single-cyclone system was also sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy. A recovery of 93% with a product rating of 0.89 was demonstrated. The system design and the data taken are discussed.

Jan 1, 1989

By Raymond E. Blair

Introduction Mining and minerals transportation spans the distance from the pit face and mine wall to the consumer. This transportation can be as simple as coal transfer from the mine and preparation plant by conveyor to a mine mouth electric generating plant. Or it can be as complex as copper ore transportation: concentrated, smelted, refined; drawn into wire and insulated; and cut into reels and transported to local industrial supply houses. The route of aluminum from the bauxite pits to the supermarket shelf in the form of household food wrap is another example of the potential complexity of minerals transportation. For perspective, however, mine to market minerals transportation can be split into three components: materials handling, transportation, and distribution. It should also be recognized that each mineral, market, producer, and consumer has unique transportation characteristics regarding costs, transportation mode, and alternatives in the transportation scheme. Some obvious considerations are the number of producers and consumers, the number of markets and customers the mineral serves. Concerning the latter, are you selling a million tons to one customer or a ton each to a million customers? Transportation volume About the only generalization that can be made about minerals transportation concerns the large volume of materials involved. No other industry compares to the mining and minerals industry in its huge movement of product in the crude, semi-processed, processed, fabricated, and converted states, as shown by the accompanying table of US mineral production. Whether it is crushed stone or sand and gravel moving by truck to a local market from local producers, or coal moving by 9.07 kt (10,000 st) unit trains from a mine to a power plant, or iron ore moving by lake vessel from the upper lake ports to the lower lake steel mills, mineral transportation volumes are huge. The nature of production and consumption affects the transportation mode. More than 60% of the coal moves by rail. The majority of iron ore moves by lake vessel. Ninety per cent of the sand and gravel and more than 80% of crushed stone moves by truck. Factors Affecting Minerals Transportation Some would define minerals transportation as the cost and route to move a mineral product from the first point of sale to the first point of consumption. This definition does not recognize that there can be many

Jan 10, 1982

By Hitch M.

Many mining wastes, especially those from the metal mining industry, have traditionally been treated as a matter of little or no value and in practice a cost burden. Some wastes, due to their reactivity characteristics, have emergent values that go beyond purely economic and into the environmentally beneficial realm. This paper discusses the changing paradigm of mine waste management. Such fundamental parameters such as cut off grade, and strip ratio, are positively impacted by the revaluation of waste rock material. Mine rock waste can now be seen as a commodity of value, similar to the underlying ore being mined and influences the economic performance of suitable projects. This valuable material can be used for industrial purposes including acid neutralization as well as the capture and long-term disposal of anthropogenic carbon dioxide. The Turnagain Nickel project, located in northern British Columbia serves as an example of how waste rock material can become an important matrix for carbon capture and sequestration and can benefit economically from it. By producing material that has emergent economic value as well as carbon capture and sequestration capabilities, the sequestration matrix producer is a beneficiary of new carbon credits that have a market value and is looked upon favourably by regulatory authorities and affected stakeholders.

Jan 1, 2010

By M. Li, J. D. Miller

Existing process technologies for the production of soda ash from trona involves dissolution in hot brine, sedimentation and filtration for the removal of impurities, and subsequent crystallization for the recovery of soda ash. In this regard, mining and operating costs, particularly energy costs, are higher than desired. A preferred processing strategy might be to remove gangue mineral contaminants from the plant feed prior to dissolution in hot brine. Such a preprocessing strategy at ambient temperature and pressure has been limited by the lack of satisfactory process technology. Now based on recent results from laboratory research at the University of Utah it seems that the run-of-mine trona ore can be treated at ambient temperature and pressure using a special flotation procedure to separate the gangue minerals and make a trona concentrate with a purity of almost 99% trona at a recovery of more than 97%. The concept of such a new processing strategy is discussed with respect to current plant practice.

Jan 1, 2002

By John C. Franklin

INTRODUCTION Alpha-emitting radon daughter products are a recognized health hazard contributing to the development of lung cancer in persons exposed to excessive concentrations over an extended period. The primary control technique used by the mining industry is dilution with fresh air. Because the uranium is deposited in porous sandstone in most U.S. mines, the control of this hazard with dilution requires excessive volumes of air. As the mines become larger and deeper, the cost for ventilation becomes a major expenditure for the mining industry Most mines are maintaining levels of radon daughters lower than required by law but to maintain these present levels the mining companies are going to be drilling more vent holes or using other control techniques as the mine expands. These control techniques are being investigated by the U.S. Bureau of Mines to determine their effectiveness, cost, and safety for underground use. [Instrumentation] The Bureau's early research used batch sampling of both radon and radon daughters for determining the concentrations. In both cases it was determined that batch sampling did not give a complete understanding of what was happening to the concentrations. Therefore, continuous monitoring systems were developed for both. A continuous flow-through radon monitor was developed by the Bureau (Franklin, et al.., 1976) using a modified Lucas flask mounted on a photo-multiplier-tube (PMT). The air was filtered twice prior to entering the flask to remove dust, diesel smoke, moisture, and radon daughters. The signal from the PMT was then inverted, shaped, and driven to a data acquisition system (DAS) which accumulated the signals. The DAS has two comparators for setting the scan time and interval, a 24-hour clock with Julian date, a printer, and a perforated paper tape punch. Sampling time is determined by the type of experiment being conducted. Our normal sampling time is one 10-minute scan every 15 minutes, but could be set as low as one scan every minute or as long as a 16-minute scan every 167 minutes. There are two models of the DAS. One is a 10-channel system and the other a 30-channel system. On a 10channel system normally 6 channels are used for radon and radon daughters and the other four channels are used for temperature, absolute pressure, air velocity, and relative humidity as described by McVey (1977). Figure 1 shows a scan of five channels monitoring the radon concentration from intake to exhaust in a stope for a non-work day. If the radon concentration stayed this constant during work days, then continuous monitoring would not be necessary. [ ] Droullard (1977) developed a continuous alpha-beta monitor. This monitor has been modified so that it can be used with the DAS previously mentioned. Control Techniques The U.S. Bureau of Mines has conducted research in controlling airborne radon/radon daughter for 10 years. Major efforts have been conducted in sealing the rock to prevent the release of radon, bulkheading to seal nonproductive areas, backfilling with classified mill tailings, and positive pressure ventilation. Also, tests have been conducted to determine the mining cycles contribution to the radon problem. Surveys One stope with two intakes and one exhaust was continuously monitored to determine the effects of blasting, mucking, and drilling on the airborne radon concentrations (Franklin, et al., 1976). Two other detectors were located inside the stope which were close to the mining activity. In this stope no appreciable change in radon was observed during drilling holes for blasting and roofbolts. This study showed increases up to 40 percent in radon for slushing in the exhaust drift. The radon remained high and very eratic during slushing, as can

Jan 1, 1981

By G. L. Merritt

The implementation of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA) has evolved into one of the most complex environmental protection programs to come out of the late 1970's. The level of detail in the statute and the regulations have resulted in a rigid and complex set of requirements for the administration, permit-ting, inspection and enforcement of the program. In addition, the constant change of the federal program caused by regulatory changes, reorganization of the Office of Sur-face Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE), ongoing litigation involving OSMRE, and the use of the budget to establish additional mandates on OSMRE and the State Regulatory Authorities have resulted in an unstable program. The instability of the program makes it extremely difficult for the States to implement their programs and to achieve the goals of SMCRA.

Jan 1, 1988

By Liu Cheng-si

Variable airway is controllable, which is an important discovery in ventilation research in recent years. For this reason, conventional calculating methods are no longer suitable to solve this problem. I used Mayeda-Seshu and Newton methods to solve the above problem before, they have been proved feasible. However, it is troublesome and difficult to apply to operation with a large amount of calculations. In this paper combination theory and simplified formula are used in determine all control plans and its parameters. This new method with less calculation is easy to understand and master, so it is more important in research and application.

Jan 1, 1997

By P. Grotjohann

In processing heavy mineral sands, the low feed concentration and respective high value of the desired minerals require high capacity production and sharp classification/separation techniques to reduce the specific production costs. The allflux® separator, a new process system introduced to the heavy mineral industry, meets these criteria in an economical way. Its two-stage process, a combination of rising current and fluidized bed technology, allows the treatment of extremely high massflows in a single unit. Using concepts that have proven successful in processing concrete sands for many years, testwork in coal, iron ore, and heavy minerals looks very promising.

Jan 1, 1998

By G. T. Homce

Most electric motor predictive maintenance methods have drawbacks that limit their effectiveness in the mining environment. The U.S. Bureau of Mines is developing an alternative approach to detect winding insulation breakdown in advance of complete motor failure. In order to evaluate the analysis algorithms necessary for this approach, the USBM has designed and installed a system to monitor 120 electric motors in a coal preparation plant. The computer-based experimental system continuously gathers, stores, and analyzes electrical parameters for each motor. The results are then correlated to data from conventional motor-maintenance methods and in-service failures to determine if the analysis algorithms can detect signs of insulation deterioration and impending failure. This paper describes system design and implementation. At this writing, however, installation is still underway, and field data analysis results are not yet available.

Jan 1, 1994

By R. O. Y. Breese

The term "diatomite" implies the nearly pure sedimentary accumulation of diatoms. Sedimentary and chemical purity, low density, inertness, intricate fine structure, high brightness and other properties give the diatom and diatomite unique industrial usefulness and commercial value in high value functional filler and specialty filter aid products. Although diatomite deposits occur commonly throughout the world in Miocene and younger marine and lacustrine sediments, deposits that contain significant reserves of crude suitable for these quality sensitive markets are uncommon. U.S. production is centered on exceptional deposits located in Arizona, Nevada, Oregon, Washington and California. Evaluation of deposits requires understanding of geology, mining, production and end use. As crude quality in deposits varies within and between strata, ore suitable for quality sensitive end uses must be identified through sampling and evaluation programs tailored to permit recognition of critical variations.

Jan 1, 1989

By Carl Heising

Longwall workings in the Federal Republic of Germany are situated in deep depths. Coal deposits are characterized by a sequence of many seams and manifold geological disturbances. Hence result special requirements on the layout of workings, the methods of coal getting, supports, mine ventilation and dust control. As for the application of dust control the large quantities of fresh air and, this, the high air velocity and the limited water contents in the run-of--mine coal must be taken into consideration. The principle of our methods of dust control is to avoid, if at all possible, the development of dust and, if this is not possible, to suppress the dust even during its development. In nearly all coal faces, the method of water infusion prescribed by our Mines Inspectorates is applied. Continuous water in- fusion is preferred. For water infusion in the coal face, intensive developments as to the process and as to the tools and apparates to be applied were done. The German coal mining industry differs between cutting coal getting and stripping coal getting. Water spraying to the tracks of coal ploughs as well as internal and external water feed to the loader required special activities of further development in past years. There are possibilities to still improve such methods in future. A new important field of applying dust control developed from the application of powered supports. In this field, water spraying prevails. Wet methods of dust control are prefered also in the conveying and loading of coal and at through-flow crushers, however, as far as possible, combined with a covering of the working points where dust develops. Devices for the collection and sedimentation of dust, so-called dust exhausters, are used also with crushers In advanced headings, dust control is performed solely by water. Gateroads kept on or behind the coal face line call for new methods of dust control which are at present under development.

Jan 1, 1980

By Carl R. Christiansen

Underground sites have great potential for industrial plants, for warehouses, and for other purposes where above-surface locations are now employed. Subsurface locations have generally been over- looked by industrial planners even though they may offer many features of superiority over the conventional sites. There are many opportunities for industries or warehouses to go underground. New space can be excavated expressly for this purpose or openings in existing mines may be converted to useful space. Another possibility is the pre-planned mine-industrial site, in which a mineral product is mined and marketed as a commercial venture while utilizing a mining plan which will permit rapid conversion of the openings created into active industrial areas while mining continues in the adjacent ground. An underground plant located in chambers created by excavating space in solid rock has many advantages, including low construction costs, low heating-cooling costs, freedom from storm damage or other surface weather conditions, absence of traffic noise and vibration, fireproof construction, low insurance costs, excellent working conditions, easily controlled temperature and humidity, almost unlimited bearing capacity of floors, low maintenance costs, no effect upon surface.

Jan 1, 1973