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THE art of mine surveying has made very great progress in recent years, and is still advancing, perhaps faster than any other branch of surveying. The scope of the mine surveyor's duties has greatly increased, his instruments and methods have improved, the responsibility of his position is greater, and the end is not yet in sight.It might be supposed that such a steadily growing subject would have an adequate literature, but this is by no means the case and outsiders commonly judge mine surveyors by their text-books. Hardly any condemnation can be too strong for most of these books. The English books truckle to the antiquated and crude methods apparently still in use in England, and thereby largely aid in perpetuating them; they commonly in illustrative examples give the distances in fathoms, feet, and inches; they spend page after page discoursing on instruments that should have been forgotten long ago; they try to antagonize theory and practice by detailing such calculations as that a certain vein will contain 2,003.907 pounds of galena per square fathom, and then reduce this amazing quantity to hundredweights, quarters, and pounds. Nothing can be more unscientific, or, for that matter, less businesslike, than unwarranted assumptions of accuracy; it is, perhaps, the greatest curse of applied science. Here we have a calculation to thethousandth part of a pound, when there is probably an unavoidable error of two hundred pounds. What shall we say of a man who explains how to measure the depths of shafts to the hundredth part of an inch by means of short brass rods screwed together...

Jan 1, 1909

By T. L. Johnston

The Dobbins property, about 4-1/2 miles northeast of Cartersville, Ga., was fist operated in 1866, it is the oldest manganese mine in Georgia and one of the oldest minus in the United States still producing manganese ore. Changes in ownership, lessees, and operators and lack of records prevent the compiling of statistics regarding total production of ore from the property.

Jan 1, 1942

By T. L. Johnston

The Dobbins property about 4-1/2 miles northeast of Cartersville, Ga., was first operated in 1866. It is the oldest manganese mine in Georgia and one of the oldest mines in the United States still producing manganese ore. Changes in ownership lessees and operators and lack of records prevent the compiling of statistics regarding total production of ore from the property

Jan 1, 1942

By Michael B. Cortie

The young field of nanotechnology has as its objective the design and construction of useful devices made of nanoscale materials. Objects or structures which have at least one important dimension in the range 0.5 to perhaps 50 nm may be considered to be in the nanoscale domain. These sizes lie far below the 200 nm or so that can be resolved with an optical microscope, and are closer in size to the 0.3 nm diameter of individual atoms. Nanotechnology, which is the study and exploitation of these tiny structures, is attracting keen interest at present. The excitement is motivated by the observation that control of matter at the nanoscale holds the promise of faster computing, better medicines, and smarter materials. In this paper, the physical phenomena on which this optimism is based are broadly discussed and explained. Where appropriate, examples of the rather different and curious properties of gold at the nanoscale are used to illustrate the points covered.

Oct 1, 2003

By M Shaffer, D C. Grant, D J. Goudie, P Sylvester, C Voisey

Scanning electron microscope–Mineral Liberation Analyser SEM-MLA can be used to discriminate between hematite/magnetite in iron ores, but achieving backscattered electron (BSE) segmentation between the two minerals is difficult for particles =75 µm using typical preparation and analysis methods for the MLA based on a tungsten filament SEM (Quanta 400) with 25 kV high voltage. Preparing iron ore sample mounts using a slow-speed polishing method, and conducting the experiment on a field emission gun SEM-MLA (Quanta 650) with the high voltage (HV) setting lowered to 15 kV reduces instrument noise and results in very clean BSE images and segmentation. This method requires new X-ray standards to be acquired for each mineral identity at 15 kV because of major changes in the spectra at lower kV. However, once these X-rays are added to the mineral reference list, effective segmentation can be achieved and a proper analysis obtained.CITATION:Grant, D C, Goudie, D J, Voisey, C, Shaffer, M and Sylvester, P, 2017. Discriminating hematite/magnetite via scanning electron microscope–mineral liberation analyser in the - mesh size fraction of iron ores, in Proceedings Iron Ore 2017, pp 541–548 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Jul 24, 2017

By T. Wang

A new generated NaNO3 ? NaNO2 ? KNO3 ternary thermal energy storage system which has low melting point as 124°C and high specific heat capacity was studied for the short and long?term thermal stability by using the Thermogravimetric Analyzer (TGA). Based on the actual working condition of molten salt in solar two, the simulated cyclic thermal stability measurement was also conducted. The ternary system demonstrates excellent short ? term thermal stability and thermal reliability after cyclic heating and cooling processes. However, in the long ? term as well as the simulated cyclic stability measurement, large amount of weight loss was observed. Moreover, the stepwise long ? term isothermal study reveals that below 440°C the weight change is minimal and this temperature is viewed as the upper limit temperature of thermal stability for this ternary system. To determine the lost phases at high temperature above the upper thermal stability limit, techniques such as XRD and SEM are used to compare the condition of the salt mixture before and after the long ? term thermal stability study. On the basis of the comparison, it can be concluded that the major weight loss was due to the decomposition of sodium nitrite.

Jan 1, 2012

By Kumar A, Mishra N. C

For each tonne of chromite ore mined in Sukinda, approximately ten tonnes of fine overburden material is generated. The overburden typically contains about 30 - 60 per cent Fe2O3, 0.3 - 1.1 per cent Ni, four to nine per cent Cr2O3 and 0.04 - 0.2 per cent cobalt and is being discarded leading to loss of valuable metals and creating environmental pollution. In order to take the advantage of presence of iron, nickel and chromium, the present studies advocate the utilisation of nickel lateritic chromite overburden for production of Ni bearing pig iron through blast furnace extracting maximum iron and nickel from the chromite overburden. The present paper deals mainly with the beneficiation of chromite overburden, sintering characteristics and thermodynamic studies. The beneficiation study shows that a beneficiated concentrate having Fe - 50 per cent and Ni -- 1.1 per cent can be achieved from chromite overburden having Fe - 30 per cent and Ni -- 0.7 per cent. Sintering studies have been carried out with bed height of 300 and 450 mm at a suction of 600 and 900 WG respectively. The results reveal that good quality sinter can be produced from chromite overburden concentrate with a basicity of about 1.0 and coke breeze consumption rate about 16 per cent. In all the experiments, Tumbler Index, Abrasion Index and Shatter Index was found to be in the range of 65 - 70, 4.5 - 5.5 and 85 - 90 respectively. The other parameters namely softening temperature, melt down temperature, reduction degradation test and relative reducibility have also been determined. A thermodynamic analysis has also been carried out to make a technological assessment of the process for the production of alloyed pig iron from chromite overburden in blast furnace which shows that it is possible to produce nickel bearing pig iron in blast furnace using the sinter up to 80 per cent. Techno-economic analysis reveals that this route will yield a substantial profit even after accounting for cost of beneficiation, extra coke, raw materials and extra slag produced.

Jan 1, 1999

By Giovanni A. Bonita

The United States Capitol Visitor Center (USCVC) is one of the largest underground structures ever constructed in the Washington, DC, metropolitan area. The 600,000 ft2 (55,750 m2) structure is entirely underground and immediately adjacent to the shallow foundations of the existing U.S. Capitol building. Interior building columns for the USCVC were supported on 186 drilled shafts that varied in diameter from 4 to 9 ft (1.2 to 2.9 m) and in length from 15 to 45 ft (4.6 to 13.7 m). The vast majority of the building utilities were located beneath the basement floor slab. It was decided at the onset of the project to proceed with construction prior to completion of the design drawings, and coordination between the underslab utilities and the drilled shafts had not yet been finalized at the onset of drilled shaft installation. Given depth and location restrictions of the outlets, relocation of the bulk of the utilities was not possible. Almost half of the drilled shafts were affected, leaving redesign as the most feasible remedial solution. The redesign involved adjustments to the shaft length, diameter, and bell. It took place on a case-by-case basis, sometimes only minutes before installation began. Coordination between the field and design team was excellent, and delay associated with the redesign efforts was minimal. In addition, the detailed, high-quality field records kept by both the contractor and field engineers allowed for accurate and fair estimations of the added drilled footage and concrete volumes placed. The additional service fee, which was minimal, was settled quick and fair.

Jan 1, 2006

By J. L. Fuentes-Cantillana, J. B. Solar Menéndez, A. O. Cámara

The Principality of Asturias is a region situated in Northern Spain with two centuries of tradition in underground coal mining. In addition, its uneven relief has obliged the construction of a great number of tunnels both for railways and roads. Basing on this experience and an ever increasing need to improve on safety, the Barredo Foundation dependent on the Regional Government and the University, provides and manages a Centre for Research of Fires and Ventilation in Tunnels. The Centre has as its most important infrastructure, a tunnel 540 m long, 9,5 m wide and 8,0 m high at centre. This section coupled with ventilation equipment allows the simulation of risk conditions at real scale, which is achieved by modifying the geometry of the section and through two powerful stations situated one at either en of the tunnel. In addition, the Centre houses two test benches for fans and electrical motors at high temperatures. One bench with a re-circulation conduit is the most appropriate for tests in Transversal and Semi-transversal type of installations. The other, is for the testing of electrical motors or fans which operate in zones where the surrounding temperature is high. In this Centre, training has also been developed for Fire Fighters and Civilian Protection Personnel who have to work in fire and smoke rescue conditions in underground structures. Testing conducted at real scale enables this formation and also to improve different computer programmes in the field of Fires and Ventilation.

Jan 1, 2003

By P. V. Chandramohan

"In ports, piled berths are designed and constructed for berthing of ships with a finite draught. Piles in a bridge foundation also have a large free stand above scoured level. The piles of these structures have to withstand large horizontal forces imparted by the impact of the approaching vessels or due to longitudinal and transverse action in a bridge. It is also imperative that these piles have to project out of the dredged / scoured bed. These piles are normally designed as slender compression members subjected to bending also. They are subjected to vertical load tests for assessing the soil resistance. Lateral load tests, as a rule, are also stipulated. IS and IRC codes stipulate a deflection criteria for lateral load test to arrive at the capacity. These tests are usually conducted on a working pile by jacking out two piles. At the time of the test, pile will be free headed. But in service, piles are fixed head. There is a large difference in deflections between a fixed head and a free headed pile. Besides, a free headed pile will be subjected to a much higher bending moment than the fixed head one. This will put the working test pile under risk of breaking during the test. The problem is analyzed with case studies. INTRODUCTION Vertical capacity of piles is assessed by static formulae. This formula is based on the soil properties obtained from random soil exploration and laboratory and in-situ testing. Since soil is not a homogeneous medium, properties can vary. The design parameters taken for computations may be different from the ones at the interface of the pile with the soil. The best way is to find out is by a load test. The code IRC:78-2014 has rightly stated that initial load test is part of the design process. This is true with the vertical load test. But there are certain problems with the purpose and inference of the lateral load test. In both the tests the criteria for acceptance is the quantum of movement of the point of application of the load. In the former, the movement is vertical and depends more on the compression of the soil than the compressive strain in concrete. But in the latter, this movement is partly on account of the flexural rigidity of the pile and partly due to the horizontal compressibility of the soil. The role of rigidity of the pile is more when compressibility of the soil is higher. Lateral load test is done by jacking one pile against another because it is difficult to get an independent horizontal reaction. Please see Fig.1 Photo."

Jan 1, 2015

By L. D. Patts, G. H. Schnakenberg

Achieving substantial reductions in the exposure of underground miners to diesel particulate matter in a number of metal and nonmetal mines in the U.S. depends on the ability of the industry to widely implement advanced diesel emissions control technologies, primarily diesel particulate filter (DPF) systems. Recent field studies showed that diesel particulate filter systems with Cordierite and silicon carbide ceramic filter elements are capable of reducing concentrations of diesel particulate matter and elemental carbon by more than 70 and 90 percent, respectively. But those studies and several other attempts to implement DPF systems in underground mines revealed a number of relatively unique technical and operational challenges that are limiting industry-wide implementation of this technology. This paper provides detailed analysis of some of those challenges and short overviews of several projects launched by NIOSH Pittsburgh Research Laboratory in an attempt to provide the underground mining industry with more adequate DPF systems. These systems employ advanced technologies to overcome the most pronounced challenge, the regeneration of DPF elements installed on mining engines that generate relatively low exhaust temperature. This paper presents essential findings obtained through a long-term evaluation of DPF system with diesel fuel burner technology installed on a heavy-duty load-haul dump vehicle in an underground metal mine. In addition, the essential results of the laboratory evaluation of a popular on-highway DPF system which was adapted and optimized for underground mining applications will be summarized in this paper.

By H. R. Bullis

"Abstract- This paper discusses what appears to be a flaw in the current belief, widely held within the gold mining industry and investment community, that the creation of ever-larger gold mining companies is desirable for mining companies and investors alike. The basis of the flaw is in the underlying assumption that very large gold producers can discover or acquire new gold deposits of the size necessary to replace extracted reserves on a year-on-year basis over the intermediate to long term (i.e., five to ten years and longer). As it will be noted in this paper, deposits of the size required to replace annual production of very large gold producers (VLGPs) are relatively few in number. Although discoveries of new gold deposits continue to be made, they are predominantly in the 0.5 to 2.0 million ounce range. Data represented here suggest that, although gold production from individual VLGPs continues to increase, the change is due to merging or acquiring other companies or projects with similar reserve life profiles. Therefore, the reserve life profiles of VLGPs have remained flat or have decreased.The paper will note recent changes in the industry and the remarkable increase in gold production reported by individual mining companies over the past several years. It will provide an overview of the geographical and geological distribution of known gold deposits and the range of deposit sizes. Finally, the paper will discuss the challenges that face large gold producers in replenishing their reserves that are being depleted at an ever-increasing rate. Unless otherwise stated, all production and reserve data have been taken from company documents in the public domain or publicly available information."

Jan 1, 2001

By Thomas C. Wilder

Jan 1, 1965

The ore milled from the Lead Lode of The Zinc Corporation leases consists of a fairly granular mixture of galena, marmatite, chalcopyrite, tetrahedrite, pyrrhotite, pyrite, and lollingite with a gangue association of calcite, quartz, bustamite, rhodonite, mangan-hedenbergite, garnet, fluorite, mangal1o-calcite and apatite. The silver content of the ore occurs in three minerals-tetrahedrite, dyscrasite, and pyrargyrite, the last two mentioned occurring in microscopic association only. Other metallic and gangue minerals are also present in this complex mineralogical association, but do not influence the milling operations. Fortunately, the silver minerals favour the galena and chalcopyrite as their host minerals, thus facilitating the recovery of both copper and silver in the lead concentrate. The ore from the Lead Lode assays from 14-18% lead; 3·0-4·5 oz. silver per ton, and 9·5-12·0% zinc.A parallel lode, known as the Zinc Lode, is well developed in The Zinc Corporation leases. This lode assays from 6-8% lead, 1·5 oz. silver per ton, 18-25% zinc with a siliceous gangue. The common Lead Lode gangue minerals-ealcite, rhodonite, bustamite-are very rare in present underground exposures. No metallurgical work was done on this ore during the pilot plant operations.The aim in the milling process is to produce: 1. A lead concentrate with the maximum economic recovery of lead, silver, gold, copper and antimony, and minimum zinc content.2. A zinc conc,entrate with the maximum economic recovery of zinc, cadmium, and cobalt, and minimum iron, arsenic and fluorine content.3. A waste residue containing sufficient granular material to be utilized as underground fill.In considering the economics of the milling practice the above three requirements plus consideration of the tariffs submitted by the purchasers of concentrates were the deciding factors in the evolution of the present milling practice.Towards the end of 1924 The Zinc Corporation Limited added to and adapted the old zinc tailings plant for the treatment of 5,000 tons of crude ore per week. This plant, which operated until January, 1936, was in general principles similar to the standard Broken Hill methods of ore concentration, whereby the galena was recovered by the gravity concentration methods of Hgging and tabling with selective flotation concentration of the residual galena and marmatite. One important difference from other Broken Hill plants was that the primary grinding of the jig tailing was performed with flint-loaded mills operating in closed circuit with revolving screens. Two primary grinding sections were installed, each...

Jan 1, 1941

By Melford H. Salsbury

The maximum net return from the sale of ores and concentrates of gold, silver, copper, lead, and zinc accrues to the producer when these mine products are marketed to the best advantage. Data are presented that the producer, especially the small mine operator, can use to survey available markets and make a preliminary estimate of the net return to be expected from an ore, on the basis of typical mill, smelter, and freight schedules. A review of the industry is presented by States in which recent production statistics are given, marketing facilities are discussed, and locations of principal mining districts, custom mills, and smelters are shown. Explanations of treatment processes, ore types, treatment charges, payments for metals, and deductions are given. Published rail and truck freight rates for mine products, based on marketing patterns developed over many years, are listed and explained.

Jan 1, 1964

The proper selection of a coal for a particular use depends on knowledge of fundamental data concerning the coals that offer, particularly their type and rank. Type of coal depends on the nature of the original plants and the environment in which they accumulated.Rank reflects the subsequent metamorphism of the coal, and is of two kinds-physical rank and chemical rank.INTRODUCTIONIn the different coalfields of the Commonwealth of Australia there occur many different kinds of coal which provide the coal-research worker with a wide range of material, but to the fuel technologist they represent complex problems in utilization.In the past it has been common practice to instal coal-using equipment of a design based on plant used in large industrial centres of other countries and then search for supplies of suitable coal. This has led to the transportation of coal mainly from New South Wales to other States, which have inadequate supplies of coal suitable for use in the equipment they have installed. However, modern economy and industrial practice demand local resources of coal for the development of industry, transport and domestic services, and a change in the old order is rapidly taking place. Technologists and engineers are now faced with the problem of designing and installing equipment to use whatever kind of coal is available in local coalfields.Much has been accomplished in this direction and important investigations are at present being carried out, but there still remains a wide field of problems for research.In planning and carrying out investigations into coal utilization it is essential that fundamental data and knowledge should be available and that its significance should be appreciated.

Jan 1, 1955

By L. F. Miao

Studies were carried out to investigate the ultimate soil pressure acting on pile(s) undergoing lateral soil movement in soft clay. A special apparatus has been designed to apply a uniform rectangular profile of lateral soil movement on the rigid pile(s) with pinned head and tip conditions to obtain the ultimate soil pressure. The piles were 16 mm (5/8 in) in diameter. For the pile group tests, the behavior of different number of piles (2, 3, 4, 6 and 9), pile arrangements and center-to-center spacings (3 and 6 diameters) were investigated. In this paper, the group factors of 11 combinations of number of piles, pile arrangements and pile spacings are presented. The group factors are given for individual piles in a pile group as well as for the entire group. Generally, the group factors of individual piles in a group varied significantly according to pile spacing in both directions, and pile arrangement; the group factor of the whole group reduced with an increasing number of piles, and increased with increasing pile spacing. For a pile group with the same number of piles but different pile arrangement, no significant difference was found in the group factors for the entire group.

Jan 1, 2008

By A. E. Taylor, A. S. Judge, P. T. Lafleche

"Resource development in northern Canada has special requirements which derive from the unique environmental and eco-logical nature of the northern environment. In this paper several case histories in which the Permafrost Research Section of the Geological Survey of Canada (GSC) has participated are used to illustrate how geophysical methods may be used to address some of these considerations. Although some of these examples were developed while examining problems directly related to oil and gas development and transport in frontier regions, such or similar methods also have application to mining problems.IntroductionA critical parameter is the distribution and thickness of permafrost, which in northern Canada varies from being a few metres and discontinuous at the southern limit to thicknesses in excess of 700 m in the Arctic Islands'!'. Figure I is a schematic diagram of typical ground thermal conditions in a permafrost zone. The upper zone is defined by an active layer which undergoes a seasonal freeze/thaw cycle. In the simplest case, the ground remains permanently frozen below the active layer to the depth of the O°C isotherm, which is defined as the base of the permafrost. Water chemistry, pore structure and pore or grain size may cause the base of the frozen ground to be above the permafrost by up to 100 m(2). Ice can be found within the permafrost in the pores of solid rock or sediments, as massive ice within unconsolidated sediments or as ice lenses within fissures in a solid rock mass. The mining technique used in these conditions, whether open pit or underground, can differ considerably from that used in southern Canada. In the high Arctic, for instance, the dry drift method is feasible underground in the permanently frozen host rock. The frozen nature of the wall rocks can obviate water-related problems."

Jan 1, 1987

By Adrian Moore, Alan Richards, Andrew Brodbeck

Structural blast vibration limits should be based on the strength of the structure, the stress induced by blasting, and a responsible factor of safety. In this paper a methodology that uses direct strain measurements to determine the stress induced by blasting is described. The methodology has been used to measure strain resulting from blasting, and establish appropriate blast vibration limits on a brick sewer tunnel, an underground mine heading, brick veneer houses, a water pipeline, and transmission tower foundations. An outline is given of the use of the methodology to establish limits for the main entry heading of an underground coal mine, and transmission tower footings. The methodology that is described has reduced uncertainty factors, and permitted the specification of higher blast vibration limits than had been previously used.

By R. S. Dean

[Methods s of preparing the manganese metal that has been used in chemical and metallurgical investigations have passed through a cycle. Most of the investigations made e before the turn of the century, used Moissan's pyrophoric man manganese.3/ This material was made b; electrolysis into a mercury cathode and distillation in vacuo. The material was essentially pure, and investigations in which it was employed (with proper precautions against oxidation) led to accurate results on tie intrinsic behavior of metallic manganese.]

Jan 1, 1941