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By A. MacG. Robertson

INTRODUCTION The tailings, or solid waste, remaining after uranium has been extracted from an ore and the liquid wastes associated with it contain both radioactive and other substances which, if released to the environment, may have a detrimental impact on man and his environment. Although the radioactivity of the waste is of natural origin, the mining and milling process results in bringing the radioactive ore to the surface, changing its chemical and physical form, increasing its mobility and, therefore, enhancing the potential radiological exposure to man. Exposure to radionuclides released from a tailings impoundment, while small as applied to any one generation, can be made large by counting far into the future, large enough to be the dominant source of exposure from the nuclear fuel cycle, Cunningham (1978). Increasingly it is being found that where the prime concern was initially the radionuclide releases, the release of other pollutants and contaminants may be of equal or greater concern. While there is a definite benefit, at least to present generations, resulting from the recovery of uranium, current and long-term concerns require that consequential present and future releases be kept as low as is reasonably achievable. Design practice, to minimize this release, is currently passing through a technical revolution; precipitated by public and institutional concerns. New techniques and methods are, therefore, being actively sought and continuously implemented. Because of the complexity of the pollutant release mechanisms and the sitespecific nature of each impoundment site and tailings product, a wide variety of site selection and design options have been implemented or considered. It is often possible to design a number of satisfactory tailings disposal schemes which differ widely in nature and cost. This paper outlines the principal areas in which options are available and discusses some of these options. Both operating and post-decommissioning conditions are consi-

Jan 1, 1980

By A. J. Benham, H. Kessler

In the UK a high proportion of land-won sand and gravel is extracted from sub-alluvial gravels and river terrace gravels located within river valleys. However, extraction from deposits of this type is increasingly proving to be less acceptable. Quarries within river valleys often have a high visual impact and the cumulative impact of these operations in close proximity to each other can be high (figure 1). River valley operations are almost always restored to open water. Whilst these may be attractive for nature conservation and provide leisure activities, they can also have a serious impact on the natural hydrology of the flood plain. Wet restoration of quarries located close to airports or airfields can also lead to concerns regarding increased risk of bird strike on aircraft. The Civil Aviation Authority recently suggested that an exclusion zone of 13 km be applied around all airports and airfields to reduce the potential for bird strikes on aircraft. This action is likely to have a serious impact on the availability of potential sand and gravel extraction sites in river valleys.

Jan 1, 2005

By K. L. Browne

After a decade of high copper prices, major mining companies are renewing their interest in purchasing operating properties and/or developing ore bodies. An existing operation carries with it a history that can present unique opportunities, while a greenfield operation allows for the establishment of a defined culture. Capital investments are distinctly different. A comparison of BHP Copper's Robinson operation, a greenfield property, and BHP Copper's Tintaya operation, a government owned Peruvian property, will provide insights into mining, concentrating and cultural differences between North and South America operations. The Broken Hill Proprietary Co. Ltd. (BHP) is Australia's second-largest company. Fiscal year 1996 sales were US$16 billion, profits were more than US$1 billion and total market capitalization was about US25 billion. In 1885, BHP began mining silver, lead and zinc at Broken Hill, New South Wales, Australia. Throughout its 112-year history, BHP achieved an impressive record of performance and expansion. Today, BHP is one of the world's leading companies (66th on the Standard and Poors 500), having diversified into steel, petroleum and mining with more than 65,000 employees in 70 countries.

Jan 1, 1997

By T. Negeri, A. O. Orumwense

Microwave pretreatment is one of the emerging technologies which have been reported as having potential economic benefits for the processing of amenable ores. The application of microwave pretreatment to the processing of refractory and finely disseminated ores is of great interest as the technology can potentially reduce high comminution costs and improve mineral liberation. Sized ore samples were subjected to microwave irradiation at power levels varying from 1 to 5 kW over exposure times of between 1 and 6minutes in order to determine the influence of heating rate on mineral transformation, ground product size distribution and mineral liberation. The microwave irradiated samples were ground and subsequently floated. A comparison is made with non-microwave treated samples. Flotation grade and recovery show a strong dependence on the microwave absorption characteristics of the mineral components of the ore, in the following decreasing order -sphalerite, galena, and lastly chalcopyrite.

Jan 1, 2003

An open pit production planning method for stage mining is presented in this paper. The method brings solutions to the four most important parameters in stage mining : 1) the number of stages, 2) the size and geometry of each stage pit, 3) the mining sequence of the benches in the stage pits, and 4) the time of transition from one stage to the next. The method can also simultaneously optimize the ultimate pit, mine life, and production rate in each stage.

Jan 1, 1996

By R. Cohen-Alloro

Classical apparatus for granulometric separation generally have limited applications which are found either in the level of the size of separation or in that of the accuracy and the efficiency of the separation or in that of the rate of feed. In industrial practice, the classification of the products of coarse dimensions generally poses no problems. On the contrary, the separation of fine particles presents some difficulties, however the apparatus is used (mechanical classifiers, curved screens and sieves, hydrocyclones, etc...). These difficulties are due to hprfections of separation, rather high cost prices, and sometimes large amounts of recycled materials.

Jan 1, 1970

By D. E. Ranta, G. H. Giroux, A. W. Randall, D. A. Barr

Zinc-lead ores of the Pine Point District, Northwest Territories, Canada, are hosted in paleokarst cavities within a Middle Devonian carbonate barrier complex. Of the nearly 100 deposits found, most are irregularly distributed along two main regional stratigraphically controlled trends. The ores, which occur predominantly as open space filling, form deposits most of which average one million tonnes in size with an average grade of 10% combined zinc plus lead. Geological features related to karsting control not only distribution of deposits but also their shape, size and grade. The higher grade ore in these deposits generally occurs in a relatively small core area. Consequently, accuracy of reserve estimation is dependent on drill-hole density and understanding of karst geometry. Several case examples will be reviewed to demonstrate the relationship between shape, size and grade of deposit, geological reserves and drill-hole density, along with a discussion of geological ore reserve estimation methods.

Jan 1, 1992

Fine coal is substantially more costly to process than coarse coal because of technical difficulties associated with separating fine particles and removing process water from both clean coal and refuse. Therefore, companies are often forced to discard coal fines to waste impoundments. According to a recent report published by National Research Council, the U.S. coal industry is discarding 70-90 million tons of coal fines annually to 713 active impoundments, most of which are located in Central Appalachia. On October 11, 2000, a 72-acre impoundment near Inez, Kentucky, accidentally released 250 million gallons of coal slurry into nearby underground mines, creeks, rivers, and schoolyards, thereby creating serious environ-mental concerns. Fortunately, recent advances in separation technologies make it possible to recover fine coal more efficiently from existing coal preparation plants and from waste streams previously discarded to impoundments. The availability of these new technologies allows companies to increase profitability and minimize environmental risks, which are conducive for achieving sustainable mining.

Jan 1, 2003

By R. K. Mehta, M. G. Bersch

Characterization of an ore or mill product is routinely performed by time consuming and tedious chemical analyses, sink-float separations, etc. Additionally, these types of tests do not provide data concerning the interrelations and interlocking of the mineral constituents. This paper discusses some of the applications and capabilities of the Minerals and Material Science Research Center at The University of Alabama. Back-scattered electron images of coal, oil shale, complex suldfide, and tantalium ores were acquired using a JEOL 8600 electron microprobe with a NORAN (formerly Tracor Northern] 8500 image analysis system. Methods of analysis and typical results are discussed.

Jan 1, 1992

By N. I. Fedunets

The development of variousworks on automatising of operational processes at coal¬extractive and coal-mining enterprises introduces an ever growing necessity to carry out investigations in the wide range of problems concerning the possibitity of joint functioning of different levels, which seems impossible without the use of integrated systems of passing on and prossessing the information on the basis of modern calculating machines and other means of automation. This view on the problem of automation of the enterprise operation presupposes that the structure of automated operational dispatcher control (AODC) should be very closely connected with that of integrated data processing system! In this case the AODC structure from the point of view of automation of its functions (or operations), i.e. from the point of view of informational techniques coinsides in general with the structure of dispersed information and calculating network (ICN), realizing the passing on and processing of the information as well as solving the functional tasks on the basis of local calculating networks of electrical calculating machines with correspond to different levels of AODC and located with regard to productional hierarchy of operational dispatcher control (ODC). In this approach however the use of dispersed, ICN gives opportunity to. realize the possibility of action only with realisation on the CM of algorithmic' task of ODC, when a dispatcher 'is the lastto make a final decision.. At the mining enterprises it's rather difficult for a dispatcher to make a final decision because of the great variaty of productional situations, the presence of contradictions and a number of other subjective factors which often lead to the dispatcher's mistaks causing great material losses of the enterprise. Hence the necessity arises to automize and formalize making a decision and including the expert systems (ES) into the ontour of AODC, which enables the dispatcher 2to get a neeessary advice in different situations, especially in case ofemergency on the basis of establishing the mechanism of logical layout of non-formalized data base (DB) procedures relying upon the background knowledge and experience of experts. The presently presented in this paper theory of establishing the. ISAODC on the basis of dispersed ICN and expert systems is aimed at trasformation ofoperational' tasks of the higher level into the technological ones, at solving the tasks of diagnostics and forseeing of the process of production, with a dispatcher getting an opportunity of making qualitative and effective decision concerrning the choice of operational impacts in actual time on the basis of generalization the realisation of presented conception must, as has been already mentioned, be accomplished only on the basis of the foundatoin of the united dispersed informational - calculating network of electrical calculating machines.. This includes ICN which would be operating in . different operational contours. . From what has just been said it followsthat the ISAODC Structure will conside with that of DICN (in our case) and hence all the problems of ISAODC structure would be regarded as the questions of DICN.

Jan 1, 1992

By Richard D. Harvey

Petrographic properties of carbonate rocks are useful guides to the utilization of these rocks in SO2-scrubbing systems. High porosity and fineness of grain are thought to be the principal properties that contribute to high dissolution rates of the rocks in the scrubbing liquor. Lake marls and chalks are the major types of carbonate rocks that have these properties. Lake marls are composed mainly of equant grains of calcite (mean grain size generally less than 4 microns) weakly agglomerated in- to larger, porous particles. The marls commonly consist of 80 to 90 percent CaCo3 as calcite and aragonite. Impurities are, for the most part, quartz silt and organic matter. The average pore volume for samples of lake marls (1- to 1.2-mm particles) is about 0.50 cc/g, which corresponds to a porosity of about 57 percent. The mean size of pores in these marls is generally between 1 and 2 microns in diameter. Surface areas of lake marls range from 0.8 to 6.8 m2/g. Chalks have grain sizes and shapes similar to those of lake marls, but they generally have smaller amounts of quartz and organic matter and minor amounts of clay minerals. Pore volumes differ from one chalk formation to another; the 1- to 1. 2-mm particles average about 0.20 cc/g, which corresponds to a porosity of about 35 percent. The mean diameter of pores in chalks tested ranges from 0. 15 to 0.76 micron. Surface areas of chalks range from 3. 2 to 20. 1 m2/g. In the United States lake marls are restricted largely to Pleistocene- age sediments that occur in the states around the Great Lakes. Chalk and chalky limestones are restricted mainly to the Upper Cretaceous and Tertiary strata in the Kansas-Nebraska-Colorado area and in the south- eastern states, from Texas to Florida. Results of laboratory tests of the relative dissolution rates of samples at pH 6 and 44°C indicate that, in addition to many lake marls and chalks, oolitic aragonite, pelecypod shells, and carbonate waste sludges from certain industrial plants also have high dissolution rates.

Jan 1, 1974

By P. R. Taylor

This work is concerned with the extraction of refractory metals using an electro-reduction process, in which a molten oxide melt, instead of halide, is used as the electrolyte. The process may provide an alternative method of producing refractory metals from their ores through use of a reverse-polarity direct current (DC) plasma arc heating process. In such a process, the plasma torch itself acts as an anode, and resulting liquid or solid product metals work as a cathode, whereas the molten oxide melt plays the role of an electron transfer layer. The focus of this study is: the electro-reduction of scheelite; vanadium pentoxide; and chromite. For the vanadium pentoxide, the proposed melt is mainly composed of CaO-V2O5/Li2O-B2O3-V2O5or FeO-CaO-SiO2-V2O5-Li2O with the addition of other alkali and alkaline metal oxides. In the case of scheelite ore, the SiO2-CaO-Li2O-WO3system is used as melt and metal aluminum or nickel could be used as a collecting media. As for the reduction of chromite ore, SiO2-CaO-Cr2O3-Li2O system with trace amount of CaF2is used as the melt. As a demonstration, chromium was successfully produced at a laboratory scale through the plasma driven electro-reduction process. One of the studied slags had a composition of 13.8% CaO; 4.9%CaF2; 36.4% Cr2O3; 6.9% Li2O; and 38.0% SiO2. Two observations are significant in this laboratory scale study. The first one was that the amount of Cr2O3and FeO, which were predominantly electronic conductors in the oxide melt, greatly affected the conducting mechanism of the melt. With high concentration of Cr2O3and FeO in the melt, the current efficiency was fairly low. In this case, chromium was found to be barely reduced because of electronic conducting mechanism. For example, with initial slag of 60% Cr2O3, no chromium was found reduced. With low concentration of Cr2O3and FeO in the studied melt, typically no more than 30% Cr2O3, it was observed that chromium was readily reduced due to the dominant ionic conducting mechanism. The second observation was that the addition of SiO2tothe melt helped to make the oxide melt more ionic, which was apparently desirable to the molten oxide electrolysis. However, high content of silica had a negative effect on the fluidity of the melt. This was resolved by adding trace amounts of CaF2to the melt. Therefore, by judicious selection of oxide melt, refractory metal oxides might be dissolved into it and yet the melt itself retains the required ionicity. A reverse-polarity DC plasma driven molten oxide electrolysis may prove to be a viable alternative route for the extractive metallurgy of refractory metals.

Jan 1, 2003

By Howard M. Wells

Investment in minerals development usually entails big financial outlays. which will remain at risk for a long time before the venture can begin to generate a return cash flow. Before 'committing himself to such a venture the investor would be wise to carefully examine the possible consequences of his exposure to risk. In this context risk is defined in multiple terms, which relate the magnitude of possible loss with the probability that such loss may occur--normally the probability will decrease as the amount of possible loss increases. The analysis of risk is an essential component of the decision making process, especially so in the case of low grade high tonnage mining ventures where a very real possibility exists that future unfavorable circumstances may lead to losses that could cripple or ruin even the richest corporation. Wells (1979) postulates a rationale for making the investment decision under uncertainty based on the comparison of two independent risk criteria: 1) the risk inherent in the venture represented by the negative portion of the cumulative distribution of the net present value (NPV), as derived by a stochastic evaluation procedure, 2) the limits of risk the decision maker is willing to accept, taking account of the financial capacity-of the 'firm to absorb various levels of future cash shortfall should the venture prove disappointing. The chance the investor would be prepared to accept can be expected to decrease as the amount of the possible shortfall increases. The limits of acceptable risk are-defined by a curve called the "LL-curve" which can be directly compared with the cumu¬lative NPV curve. A positive investment decision is implied if the limits of acceptable risk are not exceeded.

Jan 1, 1982

By Dan J. Van Roosendaal

A closely spaced grid of survey points was installed over the tensile zone of a longwall panel in southern Illinois and monitored daily during subsidence to document the complex ground-surface movements associated with dynamic subsidence. Vertical and horizontal displacements were used to calculate maximum tilts and principal strains within the grid. The dynamic nature of subsidence is made evident by changes in both the direction and magnitude of maximum tilts and principal strains. The maximum tilt (smax) of 0.036 and maximum tensile strain (Emax) of 0.027 were measured after subsidence and were oriented transverse to the longwall panel. Observations of surface fracturing were correlated with strain determinations to estimate a surface strain at incipient cracking (E;) of 0.006 to 0.009. Using shallow inclinometers, a linear variation of horizontal displacement with respect to depth was observed, suggesting a neutral¬axis bending mechanism for near-surface deformation. Horizontal displacements transverse to the longwall panel reduce to zero at a depth of 40 feet. A linear relationship between strain and curvature was used to estimate ground-surface curvatures associated with Emax (0.00068 ft-1) and E; (0.00015 to 0.00023 ft-1). The curvature estimates are consistent with published results.

Jan 1, 1986

By J. E. Lawver, F. S. Knoll

Introduction Electrostatic separation is the selective sorting of solid species by means of utilizing forces acting on charged or polarized bodies under the influence of an electric field. Electrostatic separation is effected by adjusting those forces acting on particles due to the electric field as well as co-acting forces such as gravity or centrifugal forces so that the different species will have different trajectories at some predetermined time. Electrostatic separations can be broadly defined as being either electrophoretic or dielectrophoretic. Electrophoresis is the separation of charged particles in an electric field, whereas dielectrophoresis is the separation of neutral particles in an electric field1. Examples of an electrophoretic separation can be found with sepa¬rations that use corona charging (ion bombardment), contact charging (triboelectric) and conductive induction. Dielectrophoresis motions are due to the stress and repositioning of charges, i.e. polarization of a neutral particle when exposed to a non-uniform electric field. Separations made using corona discharge devices are often called high-tension, electrodynamic or ion bombardment separations. These are the most prevalent in use today in mineral processing. Dielectrophoretic separation of most minerals is based on differences in dielectric constants of the solid species and usually requires the use of expensive intermediate dielectric fluids. Dielectrophoresis has not been employed for industrial mineral separations, though its effects pose interesting possibilities1, and pilot-plant units developed by the U.S.B.M. are available for testing2. Our discussion will be limited to the three forms of electrophoresis found in commercial practice. Typical Industrial Separations Typical industrial applications of electrostatic separation are: 1. Dry concentration of heavy minerals: ilmenite, rutile, zircon, monazite, xenotime, columbite-tantalite, cassiterite, hematite, scheelite and others. 2. Separation of salts: halite-sylvite, etc. 3. Purifications of foodstuffs such as the removal of impurities and

Jan 1, 1986

By David S. Bolin, Bruce Kennedy, Leigh A. Readdy, Graham Mathieson

INTRODUCTION The estimation of ore reserves is a process that begins with the earliest exploration stages on a property and continues throughout any subsequent evaluation and exploitation of the deposit. During exploration and preliminary evaluation, the results of these reserve estimates constitute the basic data for prefeasibility studies and economic analysis. The decision to continue exploration and development or to abandon a prospect is often based upon these studies. During the active life of a mine, reserve computations are continuously revised to assist in development planning, cost and efficiency analyses, quality control, and improvement of extraction and processing methods. Accurate reserve estimates are also required when financing a project, purchasing or selling a property, and for accounting purposes such as depletion and tax calculation. It is important to remember that the reliability of ore reserve estimates varies progressively through time as more and more information becomes available. The lowest order of reliability of estimation of reserves exists at the time of discovery. The maximum level of certainty concerning the ore reserves within a deposit is reached when the deposit is completely mined out. Between these two extremes are variable levels of certainty as to the tonnage and grade of the resource. This is particularly true of that portion of the mineral resource that constitutes the "minable reserve," as this portion is dependent upon economic as well as geological and technological factors. In the following discussion, several of the factors affecting ore reserve computation and some of the commonly used methods of calculation are presented. The first part of the discussion is confined to classical methods of hand calculation utilizing level maps and sections. The second part of the discussion presents an overview of somewhat more sophisticated methods of geostatistics which have been developed within recent Years. Geostatistical methods frequently provide the best ore re- serve estimates for many deposits. However, a digital computer is required for such geostatistically derived estimates due to the number and complexity of the cornputations involved. For many properties the classical nongeostatistical methods are adequate, particularly in the early exploration stages. In fact, it is the author's contention that even at those properties where the geostatistical approach is employed for reserve estimation, the geological and engineering staffs should prepare an estimate by traditional means. This provides an internal audit for the reserves and at the same time requires a continuing close appraisal of geologic problems that influence the presently known geostatistically estimated reserves and production at the mine.

Jan 1, 1982

By Jamal Rostami, Jürgen Schmitt, Rohola Hasanpour

"Double Shield TBMs can be used in fast track projects for accelerated completion where there is limited information available on ground conditions and there are possibilities of encountering weak ground and shear zones. As such, the shielded TBMs are the primary choice of the machines in long tunnels, but face the possibility of entrapment in squeezing ground, which entails long delays and major risks. This paper examines the possibility of using ground improvement methods to increase ground strength, and thus, increase the capability of the machines to cope with squeezing ground conditions. In this study, 3D finite difference simulation of a shielded TBM in squeezing ground was performed to estimate the operational parameters including required thrust to get a machine out of an entrapment. This analysis was also used to evaluate the possibility of preventing machine jamming by the implementation of pre-excavation ground improvement to increase the strength of the ground. INTRODUCTION In order to face adverse tunneling conditions especially using a shielded TBM in squeezing ground, new shield designs, with extra thrust and torque, step shield geometry with reduced shield diameter from front to the back, and conical shape shields have been used. In addition, many of the new machines have the capability to implement ground improvement at distances up to 50 m ahead of the face in order to reinforce the ground and further increase in their chances to cope with squeezing ground conditions. While these features have been added to the machine, there has not been a thorough evaluation of their impact on improving the chances to avoid machine jamming in weak rocks at high depth, which is conducive to rapid convergence of the ground."

Jan 1, 2016

By V. R. Voller

The WTBAL computer program for evaluating material balances for minerals processing flowsheets was developed at the MRC and has been in general use for a number of years. This paper reports on two enhancements to the basic MTBAL routine. The original program accounted for errors in the process measurements and used estimates of measurement variability to calculate stream weights. Unfortunately, the estimate of measurement variability was fixed over all streams. In the enhanced version of MATBAL, named IMTBL, the program equations and their solution procedure have been modified to allow the estimated variability in a process measurement to vary from stream to stream. The .second enhancement involves making MTBAL interactive. As such, the user now prescribes his information in an easy-to-use fashion in a conversational mode via a terminal. Finally, an assessment of the feasibility of implementing IMTBL on microcomputer systems will also be reported.

Jan 1, 1982

By Scott G. Britton

This chapter is concerned with the construction of the dynamic component of belt haulage systems. The dynamic system includes the belt line and tailpiece extension and retraction movements in a production system where mine management is continually placing the belt in the most effective operating position. Correct installation of the belt and tailpiece during an extension is very important for many performance reasons. Two of the most important reasons are to eliminate spillage and safely operate the belt line. This chapter is divided into three major discussions. The first discussion looks at analyzing the parameters of effective belt line construction. This includes a review of the parameters and management tools needed for proper scheduling of a move-up. The second major discussion topic centers on efficient procedures for a belt line extension. Topics such as site preparation, tailpiece breakdown and setup, stringing the belt line and structure, plus operating and maintenance tasks needed after the belt line is installed and running, are covered. The third discussion presents a list of conveyor and conveyor component manufacturers who provide services and products to the coal mining industry. Again, any discussion on underground haulage systems must generalize much of the site specific design approaches to be practical. This text will mention, where applicable, some of the alternatives available to construction engineers in designing belt line systems.

Jan 1, 1983

By A. Iordanidis

Mining activities have recently been taken place in Vourinos mountain, northern Greece, exploiting the so-called ?olivinite?. A representative sample was collected from this mining area. Mineralogical analysis was conducted using X-Ray powder Diffraction (XRD). A thin section was prepared and analyzed under optical microscope. X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) was employed for the chemical analyses of major, mi-nor and trace elements. Environmental Scanning Electron Microscopy coupled with energy dispersive x-ray analysis system (ESEM-EDX) was also applied for the characterization of the sample. Forsterite (Mg-rich olivine) and enstatite (Mg-rich orthopyroxene) were the main mineral phases determined by XRD, with a 56% and 44% content respectively. Trace amounts of chromite spinels were also determined. Based on this characterization, the industrial rock proved to be a hartzburgite (a type of peridotite in petrological terms). Optical microscopy and ESEM-EDX provided similar observations and confirmed the above-mentioned results. XRF revealed a composition of 43.31 MgO, 44.25 SiO2, 9.98 Fe2O3, 1.40 CaO, 0.67 Al2O3, 0.22 MnO, 0.01 TiO2 and negligible amount of LOI (<0.1%). Trace elements with high concentrations were Cr (2678 ppm) and Ni (2044 ppm). The comprehensive characterization of this mining product suggested the suitability for various uses, such as refractories, foundry and slag conditioner. Additional experiments are being carried out for environmental applications, e.g. wastewater treatment.

Jan 1, 2006