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By Robert L. Chufo

The paper, "An Electromagnetic Roof and Rib Thickness Sensor" presented at The 12th WVU International Mining Electrotechnology Conference in 1992, presented the results of roof coal thickness measurements in underground mines and rib coal thickness measurements in highwall mines. The microwave sensor described uses a unique spatial modulation scheme created by antenna motion, along with frequency domain signal processing, to solve the problem of media, target, and antenna dispersion. This paper further describes the advantages of the unique frequency domain signal processing technology chosen by the U.S. Bureau of Mines in extending previously reported one-dimensional thickness measurement technology to the generation of a full three-dimensional underground image of the underground environment. The electromagnetic signature of a media, whether it is coal or other geological material, is its permeability and permittivity and the effect on the velocity and amplitude of an electromagnetic wave as it passes through. High-quality imaging cannot occur without the identification of, and correction for, the permittivity and permeability of each layer of a multilayer geological deposit. Clutter, or any signal that can interfere with target discrimination, usually comes from objects in the field of view for which there is no design control. These are nuisance targets with possibly very high contrasts compared to the real target. The only proven tool to reduce clutter is to increase spatial, spectral, and polarization diversity. This paper will describe some techniques being used by the U.S. Bureau of Mines to increase the information content of both single-dimensional and three-dimensional imaging systems through the identification of media distortion mechanisms made possible by the use of spatial/spectral sensor technology. These techniques will permit high quality imaging in an environment where the data is corrupted by dispersion and clutter.

By K Watanabe

A relational database in which its complex contents can be navigated through a map interface (ie spatially enabling) is relatively a new concept yet attractive for geoscience fields. This concept is made possible using the new breed of geographic information system (GIS) that utilises component object model and relational database management system. Such sophisticated yet open and highly interoperable platform makes possible the integration of data management, analysis, and modeling processes into single workflow. Taking benefit of this technology trend, several initiatives emerge in geoscience to establish digital data models, such as the petroleum industry, the North America digital geologic map data model, and the ESRI geology data model. The mining industry unfortunately has not followed same paths due to the lack of data model and standards in its history. This paper presents an effort on establishing a digital data model for mining-related geoscience databases. The aim is to promote several standards by proposing a preliminary data model and demonstrating that the model is working for the mining business datasets. The case study is the island of Java, the western part of the Sunda island arc of Indonesia. Many types of datasets, such as geologic maps, topography, mineral deposits, structures, geochemical and geophysical data were dealt with and were transformed relational geologic databases of Java using the new Geodatabase geographic data model. Intelligent GIS tools were investigated for geologic applications, ranging from generic to specific purposes. Subtypes and domain were used to set up constraints, while topology rules and relationship classes were used to create links among data layers. The linear referencing system was used to model drillhole data. The current results show that the generic GIS and relational database can handle typical tasks related with mining business datasets. A preliminary data model is finally suggested.

Jan 1, 2004

By K. P. Wang, Ta M. Li

The Chinese energy and mineral industries are readying themselves for a period of dynamic transition, unprecedented in the country's long and sometimes turbulent history. The transition comes as a result of the government's new program of "Four Modernizations" in its agricultural, defense, industry, and science and technology sectors. The announced program is generally considered by Western observers to be a moderate, pragmatic approach to get China on the road to industrial parity with Western nations by the year 2000. The game plan calls for integration with the West to beef up Chinese know-how and the purchase of foreign technology to supplement areas where China lacks the ability to do so itself. While the role of energy and minerals is not specifically mentioned in the program, it was made clear to ME that China realizes the basis of any sustained modernization program is tied closely to the health of its minerals sector. Various published reports have indicated the existence of an already vibrant energy and minerals sector with world rank production in coal, iron ore, tin, antimony, cement, pyrite, asbestos and tungsten to name just a few. For the most part, except for the export metals, the primary focus of China's production has been on fulfilling domestic needs. Now the new initiatives are aimed not only at self-sufficiency, but also on propelling the country's natural resource clout into international prominence. With a mineral resource base that is considered by many westerners a potential bonanza, China's new long march toward modernization will be an exciting adventure, well worth watching. Big Projects Spark Excitement China's renewed commitment to a more liberal program is as much a desire to "walk on its own two legs" as it is a backlash from the frustrating years that followed the Cultural Revolution of the 1960s and early 1970s. Much of the early excitement was initiated by China's Premier and Party Chairman Hua Guo-feng in speaking to the fifth National People's Congress (NPC) in 1978. Here, Chairman Hua presented the Communist Party's 10-year blueprint for economic development. Specifically, the Party's plans called for completion of 120 large-scale industrial projects by 1985. Mentioned were 10 new iron and steel works, 30 power plants, six new railways, 10 oil and gas fields, nine nonferrous metal

Jan 3, 1980

By L. J. W. JONES, B. H. Bennetts

THE removal and disposition of large quantities of slag from blast-furnaces is a question of great importance in the design of works, and various methods have been devised, from time to time, in order to take the best advantage of local conditions. In blast-furnaces treating copper-ores or lead-ores, it is necessary to use a fore-hearth, or matte-settler, in order to collect, if possible, every particle of valuable matte which, otherwise, would be carried away with the out-flowing slag. In all of these cases, the slag overflowing from the fore-hearth is caught in pots and then conveyed to the dump. If the slag is of no value and the necessary water-supply, grade and dumping-space be available, the disposal of the slag by granulation is by far the cheapest and best method. It involves a minimum of labor, both at the furnace and at the dump; and it permits a continuous outflow of slag from the furnace- or settling-pot, thereby avoiding frequent tapping and plugging. When the conditions of water-supply, grade and dump-area will not permit slag-granulation, there are three other methods in common use. Large steel or cast-iron pots, or ladles, supported by trunnions on heavy cars which are moved by steam-, air-, or electric locomotives; some type of mechanical conveyor; and small pots or buggies moved by hand. The pots on the slag-cars are generally circular or oval in shape, and each one contains from 15 to 40 or more en. ft. of molten material. The mechanism for tipping them is more or less elaborate; and, as a general rule, the slag is dumped alongside, and quite close to, the track. They are more or less costly to construct and to keep in repair, and, in order to use them to best advantage, it is necessary to have a good elevation of track above the dumping-ground; furthermore, the rails must be of heavy weight, and well-supported on heavy ties. Other disadvantages of the slag-pots are-1, that the slag cannot be removed continuously

Mar 1, 1905

By Cesar O. Gomez

A procedure has been developed for mounting at random particles of mineral samples to be characterized using image analysis. The procedure is based on the generation of a random distribution of sample particles in particles of a diluent material. and the embedding of this particle mixture in an epoxy resin without disturbing the initial distribution. Two materials with atomic number similar to that of the epoxy resin were successfully used as diluents: activated charcoal and graphite. The proportion of diluent material to be mixed with the sample to have a large number of mineral particles in the field of view while keeping the occurrence of touching particles at an acceptable level was determined empirically. The randomization achieved with the procedure developed in this work was tested using as samples known mixtures of silica and pyrite particles of the same sieve class. The agreement obtained between the mass ratio of minerals used in the preparation of a particular specimen and that resulting from image analysis demonstrates that the procedure developed is successful in producing a specimen where the embedded particles are randomly distributed.

Jan 1, 1988

By W. H. Pomroy

Spontaneous combustion fires in deep metal mines, through relatively infrequent, are nonetheless cause for considerable concern because they pose a direct threat to the safety of miners and are quite disruptive to mine operations. They often occur in remote, inactive, or abandoned sectors of a mine where access for firefighting is difficult or impossible. Over half of all noncoal mine fires that last more than 24 hours are caused by spontaneous combustion. The most common means of fire control for spontaneous combustion fires is sealing and/or Flooding the affected zone. This process is never easy, but it is made especially difficult (and hazardous) if the fire grows in size and intensity to the point where underground fire- fighting crews must wear self-contained breathing apparatus owing to mine air contamination. The Bureau of Mines has developed and in-mine tested a mineworthy fire detection system capable of sensing the earliest traces of spontaneous combustion, thus enabling mine personnel to initiate fire control operations before hazardous atmospheres are created. This paper discusses system design within the context of the harsh mine environment, and describes laboratory and in-mine performance tests of prototype equipment.

Jan 1, 1985

By E. Topuz

The objective of mine ventilation is to provide suitable environmental conditions in working places at an economical cost. Maintaining a stable air flow, i.e., a flow quantity and the direction, is of vital importance. In practice, however, air flow quantity in underground openings varies continuously. Therefore, the stability of air flow means relative stability that is the flow in a branch moves along a certain direction while the variation in air quantity stays within acceptable limits. Many underground mines have low stability of mine air flow because almost all types of ventilation systems involve complex diagonal branches through which air flow quantity and, more importantly, the air flow direction may change easily. This creates extremely hazardous, unstable conditions, especially during emergencies. This paper deals with the directional stability of air flows in underground mines in single or multiple fan systems. It examines the rules of directional changes of air flows in diagonal branches, and proposes a method of calculating the stability conditions. It provides a criterion that may be used in designing new mine ventilation systems to ensure a desired degree of stability or in improving the existing systems.

Jan 1, 1986

By Ashutosh Kumar Bharati, Rajesh Rai, B. K. Shrivastva, Arunava Ray

Opencast mining method is one of the most productive mining methods available at present, which is generally associated with the removal and handling of a huge amount of overburden material. Hence it imposes a serious challenge of dump slope stability and that too, mainly in the case of internal dumps. The study is primarily focused on the stability of dragline dumps and the subsequent development of a rating system to classify the stability of dragline dump profiles. Initially, numerical simulation is executed through RS2 (Version 9.0) software, which is based on the finite element method. Thereafter, simulation results are used to perform the sensitivity analysis of various geometrical and strength parameters of the dump slope, and the two-factor interaction method is also incorporated into the analysis, this method included the dependency of closest parameters while calculating the sensitivity index, and thereafter, it is converted into the rating of each parameter. The strength parameter like the angle of friction and the geometrical parameter like slope angle of the bench between the coal-rib roof and dragline sitting level are assigned the highest rating value. Based on the overall rating of the dragline dump, the dump slopes are classified into various classes, viz., very safe, safe, vulnerable, unstable, and highly unstable. This classification proved to be handy in the quick estimation of the stability of the dragline dump and also gives an idea of designing optimum and safe dragline dump profiles. The developed classification chart has been validated by the previous research works and has found similar results.

Feb 15, 2021

By Gabriel S. Esterhuizen

This paper addresses the need for a method to compare the effectiveness of different support systems when designing ground support in coal mines. At present, support design methods include empirical methods based on observations of past performance of installed support systems, analytical methods where the roof is typically simulated by elastic beams and numerical model analysis. The approach presented in this paper estimates the relative stability of a support design through geotechnical evaluation of the rock mass and numerical model analysis of the interaction between the rock mass and the support system. Models are used first to simulate the design performance at the expected rock conditions. The rock strength is then reduced until collapse is indicated in the model. The stability factor is then calculated as the ratio of the expected rock mass strength to the rock mass strength at the onset of collapse, and is similar to the well-known factor of safety used in engineering practice. The stability factor can be used to assist in developing a final support design by comparing the effectiveness of various support systems and the stability of excavations under various geological and loading conditions. Examples of the method?s application in three different geological settings are presented.

Jan 1, 2012

By P. M. Krishna

A five-year effort by the ASTM subcommittee E10.14 on Uranium Resource Evaluation has culminated in the approval of E901-82, Classification System for Uranium Resources. The standard classification was prepared with participation of representatives from the Dept. of Energy, the Dept. of Interior's Geological Survey and Bureau of Mines, utilities, and consultants. The classification of a resource is based on level of knowledge and the economic producibility of the resource at a given time. Alpha-numeric identifiers are used rather than words to avoid confusion with existing terms, definitions, and classifications. An effort is underway to develop estimation criteria to guide users in classifying a resource according to the above format.

Jan 1, 1983

By E. F. Perry

Simulated weathering tests are used to estimate leachate quality of rocks containing varying concentrations of pyrite and carbonates at mines. This study reports the inter-laboratory results from the third phase of a three part effort to develop a standardized, reproducible simulated weathering test for coal mine overburden. Initial development in phases I and II included evaluation of different test apparatus, effects of particle size, gas composition, leaching frequency and other variables. Phases I and II results are reported by Brady et al (2004) and Hornberger et al (2004). In Phase III, a standard column leaching protocol was used by eight commercial, government and university labs to test five rocks of different lithology, pyrite and carbonate content. Ideally, a simulated weathering test should have three characteristics to be useful in mine drainage studies. These include the capability to produce repeatable results, accuracy in simulating field conditions, and a concise test protocol of weeks to a few months. Simulated weathering, or kinetic testing, produces an effluent that simulates mine drainage composition. This can be beneficial for predicting mine drainage quality in comparison to whole rock analyses. The effluent may be tested for the same water quality parameters as the drainage produced during mining, such as pH, acidity, alkalinity, sulfate, iron, manganese, aluminum or other parameters. If the physical, chemical, and biological conditions of the kinetic tests are representative of those found in the mine environment, leachate composition may be used to estimate the water quality parameter concentrations produced during mining. Hornberger and Brady (1998), and Geidel et al (2000), compiled comprehensive chapters on kinetic tests for mine drainage prediction. These sources included: (1) a chronology and synopsis of scientific literature on these kinetic tests as they have developed over approximately 50 years, (2) discussion of the influence of physical, chemical, and biological processes, and (3) general guidelines for test procedures, data interpretation, and recommendations for further research to develop standard methods. Most of the kinetic test methods in use today were substantially developed and applied more than 40 or 50 years ago, including leaching columns (Braley, 1949), humidity cells (Hanna and Brant, 1962), Soxhlet reactors (Pedro, 1961), and field scale tests (Glover and Kenyon, 1962). . The most commonly used kinetic tests for mine drainage prediction are leaching columns and humidity cells. While these kinetic test methods and others have been used in hundreds of mine drainage studies as shown in Hornberger and Brady (1998) and other references (e.g. Sorini, 1997), they have rarely been used in coal mine permitting by either regulatory agencies or the mining industry. The major impediment to routine use of kinetic test methods is the variation in the design and operation of these kinetic tests, and lack of a standardized, accepted (e.g. by EPA or ASTM) test method. Interpretation and data comparison from different studies can be difficult. METHODS Five rocks of varying lithology, mineralogy, carbonate and pyrite content were collected in bulk from Pennsylvanian age coal measures in Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Indiana. Mineralogical composition of the samples was characterized in detail by Hammerstrom et al (in press) using optical, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and electron microprobe methods. Acid Base Accounting (Sobek et al 1978; Skousen et al, 1997, Kania, 1998) was performed on bulk samples for % total sulfur (%S) as a measure of pyrite and potential acid generation, and Neutralization Potential (NP) as an index of carbonate content. A modified NP test, following the procedure suggested by Skousen et al, 1997 was also conducted for four of the five samples. The modified NP test accounts for initial acid consumption, Fe oxidation, and subsequent Fe hydrolysis by the iron carbonate mineral siderite. Siderite, even though it is a carbonate gives zero net alkalinity. Lithologic, Acid Base Accounting and general mineral composition data for the five rocks are shown in table 1 (see Appendix). Whole rock elemental analysis for major and trace elements was conducted on a sub-sample of each rock type. One laboratory was contracted to mix, homogenize, and size the bulk samples and prepare sub-samples for all the participating labs. Splits were sent to eight labs, and each organization was provided a detailed set of instructions for column assembly and leaching procedure. The protocol was developed based on results from phases 1and 2 of this study. The principal features of the column assembly are: a specific composition of particle size by weight (table 2), weekly leaching cycles, and incubation under humidified air containing 10% CO2. Figure 1 shows the column construction. [ ] The particle size distribution of the crushed rock sample is largely an artifact of the crushing process, rather than a natural systems process like the particle size distribution of a soil or an unconsolidated sedimentary deposit. The standardized particle size distribution, shown in Table 2, promotes operational consistency of the weathering test procedure, and provides better control over reaction kinetics. Large amounts of fine particles within specific zones of the leaching columns have been found to impede uniform fluid flow and/or gas flow (Hornberger and Brady, 1998). Regarding reaction kinetics, the importance of surface area to volume ratios has been described in a previous phase of this study (Brady et al., 2004), and significant differences in crushed particle size distributions and effective surface areas were found among the lithologic units. Standardizing the particle

Jan 1, 2009

GOOD ventilation is recognized as an essential for the preservation of health, and laws have accordingly been framed in many countries for the provision of adequate ventilation in factories and places of public resort as well as in mines.Apart from the legislative enforcement of hygienic measures as a matter of public 'policy, the ventilation of mines has an important economic aspect, since it affects to a large extent the industrial efficiency of the workmen, and consequently the cost of mineral production. Until recent years the ventilation of metal mines has not generally received much consideration, and the importance of pure air has been sometimes overlooked. To the absence of explosive gases in such mines, and to the cost of the installation and working of mechanical ventilators, may generally be attributed disregard of adequate ventilation. In this paper it is not proposed to furnish statistics on the mortality and morbidity of miners, or a treatise on the medical aspect of the rock-dust problem, to further elaborate which would be superfluous, the deleterious effects of the latter having been...

Jan 1, 1912

SINCE the adoption by the U. S. Bureau of Standards several years ago of specifications for standard 100- and 200-mesh sieves, frequent requests have been received that this Bureau test and certify sieves of other sizes than these. With a view to the adoption of a series of standard testing sieves which might be of use to all industries making fineness tests, this Bureau for .two years has been studying the question of such a standard screen scale. Various scales that have been proposed were considered, and information was sought of representative firms in the various industries interested as to their requirements. Manufacturers of sieves have also been consulted as to the desirability of different screen scales and the practicability of their manufacture. As a result of this study of the question, a conference was called at the Bureau of Standards, Apr. 20, 1916, of representatives of various committees of the American Society for Testing Materials, American Society of Civil Engineers, American Institute of Mining Engineers, American Foundrymen's Association,. [Mining and Metallurgical Society of America, American Water Works Association, American Institute of Metals and the American Spice Trade Association; also representatives of the Committee of Revision of the U. S. Pharmacopoeia, the U. S. Geological Survey, the U. S. Bureau of Mines, the U. S. Office of Public Roads and Rural Engineering, the U. S. Office of Grain Standardization and the U. S. Bureau of Standards; also representatives of a number of private firms engaged in industries in which sieves are used, such as the glass, the drug milling, the abrasive, the asphalt, the mining, the spice, the chemical, and the graphite industries; also representatives of the firms in this country manufacturing wire cloth and sieves. This Conference, after considering the various screen scales either proposed or now in use, adopted as a Standard Screen Scale that given in Table 1, and recommends that it be adopted generally by scientific,

Jan 6, 1917

By D K. Weatherley, G R. Ballantyne, S Ali, M Yahyaei, M S. Powell

This paper explores development of a novel ore characterisation method for the precise measurement of practical minimum comminution energy. A monolayer of particles with a narrow size distribution is broken using a precision rolls crusher (PRC); an ore characterisation device developed to overcome the shortcomings of conventional tests. For energy measurement, PRC uses two shaftmounted rotary torque transducers. These transducers acquire precise torque and angular speed data in response to the load applied to the rotating shafts during breakage events, which is converted into energy. The test progressively crushes feed particles down to final product size in many controlled breakage stages. The generation of fines in each breakage stage is then plotted as a function of input energy. The inverse of the gradient of this plot provides the size specific energy (SSE) in kWh/t of material generated below a predefined marker size; -75 μm in this case. The PRC has potential to evolve as a geometallurgical ore characterisation test—it is simple, fast, requires small sample mass (200–300 g), covers a wide feed particle size range (10 mm to 115 µm), and provides ideal SSE measurements that can be used for the calibration of on-site production equipment.

Aug 24, 2022

By Peter Cunningham

General Description of Projects The objective is to streamline data transfer within our Process Control and Business Systems for the purposes of tracking actual production, reducing manual record keeping, improving process control and improving vehicle maintenance. This presentation focuses on two implementations of mobile equipment data acquisition systems which make use of industry standard data models and data transport protocols. Pilots are part of the Mines Technology Roadmap to improve our mining operations ?Enabling technologies and pilot of key systems

May 1, 2013

By G. Upadhya

Of late, solidification modeling has progressed considerably to emerge as a viable simulation tool for the foundry engineer. A wide variety of tools exist in the commercial market to cater to the various needs of the design/ foundry engineer. In fact, recent developments in the area of solidification modeling have been so rapid that a comprehensive review of the state-of-the-art is very much needed. In this paper, an attempt is made to summarize the various issues of solidification modeling, at the same time addressing the historical evolution of the subject. The various phenomenological issues covered in this paper include: heat transfer, fluid flow during mold-filling, solidification kinetics and microstructural evolution, quick-analysis schemes for approximations, porosity prediction models, and the phenomena of fluid flow in the mushy zone. Modeling issues related to the development of solidification stresses which lead to defects such as hot tears and the development of artificial intelligence concepts in the area of rigging design are also discussed. Due emphasis is given to the various phenomena which add to the complexity of the whole subject, and the various alternatives available for solving a particular problem. For example, the heat transfer problem can be approached by the use of simple modulus schemes or by solving the conduction equation to obtain a more accurate temperature distribution. Similarly the microstructural evolution can be handled in a deterministic way by use of nucleation and growth models, or in a probabilistic way by use of empirical models. The main goal of this paper is to put the multi-faceted problem of solidification modeling in proper perspective so that it can serve as a guide for future developments in this area.

Jan 1, 1994

By Mark K. Larson

A constitutive model for rock interfaces based on the principles of static fatigue is proposed. The model is applicable to weak rock or joints with cohesion. Friction and dilation are decreased as plastic work increases. At equilibrium, the creep time increases by one time-step interval, and interface cohesion at each node decreases according to a power function. A constant-load, direct-shear simulation showed that the model is cap- able of mimicking constant-rate and tertiary creep and predicting failure. Tests on core from a coal mine showed constant-rate and, sometimes, tertiary creep, but also weak transitory creep. The cohesion deterioration function may need modification to simulate primary-phase creep. If model parameters are known for a site, the model can predict the onset of tertiary creep and failure. Such predictions can help engineers make better entry design and support decisions, which will reduce the likelihood of roof falls and increase safety for underground miners.

By R Mancini

Explosive charge action on the medium is intrinsically dynamic (fast rising and fast vanishing). On the contrary, information available on rock strength is drawn from static behaviour, and it's commonly used to characterise the rock, even in blasting problems.

Jan 1, 1995

By M. A. Jensen, J. J. Bettencourt

SYNOPSIS An analysis was made of records of accidents involving Bantu mineworkers and which resulted in either minor injuries or hospitalizations to determine patterns in underground accidents from which to formulate priorities in accident prevention in gold mines. The results showed that: (i) specific labour categories, such as inexperienced men, are exposed to certain types of hazards the extent of which warrant the separate design of safety programmes to meet their specific needs; (ii) the systematic study of minor accidents provides a dependable source of. information of which safety departments could make greater use in their efforts to control and prevent mining accidents.

By Andre Vervoort

Falls of ground, such as falls of roof and sidewall collapses, are a major cause of fatalities and injuries in South African collieries. Based on information obtained from the accident reports of the various Chief Inspectors of nines, a statistical analysis was conducted covering the period 1970 to 1988. This study shows that the volume of rock in a fatal fall of ground is often quite small. In intersections, fatal falls are on average larger than in roadways and at the face. It was also found that in 36 % of all fatal falls of ground no temporary or permanent support was installed at the site of the accident.

Jan 1, 1990