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By Thomas A. Giordano

Portable communications equipment is becoming increasingly important in underground mining. Proper selection of microphones and hearing devices to be part of these communication systems is essential if the messages are to be transmitted intelligibly. In this program a thorough study of the requirements for these transducers was made with respect to intelligibility, mechanical configuration, human factors and safety. A computer analysis was made to predict how several combinations of transducers would perform at typical mining noise levels. A survey has been made of those microphones and hearing devices on the market today that might be applicable to the miner communication system. Several systems are proposed and evaluated.

Jan 1, 1976

By Samuel M. Bryant

The purpose of this study was to develop procedures to measure Bingham flow properties for mine tailings and to use these to predict the possible consequences of a hypothetical tailings flow failure at the Tenmile Tailings Pond at Climax, Colorado. The consequences of such a failure were found to be minimal, and the failure itself highly; unlikely. Values of Ty (Bingham yield shear strength) and np (plastic viscosity) were measured for 10 materials using results obtained from vaned coaxial viscometer tests and triaxial tests.

Jan 1, 1983

By Rafael C. Castro

As part of its risk management plan, the South Central Connecticut Regional Water Authority (RWA) is assessing the condition of its system of raw water conveyance tunnels and connecting pipelines. In 2006, the RWA inspected one of the system?s main tunnels, a 4-mi, 1950s-era tunnel that had not been inspected since its construction. The inspection team prepared extensively for the unknown conditions in the tunnel, and the inspection was completed safely and successfully. This paper describes the team?s pre-entry preparations, dewatering and ventilation efforts, surface-to-tunnel communication, access, physical inspection of the tunnel, and the lessons learned throughout the process. Additionally, this paper will preview planning for the subsequent inspections.

Jan 1, 2008

The Mount Morgan eopper-gold orebody is contained within a series of Mid-Devonian volcanics which occurs as a roof pendant within Permian granite. The ore minerals comprise pyrite, chalcopyrite, and local aggregations of magnetite and pyrrhotite. Silver-rich gold (electrum) is disseminated through the ore usually in ultrafine to sub-microscopic dimensions. Accessory minerals include marcasite, digenite, chalcocite, covellite, sphalerite, bismuthinite, molybdenite, calaverite, petzite, and cassiterite.Very minor accessories include cubanite, tetrahedrite, galena, arsenopyrite, hematiIe, goethite, and rutile. The gangue minerals are quartz, predominantly, with minor amounts of chlorite and sericite.Study of microtextures of a representative suite of specimens from Mount Morgan does not reveal any criteria indicative of metasomatic replacement but does show, in the case of pyrite, evidence strongly suggestive of annealing recrystallization. Other textures in pyrite indicate porphyroblastic growth of the iron sulphide.It is inferred that the Mount Morgan orebody is genetically related to the volcanic rocks and was later contact metamorphosed by the intrusive granite or by the series of intermediate to basic dykes that transect inmine area. On this basis the Mount Morgan orebody would be a contact metamorphosed volcanic hydrothermal deposit emplaced, according to recent studies, along a pipe-like zone of brecciation.

Jan 1, 1967

By H. P. Holmes

Tonnage quantities of hafnium metal have been prepared in Kroll-process equipment designed for producing zirconium. Some slight process modifications have been necessary, but overall operation is the same as for zirconium. Hafnium oxide is chlorinated in the presence of carbon and the resultant hafnium tetrachloride reduced by magnesium metal. Byproduct magnesium chloride is removed in a high-vacuum distillation step and the hafnium sponge metal crushed for further use. Arc-melted metal can be forged and rolled to sheet, but the best material produced to date would not be considered cold ductile. INTRODUCTION This investigation is part of the program for the production of pure metals from domestic and foreign ores that has been underway at the Bureau of Mines for several years. It was done in cooperation with the Atomic Energy Commission and the Bureau of Ships.

Jan 1, 1955

By David Van Horsen

Big Creek Tunnel 2, constructed in 1912, is located in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California, east of Fresno. It is horseshoe and circular shaped with a 3.6m (12ft) diameter and extends 6.6km (4.1mi). Historically, tunnel performance suffers from highly jointed rock and low cover. In 2003, leaks were observed surfacing through outcrops of highly jointed graniodiorite, and subsequently investigated by visual inspection, joint mapping, ground penetrating radar, and a water-tracing survey. Several grouting targets were identified as a result of these investigations. Cement grouting was used to fill void spaces, broken rock and open joints expected to exist behind the concrete and steel liners. Project work consisted of grout hole drilling through the existing concrete liners, and grout placement through squeeze packers supplied by standard grout hose and portable grout plants. Grout pressures were typically 20?30 psi. Grouting was completed in 16 days with a total of 1,550 sacks of Type II/III grout placed at the three likely leak source areas. No grout was observed exiting the tunnel and the leak was stopped.

Jan 1, 2008

By S. T. Johansen, C. Colomb, B. Ravary

Combustion and thermal NOx formation have been modelled using the Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) commercial code Fluent 6.1. The aim was to predict and give a better understanding of the combustion in electric arc furnaces for the production of ferro-silicon and silicon metal. Another important objective was to assess the impact of a number of operating parameters on the NOx formation. The CFD tools used are de-scribed with a special focus on models for species and turbulence transport. Sensitivity studies have been carried out to study the influence of several parameters: sub-models, process gas composition and distribution at the charge surface and influence of the presence of SiO. The main conclusions are: ?Using the combination of a realistic design, boundary conditions and models, the simulated NOx level is in quantitative agreement with measurements. The presence of water vapor is particularly important because of its influence on the specific heat of the mixture and resulting temperature. ?Release of significant amounts of SiO from the charge surface results in an important increase of NOx, even if we applied a simplified combustion model for SiO gas. However, because of lack of thermal and compositional data for blowing situations (when SiO flows directly from the arc cavity through open channels to the charge surface), no quantitative validation is possible. The way SiO is distributed (uniformly or as a jet) has a limited impact on the result in our computations.

Jan 1, 2007

An Ammonia Leaching-Solvent Extraction-Electrowinning-Flotation Process for Copper Oxidised Ore Treatment

Sep 13, 2010

By J. I. Paige

The Bureau of Mines studied methods for recovering unreacted titanium minerals and petroleum coke from titanium chlorination plant wastes prior to neutralization treatment with lime. The objective was to recover valuable raw materials and to reduce the amount of waste materials that must be treated for disposal. Samples of solid wastes were physically beneficiated by gravity concentration (tabling) to recover titanium minerals containing 69.0 to 92.4 wt-pct Ti02 and by selective carbon flotation to recover petroleum coke containing 94.0 to 96.8 wt-pct C. Laboratory data indicate that the recovered titanium mineral would decrease the amount of solid waste to be disposed of from 32.8 to 53.9 wt-pct. The recovery of coke would further decrease the amount by additional 32.9 wt-pct. Preliminary tests conducted on recovering vanadium, chromium, and columbium from liquors obtained by leaching chlorination residues also have shown that (1) 97 pct of the vanadium was extracted from leach liquors in a two-stage solvent ex-traction procedure and (2) 58 pct of the columbium and 40 pct of the chromium were separated from the leach liquors by an ion exchange technique using a strong acid resin.

Jan 1, 1982

Lead Removal from Contaminated Soils with Chelating Agents

Sep 13, 2010

By H. W. Smith, N. Ichiyen

A convenient method for the calculation of metallurgical balances, based on statistical treatment of all available data, is presented. An error analysis is included. Examples show the advantages of the method, and also that such balances are less precise than might be supposed.

Jan 1, 1973

Rational decision making is generally perceived by managers of operations to be a delicate process of committing large sums of money and putting other people's life at risk. Consequently most managers may argue that the decision process requires good judgement, intuition and extreme caution; and not one easily made through the use of fancy mathematical algorithms and computer programs. The advent of artificial intelligence and expert systems in the computer industry combined with recent technological innovations in mathematical and economic problem solving is sure to change this perception. PARETO OPTIMALITY is an economic and a mathematical optimisation concept applied to solving real life operational problems; and one that the current volatile economic forces would require managers to employ because it is virtually real. REALISMM is a computer software package developed using the principles of Pareto optimality, dynamic programming, optimal clustering of information and decision maker interaction to generate decision maker preferred solutions. REALISMM has scope for artificial intelligence and expert systems application for cases where the decision maker is unsure about his objective preferences.

Jan 1, 1993

Jan 1, 1890

Coal mining in Indiana is limited to the south-western portion of the state, with coal currently being recovered in 19 counties. The coal-producing area of the state covers approximately 6,500 square miles. Although most of the coal in Indiana is recovered by surface mining methods, a small percentage is recovered through underground mining. To date, 40 percent of the known coal reserves have been removed. Indiana has about 33 billion tons of identified coal reserves, of which approximately 17 billion tons are recoverable using current technology. Of this recoverable coal, about 15 billion tons are recoverable by underground mining and 2 billion tons are recoverable by surface mining methods. The State of Indiana has regulated the environmental impacts of coal mining since 1941. Indiana was the second state in the nation to pass legislation requiring mined land reclamation. Its SMCRA regulatory program was approved July 29,1982, and its Abandoned Mine Land Program was approved July 29, 1982.

Jan 1, 1992

By Robert K. Linn

The New ldria Mining District is in the southern part of the Diablo mountains of the California Coast Range, 140 miles southeast of San Francisco. The district, noted primarily for quicksilver, also has become important recently as a producer of short-fiber chrysotile asbestos. Between 1853 and 1966, the New Idria district produced 568,092 flasks of quicksilver valued at about $55,600,000, 99 per cent of which was recovered from one deposit, the New Idria mine. In 1944, the district was ranked third in all-time production of North American quicksilver districts, and, since that time, the New Idria mine produced an additional 129,045 flasks, placing the district and the New Idria mine second in all-time production. The major structure of the region is the northwest-trending Coalinga anticline consisting of an asymmetric dome of sedimentary beds ranging in age from Jurassic to Quaternary and marked at its northwest end by an oval body of sheared serpentine 14 miles long by 4 miles wide. The serpentine core, rimmed by Franciscan sandstone of probable Jurassic age, was uplifted in stages between Jurassic and Quaternary time and was intruded along a ring of faults into beds of the Panoche Formation of upper Cretaceous age. The core of serpentine and Franciscan rocks is the locus of about 20 quicksilver mines that rim the faultbounded core and lie within the serpentine mass. The host rock of the most productive deposits is altered Panoche shale and sandstone that lies intermittently along the perimeter of the core. Deposits of the New Idria group of mines and those of a few other small mines lie along the northeast contact in the footwall of the New ldria thrust fault, and a few others occur on steep normal faults around the south and southwest. The chief ore mineral in all quicksilver mines is cinnabar, but minor amounts of metacinnabar and native mercury are found in some of the mines. Ore shoots were deposited in fracture zones and stockworks in altered Panoche shale and sandstone and in definite fissure veins in Franciscan sandstone. Rocks made highly amenable to fracturing by hydrothermal alteration were fractured extensively by late faults. The resulting fracture zones, located along the late faults and at changes in strike or dip of the hanging wall or footwall, are the principal controls of most ore shoots. The largest and richest ore shoots are those of the New Idria mine. The major ore bodies occur in fractured shale and sandstone beneath the New ldria thrust fault at its junction with major tear faults.

Jan 1, 1968

By AIME AIME

The Bulletin. The Bulletin of the Institute will be issued hereafter monthly instead of bi-monthly as heretofore. Among other reasons for this change, it is desired to effect thereby the earlier transmission to members of important papers, lists of candidates tin? membership, and other items of timely information. The New Haven Meeting. As already announced in special circular, the XCVIth meeting of the institute for the reading and discussion of papers will be held at New Haven, Conn., beginning Feb. 23, 1909. The Secretary of the Local Committee is Prof. J. D. Irving, Box D, Yale Station, New Haven. The program embraces visits to many interesting works in New Haven, Ansonia, Bridgeport, etc. The leading topics for discussion at the sessions will lie: The Conservation of Natural Resources; A Sea-Level Canal at Panama; and The Technical Education of Mining Engineers. But papers on other subjects also are announced. Lt is probable that a supplementary session of this meeting, will be held in New York City, at some time during March, 1909, as a joint session with other national engineering societies, for the farther discussion of the subject of The Conservation of Natural Resources. A Pacific Coast Meeting. It is now reasonably certain that the XCVIIth meeting will be held oil the Pacific Coast, including a. visit to the Exposition at Seattle, and various other points en. route going or coming, depending upon the route and program finally adopted. (lore definite information will be announced at the New Haven Meeting, or at the earliest possible date thereafter.

Jan 1, 1909

Jan 1, 1967

By D. A. Paice

A portable calibrator to check tie trip setting of dc circuit breakers within an accuracy of +5% has been developed for the Bureau of Mines. It operates from a 300 volt dc trolley wire to provide controlled current pulses of 120 milliseconds duration and continuously adjustable from 1400 to 3600 A. These current pulses enable a breaker dc trip current to be determined and subject the contacts to full current rating. The equipment is simple to use and weighs 86 pounds. Connections are made with protected, clamp-on leads which are separately connected and weigh about 22 pounds. An accurate calibration procedure takes less than 5 minutes to complete.

Jan 1, 1978

By Dave Bulled

"This paper describes the design of an SABC grinding circuit using CEET technology applied to grindability data produced from testing 100 samples and distributed across the blocks of a mine plan using a geostatistical approach. The data distribution required the identification of the location of the sample points and a geological plan of the 130 million ton Ruby Creek orebody together with a mine plan of about 11000 blocks to be mined during the proposed 18 year life of the mine. The mill design was then made with consideration for the estimated hardness of each block in terms of both SAG and Ball milling with allowance for annual periods when the ore is harder to grind. Operating specifications were selected to achieve an optimum of capital and operating costs through use of the CEET program. The geostatistics assigned the statistical error that arises from having a limited amount of sample testing data to the hardness estimate of each block of ore in the mine plan. The final design could then include a quantification of risk and determination of safety factors based on the accuracy of block hardness estimates and CEET model fitting.INTRODUCTIONThe traditional approach to plant design involves the extensive testing of a single large composite sample or a small number of composite samples that are reputed to represent the ore body. It is accepted that the tests used can accurately measure in the laboratory the grindability of the sample by a process representing that to be used in the plant. The size of equipment required to achieve a specified throughput and product size is then calculated from one of a variety of models that have been developed by metallurgists over years of trial and error. Since these tests and models are tried and tested, they are accepted as reasonably precise; however during the operation of the resulting plant the design is sometimes found to be inadequate. It is then suspected that the flaw in the design process lies in the samples not being sufficiently representative of the ore body, since using only a single or small number of composite samples does not recognize the variability of the hardness of the ore, nor does it allow for the lack of precision in the hardness value used in the design.This paper outlines a design procedure suited to an orebody that is described by a geostatistical analysis of a reasonably large number of small samples of drill core. The analysis required the identification of the location of the sample points and a geological plan of the orebody, together with a mine plan of the blocks to be mined during the proposed life of the mine. The mill design was then made using the estimated hardness of each individual block with an allowance for annual fluctuations in the grindability of the ore. The geostatistical analysis assigned a statistical error to the hardness estimates of blocks and of each production year such that the final design included risk estimates and safety factors based on the possible errors that arise from having a limited amount of sample data (Kosick et al. 2002)."

Jan 1, 2007

By A Liu, T Ren

Gas explosion in underground coal workings can pose a serious threat to the safety of mine workers and the entire mine operations. Gas explosion is a very complex thermal-chain reaction in a confined underground environment. Based on combustion and explosion theory, three dimensional (3D) computational models were developed to simulate mine gas explosion flame and overpressure wave propagation in a single entry gateroad in underground coalmines. Six different explosion scenarios were modelled and compared with large scale experimental results and AutoReaGas simulations. Model validations show that the use of shear-stress transport (SST) k-? model together with eddy-dissipation model (EDM) produces good agreement with both experimental and AutoReagas simulation results. Modelling results demonstrated that the changes of temperature versus time can be divided into four stages, ie the initial condition stage, and periods of warm-up, active burning, and burnt-out. Assuming a limited volume of methane is involved in the explosion, the maximum temperature decreases as the distance increases from the explosion point, with the highest temperature reaching about 2460 K. Modelling results show that the evolution of the explosion flame shape experiences four typical stages, ie spherical flame, finger-shape flame, flame with the skirt touching the side walls (ribs) and tulip flame, which are similar to the pattern of a duct explosion. The pressure in the gateroad remains the same as the initial value before the arrival of the explosion wave and then increases rapidly to the maximum value. Modelling results from this study will be used for the design of explosion arresting devices and mine seals in underground coalmines.CITATION:Liu, A and Ren, T, 2017. Computational simulation of gas explosion and its propagation in single entry gateroad, in Proceedings Australian Mine Vent Conference 2017, pp 181–188 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Aug 28, 2017