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Removal of As(III) and As(V) in Aqueous Solution There are toxic arsenical species such as As(III) and As(V), and arsenious species have specially strong toxicity. The strong toxicity causes contamination of groundwater and water pollution for the semiconductor production process. This study is concerned with the removal of As(III) and As(V) with various kinds of Mg/Al layered double hydroxides (LDH) containing CO32-, SO42-, Cl- and NO3- as interlayer anionic species. The anion exchange property is different from the kind of layered double hydroxides and the Mg-Al-NO3-LDH is superior in the anion exchange property of As(III) and As(V) due to the nature of nitrate ion existing in the interlayer. The pH condition suitable for As(V) removal is 7.1 or more. If the initial conditions such as 10mg/dm3 of As(V) concentration, 7.1 of pH, 1 m3 of amount of solution and 99 per cent of removal are fixed, the required amount of Mg-Al-NO3-LDH is 0.27kg for two step-batch operations. The As(III) is suitable to oxidize to As(V) before the removal processing.

Sep 13, 2010

By M. Melashvili

"The SART Process was introduced to the gold mining industry in the late 1990s and several commercial plants were built over the following 10 to 15 years. Most of these plants have operated well and enjoyed plant performance in line with expectations based on the underlying chemistry of the process. However, two of the plants have consistently suffered from high reagent consumption and poor product quality, which has motivated a re-examination of the process fundamentals in the hope of understanding the reasons for poor performance when it occurs, and developing mitigating strategies.This testwork along with a review of the relevant literature has demonstrated that the amount of sulphide added to the primary reactor, relative to the copper concentration, is the most critical parameter dictating plant performance, with pH and residence time important secondary factors. The primary product in the SART Process is synthetic chalcocite, Cu2S, and the stoichiometric requirement for sulphide addition is therefore 0.5 moles per mole of copper in solution. Testwork shows that when sulphide is added in excess of this amount (generally with the express purpose of lowering residual copper in solution) it not only fails in its intended purpose, but can have a negative impact on the settling and filtration characteristics of the copper sulphide product, as well as the final product quality. Moreover, these problems are exacerbated the higher the selected operating pH in the pH 3 to 5 range, and the longer the residence time of slurry in this pH range.Freshly precipitated copper sulphide compounds are known to be very fine and slimy, with poor settling and filtration characteristics. It is therefore important to engineer the SART Process in such a way as to encourage growth in the average particle size of the precipitate crystals. This was the rationale for recycling a portion of the thickener underflow to the primary reactor when the SART Process was developed. The theory of crystallization predicts that compounds of extremely low solubility, such as chalcocite (Cu2S: KSP = 10-48), are likely to experience growth in crystal particle size through aggregation rather than heterogeneous nucleation. On this basis, the SART practice of recycling a portion of thickener underflow to the primary reactor in the commercial plants is unlikely to lead to crystal growth via nucleation, and could in fact promote breakage of the aggregates that formed in the thickener. Recycling thickener underflow could therefore have the opposite of the desired outcome. The result of testwork that is reported here lends credence to this theory and questions the wisdom of recycling in the SART process.There is evidence to suggest that operating the copper sulphide thickener in the SART Process without flocculants may be beneficial. Thickener underflow densities could improve from the current 10 - 15% range to 40 - 50%. This will not only reduce the flowrate of slurry to the filter, but the filtration properties of the slurry (filtration rate, filter cake moisture content) will also improve. This is one of the most critical engineering and design aspects of the SART Process, and the achievement of high solids density in the thickener underflow will not only improve the health and safety aspects of the operation, but also has the potential to lower capital costs and improve the quality of the final product."

Jan 1, 2016

By Jack Eloranta

This paper documents the relationship between material handling and processing coete compared to blasting cost. The old adage, "The cheapest crushing is done in the pit", appears accurate in this c!ase study. Comparison of the accumulated cost of: powder, selected wear materials and electricity; indicate a strong. inverse correlation with powder factor (lbe powder/long ton of rock). In this case, the increased powder cost is more than offset by electrical savings alone.

Jan 1, 1995

By William R. Yernberg

A conference on coalbed and coal mine methane was held March 27 and 28, 2000, in Denver, CO. The conference, organized by the Strategic Resource Institute, was attended by leaders in the coal mining and gas energy industry. The conference focused on the recovery of methane from coal beds as an energy resource and the removal and utilization of coal-mine methane (CMM) related to underground coal mining. The two-day conference discussed methane resources around the world, methods of recovery, methane markets, underground coal mining, health and safety issues and environmental issues related to methane. The consensus among the presenters is that the future looks promising for coal bed methane (CBM) and CMM.

Jan 1, 2000

The usefulness of laboratory studies - petrology and mineragraphy in the search for, and investigation of, mineral deposits should not be exaggerated, but it should not be overlooked, because such studies will always contribute to an understanding of the geology of the deposits, and can on occasions provide invaluable information not otherwise available. A few examples furnished by the investigations of the Mineragraphic Section of the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation will show this.Petrology.In the early stages of the investigation of the King Island scheelite deposit, during the war, when the nature of, the deposit was not understood, a series of samples embodying the exposed rock types was submitted to the Mineragrap;hic Section for petrologicalexamination by the Mineral Resources Survey. It was at once apparent to the petrologist that the King Island scheelite ore was a contact metamorphic deposit, in which a series of argillaceous shales, calcareous shales, impure limestones and limestones had beenintensely metamorphosed. The shales had been converted to finegrained biotite and actinolite hornfels, according to their lime content, and the impure limestones to fine-grained diopside hornfels, garnetdiopside hornfels and garnet hornfels (calc-flint), the garnet being the lime variety grossularite. The limestones, however, after being first converted to marbles, had suffered intense pyrometasomatism, involving substitution of immense quantities ,of silica and' iron for lime and carbonate, and had been converted largely to a coarsegrained garnet rock, in which the garnet was the lime-iron variety, andradite. The silica and iron were derived from the mineralising solutions of the adja,cent ,granite. intrusion, responsible for the contact metamorphism, and were accompanied by tungsten and some molybdenum. The tungsten in the presence of so much mobile lime, was precipitated as schecelite, much of it finegrained and enclosed in or intergrown, with the andradite garnet or the quartz interstitial to the garnet.It was apparent that the King Island scheelite deposit, was a perfect example of selective pyrometallomatic replacement in a bedded contact metamorphic deposit. The bedded nature of the original rocks was preserved, and the scheelite was practically limited to the original limestone beds, 'Which had been so much more susceptible to replacement after recrystallization, than the other sediments. The further geological study of the deposit then resolved itself into the task of mapping the folding and faulting of the deposit, with bore cores to provide the stratigraphic sequence, and establish the number of scheelite-bearing beds.A second example is provided by a petrological investigation of the mineral composition and genesis of the talc deposits of the Gumeracha district of South Austral.ia, which was undertaken at the request of the South Australian ,Mines Department, in conjunctionwith mapping of these deposits. The field geologist mapping the deposits was experiencing some difficulty in interpreting the structure...

Jan 1, 1950

The Sams Creek gold deposit near Takaka in northwest Nelson was discovered in 1974 by CRA Exploration (CRAE) geologists. CRAE recognised the potential of the area and subsequently undertook a comprehensive exploration programme of geological mapping, soil and rock-chip sampling, geophysical surveys and diamond drilling. Exploration defined sporadic gold mineralisation contained entirely within a deformed and hydrothermally altered, peralkaline granite porphyry dyke with a seven kilometre strike length, and up to 60 m thickness. Rock chip samples indicated extensive and economically significant gold grades over approximately one kilometre strike of the dyke at Main Zone prospect. CRAE completed 30 diamond drill holes at this prospect and defined a limited resource. Oceana Gold Limited recommenced active exploration at the Sams Creek Project in late 2002, focusing on improving the geological understanding and known resource at Main Zone. Completion of 1041 m diamond drilling successfully increased the estimated resource to 10.7 Mt @ 2.12 g/t Au containing 729 000 oz at a 0.7 g/t cut off. A further campaign of 1560 m diamond drilling was undertaken in 2003 - 2004 to extend the resource and test the continuity of high grade mineralised zones. Deeper intersections of the porphyry dyke indicated geometrical complexity and grade variability similar to that observed at shallow levels. Recent research suggests that Sams Creek can be geologically classified as a variant of intrusion-related gold systems, and therefore comparable to some other, very large gold deposits. However, due to the rugged terrain and dyke geometry, surface drilling is reaching the limits of viability at Main Zone. If infill drilling continues to be successful then an underground decline may be developed to facilitate further exploration. Potential also exists along strike, where other significant gold anomalies are known but largely untested by drilling.

Jan 1, 2004

By K. Leung, J. E. Udd, L. B. Geller, F. Kitzinger

"Sixteen miners died tragically at the Paymaster gold mine in Timmins, Ontario, in February 1945 when a badly corroded hoist rope broke. The investigation of the Royal Commission that followed arrived at a number of recommendations (The Legislative Assembly of Ontario, 1947) aimed at avoiding future disasters of this kind. One consequence was the development and legislated use in Canada, several decades ago, of powerful electromagnetic (EM) instruments for the non-destructive testing of mine shaft wire ropes. The authors have been involved for many years in the design, production, and testing of EM instruments (Geller and Udd, 1990, 1992; Geller and Kitzinger, 1991; Geller et al., 1992). Since the mid-1990s, particular attention was paid to the design and operational results obtained from the computer controlled portable MagnographTM II wire rope tester (Geller et al., 1995, 1998).In the present paper, the authors summarize further hardware- and software-related developments of this instrument. Further, an account is given of the results obtained from the most recent design known as the Perma- ScanTM testing system. This is also a computerized dual-function system. In it, however, the sensor head is designed primarily, if not solely, for permanent installation and for remotely controlled operation. This represents a basic departure from traditional designs, which were intended for ad hoc temporary installations. The remote-controlled instrument described in this paper has now been in operational use for more than four years."

Jan 1, 2003

By Richard J. Mainiero, James H. Rowland III, Marcia L. Harris

This paper reviews the potential hazards posed by the toxic fumes produced by detonating explosives in surface mining and construction operations. Blasting operations produce both toxic and nontoxic gaseous products; the toxic being mainly carbon monoxide (CO) and the oxides of nitrogen (NOx). The quantity of toxic gases produced by an explosive is affected by formulation, confinement, age of the explosive, and contamination of the explosive with water or drill cuttings, among others. Techniques to protect workers and the public from the potential hazards of explosive-related toxic fumes are discussed. These include: • Minimizing the quantity of toxic fumes produced. • Determining where the fumes may go so workers and neighbors can be moved out of harm’s way. • Preventing the fumes from moving towards workers and neighbors. • Monitoring the air near workers and neighbors so they can be relocated if fumes appear. • Ventilating structures or confined spaces until CO falls below a hazardous concentration.

By S M. Zhang, Y X. Han, J Liu, Y J. Li

"Compared with conventional roasting and magnetic separation processes, higher reduction temperatures and stronger reducing atmospheres are used in reduction technologies to reduce iron oxides to metallic iron, which is often liberated during reduction and amenable to magnetic separation. Reduction and magnetic separation of an Australian refractory iron ore was therefore studied as a function of reduction temperature, time and coal addition. It was found that during reduction, the particle size of the reduced iron increased with reduction temperature and time. Subsequent magnetic separation tests were further conducted on the reduction products. A reduced iron powder with a Fe grade of 85.67 per cent was obtained at a Fe recovery of 87.82 per cent under optimum reduction conditions where a metallisation rate of 85.82 per cent was achieved. The mechanism involved in reduction is discussed based on XRD and SEM examinations.CITATION:Han, Y X, Liu, J, Li, Y J and Zhang, S M, 2013. Upgrading an Australian iron ore by reduction and efficient magnetic separation, in Proceedings Iron Ore 2013, pp 397-402 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne)."

Aug 12, 2013

COALTECH 2020 initiated a research project to provide the coal mining industry with a modelling tool to determine the expected types of subsidence, risks and the investment required in post-closure funds to cater for subsidence associated with bord and pillar mines. A detailed literature review was conducted to determine the most important parameters in calculating the cost associated with surface subsidence. A subsidence prediction model was developed to determine the likelihood of different types of subsidence. The study made use of current knowledge of failure mechanisms and its aim is to assist the industry and government in arriving at the most suitable arrangements when authorities require financial instruments to assure compliance with environmental regulations.

Jan 1, 2003

The objective of current efforts by AQUILA Mining Systems Ltd. is the continued development of computer-based systems and techniques to automatically process and interpret monitored performance data from surface blasthole drills and mining shovels, and the management and coordination of these pieces of equipment by GPS (Global Positioning Systems).

Jan 1, 1995

By D. E. Sherwood

Recent developments in high torque hydraulic rotary rigs has lead to the construction of secant bored pile walls by rotary drilling methods in circumstances where earlier methods were difficult and in some cases impossible. The evolution of secant bored pile wall construction is described including classical, rotary drilled and continuous flight auger construction methods. The paper then details the restraints which have been created in recent inner city redevelopment, many of which were not relevant in the early days of the technique. Typical examples of walls are presented to show the adapatability and advantages of the secant bored pile wall method. A number of in-situ retaining wall construction techniques are then compared in detail with regard to relative cost, technical quality and practicality.

Jan 1, 1989

By W. P. Johnstone

The computer assisted generation of geological models to represent the geometry of, and grade distribution within, orebodies is a rapidly growing area of the geological profession. Such models are increasingly used as a necessary starting point in determining the mineability of mineral deposits in terms of practical mine design and economic considerations. The transition from traditional techniques such as field or underground mapping and the manual calculation of grade and tonnage estimates, as well as related activities such as the interpolation of cross-sections, the use of stereographic projections, core logging and hand contouring, to computerized applications, is by no means complete. In fact, many geological professionals deliberately avoid the use of computer simulations based on the perception that the resulting models are simplistic and that their construction is not founded on sound geological principles. The purpose of this paper is to assess current thinking on this topic by considering; (a) an overview of advances in the drafting of geological maps, (b) the theoretical basis for multi-dimensional geological modelling, (c) the case for combining traditional and modern techniques, and (d) the benefits to the mining value chain.

Jan 1, 2003

By B. Broms

The "Bawang Pile" (in english "onion" pile) described in the article consists of a cased concrete shaft and an expanded base. The steel casing is first driven by an internal drop hammer and then the base is formed in-situ by the raming the concrete at the bottom of the slitted casing. This new type of pile can be used for underpining (small head room) of buildings and as foundation for transmission towers or lamp posts. Full-scale load tests in compression and in tension on the Bawang pile and on steel pipe piles demonstrate the dramatic increase of the ultimate capacity due to the expanded base. Guidelines for the design of such piles are proposed.

Jan 1, 2010

By T. L. Owen

Since 1993 Cyprus Amax has brought $2.5 billion dollars of greenfield and expansion projects into production, taking it from a mid-sized domestic minerals company into a major international minerals organization. The near simultaneous development of these multiple mineral projects in different locations around the world provided the opportunity for Cyprus Amax to develop a formal project management approach based, in large part, on an outsourcing philosophy. This formal project management system along with its outsourcing philosophy has served the growth agenda of Cyprus Amax extremely well. These preceding factors, coupled with the in-house retention of a core project group that fully understands the breadth of skills and abilities needed to undertake development of multiple large projects successfully, have been the cornerstone of Cyprus Amax’s project development success.

Jan 1, 2000

By Carl Havemann

[PAPER PRESENTED AT THE 8thINTERNATIONAL CORROSION CONFERENCE HELD AT THE SA NATIONAL MUSEUM OF MILITARY HISTORY, SAXONWOLD JOHANNESBURG DURING 14-15 NOVEMBER, 2006.]

Jan 1, 2006

By B Belle

In a predrained gassy coalmine, ventilation control plays a secondary role to the longwall (LW) goaf drainage systems to safely manage panel return gas levels. Typically, the LW specific gas emission (SGE) estimation models provide anticipated goaf gas emissions and arriving at required gas drainage capacity for various coal production scenarios. A study comparing the various LW goaf gas hole spacing patterns with weekly production rates of up to 270 kt/w of an operating mine with high SGE rates (~20 m3/t) was carried out. The goaf capture efficiency of LW panels ranged from 64 per cent to 85 per cent. For the first time, gas content of upper seam data post LW retreat were used to verify the current SGE prediction models. This study has shown that an average of 50 m goaf spacing is optimal for management of high production retreat gassy LW panels in presence of multiple upper and lower seams with gas emission zone influence reaching up to 200 m above workings. Due to the horizontal stress direction related geotechnical issues, goaf hole failures just behind the LW face is a recurring challenge resulting in significant and immediate increase in LW panel return gas levels. This paper highlights the shortcomings of current SGE prediction models for goaf gas estimation, and evolution of 50 m goaf hole spacing embedded in design process in managing the LW tailgate gas levels.CITATION:Belle, B, 2017. Optimal goaf hole spacing in high production gassy Australian longwall mines – operational experiences, in Proceedings Australian Mine Vent Conference 2017, pp 15–26 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Aug 28, 2017

By Richard Hanke

Tunnel construction on the Brightwater Conveyance System?s East and Central contracts required ground modifications of the existing site soils, comprised of sandy alluvium to very dense glacial till, to assist with both hand-mined and TBM tunneling operations at vertical access shafts. The ground modification program was completed with a modified double fluid jet grouting system to construct continuous overlapping soilcrete columns to depths up to 94-ft below existing grade. This paper presents the sequence and methodology for the ground modification work and capabilities of jet grouting for structural support and groundwater control in the challenging soil profile present at the Brightwater Conveyance System Project.

Jan 1, 2008

By John A. Herbst, Xiangjun Qiu

"Prediction of wear on a microscale level in mineral processing equipment turns out to be a challenging undertaking. This is particularly true for cases in which the objective is to use such predictions for wear parts design. The key to obtaining such predictions has turned out to be the use of physics based models along with phenomenological constitutive equations. In this paper, two components of the HFS tool set, one for particles (DEM) and one for slurry (MPF), are used for modeling. These tools are applied to the simulation of wear of SAG/AG shell lifters/plates and wear in slurry pumps. In each case wear predictions are validated with plant measurements.INTRODUCTIONHigh Fidelity Simulation (HFS) has emerged as an important tool set for mineral processing plant equipment design and optimization (Herbst and Potapov, 2003; Herbst and Nordell, 2002; Herbst and Lichter, 2006). This tool set consists of Discrete Element Modeling (DEM) of particle motion, Multi-Phase Flow (MPF) for liquid motion, discrete grain breakage (DGB) for particle fragmentation and discrete grain liberation (DGL) for mineral liberation (Campbell, Potapov and Tsuji, 1997; Ferzinger and Peric, 1997; Potapov and Campbell, 1996; Herbst and Potapov, 2005).Three sample snapshots of basic HFS illustrating the use of each of the various types of mineral processing equipment are shown below.Figure 1 shows a snapshot of a DEM simulation of ball charge motion in a commercial scale Vertimill. DEM simulation involves simultaneous solution of Newton’s Laws of Motion for 400,000 balls."

Jan 1, 2007

In this study, the flotation performances of ethoxycarbonyl thionocarbamate (ECTC), dialkyl thionocarbamate (DATC) and xanthate copper sulfide collectors are compared by the structure-reactivity relationship using generalized perturbation theory and density functional calculation at the B3PW91/6-31G(D) level. The electron-donating power of xanthates is strong and, therefore, xanthates can strongly react with metal cation on the surfaces of copper and iron sulfide minerals through the formation of normal covalent bonds. This explains the poor selectivity of xanthates and also the high pH levels (above 13) required for the flotation separation of copper/iron sulfide minerals. DATCs are more selective for copper sulfide flotation, particularly against gangue iron sulfides. Although less powerful than xanthates, DATCs can perform copper/iron flotation separation at lower operating pH (commonly at pH levels below 11.5). ECTCs use an ethoxycarbonyl replacing an alkyl N-substituent in DATCs. The presence of the ethoxycarbonyl group effectively changes the functional group of collector from -C(=S)NH- to -C(=S)NHC(=O)-. The strong electron-withdrawing ethoxycarbonyl group adjacent to the C=S group decreases the electron density of the sulfur atom, which improves ECTC?s selectivity against iron sulfide minerals at slightly alkaline conditions. The lowest unoccupied molecular orbit (LUMO) of ECTC, which is constituted by the pz-orbit of every atoms in the conjugate -O-C(=O)-N-C(=S)-O- group and which is pleased with accepting richly d-orbital electrons (feedback electrons) from the (t2g)6(eg)3Cu(II) or t6e4Cu(I) configuration of copper cation on the surfaces of copper sulfide minerals, resulted in the formation of dative p-bond. The iron atom, which has a (t2g)6Fe(II) or (t2ga)3(ega)2 Fe(III) configuration on the surfaces of iron sulfide minerals (Fe(III) is the predominant composition at alkaline conditions), has difficulty in offering its d-orbital electrons (feedback electrons) to ECTC?s LUMO. ECTC collectors are powerful for copper sulfide minerals and very selective against iron sulfides, which has been further confirmed by UV spectra and bench-scale and industrial-scale flotation tests.

Jan 1, 2008