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By P J. Hommert, D S. Preece

"Commercial development of the United States Oil Shale reserve will require substantial amounts of mining. In fact, even a modest 500,000 barrels per day industry requires a mining effort equivalent to nearly half of the current U.S. coal mining industry. Obviously, mining efforts on this scale will benefit from technological advances. There are a number of areas where advanced technology could impact mining. These include continuous miners, shale transport systems, and blasting. This paperexamines recent developments in computer modeling of blasting and assesses the likelihood of these advances being applied to practical oil shale mining problems."

Jan 1, 1989

By Van Barnefield J G

This paper is based on an evaluation project engaged upon jointly by Mount Isa Mines Limited nnd" IBM Austra]ia Limited. Mount Isa Mines Limited produces most of its copper from large underground open stopes within massive orebodies. Variations in the position and shapes of these stopes can result in improved metal recovery. An interactive graphics system has been developed to assist the mine design engineer optimise his design. The system can assist the engineer throughout the orebody visualis- ation, initial design and optimisation phases of his design. At any stage the engineer may call upon the display of gridded mesh data, digitized ore outlines or existing stopes or development (drives, cross-cuts). This information may be viewed in plan or any vertical section or in three dimensions with rotation. Tonnage and grade calculations may be quickly performed for initial stope outlines or for modifications to them during the optimisation phase. The system design is highly modular. An array of functions for the manipulation of coordinate and line information may be linked with the development or stope design functions in whichever way the designer desires.

Jan 1, 1977

By Ernst-Ulrich Reuther, Alexander Donmen

Mine ventilation in the German coal mining industry is concerned mainly with problems of thermal environment arising from greater depths and with increasing emission of methane gas. The development of computer techniques over the past ten years for solving these and ancillary problems is reviewed. The emphasis from a planning and control point of view falls mainly on ventilation network calculations, temperature predictions and advance estimates of methane emission.

Jan 1, 2014

By Marek Wilczewski, Kristine Uhlman, Darrel Sipe

With the end of active copper mining in 1983, the extensive underground mine workings and the Berkeley Pit, one of the largest open-pit mines in the United States, began to flood. Daily in- flow to the pit is about five million gallons per day, with the water level rising at a rate of 30 feet per year. To support the remedial investigation and feasibility study, a six-layer, three-dimensional MODFLOW-based ground water flow model was constructed to simulate the 9,100-acre site. The vertical domain of the model extended over 1,060 feet of elevation difference and consisted of a finite difference grid of 89 rows by 54 columns. All work was PC- based. Model boundaries were assigned to correspond to natural hydrologic features such as geologic contacts, faults, and surface water features. The fully calibrated model was approved by the State of Montana and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for use in the site remediation. The computer model was used to determine ground water flow velocities and contaminant travel times within the alluvial sediments adjacent to the Berkeley Pit. The purpose of the model was to predict future alluvial ground water flow directions should acid- and heavy metal-laden flood waters filling the Berkeley Pit rise up and enter the Alluvial Aquifer.

Jan 1, 1996

By V. M. Shick

For practical purposes of the use of information resources in the field of geomechanics and mine surveying with accepted mining technology in mines, the authors have developed the packaged software programs of the survey-geomechanical information system with database objects of mine field. This system enables to execute the graphical representation of workings layout in preset scale, axonometric projection, the zones of higher ground pressure: program packages for calculations of rock pressure manifestations and for selection of suitable support facilities for the permanent, development and active workings and vertical shafts based on the information resources of the State Research Institute of Mining Geomechanics & Mine Surveying (VNIMI). The program packages are applied at coal mines in Russia and in Kazakhstan. The profitable operation of coal mines can be reached only by the combined optimal engineering decisions in mine working's laying-out and their reliability and safety at the stages of their designing and exploitation, and with minimal harm of the environment as well. This problem is being complicated by the fact that today the mining-practicing engineers and designers are ordinarily facing the problem " of an information barrier", when the complexity of controlling systems exceeds the potentialities of traditional management of production practice. Coal mine is a typical representative of complicated systems, because the information about geological structure, physicomechanical properties and stress-strain state of rock mass are of fragmentary character and insufficiently reliable. A mine has a developed network of interrelated workings, by the way, some of them are productive ones being subjected to control to a certain extent, and some of them are abandoned ones being noncontrollable and hazardous in rushes of water, gas, pulp and fire. The ground pressure forces cause the disintegration of rock mass growing with depth. The progress of mining operations constantly changes the geomechanical situation forming the zones of bearing pressure, stress relieving, coal falling, as well as it leads to the pulp movement on the earth surface, breaks the ground water flow, causes deformations and changes in stability of buildings, constructions and natural objects on the earth surface. One should take into account the existence of hazardous zones within the mine field, i.e. the zones of elevated ground pressure, geological dislocations and those ones under natural water reservoirs, ponds, etc. Major coal seams are prone to rock bursts, sudden outbursts, bleeding, endogenic fire. It is obvious, that in practice it is extremely difficult to account for the mentioned above factors in their interrelation.

Jan 1, 1996

By C. J. Toberman

Improvements in fine (28x0) and ultrafine (200x0) coal cleaning is an acknowledged goal with potential benefits in both steam and metallurgical coal markets. This work focuses on adaptation to fine coal flotation of FLOTE, a computer simulation model of the froth flotation process originally developed in the hard minerals field. FLOTE describes the flotation of solids based on particle surface activity, composition, and size. The quasi steady state model was applied to predict flotation performance at an Eastern Kentucky, full scale metallurgical coal preparation plant. Parameter estimation and model testing used detailed flotation test data from a five stage rougher flotation bank. Overall grade/recovery predictions compared well with known plant performance under variation of principally feed grade, plant throughput and reagent addition; however, grade/ recovery predictions for each cell weaken under overloading conditions. Analysis of grade/recovery over a range of sizes is presented. Suggested model improvements and extensions are discussed.

Jan 1, 1984

By D. H. Wilton, C. I. Godwin, A. J. Sinclair

"A computer-based drill core logging system used to examine computer-based drill core logging system used to examine copper mineralization hosted in volcaniclastic rocks at the Sustut deposit, in north-central British Columbia, has many advantages over conventional logging. A relatively simple format for recording geological information allows complex, but significant, geologic parameters to be recorded consistently, accurately and quickly. This allows graphical presentations and statistical interpretation of the data that lead to rapid and detailed analyses of the control and distribution of copper mineralization at the Sustut deposit.Ore mineralization is concentrated in lens-shaped bodies and is zoned from native copper cores through chalcocite, bornite and chalcopyrite to a margin containing pyrite. Chalcocite, the principal mineral, occurs mainly in volcaniclastic agglomerate characterized by a specific grain size, a narrow range of matrix and fragment proportions, and a specific sorting.IntroductionWe report here a case history of the practical application of a detailed computer-based drill core logging system applied to the Sustut copper deposit of Falconbridge Nickel Mines Ltd. The Sustut deposit, containing a few tens of millions of tons of ore grading slightly more than one per cent copper (Church, 1975), is in north-central British Columbia about 875 km north of Vancouver. The deposit is contained in volcaniclastic sedimentary rocks of the Upper Triassic Moosevale Formation, which is within the upper part of the Takla Group (Monger and Church, 1977) of basic volcanic and associated sedimentary rocks. Takla rocks occur along the eastern fringe of the Intermontane Belt in the Canadian Cordillera (Sutherland Brown et al., 1971). The deposit consists of concentrations of copper sulphides, native copper and pyrite within pods and lenses parallel to bedding in the host sedimentary rocks. These sheet-like deposits exhibit a mineral zoning from pyrite at the fringes successively through chalcopyrite, bornite and chalcocite to native copper at the core (Wilton, 1978; Wilton and Sinclair, 1979)."

Jan 1, 1980

By Roy L. Zuber

Identification and analysis of mining hazards involves the correlation of accident, injury and illness information from all segments of the mining industry. It would not be feasible to process the volume of data involved without substantial reliance upon a computerized information system similar to that maintained by the Health and Safety Analysis Center. Numerous statistical programs are applied to the computerized accident-injury-illness data base to identify those mining tasks and associated activities which are responsible for most of the injuries and occupational illnesses. These programs are used to flag those mining tasks or conditions at specific mines or segments of the mining industry where either a significant increase in the injury/illness trend has been reported or where the number of injuries/illnesses related to specific mining tasks or conditions are high. Upon identification of those mining hazards which warrant further analysis, a computerized search of the coded accident data is performed to correlate the predominant categories by cause of injury or illness, source of injury, nature of injury, type of accident, etc. From this correlation, those factors most common to the conditions responsible for the hazard may be identified. Based upon analyses of this form, recommendations are made regarding the appropriate engineering, training, and/or operational improvements necessary to alleviate the hazard. In addition to mining hazard analysis, the computerized data base also has application in the area of optimum resource allocation. Computer programs have been developed to assist management in allocating resources based upon organizational requirements and historical accident - injury trends.

Jan 1, 1983

By K. J. Ashley

Over the last six years I have been involved with the calculation of ore reserves and mine planning using various computer systems and soft- ware packages. This experience has given me a unique perspective from which to view the needs of the engineers and geologists whose job it is to produce geologic and mineable ore reserves. The purpose of this paper is to share that perspective with those who are in this field or are thinking of purchasing computer software to aid in these calculations. My first experience with computers in mining was the creation of a mini-computer based coal reserve and mine planning package written as part of my Easter's thesis. This package took about ten weeks to write, four weeks to document, and two weeks to install at the mine for which it was written. It did what it was designed to do, which was to emulate the hand procedure which had been used prior to its installation. The package was specific to its application which involved several small seams of coal being mined simultaneously and would have required major modification for it to be applied to a mine where, say, one thick seam was mined in two benches.

Jan 1, 1985

By William J. Douglas, Jack T. Urie, Randall D. Metz

Production and financial planning for a new underground mine requires the coordination of equipment and coal reserves in a manner which assures that resources are utilized efficiently in achieving the target mine production. It is necessary to establish the productions which are attainable at the section level during different mining operations (advance, retreat, development) and under different mining conditions (roof, seam height, resource quality). It is also necessary to identify the interactions between production plans and ventilation equipment So that operations can be carried out without disruptions caused by inadequate ventilation. A set of computer models has been applied in planning a number of new coal, oil shale, and phosphate mines. A critical path production model, CPMINE, was used to determine face production levels for different cut sequences and seam heights, taking into account machine performance characteristics and operational availabilities under these varying conditions. The results formed a production data base for use in the mine sequencing model, MPLAN. This model processes each of the segments of a user-defined mine sequence network (strategy tree) taking into account the equipment available for mining operations and the previously determined production scheme devised by the mining engineer. Mine ventilation was analyzed with an expanded version of the Penn State MVS Ventilation model to determine fan and ventilation shaft requirements for supporting alternative production strategies. The MCOM mine cost analysis model has been applied to evaluate the economic performance of mining alternatives. The results of these studies were used to make decisions relating to equipment selection and acquisition schedules for both room-and-pillar and longwall mining systems. The approach and procedures which were used during these studies are described.

Jan 1, 1983

By J. Y. P. Leite

In the Borborema Pegmatitic Province (Brazil) exploitations of several minerals are conducted by small producers. They use traditional techniques of gravity concentration in small-scale plants as jigs and vibratory tables. During decades the mining activity generated tailings with economic interest in particularly columbite-tantalite. Samples collected in tailing piles of a gravity plant were characterized in mineral composition, which shows in the heavy fraction the minerals spodumene, columbite-tantalite, ilmeno-hematite, garnet and cassiterite. The light fraction presents quartz, feldspar and muscovite. The degree of liberation of spodumene and columbite-tantalite were determined using optical microscopy that presents liberation in 100 µm (90% to columbite-tantalite and 100% to spodumene). Centrifugal concentrator Falcon SB-40 was used for concentration of these minerals and presents 65% recovery in mass to two stages with mass reduction about 85%.

Sep 1, 2012

By H. Burger

For mine planning in the hardcoal industry the reliable prediciton of the properties of a deposit-both ahead of the zone to be worked as well as of zones at depths not yet developed - may help improve the production results of workings. With the wide spacing of exploration drillings usual in the coal industry, it is hardly possible to establish adequately reliable plans just by simple kriging methods. During the exploration phase a decision has to be made whether the zone ahead of a face area is economically profitable and, in addition, accessible and safe in order to be included in the production planning. It is, first of all, important to gather global information on certain parts of the planning area it the form of local estimates. Moreover, cut-off problems play a critical role, e.g. if there are set cut-off thicknesses as a criterion for minability or if safety aspects have to be considered. Conditional simulation appears to be a useful geostatistic method in order to localize or predict areas of potential rock burst hazard - based on geological criteria in conjunction with the guidelines by mining authorities - in the zones ahead of a working. It is a means of providing an objective basis for the evaluation and planning of mining activities.

Jan 1, 1986

By M. E. Rossi, J. E. Camacho

"Geostatistical conditional simulations are becoming increasingly popular as tools that provide models of uncertainty at different stages of a mining project. They have been used as grade control tools in daily operations to assess the uncertainty of mineable reserves at the project’s feasibility stage, and to assess mineralization potential in certain settings. Other applications include assessment of recoverable reserves, resource and reserve classification, and drill hole spacing optimization studies. All large-scale applications of conditional simulations intend to benefit from the correct (or accurate) characterization of uncertainty, adequately describing the variability observed from the data and its effect on the final objective.The objective of this paper is to compare the ad-hoc uncertainty model provided by a traditional classification scheme with the probability intervals resulting from a conditional simulation model. It is argued that the uncertainty model derived from the use of classification schemes is of little practical use to the mining company or operation. The paper emphasizes differences in uncertainty based on the size of the mining unit considered, the extraction method, and local geological differences. Most importantly, it discusses confidence intervals for these mining units, as compared to the relative precision envisioned by a typical classification scheme.The application described in this paper is taken from a medium-sized Cu open pit and underground mine in northern Chile, and demonstrates the impact of several variables on the resulting conditional simulation models. It also compares a more traditional resource classification scheme applied, and the wide difference in local confidence intervals for each mining unit."

Jan 1, 2004

By K. Miao, W. Mu, M. Sharma, A. Haas, N. Dogan

"The ever increasing demand for cleaner steels with low inclusion content has highlighted the limits of our current knowledge for controlling and predicting inclusion agglomeration and removal during liquid steel processing. Key knowledge gaps in this area result from the complex nature of the problems associated with measuring and visualizing the phenomena studied. Confocal scanning laser microscope (CSLM) allows for continuous in situ observation of micron-size samples in real time, at high resolution, under conditions relevant to the steelmaking process. This paper summarizes some of recent CSLM applications in our laboratory to illustrate the methods of analyzing transient behavior. The reaction between inclusions and slag is given as an example. The dissolution rate of calcium aluminate inclusions in CaO-SiO2-Al2O3 slags has been studied at elevated temperatures: 1500, 1550 and 1600°C as well as thermodynamic/kinetic analysis. It is found that total dissolution time decreased with increasing temperature. The rate limiting steps are discussed. It is shown that the diffusion through a product layer is responsible for dissolution at 1500°C. At higher temperature, dissolution is most likely controlled by both boundary layer diffusion and chemical reaction at the slag-inclusion interface. In this paper, the evidence for and against the theory will be critically examined and repercussions of the theory to steel refining processes will be discussed.INTRODUCTION Inclusion formation during liquid steel refining is an unavoidable consequence of current ladle steelmaking processes. The nature and quantity of the inclusions formed in steel is critical in steelmaking, as it affects both productivity through clogging, and downstream physical properties of the steel. It is therefore crucial to better understand and control the formation, agglomeration and dissolution behaviour of inclusions in a slag in order to improve the removability of inclusions from liquid steel. Most research (Sandhage & Yurek, 1988; Sandhage & Yurek, 1990a; Sandhuge & Yurek, 1990b; Sandhuge, 1991) relevant to the kinetics of inclusion removal has been obtained by using a technique where simulated inclusion material (ceramic rods) is dipped in slag and the dissolution rate is measured. While much has been learned using this approach, the difference in scale from bulk materials to inclusions is likely to have a significant bearing on the dissolution kinetics of inclusions in a slag and will certainly result in a very different influence of capillary effects. Further, the data obtained using an indirect (dip test) procedure relies on a comparison of the initial and final conditions of a sample rather than in-situ observation which can be achieved in a confocal microscope in real time."

Jan 1, 2017

By Jerry Ran

Many large underground mines using the open stoping method have changed their primary applications of consolidated rock fill (CRF) to paste or consolidated hydraulic fill due to considerations of demand in infrastructure and equipment, system reliability, backfill capacity and material sources. However, some smaller or even large mines still use or consider using CRF for backfill purpose due to factors such as capital expenditure, availability or suitability of other fill types or in some cases local regulatory requirements. As demands on CRF applications diminish among major mining companies, there is a lack of recent literature on application of CRF to open stoping in design and operation. There are several methods being used for fill strength design. Results from these methods have been successfully applied to paste or hydraulic fill. However, the design strength for CRF is much higher than that determined by use of these widely accepted methods. In operation, CRF preparation and placement have significant impacts on the quality of placed CRF and therefore the mining performance. This paper reviews the current fill design methods and their applications to open stoping with presentation of the bench marking data, presents fill failure cases and various CRF preparation and placement arrangements and discusses quality assurance and control programs.

Jun 1, 2012

By G. Molloy

The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the value of applying continuous improvement, in particular 5S and standard work, in an underground environment. 5S and standard work are two aspects of Lean manufacturing that have been applied in many industries. At Vale Canada Limited, the focus is to first stabilize the process, commonly through the use of 5S, standard work and other continuous improvement techniques. In parallel with building an engaged workforce, these approaches aim to incrementally stabilize and improve a process. 5S is an employee-driven, systematic methodology to reduce waste in all its forms through attaining, maintaining, and improving workplace organization. Identified as a foundational part of any improvement process, 5S aims to remove wastes that impact on the overall efficiency of the area. Standard work is used to formulate a common approach to how tasks are carried out to ensure consistency. Standardization involves identifying, establishing, and following the best method. The aim is to eliminate the variation that can occur when there is not a pre-defined established standard. Demonstrating the value of 5S and standard work in an underground environment will be achieved by first understanding the overall concept of Operational Excellence and continuous improvement as practiced within our operations. The paper will then cover a real application of 5S and standard work within the underground environment at Thompson, Manitoba.

Aug 1, 2013

By Rex C. Bryan

An accurate and dependable ore reserve estimate is important to any mining company. It is also essential for development drilling and production planning to know about the distribution of the ore within the area to be mined. This paper will show that in the case of more variable deposits such as uranium, the use of geostatistics is superior to conventional techniques. Unlike conventional methods, geostatistics includes the importance of spatial orientation of measured variables. With the use of variograms in conjunction with kriging, a point or a block may be estimated along with its error of estimation. The existence of disequilibrium can create a severe problem in uranium 'ore reserve estimation, and mine and production planning. Disequilibrium can be simply defined as the ratio of chemical or assay values to gamma equivalent values calculated from the downhole geophysical gamma-ray logs. Various methods for adjusting for disequilibrium have been proposed. Most, however, have side stepped the consideration of disequilibrium itself being a regionalized phenomena; or its, relation to surrounding geology. This paper presents methods of incorporating both aspects. The East Dilts Pit at the Bear Creek Uranium Mine in Wyoming, has been used as a case study. Polygonal, triangular, and lognormal kriging and various disequilibrium adjusted methods, including multi-factor cokriging have been com- pared with the mining experience.

Jan 1, 1982

By J. L. Barton, R. A. Murray

"This paper looks at how Syncrude Canada Ltd. is utilizing the Conveyor Belt Monitoring technology developed and patented by the Australian CSIRO and licensed to Syncrude by Conveyor Belt Monitoring of North America, Inc. The technology involves magnetizing the steel cables in the conveyor belts and detecting the fields produced by breaks, gaps or cable ends using special sensors which feed the signals into a multi- channel recorder to provide permanent traces of the various events taking place in the steel cable belts.The data is analyzed and combined with existing belt audit programs, to assist in predicting belt life, change-out criteria and belt design, belt loading and construction. All of these applications of the CBM technology leads to better utilization of resources and forms an integral part of the conveying system reliability program."

Jan 1, 1992

The selection of the ore haulage system is one of the most crucial decisions made in the development of an underground mining project. The haulage system is, once selected, one of the components of a mine that defines its ability to respond to changes in mining inventory and the market conditions for its products. Over the last decade, in Australia at least, this selection process has largely centred on the debate over the merits of shaft and decline truck haulage. Little attention, if any, was given to the application of inclined conveyor haulage as a real alternative to the shaft and truck haulage. This is despite well established precedents for its application in the underground coal industry and some limited applications in underground metalliferous mines. This paper seeks to explore the case for the application of inclined conveyors as a legitimate ore haulage system for underground mines. The case for conveyor haulage is illustrated by an overview of the application of conveyors at some existing operations, and discussion of what conveyors have to offer as a mine haulage system and the issues that are associated with them. Material drawn from the feasibility studies for NewcrestÆs Ridgeway mine and Telfer Deeps Project is presented as case studies that considered selection of inclined conveyor haulage. The purpose of these case studies is to highlight the value of impartially approaching tasks of this type with a robust plan. This plan should be able to respond to issues identified as the task progresses towards the objective of finding the right solution for an ore haulage system.

Jan 1, 2005

By John G. Kuhm

INTRODUCTION The goal of any development drilling program is the drilling of the exact number of holes necessary to adequately determine grade and dimensions of an orebody, no more and no less. This cost of development drilling represents a large part of the total development budget. Any technique which eliminates unnecessary drilling costs produces beneficial results, both to the company and to the person who can claim the savings. This high development cost factor has produced a quantity of research to develop techniques, for efficient control of drilling programs. Recent mining literature is full of articles describing methods for measuring and increasing the effectiveness of these expensive projects. The method described in this paper was developed during the latter part of a major development drilling project at the Christmas Mine of Inspiration Consolidated Copper Company in Gila County, Arizona. It was used to test the need for drilling individual holes but could be expanded to control an entire project. This technique was used at Christmas as a practical means for evaluating adequacy of drilling on an individual hole basis, and it was possible to eliminate several previously approved holes. Application of this method involves an evaluation of geological conditions present and a good bit of common sense. Projects involving large disseminated, rather homogeneous orebodies of the porphyry-copper type would be the most likely candidate for application of the technique. Discontinuous orebodies would not be amenable to this technique. The method is based on the measurement of the linear correlation between the spatial distribution of two sets of data. The Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient is used. This is a standard statistic commonly used to measure linear correlation between two sets of data. The statistical significance of the correlation coefficient at a 95% confidence level is the main criterion for controlling the project. For purposes of reference we will call our technique the "correlation method" in this paper.

Jan 1, 1971