Search Documents

By R. R. Mankowski

The work described here attempts to underscore the importance of the time lag between the end of a loading phase and the instant a winding drum begins its acceleration phase. Traces generated from a computer-simulation model show that the amplitude of the stress oscillations occurring in mine hoisting cable during the constant velocity-of-ascent phase is a direct result of the temporal sequence employed between the loading and the raising phases. While current and early literature indicates that extensive work has been undertaken on the isolated effects of these two independent sequences, the literature does not appear to contain any documented evidence to suggest an optimal control or interfacing between these two dynamic regimes.

Jan 1, 1995

By J. A. Wates

The paper examines the consequences of dam building with slime of high water content, and therefore Iow relative density, such as the tailings usually associated with the extraction of uranium. It shows how a Iow relative density reduces the practical maximum rate of rise, and hence the establishment cost, of slimes dams built by conventional means. Further hidden costs of such tailings dams are examined. It is concluded that dewatering of tailings before their disposal is the most cost-effective means of increasing the rate at which a particular dam can be constructed, or of reducing operating or stability problems on existing dams. In the longer term, underground disposal seems to be a feasible alternative. However, it is pointed out that there are other factors that can compound the operating difficulties, and that these should be investigated before remedial steps are taken.

Jan 1, 1983

By R. J. Dippenaar, W. H. Van Niekerk, D. A. Kotze

It is generally accepted that alkalis attack and degrade the carbon fraction of coke in a blast furnace. Because South African cokes contain relatively high amounts of ash, the influence of alkalis on the ash fraction was investigated, the carbon and ash fractions being separated and studied separately. Potassium engenders the formation of liquid, with a resultant expansion of volume and a decrease in the strength of the coke ash. However, the ash did not play a significant part in the degradation of the coke, and it was found that the catalytic effect of potassium on the Boudouard reaction was the overriding factor in the coke-degradation process.

Jan 1, 1986

By A. L. Painting

A study of the end effects in specimen cores under compression tests, with a view to the elimination of these effects by A. L. PAINTING (Student) It is well known that a cylindrical rock specimen tested under uniaxial compression in conventional fashion is subject to end effects; that is, towards the end of the core, the stress and strain distribution becomes non-uniform. The experiment described illustrates such end effects with an aluminium core between steel platens. An attempt was then made to nullifythese effects by compressing the core between pads of mercury. The resulting stress and strain distribution was significantly more uniform, but a slight over-correction was introduced.

Jan 4, 1974

By R. C. Hochreiter

The paper gives a technical review of the history, occurrence, mining, metallurgy, and end-uses of the platinum-group metals in South Africa, with most emphasis on platinum and palladium. The platinum industry has grown, from the first discovery of the metal in South Africa (in the central Transvaal) in 1923, to the present time, when the country is the largest producer of platinum 10the world, supplying almost 70 per cent of the platinum on the world market.

Jan 1, 1985

The value of incentive payments in the mining industry by K. SMITH, A.R.S.M., B.Sc. (London) (Member) This paper reviews the history of incentive payments in the mining industry, and gives some indication of the magnitude of improvement that has been achieved by this means in the past. The objective is to promote a more general belief in the efficacy of these methods, and thus to encourage their wider and more effective application by mining engineers in general, and by the rising generation in particular. It is concluded, from a consideration of current productivity levels in the gold-mining industry (still South Africa's leading revenue earner), that further substantial improvement can be achieved by a better understanding of the time-tested principles of incentive payments.

Jan 5, 1974

By P. A. Von Wielligh

Without minerals, man cannot possibly hope to maintain his present standard of living. Professional mining men throughout the world, particularly in mineral-exporting countries like South Africa, are faced with the increasingly difficult task of ensuring adequate supplies of minerals. The problems of gradually diminishing mineral reserves and rapidly rising mining costs can to a certain extent be overcome by the use of more-sophisticated technological techniques and by the improvement of efficiency wherever possible. However, there is growing concern in some quarters, that, despite the ingenuity of engineers, geologists, metallurgists, and scientists, the earth's mineral reserves will eventually become insufficient to meet man's needs. In order to ensure the continued well-being of the earth's population, it is therefore imperative that more attention should be paid to mineral research and the training of specialists in the field of mineral reclamation.

Jan 1, 1978

By J. Gilliland

The Grootegeluk coal-beneficiation plant was erected in the Waterberg coalfield, near Ellisras in the Transvaal, to supply Iscor's steelworks with a predetermined tonnage of coking coal in accordance with strict quality requirements. This plant has to handle a high tonnage of raw coal, which is not easy to beneficiate, in order to produce 1,82 X IQ6t of coal. Extensive tests were conducted on borehole cores and a mass sample of coal obtained from the area. These tests were carried out on a laboratory and pilot-plant scale, and were aimed at the establishment of the most effective beneficiation methods and the choice of suitable equipment. This led to the completion of a full set of design and manufacturing drawings that resulted in the project approach . described in this paper.

Jan 1, 1982

By L. Cornish, P. A. Olubambi, J. H. Potgieter

Four 22%Cr series duplex stainless steels alloys containing varying nickel contents of approximately 5, 7, 9 and 13% were melted in a vacuum induction furnace, hot rolled, solution annealed and water quenched. Their corrosion behaviour was investigated in sulphuric acid and sodium chloride solutions using a potentiodynamic polarization technique. Increasing nickel contents have appreciable influence on their corrosion behaviour. Polarization curves show similarities in the uniform corrosion behaviour of the alloys in the solutions and a significant difference in their pitting behaviour in chloride environments. Alloy 2209 generally exhibited highest resistance to uniform corrosion while 2213 displayed distinct and best pitting corrosion resistance. Their corrosion behaviour were attributed to the influence of nickel on phase modification, microstructural refinement, and the probably types of films formed in different environments. Keywords: Duplex stainless steel; Nickel; Microstructure; Phase modification; Corrosion

Jan 1, 2006

By R F. Sandenbergh, Y Wei

The flotation separation of the Rosh Pinah ore into lead and zinc concentrates are based on the selective flotation of the lead containing minerals followed by the activation and recovery of the zinc sulfides. In the present work the influence of the composition of the water on the selective flotation of the lead containing minerals is reviewed and the results given of the laboratory investigation of the influence of activating species such as silver, lead and copper, on the selective recovery of lead minerals from the Rosh Pinah ore. It was found that it was difficult to prevent the activation of the sphalerite by the metal species in solution in the absence of cyanide, and that colloidal precipitates most probably also serves as a significant carrier of these activators in the flotation circuit. Removal of heavy metal species from the solution by means of an adsorbent is possible, but most probably not practical.

Jan 1, 2007

By D. S. Loubser

The technique of backfilling in the gold mining industry is dependent on the dewatering of slurry to form a solid support system. In many cases flocculants are added to the slurry to increase the rate of dewatering. To ensure that a stable support is obtained it is important that the chemistry, application and limitations of these flocculant additives are understood. Flocculant additives have to be added at a point where minimum shear will occur. (Shear occurs when a flocculant is exposed to excess energy resulting in breakdown, of the floc.) To ensure that optimum results are obtained it is important that personnel involved are trained to use the flocculant additives and dosing equipment correctly.

Jan 1, 1988

By T. N. Moore, E. M. De Souza

This paper details a study conducted in Canada on the use of a drill with two different types of elastomer-covered handles in place of the standard steel handles. One type of handle was covered with a relatively stiff elastomer with a durometer of 70 (referred to as the plastic handle), and the other was covered with a more compliant elastomer with a durometer of 56 (refered to as the rubber handle). It was found that, compared with the steel handle, the overall acceleration at the interface between the plastic handle and the drill operator's hand was 2,5 times less, and that between the rubber handle and his hand was 3 times less. This reduction occurred predominantly in the frequency range above 500 Hz, and was greater with increasing frequency. However, an analysis based on the methodology of an international standard (which places greater importance on low-frequency vibration), indicated that the reduction in vibration levels was minimal. ~he driller himself felt that operation with the plastic and rubber handles was more comfortable, the rubber handle being preferred.

Jan 1, 1991

By A. Mitchell

On 25 August 2011, Andrew Mitchell, Lucas Moalusi, and Matthew van der Want of Bell Dewar hosted a presentation on Mining and Communities in Mooinooi, in the North-West Province. The conference was attended by traditional leaders in the North-West Province, officials from the Department of Local Government and Traditional Affairs, and executives from the mining industry. The presentation concerned traditional governance in mining, communities? rights in terms of applicable legislation, and the corporatization of community affairs.

Jan 1, 2012

By F. L. Wilke

The use of operations research techniques and computer models has become entrenched in the mining industry, particularly in the area of mine planning. The paper considers three major areas where increasing efforts are likely to be directed in the future: the integration of multiple disciplines in a single model; the decentralization of computing capacity within a structured network; and the incorporation of sophisticated techniques such as computer aided design and artificial intelligence.

Jan 1, 1987

By M. U. Ozbay, D. R. Lougher

An in-situ experimental programme was carried out to improve the understanding of the rockmass and pillar behaviour in moderately deep hard-rock mines. The experiments were carried out at Impala Platinum mines and consisted of precise levelling measurements in the footwall of the reef, stress measurements in pillars, convergence measurements in the stope, and petroscope observations in pillars. The results were analyzed using a computer program in an attempt to quantify the characteristic behaviour of the rockmass as well as the pillars. The measured off-reef displacement data were found to co11fonn to the trends obtained from elastic modelling and the correlation could be improved by modelling the small pillars with reduced modulus to simulate yielding' of the pillars. The stress strain curve obtained from analyzing the in situ results, showed that a 6x 3 xl m pillar yields without significant load shedding at peak stress levels of approximately 208 MPa. The closure measurements confirmed that the mechanism of yielding is mainly that of pillars punching into the foundations. Slight to moderate sidewall fracturing and slabbing might be contributing to yielding, but to a much lesser degree than the former mechanism, as the petroscope observation revealed the existence of an intact region beyond 0,6m from the pillar sides.

Jan 1, 1995

By A. J. Burger, F. L. D. Cloete

Tests indicated that effective recovery of pyrite from a coarse Witwatersrand quartzitic ore can be accomplished by intensified flotation in an air-sparged hydrocyclone. Air is fed through the porous cylindrical wall of the hydrocyclone into a swirling layer of slury. Hydrophobic particles are attached selectively to small air bubbles, which form a froth and are recovered through the overflow. Hydrophilic particles pass out in the underflow. A spigot in which flow is restricted by an orifice was found to be more successful in preventing blockage by wood chips than an annular opening between a pedestal and the cylinder wall. Pyrite recoveries of 85 to 93 per cent at grades of 35 to 40 per cent sulphur were obtained in the air-sparged hydroclone with residence times of about 1 second. Comparative tests in a batch flotation cell after 320 seconds yielded average recoveries of up to 96 per cent, but with a mean grade of 32,5 per cent sulphur. A high colector dosage of 120 g/t was required in the cyclone, compared with the 40 gft used in conventional operations. An air flowrate of about 150 I/min was adequate at a slury feed rate of 35l/min. Particle sizes between 38 and 106µm yielded the best flotation results.

Jan 1, 1988

Project evaluation is completed through individual studies covering technical and financial aspects of the mine to market. These studies are completed at various levels of detail depending on where the project evaluation is in the project's life cycle. The competency of the studies varies in relation to the quality of data, level of the skills employed, control, management and reporting structure. The focus of this paper is managing elements of the study, looking at the cost of opportunity to influence the project, against the value added. Selection of the study manager and study teams is central to getting an integrated project evaluation addressing the correct issues completed on time. Retention of key personnel can reduce rework which, in turn, can reduce time and cost impacts. It is important to have a work breakdown structure at the outset so that the study teams have a common numbering and naming system that will integrate areas, equipment, budgets estimates and accounts. Having set up the evaluation groups and provided training in the study procedures, understanding the scope and schedule are vital elements in producing a project evaluation that addresses the opportunities and the risks of the final project. Arriving at an accurate capital budget requires integration of the research controlled through common systems. Project evaluation process must also address how the project is to be delivered.

Jan 1, 2007

By D. F. Sinclair

It is often said in business that if you don't have a customer you don't have a business. The same rule applies to project evaluation; if you don't have customers you really don't have a viable project. It is therefore essential that in the early stages of project evaluation the following fundamental questions are addressed: ? What products will this project produce? ? Who are the potential customers? ? What are the customers' requirements with respect to grade and impurities? ? Do they have adequate capacity to take the production from the proposed project? ? Will the products introduce adverse effects in the customer's process circuits? ? Will additional waste streams requiring disposal be produced? In the past the attitude has been along the lines of the customer will take whatever we produce at the mine site. Times have now changed with customers now operating under much tighter environmental regulation with waste disposal becoming increasingly difficult. It would therefore be prudent that the principles of product stewardship be used as a tool in project evaluation. This paper will provide a general discussion on customer requirements and provide detail on case studies of the impact of mine products on smelter process circuits. It will provide examples where there were synergies between the mine product and the smelter circuit and where the mine product had adverse impacts on smelter performance.

Jan 1, 2007

Commissioning of the Cannington processing plant began in October 1997. The nameplate capacity (of 1.55 million tonnes of ore per annum) was achieved relatively quickly. Since then (like many mines) the operation has strived to increase throughput and improve valuable metal recoveries, to offset declining head grades and lift the value of the operation. The processing plant now has the capability of treating over 3.2 million tonnes of ore per annum and in financial year 2005/06 the combined concentrate production exceeded 600 000 wet tonnes, approximately 80 per cent above concentrate output in the first full year of operation (at the design feed rate). This improved performance was achieved by making changes and additions to each of the major unit processes - primary grinding, flotation, leaching, filtering and paste fill preparation. The changes have included: adding a fines flotation circuit, expanding the grinding circuit, adding a pebble crusher, switching from continuous to batch leaching, building paste conveyors and decommissioning the column flotation cleaning circuits. This paper reviews these changes, outlines the current operating practices and discusses the challenges or opportunities that remain.

Jan 1, 2007

Iron ore pellets with or without additives are commonly used as alternate charge material in both conventional and newer ironmaking processes. The performance characteristics of these pellets are normally assessed on the basis of their reducibility values, reduction strength and resistance to clustering. These properties depend mainly on the type and amount of additives and on the sintering phenomena of the pellets during firing. In the case of composite pellets (ore-coal pellets), reduction and sintering of the iron ore fines occur simultaneously. The thermodynamic and reaction mechanisms of the processes involved in the reduction of iron ore pellets with and without reductants, additives, etc., may not necessarily be identical. The reduction and sintering characteristics of pellets greatly influence the reaction mechanism and the surface morphology of the reduced pellets. The approaches in the literature to the analysis of these reduction and sintering phenomena are broadly categorized as follows: (i) empirical models, (ii) models based on kinetics, and (ill) models based on morphological changes. The relative merits and de-merits of these models are illustrated by their application to the reduction of fluxed ore-coal composite pellets. A critical analysis of the investigations that have been conducted on the reduction and sintering behaviour of such pellets is given. It is shown that, although elegant empirical models and kinetic equations have theoretical significance and can be usefully employed in elucidating the reaction mechanisms of iron ore lumps, they are sometimes not directly applicable to fluxed ore-coal composite pellets. In studies of the latter, the approach should be to correlate the morphological changes with the reduction mechanism. The paper also gives a brief account of an investigation on the reduction and sintering aspects of fluxed composite reduced iron pellets.

Jan 1, 1996