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By K. Schimann, H. D. Knipping, J. P. Fouques

"RESUMELe gisement d 'uranium de Cigar Lake, dans la région de l'Athabasca au nord du Saskatchewan, fut découvert en mai 1981 par Cogema Canada Ltée, opérant pour Ie compte de la ""Waterbury Lake Joint Venture"".Le corps minéralisé. qui est dépourvu de toute expression directe en surface, est situé a la discordance entre les met sédiments du wottaston Group (Protérozoïque inférieur ou Aphébien) et les grès de l 'Athabasca (Protérozoïque moyen ou Hélikien), à une profondeur de 410 a450 m.Fin 1984, Ie gisement était reconnu par 105 sondages minéralisés repartis sur une longueur de 1800 m, pour une largeur comprise entre 25 et 105 m. 11 se présente sous forme d’une lentille aplatie de 5 a30 m de puissance, et montre une remarquable continuité d'ensemble. Une ride ou bombement topographique de la discordance est associée au gisement surtoute sa longueur.A l'échelle régionale, le corps minéralisé à est associe à un corridor structural d’orientation est-ouest, a l'intérieur duquel des facies particuliers aténdance blast mylonitique sont développes dans les formations métapolitiques agraphite du socle métamorphique. Il est entouré par un halo d'altération très important, caractériser Ie développement de minéraux argileux alumino-magnesiens (illite-chlorite).La minéralisation est située, pour la plus grande part, dans les grès d'Athabasca, et se compose essentiellement d'uraninite et de sulfo-arseniures de nickel et de cobalt,De nombreux levés géochimiques et géophysiques ont été effectues dans la région de Cigar Lake. Aucune anomalie ne peut être associée directement au corps minéralise, mais la combinaison des données en provenance de plusieurs sources s’est révélée fort utile au niveau de l’interprétation géologique régionale et de la définition des cibles de sondages a l'intérieur des zones reconnues favorables.Le gisement de Cigar Lake présente de nombreuses analogies avec plusieurs des gites classiques de la région de l'Athabasca; il est caractérise en particulier par l'intensité des phénomènes d’altération et la présence de minéralisations extrêmementriches.En 1984, les réserves géologiques globales estimées par géostatistique sur I ‘amas minéralise principal s 'élevaient a 110 000 tonnes d'uranium, aune teneur moyenne de 12.2%, avec une précision de 25% à l'intervalle de confiance de 95%.ABSTRACTThe Cigar Lake uranium deposit, in the Athabasca area of North Saskatchewan, was discovered in May 1981 by Cogema Canada LId., as operator of the Waterbury Lake Joint Venture. The deposit, which is devoid of direct surface expression, is located at the unconformity between the Lower Proterozoic (Aphebian) Wollaston Group meta-sediments and the Middle Proterozoic (Helikian) Athabasca sands tone, at a depth of 410 m to 450 m below surf ace.AI the end of 1984, the deposit had been defined by 105 mineralized holes over a length of 1800 m and a width of between 25 m and 105 m. It has the shape of a flat-lying lens 5 m to 30 m thick and shows a remarkable longitudinal and latera continuity from the information obtained to date. A well-defined bulge of the unconformity underlies the mineralized zone over its entire length.The deposit appears to be controlled by an east-west-trending structure within which a particular rock facies (""augen gneiss"") has developed in the graphitic metapelites of the Wollaston Group. It is surrounded by a strong alteration halo affecting both sandstone and basement, characterized by extensive development of Mg-A I rich clay minerals (illite-chlorite).The mineralization is hosted principally by the Athabasca sandstone, and consists mainly of uraninite and sulfo-arsenides of nickel and cobalt.Numerous geochemical and geophysical surveys have been carried out in the Cigar Lake area, and no specific geochemical or geophysical anomaly can be directly associated with the mineralized body, although there may be locally a good coincidence. However, a combination of several methods proved extre"

Jan 1, 1986

By D. A. Rhys, M. Sieb, M. A. Prefontaine, C. L. Swanson, S. R. Frostad, H. Q. Smit

"Gold-silver mineralization at Red Mountain (1992 resource of 2.5 million tonnes grading 12.8 g/t Au and 38.1 g/t Ag) occurs within several discrete zones within a folded sequence of Middle to Late Triassic Triassic sedimentary rocks, Early Jurassic volcaniclastic and pyroclastic rocks, and Early Jurassic intrusions. Three phases of Early Jurassic sills and stocks collectively comprise the Golds/ide intrusions: (1) irregular bodies of medium-grained hornblende monzodiorite (Hillside porphyry); (2) hornblende-biotite + quartz porphyritic monzodiorite to quartz monzodiorite (Golds/ide porphyry; U-Pb zircon ages of 197.1 + 1.9 Ma); and (3) biotite porphyritic hornblende monzodiorite sills (Biotite porphyry). Contact breccias and igneous breccia dikes are common features of the Golds/ide intrusions. Chemical similarities and equivalent ages of volcanic rocks and intrusions, and the presence of intrusive clasts in volcanic rocks suggest that the intrusions are feeders to overlying volcanic units.Hydrothermal alteration affects all pre-Tertiary rocks on Red Mountain, including all phases of the Golds/ide intrusions. Several shallow-dipping alteration zones are developed sequentially above a propylitic quartz stockwork/molybdenum zone. These include: (1) sericite-quartz-pyrite alteration (pyrite-dominant alteration); (2) chlorite-K-feldspar-sericite-titanite alteration with disseminated and vein pyrrhotite (pyrrhotite-dominant alteration); and (3) brown to black tourmaline veins and K-feldspar-pyrite-titanite-actinolite alteration. Anomalous gold(> 0.3 g/t) mineralization is developed at the transition from the pyrite to the pyrrhotite dominant alteration over a > 1 km2 area. Within this anomalous zone, high-grade (3 g/t to 20 g/t Au) gold-silver mineralization occurs in 5 m to 29 m thick, semi-tabular pyrite + pyrrhotite stockworks with intense sericitic alteration and surrounding disseminated sphalerite + pyrrhotite.Stratigraphic, spatial and geochronologic relations and alteration zoning indicate that mineralization formed in a subvolcanic environment at the top of the Golds/ide intrusions and at the base of the Early Jurassic volcanic pile. The Golds/ide porphyry is interpreted to be the mineralizing intrusion. The alteration zoning, molybdenum-copper mineralized quartz stockworks, extensive Ksilicate and tourmaline alteration, and the relationship with a hypabyssal porphyritic intrusion show similarities to many porphyry systems."

Jan 1, 1995

When perusing articles which treat of mining geology, and when talking with miners on the field, one is at times unable to follow the exact thoughts intended to be expressed, owing to the introduction of occasional technical words, the meanings of which are not thoroughly understood either by the speaker or by the hearer, or possibly by both and laymen at times accuse their technical brethren of attempting to confuse them by employing unusual words in their conversations and writings. Technical words are necessary adjuncts to all arts and sciences. They creep into our language, frequently unnoticed by those who employ them, as being more concise and convenient than longer sentences to explain frequently recurring expressions. In many cases these words give the finest shades of meaning, such as aglomerate and congzomerate, but in others they are extremely ambiguous, for instance black sand, which in some places means ilmenite, in others, chromite, tourmaline, cassiterite, in fact, any black mineral occurring in the form of sand. Then, again, much confusion is cansed by the same rock or mineral having different names, e.g, jlu01'spa'i', which is known as cand, cann, cauk, kawk, blue-John, Derbyshire spar, &c. The multiplicity of local names is of course chiefly found among the more common minerals, which are widely distributed some people have a propensity for using words the meanings of which they understand as little as' they do how to pronounce them. We have heard such persons speak 'of vughs as "bugs," and oxides as "ox hides," and to show that there was no mistake in their intentions, we have seen these and other words written in the same way as they were pronounced. Then, again, some persons, relying more on examples than definitions, get a very vague idea as to what the true meaning of a term may be the word dimite is an example in point, which we have frequently heard applied to any dyke rock that the miner was unable to recognise as granite in fact, he uses the word in a general sense, just as the field geologist provisionally employs the word " greenstone " for certain rocks, until he has an opportunity of thoroughly investigating their character.

By Jérôme Girard, Shiu Kam, Sue Longo

"Historically, tailings management in a northern climate has involved the deposition of tailings into the Tailings Management Area (TMA) as conventional slurry. This type of system is obviously viable but presents challenges that are difficult to manage as circumstances change over the life of mine. These issues can include:? Increases in mill throughput, and? Life of the TMA for the life of mine.This case study will present how thickened, high-density, non-segregating tailings are used as an alternative to conventional slurry disposal to achieve greater storage capacity and enhanced environmental performance for a gold tailings facility in a northern climate. This paper will focus on how this change in deposition strategy accommodated the increased throughput of the mill and the increased life of mine. Specifically, the paper will discuss the addition and integration of new processes to the exiting mill system to accommodate the tailings management issues. It will highlight the challenges from laboratory testing to pre-feasibility to the engineered design of the thickened tailings system implemented at Musselwhite Mine.BACKGROUNDGoldcorp Canada’s Musselwhite Mine, in Northwestern Ontario (120 km north of Pickle Lake), is an underground gold mining operation that began production in 1997. The current mill throughput is about 4000 tpd (1.4 Mtpa). Gold extraction is based on a CIP process with cyanide destruction.The existing tailings management area (TMA) is located about 2 km southwest of the mill complex. The TMA is contained by high ground to the north and to the west and flanged by a moraine ridge along the south side. A number of dams have been constructed along this ridge. The dams were first built in 1996 and subsequently raised in 2000 and again in 2005. Excess tailings pond water is discharged to a polishing pond then released to the environment via a wetland.The TMA was originally designed to contain 13.7 Mt of tailings under a ponded surface for closure. The water cover was to inhibit adverse long-term environmental effects because the tailings contain pyrrhotite and other sulphide-bearing minerals that are potentially acid generating. The design was modified during Stage 3 Construction in 2005 to expand the storage capacity to 17.3 Mt (Golder, 2005). As of end of 2009, over 16 Mt of tailings had been deposited in the TMA. The slurried tailings were historically deposited at 50% solids."

Jan 1, 2011

By Richard G. Stearns

Extensive thick lignite apparently lies within 250 feet of the land surface in Dyer, Lake, Lauderdale, Obion and Tipton counties. Information on geology, land use, soils, groundwater and instability is compiled, along with a bibliography. A test and monitoring site was investigated at Fort Pillow Prison in Lauderdale County. Analyses were made of lignite, overburden, associated water and leachate. Lignite has high BTU (about 7800) and low sulfur (1.1% avg.). A year or more of data are presented on rainfall, water levels, and chemistry of surface water, groundwater, leachate and water from test pits. Main potential environmental problems are quality of surface water, and possibly shallow groundwater. The main aquifer of the region will likely be un-affected by mining. Low transmissibility of shallow aquifers will minimize lowering water levels of wells. Soil reclamation and conservation should be readily accomplished, Dangerous earthquakes have a low probability and mines are not significantly more hazardous than steep bluffs.

Jan 1, 1981

By Jessica E. Heuchan

An industry survey has been conducted by the Queen's University Mining Engineering Department of 30 Canadian mining organizations to determine how effectively newly graduated mining engineers meet the needs of the industry. The principal objectives of the survey were to evaluate, and thus provide focus on change for, curricula being taught at Canadian mining engineering schools in service of the industry's needs; to provide feedback on current industry expectations; and to reinforce contacts with the industry as a means of providing future collaboration. A strong focus of the survey was placed upon industry's perception of the special attributes of engineering hires and applicability of student academic training to meet their industrial requirements. In providing this detailed summary of corporate responses, a clearer understanding of the mining industry's expectations of engineering training at Canadian colleges and universities has been gained.

May 1, 2003

By C Killip

Working in Australia’s harsh climate can have a significant impact on the health, safety and productivity of our teams, but is our working environment expected to be more prone to heat stress in the future? Climate modelling suggests that we are likely to encounter more frequent heatwaves and higher apparent temperature. Does this mean that our teams will be at greater risk of heat stress, and are we prepared to deal with the changes in our future climate and the potential impacts on our working population? This paper will review the recent research on climate and projected changes to all meteorological parameters that are important in understanding the likelihood of heat stress. The paper will also describe the challenges encountered in the management of heat stress in a workforce, and then outline a systematic approach to heat stress management that will allow you to assess your own risk and manage your day-to-day operations into the future.CITATION:Killip, C, 2015. Future climate – is heat stress a real risk for the future and how can we better manage it?, in Proceedings Third International Future Mining Conference, pp 181–188 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Nov 4, 2015

The extractive industry has the potential to impact the health and well-being of workers, families and surrounding communities. In the current environment of social performance, project planning considers that activities should be conducted in the best environmentally, socially and economically acceptable way across the development cycle (i.e. from exploration ? post-closure). In this context, health impacts of mining can be mapped and extend over the Life of the Community and can encompass worker injury and disease, exposure to communicable and non-communicable diseases, and health outcomes specific to family and community health and well-being outside the fence. To contribute to an emerging field focused on Health and the Extractive Industry, this paper reviews and compares health activities extracted from social and environmental reports published by selected major mining, oil and gas companies with operations in Australia and Canada. The objective of this review is to map corporate approaches to public health management across our previously developed Life-of-Mine within Life-of-Community (LOMLOC) framework in order to identify and compare trends and behaviour in corporate health investments across the project cycle, as well as identify the level of prevention targeted by this investment activity (i.e. primary, secondary and tertiary prevention of detrimental health impact). With the extractive industry facing ongoing rapid growth worldwide, this paper provides preliminary comparative information about corporate health spending by some companies in Australia and Canada. This information serves as a resource for minerals industry managers, civil society and regulators regarding current health management approaches in this sector.

Aug 1, 2013

By Sakshi Hazuria Anderson, Angela Binder, Oscar Jaime Restrepo Baena, Simit Raval, Sandra Nowosad

As the mining industry faces times of change, new challenges arise to ensure raw material supply for the younger and future generations. Different scenarios are currently shaping the way we mine and teach mining engineering. Led by an increasing demand for raw materials, net zero requirements for improving long-term operation performance, technological advancements such as automation and digitalization, safety improvements, environmental considerations and a need for social acceptance, mining is pursuing to change and adapt to these requirements at a faster pace. Such changing times raise new concerns, one of the most relevant is the lower number of students interested or enrolling in mining engineering and related fields leaving mining engineering as one of the less preferred career options between the younger generations. Nonetheless, it is essential to continue addressing and supplying the skill sets that are suited to the contemporary and future mining industry. To this end, globally, academia is currently undergoing several initiatives such as curricula updates and adaptation, up skilling, improving teaching practices and techniques, including e-learning techniques, enhancing industry-academia and inter-university collaboration, and much more. In countries like Australia, where mining plays a crucial role in the economy, the need for curriculum updates is more pressing than ever. As the mining industry evolves with new technologies and sustainable practices, there is a growing demand for a workforce skilled in these modern approaches. Recognizing this necessity, universities such as the University of New South Wales and Curtin University have taken significant steps to revamp their educational programs. By updating their academic offerings, both universities aim to equip graduates with the necessary skills to drive innovation and sustainability in mining, supporting Australia’s development as a leader in this critical sector. Moreover, the selection of topics that drive curricula update and the focus of the research institutions in mining engineering must extend beyond mere technological and technical aspects to include social and ethical dimensions. In this context, the Universidad Nacional de Colombia, in association with the Colorado School of Mines, has introduced the topic of Humanitarian Engineering (HE) in 2020. HE is a socio-technical approach that focuses on developing engineering solutions that promote the sustainable development of communities addressing their basic needs and aiming to improve their quality of life (10, 18). By focusing on sustainable development, community engagement, and equitable resource distribution, HE helps the industry build positive relationships with stakeholders, reduce conflicts, and foster social license to operate. As the mining industry seeks sustainable and socially responsible practices, future engineers require training in this area to understand the broader impacts of their work, fostering a mindset that prioritizes community well-being and environmental stewardship alongside technical proficiency.

Feb 1, 2025

By D. Millgard

Dennis Millgard introduced the Session by hoping that participants to the Conference would also share their piling problems. He then invited the first speaker to present his paper. Paper 5.1. Pat Kelleher commenced by saying that he belonged to a one hundred year old firm that had experience in the New York Harbour area. They were often asked to assess the integrity of many waterside structures such as piers, walls, and docks which were deteriorating whilst still in use. The earliest structures, built in the 1800's, were on timber piles. These have now changed to Steel H and tube piles and concrete piles. Usually they were called in when the structure was showing signs of distress, or had reached the end of its life but could not be closed. In particular, they had found that marine borers had returned to New York Harbour because of the improved quality of the water. There is now a far greater incidence of attack on the timber piles than when the water was polluted. Repair is usually carried out by encapsulating the pile within the tidal range of about -2ft to +8ft (-0.6 to +2.4m). Reinforced concrete forms, reinforced fibre jackets, or nylon bags are used. Reinforced fibre jackets are used with a protective coat on the pile, while nylon bags prove the cheapest method.

Jan 1, 1991

By Sidney Katell

This report, covering the period January 1967 through December 1967, is a continuation of a series that began with the publication of Information Circular 7516 in October 1949. It is the ninth in a series of reports prepared in cooperation with the American Association of Cost Engineers. The abstracted articles are concerned with all phases of cost engineering in the field of chemical and petroleum plants and related subjects. They are from the following sources: 1. American Association of Cost Engineers Bulletin. 2. Bureau of Mines Information Circulars. 3. Bureau of Mines Reports of Investigations. 4. Chemical Engineering. 5. Chemical Engineering Progress. 6. Chemical Week.

Jan 1, 1968

By Detlef Ehlert

In view of the increasing level of cost pressure on the part of plant owners, optimized plant operation with top product quality and maintenance costs is indispensable. Unscheduled shutdowns with increased repair costs and production downtimes are significantly reduced by preventive maintenance and the stock-keeping of spare parts. To remain competitive in the steel market, it is important for plants owners to operate their plants with the highest possible degree of energy efficiency and at high availability in order to manufacture high-quality products. Plant Monitoring Systems make it possible to optimize the manner of production. An integrated overview of the overall process, under consideration of process stability, product quality, production costs and plant availability ensures a “transparent plant”.

Aug 16, 2017

By H. A. Halupka, I. A. Mozer

"At its plant in San Juan, Peru, Marcona Mining Company operates two grate pelletizing furnaces for the agglomeration of 3.5 million long tons of magnetic concentrates annually. Line One, installed in 1963, was built by Lurgi as a downdraft process furnace utilizing a furnace fan for the recuperation of hot gases from the cooling zone. This line was modified in 1966 to include both updraft drying and downdraft drying, and the original roof burners were converted to side-wall burners. Line Two, a Dravo-Lurgi furnace with an annual capacity of 2.4 million long tons, was built in 1966. This line, in contrast to the modified Lurgi furnace, employs direct recuperation of hot gases from the cooling zone and utilization of process gases from the firing zone for updraft drying.At its plant in San Juan, Peru, Marcona Mining Compa-ny operates two grate pelletizing furnaces for the agglo-meration of 3.5 million long tons of magnetic concentrates annually. Line One, installed in 1963, was built by Lurgi as a downdraft process furnace utilizing a furnace fan for the recuperation of hot gases from the cooling zone. This line was modified in 1966 to include both updraft drying and downdraft drying, and the original roof burners were converted to side-wall burners. Line Two, a Dravo-Lurgi furnace with an annual capacity of 2.4 million long tons, was built in 1966. This line, in contrast to the modified Lurgi furnace, employs direct recuperation of hot gases from the cooling zone and utilization of process gases from the firing zone for updraft drying. 5 per cent increased capacity, 30 per cent lower fuel oil consumption, and approximately 400 per cent reduction in grate bar and pallet corrosion. Firing of the pellet bed was improved by conversion from roof to side-wall burners. This modification also permitted utilization of monolithic refractory in place of pre-fired shapes, thereby improving over-all furnace availability and reducing refractory stock requirements from 154 different shapes to 18.Data are presented to compare operating performance of the Dravo-Lurgi furnace and the modified Lurgi furnace. These data show 30 per cent lower fuel oil consumption and 10 per cent higher capacity per unit grate area for the Dravo-Lurgi furnace, which also averages higher availability due to greater operating flexibility."

Jan 1, 1970

By W. J. Kingwell

My comments and questions are addressed to Mr. Troughton. It seems to me that the tests were very well tailored to determine long term effects on performance of bearing piles as groundwater pressures rise in the London Basin. This rise is being simulated by means of a groundwater recharge system but it would be informative to have further details of the controls of conditions simulated. Ideally the porewater pressure in Standpipes 1, 2 and 3 should be the same throughout the test. Under test conditions are there not practical dif­ficulties? Recharge Well C2 is a lesser dis­tance from the pile than the other wells. Was the rate of recharge to C2 regulated to a lesser rate than the other three? In my experience the rate of acceptance usually varies from well to well. Under a common feed pressure were mea­sures taken to compensate for this? Since the problem does not only affect London, but also Liverpool, Nottingham, Birmingham and to a lesser extent, Manchester, I question whether an ideal procedure is being used. It is well known that rates of acceptance decrease with time and often recharge wells need to be flushed out at regular intervals. Other pro­cedures may need to be adopted to accurately simulate the effect of groundwater rise, if tests of longer duration are to be considered.

Jan 1, 1991

The original manuscript of section 2 of this series of miners' circulars devoted to accident prevention in bituminous-coal mines was completed in September 1944. At that time roof bolting had been tried with some success in the lead-mining district of south-eastern Missouri, but information on the subject was so fragmentary that it was not included as a method of roof support. References to roof support in bituminous-coal mines, therefore, were confined almost entirely to conventional timbering methods. In 1947 the Bureau instituted a research program and intensive study of the general problem of roof control, which emphasized roof-bolt application. The rapid increase in mechanized mining following the close of World War II provided the impetus for the Bureau's roof-control investigations, because the vertical supports used with conventional timber restricted the maneuverability of mechanical face equipment, and the industry wanted to explore every possible method of eliminating interference with the production cycle to gain full advantage of mechanized mining. Moreover, the accidental dislodgment of vertical supports greatly increased the roof-fall hazard. As roof falls have killed and seriously injured more mine workmen every year than any other cause or classification of injury since records have been kept, the Bureau assumed this investigative leadership with the prime objective of substantially reducing the annual toll from falls of roof, including falls of rib and face.

Jan 1, 1958

By Gray Mullins

This paper presents experimental results from a study to assess the interface bond between a cast-in-place concrete seal slab and prestressed concrete piles in cofferdams. Three different seal slab placement conditions - fresh water, salt water and bentonite slurry - were evaluated and the results compared against controls where no fluid had to be displaced by the concrete. Normal pile surfaces were investigated. Additionally, the situation of ?soil caked? piles was also investigated. Both model and full-scale tests were conducted. In the model tests, twenty eight 15 cm square prestressed sections were used with the embedment depth varied between d-2d, where d is the width of the pile. In the full-scale tests, 16 specimens were tested. The prestressed piles were 36 cm square with the embedment varied between 0.5d-2d. Four of the sixteen piles were cast with embedded gages located at the top, middle and bottom of the interface region. The results showed that loads were transferred to the piles over an effective area, not the entire embedded depth. Significant bond stresses developed even for the worst placement condition. Recommendations are made for revising current values in specifications.

Jan 1, 2013

By José De Piérola

En los procesos de flotación y lixiviación de la producción de cobre se utilizan aguas recicladas y agua fresca. Este último es un insumo indispensable para ambos procesos, ya que constituye un elemento determinante del volumen de producción, así como un medio de vinculación obligado con el entorno social de las operaciones. En ese sentido, el presente texto describe la utilización del agua- en tanto representa un componente de rentabilidad relacionada al costo, al equilibrio del aprovechamiento con el comportamiento de la fuente y a la sostenibilidad con el entorno social, lo cual implica compartir el agua y recursos económicos para una planificación y adecuada priorización en su asignación.

Sep 9, 2007

By D. A. Peacock

"INTRODUCTION Outer space technology and exploration have reached a tipping point so that mining and mineral processing in outer space is now a certainty and not a dream. Several competing companies, worldwide, are well on the way to building spaceships to land on the Moon and eventually mine the Moon and asteroids for volatiles, rare earth metals and Helium-3. The Google Lunar XPrize offers a $30 million prize1. China has recently landed a spacecraft on the Moon. The European Space Agency, with cooperation from the United States, has landed a spacecraft, Philae, on a comet. And, Mars One is planning a one-way trip to establish a settlement of humans on Mars. How and why are the Moon and asteroids and their resources of interest to private space industry and companies? Why are the Moon and asteroids viewed as a potential business venue? GEOLOGY OF THE MOON AND ASTEROIDS –WHY DO WE WANT TO MINE THERE? Space enterprises are actively working towards establishing and operating lunar and asteroid mining locations for resource extraction, resource processing, conversion to salable products, and distribution of the products and services in space and to Earth and beyond2. Forty-five years ago, the Apollo manned missions to the Moon returned rocks and regolith to Earth, which were studied and analyzed. What they found was that the Moon contains valuable minerals and resources. These minerals are largely due to meteor and asteroid impacts, which have, over eons, created this mineral rich regolith. These impacts have occurred on Earth as well, for billions of years, particularly early on in the history of the solar system. However, on Earth, wind, water, and vegetation have erased most of these impacts. On the Moon, in contrast, the only weathering is caused by subsequent impacts and the solar wind. The Moon regolith contains valuable rare earth minerals, platinum-group minerals (particularly where the Moon has been impacted by asteroids), volatiles (useful for processing and habitation), Helium-3 and titanium. Almost non-existent on earth, Helium-3 is abundant and accessible on the Moon and can be used in nuclear fusion power plants, producing much more energy than fission reactions and with much less radioactive waste. One of the main reasons Helium-3 is sought after as a fusion fuel is because there are no neutrons generated as a reaction product. Governments and private companies focus on mining of Helium-3 on the Moon as a basis for their economic models. Moon Express, one of the private companies who is planning on mining on the Moon, will recover moon rocks to fund its early operations25. Subsequently, it will recover Helium-3, platinum, and rare earth metals, as it engages in surface mining operations."

Jan 1, 2016

By A J. Moore

Blasting operations in open cut mines results in airblast, ground vibration and rock movement with the potential for wild flyrock. In some mines there is a trend towards blasting closer to established infrastructure as extraction boundaries alter with increased resource prices and changed economic circumstances. Mine infrastructure in close proximity to blasting has the potential to be damaged by ground vibration and wild flyrock especially. To provide guidance for the determination of appropriate buffer distances and blast specifications, this paper describes methodologies that may be used to determine the potential for damage to infrastructure by predicting:dynamic blast;near field ground vibration levels;dynamic blast strains induced in infrastructure by consideration of ground vibration,ground strain and response amplification;potential for damage by comparing induced strains with allowable working strainsfrom structure design codes and serviceability requirements; andflyrock throw distances based on models developed from flyrock investigations.This report demonstrates the use of strain prediction methodologies developed during Australian Coal Association Research Programme (ACARP) Project C14057 for infrastructure such as conveyor belts, transmission poles and towers, buildings and bridges.

Nov 8, 2011

By F. J. Sotillo

The objective of this investigation was to determine the feasibility of using a high-pressure roll mill (HPRM) to improve the separation efficiency of dolomite from apatite in downstream operations when treating high-dolomitic pebbles. High-dolomite samples from four phosphate mines were used for the test program. The research work plan included sample characterization studies; INSTRON tests to develop preliminary crushing data; high-pressure roll mill evaluations to determine crushing parameters, such as feed rates, rolls speed and gap, and applied torque, pressure and energy; and screen, microscopy, and flotation studies to assess dolomitelapatite separation efficiency. The results of the HPRM tests show that commercial products for all four mines can be obtained. Recoveries of 74-82% of the P2O5 and rejections of 46-83% of the MgO were reported with an specific energy consumption of 0.2-0.5 of that of a laboratory rod mill.

Jan 1, 1998