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By E. Jackson

This paper describes highlights of the Placer Dome MiniMole project - the development and testing of a robotic machine for mining narrow ore veins. A prototype hydraulically controlled robotic machine was built and tested. The machine provided a platform for testing numerous cutters in the field. Other cutters, e.g. undercutting devices, were tested in the lab. Extensive analyses were done on specific energies and cutter penetration. Three sets of quarry trials were done, then the machine was tested in an underground mine. Rock UCS values varied from 180 MPa to 230 MPa. The paper includes lessons learned and recommendations based on the project findings.

Jan 1, 2007

By Ralbern H. Murray

Typical First Year Selling Price Strip Mined Western Sub-Bituminous Coal Based [Fixed Capital (1) $600 MM Construction Loan Interest $100 Working Capital $ 30 Start-up Costs $ 30 Total Capital Requirement $760 MM Annual Costs (First Year) $M/Year Coal (2) 443,550 Operating Costs(3) 53,000 Depreciation(4) 36,500 Interest(5) 45,220 After Tax Profit(6) 34, 200 Federal Income Tax (48% Rate) 31, 570 Gross Revenue Required 245,040 (Less) By-Product Sales (18, 000) Net Revenue Required 227, 040]

Jan 1, 1975

By Huijun Shao, Qiang Liu, Zhengming Yi

The increase of the proportion of high Al2O3 content iron ore fine in iron and steel enterprises has brought about a series of problems such as the increase of the viscosity of blast furnace slag and the difficulty of the separation of slag and iron. In order to solve this problem, the effect of increasing MgO content on the technical and economic index, the cold strength, and metallurgical properties of high basicity and high-alumina sinter was studied through sinter pot test. Nova400NanoSEM field emission scanning electron microscope was used to analyze sinter microstructure. The experimental results show that when the MgO content fraction in the sinter with high basicity and high aluminum increases from 1.72 to 2.49%, the vertical sintering speed decreases by 4.38mm/min, the utilization coefficient decreases by 0.51t/(m2 h), and the low-temperature reduction degradation index increases by 6.7%. When MgO content in sinter is 2.11%, drum index and reducibility index are the highest, reaching 61.93% and 86.39% respectively. Mg2+ is mainly solid dissolved in the magnetite lattice and replaces Fe2+, up to 3.64%. The generated magnesie-containing magnetite inhibits the phase transition from Fe3O4 to Fe2O3 oxidation process in the sinter cooling process, which reduces the generation of secondary hematite and is conducive to improving the low-temperature reduction degradation performance of sinter.

Jul 4, 2021

By R. L. Summers

The tremendous engineering advances occurring during this past century are very evident within the boundaries of the Anthracite Section of AIME. The Steelton plant of Bethlehem Steel Corporation, located along the Susquehanna River just east of the Commonwealth's capital at Harrisburg, for more than 105 years has experienced a most dynamic life which has paralleled America's industrial growth. (Figure 1) In June 1865, just after the Civil War, a group of men met to organize the Pennsylvania Steel Company. The war had brought into sharp focus the vital importance of the railroads to the country's expansion. Until that time wrought iron rails were used, and the replacing of track after only several months wear had become an almost unbearable cost. The spirit of free, competitive enterprise and the prospects of a lucrative market compelled these men to form that first Pennsylvania Steel Company and to develop better rail products. They issued the following statement: "...our desire to free ourselves from dependence upon a foreign market (has) led to the organization of the Pennsylvania Steel Company, and the parties who have connected themselves with it are determined to produce upon American soil all the principal manufactures of steel that are now, at such a serious cost for freight, commission, insurance, exchange, duty, etc., and often, with so much delay and uncertainty, imported from abroad. (We) are preparing to establish near the consumer, works at which articles of accustomed pattern will be promptly produced, and from the

Jan 1, 1971

By Tom Gonzales

At San Manuel, AZ, Magma Metals Co. operates an Outokumpu flash furnace, four Peirce-Smith converters and two anode casting wheels that are supported by six anode vessels. Process gasses from the flash furnace and converters are treated in a two-train/ double-contact sulfuric acid plant. The plant captures 98% of the sulfur. A new flash furnace was commissioned in July 1988. It has since processed more than 2.7 Mt (3 million st) of sulfide concentrate without a major rebuild. The company has gained unique experience in the operation of the flash furnace at high oxygen enrichments with low off-gas dust loadings. New procedures have been developed to maintain secondary material generation at equilibrium and for maintaining metallurgical control of operating parameters. Process flow description At Magma's San Manuel plant, concentrates and other copper-bearing material are blended and conveyed from two separate areas of the plant to three 420 t (465 st) capacity wet charge bins located above the rotary dryer. Flash furnace silica flux is conveyed to a 227-t (250-st) capacity fine flux bin located adjacent to the wet charge bins. The concentrate and flux are blended in controlled amounts and fed into a 168-t/ h (185-stph) gas-fired rotary dryer. The wet charge enters the dryer at 8% moisture and is dried to 0.2% moisture. The dried charge is pneumatically conveyed to a 580-t/h (640-stph) dry charge bin located above the flash furnace. Flash furnace charge is drawn from the bin by two drag conveyors at a concentrate feed rate of 145 t/h (160 stph). The charge is mixed with enriched combustion air and injected into the furnace reaction shaft. In the reaction shaft, the charge is oxidized to form matte, slag and a rich SO, off-gas.

Jan 1, 1992

By Gerald M. Ellis

ntroduction As the gold mining industry continues to develop in the Dominican Republic and Haiti, more deposits will undoubtedly be discovered that will be amenable to development. The Pueblo Viejo gold mine is currently in operation in the Dominican Republic. It has become an important component of that country's economy. Pueblo Viejo output is important to the government as a foreign currency earner. It is also said to be among the world's more successful gold mines. But, while Pueblo Viejo is successful, no other major gold discoveries have been made in recent years. Therefore, alluvial deposits of gold have caught the attention of geologists on the Island of Hispaniola. In the past four years, exploration and investigation of alluvial deposits have been initiated in both the Dominican Republic and Haiti. This type of activity is expected to continue over the next few years. Alluvial gold mining is rudimentary gold washing, done mostly by farmers. It is an old tradition, dating back at least 100 years, and is done by small, independent, or community farming villages in the mountains and plains of the Dominican Republic. Investigations in the DR Recently, alluvial gold investigations have been undertaken in well known locations of the Dominican Republic. One is in the Villa Altagracia area. Here, the terraces and gravels of the Haina River basin were examined, test-pitted, and assayed by Minera Altagracia, a local Dominican mining group. Results led to a new investigation by the state-owned Rosario Dominicana (RD), the company that mines the gold at Pueblo Viejo. Rosario tested areas previously investigated by Minera Altagracia. RD could not define the type of concentration that could justify an industrial-scale type of exploitation. The Haina River placers are located in the flats and valleys of Central Dominican Republic. They are classified as small-scale type of operations where local cooperatives can do the traditional gold washing. It is not now considered a dredgable project for a mining company. The next alluvial gold investigation was undertaken by the Dominican Department of Mines and others in an area of some 700 km2 (270 sq miles) in the northeast near Miches. Farmers have been washing gold in streams and excavating pits in various areas, particularly La Mina and have made a living. Government geologists panned several hundred streams and river tributaries. They also washed material from deep excavations. The results, however, were negative insofar as locating alluvial gold concentrations suitable for large-scale or industrial-scale exploitation. The most favorable locations were the terraces along the Jayán and Cuarón Rivers in the area of Miches. But the grade od concentration is poor. Actually, only traces of gold were found in these

Jan 8, 1986

By Rahul Singh, Sunil Kumar, Erich Dohm, Maoming Fan

The rapid increase of P2O5 use for food, biofuels, and LiFePO4 batteries etc. accelerates the depletion rate of phosphate reserves. In the phosphate industry, a significant amount of ultrafine phosphate has been discarded as slime tailing due to processing difficulties. The major problems associated with ultrafine particle flotation are low probability of bubble-particle collision and adhesion, and high probability of unwanted gangue particles entrainment. This paper investigates the enhanced ultrafine phosphate particle flotation probability by Eriez’ CavTube generated fine/ ultrafine bubbles and the improved flotation selectivity by wash water etc. Ultrafine phosphates with various gangue minerals of quartz/muscovite, calcite/dolomite, and iron/ silica were studied. Microscopic observations show that the entrained ultrafine gangue minerals can be minimized by using wash water in column flotation. A three-factor threelevel central composite experimental design was conducted for ultrafine phosphate flotation. For comparison, both benchtop mechanical cell and laboratory column flotation tests were performed at their optimal respective flotation conditions. Using Eriez CavTube column flotation technology for Industries Chimiques du Senegal (ICS) ultrafine slime tailings, a concentrate grade of 36.0% P2O5, was achieved at 89.4% P2O5 recovery. Improved flotation performance was achieved using column flotation as compared to benchtop mechanical cell flotation. The benefits of Eriez’ column flotation technology realized from this study include the high P2O5 grade and recovery.

Feb 1, 2024

By Moussa Wone, Jeff Peterson, Filippo Azzarà, Daniele Nebbia

The DC Water and Sewer Authority's Long Term Control Plan includes tunnels, sewer separation, pumping station rehabilitation and green infrastructure to reduce combined sewer overflow (CSO) discharges to the District waterways. The Northeast Boundary Tunnel is a deep, large sewer tunnel that will reduce CSO discharges; signifi- cantly mitigate known chronic flooding in the Northeast Boundary drainage area and improve the water quality of the Anacostia River. This paper presents the unique combination of Owner and Contractor perspectives of the entire Project from conception through procurement, execution, and contract management, providing lesson learned, chal- lenges encountered, and solutions implemented to deliver the Project successfully.

Jun 23, 2024

By S. K. Singh

To meet increasing demand of coal, underground mining is largely being replaced by the exploitation at deeper horizons and with greater complexities. The exploitation-proposition may be below not-to-be-disturbed surface properties or below water-bodies, posing a constant threat of inundation. Also, the mounting pressures to limit the adverse impacts on the environment bring the extraction-undertaking to face more challenges. An understanding of subsidence-mechanism and a rational quantification of subsidence parameters is a requisite herein. This paper presents such pragmatic quantification, validated at mine-sites in India. In comparison, better productivity, conservation and safety is ensured in this approach.

Jan 1, 1999

By F. S. Kendorski

Several startup or longtime underground stone mines have experienced unanticipated roof control difficulties due to the variable geologic character of the roof strata. Careful mapping of roof conditions, and identification of controlling geologic and mine geometric factors, lead to an understanding of the mechanisms causing roof problems. Factors such as unexpected rolls of the roof strata resulting in a gradual change from strong to weak roof; encountering open water-filled master joints; roof strata delamination due to internal water pressures; local karst features with mud, sand, and water hazards; and sudden loss of limestone roof due to paleo-channel erosion are some recent problems described. Strategies for overcoming these problems are discussed and detailed.

Jan 1, 2002

By J. Herbst, J. Groppo, A. Noble, R. Q. Honaker

"Coal and coal byproducts produced annually contain a sufficient amount of rare earth elements (REEs) to meet current U.S. demand. The REEs exist in the form of minerals, ion-adsorbed elements associated with clays, and chemically bonded elements within the organic coal matrix or host mineral. Researchers at three universities collaborated to evaluate the effectiveness of existing physical and chemical concentration processes for the recovery of the REEs. The efforts found that physical separation processes can increase the total REE content in the thickener underflow material collected from a Central Appalachian coal cleaning facility from around 300 ppm to values greater than 17,500 ppm on an ash basis. Leaching followed by solvent extraction was found to be the most effective to recover the REEs from coarse middlings materials collected from multiple coal basins, as indicated by recovery values exceeding 80 percent. Based on material characterization data and process evaluations conducted for several potential feed coal sources, economic recovery of the REEs will require byproduct production of both clean coal and REE concentrate using a process flowsheet that is unique for each source. IntroductionRecent studies initiated by the National Energy Technology Laboratory showed that U.S. coals contain significant amounts of rare earth elements (REEs), suggesting that rare earth minerals (REMs) and/or REEs can be produced as byproducts (Ekmann, 2012). According to the report, the richest source of REEs is the Central Appalachian coal. At present, there are 208 coal preparation plants located in the region consisting of areas within the states of West Virginia, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Alabama and Tennessee, with a total capacity of 166,495 t/h, or more than 1 Gt/y (Fiscor, 2014). If only a portion of these plants are retrofitted with advanced separation processes, the U.S. coal industry would become a significant producer of REE concentrates as byproducts. An inherent advantage of becoming a byproduct producer of REEs is that no mining cost needs to be part of the production cost."

Jan 1, 2017

By Jonathan Baggett, Nino Ripepi, Amin Abbasi, Richard Bishop, Juan Monsalve, John Hole

This work focuses on the operational and safety issues associated with karst voids in large opening underground mines. Issues include water inrush, structural instability, and engineering uncertainty in these environments. Coupled with the fracturing prevalent in folded sedimentary rocks, karst voids are complex and challenging ground-control risks. Traditional methods of predicting karst void locations, such as probe drilling, are impeded by the inconsistent spatial distribution and variable sizes of the features as reported by Li et al. (J Rock Mechan Geotech Eng:232–242, 2010) and Hassan et al. (Procedia Chem 19:737–742, 2016). Ground-penetrating radar (GPR) is a geophysical technique that transmits radio waves into a medium and subsequently detects reflected waves via a receiver. The travel time and energy of received signals are then processed and interpreted. The difference in conductivity and dielectric permittivity between limestone and open karst cavities causes strong reflections. GPR is frequently used as a geophysical surveying technique in several industries; however, there is a lack of published research on underground mining GPR applications as reported by Zhao et al. (2015a; Geophys J Int:62–71, 2015b) and Eskelinen and Pellinen (Constr Build Mater:888–898, 2018). The purpose of this work is to demonstrate the use of GPR in an underground stone mine and to discuss the importance of karst void detection ahead of mining.

By D. D. Faulkner

Cable bolts anchored with traditional two component polyester resin cartridges have successfully supported difficult roof conditions in underground mines. Resin cartridges provide a cost-effective cable bolt anchoring system with consistent anchorage performance characteristics when properly installed. The most commonly used cable bolts in the U.S. mining industry are 270 ksi (1,862 MPa), 0.7 and 0.6 inch (18 and 15 mm), seven-strand smooth cable with resin mixing bulbs (also known as bird cages), and 40- and 30-ton nominal capacity, respectively. However, there are other types of cable bolt anchoring systems aside from bird cages. Recently, many questions have been raised regarding the anchorage characteristics of various types of cable bolts. Keystone Mining Services, LLC (KMS), the affiliated engineering company of Jennmar Corporation, conducted a variety of controlled tests developed to closely model actual underground installations. These tests compared the performance of three commonly used cable bolt varieties, including plain, bird caged and indented seven-strand cable. Details of the laboratory testing and comparative analysis of the results are provided.

Feb 23, 2014

By Ana E. Bohé, Georgina De Micco, Juan P. Gaviría, FEDERICO J. POMIRO, Gastón G. Fouga

Chlorination and carbochlorination processes have industrial applications in metallurgical activity for extraction and purification of uncommon metals such as rare earth elements (REE). This study reviews the chlorination and carbochlorination reactions of light REE (LREE) oxides with chlorine considering the thermodynamic, stoichiometric, and kinetic aspects of the reactions. Lanthanides between lanthanum to gadolinium were considered as LREE, in agreement with previous literature, and the results were detailed in this review. LREE were analyzed taking into account their oxidation states and were divided into three groups accordingly. The results presented show that, although the LREE are chemically similar, their behaviors during the reactions with Cl2 and Cl2–C, and the different LREE-O–Cl compounds formed, have particularities. It was observed that gadolinium, in both thermodynamic calculations and experimental results, presents some differences, and it can be considered intermediate between light and heavy REE; i.e., reactions between LREE2O3 and Cl2(g) begin at approximately 250 °C, except for Gd2O3 that begins at 327 °C. The present work will contribute to a better understanding of the chemistry of LREE oxides and Cl2 under different conditions and the products obtained in the LREE–O––Cl2(g) and LREE–O–C–Cl2(g) systems.

Oct 15, 2021

By Irving D. Cohen

In order to overcome our reliance upon foreign energy sources for both crude supply and finished products, we must realize the goals proposed by Project Independence. In general this involves expanding production of existing and new oil, gas, and coal resources, utilizing and improving nuclear technology and the developing of new energy sources such as solar, geothermal, oil shale, tidal, wind and stimulation techniques. There is a continuing debate, both in the scientific community and the consuming public as to the potentiality of nuclear power generation being cost effective and environmentally and safety conscious. The development of new sources of energy does not occur overnight; it is rather a continuing effort in time and money to achieve the goal of providing energy to an ever increasing demand. The public has been accustomed to the availability of energy whenever and wherever it was needed. The era of "energy gluttony" has begun to fade into the realm of "energy awareness". Unfortunately, it required the action of another country to bring the picture that has been discussed many times in the past by energy suppliers into correct focus. Nevertheless, the public responded by conservation efforts to reduce energy wastefulness. Still, the demand for foreign importation of energy supplies is on the rise. What is our recourse? The largest known unexploited energy resource available in the United States is our coal resources. Moreover, the Department of the Interior has noted that 63 counties in Montana, Wyoming, and the Dakotas hold 60% of the nation's least expensive strip minable coal. This western coal is the most abundant and least costly Fossil Fuel in the United States. It is acknowledged that western coal is an important input in meeting the energy needs of our nation.

Jan 1, 1976

As opposed to a prescriptive-based design, a performance-based fire-protection system design allows the system planner the flexibility in choosing specific method, materials and design tools to achieve a preset goal. A different approach in fire protection and a powerful addition to existing method, the system has been around for many years, and has gone through numerous improvements. Despite its popularity in the building industry, it has not been introduced to the mining industry yet. As mines get deeper, increases in size and complication, mine fire safety system will also become increasingly challenging, a new and proven system should be able to great potential to eradicate many of the problems that are either unsolvable or cost-prohibitive with the traditional method. With increasing globalization and international exchange with other major mining countries a common language/practice also make the performance-based design method a desirable feature in mine fire safety system. This paper will first define a performance-based system, step-by-step design methods, likely impacts on fire-protection practices and possible challenges in implementing the system in US underground mines.

Jan 1, 2011

By Nan Hua

As a high production and high efficient mining method, top coal caving method is now widely used in China. However, as more extra-thick coal seams are mined, it becomes more and more difficult to make the top coal fully broken up, resulting in more and more top coals flowing into the gob, rather than onto the rear AFC at the working face as designed. This research is aimed to investigate the failure mechanisms of the extra-thick top coal caving mining method.

Jan 1, 2009

By T. Grammatikopoulos, C. Gibson, M. Aghamirian

"Lithium is a silver-white alkali metal that has recently become a target commodity for many junior mining companies. Lithium has a wide range of applications including ceramics and glass, lubricating greases, air treatment, continuous cast mold flux powders, polymer production, and primary aluminium production, but the current popularity of lithium can be attributed to an anticipated increase in demand for lithium ion batteries. The most common lithium-bearing minerals occur globally in pegmatites and granites. Spodumene [LiAl(Si2O6)] is the most desirable economic lithium-bearing mineral due to its high lithium content (theoretical Li2O content of about 8 wt%). However, lithium can also be hosted in petalite, micas, tourmaline, and phosphate minerals. In Canada there are a number of spodumene deposits in Ontario and Quebec at development stage that have the potential to help narrow the forecast lithium supply gap stemming from the widespread acceptance and use of electric vehicles. This paper discusses the beneficiation of hard rock lithium deposits, including an in depth review of the use of flotation to upgrade spodumene. A review of the use of dense media separation (DMS), magnetic separation, and roasting as means to process spodumene bearing ores is also discussed. INTRODUCTION Lithium is a soft, silver-white alkali metal with atomic number 3. As of 2015, the end use of lithium was estimated to be as follows: lithium-ion batteries (35%), ceramics and glass (32%), lubricating greases (9%), air treatment (5%), continuous casting mould flux powders (5%), polymer production (4%), primary aluminium production (1%) and other uses (9%) (Jaskula, 2014). Lithium is found in brine lake deposits containing lithium chloride and in hard rock pegmatite deposits. It can be sold in a range of product types; as mineral concentrate, brine, compound (lithium carbonate or lithium hydroxide) and metal depending on its intended end use (Goonan, 2012; Jaskula 2014). In the 1990s the United States and Chile were the largest producers of lithium globally, primarily from brine operations (Ober, 1994). Most of the lithium compounds produced over this period were consumed in the glass, ceramics and aluminium industries. In the 1980s and 1990s there were two major lithium operations in the United States: brine operations at Silver Peak, Nevada, and a spodumene mine and lithium carbonate/lithium hydroxide plant in Kings Mountain, North Carolina. The Kings Mountain operations ceased production in 1991 and were eventually dismantled in 1994. Brine operations were also active in Argentina and Chile, while the largest lithium ore deposit in the world was operated at Greenbushes, Western Australia. During this period it was predicted that major shifts in demand for lithium would come from the success and widespread use of electric vehicles (Ober, 1994)."

Jan 1, 2017

By Daryl E. Radcliffe, Raymond M. Stateham

The Bureau of Mines, under a Cooperative Agreement with the Bear Coal Company, Somerset, Colorado, conducted a large scale evaluation of the effect of time lapse on roof stability. Time lapse in this study is the interval between exposure and permanent support of the mine roof. The study indicates that time lapse is not a critical factor in roof stability provided permanent support is installed before catastrophic failure begins. Concurrently with the time lapse study, investigations were made of stress distribution around resin-grouted bolts, the regional stress field, and anomalous geologic conditions. The behavior of the resin-grouted bolts, at least in the Bear mine, appears to fit the Coulomb-Navier Theory. Geologic conditions are primary factors in trends of roof stability that extend across the mine.

Jan 1, 1982

By Jan Krason

Introduction The South African Witwatersrand is the world's largest gold-bearing province and gold producing district. But the production capacity of the very big mines (Vaal Reef, Driefontein Cons., Western Holdings, Western Deep Levels, and others) is not as large as that of the Soviet Union's Muruntau gold mine. The Muruntau gold-bearing ore body was discovered in 1956-57, and has been in operation since that time. In the early 1970s, this mine produced 70 to 80 t/a (2.3 to 2.6 million oz per year) of gold. Within the last few years it has become the world's largest producing gold mine. Russian authors do not publish ore reserve or rate of production data. But it is very likely that the Muruntau mining complex, which involves several ore bodies, is currently producing about 143 t/a (4.6 million oz per year) of gold. The author has confirmed this by personal information from several knowledgeable Russian geologists. This amounts to one-half of

Jan 11, 1984