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By J. E. Furze

World-wide hikes in the oil price and the prospect of future scar cities of liquid and gaseous fuels have given enhanced status to the South African coal industry. It is thus understandable that the colloquium held at Wit bank on 3rd and 4th October, 1979, and organized jointly by the South African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy and the South African Coal Processing Society should have attracted more than 400 delegates.

Jan 1, 1979

By Jiachen Wang, Nan Wang, Yang Li

The energy structure and consumption ratio in China determine the practical demand for the collaborative mining of coal and co-associated resources. The multi-layer mining of coal, uranium, coalbed methane, and oil and gas co-associated resources, represented by the Ordos Basin, Junggar Basin, and Tarim Basin, faces numerous challenges. Additionally, coal has been found to coexist with various mineral resources in 33 coal-bearing basins worldwide. The scientific issues related to the multi-layer development of coal related co-associated resources urgently need to be addressed. This paper discusses the unique challenges and potential solutions in the multi-layer development of coal-related co-associated resources. The challenges include large extraction space, high mining intensity, intense overburden movement, rapid surface subsidence, and severe overburden damage due to repeated mining disturbances. Proposed solutions include the establishment of a correlation mechanism between multi-layer mining and the carrying capacity of the overburden environment, analysis of the impact characteristics of multiple field couplings, and exploration of their superposition evolution laws. The paper also proposes the development of a comprehensive evaluation and prediction system for overburden environmental capacity loss, a global sensitivity analysis model for overburden environmental capacity, and an intelligent identification and early warning system based on multi-source information fusion. These solutions aim to achieve scientific and precise mining with minimal overburden environmental capacity loss. And the multi-layer development of coal-related co-associated resources is a complex task that requires a multidisciplinary approach and innovative solutions, and further research is needed to validate these strategies and explore new methods and technologies for efficient and sustainable extraction.

Jun 25, 2024

By T. Sun, J. Kou, D. Tao

"The reduction behavior of low-grade lump hematite ore (100% 20-50 mm) has been evaluated by performing a series of coal-based direct reduction roasting tests followed by magnetic separation under different process conditions such as roasting time, temperature, reductant type and dosage, and grinding stage. To investigate mineralogical transformation and reduction characteristics of lump hematite ore, roasted ores and magnetic concentrates were analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS) and polarizing microscope. The results have shown that a magnetic concentrate with a total iron (TFe) grade of 90.7% was produced at an iron recovery of 83.9% when lump hematite ore was reduced at 1,200° C for five hours using 35% lignite as a reductant followed by two stages of grinding, for 20 min and 30 min each, and low-intensity magnetic separation. The degree of reduction is closely related to the change in the internal structure of the roasted ore. Lignite with a higher fixed carbon content and lower ash generated roasted ore with a more highly porous structure, which provides better permeability of reducing gas. Magnetite, fayalite and wustite were the dominant intermediates of coal-based direct reduction of lump hematite ore. Parts of wustite reacted with SiO2 or Al2O3 in gangue and generated fayalite or hercynite. FeO in fayalite was replaced by CaO to produce wustite, which was finally reduced to metallic iron. However, Fe in fayalite and hercynite produced with low contents of CaO cannot be reduced into metallic iron. Introduction Low-grade hematite ore, characterized by low Fe content and high SiO2 content, cannot be treated by traditional mineral processing methods due to its nonmagnetic property and fine liberation size. The direct reduction (DR) roasting process has been studied and proven satisfactory in treating difficult-toprocess ores, such as low-grade nickel laterite oxide ore (O’Connor et al., 2006; Cao et al., 2010; Guo et al., 2011), high phosphorus oolitic hematite ore (Li et al., 2012; Yu et al., 2013), low-grade hematite ore (Wei et al., 2013;) and iron ore tailings (Li et al., 2010), which greatly expand the resources of usable iron ores (Srivastava and Kawatra, 2009). Therefore, the use of a DR process to treat low-grade hematite ore to produce direct reduced iron (DRI) is of great interest to many researchers of mineral processing and metallurgy (Weissberger et al., 1986)."

Jan 1, 2015

By Maurice Deul

For the first half of the 21st century, the United States will rely on the same mix of fuels it has for the past 50 years. Petroleum for the United States will cost more and availability will decline as developing nations modernize. Increased use of natural gas for electric power generation will result in stress on the gas supply. Coal will be the fuel of last resort. More than half the petroleum used is imported, about the same amount as used for transportation. Only coal can provide relief by fueling railroads through electrification while encouraging “piggy-back” trailer haulage, co-generation for manufacturing and expanded passenger service.

Jan 1, 2002

A simple process for making filter aids from coal by controlled carbonization at 800-1200·C is described.Several possible variations in reactor design have been used experimentally, involving fluidized beds of carbon or inert material, reaction of the particles while entrained in air, and a combination of entrainment and fluidization.Product yields depend upon the composition of the parent coal but are always less than the sum of the ash and fixed carbon values determined by the proximate analysis. The product yield also depends on the air-to-coal ratio, which affects the amount of coal substance burned and the temperature attained. Particle residence time and reactor temperature affect the degree of devolatilization of the product and hence its wettability. The filtration behaviour of carbonaceous filter aids is greatly influenced by the size distribution, shape and physical properties of the particles-parameters which are largely determined by fue type and particle sizing of the coal used.Carbonaceous filter aids are distinctly different from other types commonly used and extensive industrial applications are anticipated in a wide range of industries ranging from food to mineral processing.

Jan 1, 1970

"The theoretical basis of ideal smelting reduction using coal as reductant in a process employing closed loop forced-circulation of hot metal is outlined. In the proposed process, an extensive area of relatively slag-free hot metal is available as a heat sink for absorbing the large amount of heat produced by complete combustion of CO within the furnace. Any slag that is formed within the oxidizing arm of the furnace loop is quickly swept away as a thin floating layer by the bulk movement of hot metal which is induced positively by forced melt circulation and sustained by causing the hot metal and the thin slag layer to overflow into a lower level hearth in which coal is carbonised and dissolved directly into the circulating melt.The proposed process is shown to offer very substantial cost savings over all other direct smelting technology. This is mainly because of its inherently low capital cost and its high energy efficiency. Furthermore, the favourable economics are not reliant on fuel gas credits as all the process gas is combusted within the reactor itself.IntroductionMetallurgical processes in the year 2000 will be compromise solutions to the metallurgical problems that already exist today. It is common knowledge that the mineralogical complexity of certain polymetallic sulphides, for example, precludes high degrees of separation and recovery by conventional mineral beneficiation. steps are therefore being taken towards the development of a truly polymetallic smelting process which will produce simultaneously zinc lead and copper as, metals from complex ores without prior beneficiation(l). In the ferrous extraction industry, the shortcomings of the highly efficient modern blast' furnace are well known and world-wide there is considerable effort being directed towards coal-based ironmaking without the requirement of metallurgical coke as a process intermediate. The current status 0f2Joal-based ironmaking has recently been reviewed by Smith and Corbett. (2)"

Jan 1, 1988

By W. H. Young

MOST OF THE key items in the bituminous-coal and Lignite industry declined in 1954 compared with 1953. Production, consumption, exports, average value per ton, men working, and days worked all declined; however, in the field of mechanization, the percentages mechanically loaded, mechanically cleaned, mined by auger, and mined by stripping all increased, as did production per men per day. Production.-The output of soft coal in 1954-391.7 million tons- was 14 percent less than the 457.3 million tons produced in 1953. The lower production in 1954 was due largely to a sharp reduction in consumption in the United States and to a drop in exports.

Jan 1, 1958

By W. H. Young

THE DOMEST[C bituminous coal and lignite industry remained fairly steady in 1959 compared with 1958. Although mechanization continued to expand and production increased slightly, consumption, average value, exports, and employment decreased. The percentage of underground production mechanically loaded, the percentage of total production mined by stripping, and tonnage per man per day were at their highest levels. Production.-The output of bituminous coal and lignite in 1959-412 million tons-was 0.4 percent greater than the 410.4 million tons produced in 1958. Production was retarded in 1959, largely owing to the steel strike and reduced exports.

Jan 1, 1960

By W. H. Young

THE BITUMINOUS coal and lignite industry increased substantially in 1962, compared with the 1961 figures. The major items of production, consumption, exports, and productivity increased. However, certain key items declined. The steady upward trend in mechanization failed to materialize for the third year; the percentage of total tonnage mechanically loaded remained the same as in the 2 previous years; and the tonnage mechanically cleaned was smaller than in the previous year. The percentage of total production mined by stripping and by augers increased slightly. Most significant was the continued decline in average value and employment. Production.-The output of bituminous coal and lignite in the United States in 1962-422 million tons-was 5 percent greater than the 403 million tons produced in 1961. Production was greater in 1962, owing largely to expanded consumption by the electric utilities and to more exports.

Jan 1, 1963

By W. H. Young

THE BITUMINOUS coal and lignite industry declined slightly in 1961, compared with the 1960 figures. All of the major items, production, consumption, average value, exports, and employment, declined. Even the steady upward trend in mechanization failed to materialize; the percentages of total tonnages mechanically loaded and cleaned remained the same as in the preceding year. However, tonnage per man per day increased from 12.83 tons in 1960 to 13.87 tons in 1961, owing partly to the increased tonnage produced by continuous mining machines. Also, the percentage of total production mined by stripping and by augers increased slightly. Production.-The output of bituminous coal and lignite in the United States in 1961-403 million tons-was 3 percent less than the 416 million tons produced in 1960. Production was retarded in 1961, owing largely to the business recession and reduced exports.

Jan 1, 1962

By W. H. Young

In response to increasing national energy requirements. highlighted by the continuing growth in demand for coal for the generation of electric power the output of bituminous coal and lignite in 1965 passed the 500-million-ton mark for the first time since 1956, thus emphasizing the steady up-ward trend from the recent low of 403 million tons in 1961. There were corresponding upward trends in consumption, exports mechanization, and productivity. Production.-The output of bituminous coal and lignite in the United States in 1965-512 million tons-was 5 percent greater than the 487 million tons produced in 1964. The gain was attributed largely to expanded consumption by the electric utilities, greater use at coke ovens, and an increase in exports.

Jan 1, 1967

By W. H. Young

PRODUCTION of bituminous coal and lignite increased substantially in 1963 compared with 1962 figures. The major items of production, consumption, exports, and productivity increased. However, certain key items declined. For the fourth year there was no upward trend in mechanization; the percentage of total tonnage mechanically loaded remained the same as in the 3 previous years and the percentage of total tonnage mechanically cleaned was smaller than in the previous year. Furthermore, the percentage of total production mined by stripping and by augers increased. Most significant was the continued decline in average value and employment. Production.-The output of bituminous coal and lignite in the United States in 1963--459 million tons-was 9 percent greater than the 422 million tons produced in 1962. Production was greater in 1963, largely because of expanded consumption by the electric utilities and an increase in exports.

Jan 1, 1964

By W. H. Young

PRODUCTION of bituminous coal and lignite increased substantially in 1964. There were upward trends also in consumption, average value, exports, mechanization, and productivity. However, a significant decline in employment continued. Production.-The output of bituminous coal and lignite in the United States in 1964-487 million tons-was 6 percent greater than the 459 million tons produced in 1963. The gain was attributed largely to expanded consumption by the electric utilities, greater use at coke ovens, and an increase in exports.

Jan 1, 1965

By Edward W. Parker

(Toronto Meeting, July, 1907.) NOTE.-The material from which this paper has been prepared was collected for the U. S. Geological Survey Bulletin, Contributions to Economic Geology, 1906, and appears also, though in somewhat more extended form without illustrations, in that publication. ALTHOUGH the briquetting of coals and lignites has been carried on for many years in Europe, and has reached a particularly high state of development in France, Belgium, and Germany, it has made comparatively little progress in the United States. The causes for the backwardness of the United States in this regard are several, and first among them has been the abundant supply of cheap raw fuel with which the manufactured article has to compete. With our millions of acres of coal-productive territory, from which the product can in most cases be cheaply extracted, it has appeared in many districts more economical to waste the slack or culm, which con¬stitutes a considerable percentage -of the product, than to attempt to save it at the additional expense required for briquetting. It is for this reason that the view in all sections of the anthracite-region of Pennsylvania is marred by the unsightly culm-banks which encumber the ground, and that in some of the bituminous-districts one sees huge piles of unmarketable- slack allowed to burn up in order to get rid of them. When the coal is of a coking quality, or when the slack can be used for steaming-purposes, these losses are not sustained, but many thousands of tons of what might be converted into usable fuel have been wasted every year simply because of the increased expense involved in its preparation.

Sep 1, 1907

By O`Donnell. P. J.

THE modern coal cutter is a highly developed, and to a certain extent a somewhat complicated, machine. The requisite power to cope with conditions as found must be generated by the motor with due regard to limitations in the matter of dimensions and weight. This imposes the necessity of relatively high speeds of rotation. Any factor external to the machine proper which tends to reduce the load on the motor and gearing is most important. Experience has proved that close attention to the question of cutter-chain details undoubtedly results, in practically every coal-cutting operation, in increased efficiency and reduction of power and maintenance costs. The chain is the unit of the coal cutter which most greatly affects the economical operation of the machine, and only by due consideration of conditions and by the proper selection of the right chain can best results be expected; also, intelligent care of the chain while in operation is essential if it is to give its best service. The chain is the part of the machine that carries the pick boxes or blocks, which are connected to each other by a pair of chain links. The power to drive the chain is trans-mitted by a sprocket. The chain runs in guides supported by a rigid member called a 'jib'. Figure 1 shows the various parts mentioned. The first requirement of a chain is that it cut the coal as fast as possible. The second is that it do so economically. Economy of cutting can conveniently be divided as follows: (1) Economy in power used. (2) Economy in pick life. (3) Economy ' in chain life. ( 4) Economy in jib life. (5) Economy in labour for maintenance.

Jan 1, 1936

By J. Taffanel

I am very much impressed by this manifestation of international brotherhood; the mining engineers on both sides of the ocean have similar subjects to deal with, meet with the same difficulties, expose themselves sometimes to similar dangers…

Jan 1, 1915

By M. J. Taffanel

I AM very much impressed by this manifestation of international brotherhood; the mining engineers on both sides of the ocean have similar subjects to deal with, meet with the same difficulties, expose themselves sometimes to similar dangers; they are like companions in arms in the battle fought by mankind in order to subjugate the natural forces and to draw profit therefrom. There is no other field where this fraternity must manifest itself more actively than in the studies pursued with a view to improving the safety of mines and to rendering impossible in the future these mining disasters, which every year claim hundreds of victims. These are very difficult problems, the solution of which requires numerous and laborious experiments accompanied by very arduous scientific investigations; it is extremely desirable that the various mining countries, which have undertaken to solve these difficult problems, should unite their efforts in order to succeed as soon as possible and as well as possible. This idea has been fully grasped by your Bureau of Mines, which has brought me to Pittsburg; the daily exchange of views with the distinguished chief of-the mine investigation division, George S. Rice, and with his excellent collaborators, the comparison of the results obtained at Lievin and Bruceton, the checking of these results by means of new tests, the profound study of the measurements, diagrams, measuring and laboratory apparatus, the cooperative investigation of new apparatus, or the preparation of new investigations, are, I hope, of such a nature as to bring about great progress. I think that it will be interesting to you to know what has been done in France along this line.

Jan 9, 1914

By W. T. Gotheridge

The principal sources of coal-dust underground are, of course, coal, and the working of coal. Coal-dust is most dangerous when it is in the finest state of division. This class of dust is found mostly on the roads, being blown or shaken off the loaded trams in transit, or carried in suspension by air currents. The air current passing from the working faces may also carry dust in suspension into the return airway, and the air current from the surface may carry dust from the shakerscreens into the intake airways. The mosl dangerous dust we have to contend with is, (a) that which is most finely divided, and (b) that which contains the most volatile matter, including the inflammable occluded gases, and also oxygen absorbed from the air. According to experiments, coal-dust in a fine and dry state would intensify an explosion, in air free from fire-damp carrying in excess of 3 ozs. of fine dust or 6 ozs. of coarse dust per cubic yard. The volatile matter in the dust must be between 12 and 31 per cent. in the ash-free coal, the latter percentage giving the highest flame velocity. It is vary difficult to propagate flame where coal-dust contains a large percentage of stone-dust, (say 50 per cent.). Shale-dust or other incombustible dust containing no volatile hydro-carbons or carbonaceous matter will prevent the extension of an explosion if mixed with coal-dust in proportion of say 70 per cent., and if the dust is finely divided and dry.

Jan 1, 1924

By Louis Bender

AFTER investigating the work of coal-dust fired reverberatories of the Canadian Copper Co., at Copper Cliff, Ontario, the management of the Washoe Reduction Works decided to experiment with and ascertain the advantages of using coal dust as a fuel in their reverberatories. Consequently, during the month of June, 1914, reverberatory furnace No. 8 was changed in order to use powdered coal as a fuel. The results obtained by this method of firing are gratifying and show a decided saving in cost of smelting as compared to grate firing with lump coal. The furnace, as remodeled; is 124 ft. long by 21 ft. wide, and varies in height from 8 ft. 6 in. at the back end to 5 ft. 7 in. at the skimming end. The general construction of the furnace is similar to that of the other furnaces at this plant. There are no side doors to this furnace, as it was thought that with the present arrangement for feeding no "fettling" or "claying" would be required. The interior of the furnace can be inspected through the burner port holes, after shutting off the burners and giving a few seconds' time for the gases inside the furnace to clear away. The charging is done on either side of the furnace from longitudinal hoppers, extending a distance of 74 ft. from the back end of the furnace. Leading from the hoppers into the furnace are 6-in. pipes, spaced 194 in. apart, through which the charge is intermittently dropped. The charge is kept well above the slag line at all times; in this way the side walls are protected and no fettling is needed on this portion of the furnace. The remainder of the furnace requires fettling. After operating for three months, we found that the bricks were eaten into along each side wall from the skimming door back to the point where the charge had been dropped. The depth of this cutting away was 8 in. close to the front end and gradually tapered to zero at a distance of 50 ft., and was greatest on the side of the furnace having the larger flue connection. Hoppers will be put in for the entire length of furnace, from which fettling material will be dropped, to prevent this cutting.

Jan 1, 1915

Discussion of the papers of DAVID H. BROWNE, Louis V. BENDER, and R. E. H. POMEROY, presented at the New York meeting, February, 1915, and printed in Bulletin No. 97, January; 1915, pp. 49 to 60, 73 to 81, and No. 98, February, 1915, pp. 445 to 453, respectively. E. P. MATHEWSON, Anaconda, Mont.-After hearing about the success of D. H. Browne with his furnaces, we in Anaconda decided we might venture into the field of pulverized coal for reverberatory smelting. We sent a delegation of investigators to see Mr. Browne and his work, and they returned, filled with enthusiasm, and said they would recommend it strongly. We thereupon asked for an appropriation, and after some delay obtained the same and fitted up one furnace to use pulverized coal. We copied Mr. Browne's practice and his selection of machinery for drying and pulverizing coal; and we also copied the burner he used, which was a standard article on the market. We got an expert coal-dust machinery man to design our plant, and were very glad we did so as we avoided some of the unpleasantness that had been experienced at other plants through fires and minor explosions.

Jan 5, 1915