Search Documents

By Scott Rosenthal, Logan Connolly

Butte, Montana holds a prestigious place in the history of mining, deemed “The Richest Hill on Earth,” containing a plethora of underground mines. The Orphan Boy/Orphan Girl underground mines, on the western side of Butte, operated from 1895-1956 producing zinc, lead, silver, and manganese. Today, the Orphan Boy mine is part of Montana Tech’s Underground Mine Education Center (UMEC) and the Orphan Girl mine houses the World Museum of Mining. Underground development in the Orphan Boy mine continues to progress as students from Montana Tech receive hands-on underground training; in addition, the UMEC is a multi-disciplinary research facility. Repeated underground blasting occurs in close proximity to old mine workings (wood supports installed circa 1950 or earlier). Research began to determine the impact of underground blasts on nearby pre-existing structures. Using the ISEE Field Practice Guidelines for Blasting Seismographs, one seismograph monitors the predominately-wooden structures to measure their response during each underground blast and one seismograph positioned on the surface to monitor surface structure response to the blast. This paper presents the findings of the research conducted to date for the project. The paper includes analysis of the research data, and conclusions determined from the research. Recommendations for the future work are included as well.

Jan 1, 2018

By Daniel Hodouin, Claude Bazin, René del Villar

"A traditional linkage has long been established at Laval University's Department of Mining & Metallurgy between the Mineral Process (MP) and the Mining Exploitation (Min) on one hand, and between the Extractive Metallurgy (EM) and the Materials Engineering (Mat) on the other. This academic separation of Mineral Processing from Extractive Metallurgy at the educational level has become increasingly at odds with today's industrial practice in which both disciplines are not only complementary but also often intertwined. For instance, in gold ore processing, comminution, flotation, and gravity separation units are interfaced with atmospheric or pressure leaching modules and with carbon adsorption and electrowinning units. The new copper plants in South America combine comminution and flotation circuits with heap leaching, solvent extraction and electrowinning processes.In order to reflect this new industrial reality and to harmonise the options offered in both its engineering programs, the Department of Mining and Metallurgy of Laval University has introduced major changes in its curriculum in 1996. These changes reflect also the recognition that the somewhat secondary status given so far to Mineral Processing and to Extractive Metallurgy within their ""mother"" programs, Mining/Mineral Engineering and Materials metallurgical Engineering respectively, was in sharp contrast with their actual significance for the Canadian economy. Leading industrial voices have raised similar concerns and the Canadian Engineering Accreditation Board has also addressed this problem in its latest program evaluation.The changes implemented at Laval aimed at a) better representing MP and EM within the two undergraduate programs; b) training top-level versatile and multidisciplinary engineers, fluent in all aspects of MP and EM, irrespectively of which of the two ((mother)) programs they had chosen and capable of meeting today's industrial requirements; c) training students in process analysis, optimisation and automatic control using state-of-the-art software, and d) taking into account the co-operative nature of both undergraduate programs.Results are very encouraging in terms of student enrolment and industrial response. However, some concern is expressed on the sustainability of the renewed curriculum considering the drastic budget restrictions in effect at Laval as in most other Canadian universities."

Jan 1, 1999

By Tassos Grammatikopoulos, Sarah Prout, William Mercer, C. Gunning

"The Nechalacho rare metal deposit is located in NWT, Canada. Avalon Rare Metals Inc. is now evaluating processing techniques for recovery of REE to be used in the industry. QEMSCANTM analysis coupled with whole rock, REE, Zr and Nb, and electron microprobe analyses were utilized to identify and quantify the mineralogy of the deposit, and define the REE distribution among minerals. QEMSCANTM mineralogy was performed on fifty intact drill samples using EXPLOMINTM that provided textural information for the mineralization; crushed samples were used to determine the variability of the ore and define REE domains, and composite samples to determine the liberation and association of the REE minerals. The sample matrix predominantly consists of biotite, feldspars, quartz, muscovite/clays, minor chlorite and amphibole, magnetite and hematite and carbonates. REE include in decreasing order of abundance allanite (3.6%), monazite (1.5%), synchysite (0.9%), columbite (0.9%), fergusonite (0.6%), bastnaesite (0.4%), and zircon 11.0%. The majority of the HREE are carried by fergusonite and zircon, and the LREE by monazite, allanite, synchysite and bastnaesite. QEMSCANTM mineralogical data is extremely valuable in assessing the mineralogy of the ore. The data have been implemented in defining the mineralogy of the ore body, support metallurgical test work, predict recoveries and grades, and finally calculate reserves of the deposit.INTRODUCTIONAvalon is in the unique position of owning and developing one of the world’s largest rare earth deposits in the Northwest Territories of Canada.The term Rare Earth Elements (REE) is used to describe the 15 lanthanide elements or metals and, more recently, the metals yttrium and scandium, which display similar physical and chemical properties. REE are not particularly rare and have a similar abundance in the earth’s crust to nickel, tin or tungsten. Unlike these better known metals however, the rare earths have little tendency to become concentrated into commercial ore deposits. When they do become concentrated, deposits of REEs usually display enrichment in one of two groups. The most commonly occurring deposits of REEs contain a sub-group of elements referred to as the “light rare earth elements” (LREEs), which include lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium, neodymium, and samarium. Less commonly, deposits of REEs contain the much more valuable sub-group of elements referred to as the “heavy rare earth elements” (HREEs), which include europium, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, holmium, erbium, thulium, ytterbium and lutetium. Yttrium and scandium most commonly occur in association with this second HREE sub-group. Generally, LREEs are produced from the mineral bastnaesite, and the HREEs have been produced from the minerals xenotime and monazite. LREEs continue to be produced from bastnaesite, however in the 1980s, China started production of HREEs from unique laterite clay deposits. China now produces approximately 95% of the world’s rare earths."

Jan 1, 2011

By H. L. Bibbs, H. D. Snedden

"INTRODUCTION The use of beryllium and its alloys has increased rapidly during the last decade. Further expansion of its use is limited; in part, by lack of adequately developed ore reserves. The principal commercial beryllium mineral is beryl, which is found chiefly in pegmatites and produced for market as a byproduct of the mica and feldspar industries. The coarse beryl is mined selectively, sobbed and sorted by hand, and then sold without further beneficiation. The known reserves of coarse beryl are small. No method has been available for concentrating small disseminated beryl crystals, so ores of this type have not been mined or have been left on waste dumps. Disseminated ore in low-grade unmined areas and waste dumps on developed properties is a potential source of beryl, provided a method is developed for its beneficiation.Published literature on the concentration of beryl is lacking in detail or deals chiefly with tests on artificial mixtures of pure minerals, and procedures as given were not applicable to the beryl ores tested at the Salt Lake Station. The testing procedures described in this report are independent developments. By employing these procedures, beryl was satisfactorily con¬centrated from several run-of-mine and dump ores, although these ores wore low in grade and part of the contained beryl was finely crystalline and disseminated.Beryl, quartz, and feldspar, when ground to flotation sizes, are so alike in color and general appearance that they cannot he distinguished by visual observation. The progress of the work depended on rapid determination of the grade of test products by means of the petrographic microscope. Small samples of concentrates and tailings were often cut after each addition of reagents, dried, and examined under the microscope."

May 1, 1947

By Licheng Zhou

The use of aquatic plants for the removal of heavy metals from wastewater has gained high interest. In this study, batch experiments were conducted to evaluate the adsorption of copper ions in aqueous solution by P. pectinatus L. under various conditions of contact time, initial pH of the solution, metal concentration and adsorbent dosage. The results showed that the maximum adsorption amount of copper ions by P. pectinatus L. was 22.60 mg/g when the initial copper ions concentration was 98.41 mg/L at pH 4.5. The Langmuir and Freundlich models were used to describe the adsorption equilibrium of copper ions on P. pectinatus L. and the adsorption followed the Langmuir isotherm. The adsorption kinetic was well-fitted with pseudo-second-order sorption equations.

Jan 1, 2009

By D. Harrington

The record of fatalities from mine explosions in the United States during the past 3 years has been the best in the history of the mining industry. During these 3 fiscal years, mine explosions have resulted in an average of 4I0 deaths per year, as compared with an average of 153 deaths per year for the preceding; 5 years; an average of 542 deaths per year for the 3-year period 1907-09, inclusive, just before the organization of the U. S. Bureau of Mines; and a yearly average of 265 deaths per year for the 20-year period prior to 1929. This remarkable reduction in deaths from mine explosions demonstrates clearly that mine explosions can be controlled; in fact, they can be prevented when or if the mining people of the United States see fit to take the readily available precautions necessary to bring about this desirable objective. Several large coal-producing States, which in the past have had numerous disastrous explosions, have been free from such disasters for continuous periods of as much as 6 years or even longer. The bituminous mines of Pennsylvania, the largest coal-producing State, give a good example of what can be done to prevent explosions; this State has had only one major explosion (and it resulted in 7 fatalities) during the past 6 years, and no explosion occurred in the several hundred bituminous-coal mines of the State during the past fiscal year. This is a truly remarkable record when compared with past performance in any year in the operation of coal mines in Pennsylvania.

Jan 1, 1936

By Gordon Bath

During the summer of 1946, the Division of Geophysical Exploration of the U.S. Bureau of Mines established several primary magnetic base stations near important iron-producing districts in Minnesota, Michigan, and Wisconsin. Stations were located in groups of four to six in six separate base-station areas, and each position was marked with a concrete monument. Differences in magnetic intensity between stations in these areas, as well as the difference between each area and a magnetic datum at the magnetic observatory of the Coast and Geologic Survey at Cheltenham, Md., were measured with a modified Askania magnetometer. Measurements also were made with a Hotchkiss superdip to study the usefulness of the stations for the calibration of instruments of this type. The work was planned and supervised by F. W. Lee, chief of the Division of Geophysical Exploration, and Edward F. Fitzhugh, Jr., chief of the Minneapolis Division of the Bureau of Mines. Special mention is due Harold B. Ewoldt, Bureau of Mines engineer, for his assistance in the field work, especially in locating and establishing monuments. Special mention also is due Clyde L. Holmberg, of the Bureau of Mines, for the magnetic measurements made with the Hotchkiss superdip. Helpful suggestions were received in the field from H. L. James, of the U. S. Geological Survey. Acknowledgment is made of the cooperation of Stephen Royce, Irving E. Beckwith, Arthur Johnson, and Josiah Royce of Pickands, Mather & Co., and A. E. Matson, of Butler Bros. The U. S. Coast and Geodetic Survey furnished daily magnetograms from the Cheltenham Magnetic Observatory as well as calibration equipment and values of absolute magnetic intensity. Short-term forecasts of ionospheric conditions were obtained from the National Bureau of Standards.

Jan 1, 1951

By Máximo Pérez, Julio C. Videla, Rosa Dzioba

"This paper reports the hydrometallurgical treatment of gravity concentrates of gold samples and outcrops associated with graphite ores obtained from:• flotation tailings of crystalline graphite minerals• outcrop samples of graphitic rock associated with auriferous minerals and free gold located in the Villa Union district and surrounding areas - La Rioja Province - Argentina.Previous studies of the flotation potential of crystalline graphite minerals failed to consider the presence of noble metals.The samples represent a mineralized zone of crystalline graphite which is distributed in different formations with a NE - SW trend in Maz, Punta Colorada and Las Ramaditas hills, covering an area of about 300 square kilometers."

Jan 1, 2003

By A. J. Farstad

Characteristics of metal/non metal mines were evaluated to determine the suitability of applying the U.S. Bureau of Mines electromagnetic location system to the problem of locating trapped mines in metal/non metal mines. Statistical distributions of mine depths and overburden conductivities show that the existing USBM EM system is inadequate for most metal/non metal mines. Alternate approaches to trapped miner location in deep mines were identified and subsequent field tests were conducted at six (6) mines to evaluate their feasibility. The approach considered to be the most promising is one which utilizes the existing manpack transmitting system, modified slightly for a dual frequency output, in conjunction with a sophisticated signal processing receiver on the surface. The main advantage of staying with a "through the earth" approach is that the underground equipment can be kept simple, easily maintained, light-weight and inexpensive.

Jan 1, 1979

By Mike Johnson, Niels Verbaan, David Dreisinger

The Search Minerals Foxtrot project in Labrador represents a significant Canadian resource of rare earth elements rich in the sought after heavy rare earth elements (19.8% HREE/TREE). A preliminary economic assessment of the project indicated that the project is technically feasible and economically attractive. A variety of metallurgical test programs have been undertaken which have led to significant streamlining and simplification of the process flowsheet. The improved flowsheet should allow Search to reach production earlier and will use conventional processing equipment. The results of these test programs are presented and discussed in this paper.

Jan 1, 2014

By Barbara Mazzini Loureiro

As placas de circuito impresso (PCI) são materiais heterogêneos e sua composição pode variar em função do ano de fabricação, tecnologia empregada, propósito de utilização, legislações vigentes e país de origem, entre outros. Essas características interferem diretamente no valor econômico agregado a estes resíduos, pois dependem da composição dos mesmos, de tal maneira que as empresas recicladoras tomam como base essas informações no momento da aquisição da sucata. Assim, a classificação e caracterização de PCIs é de suma importância para o mercado de reciclagem de resíduos eletroeletrônicos. A fim de alcançar este objetivo foi realizada cominuição em moinho de facas utilizando grelhas com abertura de 9, 6 e 3mm. A etapa de caracterização incluiu ensaios de digestão em água régia, perda ao fogo, análises química quantitativa por ICP-OES e MEV/EDS. Verificou-se que o lote de PCI estudado possui 39,5% de material cerâmico, 34,5% polimérico e 26 % metálico. A porcentagem em massa de cobre na placa é de 14,28%, de ferro 3,73%, de ouro 0,012% e de estanho 1,29%. O lote não é lead free e é multilayer com quatro camadas de cobre.

Aug 8, 2018

By T. C. Davis

Nine organic derivatives of fluorine, silicon, boron, and aluminum were purified for thermodynamic studies using distillation, zone melting, and gas liquid chromatography, The unusual properties of these compounds required the development of special techniques for handling and purification. To determine purities of purified samples, new techniques for analyzing spectral data were developed.

Jan 1, 1965

By E. Don Dilling, W. F. Holbrook, Lloyd R. Michels, James W. Pennington, Dwight L. Harris, Wm. F. Hergert, Cyrus L. Blogett, H. A. Doerner, Ernest A. Reige

"IntroductionA process for production of magnesium by carbothermal reduction was developed at Padentheirm, Austria, by the Austro Americanische Magnesit Corporation& an independent investigation of this and other processes was started in 1937 by the Bureau of Mines at Pullman, Wash., with the cooperation of Washington State College. 10/ A preliminary study of the Radentheirm pro¬cess, as revealed by the meager information then available, demonstrated the following two major disadvantages,The use of hydrogen for shock cooling requires an enormous volume of gas - about 1,000 cubic feet for condensing each pound of metal as a pyrophoric dust which must be completely separated from this gas. Then if the gas is to be recycled for repeated use, the CO produced by the reduction reaction must be separated from the hydrogen. These separations are costly from the standpoint of equipment and operation. 11/The condensate is an impure, pyrophoric metal powder that must be purified and converted to coherent form. This is accomplished by distillation or sublimation of the metal. Distillation on a large scale involves difficulties inherent in the high boiling point (1,107° C.) and the chemical activity of the metal. To avoid these difficulties, the metal is sublimed at 600° C. and of very low pressure. This is quite easily carried out as a batch operation but is a costly procedure. A continuous sublimation process has not been accompli shed."

May 1, 1945

By E. O. RHODES

Germany's' wartime coal-tar industry had two main branches, which can best be considered individually because their raw materials, operations, and distributions were almost completely separated. One branch, old and well-established, was concerned almost entirely with processing coal tar produced by the high-temperature carbonization of caking bituminous coal. Carbonization was effected principally in byproduct- coke ovens and to less extent in vertical, horizontal, and inclined retorts. The high-temperature tar was all processed in tar-distilling plants that handled high-temperature tar almost exclusively.

Sep 1, 1947

By C. W. Davis

During the fiscal year 1935-36, the Ore-Testing Section has been active in carrying out a program designed to attain the objectives that have been set up for it. For the Purpose of standardizing important testing methods, an attempt has been made to develop a rationalized scheme for ore testing, starting with preliminary investigations to determine the physical and chemical properties of the ore, following this with a logical selection and trial of processing tests to find out how the ore may be most effectively treated, and concluding with a discussion of what interpretation may be placed on the results in terms of plant design and operation. A selection of Procedures that appear well-suited to the ore-dressing problems under investigation is included in the following paper of this report so that other experimenters may be enabled to verify our findings and to offer criticisms and suggestions for improving our practice. A tentative scheme for the evaluation of flotation reagents is being investigated, and some progress has been made in a study to determine the significance of small-scale testing. These projects have required 899 analyses. Papers on these and others on ore testing, such as testing for amalgamation and for cyanidation, will be included in future annual reports.

Jan 1, 1937

By C. W. Davis

During the fiscal year 1935-36, the Ore-Testing Section has been active in carrying out a program designed to attain the objectives that have been set up for it. For the purpose of standardizing important testing methods, an attempt has been made to develop a rationalized scheme for ore testing, starting with preliminary investigations to determine the physical and chemical properties of the ore, following this with a logical selection and trial of processing tests to find out how the ore may be most effectively treated, and concluding with a discussion of what interpretation may be placed on the results in terms of plant design and operation. A selection of procedures that appear well-suited to the ore-dressing problems under investigation is included in the following paper of this report so that other experimenters may be enabled to verify our findings and to offer criticisms and suggestions for improving our practice. A tentative scheme for the evaluation of flotation reagents is being investigated, and some progress has been made in a study to determine the significance of small-scale testing. These projects have required 899 analyses. Papers on these and others on ore testing, such as testing for amalgamation and for cyanidation, will be included in future annual reports.

Jan 1, 1937

By David Norval

Water solidification of mattes, metals, alloys and certain slags with high metal entrainment has customarily not been practiced due to the belief that such processes are too dangerous and unproven in the Pyrometallurgical Industry. Slag granulation on the other hand is extensively applied, although in some cases crudely, with disastrous effects, as a result of not recognising the high heat capacities prevalent in slags. This paper will examine the most common air solidification processes and compare such processes with water solidification, mainly slag and matte granulation processes and design criteria for safe and reliable operation. Finally, purpose designed granulation and solidification processes will be discussed taking into account specific applications and the individual signatures of alloys and slags, emphasising that no slag, matte or alloy responds in similar fashion to a granulation practice.

Jan 1, 2006

By L. F. Willmott

The Bureau of Nines at Morgantown, W. Va., has been investigating, on a pilot plant scale, various methods of gasifying bituminous coal with oxygen and superheated steam to produce synthesis gas, as part of the broader program of finding new uses for coal. Differences in the pressure gasification methods used have depended on differences in the manner in which the pulverized coal is fed to the gasifier. One of the methods of feeding the coal that was investigated was the continuous, integrated coal-water slurry system. Goal and water were first mixed to produce a slurry; then the slurry was pumped through a heated coil. to evaporate the water fraction; the resulting steam was superheated, and some of it was separated so as to adjust the ratio of the residual steam to the coal fraction and make the resulting mixture suitable for partial combustion with oxygen in a pressure gasifier. Both before and during this reported3 developmental work it was necessary to make an extensive literature search into the technology of aqueous slurries in order to establish design criteria for the pilot plant and to correlate results of various phases of the work with that of other investigators, The pilot work coincided with the commercial development of a long-distance pipe- line for the transportation of coal as a coal-water slurry, and this fact tended to broaden the scope of the pilot plant work and the extent of the literature search. This bibliography is the compilation of the material that was collected.

Jan 1, 1963

By William N. Hale

This Bureau of Mines report gives a detailed study of water usage in the Montana mineral industries, along with projections for the future. The mineral industry of Montana in 1963 used 36.5 billion gallons of new water, and reused or recirculated an additional 53.5 billion gallons for a total water requirement or usage of 90 billion gallons. The petroleum industry was the major water user, followed by the copper and zinc industries. Many mineral industry operators provide their own water, and new water is withdrawn largely from surface sources. At present, sufficient water is available in rivers, streams, and reservoirs in Montana; however, shortages do exist locally near mineral industry operations using large quantities of water. Some is supplied from sources up to 44 miles distant. New water withdrawn by the State of Montana mineral industry is expected to increase from 36.5 billion gallons in 1963 to 51.1 billion gallons by the year 2000. The total-water requirement is expected to more than double, or reach 182 billion gallons by the year 2000.

Jan 1, 1966

By William N. Hale

This Bureau of Mines report gives a detailed study of water usage in the Montana mineral industries, along with projections for the future. The mineral industry of Montana in 1963 used 36.5 billion gallons of new water, and reused or recirculated an additional 53.5 billion gallons for a total water requirement or usage of 90 billion gallons. The petroleum industry was the major water user, followed by the copper and zinc industries. Many mineral industry operators provide their own water, and new water is withdrawn largely from surface sources. At present, sufficient water is available in rivers, streams, and reservoirs in Montana; however, shortages do exist locally near mineral industry operations using large quantities of water. Some is supplied from sources up to 44 miles distant. New water withdrawn by the State of Montana mineral industry is expected to increase from 36.5 billion gallons in 1963 to 51.1 billion gallons by the year 2000. The total-water requirement is expected to more than double, or reach 182 billion gallons by the year 2000.

Jan 1, 1966