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The paper describes a cyclic method for processing manganese ores using sodium sulphate as the basic reagent. Sodium sulphate is electrolyzed in a diaphragm cell to give an anolyte sodium sulphate acid and a catholyte containing caustic soda, a part of which is carbonated in a cyclic manner to Form ash. and reduced ore is leached with the anolyte to dissolve the manganese and the impurities are precipitated by addition of catholyte. Manganese in the pregnant solution is precipitated as synthetic rhodochrosite with a carbonated catholyte, and sodium sulphate is regenerated. Calcining the manganese carbonate site a high-grade product and the carbon dioxide is returned to the carbonation step. the results of laboratory tests using cells equipped with synthetic fiber diaphragms and permselective membranes which permit transfer of using or cations during electrolysis are described. The article from which the above abstract is reprinted appears in Trans. AIME (1955) 203, p. 51; Journal op Metals (January 1955).

Jan 1, 1956

By D. Chetty

The characterization of platinum group minerals (PGMs) from concentrator flotation circuits provides valuable information towards understanding PGM recovery under given milling and flotation conditions. Additional mineralogical characterization also provides information on ore variability, which may affect recovery. Considering the low grades involved, automated scanning electron microscopy (SEM) characterization of PGMs has enabled relatively quick analyses, compared with older, time consuming and less accurate optical microscopy methods. Over the years, parameters, such as species, size distribution, liberation, gangue and base metal sulfide (BMS) associations, have been used to characterize the PGMs in a process mineralogical context, to aid metallurgical interpretation. This paper considers whether flotation indices determined for PGMs can be empirically validated, using initial results from analysis of PGMs in a concentrate bank from a South African concentrator treating UG2 ore from the western limb of the Bushveld Complex. The aim is to determine whether floatability is adequately described by these parameters, or whether other mineralogical factors must be considered when assessing PGM floatability, and hence accounting for recovery vs. losses to tails. The data obtained to date, show that flotation parameters (including liberation index, BMS/gangue relationships and size distribution) have merits where large changes in PGM concentration occur, as observed in the first four cells of the concentrate bank. Larger data sets, however, are required to assess floatability, particularly where concentrate cell grades are similar, as observed in the last six cells of the concentrate bank. Furthermore, the floatability indices could be enhanced by the incorporation of selected associated gangue mineral information, chief amongst these being the content and mode of occurrence of naturally floatable talc and associated orthopyroxene.

Jan 1, 2009

By Hemant Nerurkar

The destination of human development journey is envisioned as human well being. Human well-being is the extent to which individual share the ability and the opportunity to live the kinds of lives they value it includes environmental security, good health and living conditions, all of which are closely related to each other. The breakthroughs, which transformed the human race, have close interdependency with the environment. With the increase in world population, the requirement of natural resources is increasing every day. The nature is still stronger than man is but we must use natural resources more responsibly. The key to our well being is sustainable development Development effort for human well being may have adverse impact on the environment also. To keep the net impact positive is critical for sustainable development. For mineral processing industry, the value of a mineral is in the actual value as perceived by the end user. The process designs, investments in technology development all have direct relationship with the value of use and making a net positive impact on our ecosystem The value proposition has shifted towards raw materials and is a big differentiator. The availability of good quality raw material is difficult or is available at a premium. The challenge today is to develop green technologies that make effective and efficient usage of low grade raw materials The low grade raw materials as available pose a significant opportunity for human race for delivering value. They offer an easier reach to a value as perceived in end use but the journey is full of challenges. The first challenge is development of technology for maximizing grade recovery as required by the downstream process. The second challenge is to make the technology viable so that it contributes value to end use and the third challenge is to keep the net impact of the process positive The mining and mineral processing fraternity, being at the beginning of this value chain is set to take the first step in this journey for a tryst with ultimate human well being. Keywords: sustainable development, challenges in mineral processing

Sep 1, 2012

By Donald E. Cummings

MEASURES appropriate for the control of the silicosis hazard in mining cannot be formulated precisely, but sufficient has accumulated during the past quarter century to permit the suggestion of useful, though partly empirical, rules for its alleviation. The industrial hygienist today recognizes that the peril incurred by the inhalation of harmful dust is a function of two variable factors-the degree of harmful exposure and the specific susceptibility of the exposed individual to pulmonary injury. Control of the danger arising out of prolonged contact with pernicious air- borne particulate matter is consequently best exercised by influencing both of these recognized variables. Obviously the problem has two broad aspects-one, medical; the other within the province of the engineer. I-FACTORS COMPRISING THE DEGREE OF INDIVIDUAL SUSCEPTIBILITY Thorough investigations conducted among miners who have labored for years in the presence of recognized silicosis hazards usually reveal an impressive difference in the injury incurred by men whose exposure to dust has been nearly identical. After a quarter century underground, one individual is short of breath and incapacitated with miners' complaint, while a fellow workman suffers no pulmonary embarrassment and is in good health. Physicians ascribe this oft-observed difference in reaction to individual susceptibility and express a universal regret when they deplore the fate that chose to make the predisposed youth a miner rather than a farmer. To trust the health of miners to fate at the present time is even more unfortunate, because many of the factors that influence man's susceptibility to dust are known, and can be accurately determined by competent medical methods. Among the most important factors comprising susceptibility to injury by dust are the anatomical peculiarities of the individual's respiratory mechanism, his physiological response to the inhalation of dust, his previous dust exposure, the existence of pulmonary infections or other pathological processes in his lungs, his age,

Jan 1, 1938

By A. E. Nash

This title is somewhat of a misnomer, because it does not accurately describe the phase of heat generation and application coming within the scope of this discussion. This paper is concerned primarily with that particular phase of radiant-heat transfer sometimes erroneously referred to as "shielded" radiant heat, to differentiate it from the open radiant heat of either flame or settings, in which the actual source of the radiant heat is a small incandescent furnace composed of a highly conductive superrefractory, within whose walls the combustion of the fuel is completed. This small furnace is usually located directly in the furnace proper, and although its refractory walls do shield the heat-absorbing surfaces from contact with the gases of combustion, there is no interference with the radiant heat given off by the furnace itself. We do not believe it either necessary or advisable to shield or screen radiant heat when properly controlled and applied. We do believe it essential to prevent the excessively hot gases of combustion from coming in contact with those parts of the heat-absorbing structure that are already receiving heat at high rates by radiation. In connection with any process for the refining of oil with which we are familiar, we are convinced that it is most advantageous to transfer the maximum of the heat generated in the form of radiant heat, applied directly to the heat-absorbing surfaces without the interposition of any form of shield or screen to prevent or reduce the radiant-heat transfer. While the term radiant heat is broadly used to cover all heat energy transferred from one body to another by radiation, in contradistinction to heat given up by gases in direct contact with the heat-absorbing structure (convection) or transmitted simply by conduction, in furnace work it is perhaps more often limited to the heat rays given off either by

Jan 1, 1928

By Ahmad Ghahreman, Lin Li

Silver and cupric ions have been proven to play the roles of catalysts to promote the oxidation kinetics of chalcopyrite in acid solution. In this study, the interaction between silver ions and cupric ions during ferric leaching of chalcopyrite in sulfuric acid solution has been investigated. The electrochemical study by Tafel analysis showed a significant boost of dissolution rate for chalcopyrite dissolution in Fe3+- Cu2+ containing sulfuric acid solution after Ag+ was added in the solution. For 10 ppm Ag addition, the dissolution rate of chalcopyrite increased to 7.94 ×10-6 A/cm2 from 3.2 ×10-7 A/cm2, when Ag+ was absent. On the other hand, the effect of Cu2+ on the dissolution of chalcopyrite in Fe3+-Ag+ containing sulfuric acid solution was not obvious from electrochemical measurements. The chalcopyrite leaching tests in different acid solutions showed that silver addition had an obvious catalytic effect on promoting chalcopyrite dissolution. Comparing the leaching rates of chalcopyrite leached in Fe3+ containing, Fe3+-Ag+ containing, Fe3+-Cu2+ containing and Fe3+-Cu2+-Ag+ containing sulfuric acid solutions, it was found in Ag+-Fe3+-Cu2+ containing sulfuric acid solution, the leaching rate was highest among all the aqueous acid systems. Further leaching tests suggested that with increase of the Ag+ concentration from 0 to 20 ppm, the leaching rate of chalcopyrite in Ag+-Fe3+-Cu2+ containing sulfuric acid solution also increased and reached 57.62% with 20 ppm Ag+ addition after 24 h. INTRODUCTION Chalcopyrite is the most important copper mineral in copper hydrometallurgy and it accounts for nearly 80% of the universal copper resource (Olvera, Rebolledo, Mora, Dixon, & Asselin, 2018). The hydrometallurgy of chalcopyrite has been intensively studied with emphasis on solving the slow dissolution kinetics of chalcopyrite in acid environment. A variety of aqueous systems, such as sulfate (Hiroyoshi, Miki, Hirajima, & Tsunekawa, 2001), chlorides (Liu, Chen, & Yang, 2017), and ammonia (Hua et al., 2018) have been studied to improve copper leaching. From another perspective, chalcopyrite leaching studies have indicated that the mechanism of chalcopyrite dissolution in acid solution is essentially electrochemical (Li, Kawashima, Li, Chandra, & Gerson, 2013). Therefore, extensive studies have recently been carried out to explain the dissolution kinetics of chalcopyrite in different media by various electrochemical techniques.

Jan 1, 2019

By O. W. Ellis

IN VIEW of the extensive use of the brasses and bronzes in engineering practice it is indeed surprising that so little scientific work has been done on the oxides in these alloys. Recognition of the ill effects of these compounds is universally accorded, both in foundry procedure and in such specifications as cover the melting of these useful mixtures. In the latter, limits, for example, are placed on the proportions of scrap metal in the charge, and clauses governing the use of fluxes are included, the addition of fluxes to the charge being made with the object of avoiding oxidation during the process of melting and of subducing and separating non-metallic matter from the melt.1 In the manufacture of brass it occasionally, though rarely, occurs that the virgin metals, copper and zinc, alone are used. In the event of virgin metals being employed, that of the higher melting point is always melted first. If it is melted under suitable conditions, little or no oxidation will occur. Whether oxidation has occurred or not, however, can best be determined by microscopic examination of a sample taken from the melt.

Jan 1, 1930

By S. M. Bulatovic

The western industrial world has to rely more and more on complex polymetallic sulphide ores as sources for base metals. These ores are composed of fine grained sulphide minerals such as chalcopyrite, galena, sphalerite, pyrite, pyrrhotite and marcasite. The liberation sizes of the individual minerals can range between 30 um and 5 um. Therefore, applying conventional techniques to recover these finely disseminated minerals usually results in unsatisfactory metallurgical performances with high losses of the valuable mineral to the slime , fraction of the tailing. New concepts for treating these polymetallic complex ores are discussed in this paper. Beneficiation techniques utilizing new reagents and a new approach to pulp preparation are described. Some of these techniques were applied to ores from existing concentrators as well as to new ores. The results of these studies are discussed in the following sections.

Jan 1, 1990

By Adrian Moore, Alan Richards

Time window techniques that limit the explosive charge mass being fired within a specified time window (commonly 8 milliseconds (ms)) have been used for many years and are widely accepted by explosives engineers. The 8 ms time window may be relevant for controlling ground vibration for small blasts at close quarters in a high frequency vibration environment. For controlling ground vibration from blasts in a low frequency vibration environment an 8 ms separation between blastholes is arbitrary and meaningless. The 8 ms time window was never intended as a means of controlling airblast. The use of time window techniques will, in many instances, result in airblast and ground vibration levels that are substantially greater than planned, with unfortunate outcomes. The uses of time windows that are inappropriate have been well explained in previous papers. This paper gives further examples of blast designs that satisfied time window considerations but have resulted in substantially greater airblast and ground vibration levels in certain directions, due to wavefront reinforcement or the combined effect of drilling pattern and delay sequence. Techniques that identify wavefront reinforcement, due to the combined effect of drilling pattern and delay sequence, can assist explosives engineers to avoid blast vibration problems that result from inappropriate time window techniques.

Jan 1, 2002

By Sanford Belden

My topic, Recent Developments in the Design of Electric Mine Locomotives and Mining Machinery, does not require me to go into a general review of electricity as applied to the mining industry. Interesting as that subject always is, what I might say in regard to it, by way of introduction, would be unnecessary use of your time, since such facts are familiar to all. First, we will consider the recent development of the electric mine locomotive. We may well pause for a moment to reflect upon its importance to the coal-mining industry of to-day. With the dawn of the electrical age its advent was inevitable. Our practical interest is aroused not so much by the first crude effort as by the great efficiency attained during the 30 or more years since the electric locomotive made its first appearance. To judge accurately what it means to coal mining, and through coal mining to the industrial field at large, we would have to know how many of these locomotives are in use throughout the country and their aggregate daily performance, and then compare the results with what could be expected with other forms of power. Such data are lacking, but it requires no statistician to make it evident that the electric mining machine is a tremendous factor in modern progress, and that without it the work of the world could never have reached its present magnitude. Not only has the electric mine locomotive served its own special branch of usefulness, but incidentally it has solved in the main the whole problem of electric transportation. It is but a step from the triumph of a 25-ton locomotive leading a long train of loaded coal cars from a mine to the electrification of common carriers. We may or may not be near any great change in this respect. Economical reasons may hold it back for an indefinite period. But the fact remains that in the development of our mine locomotives we have met this larger emergency, in mechanical type and efficiency, whenever it may come.

Jan 6, 1914

By Thomas M. Barczak

Roof support technology for longwall tailgates has changed dramatically during the past decade. Filling tailgates with conventional wood cribs is becoming the exception rather than the rule. Modern engineered timber support systems and a host of other alternative support products provide far greater capacity as well as stiffer response, thereby allowing the supports to resist roof movement with much less displacement than the soft wood cribbing used in the past. For these reasons, these products can provide superior roof control. In addition, the material handling requirements for support installation have now become a major consideration in the support design and selection process. Products such as conventional wood cribbing that require piece-meal construction of bulky, heavy components have diminished, while prop-type supports and products that can be installed with machinery and pumpable support technologies have grown in use resulting in fewer injuries to mine workers. Now, the opportunity exists to provide the safest, most cost effective support system, through engineering design rather than by trial and error and to optimize the use of the support system chosen. Yet this is rarely done. The key to accomplishing this task is to understand the interaction of the support system with the ground conditions at the installation site. A major focus of the paper is to conceptualize the support and interaction through the use of a ground reaction curve which relates the support resistance to the convergence of the longwall tailgate. The goal of any roof support design is to control the ground deformations and maintain the structural integrity of damaged or broken ground to the extent possible to provide a stable mine opening. In general, deformations will be a function of the stress environment and inherent strength of the surrounding rock mass. However, if the deformations are intimately linked to the stress changes such that the deformation can be controlled by the load resistance or reinforcement provided by a roof support system, then the loading behavior can be described as load-controlled. Conversely, if the deformation occurs irrespective of the installed support (assuming practical limitations), then the loading behavior is described as displacement-controlled. In this case, the deformation can be considered irresistible from a practical standpoint. In this context, the nature of the loading has significant consequences on the support design requirements. Finally, examples using the NIOSH Support Technology Optimization Program (STOP) to develop design criteria using ground reaction data from underground studies and ways to include uncontrolled convergence as part of the design criteria for standing roof supports will also be discussed.

By Richard Berry

The spacing of grout injections is typically about 2 to 2 V½ meters if the purpose of the grouting is densification of the in-situ soils. Hole spacing will vary with the in-situ soil properties and the grout injection rate; faster rates requiring closer hole spacing.

Feb 10, 2003

By D. L. Stewart

"Melt loss is usually one of the highest individual cost items in the operation of ah ingot casting facility. While melt loss and the resulting cost for the entire facility is usually well known (at least via standard cost accounting), dross generation and melt loss for individual unit operations within the plant are usually not known. Thus, the financial impact of various practices, alloys and scrap types is not known. Development of an accurate, relatively low-cost technique for measurement of melt loss at commercial scale would aid in understanding melt loss for existing units, as well as evaluation of the melt loss impact of alternate processes.This paper will describe a methodology developed at Alcoa for accurate and inexpensive measurement of melt loss at commercial scale. The methodology has been used to evaluate the impact of scrap type, melting practices, and dross treatment technology on melt loss."

Jan 1, 2000

By J. F. Nicholas

THE angles between the crystallographic planes in cubic metals were originally given by Bozorth and have been republished many times. Recently, Salkovitz2 tabulated the angles for the hexagonal metals (magnesium, zinc, and cadmium). he most commonly used metal which does not fail into either of these groups is tin, which has a tetragonal structure with an axial ratio of c/a = 0.54558 (99.99 pct purity, 25°C).² ccordingly, Table I has been prepared giving the possible values for the angle, 4, between planes of the types {HKL) and {hkl). The formula used was: Hh + Kk + LI — cos? = —--------------—-----------— A [(H2 + K2 + L2-a2c2(h2 + k2 + r;)] All angles are given correct to the nearest minute as this is sufficient for all practical purposes. Every angle depends in a different way on variations in the value of c/a, but even in the worst cases a variation of about 0.0003 in this ratio is needed to vary an angle by l', which corresponds to a temperature change of 20 °C or can be caused by impurities.

Jan 1, 1952

A company tax rate based on profitability return, or as more commonly expressed, a resource rent taxation scheme has been intro- duced at various stages in the past by both Australian state and commonwealth governments. At present a number of overseas countries are applying this form of legislation to the taxing of sections of their mining industries. Within this study, ways in which this type of tax has been used are examined. The form in which the tax can be applied varies. 1. It can be selectively or universally applied. 2. The base on which economic return is calculated can be selected in a number of ways. 3. It can start operating only when high profit levels exist, or alternatively be the basis of a total taxation scheme. The implication for the Australian mining industry of the introduction of different types of resource rent taxation schemes is assessed within the context of previously enacted systems.

Jan 1, 1978

Jan 1, 1948

By Keith Schaeffer

This paper presents a history of the planning, engineering and construction completed for the railroad tunnel crossing part of the West Elizabeth Avenue Storm Drainage Project, undertaken to relieve flooding within the West Elizabeth Avenue area in Linden, NJ. The Railroad Crossing Contract is part of the larger Linden Drainage Improvements Project consisting of a new gravity storm sewer system. The improvements are required to provide additional storm drainage for the City of Linden and the Merck Pharmaceuticals manufacturing facilities in the City of Linden.

Jan 1, 2008

By Wang Yun-yan

In order to examine the adaptability and the kinetics of leaching different gold ores in alkaline thiourea system, six kinds of gold concentrate and/or calcine with different physical and chemical properties were chosen as objects. The leaching behaviors in alkaline thiourea system with high stability, acidic thiourea system and alkaline cyanide system were compared. Changes of phase, surface appearance, particle distribution and specific surface area of six kinds of gold ores before and after leaching were studied in virtue of modern analytic techniques, e.g., XRD, SEM, and so on. The results indicate that alkaline thiourea solution can be used to leach gold ore, for oxidized gold concentrate removed arsenic by microbe pretreatment(4#) the leaching rate of gold is up to 82.68%, such conclusion overthrows the parlance reported that pH value must be less than 1.78, or gold can not dissolve in thiourea solution. Chemical components and phase are related to gold leaching rate, different gold ores are fit for different leaching system, and alkaline thiourea solution is suitable for the pretreated oxidized gold ores with low content of sulfur and in which the main phase was SiO2, phase almost does not change after leaching basically. Generally speaking, when leaching in alkaline thiourea solution, surfaces of gold ores with glaze change greatly to ones with coarseness, distinct trace and holes of corrosion. Particle size decrease and specific surface area increase of gold ores after leaching in alkaline thiourea solution with high stability except gold concentrate of Zhongyuan gold smelter(5#).

Jan 1, 2006

By Ivan Salinas

Un estudio de Microsoft Office 2003 señaló que las personas claves en la toma de decisiones no están debidamente informadas -en tanto la información que necesitan se halla en una base datos de otra organización. En ese sentido, el presente texto plantea el uso del Infopath como herramienta del paquete Microsoft Office 2003 que facilita la información al trabajador, permitiéndole hacer uso de los servicios Web desde sus desktops que accesan a la información de la empresa, de forma que ayuda a las organizaciones a capturar más conocimiento y tomar decisiones adecuadas a futuro

Sep 19, 2006

By Watsford RMS, Schache IS, Slaughter PJ

As part of the overall Copper Smelter expansion activities at Mount Isa Mines from 1970 - 1975, a decision was made to open circuit the converter slag from the Smelter and treat this product by flotation. This paper describes the technical aspects of plant operating and reagent practices employed, with particular emphasis on the large scale milling of this product and the effect through the use of reagent hydroxy ethyl cellulose on chalcocite grade and recovery.

Jan 1, 1978