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By J P. Sykes, A Trench

"World-class mine projects are increasingly failing to become world-class mines. Non-technical, socio-political and environmental problems seem, in part, to be the cause. However, the intangible and qualitative nature of these problems means overcoming them will require a greater systemic understanding of how the various technical and non-technical factors interact. This is particularly important as the concept of sustainable development has changed the industry paradigm sufficiently that it is no longer clear what world-class means. Finally, this better systemic understanding of mine projects needs communicating back to the exploration sector to improve exploration targeting.However, a disconnect between the exploration and mining sectors and between geologists and mining’s other professional disciplines means this is currently not possible. The use of economic evaluation techniques to assess the risk and value presented by the various technical and non-technical factors can assist with this by giving the varied professions a common language and including inputs from all disciplines. This paper therefore suggests a theoretical framework for analysing the various technical and non-technical factors, particularly the most challenging intangible and qualitative ones, and incorporating them into the typical economic evaluation techniques used in the mining industry.Understanding the risk and value relating to both technical and non-technical risks, however, places a greater emphasis on mining geologists to be conversant with a wide range of disciplines. Mining geologists will have to develop three types of knowledge:focusedinter-disciplinarybroad. In addition, they will have to become systemic thinkers to connect these types of knowledge. This multidisciplinary approach will require the use of fundamental critical thinking skills, common sense, intuition, experience and quantitative modelling techniques, dependent on the situation. As a result, both companies and professional societies, such as the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, will have to develop ways of improving mining geologists’ inter-disciplinary and broad knowledge.CITATION:Sykes, J P and Trench, A, 2014. Resources versus reserves – towards a systems-based understanding of exploration and mine project development and the role of the mining geologist, in Proceedings Ninth International Mining Geology Conference 2014 , pp 243–270 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne)."

Aug 18, 2014

By Alena Johnson

"Much of the copper being produced today uses heap leaching, where pure metal is extracted from the ore with a chemical process rather than smelting. This technique is deployed extensively in major copper producing areas including Chile, Peru and the southwestern United States.Copper ore is excavated from the ground, crushed and then spread in uniform layers on a pad. A slow trickle of sulfuric acid is distributed over the pile, where it percolates to the bottom and a collection point. The acid leaches out the copper, along with other minerals, which can be extracted chemically. This process can be used at large sites producing 100 kt/a (110,000 stpy) and greater.Production on a massive scaleProduction at heap-leach sites is continuous and can operate on an enormous scale. The ore is fed into a crusher to break down the large pieces, and then it moves into an agglomerator to capture the fines and create more uniform particles. While in the agglomerator, the ore is mixed with acid for the first time, helping it to bind the fines into larger particles and starting the leaching process. The treated ore moves by conveyors to a stacker designed to spread it uniformly on the pad.The size of the operation comes into perspective by considering a typical pad measures 1.6-km (1-mile) long and 0.8-km (0.5-miles) wide. Working day after day, the stacker creates individual piles or modules on the pad, each 122 x 61 m (400 by 200 ft) and 3 m (10 ft) deep. When one module is filled, it moves across the pad to the next, filling the area in one continuous pile. A completed row of modules spanning the width of the pad is a cell. Once the entire pad is covered, the process begins again laying down another 3-m (10-ft) layer, and it continues until the entire pad reaches its height limit which can be several hundred feet.Once a new module is completed, technicians lay a network of plastic pipes over the surface in a pattern similar to agricultural drip irrigation installations. The diluted sulfuric acid, called raffinate, is pumped through the pipes so it can be distributed over the module, allowing the acid to soak through the ore and leach out copper as it percolates to the bottom. At the same time, approximately 35 to 45 percent of the acid is consumed by dissolving the calcite carrying the metal in the process. The raffinate reaching the bottom is now characterized as pregnant-leach solution (PLS) since it carries the copper the company is seeking to recover."

Jan 10, 2018

By Jr. Holmes

"The Riley tungsten property of the Northern Nevada Mining Co. was examined by the Bureau of Mines in August 1943, and from February 22 to August 22, 1945, the property was explored by the Bureau.Riley mine, which comprises 60 acres, is in sec. 9, T. 38 N., R. 42 E., Mount Diablo base and meridian, in the Potosi Mining District, on the east slope of the Osgood Range in eastern Humboldt County, Nevada. J. S. Riley is president of Northern Nevada Mining Co., the general offices of which are at 29 East First Street, Reno, Nev.Winnemucca, Nev., 42 miles southwest of the mine and on the main line of the Southern Pacific and Western Pacific Railroads and U. S. Highway 40, is the nearest supply center. The post office for the Potosi district is 15 miles south at Red House, Nev., a station on the Southern Pacific and Western Pacific Railroads. A good dirt road, which leaves U. S Highway 40 about 15 miles east of Winnemucca, extends northeast to the property.Tungsten occurs as scheelite in a characteristic Nevada contact-metamorphic tactite deposit between limestone and granodiorite Fifteen diamond-drill holes were completed for a total length of 2,630 feet.In its program of exploration of mineral deposits, the Bureau of Mines has as its primary objective the more effective utilization of our mineral resources, to the end that they make the greatest possible contribution to national security and economy. It is the policy of the Bureau to publish the facts developed by each exploratory project as soon as practicable after its conclusion. The Mining Branch, Lowell B. Moon, chief, conducts preliminary examinations, performs the actual exploratory work, and prepares the final report. The Metallurgical Branch, R. G. Knickerbocker, chief, analyzes samples and performs beneficiation tests. Both these branches are under the supervision of Dr. R. S. Dean, assistant director.Special acknowledgment is made to A. C. Johnson, chief, :Reno Division, Mining Branch; E. O. Binyon, mining engineer, Reno Division; S. F. Clabaugh and S. Warren Hobbs of the Federal Geological Survey, who made available the un¬published Geological Survey report ""Tungsten Deposits of Osgood Range, Humboldt County, Nevada;"" and S. P. Zimmerley, chief, Salt Lake City Division, Metallurgical Branch, Salt Lake City, Utah.The Riley tungsten property comprises 60 acres of patented land owned by the Northern Nevada Mining Co. of Reno,,a partnership comprising J. E. Riley, H. H. Luce, Phyllis Riley, Beatrice Knight, Gene Crosby, and M. R. Wilson.The property is part of a federal land grant to the Southern Pacific Railroad, from which it was acquired by Tom Dernan many years ago. Two short adits and several shallow pits were excavated in a search for silver ore, but no record of precious metal production exists."

Sep 1, 1946

In this paper we present the results of preliminary investigations into the applicability of new laboratory scale tests for the prediction of operating gap and specific throughput in high pressure grinding rolls (HPGR). The work is a part of the CAMIRO HPGR research program being conducted at the University of British Columbia, which aims to develop a suite of small-scale tests and procedures for the selection and sizing of HPGRs. A focus of the presented study is to test sample types in terms of their terra-mechanics based characteristics and relate them to specific throughput and gap results from pilot HPGR testing on the same samples.

Jan 1, 2012

By R. R. Hoffman

The name L'brush,l as applied to the parts to be briefly considered in this paper, is not clearly descriptive of the design and function of those parts when the usual definition of the word is applied. In a general way, the brushes to be considered here are the parts employed on certain types of electrical equipment to facilitate the transfer of electrical current between a rotating or moving element and a stationary element. These machines are generally motors and generators of both the slip-ring and commutator types, rotary converters, battery charges, etc. Parts that serve a similar purpose on relatively slow or intermittently moving devices such as rheostats, switches, controllers, etc., are generally referred to as contacts. A few special applications involve the use of current-carrying washers, rollers, bushings, etc. As may be inferred, therefore, the design of these brushes and allied parts is dictated by both electrical and mechanical considerations. In most cases these factors are closely interrelated, and unfortunately many of them are not subject to exact scientific or mathematical analysis. Special Advantages Since brushes operating on direct-current machines must carry the load current, resist destructive action from voltage induced in imperfectly compensated armature coils, and in addition act as a bearing material, maintaining intimate contact with the commutator at peripheral speed, which may be as high as 70 miles per hour it is difficult to obtain in one brush the ideal properties necessary for perfect functioning under all operating conditions. The engineer-designer, therefore, when selecting a brush for a specific application, must choose a grade that possesses the characteristics most adequate to meet the conditions involved. In many cases a characteristic that makes a specific grade of brush the ideal selection for one type of machine may be of secondary importance to some other property when the brush is applied on another machine. Frequently different grades of brushes must be applied to the same type of machines when they operate under different or unusual atmospheric conditions. Completely satisfactory brush operation depends on freedom from appreciable sparking, minimum electrical and mechanical losses, negligible commutator or slip-ring wear, uniform film over the commutator or slip ring, quiet operation and good brush life. The ability to produce special structures, and to combine in widely varying proportions materials that are incompatible, through conventional melting and alloying procedures has been the basic contribution of powder metallurgy to the solution of problems involving brushes and allied parts. This is especially true where current-carrying capacity is a major factor, owing to the limitations of all carbon or all graphite brushes in that respect. Metal-graphite Brushes With very few exceptions, friction between moving elements. across which

Jan 1, 1945

By J. Mirza, E. Nicol, J. Lipkowski

Gold passivation in thiosulfate leaching media is a major barrier to its implementation. Addition of Cu (II) into the leaching solution has shown to aid in gold dissolution, but the mechanism by which it acts, and its role in the passive layer, remains unknown. Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS), in tandem with linear sweep voltammetry, were employed to determine the dependence of leaching currents on mass transport and for fingerprint identification of sulfur species on the surface of gold. SERS leaching experiments were performed using gold nanorod electrodes that showed increased stability compared to other SERS active surfaces.

Jan 1, 2011

By D. A. Munro, G. P. Contractor

Fourteen 50-lb laboratory melts were investigated to determine the effect of uranium on the tenpering characteristics of loo-carbon (0.06 to 0.1 pct C) steels. It was found that uranium additions, particularly in the range 0.30 to 0.45 pct, enhanced the hardness and both ultimate and yield strength of the experivzental steels in the quenched and tempered condition. The structural and morphological chazges indicated that uranium retarded tempering of the tnartensite, thereby hindering the normal formation of polygonal ferrite formed in the late stages of tempering. The effect of this was to make possible the re-tension of the acicilar ferritic structure in the uranium-bearing' steels. The iraniuin-bearing steels also showed IVidnzanstatten-type growth of ferrite plates and had large prior austenite grains containing assenzblies of fine ferrite grains, mainly acicular in geometry. The fine-grained ferrite structure and the presence of more numerous and apparently smaller precipitates in the uranium-bearing steels are thought to he principally responsible for the itnproved tensile strength and hardness of the experinzental uranium-bearing steels. At ternperirzg temperatures above 455% (850'F) the ferrite in the higher-uraniun steels nzaintained acicularity and, hence, its strength and resistance to tempering. Uranium did not produce a secondary hardening peak. However, it retarded softening during the third stage of tempering because of its effect of inhibiting the grouth of cementite particles and of retaining the acicularity of ferrite plates. The resistance to coalescence accounted for the slow grocth of the ferrite grains in the uranium-modified steels and, hence, fov the persistence of the acicular ferrite structure. IT had been found previously1 that uranium additions up to about 0.45 pct had no significant effect on the tensile properties of low-carbon steel (0.06 to 0.10 pct C) in the as-rolled and normalized conditions, Fig. 1. On the other hand, it was observed that uranium in excess of about 0.30 pct had an embrittling effect as revealed by Charpy V-notch impact results. It was also noted that, as the uranium content increased, the morphology of pearlite changed from lamellar to feathery and the ferrite grains showed an etching effect resembling striated or dashed markings, suggestive of precipitation. The sharp drop in the impact properties shown in Fig. 2 warranted an assumption that the uranium content of about 0.30 to 0.45 pct may produce some secondary hardening reaction on tempering, analogous to that associated with a Cr-Mo-V steel, which shows very poor CVN toughness at the secondary hardness peak in the tempering curve.1' With this background and the reported findings of Hasegawa and noda that low-carbon uranium-treated steel showed signs of secondary hardening, the present investigation was undertaken to determine the effect of uranium additions on the mechanical properties of 0.10 pct C steels. No attempts were made to investigate in detail the mechanisms of hardening, although some suggestions based on the experiments are made. MATERIALS AND PROCEDURES A series of 50-lb induction-furnace melts was made using AISI 1008 rimming steel billets as the melting stock. The melting, forging, and rolling techniques proven satisfactory in previous projects'-3 were employed as a guide for this investigation. The steel was deoxidized with aluminum (2 lb per ton) prior to the addition of high-purity uranium. The analysis of each melt is given in Table I. Properties were evaluated as a function of heat treatment and are presented in terms of hardness and tensile strength vs tempering temperatures. The variation of hardness with the tempering temperature was studied on the quenched and tempered specimens, some of which measured 0.50 by 0.25 in. diam and the others 0.40-in. cubes. Before quenching, the specimens were vacuum-sealed in glass tubes and normalized at 900°C (1650°F) for 20 min. Following this treatment, the sealed specimens were hardened by austenitizing at 955°C (1750°F) for 20 min and water quenching, and then tempered for 1 hr in the range 150 to 730°C

Jan 1, 1967

By Mark Malamphy

THE occurrence of outcrops of bituminous schists and sandstones impregnated with heavy asphaltic petroleum first directed attention to the Sao Pedro area as a possible source of commercial production of petroleum. Since 1920, more than 20 wells have been drilled in this area. The discovery of oil shows and small quantities of natural gas in some of the early wells led to the continuation of drilling in the hope that more important findings would result. During the early part of 1934, detailed magnetometer observations were made in this area, and a con-siderable number of torsion balance stations were occupied. The results of these geophysical observations help considerably to clarify the structure of the area and the very considerable amount of geologic information available makes possible a much more exact interpretation of geo-physical anomalies. In presenting the results of these observations, and interpretation of the geophysical data, certain actual case problems are included; i.e., geophysical anomalies due to anomalous masses of which the forms and positions are more or less known. Although anomalies due to igneous intrusions are probably more important to geophysicists in Brazil than in other countries, these data have a certain interest for all geophysicists, particularly because they were obtained in the south magnetic hemisphere, where the lines of magnetic force are directed upward, and in a region of moderately low inclination. This is considered as a geological-geophysical problem, and only passing mention will be given to the petroleum possibilities of the area.

Jan 1, 1936

By H. Kim, R. W. Plummer, T. J. Stobbe, W. G. Jones

"Exposure to airborne dust in coal mines has caused respiratory disease in coal miners. The causal agent in these diseases remains unknown, although the minerals found in and around the coal seam have been implicated. Toxicological studies designed to establish the effect of different mineral combinations and concentrations are lacking because the mineral content of coal mine dust has not been defined. This paper reports the initial results of a study done to characterize the mineral content of the coal mine dust found in a mine in the Upper Freepott seam in Northern West Virginia. Coal mine dust samples were collected using 4- stage cassette impactors at nine locations in the mine. The samples were analyzed by an x-ray microdiffraction film technique supplemented by energy dispersive scanning electron microscopy. Primary size modes of about 17 to 20 micrometers from the samples collected at the haulageway and the returnside of the continuous miner were found. From the returnside of the roof bolter samples, a primary size mode of 12to15 micrometers was measured. The minerals found in high percentages were illite, kaolinite, quartz, and calcite. The distribution of minerals in inter· and intra- location samples showed wide variations. Trends in these variations are presented. Stobbe, T. J.; Plummer, R. W.; Kim, H.; Jones. W.: Characterization of coal mine dust. Appl. Ind. Hyg. 2:95· 100; 1986. IntroductionDisease-associated dusts in coal mine environments continue to afflict miners in today's modern mines. The relationship between exposure to coal mine dust and the development of various respiratory diseases has been well recognized; however, the reasons for variation in occurrence of these diseases among miners in different geographic areas,(1) rank of coal seams,(2-3) and jobs (4) remain uncertain. Several papers have reported on the causal agent in the development of these diseases. Davis (5) found that the percentage of the non-coal minerals present in the lungs of deceased miners increased as the level oi pneumoconiosis became more severe. Reisner (6) reported that cell damage caused by coal mine dust increases with the mineral and quartz content of the dust and with the geo· logical age and rank of the coals. Two studies, investigating the in vitro effects of mineral dusts. reported by Seemayer and Manojlovic (7) also obtained positive correlation between cytotoxicity and the mineral content of coal mine dust. Gormly (8) postulated that destruction of macrophages by certain mineral dusts is the first step in the development of pneumoconiosis. In 1980, Adamis and Timar (9) reported that quartz. sandstone, slate. respirable colliery dust. bentonite, illite, and some kaolins had cytotoxic effects on rat peritoneal macrophages""in vitro."" Walton,(10) however, reported that the presence of high clay, illite, and kaolin mineral exposures reversed the hazards associated with increasing quartz exposures. This finding was supported by Le Bouffant and coworkers.(11) They reported that illite present in coal mine dust strongly inhibited the pathogenic effects of quartz while kaolin had a weaker inhibitory effect."

Mar 1, 1989

By C. Vasilescu

Phytotechnologies use plants to remediate various media impacted with different types of contaminants. These technologies can be implemented either in situ or ex situ. The affected media in which phytotechnologies can be applied include soil, sediments, groundwater and surface water. They are best applied at sites with shallow contamination of organic, nutrient, or metal pollutants that are amenable to one of five treatment options: phytoextraction, phytotrans-formation, rhizosphere, bioremediation, phyto-stabilization or rhizofiltration. Phytoremediation can be used along or, in some cases, in place of mechanical cleanup methods. Phytoremediation can be used to clean up metals, pesticides, solvents, explosives, crude oil, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and landfill leachates.

Jan 1, 2006

By Thomas F. Kerr

The La Quinua mill at the Yanacocha mine in Peru has a thickened tailings storage facility that is contained entirely within an active heap leach pad. In this respect, it is unique and unprecedented in the mining industry and provides the operator, Minera Yanacocha S.R.L. (MYRSL), with certain cost, land-use and closure efficiencies. The combined design requires that the leach ore embankments retaining the tailings provide the same high level of stability and security required of major tailings dams. Contrary to standard tailings dam construction, the leach ore in these embankments is placed in thick, uncompacted lifts so that they maintain adequate permeability for leaching. The resultant loose structure makes static and dynamic liquefaction a critical issue, and the key design principle for avoiding a liquefaction related failure is to keep the ore that is saturated or very near saturated when under leach well removed from the outer faces of the embankments and contained behind large unsaturated structural shells.

Sep 14, 2009

By C. Heckman, M. S. Moats, A. Luyima, W. Cui

"Nucleation and growth of copper on 316L stainless steel from synthetic acidified copper sulfate was studied in the absence and presence of chloride ions and/or organic additives – HydroStar® 4208, DXG-F7® and Cyquest® N-900 – using a potentiostatic technique. The current–time data obtained at 0.16V versus the SHE were analyzed using nucleation and growth models. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) images of deposits produced at 300 A/m2 show that the addition of 20 mg/L chloride ions increased the size and reduced the number of copper nuclei. Potentiostatic current–time data from the electrolyte without organic additives, and confirmed by SEM images, indicate progressive nucleation with two-dimensional growth under diffusion control. None of the organic additives studied at a concentration of 2.5 mg/L with 20 mg/L chloride changed the nucleation and growth mechanism, but the additives increased the number and reduced the size of copper nuclei, leading to more uniform coverage of the stainless steel substrate.IntroductionElectrowinning of copper is an important process in the manufacture of high-purity copper metal. Approximately 20 percent of the world’s refined copper is produced from acidified copper sulfate solutions by electrowinning (Schlesinger, Sole and Davenport, 2011). In many plants, copper is electrodeposited on AISI 316L stainless steel substrates for a period of 6-7 days, after which the copper is stripped from the blanks. Even though the deposition time for a commercial copper electrowinning circuit is around one week, it is critically important to control the nucleation, growth and nature of the initial deposit (Sun and O’Keefe, 1992).Deposit morphology and structure are influenced by the real current density at the electrode surface. The real current density across the cathode surface is made uniform by proper design of the electrowinning cell and electrodes and careful operational practice. Even with good design and control, some current maldistribution occurs. The outcome of severe current maldistribution is poor deposits that affect product quality and/or increase energy consumption. To combat current maldistribution and create a larger operating window in terms of current density, temperature and copper concentration, small amounts of organic smoothing agents – traditionally, guar products – are added to copper electrowinning electrolytes. Moreover, these additives inhibit the growth of copper nodules and lead to improved deposit quality by producing bright, smooth and dense cathodes.Recently, the use of polysaccharides, such as HydroStar 4208 and DXG-F7, and polyacrylamides, such as Cyquest N-900, has been reported in commercial electrowinning tankhouses as replacements for guar (Ashford, Clayton and Sandoval, 2012; Robinson et al., 2013; Sandoval, Morales and Bernu, 2010). However, little information has been published on the effect of these new organic additives, especially regarding the nucleation and growth mechanisms of copper electrodeposits in their presence."

Jan 1, 2016

By N. A. Jabit

The dissolution behaviour of ilmenite in acid solutions has been studied by many researchers to improve the leaching efficiency. Most studies which utilized natural ilmenite from different origins resulted in different reactivity due to the alteration caused by the weathering process. Previous researchers have suggested that the greater reactivity shown by some ilmenite samples towards sulphuric acid may be a result of the mineral being relatively unaltered. In the present study a rotating synthetic ilmenite disc of 2.2 cm diameter was subjected to leaching studies in hydrochloric acid. The dissolution rates of iron and titanium from synthetic ilmenite were determined in hydrochloric acid solutions (4 M to 9 M) over a temperature range of 50 to 80°C. Results show that the rate of dissolution of both iron and titanium increased with the increase in acid concentration. However, the rates decreased with time and obeyed a parabolic rate law indicating the blockage of the surface by an insoluble product. The rates of dissolution of both iron and titanium were higher in the presence of SnCl2 and remained unaffected with time indicating the reductive role of SnCl2 which inhibits the formation of surface blocking solids. Application to natural ilmenite is also discussed.

Jan 1, 2014

By Emmanuel J. Voulgaris

The ?Milos Conferences? is an activity of the non-profit organization ?Milos Conference Center - George Eliopoulos?, located on the island of Milos, Greece. The objective of the ?Milos Conferences? is to create the conditions for interaction among different disciplines of academia and industry, and dissemination of the cutting edge between scientific and technological development. The young scientists are our special aim. The governing body of the ?Milos Conferences? is the ?Milos Conferences Council?. The president of the Council is Mrs. Kitty Kyriacopoulos - founder of the ?Milos Conference Center - George Eliopoulos?, and the members are from academia and industry. The planning and the organization of all conferences are carried out by the ?Heliotopos Professional Congress Organizers? in Athens. The venue is always the ?Milos Conference Center - George Eliopoulos? on the island of Milos. The ?Milos Conferences? comprise of different conference series, each devoted to a general subject. This book covers the proceedings of the ?International Conference on Sustainable Development Indicators in the Mineral Industries?, (SDIMI), a conference of the series under the general title ?Restoring the Natural Balance?.

Jan 1, 2003

By Elmer A. Holbrook

You moderns think of your field of work as "Minerals Beneficiation"; to me it always will be "Ore Dressing." While I would like to talk with you on the future of ore dressing rather than the past, I cannot do this because I started to work in the field some 56 years ago, and my future is behind me. It is trite to remind you that then, in 1900, one out of every 30 high school graduates went on to higher education. Today, the figure is one in every three. So that, while you have a lot more men to compete with, the field of opportunity has expanded even more.

Apr 1, 1956

Jan 1, 1886

By Wern-ping Chen

Technical and non-technical challenges exist in each mega infrastructure project. It?s no exception to the first US underground PPP Port of Miami Tunnel (POMT) project in Miami, FL. The POMT will connect two man-made islands, the Dodge and the Watson Islands, under the Biscayne Bay within highly porous limestone formation. Permeability as high as 0.1 cm/sec has been identified. Its 41-ft outside diameter, if constructed, is the largest precast segment lining in the US. Besides its geological and hydro geological challenges and risks, local community influence and impacts have controlled the fate of this project. This paper describes its tender design enhancements and the evolving of its slow advancement in resolving local community issues.

By S. M. Moos, R. E. Dugger

In reviewing available vacuum filtration equipment in this paper, several types of filters have been included which are probably not familiar to operators in the mining industry. However, it was felt that these units might be of interest in the event that an application should arise for the filtration of a product in the future that does not exist today. In addition, exposure of our industry to equipment used in other industries might have a tendency to be thought provoking and perhaps lead to the development of equipment and/or applications in our industry which do not necessarily exist at this time. Most innovations in filtration equipment have been confined to the improvement or design change of components and accessories, particularly reflecting the availability of materials of construction that have been developed. Recent developments in the application of horizontal belt filters have been innovative. The application of this unit as a substitute for or an adjunct to thickeners in a CCD circuit can certainly be innovative and perhaps provide a basis for reduction in capital and operating costs in this area. For example, mill tails are generally pumped at the highest possible density that will adequately flow. Tailings ponds and dams with their attendant design requirements are based upon this estimated water volume. Availability of a much dryer, non-flowing filter cake opens up several new options for disposal. Considerable cost savings could result in the design and planning of disposal areas for containing dryer material. No attempt has been made in this paper to provide a manual for the operation of all of the many types of equipment that are available. Rather, the paper tries to present an overview. Fundamentals of Vacuum Filtration Filtration may be defined as the separation of solids from a liquid effected by passing the liquids through a porous medium. If the filtrate is induced to flow through the medium by hydrostatic head, we refer to it as gravity filtration. If we utilize super-atmospheric pressure upstream of the medium we call it pressure filtration and if sub-atmospheric pressure is applied downstream of the medium we call it vacuum filtration. Centrifugal filtration occurs when a centrifugal force is applied across the medium. Centrifuges will not be discussed in this paper. The process goal of filtration may be the production of dry solids where the cake is the valuable product, clarified liquid

Jan 1, 1980

By Z. G. Guan

The tungsten ore in Xingluokeng belongs to a symbiotic deposit containing granite and fine vein-type wolframite and scheelite. The tungsten (WO3wolframite) accounts for only 0.233% of the raw ore, 49.60% of the , 49.60% of the scheelite and 0.8% of the tungstite. The dissemination size of the tungsten ore is extremely uneven, with 0.02~1.28 mm for scheelite and 0.01~1.28 mm for wolframite. The dissemination size of scheelite is coarser than that of wolframite. The size of 83% of scheelite and 60% of wolframite is greater than 0.04 mm. The composition of minerals in the ore is quite complex. The major metallic minerals include wolframite, scheelite and pyrite, which are followed by molybdenite, chalcopyrite, arsenopyrite, limonite, magnetite, hematite and siderite. The major gangue minerals include quartz, feldspar, muscovite, biotite and sericite, which are followed by chlorite, fluorite, apatite, dolomite, etc. According to the dissemination features and liberation degree of the tungsten minerals, the technology flowsheet of gravity concentration for coarse particles and flotation for fine particles to re-cover the low-grade and fine vein-type tungsten minerals is adopted, and -0.7 mm is selected as the processing size. The closed-circuit grinding procedure, with the combination of the rod mill and high-frequency vibration screen, is adopted. The grinding product is classified into three products of -0.7 +0.2 mm, -0.2 +0.04 mm and -0.04 mm. The gravity separation is adopted for the former two to recover tungsten minerals and the flotation is adopted for the last one. Under the condition that the raw ore contains 0.23% WO3, some technology indexes of beneficiation have been achieved. The gravity tungsten concentrate contains 63.54% WO3 with the recovery 70.11%. The slime flotation tungsten concentrate contains 35.22% WO3 with the recovery 10.48%. The composite tungsten concentrate contains 57.53% WO3 with the recovery 80.59%. Thus, the tungsten minerals are re-covered effectively.

Jan 1, 2014

George B. CoRless, Chairman. Superintendent, Gulf Coast Division, Humble Oil & Refining Co., Houston, Texas. W. H. Geis, Associate Chairman. Geologist, Los Angeles, California. Benjamin C. Craft, Secretary-Treasurer. Associate Professor, Petroleum Enginecring, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, La. Executire Committee George B. Corless, Chairman. M. Albertson, Production Engineer, Shell Petroleum Corporation, Houston, Texas. D. R. Knowlton, General Production Superintendent, Phillips Petroleum Co., Bartlesville, Oklahoma. R. P. McLaughlin, General Manager, Dominguez Oil Fields Co., Los Angeles, California. Hallan N. Marsh, Production Engineer, General Petroleum Corporation of California, Los Angeles, California. Theron Wasson, Chief Geologist, The Pure Oil Co., Chicago, Illinois. Production Engineering M. L. Haider, Vice-chairman. Petroleum Engineer, Carter Oil Co., Tulsa, Oklahoma. Joseph Chalmers, DeBataafsche Pet. Maatschappij, The Hague, Netherlands. Emile HugUenin, Deputy State Oil and Gas Supervisor, Los Angeles, California. Carl E. Reistle, Jr., Petroleum Engineering Department, Humble Oil & Refining Co., Houston, Texas. Production J. TERry Duce, Vice-chairman. Geologist, The Texas Company, New York, N. Y. Basil B. Zavoico, Associate Vice-chairman. Geologist, The Chase National Bank, New York, N. Y. Engineering Research R. L. Huntington, Vice-chairman. Associate Professor, Petroleum Engineering, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma. Economics Sidney A. SwensrUd, Vice-chairman. Assistant to the President, Standard Oil Co. (Ohio), Cleveland, Ohio. Refinery Engineering Walter Miller, Vice-chairman. Vice-president, Continental Oil Co., Ponca City, Oklahoma. 10

Jan 1, 1938