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By James R. Brown

Mount Isa Mine should be regarded as a large mining complex rather than one mine. This arises from the geography, variety and extent of the orebodies, the mining methods, and the use of 14 shafts for ventilation distribution. A brief resume is presented here since comprehensive descriptions of lead-zinc mining methods {11}, copper mining methods {2 }{3}, geology 241, stope fill {5} and ventilation techniques {6}{7}, have all been published in the last five years. Mining extends over a north-south strike length of 2.5 miles (4 Ian) with a maximum width across dip approaching 3 200 ft (1 Ian). Current mining is to a depth of 3 150 ft (960 m) with the ore hoisting shafts extending 660 ft (200 m) deeper. The composite longitudinal section, Figure 1, shows a representational disposition of the copper and lead-zinc-silver orebodies in the central shaft complex where the main service and hoisting shafts are located. To the south the X41 man and materials shaft provides access to the copper area. The mine layout is typical of high tonnage track- less mines, utilising a large diesel fleet, raise- borers and some large diameter hole stope drilling. Mining methods include sublevel open stoping, slot and massfire, and a trial vertical crater retreat in the copper ore, and sublevel caving, sublevel open stopes with and without rib pillar recovery, and mechanised cut and fill in the numerous lead orebodies. All ore reports to one of the three crushing systems located below 19 level in the central shaft complex. Copper ore is hauled exclusively along the 19 level computer assisted Rockflo haulage system, and lead-zinc-silver ores report via central orepasses from Granby haulages on 13 level and 15 level. Tonnages hoisted during the 1977178 financial year were 5.0 million for copper at 3.2%. and 2.3 million for lead-zinc-silver at 7.8%. 6.3% and 7.06 oz/ton (216 g/tonne) respectively.

Jan 1, 1980

By H. Y. Sohn, R. D. Hagni, M. K. Kojo

Reflected light microscopy was used to study the mineralogy and textures of experimental reactions of a nickel concentrate with a slag. Such an interaction is an important step in the bath smelting of nickel sulphide concentrate. Concentrate particles in the central portions of the pellets are rounded and develop vermicular S02 gas porosity. In the outer portions of the pellets, the original minerals of the concentrate, i.e., pyrrhotite, pentlandite, pyrite, chalcopyrite and violarite, have agglomerated and reacted to form two intergrown phases: pyrrhotite solid solution (FeO.75Ni0.18Cu0.01S) and pentlandite solid solution (Fe0.58Ni0.51Cu 0.03S). Magnetite formed euhedral crystals, skeletal crystals and dendrites at the margins of the matte. Prismatic, ferrohypersthene and octahedral Mg-Al-Fe spinet crystals and dendrites are present in the glassy slag. Key words: Nickel sulfide concentrate, Iron silicate slag, Bath smelting, Mineralogy, Microscopy

Jan 1, 2003

By Todd Loudin

A majority of the chemical process industry uses lime in either a powder or liquid form. Engineering and maintenance personnel often face a long and potentially expensive trial-and-error period in order to find the best process equipment to handle lime. Limestone is mined from a quarry in the form of calcium carbonate (CaCO3). Then, it is crushed and fed into a kiln at approximately 1,093° C (2,000° F), where the carbon dioxide is burned off (calcining) to make calcium oxide (CaO).

Jan 1, 2010

By M. Beus, S. Stewart, S. Iverson

Recent ore pass failures have underlined the need for improved designs, standards, structural monitoring methods and better hang-up prevention and removal techniques. Researchers at the Spokane Research Laboratory of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) are investigating methods to improve safety during the transport of ore in ore passes. Design criteria and hang-up prevention and remediation strategies involve studies of the effects of static and dynamic ore and waste-rock loads on chutes, walls, gates and support structures. Particle flow analysis methods were used to simulate the response of various ore pass designs to a wide range of ore loading conditions. A full-scale mockup of actual ore pass and chute assemblies was duplicated and tested for load response. Data from a particle flow code and the mock-ups were compared Loads on an active ore pass chute were measured

Jan 1, 2000

By C. Ford, R. E. Salas Rojas, J. P. Contreras Rodriquez, S. A. Pierce

Heightened environmental consciousness has resulted in the development of various international accords dealing with natural resource management. This international awareness is now being translated into regional and local initiatives that proactively implement collaborative environmental management programs. One such program was recently initiated in northern Chile in recognition of the interconnection of Andean salars. Cooperative efforts between industry, governmental agencies and academic professionals have resulted in the implementation of simultaneous environmental monitoring of flora and fauna in the salars of northern Chile. This coordinated effort is leading to an improved understanding of the migratory patterns of South American fauna, as well as improved access to an expanded database for the multiple user groups associated with the Andean salars. The El Abra Mine is actively participating in these coordinated monitoring efforts.

Jan 1, 1999

By Edward C. Krug

"You are to use the word ... purely for its selling power. It is a name they venerate. As a result, you can use the word ... to ... get [them] to practice, not only without shame bit with a positive glow of self-approval, conduct which, if undefended by the magic word, would be universally derided." (C.S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters, 1982, p. 162). "We need to tear everything down over a period of time and reconstruct a whole new world, planned top to bottom. "Right now there are just way too many people on the planet [5.3 billion]. `If we had ... an ethic ... we could cut back to 250 million-350 million people. `The United States is ... a bunch of pigs ... the average citizen ... [uses] maybe 70 to 80 times as much as anyone in the Third World.` "The indigenous pople were the ones that were right! I mean, they had their own religion, their own ethics and their own technology. We just went down a wrong road. "So when he says, `We got to rebuild the whole world,' you have no doubt this is serious sentiment .... And it is finally this world view that distinguishes (Ted) Turner as a media mogul and an environmentalist. It is why Worldwatch's Lester R. Brown told me Turner was `truly a visionary. "'(Interview of Ted Turner, Audubon magazine, November-December 1991. On Dec. 28, 1991, Ted Turner was name Time magazine's "Man of the Year." Clearly, media and environmental leadership agree with Turner's openly stated beliefs.)

Jan 1, 1992

By W. F. McDermott

The Iron Ore Industry has perhaps seen more varied and drastic changes in its approach to crushing and grinding in the last 5 years than any of the other mineral industries, Multimillion ton per year plants have become common place. Centralized control and computers have become an established benefit. Autogenous grinding along with a variety of rod and ball grinding flowsheets are in use. This morning I will discuss a few of the more important and new concepts in the control of these crushing and grinding circuits.

Jan 1, 1970

By B. Bergmark, O. Guyot, A. Broussaud, C. Bouché

The Boliden Aitik concentrator in Sweden processes 2,000 t/h (2,200 stph) of low-grade copper ore. The plant consists of five grinding lines that feed four bulk-flotation banks with a scavenger-concentrate regrind mill und a column cleaner circuit with a regrind mill. The authors installed a model-based expert optimizing control system to maximize copper recovery in the bulk-flotation circuit while maintaining an appropriate copper grude in the cleaner feed. The optimizing control system uses on-line assays and calculates and implements set points for cell pulp levels, air rates and reagent- addition rates. It combines the power of a dynamic population-balance model that estimates mineral liberation in each stream, an optimizer that computes appropriate set points and a rule-based module that implements the strategy. The benefits have been evaluated over a period of three months. The model-based expert optimizing control system generates a measurable increase in copper recovery, around 0.5%, and an optimized bulk-concentrate grade. The need to maintain the optimizing control system and other practical aspects are discussed.

Jan 1, 2000

By Jan M. Andersson

This paper will discuss the background information about rock cutting tools used for soft ground excavation, their history and evolution. A brief review of the current state of the art manufacturing technology will be presented and some parameters related to the material used in the drag and conical type pick cutters and their impact on their life and performance will be explained In addition, the selection procedures for choosing the right bit for excavation of a particular geological formation will be reviewed A set of guidelines will be provided for initial selection of the tools for various machines and rock formations. The methods for estimation of the tool life in various materials and the influencing parameters along with limitations of the rock cutting tools will be discussed as well.

Jan 1, 1998

Stillwater Mining Company (SMC) has an extensive history with tunnel boring machines (TBM) at the Stillwater and East Boulder underground PGM mines in Montana. The most recent TBM used is for the Blitz Project, where a 5.5m (18ft) diameter main beam unit, commissioned in Q3 2012, is being utilized to drive a 6,975m (22,500 ft) ventilation and haulage level East of the Stillwater Mine for the Blitz expansion project. The assembly/commissioning of the TBM, institution of the planned diamond drilling program, application of ground control systems, and the current tunneling metrics will be covered.

Feb 23, 2014

By G. A. Kordosky

There are a number of reasons why the solvent extraction of molybdenum deserves attention: 1. The solvent extraction chemistry of molybdenum is interesting and complex, 2. The price of molybdenum is predicted to average about US$ 20.00 / pound in 2010 and, as China, India and other countries develop, the demand for specialty steels will increase putting long term demands on molybdenum supply, 3. Uranium ores often contain significant concentrations of molybdenum[1] and typically yellow cake will have a moly specification which when exceeded brings penalties, and 4. The valuable metal rhenium is a byproduct of molybdenum recovery circuits.

Jan 1, 2010

By C. B. Kettering

In the early operations of the Inspiration Consolidated Copper Company, which extended from 1914 to 1926, the ore as mined contained principally sulphide copper minerals, manly chalcocite (Cu2S), This ore was milled in a 20,000-ton concentrator and the copper was recovered as a flotation concentrate which, was smelted at the nearby plant of the I ternational Smelting and Refining Company. In those days no attempt was made torecovercopper from any oxide minerals present. As mining operations progressed it soon became evident that the proportion of oxide minerals present would steadily increase, and. it was realized that some method of treatment would have to be developed whereby copper could' be recovered from both oxide and. sulphide minerals contained in the ore. A research program was instituted and after some years of experimental and, pilot plant work a new hydro-metallurgical process was developed whereby it became possible to extract copper from both the oxide and. sulphide minerals in a single leaching operation. The solvent adopted consisted of a mixture of sulphuric acid and ferric sulphate,' Following dissolution, the dissolved copper would be recovered by electrolysis. Also in the process of electrolyzing, spent solutions of sulphuric acid, H2SO4, and. ferric sulphate, Fe2(SOk)3, would be regeneratede and. somade available for continuous reuse. The process appeared to be a success and the decision was made to build a full-sized leaching plant for the future treatment of I spiration mixed ore. Construction was started and the leaching plant was completed in 1926, With the start of ferric-sulphate leaching the Inspiration Concentrator was shut down and, with the exception of a few short time runs has not operated since that time. The ferric sulphate leaching process served. Inspiration well for some 30 years and during that time won a name for itself as a classic example of hydro-metallurgical treatment of mixed sulphide oxide ores. Originally the plant was designed. to process some 7,500 tons per day of a mixed ore containing about 1,2% copper, of which 60% was present as oxide and. 40% as sulphide, Down through the years various improvements were made for the purpose of increasing plant capacity and as well to change the limiting 'factor of sulphide-oxide ratio, The final result was a leaching capacity of 9,600 tons per day when treating a 1% copper ore with a reversal of the sulphide-oxide ratio to 60% sulphide and 40% oxide.

Jan 1, 1958

By B. Fitch, E. J. Roberts

Definitions and Terminology Classification is defined within this section as the separation of solid particles into size or weight fractions or classes by differential settling through a fluid. It is usually thought of as a size separation, but is actually made on the basis of particle settling rate, and so is affected by any variations in particle density and shape. The fluid may be liquid (wet classification) or gas (dry or air classification). This section will treat only wet classification. There are two basic types of classification; pool and hydraulic. In pool classification a suspension of feed particles is fed into and out of a pool of some kind at such a rate that only part of them¬ the coarser and faster-settling part-has time to settle out. The remain¬der overflows as fines. In hydraulic classification the feed suspension is introduced into or above one or more columns or pockets through which water is rising at a controlled velocity. Coarse particles subside through the pockets and are removed through spigots. Those which settle slower than the rising velocity in any column or pocket are (at least ideally) prevented from subsiding and so must overflow. Hydraulic classifiers or sizers are capable of making far sharper sepa¬rations than pool classifiers. The force causing settling may be gravity, or alternatively may be from centrifugal acceleration as developed in a centrifuge or hydra cyclone. Two things are needed to characterize the separation produced by classification: first, the size, D„ or equivalently the screen mesh at which it is made; second the sharpness of separation. Separation size may be defined in various ways. In closed-circuit grinding it is commonly specified by some point in the overflow screen analysis: For example, 5% on 65 mesh. In other applications, notably

Jan 1, 1985

By K. A. Natarajan, J. M. Modak, B. Saha

Nonliving waste biomass consisting of Aspergillus niger attached to wheat bran was used as a biosorbent for the removal of copper and zinc from aqueous solutions. Copper and zinc uptake by the biomass obeyed Langmuir isotherms. The binding capacity of the biomass for copper was found to be higher than that for zinc. The metal uptake, expressed in milligrams per grain of biomass, was found to be a function of: •the initial metal concentration (with the uptake decreasing with increasing initial concentration), •the biomass loading (with the uptake decreasing with increasing biomass loading) and •pH (with the uptake increasing with increasing pH in the range of L5 and 6.0). The metal uptake was significantly affected in the presence of a co-ion. The uptake of copper by the biomass decreased in the presence of zinc and vice versa. The decrease in metal uptake was dependent on the concentrations of metals in the two-component aqueous solutions. The effect of copper on zinc uptake was more pronounced than the effect of zinc on copper uptake.

Jan 1, 1997

By K. A. Natarajan, S. Usha Padukone

"An industrial waste liquor having high sulfate concentrations was subjected to biological treatment using the sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) Desulfovibrio desulfuricans. Toxicity levels of different sulfate, cobalt and nickel concentrations toward growth of the SRB with respect to biological sulfate reduction kinetics was initially established. Optimum sulfate concentration to promote SRB growth amounted to 0.8 - 1 g/L. The strain of D. desulfuricans used in this study initially tolerated up to 4 -5 g/L of sulfate or 50 mg/L of cobalt and nickel, while its tolerance could be further enhanced through adaptation by serial subculturing in the presence of increasing concentrations of sulfate, cobalt and nickel. From the waste liquor, more than 70% of sulfate and 95% of cobalt and nickel could be precipitated as sulfides, using a preadapted strain of D. desulfuricans. Probable mechanisms involving biological sulfide precipitation and metal adsorption onto precipitates and bacterial cells are discussed.IntroductionIndustrial effluents from hydrometallurgical and mineral processing operations often contain high sulfate and metal concentrations posing significant disposal problems, which require urgent solution to avoid serious environmental contamination. In such waste liquors, sulfate and heavy metals such as cobalt, nickel, zinc and iron originate from the chemical or biological oxidation of exposed sulfide minerals. Reduction of sulfate and precipitation of toxic metal ions from industrial wastes is essential from the viewpoint of environmentally acceptable waste disposal and recovery of associated strategic metals.Many of these heavy metals are essential for metabolic activity of bacterial cells at low levels. But they exert toxic effects at concentrations encountered in polluted water. Removal of toxic metals through biological reduction of sulfates from industrial waste waters have been practiced for several decades. Metal remediation through common physicochemical techniques such as oxidation-reduction, chemical precipitation, filtration, electrochemical treatment, evaporation, ion exchange and reverse osmosis processes is expensive and not suitable in the case of voluminous effluents containing complexing organic matter and low metal concentrations. Further, strong and contaminating reagents are used for desorption, resulting in toxic sludge and secondary environmental pollution. Biotechnological approaches can be more efficient and cost effective for detoxification of such effluents. Biotreatment/ bioremoval offers several advantages over conventional chemical and physical treatment technologies, especially for diluted and mixed contaminants. Biological detoxification, which involves the use of microbes to detoxify and degrade environmental contaminants, has received increasing attention in recent years (Iwamoto and Nasu, 2001). In addition, valuable metals can be recovered from metal sulfide sludge (Boonstra et al., 1999)."

Jan 1, 2015

By S. Tavani, R. E. Browner, R. Dunne

Lead is used in CIP/CIL circuit to increase the leaching rate of gold from ores. At least four mechanisms have been proposed for the action of lead in gold leaching circuits: (I) precipitation of sulphides as highly insoluble lead sulphides preventing consumption of cyanide and oxygen; (2) su,face reaction on sulphide particles forming an insoluble lead sulphide layer peventing dissolution of those sulphides; ( 3) precipitation of lead sulphide, which undergoes further oxidation to soluble lead sulphate recycling the lead to solution,· ( 4) contact reduction of lead onto the gold szaface which then acts as a secondary oxidising agent. Rotating disc studies using a pure gold disc show that small amounts (5ppm) of sulphide ions are sufficient to significantly reduce the leaching rate of gold. Lead increased the leaching rate at small concentrations but at higher levels decreased the rate of leaching. The detrimental effects of lead were only found for a pure solution when leaching the gold disc. Ores mediate the amount of lead available by ads01ption/reaction, thus, reduced leaching rates from excess lead are not serious even when 500ppm of lead ions are added to the sluny. The detrimental effects of sulphide ions could be countered by lead addition during the leaching process. A penalty, in the form of reduced leaching rate, will occur the longer lead addition is delayed. A time lag was noted between the addition of lead and the increased leaching rate when a large concentration of sulphide ions was present.

Jan 1, 2000

By David A. Campbell

There has been a long history of ironmaking on the North East coast of England centered around the River Tees. The industry developed here because of the availability of good coking coals to the North in Co. Durham, and the discovery in 1851 of ironstone in the nearby Cleveland Hills, South of the .River. Cleveland ironstone is relatively poor in quality, with an iron content not exceeding h% and high proportion of sulphur and phosphorous. The iron exists in chemical association with alumina and silica, and physical beneficiation processes involve a serious loss in iron unless the upgrading is limited, when the economics of the process become doubtful. Over the years, richer foreign ores have replaced the local ironstone, and the last operating mine was closed in 1964.

Jan 1, 1982

By Emily Wortman-Wunder

As the 2013 president of the Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration, Inc., I am pleased to present the 2013 issue of the Transactions of the Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration, Vol. 334. The timely publication of professional papers that promote the advancement of scientific and technical knowledge is critical for enabling technology transfer. SME plays a key role in this process through its publications. Communication within the mining community is the key to a successful profession and society. This technology exchange continues a tradition that dates back to the 1871 meeting of 22 mining engineers in Wilkes-Barre, PA, that resulted in the founding of AIME; those individuals envisioned that these transaction volumes “would form a most valuable and greatly needed addition to our professional literature.” This volume fulfills that pledge. The 2013 Transactions contains 73 papers covering most every aspect of the mining life cycle and encompassing the diverse sectors of our industry including coal, industrial minerals, metals, health and safety and computational methods. It includes all 18 papers published in 2013 in the Technical Papers Section of Mining Engineering magazine (Vol. 65) and all 33 papers published in 2013 in Minerals & Metallurgical Processing (Vol. 30). Additionally, this volume contains 22 papers that are being published for the first time in this issue. The papers presented in this volume were written by some of the most distinguished professionals in the industry worldwide. Some of the many research highlights from 2013 include discussions of perennial issues, such as how to adequately prepare the next generation of mining engineering students for the workforce (Frimpong et al., pp. 44-52) and how to predict and prevent coal mine bursts and bumps (Pariseau, pp. 60-68), the highly anticipated February Rare Earths issue of Minerals & Metallurgical Processing, and papers analyzing electrical injuries in the U.S. Mining industry (Homce and Cawley, p. 367-375) the latest in assessing the safety and efficiency of operations. All 73 technical papers were peer-reviewed. The process of review and publication requires much hard work by authors, reviewers and our publications staff. As the 2013 president of SME and on behalf of all our members, I would like to extend our gratitude to all whose volunteer efforts contributed to the publication of this volume.

Jan 1, 2013

By C. L. Peng, F. F. Min, S. X. Song

"Using a parameter representing the degree of hydration of particles in a liquid called hydration index I, which we derived based on Einstein’s viscosity equation, we evaluated the degree of hydration of fine montmorillonite particles in different aqueous solutions by measuring the viscosities of the montmorillonite dispersions and plotting relative viscosity against volume fraction of dry montmorillonite particles in the dispersions. We investigated the effects on the hydration of montmorillonite in aqueous solutions of (1) the type and (2) the concentration of electrolytes in the solutions and (3) pH. For the same concentration of electrolytes, the hydration index I of montmorillonite was found to increase in the order of Na+ > K+ for monovalent cations and Mg2+ > Ca2+ for divalent cations, and to decrease with increasing valence of cations in the order of Na+ > Ca2+ > Al3+. For both Na+ and Ca2+, the hydration index I first increased with increasing concentration of electrolytes and then decreased after a certain concentration. The hydration index I increased with increasing pH. IntroductionClay minerals have the distinctive ability to adsorb water molecules and hydrated cations in aqueous solutions, resulting in hydration on their outer surfaces and in their interlayer spaces. Many investigators (Jurinak, 1963; Anderson and Tice, 1971; Costanzo et al., 1982; Israelachvili, 1992) had found evidence of ice-like structures of water on clay minerals.This phenomenon of hydration plays an important role in the dispersion and sedimentation of clay minerals in aqueous solutions. To understand clay hydration, numerous experimental and simulation studies have been carried out since 1933, including the recent ones of Hawkins and Egelstaff (1980), Skipper et al. (1995), Karaborni et al. (1996), Salles et al. (2013) and Morrow et al. (2013). Among the factors that can influence a clay mineral’s hydration characteristics are chemical composition, type and degree of isomorphous replacement in its structure, and number and nature of associated exchangeable cations."

Jan 1, 2015

By Jesse L. . Jr. You

Tunnels in the granitic Climax stock at the Nevada Test Site were inspected for keyblock occurrence. Thirteen relatively large pyramidal keyblocks were located in about 230 m (750 it) of tunnel. Orientations, dimensions, joint roughness coefficients, and joint compressive strengths were measured for the faces of nine keyblocks. The measurements were used to back-analyze keyblock stability to check the validity of a numerical model for keyblock behavior. A newly developed three-dimensional numerical model correctly predicted whether or not each keyblock failed in six of eight cases. The two exceptions involved stress conditions and keyblock locations that clearly violated the assumptions that underlie the stability model. The observations also allowed the effect of tunnel orientation on keyblock occurrence to be evaluated. Of the thirteen observed keyblocks, nine large blocks were found in less than 30 m (100 ft) of the Piledriver drift (which runs N56E) while only four blocks of comparable size were observed in 200 m (656 ft) of the Spent Fuel Test--Climax drifts (N61W). The orientations of the keyblock faces were checked against known discontinuity set orientations; some of the faces correlated well with mean set orientations, whi.le other faces were fringe members of sets. Stereographic techniques were used to examine the frequency of keyblock occurrence and to determine the maximum keyblock size that could be encountered with a given combination of discontinuities. Keyblock occurrence was found to be affected by tunnel orientation in a predictable way; this can be used to guide or improve tunnel design practices.

Jan 1, 1986