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By E. Engelbrecht

"A pressure non-oxidative leach is employed at Anglo American Platinum Base Metal Refiners to extract nickel from a slow cooled matte. The design base requires two 80 m3 autoclaves in parallel to achieve a nickel extraction of 60% at the nameplate capacity of 32.4 ktpa nickel plated. Isothermal modelling of mineralogical and chemical concentration profiles, through a reactive mass balance, permitted rate constant parameter estimation and selection of the most probable reaction pathway. The model was validated with plant data up to a capacity of 26 ktpa Ni plated and suggested by extrapolation that nameplate capacity may be viable through one 80 m3 autoclave.INTRODUCTION Anglo American Platinum Base Metal Refiners is situated on the outskirts of Rustenburg in the North-West province of South-Africa. The refinery produces nickel cathode, copper cathode, cobalt sulphate powder, covellite rich copper pressure leach residue and bulk sodium sulphate through an integrated circuit that refines slow cooled converter matte. The converter matte is milled, non-magnetics are separated as solid nickel copper matte (NCM), and the magnetics are leached yielding a pressure vessel liquor (PVL). The remaining solid platinum group metals (PGM) concentrate after leaching is sent for downstream processing in the Precious Metals Refinery (Hofirek & Kerfoot, 1992). The work presented here is applicable to the base metals refinery which receives the two base metals feed stocks NCM and PVL. In 2009 the capacity of the refinery was upgraded from 21 ktpa nickel cathode plated to 32.4 ktpa. This paper deals with evaluating the capacity of the pressurised non-oxidative nickel leach (NOX) process which accounts for at least 28% of the nickel leached from NCM by design. The NOX design base requires two 80 m3 autoclaves divided into four compartments operated in parallel at 155°C and 600kPa(g). Elevated temperature is required to speed up the leach kinetics of particularly nickel and iron which are trapped in slow leaching mineralogical phases namely millerite and bornite, (Dinham, 2006). The stated equivalent capacity for the NOX configuration was 32.9 ktpa nickel plated at first pass nickel and iron leach efficiencies of 60% and above 80% respectively and is a key step for the selective removal of iron (Bryson, Hofirek, Collins, Stiksma, & Bereaowsky, 2008)."

Jan 1, 2017

By Lucas Breder Teixeira

Esse trabalho discute a modelagem termo-mecânica fisicamente não linear de materiais refratários considerando os efeitos de danificação utilizando o Método dos Elementos Finitos. Inicialmente é feita uma descrição geral dos materiais refratários com foco em suas características termo-mecânicas, destacando principalmente suas propriedades elásticas e comportamento de amolecimento, e demonstrando sua considerável dependência da temperatura. Algumas considerações são feitas com relação à evolução dos modelos de simulação numérica aplicados a refratários, iniciando-se com os modelos lineares elásticos até o uso de modelos constitutivos complexos. O modelo de fissuração distribuída utilizado para calcular a perda de rigidez elástica é então apresentado, juntamente com a fundamentação matemática pertinente e sua relação com os parâmetros físicos do material. Para ilustrar a aplicabilidade do modelo alguns exemplos são apresentados, discutindo-se suas principais capacidades com relação ao projeto de estruturas refratárias.

Oct 30, 2017

By Eldon Keith Stanek

This annual report deals with a multi-faceted research effort to increase mine electrical system safety. The project can be broken down into six task areas. Task one deals with the development of tests and instrumentation to perform these test- that are designed to detect incipient faults on mine power systems. This program also encompasses evaluation of the tests and automation of data collection and recording using a microprocessor. Task two concerns the prediction and suppression of mine electrical transients. This program involves digital simulation and suppression hardware evaluation. Task three deals with the reliability and fail safe assessment of various components of the mine electrical system including both the protective system and bulk power system components. Task three deals with theoretical analysis, laboratory testing and in-situ testing in coal mines of power system devices. Task four is an effort to design an optimal mine electrical distribution system. The initial effort is along the lines of refining analytical tools such as the load flow model. Task five is an attempt to optimize the selection of molded case circuit breakers makes or models on the basis of total annual cost. Task six assesses the availability of equipment to satisfy existing federal regulations.

Jan 1, 1977

By Ameir Altaee

Unconventional means and methods were utilized to install over 650 contractor-designed micro-piles for the replacement of the Bronx approach to the Bronx-Whitestone Bridge in New York City. The method utilized reverse circulation (RC) drill rods and down-hole-hammers (DHH) along with grouting through the DHH bit. The overall construction sequence of drill-down, grout-up, place reinforcing is similar to auger-grout piling. The extremely tough drilling conditions required the use of a percussive DHH. The piling subcontractor refers to this pile as a hammer-grout pile. Project background, constraints and subsurface conditions are given. The proposed means and methods as well as the collaboration between stakeholders are detailed. Results of load testing and production installation are summarized.

Jan 1, 2010

By E. W. Engelmann

A NEW and interesting type of drier has been developed and operated at the Magna plant of the Utah Copper Co. for the past year for the drying of a filtered concentrate in the molybdenum recovery plant of this company. The several units installed have ranged from 12 to 30 in. in width, and from 14 to 30 ft. long. Their economy was immediately apparent after the first one was installed. The machine is not only low in capital cost, but has proved efficient for the drying of fine concentrate at low operating cost. The Utah vibrating drier consists of a steel conveyor trough supported on flexible reeds from a structural steel foundation anchored in concrete. The steel pan, which is also the drying surface, is vibrated by a heavy Utah electromagnetic vibrator fastened either to the head or discharge end of the pan. The vibration thus obtained agitates the material and causes it to be conveyed over the heated surface.

Jan 1, 1938

By P. Crowther, G. J. Lamprecht

The solubilities of silver, zinc, and cerium in liquid sodium, in the temperature ranges 100 to 270°C, 190° to 550°C, and 120" to 460°C, respectively, have been determined. From the solubility data the heat the entropy the partial molal enthalpy of mixing the excess entropy and the partial molal free energy of solution for the systems Nu-Ag and Na-Zn have been calculated. For the system Na-Ce the observed negative is discussed in terms of the solubility of the oxide Ce2O3. In an earlier publication the results obtained in the study of the solubility of tin' in liquid sodium are presented, as well as the detailed analytical procedures used. 1) REAGENTS Spectroscopically pure metals as supplied by Johnson Matthey and Co, were used to produce the following tracers: 253-day Ag110, 245-day zn65, and 325-day ce141. The tracers were prepared by irradiation in a thermal neutron flux of 4 x 10 13 neutrons cm-2 sek-1. To obtain a uniform amount of the required specific activity, needed for each solubility experiment, the radioactive metal was diluted with the corresponding inactive metal, by melting them together in an inert atmosphere. The liquid sodium used contained 11 ±2 ppm of O,1 determined by the vacuum distillation method.' The oxygen was assumed to be present as the oxide NaD. 2) THE SYSTEMS: SODIUM-SILVER AND SODIUM-ZINC Plots were made of the log of the mole fraction of silver, Fig. 1, and of zinc, Fig. 2, dissolved in the liquid sodium vs reciprocal absolute temperature. The equations for the solubilities, based on the least-squares fit to each plot, are: where Xi is the mole fraction metal dissolved in sodium, T is the absolute temperature, and s is the standard deviation in the value of log Xi. The heats and the entropies lution were calculated from the solubility data by In neither of the two cases was any intermetallic compound formed between sodium and the solute metal as was the case for tin.' Thus, for the silver and zinc systems the pure metal was taken as the reference phase. Since the solids in equilibrium with the liquid sodium were the pure metals, one can calculate the partial molal enthalpy of mixing and

Jan 1, 1969

By W. S. Landers

In contrast to the large fund of information available on the carbonizing properties of Eastern U.S. coals, the experimental data available for most Western U.S. and foreign coals are meager. To supply some self-consistent data, the Bureau of Mines conducted 220 low-temperature carbonization assay tests at 500° C. in a laboratory-scale carbonization apparatus. The results are included in this report. The U.S. coals tested are from Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Texas, Utah, and Wyoming. Assays were also made on coals from Canada, Ecuador, France, Greece, India, Mexico, the Philippine Islands, Thailand, and Yugoslavia. In addition, one assay of pine sawdust and one assay of a peat from Ireland are reported. Prediction equations were developed relating the yield of products of carbonization obtained at 500° C. in the assay unit to the proximate and ultimate analyses of the coals. The equations for predicting the yields of tar plus light oil, char, and gas, and the heating value of the gas, are considered good, each equation having a multiple correlation coefficient of 0.90 or higher. The equation predicting volume of gas obtained upon carbonization is considered as fair, with a multiple correlation coefficient of 0.84. A reproducibility study of the assay made on 10 replicate samples of a subbituminous coal indicated that the standard deviation of the individual products was 0.31 percent or less.

Jan 1, 1961

By T. P. Lim, N. K. Davé

"A modified accumulator method was devised to measure surface radon flux from porous media. It consists of a collector hood type of accumulator with a homogenizer pump and a pressure balancer. The latter was used to compensate any pressure changes produced during sample withdrawal and hence eliminate additional radon transport from the media. Errors resulting from radon back diffusion due to decreasing concentration gradient with time across the interface were also eliminated by measuring radon concentrations in the accumulator for two different periods of time and calculating the true radon flux, J(o), from the solution of a time-dependent radon transport equation in the absence of any pressure and temperature gradients.Core samples from the observation site were also withdrawn for laboratory determination of porosity, moisture content, bulk and grain densities, Ra-226 source concentration and the fraction of Rn-222 produced in the void volume. The data were used to calculate the radon diffusion coefficient for the media.Using the present method, the true value of surface radon flux for an abandoned uranium tailings pile was obtained as J(o) = 2020.2 mBq/m2/sec (54.6 pCi/m2/sec) compared to the value J = 1406.0 mBq/m2/sec (38.0 pCi/m2/sec) obtained by the conventional method. The bulk diffusion coefficient of radon for the media was obtained as 1.2 x 10-7 m2/sec.IntroductionRadon-222 (hereafter called radon) released from uranium mill tailings is a continuous source of environment radioactivity in terms of its transport as an airborne gas and its decay products. The particulate daughter products readily attach to aerosols or dust particles and can further be transported by various other environmental pathways. Typical radon release rates from existing tailings piles vary between 740 and 14,800 mBq/m2/sec (20-400 pCilm2/sec), depending on the nature of the tailings material, moisture content, etc. The United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is proposing radon release rates of 74 mBq/m2/sec (2 pCi/m2/sec) above that of background."

Jan 1, 1982

By G. M. Brownell

A DEPOSIT of hematite occurs on Black island, lake Winnipeg, at a point known locally as Red Rock, on the south shore of the island directly across from Clements point. The mail boat from the Canadian Pacific Railway terminus at Riverton, crossing the lake to Manigotogan twice weekly, passes near Red Rock and provides a convenient means of transportation to this part of Black island (Figure 1). HISTORICAL The occurrence of hematite on Black island has been known for a long time. Dowling's report of 1898 states(1): "An iron-ore deposit on the south side has been known' for many years, and on Jeffrey's map of 1762, showing Canada and northern part of Louisiana, Iron island is shown a short distance south of the narrows, evidently the same as the Black island of today".

Jan 1, 1945

Objective: On-the-job training (OJT) is a common means of training workers. By definition, it seems relatively simple. However, to be effective, training must go beyond the simple process of following an experienced worker around the workplace— sometimes called the "follow Joe" method. NIOSH researchers spoke with human resources personnel, safety and health specialists, supervisors, experienced miners, and new miners and found that OJT was of high interest, but was rarely part of a formal or standardized program. Various training methods have evolved to ensure that a trainee will absorb the information presented rather than simply emulate what the instructor is teaching. These methods have been brought together into a published guide for developing an effective formalized OJT program. The guide (Information Circular (IC) 9479) is called "Coaching Skills for On-the-Job Trainers." It contains materials and suggestions for your company or mine to conduct a 1-day workshop for teaching OJT trainers how to be better coaches to less experienced workers. The guide was created by the NIOSH Pittsburgh Research Laboratory and a safety professional from a private mining company.

Feb 1, 2006

By Wall J, Platell R, Knight P

The Argyle diamond mine is located in the East Kimberley area of Western Australia, some 100 km south of the town of Kununurra. The diamondiferous Argyle olivine-lamproite diatreme was discovered in August 1979. Production began in December 1985 at a planned throughput of 3 Mtpa to recover 25 million carats of diamonds. Presently, Argyle is the world's largest producer of natural diamonds and produced over 40 million carats in 1993 from seven million tonnes of lamproite ore treated. Two phases of evaluation have been carried out. The first in 1981-82 was designed to prove around 60 million tonnes of ore to justify the establishment of a mine with a minimum life of 20 years. The second phase, in 1989-90 involved drilling the orebody to greater depths to provide data on which to plan the final pit design. The final pit contained 120 million tonnes of ore at 5.3 carats per tonne (ct/t) grade. Mining of the planned pit will extend the mine life to around the year 2004, following which it is possible that a further cut-back could be mined. There is also the potential for future underground mining. A substantial amount of geotechnical work has been undertaken due to the fact that the pit will be nearly 500 m deep and is located in a mobile zone causing abnormally high residual stresses to occur in the pit walls. The occurrence of low strength rocks at depth in the pit walls further complicated the situation. Hydrogeological investigations were done to determine pit dewatering requirements and to assess the effect of dewatering on pit wall stability.

Jan 1, 1994

By C. D. Anderson

"IntroductionTungsten carbide is a valuable material used in a variety of different applications, including the manufacturing of cutting tools, bearings and as a cost-efficient alternative to industrial diamonds. Both the high hardness value (Mohs 9) and scratch resistance of this material make it a valuable commodity for use in the mining industry.Usually, the production of tungsten carbide is a multistep process involving one or more of the following unit operations: hydrometallurgical digestion, solution purification, crystallization (as ammonium paratungstate), calcination, hydrogen reduction and carbon synthesis. The proposed three-step process eliminates three of these steps (crystallization, calcination and hydrogen reduction) by implementing a combination of hydro/pyrometallurgical techniques. These include alkaline pressure leaching, carbon adsorption and carburization roasting. By eliminating some of the intermediate processing steps, there is potential to reduce energy consumption and decrease overall operating costs.Methods and resultsInitially, alkaline pressure leaching with sodium carbonate (Na2CO3) was employed to selectively leach tungsten, as tungstate (WO4 2-), from an industrial Scheelite (CaWO4) flotation concentrate. Experimental variables included lixiviant (Na2CO3) concentration, temperature and residence time. Experimental constants, based on previous work, were percent solids at 13 wt% and agitation at 400 rpm (Queneau and Strathmore, 1969). Leaching results showed it was possible to extract 97% of the tungsten present. The most favorable conditions for leaching were determined: 2M Na2CO3, temperature of 180° C and a residence time of 30 minutes."

Jan 1, 2015

By Ainul Akhtar, Steve Cockcroft, Jixiang Xu, Daan Maijer, Lu Yao

"Nitrogen rich Ti-N inclusions are one of the more difficult inclusions to remove during liquid metal refining of titanium. If present in the final component, they can significantly decrease the mechanical performance of titanium and its alloys in applications involving cyclic loading. Understanding the kinetics of dissolution of Ti-N particles during consolidation/melting of titanium can help us better operate and design the melting processes to minimize their occurrence in Premium Quality Titanium production. A numerical model based on finite difference method has been developed to calculate the dissolution of a spherical Ti-N particles in molten titanium. Analytical solutions were used to verify the finite difference code for calculation of concentration profile and the dissolution of spherical solids. Taking into account the limitations in these approaches for the different cases examined, the invariant field approximation showed good agreement with the results from the numerical analysis. Evolution of the size of a spherical Ti-N particle during dissolution was predicted by the numerical model and the particle dissolves in 163 s.INTRODUCTION Properties like low density, high specific strength and excellent corrosion resistance make titanium attractive for a variety of applications. Key characteristics in the processing of titanium and its alloys include its high sensitivity to impurities, especially atmospheric oxygen and nitrogen and its high reactivity in the molten state. Nitrogen rich inclusions Ti-N, also known as Type ? or hard alpha defects, usually have substantially higher hardness and lower ductility than the surrounding material. Because they can act as fatigue initiation sites, Ti-N inclusions can significantly decrease the mechanical performance of titanium and its alloys in applications involving cyclic loading, even in minor amounts (tenth of a percent) (Lampman, 1990; Moiseyev, 2005; Lütjering & Williams, 2007). Ti-N encompasses as a broad range of nitrogen contents from a few wt% up to stoichiometric TiN. The liquidus temperature of Ti-N titanium increases substantially with increasing nitrogen content. Consequently, depending on the concentration of nitrogen, the melting point of Ti-N inclusions can be above bulk liquid metal temperatures during melt processing. Thus, removal of Ti-N defects hinges on dissolution and not melting."

Jan 1, 2017

By R. A. Harrington

THE structure of anodic films formed on aluminum and other metals under varied conditions is not well known despite the wide use of such films both as protective coatings and as the dielectric medium in elec-trolytic condensers. The present work was undertaken as a survey of the possibilities of electron diffraction in the investigation of anodic films, especially in comparing the properties of anodic films formed under dif-ferent sets of conditions and subjected to various subsequent treatments. In addition, an effort has been made to compare surface films formed on aluminum by anodic treatment with surface films formed by heating, immersion in chemicals, etc, The electron diffraction method in many cases has been successfully applied to the study of thin surface films. Its principal advantage is that it can be used without removing the films from the base material upon which they have been formed. The low penetrating power of electrons, in the "reflection" diffraction method which has been used in this work, prevents the appearance of diffraction patterns from substances at depths greater than about 100 Angstrom units (10-6 cm.). Different investigations of the structure of anodic films have shown widely varying results, depending on the methods used in preparing the films. Apparently under some conditions these films are crystalline and under other conditions they are amorphous, and it has been difficult to say which type of structure will be found in any particular case. Schmid and Wassermann's' X-ray diffraction patterns of eloxal? films show two broad, diffuse bands, which these investigators attribute to finely divided cubic y-Al2O3-§ Burgers, Claassen, and Zernicke3 obtained sharp X-ray

Jan 1, 1940

By A. L. Hay

The Sydney coal field, the largest and most valuable in Nova Scotia, is situated on the northeastern coast of the Island of Cape Breton, extending from Mira Bay on the south to Cape Dauphin on the north, a distance of 30 miles, and has a general dip northeast under the sea. (Fig. 1. The field embraces the mining villages of Morien, Birchgrove and Reserve and the towns of Dominion, Glace Bay, Waterford and Sydney Mines. The city of Sydney is situated about midway between the northern and southern extremities of the field and on the western fringe of the productive coal measures. Sydney harbor crosses the coal field, cutting off direct rail connection between Sydney Mines and the greater part of the field to the southeast. (Fig. 2.) The coal measures are exposed in the cliffs on the coast line, which rise to an average height of 30 ft., and are almost continuous throughout the length of the field. The portion of the coal field under land forms a small segment of a circle, the greatest distance from the coast landwards is 9 miles, and it occupies an area of 200 sq. miles. The greatest distance developed seawards from the shore by mining operations is 2 miles. The strata maintain a regularity of dip at this distance, proving a submarine area of about 70 sq, miles. How much further the coal field extends seawards is unknown, but the indications are that it extends far beyond the present economical working limit and in all probability there is a vast submarine coal field. The productive coal measures are of Carboniferous age, these being underlain by beds of sandstone, locally classed as millstone grit, which define the southern limit of the field, while a spur of syenitic hills cuts off the coal-bearing strata on the north. Two main anticlinal folds having a general course easterly divide the field into three basins named from north to south: Sydney Mines-Lingan, Glace Bay and Morien. So far as the portion of the coal field already developed is concerned the general effect of these folds is to vary the direction and dip of the strata at different points of the several basins. The strata dip seawards at the average rate of 6 per cent. along the axes of the basins. On both sides of the several basins, the strata have a dip varying from 7 to 40

Jan 1, 1930

By John C. Wiltshire

Hawai'i is surrounded by a series of potentially valuable marine mineral deposits. These include manganese nodules between Hawai'i and Mexico, cobalt-rich manganese crusts and phosphorites in the Exclusive Economic Zone around the Hawaiian Island Archipelago, Johnston Island and the neigh- boring island states and sand and gravel deposits off the main Hawaiian Islands largely in State waters. Hawai'i has an economy that is very narrowly based on the tourist industry. In an effort to avoid the difficulties coming from such a vulnerable economy, significant efforts have been made toward economic diversification. The State has set up a range of programs looking to find new industries. New ocean industries figure prominently among these efforts as Hawai'i is surrounded by ocean. Naturally, among new ocean industries the potential for new marine mineral industries is significant given that Honolulu is the only full service port in the Central Pacific and Hawai'i is in the middle of the mineral belt. The port of Honolulu is now being actively used by mineral exploration vessels of several countries and with the current number of ship visits varying from 10-15 per year, this puts several million dollars a year into the State economy. It helps to fulfill the State's goal of dynamic growth in the ocean sector of the economy. Nonetheless, a major marine minerals industry, particularly one which would involve processing of minerals in Hawai'i, is controversial in a State whose main source of revenue is tourist expenditures based on the image of a pristine environment. In addition to the perceived threat to the hotel and fishing industry, is the whole highly emotional debate concerning preservation and development. To complicate the issue further, the major interest in developing a marine minerals is currently largely from Korea and China rather than from domestic U.S. industry. On the other side of the debate is the fact that the State's economy is hampered by many low paying jobs and a lack of technical jobs. This is further exacerbated by the fact that lower paying jobs are held disproportionately by people of Hawaiian and Pacific Island ancestry. Naturally, this leads over time to a certain amount of resentment. The higher paying technical lobs associated with a minerals processing industry could help to alleviate this problem.

Jan 1, 1996

By T. Patten

A method for stabilizing mercury containing waste for landfill disposal would be a very cost effective solution for industry. A mercury polythiocarbonate material which is made via a metallurgical process passes a traditional TCLP for mercury. The mercury polythiocarbonate material was subjected to a more thorough evaluation, the Integrated Leaching procedures as described in Kossan (1) and Sanchez (2)The procedure involves leaching the mercury polythiocarbonate material at varying pH and sample size to liquid. The procedure had to be adapted for small sample sizes and finely divided materials due to the product characteristics and available material. The leachates were evaluated and found to be stable within common environmental pH values. The performance details on how Inter-Mountain Labs met the leaching requirements of the procedures and the analysis of mercury are presented.

Jan 1, 2012

By R.J. Anderson

Roughly, a crack in a casting may be considered, for the moment, to be due to fracture of the alloy resulting from the stress set up by the contraction in volume on passing from the liquid to the solid state. Cracks may be external or surface, internal or deep-seated, or incipient or so-called strain cracks. Draws may appear as depressions, unevenness, and "pinching in" of the surface of a casting. Roughly, draws are due to contraction in volume and are governed largely by the same factors as cracks. A casting may be cracked, however, without being drawn. Shrinkage is a foundry term and refers to the contractio~l in volume of a metal or alloy on passing from the liquid to the solid state. Patternmaker's shrinkage is the total contraction in volume (including liquid, solidification, and solid shrinkage) that occurs when an alloy is poured into a mold. The contraction in volume of aluminum is one of the principal factors affecting the occurrence of cracks, as will be shown later, and the question of shrinkage and its control requires careful study in any treatment of cracking in castings. In the case of sand and die castings, cracks have been attributed to a number of causes, but in the case of most light aluminum alloys, they are due to the large contraction in volume on freezing and the lack of its regulation or control. The most important factors are: (1) Contraction in volume; (2) composition of alloy; (3) quality of melting charge; (4) design of casting; (5) method of molding; (6) hardness of ramming; (7) method of gating; (8) hardness and characteristics of cores; (9) chills; (10) risers; (11) melting temperatures; (12) furnace used for melting; (13) pouring temperatures; (14) inclusions in alloys; (15) hot shortness of alloys; and (16) physical properties of alloys at high temperatures. Of these, the first, second, third, and eleventh to sixteenth involve ascertainable metallurgical facts; the remainder are largely matters of opinion, judgment, and technical knowledge of men experienced in the production of castings.

Jan 1, 1923

By R. J. Anderson

Roughly, a crack in a casting may be considered, for the moment, to be due to fracture of the alloy resulting from the stress set up by the contraction in volume on passing from the liquid to the solid state. Cracks may be external or surface, internal or deep-seated, or incipient or so-called strain cracks. Draws may appear as depressions, unevenness, and "pinching in" of the surface of a casting. Roughly, draws are due to contraction in volume and are governed largely by the same factors as cracks. A casting may be cracked, however, without being drawn. Shrinkage is a foundry term and refers to the contractio~l in volume of a metal or alloy on passing from the liquid to the solid state. Patternmaker's shrinkage is the total contraction in volume (including liquid, solidification, and solid shrinkage) that occurs when an alloy is poured into a mold. The contraction in volume of aluminum is one of the principal factors affecting the occurrence of cracks, as will be shown later, and the question of shrinkage and its control requires careful study in any treatment of cracking in castings. In the case of sand and die castings, cracks have been attributed to a number of causes, but in the case of most light aluminum alloys, they are due to the large contraction in volume on freezing and the lack of its regulation or control. The most important factors are: (1) Contraction in volume; (2) composition of alloy; (3) quality of melting charge; (4) design of casting; (5) method of molding; (6) hardness of ramming; (7) method of gating; (8) hardness and characteristics of cores; (9) chills; (10) risers; (11) melting temperatures; (12) furnace used for melting; (13) pouring temperatures; (14) inclusions in alloys; (15) hot shortness of alloys; and (16) physical properties of alloys at high temperatures. Of these, the first, second, third, and eleventh to sixteenth involve ascertainable metallurgical facts; the remainder are largely matters of opinion, judgment, and technical knowledge of men experienced in the production of castings.

Jan 1, 1923

By Adrian L. Moodie

Austar Coal Mine (formerly Southlands and Ellalong Collieries) has had a long association with difficult strata control conditions associated with mining depth and a highly jointed/cleated coal seam. The conditions include poor longwall face conditions, cyclic loading, heavy tailgate (TG) roadway conditions, and difficulties in maintaining stable roadways on development at 5.2 m (17 ft), as well as the geotechnical challenges of an 8.5-m (27.9 ft) -wide roadway required for installation faces. The introduction of Longwall Top Coal Caving (LTCC) to this environment has aided in the management of some of these issues, but LTCC has also given rise to other geotechnical considerations. Additional geotechnical issues associated with LTCC not only require management during operations, but also require consideration when evaluating new mining areas at Austar Coal Mine or potential LTCC extractable resources throughout Australia and the world. In September 2006, LTCC commenced at Austar Coal Mine in longwall panel A1. Since this point the LTCC face has been increased from 147 to 216 m (482 to 709 ft)and finally to 227 m (745 ft) in width, and it has also been rehanded and modified in the three fully extracted panels to date. The application of LTCC in panels A1, A2, A3, and now A4 has been very successful, both from a coal resource recovery point of view and in the management of the principal hazards of spontaneous combustion and strata control. This paper focuses on the geotechnical aspects of the application of LTCC at Austar Coal Mine and also reviews some advances in general strata control management at the mine.

Jan 1, 2011