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By J. W. Carson

Introduction Many bulk solids such as coal, limestone, and fine moist ores often flow unpredictably out of bins, hoppers, and boreholes. Vast amounts of time and money are spent-with or without success-on flow promoting devices. In addition, many solids segregate in storage, feed erratically, flood, arch, rathole, and stick to bin walls reducing the live capacity. This article discusses bulk solids flow properties and provides guidelines for designing storage bins, hoppers, and feeders to provide reliable flow. Bulk Solids A bulk solid is a granular material consisting of discrete solid particles-submicron to several inches in size-that is handled in bulk form (for example, in a bin or silo). The gas filling the voids is generally insufficient to fluidize the material and the liquid (usually water) content is assumed to be less than saturation. Types of Flow Problems To design an efficient storage system, an engineer must be aware of problems that can arise during storage and flow of bulk solids: • No flow. A stable arch or pipe (rathole) develops within the solid, stopping flow. • Erratic flow. Momentary arches form within the solid, (ratholes), partly or completely empty out, and then collapse. • Flushing. Powders become fluidized, aerate, and flush uncontrollably through the bin outlet. • Lack of design capacity. A large part of the stored material remains stable around a rathole. Manual prodding, severe vibration, and even explosives may be used to restore flow. • Segregation. Smaller particles tend to sift through the voids between larger particles causing accumulations of fines and coarse in various areas of the bin. • Product degradation. Some materials spoil, cake, or oxidize if they remain in a bin too long. This is usually caused by a first-in-last-out flow sequence. • Level control. Measuring the volume of material left in a bin is difficult if a rathole develops. In one portion of the bin the level control device may indicate the bin is full; in another portion it may indicate it is empty. Eliminating Flow Problems All flow problems can be minimized or prevented by suitable design of the bin/feeder unit. This involves knowing the flow properties of the solid, then choosing the appropriate type of bin and feeder to establish the desired flow pattern. There are three types of flow patterns that may occur in a bin: funnel flow, mass flow, and expanded flow. Funnel flow occurs when some of the material in the bin is stationary while the rest is in motion. Funnel flow bins, shown in Fig. 1, are characterized by: • Low head room. A flat bottom or shallow hopper bin has large storage capacity with minimum height. Unfortunately, all this storage capacity may not be usable ("live"). • First-in-last-out flow sequence. The first material put into a funnel flow bin is the last material withdrawn because the flowing material is concentrated in the region directly above the outlet. • Ratholes. Because of the flow channel that forms, a stable rathole develops if the material has sufficient cohesive strength. • Erratic flow. Once a rathole becomes partially or completely empty, it may collapse creating a stable arch and erratic flow. • Flushing. Collapsing ratholes cause flushing and flooding of fine material. • Segregation. If a bulk solid has a tendency to segregate, this tendency will be accentuated as the material is discharged from a funnel flow bin. Funnel flow bins are suitable for coarse, free flowing, nondegrading solids, when segregation is not important. Mass flow occurs when all the material in a bin is in motion whenever any is withdrawn. Char-

Jan 3, 1983

By Jon Y. Kaneshiro, Blake D. Rothfuss, Gregory E. Korbin

A critical aspect of the planning, investigation, design, and construction of an underground excavation project is the portal. The portal is the primary access through which most if not all tunnel construction is carried out and it is the lifeline of the tunnel. Planning considerations include depth of cover, slope stability, economics of open cut versus shaft access, environmental impact, and contractor staging area. Critical aspects of planning, investigation, design, and construction of portals are considered by discussing portal design and portal failure case histories.

Jan 1, 1995

By F. L. Pirkle

The mineral zircon is mined for use as specialty foundry sands, abrasives, ores of ZrO2 and zirconium metal, refractories, and zirconium chemicals. It is produced as one of several products from heavy-mineral sand deposits associated with fossil shorelines. Because of its low coefficient of thermal expansion, its high melting point, its high refractive index, and its chemical inertness, it is an attractive refractory material. Zircon varies from deposit to deposit in terms of grain size, grain shape, and chemical impurity. Thus, there is a wide range of commercial products differing in impurity levels, particle shapes, and grain sizes.

Jan 1, 1992

By John A. Dearinger, Fred D. Wright, Robert C. Howell

INTRODUCTION The rock mechanics study of the shortwall mining system at Beth-Elkhorn corporation's Hendrix No. 22 Mine is being conducted under contract with the U.S. Bureau of Mines. The objective of the study is to obtain data on surface subsidence over a portion of the mined area, strata subsidence in the mined area, and underground stress changes and displacements in and near natural support elements of the mining system. This study is currently in progress, and only a portion of the results are being presented at this time. The Hendrix No. 22 Mine is located in the moderately rough mountainous terrain of Letcher County in eastern Kentucky. The nearest mine workings to the shortwall area are approximately 1,900 feet distant. The depth of cover over the mined shortwall area varies from 770 feet at Panel 1 to 170 feet at Panel 5 (Figure 1). The strata in the shortwall area is summarized in the three core logs shown in Figure 2. Hole no. 2 is located in approximately the center of the mined shortwall area (Panel 3, Line C, Figure 1). The coal seam in the shortwall area is approximately 4 feet thick and horizontal, although one major ‘roll’ intersects all panels.

Jan 1, 1977

By Reinhard Gnilsen

Ground pillar control in soil and weak rock often represents a critical and sometimes a determining factor for mined underground civil structures. A concept is desirable that minimizes the restrictions possibly imposed by pillar control requirements on geometrical tunnel characteristics and on the mining operation itself. Conventional concepts are discussed and an alternative concept is introduced. This concept reduces pillar control requirements to ground control measures required with "regular" tunnels. The conventional model of pillar mechanics with potential yielding of a ground body in more than one direction, is then avoided. Due to the complexity of pillar mechanics, the level of engineered design furnished to the contractor is crucial to optimizing ground pillar control. Conventional versus alternative contractual arrangements for pillar control are described and their important role is illustrated. The concept introduced relates to principles inherent to the New Austrian Tunneling Method (NATM). However, tunnel projects using other mining concepts can employ alternative ground pillar control principles as well, if certain criteria are observed. Case histories in the United States and abroad are presented and the impacts from different concepts of ground pillar control are illustrated. The paper concludes by analyzing concept characteristics that can infer monetary impacts on both the owner and the contractor.

Jan 1, 1987

By B. A. Ferguson, P. W. MacMillan

INTRODUCTION Jack Spalding in Deep Mining, Chapter 3, states: "In deep mining, to start stoping an orebody without a definite plan of operations covering the whole extraction from beginning to end is to invite serious trouble. Any stoping without plan is bound to leave, toward the end, a number of pillars, remnants, or promontories, which, as they are reduced in size, are liable to fail and cause a general collapse. The object of stope planning is so to mine an orebody that at no stage in the operation is a remnant left. Definition: `When a block of ore is stoped in such a way that eventually a small piece is left entirely surrounded by stoping, that piece is termed an island remnant.' The design of and adherence to a plan of stoping is of greater importance in preventing rock bursts than the type of ground control adopted." This, of course, is just an example of the old axiom that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. And in this context, mining does not have to be very deep before poor ground conditions, made worse by lack of good planning, force a mining company to resort to more expensive methods of ore recovery. At all times when rock pressures become excessive, stoping plans must be devised to avoid the creation of pillars or promontories. This is most readily recognized when mining deep narrow ore veins by open methods. It would be a little more general to say that stoping systems should seek to avoid or minimize localized concentrations of rock stress. Ore bodies, and particularly those at Falcon¬bridge, can reach large widths and leaving pillars for extraction at a later time cannot be avoided. However, good planning can reduce the effect of factors which create bad ground conditions. The necessary ingredients of planning are time and information: time to formulate and revise ideas; information, gained in exploration and early development, to provide the fullest knowledge of the ore body. In this way, plans become meaningful. It must always be kept in mind that the long-term results of good planning often require decisions not compatible with reaching earliest full production. PLANNING FOR DEEP MINING At Falconbridge Nickel Mines ore bodies presently being found and prepared for production lie at depths in excess of 610 m (2000 ft) below surface. Current un¬derground exploration is being directed towards favor¬able locations below 914.4 and 1219.2-m (3000 and 4000-ft) depths, at most mines. The Onaping Deep ore body has been traced to a depth of 1508.8 m (4950 ft) and at Falconbridge mine the ore body is under develop¬ment below the 5000 level. Planning for more efficient ground control has therefore become an important con¬sideration of future mining. HYDRAULIC BACK FILLING AND CUT-AND-FILL STOPING The advent of hydraulic back filling has led to the increasing use of flat-back cut-and-fill stoping methods during the last ten years, until it has probably become the commonest method of mining deep ore deposits in Canada. These methods account for almost all the pro¬duction from Falconbridge Mines at this time. The ad¬vantages claimed are: safety-a minimum of open ground; very little supplementary ground support (except rockbolted backs and walls); greater selectivity and flexibility in extraction (horizontal extension of the vein, high grade ore stringers going out into the walls); and high productivity and increased mechanization in larger ore widths. There is some difference of opinion as to whether hydraulic classified tailing back fill provides any great resistance to initial closure of the stope walls. The evi¬dence available suggests that it does not. Addition of portland cement to the back fill just prior to placement has produced a material having the properties of a weak concrete. It is confidently expected that this material will assist greatly in the efficient mining of pillars and generally in giving increased ground support to oppose closure. PRINCIPLES OF STOPE PLANNING BY LONGITUDINAL FLAT-BACK CUT-AND-FILL Again quoting from Spalding: "The practice of con¬trolling output by stopping and starting stopes is bad¬stopes once started should proceed without interruption, and control must therefore be obtained by altering the rate of stoping. It is therefore necessary that faces should normally advance at a medium rate which can be boosted, if required, to give temporarily a greater output. Modern high productivity stoping methods, however, generally aim to achieve and maintain the maximum output possible from a stope. Control of tonnage and grade, therefore, becomes a more complex problem requiring very careful scheduling and organiza¬tion. With the basic method of flat-back overhand stoping using hydraulic fill, it is not usually possible to mine in such a way as to avoid creating pillars." Consider an ore body as illustrated in Fig. 1. It is 274.3 m (900 ft) high by 228.6 m (750 ft) long on strike and averages 4.6 m (15 ft) in ore width. It rep¬resents approximately 907 000 t (1,000,000 st). The ore body could be mined by advancing one long single face through all the levels from bottom to top. A total face length of 228.6 m (750 ft) would accommo¬date five 45.7-m (150-ft) stopes. See Fig. la. Each of these stopes would produce approximately 1814 t/m (2000 stpm) and the ore body would require a period of ten years for complete extraction. A possible im¬provement to this scheme might be to stagger the indi¬vidual stope faces. See Fig. 1b. Problems of hanging wall failure can be reduced by this arrangement. From the point of view of reducing travelway maintenance, it is good practice to employ a stoping system of retreat. Stopes farthest from the shaft are mined first so that on completion, haulage drifts below can be aban

Jan 1, 1982

By Gus H. Goudarzi

The apatite deposits in east-central Bahia, Brazil, are about 50 km east of Serra do Jacobina, between lat. 11° and 12° S. and long. 39°40' and 40° W. Apatite was found and examined at 15 localities in a mineralized belt that strikes about N.25° - 30 W. over a distance of about 100 km, but the size of the deposits has not yet been determined. Rocks of the region consist of a sequence of Precambrian migmatites and quartz feldspar paragneisses containing units of pyroxene-rich rocks, lenses of sillimanite-bearing quartzite, amphibolite zones, and calc-silicate marble lenses. Pegmatites and granites of probable anatectic origin (anatexite) are abundant. Faults are numerous. Clastic sediments of Tertiary and Quaternary ages cover most of the area; thus, outcrops of the Precambrian rocks are sparse. Trenches and pits have exposed mineralized zones as much as 10 m wide at some localities within the region. A layer of apatite at least 1 ½ m thick is exposed in a trench at Lagoa do Mel. At Rio do Peixe, vertical shafts have penetrated a mineralized zone, to a depth of as much as 13 m, of which about 25 percent is apatite. Apatite is massive or forms minute crystals, stringers, and disseminated grains in alkalic host rocks. At Apolinario, euhedral crystals of apatite are as much as 50 cm long and 30 cm in diameter. Associated minerals include vermiculite, biotite, scapolite, opal, chalcedony, epidote, montmorillonite, chlorite, kaolinite, sericite, magnetite, and limonite. Apatite is everywhere intimately associated with pyroxene-rich rocks, alkalic syenite pegmatites, and alkalic granite pegmatites. At Panelas-Retiro, apatite is associated with pegmatites, crystalline calcite (vein calcite), vermiculite, and pyroxene-bearing rocks. Analyses of samples show that the apatite is radioactive and rare-earth-bearing. Traces of vanadium and titanium were detected by spectroscopic analysis. The apatite was probably derived from phosphatic zones in the original Precambrian sedimentary rocks and has been crystallized and some mobilized by high-temperature regional metamorphism (higher amphibolite facies) into veins, pegmatites, and along certain preferred beds and fractures. Radiometric and geophysical surveys, in addition to conventional geological investigations, are planned to further investigate the nature and economic potential of the deposits.

Jan 1, 1972

By Andrew B. Allen, Charles W. Robinson, Robert L. Schneider

In April, the US Synthetic Fuels Corp. broke a three-year silence and made its first financial award by approving a $820,750 loan for the First Colony peat-to-methanol project in North Carolina (ME, May, page 403). Peat Methanol Associates (PMA), a partnership between Koppers Co., ETCO Methanol Inc., Transco, Peat Methanol Co., and l. B. Sunderland, broke ground at First Colony last year and plans to begin production in Dec. 1985. Although the award is only a small part of Synthetic Fuels Corp.'s $15-billion budget, it does signal the corporation's intention to move aggressively ahead. It also is a positive indication that First Colony will be completed and operated successfully. This article describes the methods and equipment that will be used to harvest peat at First Colony, as well as how the peat will be converted to methanol. Introduction Peat deposits found along North Carolina's coastal plain contain high-quality fuel-grade peat with an average heating value of more than 23.3 MJ/kg (10,000 Btu/lb) (dry), with a low sulfur and ash content. The deposits differ from other US peats in that they contain large, sound Atlantic White Cedar and Cypress logs, stumps, and roots that may extend throughout the full depth of the deposit. A second difference is that these deposits are much more highly decomposed and, in the raw state, have the appearance and feel of a heavy, reddish-brown grease. These factors make it impractical to use standard production equipment so a new line was developed. Also, because of these conditions, techniques were modified to facilitate production. First Colony Farms, located near Creswell, NC, developed and evaluated a milled peat program. Equipment for this production method was designed and built, production rates were established from field operations, drying rates were established, weather data were analyzed, and total operating and capital costs were estimated. The method depends on the sun and wind for drying peat to the desired moisture content, in this case around 40%. Therefore, field preparation is actually the construction of a large solar collector to dry the peat so it can be harvested and stockpiled. It is essential that this collector be properly profiled initially and maintained during production to prevent precipitation from ponding. Initial Field Preparation Initial field preparation includes cleaning existing canals and constructing ditches and water control structures for proper drainage of rainwater run-off, building adequate roads for site access, removing surface vegetation, and profiling and sloping the fields. At First Colony, the 60.7-km2 (15,000-acre) harvesting area was divided into 129.5-hm2 (320-acre) blocks about 1.6 km (1 mile) long and 805 m (0.5 mile) wide. This was accomplished by cleaning main outfall canals with adjacent roads built from canal spoil at 1.6-km (1-mile) intervals. Existing intermediate canals that feed into main outfall canals at 805-m (0.5-mile) intervals also are cleaned. Headland roads are constructed from canal spoil along each side of each intermediate canal. This 129.5-hm2 (320-acre) block is then divided into 32 harvest strips by small V-ditches constructed at 50-m (165-ft) intervals. At the end of the field with the lowest elevation, corrugated steel pipe culverts are installed under the headland road in each V-ditch to control rainwater runoff into intermediate canals. Runoff water from the fields is diverted to a holding pond to prevent any increase in peak water runoff rates and to allow for more uniform drainage rate than experienced to date. After the drainage system is installed, harvest strips are ready for grinding and sloping operations. Surface vegetation, made up of small, waxy-leafed shrubs such as Gallberry, Bayberry, Magnolia, and scattered pond pine, can be effectively ground and incorporated into the upper surface of the peat layer. Here, it will rapidly decompose and have little effect on overall peat quality, thus eliminating the standard practice of pushing the vegetation and upper wood layer into long windrows with bulldozers and hauling this debris from the fields. Incorporating vegetation into the upper surface is known as the initial 102-mm (4-in.) surface vegetation grind and is accomplished by using a modified Bros Rota Mixer. Following this operation, and by using the same unit, a sec¬ond grind with a depth of 200-255 mm (8-10 in.) is made. This reduces the debris to a finer consistency, mixes it with the upper peat layer, and grinds any wood found in the upper 200-255 mm (8-10 in.). After initial grinding operations are completed, the augering or sloping operations can be accomplished with little or no hin-

Jan 7, 1983

By T. D. Rourke, E. J. Cording, O&apos

INTRODUCTION Detailed investigation of a 60-ft-deep excavation in a mixed profile of sands and stiff clay was performed by the University of Illinois for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (METRO). The work was coordinated through DeLeuw, Cather and Co., the General Engineering Consultant of METRO. Instrumentation was concentrated in a portion of braced excavation for the Gallery Place Station near the intersection of 7th and G Street. The early construction date, the 60 ft depth of cut, and the proximity of large buildings formed the basis for selection of this site as the focal point of observation and measurement. A history of lateral and vertical displacement is provided wherein movements which occurred during excavation to the full depth of cut and, subsequently, during station construction and the removal of braces are described in detail. Observations of preloading and the consequent brace loads and wall displacements are described. The effect of temperature change on brace loads is discussed and the measured apparent earth pressure for the 60-ft cut is provided. The paper discusses the relationship of lateral displacements of the cut wall to the construction procedure, and compares the lateral wall displacement with both lateral and vertical movement in the surrounding soil mass. Based on observed movement, the method by which displacement was predicted for a nearby 82-ft-deep excavation is described. The performance of the 82-ft-deep excavation has been summarized elsewhere (2).

Jan 1, 1974

By Charles H. Jacoby

Introduction Although, in general, the openings created in domes or diapiric type salt deposits during mining operations are larger than those created in bedded deposits, the openings in bedded salts are of significant lateral extent. Thus, this paper will deal primarily with the dome deposits of the Gulf Coast and more specifically with the Avery Island dome operated by the International Salt Company where recent development activities have materially increased the sizes of previously standard openings. Geology The geology of salt deposits is the governing factor in the rock mechanics associated with the opening which is being created in the salt. Bedded salts are customarily characterized by having experienced solution along the interface between the top of the salt and the overlying bed. Thus, as the salt slowly dissolves there has been left behind a layer of laminated insolubles which is often incompetent. In most cases, this incompetent rock must be supported by a thickness of bedded salt which is left in the roof as support. Where this salt is of secondary deposition (recrystallized halite) with included moisture, additional thicknesses of roof salt are necessary to achieve stability. The salt which forms the domes of the Gulf Coast regions is from the Louann formation of the Jurassic period. These formations are dipping toward the Gulf of Mexico so that the upper tier of domes which have formed across northern Louisiana in an east-west direction into Mississippi and Texas have a salt source some 10 to 15,000 feet

Jan 1, 1976

By K. Koizumf, A. A. Cram, K. Whitchurch

The Expert Scheduling is a new, exciting method for scheduling underground and open-cut coal mines. A key feature of the Expert Scheduler is the adoption of an expert or artificial intelligence system. The expert system makes decisions regarding the schedule, such as which area should be mined. With existing scheduling systems these choices are made by the scheduling engineer. Developing one area may be better than another if it offers better quality or lower costs. Information the engineer considers in these decisions could be; • coal tonnage and quality targets, • equipment utilisation, • mining cost, • and other practical constraints. In expert scheduling a number of experts are appointed to make these decisions. A number of mining strategies are examined for each period. Information for each strategy is evaluated by "experts" and the "best" solution adopted. The method is based on the Blackboard Techniques. With this technique information is presented to "knowledge sources” or "experts" by the Blackboard Controller for their "opinions". These "opinions" are examined by the Blackboard Controller to select the best strategy. Engineers can readily add experts to the system, and modify the weighting of experts to suit mining conditions. Using an Expert Scheduler means that many schedule op- tions can be analysed quickly with full repeatability.

Jan 1, 1996

By David M. Kjos

Large diameter autogenous and semi-autogenous grinding mills represent the primary thrust of the expanding grinding technology. In spite of initial difficulties, large autogenous and semi-autogenous mills have reached an acceptable level of technology which provides the mineral engineer with a reliable, low cost means of ore comminution. A successful milling installation begins during the design stage of the grinding mill and the plant it is to be installed in. This is particularly true in autogenous and semi-autogenous mills. Critical mill and plant design factors should be considered while the mill and installation are still only ?paper.? Various current liner designs will be discussed ranging from lifter bar/plate to integral types. Modes of operation such as "high-low" will be considered. Liner maintenance procedures ranging from laydown area in plant design, proper mill shutdown methods, to installation and bolt tightening complete the equation to yield optimum performance possible for any particular grinding application. The objective of this paper is to discuss trends in wear materials, designs and operating practices, and provide some guidelines for good practice as we move through the 1980's. We will put together concepts that relate to the designs, materials and applications so that higher performance can be obtained by the operator for his specific application. The concepts are shown as being in series because they are dependent on each other to achieve the desired performance.

Jan 1, 1985

By Yanmin Wang, Eric Forssberg

This paper presents recent experimental results in wet ultra-fine grinding and classification of industrial minerals carbonates and kaolin clays using a stirred ball mill and a high performance centrifuge. The studies have been focused on the effect of beads (size, density and load) on the grinding efficiency. The use of chemical additives for the control of slurry rheology in the stirred ball milling is presented. The role of pre-crushing with a high-pressure roller mill on subsequent ultra-fine grinding is discussed for energy saving and size reduction. The use of a disc-stack nozzle centrifuge for ultra-fine classification duties at high solids contents is presented.

Jan 1, 1998

By Jerome F. Thomas

The primary purpose of this paper is to review the fire and explosion hazards associated with hydrocarbons heavier than methane. Methane is the classical hydrocarbon encountered in mines whose presence is generally due to bacterial decomposition of organic debris. The higher hydrocarbons are more likely to be found during tunneling when petroleum products either natural or man made are encountered. Fires may be defined as rapid gas phase oxidations accompanied by the rapid evolution of light and heat. Explosions may be defined as uncontrolled fires. The rapidly expanding gases resulting from combustion exceed the speed of sound and generate percussive forces. The essential elements for a fire or explosion are shown on Figure 12: (1) a gas phase explosive mixture and (2) an ignition source. The paper will attempt to review various aspects relative to the explosive mixture; The concentration and composition; Techniques for detection; Techniques for ventilation to reduce concentration below explosive limits. The ignition sources are also listed on Figure 12. An arc originates from an electrical source such as electrical switches, relays and motor brushes. Static electricity can also be an arc source and may be generated by air flowing through rubber bases or a rapidly moving endless belt. A spark is generally associated with abrasion of iron metal. A flame source may be a match, candle. cutting or welding torch, or engine exhaust. If

Jan 1, 1974

By S. Bhagwat

Coals capable of emitting 2 lbs SO2/106 Btu heat input must be defined as high sulfur coals. This is because electric utility plants built after 1971 may not emit more than 1.2 lbs SO2, and those built before 1971, and regulated under the State Implementation Plans (SIP), may exceed the 2 lbs S0 limit only under closely defined restrictions concerning ambient air quality and prevention of air quality deterioration. Coals produced in Kentucky, Illinois, West Virginia, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Indiana account for 77% of SO2 pollution potential and are, therefore, the subject of this investigation. These coals have suffered market share losses in the 10 years from 1974 through 1984. This is due to their sulfur content as well as their lack of price competitiveness with low sulfur western and imported coals. Kentucky and West Virginia have been able to increase their compliance quality coal production substantially, but other states have largely been unable to do so because of nonavailability of low sulfur coal deposits. Assuming that the current relative productivity and cost competitiveness of coal producing states will not change significantly by 1994, this paper makes two projections of coal production in the selected states. In scenario I, the current clean air regulations are assumed to apply until 1994, and coal production in the selected states is projected to in¬crease by about 6% in 1994 compared to 1984. In scenario II, it is assumed that acid rain legislation will be implemented, which will adversely affect the markets for high sulfur coals. Coal production in the selected states under this scenario is projected to decline about 10% between 1984 and 1994, jeopardizing up to 13,000 mining jobs. The author concludes that better coal quality and greater cost competitiveness are both essential to stem the market losses and to regain strength.

Jan 1, 1988

By Hans von Michaelis

ecent events have demonstrated the extraordinary impact of politics on the price of gold.... A rise from the $350/oz. level to $400 has a far greater impact on profitability of a gold mine than does, say, the invention of a way to cut the cost of gold extraction by $1.00 per ton, which in itself would represent a major achievement. Likewise, the discovery of a big, high-grade, easy­to-extract gold ore deposit would have a bigger impact on the fate of a mining company than, say, finding a way to double the energy efficiency of a grinding circuit.

Jan 1, 1990

By Valcana Stoyanova

The distribution pattern, abundance variations and types of polymetallic nodules and associated megabenthic communities in area covers more than 60 000 km2 laid out in the eastern Clarion-Clipperton Zone (CCZ) is presented. Our observations are based on data from 158 boxcore stations collected during the cruise of the Interoceanmetal (IOM) in 2004 on board of RV Yuzhmorgeologiya. Although those polymetallic nodules for two decades been subject to prospecting and exploration studies carried out by IOM, the knowledge of megabenthic communities and their distribution pattern within nodule field was extremely limited. With purpose to evaluate the relationship between polymetallic nodules and associated benthic megafauna, an comparison analyze was carried out in respect to their composition, types, abundance across the studied area owing into account the local particular feature of bottom topography. It is suggested that the nodule-bearing seafloor supported more diverse fauna (higher number of morphotypes) than the nodule-free areas. Moreover, based on correlation between types of nodules and associated faunal morphotypes frequency the apparent relationship is considered. The most abundant megafaunal taxa (between 68 ? 92%) is essentially associated with the occurrence of the diagenetically growth nodules type (D-type and its D1-subtype); the role of the H and HD nodule-types was variable. In respect to the bottom topography, the highest diversity in the structure of megafaunal communities was recorded in the gently undulating plains and on the horst slopes, thus the highest nodule abundance occur on the topographic slopes.

Jan 1, 2008

By D. K. Jorgensen

The Bullfrog and Montgomery-Shoshone deposits, near Beatty, NV, have a combined drill-indicated reserve of 15.8 Mt (17.4 million st) of ore. Average grade is 3.5 g/t (0.103 oz per st) gold and 8.2 g/t (0.24 oz per st) silver. The deposits occur in Miocene volcanic rocks that underwent large-scale movement within a detachment-faulted terrane. The principal host to gold mineralization is a strongly welded rhyolitic tuff that experienced brittle deformation during plate movement. Open space fractures and breccia were filled with quartz, calcite, and adularia accompanied by lesser pyrite, gold, and acanthite. Gold occurs as micrometer-sized particles within and adjacent to the low-angle fault and along associated listric-normal and tear faults. The Bullfrog and Montgomery-Shoshone are volcanic-hosted, detachment fault-related, epithermal quartz calcite stockwork gold deposits. Bullfrog's minable reserve is 13 Mt (14.3 million st) of ore grading 3.8 g/t (0.11 oz per st) of gold. At Montgomery-Shoshone, 2.7 Mt (3 million st) minable tons at 2.5 g/t (0.072 oz per st) are present. Preproduction stripping has begun at the Bullfrog ore body. A 7.7-kt/d (8500-stpd) carbon-in-pulp (CIP) mill is under construction. In 1990, Bond Gold expects to be producing about 6.2 t/a (200,000 oz per year) of gold.

Jan 1, 1990

By Peter J. Szabo

Many mining engineers tend to think of the economic analysis of mining ventures and projects on an f.o.b. mine basis. This is especially true of mines that are operated in an established domestic mining district. Here, transportation costs are many times smaller in comparison to overall delivered prices. One has only to consider the development economics of taconite mines in Minnesota with production destined for lower lake ports to see the truism of this statement. In the international arena, however, with consumers such as Japan and Europe located thousands of miles from source countries such as Brazil and Australia, the situation is different because mineral transportation is often a critical factor in determining project viability. This article is being presented to provide a basic understanding of the factors that govern ocean transportation of the three largest bulk mineral commodities shipped around the world: iron ore, coal, and phosphate. The major dry bulk commodity trades as a percentage of volume shipped are iron ore, 45%; grain, 25%; coal, 20%; phosphate rock, 5%; and bauxite and aluminum, 5%. Most of these commodities are carried by bulk carriers rather than tankers. These are vessels that have cargo, usually in solid form, loaded directly into the hold of a vessel by shore-side materials handling facilities or, in the case of a geared bulk carrier by the vessel's cranes and derricks. Gearless bulk carriers are used in most cases for iron ore and coal. Geared bulk vessels are mainly used for minor dry bulk trades such as ore concentrates (copper, lead, zinc, etc.), fertilizers (phosphate, potash, etc.), cement, petroleum, and coke. There has been, however, a trend toward using more self-unloading ships in both iron ore and coal ocean transport. And large vessels, such as the Universe Kure of Japan, have been designed with a cargo capability of 157 kt (155,000 dwt (deadweight tons)). Trade patterns of major bulk commodities are influenced by the Panama and Suez canals. Both of these canals have draft limitations that prohibit large, deep-draft, ocean-going vessels from using them for shorter trade routes used by Panamax and Suex vessels. The shipping industry has developed two widely used vessel classes; the Panamax and Suex vessels. The former is the maximum size vessel that can pass through the Panama Canal, usually 51-61 kt (50,000 - 60,000 dwt), depending on the season and draft of the vessel. The Panama Canal is usually 0.6-0.9 m (2-3 ft) deeper in the winter than in the summer. Thus, less cargo can be carried by the same size ship in the summer through the canal than in the winter. The Suex vessel is in the 71-81 kt (70,000-80,000 dwt) class. This larger vessel is able to transit the Suez since Egypt deepened the canal following the Seven Days War. Recently, the Suez Canal has been deepened to accommodate vessels with drafts as deep as 152 kt (150,000 dwt).

Jan 10, 1982

By P. R. G. Brandão

In this investigation, the differences in the absorption spectra of etheramines, fatty amines and condensates, mostly present as acetates, from several suppliers are characterized by means of infrared spectrometry. Sharp differences were observed in the absorption spectra of three types of amines and derivatives. Etheramines show a characteristic and well-defined peak at 1,114 cm-1. This peak is due to the ether C-O group and differentiates etheramines from the other classes. The absence of such a peak indicates that the species is not an etheramine. The distinction between condensates and fatty amines is made by the presence of a sharp peak around 3,200 cm-1. This peak is probably due to the proximity of the N-H amine groups and C=O carbonyl groups in the amide portion of the condensate's molecule and by different and better-defined bands in the 1,800- to 1,500-cm-1 range. The flotation performance of these amines was evaluated by means of the laboratory-scale flotation of an itabirite ore. The etheramines proved to be the most effective collectors for this system. Monoamines presented better performance than diamines for the ore under investigation.

Jan 1, 2002