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By E Wargem

The conventional method of underground mining involves a process known as drilling and blasting to excavate valuable ore bearing minerals through the load and haul process. Drilling and blasting processes are completed for both the development of the tunnels used to access the orebody and for mining out the orebody itself. The former being called development drilling and blasting, and the latter production drilling and blasting. In either development or production drilling and blasting, the effective recovery will be largely reliant on the extraction of the initial void created in each blast cycle. In development tunnelling, the initial void is commonly known as a Burn Cut. The initial void created in production drilling and blasting has many names such as a Slot, Winze, Rise or Raise. There are drill patterns and charge designs used to create these initial voids in the production cycle. This paper discusses common slot or winze designs for production drilling and blasting; and various critical design criteria for these. The document also aims to provide a process for completing desktop reviews of current patterns employed on-sites and provides an initial guide in a process for improving the recovery of a slot, winze, rise or raise in underground mines.

Mar 29, 2023

By Giselle de Mattos Araújo

A autorredução é afetada por características das matérias-primas tais como granulometria, porosidade, tipo e teor da fonte carbonácea, e também por características do ciclo de processamento imposto, taxas de aquecimento, tipo de atmosfera gasosa, temperatura média de processo. No presente trabalho objetiva-se, através de testes de termogravimetria, avaliar a cinética de autorredução e também o fluxo térmico associado, durante o processamento de diversas associações de finos de minério e fonte carbonácea. Com os resultados obtidos identificam-se condições que otimizam tanto a mistura autorredutora quanto o processamento, observando-se que em uma mesma faixa granulométrica, o maior conteúdo de Cfixo da fonte carbonácea e materiais mais reativos otimizam a cinética, em detrimento da maior quantidade volumétrica de partículas carbonáceas observada em amostras contendo carvões mais pobres em Cfixo. Taxas adequadamente controladas permitem a definição de instantes distintos para as diversas etapas fenomenológicas envolvidas no processamento da autorredução.

Aug 2, 2018

THE object of the air-tight stopping is either to prevent a current of fresh air from getting into the fire area, or to prevent an escape of fumes and gases from the fire area into the workings of the mine. In the former case all is "plain sailing," but in the latter case there are certain difficulties to be overcome.In the Broken Hill Proprietary mine there were two styles of stopping used during the last fire-brick and bag and the following were the chief points that determined the use of one in preference to the other:-If the required stopping were to be more or less permanent, bricks were used, also if the area to be blocked were large-bricks being so much lighter and easier to handle than bags filled with -skimps. If, however, the air contained much gas, a bag stopping was put up. Great difficulty was experienced in getting essentially surface men, such as bricklayers, to work where there was the; slightest trace of gas; miners, however, would willingly do the work, and a bag stopping could be built without skilled labour.In old drives and gangways, where there was the liability of settlement, the bag stoppings were preferable to brick. The slightest movement around the sides or foundations of the latter would cause cracks, thus rendering the brick stopping useless;whereas, in the former, there was a certain amount of elasticity.

Jan 1, 1909

By J. L. Perry

FOR many years, you and your fellow members of the American Institute of Mining and Metallurgical Engineers have devotedly and ably applied yourselves to the art of making iron and steel. having foremost in your minds the conservation of raw materials, suitable and efficient facilities, economical processes, and improved quality of product. For the past three strenuous years you have contributed wholeheartedly to meeting the problems of increased production. You have conducted scientific and technical investigations and research, recommended experiments. and gathered all the available and valuable information possible to gain the desired objectives. You have had many obstacles and difficulties to overcome. In the early days of your organization, there was some lack of co-operation from the industry itself-perhaps, for example, some failure to recognize the mutual advantages of free exchange of experiences and information. But regardless of any hindrances, you have made many and valuable contribution which have tended to make iron and steel manufacture leas of an art and more of a science.

Jan 1, 1944

By Zhiwei Jiao, Ziqing Guo, Mushen Wang, Yueda Fang, Qiuming Tang

In order to achieve anti-terrorism, production safety, better explosive performance, lower cost, and environment protection, we developed HMS (emulsification in borehole).Long-process PM (plant-mixed) and SM (site-mixed) emulsion trucks are reviewed and compared to a new type of short-process HM (hole-mixed) truck for onsite emulsion manufacturing. The short-process HM truck has demonstrated many advantages over its PM and SM counterparts in areas such as process safety and security, energy efficiency and environmental impacts: 1) No emulsion matrix is manufactured in the plant, transported on public roads, or even present on the surfaces of blasting job sites. Such characteristics are certainly beneficial in eliminating risks of the product being diverted and used by unlawful players; 2) This short-process involves "micro-fluid control to form super oil phase-rich" in tubular emulsification process, making it intrinsically safe; 3) There is basically no residual matrix left in the truck or on the job site to clean up, which greatly reduces environmental impact of the process; 4) Comparing with typical PM and SM trucks, the HM truck has eliminated the needs of many power equipment and critical pump pressure for turbulent flow forming a static emulsification with super oil phase -rich is only 0.2Mpa. These is therefore quite energy efficient.

Feb 1, 2020

By O. D. Maurice

"This paper will essentially update the information that is already known and published on the limestones of the Province of Quebec. The excellent report by M. F. Goudge (1935)m is difficult to improve upon and the areas of limestone quarrying are generally the same as they were at the time of Goudge's report. Our knowledge of the limestones of Quebec has been improved considerably in recent years by the publications of T. H. Clark, 2 who, since 1938, has been mapping and reporting on these lime-stones and has discussed their stratigraphy, their structural features, their history and their economic value. One economic aspect is the presence of natural gas in these formations and the possible occurrence of oil. A total of 150 test holes had been drilled to a depth of more than 500 feet by the end of 1967 and, in addition, at least 256 more shallow holes had been put down in the St. Lawrence Lowlands. The information from these test holes has greatly improved our knowledge of the thickness and extent. of the various formations of Paleozoic limestone and shale in Quebec.This paper will then review briefly the limestone occurrences in Quebec, using the old as well as the more recent reports as principal references"

Jan 1, 1970

By Jerry Ran

Many large underground mines using the open stoping method have changed their primary applications of consolidated rock fill (CRF) to paste or consolidated hydraulic fill due to considerations of demand in infrastructure and equipment, system reliability, backfill capacity and material sources. However, some smaller or even large mines still use or consider using CRF for backfill purpose due to factors such as capital expenditure, availability or suitability of other fill types or in some cases local regulatory requirements. As demands on CRF applications diminish among major mining companies, there is a lack of recent literature on application of CRF to open stoping in design and operation. There are several methods being used for fill strength design. Results from these methods have been successfully applied to paste or hydraulic fill. However, the design strength for CRF is much higher than that determined by use of these widely accepted methods. In operation, CRF preparation and placement have significant impacts on the quality of placed CRF and therefore the mining performance. This paper reviews the current fill design methods and their applications to open stoping with presentation of the bench marking data, presents fill failure cases and various CRF preparation and placement arrangements and discusses quality assurance and control programs.

Jun 1, 2012

By Lee Sieng Kai

This paper presents the result of the analysis of strain-dependent concrete modulus from full-scale static axial compression load tests conducted on more than 200 instrumented cast-in-place barrettes and bored piles over the past 12 years, covering commonly adopted grades of concrete for heavy foundation construction in Malaysia and Singapore. The concrete modulus values, Ec, analysed were directly back-calculated from the material of the instrumented test piles by means of placing a layer of vibrating wire strain gauges near the pile head region. The best fit curve for back-calculated concrete secant modulus versus measured axial strain follows non-linear behaviour for both categories of test pile samples analysed. The result of the analysis seems to suggest that using average constant modulus value would generally lead to a significant error in load distribution computation, particularly at high stresses region.

Jan 1, 2006

By Sangjian Zhang, Zhu Xiao, Lairong Xiao, Rushi Chen, Mei Fang, Zhou Li

The copper-graphite metal matrix composites were fabricated by two different production methods: directly sintering with copper and graphite (Cu-Gr composite), and in-situ sintering with cuprous copper and graphite (Cu2O-Gr composite). During the in-situ reaction sintering, a redox reaction occurs at the interface of the Cu2O particles and Gr particles, resulting in the improved physical and mechanical properties of Cu2O-Gr composites. Compared with Cu-Gr composite, Cu2O-Gr composite has a higher compression strength at any given graphite content due to the improved interface bonding and uniformly distributed fine graphite particles in the matrix. Increasing graphite content decreases the mechanical properties of the copper-graphite composites. The compression strength of Cu2O-Gr composite is 50-100 MPa higher than that of Cu-Gr composite. INTRODUCTION Copper-graphite composites have been widely used in industry due to their low density, relatively high strength and hardness, good thermal and electrical conductivity, arc ablation resistance and self- lubrication ability (Grandin & Wiklund, 2018; Han & Xu, 1999; Huang et al., 2017). Electric sliding contact friction pair in the high-speed railway system and motor brush in electric contact components have a very high demand on electrical conductivity and self-lubrication ability of materials. The electric devices need to bear both mechanical load and high electric current. Copper-graphite composites with good mechanical, electric and self-lubrication properties are the best candidates for application in multifunctional electric sliding contact frication components. The relative sliding speed of friction pair is developing towards 100 m/s or even faster, which can withstand the electric flow of more than 800 A, and it is often accompanied with vibration and impact (Guo & Ding, 2008). Conventional wear-resistant materials can no longer meet the current requirements and this promotes the development of copper- graphite composites with excellent comprehensive properties (Ding, Chen, Zhu, Zhang, & Zhou, 2009; Yasar, Canakci, & Arslan, 2007). There are many ways to fabricate copper-graphite composites, mainly including powder metallurgy method, liquid immersion infiltration method, rapid sintering method and electrodeposition method (Kalin & Poljanec, 2018; Kim, Lee, & Han, 2014; Liu et al., 2018; Wang et al., 2018). Each method has its own advantages and disadvantages, and the powder metallurgy method is the most commonly used one due to its simple process, high economic benefit, and industrial production applicability. The common steps of the powder metallurgy method are as follows (Samal, Parihar, & Chaira, 2013): firstly mixing the copper (copper alloy) powders and graphite with a certain ratio, following by die-forming, and then sintering at the high temperature with or without pressure. The advantage of copper-graphite composites is that the graphite distributed in the copper matrix uniformly and it can form a carbon diaphragm preventing the wear of the composite (Fu & He, 2010). However, the bonding strength of the interface between the copper matrix and the graphite is relative low as the combination between them is mechanical interlocking but not metallurgical bonding (Ma et al., 2008). It is meaningful to develop new fabrication technology of copper-graphite composites with better interface bonding, which could provide guidance for the design of copper-graphite composites with excellent comprehensive properties.

Jan 1, 2019

By Albert W. Deurbrouck

The performance of four sand cones was evaluated by the Bureau of Mines in three preparation plants that utilized cones in various flow schemes. The cone at plant A was a simple two-product one that provided clean coal and refuse. Plant B had two cones; one cone made a primary separation and the other a secondary separation. The primary cone separated salable coal from heavy rejects. The secondary cone separated a low-ash metallurgical coal and an intermediate-ash product suitable for plant fuel or steam markets. In plant C the sand cone was equipped with a middlings draw Which continually removed an intermediate specific-gravity product below the surface of the cone. The three primary separations of raw coal effected between floats and sinks were excellent. The recovery efficiencies for the plus 1/4-inch material ranged from 99.8 to 97.6 percent, the error areas ranged from 19 to 23 square centimeters, and the probable errors in specific gravity ranged from 0.033 to 0.024. The performance data of the two secondary separations varied from excellent in plant B, where the separation was on a par with the primary separations, to somewhat inferior in plant C, where the secondary separation was effected at the middlings draw.

Jan 1, 1965

By Mateus Augusto Martins de Paiva

Este estudo tem como objetivo avaliar a possibilidade de remediação de águas e áreas contaminadas com Arsênio(V) e Crômio(VI) em pH levemente ácido pela biomassa Polygonum punctatum Elliot, planta presente na imediação da lagoa da Pampulha em Belo Horizonte e em várias regiões do estado de Minas Gerais. Todos os ensaios de adsorção foram realizados em pH 5 por 24h a 25°C. A biomassa foi caracterizada por espectroscopia de infravermelho e o ponto de carga zero (PCZ) foi determinado por titulação potenciométrica. A concentração inicial e remanescente após adsorção para As(V) e Cr(VI) foram obtidas por espectrometria de absorção atômica (AAS). A capacidade de remoção para As(V) foi de 1,14 mg por grama de biomassa enquanto para Cr(VI) foi de 7,4 mg por grama de biomassa. A biomassa apresentou excelente resultado de adsorção para a espécie Cr(VI), portanto um bom potencial para aplicação para descontaminação de efluentes contendo este contaminante.

Aug 16, 2017

By Pedro Netto da Silva

O presente trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar a necessidade de substituição das linhas de gás entre a torre de MEA e a entrada no header de distribuição para os vasos Scrubbers em uma plataforma com trinta anos de operação, dado o seu histórico de produção de H2S. Verificou-se a existência de danos possivelmente causados por este contaminante nas tubulações de aço-carbono API GrB e API 5LX 42 pela análise da junta soldada entre flange e tubo, região onde frequentemente ocorrem as falhas na presença de H2S. Observou-se na ZF e nas ZTA a presença de micro-inclusões, as quais foram submetidas à análise química qualitativa por espectrometria dispersiva de raios-X e concluiu-se que eram provenientes do revestimento do eletrodo utilizado no processo de soldagem e da fabricação do aço. Como não foi constatada a presença de trincas ao longo da junta, determinou-se não ser recomendada a substituição de linhas que operam em condições semelhantes.

Aug 8, 2018

By Carolina Passanante

Aços Inoxidáveis Supermartensíticos surgiram na indústria petroquímica como um material alternativo para confecção de dutos, devido principalmente ao sinergismo de suas propriedades mecânicas e de corrosão. Com esta nova demanda, tornou-se necessária a caracterização deste material em suas diversas propriedades, destacando-se neste trabalho o efeito da microestrutura na resistência à corrosão. Objetivou-se, portanto, o estudo da resistência à corrosão por pite de um aço inoxidável supermartensítico 13Cr-5Ni-2Mo-Nb em função da fração volumétrica de ferrita-delta (d) presente na microestrutura. A variação da ferrita-delta foi alcançada através de tratamentos de recozimento, a 1.050°C, durante diferentes tempos (de 0,5h a 48h). As amostras foram submetidas a ensaios de polarização potenciodinâmica em eletrólito contendo 3,5% NaCl, naturalmente aerado. Quantificou-se, ainda, a porcentagem de ferrita em cada uma das condições através de ataque eletrolítico com solução 20% NaOH. Os resultados obtidos evidenciaram a diminuição desta fase com o aumento do tempo de recozimento, chegando praticamente à sua eliminação com tratamento de 48h. Paralelamente, a resistência à corrosão por pite deste aço foi melhorada de modo proporcional à diminuição da fase ferrita, resultando em um aumento de aproximadamente 115 mV da pior para a melhor condição, comprovando que, de fato, a presença de ferrita-delta prejudica as propriedades de resistência à corrosão localizada.

Aug 7, 2018

By F. P. Hassani, M. Hefni, M. F. Kermani

"This study is part of large and an ongoing investigation into the development of a light-weight and highly fluid mine fill for various applications in mining and civil operations. Foam mine fill is the new material proposed for backfilling mines, and is fabricated by mixing stable foam into a mixture of tailings, binders, and water. This paper investigates the effects of both binder dosage and the amount of foam used upon the mechanical and physical properties of foam fill, mainly in regards to compressive strength, porosity and density.Samples were prepared using tailings from a copper mine as the inert material, Normal Portland Cement as the main binding agent, and a foaming agent with a foam generator. Samples were cured for 7, 14 and 28 days and were then subjected to unconfined compressive strength (UCS) testing. Select samples were subjected to mercury intrusion porosimetry, so as to study the microstructural properties. An empirical model was then developed, using a response surface methodology to establish a relationship between the investigated parameters. INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUNDThe disposal of mine tailings is a significant issue in the mining industry, particularly as mine production increases. Many mines re-use mine tailings for backfilling, which is a method for reducing environmental exposure to tailings, maintaining underground stability, and increasing ore recovery (Benzaazoua, Belem & Bussière, 2002).This paper introduces a new type of backfill called ‘foam mine fill’. This proposed backfill material is similar to cellular concrete, as air bubbles are entrained in cement or lime mortar, resulting in a cellular structure (Narayanan & Ramamurthy, 2000). Air voids can occupy up to 70% of the volume of concrete, which makes it light- weight, and thus can be used for a wide range of civil applications, including backfilling (Tarasov et al. 2010; Panesar, 2013). Unlike cellular concrete, the incorporation of air bubbles into a mixture of tailings, binder and water makes foam fill a potential new backfilling material. Furthermore, a preliminary investigation on foam fill samples found that pulp densities should be optimized before adding the foam, in order to produce consistent samples without foam segregation or losses (Hefni et al., 2014)."

Jan 1, 2015

By P C. J Blackney, I M. Glacken

Spotted Quoll is a massive sulfide nickel deposit located in the Forrestania greenstone belt in the Archaean Yilgarn block in Western Australia. Discovered in October 2007, mining has progressed from open pit to underground and currently uses longhole open stoping with paste fill as the primary stoping method. Immediately prior to 2019, the Mineral Resource estimate (MRE) was defined by a single grade domain of nickel greater than or equal to 0.8 per cent, irrespective of the host lithology, a legacy of the original ore wireframe being built using explicit methods. While a number of obvious structural offsets were honoured in this nickel grade domain, only one modelled fault was used to undertake domaining of arsenic. From 2019 onwards, implicit modelling in Leapfrog Geo™ was used to construct a mine-scale geological model, which triggered the definition of a high-grade core of massive/matrix nickel sulfides surrounded by a low-grade halo of stringer/disseminated nickel sulfides in the surrounding rock. As part of the evolution of the geological model and with the aid of Seequent Central™ to allow collaboration between site-based mine geologists, Perth-based resource geologists and Melbourne-based consultants, a detailed review of the structural mapping was carried out as additional information from underground development became available. This allowed numerous faults and shears to be identified – particularly in the lower half of the mine. These were used to define further structural domains and to refine the understanding of the nickel and arsenic grade distributions in the mineralised envelope. The increased definition to the domains provided by the geological model resulted in a significant improvement in the accuracy of the Mineral Resource estimate, as measured by reconciliation using voids of the mined stopes determined from the cavity monitoring survey (CMS).

Mar 22, 2022

By Luiz Peixoto, Andrea Falcon

There are a few ways to impact the capacity of a reciprocating compressor, by altering suction and discharge pressure and recirculation. By reducing the pressure drop in the section before the compressor it is possible to provide a higher suction pressure and subsequently achieve a higher compressor flow rate. The increase in the suction pressure while maintaining the discharge pressure reduced the demanded compressor Head. When considering oxygen compressors it is necessary to cautiously evaluate the safety norms and parameters due to the risk of explosions and fires due to high oxygen velocity.

Oct 3, 2019

By Lucas Faccioni Chanchetti

A utilização do hidrogênio em Células a Combustível para a geração de energia embarcada é uma alternativa promissora para o futuro da indústria automobilística, uma vez que o sistema é eficiente, possui alta densidade energética e é ambientalmente limpo. No entanto sistemas avançados para o armazenamento do hidrogênio são necessários, já que este possui uma densidade baixíssima. Entre as principais opções pesquisadas estão os hidretos à base de magnésio. Neste trabalho foi feita uma análise das patentes depositadas no mundo sobre estes materiais, mapeando os principais atores, evolução estocástica e as tendências tecnológicas do setor. Foi encontrada uma queda expressiva no patenteamento após 2008, o que pode sugerir um início de estágio de amadurecimento tecnológico, além de menos de 10% das famílias de patentes terem sido depositadas no Brasil, o que parece indicar que este não é visto como um mercado promissor para a tecnologia.

Aug 8, 2018

This paper describes a mine truck hauling process called "Truck Jigging" which is currently the subject of a process patent application.The investigation explores the production and cost advantages of using the potential energy available in a descending haul truck to assist in elevating an ascending vehicle. Applications are studied for both strip cut mines and open pit operations. Various mechanical connections between the two vehicles are considered, based on a pulley mounted rope system. Fifteen year operating cost estimates show savings of up to 26.5 percent over conventional mine truck operations.

Jan 1, 1989

By A. L. Engel

This report is a compilation of results of preliminary concentration tests of seven manganese-ore samples. Six of the seven samples were submitted through the Mining Division, and 1 from Mexico was submitted by H. A. Doerner, formerly chief metallurgist, Region III. These investigations were made to assist development of mineral resources and particularly to aid economical exploitation of marginal or complex ores, from which strategic or critical minerals may be recovered.

Jan 1, 1953

By P. A. Lawless

The objective of the research performed A for the Bureau of Mines on this contract was to develop a portable instrument for the detection of carbon monoxide (CO) in a mine environment. The desired characteristics were sensitivity and specificity for CO with a stable calibration. The sensor of the instrument was to be of metal oxide composition, requiring low power for compatibility with the types of batteries presently used in personal equipment in mines. The solid state design was also desired for ruggedness and small size. A key design feature of the instrument was to be provided by adherence to the intrinsic safety design requirements for electrical equipments operated in potentially exposive mine atmosphere. The Research Triangle Institute has prior experience in developing a solid state oxygen sensor using a thin film of zinc-oxide (Ref. 1) and experience in fabricating thin film devices. Solid state sensors utilized by other workers (Refs. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6) have included metal and semiconductor films and crystals of materials like carbon and aluminum oxide for the measurement of water vapor in the air and have relied upon measuring resistance and capacitance changes in the sensor in response to adsorbed vapors or gases. Since the effect of carbon monoxide in changing the resistance of various materials such as molybdenum, platinum, and zinc oxide had been reported (Refs. 7, 8, 9, 10), the requirements appeared to be realisable, although it was recognized even at the inception of the work that specificity to carbon monoxide might require the incorporation of more than one sensor.

Jan 1, 1976