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By I. A. Scott, T. J. Napier-Munn

Size-by-size partition curves for mineral separation in dense-medium cyclones pivot about a single characteristic point. This is defined for stable, non-segregating media by the medium density and the proportion of the medium reporting to the underflow. The pivot point departs from these values for unstable, conventional media. The phenomenon can be represented by an equation with two parameters defining pivot point coordinates and two the Ep value. On the basis of experiments in a 200 mm cyclone using ferrosilicon media, simple regression equations were developed for the separation parameters in terms of operating conditions (the coefficients were likely to be site-specific). The experiments successfully decoupled the effects of medium density and viscosity and showed that the value of Ep was independent of the former but strongly dependent on the latter. A classification model was used to predict the density of the underflow medium, a knowledge of which is required to determine the pivot parameters. The model correctly reflects the performance trends observed in dense-medium cyclone operation and has the potential to be generalised to a wide range of industrial practice.

Jan 8, 1992

By G. Richards

Mines are facing fresh challenges over how they deal with the huge quantities of water consumed. industry analyst Frost and Sullivan, demand for treatment equipment and services alone is expected to be worth US$3.6bn by 2016, while a report by consultancy Bluefield Research estimates that the total mine water market - which includes water infrastructure such as reservoirs, pipelines and dewatering systems as well as the equipment and services - will be worth US$17bn by the end of 2019. Methods of water decontamination are described.

May 1, 2015

By R. Vikram

IMAGES (Integrated Mapping Applications Graphical Evaluation System) is a computer graphics system developed by British Coal for mine planning. The objectives of the system are to increase the profitability of mined coal through a combination of direct and indirect benefits. The system is flexible and can be used in part or in full at a mine as a stand-alone system or as a remote location of a central corporate system.

Jan 12, 1992

By J. R. Budden, P. A. Spencer, J. Barrett

The initially produced arsenic (III) is very toxic to the unconditioned culture but the mixed culture has the capacity to oxidise it to arsenic (V) in the presence of iron (III). It was possible to build up the resistance of the culture through progressive sub-culturing on arseno-pyrite until it could tolerate steady-state concentrations of 30 mM arsenic (III) and 200 mM arsenic (V). With some samples tested in the continuous systems the final arsenic concentrations reached 330 mM. It proved possible to use the laboratory batch data to establish the optimum operating conditions for continuous test systems with capacities of up to 32 m3. Data on the residence time, oxygen uptake rates and gold extraction from the bio-oxidised residues could then be confirmed by continuous testing without the need first to use empirical means to determine optimum conditions for continuous bio-oxidation. The data on residence time, oxygen uptake rate, solids density and neutralisation could be used to estimate the capital and operating costs of treating any given tonnage of the concentrate of interest. It was established that the arsenopyrite concentrates can be suitably bio-oxidised to cause the liberation of at least 90% of the gold content. The method is simple to operate and is flexible over a wide range of external conditions

Apr 1, 1991

By D. M. Milne, P. J. Lunder, R. C. Pakalnis

During the mining of an open stope, deformation of the hanging-wall and the potential for dilution generally increase with the size of the exposed hanging-wall. Excluding discrete structures that may delineate unstable blocks, the mechanisms that drive hanging-wall deformation and possible dilution comprise several factors which can include elastic, plastic and discontinuum deformation. These stages of deformation are not mutually exclusive and at any point during mining all three of these mechanisms may be acting on the hanging-wall rock mass. Computer modelling techniques are available to analyse the three stages of deformation, but the difficulty lies in trying to obtain realistic rock mass properties for input and in determining when each stage of deformation is acting. Instrumentation data can be used to predict the effect of continued mining. However, it is often difficult to calibrate numerical models against field data owing to the large number of input parameters required. An empirical approach is recommended that uses two new parameters, the radius factor and the effective radius factor. A method is proposed for predicting the effect of continued mining from existing deformation and dilution data for a given hanging-wall

Apr 1, 1996

By B. D. Rayment, J. D. Wilson, G. R. Davis

Wheal Jane, situated between Truro and the Carnmenellis granite, is under development by Consolidated Gold Fields, Ltd., as a tin producer. The main or B lode comprises a complex cassiterite-sulphide ore located in shear zones along the footwall of the lowest of a series of porphyry dykes (elvans) which strike ENE and dip 35° north. Minor mineralisation follows other elvan contacts and sets of later steeply dipping fractures. The localisation and overall geometry of the deposit is explained in terms of the complex structural geology of the Lower Palaeozoic metasediments and the shape and manner of emplacement of the invading Hercynian granite of Cornwall. Variations in the thickness and grade of the orebody, and in the nature of the mineralisation, are shown to be structurally controlled by undulations of the footwall contact of the B elvan. Wallrock sericitisation is present and is applied in exploration for ore

Dec 1, 1971

By A Cox

It has been demonstrated that all the cadmium from spent batteries, typically 4 g per battery, can be recovered by burning polyvinyl chloride waste to yield hydrogen chloride; this reacts to produce volatile calcium chloride, which can then be condensed and collected in a separate reactor. Alternatively, chlorine may be used to chlorinate the cadmium with equal efficiency. There is also a prospect of using very low concentrations of these gases, less than 1%, to effect the separation. The Cd was recovered more quickly when exposed to sustained, controlled flow rates of chlorinating gases, whereas when PVC was burnt most of the gas was produced in a very short time, not allowing complete reaction. This problem can be overcome by recirculation of the gas into the reactor. The technology is efficient and clean and the equipment used is simple, enhancing the prospects for a pilot-scale version of the process

Jun 21, 1905

By S. Babendererde

The twenty-ninth Sir Julius Wernher memorial lecture of the IMM, presented at Tunnelling '97, London, 2-4 September 1997. The tunnelling industry is well prepared to face the challenge from the population explosion in urban areas in the near future. Many well-established yet redundant concepts are still impeding progress, however, including the prediction of excessive surface ground settlements. The correct selection of TBM can minimise these, and ground deformations can be avoided completely if the appropriate techniques are applied. Advanced techniques have been used in the Tokyo Bay Crossing, where the tunnel lining was installed by robots. Other advanced techniques include the use of a sliding slip form to give temporary support to an extruded tunnel lining, the chemical processing of ground by polymers during earth-pressure balanced tunnelling and the use of electronic monitoring and steering devices in TBMs. There will be challenges to tunnelling in urban environments, as open cut techniques will no longer be tolerated. Two examples of mined stations are briefly discussed

Jun 19, 1905

By M. Schwartz

Hosting copper, gold, oil and liquefied natural gas, the country is an interesting target for miners. However, remote locations in inhospitable, unusual and difficult terrain cause problems. The government has worked to create a Sovereign Wealth Fund to manage government surpluses from minerals and energy but PNG scores very low among many criteria, including land dispute resolution, as revealed by the 2014 Canadian Fraser Institute in its survey of senior mining personnel.

May 1, 2015

Discussion following the presentation at the North of England Institute of Mining and Mechanical Engineers' general meeting held in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, 8th April 1916, included the author's introduction, written contributions by Bedson P.P., Gregory T.W.D. and Morgan J.D., oral contributions by Louis H., Greener T.Y. and Severs W., and the author's reply

Dec 1, 1916

By S. P. Godby, S. P. Sharples

Wind-tunnel tests were carried out of the conditions under which nuisance dust particles (100-1 000 micrometres) become entrained by wind. A laser entrainment monitoring system (LEMS) was used, and was found to provide an accurate means of assessing nuisance dust emissions from a surface. Accurate determination of the threshold entrainment velocity of dusts using the LEMS gives a baseline against which the performance of dust control techniques can be evaluated. Minerals tested included coal, petroleum coke, limestone, sand and pulverised fuel ash. Pilot field trials of a portable wind tunnel equipped with the LEMS have been successfully completed, providing a means of validating laboratory results in the field

Jun 19, 1905

By Emanuel Shinwell, Douglas Hay

"Opening statements relating to the health and welfare of underground workers and the nature and prevention of silicosis and pneumokoniosis. During 1945-47, 10,500 UK coal-miners were certified by the Silicosis Medical Board to be suffering from pneumokoniosis and suspended from work in the industry. Over 80% of cases occurred in the South Wales coalfields. Silicosis and pneumokoniosis also occur among metalliferous miners, such as the tin-miners of Cornwall. The slate-quarries of North Wales are also troubled by these conditions as are the haematite mines of the North-West of England."

Jan 1, 1947

Jan 1, 1947

By B. Tiryaki, O. Z. Hekimoglu

Shearer drums are a critical component in the overall performance of coal shearers, with the cutting performance depending very much on the disposition of cutter tools on the drums (the tool-lacing arrangement). A series of practical and theoretical studies has been undertaken to investigate aspects of shearer drum vibration in terms of circumferential pick spacing. A number of commercially available drums were redesigned and the lacing patterns compared with those of the original drums under near-uniform conditions. Mine trials were carried out at the Middle Anatolian lignite mine in Turkey with drums fitted on Eickhoff type EDW-230 double-ranging drum shearers. It was found that the performance of drums could be improved if the concept of circumferential pick spacing was taken into account in CAD packages along with the existing design parameters such as cutting rate, reduced dust, low pick consumption and low down-time

Jun 19, 1905

By R. W. Ruddle

"Besides copper, iron, silicon, and oxygen, a large number of elements may be present in copper ores, the more important of which are zinc, lead, arsenic, antimony, bismuth, selenium, tellurium, nickel, cobalt and the precious metals; impurities of less importance are calcium, magnesium, aluminium, barium, sodium, potassium, manganese, lithium, fluorine, titanium, uranium, vanadium, tin and molybdenum. All of these elements are eliminated to some degree in the subsequent roasting, smelting and converting operations.Information on the elimination of impurities during the smelting of copper is surprisingly meagre, however, rather more information is available on impurity removal during the smelting of the ore in reverberatory or blast furnaces."

Jan 1, 1953

By R. Scheepers, J. E. Misiewicz, A. C. Fitzgerald

Discussion by A.C. Fitzgerald of the paper, published in Trans. IMM A, vol.104, 1995, p.B121-B135, is presented together with the authors' response. Fitzgerald points out a number of problems with the idea of mineralising fluids leaving no trace in the large volumes of rock traversed before depositing all minerals of value in a particular horizon or rock type with which the required isobaric or isothermic surface also coincides. He suggested that in the case of the Rooiberg tin deposits, the Lebowa Granites may be batholiths that reached the surface and were capped by sheets of their own volcanics. The authors agree that they had considered a possible syngenetic origin for the stratabound deposits, explain that no conclusive evidence for this could be found, discuss the relative ages of the sediments and volcanics of the Rooiberg Fragment and explain the role of its low-intensity deformation and flat dip in the coincidence of an isobaric-isothermic surface with the lithological stratification

Jun 18, 1905

By D. C. Kaliampakos, A. K. Moutsatsou, J. K. Skotaras

The wastes from marble extraction in the Thasos- Kavalla-Drama region of northeastern Greece could be utilised as a new source of high-quality white carbonate fillers for the European market. Large deposits, satisfactory properties, acceptable processing costs and environmental benefits are among the factors that would have a positive bearing on a proposal for their use in this way. DTH, the waste arising from dolomitic marble quarrying operations on the island of Thasos, appears to be the more suitable material than DA waste from Nikissiani on the mainland because of the lower cost of primary grinding and the higher production rate of ultrafines with a mean particle size of 5 micrometres (the optimum size for filler properties in the case of both DTH and DA), its superior whiteness, the benefits that such use would bring to a very severe and complex environmental problem and the lower transport cost

Jun 18, 1905

By S. L. Gay

The conventional mass-balance equations used as constraints can lead to flow estimate values of zero even though the flow estimates should be some positive number. This is because many of the constraint equations are satisfied if the flow rates are zero. The way to overcome the problem is to use a slightly different form of the equations. For example, rather than use the conservation of flow of solids as a constraint it is better to use the constraint that the percentage of solids going into a unit equals the percentage of solids coming out of the unit. Examples are given using mineral processing data sets from Mount Isa, Queensland, and Red Dog, Alaska

Jun 21, 1905

By Black J.

Further discussion at the Mining Institute of Scotland's general meeting held in Edinburgh, 12 February 1916, with D.W. Mowat, president, in the chair, of a paper published in Trans. Inst. Min. Engrs., 1915, vol. L, p.449 included written contributions by Dron R.W., Riddell W., Hamilton J. and Mowat D.W.

Dec 1, 1916

By H. R. Thorpe

A floating gold dredge operating in coarse alluvial gravels of the Grey River on the west coast of the South Island, New Zealand, generated high concentrations of clay and colloidal particles in the dredge pond, which entered the groundwater system. Sampling was carried out at depths down to 20 m and it was found that variation of the length of the flow path occurred because of the movement of the dredge towards the piezometers. The alluvial gravels, the suspended sediments, the groundwater system and the water chemistry were all studied. Sediment concentrations were found to be highly variable with depth, but the relative concentrations in the depth profile were generally consistent as the flow distance shortened. The sediments were extremely fine and travelled further through the gravels than predicted. Comparison of field results with the available theory of deep filtration in clean beds of porous media gives some basis for estimating the behaviour of fine sediments in other alluvial systems

Jun 19, 1905