Search Documents

By Damien Enright, Franz-Werner Gerressen

CFA/ACIP pile is the most used single pass drilling method for deep foundation installations. It is constructed by rotating and driving a Continuous Flight Auger (CFA) into the ground at a controlled speed to the specified pile depth. Concrete is then pumped under continuous positive pressure through the hollow stem of the auger to fill the borehole as the auger is withdrawn. CFA/ACIP piles are preferred due to their high daily production capacity when used in suitable soil conditions. CFA/ACIP piles have been installed in the United States for decades and the industry has seen a huge development in equipment, installation process, monitoring and more. Nowadays, CFA/ACIP piles are installed using fully computer monitored drill rigs rather than a bulky crane and lead setup. Because of the torque and crowd offered by these rigs, piles can be installed to depths of more than 100 feet and diameters up to 48 inches. New age crane-based equipment with leader systems are than welcome to substitute old fashioned bulky cranes These new age crane-based systems combine the benefits of sufficient hydraulic power, fully equipped software, etc. with the additional benefits that they can do single pass drilling without extension systems, even when drill depths of more than 100 feet are required. The paper will explain the construction process and will discuss some jobsite references and experiences made using the new age crane-based equipment.

Oct 1, 2022

By J. Douglas Causey

The Bureau of Mines conducted mineral investigations of the Peace Rock and Deadwood River roadless areas in Idaho, in 1992. Literature research was done by the Idaho Geological Survey. The study areas contain black sand placers (thorium, columbium, tantalum, titanium, uranium, and rare earth elements), gold, and molybdenum prospects. Except for unrecorded placer gold, there has been no mineral production from the areas. No mineral resources were delineated, but a multi-million tonne molybdenum resource is in the Big Pine Creek area and a 142 million m' black sand deposit is in the Stolle Meadows, Peace Valley, and Deadwood River areas. The Deadwood mine produced zinc, lead, and silver. There are six mining districts in and adjoining the areas; Warm Lake, Deadwood, Garden Valley/Lowman, Banner, Summit Flat, and Grimes Pass. Few claims, mostly placer, were active in the study area in 1992. The study areas are underlain by granitic rocks of the Idaho batholith. Most of the deposits are alluvial accumulations of heavy minerals weathered out of the Idaho batholith. Stockwork and narrow veins along shears account for the base and precious metal concentrations. Eleven prospects were examined. Workings consist of drill holes, pits and adits. Geothermal resources (hot springs) occur mainly along the Middle Fork Payette River; Vulcan Hot Springs is a designated Known Geothermal Resource Area. Sand and gravel resources are of local interest.

Jan 1, 1993

By T. Mudder

The objectives for closure of a hard rock mine include minimizing long term environmental liability, attaining regulatory compliance, and maintaining geotechnical stability, while closing as cost-effectively as possible. Proper planning for closure should come during the feasibility study, design and permitting phases, and during operations as updates. The lack of a proper or updated closure plan can result in severe environmental and economic consequences. Effective mine closure is the result of a combination of innovative concepts, long-term commitments, and multi-party cooperation. The purpose of this paper is to discuss concepts, commitments, and cooperation as they relate to an effective closure plan.

Jan 1, 1999

By Bernadette C. Michalski

Mineral raw materials, labor, capital, and technology form the basis of industrial production. The augmentation of one or all of the elements--labor, capital, and technology--will result in industrial growth. Thus, an increase in the labor force would increase output. A similar result would be achieved by expanding capital investment and supplying labor with more equipment. Finally, industrial growth can be achieved by introducing more productive methods and techniques born of technological advancement. The Soviet Union has employed these elements in many patterns to catapult from an agricultural to an industrial economy in four decades. The early history of the Soviet Union was marked by limited capital and borrowed technology, forcing the Soviets to concentrate on an abundant labor reserve to support the industrial program. The source of this reserve was the rural population. In [1928], 80 percent of the working population was employed in agriculture. This figure dropped to 43 percent by 1956, whereas industrial employment in the same period increased from 8 to 31 percent.3/

Jan 1, 1960

By F Flitti, M Haest, O Dominguez, D Mittrup, G Hird

The automated geology interpretation (AGI) tool has been developed in BHP Billiton to automate stratigraphy logging of drill holes, using any available quantitative data sets. At present, AGI is set-up to utilise geochemistry and mineralogy from infrared spectroscopic data to predict stratigraphy. Once the AGI tool is calibrated, results show that the tool is capable of automatically defining stratigraphy across all of the deposit types, encountered by BHP Billiton Iron Ore in the north-west of Western Australia. Accuracy of AGI at predicting stratigraphy is on average better than 75 per cent, with average accuracies exceeding 85 per cent for some deposit types. The AGI tool can deliver fast, accurate, consistent and objective geological interpretations.AGI is currently being implemented in BHP Billiton Iron Ore Exploration to streamline the drill hole logging process and allow geologists to spend less time defining stratigraphy at the drill hole level and more time investigating stratigraphy in 3D. This will deliver improved geology models, with significant downstream benefits in terms of better resource models, more accurate mine plans, higher plant efficiencies and more consistent ore products, driving productivity in BHP Billiton Iron Ore over the next decade.CITATION:Mittrup, D, Flitti, F, Hird, G, Haest, M and Dominguez, O, 2015. Semi-automated geological interpretation using assay and infrared spectroscopic sensing parameters towards improvements in geological modelling, in Proceedings Iron Ore 2015, pp 313–318 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Jul 13, 2015

By C. J. McKee

A gold-silver-lead-zinc deposit at Montana Tunnels, Jefferson County, Montana is located in a diatreme of middle Eocene age (45 to 50 m.y.). Sulfide minerals within the diatreme occur as disseminations, veinlets, and locally as breccia matrix. Principal sulfide minerals are pyrite, sphalerite, and galena. The diatreme is a matrix-rich quartz latitic breccia with a fine grained rather soft matrix and heterolithic clasts. The ore deposit contains approximately 50 million tons of ore at a grade of 0.025 oz/ton Au, 0.5 oz/ton Ag, 0.25 % Pb, and 0.65 % Zn. Mining is by open pit methods. The original process flowsheet included flotation and cyanide leaching. Problems with the leaching circuit led to a change to the straight flotation process which is presently in use. To maintain a reason-ably uniform feed material, blending of ore is required for grades of four metals as well as for ore hardness and oxidation.

Jan 1, 1988

By JESSE L. MAURY

ONE OF the most hopeful features of the current depression is the discussion which it has en- gendered of ways and means to counteract similar recurrences in the future. 1t is widely recognized that fruitful attack will be directed toward the steady employment of labor, through which the purchasing power of this preponderant class in society will be maintained. S. A, Lewisohn's article' has presented the major factors to be considered; the physical suffering and mental torture endured by those who are deprived of income through no fault of their own, the direct economic losses' sustained in the degradation of 'great, numbers of our population and the disintegration of efficient working forces, and the prime responsibility of owners and managers.

Jan 1, 1931

By D. M. Davidson, P. F. Kerr

The Permian Cutler Formation in Kane Creek, Utah bears uranium ore in fissure-type vertical veins. This fissure vein formation and its associated host rock bleaching, weak argillic alteration, and base-metal sulfide mineralization along with the development of hydrothermal minerals, a 60 m.y. isotopic Pb/U age, and well-crystallized uraninite's structural control, give evidence of ore deposition in a hydrothermal environment consistent with Laramide mineralization. Mica polymorph studies indicate first, that temperature during the hydrothermal alteration or subsequent ore deposition did not exceed 200°; hence Cutler deposits are classified telethermal; and secondly, that rock alteration and ore deposition are closely related both in time and space, as is seen in argillic alteration sequence. Ore deposition in an alkaline to slightly acid reducing environment is postulated. Ore textures and mineral associations and distributions also indicate that carbonate complexes may have been transported with the deposing ores. Bleached rock formations are not primary strati-graphic phenomena. Bleaching, or changes in ferric iron content, results from a chemical process involving reduction and conversion of hematite to a soluble aqueous ion. Nearby Chinle bedded deposits (Moss Rack sandstone), containing shale lenses, fossil wood, organic debris and minor fractures, overly the Cutler formation. Chinle ores have a single reported isotopic age of approximately 200 m.y. Their chemical environment is assumed similar to that of the Cutler ores, though slightly more acidic. Two genetic, paradoxically divergent interpretations of the bedded deposits are derived from available spectrographic, petrographic, X-ray and chemical analyses. Kane Springs canyon is located southwest of Moab, Utah, south of the Colorado River and northwest of the Lisbon Valley mining district (Fig. 1). Uranium deposits occur along the northeast flank of a Kane Creek salt anticline where two geologic formations bear ore, the Permian Cutler and the Triassic Chinle. The Cutler deposits' fissure vein formation is an unusual occurrence in the Colorado Plateau. The Chinle deposits appear to be of the normal sedimentary type. Associated with the vein deposits are a number of features, including argillic alteration of sedimentary strata. The minerals of these deposits and their associated features have been studied in detail in a two year program entailing both field and laboratory techniques. STRATIGRAPHY A stratigraphic section of the lithologic units in the Kane Creek area is given in Table I.

Jan 1, 1967

Traditional loading systems have relied for many years on wheel and track loaders, power shovels, conveyor belts, and more recently, hydraulic front shovels. Each has certain advantages and disadvantages, depending largely on job conditions. Hydraulic backhoes were introduced several years ago as still another truck loading option. At first, buckets were small and backhoe use was limited to small earthmoving projects. Now, as backhoes are equipped with shorter sticks and bigger buckets to move larger quantities of earth. The "mass excavation" concept offers an excellent truck loading option in many situations. System Development and Advantages Mass excavation was first used successfully by contractors in site development and highway construction, loading both on-highway and off-highway trucks. Operators were able to take advantage of the excavator's ability to work in poor underfoot conditions and dig in tough materials. The technique was first applied to mining in the kaolin mines of central Georgia. Kaolin, one of the world's most abundant minerals, is used to make paper, paint, ceramics, rubber, plastics, and many other products. Since kaolin clay is slippery when wet, load-out with wheel loaders is very inefficient. Also, kaolin is found in very spotty deposits due to the weathering process involved in its formation. Consequently, draglines are also impractical for kaolin mining since they don't have the mobility to move between clay deposits. In response to these mining conditions and kaolin characteristics, mines began using excavators in mass excavation as early as 1976. They have developed a system that takes advantage of the excavator's •high penetration and breakout force in tight materials; •fast-cycling hydraulics; •ability to work in poor underfoot conditions; and •mobility in comparison to draglines. This loading method has been successful in Georgia's kaolin mines and now can be applied to other mining operations as well. The excavator's ability to carefully dig spotty ore deposits is an asset at uranium mining operations. Any mine can take ad-

Jan 3, 1982

By Gary P. Sames

The Bureau of Mines recently initiated a study of geologic features that contribute to roof instability in western U.S. underground coal mines. The purpose of the study is to provide information for use in ground control planning and safety hazard reduction in that region, where mining activity has been increasing. Hazardous geologic conditions were surveyed in selected underground coal mines in Utah and Colorado, and both depositional and structural features were identified as potential ground hazards. Although the conditions found do not differ in kind from hazardous geologic conditions in the Eastern United States, they do differ in intensity of occurrence and relative importance. Three depositional features dominate where unstable roof occurs in western underground coal mines: paleochannel deposits, crevasse splay deposits, and flood basin deposits. Three structural features identified as hazardous, but not so widespread or common as the depositional hazards, are faulting, jointing, and igneous intrusions. This survey establishes a foundation for future studies aimed at reducing and preventing ground control accidents in western coal mines.

Jan 1, 1988

By James P. May

Operating mine haulage trucks near the crest of stockpiles and waste dumps is a potentially hazardous practice often resulting in a localized slope failure and a dump point accident. The U.S. Bureau of Mines has developed a computer code (INSLOPE3) based on the kinematic method of limit analysis which determines an admissible truck weight (upper bound value) for varying distances from the slope edge. The program considers the material strength parameters, slope geometry, and inertial forces induced by vehicle braking. The program can be utilized to assist in the determination of safe operating distances for a haulage truck from a slope edge, the development of safe vehicle operating procedures, and the admissible weight for a static concentrated loading near the crest of an otherwise stable slope. This report provides information on the use of INSLOPE3, interpretation of the results for mining applications, and instructions for acquiring a copy of the software.

Jan 1, 1991

By C. J. Newman

Production levels at the Kidd Creek copper operation increased during the 1980's by expansion of both the smelter and refinery and by major modifications to equipment which was causing bottlenecks. As a result, there was a significant reduction in the unit cost, some manpower reductions and hence a significant increase in productivity. In the last two or three years, there have been no major expansion projects leading to unit cost reductions and yet these have still been attained. This has been achieved by the development and implementation of various techniques designed to maximize the inherent potential of the operators and maintenance employees. This paper will initially describe the operation but will then place emphasis on employee involvement through such methods as idea awards, incentive schemes, loss control and continuous improvement programs. Organizational changes are discussed, particularly with reference to changes from the traditional operator role to one which encompasses maintenance skills and to cross-training of maintenance employees into multi-discipline fields. The effect of these changes are discussed by a review of the salient plant parameters of safety, production levels, cost and quality.

Jan 1, 1993

As the mining industry looks to new technologies for a safe work environment and increased production rates, so should emergency response teams when dealing with organisational incidents. Implementation of technology has transformed the nature of incidents within the international mining community with lower frequency, high impact events replacing high frequency, low impact incidents of the past. In turn the approach to mines rescue response and preparation has naturally diversified. New rescue technologies when applied effectively can only further advance preparation and the response of mine rescues teams. This paper discusses some of the changes associated with mines rescue as the industry embraces technology. It highlights some recent rescue responses and their approach and gives examples of some of the new technologies being used for improved mines rescue.

Jan 1, 2004

By Donald P. Tuchman, Justin R. Patts, Emanuele G. Cauda, Andrew B. Cecala, Elaine N. Rubinstein

Video techniques for monitoring exposure, such as NIOSH’s “Helmet-CAM,” employ both real-time dust monitors and mobile video cameras to assess workers’ respirable dust exposures. Many real-time personally worn dust monitors utilize light scattering sensing elements, which are subject to measurement biases as a function of dust type (size, composition, shape factor) and environmental conditions such as relative humidity. These biased and inaccurate dust measurements impair the monitor’s ability to properly represent actual respirable dust concentrations. In the testing described, instrument mass concentration data was collected using three different types of commonly used commercial off-the-shelf personal dust monitors and compared to a reference standard. This testing was performed in a calm air (Marple) dust chamber in which three units of each make and model (for a total of nine monitors) were used for each test. Equivalency factors (EF, a multiplier to match the Thermo TEOM 1400a reference instrument) ranged between 0.746 and 1.879 across all dusts and environmental conditions tested, and between 0.821 and 1.519 on the ISO test dust.

By Batric Pesic

Solvent extraction of nickel and cobalt from the real leach solutions was studied by using a novel extraction system. The extraction system was a mixture of 2,6-bis-[5-n-nonylpyrazol-3¬y]] pyridine (BNPP) and dinonylnaphthalene sulfonic acid (DNSSA). The BNPP represents a novel molecule, which was designed and synthesized in our laboratory. Real solutions for the study were prepared by leaching of two different cobalt-nickel bearing concentrates, cobaltite [CoAsS] concentrate from Blackbird Mine, Idaho, and siegenite [(Ni,Co)3S4] concentrate from Missouri Lead-Belt. The major strength of the system was the selectivity of extraction toward nickel and cobalt from iron containing solutions. Other metals such as Mn, Mg, Ca, Al and As were not extracted. Due to the irreversibility of copper extraction, its removal from solution was required prior to the extraction of nickel and cobalt. Zinc was not as strongly extracted (i.e. its stripping was readily achieved) as was copper . Flowsheets for the recovery of nickel and cobalt were also developed.

Jan 1, 1997

By Ismet Canbulat

"In order to ensure the stability of roadways, Anglo American Metallurgical Coal (AAMC) has developed a roof support design methodology that integrates analytical, numerical and empirical modelling. This methodology currently is based on a deterministic approach (a single factor of safety against failure is calculated). However, an improved methodology, based on stochastic modelling technique, has also been developed and currently being evaluated. The main advantage of this methodology is that the design is based on the probability distributions of input parameters; thus the outcome is based on a distribution of factors of safety rather than a single factor of safety. An evaluation of factors of safety may also be used to determine the likelihood of failure, which in turn may be utilized to quantitatively determine and evaluate the associated risks in decision making process. This methodology has been evaluated at Grasstree and Moranbah North Coal Mines in the designs of roof support in various critical areas and has been proven to be successful and a better way of determining the roof support requirements.This paper demonstrates the application of this methodology in a design of an install road roof support at Moranbah North Mine, where the 1,750 tonne capacity ''world's highest rated longwall"" has recently been installed.INTRODUCTIONAnglo American Metallurgical Coal Australia (AAMC) operates three longwall (LW) mines located in Central Queensland. There is an increasing emphasis on the reliability at these operations, as the longwalls are getting deeper and facing more geologically challenging conditions. In addition, the Anglo American Vision is to achieve ""Zero Harm"" through the effective management of safety at all businesses and operations. In order to accomplish this vision, AAMC has developed a proactive ground control management system for a safe and efficient production of underground reserves.Proactive ground control management involves understanding the impacts of the geotechnical environment on likely ground behavior, and it consists of approximately 15 major elements. One of the most essential fundamentals of proactive ground control management is to utilize a roof support design methodology that considers different failure mechanisms and also takes into account all important elements. The design methodology becomes even more important when the area in question is a critical area, which is defined as a high risk roadway where any failure may cause increased levels of safety and financial risks to underground workforce and operations."

Jan 1, 2010

By J. P. D. Strydom

The transmission of excessive vibration to the human body can cause physical stress that may result in crippling pain or permanent disability. Rock drills are known to transmit high levels of vibration that are difficult to attenuate through conventional approaches to vibration isolation. However, it can be shown that once the ISO frequency weighting has been applied, most of the vibratory effect of the rock drill?s motion is concentrated at the drill?s operating frequency. This observation opens the way for utilizing a concept known as vibration absorption, aimed at attenuating the rock drill?s vibration. In essence this entails using the inertia of a secondary vibratory system to counteract the motion of the handle. This article documents an investigation into the use of such an absorber for attenuating rock drill vibration and demonstrates the feasibility of such an approach. A mathematical model of such an absorbing handle was developed and used for design studies. Based on these investigations an experimental prototype model was manufactured and tested. A significant reduction in vibration levels could be achieved.

Jan 1, 2002

By Heiko Schiemann, Christoph Beyer, Thomas Pretz

"Due to multiple experiences in the field of planning and engineering of processing plants for secondary materials the Chair for Processing and Recycling of Solid Waste Materials decided to develop a software tool that supports the engineering and the planning of the basic layout of processing plants for secondary material flows. The detailed description of the material flow and its characteristic parameters is one of the main tasks to be worked out and should be considered as the basis for representative simulation results.The description of the material flow and its characteristic parameters is based on a fraction vector containing 12 material fractions. This is a compromise between a detailed material flow description and a compact and therefore time-extensive calculation model. Each material fraction is characterized by 15 parameters, which can be edited with the help of an easily accessible user-interface. In addition to basic parameters like ignition loss, water content and calorific value more parameters like the material fraction-specific particle-size distribution are contained. Using the model library SimuRec, the processing success and the recovery of complex processing plants for secondary materials can be predicted."

Jan 1, 2003

By Steve Kral

It seems that mining has been in the doldrums for awhile. Except for gold, metals prices remain depressed. And economic conditions in the United States and around the globe have put governments in a financial bind. This affects new building and infra-structure repairs, which, in turn, have a major impact the building materials industry. Add to that the severe environmental and regulatory restrictions placed on the mining industry in developing new mines and expanding existing ones. It’s enough to make a mining engineer/geologist/metallurgist go sell real estate. So why do those employed in the mining industry stay in the business and remain optimistic? Many of them will say that they have been through down cycles before and know that an upswing is in the offing. They also know that society will always need the commodities they produce. And they love the challenge. The challenge in mining’s case is producing commodities as cheaply as possible, in an environmentally sound manner and improving the quality of life in the communities where they work.

Jan 1, 2003

By J. Kirsch

Keywords: Pyrometallurgy, pneumatic transport, pneumatic transport Dense-phase pneumatic injection has begun to replace more traditional furnace-feeding systems. The paper describes the technology as it is applied to processes where the back pressure at the point of injection is greater than 50 kPaG. It reviews earlier systems of injection and more recent developments that address concerns for instantaneous control in modern smelters. The new technologies fall into two groups, (1) modified pressure-difference control (sub-divided into simple and complex) and (2) mechanical-feeder-based control. Features of current injection systems include feed splitting in two forms, passive and active, and co-current injection.

Jan 1, 2006