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By Vljay K. Chhipa

Artificial intelligence is" an emerging technology in the field of computer application. Expert system have been developed to imitate human intelligence and reasoning process. Expert systems have much scope of application in the decision making process in mineral exploration as such decisions are highly subjective and expert opinions are very helpful. This paper presents a small expert system to analyze reasoning process in exploring for uranium deposits in sandstone.

Jan 1, 1989

By M. Cimini

The main objective of this paper is to propose a new sustainability parameter, called Visibility Indicator (VI), to describe the influence of mining operations on the visibility of the open works in the site from the surrounding land. A further goal is to point out a procedure for Visual Impact Analysis and Assessment (VIAA) of mining and quarrying operations in the phases of elaborating and evaluating of the project and depleting the resources. The Visibility Indicator has been computed taking into consideration the evolution of the area involved in the exploitation activity.

Jan 1, 2003

By V. Karra, G. Beerkircher

Application of the innovative WaterFlush® crushing technology to the processing of gold, copper, and iron ores is presented for retrofit circuits and productivity gain in each case is stated. New operations containing WaterFlush are described in brief.

Jan 1, 1995

By Garry W. Stevenson

Data from many case histories reporting tunnel boring machine penetration rates in rock with unconfined compressive strengths greater than 70 MPa (10,000psi) are summarized. The case history data are useful for comparing estimated penetration rates with historic performance in similar rock types, particularly in granitic and metamorphic rocks. TBM exhibit higher penetration rates in sedimentary rocks than in granitic and metamorphic rocks. Data for the two groups of rocks are summarized separately.

Jan 1, 1999

By D. Panda, P. K. Sahoo, A. S. Rao

The waste phosphogypsum produced by Paradeep Phosphate Limited (PPL) at Paradeep (Cuttack, Orissa, India) consists primarily of calcium sulfate with small amounts of phosphoric acid, calcium fluoride and other harmful components. Presently these are dumped as waste. In this work, laboratory trials have been made to utilize the calcium sulfate present in the phosphogypsum to prepare usable products like ammonium sulfate, calcium carbonate and magnesium sulfate.

Jan 1, 1994

By L. Michael Kass

Editor’s note. The following letter was sent to The Washington Post following the coal mining accidents in January that claimed the lives of 16 coal miners. The Sago Mine disaster in West Virginia and tragic deaths of 19 coal miners nationwide have reminded us that mining coal is still a hazardous occupation. The public outcry has already led to the passage of stronger mining regulations in West Virginia. Improved federal regulations will likely follow.

Jan 1, 2006

By Ricardo Presnell, Erich U. Petersen, William J. Tafuri, Donald M. Hausen, Douglas N. Halbe

Large (> 100,000 oz.) sediment hosted disseminated gold (SHDG) deposits are often spatially associated with anticlines. Many SHDG deposits are within or closely associated with windows. Windows are erosional manifestations of fold culminations (4-way closed anticlines). Hydrocarbons are often trapped in fold culminations in the Canadian Rockies, and may account for degraded hydrocarbons in many SHDG deposits. In the Eastern Basin and Range Province, Mesozoic anticlines may have been large scale conduits fm gold bearing Mesozoic and Cenozoic hydrothermal fluids which became trapped and/or concentrated at the fold culminations.

Jan 1, 1990

By Deepak Malhotra

Is operator training necessary for optimization of flotation plants? The answer is obvious-Yes. The author suggests a three-phase program for operators when new plants are built or new crews are hired in existing operations. Case examples are discussed to illustrate the benefits of operator training.

Jan 1, 1999

By W. C. Dailey

National Steel Pellet Co. operates eight 8.2-m diameter by 5.5-m long (87- x 18-ft) SAG mills to grind 15.24 Mt (15 million It) of taconite ore per year. Improvements to increase mill throughput, lower steel consumption, lower power consumption, and increase grinding efficiency will be discussed.

Jan 1, 1987

By Susanne Pignolet-Brandom

This paper examines the viability of using the QEM*SEM automated scanning electron microscope for the determination iron sulfide and calcite volumetric percentages. The analytical reliability was verified by comparing elemental abundances calculated for fourteen samples using the QEM*SEM volumetric percentages and appropriate mineral compositions and elemental abundances determined by standard laboratory procedures. The abundances were comparable, thus demonstrating suitability of this technique for evaluation of the acid neutralization and generation potentials of mining wastes.

Jan 1, 1990

By John W. Robertson, Edwin A. Zink, Gerald P. Zink, John E. Wolgamott

Equipment which will reliably produce high velocity water jets for use in rock excavation is now available. This report reviews some cases where water jets were used in excavating low to medium strength sandstone in Colorado and Utah. The primary discussion is of water jet assisted rotary drilling for blast and bolt holes in tunnels, shafts, and chambers. The subjects include drilling performance, effects on work environment, safety, and controlled blasting results. Information is also presented concerning trench excavation utilizing water jets.

Jan 1, 1983

By Moudgil. B. M.

The amount of hydrophobic materials constituting the mineral froth strongly influences the froth viscosity. Higher truth viscosity, on the other hand, can retard the drainage of physically carried over, hydrophobic particles. In phosphate flotation tests, a direct correlation was observed between froth viscosity and recovery, and an inverse correlation existed between froth viscosity and grade. Phosphate flotation tests in the presence of a silica depressant indicated that higher froth viscosity is an effect rather than a cause for the presence of silica particles in the froth.

Jan 1, 1994

By R. J. Wahrer

In 1996, the Office of Surface Mining (OSM) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) completed an Endangered Species Act (ESA) programmatic Section 7 consultation. From the resultant Biological Opinion, it was found that coal mining operations conducted under federally approved state regulatory programs would not likely jeopardize the continuation of federally listed species nor result in the destruction or adverse modification of critical habitats. The requirements of the ESA and their integration into the SMCRA permitting process and the responsibilities of the regulatory agency, the FWS and the coal operator will be discussed. Guidance on the development of protection and enhancement plans will be provided and site-specific examples given.

Jan 1, 2003

By D. Royston, D. Denlay

Pulp lifters are used to discharge ground pulp from non-overflow grinding mills. In straight-radial channel pulp lifters, discharge is often incomplete and back-flow down the pulp lifter can occur. Leading-curve channel pulp lifters can be used to ensure complete discharge, especially at high mill rotational speeds. The complex motion of solid materials in pulp lifters has been modelled mathematically for both straight-radial and curved pulp lifters in order to make comparisons between the two types. The model is supported by practical observations of the performance of curved pulp-lifters in a commercial 24ftSAG Mill as well as observations of the discharge from several commercial straight-radial pulp-lifter AG/SAG Mills.

Jan 1, 1999

By Alwyn Protheroe, Steve Smith, Herbert Jr. Gibson

In September of 2000, Cowin and Company, Inc., contracted with Paramont Coal Corporation to construct a large decline approximately 820 m (2,700 feet) in overall length at a grade of 8 degrees to the Lower Banner Coal Seam. This paper will discuss the methods used by the contractor and owner to overcome the unique problems required to construct this tunnel in a coal mine environment. The problems include, initial design considerations, equipment selection, ventilation, ground control, control of water in?ows, and placement of concrete.

Jan 1, 2003

By C. J. Bise

Safety training requirements differ from mine to mine due to changes in the demographic characteristics of the workers or changes in job and organizational characteristics. Accordingly, a microcomputer-based procedure has been developed to assist mine trainers is determining if undesired worksite performances result from lack of knowledge or skill, which are trainable categories, or from categories that are considered to be non-trainable (such as equipment limitations or management procedures). A special effort was made to understand the psychology of worker behavior by analyzing worker reactions to various organizational and job characteristics.

Jan 1, 1995

By Trevor J. Smith, Kevork A. Chouzadjian, Rob S. Burns, Steve J. Roden, Michelle A. Spieth

Investigations were undertaken to improve the recovery of silver from CRA's Hidden Valley gold/silver deposit by the addition of calcium peroxide. The addition of 0.75 to 1.5 kg/mt of calcium peroxide improved silver extraction by 5 - 300 and reduced cyanide consumption by up to 30%. Gold extraction was also marginally improved in some of the tests. The results are of economic interest and plant trials will be initiated once operations are underway.

Jan 1, 1990

By Tad S. Golosinski

The paper presents the computing stream of the mining engineering curriculum at he Western Australian School of Mines (WASM), a branch of Curtin University of Technology. Learning to use computers begins during the first semester of the initial year of studies and culminates in the Mine Design Project done during the last semester of study. It covers all areas of computing which are judged to be of importance to the graduate.

Jan 1, 1996

By T. R. Ellis

The author is the leader of the Extractive Industries Task Force of the International Valuation Standards Committee. The Task Force has developed an Extractive Industries section for inclusion in the International Valuation Standards (IVS). The Extractive Industries Guidance Note provides comprehensive standards for valuation of all minerals and petroleum industry property types for all valuation/appraisal purposes. The document is scheduled for release as an exposure draft for public comment by December 2003, then it will be finalized for publication in the IVS in mid-2004. This paper discusses the content and philosophy of the Extractive Industries Guidance Note within the context of the framework of the IVS. It also discusses the international implications and implementation of this IVS addition.

Jan 1, 2004

By M. Mohammed, S. J. Jung

The prime criteria in the design of underground openings with complicated geological structures is ground control. Stability of underground openings for deep mines is critical because incorrect orientation or geometry of the shaft, stopes and accessways often results in the failure of openings due to high stress conditions. Current design procedures for complicated orientation and geometry of mines are rapidly becoming inadequate. In this study, the finite element method (ANSYS) has been used with optimization criteria to design safer, more stable underground openings.

Jan 1, 1995