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By Nelson R. Shaffer

Biotechnology has become a household word of the nineties, and it is expected to become as important in the next century as the computer is in the present. Numerous books and articles portray biotechnology developments as nothing less than a scientific revolution. Almost everywhere one looks new biotechnical breakthroughs are being reported that offer almost limitless opportunities to harness the force of living things to produce materials and manipulate their properties. Biotechnology has been broadly defined as any applications of biological organisms, systems, or processes to manufacturing and service industries. This seemingly new technology is, in fact, one of mankind's oldest scientific activities (Table l), which has been recently revolutionized by techniques of genetic engineering that arose out of basic research in biology, biochemistry, genetics, and information sciences. From fields as old as agriculture and medicine to those as new as monoclonal anti-bodies, transgenic plants, or biocomputers are encompassed by biotechnology. Like most human endeavors, industrial minerals play critical roles in biotechnology. In addition biotechnology holds real potential to improve extraction and beneficiation of certain industrial minerals themselves. BIOTECHNOLOGY OVERVIEW Companies using established biotechnical techniques make up large and diverse groups such as agriculture, chemicals, and pharmaceuticals. The massive US Pharmacopia (Anon., 1990a) provides detailed specifications for minerals used in medicines. Alumina, zirconia, apatite, and bioactive glass have seen service as implant materials (Williams, 1990) and new uses for minerals in health sciences are being actively researched. Agriculture produced $361 billion worth of food and drink during 1991 in the United States; organic chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and enzymes accounted for $68, $59, and $42 billion, respectively (Anon., 1992a). It is not possible to separate the contributions of industrial minerals to biotechnical products, but they represent a very large and rapidly growing new field of uses. The new biotechnology has nearly 300 small companies, plus 15 established companies with 742 biotechnology-related firms (Dibner, 1991b). Revenues exceeded $2 billion in 1990 and are expected to grow to $50 billion by 2000 (Anon., 1992c), with worldwide sales exceeding $100 billion (Burrill and Roberts, 1992). Federal research amounted to $3.4 billion in 1990 (Anon., 1992b). The United States is the world leader in biotechnology, but other countries have large, well-funded programs. Despite debate about safety, obstacles to new biotechnology products are declining (Embers, 1992, Gibbons, 1991). Fifteen biotechnology drugs valued at $1.2 billion (Thayer, 1991a) are on the market, and more than 100 are in various stages of testing (Edington, 1992). Many diagnostic tests are also in use or development (Demain, 1983, Anon., 1992). Large scale efforts to produce or transform important chemicals are also underway (Ng et al., 1983, Hinman, 1991), and research into geologic uses of biotechnology has begun. Much has been published about microbial mining, oil recovery, desulfurization, bioremediation, and other geologic aspects of biotechnology, but this chapter is the first attempt to explore interactions of biotechnology and industrial minerals. This chapter examines uses of minerals in biotechnology; how biotechnology can be used to discover, recover, and beneficiate industrial minerals; and speculates on some potential, but as yet untried uses. Definitions What exactly does the word biotechnology mean? Bud (1989) states that the first use of the term was by Karl Ereky in 1919 to cover the interaction of biology and technology, and in 1933 the term was used in Nature. After citing seven different definitions, Smith (1988) concludes that biotechnology is a series of enabling technologies involving practical applications of organisms or their subcellular components to manufacturing and service industries or to environmental management. Walker and Cox (1988) suggest a definition of "the practical applications of biological systems to the manufacturing and service industries and to the management of the environment." Primrose (1991) says that it is "the commercial exploitation of living organisms or their components." There is essentially an older broad use of the term and a new use. The US Office of Technology Assessment (Anon., 1984) uses a broad definition that includes any technique that uses living organisms (or parts of organisms) to make or modify products, to improve plants or animals, or to develop micro-organisms for specific uses. Definitions are different, but they all have several fundamental elements that include the control, management, or manipulation of living things for commercial, industrial, or useful ends. While such a definition encompasses all of agriculture in practice the "new" biotechnology is restricted to processes involving microorganisms-plant and animal cells, or enzymes. Many consider biotechnology to be recent, but it is one of our oldest technologies as evidenced by the prehistoric origin of brewing, cheese-making, and other techniques. [Table 1] gives some of the important developments in the history of biotechnology. Smith (1988) breaks down historical developments of biotechnology into four phases: 1) prehistoric with no understanding of underlying processes; 2) nonsterile processes; 3) sterile processes after 1940; and 4) genetic and recombinant DNA technology deliberate design of special organisms or processes.

Jan 1, 1994

By Michael A. Linkous, Mark J. Zdunczyk

Silica in the form of sand and sandstone is one of the most common, and at the same time, unique industrial minerals. Found in every rock type of every geologic age and virtually everywhere in the world, silica is used in products that touch just about every aspect of daily life. Imagine a world in the 1990s without computer chips, fiber optics, or glass, and you have just begun to understand how important silica is to the quality of life we enjoy. The elements silicon (Si) and oxygen (0) comprise roughly 60% of the earth's lithosphere to a depth of about 16 km. The crystal structure of silicon dioxide consists of one atom of silicon bonded to four surrounding atoms of oxygen to form a three-dimensional network of SiO, tetrahedra. This network makes up the mineral quartz (Murphy and Henderson, 1983), the most common detrital mineral in most sandstones. Quartz is also a major constituent of many igneous and metamorphic rocks and is widespread as a siliceous cementing agent in various rock types. Although quartz is common, sandstones, quartzites, and pegmatites and the unconsolidated sediments derived from them that have a silica content high enough and pure enough to meet today's market demands for quality and consistency are not common. USES AND SPECIFICATIONS Silica sand that is mined and processed for industrial uses must conform to the chemical and physical specifications set by customers. In the United States almost half of the silica sand produced is used in the manufacture of glass. Other important products include foundry sand, ground silica, blasting sand, and fracturing sand. Glass Sand Silica is the principal glass-forming oxide in a glass batch. Glass manufacturers develop model specifications for each source of silica sand used. These specifications broadly define the limits and ranges for chemical and physical properties of the sand and are used by the manufacturer in calculating the desired batch mix or formula. Some specifications may be critical to a glassmaker and require very stringent limits on the quantity of impurities in the sand. For example, the total iron oxide content of a batch is extremely crucial when making white or flint glasses (Mills, 1983). Iron is present in almost every raw material used in a glass batch and must be carefully controlled in order to obtain a consistent color in the finished product. It is difficult, however, for a raw material supplier to tightly control the chemistry of a naturally occurring material such as silica sand. To a great extent the commercial quality of a sand is determined by its geologic history. Realizing this, glass producers tailor their model specifications to each source of approved material. In general, a glass company is concerned most about the consistency of raw materials on a day-to-day basis. Soda-lime-silica glass was the earliest type of manmade glass (Baker-Can, 1967) and still accounts for most of the glass manufactured for commercial use today (Mills, 1983). It is relatively easy to melt and shape and is less expensive per ton to produce than most other types of glass (Baker-Can, 1967). Soda-lime-silica glass is used in fabricating containers, flat glass products, incandescent and fluorescent lamps, glass fiber, and many other products. Heavy minerals such as ilmenite, leucoxene, kyanite, and zircon are impurities on which strict limits are placed for a glass batch. Because of their refractory nature they either do not melt or only partially melt, which results in stones or feathers in finished glass. Aluminosilicates such as kyanite also contribute unwanted alumina to the batch as they partially melt. Limits are especially rigid for refractory mineral grains coarser than 0.60 to 0.425 mm (30 to 40 mesh). [Tables 1 and 2] present typical specifications for silica sand used in flat glass and container glass products. The percentages shown represent an average of many companies7 specifications.

Jan 1, 1994

By William D. Meakins

INTRODUCTION Today, auxiliary fans, or boosters as they are sometimes called, are commonly used underground to provide ventilation for safe working conditions for personnel. Fans are installed in many ways and for many purposes; however, their use falls into three main categories depending upon the application. Auxiliary Face Ventilation For Coal Mines Usually the application of auxiliary fans underground in coal mines presents problems not normally encountered in other types of mining. Two of the major problems deal with liberation of methane at the coal face and the production of coal dust in the mining process. For these conditions it is necessary to use permissible (explosion-proof) type of equipment. As a result, these fans are discussed in a category by themselves. Auxiliary Fans For Tunnel and Drift Ventilation Tunnels and drifts present unique ventilation requirements. For instance, tunnels and drifts can be developed for considerable distances into virgin territory. Since they are generally dead-ended, the only way to obtain ventilation at the face is to use ventilation pipe to establish one leg of a ventilation circuit. The ventilation of tunnels and drifts therefore falls into another natural category. Other Uses of Auxiliary Fans For Mining Purposes Fans can be applied to mining applications in many ways other than those discussed under the other two categories. For example, many times auxiliary fans can do a much more practical job of proper air control and distribution that can be achieved with any other mechanical means; therefore, these other uses are discussed as a special category. AUXILIARY FACE VENTILATION FOR COAL MINES After 1936, federal and state coal mining laws prohibited the use of auxiliary underground fans in coal mines since such equipment had been widely misused. In certain cases, recirculation of face air had been allowed to occur thereby creating a serious potential explosive hazard by the possible buildup of excessive methane concentrations. By the late 1950s, mining machines with rapid face penetration were commonly being used in coal seams which liberated higher quantities of methane than in earlier years. As a consequence, in the late 1950s and early 1960s, the use of auxiliary face fans was again allowed under strict experimental conditions because conventional methods of face ventilation control without fans were becoming inadequate. Today, auxiliary face fans are widely used under strict federal and state control. Such auxiliary ventilation does not reduce the need for the amount of primary air from the main mine fans; however, it does help to distribute primary air more efficiently at the face. The present trend is toward an exhaust system of ventilation utilizing 406- to 610-mm (16- to 24-in.) diam tubing extending from the face to an outby auxiliary fan. Since the tubing is normally applied with negative pressure, spiral wire reinforced tubing has been replaced largely with metal and, more commonly, fiberglass tub¬ing. Additional auxiliary blower units are often used at the mouth of the room being developed, or installed on the miner or loader near the face, depending upon the amount of gas liberation present. Often one (or more) of the fan units is equipped with an integrally mounted hopper and feeder which automatically adds a continuously metered amount of rock dust to the exhaust air. The combination unit tends to make the mixture of discharge particles noncombustible and reduces to some extent the need for additional rock dusting of return airways. In this part of the chapter, typical auxiliary ventilation systems are described including curves and photograph of typical/applicable equipment. Reference will be made to "blowers" and "ex¬hausters." Both are fans and are basically the same units. They take on their name through the manner in which they are used. A blower usually has an inlet bell on the inlet side to help to obtain good air flow into the blades. An exhauster often has a discharge cone added to reduce the discharge loss. Any basic fan unit can be used either as a blower or an exhauster. Description of Auxiliary Ventilation Systems Several auxiliary ventilation systems and modifications of basic systems have evolved over recent years. Some of these systems are described and illustrated. System No. 1, an exhaust system for faces with comparatively low gas liberation, is shown in Fig. 1. Here

Jan 1, 1982

By Jose Agapito

Roofbolts with expansion anchors have been used at White Pine for more than twelve years, but always with an understanding that their performance was not entirely satisfactory. Some bolts fell out, some were obviously loose, and, when roof failures did occur, very few bolts actually broke. Obviously, there was an anchorage problem. A program was started in May, 1967, to define the problem and to solve it. This paper describes briefly those parts of the program which led to the development of a roofbolt assembly which performs much better in the medium-hard rocks at White Pine. As a result of the changes, significant improvements were found in the torque:tension, tension loss, and pull tests.

Jan 1, 1970

By Ken Pill, Jennifer Nyman, Liz Moran, Keaton Belli, Chelsea Bokman

The Moab Uranium Mill Tailings Remedial Action (UMTRA) Project Site (Site) is a former uranium-ore processing facility near Moab, Utah, where production ended in 1984. The United States Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management (DOE-EM) is responsible for remediating the site to meet 40 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 192 standards promulgated by the United States Environmental Protection Agency under the authority of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). Tailings from the former mill were stored in an unlined impoundment (tailings pile), totaling 16 million tons of waste material. Surface cleanup has been ongoing since 2009 and consists of removal and transport of tailings via rail to an off-site disposal facility in Crescent Junction, Utah, with an estimated completion date around 2029. Gravity-driven migration of tailings fluids and recharge through the tailings pile and former on-site ore storage areas in the northeastern part of the site led to contamination of site soil and groundwater. The primary contaminant of concern is ammonia, which was present in fluids used in the milling process (DOE 2003). Uranium is a contaminant of potential concern. An interim groundwater remedy is currently in place that utilizes a system of extraction and injection wells to limit discharge of contaminated groundwater into the nearby Colorado River. Exceedance of surface water standards for ammonia are a principal concern due to potential endangered species fish habitat areas along the Colorado River adjacent to the Site. When necessary, surface water diversion is used to lower surface water ammonia concentrations when suitable habitats develop for endangered young-of-year fish. Once surface cleanup concludes and the tailings pile is removed, a formal groundwater remedy must be selected and documented in a Groundwater Compliance Action Plan (GCAP). Under Title 1 of the Uranium Mill Tailings Radiation Control Act, natural flushing (i.e., monitored natural attenuation), may be selected as the groundwater remedy if it can be demonstrated that the remedy will achieve groundwater standards within 100 years. The 40 CFR 192 groundwater standard for uranium is 44 micrograms per liter (μg/L), and the target groundwater concentration of ammonia based on adverse effects on local fish species is 3 milligrams per liter (mg/L). A collaboration with Geosyntec Consultants, Inc. (Geosyntec), the Moab UMTRA Project team, the DOE Office of Legacy Management, the DOE-EM, and the Network of National Laboratories for Environmental Management and Stewardship was held in 2022 with the goal to generate actionable recommendations to develop a GCAP for the Site. The primary recommendation was development of a groundwater fate and transport model to predict the remedial timeframe under various groundwater remedies. This paper presents the results of soil and groundwater sampling, geochemical modelling, and laboratory column and batch reactor testing that will be used to parameterize a numerical model for estimating the remedial timeframe under various scenarios, including natural flushing.

Feb 1, 2025

By Richard O. Y. Breese

Geologically and commercially, the term diatomite is applied to the nearly pure sedimentarv accumulation of diatom frustules- the microscopic skeletons of unicellular aquatic algae belonging to the class of golden brown algae, bacillariophyceae. The sediments are fine-grained, siliceous, and consist primarily of amorphous opaline silica with only minor amounts of organic residue, secondary minerals, and co-deposited non-diatomaceous or crystalline clastic debris. In the geological sense, the name diatomite implies sedimentary accumulations that have reached appreciable thickness and when thick enough, such accumulations consequently may have possible commercial potential. Although the term diatomite is popularly and inappropriately applied to any sediment in which there is an abundance of diatom frustules, alternative terminology is more correctly employed to describe the less pure diatomaceous sediments, for example: clay-bearing diatomite or diatom-bearing clay. Synonyms in current usage include diatomaceous earth and kieselghur. More antiquated and obsolete terminology includes tripoli-powder, tripolite, and infusorial earth. Worldwide, diatomites occur within Tertiary to Recent lacus- trine and marine sedimentary facies. Although diatomite is wide- spread throughout the world, deposits that contain high purity, commercially versatile ore are uncommon. Physical properties of the diatom and of processed diatomite that provide unique commercial value in a broad spectrum of market end-uses include ornate fine structure, low bulk density, and high porosity and surface area. Properties of equal importance are mild abrasiveness, high absorptive capacity, insulating ability, relative inertness, and high brightness. End-use markets are diverse and range from insulating brick and absorbents through quality sensitive filter aids and premium quality functional fillers. Notwithstanding both the economic attractiveness of the specialty markets and the commercial versatility of the high purity deposits, deposits of lesser purity are mined in nearly all parts of the world for less demanding uses. Mining costs are minimized through open pit quarrying, but in Europe, Asia, Africa, and South America underground mining methods are also employed. Blasting is not required because diatomite is soft and easily broken loose with mechanized equipment. Following gentle crushing, the ore is dried, milled, and processed into one of three broad categories of products: naturally milled, straight calcined, and flux calcined grades. Each of these principal categories is further subdivided into additional grades through particle size adjustment of the powders. Agglomeration of particles, alteration of fine structure, and color change are achieved through calcination. Flux calcination further accentuates these changes. Production throughout the world is dominated by the United States, followed by Romania, the former Soviet republics, and France. Other major producers include Spain, Mexico, Iceland, Korea, Japan, and Germany. Denmark is a major producer of Moler earth products, which consist of a diatomite-clay mixture. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND The first industrial use of diatomite can be traced back some 2000 years to the Greeks and to the use of diatomaceous earth as a component in lightweight building brick and in ceramic pottery. It was not until the mid-1800s, however, that the unique properties of diatomite were first recognized and the market end-uses explored and developed. One of the most important of the early uses followed the development of dynamite by Alfred Nobel in the mid-1860s, whereupon diatomite was used as a component of the explosive to improve stability and safety. Other early uses included low temperature insulating and refractory bricks and as a component in insulating and fireproofing construction panels. During the 1920s, processing technology underwent a very rapid evolution with the development of calcination, flux calcination, and air classification technologies. Through these technologies, innumerable different size and grade classifications could be made for market applications and for rapidly diversified end- uses. Today, the application of processed diatomite for filter aid is the largest of the quality sensitive end-uses. Specific filtration uses include the clarification of beer, wine and liquor, vegetable oil, syrup and sugar, pharmaceuticals, and swimming pool water, to name a few. As a functional filler and extender, processed diatomite is ideally suited for application in paint, rubber, and plastic formulations. Other filler applications include use as an anti-blocking agent in plastic film, anti-caking agent for fertilizer, thermal insulating material, catalyst carrier, polish, abrasive, pesticide and fertilizer carrier, and chromatographic supports. Throughout much of the world diatomite is still used as a component of insulating brick and as an absorbent.

Jan 1, 1994

By William P. Walsh

In December 1983 the author undertook an investigation in east Texas which was organized to learn the feasibility of applying geophysical techniques over shallow lignite deposits. The work embraced experimental high resolution seismic reflection and offset Wenner resisitivity sounds over three 1/4 to 1/2 mile test sections. This site also was sponsored by Woodward-Clyde Consultants (WCC) and a consortium headed by North American Coal Corporation. The principal objective of this investigation was to learn whether the aforementioned geophysical techniques could be applied over shallow lignite deposits (i.e. located at approximately 100' to 300' in depth) and consequently provide structural and stratigraphic information useful for resource and reserve characterization. A secondary objective was to determine if these same techniques could disclose the nature of the overburden and the distribution of ground water therein.

Jan 1, 1986

By S. Davis

It has been accepted almost as dogma that sampling contributes most of the error to fluctuations in gold fire assays. Differences in assay results on pulp material from the same sample interval are frequently regarded as evidence of the presence of the so called "nugget effect" or relatively coarse gold particles. It is true that if coarse gold particles are present they contribute to substantial sampling fluctuations, but while the process of sampling is probably the major source, the analytical process cannot -be completely ignored as a possible contributor to erratic assay results. In order to maintain a stable assay process, the analytic part of the system must be kept in control as well as the sampling and preparation part. One way of monitoring the performance of the analytic system is to systematically assay standard material whose sampling characteristics are carefully controlled. Gold assay standards are not prepared nor can they be prepared to account for both sampling and analytical errors. It is not possible to send coarse material to a lab for preparation (which includes both the processes of comminution and splitting) followed by fire assay, to make inferences only about the fire assay process. Because most gold ores are very heterogeneous, sampling errors would in most cases completely mask the contribution of the analytical errors. Assay standard material is prepared only to assess the accuracy and variability in the fire assay process.

Jan 1, 1995

By A. J. Neale

Much has been published lately about the application of advanced control strategies in the automatic control of autogenous and semi-autogenous grinding circuits. The application of adaptive control algorithms, self-tuning controllers, state estimation, and expert systems has been well documented. While these approaches can be very effective; experience has shown that quite often simply "fixing the fundamentals" can have a significant positive impact on overall grinding circuit performance. This paper will highlight the results of process optimization and process control work by the authors at a variety of autogenous and semi-autogenous installations. A review of one approach for quantifying the mill load/bearing pressure/power relationship is provided. Accurate monitoring of key mill process variables is a necessary prerequisite for both effective process analysis and process control. This paper discusses some of the concerns related to defining steady state operating conditions and the issues related to signal conditioning. The paper concludes with a discussion of an effective application of algorithmic constraint control which incorporates many of these considerations.

Jan 1, 1994

By Rudolf Kvapil

INTRODUCTION Sublevel mining is a mass mining method based upon the utilization of gravity flow of the blasted ore and the caved overlying waste rock mass. As with any other mining method, sublevel caving has advantages and dis¬advantages which must be carefully considered and evaluated. The major advantages of sublevel caving are dis¬cussed as follows: Because all of the mining activities are executed in or from relatively small openings, sublevel caving is one of the safest mining methods. Drifts, which are the pri¬mary working places, are distributed in a uniform pat¬tern on all levels. Normally the maximum dimensions of the sublevel drifts are about 5 m wide and 3.7 m high. The transportation drifts can have the same section, or the height may be increased to about 4.5 m when trucks are loaded in the transport drifts. The stability and safety of such drifts in competent rock can be easily controlled by smooth blasting or by a combination of smooth blasting with shotcreting. In less competent rock masses, stability can be achieved by combined reinforc¬ing, for example, by a combination of smooth blasting, shotcreting, and rockbolting. The major mining activities can be broken down into three groups: drifting and reinforcing; ore fragmenta¬tion, i.e., production drilling and blasting; and ore draw¬ing, loading, and transportation, and all are relatively simple. Because of the repetitive nature of the mining system, one can standardize almost completely all min¬ing activities. This means that a high degree of work efficiency can be achieved. Because the components of mining production in sublevel caving can be standardized, a high degree of mechanization is possible. In modern sublevel caving the sections of drifts and tunnels are sufficiently large to allow the introduction of large trackless mining equip¬ment. The advantages of a trackless system can be then broadly utilized not only for direct mining but also for all services, including the transportation of mining per¬sonnel to the working place. The flexibility of mining is very good. Standardiza¬tion and specialization of mining activities and equip¬ment on separate levels (lower level or levels in de¬velopment, upper level or levels in production mining) together with the trackless system yield a high degree of flexibility. This allows a rapid start-up of mining and good flexibility in making production rate changes. The method lends itself to good work concentration, organization, and working conditions. Normally, on the lower levels, various phases of development are under¬way. Upper levels are in various stages of extraction. Therefore the work can be easily organized into a sys¬tem which excludes interference between mining activi¬ties. Safety of mining (in small dimension openings), good work organization, high mechanization using large modern mining equipment, etc., comprise very good working conditions. Naturally such a system enables a high work concentration and rationalization of separate specialized mining activities and therefore mining by sublevel caving can be effective and relatively in¬expensive. The major disadvantages of sublevel caving, on the other hand, are: There is a relatively high dilution of the ore by caved waste. Various types of ore loss can occur. When the ex¬traction limit (that point yielding the maximum accept¬able amount of dilution) is reached, the remaining highly diluted ore represents an ore loss. Some ore is lost in passive zones located on the level of extraction between the active zones of the gravity flow. Part of the ore from these passive zones can be recovered together with ore extraction on the lower sublevel, but some un¬diluted and often not fragmented ore located in passive zones above the plane of the footwall is lost. In gen¬eral, these losses are larger as the inclination of the ore body and the footwall is reduced. A relatively large amount of development is re¬quired. This includes transport drifts, usually located in the footwall waste rock on each sublevel, and sub¬level drifts, which connect the active mining areas to the transport drifts and as a result are partially in ore and partially in the waste rock of the footwall. The waste rock length increases as the inclination of the ore body and footwall decreases. It also includes orepasses, used for transport of the ore or waste from the separate sublevels downward to the main haulage level, and normally driven in waste; and inclined drifts or tunnels, which provide a connection for the trackless equipment between the main haulage level and the separate sublevels and are driven in waste. Finally there is the de¬struction of the surface through subsidence. To maximize the ore recovery, minimize the dilu¬tion, and achieve a high efficiency of mining by sub¬level caving, good data regarding the gravity flow pa¬rameters for the blasted ore and the caved waste are of utmost importance. The exact type and amount of data required depend upon the purpose and needs of the study. For the first feasibility study, it may be sufficient to utilize the data from other sublevel caving operations with similar conditions and circumstances. For any higher level of mine planning it is clear that more exact data, including analytical and experimental analyses up to full-scale in-situ testing, are necessary. Basic gravity flow principles and design guidelines for the application of the sublevel caving mining method are presented in the following sections. Although some¬what simplified, they should provide a basis for mine planning and operation. The gravity flow principles described can be effectively applied to other mining situations, with some modification. Also, steep dipping coal seams can be effectively mined by modified sub¬level caving.

Jan 1, 1982

By George Bárdossy

Most of the bauxite deposits in Europe belong to the karst type. They are located mainly ill Southern Europe along the Mediterranean Sea and in the Ural Mountains. Lateritic bauxite deposits occur on the Russian Platform, in Poland, Northern Ireland and in Turkey. Tikhvin-type deposits arc found on the Russian Platform. Bauxite formation in Europe started in the Middle Devonian. The main bauxite forming period was the Upper Cretaceous. Very few bauxites are younger than Eocene. Most deposits are covered by overburden of up to 1000 m. Prospecting is carried out by drilling. Several geophysical methods are used to detect the hidden deposits. Geostatistical methods were introduced in several countries for evaluation of the reserves and the geometry of the deposits. Data on bauxite production are given for 1982 and since the beginning of mining in Europe.

Jan 1, 1984

By Yu. A. Polozov, V. A. Lagunov, O. Yu. Lushinkova, Yu. I. Svirskiy, Eh. Ya. Kipko, Roy A. Williams

Hydrodynamic investigations in exploratory boreholes and grouting holes are conducted for the purpose of obtain¬ing information about the hydraulic properties of the hydrostratigraphic section to be intersected by the proposed underground workings. The information obtained from the investigations provides the basis for calculating the hydrau¬lic coefficients of fractured permeable rock, the dimensions of the anticipated grout isolation curtain(s) around the un¬derground workings, the number and location of grouting holes, the injection pressure modes, and also the volume(s) of grout that will be required (Anon., 1976, 1978). The following data on each aquifer are obtained from the investigations conducted in monitoring and grouting bore¬holes and the analysis of the results: 1) the top of each hydrostratigraphic unit, 2) the thickness of each unit, 3) the ground water fluid potential distribution in each unit, 4) the coefficient of permeability, 5) the piezoconductivity, 6) the fracture porosity, 7) the geometry of the fractures in the rock, 8) the elasticity-compressibility coefficient of the fractured rock, 9) the chemical composition of the ground water, 10) the direction of flow of the ground water, and 11) the expected inflow rate of water into the shaft, drift or tunnel. STG uses its DAU-3M type flowmeter to conduct in¬vestigations of directions of flow in vertical, inclined and horizontal drillholes. The DAU-6 instrument is used to de¬termine the direction of flow of ground water in each frac¬ture or fractured aquifer. Various singular and double DAU type packers are used for pumping and for injection studies (tests) and for flowmeter investigations. Normally the instruments enumerated above permit in¬vestigations to be conducted in each separate aquifer with¬out reinforcing the holes with casings. On the basis of these investigative data, both the hydraulic properties of unfractured rock and the hydraulic properties of the fractured rock are estimated. Dual porosity rocks require special attention because they tend to segregate the grout. 3.1 FLOWMETER INVESTIGATIONS IN BOREHOLES The STG flowmetric methodology is based on the mea¬surement of the ground water flow rate through the borehole by hydrostratigraphic interval after the disturbance of the hydrostatic equilibrium in the "hole-aquifer system" (after pumping or injecting). The relationship of the head changes to the discharge into or from a particular hydrostratigraphic unit obtained during the tests serve as the basis for calcu¬lating the hydraulic properties. Flowmetric investigations facilitate the determination of the number of aquifers, their depths, their thickness, the hydraulic properties of the fractured rock and the magnitude and direction of the flow of ground water. 3.1.1 FLOWMETER HARDWARE STG conducts flowmetric investigations in boreholes using its DAU-3M-108, DAU-3M-73, DAU-3M-57 and DAU-3M-44 instruments.' They have respective external diameters of 108, 73, 57 and 44 mm. The type of flowmeter selected for use depends on the borehole geometry and the technological scheme for carrying out the investigations. Boreholes with a drilling diameter of 76-93 mm are inves¬tigated with the DAU-3M-73 flowmeter; boreholes drilled by bits with a diameter of 112 mm and more are investi¬gated using the DAU-3M-108 flowmeter. The DAU-3M¬108 and DAU-3M-57 instruments are used for flowmetric investigations with a packer. 3.1.1.1 The Downhole Sensor The sensor design of the DAU-3M-73 hole flowmeter is shown in Fig. 2. The design of the DAU-3M-108 instru¬ment is similar to the design of the DAU-3M-73 instrument. The frame of the flowmeter sensor shown in Fig. 2 consists of a casing, an upper and lower centering mount and two rings to which the guiding rods are attached. The upper rods are built into the connector bushing; the lower rods are built into the coupling sleeve. The borehole cable is attached using a half-coupling, a packing ring and a constriction nut. Thus, the frame of the flowmeter sensor is made so that the free passage of water to the impeller is facilitated along with the necessary rigidity. The primary moving component of the flowmeter is the double-bladed impeller, which rotates on cobalt-tungsten pivots and agate thrust bearings. Special extended air cham¬bers protect the supports of the impeller from the action of the borehole fluid which may contain fibrous and abrasive particles. The air located in the chambers shields the sup¬ports from direct contact with the borehole fluid when the sensor operates in a borehole. The hollow casing of the impeller serves the function of a lower cap. The upper cap is attached to the casing using a threaded connector; it is affixed also with a lock-nut. An adjusting screw with a

Jan 1, 1993

By Jessica Elzea, Haydn Murray

The term bentonite was first proposed in 1898 by Knight, a year after he had named this clay taylorite, because taylorite had been previously used for another mineral. The name taylorite was after the Taylor ranch, the site of the first mine, near Rock River, WY, and the name bentonite is from the Benton Shale in which the clay was thought at that time to occur. The Benton Shale was, in turn, named after Fort Benton, MT, located more than 640 km miles north of Rock River. Early in the 20th century, several geologists recognized that bentonite, mainly in beds in Cretaceous and Tertiary rocks, originated from transported volcanic materials. This recognition led to definitions based on origin, the one most widely quoted and generally accepted by geologists is the following definition by Ross and Shannon (1926): "Bentonite is a rock composed essentially of a crystalline clay-like mineral formed by devitrification and the accompanying chemical alteration of a glassy igneous material, usually a tuff or volcanic ash; and it often contains variable proportions of accessory crystal grains that were originally phenocrysts in the volcanic glass. These are feldspar (commonly orthoclase and oligoclase), biotite, quartz, pyroxenes, zircon, and various other minerals typical of volcanic rocks. The characteristic clay-like mineral has a micaceous habit and facile cleavage, high birefringence and a texture inherited from volcanic tuff or ash, and it is usually the mineral montmorillonite, but less often beidellite." The difficulty in applying the foregoing definition to bentonite as an industrial mineral commodity is that it is based on origin and is restricted to an ash, tuff, or volcanic glass parent material. Therefore, deposits consisting of the clay minerals required by this definition, but having uncertain origin or parent materials, cannot properly be called bentonite. Furthermore, many deposits in the western United States and in other countries that have formed from rocks other than the types required by the definition are being mined and sold as bentonite. Perhaps the best definition of bentonite as an industrial mineral is one given by R.E. Grim in a plenary lecture at the International Clay Conference (AIPEA) at Madrid, Spain, June 27, 1972. According to this redefinition, which will be used in this chapter, bentonite is a clay consisting essentially of smectite minerals (montmorillonite group of some usages), regardless of origin or occurrence. This definition solves the problem of the difference between the geologic and industrial usages of the term and overcomes the difficulty in assigning a name to smectite clay that formed from igneous rock other than ash, tuff, or glass, or those of sedimentary or uncertain origin. However, bentonite, when used with this meaning is still a rock term (consisting of more than one mineral), and it will not be possible to distinguish it from fuller's earth in many instances. One way of classifying bentonite is based on its swelling capacities when wet or added to water. Bentonite having sodium (Na+) as either the dominant or as an abundant exchangeable ion typically has very high swelling capacities and forms gel-like masses when added to water. Bentonite in which exchangeable calcium (Ca++) is more abundant than other ions has much lower swelling capacities than sodium varieties. Some calcium types swell little more than common clay, and most crumble into granular masses in water. Intermediate calcium-sodium bentonites, the so called mixed types, tend to swell moderately and to form gels of lesser volumes than equal masses of the sodium type bentonite. Because of the general relationship of swelling and exchangeable ion characteristics bentonite is commonly divided into the high swelling or sodium, low swelling or calcium, and moderate swelling or intermediate types. The term sub-bentonite (Davis et a]., 1940) is used inconsistently in industry for the low or moderate swelling varieties. The authors believe the use of this term should be discouraged because of its implication of low quality or low value and the lack of a mineralogical or use basis for it. In the United States bentonite is also classified by geographic location and the uses for which it is sold. Inasmuch as most of the low swelling calcium type occurs in states bordering the Gulf of Mexico, this variety is commonly called Southern bentonite. The largest high swelling sodium bentonite deposits and the major producing districts are in Wyoming and adjacent states. Therefore, this bentonite is commonly called the Wyoming or Western type. Such terms as drilling mud bentonite, foundry bond bentonite, and taconite bond bentonite relating directly to use are applied in marketing. Other terms including high and low yield bentonite, high and low gel bentonite, and high and low strength bentonite are also used to distinguish different grades. The varied classifications notwithstanding, bentonite occurs in so many different varieties that some cannot logically be classified according to any of the foregoing groupings. One of these types is hectorite, which is a high swelling lithium-bearing variety of smectite occurring mainly in California and adjacent states. It is, therefore, not a Wyoming type, and it occurs even farther west than the so called western bentonites. Others are bentonites having magnesium (Mg++) or hydrogen (H+) as the most abundant or dominant exchangeable ion. These types are neither sodium nor calcium varieties, and apparently some are low swelling, whereas others have rather high swelling capacities. Still another type of bentonite, the so-called potassium type, K-bentonite, or metabentonite, occurs in Ordovician and other Pa-

Jan 1, 1994

By S. K. Kawatra, K. A. O, DeLa&apos

On-line sensors and process controls are important for efficient operation of coal preparation plants. The objective of this paper is to describe the current practice in on-line measurement of composition, density, moisture, level, flow and weight. This paper also discusses how on-line sensors can be implemented in process control, and how sensors which are currently being developed can be utilized.

Jan 1, 1988

By J. W. Choung, J. A. Finch

Acid rock drainage (ARD) is a recognized environmental challenge facing mining industries. An ambient temperature ferrite (ATF) process has been investigated for treating ARD. Most nonferrous metal and calcium ions present in typical ARDs were found to be detrimental to the ATF process. Three approaches were examined, including C02 aeration, addition of complex agents and use of magnetic seeds. By introducing magnetic seeds in the ATF process, the interferences were minimized and all the precipitates formed with lime neutralization were magnetically recovered from a simulated ARD. The residual concentrations of major metal ions in the treated water were environmentally acceptable. The XRD pattern confirmed the spinel ferrite crystal structure of the products

Jan 1, 2000

By Robert A. Wilson

Los primeros pasos básicos para determinar los valores reales y los minerales concernientes, que son la base para las pruebas metalúrgicas, son presentados en este capítulo. A continuatión, eligiendo el proceso o los procesos indicados para el tratamiento de un mineral, son expuestos los temas. Todo esto es seguido por los procedimientos utilizados, el resultado de los cuales indicará la viabilidad para el tratamiento. Estas pruebas de procedimiento han sido desarrolladas, utilizadas y de probada efectividad en laboratorio con evaluaciones relativas al procesamiento de la planta. Los procedimientos especiales y poco comunes se encuentran fuera de la finalidad de este capítulo. La evaluatión de los resultados de las pruebas y su incorporatión dentro del flujograma preliminar y final para el diseno de la planta son temas igualmente expuestos. El valor de un flujograma, con balances de material y agua para el diseño de la planta, es asimismo mostrado.

Jan 1, 1982

By J. K. Ross, K. O. Hoal, S. K. Appleby

Understanding ore variability is a key factor in the geometallurgical analysis of a deposit and is beneficial to process development and mine planning. Ore variability is a function of the mineralogy of a deposit, in terms of both ore and gangue minerals and their textural relationships. This study integrates optical microscopy and quantitative mineral analysis to characterize the mineralogy and texture from 13 samples from different lithologic units at the Bingham Canyon Mine. The analysis identified several parameters, such as modal mineralogy, alteration assemblages, distribution of mineral phases and alteration assemblages and microfracture and void space distribution. These parameters can have an impact on the materials’ behavior during processing. This study demonstrates that quantitative mineralogical analysis can provide detailed information for improved understanding of ore variability.

Jan 1, 2010

By P. Sotiropoulos

In the framework of the Specific Programme: ?Promoting Competitive and Sustainable Growth? a detection system was designed and developed in order to provide an added value service beyond standard instrumentation. In the hydrocarbon industry it will be possible for the first time to detect in a pulse regime, two types of radiation emissions using a single device. This means that any saturation of hydrocarbons can be detected, irrespective of the degree of formation water mineralization, which is a major limitation on currently available neutron-gamma tools, where the formation water has a low mineralization.

Jan 1, 2006

By R. W. Barbaro, J. M. Mutrnansky

This paper presents a nonlinear integer goal programming model that optimizes a mineral production schedule while considering the penalties and bonuses based on quality variations in the final product. It involves five coal quality goals plus a profit objective in its formulation and uses the weighting method of goal programming for a solution. The goals to be sought involve the sulfur, ash, heat content, moisture content, and ash softening temperature of the blended coal product. The model is linear in its handling of most of these goals but uses a piecewise linear integer formulation for the sulfur and heat content bonus and penalty schedule. The model is applicable to any mineral product blended from several different sources and subject to a varying price dependent on blended product quality or qualities. However, it seems to be most pertinent to optimizing production schedules for coal deliveries to power plants. Accordingly, the model is applied to a hypothetical coal production problem where multiple coal mines are operated to supply a final blended product to a power plant. In this example, the price paid for the coal is assumed to be a function of five of the most important coal qualities. The problem is solved as a direct function of the coal supply contract, thus removing the necessity of determining the weighting coefficients on a subjective basis.

Jan 1, 1987

By Roger G. Haga, Richard P. Campbell

Introduction Project scheduling . . . . • What is it? • Why is it done? • Who does it? • How is it done? • When is it done? These are some of the questions that will be addressed in this paper. It is intended that by exploring these questions, an understanding of project scheduling, its purpose and benefits can be achieved. The purpose of this article is not to describe in detail "how to schedule", but rather to give an overview of the scheduling function on a project. A successful scheduling effort is dependent upon the people responsible for developing, implementing, and monitoring the schedule, and the tools and procedures that are used. These three elements are integral components of project scheduling. What is it? A schedule is the integration of network relationships, resource constraints and the calendar. The schedule identifies when the activities "will" be done, while the network states when they "must" be done. Networking techniques are the most widely accepted scheduling tool for complex projects. The benefit of the network is the simplicity in illustrating, presenting and analyzing the dependency relationships of a project. The logic network is the foundation of the schedule. When calendar dates are applied to the logic network, it becomes a schedule which provides the basis for evaluation of project status, forecasting the occurrence of events and controlling the project. The sequence of activities that requires the longest time to complete determines the overall duration of the schedule. This longest sequence of activities is called the "critical path". The "critical path method" (CPM) is used to describe this particular schedule network methodology. The two common conventions of CPM networks are the "arrow diagram met hod" (ADM) and the "precedence diagram method" (PIM). There are arguments in favor of each of these two methods, and usually the one that is used is a matter of personal preference, project directive or corporate procedure.

Jan 1, 1986