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By Murali M. Gadde

Perimeter mining is a special form of very productive partial extraction method practiced at some mines in the United States. In the Illinois Basin mines where all major coal seams have weak underclay in the immediate floor, experience shows that any long-term ground control issues will arise due to floor failures rather than instability of the coal pillar itself. While there is a significant amount of work done on floor stability associated with regular pillars, no work has been done so far on the stability of perimeter pillars. This paper reports the results of a comprehensive study that was conducted for the first time on floor stability during perimeter mining in the Illinois Basin mines. A special plate template, which mimicked a common perimeter pillar configuration was created to conduct in-situ bearing capacity tests at five mines in three states of the Basin. Additionally, because of the complex shape of pillars created in perimeter mining that defies any closed-form solution, floor bearing capacity was studied using three-dimensional nonlinear numerical modeling. Based on these in-situ and numerical studies, some guidelines are provided for perimeter pillar stability analysis.

Jan 1, 2009

By Ray E. Harris

All of the major raw materials (silica, soda ash, limestone, and feldspar) needed to manufacture most grades of glass are found in Wyoming. Additional advantages for the manufacture of glass include the state's geographic location, a well-developed transportation network, a favorable tax structure (no corporate or personal-income tax), and low energy costs. Inadequate local markets and prohibitive transportation costs to other markets have been the major obstacles to developing a glass industry in Wyoming, the least- populated state in the nation. The Rocky Mountain region only recently became a major market for glass, especially for the Colorado Front Range and Utah's Wasatch Front. Currently, changing costs of the production of glass, an increased market for con- tainer glass in the Colorado Front Range, and innovative production and transportation ideas (e.g., production of selected types of glass and bulk shipments of specification-glass pellets) favor developing a glass plant in Wyoming. Thus, the Wyoming State Geological Survey (WSGS) and other state agencies have been conducting studies and contacting investors in an effort to attract a glass-manufacturing plant to the state. Between 1987 and 1993, three locations of silica-sand and -rock deposits were studied in Wyoming (Cassa, Plumbago Creek, and John Blue). Funding was provided by the WSGS operating budget and local and state Department of Commerce economic- development grants. The reports on these areas were released between 1988 and 1993. In 1988-89, a California-based company conducted additional drilling and feasibility studies and prepared to construct a glass plant in Cheyenne, using the Cassa silica source. However, due to losses incurred by some of their other investments, the company did not proceed. In 1997, the Wyoming Science, Technology, and Energy Administration (STEA) contracted a market study for glass manufactured in Wyoming, using information provided by the WSGS. The STEA contacted several major glass producers, and a major glass-producing company began feasibility studies in January 1998, for the construction of a glass plant. In June 1998, bids to supply brown beer bottles to the Budweiser brewery northeast of Fort Collins, Colorado, were submitted by at least two companies that were considering glass-plant sites in Wyoming.

Jan 1, 1999

By Henryk Bystron

The underground fire areas are formed as a result of failure of an active fire extinguishing in mines. Such areas bring about a fire hazard for the work safety and for the mining operations. For liquidation of fire areas it is necessary to create conditions under which a possibly small amount of air is flowing to the fire. To achieve this end, isolation methods are used which consist in erection of full stoppings of various types, sealing practically the fire areas. These methods usually fail in oases when the coal seam is thick and the fire area is situated between the intake shaft and the outtake shaft in which a high-pressure fan is in operation. In such oases ventilation methods based on the balance of aerodynamic potentials in fire areas are to be used. For a very long time the isolation and ventilation methods have been developed in the world mining, No sooner than since 1980 the aerodynamic potential has been used in ventilation methods [1,2,6]. So far, the aerodynamic potential was called in different ways and was determined by different formulae which gave its numerical values more or less approximative. Nevertheless, even in situations featuring by a lack of sufficient theoretical bases of the aerodynamic potential the ventilation methods brought considerable profits in the field of safety in mines and of economics in mine ventilation [1-6,9,10]. The increase in the depth of underground mines and their equipment with expensive machines (apparatus) brought about that the Central Mining Institute at Katowice undertook research works which are crowned by the theory of the aerodynamic potential in mine ventilation networks [7]. The use of this theory in the mentioned ventilation methods will increase their effectiveness. Since the theory will be published in the III rd quarter of this year, we cite in the present paper the formulae and relations associated with this theory which are indispensable to present the balance of aerodynamic potentials in the fire areas in their control by ventilation methods.

Jan 1, 1980

By Malcolm Ross

Of the six forms of asbestos, only three have been used to any significant extent in commerce. These are chrysotile, crocidolite, and amosite. Between 1870 and 1980, approximately 100 million tonnes of asbestos was mined worldwide, of which more than 90 million tonnes was the chrysotile variety, about 2.7 million tonnes the crocidolite variety, and about 2.2 million tonnes the amosite variety. The three principal diseases related to asbestos exposure are (1) lung cancer, (2) cancer of the pleural and peritoneal membranes (mesothelioma), and (3) asbestosis, a condition in which the lung tissue becomes fibrous and thus loses its ability to function. These diseases, however, are not equally prevalent in the various groups of asbestos workers that have been studied: the amount and type of disease depend on the duration of exposure, the intensity of exposure, and particularly, the type or types of asbestos to which the individual has been exposed. Lung cancer is caused by exposure to chrysotile, amosite, and crocidolite asbestos; however, increased risk of this disease is usually found only in those who also smoke. Asbestosis is caused by prolonged exposure to all forms of asbestos, whereas mesothelioma is principally caused by exposure to crocidolite asbestos. There is good evidence that chrysotile asbestos does not cause any significant amount of mesothelioma mortality, even after very heavy exposure. The common nonasbestiform amphibole minerals, cummingtonite, grunerite, tremolite, anthophyllite, and actinolite, which are often defined as "asbestos" for regulatory purposes, have not been shown to cause disease in miners. Chrysotile asbestos, which accounts for about 95 percent of the asbestos used in the United States, has been shown by extensive Canadian studies to be safe when exposures do not exceed 1 fiber per cm3 for the working lifetime. Chrysotile dust levels found in buildings rarely exceed 0.001 fibers per cm3. Such dust concentrations will have no measurable health effect on the building occupants. Present and future controls of minerals defined as "asbestos" and removal of asbestos from buildings and homes may cost many billions of dollars. Much of this expense is unnecessary and even counterproductive. Asbestos abatement could in fact produce a health risk to those exposed to dusts during and after removal operations overly restrictive controls could force the use of poor or dangerous substitutes, and could greatly affect the hard-rock mining industry.

Jan 1, 1987

By J. Simmons, P. Ziemkiewicz

Acid-Base Accounting (ABA) is an analytical procedure that provides values to help assess the acid-producing and acid-neutralizing potential of overburden rocks prior to coal mining and other large-scale excavations. This procedure was developed by West Virginia University scientists during the 1960s. After the passage of laws requiring an assessment of surface mining on water quality, ABA became a preferred method to predict post-mining water quality,and permitting decisions for surface mines are largely based on thevalues determined by ABA. In order to predict the post-mining water quality, the amount of acid-producing rock is compared to the amount of acid-neutralizing rock, and a prediction of the water quality at the site (whether acid or alkaline) is obtained. We gathered geologic and geographic data for 56 mined sites in West Virginia, which allowed us to estimate total overburden amounts, and values for maximum potential acidity (MPA), neutralization potential (NP), net neutralization potential (NNP), and NP/MPA ratios for each site based on ABA. These values were correlated to post-mining water quality from springs or seeps on the mined property. Overburden mass was determined by three methods, with the method used by Pennsylvania researchers showing the most accurate results to actual overburden mass. A poor relationship existed between MPA and post-mining water quality, NP was intermediate, and NNP and the NP/MPA ratio showed the best prediction accuracy. In this study, NNP and the NP/MPA ratio gave identical water quality prediction results. Therefore using NP/MPA ratios, values were separated into categories: <1 should produce acid drainage, between 1 and 2 can produce either acid or alkaline water conditions, and >2 should produce alkaline water. On our 56 surface mined sites, NP/MPA ratios varied from 0.1 to 31, and six sites (11%) did not fit the expected pattern using this category approach. Two of eight sites with ratios <1 did not produce acid drainage as predicted (the drainage was neutral), and four of 40 sites with a ratio >2 produced acid drainage when they should not have. These latter four sites were either mined very slowly, had non-representative ABA data, received water from an adjacent underground mine, or had a surface mining practice that degraded the water. In general, an NP/MPA ratio of <1 produced acid or neutral drainage sites, between 1 and 2 produced mostly alkaline drainage sites, while NP/MPA ratios of >2 produced alkaline drainage with a few exceptions. ABA is a good tool to assess overburden quality before surface mining and to predict post-mining drainage quality after mining. The interpretation from ABA values was correct in 50 out of 52 cases (96%), excluding the four anomalous sites, which had acid water for reasons other than overburden quality.

Jan 1, 2003

By T. H. Jones

Fall of ground is a leading source of worker injury and fatality indicating a persistent need for ground monitoring technology. The HRTMM is an experimental convergence monitor utilizing a digital camera and custom software to track the position of one or more lasers across the target. Apparent laser movement is proportional to target convergence. The HRTMM was installed in an underground mine near active operations to test its response to the mining environment. This included intense blasting vibration and mine fog. Results and potential of the new monitoring technology will be discussed.

Jan 1, 2008

By R. Allan Wallis

In the past mining engineers have tended to rely heavily on the advice of fan manufacturers in relation to fan equipment issues. A more adequate approach was advocated in a paper [ Wallis, 1965 ] submitted to the Eighth Commonwealth Mining and Metallurgical Congress held at Surfers Paradise, Australia during 1965. At that time Mount Isa Mine were in the process of installing 3 large 6096mm (20ft) diameter vertical axial flow surface fans of an advanced type [ Mathews et al, 1967 ]. The preliminary feasibility studies prior to preparing the detailed job specification for this project were extremely thorough with the result that it was possible to include detailed information and instructions in the document, ensuring the procurement of equipment that was satisfactory in all respects. Full advantage was taken of expert services provided by external organizations during the large coordinated multi-disciplinary exercise. My continuing activity and development in relation to the technology of axial flow fans is now at a stage where all known design and performance data are accessible through CAD programs [ Wallis and Kipp, 1987 ]. The extensive calculations that were necessary in 1983 can now be carried out in a mere fraction of the time, and with complete confidence. Model testing in order to validate the fan and duct design proposals is, in my view, no longer essential. The first of the computer programs enables a mine ventilation engineer to study a large number of alternative axial fan arrangements for comparison with the centrifugal alternative. By entering the volume flow rate, fan pressure and air density, he can then with ease, and rapidly, investigate the effect of various blading arrangements, downstream evasee area ratios, and hub ratios, on fan diameter and speed, with their related attainable fan efficiencies. This procedure had its origin back in the 60s when I was advising mining companies on new fan equipment. At that time such an investigation was quite lengthy and lacked the precision and completeness that is now available within the present programs. To obtain the major benefit from these outputs, it is most important not to be disconcerted by the three very important nondimensional parameters, namely, the tip flow coefficient (LAMt), the fan pressure coefficient (Kt or Kit), and the swirl coefficient (Es and/or Ep) as these are important when assessing the various design proposals. When seeking an understanding of the role and importance of each of these variables, ample help is provided in the user manual; the design recommendations are summarized in the help screens which are readily accessible within the design programs.

Jan 1, 1989

By Joseph E. Worthington

The announcement of a high-grade ore intercept near Wenatchee, Chelan County, WA, by Asamera Minerals in 1983 triggered widespread interest in this old gold mining district. The district has a long history of exploration and production and was actually one of the few underground gold mines that operated in the post World War I1 years in the US. Gold occurs in a north-trending structural zone in folded and faulted Eocene arkose intruded by andesite and dacite dikes having dates in the 42 to 50 m.y. range. Ore has been mined selectively from ladder veins perpendicular to the trend, from the south end of the trend near Squilchuck Creek. These veins narrow and silicification becomes pervasive northerly where wider zones were caved later in the operation. Recent discoveries at "B" reef at the north end are also in wide zones of silicified arkose. The gold lodes originally cropped out as prominent silicified and iron-stained ridges that were described in the early days as "reefs." The early discoveries were made in out- crop about a hundred years ago, and two claims, the Gold King and Macbeth lodes, covering the most prominent out- crops on the north side of Squilchuck Creek, were staked in 1885 and patented shortly thereafter. A five stamp mill was erected in 1894, but failed to liberate gold for amalgamation. The two patented claims were acquired in 1934 by J. Keegan, who carried out limited exploration and shipped small amounts of flux ore to Tacoma during the next few years. There was no substantial exploration or development of the claims, however, for several years after that time, and ownership of the claims eventually passed to a series of trusts administered by a bank in Seattle.

Jan 1, 1990

By Henry N. McCarl

In the period 1982-1992, world trade has increased in real terms about 65% (Anon., 1992b). The nominal value of this trade in the early 1990s is approximately $5 trillion. In 1970, mineral commodities constituted approximately 20% of the value of world trade. By 1980, despite rising petroleum prices, mineral commodities made up about 18% of the total value of world trade, with crude oil amounting to 16% and other minerals the remaining 2%. By 1987, the major worldwide economic slowdown and falling oil prices meant that minerals constituted only about 10% of the total value of world trade, or about $500 billion in 1987 (Kimbell and Zajac, 1988). The importance of minerals in world trade since 1987 has remained at about these levels. Approximately 40% of world mineral commodity production is traded internationally. Some economists predict that minerals and other commodities are likely to continue to decline in relative importance in terms of the value of world economic output, as well as world trade, into the foreseeable future (Thurow, 1992). This projected decline in commodity demand may also be related to much slower global economic growth over the next decade (Alperovitz, 1992). Industrial minerals and rocks constituted roughly 2.5% of total mineral commodity exports in the late 1980s, but their relative importance as a portion of mineral commodity exports nearly doubled in the decade 1977-1987 (Kimbell and Zajac, 1988). Industrial minerals constitute the most rapidly growing share of total mineral commodity exports. In addition, price declines among industrial minerals were uncommon in the decade 1977-1987 (Kimbell and Zajac, 1988). While prices of sulfur and most of the fertilizer minerals have seen some erosion and slow growth in markets in the period 1987-1992, other industrial minerals have increased in both value and share of the export market (USBM, 1992). The place of industrial minerals in world trade becomes even more significant when one looks at shipments of chemical fertilizers and basic chemicals that are counted as manufactured products rather than industrial mineral commodities. The United States is the major world producer of industrial mineral commodities and products made from these nonmetallic minerals and rocks. The former Soviet Union, now The Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), and China have very significant deposits of industrial minerals. Japan exports significant quantities of cement. The US, CIS, and Morocco export large amounts of phosphate rock. Canada and Germany export substantial amounts of potash. Sulfur from Poland, industrial diamonds from South Africa, Zaire, and Brazil, and fluorspar from Mexico are all important exports.

Jan 1, 1994

By Brian E. Davies, Bobby G. Wixson

INTRODUCTION The impact of modern mining and ore processing on the environment is readily minimised. Our improving knowledge of how pollutants are released to and move through the environment has been accompanied by better expertise in controlling these emissions. For example, when the new mines and smelters were developed in the Viburnum Trend of Missouri a sulfur dioxide pollution problem was quickly recognized and soon controlled. (Wixson 1974) But older operations were not efficiently organized and, despite their smaller scale, they often caused major pollution problems. The British mining fields are among the world&apos;s oldest and during the heyday of their operation (approximately 1750-1900) they were worked with- out regard to their environmental impact. The Rivers Pollution Commissioners in the mid-nineteenth century were led to remark that ore dressing was carried on in a slovenly and wasteful manner and the complaints by farmers, that river borne mine wastes were poisoning both their crops and stock, were justified. (Frankland and Mortan, 1984). The Comissioners report led to the 1876 River Pollution Act of Parliament, the first modern environment protection legislation. The development of mining since the last century is characterized by improved regulation of the pollution potential of ore dressing, smelting and refining. The collective memory is unfortunately long and pessimistic. A serious problem arises when old mines are reopened especially if the mine has not been worked for several years since local action groups may soon blame the new owners for causing problems which, in reality, are longstanding and were caused by the use of earlier state of the art technology. It is therefore essential that during the early development stages prior to reopening that comprehensive studies be carried out to identify and quantify local contamination problems. These baseline studies should include surveys on the nature and composition of old tailings disposal areas and other wastes on the mine properties. The composition of air and water should be monitored. Soils are long term sinks for all heavy metals and particular attention should be paid to soils within any city areas near the mine since there are sources of heavy metals in urban areas which are not connected with mining and ore processing. This paper describes some of the results of such a study around a prospective cobalt mine in Southeastern Missouri. It is restricted to the soil survey of forest and agricultural land which took place in and around Fredericktown, Missouri. The city is located at approximately 37° 30&apos; North and 90° 20&apos; West and lies 143 kilometers south of St. Louis. There are several metal mines near Fredericktown, including Mine La Motte, which is the oldest and was first opened in 1720. [Figure 1] is a location map of the area. The survey described here was in connection to the reopening of the Madison Cobalt Mine which was first worked in 1947.

Jan 1, 1985

By Jinrong (Patrick) Zhang

Improvement of conventional flotation efficiency, separation of carbonates from apatite, recovery of phosphate values from phosphatic clay and other ways of utilizing the clay, disposal of clay slurries and subsequent reclamation of the settling areas, and conservation of resources and energy remain major challenges in the beneficiation area for the phosphate industry. These problems have been actively investigated by the industry, government agencies, and research organizations for decades with modest success. However, some recent research activities have generated promising results and possible new technologies. The dominant position of the Crago process in phosphate beneficiation is being challenged by some of the single stage processing schemes. Heavy media separation enables one producer to process a portion of high carbonate ores. Separation of dolomite from apatite by reverse flotation of carbonates with phosphate depressants showed potential for industrial application. Consolidation of phosphatic clays in mine cuts using a modified "sandwich" process is being tested. Beneficiation in the acidulation plant or grinding at the mines may be considered in the future.

Jan 1, 1993

By Raymond E. Kary, John W. Mcklveen

The four unit Cholla coal fired power station at Joseph City, Arizona, consumes coal from the McKinley mine located in western New Mexico. Since coals may contain relatively high uranium or thorium concentrations and may release quantities of detrimental progeny of these elements to the environs, there is concern that releases may pose an adverse environmental impact or even a health hazard to the workers. Thus, an effort was made to quantify the radionuclide content of the coal and compare the results with radionuclide concentrations already present in the vicinity of the plant. Additionally an attempt was made to assess any potential for significant enhancement of the levels of radioactivity in the environment or to plant personnel. Background gamma radiation measurements at and near the plant ranged from 8 to 12 [µ]R/hr (70 to 105 mR/yr) with a few localized anomolies measuring to 18 [u]R/hr (160 mR/yr). Levels on top of the coal storage piles decreased to ~ 6.5 [u]R/hr (60 mR/yr). Apparently the direct radiation emitted from the coal is less than the background levels in the vicinity of the plant. Measurements performed on top of several coal seams at the mine confirmed low radiation levels emanating from coal, but readings more than doubled when the overburden was monitored. Laboratory gamma spectrometry confirmed the lower amounts of natural radioactivity in the coal when compared against soil and water samples obtained in the vicinity of the plant and the overburden at the mine. In an effort to see if there is biological enhancement, animal feces was sampled. The radiation variations were found to be influenced primarily by naturally occurring potassium-40 which varied from ~ 1 to 18 pCi/gm rather than fluctuations in the uranium and thorium series. The potassium-40 concentrated in the ash were similar to the concentrations in the environs around the disposal ponds while Radium-226 concentrated in the fly ash was ~ 3 times that found in the immediate surroundings. Radon-222 gas concentrations in buildings at or near the plant ranged from 0.5 to 1.8 pCi/l and were generally lower than indoor concentrations measured in the Phoenix area. The burning of coal at the Cholla station does not appear to increase ambient levels of radioactivity found in the surrounding environs or to the workers. However, the use of byproduct fly ash for construction purposes may need to be examined.

Jan 1, 1981

By Ian S. Lowndes, Adrian T. J. Moll

With the current trends towards the concentration of extraction to fewer but higher production units in deeper seams, often of higher coal rank, the role of methane drainage ranges has become critical. As mines exploit seams at greater depth and more remote locations there has been a need to extend the lengths of methane drainage ranges and to increase the capacity of the surface pumps. This trend has highlighted the need to effectively simulate the operation of a methane drainage range in order to produce the optimum design and operation of a safe and economic system. This paper describes the development of such an analytical tool. The application of this computer model is illustrated by the analysis of the operation of the drainage system of an extensive mine. The paper concludes by considering the development of a [Knowlege Based or Decision Support System] which will assist the ventilation engineer in assessing the current performance of an existing drainage range and will suggest possible remedial modifications or design strategies which may improve the system performance. INTRODUCTION In order to maintain the general body methane levels to below predetermined statutory threshold limit values (TLV&apos;s) on major longwall production units there are, for a given production rate, two major complementary control devices which may be employed by the ventilation engineer. These are the combined design and application of a competent mine ventilation and methane drainage system. The methane drainage system should be designed so as to maximise the capture of the methane (firedamp) from the seam being mined and the strata gas liberated in the vicinity of the extraction zone from gas bearing seams or other reservoirs of gas situated at above or below the mining horizon. The design fresh air quantity entering the face should ensure that under normal operating conditions the methane entering in the vicinity of the face is rapidly dispersed and dilute to well below statutory TLV&apos;s. The drainage system must therefore be designed to maximise the capture of the methane gas liberated to minimise the amount of gas which enters the ventilation airstream. GAS DRAINAGE The inherent dangers of methane emissions in mine workings have been a problem of concern to mining engineers for many years. To alleviate the risk, methane drainage has been employed for some years to capture the gas before it becomes a hazard to the operation of the mine. The method of drainage employed will be dependent on a number of factors which include the longwall mining method and production cycle employed, the characteristics of the coal seam being extracted and those of the adjacent gas bearing strata. The location of the gas bearing potential of the over and underlying coal measures must be determined. The gas bearing

Jan 1, 1993

By E. J. Jacques

A typical problem in ventilation networks with multiple fan systems is the possibility of them interacting. Multiple fan systems are no exceptions in complex tunnels, and may also be met in mines where underground fans are installed. When aiming at controlling a multiple fan system in a ventilation network, e.g. with a view to maintaining an acceptable air quality level, yet at minimum power consumption, transient flow conditions frequently occur. Although in most applications these transients are short compared to the time needed to achieve the planned actions on the ventilation, one should, however, keep in mind that it is important to avoid any bouncing effect between different (adjacent or distant) fan systems. Therefore a simulation of the unsteady-state flows could allow us to learn more about the propagation of transients within the network, and their possible secondary effects Among others, one question that often is raised, is to find out in which sequence and at what time schedule each of the fans in a network should e.g. be started up? Another typical problem, into which an unsteady-state simulation could provide some insight is the following: how should the facilities of variable pitch angle and/or changeable RPM of several fans operating in parallel be handled and combined in order to obtain a flow rate that changes gradually from zero to its maximum value i.e. the sum of the individual throughput flows of all the fans. The literature is not very abundant on the topic of simulating transient flows in networks. There is no doubt that numerical models have been developed (Pollak, Christensen, 1987), most of the time for particular applications (Wala, Kim, 1985), (Tanaskovic et al., 1984), (Schultz, Sockel, 1991), etc. The aim of this paper is to present a model that also simulates one-dimensional compressible flows in unsteady-state conditions with, however, the specific intent to handle networks with more than one fan. PROBLEM STATEMENT The mathematical model chosen to describe the unsteady flows in a ventilation network is based on the dynamic and continuity equations applied to each of its airways. The following basic assumptions are made : - the flow in the airway is considered to be one- dimensional, - - the flow is assumed to be fully turbulent, and hence the ATKINSON equation for calculating the friction losses will be applied. Whether this equation remains valid for transient state flows remains an open question. However, this may reasonably be assumed since the interesting flow frequencies are low. A discussion may be found in (Kämpf, 1987) ; - the airways are assumed to have a constant cross- sectional area along their length. If obviously this would not be the case, it is always possible to subdivide the concerned airway into sections for which the previous assumption holds. Applying the basic equations of mass and energy conservation, the flow in each branch may be described by the Euler equation for Newtonian flows.

Jan 1, 1995

By I. Jashnani, J. R. Lawter, D. B. Lindsay

INTRODUCTION It is a generally recognized obligation of owners and operators of underground mines in the United States to protect the health of miners against the potential carcinogenic effect of airborne alphaemitting radionuclides, in particular the shortlived radioactive daughter-products of 222Rn. In meeting this obligation, a number of strategies are available, and it is largely up to the operator to decide what combination of methods he will use. Because the officially accepted theory of the mechanism by which radon and its short-lived progeny cause cancer of the respiratory system, the objective in controlling this health hazard is to limit as far as possible the inhalation of the three daughter products, 218Po, 214Pb, and 214Bi. (214Po, the fourth nuclide in the chain, is so short-lived that its alpha-decay occurs almost instantaneously after the beta-decay of its parent, 214Bi.) The reasoning in this theory leads to the conclusion that the alphadecay of radon itself causes essentially negligible physiological damage, and that the amount of daughter product activity attributable to decay of radon within the respiratory system is also very small. As every ventilation engineer in this business knows, however, focusing remedial actions exclusively on the daughter products themselves is choosing the hard way, and will probably never lead to effective control of this health hazard in underground mining activities. The reason for this troublesome fact can be seen in Figure 1. Let us say that we have air containing 222Rn and its short-lived daughters in near-equilibrium, a not-uncommon condition in the air of a poorly ventilated underground mine, and that we wish to purify it by removing only the toxic daughter products. If we have been very thorough in our purification efforts, we might expect to achieve a 99% reduction of the Working Level (WL) measurement. Figure 2 allows us to examine closely the early regrowth of WL&apos;s in this freshly cleaned air. Within the first five minutes, for instance, the WL&apos;s are back to 10% of their full equilibrium value, and ten minutes later the level has more than doubled and is on its way to an almost complete defeat of the clean-up effort by the end of the next hour. It is quite clear from this simple illustration that no matter how effective an air-cleaning system may be if it is directed only at the selective removal of the toxic trio, 218Po, 214Pb and 214Bi, its beneficial effect will be quite temporary. A truly effective attack on the problem must always include methods aimed at the control of the unruly parent, radon. Then, even if its progeny have an inalienable "right to life", their brief lives will not be spent in the miners&apos; lungs. The object of the present paper is to show how state-of-the-art environmental air

Jan 1, 1981

By W. E. Cobb

The financial implications of environmental liabilities are becoming staggering, particularly for mining companies. The Environmental Protection Agency&apos;s (EPA) Record of Decision (ROD) list for Superfund mining sites has some pretty hefty financial commitments, such as the $10 million operable unit remedy for the Yak Tunnel at California Gulch (in Colorado) or the $40 to 60 million remediation at Bunker Hill (in Idaho). These costs are driven by the large volume and areal extent associated with historical waste management practices at mining sites. (It&apos;s difficult to have a low-cost remedy for a 20-square-mile site.) Unfortunately, there are other ways of generating environmental liabilities besides Superfund, such as non-compliance with Clean Air Act provisions, stormwater permits, or National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits. In the last 2 years, EPA has increased enforcement in its regulatory programs, which has resulted in increased fines and criminal actions. Leaders in other industries (primarily the chemical and manufacturing industries) are viewing environmental liabilities as a strong motivator to select engineering approaches carefully based on technical, legal, economic, and philosophical perspectives. Industry interest in waste minimization programs comes from the concept that it is economically advantageous not to create waste in the first place. Waste minimization programs typically balance increased front-end capital investment with the minimization of potential long-term environmental liabilities as a way to achieve the lowest total-or life-cycle-cost. A side benefit of waste minimization programs is that they tend to improve overall regulatory compliance. Waste management practices are also becoming philosophical, as evidenced by a May 11, 1992, Business Week article: Companies that incorporate innovative thinking on sustainable development will do more than clean up or prevent their own pollution. They&apos;ll make and distribute a product more efficiently than ever, worry about its lifelong environmental impact, plan for recycling, and get their suppliers on the bandwagon. This type of approach will require a new mind-set, new tools, and adjustments throughout the organization. A key aspect of waste minimization or life-cycle waste management programs is the incorporation of environmental costs into economic analyses that compare various waste management alternatives. However, the incorporation of environmental costs into an economic analysis can be more difficult than initially thought. As noted above, new tools-or even a new toolbag-are needed, such as new accounting methods that track and assign the true lifetime environmental costs of a particular product. One piece of the new toolbag is life-cycle cost analysis, which is discussed in this paper. To simplify the discussion, this paper looks at the total costs associated with a given mining site. The concepts presented in this paper, however, can be applied to any mine waste management decision. The ultimate extension of life-cycle costing, as presented in the Business Week article, is to include the potential environmental costs throughout the life of a metal. At this point, I am perplexed on why, let alone how, to include the potential downstream environmental costs (i.e., the costs associated with smelting, manufacturing, use, and recycle or disposal) throughout the life cycle of mined copper, lead, or zinc.

Jan 1, 1992

By Michael Brittan

The AARL elution process has recently been introduced to the North American mining industry by Bateman Engineers Inc. The process is described along with its noteworthy features. Design and operating considerations are discussed.

Jan 1, 1998

By D. A. Gulley, L. J. MacDonnell, William A. Vogely

INTRODUCTION Environmental impacts are most commonly associated with air and water pollution. Not- withstanding this fact, to many people the primary disruption caused by mineral extraction is the change in the character of the locale. That is, the environmental impact of mining includes, but is not limited to, the generation of residuals. The dramatic transformation of wilderness or rural land often creates strong reactions to mineral development. Thus, the basic issues of land use management are a useful addition to environmental discussion. In this section, we take up a discussion of federal, state, and local land use management regimes, along with a brief introduction to the potential role of economic analysis. Elsewhere in this volume, land management issues are discussed from other orientations, and the interested reader may wish to look there as well. Locatable Minerals on Federal Lands Legislation and Administration: Access to hard-rock minerals on the public lands is governed by the General Mining Law of 1872. This law declares that "valuable mineral deposits in land belonging to the United States . . . are hereby declared to be free and open to exploration and purchase . . . ." In order to initiate rights, prospectors are required to physically stake claims of specified sizes and shapes following basic procedures set by federal law which may be supplemented by the individual states. Rights to these claims are protected at the exploration stage so long as actual possession is maintained and diligent exploration activity is underway. If a valuable mineral deposit is discovered on the claim, the claimholder earns the exclusive right of possession as against private parties so long as the claim is properly maintained. To maintain this exclusive right the claimholder must per- form $100 worth of labor or improvements, known as assessment work, on each claim every year and make related annual filings with the U. S. Department of the Interior. If the existence of a valuable mineral deposit can be demonstrated, and other legal requirements are met, the claimholder may receive a patent giving full title to the claimed land, including the surface in most cases. The purchase price is either $2.50 or $5 .OO per acre. The Mining Law has remained largely un- changed by legislative amendment during its now more than 100-vear existence. However, while the law itself has not changed, its interpretation and administration have changed considerably. Written at a time of rapid western expansion of the U.S. following the Civil War, the intent of the law was to promote mineral development by inviting unrestricted prospecting and by selling the lands containing mineral deposits at a minimal charge. As federal land policy shifted from one of rapid disposal into private ownership to one of retention and management for a number of uses, mineral patenting requirements have been administered more strictly. The most critical issue concerns what must be demonstrated to establish the existence of a valuable mineral deposit. The so-called "prudent man" standard was established in the case of Castle v. Womble (19 L.D. 455 (1894)):

Jan 1, 1985

By Tom F. Deems

The term ball clay is applied to plastic sedimentary clays that have a high content of kaolinite and that possess white firing properties and high green strength (Mitchell and Stentiford, 1973). However, the name ball clay is not derived from any specific property of the clay. Instead, it comes from the original method of production in southwestern England (Scott, 1929). From open pits, the clay was cut into cubes with hand tools. The sides of the cubes were about 220 to 250 mm (9 to 10 in.) and weighed 14 to 16 kg (30 to 35 lb.). The eventual rounding of the corners with handling before sale gave rise to the term ball clay. Ball clays provide the workability and green strength required by the whiteware section of the world&apos;s ceramic industry. The main applications are in the sanitaryware, tile and tableware sectors. Each, though, requires particular technical properties in the ball clay component. The clay has to be as white firing as possible for all applications. However, for sanitary-ware, the rheological properties are most important. For tableware, fired whiteness and freedom from specking are the main criteria. Tiles need a reasonable green strength but the clay also needs to be cost-effective. The technical properties of the individual clays in any deposit depend on the clay mineral assemblage. This, in turn, depends on the geological formation of the deposits. Hence, it is the latter that largely determines the market sector for which the clay blends from a particular deposit are suited. Formation of ball clays Ball clays are formed from three main components - kaolinite, micaceous minerals and quartz - while carbonaceous material is also often present. The crystallinity of the kaolinite and mica varies. There are also occasional minor occurrences of feldspar, chlorite, montmorillonite andmixed. layer minerals. Marcasite, siderite and anatase also occur in small amounts. The properties of the clay depend on its mineralogical composition and its particle size distribution, particularly in the lowest size ranges. The original source rocks and the environment of deposition of the clay are the controlling factors. The importance of weathering processes in the formation of ball clays has long been recognized (Bristow, 1968). The diversity of source rocks produces considerable variation in the clay minerals formed. Therefore, each deposit is unique, with time-related variation within it. The greatest development of a weathering mantle takes place in a tropical climatic environment. Plant remains confirm that most ball clay deposits were formed under hot and wet conditions. Sedimentation of the clays had to be in fresh or low salinity water or clay minerals detrimental to whiteware manufacture would have been formed. Fresh water traps for the ball clay, sand and lignite sequences depended -on tectonic features, such as basin development along fault zones or lakes and lagoons on the edge of a large scale embayment. These factors for Devon ball clays were discussed by Vincent (1983). The combination of suitable source rocks, tropical climate, significant fresh water sedimentary environment

Jan 1, 1997

By Gabriel de Almeida

INTRODUCTION The widespread use of desktop computers by an ever increasing number of people, both for personal and for business and government uses, has brought public attention to surprising stories about computer abuse. Before the advent of microcomputers in the information processing environment, hundreds of amazing misdeeds involving large computers had already been reported, most of them perpetrated by highly skilled professionals. The undreamed enlarging of microcomputer potential has steadily posed a major threat to complex mainframe computing systems, as joyful teenagers become familiar with the habit of hacking around someone else&apos;s large processing system, by means of makeshift phone communication networks, based on their intended homework for personal computers -- for the sheer fun of it. Now, the never ending capacity and speed improvement of commercially available micros has given rise to a brand new concern for society: the hazards of processing sensitive information in the powerful, but still unsafe microcomputer itself, whether or not linked to other micros or mainframe networks. This paper deals with some aspects of the problems and presents some practical hints as to enhance protection and minimize risks to sensitive and secretive information when processed on microcomputers. The physical considerations of computer security and pertinent safety precautions will not be discussed, because while essentially relevant to information protection, recommendations are well defined by processing resources suppliers and their importance is more widely recognized by users in general. Definitions and Classifications. The following definitions and classifications will be considered in this report: Information Assets: Any knowledge or information processing, storing or conveying device displayed in one&apos;s environment. It consists of two main categories: INFORMATION RESOURCES: End user&apos;s application data wherever recorded. PROCESSING RESOURCES: EDP skilled user&apos;s hardware, software, peripherals, magnetic media, communication devices, auxiliary equipment, supplies and related operational procedures. Information Protection: In a broad sense this is the set of necessary procedures to assure to the legitimate user the effective control of the operation and allow modifications of information assets, so that their physical or cognitive integrity be preserved or any unexpected loss minimized inspite of accidental occurrences or intentional actions. Classification Processes: Commonly two classification processes are used to define key terms in information protection: SENSITIVE CLASSIFICATION: Pre-defined standards for assessing the vulnerability to losses due to lack of proper processing continuity if information is destroyed, disclosed, secluded, or misused. SECRECY CLASSIFICATION: A spectrum of degrees as to the expectancy of holding exclusiveness of unique information whose destruction, disclosure, seclusion or misuse will cause a negative impact on the legitimate holder environment. Sensitive Information: Any knowledge whose destruction. disclosure. seclusion or misuse - - - implies losses to its legitimate holder. It may be classified as: VITAL INFORMATION: An essential knowledge whose lack of proper availability implies total loss or termination of p

Jan 1, 1987