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By Marcell Silveira, Jeff Loeb

Controlling ore contacts prior to excavation is essential to ensuring material types reach the correct downstream locations, so that optimal ore recovery is achieved. This practice is especially pertinent to narrow vein or structurally controlled deposits where very small discrepancies between the assumed and actual locations of the ore contacts can translate to significant ore loss or dilution. However, whether a mine’s priority is to minimize (i) ore loss, (ii) dilution, (iii) contamination, or (iv) adhering to strict blending requirements, blast movement is a problem for every mine, even those situated in massive, gradational deposits.

Sep 1, 2017

By Sridhar Dutta

This paper point out the predictive performance of a relatively new learning model called the support vector machines (SVM) for spatial grade estimation of two grade attributes alumina and silica in a bauxite deposit of India. In developing the SVM model, it was trained with known input-output patterns of training data set which was derived by splitting the entire data set into training and prediction sets using Genetic algorithms (GA). The use of GA algorithms was made because it attempted to divide the data into two statistical similar subsets. The predictive performance of the SVM was also compared with the ordinary kriging technique using the various statistical indices including Mean Squared Error (MSE), Mean Absolute Error (MAE), Mean Error (ME) and the coefficient of determination (R2) on the prediction data set.

Sep 19, 2006

By Enrique Rubio

Mine planning is the discipline of mining engineering that transforms geological resources into the best productive business for the owner. The production schedule is the best reflection of the company's business plan, which reflects the strategic, tactical and operational objectives to reach the defined production targets subject to the restrictions imposed by the mineral resource, by access to capital, medium environmental, market, technology and others. Traditionally the process of mine planning has been carried out through multiple steps generally disjointed and not with a clear connection with the ultimate goal that is to carry out a mining business.

Sep 1, 2017

By Kevin Gunesch

In the current difficult financial markets, only the best projects will advance to the next phases of development due to limited funding. Projects are consistently being evaluated by their initial Capital Expenditure (CapEx), Net Present Value (NPV), and Internal Rate of Return (IRR). Optimizing these parameters is the best way to gain market interest. Global Resource Engineering LTD (GRE) completed an optimization study for a silver-lead-zinc project in Peru. In this sense, the objective of the study was to minimize the project initial Capital Expenditure while maximizing the Net Present Value and Internal Rate of Return. GRE accomplished this goal by completing a series of tradeoff studies for the project and combining them through the use of a multi-scenario deterministic model to find the most economic scenario.

Oct 21, 2015

By Gawen Jenkin

The extraction of metals from ores is often an energy-intensive process, requiring either smelting or leaching at high temperature, or the use of large quantities of strong acids or bases that require energy to produce. These processes often produce wastes, in gaseous, liquid or solid form, which require treatment before they can be safely disposed, and this waste treatment requires further energy. Thus there is a need to develop more energy-efficient and environmentally-compatible methods. In this sense, the paper point out that ionic liquids are one such method, and that they can be used to selectively dissolve and recover native gold and tellurium, sulphides and tellurides.

Oct 21, 2015

By Timo Toma

Hitherto flotation machines have by and large been operated and coaxed to best performance through the human endowments of sight and problem solving ability. A new device that measures accurately distinct froth characteristics on-line is now revealing fresh insights into the complexity of the froth removal, at the same time showing promise as a practical tool for the automation of stable control as well as flotation machine and flotation circuit performance optimization. The FrothMasterTM is introduced. Actual plant results are shown and discussed. A functional and practical leading edge solution to flotation machine control automation is presented.

Aug 25, 2002

By Quan Situ

In evaluating the influence of increased mine ventilation utilizing the vertical production shaft as intake or exhaust, various factors, such as conveyance motion and especially the shaft guide system, have been studied. Case studies of two typical conveyance guide systems, namely rope guide (in a potash mine) and fixed guide (in a hard rock mine) are presented.

Oct 21, 2015

By Glen Toepfer

The paper point out geosynthetic installations as assets, Construction Quality Assurance (CQA) and how both items relate to ensuring a sound installation that should provide a significant return on investment for the owner. Also this elements that are required in obtaining a sound installation and the tangible benefits of a zero-leak geomembrane installation.

Oct 21, 2015

By Edmundo Alfaro

"The paper point out about on the use of ion exchange resins for adsorption of gold from ammoniacal thiosulfate solutions. In this sense, the gold can be recovered from ammonium thiosulfate solutions with strong base resins. The amount of gold loaded onto the resin in a batch process is a function of gold concentration in solution, amount of resin, volume of solution, copper and competing ions concentration in solution. Thiosulfate concentration in leaching solution has influence on gold loadings onto resins; in contrast, ammonia concentration in solutions has no influence on gold loadings. Gold seems to be loaded onto the resin preferentially over copper - thiosulfatecomplexes and also over thiosulfate ions. Polythionate ions strongly compete with gold and copper thiosulfate complexes for resin sites. This causes reduction on gold and copper recoveries from the leaching solutions. Even more, polythionates are produced in leaching solutions when thiosulfate is oxidized by the action of both copper and oxygen. "

Jul 31, 2003

By Victor Tenorio

At the present time, the mineral resources in the majority of underground mines are assessed and reported within a deterministic scenario. Irrespective of the techniques utilized for the estimation, the uncertainty in the reporting of resources is limited to their classification in categories such as Measured, Indicated and Inferred, according to a qualitative appreciation that depends on the abundance and quality of geologic information and sampling. Tonnages and grades reported within each category are treated as of fixed or variable precision depending on their classification; nevertheless, this degree of precision is not quantified, which makes it difficult for mine planning and can seriously affect the decisions that are taken on the resources of a deposit. The uncertainty in the resources comes from the lack of adequate geological information and grades, but this lack of information is very difficult to improve or supplement since the information-versus-cost curve increases exponentially

Sep 19, 2006

By Pierre Shields, Luiggi Sassarini, Richard Zandstra, Thomas Li

The intent of this paper is to demystify the mythology which often confront mine owners and engineers faced with this dubious question “Is it better to develop or continue a ramp or make a vertical shaft to access the new ore body of interest?” trough out measuring risk and return using probabilistic analysis and unhidden cost the affect long term decision such ventilation.

Sep 1, 2017

By Rubén Muñoz

This paper point out the discussion and evaluation of the non-conventional water resources; the discussion of the results of a multicriteria analysis which allows understanding and evaluating the differences; advantages and disadvantages from the technical-economical, social and environmental point of view of the non conventional water supply options: re use of municipal waste water as compared to seawater supply and its two sub options: raw seawater and desalinated seawater. The results show that there are advantages and disadvantages to each approach, but that use of non-conventional water resources is a viable option for mining companies.

Sep 21, 2013

By Julio Cesar Tremolada

Los Wetlands pueden efectivamente remover grandes cantidades de contaminantes incluyendo materia orgánica, sólidos en suspensión, metales pesados y exceso de nutrientes. Sedimentación, filtración natural y otros procesos, participan activamente en la limpieza de las aguas ácidas que presentan muchos contaminantes. Reacciones químicas y de descomposición biológica generan ruptura y transformación de sustancias complejas a sustancias simples. Plantas acuáticas remueven nutrientes a través de procesos de absorción, asimilación y produciendo biomasa.

Sep 1, 2017

By Jean Legault

ZTEM is a natural field airborne EM technology that is in its 10TH year of service and is widely used for porphyry copper exploration around the world, yet is still considered a new technology. ZTEM uses EM fields generated by worldwide thunderstorm activity as is primary source field. Its large depth of investigation (>1km), its sensitivity to weak lateral resistivity contrasts and the relative simplicity of its EM fields for computer modelling are among its greatest attributes. ZTEM has helped discover blind porphyry copper deposits and is also widely used in unconformity uranium, epithermal gold and geothermal exploration around the world.

May 1, 2008

By Marc Leduc

Since co-disposal technology promises to replace conventional tailings disposal methods at sites with high strip ratios or plentiful old dumps. While the mine waste needs to be relatively strong and low in fine material, and chemical compatibility must be assured, when these parameters are satisfied there are no other significant hurdles to its implementation. In this sense, the paper describe the resulting benefits range from substantial reduction in capital and operating costs to reduction or essential elimination of the short- and long-term liabilities associated with tailings dams are impoundments.Since tailings dam failures are arguably the greatest environmental liability and public relations problem in the industry, reducing the quantity of tailings managed behind dams is a worthy goal.

Jul 31, 2003

By H. E. Wyslouzil

Column flotation technology was introduced to the market place about thirty ago years as a device capable of producing concentrates that were lower in impurities than those produced by other types of flotation machines. The ability to operate columns with significantly deeper froth beds and the provision of a froth washing system were the main reasons cited for the improved metallurgical performance. Column cells are now well accepted by the industry for cleaning applications, but there continues to be considerable skepticism about their use as roughers. There have been several documented cases of rougher installations which fell well short of predicted metallurgical performance. The reasons for the shortcomings vary from case to case, however they can be generally attributed to incorrect sizing, inappropriate application and or a lack of understanding of how column cells must be integrated into an existing plant or new project. Columns may not be the best choice for every application. In this sense, this paper discusses some of the important considerations that designers must take into account when contemplating the use of columns as roughers.

Sep 12, 2005

By William R. Adamson

"The paper point out how mechanistic blast outcome models can be employed to explore the likely extent of achievable benefits associated with application of different explosive products, of quantifiably known characteristics.maximizing the advantages of the use of this modeling approach requires the use of field based measurements as model inputs, as has been done in this particular study. Inevitably, enhanced confidence in the routine application of the approach will be obtained through the collection, analysis and interpretation of field performance verification data such as fragmentation size distribution data. "

Jul 31, 2003

By Osvaldo A. Bascur

This paper presents a real time software infrastructure with people tools that gives the users the ability to sift through available data, transform data into information for business continuous improvement and optimization. In this sense, the paper introduce a simple collaborative tool to add context to business areas or assets for getting things done in an industrial complex

Sep 12, 2011

By Emanuel De La Cruz R.

"AntaMonitor, es un sistema hecho in-house que tiene como objetivo mostrar los principales indicadores de gestión de la flota de equipos pesados de mina (palas-camiones) a todo nivel, generando alertas ante la detección de condiciones de saturación, colas, sobre asignación, retrasos u otras condiciones configurables. Al ser las operaciones de mina los encargados del manejo del mayor presupuesto de la empresa, es de vital importancia que los supervisores de mina, supervisores senior, superintendentes y gerentes de operaciones mina enfoquen sus esfuerzos en gestionar los recursos adecuadamente."

Sep 1, 2017

By Jan Klein

"The last decade of the 20th century saw the development of one of the last missing geophysical tools for mineral exploration: the Airborne Gravity Gradiometer. It is possible that Airborne Induced Polarization, one of the stillelusive systems, will make its debut in the next few years. In this sense, the paper point out are the most recent and important improvements in geophysical technologies for mineral exploration. Airborne techniques are followed by the systems used on the ground and in boreholes. New equipment and data processing and modeling software are referred to. Brief remarks are made about developments that can be expected in the years to come, these will be mainly focussing on deep search in rugged and conductive terrains. "

Apr 24, 2001