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By P. T. Luckie

Analysis of classifier performance independently of a closed grinding circuit configuration may result in a poor match-up between the grinding device and the classifying device. This paper examines the relationship between classifier and grinding device in dry grinding circuits by employing a semi-empirical methodology.

Jan 1, 1980

By J. Brune

The disaster at the Upper Big Branch (UBB) mine 2010 has demonstrated the destructive violence of a coal dust explosion by killing 29 miners in the worst mining accident the United States has experienced in almost 40 years. This explosion brought to light that the United States mining industry must strengthen explosion prevention and explosion hazard detection practices. Recent legislation such as the Mine Improvement and New Emergency Response Act of 2006 (MINER Act) pushed the strengthening of explosion and disaster response and miner protection in addition to stricter regulations on the sealing of abandoned areas and on conveyor belt flame resistance. The focus of this new act was on how to respond to a disaster or explosion, yet not much improvement was made with respect to prevention explosion disasters. Researchers at the Colorado School of Mines have recently concluded extensive research into methane and coal dust explosion prevention practices and regulations as it may be applicable to underground mines in the United States. This research aims to forward more studies into the use and adoption of standards and procedures that have been utilized in countries with strong explosion prevention histories.

Feb 23, 2014

By Alper Kirmaci, Taghi Sherizadeh, Dogukan Guner, Cameron Mitchel

Brow hazards are a significant concern in coal mine ribs and form when weak coal sloughs out of a rib face and exposes an overhanging block of more competent rock or coal. Of 36 rib failure fatalities in the last two decades, 36% resulted from rib brow failures. This highlights the need to better understand the mechanisms driving brow formations and failures to mitigate this hazard and eliminate potential fatalities. The research team at Missouri S&T worked to enhance the current CPRR system and include the potential for these brow hazards. We employed physical modeling methods to build a scaled model from critical brow cases observed in the field. The dimensions and properties of the models were scaled down by 14.4 times from the field cases. The results of the physical modeling efforts were used to assist in calibrating distinct element numerical models vital to understanding brow formation and failure mechanisms. Subsequently, three physical models were created and tested to provide data on an otherwise impossible-to-capture event at the field scale. The results of these tests provided formed brow dimensions that agree well with those observed at the field scale. The brow dimensions were 1.25 inches deep into the rib, equivalent to 1.5 feet when scaled up. Similarly, the numerical modeling efforts provided good agreement by capturing a brow forming 1.55 inches deep into the rib. The physical model results further validate the applicability of physical modeling efforts for capturing otherwise difficult and dangerous phenomena in a controlled lab setting.

Feb 22, 2026

Software exhibitors at MINExpo will feature the newest, the best, the most comprehensive computer-based tools available to get minerals from the ground to the market. From the ?cloud? to the pit, the variety that will be featured is almost limitless ? a digital tool for every phase of the mining lifecycle. Blue Sky Network SkyRouter brings the Blue Sky Network to the cloud. Using its interactive Web portal, SkyRouter, with detailed mapping and integration with Google Earth, the Blue Sky Network links enterprises to personnel and assets anywhere on earth through Iridium satellites. The cloud-based solution is designed to support connectivity with remotely dispersed mobile assets, including Blue Sky?s dual-mode GSM and Iridium tracking and communications services. This enables seamless connectivity with assets in problematic cellular reception areas, where only 10 percent of the Earth is covered, and in remote locations.

Jan 1, 2012

By Norman R. Paterson

In November 1980 a combined airborne electro-magnetic (INPUT.) and magnetometer survey was conducted by Questor Surveys Limited in the State Line Area, Colorado-Wyoming. The survey was the result of discussions over a prolonged period between the authors and various investigators of the State kimberlite occurrences. As a result of these discussions and literature studies, it was decided that airborne geophysical methods would be potentially useful in the exploration for new kimberlite occurrences. The survey was designed by Paterson, Grant and Watson Limited and conducted by Questor Surveys Limited over an area in which more than 15 kimberlite bodies were known and on some of which ground geophysical surveys had been conducted. The survey was designed primarily to determine the airborne electromagnetic and magnetic responses of the known occurrences and to deter- mine whether these responses would be detectable under similar conditions in other parts of the State Line District and elsewhere.

Jan 1, 1984

By Yashar Pourrahimian, Magreth S. Dotto

Fragmentation by blasting is a critical process in hard rock mining. The blasting process and outcomes are highly influenced by rock mass properties and their response to higher stresses and loading rates. Each rock mass is unique, but some features affect the blast energy similarly, leading to similar outcomes. Having analyzed these features and their influence on blast results, they can be incorporated into the blast design to achieve better outcomes. This paper presents a numerical model validated by a case study from the actual mine blasts that studied the effect of rock mass properties on explosive energy production, attenuations, and overall blast outcomes. The results show that when the model parameters are calibrated based on real data, they can be used to simulate the fragmentation process and therefore be used to aid blast design.

Jun 25, 2023

By G. M. Wilemon

The U.S. Bureau of Mines has conducted investigations on extracting phosphate values from wastes generated during the mining and beneficiation of phosphate matrix. These wastes may contain up to one third of the phosphate originally present in untreated ore. Samples of wastes were air-dried and leached using 93 pct sulfuric acid in the presence of methanol. Evidence for the formation of a calcium sulfate hemihydrate coating that hinders complete dissolution of phosphate is presented. Solid-liquid separations were enhanced when flocculation was effected using poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) in conjunction with hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC) or hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC. A conceptual flowsheet for a proposed process using an acid-alcohol leaching technique is presented.

Jan 1, 1990

By Aixiang Wu, Minjie Zhang, Zhuen Ruan, Yiming Wang

This paper combines theoretical and experimental analysis to conduct relevant research to improve the accuracy of predicting paste yield stress by slump flow. The analytical model of slump flow for yield stress is derived based on a mini-cylindrical mold with a height-to-diameter ratio of 1. It shows that the dimensionless slump flow is a monotonic decreasing function of the dimensionless yield stress and is independent of the material type (specific gravity), which provides a theoretical basis for quantifying the rheological properties of paste with slump flow. Three different tailing-prepared pastes were tested for their slump flow and implemented rheological tests simultaneously. The yield stress is obtained based on the Bingham model fit, as the measured value of the yield stress is substituted into the derived theoretical model. The studied pastes yield stresses range from 34.78 to 524.08 Pa, with corresponding dimensionless slump flow of 3.43 to 1.09. The results showed that the calculated slump flows were generally greater than the measured values. The analysis showed that this was mainly due to the thixotropy of the paste, with minor deviations ranging from − 1.5 to 5.8% for the less thixotropic pasted prepared from tailing C. An approximate analytical solution for yield stress as a function of slump flow is obtained using Taylor’s formula. However, it is unsuitable for predicting the yield stress because the yield stress calculated by this function is much higher than the measured value. The empirical yield stress model was constructed and experimentally verified. The results show that the empirical formula has high accuracy and good generality. The deviation of the studied pastes is between − 15 and 5%, which provides a practical method for rapid and accurate prediction of paste yield stress in mine sites.

Jun 1, 2023

By R. R. Klimpel

The use of chemical reagents in flotation has been studied in great detail, e.g. (1, 2, 3, 4). Important progress has been made on the understanding of surface chemistry concepts involved in flotation. However, such scientific studies are often very complex even for rather simple idealized systems. Therefore, the deve- lopment of predictive or quantitative tools for plant engineering evaluation is still in the evolutionary stages. Until further progress in fundamental work is achieved, the operating engineer is faced with semi-empirical physical testing of reagent changes on several sizes of the actual equipment under study to be confident of the economic viability of any change.

Jan 1, 1980

By A. Bruynesteyn

The results of leaching experiments in columns simulating 80 and 200 ft deep cores through a leach dump are discussed, By equipping the columns with can precipitation plants, actual plant conditions could be duplicated. The results produced a better understanding of the physical and chemical limitations of the leaching process.

Jan 1, 1975

By J. M. Mutmansky

A number of previous publications have attempted to provide the practicing ventilation engineer with simple guidelines on the optimal velocity to be used in mine openings. Some of these velocities were meant to be used in metal mining operations and some were meant for coal mining. A careful review of these publications reveals that the optimal velocities were determined based upon assumptions that are not existent today. As a result, they are not suitable for use in a modern coal mine. This paper takes a new look at this problem and determines a statistical relationship for optimal velocity that can be applied under both current and future conditions. The analysis performed here is based upon the determination of the optimal velocity for coal mine entries under variations in power cost, mining cost differential, airway friction factor, time value of money, airway lifespan, and quantity of air carried. A total of 8400 different conditions were analyzed for optimal velocity using computer calculation of the capital and operating cost values. Using the individual values of the optimal velocity derived in the calculations, a linear regression equation was fitted to the data to relate the optimal velocity to the other six variables outlined above. This regression relationship allows the ventilation engineer to make an easy, rapid determination of the optimal velocity.

Jan 1, 1984

By R. Bruce Tippin

because of the mineral's high monetary value and the spotty occurrence of free gold in the deposit. Setting up a plant sampling procedure by simply applying the usual statistical sampling theory was questionable. Two sampling concepts were considered in the sampling study: o a sufficient number of assays can be taken such that the average determined from these individual samples represents a known quantity of ore. o a sufficient weight of sample can be taken such that when assayed it represents a known quantity of ore. The test program included evaluation of sampling techniques, sample preparation and analytical methods. The overall sampling program is depicted in Figure 2.

Jan 1, 1985

By H. H. Murray

Significant changes in ownership and production of industrial clays have occurred since 2000. Clays covered in this presentation are kaolins, ball clays, smectites, (bentonite), and palygorskite (attapulgite)-sepiolite. IMERYS discontinued production of paper coating kaolins at their Cornwall operations and have expanded their kaolin production in Brazil. J. M. Huber sold their kaolin operation in Georgia to KaMin whose headquarters are in Ft. Worth, Texas. BASF purchased Engelhard?s kaolin and attapulgite operations in Georgia. ActiveMinerals purchased Southeastern Kaolin in South Carolina, Wilkinson County Kaolin in Gordon, Georgia, and Zemex Attapulgite in Quincy, Florida. Chemical Lime purchased Spinks Ball Clay Company in Paris, Tennessee. Most of the ball clays used in Italy and Eastern Europe comes from expanded operations in the Ukraine. Bentonite operations have expanded production in Wyoming and Montana because of strong demand for drilling mud, foundries, cat litter, and iron ore pelletizing. The production and exports of palygorskite in China continues to increase. Nanoclays utilizing sodium montmorillonite, palygorskite, and halloysite are actively being developed.

Jan 1, 2009

By J. A. Hartlage

Four years ago, Ashland Chemical Company introduced a new copper solvent extraction reagent for hydrometallurgical utilization. The reagent, an alkylated 8-hydroxyquinoline, is called Kelex 100 ®(1). Since the time of introduction, the reagent has been investigated by several workers for its solvent extraction utility in the separation and purification of transition metals (2-7). In the following text, those factors which are essential to the optimum performance of Kelex 100 on concentrated copper solutions will be discussed. To date, the reagent has been found useful in active concentrations of from 1 to 20% Kelex 100. In order to achieve the best performance for Kelex 100, it has been found that a phase modifier is essential. Various alcohols and phenols have been evaluated in order to improve phase performance and stripping characteristics of the solvent system. Modifiers and diluents are especially important when solvent activities between 3 and 20% Kelex 100 are employed. A 15% Kelex 100 solvent, for example, containing 15% nonyl phenol in Escaid 100 (Exxon) can be utilized to remove greater than 33 grams per liter of copper from an aqueous feed without interstage neutralization, and in the same process scheme the reagent can be stripped to less than 1 gram per liter barren organic producing a pregnant electrolyte containing greater than 40 grams per liter copper and less than 120 grams per liter sulphuric acid. The unusually efficient stripping of Kelex is accomplished by protenation of the extractive molecule during the stripping process.

Jan 1, 1974

By A. Ramage

Since late 2010, CH2M HILL has been working with a confidential client who holds a long-term commitment to sustainable development (SD). The commitment is aligned with all three elements of the triple bottom line: people and society, ecosystems and environment, and financial and economic systems. These commitments are carried forward by the firm?s executives, managers, and operational sites, and are evident in materials posted on the company?s public website. These materials include a formal sustainability report prepared in accordance with the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) guidelines (GRI, 2006), a report that outlines key SD challenges and progress toward the GRI targets, and a delineation of risks and opportunities outlined in the firm?s Form 10-K and Annual Report. In keeping with its commitments to SD targets, our client wished to consider SD issues in its decision processes for facility expansion or new projects. The company engaged CH2M HILL to meet this goal, based on working relationships established through existing contracts and CH2M HILL?s leading capabilities in sustainable solutions.

Jan 1, 2012

By Jafar Safarian, Manish Kumar Kar, Ahmad Hassanzadeh, Casper van der Eijk

To minimize the carbon footprint in the industrial valourization of bauxite residue, hydrogen was used as a reducing agent. The current study experimentally investigated hydrogen reduction of bauxite residue-CaO sintered and self-hardened pellets at 1000 °C, along with magnetic separation of these reduced pellets for iron recovery. Calcium was introduced to bauxite residue to form leachable calcium aluminate phases with the existing alumina in bauxite residue. This involved the addition of either CaCO3 or a mixture of CaO and CaCO3 while maintaining the fixed Ca content during pelletization. The former underwent sintering at 1150 °C, while the latter was self-hardened through the cementing effect of CaO in exposure to moisture and air. Both types of pellets were reduced in a thermogravimetry furnace at an elevated temperature under similar conditions. The pellets were characterized by the X-ray diffraction (XRD) method and scanning electron microscope (SEM) coupled with energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), and their physical and mechanical properties were measured via standard techniques. During hydrogen reduction, a negligible amount of gehlenite ( Ca2Al2SiO7) was formed in the self-hardened pellets, while this phase dominated in the sintered pellets. Alumina in the bauxite residue converted to mayenite phases during reduction in both the pellet types; however, reduced self-hardened pellets had a higher amount of alumina containing mayenite leachable phase. The two pellets showed similar reduction behaviour, while different chemical, physical, and mechanical properties were observed. The magnetic properties of milled reduced pellets were examined through a Davis Tube magnetic separator in a wet environment under a constant magnetic field of 800 G. Higher iron recovery was observed for the self-hardened reduced (41%) pellets than for the sintered pellets (27%).

Nov 23, 2023

By M. R. Haibach, M. L. Shema, J. M. Silvis

"Since 2005, longwall coal mine operators in Pennsylvania (US) have been required to collect extensive hydrologic and biological data to document pre- and post-mining conditions of aquatic resources (streams and wetlands) overlying the subsidence control plan areas. Continued operation of the longwall mine is dependent upon empirical data demonstrating that the undermined aquatic resources have either been maintained or restored to an accepted range of pre-mining conditions. This study used quantitative hydrologic methods and comparative biological metrics to examine response of aquatic resources to longwall subsidence at the Bailey Mine located in Greene County, Pennsylvania. This study analyzed data from over 25 miles of streams and over 8 acres of wetlands that traverse the 4,779-acre study area. Hydrologic analysis of flow intermittency suggested that there are variable degrees of change to headwater streams immediately following mining; however, the majority of the effects are reversible through streamflow mitigation measures. Furthermore, the post-mining discharge from streams can be restored to within the range of pre-mining conditions the majority of the time. Biological assessments showed that greater than 95% of assessed stream length has maintained its ability to support benthic macroinvertebrate communities following mining and intervention (i.e., mitigation). Comparative metrics of the benthic macroinvertebrate communities showed that the biological community in 48 of the 50 sample sites is being maintained or restored across both high- and low-gradient streams. The effectiveness of intervention was further substantiated by the similarity in recovery times between streams having no intervention (median = 2.1 years, 95th percentile = 4.9 years) and streams with intervention, when recovery times were measured from the date of the intervention (median = 1.7 years, 95th percentile = 4.7 years). Changes to individual wetlands were observed between the pre- and post-mining assessments, but cumulatively a net gain of 7% in wetland acreage was realized. Hydrologic assessments were used to infer whether there was a potential that streams had been affected by mining; however, the ultimate test of stream recovery is based on biological metrics that establish the relative quality of the biological communities following mining. Overall, the hydrologic balance is being protected and the aquatic life use of streams is being maintained within the Bailey Mine’s subsidence control plan areas."

Jan 1, 2017

Nearly as impressive as the machines that will be on display at MINExpo are the massive engines and tires that keep the machines moving. As you can imagine, it takes a special tire and special engine to run these machines. The following is a look at some of the exhibitors that will be at MINExpo displaying engines and tires. Cummins Inc. Cummins Inc. will display a lineup engines from 37kW to 2,983 kW (49 hp to 4000 hp) at MINExpo, representing the most extensive ?smallest to largest? range the company has ever put on display.

Jan 1, 2012

By John A. L. Campbell

Surface dependent processes, such as froth flotation and flocculation, are important or potentially important techniques for combating some of the current major problems in coal preparation. In order to correctly apply or imporve a surface dependent process, it is of paramount importance to understand the interfacial phenomenon, especially the double layer properties, exhibited by the solid. The specific objective of this research was to determine the properties of the bituminous coal/liquid interface by an electrokinetic method, streaming potential, and to relate the findings, wherever possible, to the existing unit operations of froth flotation and flocculation. The electrokinetic properties of both the whole coal and its lithotypes were investigated. As part of the total investigation, the role played in the double layer by the reagents commonly employed in the surface dependent process was also established (1). These data will be presented at a latter date.

Jan 1, 1969

By Prakash C. Kapur

A principal first order and a minor summation term contribute to the solution of the discretized batch grinding equation when formulated in cumulative retained mode. Depending on the interrelationships between the selection and breakage parameters, the minor term may be advantageously modified in a number of ways. The reduced grinding equations thus obtained are solved by iterations to give relatively simple solutions which are tested against experimental data. The implications and advantages of the reduced grinding equations are briefly discussed.

Jan 1, 1969