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By K. H. McDaniel, L. Griswold

The Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) is adding a third fan to supplement its two existing main fans. The third fan will operate in parallel with the two existing fans. An engineering analysis conducted in 1995 identified the need for improved system availability and efficiency. The WIPP, located near Carlsbad, NM, is a US Department of Energy (DOE), Carlsbad Area Office, facility that is designed to permanently dispose of US defense-generated transuranic waste in a deep, bedded salt deposit. Engineers at the WIPP performed a feasibility analysis for modifying, supplementing or replacing its two main mine fans. Since the centrifugal fans were installed in 1988, multiple operational and performance concerns have been identified. A comprehensive engineering study was conducted (McDaniel et al., 1997) to identify and quantify operational concerns, evaluate possible alternatives and recommend an optimum solution. The study indicated that adding a third single-duty centrifugal fan similar to the two existing fans and equipping that fan with Inlet Van Controls (IVCs) was the best choice. This alternative provided the most desirable combination of operational readiness and improving system performance. The fan installation project accommodates several operational and scheduling con¬straints. WIPP was scheduled to receive waste in May 1998. This milestone is proceeded by an operational readiness review. Fan installation could not be allowed to compromise the WIPP 's ability to declare facility readiness. Therefore, operational disruptions during the system tie-in had to be minimized. All engineering for the project has been com¬pleted, and physical modifications were begun in July 1997. The project was completed in 1998.

Jan 1, 2000

By Jan M. Andersson

This paper will discuss the background information about rock cutting tools used for soft ground excavation, their history and evolution. A brief review of the current state of the art manufacturing technology will be presented and some parameters related to the material used in the drag and conical type pick cutters and their impact on their life and performance will be explained In addition, the selection procedures for choosing the right bit for excavation of a particular geological formation will be reviewed A set of guidelines will be provided for initial selection of the tools for various machines and rock formations. The methods for estimation of the tool life in various materials and the influencing parameters along with limitations of the rock cutting tools will be discussed as well.

Jan 1, 1998

By R. A. Ynchausti

In January 1993, Pyramid Resources began implementation of a supervisory expert control system at a U.S Cu concentrator. The objective of this control system was to improve plant profitability through unit operation optimization and integration. This paper documents the key aspects of the project, including: economic and associated benefits, system architecture, concepts of implementation, process control strategies, practical aspects of implementation and conclusions. The implementation of expert control at this concentrator has resulted in an estimated benefit of $50,500 per day. This is a net result of improved tonnage, reduced reagent consumption, improved concentrate grade and reduced energy per ton produced.

Jan 1, 1995

By D. M. Neil

Road-headers are one of the most popular mechanized excavators used in mining and civil under-ground construction. These machines are primarily used in soft to medium hard rocks. This paper reviews the parameters associated with the application and operation of road-headers and presents a method for estimating cutting performance.

Jan 1, 1994

By Peng Gao

Coal-based reduction followed by magnetic separation is an innovative technology used in processing refractory iron ores. Given that size is essential to the separation of the metallic iron from the gangue, the morphology of metallic iron particles and their evolution during coal-based reduction are investigated in the present work. The size of the metallic iron particle increased from 128.76 µm to 565.70 µm when the reduction time increased from 20 min to 60 min at 1,225° C and C/O (i.e., the amount of coal addition in terms of the gram-atomic ratio of the fixed carbon in the coal added to the combined oxygen in iron oxides) of 2.5. Based on our microstructural and metallographic analysis, the iron ore reduction process can be divided into three stages: (1) metallic iron particle formation, (2) iron oxide reduction and metallic iron assembly and (3) metallic iron particle growth. Almost all iron oxides are reduced to metallic iron in the second stage. These newborn metallic iron particles are energetically active and able to assemble and grow, and are eventually separated from the gangue. The large metallic iron particles benefit the subsequent magnetic separation process.

By A. F. Stewart

Slope design in an open pit mine includes the determination of a number of parameters, including bench height, bench face angle and berm width. By way of a case history of two highwall slopes (160m and 220m high) excavated in dipping strata in an operating coal mine, this paper illustrates the influence that bench face angle can have on the stability of an entire slope. The two highwall slopes, the lower of which experienced significant instability, were excavated in essentially the same lithologic and structural environment, with the main differences between the slopes being the angle at which the bench faces were excavated and the excavating methods that were employed. In addition to describing the instability that occurred on one of the pit walls, relevant aspects of the engineering geology, slope design and excavation procedures are described.

Jan 1, 1998

By Terry L. Muldoon

On July 7, 1971, noise regulations for underground coal mines were implemented under provisions set forth in the Federal Coal Mine Health and Safety Act of 1969. These same regulations now also apply to coal mine surface facilities. In August 1971, in anticipation of these regulations, the Bureau of Mines, through the cooperation of the mine operators, conducted extensive noise surveys in three coal cleaning plants. The survey was conducted in an attempt to identify those occupations where exposures would exceed the proposed regulations.

Jan 1, 1972

By Samuel S. Adams

Economic concentrations of potassium are essentially limited to thick, stratigraphic sections of marine evaporites. These deposits were precipitated through the evaporation of sea water in restricted epicontinental seas or in grabens related to continental margin rift systems. Following deposition the deposits were subjected to diagenesis and varying degrees of metasomatism and structural deformation. The origin and characteristics of potash deposits are easier to study and interpret than those of most ore deposits because the phase chemistry of the salt systems is known and the approximate composition of the ore-forming fluid (sea water) can be inferred with confidence. It is particularly helpful that the temperature and pressure of deposition approximated that of present earth surface conditions and the pertinent mineral assemblages can readily be duplicated in the laboratory. The study of these comparatively simple salt deposits provides examples of the practical advantages of understanding the genesis of an ore deposit. These observations, in turn, illustrate the importance of pursuing research on the more complicated magmatic, hydrothermal, and ground-water systems as a means to the more successful exploration for and exploitation of the deposits they have produced. It is the purpose of this paper, therefore, to discuss certain aspects of salt deposit geology as they contribute to exploration and mining through some understanding of ore formation. References to field examples and chemical relations in the salt systems are brief. All examples are more fully discussed, however, in the references cited.

Jan 1, 1970

By J. R. Schafler, J. L. Brinkman

"Since the year 2000, 59 miners have lost their lives to explosions occurring in underground coal mines in the US. More accurately, those explosions were methane ignitions that propagated through the mines due to coal dust involvement; despite current explosion prevention standards. There are 4 basic strategies employed to manage the risk of coal dust explosions in many other coal mining countries around the world: removal of the coal dust, wetting of the coal dust to prevent it from becoming airborne, mixing of the coal dust with stone dust to increase the total incombustible content, and explosion activated barriers which make the entire roadway inert. However, American standards only mandate the first 3 of these 4 methods. It is possible that US coal mine safety measures could benefit from the implementation of the 4th method, the use of explosion barriers. This paper will discuss differences/similarities in barrier regulations used in other countries, as well as some potential difficulties with adapting a stone dust bag barrier system to US underground coal mines. Also, details and feedback gathered from two operating mine site trial barrier installations will be shared.INTRODUCTION Since the year 2000, 59 miners have lost their lives to explosions occurring in underground coal mines in the United States (US); 29 miners were killed at the Upper Big Branch mine in 2010, 5 at the Darby Mine No. 1 in 2006, 12 at the Sago Mine also in 2006, and 13 at the Jim Walter No. 5 Mine in 2001.[14] To be more accurate, the explosions that killed those miners were methane ignitions that propagated through the mines due to coal dust involvement.[18, 19, 20, 21] These deaths occurred despite current explosion prevention strategies, standards, and regulatory oversight. This poses the question, can more be done in the US to prevent coal dust explosions and their widespread damage. In review of current practices and regulations from several large coal mining countries, a disparity in prevention strategies arose. The main difference between the US and other countries was that the US does not encourage, mandate, or regulate the use of explosion barrier systems as an additional coal dust explosion mitigation measure. This raised many questions. First and foremost was whether or not the US coal mining industry and its miners could benefit, in terms of safety and fatality prevention, from the implementation of the explosion barrier systems that are used in other countries. Furthermore, are there significant differences between the coal mines in countries where explosion barriers are used and US coal mines, which would preclude the system from being adapted and implemented in the US? Also, what are the similarities and differences in explosion barrier systems, use, and regulations between other countries that use them?"

Jan 1, 2017

China's coal energy development, characteristics and relationships with atmospheric pollution are reported. Atmospheric pollution sources from coal combustion are analyzed. Some of the projects for clean coal combustion in the Shanghai area include use of industrial briquettes, investigation of coal combustion additives, and blending combustion of coal with industrial wastes. Coal is China's main energy source, and 80 percent of China's annual coal production is used in combustion devices. Coal-flue gases from the domestic stoves and industrial furnaces are the main atmospheric pollution source. China's atmospheric pollution is, in fact, the pollution of coal-flue gases. To 2000, in view of China's energy needs as a developing nation, the atmospheric pollution from coal combustion must receive our utmost attention.

Jan 1, 1994

By R. L. Kloberdanz

Compania Minera Disputada de las Condes S.A. (Disputada) is proactively implementing closure and reclamation planning activities at its mining and beneficiation facilities (mining facilities) in Chile where regulations governing mine reclamation are not yet fully in place. These activities are being implemented to improve currently employed measures to protect human health and the environment and to enhance reclamation and facilitate future closure with regard to these areas when mining is completed. As part of this process, Disputada, with the assistance of Shepherd Miller, Inc., developed recommendations and guidelines for future closure and reclamation of the Disputada sites. These recommendations and guidance incorporate planning and operational and post-operational design considerations and practices, and standards used by the mining industry and regulatory agencies around the world. The criteria presented in the guidance are based on achieving conditions that will be suitable for the anticipated post-mining land use. This paper discusses the process and approach taken, and the results.

Jan 1, 1999

By Raymond L. Jones

With the inauguration of the open pit operation in Bagdad, plans were formulated for a large scale leaching operation. Dump stockpiling was started almost immediately, but actual production was not initiated until the spring of 1961. Like all neophytes, we started something about which, on a commercial scale, we knew next to nothing, either dump preparation or leach procedure, and as a consequence, we are still paying the piper. True, we had been through an extensive laboratory pilot program, but it soon became apparent that there was considerably more to increasing solution volumes than simple multiplication. Had we initially possessed our present acumen, the Cyprus Bagdad plant could be operated more efficiently and at a better profit. During the past several years, the art of dump leaching of copper has improved in many ways, primarily because of the application of scientific principles gleaned from general mining practice. Rigid pH control and the use of atomic absorption techniques for rapid," accurate assaying have probably played a leading role in this respect, although we cannot overlook the other sophisticated electronic controls lending improvement to acid addition and pumping, better piping materials, and lastly, the more efficient use of our pregnant liquors. Thin too, the years of experience have given us a greater understanding of dump behavior in general; and, we can, to a greater extent, measure, predict, and avoid some of the idiosyncrasies inherent in every dump. However, it is my firm belief that we will still be confronted with unexplainable dump behavior as long as we are involved in leaching. We have found our dump to be a wonderful money bank, but one that is capable of yielding a wildly fluctuating profit.

Jan 1, 1975

By R. Bruce Tippin

Background Iron ore is the No. 1 metal mining industry in the U.S. with dollar value of $2.3 billion in 1984 (U.S.B.M Mineral Commodity Sunnnaries , 1985). However, during the past decade this nation's iron ore industry has been subjected to a major market depression and a correspondingly downward adjustment in output. The recent trend in the curtailment of iron ore production traces a slow-down of the country's steel industry. Both pig iron and steel production have decreased significantly over the past several years. These trends are shown in Figure 1 from data collected by the federal Bureau of Mines (U.S.B.M. Mineral Commodity Summaries, 1985; U.S.B.M. Mineral Industry Surveys 1986). The industry is presently operating at less than 60% of its annual capacity. The domestic steel industry has been forced by reduced profits or losses to close facilities, curtail operations and restructure the financial status of several corporations. Companies have been sold or are trying to sell selected properties to improve their financial circumstances. Even with such actions, many of the steel companies are in very serious straits, including the seventh largest steel company, LTV, which has filed for bankruptcy. Many of the major steel companies have financial interests in iron ore mining and thus their adverse economic conditions directly reflect those operations. Several iron ore producers have been shut down including Reserve Mining Company in May, 1986 and Butler Taconite in June, 1985. The latter recently filed for bankruptcy under Chapter 11. A1 so in mid-1986, U.S. Steel Corporation, owner of the Minntac mine and iron ore processing plant, underwent corporate restructuring. The effect on their Minnesota plant is not known at this time. An excellent summary of the interrelationship of the iron ore companies and the steel producers has been provided by Skillings (1986), and an analysis of the iron ore situation was given by Robert F. Anderson, CEO of M. A. Hanna Company, in his keynote address at the 1986 University of Minnesota Mining Symposium (Anderson, 1986). Steel imports to the United States decreased slightly in 1985 because of import restrictions, but the long-term import situation remains dim and uncertain. As shown in Figure 2, the imports averaged about 25% in 1985, and the preliminary indications are that this figure could be as high as 30% when the final 1986 information is collected by the U.S. Bureau of Mines. At best, the industry can only hope for imports to stabilize at a constant level in the near future. Although the tonnage is small, the quantity of U.S. export steel has fallen over 50%. With many other materials replacing steel , the projected demand through 1990 is expected to increase only about 1% per year. Consequently, 1986 U.S. iron ore production will probably be 15% lower than in 1985. The 41 mil lion tons of iron ore production expected in 1986 represents only 53% of the industrial capacity, which is about 74.5 mil lion tons. Over 95% of this iron ore is in the form of beneficiated pellets. Today there is not an iron ore producer west of the Mississippi River, nor is there any production in the South. The Birmingham (Alabama) iron ore industry has been shut down since 1971. The western producers ceased operations in the early 1980's. Only the taconite operations in Minnesota and the plants in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan remain as our major domestic iron ore source. The economic situation for both the iron ore producers and the steel industry can be described as confused and in turmoil. Such a condition directly impacts the iron ore processing plants' operations and plans for the future. Plant Practice At present the nation's eight major operating iron ore mines, listed below, are concentrated in northern Minnesota (Mesabi Range) and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan (Marquette Range). The only exception to the Minnesota/Michigan location is the Pea Ridge Iron Ore plant in Missouri, which is a subsidiary of St. Joe Mineral s.

Jan 1, 1986

By Paolo M. Brion, Z. Bade Sozer

"The Bypass Tunnel has high head conditions ranging from a minimum of 600 feet (183 m) under the Hudson River to a maximum of 875 feet (267 m) on the west side. The ground cover ranges from 425 feet to 900 feet (130 to 274 m). A two-pass lining is designed for the Bypass Tunnel. The bolted, gasketed precast segments carry the temporary hydrostatic and permanent ground loads. After the tunnel is put into service, the design assumes that the final lining, which varies from reinforced concrete to reinforced concrete with steel interliner, will carry the permanent hydrostatic loads. The design head for the segments is assumed at 775 feet (236 m), and the internal operating pressure head is around 1,200 feet (366 m). This paper discusses the design hydrostatic head and different load conditions considered for the segments, the load sharing between the segments and final lining, and the means employed to control water and hydrostatic pressure. PROJECT BACKGROUND The Rondout-West Branch Tunnel (RWBT), a segment of the Delaware Aqueduct, was built from 1937 to 1944 and provides about 50% of New York City’s total water supply. Monitoring and tunnel operations have shown that the RWBT is leaking up to 35 million gallons per day (MGD) (132.5 million L/day). In particular, two locations have been identified as areas of concern: Roseton and Wawarsing, as shown in Figure 1. The Wawarsing reach of the aqueduct will be repaired with an extensive grouting program when the RWBT is unwatered. However, because of the extensive nature of the leakage in the Roseton area, a Bypass Tunnel will be constructed to divert the flow around this area."

Jan 1, 2016

By S. A. Anzalone

The Helvetia copper deposit is a large undeveloped Laramide porphyry copper system located in the Santa Rita Mountains, Pima County, Arizona. This porphyry copper system consists of four areas of copper mineralization: Rosemont, Peach-Elgin, Broadtop Butte, and Copper World. Asarco refers to the four areas collectively as the "Helvetia Deposit". Mineralization and alteration are primarily contact pyrometasomatic, and zoning of hydrothermal alteration and sulfide mineral assemblages are similar to those observed at the Twin Buttes and Mission copper mines located approximately 32 km west of Helvetia. Asarco acquired the Helvetia Deposit in 1988 and has continued the exploration and development effort since then. A considerable amount of excellent geological work has been completed in the area but little information has been published on developments since the mid-1950's. The geology of the deposit as developed by numerous geologists over the past 75 years and the large, bulk tonnage low grade copper deposits outlined in recent years will be briefly reviewed in this paper.

Jan 1, 1992

By Paul Eimon

The 1981 Fall field trip of the Denver Region Exploration Geologists' Society focuses on Creede. That is appropriate - because significant mining history has been made and is being made in this off-the-beaten track, high-country mining district. Creede is one of the few Colorado bonanza towns which was big in the 19th Century, had its ups and downs, and produced almost continuously since its discovery. Creede is important to geologists for its: precious and base metal production, current exploration activity, and research into near-surface hydrothermal systems. United States Geological Survey research and field geologists zeroed in on Creede some 25 years ago and their steady, consistent work is now being spotlighted and appreciated.

Jan 1, 1981

By Chris Lynagh, Collin Schroeder

Determining the best excavation method is a critical step in successful tunnel construction. In rock tunneling, several factors can dictate the excavation method, such as: (1) rock characteristics, (2) tunnel size and length, (3) nearby utilities/infrastructure, and (4) contractor’s preferred means and methods. This paper discusses the various rock tunnel excavation methods utilized on the Doan Valley Storage Tunnel Project (DVT), a project constructed as part of the broader Project Clean Lake in Cleveland, Ohio. The differences between each method’s initial and final lining, geology, and cycle sequence will be analyzed and compared.

Jun 13, 2023

By Johan K. Rodenburg

A major bauxite belt was discovered and evaluated from 1969 to 1974 by P. T. Alcoa Minerals of Indonesia in West Kalimantan, Indonesia. The proven reserves of beneficiated bauxite are 800 million tons averaging 38.6% AA1203 and 3.0% RSiO2. Inferred reserves of washed bauxite are in excess of 2 billion tons. The bauxite occurs as capping of low lying hills which were formed during the post Paleogene peneplaination stage. The overburden varies from 0.6 to 3.8 meters and the nodular bauxite horizon from 2.2 to 5.2 meters. The deposits were formed by the in situ weathering of predominantly acidic and basic intrusive rocks.

Jan 1, 1984

By T. Vandergrift, J. Sturgill, W. Gerhard, J. Carrick

As surface minable coal is depleted, many operators look to high-wall mining to extend reserve life. Recent advances in highwall mining equipment have greatly improved productivity, clean coal recovery, and attainable penetration beneath the highwall. Somewhat lagging have been systematic design approaches for ensuring web pillar and overall highwall stability. This paper presents an overview of the design, planning, and field performance of a multiple-seam highwall mining application in southwest Wyoming. The safety and efficiency obtained to date is attributable to the careful geotechnical and operational planning described herein. Field confirmation of performance and suggestions for improvement are also discussed.

Jan 1, 2004

By John E. Frost

Duval's (now Battle Mountain Gold Co.) copper and gold deposits in the Battle Mountain District in Nevada are in two subdistricts - Copper Basin and Copper Canyon - about 18 km (11miles) apart. Location of the two subdistricts is shown in Fig. 1. The two centers of mineralization have distinctive geologic and ore characteristics that required different innovative approaches to exploration and development. Nearly all of the copper from Copper Basin has been recovered by heap leaching. Because of relatively high gold and silver values in the Copper Canyon ores, a significant part of the sulfide copper ores has been recovered by a conventional flotation mill at Copper Canyon. Recently, this mill has been converted to the recovery of gold that is mined from zones peripheral to the copper deposits. Prior to Duval's entry, small amounts of copper, gold, silver, lead, zinc, and antimony had been mined in the district over a nearly 100 year period, beginning in 1866. The bulk of the $13 million total production to 1962 was derived from copper and gold lode ores and gold placers. Duval's interest in Battle Mountain-arose directly from a submittal by Asarco, which controlled key claims in both the Copper Basin and Copper Canyon subdistricts. Asarco acquired its holdings in the district in 1959 and undertook limited exploration until mid-1961. At that time, the company decided to dispose of its interests. Duval was invited to evaluate Asarco's properties and accepted. On Dec. 6 and 7, 1961, J.E. Frost, R.C. James, R.W. Sayers, and H.A. Schmitt, representing Duval, and K. Richard and E.W. New- man, representing Asarco, visited Copper Basin and Copper Canyon. Frost concluded that the properties were of considerable interest and prepared, by Jan. 12, 1962, a voluminous report recommending that Duval acquire and explore Asarco's properties. Furthermore, he recommended a large initial exploration program that included not only geologic mapping, geochemistry, and geophysics, but also the extensive drilling that was to involve, as the first phase of exploration, 49 drill holes in Copper Basin and 21 drill holes in Copper Canyon. Following property agreements between Duval and Asarco, and Duval and several other claim owners, geologic mapping, geochemical surveys, and drilling began in August 1962. Exploration drilling was completed in July 1964 and engineering studies in April 1965. Development of the Battle Mountain properties was authorized in July 1965, and production commenced in the first quarter of 1967. Because of the unusually high oxide copper content of the ore bodies, particularly in Copper Basin, a much larger than typical proportion of the copper in the deposits has been recovered by heap leaching. The generalized geology and ore zones of the Copper Basin are as shown in Fig. 2 and of Copper Canyon in Fig. 3.

Jan 1, 1991