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By Eduardo A. Pérez, Alejandro R. Alonso, Rosa María Luna-Sánchez, Gretchen T. Lapidus

Rare earth elements have been widely used in various sectors, from the aerospace and steel industries, to electronic applications, particularly in displays and batteries for portable devices. The high demand for newer and better equipment, such as cell phones, tablets and lap tops, has increased the consumption of the rare earth elements and at the same time the need for its recovery from electronic wastes. For that reason, the recycling of batteries is important, principally the Ni-HM batteries, due to their elevated content of rare earths elements, in addition to the high concentrations of cobalt and nickel. The current processes are based on dissolution in strong acid solutions (sulfuric acid concentrations from 2 to 4 mol/L), and temperatures from 30 to 90°C. In the present work, electrodes from spent Ni-HM batteries were leached using 1 mol/L H2SO4, in the presence of ozone as the oxidant, where recoveries of 96% for La, Ce and Nd were obtained at room temperature. The separation of Ni and Co from the leach solutions was performed using an electrochemical reactor, after which rare earth elements were precipitated, obtaining a mixture of its hydroxides with impurities below 1%, according to EDS analysis.

Jan 1, 2014

By Oleg G. Tovmachenko

We have studied optical properties of fluorescent nanoparticles. These particles consist of a metal (gold/silver) core, an empty and a dye labelled silica shells. The different dye molecules with moderate quantum yields (about 0.3) has been used. Almost all of types of nanoparticles show fluorescence enhancement. This enhancement is strongly dependent on the degree of the overlap between the surface plasmon band of the metal and the absorption/emission band of the dye molecules. The results are interpreted in terms of competition between local field enhancement and quenching of fluorescence by the metal surface.

Oct 1, 2003

By D. C. McKechnie

To the examining engineer, the ever-recurring problem involving the valuation of ore in a prospect presents at different times highly divergent aspects- some entirely physical or mathematical, others essentially personal. The majority of the problems discussed in this paper are obvious to the engineer, and need little elaboration. By the prospector and the general public, however, a number of these questions are often and completely over-looked, or else approached in such a way as to produce final results which are, to say the least, misleading and at times decidedly erroneous. While the purpose of this paper is to deal with prospects or potential mines, many of the problems considered apply equally well to mines with developed ore reserves. As the usual showings on a prospect consist chiefly of a few open-cuts and a limited amount of underground development work, an estimation of the actual ore reserves is a question of minor import, and seldom enters appreciably into an estimation of the probable value of the particular property. The physical valuation of a prospect mainly involves the consideration of such subjects as the general geological features exposed, the strength and type of mineralization, the width and persistence of any associated veins, shear zones, fractures or contact zones, together with the possible grade, size, and continuity of any ore-bodies that may there occur.

Jan 1, 1930

By H. Fuchs, W. Hilger, E. Prosser

"The Lone Gull discovery of Urangesellschaft Canada Limited was made in 1974 as a result of extensive exploration activities for unconformity related uranium deposits in the Baker Lake area of the Northwest Territories. The structurally controlled mineralization is hosted in Aphebian metasediments and intrusive granitic stocks located approximately 2 km south of the unconformity between the Lower Proterozoic Aphebian and the Middle Proterozoic The/on Formation.The original discovery was made with a helicopter mounted radiometric system during systematic prospection over the unconformity. Diamond drilling was first carried out in 1977 and continued, with an interruption in 1981, to the present. A total of 25,500 metres and 199 holes have been drilled and outlined three ore zones. Preliminary geological reserves are estimated at some 16 million kgs. U30 8 at an average grade of approximately 0.4%.IntroductionUrangesellschaft initially entered exploration in Canada as a participant in joint ventures in 1968, and was incorporated in Canada in 1974 as Urangesellschaft Canada Limited. Subsequently, UG was among the first companies to apply exploration criteria developed from the Athabasca Basin, namely the Middle Proterozoic unconformity over Archean/ Aphebian basement, for selection of exploration targets in the geologically similar Thelon Basin.The Baker Lake area in the Keewatin District of the Northwest Territories was selected from the extensive Thelon Basin because it had the best accessibility (Fig. 1). The hamlet of Baker Lake located close to the geographical centre of Canada, is largely an Inuit settlement with a population of approximately 1,100 inhabitants. The distance from Baker Lake to the Lone Gull property is about 80 km. Baker Lake is connected to the tidewater of Hudson's Bay via Chesterfield inlet and is serviced by scheduled domestic flights several times weekly from Churchill, Manitoba, about 650 km to the south."

Jan 1, 1986

By H. Staton, XPS Consulting & Testwork Services, T. Deng, M. Kelvin

"Lundin Mining’s Eagle Operation, located in Marquette County, northern Michigan consists of a mine and concentrator that processes a Ni-Cu-(PGE) ore. Mine production began in 2014 and is expected to achieve production of approximately 23,000 tonnes of Ni and 20,000 tonnes of Cu per year. The ore is trucked to the Humboldt Mill, where both a Ni and Cu concentrate is produced.XPS Consulting & Testwork Services (XPS) has assisted the team at Eagle since 2013. Prior to start up, the ore was piloted at the XPS lab in Sudbury, Ontario to demonstrate the concentrator flowsheet and establish flotation operating strategy. XPS consulting metallurgists worked closely with the Eagle team during the commissioning of the plant providing troubleshooting, sampling, metal balancing expertise and support. Finally, a series of monthly composites over a 6 month period was submitted for mineralogical characterization to assess plant performance, identify opportunities for improvement and to provide a baseline for the future operation.Lundin’s investment to test the ores ahead of mining and to team with XPS’s experienced mineral processing engineers to help commission the plant has led to the plant achieving concentrator production targets shortly after startup. The commitment to training and implementation of best practices, and a culture where ongoing testing is the norm, puts the Eagle Operation on sound footing for future operation.INTRODUCTIONLundin’s Eagle Mine is a subsidiary of Lundin Mining located in the upper peninsula of Michigan. The mine itself is an underground operation and the ore is trucked from the Eagle mine site 2 hours to the Humboldt mill.The ore is an ultramafic hosted high grade Cu Ni deposit and exists as either massive or semi massive sulphides. The high resource grade of Cu (2.49%) and Ni (2.93%) make this a valuable ore source. (Owen & Meyer, 2013) A metallurgical team was put together by Lundin to ensure the mill was designed and commissioned to optimize metallurgy in the shortest time from this valuable deposit. The commissioning plan targeted commercial production by Q1 2015."

Jan 1, 2016

By Ernest A. Hodgson

A SERIOUS hazard which must be faced in some mines, though quite absent in others, is that of rockbursts. Bursts cannot be wholly avoided in such mines, but the hazard would largely disappear if they could be predicted. The problem of prediction resolves itself into that of measuring pressure in the mine and determining when that pressure nears a critical value. The geophysical approach to the problem lies in discovering some physical property of the rock, which varies with pressure, which can be measured for rock in place, and for which the indication of critical conditions is sufficiently definite and open scale. A physical property, suggested first in connection with earthquake pre-diction, is that of sub-audible snapping. It was argued that, as the pressure grows, the rock probably yields microscopically and that minute snapping occurs which is so faint as to be inaudible to the unaided ear. Experience has proved this to be the case. Following other earlier work begun early in 1939, experiments with this method were initiated at Lake Shore Mines in 1941, and equipment was slowly being developed in practice when, fortunately, it was found possible to by-pass this tedious development programme. Experiments with sub-audible snapping in mine rocks had been carried out by Dr. L. A. Obert of the U.S. Bureau of Mines and his associates over a period of about four years. An amplifier and a recorder were developed, each reasonably satisfactory in practice. Lake Shore Mines offers a tempting field for rockburst research. Dr. Obert was invited to test his equipment in this and other mines in Ontario and did so. As a result, he and the administrative personnel of the Bureau became interested in the Lake Shore experiments co the extent of most generously arranging for the manufacture of sets of their own designed equipment for use in this programme. The first three sets of recorders were ordered at once and were delivered in May, 1942. A second group of three sets, incorporating various improvements indicated by experience both in the United States and in Canada, reached Kirkland Lake in April, 1943. The pick-up devices, known as geophones, were made in the electronics laboratory at Lake Shore by Mr. Zack Gibbs, who has had charge of all the instrument development in this re-search.

Jan 1, 1943

By J. ?H. Chen

Remote sensing technologies have been applied to numerous fields and already benefited those in improving efficiency and recognition accuracy. Change of streamflow can be devastating to residents living along riversides. Still it is difficult to detect such deathly change in large area scale by traditional field surveys. The research aims at provision of detecting streamflow change using a mathematic method based on remote sensing technologies. The scope is on remote sensing stream images taken during the invasion by Typhoon Morakot, bringing one of the major catastrophes to Taiwan. An algorithm was adopted to deal with streamflow recognition on RGB images. The algorithm is capable of yielding change measured by meters and illustrates how main streams shift. An practical example for the Baolai area surrounded by Laonong stream shows that the streamflow moved 88 meters (36 pixels) toward the downtown area during the invasion by Typhoon Morakot. In addition, the results highlight all dangerous zones (scouring zones) for residents to prevent further potential damage.

Aug 1, 2013

By Kathy S. Kalenchuk

Damages have been observed in shafts, backfill infrastructure and the slick line at the Leeville Mine. Shaft damage (shearing and spalling of the concrete liner) is attributed to mine-induced rock mass deformations concentrated where regional faults intersect the shafts. Aggregate bin, mixer station and conveyor drive damage (shotcrete shearing, heave of concrete floor slabs and bending of a vertical steel beams) is attributed to rock mass squeezing induced by elevated magnitudes of the vertically orientated major principal stresses. Separation of the slick line has occurred do to extension of the stressshadowed rock mass immediately above the mined out areas. Three-dimensional numerical models have been developed and calibrated to simulated rock mass deformations with magnitudes similar to those believed to have produced the observed damages. By stepping through the mine sequence, models reproduce deformations at the same mining stage as when damage has occurred. Calibrated models have been used to forward project further damage over the remaining mine life.

Jun 1, 2012

By S. M. C. Santos

Preliminary bench-scale studies were carried out on the leaching of a zinc sulphide concentrate from Somincor, Portugal, and the purification of the resulting pregnant solution using solvent extraction techniques. The sulphide concentrate contained 36% Zn, 36% S, 2% Fe and 4% Cu. The leaching was carried out with sulphuric acid in the presence of ferric sulphate as the oxidant. Important leaching parameters, such as the effect of reaction time, the solid-liquid ratio, temperature and concentrations of acid and oxidant, were investigated. After leaching, the recovered solution was contacted with an organic phase containing Acorga 5640 to remove the copper. Subsequently, the removal of iron from the leaching solution was achieved with a mixture of Cyanex 272 and TBP. This solvent mixture was relatively selective for iron over zinc. The stripping of the loaded solvent was performed with 200 g/L H2SO4. Six countercurrent extraction stages achieved a separation of about 99% of the iron from the leaching solution. The iron-free leachate can be further treated to recover minor metals by cementation, and finally, zinc by liquid-liquid extraction. The advantages of the suggested process relative to the traditional jarosite process are discussed.

Jan 1, 2006

By M. Kermani

This paper presents and compares the physical properties of Gelfill and cemented hydraulic fill (CHF) obtained by lab experiments. Gelfill has an alkali activator such as sodium silicate in its materials in addition to primary materials of cemented mine backfill which are deslimed tailings, water and binders. The CHF and Gelfill samples with various mixture designs were cast and cured for 28 days. Initially, the influence of sodium silicate concentration on the mechanical properties of samples was evaluated using the unconfined compressive strength (UCS) test. Consequently, the effect of curing temperature on CHF and Gelfill samples cured in various curing temperatures ranging from 5?50 °C was studied using the UCS test. Microstructure of selected samples was studied wirth the mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP) technique. This study concludes that: (i) The mechanical properties of CHF can be improved by the addition of appropriate amount of sodium silicate. (ii) The rate of strength acquisition in Gelfill samples is faster than CHF samples over 28 days of curing period. (iii) Curing temperature strongly influences the mechanical and microstructural properties of CHF and Gelfill samples. (iv) The microstructure analysis revealed that the addition of sodium silicate can modify the pore size distribution and total porosity of Gelfill which can contribute to the better mechanical properties of Gelfill. (v) The MIP tests suggested the microstructure of specimens were changed by adding sodium silicate in a way that the Gelfill samples had a higher percentage of fine pores than CHF samples.

Aug 1, 2013

By X. Wu

Tunnel Boring Machines (TBMs) are widely used for tunneling in urban areas because of their high advance rate, precise as-built profile and minimal impact to buildings and traffic on the ground. For a tunnel built by a TBM, there are strict requirements on alignment control and safety. To meet these requirements, it is important to monitor the position of the TBM. In the current practice, the TBM position data, including advance distance and line and level deviations, are reported manually to the managers on a daily basis. To interpret and analyze the position data, the managers also need to refer to various construction drawings. This practice is untimely, inefficient, and error prone for decision making. To improve the current practice, an automatic approach for real-time as-built tunnel product modeling and visualization is proposed, based on TBM position and orientation data autonomously sourced from the Virtual Laser Target Board (VLTB) TBM Guidance System developed at University of Alberta. Related information of the tunnel project, such as the as-designed alignment, soil layers, the ground, existing utility lines, is also visualized together with the model of the as-built tunnel. The modeling algorithm is presented step by step. Its application in a real-life drainage tunnel project is discussed and limitations are also identified.

Aug 1, 2013

By Michael Bauer

Increases in productivity and improvements in mining occupational safety and health are intrinsically linked. Over the past years, the German Hard Coal Mining Industry has been able to accomplish both: an increase in coal production and, at the same time, a significantly reduction of accidents. This success has been achieved by advances in technology, better organization and investment in people. Since 1990 productivity has more than doubled, while the total number of accidents has been reduced by more than 90%. Further development started initially with the mechanisation of the winning and drivage technology. Innovative technology and standardisation of the mining equipment were one reason for the increase in productivity and reduction of the accident rate. Therefore this technical development was not only one important pillar of the TOM model explicated later but also the requirement for the successful development of the other pillars. In addition to further developing this innovative technology it was possible to realise procedural and organisational improvements. As a result, the above achievement is based on implementing the three pillars of the so-called "TOM" model (technology, organization, ?Mensch? = human). To increase safety, improve performance, raise awareness and change of employees? attitude, the following technical and organizational requirements have been introduced: ??New innovative technology and procedures, standardized techniques and better equipment. ??Measures to revise or redefine the organizational structure, processes and systems of work, which were then integrated into the company policy and procedures as a company management tool. ??Personnel measures (investment in people). These include, improving motivation and behaviour, training, communication to raise and to change awareness of safety issues. Success in Occupational Health and Safety is not an automatic or self-regulating process. It needs hard work to make improvements and it must be treated as a recurring cyclic process. As a result of the above, occupational health and safety has become a natural part of daily work in the German Hard Coal Mining Industry. This could only be achieved by the unconditional "commitment" of all managers and employees to the issues, coupled with discipline and responsible action. Further improvements towards the ultimate aim of "zero" accidents are only possible by mutual involvement in implementing the ?TOM? (technology, organization and ?Mensch? human) model.

Aug 1, 2013

By P. D. Barrette

This paper deals with the flow of granular materials in bins. A hybrid Lagrangian-Eulerian numerical model is introduced. The model is based on Particle-In-Cell (PIC) advection, and continuum equations describing a Mohr-Coulomb criterion. Experiments were conducted to test and verify the performance of the numerical model. Tests were done using three types of particles. Measurements of material properties and flow rates were carried out. Video records were also obtained and used to examine flow patterns. The results indicate that the numerical simulations produce deformation patterns and flow rates which are in good agreement with the experimental observations.

May 1, 2007

By S. Orangi

A representative sample of ramming paste from a peripheral seam in an aluminium electrolysis cell was taken in order to develop a process to fabricate ramming paste samples in the laboratory. To this end, paste material was compacted in multilayers in a mould designed to be representative of peripheral seams in Alcoa's smelters. The density distribution in the representative sample was measured ranging from 1.51-1.76 g/cm3. The density range obtained by the proposed methodology in laboratory is 1.47-1.77 g/cm3. The results demonstrate that the proposed fabrication method adequately duplicates paste density from the cell for both one and two layer compaction. Finally, preliminary results related to the compressive strength and Young's modulus of laboratory samples were obtained at various temperatures and are presented in this paper.

Jan 1, 2011

By Gordon A. Irons, H. Y. Hwang

An impinging gas jet on a water surface was studied to understand momentum transfer in oxygen steelmaking. Depth, width and oscillation frequency of the jet cavity were measured and the splashes interpreted with Kelvin-Helmholtz instability and combined Rayleigh-Taylor and Kelvin-Helmholtz instability theory. A model to calculate separate gas and liquid velocities, applying the exact momentum boundary condition, is proposed.

Jan 1, 2004

By F J. Pearce

The Steel Company of Canada, utilizing the S-L process, has produced partially and highly reduced pellets for use in the blast furnace. Experimental blast furnace tests, using reduced pellet burdens, have been carried out. The changes in production rate, fuel rate and general performance of both the S-L and the blast furnace processes are indicated. Introduction T HE ore burdens for a blast furnace may be improved in two ways: chemically, by concentrating the ore to a high degree of purity; and physically, by agglomerating or closely sizing the ore particles. Today, many b1ast furnaces are charged with closely sized agglomerates, some of which contain upwards of 66 per cent iron. The further improvement of these burdens by chemical concentration may, in many instances, be uneconomic due to the large losses of iron that occur during processing. Assuming that it would be possible to reject all of the gangue minerals, the maximum level of concentration of iron in the hematitic ores would be only about 70 per cent.

Jan 1, 1964

By A. Manohar Rao

Underground mining in general and more so the coal mining is a hazardous venture as it is a struggle against nature and natural forces. The stability of roadways has a direct impact on production and productivity. The roadway stability can be strongly influenced by the direction of the drivage. The stress studies are useful to provide a frame work for understanding the influence of drivage direction on roadway conditions, and to illustrate how mapping techniques can enhance this understanding. The act of mining can concentrate and re-orient the original stresses. Whenever coal is removed, the overburden weight that it carried is transferred. Vertical stresses are similarly affected when the roof is deformed or failed. The Singareni Collieries Company Ltd., a joint Public sector undertaking of the Government of Andhra Pradesh and India is conducting coalmining operations in the Godavari Valley Coalfield and is catering to the needs of a large part of South India. With the technology update, it is looking for safe mining and to achieve higher production. As a part of this, an attempt is made to understand the stress conditions prevailing on the mine blocks by different ways and means in terms of geology, structure and tectonics of the Godavari Valley coalfield, satellite imagery studies, cleat pattern, stress measurement studies conducted in different mine blocks, and stress mapping technique.

Aug 1, 2013

By L. Gutierrez, M. Pawlik

The rheology artificial mixtures of bitumen with fine quartz of varying bitumen content, as well as actual oil sand ores, was investigated under different physicochemical conditions (pH, temperature). All rheological measurements were conducted using a Haake Rotovisco VT550 rotational viscometer, connected to a fixture specifically designed to measure properties of settling suspensions. It was found that at low bitumen contents (1 %, wt.) the pH of the slurries was the most important parameter that controlled the rheology of quartz-bitumen slurries. At higher bitumen contents (10%, wt.), it was a combination of high temperature and high pH that gave the lowest apparent viscosities and yield stresses of the model mixtures. These model observations correlated well with the rheology data obtained for slurries of actual oil sand ores. The overall results were discussed in terms of aggregation-dispersion phenomena between bitumen and mineral particles.

Jan 1, 2009

By F. Vagnon, A. M. Ferrero, M. Pirulli, A. Segalini

"The topic of this study is the design of flexible fences to mitigate the risk due to debris flow phenomena by means of theoretical and experimental studies analysed in framework of the Rock Engineering System (RES).The study of the interaction between debris flows and flexible barriers is a major challenge since many different aspects concerning both the slope characteristics and the structure features are involved. Debris flows are often triggered by the mobilization of debris deposits that are generated by rock fall of adjacent rock walls. The rock debris deposits are difficult to be characterized by the physical and mechanical point of view due to their large variability in volume distribution and, moreover, when dealing with high mountains environment, they are also strongly affected by the presence of water at different phases (solid or liquid) depending on the temperature. The debris deposit turns unstable in relation with the geotechnical and environmental features of the areas and the instability evolution in high mountain steep valley is often a debris flow. Debris flow destructive potential is very high and protections are often needed to reduce the debris flow risk.This complexity determines the needs of comprehensive study able to include the global basin dynamic and the environmental conditions. An a-priori analysis of the influence of the different aspects can be useful to focus on the real driving aspects of the problem. Due to the complexity of the system the application of the RES methodology is recommended in order to clearly define the different assumptions needed, their influence on the simulations and a comparison among them.RES allows investigating triggering criteria, flow and depositional processes and interaction of flows with protection fences in a rational way. For this purpose, an interaction matrix is created: it summarizes the key geotechnical parameters that influence debris flows, their interactions and debris/engineering protection opera behaviour. The goal is to quantify the diagonal-off terms to assess the residual risk after barrier construction, using back analysis from real debris flow event and data collection from literature.This methodology is applied to analyze a debris flow event in the Italian Western Alps where numerical analyses are carried on to assess flow characteristics to be used for fence design through the application of an analytical and numerical model developed by the authors (Brighenti et al, 2013). In particular, the velocity and deposition heights have been estimated using the numerical code RASH3D (Pirulli, 2010), which is a single-phase model based on depth-averaged Saint Venant equations. Pathways of different lengths are studied to assess the input data necessary to design the protection barrier and to determine the associated risk. Simulation of the barrier at different places along the valley will also allow to determine optimal barrier location in terms of minimum residual risks by comparing the velocity, the volume and the energy of the debris after the barrier impact.The work will produce a possible design scheme to be adopted in this environment."

Jan 1, 2015

By B. D. Pandey, M. S. Kim, B. S. Kim

The recovery of Sn from used Pb-free solder (Sn, 3~4 % Ag, < 0.9 % Cu, < 1.2 % Pb) has been investigated by electrorefining in sulfuric acid solutions containing small amount of hydrochloric acid. This involved preparation of the anode material by melting and casting the used solder followed by refining. During electrorefining, dendritic tin was deposited on stainless steel cathode. Increasing the amount of hydrochloric acid up to 0.3 mol /L in the electrolyte enhanced the current efficiency to 92.2 % and the enrichment ratio of silver to 94.3 % in the anode slime which was otherwise 84.7% and 81.6 % in absence of HCl, respectively. The electrolyte containing hydrochloric acid has also prevented the precipitation of tin oxide in the bath. In the scale-up experiment using 1.6 kg anodes, 84.3 % current efficiency and close to 100 % Ag enrichment ratio were obtained, while the purity of electro-refined tin was over 99.9 %. The energy consumption of the winning process was found to be 0.151 kWh /kg-Sn which is competitive as compared to commercial tin electrorefining processes.

Jan 1, 2014