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By David Hatem, Michael Vitale, Joseph Gildner, Michael Roach, Fred Dunham

Dispute Review/Resolution Boards (DRB’s) are a highly successful dispute avoidance and resolution tool. In a joint effort between the UCA of SME and the Dispute Resolution Board Foundation (DRBF), the authors embarked on an informal assessment of the state of the DRB practice in the tunnel industry from the point of view of the Contractor, Owner, DRB Practitioner, and Attorney. The results of this assessment were presented in a panel discussion at the Rapid Excavation and Tunneling Conference (RETC) in June of 2021. This paper presents the results of that session with recommendations for further industry discussion and implementation

Dec 1, 2022

By F. S. A. de Frey

The main users of computerised financial evaluation tools in the mining industry are the mining investment analyst, the mine manager together with his financial manager and the mining student (undergruadate and post-graduate). The mining investment analyst's needs mainly centre around the-micro and macro aspects affecting the mining industry in general. The mine manager needs a tool to assist him with the planning, reporting and controlling of production, costs, efficiency, productivity and cashflow. For the mining student studying Financial Evaluation, the main need is for a computer program which will assist him in learning the basics of the subject. This paper concentrates on the needs and objectives of the course Financial Mine Evaluation, the approach to which is presented. Emphasis is placed on the practical computing sessions and the role of the FCS-EPS package as a training tool.

Jan 1, 1987

By Catherine T. Ziten

Introduction ?Environmental assessments required for permitting ?Focus on ammonia produced through mine construction & blasting ?Water quality guidelines: federal, provincial, IGO ?Reported values are typically estimates from other projects ?Predictive modelling of ammonia aimed to assist planning

May 1, 2009

This appendix contains the list of equipment, their corresponding number and their specifications with the quotations from the vendors/ manufacturers who can supply this equipment. The listings are arranged by process plant areas.

Jan 1, 1979

By T. Holmes, J. Middlemiss

"Agnico-Eagle (AE) has been operating their Kittila Mine in Northern Finland since 2008. The mine has experienced considerable ore flow problems with ratholing, bridging and freezing in their mill feed bin since start up. In the first winter of operation, the entire central portion of the contents of the cylindrical flat-bottomed 2000 tonne mill feed bin froze. Flow was erratic and could only be achieved through small diameter ratholes. To maintain a reasonable, albeit limited, feed to the mill, the bin had to be kept less than ½ full and a portable steam generator was brought in to melt the frozen agglomerates that frequently blocked the outlets. The combination of limited surge capacity and frequent outages required the crushing plant to operate 24/7 and resulted in inconsistent production levels and high operating costs.AE had planned to expand the processing plant to increase throughput by about 30% when they transitioned from open pit to underground ore. These plans presented an opportunity to improve the material handling.To avoid the problems experienced with the original mill feed bin, AE enlisted Jenike & Johanson Ltd. (J&J) to test samples of the ore, and based on the measured flow properties to provide design recommendations to ensure that the new mill feed bin would operate reliably. The new 2000 tonne expanded flow mill feed bin and apron feeder were installed in 2014 and are now supplying almost 93% of the total mill feed with the remaining coming from the original bin.IntroductionIn early 2009, AE engaged J&J to visit their then recently opened Kittila mine and mill in Northern Finland (Figure 1). Over the first half-year of operation, production had been restricted in the ore handling and storage system by flow problems such as ratholing, bridging and freezing including blockages of chutes and hoppers as a result of frozen fines buildup and large frozen agglomerates. AE wanted to increase production in the existing open pit mine and mill feed operation and also wanted to avoid similar ore handling problems when they commissioned the new underground mining system under development at that time."

Jan 1, 2017

By CHRISTOPHER D. HEBERT, SCOTT W. HOFFMAN

All Rights Reserved. Printed in the United States of America. Information contained in this work has been obtained by SME, Inc. from sources believed to be reliable. However, neither SME nor its authors guarantee the accuracy or completeness of any information published herein, and neither SME nor its authors shall be responsible for any errors, omissions, or damages arising out of use of this information. This work is published with the understanding that SME and its authors are supplying information but are not attempting to render engineering or other professional services. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publisher. Any statement or views presented here are those of individual authors and are not necessarily those of the SME. The mention of trade names for commercial products does not imply the approval or endorsement of SME.

Dec 1, 2019

By Braden T. Lusk, Shannon P. Lusk, Kyle A. Perry

A high explosives shock tube has been constructed and developed to test blast resistant windows with pressure versus time waveforms similar to waveforms generated by arena testing. Calibration of the high explosives shock tube, or Large Arena Test Simulator (LATS), included numerous tests performed by detonating varying charge weights at different distances from three piezoelectric pressure sensors located at one end of the shock tube (where the test subject would be installed). The maximum reflected pressure and positive phase impulse were calculated for each waveform generated in the tests. Pressure versus distance and impulse versus distance graphs were generated. Results have been graphed in order to predict charge weights and distances that correlate to the desired pressure and impulse at the end of the tube for future tests. This is a valuable tool when testing expensive, job specific components so the loading requirements are met on the first attempt.

Jan 1, 2010

The Bega granite at Whipstick, N.S.W., consists of a granite metasomatically altered to leucogranites and a spessartite-granite. The ore occurs in pipes controlled by jointing and shows evidence of post-depositional tectonic forces.The principal ore minerals are molybdenite and bismuthinite, with minor amounts of uraninite, pyrite, gold, bismuth, joseite A, joseite B, tetradymite, chalcopyrite, arsenopyrite, and skutterudite. The gangue minerals are microcline, albite, quartz, muscovite, and spessartite, with fluorite, chlorite, magnetite, and biotite as accessory minerals.The intrusion of granite was followed initially by ascending metasomatic fluids which penetrated along joints to be trapped in the domed roof of the intrusion to form the leucocratic granite. Iron-manganese-rich fluids metasomatically altered the granite to a spessartitegranite which is associated with the later deposited ore.Quartz veins and dykes of varying composition post date the ore deposition.

Jan 1, 1968

By B. G. Russell

A wide range of minerals is found within the Republic of South Africa, many of which are exploited to a greater extent than in similar deposits found elsewhere. It is often asked whether this is atributed to the high grade of the ores encountered in this country, or whether such factors as fiscal and Infrastructural incentives create an economic climate that has en bled the mining industry to successfully extract and market minerals at a profit. This paper views South Africa's mineral resources in a regional and global context In an attempt to place the country's geological wealth in perspective. It represents the author's own Views, and not necessarily those of the Department of Mine al and Energy Affairs.

Jan 1, 1986

By Louis D. Huntoon

AFTER the completion, in 1905, of the Hammond Mining and Metallurgical Laboratory of the Sheffield Scientific School, Yale University, it became necessary to secure and assay a large assortment of ore-samples, and to arrange the results in such a manner as to admit of use with the least amount of work on the part of the instructor. At first, pulp-samples, together with their respective assays, were secured from the mines, smelters, and public assayers, but this practice did not prove satisfactory. It was not only difficult to secure a sufficiently large supply of material, but it was also impossible to secure the proper assortment required for instructing students. It involved considerable work for the donors to select the samples and furnish a record of the assays, and also for the instructors to examine each pulp and determine its character. Some of the samples did not contain a sufficient quantity of pulp for the student to check his work in case his first assay did not correspond to the record. In order to increase the number of samples and to vary the character of the material, pulp-samples were later mixed with barren rock and with sulphides, but this method also was unsatisfactory and has been discontinued. At present., small lots of ore are secured by gift or purchase from engineers, public assayers, and the managers of mines, mills, and smelters. These lots weigh from 10 to 100 lb. each, and are rarely finer than 0.25 in. in size. The larger samples permit of a careful study by the instructor in order to determine the best method of assaying to be followed. In universities in which assaying is taught the record of the samples should fulfill the following requirements

Nov 1, 1909

By Franco Oboni, Iain G. Bruce

The design of tailings containment structures relies on well-understood engineering methods being applied consistently. Unfortunately, not all facilities are designed or managed to the same level of competency. To standardize procedures, the Mining Association of Canada (MAC, 1998) prepared a “Guide to Tailings Management.” It recommended review of designs and an assessment of the risks associated with tailings impoundments be implemented during all phases of amine life. This paper describes how the quantitative risk assessment (QRA) process can be used to define risks associated with the design, construction and operation of a tailings management facility. And it discusses how, once the risk tolerability curves (RTC) are defined for a project, they can assist the risk management (RM) process.

Jan 1, 2002

By Markus Reuter, Antoinette van Schaik

In this paper the link between process metallurgy, classical minerals processing, product centric recycling and urban/landfill mining is discussed. The depth that has to be achieved in urban mining and recycling must glean from the wealth of theoretical knowledge and insight that have been developed in the past in minerals and metallurgical processing. This background learns that recycling demands a product centric approach, which considers simultaneously the multi-material interactions in man-made complex ‘minerals’. Fast innovation in recycling and urban mining can be achieved by further evolving from this well developed basis, evolving the techniques and tools that have been developed over the years. This basis has already been used for many years to design, operate and control industrial plants for metal production. This has been the basis for Design for Recycling rules for End-of-Life products. Using, among others, the UNEP Metal Recycling report as a basis (authors are respectively Lead and Main authors of report), it is demonstrated that a common theoretical basis as developed in metallurgy and minerals processing can help much to level the playing field between primary processing, secondary processing, recycling, and urban/landfill mining and product design hence enhancing resource efficiency. Thus various scales of detail link product design with metallurgical process design and its fundamentals.

Jan 1, 2014

By Enrui Dai, Weibing Chen, Bin Yang, Wenhui Ma, Haisheng Fang, Hui Wang

LiMn0.8Fe0.2PO4/C composite was prepared by an improved solid-state method and the effect of calcination temperature on properties of the obtained materials was investigated. The results showed that increasing calcination temperature from 600 to 700 oC improved the performance of the LiMn0.8Fe0.2PO4/C due to enhanced crystallinity and increased conductivity, but further increase in calcination temperature to 800 oC led to degraded performance due to particle growth and decrease in porosity. Therefore, the LiMn0.8Fe0.2PO4/C composite prepared at 700 oC exhibited the best electrochemical performance, and could deliver a high capacity of 152 mAh g−1 at 0.1 C, 147 mAh g−1 at 1 C and 114 mAh g−1 at 10 C. In addition, the performance of the LiMn0.8Fe0.2PO4/C and LiMn0.8Fe0.19Mg0.01PO4/C was compared when they were obtained at the optimum calcination temperature.

Jan 1, 2015

By George P. Demopoulos, Nima Parsi Benehkohal, Marianna Uceda

Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) find wide range of applications from portable electronics to electric cars and stationary storage or renewable energy. LIB electrode fabrication is done through mixing the active material (Li-ion host) with carbon (conductive component) and polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), which acts as a binder. These components are dissolved in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) to form a paste which is then doctor bladed onto the aluminum current collector. NMP is a toxic chemical and the overall fabrication process remains costly. Efforts are made of eliminating NMP by (1) replacing the binder and (2) using a new fabrication method. Of particular interest among these new methods is electrophoretic deposition (EPD). Via the application of DC potential, particles in suspension can be electrophoretically deposited on different conductive substrates in a relatively fast rate rendering EPD feasible for industrial application. A key aspect for successful application of EPD is the formulation of a stable suspension. Within the McGill HydroMET group, we explore the potential of EPD in fabricating LIB electrodes having demonstrated its effectiveness in the case of P25 nanotitania/carbon anodes. The performance of EPD fabricated TiO2/C electrodes is compared to standard PVDF-based electrodes and shown to have comparable charge capacity. This method is now being extended to other electrode materials. In this paper an introduction to the EPD method will be made and subsequently its use in fabricating LIB electrodes will be described. The performance of the fabricated batteries is evaluated via galvanostatic charging/discharging and cycling tests.

Jan 1, 2016

By Reginald S., Dean

The commercial availability of electrolytic manganese has greatly changed the position of manganese as a nonferrous alloying metal. Manganese metal commercially available up to about ten years ago was reduced with either silicon or aluminum and contained substantial amounts of the oxides of these metals and other impurities. Manganese was accordingly not available as an alloy base and its addition to copper-base and nickel-base alloys was generally limited to a manganese content of a few per cent. Several special alloys like manganin contained up to 12 pct of manganese.

Jan 1, 1953

A record $19.7 billion in minerals was produced by United States industries in 1963. This was some $800 million above the previous high established in 1962. Preliminary statistics compiled by the U.S. Bureau of Mines show that most metals, nonmetals, and fuels gained both in value and volume of production. The 1963 total represents the largest value increase since 1956 and continues an upward trend begun in 1959. Product.ion and value of all mineral fuels rose, with anthracite registering a remarkable 20% value increase. Nonmetals advanced 591 in value, gains exceeding losses by 213 to 1 among individual commodities. Heavier industrial demand and the settling of labor difficulties were among the factors contributing to increased output of such materials as iron ore, bauxite, molybdenum, lead, and zinc, which accounted for most in€ the growth in metal output. Silver prices continued to rise and, as a result, production value of that metal gained 132,.

Jan 2, 1964

By S. Kouniali

Experience with knowledge-based systems for Layout planning and roadway support dimensioning is on hand in European coal mining since 1985. The systems SOUT (support choice and dimensioning, 1989), SOUT 2, PLANANK (planning of bolt-support), EXOS (layout planning diagnosis. 1994), Sout 3 (1995) have been developed in close cooperation by CdF1. INERIS2. EMN3 (France) and RAG 4, DMT5, TH - Aachen6 (Germany); ISLSP (Integrated Software for Layout and support planning) development is in progress (completion scheduled for July 1996). This new software technology in combination with conventional programming systems. numerical models and existing databases turned out to be suited for setting-up an intelligent decision aid for layout and roadway support planning. The system enhances reliability of planning and optimises the safety-to-cost ratio for ? deformation forecast for roadways in seam and surrounding rocks, consideration of the general position of the roadway in the rock mass (zones of increased pressure, position of operating and mined panels). ? support dimensioning ? yielding arches, rigid arches, porch sets, rigid rings, yielding rings and bolting / shotcreting for drifts ? yielding arches, rigid arches and porch sets for roadways in seam ? bolt support for gateroads (assessment of exclusion criteria and calculation of the bolting pattern) ? bolting of face-end zones (feasibility and safety assessment, stability guarantee).

Jan 1, 1996

By Timothy A. Clancy

To help reduce the Nation's dependence on imported chromite, the Bureau of Mines is conducting research on the use of dolomites as an alternate material. Dolomite is a plentiful domestic resource and offers certain advantages as a refractory raw material. A review of the literature has indicated that there are many sources of high-purity dolomite in this country and that European nations use a greater proportion of dolomite refractories, primarily in steelmaking, than the United States, The Bureau of Mines characterized 14 domestic dolomites as to chemistry, density, mineralogy, microstructure, and thermal behavior, to develop baseline data on their suitability as refractory raw materials.

Jan 1, 1983

By Hal J. Kelly

A number of problems that developed in processing the halloysitic clays of eastern Washington and northern Idaho were investigated by the Bureau of Mines. The deflocculating effect of tetra sodium pyrophosphate is compared with several other compounds, and on the basis of current theory, the advantage of sodium pyrophosphate as a deflocculating agent is explained. The adsorption of the sodium ion by clay in a clay"-water system was established by a radioactive tracer technique, and the deflocculating action of sodium pyro- phosphate was postulated. The effective dispersion of the halloysitic clays was limited by the occurrence of tightly bound aggregates of small, individual crystals. Disaggregation of the agglomerates was investigated by liquid extrusion and ball milling of dilute slurries and by extrusion of the clay in a plastic state. The greatest increase in the production of small particles was by high? pressure liquid extrusion.

Jan 1, 1963

By T. G. Chapman

This paper has been abstracted from a forthcoming Bureau of Mines bulletin on the concentration of copper ores in North America. GENERAL DEVELOPMENTS IN CONCENTRATING COPPER ORES FROM 1912 TO 1932 During the east 20 years the milling of copper ores as practiced in the larger concentrators has chanced to such an extent that comparatively few of the machines in use at the beginning of this period remain in service today. Concentrating Practice in 1912. In 1912 the usual equipment for concentrating copper ores comprised jigs for the coarser sizes, tables and sand vanners for the intermediate sizes, and vanners for the finer crushed and ground material. Rolls operated in series under graded crushing conditions, were in common use for the liberation of the copper minerals; grinding by Chilean or Muntington mills ordinarily was confined to the coarser tailings of jigs and tables.

Jan 1, 1934