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By Iwao Iwasaki

Since the oil crises in the 1970s, the mining industry in the developed countries has faced strong competition from developing countries. In order for the North American iron ore industry to remain competitive with high-grade overseas sources, research on low-cost beneficiation methods that ensure high-quality and uniform-quality products must be maintained in order to prepare for ever-tightening specifications on iron making raw materials for blast furnaces and also for the future iron- and steelmaking processes that can directly utilize finely ground concentrates.

Jan 1, 1999

By A. J. Neale, B. C. Flintoff

A relatively inexpensive and reliable method of using liquid phase tracers to aid in the solution of material balance problems is introduced. The method is of value in situations where one is required to calculate a material balance around a process that has the operating appearance of a "blender" or "splitter" with respect to the available slurry sample data. The paper briefly reviews material balance development and tracer applications in mineral processing, introduces the problem to he addressed, and provides both theoretical and industrial evidence establishing the potential of the method.

Jan 1, 1987

By Cong Shi, Cuiping Li, Enji Sun

"Tailings dam is a subsidiary facility of mining production. In order to decrease tailings dam accidents caused by the failure of flood drainage system, this paper proposed a framework of potential failure detection system of tailings dam flood drainage facility based on three dimensional panorama technology. A collection device of three dimensional panorama is designed to capture the onsite images of flood drainage system of tailings dam. The spatial information of flood drainage facility of tailings dam is recovered through projecting the image information to spherical surface by using three dimensional panorama technology. Two dimensional images are transformed into three dimensional images in three stages of panorama images process, which are pretreatment, registration and splicing. Combined with the framework of HTML5, panorama images are embedded into webpage. These web pages have the functions of user interface that the images could be displayed, moved and zoomed. With the function of interaction with panoramic display, 3D panorama scenes can be changed and scaled. Browsing the webpage is helpful to find potential risks such as possible holes, fractures and leakages of flood drainage system of tailings dam. The realization of this system can detect the potential safety risks of flood drainage system of tailings dam. The application of this system would improve the safety and provide the ability of accident pre-warning. It is useful to maintain the healthy and sustainable operation of tailings dam.Introduction It is reported by Xie et al (2009) that tailings dam are necessary facilities for mine production and places which constructed by damming troughs or encirclement used to store tailings that eliminated after ore selection in Metal and non-metallic mines. It is reported by Mei (2012) that tailings dam is a dangerous source of high-energy man-made debris flow, the collapse of the tailings dam takes devastating damage, which seriously threatens the safety of life and property of the enterprises and the downstream residents. It is reported by Dong (2011) that the collapse of the tailings dam causes secondary disasters such as environmental pollution at the same time. It’s a serious impact on regional economic development and social stability. The phenomenon of collapse of destruction is general excessively of tailings dams in China. It is reported by Zhang et al (2011) that most of these phenomena are caused by flood over the top of dams. The main reason is the lack of capacity or the failure of the drainage system. There are also accidents caused by the failure of drainage system in foreign countries in recent years. For example, November 5th 2015, the tailing dams collapsed because of the insufficient drainage capacity of the Germano mining area in Germano Mariana area in central Minas Gerais state in Brazil. After a small post-earthquake, the liquefied tailings fill sand submerge downstream cities and towns. It finally destroyed 158 houses, killed at least 17 people, polluted 663km river and destroyed 15 square kilometres of land along the river. It is reported by Rico et al (2008) that it’s necessary to continuous monitor and control the tailings drainage system in order to reduce the occurrence of tailings accidents and guarantee the sustainable production of the mine. The traditional artificial detection methods of flood drainage system of tailings dam exist many problems such as heavy workload, low efficiency, and susceptible to meteorological conditions. And it is reported by Luo (2013) that the tailings dam wastewater is corrosive which result a certain disease in flood discharge facilities such as tailings drainage culvert, etc. In order to realize the effective monitoring, management and maintenance of flood drainage system of tailings dam, advanced technologies need to be used to acquire the information of collection and management of flood drainage facilities of tailings dam."

Jan 1, 2017

By R. Kealey, D. Huo, Q. Zhang, Y. A. Sari

Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from primary mineral and metal production account for ~10% of global GHG emissions. One of the main sources of GHG emissions in mining operations is fuel consumption by haul trucks. Given their size and carrying capacity, the fuel consumption of haul trucks can approach 250 liters per hour. An average of 30% of the idle time of the trucks is spent while waiting in the queue. Inefficient truck dispatch planning can waste resources, cause dilution and elevate GHG emissions. In this research, a machine learning based truck dispatch approach was developed to dynamically route the haul trucks based on the loaded material, the road traffic, the estimated wait time, and the maintenance needs of the trucks. The GHG reduction potential of this smart fleet management approach was estimated by calculating and comparing the related carbon emissions versus scenarios using traditional fleet allocation approaches. Results suggest that this dynamic fleet allocation approach can significantly reduce GHG emissions at mineral production sites by optimizing waiting times and the overall distance travelled while achieving the same production levels.

Mar 2, 2022

In spite of our deep conviction that it would be wrong for the United States to enter World War II, when, after Pearl Harbor, we were actually in it, I felt that I must do all I could to help. The country had been so good to me that I could not decently stay on the sidelines. My first thought was that I might help with supply and administration in the Air Force, as in World War I. So on the evening of Pearl Harbor I wired the chief of our Air Force in Washington saying that I had been on Gen. William Mitchell's staff in World War I and was offering my services again. I received a noncommital answer, but after a couple of weeks was told to take my physical examination. I passed it, but nothing further happened. After helping to make plans for the wartime operations of Summit King and Desert Silver, Dorothy and I went to New York to spend Christmas with Molly and Peter, both of whom were in college in the East. I had to complete a report on the Argonaut mine in California first, though the war made my recommendations of dubious validity. Before Christmas I received wires from Temple Bridgeman, Phil Wilson, and other friends who had taken positions with government agencies responsible for securing mineral products needed for war use. They urged me to join them. It was evidently a case of not whether but how I could be most useful. After six uncertain days with the family in New York I took the night train to Washington on the 28th of December. I had a hectic day there. First I saw Arthur Bunker and Phil Wilson at what became the Aluminum and Magnesium Division of the War Production Board. Their office was in an old converted barracks. They asked me to examine magnesium deposits in Nevada at once, and then to look at other magnesium and aluminum properties. After leaving

Jan 1, 1976

By M. J. Virnig, Christopher A. Fleming

THE CIP PROCESS "IN THE RIGHT PLACE AT THE RIGHT TIME? After its tentative introduction to the precious metals mining industry in the earlier part of this century, the carbon in pulp (CIP) process has now come of age, and is the process of choice on all new gold mills. Well over 50 percent of all gold that is mined each year is recovered by adsorption on activated carbon, and the percentage will increase in the years ahead, when old mills using Merrill Crowe technology come to the end of their lives, and as the proportion of world gold production from low-grade resources increases. The pioneering process development work in this field, which was mainly concerned with carbon elution, was carried out by Zadra and his colleagues at the United States Bureau of Mines in the early 1950's (Zadra et al., 1950, 1952), and led to the commissioning of the first large-scale, industrial CIP plant, at the Homestake Mine in South Dakota, in 1973 (Hall et al., 1974). From there, the process spread rapidly, firstly in South Africa in the late 1970's. and then throughout the rest of the gold producing world in the 1980's. There were several factors that led to the meteoric (by gold industry standards) acceptance and successful implementation of this new technology into gold processing operations worldwide. Firstly, and perhaps most fortuitously, the development of the technology closely paralleled the 1968 release of the gold price from the rigid constraints of the $35/oz. gold standard. With the value of the metal allowed, for the first time in modern history, to fluctuate in response to free market supply and demand forces, the gold industry witnessed an unprecedented boom as the price of their commodity increased ten-fold in a remarkably short period of time. This had several important spin-offs as far as new process developments were concerned: The profits realized by established gold-mining companies increased enormously and, consequently, there was more to spend on research and development and exploration for new deposits.

Jan 1, 1993

By A. MacG. Robertson

INTRODUCTION The tailings, or solid waste, remaining after uranium has been extracted from an ore and the liquid wastes associated with it contain both radioactive and other substances which, if released to the environment, may have a detrimental impact on man and his environment. Although the radioactivity of the waste is of natural origin, the mining and milling process results in bringing the radioactive ore to the surface, changing its chemical and physical form, increasing its mobility and, therefore, enhancing the potential radiological exposure to man. Exposure to radionuclides released from a tailings impoundment, while small as applied to any one generation, can be made large by counting far into the future, large enough to be the dominant source of exposure from the nuclear fuel cycle, Cunningham (1978). Increasingly it is being found that where the prime concern was initially the radionuclide releases, the release of other pollutants and contaminants may be of equal or greater concern. While there is a definite benefit, at least to present generations, resulting from the recovery of uranium, current and long-term concerns require that consequential present and future releases be kept as low as is reasonably achievable. Design practice, to minimize this release, is currently passing through a technical revolution; precipitated by public and institutional concerns. New techniques and methods are, therefore, being actively sought and continuously implemented. Because of the complexity of the pollutant release mechanisms and the sitespecific nature of each impoundment site and tailings product, a wide variety of site selection and design options have been implemented or considered. It is often possible to design a number of satisfactory tailings disposal schemes which differ widely in nature and cost. This paper outlines the principal areas in which options are available and discusses some of these options. Both operating and post-decommissioning conditions are consi-

Jan 1, 1980

By D. Borrowman

Attrition of activated carbon in either the carbon-in-pulp (CIP) or carbon-in-leach (CIL) method of gold extraction can lead to, at the least, loss of expensive carbon that has to be made up, and at the worst, loss of both the carbon and any gold that was attached to it. Carbon attrition therefore represents a significant factor in both the efficiency and cost of the extraction process, and efforts to reduce attrition through process and equipment selection pay dividends. In evaluating carbon attrition potential, one would note that an individual carbon particle is in jeopardy virtually any time it is in motion. Since the motivators of this motion are primary centrifugal pumps, the purpose of this paper is to review the current styles of these pumps now in use and to examine their performance in minimizing carbon attrition.

Jan 1, 1992

By John T. Langstaff

Rock bursts in the deep metal mines of the Coeur d’Alene district present an ever increasing problem in the safe and economic mining of the district’s silver, lead and zinc ores. Hecla Mining Company operates two mines in the district - the Star, a 1100-ton/day lead-zinc mine, and the Lucky Friday, a 750-ton/day silver- lead mine. Rock burst problems at both operations prompted Hecla management to make an all-out attempt to find a practical method of predicting and eventually controlling these bursts. Research by personnel from the Denver Research Center of the Bureau of Mines at ASARCO's Galena Mine indicated that a recognizable pattern of seismic activity preceded some bursts and this activity could be precisely monitored by present- day, off-the-shelf electronic devices. Using information gained by the Bureau and other sources, Hecla designed and installed a 24,- channel seismic monitoring system in the Lucky Friday mine. Installation was completed in December 1973 and after a year of successful operation, it was decided that a similar system would be installed in the Star mine. This second installation was completed in June 1975. Both systems are now operating and providing continuous information on underground seismic activity. Each monitoring system consists of a network of geophones with attendant amplifiers that are connected by shielded cable through an interfacing device to a computer. The origin of each seismic event is determined by the computer and a three-dimensional location is printed out. This information is plotted daily and is used to pinpoint rock burst prone areas and chart their relative seismic activity. This paper will review the causes and effects of rock bursts in the Coeur d'Alene district, the equipment and operation of the microseismic system at the Star and Lucky Friday mines, and the results obtained to date.

Jan 1, 1977

By Gemei Yang, Pierre Mousset-Jones, Felipe Calizaya, Malcolm J. McPherson

Laboratory tests on controlled airflow recirculation have shown the development of transient states in response to changes in system prevailing conditions such as those generated by a sudden start-up and stoppage of fans. Researchers in many European countries have developed various models to explain these phenomena. However, these models failed to consider some important factors such as diffusion and dispersion of gas in turbulent flows. For both in-line and cross-cut recirculation, tests have shown that after the start- up of a booster fan, the gas concentration in the system fluctuates, reaching high levels at the initial states and slowly dying out with time. These fluctuations cannot be represented adequately by simple step-wise functions but rather by smooth, albeit complex equations. In this paper, the phenomena are explained by the convection-dispersion theory, and represented by a mathematical model. Based on a few simplifications and applying Fourier's Transform Method to the differential equations of the flow recirculation model, an integral form of gas concentration function was derived. The Simpson Integration Method was used to compute numerical results for two laboratory tests. The paper also discusses the range of the dispersion coefficient to improve the accuracy of the model.

Jan 1, 1989

By R. E. Miller

Accelerometers and pressure transducers mounted in suspension components can be used to monitor the ride of haulage trucks. Presently, it is difficult to tell what caused a jolt to the truck using either pressure or acceleration data alone. When information from a Global Positioning System is recorded at the same time as shock pressures or acceleration data, then the exact location of an event can be determined. Mine management can then determine what caused the jolt to the truck.

Jan 1, 1999

By Randy Sandrik

Sampling has evolved at two large underground limestone mines as conditions and product requirements have grown tougher over 100 years of mine life, requiring innovative techniques to insure delivery of high purity limestone. Sampling insures delivery of consistent product to customers at the lowest possible cost. Statistical considerations have evolved from simple data collection to predictive and process capability analysis. Sample methods include borehole samples, face (using a proprietary face-sampling device), and total plant feed automatic, process, and final product sampling. Lessons learned, while keeping costs at historically low numbers, include the importance of geological models, exploration drilling density, face sampling, and blending of ore.

Jan 1, 2005

By James D. Bennett

During the past decade many U.S. industries have realized the importance of a total loss control program; the bituminous coal mining industry is no exception to this trend. Oftentimes, we realize that the circumstances surrounding a "near miss" (an incident which does not result in personal injury or property damage) are practically identical to those associated with a fatality, disabling injury, or major property damage. And, many organizations suffer enormous financial losses in cases where no one is injured or property damaged but costly delays in production result. Detailed analyses of both injury and non-injury cases can provide valuable input into those engineering, behavioral, and management controls that are necessary to prevent their recurrence. The purpose of this paper is to describe a comprehensive loss control surveillance system (LCSS) that will enhance management control in preventing personnel, property, and production losses, thereby, maximizing profit. The next section describes the components of this LCSS. Then, we present one practical example of how this valuable management tool can be used to minimize loss through safety and training programs.

Jan 1, 1985

By Phillip R. Moyle

Voluminous deposits of commercial-grade phosphate occur in sedimentary strata in a 350,000 km2 (135,000 mi2) area of the middle Rocky Mountains of North America known as the Western Phosphate Field. The Permian marine strata that host the phosphate were deposited on the western margin of the North American craton and subsequently deformed, first by folding and thrust faulting of the Laramide orogeny, and then by Cenozoic Basin and Range block faulting. Carbonate fluorapatite is the primary phosphorus-bearing mineral. Organic matter is abundant in some strata, and both biogenic and non-biogenic pyrite are also present. Certain strata are enriched in several trace elements, especially in arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), molybdenum (Mo), selenium (Se), vanadium (V), uranium (U), and zinc (Zn). Phosphate has been mined from the Western Phosphate Field for nearly 100 years. Phosphate mining and processing constitutes the largest mineral industry of Idaho, producing more than $600 million in processed mineral value in 1997. Resource management agencies, phosphate producers, and others are concerned about the release of Se from phosphate mine wastes, especially at Maybe Canyon, and the potential effects that Se and other trace elements may have on the environment and on human health. U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Mineral Resources Team scientists initiated a multidisciplinary study of the Permian Phosphoria Formation and related rocks in the south- eastern Idaho sector of the Western Phosphate Field in response to a request by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM). Studies to date reveal that Se is present in several phases, including native Se, and in an as yet unidentified form, possibly an organo-Se compound. Selenium is also present in pyrite and sphalerite. Selenium concentrations range from 1.2 to greater than 1,000 parts per million (ppm) in samples collected from exposures of the Meade Peak Phosphatic Shale Member of the Phosphoria Formation (Meade Peake) at Enoch Valley. The results suggest that Se concentrations vary spatially across strata and with depth, perhaps comparable to spatial variations of phosphate and organic carbon concentrations throughout the Western Phosphate Field demonstrated in previous studies. Some Se-enriched strata may be of adequate dimension to allow selective extraction during mining. Such units could be handled separately from the main ore process or waste streams and isolated in order to reduce the potential for release of Se to the environment

Jan 1, 2001

By Chee S. Theng

As the 2016 president of the Society for Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration Inc., I am pleased to present the 2016 issue of the Transactions of the Society for Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration Inc., Vol. 340. A significant portion of the contribution that we make as a professional society is the publication of professional and technical papers that accelerate the advancement of scientific knowledge and enable the transfer of technology. Communication within the mining community is the key to a successful society. This technology exchange continues a tradition that dates back to the 1871 meeting of 22 mining engineers in Wilkes-Barre, PA, that resulted in the founding of the American Institute of Mining, Metallurgical and Petroleum Engineers (AIME). Those individuals envisioned that these transaction volumes “would form a most valuable and greatly needed addition to our professional literature.” This volume fulfills that pledge. The 2016 Transactions contains some of the most interesting research and insights from the past year and features an international slate of authors spanning industry, academia and government. Papers include the latest findings from the U.S. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and special-issue articles on process development testing. The 2016 Transactions consists of a total of 65 technical papers, encompassing all 21 papers published in 2016 in the Technical Papers Section of Mining Engineering (Vol. 68) and all 27 papers published in 2016 in Minerals & Metallurgical Processing (Vol. 33). Additionally, this volume contains 17 papers that are being published for the first time in this issue. The papers presented in this volume were written by some of the most distinguished professionals in the industry worldwide. All of the technical papers were peer-reviewed. The process of review and publication requires much hard work by authors, reviewers and our publications staff. As the 2016 president of SME and on behalf of all our members, I would like to extend our gratitude to all whose volunteer efforts contributed to the publication of this volume.

Jan 1, 2016

By William P. Shinn

The site of Pittsburg from the first knowledge by white men of its location has been regarded as a position of great strategic importance.

By J. A. Cole

The mill project at Lone Tree was commissioned in October, 1993, followed by the commissioning of the autoclave pressure oxidation circuit in February, 1994. Discussion of the first year of milling operations at Lone Tree is presented. The mill is currently operating above the design rate of 2,267 mt/d (2,500 st/d). Both phases of the start-up were essentially trouble free. The few problems that were encountered and the respective solutions are addressed.

Jan 1, 1995

By William L. Barnes, Maurice Leiser

INTRODUCTION The literature on project management considerations and techniques for large rail rapid transit projects in mid-1979 was fairly large and getting larger. UMTA was establishing special organizational elements to deal with the subject as it related to those properties requesting capital assistance, and comprehensive project management plans were being requested from those properties as an early step to build confidence in UMTA that the particular project could be planned, designed, and executed efficiently and effectively, thereby using critically short capital assistance funds to best advantage. In the late 60's and early 70's, the choices of models for heavy rail construction would have been quite limited.., and perhaps much simpler than was the case in 1979. One of the writers was with an agency in 1979 in the process of finalizing its organization for project implementation after several years of study and had the opportunity to review the experiences of others at length, presumably to build on the success and to try to avoid the pitfalls and failures. The properties that were surveyed all reported more or less success stories. One could only conclude that there are many ways to organize for a major transit (construction) project and that there is a great variety of viable management structures, but it seemed that chances for success were best where the executing property had prepared a comprehensive project management plan, then resolved to follow it. Perhaps more important, a commitment or prior approval had been sought from UMTA as to the validity of the project management plan, and the property was allowed to proceed without detailed prior UMTA review or approval of all specific intermediate steps. Most important, however, an early overall UMTA funding commitment had been obtained that permitted some reasonable expectation of the rate of funding, perhaps by commitment

Jan 1, 1981

By J. W. Gunnett

Abstract. The Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (PL-95-87), Section 522, establishes requirements for state regulatory authorities to designate lands unsuitable for all or certain types of surface coal mining. Any party having an interest in an area that may be affected can petition for it to be designated unsuitable for mining. Section 522 could present major obstacles to the mining industry by typing up an area in an endless round of petitions. The program under development for Kentucky is examined and analyzed as an example for determining the hidden impacts of Section 522.

Jan 1, 1980

By Paul F. Saxton

Introduction As the world economies continue to face an increased demand for natural resources to support growth in the established and developing world, the western mining industry has expanded its operations and funding of mineral developments into new and relatively unexplored regions of the world. Mining companies worldwide, in order to grow in a global economy, are now actively exploring and developing mineral resources in the emerging markets of South and Central America and most recently have expanded activities throughout Asia. South East Asia Resources (S.E.A. Resources) has recognized the vast resource potential offered by countries such as China, India and Indonesia, Asia's main driving forces of economic growth and has made a commitment to be actively involved in the area. These countries rich in mineral resources, represent some of the highly prospective and underexplored regions on earth. Their vast potential has been underestimated because of political reasons and overlooked as Central and South America still continue to be the focus of exploration for many mining companies. Most of these Asian countries have faced a prolonged period of political unrest and it has not been until recently that they have begun to enjoy a relatively stable political climate which has encouraged foreign investment, growth and economic development. These countries are in need of capital to develop their infrastructure and market economies. Their wealth in resources is one of the best methods to achieve their goals. Gold is usually one of the first targets to be extracted from developing economies. Equivalent-sized gold projects tend to cost less to develop and require less supporting infrastructure than base metals. These projects are easier to finance and, most important of all, tend to give a quicker return on investment than that offered by base metals. They also provide the economy with precious foreign exchange, international investment and the technology required to build the country. Following is a graph representing the global re-allocation of the total capital investment on the twenty largest gold projects now under construction with the total for those under construction in 1990.

Jan 1, 1996