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By P. H. Brace

THE study of the relations between gases and metals is one of perennial interest to all who are connected with the production of high-grade metallurgical products. The data reported here are the outcome of work of which the object is to determine the effects of dissolved gases upon the properties of metals and to gain a more detailed knowledge of the reactions between gases and molten metals, particularly; iron, under definitely controlled conditions. We have attempted to reduce our margin of error by dealing with relatively large quantities of metal, from 4 to 13 lb. (2 to 6 kg.), and keeping the ratio of refractories to metal as small as practicable. The ingots produced are large enough to provide adequate material for making determinations of magnetic and other physical properties. In choosing the bell-jar type of furnace we were influenced by the results of considerable experimentation along the same general line which indicated that, for the scale or which we were to work, it was important to have the furnace structure independent of the vacuum enclosure. The use of a bell-jar surrounding the entire furnace accomplishes this and also gives great freedom of observation during operation and ready accessibility for the replacements which are necessary after each run. Our choice of analytical method was made in the light of the results secured by H. M. Ryder, who used a method similar in principle for the analysis of very small quantities of gas extracted from strips of metal heated electrically in high vacuum. We have presented some selected preliminary experimental data as being illustrative of the quantity and nature of the gases which occur in iron of different origins, but do not urge any hypothesis at this time.

Jan 1, 1928

By M. E. Wadsworth, R. D. Groves, B. W. Madsen

Experimental results obtained from large-scale (7 ton), long-term (500 days) leaching of low-tenor copper sulfide ores were interpreted by a geometric model involving the movement of a reaction zone through the ore fragments. The postulated leaching mechanism involved mixed kinetics and included diffusion of the reacting species through the host rock and a chemical reaction at the surface of the mineral particles. Ore properties which were considered were Ore particle size and shape, grade of ore, and mineral content. Excellent agreement between the mixed kinetic model and the laboratory leaching results was obtained when -1/2-in. ore particles were not included in the leach. Also, a satisfactory prediction of copper recovery from +1/2-in. ore with a different particle size distribution was made; however, it was necessary to modify the shape factor in the model. Prediction of copper recovery from an ore sample which included the -1/2-in. fine fraction and leaching for 460 days was 56.5%, and the recovery from leaching was 47.0%. The presence of fines caused solution channeling and a deficiency of oxygen which inhibited the leaching rate. Also, compaction of fines around coarser particles interfered with circulation around the ore particles, and bulk solution transport probably was a rate controlling factor.

Jan 1, 1976

By M. Perišic

Requirements concerning determination of geometric characteristics and estimate of reserves and grade may in various mineral deposits significantly differ and by no means can be completely envisaged. Therefore, program writing which would in advance meet all requirements is from a practical point of view impossible. Programming for each particular project is also unacceptable solution, due to many facts, among which is ever growing scope of work and the terms to be met. Therefore, conventional method of programming proved to be ineffective. The team of the Mining Institute experts came to the conclusion that the solution of facing problems lies in the idea of introducing specialized programs, instead of complex ones. Each of them represents a functional entirety. Procedure of complete mineral deposits computer processing is described by a problem-oriented programming language which was designed for that particular application. One or more than one specialized programs are called by one instruction so that the program in that language can have a few hundred time less instructions than an equivalent FORTRAN program. Besides description of the program system and programming language the paper also covers some aspects of its application in solving complex problems.

Jan 1, 1977

By P. R. Sheorey

Understanding of in situ rock mass behaviour has taken a step forward with the advent of the refined rock mass classifications of Wickham, Bieniawski and Barton et al. In this paper six case studies are given in brief showing how Barton's classification could be used in mining situations. The cases cover stability of roadway junctions under shallow covers, support pressure estimation in roadways in intact and failed rock conditions, determination of the safe unsupported span of a wide stope and estimating the stability of roadways in two contiguous seams standing 011 small pillars against puncture of the parting rock.

Jan 1, 1983

By K. Osseo-Asare

The thermodynamics of solid-aqueous solution equilibria up to 200°C In the systems Me-NH3 H2 0 (Me=Cu, Ni, Co) are summarized with predominance area diagrams generated with the DIAGRAM computer program. The implications of the diagrams to ammonia hydrometallurgy are discussed.

Jan 1, 1981

By William S. Dershowitz

INTRODUCTION Numerical methods commonly used in rock mechanics, such as finite element, displacement discontinuity, and boundary integral equation methods, offer solutions to problems which can be described by differential equations subject to boundary conditions. These numerical methods use approximations leading to solutions in terms of matrix algebra and numerical integration. Many rock mechanics problems which are beyond the scope of such approximations can be treated effectively by application of techniques developed in the field of artificial intelligence (AI). Among the possible applications are: site characterization (Duda, 1975), geological interpretation (Smith and Baker, 1983), solution of problems involving rock joint networks, and underground construction. Each of these applications utilize particular features of Al. Here we shall present results of AI applications which utilize primarily search and to lesser extent learning or pattern recognition. Specific examples presented are in the field of rock fracture network problems and underground construction. ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE Artificial intelligence techniques attempt to achieve human-like reasoning and learning capabilities. This reasoning capability is valuable in applications where repetition, complexity, or tediousness makes human-like intervention impractical. In rock mechanics this occurs, for example, in stochastic rock mass modeling applications where some complex decision-making is required for each of a large number of iterations.

Jan 1, 1984

By A. C. Fieldner

A FORMER paper1 described in detail various methods of calculating coal analyses to obtain the composition and calorific value of the pure coal substance-that is, of the coal free from its mineral matter. The paper included a table showing calorific values of pure coal, as calculated from float-and-sink portions, by means of the Parr formula for "unit coal" and by the customary moisture-free and ash-free formula. A modification of the Parr formula was proposed, based on the assumption that one-half the sulfur present in coal occurs as pyritic sulfur and one-half as organic sulfur. In the published discussion of the paper Cady gave a table of results on a large number of Illinois coals as obtained by the Parr formula and the proposed modification thereof. The results obtained by Cady indicate that the Parr formula applies better to Illinois coals than does the modified formula proposed by Fieldner and Selvig. The present paper gives results obtained by applying the modified Parr formula to the analyses of the float-and-sink portions of the coals shown in the former paper, and results obtained by applying the Parr formula, the modified Parr formula, and the simple moisture-free and ash-free formula to various coals of the United States ranging in sulfur content from less than 1 per cent to more than 4 per cent sulfur. A graphic method of estimating the calorific value of pure coal and determin-ing the relation of the coal ash to the mineral matter of coal, as proposed by Stansfield and Sutherland,2 was applied to a number of coals, and the results are given herein.

Jan 1, 1932

By H. A. Winne, B. R. Prentice

THE announcement of this World Conference on Mineral Resources briefly traced the development of the metals industries over the past 75 years The various phases were characterized as iron and steel for the railroad era, then copper and the electrical age, through alloy steels to the age of light metals in World War II, ending with the curtain rising on the atomic age at the end of the war The interests of mining and metallurgical industries in the atomic age may perhaps be divided broadly into three - groups (1) production of the special materials required by atomic-energy installations and processes, (2) use of atomic power in the mining or refining of materials, (3) use of radioactive isotopes and radiation in metal and chemical processes both for laboratory study and in the production of materials for use in any field In the production of special materials, the mining and metallurgical, scientific and industrial groups have already contributed much to the start of the atomic age The mining, refining and fabrication of the basic uranium to a degree of purity and form suitable for production of plutonium in the Hanford Engineering Works is just one example. The production of graphite for the Hanford piles, sufficiently free of neutron-absorbing impurities to allow a chain reaction with natural uranium, was a signal achievement These, together with many

Jan 1, 1947

By J. E. Campbell, H. E. Parkinson, Y. P. Chugh

Miner-bolters, which combine mining and bolting functions into a single machine, are being developed by the US Department of Energy to improve production and productivity in coal mining operations. The authors have been studying possible production gains from the use of the Joy automated miner-bolter (AMB) in mine development using the computer simulation model "UGMHS" developed by the Pennsylvania State University. In a recent paper (Chugh, Campbell, and Parkinson, 1979) the authors discussed justification for the development of miner- bolter machines, assumptions and analytical procedures used in computer simulation, cutting, and bolting cycle times for an AMB, and production potential of AMB in four and five entry mine development sections. The effects of available operating time, haulage capacity, bolt installation time, and flush and staggered entry layouts on production potential of AMB were also discussed. In all cases, the production potential of AMB was compared to a full face continuous miner and an independent dual-boom roof bolter operating in a similar mine layout. Present Study In this study, the production potential of the Joy AMB in three and six entry layouts is presented. A three entry mine layout represents development entries in a longwall panel. A six entry layout represents development of main and submain entries in longwall mine development. Flush and staggered entries were considered in both layouts. The assumptions and analytical procedures used in this study were similar to those in the earlier study and are not presented in this paper. Only the results of the studies are presented here.

Jan 1, 1984

By Lewis Delano

IT HAS been generally recognized that, owing to the extreme friability of, galena, fine grinding has a tendency to cause excessive sliming of the mineral, so operators of lead mills have attempted to avoid this condition by commencing concentration at as coarse sizes as any mineral is freed. Jigging has been the basis of the milling process, making a clean coarse concentrate and a large amount of tailing, which was considered sufficiently low-grade to be rejected. However, developments and improvements in concentration processes are everywhere changing the low-grade tailing of yesterday into material worth retreating today. Investigations of the work of the Hancock jig on the Bonne Terre ore- have shown that the best results to be expected will give a tailing assaying 0.75 per cent. lead; the average over all conditions and grades of ore will be between .0.80 and 0.90 per cent. By crushing the jig tailings in ball-mills and retreating by tables and flotation, a tailing of considerably lower grade can be made; the problem then becomes an economic one of increased crushing costs versus higher recovery. In considering the entire elimination of jigging, the increased smelting charges; due to a greater amount of slime galena will be counterbalanced by the lower operating cost, in-creased recovery, and the many advantages of a simpler flow sheet. In developing these problems in the Bonne Terre mill of the' St. Joseph Lead Co., a long series of tests has been carried out covering every stage of crushing and concentration, and a large number of possible flow sheets were considered and tried. Only the final results and a few comparisons will be given here. At the same time, a careful and detailed cost-keeping system has enabled us to compare milling costs with the various flow sheets, and to calculate the economics of the problem' with great accuracy. .

Jan 8, 1920

By Benjamin F. Merembeck

A mutispectral scanner (MSS) obtains remotely sensed data of the earth's surface in vector form, one vector element for each spectral sensing band of the MSS. Data generated by either airborne or orbiting MSS systems are organized in a lattice of scan lines and elements within scan lines. Each element, called a pixel, is represented by an observational vector and corresponds to a relatively small specific area on the ground. The total observations for a sensed scene frequently are in the millions and are composed of a number of populations, each representing a different land form category. Based on samples from the populations, the mean vectors, or spectral signatures, and the covariance matrices for the categories may be estimated. From these, an among category covariance matrix and a combined within category covariance matrix can be found. The total among category variance is the trace of the among category covariance matrix. Canonical analysis finds a linear transformation matrix such that the first transform variable accounts for the maximum possible part of the total among category variance. Similarly, the second transform variable, orthogonal to the first, accounts for the maximum possible part of the remainder of the total variance, and so on. Such transformation often results in over 95 percent of the total variance accounted for in the first three canonical variables, even though the initial number of spectral bands exceeded twenty. Transformation of bulk data into three canonical variates allows color map products to be developed by assigning each variable to a different basic color. Such color products are believed to be more useful for photo-interpretation than color products resulting from any combinations of three of the initial spectral bands.

Jan 1, 1977

By G. S. Scott, G. W. Jones

ECONOMIC waste caused by mine fires may become considerable,15 especially if a fire is allowed to spread or temporarily to get beyond control. It is important, therefore, to act promptly whenever a fire is suspected and to make every action count. To contribute toward its extinction effectively it is necessary to know at the earliest possible moment, and continuously thereafter, what is happening at the seat of the fire, which may be in a remote or inaccessible area, and also to recognize what may be expected as a result of any proposed combative measure. In combatting a fire the mining engineer and the chemist should cooperate, first deciding upon the course of action to be taken and then drawing upon the mining engineer's intimate knowledge of the physical structure of the fire area, the cost and time required to carry out proposed operations, and the probable efficiency with which these operations could be performed, and upon the chemist's knowledge for the results to be expected therefrom. After the initial steps to be taken have been decided, it devolves upon the mining engineer to see that they are carried out and upon the chemist to evaluate the results and to keep the mining engineer continuously informed in regard to a variety of matters-such as the composition and toxic or asphyxiating properties of the atmosphere in which the men may be working, whether the fire is increasing or decreasing in intensity and its probable temperature, the quantity of air leakage and the explosion hazards of the fire area. The purpose of this paper is to discuss what the chemist can and cannot contribute as a member of the fire-fighting personnel. The technical literature contains several hundred papers relating directly and indirectly to mine fires, and this fact alone is testimony to the complex nature of the phenomena involved in the birth, life, and final demise of a fire. A fire may be stopped (I) by preventing oxygen from reaching the coal or (2) by removing the conditions necessary for the rapid reaction of coal with oxygen; i.e., decreasing the temperature. All methods of prevention or control. necessarily must be based upon one or the other, or both, of these two principles. . The chemistry of a fire may be understood readily if the low-temperature oxidation of coal is considered as a starting point; then oxidation at higher temperatures (or combustion) ; and with these, the composition of the solid and gaseous products resulting from the oxidation or from the effects of the heat liberated. This discussion refers particularly to Pennsylvania anthracite, although much of the material applies equally well to coals of lower rank. OXIDATION OF COAL Oxidation of coal fundamentally is confined to the surface; that is, the rate at which oxygen penetrates into the interior of a solid block of coal is so slow that it may be ignored.6,16 Oxidation starts when a fresh surface is exposed, and the rate is

Jan 1, 1942

By G. H. Wilson

INTRODUCED in 1946 to serve a need in power- plant operation, closed-circuit TV has been used by well over 200 organizations in approximately 25 different industries. Known as industrial television, or simply ITV, it can be described as a private system wherein the television signal is restricted in distribution, usually by confinement within co-axial cable that directly connects the TV camera to one or several monitors, Figs. 1, 2. The picture is continuous and transmission is instantaneous, permit- ting an observer to see an operation that may be too distant, too inaccessible, or too dangerous to be viewed directly. Destructive testing or the machining of high explosives can now be conducted hundreds of feet away by personnel who still have close control through the eyes of the TV camera. It is also possible for one man to control operations formerly requiring the co-ordinated efforts of several workers. For example, at a large midwestern cement plant conveyance of limestone from primary crusher to raw mill and loading into five storage bins once necessitated the work of two men, one having little to do but prevent spilling of material by manually moving the tripper on the belt conveyor as occasion required. TV cameras mounted on the tripper now provide bin level indication to the conveyor operator at the crusher position so he is able to control the entire loading operation remotely, Fig. 3. By means of a switch, the picture from either camera is alternately available on a single viewer, or monitor, Fig. 4. Each camera is mounted on the tripper by means of a simple adjustable support and looks down into the bin, which is identified by the number of cross members on the vertical rod. Each associated power unit is located on a platform above the camera, Fig. 5. This centralized control by means of TV often has produced superior results, and in many instancés saving in operating costs has been sufficient to write off equipment costs within six months to a year.

Jan 7, 1954

By J. M. Vonfeld, V. D. Hanson, W. K. Heinlein

TWO overfeed drum-type separators using a suspension of magnetite in water as the separating medium have been installed in the Champion No. 1 preparation plant of the Pittsburgh Coal Co., Division of the Pittsburgh Consolidation Coal Company. A simplified flow diagram of the Champion No. 1 coarse coal circuit is shown in Fig. 1. A railroad car rotary dump, capable of handling 20 cars per hr, discharges the coal into a hopper. Coal is fed from the hopper of the rotary dump to a 60-in. belt conveyor by two reciprocating pan-type feeders. The belt conveyor feeds the run of mine coal onto the main raw coal screen. The first deck is fitted with 3 in. round hole perforated plate which removes the 3x0-in. coal. The second deck of the screen is equipped with 6-in. lip screens which separate the remaining coal into +6 in. and 6x3 in. The +6 in. coal is transferred to a shaking picking table and then discharged onto the loading boom. The 6x3-in. coal is fed to the No. 2 dense medium vessel for cleaning. The clean coal from this unit flows to a vibrating screen where the medium is removed and the coal sized into 6x4 in. and 4x3 in. The 6x4-in. coal is transferred to the loading booms and the 4x3-in. is conveyed to the clean coal classifying screens to remove degradation. The 3x0-in. raw coal is blended in a system composed of three storage bins having a total capacity of 400 tons. From these bins the coal is fed onto a 48-in. flight conveyor by three reciprocating feeders. This flight conveyor delivers the coal to the Rheo plant. The 3x0-in. coal is then cleaned in two 48-in. Rheolaveur launders each equipped with two Rheo boxes. The first set of boxes removes a primary refuse and the second set produces a middling product which is recirculated in the launders. The cleaned coal and water overflows from the primary launders to two sizing and dewatering shaker screens where the water and - 3/8-in. coal are removed for further cleaning in the Rheo fine coal plant. The 3x3/8-in. clean coal is combined with the 4x3-in. coal from the No. 2 vessel, sized into 4x2 in., 2x1 1/4 in., and 11/4x3/8 in., then sent to the loading booms. The 3x0-in. refuse from the primary launders is normally fed to the No. 1 dense medium circuit, but any portion or all of this material can, as an alternate, be processed in the Rheo rewash launder. The primary refuse when fed to the dense medium circuit is screened into 3/8x0 which is cleaned in the fine coal plant and 3x3/8 for cleaning in the No. 1 vessel. The clean coal from this vessel is passed over a vibrating drainage and rinse screen, then sluiced to the rewash sizing shaker where it is dewatered and sized for loading. The installation of a pilot plant separating vessel using a suspension of magnetite in water was pro-

Jan 1, 1952

By A. Wahab Khair, Nagendra P. Reddy

This paper attempts to evaluate the effectiveness of rock reinforcement on underground coal mine entries using analytical technique. A two dimensional finite element analysis has been carried out to see the difference in the 4-entry stability with and without rock reinforcement. A total of eight models with different thicknesses of the immediate roof layer, different material properties, and different anchorage horizons of the bolts were considered in the analysis to see how the safety factors of these entries can be improved.

Jan 1, 1983

By Roy L. Zuber

Identification and analysis of mining hazards involves the correlation of accident, injury and illness information from all segments of the mining industry. It would not be feasible to process the volume of data involved without substantial reliance upon a computerized information system similar to that maintained by the Health and Safety Analysis Center. Numerous statistical programs are applied to the computerized accident-injury-illness data base to identify those mining tasks and associated activities which are responsible for most of the injuries and occupational illnesses. These programs are used to flag those mining tasks or conditions at specific mines or segments of the mining industry where either a significant increase in the injury/illness trend has been reported or where the number of injuries/illnesses related to specific mining tasks or conditions are high. Upon identification of those mining hazards which warrant further analysis, a computerized search of the coded accident data is performed to correlate the predominant categories by cause of injury or illness, source of injury, nature of injury, type of accident, etc. From this correlation, those factors most common to the conditions responsible for the hazard may be identified. Based upon analyses of this form, recommendations are made regarding the appropriate engineering, training, and/or operational improvements necessary to alleviate the hazard. In addition to mining hazard analysis, the computerized data base also has application in the area of optimum resource allocation. Computer programs have been developed to assist management in allocating resources based upon organizational requirements and historical accident - injury trends.

Jan 1, 1983

By William J. Douglas, Jack T. Urie, Randall D. Metz

Production and financial planning for a new underground mine requires the coordination of equipment and coal reserves in a manner which assures that resources are utilized efficiently in achieving the target mine production. It is necessary to establish the productions which are attainable at the section level during different mining operations (advance, retreat, development) and under different mining conditions (roof, seam height, resource quality). It is also necessary to identify the interactions between production plans and ventilation equipment So that operations can be carried out without disruptions caused by inadequate ventilation. A set of computer models has been applied in planning a number of new coal, oil shale, and phosphate mines. A critical path production model, CPMINE, was used to determine face production levels for different cut sequences and seam heights, taking into account machine performance characteristics and operational availabilities under these varying conditions. The results formed a production data base for use in the mine sequencing model, MPLAN. This model processes each of the segments of a user-defined mine sequence network (strategy tree) taking into account the equipment available for mining operations and the previously determined production scheme devised by the mining engineer. Mine ventilation was analyzed with an expanded version of the Penn State MVS Ventilation model to determine fan and ventilation shaft requirements for supporting alternative production strategies. The MCOM mine cost analysis model has been applied to evaluate the economic performance of mining alternatives. The results of these studies were used to make decisions relating to equipment selection and acquisition schedules for both room-and-pillar and longwall mining systems. The approach and procedures which were used during these studies are described.

Jan 1, 1983

By J. Donald Graham, John G. Kuhn

The goal of any development drilling program is the drilling of the exact number of holes necessary to adequately determine grade and dimensions of an ore body, no more and no less. Any technique which eliminates unnecessary drilling costs produces beneficial results, both to the company and to the person who can claim the savings. The method for controlling development drilling programs to be described was developed during the latter part of a major development drilling project at the Christmas mine of Inspiration Consolidated Copper Co. in Gila County, Arizona. It was used to test the need for drilling individual holes but could be expanded to control an entire project. Application of this method involves an evaluation of geological conditions present and a good bit of common sense. Projects involving large disseminated, rather homogeneous ore bodies of the porphyry-copper type would be the most likely candidates for application of the technique. Discontinuous ore bodies would not be amenable. The method is based on the measurement of the linear correlation between the spatial distribution of two sets

Jan 1, 1973

By A. L. Labbe

IT Is well known that the Cottrell process is more easily applied to certain kinds of smoke than to others. The successful Cottrell installations are those treating smokes that carry dust of a mechanical nature; also smoke carrying fume dust that contains an excess of sulfuric acid over that required to combine with the oxides in the dust. But up to the present time the process has not reached a satisfactory economical basis of operation, in the treatment of smoke' containing basic dust. It is not impossible to make a smoke containing basic dust suitable for the process by. humidifying or acidifying. A number of Cottrell plants use these two methods of conditioning smoke previous to Cottrell treatment, which are quite successful, but the use of either results in expensive operation and a substantial loss in metals.. For these reasons, I would say that the baghouse process has not been replaced by the Cottrell process in the treatment of smelter basic smoke. Basic smoke must be given a. preliminary conditioning treatment because the dust is not a conductor of electricity; the water or acid treatment imparts some conductivity to the dust.. The rate at which dust is recovered depends on the proportional amount of power transmitted to the, treater and on the rate at which the smoke passes through; therefore to maintain a maximum constant amount of power across the electrodes of the treater, the same degree of conductivity should prevail, at all times between the surface of the electrodes. For all practical purposes, in the application of this process to lead and copper-smelter smoke, we can consider that the conductivity of the gases is a .constant. The variations in temperature of the smoke have a much greater effect on the solids than on the gases; the only instance where the temperature of the gases plays an important part in the process is at plants using humidifying: The temperature does not affect the conductivity of mechanical dust because such dust has natural conductive properties. However, in the case of smoke carrying acid-fume dust, where the conductivity is imparted to the dust particles by coming into contact with the acid fumes, the temperature is of importance.

Jan 8, 1925

By Jan M. Mutmansky, Y. J. Wang

Mine ventilation analysis is an engineering discipline that can be considered a branch of the body of science known as network analysis. Likewise, the group of engineering procedures known as the critical- path method (CPM) is considered a branch of network analysis. It is therefore not surprising that mine ventilation network analysis and CPM have many similarities. These similarities are useful in analyzing several types of mine ventilation problems and will be utilized in this paper. The analogy between the free split in a ventilation circuit and the critical path in a scheduling network has been recognized by Owili-Eger (1973). While this was recognized as a property of a general ventilation network, many important applications to controlled- splitting problems also exist. The mathematical procedures necessary to apply CPM and network methods have previously been presented (Wang, 1981; Wang, 1982). This paper will illustrate the implementation of these methods by application to mine ventilation networks.

Jan 1, 1982