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By Laurance L. Oden

The Bureau of Mines is developing melting data for binary combinations of the alkaline earth fluorides and yttria to facilitate the formulation of slag compositions. The present report deals with the CaF2-Y203 system for which solidus and liquidus temperatures and solid solubilities were determined. The information is presented as the phase diagram. All specimen compositions were blended from high-purity materials and encapsulated in Mo or Pt20Rh prior toheat treatment. Liquidus temperatures were determined by ceramographic examination of heat-treated and quenched specimens. Solidus temperatures were determined by differential thermal analysis and by electron microprobe analysis of quenched specimens. Terminal solid solubilities were derived by parametric methods. The peritectic system was found to be pseudobinary due to the formation of yttrium oxyfluoride at temperatures near the liquidus. The peritectic point occurs at 7 mole pct Y203 and 1,438° ± 5°C. The terminal solid solubility of Y203 in CaF2 decreases from 7 mole pct at 1,438° C to 1 mole pct at 1,100° C, and the solubility of CaF2 in Y203 decreases from 9.5 to 7 mole pct over the same temperature interval.

Jan 1, 1970

Advances in Coarse Particle Recovery - Fluidised-Bed Flotation

Sep 13, 2010

Because of complex geological environments, a number of coal reserves occur in inclined or dipping coal seams in certain parts of the world. Longwall top coal caving using split-level a singleentry panel system (SSPS) has been widely used for extracting such coal seams with large thicknesses (greater than 6 m) in China because SSPS can reduce or mitigate problems of coal outbursts, gate road deformations, overturning of shields, downhill sliding of shearer and armored face conveyor (AFC), and so forth, during mining of inclined coal seams. Depth of yield is the range of yield coal from the rib of the pillar to the boundaries where yield ends. It plays a significant role in maintaining the gate pillar stability. This paper presents a study on the stability of an unconventional water-obstruction gate pillar (UWGP) formed by SSPS to prevent water inrush in mining of an inclined thick coal seam in a coal mine in China. As the shape of this pillar is non-cuboidal, nonparallelepiped, a conventional empirical or analytical method is not applicable for studying its stability.

Jan 7, 2020

By Alyson Morley

The mining sector in Canada is facing significant challenges to develop a competent workforce, including increased technical and logistical operational demands, and the imperative to promote local content. There is an increasingly unpredictable labour pool which can be aging, or have skill shortages, or non-aligned skills. As globalisation continues, companies also require efficiencies during operation across various locations. AMEC has met these challenges in the global oil and gas sector by developing our Capability Development and Competence Assurance (CDCA) program. CDCA is applicable across all process industries, including mining. CDCA supports simultaneous consistency and flexibility by defining competence at task level, with corresponding best practice blended training programs, and evaluation criteria and processes. CDCA then defines role profiles mapped to local task definition. When combined with web-based technology, this granularity allows us to manage high volume workforces, while retaining individual learning plans and progression, aiding job satisfaction, and employee retention.

May 1, 2007

By R. K. Koch

The vapor pressures of liquid titanium and liquid platinum were studied under the Bureau of Mines program for the determination of thermochemical data on the transition elements. Beating was done in a 2-kw electron-beam furnace with a water-cooled copper crucible to contain the melt. Temperature was measured with a disappearing-filament brightness pyrometer. The vapor pressure data for liquid titanium in the range 2,008° to 2,379° K are represented by the least-squares derived equation [log p (atm) = 6.268 - 22, T] Two series of determinations were made on liquid platinum. Results of the first series are expressed by the least-squares derived equation [log p (atm) = 8.240 - 30,460T] for the range 2,0860 to 2,4200 K. Results of the second series are expressed by the least-squares derived equation [log p (atm) = 7.795 - 29,580 T] in the range 2,045° to 2,442° K. Third-law evaluations of each series gave mean standard heats of sublimation of 112.4 kcal/mole, 133.3 kcal/mole, and 133.8 kcal/mole for titanium first series on platinum, and second series on platinum, respectively. Second-law heats of sublimation and equations for heats, free energies, and entropies of vaporization were obtained from sigma plots of each data set.

Jan 1, 1969

By Richard L. Rains

The Bureau of Mines made a study of mines and prospects of the Benton Range RARE II area (No. 5056), Mono County, California in October and November 1980. The study area is west of Owens Valley and 30 mi (40 km) north of Bishop, California. The mineral deposits were evaluated by examination of mines, prospects, and mining claims by the Bureau of Mines. Geological, geochemical, and geophysical studies were conducted by the Geological Survey. The principal mineral commodities of the Benton Range RARE II area are gold and silver but tungsten deposits may also extend into the area. Properties with resources are listed in table 1; their locations are shown on figure 1.

Jan 1, 1982

By Michael Stuart Parsons

The haulage cycle is the sequence which a haulage vehicle must first arrive at the loading area, then turn around and reverse into position. Once it is loaded, the vehicle leaves and travels to the unloading area, where again it must turn around and back up to unload. The cycle is repeated over and over again. The Vector Neutral truck is a rubbertired, self-propelled hauling vehicle designed such that it eliminates the requirement to turn around and back-up to either load or unload. Vector Neutral Truck Cycle: 1.) Travel from the load station to the dump station. 2.) Stop and dump load. 3.) Travel from the dump station to the load station. 4.) Stop and load. The Advantage is in the Difference: 1.) Shorter distance traveled. 2.) Fewer brake and steering actuations. 3.) Easier to automate. 4.) Easier to adapt for remote control operation.

May 1, 2003

By Gordon E. Agar, Brian Lyons, Gregory H. Styles, William B. Kipkie

"Rock rejection during the flotation of a copper-nickel ore was improved by adding carboxymethyl cellulose to both a rougher and cleaner flotation stage. The selection of the rock depressant was based on laboratory rates studies. Plant operating results are presented which confirm the laboratory selection of two particular brands of carboxymethyl cellulose.The rock assay of the concentrate was reduced from more than 40% to less than 15%.IntroductionThe traditional method of selecting flotation reagents relied upon batch bench scale tests, conducted under arbitrary conditions, to identify the effect of the reagent under examination. Too often these were ""one-off"" tests with little or no regard paid to the reproducibility of the results. Sophisticated researchers used statistical methods to design and evaluate the experiments but they were still obliged to rely on the arbitrary and often unreliable batch tests to generate the numbers that were analyzed statistically. An interesting side-effect of the enhanced sophistication of the statistical analysis was often that no significant effects would be uncovered in a series of experiments that would have generated many positive conclusions and much further experimentation if the same results had been evaluated by the traditional method.In the recent past, at least two groups of researchers a have directed their attention to the reliability of the batch experiments with a view toward improving the reproducibility of the test data. In this work the best of the improvements advocated by both of these groups have been adopted in order to generate kinetic data from batch tests that are as reproducible as possible.The objective of the work was to reduce the rock content of a bulk sulphide concentrate produced at Inco's Shebandowan mill. During 1982 the Shebandowan concentrate analyzed 3.5% Cu, 7.4010 Ni, 25% pyrrhotite and more than 40% rock, which resulted in an MgO content of 10.4%. Besides the expense of shipping all of this rock to Sudbury, the rock also contributed to the poor filterability of the concentrate. On favourable occasions the moisture content of the filter cake was slightly over 20% by weight. The magnesia content of the concentrate was deleterious to the reverberatory furnaces used by Inco for smelting nickel concentrate because the slag viscosity increased as the magnesia content increased, and the nickel lost in the slag went up."

Jan 1, 1987

By Joseph L. Ritchey

The Trail Lake RARE II area comprises 1,300 acres (526 ha) in Lassen and Plumas Counties, California, adjacent to the Caribou wilderness. No mining claims, prospects, or quarries are reported within the study areas, and no evidence of potential mineral deposits was found during a field reconnaissance. Quaternary basaltic lava flows uniformly underlie the area. INTRODUCTION The Trail Lake (No. B5-095) RARE II further planning area occupies 1,300 acres (526 ha) adjacent to the Caribou Wilderness in Lassen and Plumas Counties, California. Susanville is about 30 mi (50 km) east and Chester is about 17 mi (27 km) south of the study area. Access from State Highways 44 and 36 is provided by well-maintained gravel roads.

Jan 1, 1981

By L. du Preez, J. D. Steenkamp

This paper introduces the concept of clean steel production from a pyrometallurgist’s perspective to the broader metallurgical community. A simplistic overview of the steelmaking process from iron ore to car body manufacturing is followed by an introduction to the South African steel industry and the technologies that it utilizes. The process is illustrated by an overview of the flow sheet and technologies for the production of clean steel at Saldanha Steel, South Africa.

Jan 1, 2015

By Monger N. R

Factors leading to the decision to use Joy Continuous Miners for pillar extraction in the Burwood Colliery are outlined. A detailed description is given of the Joy 1-CM-2 Continuous Miner, including the power supply to the machine, and the method of cutting coalfrom a face. Modifications found necessary in practice are dealt with.The Joy 10 S.C. shuttle car used in conjunction with the Miner, and alterations made to this unit, are then described, together with Ancillary units for the whole installation such as transformers, motor generator set, air compressor,_ cables for power supply and water supply for dust suppression.Special arrangements were necessary to transport the Miner and Shuttle Cars through the tunnel to the Victoria Tunnel seam, and the method of overcoming the transport difficulties is discussed. Manning of the Continuous Miner unit, and final preparation andsubsequent working of the pillars is outlined. Special attention must be given to maintenance of the machines.It is concluded that the combination of Joy Continuous Miner and Shuttle Car is an excellent method for removing pillars in the Burwood Colliery.INTRODUCTIONThis paper deals with the Burwood Colliery in the RH.P. Group in which some units are engaged in the mechanical extraction of pillars with Joy Continuous Miners.In 1941, an amendment to the Coal Mines Regulation Act of N.S.W. forbade the extraction of pillars by mechanical means unless with the express permission of the Minister for Mines. As this permission was not forthcoming, no mechanical extraction of pillars took place in Australia until 1954 As it was doubtful during most of this period whether mechanical extraction would ever come about, coal generally was won with a view to maximum extraction in the first workings, thus giving rise to centre gannon bord panels and 45° angle cut throughs as shown in Fig. 1.

Jan 1, 1957

By W. G. Pariseau

A crown pillar cave occurred at the Ropes Mine in December, 1987, that resulted in closure of the mine. Production was resumed soon afterwards with the formulation of a rock mechanics plan designed to address several issues of safety and stability. The plan proved to be successful and shows what can be accomplished in the realm of applied rock mechanics where a cooperative atmosphere exists.

Jan 1, 1989

By Clyde Sitterud

Presentation Agenda ?Global Mining Tire Demand ?What is driving it? ?Latest Situation ?How long it will last? ?Michelin?s Response to Increase Supply ?New plant ?Additional presses ?Recommendations for Mining Users ?Treat tires as your major assets ?Areas of attention that will produce immediate results

Jan 1, 2005

By R. Newman

An inexpensive slow-speed data acquisition system has been adapted to digitally record multiple parameters simultaneously at intervals of 15 seconds. The system was built for use with standard soils testing equipment to automatically record load and displacement parameters at predetermined instants in time. Simultaneous readout is achieved by the use of special signal conditioner and sample-and-hold circuits which read the multiple signals simultaneously and hold them until the slow acting system can print out. Three channels of a 10-channel system have been converted and found to operate successfully during a series of direct shear tests. A unique feature of the system, which significantly reduced its cost, is the power supply units. Dummy circuits are used to maintain a constant power demand during sampling) thus eliminating the need for a costly power supply with rapid response characteristics. The entire system, having an overall accuracy of 0.25 percent, was put in operation for a cost under $2,500.

Jan 1, 1970

By Eric E. Cather

A mineral survey of the Fisher Gulch RARE II area (A5299), Trinity County, California was conducted by the U.S. Bureau of Mines and U.S. Geological Survey. The Bureau of Mines was responsible for detailed examination of mines, prospects, and mineralized zones; the Geological Survey conducted geological, geochemical, and geophysical studies of the area. The area is underlain by the Salmon Hornblende Schist. Tonalite stocks 1.5 mi (2.8 km) to the east and northeast of the area intrude the schist and are closely associated with the nearby nines (Cox, 1967). The mines have quartz veins containing sulfides and gold in shears trending east to north past in the schist and tonalite (Hotz, 1972). Strewn and terrace gravel s occupy most of the drainages, many have yielded substantial quantities of gold.

Jan 1, 1981

By M. Prats

Most of the information available on the heat efficiency of hot fluid injection processes, both water and steam, has been obtained from calculated temperature distributions in the pay zone and adjacent formations. The usual approach has been to write the heat balance equations in terms of the temperatures, and then to introduce whatever simplifications are necessary to help obtain an analytical or a numerical solution. In either case, the assumption has often been made that the vertical thermal conductivity in the flooded interval is infinite, so that the temperatures within the flooded interval are then independent of vertical position. Because it was first made by Lauwerier,l and has been used extensively since, this assumption will be referred to as the Lauwerier assumption. Excellent reviews of the literature on the heat efficiency of hot fluid injection processes have been given by Spillette,2 Flock et al.,3 and Ramney.4 Of course, the most significant contributions take into account the effect of a finite vertical thermal conductivity on the vertical temperature profile. The most general analytic expression for the heat efficiency of a hot fluid injection process is that of Antimirov5 who considers injection of a heated incompressible fluid into a reservoir through an arbitrary number of wells. The rate of heat injection into the reservoir, as well as the injection temperature, is an arbitrary function of time. The geometry of the horizontal flow is arbitrary, although the reservoir is considered to be of uniform thickness and properties and to be of infinite areal extent. Heat transfer within the reservoir is by horizontal convection and conduc- tion, and by vertical conduction. In the formations adjacent to the flooded interval, heat transfer is by conduction in any direction. Thus, the available expression for the heat efficiency due to hot water injection has been developed for rather general conditions. This degree of applicability has not been obtained for other thermal recovery processes. By making the Lauwerier assumption we have been able to obtain expressions for the heat efficiency that are essentially independent of the thermal recovery process, be it steam, hot-water, or underground combustion. Clearly, then, the approach followed here is more restrictive than that of Antimirov5 in that it uses the Lauwerier assumption. At the same time less restrictive assumptions are made about the horizontal heat transfer mechanisms, either in the flooded interval or in the formations adjacent to it. The main difference between our approach and that of other investigators is that the heat balance in the pay zone is expressed for the pay zone as a whole rather than for a volume element within it. The Lauwerier assumption is introduced after the problem is developed along these lines as far as possible. The details of the development of the heat efficiency are given in the Appendix, while the main features of the model are discussed in the next section. Results and their implications are discussed later in a separate section. The Model Certain assumptions have been made to determine

Jan 1, 1970

By Karl A. Bauer, Cornelis Bezemer

The deposition of calcium carbonate scale on surface and subsurface production equipment creates an operation problem in many oil fields. The formation water in which the carbonate-scale-forming components are initially dissolved becomes supersaturated with calcium carbonate as a result of the drop in pressure during production. The continuous flow of a supersaturated solution through the production equipment results in the growth of a dense layer of calcium-carbonate crystals. For a scale layer to be built up, the supersaturated formation water should contact the walls of the production equipment. The tendency for scale to be deposited, therefore, will be low, if the crude has a low water cut and if the water is finely dispersed in the oil. A scale problem will occur, if at a high water cut part of the water is present as free water. The rate of scale deposition will then be approximately proportional to the rate of free water production. Depending upon where the formation water becomes supersaturated, scale may be deposited in the flow line only, in both flow line and tubing, and in some cases even in the perforations and in the formation near the wellbore. In the South Sumatran fields (Indonesia) the main difficulties encountered due to the deposition of calcium-carbonate scale have been restriction of flow through tubings and flow lines, wear and abrasion of plungers and liners, and stuck plungers or wellhead valves. So far, the only methods of combating the *Presently associated with Brunei Shell Petroleum Co., Ltd.. Seria. scale problem have been routine acidizing and additional well pulling. As for the pumping wells, it was estimated that some 50 percent of the total well-pulling effort was directly attributable to scale deposition. The most promising alternative was to prevent the deposition of calcium carbonate scale by means of chemicals. Inorganic polyphosphates such as sodium hexametaphosphate and trisodium polyphosphate are known to retard the formation of scale by the "threshold action". They are adsorbed on specific faces of the crystal nuclei and thus prevent crystal growth, thereby stabilizing supersaturation. Polyphosphates are effective at very low concentrations ( a few ppm), and far less than stoichiometric quantities are required to keep the scaling ions in solution. Recent investigations on barium sulfate scale1 have confirmed this mechanism. The types of polyphosphate mentioned can be applied as concentrated aqueous solutions either squeezed into the formation, lubricated down the annulus or injected via macaroni string. Several squeeze jobs with polyphosphate solutions have been carried out in the South Sumatran fields, however, with disappointing results. Lubrication down the annulus and injection through a macaroni string were not considered attractive in this area because of the kind of equipment and the degree of supervision these techniques require. Polyphosphates are also available in a granular, glassy form, which, in contrast with the readily soluble types already mentioned, show an extremely low

Jan 1, 1970

By Mehmet Guney

At the Armatcuk mine in Turkey, various modifications of sublevel methods have been tried during the last decade in an effort to eliminate gob fires, dangers from roof falls, and surface subsidence, and also to increase extraction efficiency. From the experience thus gained, it was decided that the most likely system to give maximum benefits, considering the existing geological conditions and coa1-seam characteristics, was hydraulic stowing. This paper examines trends in the working techniques of hydraulic stowing and discusses the favorable results and technical problems that the method produced at Armutcuk. The Armutcuk mine, a subsidiary of Eregli Coal Mines (EKI), produces 1300 tons of run-of-mine coal daily from thick (about 10-90 ft) and highly dipping (about 50-90°) coal seams. The coal is highly volatile with good coking properties that make it highly suitable for industrial use. Most of this coal is used in the iron and steel industry at Eregli on the Black Sea coast. Complete recovery of the coal is of vital importance to industrial development and progress. Initial coal extraction was carried out by means of a sublevel mining system modified to accommodate local geological conditions and coal seam characteristics. This method is similar to that employed in metalliferous mines. Several problems arose from the application of the method, one of them being the prevalence of gob fires which caused periodic shutdowns in some sections. To achieve maximum coal extraction with minimum dilution, to eliminate gob fires and surface subsidence, and to reduce fatal accident rates, a decision was taken to change from this method to a hydraulic stowing system. The pres- ence of large deposits of conglomerate and sandstone on the surface contributed to the decision to employ this new method. Although hydraulic stowing practices have been carried out in America and Germany, Upper Silesia may, so far as coal is concerned, be considered the birthplace of the method. Here the process was adapted to thick coal seams on a large scale to reduce dangers from gob fires and damage from surface subsidence. Today, the mining system is not only widely used in the coal mines of France, the Saar, India and Poland, but has also been successfully applied to the iron ore and potassium salt mines in Russia and Germany. LOCATION AND HISTORY The Kandilli-Armutcuk coal field, the most western outcrop of the North Anatolian coal basin, extends for five miles along the Black Sea coast (Fig. 1). The Armutcuk Mine is situated on the southern boundary of the coal field about 40 miles from Zonguldak and about 12 miles from Eregli. The history of coal mining in the North Anatolian coal basin goes back more than a century. Mining commenced on a small scale in the Kandilli-Armutcuk coal field in the late 1880's, and from this time until nationalization in 1940 the mines were operated by private Turkish and foreign interests. In 1940, Eregli Coal Mines was established to takeover the management of these enterprises. The Armutcuk Mine was developed for the first time in the mid-1940's. Since then it has been in continuous production and it now produces an annual 440,000-ton run-of-mine output from which 320.000 tons of salable coal is obtained. MINE GEOLOGY The carboniferous inlier of the Kandilli-Armutcuk coal field crops out over an area about three miles long and one mile wide. The major part of the inlier consists of the Namurian formation with only a relatively small area of Westfalian-A visible on the surface (Fig. 2). The Namurian formation, which has no exploitable coal seams in the Armutcuk Mine, consists mostly of arkose sandstones and black shales often having

Jan 1, 1969

By Poul Hansen

"In mid-I986, a world-class mining enterprise was created in British Columbia, bringing together the copper mining operations of Lornex Mining Corporation and Cominco into a new entity, Highland Valley Copper. This paper will focus on the background and rationalef or the formation of this partnership, the resulting operating changes and the productivity and cost benefits expected.IntroductionSince the deterioration of the world copper industry in 1981, the future of the Lomex and Cominco mines in the Highland Valley of British Columbia looked increasingly precarious. Despite the expansion of the Lomex mill complex in 1981 to one of the world's most cost-efficient copper and molybdenum concentrators, persistent low metal prices had made the remainder of the ore in the Lomex orebody marginally economic and had significantly foreshortened the expected life of the operation.Cominco had acquired the Bethlehem Copper assets in order to consolidate its ownership of the Valley orebody, and was feeding the Bethlehem concentrator with ore from the Valley orebody. In spite of the high grade and free-milling character of the Valley ore, profitability of the Cominco operation was severely restricted because of the limited capacity of the Bethlehem concentrator and its location high on the hillside above the orebody."

Jan 1, 1987

By James A. Pendleton

In response to Public Law 95-87 (SMCRA), Colorado promulgated regulations governing the mining of Coal. These regulations require the prediction, monitoring and mitigation of "material damage" caused by subsidence. All permitted underground coal mines within Colorado have approved subsidence programs. Preliminary monitoring results indicate the subsidence mechanical predictions have been sufficiently accurate to preclude material subsidence damage. The State of Colorado has developed a practical approach to regulating subsidence, which stresses monitoring verification of predicted subsidence phenomena. However, shortcomings exist in our ability to precisely predict the secondary consequences of subsidence, including effects to structures, the hydrologic balance and the environment. Lack of accuracy in predicting these secondary consequences results in uncertainty, necessitating conservatism in permitting. To avoid increasingly stringent permit restrictions, future research should emphasize the secondary consequences of subsidence.

Jan 1, 1986