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By J. F. Peterman, M. C. Roberts

The success of any industrial mineral project requires an accurate forecast of the demand fir the material as well as accurate projections of costs and prices. This paper develops a general method of predicting mineral requirements and applies it to the case of graphite. The basic method is to explain graphite consumption in each of its major uses by the output and manufacturing technology of the using industry. Once these underlying factors are determined, they can he projected to establish future requirements. This forecast is critical to the evaluation of a new source of supply, such as the graphite resources of Upper Michigan.

Jan 1, 1990

By Robert L. Russell

Production at Freeport Indonesia's Ertsberg open pit copper-gold mine started in 1972 at a rate of 7.5 kt/d (8270 stpd). Mill throughput remained at that rate for several years until the discovery of the Ertsberg East (GBT) ore body. This discovery prompted three succes¬sive expansion stages from 1981 to 1988 that boosted production to 20 kt/d (22,000 stpd). In 1988, the discovery of the huge Grasberg porphyry copper deposit launched an era of much larger expansions. The first of these was the installation of a fourth primary mill in 1989 that increased throughput to 32 kt/d (35,270 stpd). That was followed by an expansion of the crushing and screening plant and in 1991 the addition of a new south concentrator to bring production to 57 kt/d (62,830 stpd). The addition of a primary ball mill and the changeout of the original Denver flotation cells in 1993 brought production to its current level of 66 kt/d (72,750 stpd).

Jan 1, 1994

By Yasushi Ishikawa

The fact that the degree of granulation and the state of granulated particles of sinter raw mixtures are the influential factors in ensuring coke combustibility and permeability during sintering has been clarified. Based on this knowledge, Nippon Steel developed the divided coke-addition process and the technology to utilize binder, and applied them on a commercial scale. Productivity and sinter quality are thereby greatly improved with a significant reduction in fuel consumption.

Jan 1, 1977

The Ardlethan tin concentrator had dete riorated considerably in metallurgical per- formance, maintenance and plant availability. This problem was compounded by low tin prices and International Tin Council quotas. Mid- 1976 figures were: throughput - 1300 tonnes per day, availability 83% and metal recovery 537. Major problems existed throughout the circuit from crushing to tailings disposal and with morale, staffing, and housekeeping. With the lifting of the quotas in June 1976, management provided funds to implement a major rehabilitation programme and some fifteen major projects, at a cost of about $1.3 million have been completed to date. The change in performance has been dram- atic, and end of 1977 performance figures are: throughput - 1700 tonnes per day, availability 90% and metal recovery 65%.

Jan 1, 1978

By Francis L. Vinton

THE eccentric theodolite I exhibit is one constructed by the Stack-poles of New York, from drawings, considerably modified, of Combes's theodolite. The telescope is on one side of the horizontal limb, and the vertical circle is opposite to the telescope; thus they nearly balance each other, making already the construction lighter than in the instrument of Combes, where the telescope and vertical circle are together on the same side, and are both balanced by a considerable weight. The instrument stands upon three levelling screws or feet, an improvement upon the old or general style of mounting a transit on four feet-for indeed the instrument is easier levelled, and, more-over, stands more stable on three than on four points of support. The general advantage of an eccentric theodolite is evident, namely, that it can measure any and all vertical angles, from 0 to 360, without being interfered with by the horizontal limb as is the transit; besides this advantage, it needs no preparatory adjustment or correction for eccentricity ; on the other hand, however, that correction

Jan 1, 1873

By M. J. Humenick, K. Garwacka

A laboratory experimental research project was conducted to evaluate the use of chlorine for the oxidative destruction of residual ammonia that may remain in ground water after in-situ uranium solution mining operations. The work tested the idea of injecting high strength calcium hypochlorite solution into the mining zone to convert ammonia to nitrogen gas as a final cleanup process for ammonia removal from the ground water system. This paper details ammonia removal efficiency as a function of chlorine dose, reactant, and product material balances, and how the concept may be used as a final ground water restoration process.

Jan 1, 1985

By G. A. Doyle

The quality of water in mine pit lakes depends in part on the physical limnology, including such factors as thermal and chemical stratification, turnover and the development of anoxic conditions with depth. Limnologic data collected from four existing pit lakes in Montana and Saskatchewan indicate that pit lakes develop a thermocline (temperature stratification) in the upper 10 to 30 m (33 to 100 ft) of the water column. Two o f the pit lakes, 26- and 55-m (85 and 180 ft) deep, undergo seasonal turnover of the entire water column, whereas two deeper, pit lakes, 110 and 240-m (360- to 790 ft) deep, undergo seasonal turnover of only the upper portion of the water column. In the deeper lakes, seasonal mixing does not extend through the entire water column, and a distinct chemocline develops with depth.

Jan 1, 1997

By G. F. Trainor

At the Canadian Natural Resources Limited (CNRL) Horizon Mine they use Wenco International Mining Systems Ltd (Wenco) Fleet Management System to monitor and control their production fleet with the goal of increasing operator productivity and safety, and raising dispatcher awareness and control. Amongst the broad productivity goals CNRL wanted to achieve with help from the system was a very specific need to blend ore at the truck level. CNRL uses 25m x 25m block geological model information to represent their complex ore body. Wenco's High Precision GPS application, BenchManager provides precise graphical actual-vs-design operator feedback and system integration. Together the two companies advanced the BenchManager product to meet CNRL's needs by using live camera feeds to compare activity with data collection that ultimately lead to changes in the algorithm to include enhanced GPS indicators and the support of a GLONASS assisted solution generating distance and bearing information.

May 1, 2011

By R. W. Newcomb

THE constancy of calibration, and to a great extent the life, of a thermoelement is dependent on the suitability of the primary protecting tube in which the wires are mounted, particularly when used at high temperatures. An ideal thermocouple protecting tube would be com-posed of materials that would not contaminate the thermoelement wires contained in it-one that would remain absolutely gas-tight ,it all temperatures of usage, that will not be attacked by gases, or other surrounding agencies, that is not destroyed by heat, that withstands sudden and extreme temperature changes, that affords a high degree of mechanical protection and does not deform at high temperatures, that is a good heat conductor and obtainable in small diameters so as to keep down lag factors. It has not yet been possible to produce tubes of any known mate-rials that will meet all of these conditions. In selecting protecting tubes, therefore, one should be chosen the characteristics of which best fit it to the particular conditions of usage. Frequently conditions are such that two tubes have to be used, a primary gas-tight protecting tube inside of a secondary protecting tube, because certain agencies will attack the primary gas-tight tube unless it is guarded by the outside tube.

Jan 9, 1919

The Library of the above-named Societies is open from 9 A. M. to 10 P. M. except on holidays. It contains about 70,000 volumes and 90,000 pamphlets, including sets of technical periodicals and publications of scientific and technical societies. Members of the Institute, with few exceptions are forced to spend a portion of their time in localities isolated from sources of information. To these the Library; through its Library Service Bureau, can render valuable service through correspondence; letters requesting information will receive especial attention: The Library is prepared, to furnish references and photographic copies of articles on mining and metallurgical subjects; to determine the existence of mining maps, and to furnish general Information on the geology and mineral resources of-all countries. All communications should be made as definite as possible so that the information received may be what is desired and not include collateral matter which may not be of interest. The time spent in searching for such collateral matter will be saved, and the information will be sent more promptly and in more usable shape. HARRISON W. CRAVER, Director.

Jan 4, 1919

By Leonard J. Friedman

The recovery of sulfur dioxide from metallurgical gases for the production of sulfuric acid has been an effective means of reducing sulfur dioxide emissions from non-ferrous smelters. Sulfuric acid has been produced from gas originating from fluid bed roasters, electric furnaces, reverberatory furnaces, flash smelting furnaces, Pierce Smith and flash converters, sinter machines, etc. The gas from each of these sources has a unique set of variables that affect the design and operation of the sulfuric acid plant. In addition, the sulfuric acid plant itself has been evolving, with new equipment designs and materials. This paper will review each of the unit operations in the gas cleaning and contact sections of the metallurgical sulfuric acid plant, discussing various equipment designs, materials and the handling of gas stream variables and impurities. The paper updates to 2006 previous works on metallurgical sulfuric acid plants by the authors.

Jan 1, 2006

As the worldÆs population and global standard of living increase, the role of metals in the economy will not diminish in the 21st century, despite substitution and dematerialisation trends. Industrial Ecology is an emerging science that attempts to bring together physical, biological and social scientists and develop the tools for good management of the planet in the long run. In engineering terms, Industrial Ecology is defined as the reconfiguring of industrial activities with full knowledge of their environmental consequences. Production and use of materials must take into account the needs of both market and environment. Dispersive uses of metals will be phased out, as is being done with lead in gasoline, and post-use recovery of materials and energy will increase. This will result in an advantage for metallurgical processes that can use as feed materials concentrates as well as metal scrap and waste streams, such as bath smelting processes and slag resistance electric furnaces. The paper also discusses how metal extraction technologies, developed in the 20th century to provide essential materials to humanity, can be applied for the benefit of both mankind and environment in the 21st century.

Jan 1, 2000

By K. Rajamani, I. Shah

The development of liquid-level control algorithms, based on sets of linguistic rules expressing human operator's "intuitive" control strategies, have been reported. The main objective of the present paper is to illustrate the implementation methodology. The experimental work was done with a 28.3Lflotation cell. The control variable (height of pulp in the cell) was controlled by manipulating the outflow rate. The controller algorithms were programmed and implemented using an Applelle computer and a Keithley das Series 500 measurement and control interface. It is pointed out that the scheme of fuzzy controllers is simple to use and powerful enough to handle complex and nonlinear systems.

Jan 1, 1987

INTO their great Pacific Northwest counting house went the members of the Industrial Minerals Division recently, to count their blessings amidst the scenic grandeur and mineral wealth of the State of Washington. From their vantage point in Seattle, those who attended the IMD's fourth Pacific Northwest meeting turned their sights to the South and Southeast, scanned Montana, Idaho, Oregon and Utah, and predicted a very healthy economic future for their region. The praises of Idaho's booming phosphate industry were sung by Earl W. Murphy, secretary of that State's Chamber of Commerce. He said the establishment of Fort Hall, on the banks of the Snake River near Pocatello, first turned the eyes of the world toward what is now the center of the greatest known deposits of phosphate rock-the section adjacent to the common corners of Idaho, Wyoming and Utah. With the founding of Fort Hall, Mr. Murphy said, historians will also rank the construction of the first electric furnaces for the production of elemental phosphorous as equally significant in the commercial history of the West. Those furnaces were installed only last year by the Westvaco Chemical Div. of the Food Machinery & Chemical Corp. at Pocatello, at a cost of $8 million.

Jan 7, 1950

By J. L. Floyd

The Trapper Mine is a large surface coal operation located in northwestern Colorado US. The coal seams at the mine dip an average of 8 degrees so, historically, their dragline pits have been orien-tated parallel to the dip of the coal seam to balance stripping ratios. However, the mine plan in the future G and Z pits is designed to take advantage of pit orientations that are parallel to the strike of the coal. During the initial presplit and cast blasts in G pit, significant slope damage occurred. This damage included the opening of joints and tension cracking. There was also block movement directly above the L coal seam, which is the main plane of weakness in the slope. A detailed site evaluation was conducted to develop specific blast design modifications to protect the slopes during future blasting. The modified de-signs successfully controlled vibration levels during the blasting of the Z pit box cut. This paper includes a review of the blast vibration related factors that influence slope stability along with a detailed discussion of the field tests and design modifications developed.

Jan 1, 2004

By Alfred Haack, Günter Girnau

INTRODUCTION From 1967 to 1976 in the Federal Republic of Germany about loo km tunnels and 125 underground stations were constructed for municipal and commuter railways solely. Additional a remarkable amount of road tunnels and sewers were built. In 1977/78 a further 27 km railway tunnels, 3.5 km road tunnels and 65 km sewers and utility lines were under construction. This shows an enormous volume of tunnel construction work. In connection with this activity various technical research and development programmes have been carried out. They deal with nearly all fields of underground works as for example soil and ground exploration, excavating and lining techniques, calculation and last but not least waterproofing problems. It is impossible within the framework of this report to touch on all the problems. Therefore, only one problem area with its different aspects will be discussed: waterproofing systems and their last developments in Germany, especially, joint sealing with special consideration of the waterproofing of concrete segmental tunnel lining (1)

Jan 1, 1979

By F. H. Guise-Brown

Raise-boring experiences in the gold mines of the Anglo American Corporation Group by J. W. WILSON and P. C. GRAHAM Published in the Journal, October, 1972. Discussion by F. H. Guise-Brown., B.Sc. (Min. Eng.) (Member) INTRODUCTION Messrs J. W. Wilson and P. C. Graham are to be congratulated on an excellent paper containing several thought-provoking remarks. The concept of allocating a machine and equipment valued initially at some R300 000 on an experimental basis is courageous, and the results obtained could be of interest to the mining industry as a whole. The Gold Fields of S.A. Group approached this problem differently. In pioneering the start of this work in South African gold mines, they considered that expenditure of this magnitude would be warranted only if the proposition was viable right from the start. To this end, a Robbins R41 was purchased expressly to assist in the duplication of part of the No. 1 shaft system of the Doomfontein Gold Mine. Mr M. J. Koortsl has summed up the initial results of this work and given some preliminary costing, but inflation since that period has made these figures somewhat out of date.

Jan 10, 1972

By S. Šolar

The countries of Southeast Europe are rich in aggregates, but neither management nor supply are coordinated within or across this area. There are open issues in SEE on the local scale as well as on regional/national and transnational scales that will need to be addressed in order to meet societal expectations related not only to the security of aggregates supply for economy, but also those linked to environmental concerns and social issues. The Sustainable Aggregates Resource Management project (SARMa), an EU Southeast Europe (SEE) activity, has as its objectives the development of common approaches to sustainable aggregate resource management (SARM) and sustainable supply mix (SSM) planning in SEE. In this paper we describe the SARMa project structure and report results for Work Package 3 activities pertaining to best practices for environmental management, the reduction of illegal quarrying, and the promotion of recycling of quarry wastes, construction and demolition wastes and other materials.

Jan 1, 2011

By H. O. McDonald

The Bureau of Mines has demonstrated a hydrometallurgical method to separate chromium from other metals in a variety of surface-finishing wastes by precipitation with benzoate ion. The resulting chromium salt may then be converted to the hydroxide, and the benzoate may be recycled. Chromium recoveries of 92 to 100 pct are obtained.

Jan 1, 1983

By Peter Rubie

"For many years, optimising the relining of hard rock grinding mills has been complicated by:?? the large number of variables;?? the low frequency of relines (slow feedback loop);?? the potential economic risk associated with some changesA technology that has its roots in the automotive manufacturing industry is being utilised to construct a statistically accurate, configurable, and dynamic simulation of the mill relining process. The effects of various mechanisation and process changes can be rapidly modelled and compared.This technology will provide mill maintenance managers and contract relining companies with the opportunity to benchmark current performance against world’s best practice. It will also provide an opportunity for concentrator plant designers and mill manufacturers to plan for maximum plant efficiency, by designing an infrastructure and equipment combination that maximises annual plant availability.This simulation tool and its associated data set, has been developed using recent grinding mill performance data from mills of varying dimensions, liner configurations, mill relining equipment, operator and tool variables.The simulation will provide an output that the various stakeholders can utilise to make optimal decisions within the given financial, physical and technological constraints of the individual concentrator plant."

Jan 1, 2012