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Paper presented at the IAGOD international symposium on mineralization related to mafic and ultramafic rocks held in Orleans, France, 1-3 September 1993. Phases of the Ir sub-group are present either as inclusions in or interstitially to chromite and are unaffected by (or only altered in situ during) hydrothermal processes. By contrast, almost all phases of the Pd sub-group are located in a secondary textural setting - in fractures in chromite or between fragments of brecciated chromite. The different settings indicate that the mineralisation episodes were associated with magmatic and hydrothermal stages respectively. The presence of an included Pd-group mineral in a hydrothermally Pd-group mineralised chromitite sample suggests that the hydrothermal Pd-group minerals were at least partly derived by remobilisation from magmatic deposits in the chromitite pod. These observations indicate that Pd-group elements are more mobile than Ir-group elements under hydrothermal conditions and point to the potential for hydrothermal platinum and palladium mineralisation in favourable environments

Apr 1, 1994

By John E. Tilton

Real copper prices during the past several decades display two striking characteristics. First, they are highly volatile. Within a year or two, copper prices can rise or fall by 30% or more. Second, over the longer term, they are falling. Indeed, since 1970, the secular trend price for copper is down by more than 50%. Figure 1 highlights both of these characteristics. It shows the average annual US producer price for copper since 1970 measured in constant 2001 US dollars. While the London Metal Exchange (LME) copper price is not shown, it and the US producer price have for some time moved more or less together. So pronounced short-run fluctuations around a significant long-run decline describe copper prices, not only in the United States, but around the world.

Jan 1, 2002

By C D. Rawlings

An assessment is made of the potential for thick seam underground mining of black coal in Australia. A brief summary is given of the geo-mechanical environment and previous mining history existing in a number of areas of particular interest from the point of view of thick seam mining. A classification of thick seam mining methods is presented with emphasis on the critical geo-mechanical parameters influencing the performance of such methods. A summary is made of perceived geo-mechanical research requirements related to thick seam mining in Australian coalfields.

Jan 1, 1980

By B. G. D. Smart

An understanding of the nature of yield zones surrounding coal mine excavations is fundamental to the design of mine support systems. Various methods have been designed for investigation of underground rock masses and an extensometric technique, the Magnetic Rod Extensometer, has been developed to overcome inherent design limitations in existing equipment of this type. This paper refers to the prototype form of the extensometer and details changes designed to overcome a variety of drawbacks indicated by routine use of the equipment. The principal change has been one of manual to computerised data acquisition and presentation in the laboratory phase of the system. This has dramatically reduced the time taken to process underground measurements and produce numerical and graphical results. The revised Magnetic Rod Extensometer represents an integrated instrumentation system that combines speed and accuracy in all areas of data handling.

Jan 1, 1984

By Richard Rice

TURBO blowers for blast-furnace blowing have now been in use for some years, and a review of the experience gained and the present state of progress may be interesting. FIG. 1.-STEAM TURBINE DIRECT CONNECTED TO AIR COMPRESSOR. The first blast-furnace blowing engine of this type to be installed in America was built by the General Electric Co. and is installed at the oxford Furnace of the Empire Iron & Steel Co. This machine was put into operation March 8, 191.0. A duplicate unit is situated at the furnace of the Northern Iron Co. at Port Henry, N. Y., which unit was put into opera ion June 30, 1910 (Fig. 1).

Jan 5, 1914

By Rosana Silva Xavier

Compósitos magneto-elétricos (ME) combinam fases magnetostrictivas e piezoelétricas e podem ser utilizados na geração de energia a partir de vibrações e campos magnéticos presentes no ambiente, sendo também aplicáveis em sensores de campo magnético e em redes de sensores sem fio. Neste trabalho, um compósito ME foi processado pelo método cerâmico com 15 vol% CoFe2O4 (ferrita de cobalto) como fase magnetostrictiva e 85 vol% BaTiO3 como fase piezoelétrica. É mostrada a relação entre os parâmetros de processamento/sinterização e a microestrutura do compósito ME, com três tipos diferentes de arranjo das fases: particulado (obtido por dois diferentes métodos) e em camadas. Foram compactadas pastilhas dos compósitos para sinterização nas temperaturas de 1.200ºC, 1.300ºC e 1.400ºC por 4h, sendo que ocorreu a fusão da pastilha sinterizada a 1.400ºC. As amostras sinterizadas foram observadas em microscópio eletrônico de varredura (MEV), onde foram analisadas as características de porosidade, tamanho de grão e a distribuição das fases na microestrutura. Foram realizadas também análises cristalográficas por difração de raios-X (DRX), de espectroscopia RAMAN e de espectroscopia de energia dispersiva (EDS). Foram relacionados os parâmetros de processamento utilizados com os resultados obtidos.

Aug 8, 2018

By R. E. Chaves

San Martin Mine is an open pit, gold heap leach operation located approximately 70 kilometers from the Honduran capital of Tegucigalpa. Mining operations commenced in 2000 and were completed late in 2007, while heap leaching operations continue. Reclamation was executed concurrently with operations to the extent practical. The area has distinct rainy and dry seasons and closure objectives include: prevention and mitigation of acid rock drainage, sediment and erosion control, and mitigation of visual impacts. Final closure is well underway at San Martin and this paper describes the closure processes conducted to date, problems encountered, and the subsequent lessons learned.

Jan 1, 2009

By B Cope, Y Churi

Roxgold was a small exploration company when it discovered the Zone 55 orebody at the Yaramoko project in Burkina Faso in 2010. Since this time, it has actively progressed the project with the completion of a preliminary economic assessment in 2013, a feasibility study in early 2014 and obtained full permitting for construction in January 2015. With no other underground gold mine in Burkina Faso, developing a modern and productive modern gold mine in West Africa was considered a significant challenge as Roxgold moved from explorer to producer.To facilitate this development, Roxgold engaged an international underground mining contractor to partner this development. This has enabled Roxgold to successfully develop the mine over a relatively short time frame with construction commencing in April 2015, first gold being poured in May 2016 and commercial production being achieved in October 2016.This paper discusses key elements of the project development and highlights some of the challenges faced with operating in a remote poorly developed area with a limited mining culture. Furthermore, the authors highlight the key technical and operational aspects that make the Yaramoko project a very successful development project.CITATION:Cope, B and Churi, Y, 2017. The development of the Yaramoko gold project in Burkina Faso, West Africa, in Proceedings 13th AusIMM Underground Operators’ Conference 2017, pp 173–182 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Oct 16, 2017

By Robert B. Parsons

"Exploration and development of mineral resources in developing countries by Canadian-based multinational mining companies is becoming increasingly common. One problem being encountered is that the objectives of the governments of developing countries can differ from those of developed countries. These objectives are not always consistent with maximizing returns from the projects, which can create conflicts between the mining company's responsibility to its shareholders and the desire to be a good corporate citizen. This article discusses how a mining tax regime can be designed to make the social goals of a government consistent with the economic goals of the company.IntroductionAt the recent International Seminar on Mining Taxation organized by CIM and the United Nations there was considerable discussion about the role of international mining companies operating in developing countries. Not surprisingly, given the diversity of backgrounds of individuals attending the Seminar, there were different opinions about what this role should be.Government PositionRepresentatives of governments pointed out the strong desires of their countries for technology, high-level technical training of their workforce, increased employment, and development of social infrastructure. They pointed out that, to a large extent, these objectives could be more efficiently met by mining companies operating in the country than by the governments themselves. For example, a multinational mining company (""MMC"") would have extensive knowledge of the various technologies available, and would have performed a detailed evaluation of the mineral resources before choosing the most cost-efficient technology for that project. They would, therefore be in an ideal position to assist the country in importing and developing such technology. Similarly, the company could provide opportunities for hands-on training, both at the technical and managerial levels, which would otherwise be unavailable to the government."

Jan 1, 1991

NEW MEMBERS The following list comprises the names of those persons who became members during the period Oct. 10, 1916 to Nov. 10, 1916. ANCHOR, HANS C., Supt., Dome Extension Mines Co., Ltd., South Porcupine, Ont., Canada. BABCOCK, EARLE J., Dean, College Of Min. Engrg., State Univ. Of N. Dak., Grand Forks, N. Dak. BIDDIS0N, P. McDONALD, Construction Engr., The Ohio Fuel Supply Co., 52 W. Gay St., Columbus, 0. BOISE, PAUL T., Asst. Mgr., Stimpson Equipment Co., Felt Bldg., Salt Lake City, Utah. BOURNE, RALPH H., Vice-Pres Whiting Foundry Equipment Co., Harvey, Ill. BROWN, EDWARD OTTO FORSTER, Min. Engr., 706-707 Salisbury House, London, E. C., England.

Jan 12, 1916

By B. Anameric

The pig iron nugget process is gaining in importance as an alternative to the traditional blast furnace. Throughout the process, self-reducing?fluxing dried greenballs composed of iron ore concentrate, reducing-carburizing agent (coal), flux (limestone) and binder (bentonite) are heat-treated. During the heat treatment, dried greenballs are first transformed into direct reduced iron (DRI), then to transition direct reduced iron (TDRI) and finally to pig iron nuggets. The furnace temperature and/or residence time and the corresponding levels of carburization, reduction and metallization dictate these transformations. This study involved the determination of threshold furnace temperatures and residence times for completion of all of the transformation reactions and pig iron nugget production. The experiments involved the heat treatment of self-reducing?fluxing dried greenballs at various furnace temperatures and residence times. The products of these heat treatments were identified by utilizing optical microscopy, apparent density and microhardness measurements.

Jan 1, 2007

By E J. Hofmann, J E. Hofmann, A J. Hofmann-Fritz

"With its Head Quarters in Perth, global heavy engineering company Hofmann Engineering is one of the largest family owned engineering companies in Australia. The company has pioneered a number of new manufacturing processes and design improvements for components of large comminution equipment.Some of these innovations are: Innovative design improvements of high pressure grinding roll (HPGR) forged steel tyres. Hofmann Engineering has developed unique patented tungsten carbide stud and edge protection designs which improve wear life and introduce quick and cost effective replacement options to further extend the life of the tyre. Development of forged fabricated mill heads using rolled and welded high tensile steel plate as an alternative to cast conical mill heads. Establishment of Australian capability to manufacture and export up to 42 ft. (12.8 m) diameter SAG mill shells. Techniques for fast track, product improved replacements of cracked or damaged mill gears, including in situ profile & wear measurements of girth gears using portable coordinate measuring machine (CMM) technology, forged rim steel and induction hardening technology. Gear and pinion mechanical drive designs to 24 MW or higher for SAG mills of 38 ft. to 42 ft. (11.6 m - 12.8 m) diameter as reliable alternatives to gearless drives.The paper presents case studies from the Australian heavy manufacturing facilities of Hofmann Engineering on large, high powered equipment for both the domestic and export markets.CITATION:Hofmann, E J, Hofmann, J E and Hofmann-Fritz, A J, 2013. Australian innovations in high pressure grinding rolls and large grinding mill manufacture, in Proceedings MetPlant 2013, pp 141-151 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne)."

Jul 15, 2013

By D. Bois, P. Poirier, B. Bussière

Environmental desulphurization is an attractive alternative for the management of acid generating tailings. Bulk sulphide flotation is the most commonly used method to produce desulphurized tailings, as shown from many previous works. This process can reduce the volume of problematic tailings to manage by making a sulphide fraction concentrate. The desulphurized tailings can then be used as construction material for an engineered cover to prevent acid mine drainage. In this paper, the results from different laboratory and pilot scale flotation tests are presented. These results confirm that low sulphide non-acid generating tailings can be produced by froth flotation. It is also demonstrated that sulphide concentrates obtained from desulphurization mixed with the appropriate binders can be used as feed material for paste backfill. From previous work on the evaluation of operating and capital costs of the desulphurization process for different ore types, the use of desulphurization as a tailings management approach was studied for several scenarios. The desulphurization process was then compared with other technologies (underwater disposal, engineered soil cover) currently used to prevent acidic drainage (AD) for a new mining operation. Results show that partial or total desulphurization are technically and economically viable options to manage tailings during mine operation. Mine waste managers should consider desulphurization as an efficient technology.

Jan 1, 2005

By Vu Van Dong

Resource estimation is the science of determining the amount and quality of a given material in the ground that has the potential to be mined at a profit. This is because during this time computers have become more widely available and more powerful and software packages have become more comprehensive and user friendly. Over the past three years The Mining Geology Company with the support from Vinacomin Group has developed the Coal Geological Modelling and Reserve Estimation ? VMG system. The VMG system enables the geological and mining engineer to start at the reserve estimation for the mine design and planning. The VMG system enables the national and international standards (NI43-101, CIM-Canada; SAMREC Code, Africa, and JORC Code, Australia) and user friendly with menu driven thereby permitting the engineer with minimal computer training to rapidly learn and utilize the system. Geological and mining data input through digitized map files and drill-holes information files stored in the database that is an integral part of the VMG system with the main function for collection, validation, and recording, storing and processing of data will include both ?primary? (observation and measurement) and ?interpreted? data. It is recommend that data be stored digitally, using a documented, standard format and a reliable storage medium that allows for easy and complete retrieval of the data. The coal reserve estimation through standard polygon methods with the increased use of these mathematical techniques (geometrical modelling, geostatistical method, least square method, ?) over the last ten years corresponds, to some degree, to a decrease in both the amount of the coal deposit mapping and, in particular, coal seam structural interpretation and modelling, and permit rapidly evaluation of coal seam and overburden quality and quantity. The understanding of the relationship between the coal mineralization of interest and the likely related complicate geological processes and structure that govern its emplacement and geometry within the geological framework is essential to the establishment of the geological controls for coal mineralization. System outputs includes: drillholes summary reports, stratigraphy, cross-sections, isopach maps, structure, contour maps, premining and post mining topography maps, and 3D perspective view on coal seam structure.

Oct 1, 2009

The mineral industry of Benin contributed less than 1% of the 1977 gross domestic product (GDP), which was estimated at $500 million.' Other than limestone and salt, no exploitable mineral deposits have yet been discovered in Benin, which has been rated by the United Nations as one of the world's least developed nations. In 1977, the economy was further weakened by petroleum price increases and severe drought. The country continued to depend on foreign assistance, which averaged $20 million per year, to finance development projects. The country's first 3-year plan, which was put into operation in October 1977 after many delays, allocated more than $1 billion to projects in infrastructure, agriculture, and light industry. The most important infrastructure project was the expansion and modernization of the port of Cotonou, valued as an entrepôt port for the transit of goods to the neighboring countries of Niger and Nigeria. Plans called for an increase in handling capacity to 1 million tons of cargo annually, the improvement of port and cargo handling operations, and the upgrading of the efficiency of the Port Autonome de Cotonou (PAC) management system. The $46 million project was to be financed by a consortium led by the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and including Canada, France, Nigeria, and Abu Dhabi. Construction was scheduled to begin in 1978 and be completed in 1980.

Jan 1, 1981

By I. Cadoff, E. Miller, K. Komarek

Jan 1, 1960

The upper amphibolite-grade mctasediments of thc rinaroo area, North Queensland, form part of a regional aurcole to the large Tinaroo Batholith and are the stratigraphic equivalents of the Hodgkinson Formation of gencrally low metamorphic grade. There is no evidence of any lithological unconformity.The higher grade metasediments have a more complex deformation history than is typical for thc surrounding region and this may bc due to one or a combination of two factors; an additional strain componcnt associated wilh the intrusion of Ihe Tinaroo Batholith, or a more marked finite strain response to the overall regional stress field within hotter. more ductile rocks.Four deformational events can be characterized within Ihc Tinaroo Area. Close to Ihe Tinaroo Batholith D1 and D2, arc so strongly developed that they disrupl the continuily of Ihe original Iithological layering. In the aureole region, D1 is strongly overprinted and its original fabric intensity is obscured, but both D2 and D3 display a mappable decrease in intensity away from the granite margin. These three deformations occurred during Carboniferous or early Permian time. D4 is later and only patchily developed.The broad, moderate pressure metamorphic aureole surrounding the Tinaroo Batholith is a typical of the CairnsCooktown group of Permo-Carboniferous granitoids. which usually develop narrow, lower pressure contact aureoles. Two periods of metamorphism are distinguishable. The first reached peak temperatures somewhat greater than 520°C, the second temperatures around 620-630° C immediately adjacent to the granite contact.Several cale-silicate lenses containing scattered scheelite mineralization occur within the area. Scheelite appears to have crystallized at the same time as the cale-silicate minerals, its appearance coinciding with the intrusion of the Tinaroo Batholith. Unlike many "skarn-type" scheelite deposits, the scheelite-bearing cale-silicates are Fe-poor, with no positive correlation between total Fe and W.

Jan 1, 1982

By I. Bhattacherya

Over the last three decades, the mining industry has been moving towards underground mechanized mining methods and the number of load haul dump (LHD) vehicles utilized has increased. The growth of mechanization and automation has benefited both workers and mining companies. However, due to the design constraints with LHD vehicles and the limitations of the operating environment, restrictions to operator visibility has contributed to a number of accidents, including fatal injuries. Past researchers have used the light filament technique to collect obscuration zones around mobile equipment and have produced 2D visibility charts (shadow diagrams) of this information. The light filament method involves manually collecting visibility data, which results in errors and is time consuming, requiring around three hours to complete. This research utilizes a MENSI GS100 laser scanner along with 3D modelling software (3Dipsos) to collect and process operator visibility profiles for underground mobile equipment. Results from this test work indicate that a laser scanner can be successfully used to rapidly collect this data and utilize this information for improved mobile equipment design from a visibility perspective. Nomenclature FERIC Forest Engineering Research Institute of Canada ISO International Organization for Standardization JACK Software for digital human modelling and ergonomics LHD Load haul dump vehicle LOS Line of sight MASHA Mines and Aggregates Safety and Health Association (based in Ontario, Canada) PVD Polar visibility diagram SAMMIE3D human modelling computer aided ergonomics design system WSIB Workplace Safety and Insurance Board

Jan 1, 2006

By Alicia Esther Ares

The family of Zn-Al (ZA), Zn-Ag and Zn-Al-Ag (ZINAG) alloys offers high mechanical properties, ease of finishing, the advantage of low energy and pollution-free melting. Also, present alternatives to the well developed alloy systems, such as brasses, bronzes, cast irons and aluminum alloys. The main objective of this paper is to measure thermal parameters in ZA, Zn-Ag and ZINAG hypoeutectic and hypereutectic alloys directionally solidified which present columnar, equiaxed and columnar to equiaxed transition structures (CET). Also, estimate the mechanical properties, such as microhardness and tensile parameters and correlate these with the thermal (cooling rate) and structural parameters (grain size and dendritic spacing). The different types of structures were analyzed with optical and scanning electron microscopy. The results showed the influence of concentration, microstructural arrangement and thermal conditions during solidification on the mechanical properties. The results of the present investigation are compared with previous experiments.

Jan 1, 2010

By A. D. Davis, J. L. Sorensen, C. J. Webb

Environmental impacts from acidic mine drainage are growing national concerns that are particularly acute in the headwaters of the Rocky Mountain region. In the Black Hills of South Dakota, approximately one thousand mines are inactive or abandoned, most of them in the headwaters of major drainages. This paper examines the Bear Butte Creek basin, a heavily mineralized watershed with significant historical mining impacts and a surface gold mine permitted in 1997. The watershed loses its surface discharge to swallow holes in the karstic Madison Limestone. The integrity of the aquatic ecosystem was monitored with a suite of sitespecific bio-indicators. Stream surveys covered the entire reach of Bear Butte Creek from near its headwaters to the swallow holes in the Madison aquifer. Data from the stream surveys, water-quality sampling, and bio-indicator surveys clearly showed that water-quality impacts are limited mainly to Strawberry Creek and to the area of Bear Butte Creek near and downstream of the town of Galena.

Jan 1, 1999