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By B. Salopek, D. Rajkovic, D. Rumenjak

Among other types of sustainability indicators, linguistic variables have been proposed. During the past few years considerable effort for using the fuzzy logic and linguistic variables (LVs) in environmental decision-making for the mineral industry has been made. The linguistic variables defined could, among others properties, describe the property of acceptability for environment for various environmental indicators. Some proposals for construction of such variables are based on administrative decisions from environmental impact assessment procedures for mining, which provide information for acceptability of quality kind for environment (e.g. obtained from public participation, experts, environmental administration). The measures of evidence for construction have to be based on sets (not only on the members of sets). The administrative decisions with their statements and explanations could be considered as such sets. The measures of evidence appropriate are plausibility and belief measures. Using the more elaborated methods from the theory of evidence, the better estimation of those measures could be achieved. The methods of constructing the linguistic variables, previously suggested and based on obtained measures, are also discussed.

Jan 1, 2011

By B. Amadei, A. Squassabia

This paper introduces the Rock Mass Median (RMM) index, a statistical measure of the mechanical quality of a rock mass thus is obtained through a mechanistic interpretation of the Poisson stochastic process. This process is the theoretical foundation of the Exponential Model, a probability distribution successfully used in practice to describe the spacing of discontinuities in rocks. Building on the Exponential Model, a simple method to compute RMM based on a widely accepted mechanical quality index is also presented. Verification is per formed through the analysis of two sets of core samples. Hypothesis testing at the 5% level of significance supports the validity of RMM for these samples.

Jan 1, 1994

By S. H. Advani, J. K. Lee, K. S. Chan, J. M. Avasthi

A summary of field equations governing the hygro-thermo-mechanical (coupled temperature, moisture, and stress) response of geological media is presented. The applicability of these equations, with appropriate boundary conditions, to the study of basic mechanisms associated with underground coal gasification (UCG) process is discussed. In particular, the phenomenon of stress-induced spalling resulting from intense drying near the gasified cavity and in situ effects is investigated by means of the finite element method. Some typical results from sample finite element model representations are presented for the evaluation of field experiments.

Jan 1, 1986

By L. Landryova

The Department of Control Systems and Instrumentation, VSB - the Technical University Ostrava, has been involved in a project dealing with utilization of landfill gases, when the methane gas utilization and minimization of its release into the atmosphere was the main concern. The landfill site is generally a place, where technology for energy production can be built. The conditions for this technology implementation vary and depend on various factors. This paper is presenting findings and experience gained regarding a method of methane gas utilization for energy production. This method is concerning building bioreactors at the landfill sites, which are already operated. Every bioreactor can be thought of as a process, which is controlled in order to maximize energy production and minimize the methane gas escape into the atmosphere. The bioreactor landfill can represent a number of environmental and cost savings and, at the same time, is able to comply with all legislative issues.

Jan 1, 2005

By P. Mousset-Jones, F. Calizaya

Currently, a 4.3 km long drift is being developed on the 3440 level in the Lower Kalamazoo project at the San Manuel Mine, Magma Copper Company, AZ. The drift, located at 1050 m below surface, is being constructed using a 4.6 m diameter tunnel boring machine (TBM). The drift is ventilated by a forcing type auxiliary ventilation system. At the face, to mitigate the impact on the work environment of the TBM, the system is equipped with dust extraction and refrigeration systems. Recently, to evaluate the ventilation conditions in the drift, a continuous monitoring system has been installed. The system can be used to measure the air velocity, barometric pressure, relative humidity and air and rock temperatures. This study describes the capabilities and limitations of this system, and presents a summary of the results.

Jan 1, 1995

By Gordon T. Clark

The preliminary design of four mined stations and 7.2 km (4.5 miles) of tunnels for Seattle’s light rail transit system is described. Constraints that influenced the design and options that were studied are discussed. The hilly post-glacial soft-ground geology of the Puget Sound Region pushed the alignment deep. Mined underground stations at depths up to 75 m (250 ft) and shafts with excavated diameters of 20-m (65-ft) are required. A 460 m (1,500 ft) sub-aqueous crossing of Portage Bay and undercrossing of an active 12-lane multi-level freeway were two of the more significant design constraints.

Jan 1, 2001

By Dean D. Turner

Exploration geochemistry requires computer processing for quick and efficient reduction and interpretation. An easy to use microcomputer based geologic workstation fulfills this need and allows the geologist to independently process geochemical data. Functions necessary for geochemical data processing are: 1)Digitizing; 2)Communications; 3)Data base management; 4)Statistical analysis; 5)Mapping analysis; and 6)General purpose applications (ie: word processing). A geologic workstation that can perform these tasks will yield significant advantages in processing and interpreting geochemical data.

Jan 1, 1987

By James E. Brewer

Procedure for approval by the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers of a new source of aggregate is in three phases. Phase 1 consists of an investigation of a quarry or proposed quarry by district geologist and laboratory geologist and/or petrographer. The quarry face or suitable outcrop is logged in detail or, if exposures are poor, cores may be taken to determine whether further investigations are warranted. Phase 2 consists of thorough laboratory testing. Cores and crushed material are subjected to a number of acceptance and quality tests for soundness, absorption, abrasion, reactivity, and other properties. Petrographic analysis is also made. Phase 3 is a physical and economic study of the site and involves determining quantity of stone avail- available, amount-and character of overburden, condition of haul roads and distance to rail shipping point, plant flow sheets and capacity, aggregate sizes produced, and approximate price of material at plant.

Jan 1, 1966

By M. E. Poad, W. G. Pariseau, M. A. Laurenti

In 1986, a cooperative effort by Homestake Mining Co., the US Bureau of Mines and the University of Utah was initiated to determine shaft stability while recovering high-grade ore in a nearby pillar. Premining finite element simulations indicated the shaft would remain in elastic ground. Six years have elapsed and, despite some initial concern during the first lifts, it appears that the bulk of the original reserve will he safely and profitably recovered. An integrated application of rock mechanics tools from laboratory testing through numerical modeling to mine measurements and observations contributed substantially to the operational success of the project.

Jan 1, 1996

By J. V. Byrnark, R. W. von Bitter

The Hibbing Taconite Co. concentrator flowsheet, which is noted for its simplicity, uses single- stage autogenous grinding coupled with two stages of magnetic separation and two stages of size classification to produce a magnetite concentrate. This paper discusses the pilot-plant development of single-stage grinding, the commercial mill grinding performance, and mill liner development. Process innovation discussion includes process control computer implementation, size classification improvements, mill speed changes, magnetic separator improvements, and quality control innovations.

Jan 1, 1987

By Mehmet Maral

Various types of Tertiary (Miocene) lignite occurrences had been formed and alternated with volcano-sedimentary Bigadiç Formation in the field of study, which resides in the middle and eastern parts of Biga Peninsula. The focus of the study is to identify the geochemical and petrologic properties of coal occurrences and the formation mechanism of the deposits. A comparative study of the deposits will also be studied. Biga Peninsula is a very rich zone in terms of both metallic ores and industrial minerals. Most of the metallic deposits and industrial occurrences in the region have been known and mined throughout the history. This richness of the region is related to the volcanic and tectonic activities that have developed during different geological periods. These activities are the main reasons of weathering and alteration phenomenon.

Jan 1, 2005

By W. R. Bush

Radiation protection in uranium mines and nuclear reactors is compared, with the objective of determining if any radiation protection practices which have worked well in one area can be adapted to the other area, especially from reactors to mines since radiation protection is more highly developed in reactors. Several areas are identified where improvements can be made in radiation protection in mines, the most important being improvement in ventilation at the workplace, greater attention to special monitoring during upset conditions, and a need for a substantial increase in radiation protection staff. It is concluded that, although considerable room exists for improvement, the general approach to radiation protection presently being followed seems appropriate for the circumstances encountered in mining.

Jan 1, 1981

By R. J. Gochin, M. A. Diaz, M. L. Court

Single impact breakage tests have been carried out on samples of alumina in carefully controlled atmospheres consisting solely of nitrogen gas and water vapour. The results indicate a statistically significant increase in the surface area of the progeny particles as relative humidity rose to 50%. The majority of this increase was found to occur under conditions when adsorption was a monolayer or less. The results are consistent with the theory of surfactant-induced strength reduction of materials proposed by Rehbinder and Westwood. There are important implications where single impact tests are used as part of a design methodology for comminution machines. In most procedures relative humidity has not been a controlled variable.

Jan 1, 1995

By A. G. Wylie

The dimensions and shape both airborne and bulk amphibole-asbestos fibers are different from those of both airborne and bulk of cleavage fragments of the amphiboles. These differences are related to the mineralogical properties unique to the habit of asbestos, including the fibrillar structure, small fibril widths and distinctive crystal-lographic faces of fibrils. Criteria for distinguishing amphi-bole cleavage fragments from amphibole-asbestos include mineralogical properties observable in bulk samples and the dimensions of particles collected on air filters. It would be it very helpful to the mining and mineral industry lf these properties were recognized in the regulation of asbestos.

Jan 1, 1987

By G. E. McKelvey

A group of gold deposits in southeastern Ecuador, near the town of Zamora, have become the focus of intensive mining activity, due to their extremely high gold grade (unconfirmed reports of about 50 g/t or 1.4 oz per st, or more). The deposits at Nambija and other prospects in the district are hosted by a sequence of sedimentary and volcanic rocks that are present within a large xenolith orpendant within alkalic phases of the Jurassic Zamora Batholith. The xenolith, unknown in size, is composed of various island arc lithologies (limestones, shales, sandstones, tuffs and flows). All have been altered to some degree by skarn-hornfelde alteration assemblages. Mineralized areas appear to be localized within a linear zone containing tectonic and intrusion breccias that cross-cut a complex calcic skarn assemblage developed within the xenolith. Although the nature of the host rocks appears to have exerted some control on mineralization, the high-grade ore is concentrated along north-northeast trending breccias, faults and dikes that crosscut the flat-lying stratigraphy and skarn alteration as suggested by the strong linear trend of workings in the district.

Jan 1, 1991

By Joel Lenz, Warren Hood, Jackson Jenkins

Whole ore or other process streams are being transported from mines to remote processing facilities for multiple reasons, such as improved project economics, maximum utilization of capital, and minimization of environmental risk. Case studies will be presented from a variety of operations. Glenbrook Nickel processes ore from their deposit and receives ore from New Caledonia, crushes and dries the ore, and transports it inland to the smelter. The Mule Canyon and Rosebud ore bodies truck-haul their ores to the Lone Tree and Twin Creeks processing plants. Pegasus Gold hauls their Diamond Hill ore to their Montana Tunnels facilities, and Sierrita pumps solution to an existing tank house 8 miles away for electrolytic recovery.

Jan 1, 1998

Industry and regulatory agencies have requested guidance on safe blasting near transmission pipelines. The US Bureau of Mines (USBM) and Amax Coal Co. studied surface coal mine overburden blasting near four steel and one PVC pipeline of 15 to 51 cm-diam (6-20 in.-diam), monitoring vibration, strain and pressure. Unlike tests of small blasts simulating construction, these were up to 1 t (2200lbs) per delay in 31-cm (12-in.) blastholes. Worst-case comparisons showed that 12.7 cm/sec (5 in./s) blasting vibrations produced strains about one fourth that of pressurization and 10% to 18% of the ultimate tensile strength. No failures occurred from blasting as close as 15 m (50 ft), which produced vibrations over 60 cm/sec (24 in./s).

Jan 1, 1995

By R. P. Moran, B. C. Lewis

The objective of this article is to discuss the fundamentals for determining the value of a limestone reserve or operation. The general step-by-step procedure, while prudent, is subject to the various site-specific issues that influence the valuation calculation. The most common methods for determining fair market value of mining lands are: comparable sales, operational analysis, and royalty analysis. An overview of typical eastern limestone mines (both quarries and underground) is presented. Specifically, properties in West Virginia and Alabama are reviewed and the sample methodologies and valuation calculations are presented.

Jan 1, 1991

By E. F. Loros, T. J. Smolik, V. G. Lofftus

Since plant start-up in January 1983, Golden Sunlight Mines Inc. has implemented several process changes and improvements. Among these are a pulp preaeration circuit and a sand tailing retreatment circuit. The preaeration circuit reduces reagent consumption during gold dissolution. The sand tailing retreatment circuit was added to recover and process separately pyrite concentrate to maintain acceptable overall gold recoveries with the more refractory sulfide ores. Research and plant operating data along with process and improvement descriptions are presented.

Jan 1, 1987

By G. R. Struble, J. R. Marks, A. B. Brown

The center of mining at the Homestake gold mine in Lead, SD, is moving deeper every year. As a result, it has become necessary to upgrade the ventilation system. This paper describes the first phase of a scheduled two-phase upgrade - installation of a 2.2-MW (3000-hp) centrifugal fan. The higher pressure fan is required to route larger airflows into the deeper production levels. Selection of the fan began by specifying the necessary operating point to provide these larger airflows. Special site work had to be done on the surface to accommodate the new fan structure as well as underground to reroute airflows.

Jan 1, 1987