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Cyclone Process for Heavy Metals Decontamination of Sediments

Sep 13, 2010

By F Flitti, M Haest, O Dominguez, D Mittrup, G Hird

The automated geology interpretation (AGI) tool has been developed in BHP Billiton to automate stratigraphy logging of drill holes, using any available quantitative data sets. At present, AGI is set-up to utilise geochemistry and mineralogy from infrared spectroscopic data to predict stratigraphy. Once the AGI tool is calibrated, results show that the tool is capable of automatically defining stratigraphy across all of the deposit types, encountered by BHP Billiton Iron Ore in the north-west of Western Australia. Accuracy of AGI at predicting stratigraphy is on average better than 75 per cent, with average accuracies exceeding 85 per cent for some deposit types. The AGI tool can deliver fast, accurate, consistent and objective geological interpretations.AGI is currently being implemented in BHP Billiton Iron Ore Exploration to streamline the drill hole logging process and allow geologists to spend less time defining stratigraphy at the drill hole level and more time investigating stratigraphy in 3D. This will deliver improved geology models, with significant downstream benefits in terms of better resource models, more accurate mine plans, higher plant efficiencies and more consistent ore products, driving productivity in BHP Billiton Iron Ore over the next decade.CITATION:Mittrup, D, Flitti, F, Hird, G, Haest, M and Dominguez, O, 2015. Semi-automated geological interpretation using assay and infrared spectroscopic sensing parameters towards improvements in geological modelling, in Proceedings Iron Ore 2015, pp 313–318 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Jul 13, 2015

By Jake Hutchison, Wade Hutchison

The opposition to the project has risen as a result of some political pressures and from public perceptions about the project’s necessity and its impact on the neighborhood. As a result of this controversy, the Underground Conservation Hall was quickly termed “Bredesen’s Bunker” by the Media. Close exposures for blasting, required by the Conservation Hall construction project, have been regulated by specifications that regulate seismic monitoring, pre-blast and post-blast inspections. Planned blasting for the project included blasting to a depth of 30 feet (9.14 meters) within 35 feet (10.67 meters) of the front of the newly renovated Tennessee Executive Residence. Excavation for the project found more competent rock at higher elevations than identified in test drilling which required blasting within 2 feet (0.61 meters) of the side of the Residence.

Jan 1, 2009

By Jayant Khambekar

In a typical mining operation, run-of-mine (ROM) ore is crushed and screened to achieve a desired particle size distribution and then fed to processing equipment for further refining. For an operation to be profit-able, the ore handling system from the mine face to final product loadout must be reliable. However, the handling system components do not always perform as expected and production problems related to material flow occur. These problems include flow stoppages, limited live storage capacities, uncontrollable flow, segregation, spillage and dust emissions. These result in lost production, excessive maintenance, safety and environmental issues, and even structural failures, in some cases. Flow patterns Flow problems and their solutions can be best understood by first learning how bulk solids flow. As bulk solids discharge by gravity from a storage system, primarily two types of flow patterns can develop: funnel flow and mass flow. Figure 1 shows a schematic of these two flow patterns. In funnel flow, only a portion of the material is in motion during discharge, which flows toward the outlet through a channel that forms within the stagnant material. Funnel flow occurs when a hopper is not sufficiently steep and smooth to ensure flow along the walls or when the outlet is not fully effective. In mass flow, all of the material is in motion whenever any is discharged ? there is no stagnant material. Mass flow occurs when the hopper is sufficiently steep and smooth to ensure flow along the hopper walls. Shallow valleys are not permitted and the outlet must be fully effective. A third type of flow pattern, called expanded flow, can develop when a mass flow hopper (or hoppers) is placed beneath a funnel flow hopper or bin. The mass flow hopper is designed to activate a sufficiently large flow channel in the funnel flow hopper to avoid flow problems due to a rathole. The flow pattern in which a bulk solid discharges from a storage system strongly influences the flow problems that may occur in that facility.

Jan 1, 2009

By R. Scheepers

"Abstract -Mineral deposits and prospects of the Pan African Saldanian orogenic belt in the south­ western Cape Province South Africa, are reviewed. Despite the entire absence of operating base or precious metal mines in the area, this study has established at !east four metal associations that offer enticing exploration potential .The poly-phase deformed, low-grade metamorphosed volcano-sedimentary Malmesbury Group constitutes a complex, poorly understood supracrustal sequence that has been loosely subdivided into the Tygerberg, Swartland and Boland tectono-stratigraphic terranes by northwesterly trending fault zones. Syn- and post-tectonic granitoids of the Cape Granite Suite selectively intruded these terranes. Early S-types preferred the Tygerberg terrane whereas the later I-types dominate the remaining areas. Anorogenic A-type granites, however, occur in all three domains. Known metallization is directly or indirectly related to the intrusives, yet syngenetic deposits are conspicuously absent from the supracrustals. Four metal associations have been identified.•,Cassiterite-wolfrarnite (± Au, Cu, Mo, Fe-sultides) in quartz and quartz/aplite veins hosted by tourmalinized and locally greissenized S-type granite. Similar exo-granitic veins occur in proximal metamorphites.•,Juxtaposed disseminated, stockwork, breccia and vein style Cu-Mo-Fe-(Au)-sultide mineralization hosted by matie to intermediate intrusives of high K calc-alkaline, 1-type affinity.•,Cu-Mo-Au-sultides hosted by hydraulic breccia pipes, stocks and veins occurring in anorogenic A-type alkali feldspar granites and amphibole quartz syenites.•,Scheelite with minor Cu-Mo-sulfides and Au-associated with endo- and exo-skarns spatially related to I-type monzogranite, granite and alkali feldspar granite .The first three associations occur along the Yzerfontein-Helderberg-Zone, a 180 km lineament in the Tygerberg terrane, a zone exploited by syn-, late- and post-tectonic intrusives and their related mineralization. The fourth association is typical of the Boland terrane. The spatial and temporal relationships between the various metal associations is interpreted as the result of sequential intrusion of relative early high level S-type, followed by intermediate level I-type and finally anorogenic A-type granitoids during the evolution of a contracting continental margin arc and its inner arc. This plate tectonic setting suggests subduction in an easterly direction underneath the Kalahari craton. The spatial configuration of the various terranes at the present erosional levels is the result of rifting and significant differential vertical displacement following cessation of subduction, a terminal tectonic event possibly synchronous with intrusion of the A-type granitoids.Near surface preserved roof zones and cupolas of both S- and I-type granitoids in the Tygerberg and Boland terranes, respectively, render these areas extremely prospective for Sn, W, Mo and Au mineralization. The presence of intermediate to mafic volcanics, a diversity of calcareous lithotypes and favorable plate tectonic setting of the Malmesbury Group suggest potential for the thus far elusive VMS, MVT and Sedex base metal and minor precious metal deposits."

Jan 1, 1994

By A. P. I. Popoola

Laser coatings are used for a wide variety of applications. TiB2/Ni intermetallic matrix composite coatings were fabricated on Al-substrate by a high power Rofin Sinar Nd: YAG solid-state laser. The characterization of the coatings was carried out by optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM/EDS) and X-ray Diffraction (XRD). Electrochemical study of the laser coatings in 3.65 per cent NaCl at room temperature revealed that with very high weight proportion of nickel the corrosion resistance of the coatings deteriorated due the presence of AlB10 phase. 50 wt per cent TiB2+50 wt per cent Ni laser coatings exhibited the highest corrosion resistance in test solution. Keywords Corrosion, protective film, laser surface alloying, reinforcement.

Jan 1, 2011

By J. Goyman, K. R. Rawling

"1.1 Location and Transportation ServicesNanisivik Mines Ltd. is located at latitude 73°, 3,200 km north of Montreal and 700 km north of the Arctic circle, on the south side of Strathcona Sound, which is an arm of Admiralty Inlet, in Northern Baffin Island. The orebody and mill site are 4 km distant from Strathcona Sound which provides deep water anchorage for ocean transportation of concentrate to Europe during the short northern shipping season from mid-July to mid-October.The operations and the resident community have direct jet aircraft service from Montreal two days per week, and local nights connect with other Arctic communities in the northern Baffin region. Bulk supplies and general cargo are delivered in the summer shipping season.1.2 HistoryThe Texas Gulf Sulphur Company, now Kidd Creek Mines Limited, staked claims in the Nanisivik area in 1957 and carried out exploration through to 1968. After the Kidd Creek orebody was found, Texas Gulf optioned the property in 1972 to Mineral Resources International Inc. (MRI), which undertook further exploration and completed a feasibility study.Nanisivik Mines Ltd. was formed in 1975, with MRI as the majority shareholder and minority shareholdings held by Metallgesellschaft, Billiton and Texas Gulf. Strathcona Mineral Services Limited was retained to manage the project during both the construction and operational phases."

Jan 1, 1984

WITH the exception of the deposits of the Milburn Cement Co near Dunedin, Wilson's Portland Cement Co., on the Mahurangi River (a short distance north of Auckland), and those of the New Zealand Portland Cement Co., at Limestone Island, the cement. Tesources of New Zealand remain practically undeveloped. The Milburn Company utilizes a mixture of limestone and mud for the manufacture of cement, while Wilson's and the New Zealand Portland Cement companies both have the advantage of a natural cement stock which requires but small additions of highgrade limestone to give the mixture required. The plant and deposits of the New Zealand Portland Cement Co are located in Whangarei Harbour, some six miles from thetownship of Whangarei. The works and dwelling-houses are situated on Limestone Island, which, with an area of 92 acres, and rising to a height of 212 ft., supplies the bulk of the raw material required. In addition to the island, the company possesses a high-grade limestone area of, roughly, four acres, situated on the mainland, 11 miles to the south. A better location for a cement works could not well have been chosen. On the east side of the island there is a deep channel, which never shows less than 18 ft. of water alongside the company's...

Jan 1, 1912

By R. B. Elver

The level of steel consumption per capita is one of the principal indicators of a country's standard of living. It is no coincidence that the materially advanced nations possess viable iron and steel industries to provide a reliable and economic source of steal for the manufacturing industries. No other metal is as dominantly important in manufacturing as steel. The blast furnace - steel furnace complex based on coking coal, ferrous scrap and iron ore - continues to be the principal steel-producing method. Less important is the electric furnace method based on scrap, In recent years, there has been considerable interest in the many direct reduction processes that are not dependent on coking coal but usually produce a product for further refining in steel furnaces. No matter which series of processes are used, iron ore is essentially the only source of virgin iron units. Thus, to such a vital and capital-intense industry as steel, access to a relatively inexpensive, long- term supply of iron ore is essential.

Jan 1, 1964

By K. Yamaguchi, Sekimoto. H.

"Platinum Group Metals (PGMs) used as catalyst which reduces toxic substances in emission gas exhausted from an automobile should extensively be recycled because they are rare metals produced only at the limited regions. The recycling process is to smelt an alumina honeycomb, in which PGM is built, in molten iron with flux such as lime and silica to separate them. PGMs are concentrated in molten iron while alumina in slag.The objective of this study is to understand the factor to concentrate PGMs in liquid iron as much as possible. Fundamental research of the distribution of the PGMs between the slag and liquid iron was carried out to recover the value metals of platinum, palladium and rhodium from the three-way auto catalyst. The distribution ratios of platinum, palladium and rhodium between the Al2O3-CaO-SiO2 slag and liquid iron are from 10-6 to 10-5, and these are concentrated in comparison with slag phase by about 1 million times to the liquid iron at 1873 K. The distribution ratios of platinum between the FexO-CaO-SiO2 slag and liquid iron decrease from 0.1 to 2?10-4 with increasing the CaO content in the slag. The CaO addition to the FexO unary slag is effective in concentrating platinum in molten iron.Based on the distribution ratios obtained in this work, recovery of PGMs was determined. The recovery of platinum, palladium and rhodium increase with increasing the mass ratio, Mmetal/Mslag. In the case of the conditions of Mmetal/Mslag = 0.04, the recoveries of PGMs showed more than 99.97%. The use of liquid iron and carbon saturated liquid iron as the collector metal is advantageous for the PGM recycling of the three-way auto catalyst. We found that PGMs are enriched to the molten iron or the carbon saturated iron and the slag loss of PGMs is negligible small."

Jan 1, 2014

By Bern Klein, Randy Blaskovich, Reem Roufail

"Morphology is a tool that is rarely used for mineral breakage mechanism evaluation. Ground particles are typically assessed for their size distribution. They are also visually analyzed using image analysis. However, image analysis is not a comprehensive evaluation of the particle surface texture. It evaluates particle’s size parameters such as area, diameter, and perimeter amongst other features. On the other hand, morphology analysis takes the particle assessment to another level of detail. Morphology analysis evaluates particles’ roundness, elongation and angularity that would indicate the degree of roughness of the particle. According to Roufail and Klein (2009), rougher surfaces are generated due to breakage along grain boundaries – intergranular breakage. Mill operation, particularly mill speed, dictates the dynamics in the mill. Stirred mills are known to break the particles via abrasion under standard operation. However, if the dynamics of the grinding media in the mill are changed, the particles could be more exposed to impact and compression loading that would lead to a different mode of breakage.In this paper, the effect of material properties and mill operating conditions on particle morphology will be studied. Hard non-sulfide versus soft sulfide minerals are compared, namely quartz and galena, respectively. Extreme mill speeds are tested covering the range of 1000 to 2000 rpm for a 4-litre Netzsch (ISA) mill. In addition to particle size distribution, micro-analysis is executed in the form of morphological analysis using a tested manual roughness point counting technique.INTRODUCTIONGrinding in general and stirred milling in particular are processes that are used to break particles to liberate metal-bearing minerals for further separation downstream. The energy required to achieve the target particle size versus maximum possible liberation has been studied intensively and it is usually the breaking point for the grinding system chosen in a process flowsheet. Operating conditions are dictated by the energy consumption. Becker et al. (2001) related different forms of energy such as input, specific, volume/mass specific energies to stress intensities and final product fineness. Other research studies focused on energy input in a stirred mill (Zheng, Harris and Somasundaran, 1996)."

Jan 1, 2011

By A McDowell

Pound Road Quarry is an alluvial gravel quarry owned and operated by Fulton Hogan Ltd. for the supply of aggregate in Canterbury, and is the largest quarry in the South Island in terms of production. It has evolved from three separate quarries, as a result of which extraction has occurred sporadically in a number of areas. Due to this factor, and the need to manage environmental impacts, a detailed quarry management plan was completed in 1995 which formed the basis for implementation of a certified environmental management system.   In December 1997, the quarry was the first in New Zealand to achieve ISO 14001 (TELARC) accreditation for implementation of an environmental management system. The main potential environmental impacts arising from the quarry operation include dust, noise and groundwater contamination, and visual landscape effects associated with gravel extraction, the mitigation of which is achieved by means of æbest practiceÆ methods. All quarry operations are controlled in terms of the environmental management system by means of regular (monthly and yearly) environmental reviews, appropriate auditing of environmental documents, and monitoring of environmental targets in accordance with consent and statutory requirements.

Jan 1, 1998

By Zhou Wenbin

In this paper the mechanical properties of high carbon equivalent cast iron for automobile brake discs were analyzed through thermal analysis curves. Experiment results show that the mechanical properties have a strong correlation with thermal analysis curves and an effective way to predict the mechanical properties of high carbon equivalent cast iron was proposed based on the features of thermal analysis curves.

Jan 1, 2010

By J. D. Noll, S. E. Mischler

Measurement and sampling of diesel particulate matter in mine air presents a challenge due to the complexity of the diesel aerosol. The results of a series of tests carried out by the National Institute for Occupation Safety and Health, Pittsburgh Research Laboratory, in an underground mine were used to evaluate several measurement methods that are currently used to characterize particulate matter emitted by diesel-powered equipment. This paper presents an overview of these techniques and examples of the results along with a discussion of the advantages and information gained by each technique. The measurement methods discussed include particle size measurements using a scanning mobility particle sizer, total particulate matter measurements using a tapered elemental oscillating microbalance, a size selective sampling method for workplace and personal exposure assessment and a size-selective high volume sampling method for carbon analysis.

By J. B. Zadra

The use of activated carbon for extracting gold and silver from pregnant cyanide solution and pulp has been investigated many times. The primary advantage of this use of activated carbon is that .the dissolved values can be recovered from slimy ore pulps or from slime portions of ore without settling and thickening or filtering. The loaded carbon is removed from the barren pulp, and the pulp can then be discarded. Activated carbon has been used recently in treating gold ores containing very little soluble silver. When the carbon was loaded with a suitable amount of gold, the silver load was negligible. The remaining problems concerned the removal of the gold from the carbon, the recovery of the gold as bullion, and the reuse of the unloaded carbon. As described in a recent report, a method that solved these problems was developed. The gold-laden carbon was leached with caustic sodium sulfide solution and the gold simultaneously recovered by electrolysis. Both the carbon and the spent solution can be reused. That process was applicable to gold-laden carbon only. It was not applicable to carbon carrying silver, because sodium sulfide does not leach silver from carbon but "fixes" it. It has been necessary, therefore, to develop a modified process for the removal or desorption of both gold and silver from loaded carbon. This modi¬fied process permits the use of activated carbon for extracting both gold and silver from gold ores carrying enough silver to have economical interest or in which silver may be the predominating value.

Jan 1, 1952

By R G. Moreby

The purpose of this paper is to provide the rationale for decision making when considering the use of three heading gate roads in Australian underground coal mines.There are currently 30 underground longwall mines in Australia with all but two employing two heading gate road longwall layouts. The volumetric capacity of these two heading ventilation circuits is evidently viable in typical block lengths and in low to moderate gas regimes. However, in gassier regimes, potential longwall production rates of 10 Mt/a, and or where block lengths are being extended to well beyond historical norms, a conventional two heading U circuit may not be adequate. Other than seam gas emission, block length and production dependent heat loads together sealed area management requirements also have to be considered.The two mines currently employing three heading gate roads have the opportunity to revert to two headings at any time but, based on operational experience to date, have not done so due to the consequential reduction in gas management capacity and lower production rates associated with gas delays and limitations on tailgate access.Although there are a number of alternative two heading longwall circuits available and employed worldwide, the custom and practice of promoting inert goaf atmospheres in most Australian coal mines to mitigate the risk of catastrophic gas explosions and spontaneous combustion often prevents the use of gas loaded bleeder systems. In this respect, Australian underground coal mines may be considered the safest in the world.The current situation is that three heading gate roads have been proven successful in Australian conditions, albeit at additional cost, where two heading ventilation circuits cannot manage net seam gas emission to the ventilation system at the production rates required. In this respect, a further important driver for decision making is the short to medium term value of CO2-e emission taxation in Australia.CITATION:Moreby, R G, 2013. The rationale for use of three heading gate roads in Australian underground coal mines, in Proceedings The Australian Mine Ventilation Conference , pp 13-26 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Jul 1, 2013

By R. W. Pugh, D. G. Bellow

"This paper will describe how cultivator shanks are made in one company and how the manufacturing was studied with a view to increasing product consistency and reducing manufacturing cost. The product: which is used extensively in the agriculture industry, was analyzed to determine which geometric parameters optimized its design and whether there was justification for the great variety of styles and shapes that are available in the market. Finally, an extensive series of field trials were undertaken which showed that it is advantageous to the manufacturer to be better aware of the loads and forces that his product is subjected to by another industry.IntroductionStelco maintains a Research Group for its Western Region operations headquartered in Edmonton, Alberta. Because of the small staff, a location that is isolated with respect to its Burlington, Ontario centre and a diverse set of processes and products, a university relationship has developed which may be different from that which would be developed at a larger integrated Steel Works. This paper outlines the type of cooperative studies carried out by Stelco Inc. in Edmonton and the University of Alberta. .To meet the research needs covering a wide variety of steelmaking processes and steel products produced in Edmonton would require more staff and equipment than the sales volume in the West justifies. The gap is filled by cooperation with university personnel. This cooperation has provided these benefits to Stelco Inc.:• access to specialized test equipment and a trained staff to operate it; and• assistance from experts in the areas of product testing and problem solving.Moreover, the close proximity of the university to the plant allows frequent meetings and ensures that practical solutions are developed and implemented. A good example of the ongoing university I industry relationship developed is the joint work on improving cultivator shanks."

Jan 1, 1982

By Constance Holmes

President Lien presented Mrs. Holmes with the first of speaker appreciation gifts presented by his firm Amax Coal West, Inc. These were books by Rand-McNally entitled The Executive Golfer Guide. Following the coffee break, Clark Moseley presented the first annual Institute Safety Achievement Awards for the safest mines in the eight member state region. The awards were based on: 1. Total man-hours 2. Total number of lost time accidents 3. Incidence rate 4. Number of S&S violations 5. Description of safety program 6. Safety awards received 7. Health and safety training efforts 8. Safety Policies 9. Does the operation take employee suggestions and implement them? 10. Letter(s) of commendation from agencies individuals The awards were judged by the senior/graduate level class of Mine Safety & Health at the Colorado School of Mines under the supervision of professor Edward Hollop. The two handsome traveling trophies were awarded to and accepted by: Surface: Big Sky Mine. Colstrip, Montana Gordon Brannon, Manager of Safety Underground: Skyline Mine, Scofield, Utah Dave Hales. Safety Supervisor and Doug Johnson, General Production [ ]

Jan 1, 1998

By C. O. Lee, Z. W. Bartlett, R. H. Feierabend

The Grand Isle sulfur mine is located in the Gulf of Mexico, approximately seven miles off the coast of Grand Isle, Jefferson Parish, La. The deposit is on acreage covered by oil, gas, and mineral leases originally issued in favor of Humble Oil & Refining Co. by the State of Louisiana which were continued, maintained, and redesignated by the U.S. Department of the Interior after passage of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act. The sulfur deposit was discovered in 1949 when Humble Oil & Refining Co. penetrated more than 200 ft of sulfur-bearing limestone in a zone between 1813 and 2075 ft below sea level. In 1954, Humble drilled ten more sulfur prospect holes, eight of which encountered sulfur ore. On September 19, 1956, Freeport Sulphur Co. acquired from Humble Oil & Refining Co, the sulfur rights underlying the tracts, and the actual design of the installation began the same month. The first structural contract was awarded in December 1957 and offshore erection began in June 1958. The initial phase of construction has been completed and production by the Frasch process commenced in April 1960. The estimated total cost of the project is $30 million, of which $8 million is the extra cost incurred by the necessity of offshore operations. More than $22 million was expended before production was started. GEOLOGY OF DEPOSIT Grand Isle is the third largest sulfur deposit in the U.S. The orebody embraces several hundred acres, but its outer limits are yet to be defined to the northeast, east, and south. Most Gulf Coast sulfur deposits occur in a caprock mantle of calcite (referred to as limestone), anhydrite, and occasionally gypsum, which covers the apex of an intrusive mass of salt. Commercial quantities of sulfur are usually confined to the calcite or limestone member. Most often such limestone is completely enclosed by dense anhydrite below and impervious sediments above, which effectively form a closed reservoir. The depth of the Grand Isle orebody ranges from 1800 ft to 2500 ft below sea level. Within the present boundary, the sulfur-bearing limestone varies in thickness from 220 ft to 425 ft, while the sulfur content varies an average of about 15 pct in the leanest hole to an average of about 30 pct in the richest. Rock containing less than 5 pct sulfur is not classed as ore, and holes assaying less than 20,-000 long tons per acre of sulfur in place are not considered commercial offshore. The sulfur enrich-

Jan 1, 1961

By W. P. Yant

This report describes result of a study of the carbon monoxide and particulate matter in the air of the Holland, Tunnel and metropolitan New York made by the Bureau of Mines (which had participated in the development

Jan 1, 1941