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By M. Wickham

Design of an open pit backfill requires an understanding of highly varied processes including slope stability, hydrogeology, pit lake chemistry, climate, runoff, and mine waste behavior. Dynamic systems modeling (DSM) provides flexibility to the designers of open pit backfill, allowing them to directly integrate many different physical processes and varying levels of complexity. DSM also provides for the efficient application of uncertainty analysis to define a range of possible results, the sensitivity of the results to uncertainties in model inputs, and the value of additional data. This paper presents the results of an analysis using DSM to evaluate a pit backfill design at an Arizona mine. The objective of the partial backfill was to stabilize an active slope that threatened facilities adjacent to the pit. DSM was used, in part, to develop a pit lake water balance model for evaluating the influence of the backfill on the ability of the pit to maintain passive hydraulic containment of groundwater and surface water inflows and for evaluating costs for various backfill scenarios.

Jan 1, 2001

By D. D. Lei, H. Sevim

In a recently developed, long-term open pit production planning model, the optimal plan is found by exhaustively searching through nested pits of maximum metal contents. A more efficient, dynamic programming (DP) based search algorithm now replaces the exhaustive search algorithm that requires prohibitively long execution time in real life cases. The logic and formulation of the newly developed search algorithm are illustrated through a small hypothetical case. An actual gold deposit is treated to demonstrate that the algorithm does indeed find the optimal production plan among all possible plans. A comparison, in terms of computational savings between the two algorithms, is also given.

Jan 1, 1995

By Adriano Corrêa Batista, Bernardo Antônio Perez da Gama, Camila Freitas de Araújo, Paulo Santos Assis

O mexilhão dourado Limnoperna fortunei é uma espécie invasora que tem causado diversos problemas no ambiente aquático em razão da sua habilidade de formar colônias em estruturas. A espécie adere nas superfícies por filamentos proteicos, causando sérios danos ambientais, sociais e econômicos.O combate à incrustação biológica através do tratamento de superfícies submersas em ambientes de água doce com produtos naturais, em especial os oriundos de algas vermelhas, é o desafio apresentado.Com o banimento, em dimensão mundial, de insumos à base de tributilestanho - TBT na composição de tintas, desde 2008, tratamentos alternativos e ambientalmente adequados ganham maior apelo, considerando os riscos dos produtos alternativos atualmente aplicados. É descrito um conjunto de condições para espécies produtoras de metabólitos secundários com atividade anti-incrustante importante. Portanto, o trabalho tem como objetivo reforçar uma linha de pesquisa ampla dedicada a consolidar informações sobre o potencial de organismos marinhos como produtores de metabólitos secundários (produtos naturais) com atividade anti-incrustante, à luz da produção científica a ser analisada no espaço destinado à apresentação de resultados.

Nov 6, 2019

By Fabio Tavares Chamonge

Este trabalho visa mostrar os principais benefícios alcançados na qualidade dos produtos e a evolução da produtividade nas linhas de produção da Laminação a Frio com a estabilização operacional da nova Decapagem. Os recentes investimentos na modernização tecnológica, com a aquisição e implementação da nova Decapagem com os recursos modernos de controle e automação permitiu que houvesse uma evolução significativa da qualidade dos produtos, eliminando o desvio, reduzindo o descarte e melhorando a produtividade ao longo do processo de fabricação. Com inicio de funcionamento da nova Decapagem possibilitou processar bobinas com maior peso, maior flexibilidade na formação de bobinas soldadas e menores descartes por qualidade, estes fatores afetaram positivamente o peso médio na saída da Decapagem. A melhoria do material processado na nova linha proporcionou elevação da produtividade do Laminador de tiras a frio, considerando os aspectos: oleamento, planicidade, peso de bobina, solda e isenção de manchas e defeitos superficiais. O processo de Encruamento também foi beneficiado com peso de bobina e melhoria da forma do material. O produto final e os processos de acabamento também tiveram impactos positivos dos resultados obtidos na Decapagem 3.

Aug 16, 2017

By Leonardo Silva Motta

O carbureto de cálcio tem sido empregado em novas tecnologias para desoxidação e dessulfuração de aços de maneira crescente. A metodologia consiste na realização de um cronograma de projeto contendo dez atividades. Nos últimos anos houve aumento em cerca de 30% na utilização de carbureto de cálcio na metalurgia secundária das usinas brasileiras. Além desse expressivo aumento, vários trabalhos técnicos são apresentados todos os anos atestando as eficiências técnica, energética e financeira do carbureto de cálcio na produção de aço.

Jul 30, 2018

By Richard L. Wedertz

Although the physical appearance of excavating equipment doesn't seem to have radically changed over the past decade, important changes within the products and an innovative attitude on the part of the engineer in his design approach is becoming increasingly evident. The new philosophy is to go beyond simple refinements of existing designs that simply produce a machine which further reduces overall cost per ton or per cubic yard of material moved and to do it more efficiently than ever before. Standard ideas and preconceived notions have been discarded and have given way to providing a design and a machine that is best suited to get the job done. Understanding that the application will not always fit the machine, but, in most cases, the machine should fit or suit the application is a foremost consideration in the engineers' design criteria.

Jan 1, 1973

By Houghton BF

Ruapehu is an extremely active andesitic composite volcano, built in at least four cone- building episodes over the last 250 ka. The volcano was constructed by a variety of extrusive and subplinian, strombolian, phreatomagmatic and dome-related explosive eruptions from summit, flank, and satellite vents. The volcano may be subdivided into the cone itself, of volume 110 km3, and a surround- ing epiclastic ring plain of similar size. Four facies associations can be recognised at Ruapehu,-two each on the cone and on the ring plain. Neither cone nor ring plain provides a complete record of the history of the volcano. The cone is dominated by the products of extrusive eruption, as primary pyroclastic deposits are seldom preserved, being rapidly removed by erosion from the steep water- saturated and/or snow-covered flanks of the cone. The ring plain consists of the products of mostly explosive activity forming an alter- nation of primary pyroclastic fall deposits and material transported from the cone by lahars, floods and debris avalanches and then rapidly reworked in sediment-choked hyperconcentrated Streams.

Jan 1, 1987

By D. vas As, Constance M. Vleggaar, P. D. Toens

A facility at the National Nuclear Research Centre, Pelindaba, for the calibration of gamma survey meters used in uranium-prospecting operations by P. D. TOENS, D.Sc. (Fellow), D. van ASt, M.Sc. (Visitor), and CONSTANCE M. VLEGGAAR, B.Se. (Visitor) Ground radiometric surveys in uranium prospecting have in the past suffered from two serious shortcomings. Owing to varying instrument sensitivity and the often arbitrary height at which readings are taken, it has been impossible to compare results obtained in different surveys and, moreover, to relate such readings to actual U30s concentrations. A set of calibration sources designed to overcome these problems has recently been constructed on the site of the National Nuclear Research Centre, Pelindaba. A discussion of the standards applied and the instrument calibration procedure is presented.

By L. Fernandes

A factorial study was performed to investigate the relative effects of temperature, copper concentration and meso-2,3-dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) concentration on the performance of thiosulfate leaching of gold. A total of 24 leaching experiments were performed representing eight unique combinations of high-low levels of the three factors performed in triplicate. All investigations were performed in an electrochemical cell with an electrolyte composed of 0.1 M sodium thiosulfate with a combination of copper (either 0 mM or 1 mM) and DMSA (either 0???or 1µM). All leaching investigations were conducted under open circuit while the electrolyte, which was open to the atmosphere and mechanically stirred, was maintained at either 25°C or 50°C. After 1.5h of leaching the amount of gold in solution was quantified using ICP-MS analysis from an aliquot of the electrolyte. Results indicate that DMSA addition improved gold leaching performance, most notably at 50°C and with addition of copper. Under this unique condition, the quantity of gold in solution was reproducibly and significantly above the average response of all other factors studied.

Jan 1, 2014

By L. Fernandes

A two level factorial study was undertaken to investigate the relative impacts of factors affecting the kinetics of polytetrafluoroethylene, PTFE, assisted pressure oxidation of chalcopyrite. A copper flotation concentrate, principally composed of chalcopyrite, was leached in 850 mL of leach solution under conditions similar to those of the CESL process. The factors manipulated were: the amount of 1/8" PTFE beads added (100 g or 650 g), oxygen pressure (690 kPa or 1030 kPa), and concentrate addition (10 grams or 65 grams). Copper extraction data, which indicated complete leaching under certain conditions, were fit using a shrinking core model from which rate constants were estimated and further used to generate a statistical model containing only the factors of significance and their interactions. Results indicated a strong positive effect of PTFE addition and a strong negative effect of increasing pulp density. A weak negative interaction between increasing PTFE addition and pulp density was attributed to PTFE/concentrate agglomeration.

Jan 1, 2014

By A. Zorychta, T. Cyrul, Z. Kleczek

INTRODUCTION Underground mining causes disturbances of the primary state of stresses. Resulting from those disturbances a loss of stability of rocks that surround excavation may occur interrupting the production and creating life danger for the personnel. One of the manifestations of such an instability is a rock burst phenomenon which mainly occurs at great depths. From the mechanical mint of view the rock burst is a loss of stability /Filcek et a1.,1984; Pietuchow and Linkow, 1976/ due to : - quasi-static stress changes in the surrounding rocks; we will call it s seam burst , - dynamic stress changes in the surrounding rocks caused by rock shocks ; we will call it roof burst. Possibility of the rock burst occurrence Is uniquely determined by the state of stresses existing in the rock mass. In the following sections of the paper we will consider different aspects of this question. Moreover distributions of displacements and failure criteria for a coal seam at longwall mining will be defined. STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM Determination of the vertical stresses and displacements resulting from longwail mining will be based on the Budryk’s idea of a stress wave /Salustowicz, 1955/. The idea originates from the analysis of a roof plate /beam/ resting on the deformable foundation /Sean/ and subjected to the cylindrical bending. Equation of the bending lice uniquely defines vertical stresses and displacements which are induced in the seam. The equation will account only the shear force effect. Elimination of the bending moment has been shown and discussed by Zorychta and Bcrecki /Zorychta, 1985; Borecki and

Jan 1, 1986

By Robert Glass Cleland

THE MEMBERS of the Phelps-Dodge, Phelps-James co- partnership differed widely from one another in certain aspects of temperament and personality; but in one thing Anson Phelps, William Dodge, and Daniel James were fundamentally alike. They were all bred in the English Puritan tradition. Their creed, moreover, was the stern, militant, uncompromising creed of John Calvin and John Knox. The present generation, harshly intolerant of such a creed, has little understanding of the authority it exercised on the thinking and conduct of its adherents or of the contributions that those same adherents made to human welfare and social progress. The men who accepted its authority "were characterized by a blend of strong individualism and an equally strong sense of social duty, and they submitted their own souls to the same searching scrutiny that they applied to their business ledgers." To all three of the immediate founders of Phelps Dodge, their religion was the most real and important thing in life. It was with them day and night, in joy and sorrow, in loss and prosperity, in their most trivial personal affairs, in business transactions of the greatest moment. It was with

Jan 1, 1952

By Tuncel M. Yegulalp

In this paper we revisit the well known "Ultimate Pit Limit Problem" and suggest an alternative approach for fast and efficient solution. We follow the approach originally proposed by Johnson and Barnes (1988), but utilize the "Excess Scaling Algorithm" in solving the equivalent maximum flow problem. This algorithm provides significant increases in speed and reduction in memory requirements over the well known Labeling Algorithm of Ford and Fulkerson (1956), enabling one to solve large problems with relatively small computers. We present results of a series: of benchmark tests using this approach against the well known Lerchs Grossman algorithm as well as a brief description of the new algorithm.

Jan 1, 1992

A methodology for the fatigue life estimation of load haul dumpers, employed in underground platinum mines, has been developed and applied. This method entails the quantification of operating conditions by means of stress measurements. The measurements are then translated into a fatigue loading factor for a finite element model. The results of this analysis are then used to compare all the critical connections in the structure to detail categories in relevant fatigue codes, and predict a life in operating hours for the vehicle structure. The method was applied on a specific model and the results of this analysis were compared to actual failure occurrences with reasonable accuracy. It is intended that the methodology be embedded into performance specifications and purchasing contracts and that technology transfer to OEMs be achieved. Based on the experience of this project and other similar exercises it is estimated that structural life expectancies may be increased across a typical fleet of trackless mining vehicles (LHDs, drill rigs, utility vehicles, dump trucks) by at least 20 per cent.

Jan 1, 2005

By Sukumar Bandopadhyay

A present dominant problem is that of high downtime of the longwall shearer used in the coal production process. The means by which this problem can be overcome are many, but one of, the most important ones is that the-use of an expert system can reduce diagnostic and repair time. In this paper, a fault-diagnostic expert system model is presented. Specifically, the diagnostic architecture of the longwall shearer expert system and its use for diagnostic reasoning are discussed.

Jan 1, 1989

By M. Kanefsky, A. Q. K. Rajput

Two channel polarity coincidence and polarity difference statistics are analyzed. The signal, common to both channels, consists of sinusoidal bursts where the exact frequency of the signal is nearly known, but other parameters such as amplitude, phase, and pulse starting time are unknown. The noise inputs are dependent, narrow band, Markov processes. It is shown that the performance depends not only on the signal uncertainties but on the precise shape of the cross-correlation functions between the noise inputs. By using two polarity difference statistics in addition to the polarity coincidence statistic, it is shown that the decrease in performance, as well as the cost of hard limiting due to correlated inputs, can be made small.

Jan 11, 1981

By William R. Hess

Volcanic ash, although a little-used Kansas resource, is available in forty counties with estimated, reserves of more than 20 million tons. It was first produced in Kansas in the early 1900?s but not until the early 1920 is did it become an important abrasive material. Total production to date is estimated at 2 million tons, the major use being as an abrasive in scouring compounds and soaps, additional uses include ceramic glazes, an additive in cement, and a filler and stabilizer in hot mix asphalt for paving. Unrecorded tonnages have also been used in construction of black-top (macadam) roads. From 1916 through 1944, Kansas ranked first among the states in volcanic ash production; peak production was about 52, 000 tons in 1923. Since 1945, production has steadily declined, primarily because materials other than volcanic ash are now being used for abrasives; only two producers operated in 1964.

Jan 1, 1965

By Kerstin Malmqvist

Simulation technique has been used for a feasibility study of a deep exploration project for massive, sulphides in an old mining district, the Skellefte field. An interactive computerized mathematical model of an ore field and a drilling procedure has been constructed. It is possible to represent varying geological structures. The model also takes in consideration economical factors such as drilling costs and ore values. On this model Monte Carlo simulations and probability calculations are done in order to estimate the outcome of different drilling strategies under varying geological assumptions. Under the specific conditions of the well known Skellefte field, it is found to be possible to even calibrate the mathematical model.

Jan 1, 1979

By W. Dresler

"A major Canadian chromite deposit at Bird River, Manitoba is one of the largest known chromite reserves in North America but it exhibits low chromium contents and low chromium to iron ratios. Commercial beneficiation techniques permit these ores to be upgraded to concentrations which, however, remain inferior to most other ores and concentrates used worldwide f or production of high-carbon ferrochromium. Analyses for reduction of low-grade concentrates by submerged-arc electrofurnace techniques predict chromium contents between 45.9% and 51% for a high-carbon ferrochromium alloy. Relatively high over-all chromium recoveries between 79.5% and 91. 1% can be achieved. Alloy compositions for Cr, Fe, C and Si are determined for various burdens with low-grade concentrates. Consumption data per ton contained chromium are obtained for electric power, coke, concentrate, quartzite and limestone. The data are compared with those of high-carbon ferrochromium producers in South Africa. Economic aspects are discussed and compared with a South African reference study.IntroductionThe present ferrochromium demand in the western world is estimated at approximately 1.7 Mt with a consumption of approximately 0.36 Mt in the U.S.III and 0.03 Mt in Canada'-', A low estimate of the installed production capacity for ferrochromium in the non -communist world is 2.4 Mt. This production capacity of ferrochromium by far exceeds the demand, which is also evident from the fact that no shortage in supply of ferrochromium to the world markets was encountered in the past. Supply-demand comparisons therefore suggest that in the foreseeable future no new chromite or chromium producers should enter the world markets unless superior chromites or superior technologies are successful in competing with existing producers. Neither one of these conditions exist presently in Ca nada or the U.S., although essentially no ferrochromium is produced and no chromite is mined in these countries at the present time."

Jan 1, 1986

By R. Shen

This paper presents results of a feasibility study of recycling manganese furnace dust generated in production of ferromanganese and silicomanganese at Tasmanian Electrometallurgical Company, Australia. Dried manganese furnace dust contains about 20 wt% of carbon, in average 33.4 wt% of manganese and 1.3 wt% of zinc. Manganese in the dust is in the form of MnO, Mn3O4 and MnCO3; zinc is mainly in the form of ZnO andZnSO4. Analysis of the zinc balance with dust recycling showed that to keep zinc intake at the acceptable level, it should be partly removed from the dust. In the reduction laboratory experiments, zinc oxide was reduced to zinc vapour by tar of the dust. Reduction of zinc oxide started at 800°C and zinc removal rate increased with increasing temperature; removal of zinc was close to completion at 1100oC. Optimal conditions for removing zinc from the dust include temperature in the range 1000-1150°C, inert gas atmosphere and furnace dust fraction in the furnace dust-manganese ore mixture above 60%. In the sintering of manganese ore with addition of manganese dust in the sintering pot, zinc was reoxidised and deposited in the sinter bed. Removal of zinc in the sintering pot tests was in the range 4-17%. Up to 30% zinc removal was achieved from the bottom layer of the sinter bed. It can be concluded that zinc removal will be low during the processing of manganese furnace dust in the sinter plant. The zinc removal rate will be the highest when pelletised manganese furnace dust is added to the bottom layer of the sintering bed.

Jan 1, 2007