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Mining is taking place at increasing depths of cover on the Southern Coalfield beneath predominantly massive sandstone strata. Within the next twenty years, there will be longwall mining at depths greater than 600 m. As the Sydney Metropolitan area continues to expand and as coal mining approaches these urban areas subsidence will continue to become an increasinglY important aspect of coal mining research. Investigations, commenced in the mid 1960's, allow prediction of subsidence in the Southern Coalheld with reasonable confidence. The work is showing that the characteristics of thc subsidence troughs over the deeper mining at Appin differ from the characteristics of mine subsidence at less cover.The longwall mining at Appin Colliery has resulted in a maximum measured subsidenee of 730 mm. The maximum strains were small because of the large radii of curvature of the subsidence profiles. There was no damage to any of the buildings in the township of Appin.

Jan 1, 1982

By David Oyler, Craig Compton

The The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Pittsburgh Research Laboratory (PRL) is continuing to investigate the behavior of fully grouted roof bolts in the weak roof rock of the Safety Research Coal Mine (SRCM). This paper describes the results of three studies: • A series of 24 pull tests of bolts installed fully grouted and overcored to leave 12 inches of grouted bolt. The tests compared the pull-out performance of offset-head roof bolts with that of standard 5/8-inch bolts; • A second series of 24 tests that compared the pull-out loads obtained by bolts installed with 1 ft of resin (a Short Encapsulation Pull Test or SEPT) to that of fully grouted bolts overcored to leave only 12 inches of grouted bolt, and; • An investigation into the pressures generated during the installation of fully grouted resin bolts. All of the bolts installed and pulled were overcored and removed from the roof after the pull tests to allow inspection of the resin. The first study found that there was no significant difference in pullout load between the offset-head bolts and the standard bolts. The second study, comparing the SEPT bolts and the partially-overcored fully grouted bolts, indicated that SEPT can significantly underestimate bolt anchorage grip factor, suggesting that the SEPT is a conservative measure of actual bolt performance. Significant loss of resin to cracks in the roof was observed in the bolts overcored in the SRCM. The third study explored one possible explanation for the resin loss, high pressures generated during bolt installation. These tests employed bolts installed in strain gauged steel tubes. The results confirmed that significant pressures (greater than 4,000 psi) can be generated during bolt installation. The results of the pressure tests, combined with the observations of resin loss in bolts installed in the SRCM, suggest that under some circumstances resin loss and under-encapsulation could take place and lead to degraded bolt performance. Glove fingering was observed in all recovered bolts to various degrees. The limited comparative data suggested that the effect of glove fingering ranged from slight to moderate. Complete mixing of the resin was observed on all of the 40 bolts recovered (28 fully grouted and 12 SEPT). Australian and U.S. resins were compared and the Australian resins were observed to have much smaller catalyst compartment areas and lower resin viscosities. These differences are suggested as potential explanations for occasional resin mixing problems noted in Australian resin bolt installations.

By Miguel Rutti

El presente trabajo señala la geología, litología y mineralización del yacimiento minero El Tapado del distrito Yanacocha, situado al norte de Cajamarca. Este se encuentra conformado por diferentes depósitos auríferos epitermales de alta sulfuración, los cuales se desarrollan dentro de un vulcanismo calco-alcalino de composición andesítica a dacítica de edad Mioceno y son correlacionables con la Formación Porculla del Grupo Calipuy. La geología del depósito está conformada por rocas porfiríticas (intrusiones) y flujos piroclásticos tales como tufos de cristales, tufos líticos y brechas piroclásticas afectados por eventos eruptivos de brechas freáticas - freatomagmáticas. Todas estas rocas han sufrido posterior alteración hidrotermal con ensambles típicos de sistemas tipo ácido-sulfato. La mineralización económica está controlada por procesos hidrotermales y se encuentra asociada a sílice masiva y sílice vuggy ( 1-10 g/t Au y estructuras de hasta 136 g/t Au ) y en menor grado sílice alunita y sílice granular (moderada a baja ley).

Apr 22, 2003

By Leo F. Reinartz

It was with humility that I accepted the invitation of the Board of Directors of our Institute to deliver the Twentieth Howe Memorial Lecture. Many previous lecturers could speak from personal experience of the great work done by Professor Howe. It was not my privilege to be one of his students but, indirectly, I came under the influence of his work many years ago. My mentor in Metallurgy at Carnegie Institute of Technology, Prof. Fred Crab tree, was an ardent admirer of Professor Howe and his work. Professor Crabtree taught me early to appreciate Professor Howe's love of truth and keen desire to find a scientific reason for every metallurgical phenomenon. In this early search, Professor Howe encountered many unexplainable facts. Nevertheless, in the classic text, "The Metallurgy of Steel," published in 1891, he indicated that he believed Research could light the way. Under the heading of "The Treachery of Steel" he said: "In the early use of Bessemer and Open Hearth Steel, many then unexplained and hence mysterious failures occurred. With our present knowledge, an easy explanation of most of them would probably have been seen. But even today certain unexplained and apparently inexpli- cable failures occur in steel; inexplicable in spite of full and intelligent investigation." Then Professor Howe continued to talk about "the trustworthiness of steel" in the following manner: First, the steel-maker has learned by experience. He knows today far better the effects of a high percentage of carbon or of phosphorus; of cracks, pipes and blow-holes; of segregation and imperfect mixing; of over-heating; of finishing too hot or too cold. Knowing, he guards against them more effectually, and keeps at home much steel that he would formerly have sent into the market. Those who would not, or could not learn and do, have been driven out of the business; the conditions necessary for producing good sound steel by the acid Bessemer and the acid Open Hearth processes have been mastered. By and by, the basic process came along with new conditions, new liabilities to unsoundness, a great hue and cry about mysterious fractures followed, and Lloyd's register provisionally forbade the use of basic steel. Much basic steel was irregular and brittle throughout; too much carbon, too much phosphorus, too cold teemings—imperfect mixing. Still there was little doubt that, with further experience, these difficulties of the basic process would be mastered as those of the acid process had been. This shows that Professor Howe could not take anything for granted. Believing that careful research would find the answer to all mysterious phenomena, he was several generations ahead of the practical acceptance and adoption of this principle.

Jan 1, 1943

By Leo F. Reinartz

It was with humility that I accepted the invitation of the Board of Directors of our Institute to deliver the Twentieth Howe Memorial Lecture. Many previous lecturers could speak from personal experience of the great work done by Professor Howe. It was not my privilege to be one of his students but, indirectly, I came under the influence of his work many years ago. My mentor in Metallurgy at Carnegie Institute of Technology, Prof. Fred Crab tree, was an ardent admirer of Professor Howe and his work. Professor Crabtree taught me early to appreciate Professor Howe's love of truth and keen desire to find a scientific reason for every metallurgical phenomenon. In this early search, Professor Howe encountered many unexplainable facts. Nevertheless, in the classic text, "The Metallurgy of Steel," published in 1891, he indicated that he believed Research could light the way. Under the heading of "The Treachery of Steel" he said: "In the early use of Bessemer and Open Hearth Steel, many then unexplained and hence mysterious failures occurred. With our present knowledge, an easy explanation of most of them would probably have been seen. But even today certain unexplained and apparently inexpli- cable failures occur in steel; inexplicable in spite of full and intelligent investigation." Then Professor Howe continued to talk about "the trustworthiness of steel" in the following manner: First, the steel-maker has learned by experience. He knows today far better the effects of a high percentage of carbon or of phosphorus; of cracks, pipes and blow-holes; of segregation and imperfect mixing; of over-heating; of finishing too hot or too cold. Knowing, he guards against them more effectually, and keeps at home much steel that he would formerly have sent into the market. Those who would not, or could not learn and do, have been driven out of the business; the conditions necessary for producing good sound steel by the acid Bessemer and the acid Open Hearth processes have been mastered. By and by, the basic process came along with new conditions, new liabilities to unsoundness, a great hue and cry about mysterious fractures followed, and Lloyd's register provisionally forbade the use of basic steel. Much basic steel was irregular and brittle throughout; too much carbon, too much phosphorus, too cold teemings—imperfect mixing. Still there was little doubt that, with further experience, these difficulties of the basic process would be mastered as those of the acid process had been. This shows that Professor Howe could not take anything for granted. Believing that careful research would find the answer to all mysterious phenomena, he was several generations ahead of the practical acceptance and adoption of this principle.

Jan 1, 1943

By W. W. Adams

"The main purpose in the compilation of accident statistics is to reveal conditions that may result in injury to persons or property so that remedial measures may be applied. For practical reasons it is usually found necessary to restrict inquiry to conditions which actually have caused personal injury, and to omit those which nay, but have not yet, resulted in damage, Fortunately or unfortunately, there is a sufficient number of the former to indicate the existence of hazards so numerous as to require all of the attention which the industry can devote to the subject.Two years ago, the Bureau of 'mines, in cooperation with the National Safety Council, undertook an intensive campaign to obtain more complete and satisfactory information regarding mine accidents than had theretofore been available. Since 1911 the bureau had been receiving annual summaries from all companies operating metal mines, showing, in a general way, the number and causes of accidents that occurred during the preceding year and the number of men employed at the mines. Monthly summaries of fatal accidents at coal mines were received from the state inspectors, showing the number of deaths attributed to each of 22 main causes of accidents, Information for individual coal mines was not furnished.While this information, nation-wide in scope, is indispensable because it epitomizes the progress or retrogression in the industry as a whole, and serves as a background of specialized studies, yet certain classes of acci¬dents, for example, those that are more or less peculiar to specific districts or mines, require an analysis in greater detail than is possible on the sole basis afforded by the annual summaries.The need for more specific information was realized some years ago in the State of Pennsylvania in connection with the administration of the workmen's compensation law, The mining industry is well acquainted with the val¬uable studies of accidents, particularly nonfatal accidents, in the mines of that State being conducted by Mr. Rush N. Hosier."

Sep 1, 1924

By Forrest C. Neil, Clint J. Keifer

The pollution of our water supply, Lake Michigan, is a continuing threat so long as our overflows from combined sewers exist. The problems have become even more acute during recent years, due to the increase of paved area- which accelerates and enlarges the flows of storm water. After each storm, mixtures of raw sewage and storm water spill into our waterways. If the storm is too large for the drainage systems, the mixture backs up into our streets and basements. Under severe conditions, it may even become necessary to open the locks, and discharge the polluted water into Lake Michigan. Consider the scope of the problem, as shown in Figure 1. The area in which combined sewers exist is 375 square miles, located in the central parts of Chicago and 49 suburbs. There are an estimated 640 overflow outlets to the waterways, each requiring attention. The capacity of outlets tributary to the waterways has increased dramatically over the years. Each time a pocket of upstream flooding is drained into the channels, the problem of its rapid disposition increases. Another difficulty is that the bottom of our waterways is covered with a blanket of accumulated sludge, ranging in depth up to 3-feet. This material harms the water quality by depleting the supply of oxygen dissolved in the water ... a final

Jan 1, 1997

Engineering education has become a matter of national concern, at last, so I would like to talk about the links between the mining industry, the universities and technological developments. The Australasian mining industry and the mining schools have collaborated closely since the first school was established in 1871 and during those years there were a series of remarkable technological developments. For example:In the late 1880s George AndersoIl Richard developed chloride leaching of gold at Mt Morgan. This made a large difference to the wealth of Mt Morgan Mining Ltd.In the mid 1890s Robert Sticht demonstrated that pyrite smelting was an economically feasible process at Mt Lyell and the wealth which came to Mt Lyell Mining Co from his outstanding work made it one of the great companies in the country.During the first 15 years of this century flotation was developed at Broken Hill and it has proved to be one of the great technological inventions of this century.In the 1920s G K Williams started his outstanding work on lead smelting and refining at Port Pirie, this was work which ultimately re-wrote the text book on lead metallurgy and established Port Pirie as the mecca for lead metallurgists.In the 1920s also Frank Stillwell, later joined by Austin Edwards, established the new science of mineragraphy at the University of Melbourne. They were both great geologists, both were superb scientists and oddly enough both were outstanding athletes.In the 1930s Dr Ian Wark, a man in the front rank of Australian scientists of any period, started his outstanding work on flotation, work which resulted in a text book which remains a leader in its field today.In the 1930s also Arnold Black at Broken Hill South Ltd picked up the work which had been done at Mt Lyell many years previously and eventually wrote the papers on hydraulic fill which demonstrated that he led the world in fill technology. What a remarkable story of achievement it was, it laid the groundwork for the great industry we have today. It was possible because the industry was well supported by outstanding university schools and I would like to talk about some of these.

Jan 1, 1989

By A. J. Hynes, Lutes. G. G., Ravenelle. J. -F.

"The Anomaly A area of the Clarence Stream gold deposits in southwestern New Brunswick contains mineralized structures that bear geometrical relationships to regional folding events. The four mineralized zones of Anomaly A (AD, MW, 93, and Murphy) are hosted by turbiditic graywacke, quartzose wacke, siltstone, and argillite sequences of the Kendall Mountain Formation. A regional scale structural analysis reflects at least four deformational events, three of which appear to control the folded geometry of Anomaly A (D2, D3, and D4). F2 and F3 folds are coaxial and are refolded into a dome and basin geometry by F4 folds. The mineralized zones are subparallel to axial surfaces of F2 folds. Structural analysis of a mineralized zone exposed at surface indicates that gold mineralization is hosted by a quartz-vein system that comprises veins generated during both D2 and D3. Threedimensional representations of Anomaly A created using drill-core data and ®GoCAD suggest that the quartz-vein system was emplaced in fault structures during D2 as well as within brecciated dilation zones during D3. Three of the four zones that make up Anomaly A have F2 hinge surfaces that can be linked through a geometry compatible with the style of F3 and F4 folds. The apparent continuity of these three zones indicates the potential for kilometer-scale mineralized structures at Anomaly A. Le secteur de l’Anomalie A du gisement aurifère Clarence Stream contient des zones minéralisées qui montrent des relations géométriques avec les épisodes de déformation régionale. Les quatre zones minéralisées de l’Anomalie A (AD, MW, 93, Murphy) sont comprises dans une séquence turbiditique composée de grauwacke, de wacke quartzitique, de siltstone, et d’argilite appartenant à la Formation de Kendall Mountain. Des quatre épisodes de déformation étudiés par l’entremise de cartographie structurale, trois semblent contrôler la géométrie de l’Anomalie A (D2, D3, et D4). Les plis P2 et P3 sont coaxiaux et sont replissés en dômes et bassins par les plis P4. Les zones minéralisées sont subparallèles aux plans axiaux des plis P2. Une analyse structurale effectuée sur une zone minéralisée exposée à la surface indique que la minéralisation aurifère est localisée dans un système de veines de quartz qui contient des veines générées durant D2 et D3. Des représentations en trois-dimensions créées avec le programme informatique ®GoCAD à partir de données de forages suggèrent que le système de veines est localisé dans des zones de failles D2 ainsi que dans des zones de dilatation associées avec D3. Trois des quatre zones qui forment l’Anomalie A possèdent des plans axiaux P2 qui peuvent être liés par l’entremise d’une géométrie qui respecte le style des plis P3 et P4. La continuité apparente de ces trois zones indique qu’une structure minéralisée pourrait s’étendre sur plusieurs kilomètres dans le secteur de l’Anomalie A."

Jan 1, 2008

By Russell R. McLellan

Under the Heavy Metals Program, investigations were conducted at the old Badger dill placer mini in Nevada County California to collect data and information regarding drilling and sampling methods and deposit characteristics. The studies contributed to a team effort by five Bureau of Mines research groups to develop new or improved placer mining technology in the Tertiary gold-bearing channel gravel of northern California. This report describes the techniques used and the results obtained in the sampling and drilling stage of deposit delineation studies that were conducted by the Denver Mine Systems Engineering Group. Sampling included the collection and processing of 400 tons of largo and small volume samples from drill holes, underground workings, surface pits, and blast hole rounds. A total of 355 samples averaging 2,296 pounds per sample provided reasonably accurate data for analysis of the gold distribution. These studies indicate that the bulk of the gold is within 40 foot of bedrock in stacked, lenticular zones of cemented gravel that are largely confined to the relatively narrow, meandering course of the deepest portion of the bedrock channel. Drilling studies involved the testing of three types of truck-mounted drills including rotary, bucket and vibratory, none of which proved to be a completely versatile tool for sampling quickly and reliably both consolidated and unconsolidated gravel.

Jan 1, 2012

By J. R. Allsup

Air pollutants in exhaust gas produced from LP-gas (propane) were studied using both laboratory engines and vehicles. The objective of the study was to evaluate engine parameters relating to the advantageous use of propane as a low-pollution fuel. Some comparisons are made between gasoline, natural gas, and propane. Results show that engines can operate over a wider range of A/F with minimum carbon monoxide and hydrocarbon emission when using propane than when using gasoline. Mixture enrichment using propane is unnecessary during cold starts, thereby eliminating the emission penalty during warmup. Carbon monoxide and hydrocarbon emission using propane are unaffected by ambient temperature. The photochemical reactivity of hydrocarbon emission is considerably lower with propane than with gasoline.

Jan 1, 1972

By K L. Brown

In the Waiotapu geothermal area only Champagne Pool, 109 ng/L, and Waiotapu Geyser, 7.6 ng/L, have dissolved Au concentrations greater than 5 ng/L and most springs have concentrations less than 2 ng/L. When Au concentration data are combined with other physico-chemical data from each spring including; pH, reduced sulphur concentration and temperature, the degree of Au saturation can be calculated. All samples sites except Champagne Pool, Waiotapu Geyser and the Artists Palette are under-saturated with respect to Au(s) by 1 to 3 orders of magnitude. This indicates that adsorption or co-precipitation or both are important processes depositing Au beneath hot springs. Deposition of Au by adsorption or co-precipitation beneath hot springs implies that dissolved Au may not have to reach saturation concentrations for ore to deposit. This interpretation is supported by the presence of substantial Au as sub-microscopic components within sulphide minerals in ore deposits and indicates depositional efficiency beyond that possible through precipitation of Au(s).

Jan 1, 2004

A review of historic mining information and geological literature pertaining to the Alpine Mine, Lyell Goldfield has been completed. As a result of this work the Alpine reef is inferred to be associated with an upright anticline with a sub-horizontal axis. Structural profiles prepared from limited underground data indicate that the reef is subparallel to the eastern limb of the anticline and cuts across the western limb. Reassessment of structural mapping completed by the New Zealand Geological Survey indicates that Greenland Group metasediments within the Lyell Goldfield are folded into a series of opposed assymetic folds with sub-horizontal axes. It is suggested that the anticline which harbours the Alpine Reef is located on the axis of a synclinorium. Along the western limb of the synclinorium the subsidiary folds have steep west dipping limbs and shallow east dipping limbs (western sense of assymmetry) whereas shallow west dips and steep east dips are typical of the eastern limb. The notion of quartz mineralisation occupying the axis of a synclinorium is contrary to the situation in the Reefton Goldfield where quartz mineralisation is affiliated with folds associated with an anticlinorium. Historic mine data reveals that below No.4 Level the quartz-gold mineralisation, in the Alpine Mine, occupied a steeply dipping ore channel. The strike of the channel was to the northwest and within this structure the are shoots plunged to the north at approximately 40¦. Archival mine plans show that two quartz bodies, the North and South Blocks, were present at No. 4 Level. Although the North Block was followed down to No 14 Level (530 m vertically below the surface outcrop) the South Block was only mined as far as No 7 Level. Sampling on No 7 Level together with the results of trial mining suggest that the grade of quartz underfoot in South Block is low. Information from the Mines Statements and mapping undertaken by the Gold Prospecting Scheme reveals that faulting had a profound influence on the intregity and extent of the Alpine Reef. The reef occupies a Inajor shear zone but little is known about it. It is also apparent that below No 7 Level the reef was progressively shattered by faulting and this may be the chief reason for the decrease in grade in the lower levels of the mine. No substantive facts are available about wall rock alteration effects adjacent to the Alpine Reef Still this is not surprising considering that comments on the mineralised pug envelope and breccias adjacent to the mined quartz shoots at the Globe - Progress Prospect were omitted from contemporary publications. In spite of this the existance of sulphide bearing reef casing lithologies cannot be completely dismissed since 9.15 m of 'reef track' has been reported in Reids No 2 Level.

Jan 1, 1996

By D. A. Elgillani, M. C. Fuerstenau, J. D. Miller

Adsorption of lead and ferric iron on quartz and alumina is presented as a function of pH. Only the hydrolyzed species of these metal ions, FeOH++ and PbOH+, adsorb significantly on each of these minerals. Zeta potentials of quartz were measured as a function of pH in the presence of various additions of aluminum, lead, and magnesium salts. Sign reversal occurs at the pH values where significant concentrations of hydroxy complexes are formed. Models of adsorption are presented in the absence and presence of collector. The mechanism of adsorption of metal and collector species in the activation of nonmetallic minerals is still the center of considerable discussion in spite of the extensive study given this system. Until recently, the view was widely held that hydrated metal ions were responsible for this phenomenon. This fact is surprising, since it had been shown that the pH range in which flotation is effected corresponds to that in which metal ion hydrolysis occurs.' Additional support of this concept was pro vided by the work of Wolstenholme and Schulman in another system.' Later work has shown that hydroxy complexes of metal ions are the active species. These studies have also indicated that basic aqueous complexes of metal-collector may be necessary for flotation.3-7 Depending on the molecular weight of the collector, formation of these complexes may occur before or after precipitation of the metal-collector salt has occurred. Ion pair formation can occur when low molecular weight collectors are involved because relatively high concentrations of metal hydroxy complex and collector can be present in solution before precipitation occurs. This is not the case when high molecular weight collectors are used. A model of aqueous complex adsorption has been presented6,7 in which it has been assumed that adsorption occurs by the formation of water from adsorbed hydroxyl and hydrogen of the hydroxyl contained in the complex. Other authors8 have suggested that hy-droxy complexes are involved in these systems but that collector adsorption occurs by replacement of the hydroxyl of the adsorbed metal hydroxy complex with a fatty acid anion. All of these investigations have involved mineral surfaces that were negatively charged so that it is not possible to state with certainty whether hydrated metal ions or hydroxy complexes are the active species in this system. Use of a positively charged mineral should be helpful, however, since the hydrated metal ion will be repelled from this surface. On the other hand, if the hydroxy complex adsorbs by splitting out water, surface charge should have no effect because of the free energy decrease that the system will experience when water is formed. In this regard, sapphire is well-suited for study, since its surface is positively charged until approximately pH 9. Electrokinetic studies of quartz in the presence of various metal ions should also be useful in establishing the mechanisms of adsorption in these systems. That is, if the hydroxy complexes adsorb by water formation, drastic changes in the zeta potential should occur in the pH range in which hydrolysis occurs. In this view, adsorption of ions of widely different hydrolysis characteristics on both sapphire and quartz was measured. In addition, zeta potentials of quartz were measured as a function of pH in the presence of various metal ions and compared with flotation responses obtained under similar conditions. Experimental Materials and Techniques Reagent-grade aluminum, ferric and magnesium chlorides, and lead nitrate were used in this investigation. Adjustments in pH were made with reagent-grade HCl or KOH. Conductivity water, made by passing distilled water through an ion exchange column, was used in all of the experiments.

Jan 1, 1971

By Duane L. Abata

Toxic gases produced by the detonation of six explosives were measured in an underground hardrock metal mine during actual mining operations. The six explosives included two semi-gelatin dynamites, three slurry explosives and an ammonium-nitrate, fuel-oil/ammonia dynamite combination. Explosives were detonated at the face of a drift and the toxic gases produced by the detonation were trapped to the end of the drift by a bulkhead located a short distance away from the face. Toxic gas concentrations were then measured with direct readout instruments and together with the containment volume, the toxic gas volumes per mass of explosive were calculated. Toxic gas measurements were found in the following ranges (ft3/lbm): N02 0.010-0.035; N02, 0.003-0.019; CO, 0.08-0.30; S02, 0.00-0.05; and C02, 0.7-1.8. Results showed that toxic gas production (ft3/lbm) correlated with the densities (kg/m3) and energy densities (kJ/kg) of the explosives tested.

Jan 1, 1978

A tectonic interpretation of the Coromandel Peninsula which suggests that the basement underwent tensional collapse at its northern and southern ends would permit more ready penetration of late stage magmatic fluids. This hypothesis is consistent with regional trends of the chloride content of low grade geothermal waters and of the yield of gold and silver per unit weight of quartz worked. The consequences of such a model are that mercury should not only be a good pathfinder for Coromandel gold, but that it should be correlative with ratios of base metals high in the zoning or paragenetic sequences to those lower in the sequences. This is demonstrated successfully in an area of mineralisation in the southern Coromandel.

Jan 1, 1987

By R. H. T. Garnett

N.B. This paper provoked much (positive!) discussion in later issues, with responses from the author (and thanks also for the many private contributions he had received) - see under Garnett R.H.T. Expanded version of a paper originally presented at the Alluvial mining conference, London, 11-13 November 1991 and published in Alluvial mining, Barking: Elsevier Applied Science for IMM, 1991, p.115-156. The usual measure of performance in gold and tin dredging is the R/E factor. It compares actual production or recovered grade for a given period with that estimated from the original sampling. The factor is a multiple of four component factors, each ideally approaching 1.00. The factors are concerned with estimation, selection, excavation and treatment. The estimation factor reflects the errors involved in determining the grade and depth of single drill-holes or pits. An optimum selection factor is achieved by a higher drilling density. The excavation factor is affected by failure of the dredge to excavate the total volume contained within its course. The required dredge throughput rate influences not only the success in digging recovery but also the treatment factor. No two alluvial deposits are the same, but, in general, the greatest divergence from 1.00 is invariably demonstrated by the estimation factor. A major divergence in one of the other factors may also be the cause of the R/E factor being significantly different from 1.00. The component factors are examined in detail and historical trends in R/E factors are discussed

Sep 1, 1991

President John T. Atkins on behalf of The RMCMl officers and Executive Board, invites you and your family to attend The 80th Regular Meeting and Convention of 'The Rocky Mountain Coal Mining Institute to be held at Marriott's Mark Resort, Lionshead Village in Vail, Colorado JUNE 24 - JUNE 26, 1984

Jan 1, 1983

By Virgil Marple

In the summer of 1979 the University of Minnesota Mobile Laboratory (UMML), designed for the analysis of airborne particles and gases was used to study fugitive dust from an open pit coal mine. The analysis consisted of determining the particle size distribution and concentration of dust from various mining operations, such as blasting, draglines, loading, roadways and bottom scrapers. For some operations the particles size distribution and concentrations were determined at varying distrances. Details of the dust concentration within the plumes as the plume passed the UMML were measured with an optical particle counter. For line sources, such as roadways this enabled the calculation of the particle flux at the sampling location. In addition to the standard instruments associated with the UMML, the applicability of some new instruments were investigated. These included a uniform deposit cascade impactor and a flux meter. Finally, a technique in identifying plume origins which utilized elemental X-ray flourescence analysis of filter samples was shown to be effective.

Jan 1, 1980

By L. Rademan

The kinetic leaching behaviour of a low-grade surface gold ore and a high-grade reef ore were evaluated to determine the achievable gold recovery from these ores and particularly mixtures of these ores. The reef ore material has a head grade of 13.40 g/t with a relative standard deviation of 3%, and the unprocessed surface ore material a head grade of 0.43 g/t with a relative standard deviation of 15.6%. It is concluded that the kinetic leaching behaviour of these free milling gold ores during cyanidation, is not influenced by mixing of reef and surface ore material. No statistically significant relationship exists between the achievable recovery by direct cyanidation and the head grade of the material fed. No ideal ratio of surface ore to reef ore could be established. It is recommended that these materials should be processed simultaneously to minimize the costs, security risks, and losses incurred in transportation.

Jan 1, 2012