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By Smith, George Otis

ENGINEERING is in essence quantitative, and the engineer must deal with exact figures when he plans and, constructs. Engineering truths are not best expressed by adjectives, yet my wish, today, is not to attempt a quantitative measure of the dominant position of the mineral industry of the United States in the existing scheme of material things, but rather to seek a clualitative appraisal of what mining and metallurgical engineers are doing to promote and make secure our , national progress. Statistics help when we wish to gage material prosperity, but they fail when we desire to determine what share the engineers have in adding to the happiness and welfare of our people

Jan 1, 1928

By MATT RENAUD, Mustafa Kumral

As high-quality mineral deposits are thoroughly exploited, mines of the future will have to move towards more remote and lower quality projects. With these projects comes an increased business risk to the operator. Even now, mining companies often turn to foreign countries for new deposits to produce, introducing the concept of country risk into their portfolio. Furthermore, feasibility studies often fail to accurately quantify the risks associated with various projects, and as such, this study proposes a technique of risk quantification which can both aid mining companies to evaluate the viability of investment and assist in risk disclosure to public investors for the mining industry of the future. This paper aims to quantify the effects of country risk on the valuation of potential mining projects, using a combination of modular and risk-weighting techniques to evaluate the country risk premium (CRP) required to obtain capital for operation of risky foreign mining projects. The techniques proposed in this paper are demonstrated using fictional examples and then evaluated for accuracy against a recently developed debt-funded precious metal project in a country in the Americas.

Sep 30, 2021

By R. M. Honey

An attempt is made to summarise the mining law of England, Wales and Scotland. Attention is also drawn to the recent privatisation of the electric power and gas industries and the intention of the present Government to follow suit as regards coal mining. The subject of mining law is discussed under the headings: minerals or rights that have been nationalised or are vested in the Crown; ownership (of land and mineral rights); special customs; tracing of owners; right of support (arising from mining); ancillary rights and easements; obtaining prospecting and mining rights; planning permission; statutory aids to obtaining rights; notes on the history, law and practices of petroleum (onshore and offshore), gas, coal, prescribed substances, gold and silver; electricity; safety, health and welfare; and technical information and boreholes. A correction in the subsequent issue amends errors on p.A75 and A82 and regrets the publication of misinformation on the availability of grants

May 1, 1991

Large GDP increases in the Pacific Rim countries have been accompanied by similarly large increases in demand for oil products. In the case of residual fuels, this demand has been tempered by the substitution of other energy products such as coal or gas. In the region's developing and newly industrialised nations, it has not been possible to make the very large investments in infrastructure which allow other energy sources to be used for transportation. As a result, GDP growth has been mirrored in the demand growth for automotive fuels. Other non-substitutable products such as lubricants have also benefitted by the region's GDP growth.   The combination of a number of years of sustained growth, coupled with increasing quality requirements is now stretching the upgrading capacity of the region's refineries. IT, as seems likely, the region continues to enjoy a high GDP growth rate, then this will be accompanied by increasing reliance on finished products coming out of the Middle East.   The owners of the most simple form of refinery in which crude is simply distilled and the naphtha reformed into petrol will face major capital investments. If they decide not to bear this cost, they will face increasing problems in selling their surplus residual fuel oil at an economic price. Quality will become an increasingly important issue. Not only in the well publicised areas such as unleaded petrol, but also for products such as lubricants which play a major role in the efficiency of modem equipment. Quality of service such as hours of opening, ease of access, and service station facilities will also become increasingly important as the oil companies use these to attract customers and gain brand differentiation.

Jan 1, 1990

Large GDP increases in the Pacific Rim countries have been accompanied by similarly large increases in demand for oil products. In the case of residual fuels, this demand has been tempered by the substitution of other energy products such as coal or gas.In the region's developing and newly industrialised nations, it has not been possible to make the very large investements in infrastructure which allow other energy sources to be used for transportation. As a result, GDP growth has been mirrored in the demand growth for automotive fuels. Other non-sustitutable products such as lubricants have also benefitted by the region's GDP growth.The combination of a number of years of sustained growth, coupled with increasing quality requirements is now stretching the upgrading capacity of the region's refineries. If, as seems likely, the region continues to enjoy a high GDP growth rate, then this will be accompanied by increasing reliance on finished products coming out of the Middle East. The owners of the most simple form of refinery in which crude is simply distilled and the naphtha reformed into petrol will face major capital investments. If they decide not to bear this cost, they will face increasing problems in selling their surplus residual fuel oil at an economic price. Quality will become an increasingly important issue. Not only in the well publicised areas such as unleaded petrol, but also for products such as lubricants which play a major role in the efficiency of modem equipment. Quality of service such as hours of opening, ease of access, and service station facilities will also become increasingly important as the oil companies use these to attract customers and gain brand differentiation.

Jan 1, 1990

By A. B. Parsons

AT the outset, the authors of this paper desire to file a disclaimer and an, explanation. They have no inside information from occult sources; neither of them feigns clairvoyant powers in the slightest degree. It is true that they have indicated on be graphs an approximate trend for the consumption of seven important mineral commodities up to the year 1954. At best this is a risky business; the figures do not pretend to be any- thing more than reasoned conjectures that are predicated on an attempt to evaluate some of the more obvious of the many factors that are likely to have a bearing on the future.

Jan 1, 1937

By Mäkinen, Eero

OUTOKUMPU, a large copper mine in eastern Finland, has the distinction of being one of the few important mines in the world discovered by a geologist the late Otto Triistedt, of the Geological Sur- vey of Finland, having found the out- clop in 1910 by tracing glacial ore boulders, some of which had been carried as far as fifty kilometres. As the mine had no connection with either railways or waterways and the possibilities of transport were poor, the owners first tried the Hybinette hydrometallurgical process to extract the copper. The raw ore was finely crushed, treated by a sulphatizing roast. and then leached. The resulting solution was electrolyzed, using lead anodes. This experimental plant, having a capacity of 10,000 tons (all Ions are metric tons in this paper) of raw ore and producing 300 to LEO0 tons of electrolytic copper annually, was built in 1913 and run until dis-

Jan 1, 1938

By L. Aspola

The platinum group metals (PGMs), i.e. ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, osmium, iridium, and platinum, are typically found in association with each other, but also importantly, with nickel and copper. Typically Platinum and palladium have the greatest economic significance and other PGMs are typically produced as co-products of these. With recent increases in the value of nickel, cobalt, and the PGMs and an ever increasing focus on the sustainable use of metals, interest in the processing of secondary feed material sources and metal-bearing residues has also substantially increased. As an efficient, proven, and environmentally sound technology Outotec Ausmelt Top Submerged Lance (TSL) Technology has gained commercial acceptance in the nickel industry, including PGM recovery. For the processing of nickel- and PGM-bearing feed materials, five Outotec Ausmelt Furnaces at four sites are in operation. Two of these furnaces are located in Rustenburg, South Africa, which is by far the biggest mine-based producer of platinum. Outotec also has hydrometallurgical processes available for further treatment and extraction of PGMs, which are also briefly discussed.

Jan 1, 2012

By M. Onifade, B. Genc, P. O. Akinseye, M. Fourie, K. O. Said

Coal is mined by both surface and underground methods and its extraction is normally characterized by numerous hazards that can lead to catastrophic accidents, which result in devastating effects such as injuries or fatalities, damage to mining assets, and destruction of mineral resources. These hazards exist due to the ability of coal to support combustion and its association with toxic, flammable, and explosive gases. Underground coal mining entails higher safety risks than opencast coal mining, chiefly because of issues relating to mine ventilation and mine collapse. Furthermore, coal mine collapses mostly occur due to crumbling of mining supports, especially in room and pillar mining systems. To avoid such adverse occurrences, safety management systems need to be in place. This study reviews the various technological safety systems and principles that are used for safe-rescue and self-escape of miners in underground coal fires, particularly in South Africa, using data obtained from Mines Rescue Services in Carltonville, South Africa. The outcome of the review shows that practising safety culture has been given priority across many South African underground coal mines through setting up safety management systems and encouraging workers to stay committed to safety principles.

May 2, 2022

By B. Weaver

Every year Pit & Quarry Magazine surveys the industry to produce their annual review. Here's a sampling of some of the statistics the survey produced from the end of the year 1994 survey.

Jan 1, 1995

By G. Barrasso

REACH was proposed by the EU Commission in October 2003 and stands for the Registration Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals. It requires that all substances identified as persistent, bio-accumulative and toxic, whether the risk of those chemicals being released is real or perceived, require registration prior to them being allowed to be imported into the European Union. An internal investigation by the metals industry indicates that almost all primary raw materials streams would be classified as hazardous due to the potential health or environmental hazard properties of one or more of their ingredients. REACH uses a wide definition for chemicals and metals and as such its implications greatly impact the entire supply chain of the metals industry. The process of registration would require the producer/ importer to produce a dossier. Initiatives along the same lines as the EU REACH are also coming up in other parts of the world. REACH requires registration of at least four substances manufactured by the aluminium industry: aluminium metal, including powder, aluminium oxide, and aluminium hydroxide. The proposed legislation permits the affected companies to band together to form a consortium to develop certain aspects of the registration application. The aluminium industry has established a consortium and testing is currently underway.

Jan 1, 2006

By Daniel B. Brimhall

The research presented here was initiated to investigate the role of atmospheric oxygen in the leaching of copper waste dumps. The problem of increasing the recovery rate of copper from these dumps is or great importance considering there are by conservative estimate in excess of fifteen billion pounds of copper located in dumps in the western United States. At this time, there is an increased interest in recovering copper from these dumps on a large scale. Large tonnages of low-grade material are being placed on the waste dumps of most copper mining operations in the western United States each day. The size of these dumps ranges from 5.5 million tons at Mineral Park, Arizona, to 4 billion tons at Kennecott's Utah operation (1). Leach solutions are recycled and contain ferrous and ferric sulfates. Large quantities of dissolved aluminum, magnesium and calcium salts may also be present. To this solution make up water is added to maintain the solution inventory and sulfuric acid is added for pH adjustment. Iron is introduced into the leach solution by the dissolution of the iron-containing sulfide and oxidized minerals present in the ore deposit. In addition to the iron from dump leaching, iron is also introduced during the precipitation process when the pregnant solution is passed over metallic scrap iron if cementation is used to reduce the copper in solution.

Jan 1, 1972

By C. A. Pickles, J. M. Toguri

The refining of two molten Ag-Cu alloys, containing 7.5 and 11.2 mass% Cu, with a borosilicate slag was investigated using both air and pure O2 to determine the effects of the following variables: flow rate of oxidising gas; injection time; mass of sodium borosilicate flux; and injection of the oxidising gas into either the slag or the metal. The results demonstrate that more than 90% of the Cu can be removed with Ag losses of less than 5% and that refined metal with a Cu content of less than 0.5 mass% can be produced. Ag losses to the slag increased with the amount of Cu removed, and a mechanism is proposed to account for this

Dec 1, 1995

By D. W. McDonald, L. M. Heaman, R. A. Creaser, T. Davies, T. Chacko, A. Simonetti

"The Three Bluffs gold deposit is located in the Committee Bay greenstone belt, which forms part of the Rae domain of the western Churchill province, Nunavut, Canada. Gold mineralization is hosted by iron formation of the Neoarchean volcanosedimentary Prince Albert Group, and is associated with silicification (quartz veining) and sulfidation of magnetite and other Fe-rich minerals. Conventional U-Pb zircon dating of a conformable dacite unit within the volcanosedimentary host-rock sequence and a crosscutting diorite intrusion confirm a ~2.7 Ga age for deposition of the supracrustal package. U-Pb monazite dates and Pb isotopic analyses of sulfides were obtained by laser ablation-multicollector-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (LA-MC-ICP-MS). A subset of U-Pb monazite (1813.8 ± 8.7 Ma) and Re-Os arsenopyrite (1822 ± 21 Ma) dates, combined with a Pb-Pb secondary errorchron age for pyrite and arsenopyrite (1829 ± 77 Ma), suggest that gold mineralization associated with sulfidation of the iron formation occurred at ~1815 Ma, prior to high-grade (upper amphibolite facies) tectonometamorphism in the Three Bluffs area (D2TB/(M2TB). An ~1815 Ma age for deposit formation is broadly consistent with evidence from elsewhere in the western Churchill province and to the southwest in Manitoba and Saskatchewan for a late Trans-Hudson (1.9-1.8 Ga) gold mineralizing event. The majority of U-Pb monazite ages form a second population at 1780.6 ± 4.2 Ma, similar to the age of the majority of Re-Os arsenopyrite analyses (1763 ± 11 Ma). These dates are thought to reflect the timing of peak M2TB metamorphism. 40Ar/39Ar dating of amphibole, biotite, and muscovite yielded plateau ages ranging from 1723.8 ± 9.0 Ma to 1710 ± 17 Ma, which are interpreted to record the timing of postpeak metamorphic cooling to below the respective closure temperatures for Ar diffusion in these minerals. Le gîte aurifère de Three Bluffs est situé dans la ceinture de roches vertes de Committee Bay, laquelle appartient au domaine de Rae dans l’ouest de la province de Churchill, au Nunavut, Canada. La minéralisation aurifère est encaissée par des formations de fer d’âge Néoarchéen appartenant aux roches volcanosédimentaire du Groupe de Prince Albert; la minéralisation est associée à de la silicification (veines de quartz) ainsi qu’à la sulfidation de la magnétite et d’autre minéraux riches en Fe.Les résultats de la géochronologie U-Pb conventionnelle sur une unité de dacite concordante au sein de la séquence volcanosédimentaire ainsi que d’une intrusion de diorite qui les recoupe indiquent que ces roches supracrustales ont un âge de ~2.7 Ga. Les âges U-Pb de la monazite ainsi que les analyses des isotopes du plomb des sulfures ont été obtenus par ablation laser (LA-MC-ICP-MS). Certains des âges U-Pb obtenus à partir de la monazite (1813.8 ± 8.7 Ma) et des âges Re-Os retournés par l’arsénopyrite (1822 ± 21 Ma), en association avec l’âge indiqué par une isochrone à données dispersées « errochron » secondaire Pb-Pb pour la pyrite et l’arsénopyrite (1829 ± 77 Ma), suggèrent que la minéralisation aurifère associée à la sulfidation de la formation de fer s’est formée vers ~1815 Ma, avant que l’événement tectonométamorphique (D2TB/(M2TB) de niveau élevé (faciès des amphibolites supérieures) affecte le secteur de Three Bluffs. Un âge de mise en place de ~1815 Ma pour ce gîte est compatible avec les données en provenance de l’ouest de la province de Churchill ainsi que plus au sud-ouest au Manitoba et en Saskatchewan qui indiquent la mise en place de minéralisations aurifères à la fin de l’orogénèse Trans-Hudsonienne (1.9-1.8 Ga).La majorité des âges U-Pb de la monazite constituent une seconde population formée à 1780.6 ± 4.2 Ma, ce qui est similaireLà l’âge obtenu pour la plupart des analyses Re-Os sur l’arsénopyrite (1763 ± 11 Ma). Ces âges reflètent probablement l’atteinte du pic métamorphique M2TB.La géochronologie 40Ar/39Ar de l’amphibole, de la bio"

Jan 1, 2009

These pages may be used as order sheets. Mark the number desired opposite title of pamphlet wanted, add your name and address, tear out the sheets and mail them to us. Single orders 25 c. Pamphlets 10 c. each in lots of three or more. Pamphlets 5 c. each in lots of fifty or more. These prices prevail for orders for pamphlets of the same or different titles, when cash accompanies order. The pamphlets listed on the following sheets are advance copies printed to facilitate discussion at the meetings of the Institute. They are offered for sale at the reduced prices given above as long as-the supply lasts. This list is published in the Bulletin in order that members may have the first opportunity to secure pamphlets, which sometimes are in such great demand that the supply is exhausted before the wants of members can be supplied. The following list includes only a fraction of the pamphlets that have been published by the Institute. Any other paper published by the Institute may be obtained for the price of $1, except those published in Volume XXXI, which are rare. The Institute is still selling back volumes of Transactions at reduced prices, but some of these volumes are becoming rare and members who desire to complete their sets of these very important books on mining and metallurgy are advised to send in their orders as soon as convenient. (See Advertising page 15.) , The attention of members is also called to the bibliographical index of the science of ore, deposits contained in the Emmons Volume which is selling at $3 in paper and $4 in half morocco. The Posepny Volume is already exhausted and members who do not get in their orders for the Emmons Volume at the present reduced price may soon find themselves unable to obtain it on such favorable terms.

Jan 6, 1917

These pages may be used as order sheets. Mark the number desired opposite title of pamphlet wanted, add your name and address, tear out the sheets and mail them to us. Single orders 25 c. Pamphlets 10 c. each in lots of three or more. Pamphlets 5 c. each in lots of fifty or more. These prices prevail for orders for pamphlets of the same or different titles, when cash accompanies order. The pamphlets listed on the following sheets are advance copies printed to facilitate discussion at the meetings of the Institute. They are offered for sale at the reduced prices given above as long as the supply lasts. This list is published in the Bulletin in order that members may have the first opportunity to secure pamphlets, which sometimes are in such great demand that the supply is exhausted before the wants of members can be supplied. The following list includes only a fraction of the pamphlets that have been published by the Institute. Any other paper published by the Institute may be obtained for the price of $1, except those published in Volume XXXI, which are rare. The Institute is still selling back volumes of Transactions at reduced prices, but some of these volumes are becoming rare and members who desire to complete their sets of these very important books on mining and metallurgy are advised to send in their orders as soon as convenient. The attention of members is also called to the bibliographical index of the science of ore deposits contained in the Emmons Volume which is selling at $3 in paper and $4 in half morocco. The Posepny Volume is already exhausted and members who do not get in their orders for the Emmons Volume at the present reduced price may soon find themselves unable to obtain it on such favorable terms.

Jan 8, 1917

These pages may be used as order sheets. Mark the number desired opposite title of pamphlet wanted, add your name and address, tear out the sheets and mail them to us. Single orders 25 c. Pamphlets 10 c. each in lots of three or more. Pamphlets 5 c. each in lots of fifty or more. These prices prevail for orders for pamphlets of the same or different titles, when cash accompanies order. The pamphlets listed on the following sheets are advance copies printed to facilitate discussion at the meetings of the Institute. They are offered for sale at the reduced prices given above as long, as the supply lasts. This list is published in the Bulletin in order that members may have the first opportunity to secure pamphlets, which sometimes are in such great demand that the supply is exhausted before the wants of members can be supplied. The following list includes only a fraction of the pamphlets-that have been published by the Institute. Any other paper published by. the Institute may be obtained for the price of $1, except those published in Volume XXXI, which are rare. The, Institute is still selling back volumes of Transactions at reduced prices, but some of these volumes are becoming rare. and members who desire to complete their sets of these very important books on mining and metallurgy are advised to send in their orders as soon as convenient. The attention of members is also called to the bibliographical index of the science of ore deposits contained in the Emmons Volume which is selling at $3 in paper and $4 in half morocco. The Posepny Volume is already exhausted and members who do not get in their orders for the Emmons Volume at the present reduced price may soon find themselves unable to obtain it on such favorable terms.

Jan 7, 1917

The use of coal as a fuel causes air, pollution in; a number of different forms, and in nearly all stages of its, handling, preparation, storage, use and-disposal of its residue. First let us consider the handling of coal. As shipped, particularly to large utilities, it is run-of-mine bituminous made up of large chunks as well as pulverized particles. Because it 'is in an open car or barge, it is subject to the action o winds and the small particles may be blown around adding to the-particulate load in the atmosphere. Mien un¬loaded from the barge or car, there is again an opportunity for the wind to blow the fine particles around. All of us I am sure have seen a barge at the dock of a utility plant being unloaded by a clamshell bucket. This, after grabbing its load from the barge, lifts it some 60 or 70 feet and, then drops it on a conveyor, which carries the coal to a storage area.

Jan 1, 1964

By Travis A. Davidson, Ralph E. Burnham, Cathy Aimone-Martin, J. Kelly Ratliff

Blasters face a long list of tasks to execute daily—from vehicle inspections to blast design and layout, hole loading and tie-in, securing the site, and finally, safely executing the blast. Good practices and, in most cases, regulations and requirements necessitate documenting their work, specifically their blast report. While some blasters use paper forms, others use electronic means to streamline the process. The authors have served as attorneys and expert witnesses in representing companies and individual blasters in numerous administrative and legal matters in which documentation of the blaster’s work was both critical and detrimental to the effectiveness of defending their work. This paper discusses in a case-study manner the authors' observations concerning good blast report format, specific observations around electronic and paper report completion, record-keeping, seismograph setup and recordkeeping, video and photo documentation, internal auditing, and other topics related to documenting the blast. The paper aims to serve as a discussion guide for blasters to improve their blast record-keeping process, develop better practices that effectively document their work, and allow them to defend their work should a claim arise concerning their operations.

Jan 21, 2025

By David B. Reger

The year 1935 was mostly quiet in West Virginia, and devoted to routine drilling in old pools and extensions. A notable exception to this general rule, however, was the further development and proving of a field of gas discovered in 1930 in the deep Oriskany sand (L. Dev.) in Kanawha County, as later discussed. No new pools of oil were found and little or no attempt was made to search for them. No new pools of gas were recorded but various extensions of old pools were made. There were no new pipe line extensions of consequence, either for oil or gas. Operating technology was much the same as in recent years, there having been some further advances in repressuring oil wells and in the use of acid for treating small wells in calcareous formations, and some change in the technique of shooting gas wells. Financially, there has been a full market for all crude oil produced and a fair market for gas. There have been occasional transfers of producing oil or gas properties, mainly between established companies. Most of the attempts made to finance mergers and new developments have failed largely because of difficulties encountered under the Federal securities act. This situation has prevented the normal turnover of properties by small operators who frequently desire to sell partly developed interests and then step out into new ventures. New Development In 1935 the State issued 569 permits for drilling and records the same number of completions. One trade journal records 533 completions and another 483. A running record kept by the writer accounts for 713 completions, with 156 oil wells, 417 gas wells and 140 dry holes (Table 3). Some of these completions may be old wells drilled to deeper sands. Some, apparently, have been drilled without legal permit. Extensions of Producing Areas Ritchie County has again led all others in new drilling, with 137 completions as compared to 74 in Calhoun and 61 in Cabell. This Ritchie County drilling was done mainly to extend or further develop old pools

Jan 1, 1936