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By P. K. N. Raghavan

This paper identifies potential technologies for Carbon dioxide abatement from the mining and metal industry with special reference to the Aluminium industry. Mine reclamation could contribute to this effort to successfully reach the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction commitments for a nation. An overview of GHG production by the mining and metal industry together with a review of principles used to set the context in which specific options for GHG reduction are described. Options for GHG reduction in the mining and metal industry include reforestation, Addition of soil amendments or neutralizing agents, CO2 capture and storage, initiatives towards energy reduction, waste heat recovery and alternative energy use. An analysis and quantification of the potential GHG reduction of potential carbon sinks and sequestration options for the mining and metal industry are provided. Cost estimates for different options are provided. The paper also identifies sources that could fund research regarding GHG reduction options. The paper concludes with recommendations.

Jan 1, 2011

By Chris A. Fleming

"The ability to recover cyanide from gold plant tailings has been known almost as long as the cyanidation process has been practiced, but there has been little incentive to process tailings in this way in the past. With the development of technologies that make it possible to recover and recycle free or complexed cyanide directly from gold plant slurry tailings, which indicates, on paper at least, significant cost savings compared to cyanide destruction, coupled with the introduction of legislation to seriously limit the discharge of cyanide to the environment in most gold-producing regions of the world, many companies are evaluating the cyanide-recovery alternative.There is arguably an even more compelling reason for mining companies to consider cyanide recycling. With the growing storm of negative public opinion that the use of cyanide in the mining industry is attracting - following several highly publicized spills over the last couple of years - the time has come for the gold industry to demonstrate environmental diligence and stewardship in the use of this commodity that is so vital for their industry. There is no doubt that the widespread implementation of cyanide recycling will reduce the impact of the cyanidation process on the environment, both by reducing the risk of spills (with less cyanide being transported from manufacturing plants to gold mines), and by reducing the loading of toxic and nontoxic metals and ions in the tailings.This paper briefly discusses the pros and cons of the different processes that are available for the treatment of gold plant tailings to regenerate and recovery cyanide for recycling, and presents a techno-economic argument for the incorporation of this technology into many gold plant flowsheets today."

Jan 1, 2003

By DOOLITTLE E. M.

(Canal Zone Meeting, November, 1910.) The following notes are contributed, not with the idea of offering a complete history of the development of this very important process as applied to the Leadville district, but with the hope that the practice, as it was carried out in the Bi-Metallic Smelter, may still be of interest to others. The Bi-Metallic Smelter, at Leadville, Colo., was the first to make a commercial success of the process described in the following pages, which consisted essentially of smelting raw silver- and copper-bearing sulphide ores in blast-furnaces to form a matte, which was generally re-smelted with siliceous ores for a second high-grade matte. Robert Sticht, in his excellent monograph on the subject,1 has outlined briefly the plant belonging to this company. He says, in effect: The Boulder, Mont., enterprise set the example for others with whom the patentee (w. L. Austin) had been negotiating, and the old La Plata lead-smelter at Leadville, Colo., was fashioned into a crude, temporary experimental plant for the Bi-Metallic Company, and the feasibility of the process demonstrated by a trial run. Subsequently, the plant was considerably improved, and, being supplied with very favorable ores, continued to run without interruption from August, 1892, to June, 1893. In September, 1893, smelting was resumed in a completely remodeled establishment, some $200,000 having been expended upon the new work. Thus, aside from the Montana experiments, which, under the direction of W. L. Austin, began as early as- 1885 2 at Toston, and continued with indifferent success for six or seven years, the Bi-Metallic plant at Leadville may be said to have * Formerly Superintendent, Bi-Metallic Smelting Co. + Formerly Chief Assayer and Chemist, Bi-Metallic Smelting Co. 1 Modern Copper Smelting, E. D. Peters, 7th ed., p. 415 (1895). 2 Trans., xvi., p. 259 (1887-88).

Dec 1, 1910

By Frances H. Clark

IN wartime, the fabrication and use of metals assumes increased importance, for a modern war of sizable proportions cannot be undertaken with- out a vast supply of this material. Light alloys of aluminum and magnesium, which were comparatively unknown in the last war, will play an important role in this one. Due to research on a vast scale in the interim of years, industry is today well equipped to fabricate metals on an enormous scale. Research for the past year has been most productive and a comprehensive survey in the space of this article would be impossible. It is hoped that the stressing of a few items here and there out of a great quantity of able work will indicate in a small way the advances made within recent times. Specific references to the literature will be omitted at the Editor's re- quest but some authors of papers that I have found of special interest are mentioned.

Jan 1, 1940

By LESTER W. STRAUSS

OUR early knowledge of history and geography attracted most of us to the mineral resources of South America. The romantic tales of the Spanish activities, which were curiously alluring, and Prescott's exceptional bi-Conquest histories-Mexico and Peru-no doubt fired our minds with the .then metallic wealth of the Spanish colonies. Later developments, intensified within the past eighty years, have, however, changed its fame which now rests on such metallics as copper and tin, and among the non-metallics on nitrate of soda and petroleum. South America proper, excluding Panama, is made up of thirteen countries, a coincident parity with our original thirteen States. Its area is given as 7,231,300 square miles, or slightly less than North America (8,037,000 square miles), is made up as follows:

Jan 1, 1930

By AIME AIME

THE petroleum engineers have the conference habit. They drop in, thresh things over, and drop out. No time is wasted. So it was at the Fort Worth meeting of the Petroleum Division, Thursday and Friday, Oct. 8 and 9; headquarters, Blackstone Hotel. Associate Chairman Albertson arrived the morning of the 7th, to tie in any loose ends of the technical program. S. M. Greenidge, chairman of the local committee, checked the arrangements with his committeemen at a luncheon that noon. By mid-afternoon the next day's attendance was anybody's guess-there were no noses to count. But when the gavel sounded Thursday morning 175 members and guests were present, also the official A.I.M.E. party consisting of President Lovejoy, Secretary Parsons, and George Otis Smith. Shortly after adjournment Friday afternoon all but a handful had vamoosed, lit out, disap¬peared. But, in the meantime, it was a grand conference, attendance maximum every session, and the discussion fast and furious. The discussion came from all over the floor, sometimes as good-natured sniping, sometimes in long volleys that were almost fatal to the reporter. Everyone knew his subject and few there were who had nothing to say.

Jan 1, 1936

By J. V. W. REYNDERS

IN THE remarks which I am about to make concern¬ing the safety work of the Bureau of Mines, I want first of all to disengage myself from a disposition, which is frequently in evidence, to give spectacular emphasis to the hazards of mining operations. It is of the' utmost importance to the industrial welfare of our country that the enormous annual requirement of fuel be produced and be made available in our economic activities, with a minimum of distress and hardship. The safety of coal mining is a condition with which. we are all concerned in a fundamental way. And yet we should not rush to accept hastily conceived notions that laxity among employers in respect to safety measures exists to any outstanding degree. In fact in a large number of instances, the precautionary efforts of min¬ing companies, directed to the elimination of accidents are beyond all criticism, albeit the industry suffers in reputation from the carelessness of, its less effi¬cient constituents. The Bureau of Mines has been a leading influence in disseminating the doctrines of safety, in securing the cooperation of the miners themselves, and in stirring up ' the laggards, both among the employers and the employed. It is much to the interest of well-conducted mine operations that the industry, as a whole, observe safety regulations to the utmost.

Jan 1, 1925

By H. Sahay

The current Canadian coal production is approximately 57x106 tonnes per annum of which some 25 million tonnes is exported. Two thirds of the Canadian output is classified as thermal and one third as coking or metallurgical coal. The Canadian coal industry, like the industries in some other industrialized nations, has gone through a cycle of ups and downs. The current world vide recession and stable oil prices have somewhat dampened the plans for a further growth of this industry - albeit temporarily. No new mines are expected to be developed within the next few years. However the production is projected to increase to 60x106 tonnes in 1985 increasing to an estimated 75 to 80x106 tonnes by 1995. The Canadian mines are highly mechanized and are willing to employ the modern technology to maintain its competitive position in the world's coal market. This paper reviews the recent technical developments which continue to improve resource recovery and productivity.

Jan 1, 1986

By A. Lane

The socio economic risks of mining in South Africa have been emerging for some time now, and have been brought into sharp relief by recent events in the platinum sector. The slow pace of social upliftment in the country has lead to widespread social unrest with consequent calls for different forms of resource nationalism. Fundamentally, the key stakeholders are not fully aligned, and are not engaging productively. This poses significant above-the-ground risk to mining companies. Measuring social impact, deploying inclusive solutions and engaging effectively with stakeholders are three ways in which mining companies can mitigate this risk.

Jan 1, 2012

By Zhian Liang, Xiong Huang, Weixin Wu, Lifeng Cui, Zhuanhua Wei, Guoyao Li, Xiao Ni, Junrong Wang, Shuiping Zhong

ZJ 201 (modified starch) is a non-toxic, odorless, and biodegradable polymeric depressant, which selectively depressed galena in batch flotation tests while chalcopyrite was not significantly affected. In a plant trial, copper-lead separation was successful for the first time without using dichromate. Moreover, the plant process could be changed to sequential Cu-Pb flotation using ZJ 201 for higher grade lead concentrate. A copper concentrate was obtained with a Cu grade of 24.91% and a Pb grade of 5.11%, which recovered 76.6% of the copper from the original ore; a lead concentrate was also obtained with a Pb grade of 21.90% and a Cu grade of 5.31%, which recovered 52.6% of the lead. In addition to the effective copper-lead separation observed in the plant trial, another improvement observed is that gold was recovered mostly in copper concentrate, which could be sold for higher prices. Au grade reached 230.64 g/t, and its recovery reached 65.8% in the copper concentrate. Au grade in lead concentrate was only 18.90 g/t.

Aug 27, 2021

By Scott Turner

Since my whole life has been spent in the mining business , I naturally tend to address my remarks particularly to the newly- graduated mining and metallurgical engineers among you . To a certain extent , all forms of engineering principles are involved in the training of the mining engineer , and most sorts of engineering are certainly utilized by him , so that every one of this graduating class is concerned with the field I propose to discuss . The fact that , beginning with to - day , you will always be styled engineers , indicates that you have passed successfully through preparatory school , and have survived the hard grind of the technical college . One object of your training here has been to instruct you in accurate , close , and clear thinking . Your minds have been taught to act directly , calmly . and always to the point . By now , you should know how to get facts , look far , and think through . You are supposed to be willing to recognize and adopt sound engineering principles and practices , in so far as they are known to you , and to furnish character , ability , and devotion to your calling . Some of you may have had a general college course before coming here to specialize in engineering . Where that has been possible , I hope it is the case , since a liberal educational course tends to make the alumnus more flexible and adaptable than the purely scientific graduate. The broader education enables one to change , with less serious loss , from one job to another; ready adaptability is a great asset ; the engineer should be capable of much more than a single special task . The necessary preliminary training for a professional occupation is intellectual in character , involving knowledge , and to some extent learning , as distinguished from mere skill . The well -balanced engineer is expected to embody a happy combination of theory and fact , of pure science and material reality ; experience shows that he is apt to give a good account of himself , once he gets the chance . For the long pull , the importance of unquestioned integrity can not be overemphasized . Leaders of big business sometimes have need for a man as agile and unscrupulous as a cat on a back fence ; on occasion , they may have to employ brilliant , smart , spectacular , and crafty people , but when the special purposes for which such men are hired have been accomplished , they are no longer wanted . Given natural health , intelligence , ability , and adequate training , probably the characteristics most admired in the young employee are steadiness , dependability , and loyalty . The last is the best . If you can not be simple , direct , and faithful in your dealings with your administrative superiors , no one will want you for long . I believe these points are of primary importance to the young engineer . Your groundwork must be right before you can get far . These personal characteristics are what eventually determine your relations with men and affairs . They are vital in the human engineering which may be a large part of your work .

Aug 1, 1932

By C M. MacRae

The characterisation of high-P iron ores by field emission gun electron probe microanalyser (FEGEPMA) was carried out to determine elemental associations in iron oxides sensus lato and, using this knowledge, to speculate on possible P incorporation mechanisms in goethite. Quantitative data was collected from two goethite-rich bulk ores and results showed that in both samples goethite was the main repository for phosphorus. The P-rich goethite also contained elevated levels of both aluminium and silicon.To understand the mechanism of P incorporation in goethite, high-P grains were located by coarse mapping of polished blocks with the FEG-EPMA. Analysis of element distribution maps collected on the P-rich grains showed that low-P regions within grains were typically associated with low-Al and high-Si, whereas high-P regions were associated with high-Al and low-Si. Based on follow-up quantitative analyses, a coupled substitution mechanism for phosphorus incorporation within goethite was proposed: 2Si4+ = 1P5+ + 1Al3+. Additional quantitative analyses on further examples indicated the mechanism was only valid for Si contents in goethite of <1 wt per cent.Preliminary transmission electron microscope (TEM) studies confirmed the presence of P, Al and Si in goethite.

Jul 11, 2011

By R. E. Robinson

I shall present a concept for the development of the resources of this country and its neighbours that repre¬sents a fantastic challenge to our scientists and entre¬preneurs. This concept offers prospects of development that must make our previous achievements seem equivalent only to the first act in a drama enacted on the stage of Southern Africa. I hope to illustrate how, in Act Two, chemistry will play a dominant role, and chemists and chemical engineers will be among the principal actors.

Jan 1, 1980

By H. Mulder, M. C. Bekker

The principal objective of this investigation was to conduct a thorough literature review on the status of project readiness mechanisms, tools, techniques, and frameworks for mining projects. The review aimed at identifying common readiness evaluation criteria as well as potential shortcomings that prevent the establishment of a generalizable project readiness index. The literature review included a general overview of capital project performances and the importance of project readiness assessments to improve project delivery success. The study then progressed towards literature involving mining projects and how this differs from infrastructure and industrial project assessments. The paper concludes by summarizing the current state of mining project readiness assessments, the unique and differentiating factors to be considered, and suggests recommendations towards the development of generalizable readiness assessment criteria for mining projects.

Sep 1, 2022

By V. H. Gottschalk

Among the procedures developed by the Germans for providing the tonnage of iron powder needed to make rotating bands for artillery shells is the use of a ceramic tunnel kiln, not only for finishing the reduction of centrifugal powders but also for making so-called "brickyard sponge iron," which, after crushing and grinding, seems to yield a product suitable for powder-metallur- gical purposes. The final report issued jointly by the German Powder-Metallurgical Society (DPG) and the Chemical-Metallurgical Branch of the Research Depart- ment of the Metallgesellschaft, Inc. (ZFC of MG) gives the available details of this procedure, which may be regarded as a further development of the process in commercial use since 1911 at a ceramic plant in Hoeganaes, Sweden. The Bureau of Mines' wartime development of the Hoeganaes process also cul- minated in the adaptation of ceramic tunnel kilns for carrying out the solid- carbon reduction of iron ores, and comparison with the German technique should further advance the art. This information circular is issued as a supplement to Bureau of Mines reports of investigations Nos. 3819,2 3822, 3841,2 and 4271, on brick- yard sponge iron and is based on four German reports entitled "Making Iron. Powder in the Tunnel Kiln," translated from FIAT microfilm reel H-46, frames 9190-9209, 9280-9299, 9339-9357, and 9377-9384 (PB L 70042), which represent the four original research reports, Nos. 2005, 2008, 2010, and 2012, respec- tively, of the Metallgesellschaft, Inc.

Aug 1, 1948

By Robert L. Russell

The Bunker Hill Mine, located in the Coeur d'Alene Mining District at Kellogg, Idaho, has been a major producer of lead-silver-zinc ores since its discovery in 1887. The mine has produced over 29 million tons of ore from some 20 to 25 veins and ore zones, and now covers an area approximately one mile in length and one-half mile in width. The active section of the mine extends from 2500 ft above sea level to 1600 ft below sea level. Production is presently at the rate of about 1700 tons of ore per day. A two-mile adit, the Kellogg Tunnel, at the 2500 elevation, provides access to the main shaft area. Ore is hoisted to the adit level through a 5000-ft, 500-inclined shaft, extending to the lowermost haulage level 1200 ft below sea level. Primary shaft service for men and materials is supplied by three major internal, inclined shafts equipped with double-drum hoists. Present production requires ten levels to serve for mainline track haulage. These range up to 5000 ft in length and are either 200 or 400 vertical feet apart. Also, many intermediate levels exist throughout the mine. The conventional and autoloader mechanized square-set and cut-and-fill mining methods used throughout the mine have been the subject of a recent paper(l). One-third of current production is from vein-type ore bodies which are long distances from main shaft areas. Such veins generally dip about 450, have relatively narrow widths of from 3 to 20 ft, and usually contain less than 500,000 tons of ore. For many years, ore bodies thus situated have been developed by means of a separate inclined, timbered service shaft-raise connecting two or more main haulage levels. These commonly range from 400 to 1000 ft in vertical extent and are equipped with 25 to 50 hp electric, single-drum hoists. Intermediate levels are driven as conventional track drifts at 100-ft vertical intervals between the haulage levels. Ore and waste from the intermediate levels are trammed to orepasses for delivery to the lowermost haulage level servicing an ore body. The final result may be visualized as a number of small mines within a large mine. The problems of high development costs and high total development time, and the large amount and high cost of providing materials handl ing and ore haulage service while producing from this isolated type of stope block, made it desirable to consider totally new approaches in developing and mining a number of similar areas.

Jan 1, 1971

By S. J. Thiele, T. Newton, W. Magalhäes, T. Takayama, J. Welsh

Companhia Paraibuna de Metais (CPM) is presently pursuing a zinc production expansion project. Besides increasing production, the goal of the project is to address existing problems while providing a platform for a proposed twofold increase in production in 2003/2004. Therefore, the current expansion strategy was formulated to address present and future requirements. Computer simulation modeling and full scale plant testing are being used to generate data to optimize the operating conditions and to perform a sensitivity analysis. The initial phase of the project, which will boost CPM's capacity to 86,000 t/y of marketable zinc, is to be completed in September 2000.

Jan 1, 2000

By H. L. Monro

Contribution by B. K. Martust I congratulate the author on his interesting paper. In my view, the establishment of the level at which South African gold output is at some kind of optimum is an interesting though somewhat academic exercise. Contribution by D. M. Hawkins* The thesis of the paper is a very interesting one, but, before it is used as the basis of any firm proposals to restructure the mining industry, which changes may be irreversible, one should be very sure that the basis of the calculations is sound. Contribution by P. J. Niewenhuizen* The hypothesis advanced by Mr Monro that the demonetization of gold in August 1971 introduced a major new policy variable, namely the supply-pricejdemand-price relationships, into the decision making process touches on a matter that has never really been given serious thought by the industry. Contribution by B. G. Kingsman* As a co-worker on the development of an econometric model for supply and demand in the world gold market with Mr H. L. Monro, it would perhaps be useful for me to make some comments on the various points raised in the discussions on his paper.

Jan 1, 1984

By Karl V. Lindell

THE Jeffrey mine of the Canadian Johns-Manville Co., Asbestos, Que. has operated for a number of years, supplying the parent company, Johns-Manville, raw material for asbestos products. The mine is situated in the 70-mile-long serpentine belt running from Asbestos, Que. on the west to East Broughton on the east. This district is the most important producing area in the world of quality spinning-fiber asbestos, with 11 operating mines supplying 70 pct of the world's needs. The Jeffrey mine, located 90 miles from Montreal and approximately 35 miles southwest of Thetford, accounts for 50 pct of the Canadian asbestos output. Production from the Canadian serpentine belt is the chrysotile asbestos, which is considered the best available for spinning. Consumers in the United States prefer the clean, fine fibers of the Canadian chrysotile of the type produced by the Jeffrey mine. Mining In 1881, when the mine was first opened, all work, including drilling, was done by hand. The deposit, located on a hillside, was first worked as a sidehill cut by hand drilling 15-ft holes and blasting with black powder. The fiber was chiselled from the broken rock. Hand derricks, later powered by horses, were used to raise the rock as the pit deepened. Eventually, the pit became so deep that derricks were, by necessity, replaced by aerial tramways. In the late 1930's, further deepening of the open pit, with the resulting constriction of the pit bottom brought about the need for altering the mining system then in use. The high ratio of overburden to be handled to mill ore mined and the value of surface structures, not company property, that would be destroyed in expanding the area of the pit, definitely indicated vertical rather than horizontal expansion would have to be used. One exception to this was that a small area on company property to north and east of the pit could be opened up. The mining problem then resolved itself into two phases; make the small lateral expansion and as rapidly as possible choose a mining method that would expand the mine vertically. Several methods for vertical expansion were studied and rejected. Methods considered included shrinkage stoping, block caving, glory holing, and various modifications of open workings. Block caving was finally accepted as the most suitable method of underground development. Cost factors and production were important factors in the decision, also, the asbestos mines in the Thetford area were already having success with this method. Original plans provided for the lateral expansion of the open mine where possible and beginning the underground operation. This program was based on the open pit being worked out in 1954, with the underground development and production gradually increasing until the open mine was depleted. In 1949, the plan was changed to allow underground development to progress at maximum so that underground output would be 550 tons per hr by 1951. Any deficit in ore would be mined from the open pit. This change permitted extending the life of the open pit through 1964 and in this time would make available a large quantity of readily attained ore. Block Caving at The Jeffrey Mine Plans for the underground operation were formulated on a 12,000-ton-per-day basis, and the adaptability of block caving methods to high production presented a desirable situation. As shown in the main-haulage plan, a continuous loop was laid out for smooth operation of the underground railroad from the loading points to the underground crusher. A feature encountered at the Jeffrey mine, as well as other asbestos mines using caving methods, is the large size of caved material, requiring that ore be crushed before hoisting.

Jan 1, 1952

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