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By A. Opara

The weathering of coal mine waste rock releases iron, calcium, sulfate and associated trace elements like selenium [Se], which are introduced to seepage waters. Nitrogen species, such as nitrate and ammonia, are also found in association with coal-mining drainages mainly due to leaching of residual blasting compounds. Elevated concentrations of Se are a ubiquitous occurrence in coal mining environments in British Columbia, with values ranging from below 50 to over 500 µg/L in site waters. Selenate is the most common form of selenium found in waste rock seepages, and is exceedingly mobile in aerobic freshwaters. A major concern with waterborne Se in British Columbia is the potential for its bioaccumulation in aquatic food chains. Treatment to remove Se from coal-mining wastewaters has proven to be challenging for conventional water treatment technologies. Compounding this challenge, many streams are characterized by high flows and low selenium concentrations. Conventional membrane and ion exchange treatments produce concentrated brine streams that are difficult to treat or require disposal. Conventional biotreatment systems use excess nutrients to provide the required electrons to compensate for inefficient and variable electron availability, as well as to adjust reactor chemistry. The Electro-Biochemical Reactor (EBR) technology provides electrons to the microbes directly at a low voltage potential (1-3 V), supplying a controllable and consistent supply of useable electrons to the system and microbes at low current. In this manner, the EBR technology overcomes the shortcomings found in conventional systems, as it reduces the required nutrient addition and provides a more controllable, efficient, economical, and robust biotreatment system than found in past generations of biological treatment systems. Additionally, the EBR process does not produce excess solids or biomass; therefore, solids management post-treatment is not required. Laboratory EBR bench-scale and on-site pilot-scale systems were used to treat five British Columbia coal mine wastewaters; influent Se concentrations ranged from 35 µg/L to 531 µg/L. Se treatment targets for the tested waters ranged from 5 to 10 µg/L. Mean Se concentrations in EBR effluents ranged from 0.5 µg/L to 1.4 µg/L, while reducing sulfate concentrations. The test data demonstrate that the EBR technology is an effective Se removal option for British Columbia?s coal-mining wastewaters.

Feb 23, 2014

By A. Opara

The weathering of coal mine waste rock releases iron, calcium, sulfate and associated trace elements like selenium [Se], which are introduced to seepage waters. Nitrogen species, such as nitrate and ammonia, are also found in association with coal-mining drainages mainly due to leaching of residual blasting compounds. Elevated concentrations of Se are a ubiquitous occurrence in coal mining environments in British Columbia, with values ranging from below 50 to over 500 µg/L in site waters. Selenate is the most common form of selenium found in waste rock seepages, and is exceedingly mobile in aerobic freshwaters. A major concern with waterborne Se in British Columbia is the potential for its bioaccumulation in aquatic food chains. Treatment to remove Se from coal-mining wastewaters has proven to be challenging for conventional water treatment technologies. Compounding this challenge, many streams are characterized by high flows and low selenium concentrations. Conventional membrane and ion exchange treatments produce concentrated brine streams that are difficult to treat or require disposal. Conventional biotreatment systems use excess nutrients to provide the required electrons to compensate for inefficient and variable electron availability, as well as to adjust reactor chemistry. The Electro-Biochemical Reactor (EBR) technology provides electrons to the microbes directly at a low voltage potential (1-3 V), supplying a controllable and consistent supply of useable electrons to the system and microbes at low current. In this manner, the EBR technology overcomes the shortcomings found in conventional systems, as it reduces the required nutrient addition and provides a more controllable, efficient, economical, and robust biotreatment system than found in past generations of biological treatment systems. Additionally, the EBR process does not produce excess solids or biomass; therefore, solids management post-treatment is not required. Laboratory EBR bench-scale and on-site pilot-scale systems were used to treat five British Columbia coal mine wastewaters; influent Se concentrations ranged from 35 µg/L to 531 µg/L. Se treatment targets for the tested waters ranged from 5 to 10 µg/L. Mean Se concentrations in EBR effluents ranged from 0.5 µg/L to 1.4 µg/L, while reducing sulfate concentrations. The test data demonstrate that the EBR technology is an effective Se removal option for British Columbia?s coal-mining wastewaters.

Feb 23, 2014

By Frank K. Cameron

"The DepositsThere are two large deposits or groups of deposits of potash salts which, at the breaking cut of the great world war in 1913 and for several decades preceding, were practically the only commercial sources of supply for the entire world. In both cases the origin of the deposits was sea water, the potassium salts being deposited by desiccation, but there were modifying factors which were not entirely the same in both cases so that well defined and important differences exist in these deposits. The larger and better known group, called the Stassfurt Deposits, are in Germany in the region about or adjacent to Magdeburg and Halberstadt. The general character of these deposits and the methods for recovering potash from them have been frequently described, not only in technical publi¬cations, but in the non-technical propaganda long maintained by the Kali Syndikat, an organization founded on a ""cartel"" with the supervision and support of the late Imperial German Government.Less well known are the smaller though nevertheless extensive deposits in the neighborhood of Mulhouse in Upper Alsatia, which were also under the control of the Kali Syndikat at the breaking out of the war but have now passed to French control, with the reentrance of Alsace into the French Republic.The Alsatiaa deposits, while less extensive than the German deposits, are, nevertheless of great magnitude. They occupy a large part of the area between the Vosges Mountains and the River Rhine, from Col¬mar on the North to Mulhouse on the South. Indeed a few borings on the East bank of the Rhine indicate that the deposits may extend under the river and to some distance beyond Buggingen Linken, Baden, though it has not been Shown as yet that this extension is of commercial significance.As is well known, the Stassfurt potash occurs as potassium chloride or potassium sulphate or both salts, intimately mixed with salts of sodium, magnesium eau& calcium (lime) and contaminated with substances. insoluble in water such as ferric oxide, clay etc. The potash salts are segregated in more or less extensive 'pockets' throughout the salt mass, these segregations departing usually from the horizontal. But the main ""potash region"" is a stratum varying from 30 to 150 feet in thickness and at a depth requiring shafts 5000 feet."

Jul 1, 1919

The presence of undetonated explosives in a rock face after firing constitutes a hazard which can result in a fatal or serious accident if undetected before drilling commences.Most accidents caused by drilling into explosives are the result of failure to examine the working face properly and lack of care in subsequent drilling operations; it is not always realized that explosive may be left in the butts of holes or may be driven into cracks or crevices in the rock.Obviously the best means of preventing accidents of this nature is to adopt methods of drilling, charging and firing which will reduce the hazard to a minimum.There are three ways in which undetonated explosives may be left in the rock face, namely:1. Misfires.2. Cut-off shots.3. Incomplete detonation or failure of the charge to propagate throughout.MisfiresNo attempt will be made in this paper to deal fully with the question of the prevention of misfires, as apart from the fact that most of the preventive methods are well known, it is believed that if the miner receives his explosives and means of initiation in good order, and proper care is taken in their use, the failure of a charge to fire will be a rare occurrence. The provision of central fuse capping stations on mines has gone a long way towards the elimination of misfires caused by the mishandling of safety fuse anddetonators.

Jan 1, 1956

By R. Farrar

Protective canopies for conventional electric face equipment, including shuttle cars, operating in low coal (less than 48 inches) were designed, fabricated, installed and evaluated on in-mine machines engaged in regular coal mining operations. This work was performed under contract to the U.S. Bureau of Mines, Pittsburgh Mining and Safety Research Center. The canopies will support a vertical load of 18,000 pounds and provide protection against both roof falls and contact with the mine rib. Canopy configurations were established based on human engineering studies, full scale canopy mockups, and in-mine observation and consultation with mine and equipment manufacturing personnel. Overall height of each canopy is hydraulically adjustable between a minimum of 32 inches and a maximum of 40 inches. Canopy tops are open framework, welded structures, covered with expanded metal mesh. Structural members are 1 3/4-inch or 2-inch square tubing of AISI 413ON and ASTM A500 material, respectively. The canopy tops are typically supported by an understructure and upright post arrangement that is either integrated into the current operator platform or attached to the machine frame. The four upright corner posts house the hydraulic actuators. Canopy tops are elevated horizontally. Canopies are welded or bolted to the existing machines. Installation is accomplished with a minimal amount of interface modifications. No major machine design changes are required. Canopies were trial installed and load tested at the manufacturer's facility prior to installation on the in-mine machines. Canopies were installed on a Joy 14BU10 Loader, 16RB-3AH Cutter, and two 21SC Shuttle Cars, and a Galis 300 Roof Drill and 460-S Face Drill. Canopy installations were evaluated in the Jewell Ridge Coal Company No. 12 and Big Creek Tiller Mines. Operational time accumulated on the installations during evaluation ranged from 1 week to 14 weeks of two-shift operation. All five canopy designs, manufacture, and test were successfully accomplished. The five canopies met all safety requirements. Three of the five canopies were deemed to be completely successful from an operator's point of view. That is, mine management as well as the machine operator found that the canopies did not impede the operation of the machines to function with the same efficiency as before the installation of the canopies. The loader canopy, in fact, appeared to have provided a mole efficient operation of the loader by providing added safety to the operator from rib contact thus allowing him to concentrate more fully on the loading function. Operational problems were encountered with the shuttle car and the roof drill. The shuttle car canopy obstructed visibility to an objectionable amount and the roof drill canopy impeded maneuverability of the machine, more than doubling the roof bolting time.

Jan 1, 2012

Jan 1, 1994

The flolation behaviour of some Australian uranium ores was investigated. Although uraninite and pitchblend float readily with fatty acids, selective concentration to produce an economically discardable tailing has not yet been achieved. This is attributed to the presence in the ores of a quantity of uranium mineral in finely dispersed form which is very difficult to liberate. For some of the ores, at least, the proportion of this material decreases with increase in head assay.Flotation may be a useful concentrating method for some Australian ores if uranium oxide is to be sold in a free competitive market.

Jan 1, 1967

By Oliver Bowles

"Simple systematic accounting that adequately records all transactions has long been regarded as essential to the welfare of any business enterprise. Some of the defects that detract from the prosperity of the slate industry are attributable to a lack of effectiveness in cost keeping. This condition has prompted the United States Bureau of Mines to make a detailed study of accounting methods for the slate industry, and to present for consideration a system of accounts, which it is believed would enable the industry to attain more economical management and operation if accepted by a fair proportion of its important units.The method of accounting presented herein has been worked out with the assistance of leading slate producers and the recommendation are tentative and are submitted in this form as a means of developing constructive criticism. Believing that cooperative effort in this, as in many other problems, will bring the most enduring benefits to the industry as a whole, the writer urges that the most earnest consideration be given to this vital problem now facing the slate industry.Grateful acknowledgment is made of the helpful assistance rendered by R. E. Eckert of the accounting firm of Eckert, Degan, and Palmer of Easton, Pa., in compiling the charts and the explanatory text. He has brought to this work a wide knowledge of accountancy, supplemented by a background of direct contact with the slate industry, and his presence at the various conferences has been of great advantage in clearing up difficulties. The National Slate Association sponsored the cost study and chiefly through the efforts of President W. H. Smith and Secretary W. S. Hays, has aided greatly in conducting it. Acknowledgment is also made of assistance rendered by William F. Marsh of the United States Bureau of Mines."

Nov 1, 1929

By W. D. Mcmillan

Important reserves of nickel ore occur in the Levies district in Oriente, Cuba. The area is mountainous and mostly covered by heavy vegetation. The ore bodies comprise surface tracts of nickeliferous laterite underlain with decomposed serpentine of ore grade. The Cuban Nickel Co., a wholly owned United States Government corporation, owns a plant for leaching the nickel from its ores at Nicaro, Oriente, Cuba, Between December 1943 and March 31, 1954, 5,902,225 short tons of ore was treated, with a recovery of 116,206,519 pounds of nickel (52,711 metric tons). In 1953, 1,330, 224 short tons of ore was mined and 27;"3,129 pounds of nickel produced. The Cuban Nickel Co. also owns a townsite, with the necessary facilities, mining equipment, and 11 miles of railroad. Ore for the plant has been produced from the Ocujal-San Juan claims on lends owned by the Nicaro Nickel Co., a sub¬sidiary of Freeport Sulphur Co. The Government enterprise is man-aged by the Nickel Processing Corp. The Cuban Nickel Co. has denounced mineral concessions and has purchased other claims from private owners.

Jan 1, 1955

By Tatiana Bendo

Amostras de ferro puro sinterizadas foram enriquecidas superficialmente com molibdênio e em seguida foram cementadas. Todos os tratamentos térmicos foram realizados utilizando descarga luminescente anormal. Durante o processo de sinterização e de enriquecimento superficial as amostras são colocadas sobre o ânodo da descarga, na configuração cátodo-ânodo confinado. O bombardeamento da superfície do cátodo por espécies energéticas produz a pulverização de átomos do cátodo que se depositam na superfície da amostra e se difundem até certa profundidade. Foi observado que a espessura da camada superficial enriquecida está relacionada à energia de bombardeamento das espécies. Durante o processo de cementação, a presença de Mo na região superficial favorece a estabilização da fase a- Fe alterando a cinética de precipitação da cementita nessa região. A cementação das amostras enriquecidas com molibdênio elevou os valores de dureza obtidos para a região superficial.

Aug 16, 2017

By Lei Pan, Venkata Atluri, Xuming Wang, Yuesheng Gao, Jan D. Miller

The wetting characteristics and water film stability at the talc surface have been studied, particularly the effect of polysaccharides such as guar gum, starch, and dextrin. Talc is a gangue mineral in the flotation of base metal sulfide ores, precious metal sulfide ores, and platinum group metal (PGM) sulfide ores. Talc surfaces were investigated using surface analysis techniques including atomic force microscopy, high-speed video bubble attachment measurements, and wetting film stability measurements using a synchronized tri-wavelength reflection interferometry microscope (STRIM). In the presence of polysaccharides, there is a significant increase in bubble attachment time at the talc surface, but only a slight change in contact angle, which suggests that polysaccharide depression of talc is due primarily to the slow rate of bubble attachment and not due to a change in contact angle. The critical rupture thickness (hc) for a hydrophobic talc surface was found to be 56 nm, while the hydrophilic phlogopite surface of similar structure has an equilibrium film thickness (he) of 25 nm. At low polysaccharide concentrations, the wetting films formed on the talc surfaces were unstable, but at high concentrations the wetting films became stable with similar thickness values as the critical rupture thickness, and bubble attachment did not occur. However, it was found that the critical and equilibrium film thickness values do not change significantly with the polysaccharide type or concentration. The results from this research help us understand further details of film rupture and displacement during bubble attachment.

R. W. Raymond, New York, N. Y,:—Since the presentation of my note on this subject at the New York Meeting, Professor Louis has pointed out an error in my statement of his conception of " pitch "—namely, he understands the pitch, in the restricted sense which he proposes, to be the angle of inclination of the axis of an ore-body, measured on the vertical plane drawn through the body; whereas, I represented him as proposing to define " pitch " as the angle of inclination of an oblique body, measured on the plane of the dip, in the direction of the strike. The difference will appear upon consideration of the accompanying isometric projection, Fig. 1, in which ABCD represents the plane of the inclosing ore-deposit (vein or bed), and AC the axis of the oblique ore-shoot. ABE is the angle of the dip, as universally understood; and ACE

Jan 1, 1909

In 2005, a total of 739 nonmetal mining operations reported employment to the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA). These mines (e.g., potash, gypsum, salt) comprised 5.0% of all operations. ? Mines producing common clay comprised 26.9% (n=199) of all nonmetal mining operations. ? Nonmetal mining operations were located in all states and territories except Alaska, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.

Jan 1, 2008

By Diego Cota Marinho

O processo de dissolução da alumina em condições industriais em cubas de Tecnologia VSS Soderberg de alimentações laterais em batelada é bastante complexo, pois sofre interferência de muitas variáveis de processo como: temperatura e química de banho, propriedades físico-químicas da alumina, quantidade de alumina adicionada e massa de banho disponível. Um bom controle de adição e variáveis de processo contribuirão para garantia de uma melhor eficiência de corrente, consumo de energia e redução da quantidade lama (alumina não dissolvida) formada que se deposita no fundo das cubas e irá comprometer a passagem da corrente elétrica e consequentemente reduzirá a eficiência dos fornos. Este estudo mostra as principais variáveis que influenciam no processo de dissolução, o comportamento da concentração da alumina e temperatura do banho durante os intervalos de alimentação de 2:40 e 4:00 horas, a temperatura de entrada da alumina e as condições de cavidade devido a deposição de lama no fundo das cubas.

Oct 30, 2017

By Ron Ketterling

We will discuss electronic and paper record keeping, what works and what doesn’t. We’ll review record keeping in light of those five sub-committees: Audit, Awards, Constitution, Ethics and Planning. You’ll come away with concrete steps you can use to improve your record keeping processes

Feb 1, 2020

Casing or lining pipe is used in boreholes for the following reasons:1. To preserve the hole while drilling and after it is finished.2. To shut water out of the hole or to isolate any particular water, gas, or oil-bearing stratum.Deep holes can seldom be drilled without casing, and only when in firm strata. If caving from the walls is at all likely while drilling, casing is necessary in order to prevent the tools horn being buried...

Jan 1, 1924

By J. Armanet

THREE MINING colleges are maintained in France; the École Nationale Supérieure des Mines, of Paris; École Nationale Supérieure des Mines, of Saint Etienne; and the École Supérieure de la Metallurgie et des Mines at Nancy. Besides graduates of these schools, a few graduates of the École Centrale des Arts et MIanufactures and of the École Polytechnique are employed as ]nine managers or engineers; however, most of the latter have taken a graduate course at one of the mining schools.

Jan 1, 1939

By Charles Fried

The Coal Mine Health and Safety Act passed by Congress in 1969, called for research to alleviate the occupational stresses and hazards of coal miners. Spurred by a series of recent mine disasters the Congress directed the Bureau of Mines to increase its attention to the welfare of miners and to develop better working conditions and personal equipment for use in the mines. As one of the early steps in carrying out the provisions of the Act, the Bureau of Mines commissioned the Behavioral Sciences Group at the National Bureau of Standards to conduct a survey of the state of the art in ergonomics (human factors) as it has been applied to mining.

Jan 1, 1972

By G. S. Pauley

Paper presented at a meeting on: Artificial intelligence in the minerals sector, held in Nottingham, UK, 20 April 1993 (original title: Case-based reasoning can be a catalyst for improvement). A new computer software technology known as Case Based Reasoning (CBR) can be used to produce small decision support systems that are economically viable. This is because the knowledge that they contain can be owned and maintained by their users. A CBR tool has been used to perform a pilot study with Anglesey Aluminium Metal Ltd. The results are encouraging. They suggest that a combination of CBR and participative design and implementation techniques (such as Checkland's Soft System Methodology) can achieve sustainable improvement in mineral processing functions. An explanation is presented of why traditional, rule based systems are often an ineffective way to implement support systems. It is shown that CBR may provide an appropriate technology solution. Methods of achieving sustainable benefit are indicated. The pilot study with Anglesey Aluminium Metal is used as a practical illustration of the development of a CBR application. A review of potential application areas and some observations about the implementation are presented

Apr 1, 1994

By Jocemir da Silva Santos, Alberto Vicente Belezia, Matheus Neves Lana

A regulação ambiental de processos industriais que geram efluentes contendo fluoretos é mundialmente restrita devido à alta toxicidade do íon. Na Ternium, a água de resfriamento recirculada no spray do Lingotamento Contínuo (WTP#2) dissolve parte do pó fluxante, resultando em concentrações de 20 a 30 mg/L de fluoreto. Para desenvolvimento do processo de tratamento de fluoreto que atendesse a legislação, mantendo no efluente tratado concentração de Fluoreto menor que 10mg/L e Alumínio menor que 3,0mg/L, foi realizada uma pesquisa utilizando um equipamento de Jar Teste convencional totalizando 165 ensaios. Os ensaios foram planejados segundo revisões bibliográficas descrevendo o método da precipitação química de fluoreto de cálcio, auxiliado por Cátions de Alumínio. Na conclusão da pesquisa, foi desenvolvida uma Rota Tecnológica para tratamento do efluente gerado na purga do sistema WTP#2 atendendo a legislação, atingindo uma remoção de 70% a 80% de Fluoreto. Ao final foi realizada uma etapa de otimização das dosagens, cujo resultado foi a redução do número de etapas de tratamento e uma redução na quantidade de produtos químicos utilizados, consequentemente reduzindo o custo de tratamento. A redução do custo de tratamento foi da ordem de 3 milhões de reais anuais, mantendo o efluente tratado com as concentrações dos contaminantes abaixo dos limites da regulação ambiental.

Aug 1, 2019