Annual Meeting Preliminary Program - Full Brochure (PDF) - SME
Annual Meeting Preliminary Program - Full Brochure (PDF) - SME
Annual Meeting Preliminary Program - Full Brochure (PDF) - SME
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<strong>SME</strong> <strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Meeting</strong> & Exhibit<br />
NEW HORIZONS / NEW CHALLENGES<br />
February 24-27, 2008<br />
Salt Lake City, Utah<br />
www.smenet.org<br />
<strong>Preliminary</strong> <strong>Program</strong>
Crush More Ore<br />
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870-933-8048 Jonesboro, AR
How to Register<br />
Register by January 25, 2008 — to receive discounts!<br />
for conference registration and hotel reservations<br />
1. 2. 3.<br />
online phone/fax mail<br />
www.smenet.org Tel. 1-800-915-0618 The Housing Connection<br />
Fax: 1-801-355-0250 175 South West Temple, Suite 140<br />
(Secure Line) Salt Lake City, Utah 84101<br />
<strong>Full</strong> payment MUST be received with completed registration form.<br />
A Registration and Housing form is provided in this mailer.<br />
When registering online, or by phone/fax DO NOT SEND ANOTHER<br />
COPY BY MAIL.<br />
Confirmations will be e-mailed to the individual at the address provided on<br />
the registration form. If no e-mail address is provided, confirmation will be<br />
sent by regular mail.<br />
For questions or changes to your reservation you can e-mail The Housing<br />
Connection at thc@housingregistration.com<br />
The Housing Connection will be managing <strong>SME</strong>’s housing reservations<br />
and meeting registration.<br />
Contents<br />
Alumni and Special Functions . . . . . 19<br />
Calendar of Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9<br />
Education Agenda . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20<br />
Exhibit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63<br />
Exhibit Floor Plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64<br />
Exhibitor Listing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64<br />
Field Trip . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15<br />
General Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4<br />
HOTEL RESERVATION FORM . . . 68<br />
Hotel Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67<br />
Keynote Session . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7<br />
Membership, <strong>SME</strong> . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8<br />
Mentor <strong>Program</strong> . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17<br />
OneMine.org . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14<br />
<strong>Program</strong> Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . 25<br />
REGISTRATION FORM . . . . . . . 69-70<br />
Short Courses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12<br />
<strong>SME</strong> Foundation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62<br />
Social/Division Highlights . . . . . . . . . 21<br />
Sponsorship . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13, 71<br />
Student Activities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18<br />
Tours . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15<br />
ATTENTION EXHIBITORS<br />
Specially prepared registration forms have been provided in your exhibitor<br />
service kit. Booth personnel of exhibiting firms should NOT use the<br />
registration form contained in this brochure.<br />
For questions, or to obtain the exhibiting forms, contact: <strong>SME</strong> Exhibit Sales<br />
and Operations at (303) 948-4213.<br />
3<br />
TECHNICAL PROGRAM<br />
Sessions-at-a-Glance . . . . . . . . . . . 24<br />
Monday . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26<br />
Tuesday . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34<br />
Wednesday . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
general information<br />
Location Information<br />
All technical sessions, division luncheons, and short courses will<br />
be conducted at:<br />
The Salt Palace Convention Center<br />
100 South West Temple<br />
Salt Lake City, UT 84601<br />
Phone: 801-534-4777<br />
Website: www.saltpalace.com<br />
How to Get There…<br />
FLY FRONTIER AIRLINES<br />
TO SALT LAKE CITY!<br />
Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration<br />
attendees are eligible to take a 10% DISCOUNT off<br />
all published roundtrip fares.<br />
All rules of the published fare apply. This program discount may not be<br />
used or combined with any other air travel certificates or program<br />
discount.<br />
Attendees may take advantage of this discount by booking online at<br />
www.FrontierAirlines.com (select “More Search Options”). Attendees<br />
may also use a travel agency by providing the agency with the<br />
<strong>Meeting</strong> ID 91H5ZL at the time of booking. The <strong>Meeting</strong> ID must be<br />
properly applied to the ticket in the Tour Code box in order for the<br />
discount to be taken. Failure to use the proper ticketing procedures may<br />
result in debit memos.<br />
Registration Fees<br />
To receive advance registration fees, <strong>SME</strong> must receive your<br />
registration form and payment by January 25, 2008. After<br />
January 25, 2008 on-site registration fees apply. One-day advance<br />
registration is available for members and authors only.<br />
Nonmember Registrants<br />
Join <strong>SME</strong> by January 25, 2008 and save $130 on your full meeting<br />
registration fee.<br />
Registration Policy<br />
All attendees and authors at the <strong>SME</strong> <strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Meeting</strong> are required<br />
to register. Nonmember authors may register at the member rate.<br />
The one-day fee for members is available only for the day you want<br />
to attend (Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday). The<br />
appropriate badge is required for admittance to the technical<br />
sessions and exhibit and will be checked at the entrance of all<br />
activities. Attendees interested in touring the exhibit only can<br />
purchase a one-day pass. Exhibit-only registrants ARE NOT<br />
permitted to attend the technical sessions.<br />
Legion of Honor Registration Policy<br />
Legion of Honor Members are entitled to receive reduced<br />
registration fees for the 2008 <strong>SME</strong> <strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Meeting</strong>. Attendees<br />
requesting this category of registration must meet eligibility<br />
requirements and must be on record at <strong>SME</strong> as a Legion of Honor<br />
Member. A Legion of Honor Member must have acquired 50 years<br />
of membership. <strong>SME</strong> Members are automatically moved to this<br />
membership class.<br />
4<br />
Senior Member Registration Policy<br />
Retired Senior members are entitled to receive reduced registration<br />
fees for the 2008 <strong>SME</strong> <strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Meeting</strong>. Attendees requesting this<br />
category of registration must meet eligibility requirements and must<br />
be on record at <strong>SME</strong> as a Senior Member. A Senior Member is a<br />
retired member who has reached 70 years of age with 30 continuous<br />
years of membership with <strong>SME</strong>. Individuals must contact the <strong>SME</strong><br />
Membership Department and request this category of membership<br />
(based on qualifications). Questions regarding Senior Member status<br />
should be directed to the <strong>SME</strong> Membership Coordinator at<br />
(303) 948-4204.<br />
Student Registration Policy<br />
Student registrants for the 2008 <strong>SME</strong> <strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Meeting</strong> & Exhibit must<br />
meet eligibility requirements. <strong>SME</strong> requires that an individual must be<br />
attending a college, university, or higher education institution on a<br />
full-time basis to qualify for student registration rates. <strong>SME</strong> cannot<br />
process student registrations without evidence that you are a full-time<br />
student. Students enrolled in 12 or more semester credit hours are<br />
considered full-time. When sending your registration to <strong>SME</strong> <strong>Meeting</strong><br />
Registration, please provide registration confirmation from your<br />
educational institution. Acceptable confirmation includes: transcript,<br />
most recent report card, or official school registration documents.<br />
Student registration forms without this information will not be<br />
processed.<br />
Cancellation/Substitution Policy<br />
If circumstances require you to cancel your <strong>SME</strong> registration, you<br />
must do so in writing. Written notice must be sent to The Housing<br />
Connection at 175 South West Temple, Suite 140, Salt Lake City, UT<br />
84101. Cancellations received by January 25, 2008 will receive a full<br />
refund, less a $100 processing fee. There are no refunds for no-shows<br />
and cancellations postmarked after January 25, 2008. Registrants are<br />
responsible for cancellation of their own hotel accommodations.<br />
Substitutions will be accepted in writing at no charge until January<br />
25, 2008. After January 25, 2008 a $25 fee will be charged for<br />
substitutions.<br />
NO REFUNDS – for Registration, Short Course, Social Function,<br />
Tour and Field Trip tickets will be issued after the January 25,<br />
2008, DEADLINE.<br />
International Delegates – Letter of Invitation<br />
<strong>SME</strong> will send a letter of invitation to paid, full registrants upon<br />
request. Invitations are intended to help international delegates raise<br />
travel funds or obtain a visa. It is not a commitment from the<br />
Conference or the organizers to provide any financial support.<br />
Request for letters of invitation must include: attendee name, job title,<br />
company name, mailing address (P.O. Boxes are not acceptable),<br />
city/province, state, country, zip/postal code, phone & fax number,<br />
and beginning and end dates of travel. Also, provide the address,<br />
phone and fax number of your embassy. All items must be<br />
submitted to complete a letter of invitation.<br />
Send your written request to:<br />
<strong>SME</strong> <strong>Meeting</strong>s Dept.,<br />
8307 Shaffer Parkway<br />
Littleton, Colorado USA 80127-7002<br />
or<br />
E-mail: meetings@smenet.org
Conference Registration Includes:<br />
full registrants receive:<br />
2008 Pre-print CD-ROM<br />
Daily Exhibit Hall Access<br />
Opening Reception (Sunday, Exhibit Hall)<br />
Luncheon (Monday, Exhibit Hall)<br />
Admittance to Technical Sessions<br />
Admittance to Keynote Session<br />
Afternoon Social (Tuesday, Exhibit Hall)<br />
Continental Breakfast (Wednesday, Exhibit Hall)<br />
one-day member-only<br />
registrants receive:<br />
2008 Pre-print CD-ROM<br />
Exhibit Hall Access on Registered Day<br />
Opening Reception (Sunday registrants only, Exhibit Hall)<br />
Luncheon (Monday registrants only, Exhibit Hall)<br />
Admittance to Technical Sessions on Registered Day<br />
Admittance to Keynote Session<br />
Afternoon Social (Tuesday registrants only, Exhibit Hall)<br />
Continental Breakfast (Wednesday, Exhibit Hall)<br />
exhibit hall-only<br />
registrants receive:<br />
Exhibit Hall Access on Registered Day<br />
Opening Reception (Sunday registrants only, Exhibit Hall)<br />
Luncheon (Monday registrants only, Exhibit Hall)<br />
Afternoon Social (Tuesday registrants only, Exhibit Hall)<br />
Admittance to Keynote Session<br />
Continental Breakfast (Wednesday, Exhibit Hall)<br />
Airport/Transportation Services<br />
Salt Lake City International Airport (Airport Code SLC)<br />
776 North Terminal Drive<br />
Salt Lake City, Utah 84116<br />
Phone: (801) 575-2400<br />
For further detailed information regarding Salt Lake City<br />
International Airport, please contact the airport directly, or visit the<br />
Web page at www.airwise.com/airports/us/slc<br />
Transportation<br />
Downtown Salt Lake City is accessible via shuttle, taxi, local bus<br />
service and personal vehicle.<br />
Bus Service: The local bus service, Utah Transit Authority, serves<br />
the downtown area. Departures from SLC International Airport are<br />
6:00 am – 7:00 pm outside baggage claim, fare $1.25.<br />
Taxi Service: Taxi service from Salt Lake City International<br />
Airport to downtown Salt Lake is approximately $10-15 one-way.<br />
Taxis are available outside baggage claim at the main terminal or<br />
at area hotels.<br />
5<br />
Van Service: Several companies provide van services to a wide<br />
range of locations including Express Shuttle 1-800-397-0773, fare<br />
$7 one way.<br />
Transportation Information Line: 801-575-2477.<br />
Driving directions from Salt Lake City International Airport to<br />
downtown Salt Lake City:<br />
• Start out going North on TERMINAL; take exit<br />
AIRCARGO/HIGH LOAD exit.<br />
• Follow signs to airport exit.<br />
• Take I-80 East towards Ogden/Provo.<br />
• Follow to W 600 S/UT269 E.<br />
• Turn left onto S West Temple/UT 270.<br />
The airport is approximately 8 miles from downtown Salt Lake.<br />
Please refer to page 67 for addresses and locations of hotels.<br />
Parking: The Salt Palace offers a number of parking options<br />
nearby. Two parking lots are located at the Salt Palace with a total<br />
of 1,057 parking spaces. Parking is only $5/day (No in/out<br />
privileges). Entrance to parking lots: South Parking Lot (covered<br />
lot) 175 W. 200 S. and West Parking Lot (uncovered lot) 250 W.<br />
100 S. Check with your selected hotel regarding parking services,<br />
rates and availability.
Housing Reservation Information<br />
Hotel accommodations are available at the Radisson Hotel, Salt<br />
Lake Plaza Hotel, Marriott Downtown, Shilo Inn Hotel, Hotel<br />
Monaco, Hilton Salt Lake City Center, and the Sheraton City Centre<br />
Hotel. See page 67 for detailed hotel and address information.<br />
Please complete the Hotel Reservation form and RETURN NO<br />
LATER THAN JANUARY 25, 2008, TO:<br />
The Housing Connection<br />
175 South West Temple, Suite 140<br />
Salt Lake City, Utah 84101<br />
Phone: 1-800-915-0618<br />
Fax: (801) 355-0250 (secure line)<br />
E-mail: thc@housingregistration.com<br />
Online: www.smenet.org<br />
DO NOT send your housing form to <strong>SME</strong>.<br />
A VALID CREDIT CARD NUMBER MUST ACCOMPANY<br />
THE COMPLETED HOTEL RESERVATION FORM TO<br />
GUARANTEE RESERVATION.<br />
Acknowledgements will be sent by The Housing Connection.<br />
The Housing Connection is the contracted company to manage<br />
<strong>SME</strong>’s housing reservations and meeting registration.<br />
Registration Hours<br />
On-site registration will be conducted during the following hours<br />
in the Salt Palace Convention Center.<br />
Saturday, February 23<br />
Sunday, February 24<br />
Monday, February 25<br />
Tuesday, February 26<br />
Wednesday, February 27<br />
7:00 am – 5:00 pm<br />
(Short Course Registration<br />
and Exhibitors Only)<br />
7:00 am – 7:00 pm<br />
7:00 am – 5:00 pm<br />
7:00 am – 5:00 pm<br />
7:00 am – 2:00 pm<br />
Exhibit Hours<br />
Exhibitor products and services will be showcased at the 2008<br />
<strong>SME</strong> <strong>Annual</strong> Exhibit <strong>Meeting</strong> at the Salt Palace Convention Center<br />
in Hall C-E. Badges are required for admittance.<br />
Sunday, February 24<br />
Monday, February 25<br />
Tuesday, February 26<br />
Wednesday, February 27<br />
5:00 pm – 7:00 pm<br />
11:00 am – 5:30 pm<br />
11:00 am – 5:30 pm<br />
8:00 am – Noon<br />
Exhibit Social Events<br />
(Events located in lounges and restaurant in the hall.)<br />
Exhibit Hall Opening Reception<br />
Sunday, February 24<br />
5:00 pm – 7:00 pm<br />
Purchasing Tickets<br />
Attendees must register to purchase tickets for social functions<br />
and/or field trips. Registrants may purchase multiple tickets.<br />
Exhibit Hall Luncheon<br />
Monday, February 25<br />
Exhibit Hall Afternoon Social<br />
Tuesday, February 26<br />
11:30 am<br />
3:30 pm – 5:30 pm<br />
CD-ROM – <strong>Meeting</strong> Pre-prints<br />
Each full, one-day, and student registrant will receive a<br />
CD-ROM of pre-prints from the 2008 <strong>SME</strong> <strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Meeting</strong>.<br />
Additional CD-ROMs are available for purchase see Registration<br />
Form in this mailer. These will be available for pick-up in the <strong>SME</strong><br />
Bookstore during the meeting. (Offer excludes discounted, and<br />
exhibits only registrations).<br />
Exhibit Hall Continental Breakfast<br />
Wednesday, February 27 8:00 am – 9:30 am<br />
Short Courses<br />
<strong>SME</strong> Short Courses will be conducted at the Salt Palace<br />
Convention Center. See pages 12-13 for details.<br />
Technical Sessions<br />
All technical sessions will be conducted at the Salt Palace<br />
Convention Center. Technical sessions start on page 26.<br />
Tours & Field Trip<br />
Explore UTAH! All tours and field trip are subject to cancellation<br />
based on limited attendance. Make your reservations early using<br />
the registration form in this manual. See pages 15-16 for tour<br />
details and page 15 for field trip details.<br />
<strong>SME</strong> Cyber Cafe<br />
The Cyber Cafe is located in the exhibit hall at the Salt Palace<br />
Convention Center. Computers will be available during exhibit<br />
hours to surf the net, retrieve and send e-mail messages, view<br />
mining websites, or just stay connected!<br />
6<br />
<strong>SME</strong> Bookstore<br />
The <strong>SME</strong> Bookstore will be located in the Salt Palace Convention<br />
Center. It will feature <strong>SME</strong> publications and a large selection of<br />
signature merchandise. You can also pick-up your copy of the<br />
pre-print CD-ROM of the 2008 <strong>SME</strong> <strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Meeting</strong> by<br />
redeeming the ticket enclosed in your registration packet.<br />
The <strong>SME</strong> Bookstore will be open the following hours:<br />
Sunday, February 24<br />
Monday, February 25<br />
Tuesday, February 26<br />
Wednesday, February 27<br />
8:00 am – 5:00 pm<br />
8:00 am – 5:00 pm<br />
8:00 am – 5:00 pm<br />
8:00 am – Noon
keynote<br />
The<br />
Mineral<br />
Supercycle:<br />
Past,<br />
Present<br />
and<br />
Future<br />
Speaker: DOUGLAS B. SILVER<br />
Chairman and CEO,<br />
International Royalty<br />
Corporation, Engelwood, CO<br />
Monday, February 25, 2008<br />
9:00 AM<br />
Salt Palace Convention Center<br />
Salt Lake City, Utah<br />
Sponsored by:<br />
Aker Kvaerner<br />
For most of our careers we have suffered from low commodity prices. This changed in 2002 and has led to the greatest bull<br />
market for minerals in recorded history. Thousands of new jobs have been created and hundreds of new companies have been<br />
formed. Billions of dollars of new investments into this sector has led to skyrocketing share prices and led to major new mineral<br />
discoveries and the development of new mines. The opportunity for vast rewards are so high that the St. Barbara Retirement Home<br />
for Miners was recently closed due to late night escapes.<br />
The emergence of a modern mineral boom is complicated due to the myriad of global influences. This keynote address will review<br />
today’s Supercycle. It will discuss the roots causes, the role of current events and provide insights into the duration and outlook<br />
for the future.<br />
7
Tell a friend<br />
JOIN <strong>SME</strong> by<br />
January 25, 2008<br />
and save $130<br />
on 2008 <strong>SME</strong><br />
<strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Meeting</strong><br />
Registration Fees.<br />
www.smenet.org<br />
<strong>SME</strong>’s <strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Meeting</strong> is the best opportunity to develop and sharpen your professional<br />
skills and knowledge. Technical presentations will feature new horizons and new<br />
challenges facing the minerals industry. Networking with 4,000 + professionals is<br />
priceless. The <strong>SME</strong> Exhibit will feature over 350 companies exhibiting state-of-the-art<br />
products and services that you won’t want to miss.<br />
SAVE AN ADDITIONAL $100<br />
when you register for short courses<br />
held in conjunction with the <strong>Meeting</strong>.<br />
It’s Easy!<br />
Once your paid application is<br />
received and approved you<br />
will be given a member number<br />
which can be used to register<br />
at member rates (a savings of<br />
$130 for the 2008 <strong>SME</strong><br />
<strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Meeting</strong>).<br />
<strong>SME</strong> Membership Has VALUE<br />
• Mining Engineering Magazine…<br />
Members receive it, along with all other <strong>SME</strong> Benefits for only $120.<br />
Mining Engineering Magazine for nonmembers is $245.<br />
• Members save an average of 25% on books.<br />
• Members save an average of $100 on <strong>SME</strong> meetings and short courses.<br />
• Members have access to the career site – www.miningjobs.org<br />
• <strong>SME</strong> website provides: Discussion Forums with members around the<br />
world; the <strong>SME</strong> Directory; Industry Newsfeeds and Commodity<br />
Indexes/Prices; <strong>SME</strong> Link List with more than 2500 listings,<br />
and much more.<br />
• Members are eligible for Life and Medical Insurance; Credit Card<br />
<strong>Program</strong>; Car Rental Discounts; and Liability Insurance.<br />
• Members will have complete access to OneMine.org.<br />
The Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration, Inc.<br />
8307 Shaffer Parkway Littleton, Colorado 80127<br />
303-973-9550 • Fax: 303-973-3845 • Email: sme@smenet.org • Web: www.smenet.org<br />
8
calendar of events<br />
CC = SALT PALACE CONVENTION CENTER M = MARRIOTT DOWNTOWN H = HILTON<br />
EXHIBITOR SET-UP<br />
8 AM – 5 PM • Exhibit Hall • CC<br />
EXHIBITOR REGISTRATION<br />
Noon – 5 PM • CC<br />
SHORT COURSES<br />
Short Course Registration<br />
7 – 9 AM • CC<br />
Short Course Coffee Break<br />
7:15 – 9 AM • CC<br />
Short Course: Mine Closure Planning in<br />
Today’s Global Environment:<br />
A Risk-Based Approach<br />
9 AM – 5 PM • CC<br />
Short Course: Optimum Selection of Belt<br />
Conveyor Drives<br />
9 AM – 5 PM • CC<br />
saturday, february 23<br />
Short Course Coffee Break<br />
10:15 – 10:30 AM • CC<br />
Short Course Luncheon<br />
Noon – 1 PM • CC<br />
Short Course Break<br />
2:30 – 3 PM • CC<br />
BOARD & COMMITTEE MEETINGS<br />
M&E Division Leadership<br />
8 AM – Noon • M<br />
<strong>SME</strong> Leadership Orientation<br />
8 AM – Noon • M<br />
ABET General Information & Training<br />
8 AM – 5 PM • M<br />
<strong>SME</strong> Audit Committee<br />
9 – 11 AM • M<br />
<strong>SME</strong> MPD Nominating Committee<br />
10 AM – Noon • M<br />
ABET General Information & Training<br />
Lunch<br />
Noon – 1:30 PM • M<br />
<strong>SME</strong> Strategic Committee <strong>Meeting</strong>s<br />
2 – 5 PM • M<br />
<strong>SME</strong> Internet Committee<br />
3 – 5 PM • M<br />
TOUR<br />
Utah Olympic Park & Park City<br />
1 – 5 PM • M<br />
EXHIBITOR REGISTRATION<br />
7 AM – 5 PM • CC<br />
EXHIBITOR SET-UP<br />
8 AM – 3 PM • Exhibit Hall • CC<br />
SHORT COURSES<br />
Short Course Coffee Break<br />
7:15 – 9 AM • CC<br />
Short Course Registration<br />
7:00 – 9 AM • CC<br />
Short Course: Mine Closure Planning in<br />
Today’s Global Environment:<br />
A Risk-Based Approach<br />
9 AM – 5 PM • CC<br />
Short Course: Optimum Selection of Belt<br />
Conveyor Drives<br />
9 AM – 5 PM • CC<br />
Short Course: Risk Assessment for Ore<br />
Reserves and Mine Planning: Stochastic<br />
Simulation Application for the<br />
Mining Industry<br />
9 AM – 5 PM • CC<br />
Short Course Coffee Break<br />
10:15 – 10:30 AM • CC<br />
Short Course Luncheon<br />
Noon – 1 PM • CC<br />
Short Course Break<br />
2:30 – 3 PM • CC<br />
REGISTRATION<br />
7 AM – 7 PM • Foyer • CC<br />
<strong>SME</strong> BOOKSTORE<br />
8 AM – 5 PM • Foyer • CC<br />
sunday, february 24<br />
EXHIBITS OPENING<br />
5 – 7 PM • Exhibit Hall • CC<br />
BOARD & COMMITTEE MEETINGS<br />
<strong>SME</strong>/NSSGA Student Design Competition<br />
Finals Presentations<br />
7 AM – 2 PM • H<br />
<strong>SME</strong> Professional Engineers Exam<br />
Committee Workshop<br />
8 AM – 4 PM • M<br />
<strong>SME</strong> National GEM Committee<br />
9 AM – Noon • M<br />
<strong>SME</strong> Coal & Energy Division<br />
Executive Committee<br />
9 AM – Noon • M<br />
<strong>SME</strong> Environmental Division<br />
Executive Committee<br />
9 AM – Noon • M<br />
<strong>SME</strong> IndMD Executive Committee<br />
9 AM – Noon • M<br />
<strong>SME</strong> M&E Division Executive Committee<br />
9 AM – Noon • M<br />
<strong>SME</strong> MPD Executive Committee<br />
9 AM – Noon • M<br />
<strong>SME</strong> Minerals Schools Dept. Heads<br />
9:30 AM – Noon • M<br />
<strong>SME</strong> Student Chapter Reps Subcommittee<br />
11 AM – Noon • M<br />
<strong>SME</strong> Board of Directors<br />
1 – 4 PM • M<br />
IndMD <strong>Program</strong> Committee<br />
1 – 2 PM • M<br />
9<br />
<strong>SME</strong> Students’ Forum & Reception<br />
1 – 3 PM • CC<br />
ADTI – MMS <strong>Meeting</strong><br />
1 – 4 PM • M<br />
<strong>SME</strong> Coal & Energy Unit Committee<br />
2 – 3 PM • M<br />
<strong>SME</strong> MPD Unit Committee<br />
2 – 3 PM • M<br />
<strong>SME</strong> Construction Materials and<br />
Aggregates Committee <strong>Meeting</strong><br />
2 – 4 PM • M<br />
Mentor <strong>Meeting</strong> Place<br />
3 – 5 PM • CC<br />
<strong>SME</strong> Educators Forum<br />
3 – 5 PM • CC<br />
<strong>SME</strong> <strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Meeting</strong> of Members<br />
4 – 5 PM • M<br />
SOCIAL FUNCTIONS<br />
Exhibit Hall Grand Opening Reception<br />
5 – 7 PM • Exhibit Hall • CC<br />
<strong>SME</strong> Foundation Dinner & Dance<br />
(Ticketed)<br />
7 PM – Midnight • M<br />
<strong>SME</strong> Student Mixer<br />
9 PM – Midnight • H<br />
TOUR<br />
Mormon Tabernacle Choir & Crossroads of<br />
the West City Tour<br />
8:30 AM – 12:30 PM • CC
REGISTRATION<br />
7 AM – 5 PM • CC<br />
<strong>SME</strong> BOOKSTORE<br />
8 AM – 5 PM • CC<br />
<strong>SME</strong> KEYNOTE SESSION<br />
9 – 11:30 AM • CC<br />
EXHIBIT<br />
11 AM – 5:30 PM • Exhibit Hall • CC<br />
DREYER LECTURE<br />
1:30 – 2:30 PM • CC<br />
BOARD & COMMITTEE MEETINGS<br />
OTC Planning Committee<br />
7 – 9 AM • M<br />
<strong>SME</strong> Membership Committee<br />
7 – 9 AM • M<br />
<strong>SME</strong> Minerals Resources Management<br />
Committee<br />
7 – 9 AM • M<br />
monday, february 25<br />
<strong>SME</strong> Young Leaders Committee<br />
7 – 9 AM • M<br />
<strong>SME</strong> Authors’ Coffee<br />
7:30 – 8:30 AM • CC<br />
<strong>SME</strong> Speaker Ready Room<br />
7:30 AM – 5 PM • CC<br />
Environmental Div. Business <strong>Meeting</strong><br />
8 – 9 AM • CC<br />
<strong>SME</strong> IndMD Technical Committee<br />
8 – 9 AM • CC<br />
<strong>SME</strong> Bulk Material Handling Committee<br />
11:30 AM – 1 PM • CC<br />
<strong>SME</strong> Accreditation and Curricular Issues<br />
1 – 3 PM • CC<br />
<strong>SME</strong> MPD Service <strong>Meeting</strong><br />
2 – 3:30 PM • CC<br />
<strong>SME</strong> Mining Engineering Handbook<br />
Editoral Board<br />
2 – 4 PM • CC<br />
<strong>SME</strong> Mining Engineering Committee<br />
2 – 4 PM • CC<br />
ABET Visitor Selection Committee (Closed)<br />
3 – 5 PM • CC<br />
<strong>SME</strong> IndMD Nominating Committee<br />
4 – 5 PM • M<br />
Dreyer Award Committee<br />
4 – 5:30 PM • M<br />
SOCIAL FUNCTIONS<br />
Exhibit Hall Welcome Luncheon<br />
11:30 AM • Exhibit Hall • CC<br />
TOUR<br />
Historic Buildings of Salt Lake City<br />
10 AM – 1 PM • Departs south lobby • CC<br />
REGISTRATION<br />
7 AM – 5 PM • CC<br />
<strong>SME</strong> BOOKSTORE<br />
8 AM – 5 PM • CC<br />
GAUDIN LECTURE<br />
8:30 – 9 AM • CC<br />
ONEMINE DEMO<br />
9 AM – 5 PM • CC<br />
EXHIBIT<br />
11 AM – 5:30 PM • CC<br />
BOARD & COMMITTEE MEETINGS<br />
<strong>SME</strong> Section Reps<br />
7 – 9 AM • M<br />
<strong>SME</strong> Foundation Board of Trustee <strong>Meeting</strong><br />
7 – 9 AM • M<br />
<strong>SME</strong> Authors’ Coffee<br />
7:30 – 8:30 AM • CC<br />
<strong>SME</strong> Speaker Ready Room<br />
7:30 AM – 5 PM • CC<br />
<strong>SME</strong>/NSSGA Student Design Competition<br />
Planning <strong>Meeting</strong><br />
8 – 9 AM • CC<br />
Sustainable Development Committee<br />
8 – 9 AM • CC<br />
tuesday, february 26<br />
Silent Auctions – ED & MPD<br />
11 AM – 4 PM • Exhibit Hall • CC<br />
<strong>SME</strong> M&MP Editorial Board<br />
10 AM – Noon • M<br />
<strong>SME</strong> Student Member Affairs Committee<br />
10 AM – Noon • CC<br />
<strong>SME</strong> 2009 <strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Meeting</strong><br />
Exhibit Space Sales<br />
10 AM – 5 PM • CC<br />
<strong>SME</strong> Coal & Energy Division<br />
Business <strong>Meeting</strong> (held during Luncheon)<br />
Noon – 2 PM • CC<br />
<strong>SME</strong> IndMD Business <strong>Meeting</strong><br />
1:45 – 2 PM • M<br />
<strong>SME</strong> Research Council <strong>Meeting</strong><br />
2 – 4 PM • CC<br />
<strong>SME</strong> Council of Education & Accreditation<br />
3 – 5 PM • CC<br />
<strong>SME</strong> Information Publishing Committee<br />
3 – 5 PM • M<br />
<strong>SME</strong> M&E/Coal Underground Ventilation<br />
Unit Committee<br />
4 – 5 PM • M<br />
SOCIAL FUNCTIONS<br />
Women of <strong>SME</strong> Breakfast (Ticketed)<br />
7:30 – 9 AM • M<br />
<strong>SME</strong> Coal & Energy Division Luncheon,<br />
Silent Auction & Business <strong>Meeting</strong> (Ticketed)<br />
Noon – 1:30 PM • CC<br />
<strong>SME</strong> Environmental Division Luncheon<br />
(Ticketed)<br />
Noon – 1:30 PM • CC<br />
<strong>SME</strong> IndMD Luncheon & Silent Auction<br />
(Ticketed)<br />
Noon – 2 PM • CC<br />
Exhibit Hall Afternoon Social<br />
3:30 – 5:30 PM • Exhibit Hall • CC<br />
Plant Operators Open Forum<br />
4 – 5 PM • CC<br />
Bulk Materials Poster Session and Reception<br />
(Ticketed)<br />
4 – 6:30 PM • M<br />
International Visitor’s Reception<br />
(By Invitation)<br />
5:30 – 7 PM • M<br />
Scotch Nightcap (Ticketed)<br />
8 – 11 PM • M<br />
TOUR<br />
Quilts & Handicrafts of Salt Lake<br />
8:30 AM – 2 PM • Departs south lobby • CC<br />
10
REGISTRATION<br />
7 AM – 2 PM • CC<br />
<strong>SME</strong> BOOKSTORE<br />
8 AM – 2 PM • CC<br />
EXHIBIT<br />
8 AM – Noon • Exhibit Hall • CC<br />
EXHIBITOR MOVE-OUT<br />
Noon – 10 PM • Exhibit Hall • CC<br />
WADSWORTH LECTURE<br />
8:30 – 9 AM • CC<br />
ONEMINE DEMO<br />
9 AM – 5 PM • CC<br />
RICHARDS’ LECTURE<br />
1:15 – 1:45 PM • CC<br />
JACKLING LECTURE<br />
1:30 – 2 PM • CC<br />
BOARD & COMMITTEE MEETINGS<br />
<strong>SME</strong> Authors’ Coffee<br />
7:30 – 8:30 AM • CC<br />
<strong>SME</strong> 2009 <strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Meeting</strong><br />
<strong>Program</strong> Committee<br />
7:30 – 9 AM • CC<br />
<strong>SME</strong>/AIME Past President’s Breakfast<br />
7:30 – 9 AM • M<br />
<strong>SME</strong> Speaker Ready Room<br />
7:30 AM – 5 PM • CC<br />
wednesday, february 27<br />
<strong>SME</strong> 2009 <strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Meeting</strong><br />
Exhibit Space Sales<br />
8 – 11 AM • CC<br />
<strong>SME</strong> 2010 <strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Meeting</strong><br />
<strong>Program</strong> Committee<br />
9 – 10 AM • CC<br />
AIME Mudd Fund Committee<br />
9:30 – 11 AM • M<br />
<strong>SME</strong> Distinguished Member Award<br />
Nominating Committee (closed)<br />
10 – 11 AM • CC<br />
<strong>SME</strong> Registered Member Admissions and<br />
Ethics Committees<br />
11 AM – 12:30 PM • CC<br />
<strong>SME</strong> MPD Business <strong>Meeting</strong><br />
1:45 – 2 PM • CC<br />
<strong>SME</strong> International Committee <strong>Meeting</strong><br />
2 – 4 PM • CC<br />
<strong>SME</strong> M&E Division Business <strong>Meeting</strong><br />
2 – 2:30 PM • CC<br />
<strong>SME</strong> M&E Division Unit Committee<br />
2:30 – 3:30 PM • CC<br />
<strong>SME</strong> MPD Executive Committee<br />
3 – 4 PM • CC<br />
<strong>SME</strong> Resources & Reserves Committee<br />
<strong>Meeting</strong><br />
3 – 4:30 PM • CC<br />
<strong>SME</strong> Environmental Division Nominating<br />
Planning Committee <strong>Meeting</strong><br />
3 – 5 PM • CC<br />
<strong>SME</strong> Nominating Strategic Committee<br />
(Closed)<br />
3:30 – 5 PM • CC<br />
SOCIAL FUNCTIONS<br />
Exhibit Hall Continental Breakfast<br />
8 – 9:30 AM • Exhibit Hall • CC<br />
<strong>SME</strong> M&E Division Luncheon &<br />
Silent Auction (Ticketed)<br />
Noon – 1:30 PM • CC<br />
<strong>SME</strong> MPD Division Luncheon/Student<br />
Poster Session (Ticketed)<br />
Noon – 1:30 PM • CC<br />
<strong>SME</strong> Dinner Reception (COD)<br />
6 – 7 PM • M<br />
<strong>SME</strong> Dinner Head Table Reception<br />
6 – 7 PM • M<br />
<strong>SME</strong> Dinner (Ticketed)<br />
7 – 9:30 PM • M<br />
<strong>SME</strong> President’s Reception (By Invitation)<br />
9:30 PM – Midnight • M<br />
TOURS<br />
Alps of Utah<br />
9 AM – 4 PM • Departs south lobby • CC<br />
thursday, february 28<br />
BOARD & COMMITTEE MEETINGS<br />
<strong>SME</strong> Board of Directors<br />
8 – 11:30 AM • M<br />
FIELD TRIP<br />
Bingham Canyon Mine<br />
8 AM – Noon • M<br />
Things to See and Do<br />
Salt Lake City!<br />
Clark Planetarium<br />
110 South 400 West (Gateway)<br />
Phone: (801) 456-7827<br />
www.clarkplanetarium.org<br />
IMAX at the Gateway<br />
110 South 400 West<br />
Phone: (801) 456-4629<br />
imax@clarkplanetarium.org<br />
Temple Square<br />
15 East South Temple<br />
Phone: (800) 537-9703<br />
www.visittemplesquare.com<br />
Living Planet<br />
Aquarium (Gateway)<br />
32 North Rio Grande<br />
Phone: (801) 355-3474<br />
www.thelivingplanet.com<br />
The Beehive House<br />
67 East South Temple<br />
Phone: (801) 240-2681<br />
Gateway Shopping Area<br />
90 South 400 West<br />
(801) 456-0000<br />
www.shopthegateway.com<br />
11
Short Courses<br />
Mine Closure Planning in Today’s Global<br />
Environment: A Risk-Based Approach<br />
Saturday and Sunday, February 23-24, 2008<br />
Course Credits: 1.4 CEU<br />
Member $550; Nonmember $650; Student Member $450<br />
overview<br />
Closure planning in today’s world must go<br />
beyond developing traditional technical plans<br />
that address environmental issues. Mining<br />
companies must develop sustainable solutions<br />
that take on a much wider view of mine closure.<br />
A risk-based approach to closure planning<br />
offers a systematic means for incorporating the<br />
range of issues – environmental, social, and<br />
financial – that will facilitate effective, sustainable solutions to<br />
mining while optimizing closure costs. Attendees will learn how<br />
to identify, assess, and incorporate the numerous aspects of risk<br />
into mine closure plans, and methods to quantify those risks for<br />
use in closure cost estimating.<br />
content<br />
• How do I Close a Mine in Today’s Global Environment –<br />
It’s a lot more complicated than it used to be!<br />
• A Purely Technical Perspective to Planning for Mine Closure –<br />
Life According to an Engineer (includes an overview of the<br />
technical issues related to mine closure planning)<br />
• Sustainability Considerations for Mine Closure – Getting<br />
Beyond Solving the Technical Environmental Issues<br />
Facilitated Discussion<br />
• Making Mine Closure More Simple – Using a Risk-based<br />
Approach<br />
• Risk Concepts – What are We Talking about Anyway?<br />
(risk identification, probabilities, quantification)<br />
• Risk-based Approach – Why You Should Use It and<br />
How It Works<br />
Facilitated Discussion<br />
• Making Mine Closure More Simple – Using a Risk-based<br />
Approach<br />
• Recipe for a Risk-based Approach<br />
• Identifying and Assessing Risks.<br />
• Risk Control Strategies – How Do I Address Risks?<br />
• Cost Estimating Using a Risk-based Approach (Best estimates,<br />
range analyses, probabilistic cost estimates, uncertainty)<br />
Facilitated Discussion<br />
• Real Life Examples of Risk-based Mine Closure Planning<br />
• Success Stories – Why Didn’t I Think of That?<br />
Facilitated Discussion<br />
instructors<br />
Robert Reisinger, URS Corporation,<br />
(robert_reisinger@urscorp.com)<br />
Dirk van Zyl, University of Nevada (dvanzyl@mines.unr.edu)<br />
Geoff Byrne, URS Corporation (geoff_byrne@urscorp.com)<br />
12<br />
Optimum Selection of Belt Conveyor Drives<br />
Saturday and Sunday, February 23-24, 2008<br />
Course Credits: 1.4 CEU<br />
Member $550; Nonmember $650; Student Member $450<br />
overview<br />
The subject of drive systems for conveyors always stimulates lively<br />
debate with various operators declaring that some type is good and<br />
other types are not. Unfortunately, different operators swear by<br />
different drive types and there are many successful drive types on<br />
the market. How can this be? The main reason for this is a poor<br />
understanding of why certain drives work in some applications and<br />
not in others. This course aims to give registrants a basic<br />
understanding of the various requirements for conveyor drives, an<br />
understanding of how different drive types work, and how these<br />
different drives can be effectively incorporated into a conveyor<br />
system.<br />
instructors<br />
Edmond O’Donovan, President, E.J. O’Donovan and Associates,<br />
Brisbane, Australia (edmond.odonovan@ejodonovan.com.au)<br />
Steve Shadow, Account Executive, Conetic Resources, Inc.<br />
(sshadow@coneticresources.com)<br />
Todd Hollingsworth, P.E., Manager Engineering, Conveyor<br />
Engineering Inc. (toddh@conveyorengineering.com)<br />
Risk Assessment for Ore Reserves and Mine<br />
Planning: Stochastic Simulation Application<br />
for the Mining Industry<br />
Sunday, Feburary 24, 2008<br />
Course Credits: .7 CEU<br />
Member $350; Nonmember $450; Student Member $250<br />
overview<br />
This one-day course presents a new generation of applied<br />
stochastic simulation technologies for assessing reserve uncertainty<br />
and effects on risk analysis and cash flow considerations. Emphasis<br />
is placed on the downstream applications pertinent to the<br />
feasibility, design, development and planning stages of mining<br />
ventures, as well as in the financial optimization of relevant aspects<br />
of operations and production. New public domain software with<br />
graphic capabilities is introduced and provided to participants.<br />
Participants will:<br />
• Understand how quantify and use quantified orebody risk in ore<br />
reserve estimation, mine planning and mineral project valuation<br />
• Work with industry examples at different stages of a<br />
mining project<br />
• Participate in hands-on computer workshops using real<br />
case studies
content<br />
Introduction<br />
• Quantification of uncertainty shelters investment and maximises<br />
profits; frameworks for uncertainty modelling and optimisation<br />
of mining operations<br />
Concepts and Techniques<br />
• Introduction to Monte Carlo simulations, methods and risk<br />
assessment<br />
Practice of Stochastic Simulation for Risk Management<br />
in Mining<br />
• Resource/reserve classification (large gold deposit)<br />
• Cost effective drilling programs (lateritic nickel deposit)<br />
• Uncertainty in open pit design – risk analysis and how to do<br />
better (disseminated gold deposit)<br />
• Assessing risk in recoverable reserves and meeting project<br />
production schedules ahead of mining (gold deposit)<br />
• Risk based optimal design for sublevel open stoping<br />
(underground copper mine)<br />
• Product quality management and production scheduling with<br />
uncertainty (iron ore deposit)<br />
• Recoverable reserves, future data and mine design (gold and<br />
copper deposits)<br />
• Selecting a mine design using both metal and market uncertainty<br />
(gold and copper deposits)<br />
Computer Workshop<br />
• Introduction to SGeMS public domain software<br />
Computer programs and data used in workshops are provided to<br />
the participants.<br />
instructor<br />
Roussos Dimitrakopoulos is currently the Canada Research Chair<br />
in Sustainable Mineral Resource Development and Optimization<br />
Under Uncertainty – BHP Billiton, and Director of the COSMO<br />
Laboratory, McGill University, Montreal, Canada.<br />
Roussos Dimitrakopoulos (roussos.dimitrakopoulos@mcgill.ca)<br />
Register Early!<br />
Use the registration form in this mailer to register for a Short Course. You do not have to register for the entire meeting to<br />
attend a short course. Late fees apply after January 25, 2008.<br />
Sponsorship Opportunities Available!<br />
Influence The Industry With Your Sponsorship!<br />
BE A SPONSOR!<br />
Increase your visibility<br />
to the more than 4,000<br />
mineral professionals through the<br />
<strong>SME</strong> Sponsorship <strong>Program</strong>.<br />
Many opportunities are available<br />
for showcasing your name and<br />
brand to the industry.<br />
See available sponsorships for 2008 at<br />
www.smenet.org<br />
For further details on sponsorship packages,<br />
please contact (303) 948-4216 or at bonic@smenet.org. Sponsorships are awarded on a<br />
first-come, first-serve basis.<br />
13
introducing…<br />
the online global mining and minerals library<br />
The definitive global online digital research center for the entire mining<br />
and minerals community<br />
Visit the OneMine Room<br />
Salt Palace Convention Center<br />
Tuesday, February 26 and<br />
Wednesday, February 27, 2008<br />
9:00 AM – 5:00 PM<br />
Visit with the OneMine professional staff and<br />
review the new website!<br />
OneMine is a worldwide initiative that provides:<br />
• A single source to find answers to technical questions<br />
• A comprehensive body of mining and mineral<br />
knowledge<br />
• Information accessible by anyone needing<br />
technical data<br />
• Unlimited access and document downloads for<br />
participating society members<br />
• A unique collaborative effort for the global mining and<br />
minerals industry<br />
For more information, or to give comments and suggestions,<br />
contact Project Administrator, Sally Kennerson at<br />
kennerson@smenet.org or 303-948-4225<br />
One Need. One Source. OneMine.org<br />
14
field trip and tours<br />
Bingham Canyon Mine Field Trip<br />
(4 HOURS)<br />
Date: Thursday, February 28, 2008<br />
Time: 8 AM – Noon<br />
Cost: $50<br />
Includes: Transportation & Tour<br />
The Bingham Canyon mine is located in the Oquirrh<br />
Mountains about 20 miles southwest of Salt Lake City.<br />
It has produced more than 18 million tons of copper over<br />
the past century, making it the largest copper producer in<br />
history. This long mining history has also produced more<br />
than six billion tons of waste rock and tailings. Much of<br />
the rock associated with the porphyry copper deposit can<br />
produce acid rock drainage and Kennecott Utah Copper<br />
has spent more than 350 million dollars on reclamation<br />
and environmental management projects in the<br />
past 15 years. The tour of the mine will focus on these<br />
environmental issues including environmental<br />
geochemistry, water management, reclamation and<br />
closure planning. The half day tour will include visits to<br />
the open pit, waste rock dumps and water management<br />
infrastructure.<br />
Tours<br />
Utah Olympic Park and<br />
Park City (5 HOURS)<br />
Date: Saturday, February 23, 2008<br />
Time: 1– 5 PM<br />
Cost: $50<br />
Includes: Deluxe Motorcoach and Guide<br />
Entrance fees<br />
In February of 2002, world class athletes<br />
from every country gathered in Salt Lake<br />
City for the 2002 Winter Olympics. Tour the<br />
Utah Olympic Park: this venue is the host of<br />
the Bobsled, Ski Jumping, Luge, and<br />
Skeleton events. During the summer, Aerial<br />
Ski Jump training is held at the facility and<br />
the public is invited to watch as the athletes<br />
practice their “freestyle” jumps and land in<br />
an enormous pool of water. You will also<br />
tour Park City (Home of the Sundance Film<br />
Festival) and learn its fascinating history as a<br />
mining boomtown. Today, Park City is a<br />
skiing mecca and get away for the rich and<br />
famous – yet still retains the charming<br />
qualities of a quaint mountain town. You will<br />
get a chance to explore the shops, boutiques,<br />
and art galleries lined along Main Street.<br />
15
Morman Tabernacle Choir<br />
and Crossroads of the West<br />
City Tour (4 HOURS)<br />
Date: Sunday, February 24, 2008<br />
Time: 8:30 AM – 12:30 PM<br />
Cost: $40<br />
Includes: Deluxe Motorcoach and Guide<br />
Entrance fees<br />
The tour begins with a 30 minute<br />
performance of the world famous Mormon<br />
Tabernacle Choir. The choir is world<br />
renown and has performed around the globe.<br />
After the choir performance the tour will<br />
Historic Buildings of Salt Lake<br />
City Tour (3 HOURS)<br />
Date: Monday, February 25, 2008<br />
Time: 10 AM – 1 PM<br />
Cost: $48<br />
Includes: Deluxe Motorcoach and Guide<br />
Entrance fees<br />
This tour provides a behind the scenes look<br />
at two of Salt Lake City’s magnificent<br />
historical buildings, the Keith Brown<br />
Mansion and the Cathedral of the Madeleine.<br />
Built in 1900, the Keith Brown Mansion is<br />
noted for the neoclassical design with<br />
massive columns and symmetrical design<br />
elements. The home is an outstanding<br />
example of renaissance architecture and<br />
contains a skylight and several chandeliers<br />
created by Tiffany of New York, incredible<br />
woodwork, exquisite wall coverings, and<br />
elaborate stained glass. The Cathedral of the<br />
Madeleine, completed in 1909, underwent a<br />
major renovation and was restored to pristine<br />
conditions in the 1980s. It is known for its<br />
beautiful glass windows. The Altar, built of<br />
Carrara onyx inlaid with glass mosaic, is the<br />
central element of the cathedral and occupies<br />
a large stage at the intersection of the<br />
cathedral’s three main seating areas.<br />
continue to explore Salt Lake City, the<br />
Crossroads of the West. Salt Lake City was<br />
built out of a desert by the industrious<br />
Mormon pioneers. This tour is a complete<br />
look at what makes Salt Lake City so<br />
unique. You will begin by seeing the historic<br />
downtown area, including the world-famous<br />
Mormon Temple Square, which took 40<br />
years to build. Next, visit the beautifully<br />
restored 1908 Union Pacific Depot featuring<br />
French Renaissance architecture and original<br />
artwork. Then outside to enjoy the Olympic<br />
Legacy Plaza overlooked by a classic clock<br />
tower and featuring the “dancing waters” of<br />
the Olympic Snowflake Fountain. The next<br />
Quilts and Handicrafts of<br />
Salt Lake (5.5 HOURS)<br />
Date: Tuesday, February 26, 2008<br />
Time: 8:30 AM – 2 PM<br />
Cost: $75<br />
Includes: Deluxe Motorcoach and Guide<br />
Lunch at Gardner Village<br />
Entrance fees<br />
Utah’s early pioneers arrived in the Salt<br />
Lake Valley and their first stop was Heritage<br />
Park. Today, the park is the home of the<br />
Deseret Quilt Museum, the repository of an<br />
impressive collection of quilt’s dating from<br />
the eighteenth century. Next visit Quilt,<br />
Quilt, Quilt, Etc one of the largest on oldest<br />
shops in Utah. The next destination is<br />
historic Gardner Village featuring over 30<br />
unique boutiques including the Village Quilt<br />
Shop and Pine Needles. Enjoy lunch at<br />
Archibald’s Restaurant located in a historic<br />
grist mill silo with artwork depicting the<br />
pioneer immigration<br />
to Utah.<br />
16<br />
stop is the Utah State Capital and a tour of<br />
this beautifully restored building modeled<br />
after the United States Capital. The building<br />
was closed three years for structural upgrade<br />
and restoration to the original splendor when<br />
it opened in the early 20th century. Next,<br />
drive through historic downtown and the<br />
residential area known as the “Avenues”<br />
which is listed on the State and National<br />
Historic Registers. Now proceed to the<br />
University of Utah. The “U”, founded in<br />
1850, was the first University built west of<br />
the Missouri River and site of the 2002<br />
Winter Olympic Athletes Village. The tour<br />
will continue past Fort Douglas, which was<br />
started during Abraham Lincoln’s<br />
administration in 1862 and on to This is the<br />
Place Heritage Park. This park is where<br />
Brigham Young and the Mormon Pioneers<br />
entered the valley in 1847 and Brigham<br />
Young said “This is the right place, drive<br />
on…” Afterwards you will visit the Olympic<br />
Cauldron Park at Rice Eccles Stadium. Rice<br />
Eccles was the site of the Opening and<br />
Closing 2002 Winter Olympic Ceremonies.<br />
Alps of Utah (7 HOURS)<br />
Date: Wednesday, February 27, 2008<br />
Time: 9 AM – 4 PM<br />
Cost: $80<br />
Includes: Deluxe Motorcoach and Guide<br />
Lunch at The Homestead<br />
Entrance fees<br />
The Rocky Mountains are breathtaking<br />
through Provo Canyon on the way to Robert<br />
Redford’s Sundance Resort, home of the<br />
Sundance Film Institute. Take time to walk<br />
around and enjoy the beautiful alpine<br />
splendor in the shadows of majestic Mt.<br />
Timpanogos. The tour continues through<br />
the charming Swiss village of Midway,<br />
located in the very heart of the “Alps” of<br />
Utah. The next stop will be the Homestead,<br />
where guests enjoy a delicious lunch in one<br />
of America’s classic country resorts!<br />
Continuing on this delightful tour, you will<br />
find yourself in Utah’s most famous resort<br />
town, Park City. Guests will enjoy exploring<br />
the many unique shops in Park City’s Main<br />
Street historic district.
<strong>SME</strong><br />
2008<br />
Mentor<br />
<strong>Program</strong><br />
attention<br />
professionals…<br />
Whether you’re a seasonsed <strong>SME</strong> <strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Meeting</strong><br />
veteran or a first- timer, you have the opportunity to<br />
participate as a mentor in this years <strong>SME</strong> <strong>Annual</strong><br />
<strong>Meeting</strong> Mentor <strong>Program</strong>. Mentors can be<br />
instrumental in helping students to begin developing<br />
a network in the industry by showing students the<br />
ropes and introducing them to colleagues. This is a<br />
marvelous opportunity to have a real impact in the<br />
Society at a personal level. Those students requesting<br />
mentors will be matched with <strong>SME</strong> members<br />
volunteering to serve as mentors. Both mentors and<br />
their students will be notified before the 2008 <strong>SME</strong><br />
<strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Meeting</strong>. Mentors are expected to contact<br />
their student(s) prior to the 2008 <strong>SME</strong> <strong>Annual</strong><br />
<strong>Meeting</strong>, meet with the student(s) the first or second<br />
day at the annual meeting, take time to have lunch or<br />
coffee, discuss the Society, give advice, and<br />
introduce your student(s) to colleagues whenever<br />
possible during the meeting.<br />
Mentors will have an introductory meeting<br />
with students on Sunday, February 24th at<br />
3:00 PM.<br />
All students need mentors — participate in making the future of the minerals industry successful.<br />
attention students…<br />
The 2008 <strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Meeting</strong> provides the best<br />
venue for meeting people and getting the<br />
information you need to get ahead. More than<br />
4,000 mineral industry professionals attend the<br />
<strong>SME</strong> <strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Meeting</strong> and one of them wants to<br />
talk to you, to be your mentor and assist you in<br />
understanding the “ins” and “outs” of<br />
professional life in the minerals business.<br />
Your Mentor at the <strong>SME</strong> <strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Meeting</strong> is a professional<br />
in one of the following areas:<br />
✦ COAL & ENERGY<br />
✦ CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS & AGGREGATES<br />
✦ ECONOMICS<br />
✦ ENVIRONMENTAL<br />
✦ GEOLOGY<br />
✦ INDUSTRIAL MINERALS<br />
✦ METALLURGY<br />
✦ MINING<br />
it is very important to sign up early!<br />
Early registrants receive the best fit with a mentor/mentee.<br />
Apply On-line at:<br />
www.smenet.org/mentor/<br />
Completed Applications are due<br />
January 31, 2008<br />
You can check YES for Mentor or Mentee on the Registration form in<br />
this mailer and an<br />
<strong>SME</strong> staff person will contact you.<br />
For more information or to apply for the<br />
2008 <strong>SME</strong> <strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Meeting</strong><br />
Mentor <strong>Program</strong> contact:<br />
Mona Vandervoort, <strong>SME</strong> Education Coordinator<br />
(800) 763–3132, ext. 227<br />
(303) 948–4227<br />
Fax: (303) 948–4265<br />
vandervoort@smenet.org<br />
17<br />
2008 <strong>SME</strong> <strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Meeting</strong><br />
February 24-27, 2008<br />
Salt Lake City, Utah
Student Activities<br />
Student Design<br />
Competition<br />
student design competition<br />
finals<br />
7:00 AM – 2:00 PM<br />
student representative<br />
subcommittee<br />
11:00 AM – Noon<br />
Hosted by: The Pennsylvania State University<br />
Student Chapter officers and members are invited to attend<br />
the subcommittee meeting.<br />
2008 students’ forum<br />
1:00 – 3:00 PM<br />
Hosted by: The Pennsylvania State University<br />
Information<br />
Prizes<br />
Sponsored by:<br />
Joy Mining Machinery & P&H Mining Equipment<br />
United States Gypsum<br />
MWH<br />
Washington Group International<br />
Join us for FUN ~ FOOD ~ INFORMATION<br />
and PRIZES!<br />
A continuing tradition for <strong>SME</strong> Student<br />
Members and Professionals.<br />
Look for exciting NEW career Food<br />
advancement information!<br />
18<br />
All student activities take place<br />
on Sunday, February 24, 2008<br />
Students’ Forum<br />
student mixer<br />
9:00 PM – Midnight<br />
Sponsored by: Newmont Mining Corporation<br />
Registered students and a guest of their choice are<br />
invited to attend this social featuring a band and<br />
refreshments.<br />
Student Mixer<br />
Don’t miss this one!<br />
Fun
alumni & special functions<br />
Don’t Miss These Opportunities To Reunite With Your Friends and Alumni...<br />
ALUMNI FUNCTIONS<br />
University of Arizona Reception<br />
Dept. of Mining &<br />
Geological Engineering<br />
Tuesday, February 26, 2008<br />
Contact: Olga Ortiz<br />
(520) 621-2147<br />
E-mail: obo@engr.arizona.edu<br />
Colorado School of Mines<br />
Mining Engineering Dept. Reception<br />
Tuesday, February 26, 2008<br />
Contact: Shannon Mann<br />
(303) 273-3701<br />
E-mail: smann@mines.edu<br />
Columbia University<br />
Henry Krumb School of Mines<br />
Earth & Environmental Engineering<br />
Tuesday, February 26, 2008<br />
Contact: Peter Rennee<br />
(212) 854-7065<br />
E-mail: pr99@columbia.edu<br />
University of Kentucky<br />
Department of Mining Engineering<br />
Tuesday, February 26, 2007<br />
Contact: Kathy Kotora<br />
(859) 257-3328<br />
Fax: (859) 323-1962<br />
E-mail: kkotora@engr.uky.edu<br />
5:00 – 7:00 PM<br />
5:30 – 7:30 PM<br />
6:00 – 8:00 PM<br />
5:00 – 7:00 PM<br />
Michigan Tech University Alumni Reception,<br />
Dept. of Geological & Mining<br />
Engineering & Sciences<br />
Tuesday, February 26, 2008<br />
6:00 – 8:00 PM<br />
Contact: Amie Ledgerwood<br />
(906) 487-2531<br />
E-mail: asledger@mtu.edu<br />
Pennsylvania State University<br />
Mining and Mineral Processing, Dept. of Energy and<br />
Geo-environmental Engineering<br />
Alumni Reception<br />
Tuesday, February 26, 2008<br />
5:30 – 7:00 PM<br />
Contacts: Rachel Altemus<br />
(814) 865-3439<br />
E-mail: rla7@psu.edu<br />
South Dakota School of Mines & Technology<br />
Alumni Reception<br />
Tuesday, February 26, 2008<br />
5:00 – 8:00 PM<br />
Contact: Tim Vottero<br />
(605) 394-2347<br />
E-mail: tim.vottero@sdsmt.edu<br />
University of Utah<br />
College of Mines & Earth Sciences<br />
Tuesday, February 26, 2008<br />
Contact: Pam Hofman<br />
(801) 585-5176<br />
Fax: (801) 585-5410<br />
E-mail: pam@mines.utah.edu<br />
5:00 – 7:00 PM<br />
Virginia Tech Mining & Minerals Engineering<br />
Alumni Reception<br />
Tuesday, February 26, 2008<br />
5:00 – 7:00 PM<br />
Contact: Kathryn A. Dew<br />
(540) 231-7055<br />
E-mail: dewk@vt.edu<br />
West Virginia University<br />
Tuesday, February 26, 2008<br />
Contact: Royce J. Watts<br />
(304) 293-5695 ext. 2102<br />
E-mail: royce.watts@mail.wvu.edu<br />
5:30 – 7:30 PM<br />
Missouri University of Science & Technology<br />
Alumni Reception<br />
Tuesday, February 26, 2008<br />
5:30 – 7:30 PM<br />
Contact: Elaine Russell<br />
(573) 341-4897<br />
E-mail: elainelr@umr.edu<br />
University of Nevada-Reno<br />
Mackay School of Earth Sciences &<br />
Engineering Reception<br />
Tuesday, February 26, 2008<br />
Contact: Connie M. Parratt<br />
(775) 784-4528<br />
E-mail: cparratt.unr.edu<br />
6:00 – 8:00 PM<br />
19<br />
SPECIAL FUNCTIONS<br />
MMSA 2008 <strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Meeting</strong> /Banquet<br />
<strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Meeting</strong><br />
Sunday, February 24, 2008<br />
Marriott Downtown<br />
Centennial Banquet<br />
Monday, February 25, 2008<br />
Marriott Downtown<br />
For Further Information Contact: MMSA<br />
(415) 897-1380<br />
E-mail: info@mmsa.net<br />
2:00 – 4:00 PM<br />
6:30 – 10:30 PM
Education Agenda<br />
MINERAL SCHOOLS<br />
DEPARTMENT HEADS MEETING<br />
Sunday, February 24<br />
9:30 AM – Noon<br />
EDUCATORS’ FORUM<br />
Sunday, February 24<br />
3 – 5 PM<br />
The <strong>SME</strong> Council of Education has decided<br />
that it is now time to “showcase” the work of<br />
mining engineering programs that have<br />
successfully addressed the enrollment declines<br />
and are making progress reversing these declines.<br />
The presenters have been invited to provide a<br />
manuscript of their presentation for inclusion in<br />
the contained papers of the 2008 <strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Meeting</strong><br />
program CD.<br />
The Council of Education asked these<br />
individuals to report on the successful efforts that<br />
have been invested in their undergraduate<br />
recruiting of students to their programs. Also, the<br />
Council suggested that Leigh Freeman, a leading<br />
industry<br />
professional recruiter, bring to the Forum the<br />
perspective of recruiting from his viewpoint, i.e.<br />
what academia can learn from business. Hence,<br />
the following program has been developed for<br />
the 2008 Education Forum.<br />
FORUM PROGRAM<br />
Convener and Moderator:<br />
C. Dale Elifrits<br />
University of Northern Kentucky<br />
Mary M. Poulton<br />
Department Head,<br />
Mining and Geological Engineering,<br />
University of Arizona<br />
Michael K. McCarter<br />
Chairman of<br />
Mining Engineering Dept.,<br />
University of Utah<br />
Thomas Novak<br />
Dept. Head,<br />
Mining Engineering Dept.,<br />
Virginia Tech<br />
Richard J. Sweigard<br />
Chairman of<br />
Mining Engineering Dept.,<br />
University of Kentucky<br />
Leigh W. Freeman<br />
General Manager<br />
Downing Teal, Inc.<br />
20
social functions and<br />
division highlights<br />
<strong>SME</strong> Highlights<br />
exhbit hall<br />
opening reception<br />
Date: Sunday, February 24<br />
Time: 5:00 PM<br />
Place: Salt Palace Convention Center<br />
Exhibit Hall<br />
sme foundation<br />
dinner/dance<br />
Hosted by:<br />
The <strong>SME</strong> Foundation<br />
Sponsored by: KENNECOTT UTAH<br />
COPPER CORPORATION<br />
Date: Sunday, February 24<br />
Time: 7:00 PM<br />
Place: Marriott Downtown<br />
Tickets: $90<br />
Join us with dinner and dancing to a live<br />
band. Black tie optional.<br />
student mixer<br />
Sponsored by:<br />
NEWMONT MINING CORPORATION<br />
Date: Sunday, February 24<br />
Time: 9:00 PM<br />
Place: Hilton<br />
Complimentary for registered students<br />
and their guest.<br />
exhibit hall luncheon<br />
Date: Monday, February 25<br />
Time: 11:30 AM<br />
Place: Salt Palace Convention Center<br />
Exhibit Hall<br />
sme dinner<br />
James Arnold<br />
Date: Wednesday, February 27<br />
Time: 6:00 PM<br />
Cash Bar Reception<br />
7:00 PM<br />
Dinner<br />
Place: Marriott Downtown<br />
Tickets: $70<br />
$700 Table of Ten<br />
The 2008 <strong>SME</strong> Dinner program is<br />
conducted by 2007 <strong>SME</strong> President,<br />
James Arnold.<br />
The following awards are presented or<br />
recognized:<br />
Distinguished Members<br />
Ramana G. Reddy<br />
Syd S. Peng<br />
Patrick R. Taylor<br />
William H. Wilkinson, Jr.<br />
Robert M. Dreyer Award<br />
C. Mark Rebagliati<br />
GEM Individual Award<br />
David R. Gossett<br />
GEM Student Chapter Award<br />
University of Kentucky<br />
Syd S. Peng Ground Control in<br />
Mining Award<br />
Winton J. Gale<br />
Ivan B. Rahn Education Award<br />
David D. Eyer<br />
President’s Citation<br />
Outstanding Student Chapter<br />
Henry Krumb Lecturers<br />
James J. Komadina<br />
Gerald L. Clark<br />
Gordon M. Stevens<br />
Bradley VanGosen<br />
Past President’s Plaque<br />
James Arnold<br />
AIME AWARDS TO <strong>SME</strong> MEMBERS<br />
Hal Williams Hardinge Award<br />
Richard B. Berg<br />
Erskine Ramsay Medal<br />
Garold R. Spindler<br />
Robert H. Richards Award<br />
Timothy R. Snider<br />
Frank F. Aplan Award<br />
Rick Honaker<br />
Mineral Economics Award<br />
Jean-Mikhel M. Rendu<br />
Mineral Industry Education Award<br />
Michael Karmis<br />
AIME Honorary Member<br />
Robert C. Freas<br />
James Douglas Gold Medal Award<br />
Corale L. Brierley<br />
women of sme breakfast<br />
Date: Tuesday, February 26<br />
Time: 7:30 AM<br />
Place: Marriott Downtown<br />
Tickets: $35<br />
plant operators<br />
open forum<br />
Date: Tuesday, February 27<br />
Time: 4:00 PM COD Bar<br />
Place: Salt Palace Convention Center<br />
Tickets: COD<br />
21
Coal & Energy<br />
Division Highlights<br />
Sponsored by:<br />
PREPTECH INC.<br />
The Coal & Energy Division<br />
encompasses technologies in coal<br />
exploration, mining, preparation and<br />
utilization.<br />
coal & energy division<br />
luncheon &<br />
silent auction<br />
Date: Tuesday, February 26<br />
Time: Noon, Luncheon<br />
Place: Salt Palace Convention Center<br />
Tickets: $40<br />
The following awards are presented or<br />
recognized:<br />
Distinguished Service Award<br />
J. Steven Gardner<br />
Howard N. Eavenson Award<br />
Thomas J. Lien<br />
Erskine Ramsay Medal<br />
Garold R. Spindler<br />
Rock Mechanics Award<br />
John F. Abel, Jr.<br />
J.W. Woomer Award<br />
Timothy W. Beck<br />
Coal & Energy Division Chair Award<br />
Gary M. Buchan<br />
Environmental<br />
Division Highlights<br />
The Environmental Division provides a<br />
means for cooperation and<br />
communication among professionals in<br />
the minerals industry engaged in any<br />
aspect of the physical environment and its<br />
condition.<br />
environmental division<br />
silent auction<br />
Date: Tuesday, February 26<br />
Time: 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM<br />
Place: Salt Palace Convention Center<br />
environmental division<br />
luncheon<br />
Date: Tuesday, February 26<br />
Time: Noon, Luncheon<br />
Place: Salt Palace Convention Center<br />
Tickets: $40<br />
Speaker: ERIC WILLIAMS<br />
The Gallatin Group<br />
The following awards are presented:<br />
Distinguished Service Award<br />
Fredrick B. Henderson III<br />
Environmental Division Chair Award<br />
Douglas C. Peters<br />
Industrial Minerals<br />
Division Highlights<br />
Sponsored by:<br />
ZEOX CORPORATION<br />
Industrial Minerals Division serves to<br />
further the arts and science in<br />
exploration, production, and use of<br />
nonmetallics.<br />
industrial minerals<br />
division luncheon &<br />
silent auction<br />
Date: Tuesday, February 26<br />
Time: Noon, Luncheon<br />
Place: Salt Palace Convention Center<br />
Tickets: $40<br />
Speaker: THIERRY SALMONA<br />
VP Research & Technology,<br />
VP Innovations and Business<br />
Support, Imerys<br />
The following awards are presented or<br />
recognized:<br />
Distinguished Service Award<br />
Jessica Elzea Kogel<br />
Hal Williams Hardinge Award<br />
Richard B. Berg<br />
Robert W. Piekarz Award<br />
Steven K. Herron<br />
Young Scientist Award<br />
Aaron M. McMahon<br />
Industrial Minerals Division Chair Award<br />
Gary Tomaino<br />
22
Mining & Exploration<br />
Division Highlights<br />
Mineral & Metallurgical Processing<br />
Division Highlights<br />
Sponsored by:<br />
HITACHI CONSTRUCTION &<br />
MINING PRODUCTS<br />
Mining & Exploration Division<br />
specializes in exploration, production,<br />
research, and specialized aspects of<br />
metal mining.<br />
mining & exploration<br />
division luncheon &<br />
silent auction<br />
Date: Wednesday, February 27<br />
Time: Noon, Luncheon<br />
Place: Salt Palace Convention Center<br />
Tickets: $40<br />
The following awards are presented or<br />
recognized:<br />
Ben F. Dickerson, III Award<br />
Fredrick T. Graybeal<br />
Distinguished Service Award<br />
Jean-Michel<br />
M. Rendu<br />
Daniel C. Jackling Award<br />
Mark N. Savit<br />
Outstanding Young Professional Award<br />
Eben D. Robinson<br />
M&E Division Chair Award<br />
Joseph M. Driscoll<br />
jackling lecture<br />
(Held in conjunction with the M&E<br />
Luncheon)<br />
Date: Wednesday, February 27<br />
Time: 1:30 PM<br />
The Jackling Award & Lecture is<br />
featured at the luncheon.<br />
Award Recipient/Lecturer:<br />
MARK N. SAVIT<br />
Attorney, Patton Boggs LLP<br />
“Dysfunction Junction: When Inalterable<br />
Regulations Meet Evolving Technology”<br />
Sponsored by:<br />
OUTOEC (USA) INC.<br />
Mineral & Metallurgical Processing<br />
Division was established for the<br />
advancement of metallurgical and mineral<br />
technology as applied to the mining<br />
industry.<br />
gaudin lecture<br />
Date: Tuesday, February 26<br />
Time: 8:30 AM<br />
Place: Salt Palace Convention Center<br />
Award Recipient/Lecturer:<br />
THOMAS W. HEALY<br />
wadsworth lecture<br />
Date: Wednesday, February 27<br />
Time: 8:30 AM<br />
Place: Salt Palace Convention Center<br />
Award Recipient/Lecturer:<br />
RANDOLPH E. SCHEFFEL<br />
mineral & metallurgical<br />
processing division<br />
silent auction<br />
Date: Tuesday, February 26<br />
Time: 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM<br />
Place: Salt Palace Convention Center<br />
Exhibit Halls<br />
mineral & metallurgical<br />
processing division<br />
luncheon<br />
Date: Wednesday, February 27<br />
Time: Noon, Luncheon<br />
Place: Salt Palace Convention Center<br />
Tickets: $40<br />
The following awards are presented or<br />
recognized:<br />
Antoine M. Gaudin Award<br />
Thomas W. Healy<br />
Richard R. Klimpel Scholarship Award<br />
Robert H. Richards Award<br />
Timothy R. Snider<br />
Arthur F. Taggart Award<br />
J.T. Hollow<br />
E.M. Hill<br />
H.K. Lin<br />
D.E. Walsh<br />
“Modeling the Influence of Slurry<br />
Temperature on Gold Leach and<br />
Adsorption Kinetics at the For Knox<br />
Mine, Fairbanks, Alaska”<br />
Milton E. Wadsworth Award<br />
Randolph E. Scheffel<br />
Millman Award<br />
Deepak Malhotra<br />
scotch nightcap<br />
Sponsored by:<br />
WEIR MINERALS NORTH AMERICA<br />
and<br />
GOLDER ASSOCIATES LTD.<br />
The proceeds from the event go 100%<br />
ungarnished to the MPD Scholarship<br />
Fund for those college students who want<br />
to make a career in the mining industry.<br />
The event will feature hors d’vors, live<br />
music, scotch tastings, and hosted bar.<br />
Date: Tuesday, February 26<br />
Time: 8:00 PM<br />
Place: Marriott Downtown<br />
Tickets: $40<br />
richards lecture<br />
(Held in conjunction with the MPD<br />
Luncheon)<br />
Date: Wednesday, February 27<br />
Time: 1:15 PM<br />
Place: Salt Palace Convention Center<br />
Award Recipient/Lecturer:<br />
TIMOTHY R. SNIDER<br />
Phelps Dodge Corp.<br />
23
sessions at a glance<br />
monday, february 25<br />
afternoon<br />
tuesday, february 26<br />
afternoon<br />
• Bulk Material Handling by Conveyor Belt 7: Case Studies of<br />
Large Belt Conveyance Projects Part I<br />
• Coal & Energy: Reserve Assessment<br />
• Coal & Energy: Underground Mining<br />
• Construction Materials and Aggregates: Resource Evaluation and<br />
Planning<br />
• Dreyer Lecture<br />
• Environmental: Environmental Management Systems<br />
• Environmental: Mine Reclamation - Risk & Sustainability<br />
• Geology: Marketing and Mining of Uranium/New<br />
Projects/Forecasts<br />
• Industrial Minerals: Shortages<br />
• Mineral & Metallurgical Processing: Leveraging New Process<br />
Technologies Involving Mineral Processing<br />
• Mineral & Metallurgical Processing: New Technologies and<br />
Cross Pollination for Improved Energy, Minerals or<br />
Metals Recovery<br />
• Mineral & Metallurgical Processing: Technologies Involving<br />
Hydrometallurgy/Pyrometallurgy<br />
• Mineral Valuation: Recent Case Histories and Analysis of<br />
Methods<br />
• Mining & Exploration: Surface Mining: Big Pits<br />
• Mining & Exploration: Underground Mines: New Mines &<br />
Expansions<br />
• Young Leaders: Identifying and Valuing Untapped Potential<br />
tuesday, february 26<br />
morning<br />
• Bulk Material Handling by Conveyor Belt 7:<br />
Design Considerations For Long Overland Conveyor<br />
• Coal & Energy: Environmental – Coal Restoration<br />
• Coal & Energy: Research & Development I<br />
• Environmental: Environmental and Social Hot Topics<br />
• Environmental: Mine Water Treatment Technologies:<br />
Successful Case Studies<br />
• Gaudin Lecture<br />
• Geology: Mineral Deposits/New Developments/Political Updates<br />
• International I<br />
• Mining & Exploration: Mining in Nevada<br />
• Mining & Exploration: New & Emerging Technologies<br />
• Rare Earths – Mining, Geology, and Metals<br />
• Minerals and Metallurgical Processing: Applied<br />
Separation Technologies<br />
• Mineral & Metallurgical Processing: Increased Productivity<br />
Associated With Hydrometallurgy/Pyrometallurgy<br />
Unit Operations<br />
• Mineral & Metallurgical Processing: Reduction of Wastes and<br />
Emissions Through Recycling and Suppression<br />
• Bulk Material Handling by Conveyor Belt 7: The State of the<br />
Conveyance Industry from the Perspective of Mining Executives<br />
• Coal & Energy: Research & Development II<br />
• Coal & Energy: Ventilation<br />
• Environmental: Acid Rock Drainage<br />
• Geology: African Ore Deposits: Recent Discoveries and<br />
New Developments<br />
• Industrial Minerals: Oil Field Supply<br />
• International II<br />
• Mineral and Metallurgical Processing: AMIRA: Collaborative<br />
International Research<br />
• Mineral & Metallurgical Processing: Plant Expansions or<br />
Modernizations<br />
• Mineral & Metallurgical Processing: Snapshot: Student Research<br />
• Mining & Exploration: Mine Improvements &<br />
Applied Technology<br />
• Mining & Exploration: Underground Mining<br />
• Young Leaders: Talent Development and Retention<br />
wednesday, february 27<br />
morning<br />
• Bulk Material Handling by Conveyor Belt 7:<br />
Solving Real Problems Using Numerical Analysis and Simulation<br />
• Coal & Energy: Coal Preparation<br />
• Coal & Energy: Surface Mining<br />
• Environmental: Exploration and Mine Development:<br />
Environment, Community & Sustainability<br />
• GEM: The Community of Mining: From Disasters to<br />
Sustainability, Communication is the Key<br />
• Industrial Minerals: Recent Startups and Expansions<br />
• Mining and Exploration: Health and Safety<br />
• Mining & Exploration: IT in Mining<br />
• Mineral & Metallurgical Processing: Modeling and Simulation of<br />
Minerals and Metallurgical Processing<br />
• Mineral & Metallurgical Processing: New Tools – Analytical or<br />
Devices or Those Emerging from Nanotechnology Part I<br />
• Mineral & Metallurgical Processing: Water & Energy<br />
Conservation, New Reagents<br />
• Wadsworth Lecture<br />
wednesday, february 27<br />
afternoon<br />
• Bulk Material Handling by Conveyor Belt 7:<br />
Case Studies of Large Conveyance Projects Part II<br />
• Environmental: Water Management: The Environmental<br />
Challenges of Too Much or Too Little<br />
• Mineral & Metallurgical Processing: Mineralogy of New<br />
Ore Reserves As it Applies to Processing<br />
• Mineral and Metallurgical Processing: New Reagents and<br />
Technology<br />
• Mineral and Metallurgical Processing: New Tools: Analytical or<br />
Devices or Those Emerging from Nanotechnology Part II<br />
• Mining & Exploration: Excavators & Heavy Equipment<br />
• Mining & Exploration: Hot Topics<br />
24
2008 <strong>Program</strong> Committee<br />
Chair:<br />
H. John Head<br />
Continental Placer Inc.<br />
Coal & Energy<br />
Thomas Camm<br />
NIOSH<br />
Industrial Minerals<br />
Steven Herron<br />
Wildcat Minerals<br />
Environmental<br />
Anne Williamson<br />
URS Corporation<br />
Mining & Exploration<br />
Hugh Miller<br />
Colorado School of Mines<br />
25<br />
Mineral & Metallurgical<br />
Processing<br />
Jon Kellar<br />
Sou th Dakota School of Mines<br />
& Technology
3:05 PM<br />
The U.S. Geological Survey Regional Resource Assessment<br />
Methodology of the Gillette Coalfield, Powder River Basin, Wyoming<br />
J. Luppens; Eastern Energy Resources Team, U.S. Geological Survey,<br />
Reston, VA<br />
The peer-reviewed methodology utilized for the recently completed coal resource<br />
and reserve assessment of the Gillette coalfield, Powder River Basin,<br />
Wyoming was the foundation of this study, which was based on an expanded<br />
database that included the stratigraphic interpretation of well logs from<br />
nearly 9,000 new drill holes. The methodology uses a combination of data<br />
management, geologic and mining restriction modeling, and economic evaluation<br />
software programs to deal with the large, complex set of information.<br />
The results of this evaluation provided a comprehensive assessment of the<br />
most important coalfield in the U.S. in terms of total yearly coal production.<br />
3:25 PM<br />
Revised interpretations of coal bed stratigraphy in the Gillette coalfield,<br />
Powder River Basin, Wyoming — long-term implications<br />
J. Haacke 1 , D. Scott 1 and J. Luppens 2 ; 1 Central Energy Resources Team,<br />
U.S. Geological Survey, Denver, CO and 2 Eastern Energy Resources Team,<br />
U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, VA<br />
The U.S. Geological Survey has conducted a new regional coal assessment of<br />
the Gillette coalfield. Recent coalbed methane drilling in the Powder River<br />
Basin has greatly expanded the amount of stratigraphic data available, greatly<br />
improving the accuracy of coal bed correlations. New correlations agree with<br />
most prior correlations in the eastern half of the coalfield, but significant revisions<br />
of the correlations have been made in the western portion. These revisions<br />
will have long-term implications as mining extends deeper into<br />
the basin.<br />
Coal & Energy: Underground Mining<br />
2:00 PM • Monday, February 25<br />
Chair: C. Stewart, Bowie Resources, Paonia, CO<br />
2:05 PM<br />
Mine Emergency Shelters/Chambers Approved by West Virginia<br />
J. Gardner 1 , K. Houston 1 , R. Paton-Ash 2 , B. Lusk 3 and S. Lusk 1 ;<br />
1<br />
Engineering Consulting Services, Inc, Lexington, KY; 2 Strata Mine<br />
Products (USA), Inc, Marietta, GA and 3 Mining Engineering, University of<br />
Kentucky, Lexington, KY<br />
In light of recent coal mine disasters resulting in multiple fatalities, Congress<br />
and several state governments have enacted mine safety legislations. West<br />
Virginia now requires that mines have emergency shelters, or refuge chambers,<br />
in place. Prior to occupation, these refuge chambers must be able to survive<br />
in a mining environment as well as withstand an underground blast as<br />
defined by the State of West Virginia. Once occupied, the refuge chambers<br />
must provide breathable air, food and other protection from post-fire or postexplosion<br />
mine conditions. MSHA has also mandated that mine operators<br />
provide 96 hours of breathable air in the event of a fire or explosion. As a result,<br />
the refuge chambers have been designed to provide 96 hours of protection<br />
or life support. Strata Mine Products (USA), Inc. has designed a refuge<br />
chamber which meets these requirements. Engineering Consulting Services,<br />
Inc. performed the independent certification of the technology to determine<br />
that it meets or exceeds the requirements. Several states are expected to follow<br />
West Virginia’s lead. This paper will describe the technology employed<br />
and the independent certification process.<br />
2:25 PM<br />
Underground Mine Emergency Chamber/Shelter and Internal<br />
Atmosphere Control<br />
F. Peng; Mining Engineering, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV<br />
The underground mine emergency events occurred in 2006 resulted in high<br />
fatality of miners. In an emergency event, “escape” is the first and preferred<br />
option for the miners. However, it is also necessary to provide an emergency<br />
shelter/chamber for the miners when escape is cut-off. The components set<br />
by WV State Law and MSHA for the emergency shelter/chamber are: i) the<br />
structure integrity and overpressure capability; ii) chamber flash temperature<br />
and flame resistance; iii) airlock purging system; iv) oxygen supplying system;<br />
v) humidity and heat control system; vi) instruments for detecting toxic<br />
gases and temperature; vii) human waste disposal methods; viii) water and<br />
nutrient requirement; ix) inspection, maintenance schedule, etc. These components<br />
will be presented and discussed.<br />
27<br />
2:45 PM<br />
Laboratory and Field Evaluation of Dust Collector Bags for Reducing<br />
Dust Exposure of Roof Bolter Operators<br />
J. Listak and T. Beck; NIOSH, Pittsburgh, PA<br />
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health conducted laboratory<br />
and field tests to evaluate the effectiveness of dust collector bags for reducing<br />
dust liberation and operator exposure from a roof bolter’s dust collection<br />
system. Respirable dust samples, taken by the Mine Safety and Health<br />
Administration, show that roof bolter operators are still at high risk for overexposure.<br />
The highest exposure occurs when the dry dust collection system is<br />
cleaned. The laboratory tests evaluated the bag’s effectiveness to contain dust<br />
and the effect on canister filter loading in both a bag and bagless condition.<br />
The emissions from the collector’s exhaust were also monitored in each condition.<br />
The laboratory dust collector tests show that nearly 100% of the test<br />
dust fed into the collector was captured by the dust bags. Loading on the dust<br />
collector’s canister filter is greatly decreased when using the bags enabling<br />
longer periods of drilling without filter removal/cleaning. The field results<br />
showed dust reductions in exhausted emissions and around the bolter.<br />
Laboratory and field results show that benefits from use of the bags are realized<br />
in all areas of operator exposure.<br />
3:05 PM<br />
Hilti Powder Actuated Tool Technology and Applications in US<br />
Underground Gassy Mines<br />
J. Pinkley 1 , H. Whittam 1 and C. Huff 2 ; 1 Mining, Hilti, Inc., Tulsa, OK and<br />
2<br />
Foundation Coal Corporation - Technical Services, Foundation Coal<br />
Corporation, Waynesburgh, PA<br />
The purpose of this paper is to discuss the application of a new fastening<br />
technology brought to the mining industry by Hilti in 2002, and adapted to<br />
various applications by the underground gassy mining industry to reduce the<br />
effort to accomplish various tedious tasks. The Hilti DX 460 powder actuated<br />
device is now utilized by most mine rescue teams for the installation of temporary<br />
ventilation controls during mine rescue and recovery operations<br />
(Dottiki, Excel,and Sago mine incidents). Beyond this application the device<br />
is commonly seen on underground operating sections for the installation of<br />
emergency barricade materials, advancement of lifelines adn the installation<br />
of communication cables. In regards to tailgate support installation the Hilti<br />
DX460 powder actuated device has become essential for the installation of<br />
longwall tailgate support grout bags with reduced time and effort. New applications<br />
for the Hilti DX 460 powder actuated device such as belt splicing,<br />
mesh installation, and the installation of ventilation controls are on the horizon,<br />
in a continuing effort to improve productivity and safety for the underground<br />
gassy mining industry.<br />
3:25 PM<br />
Geotechnical <strong>Program</strong> at Bridger Coal Company<br />
H. Maleki 1 and C. Pollastro 2 ; 1 Maleki Technologies, Inc., Spokane, WA and<br />
2<br />
Interwest Mining Company, Salt Lake City, UT<br />
During the last decade, Bridger Coal Company has been collecting geologic<br />
data in preparation for the underground mining of coal reserves in Wyoming.<br />
More recently, in cooperation with MTI staff, Bridger expanded geologic investigations<br />
including surface mapping, drilling, aerial photography, rock<br />
mechanics testing and hydrogeologic modeling. Core from 20 exploration<br />
boreholes was tested to determine the mechanical properties of overburden<br />
rocks. Geologic investigations identified the presence of one 10-to-16 ft-thick<br />
coal seam throughout the reserve. Data collection and analyses of results<br />
were completed in three phases. Based on a critical examination of data during<br />
each phase, Bridger proceeded with detailed data collection to improve<br />
understanding of the depositional and structural setting of the reserve, hydrogeologic<br />
conditions, overburden strength, and premining stress conditions. A<br />
Longwall feasibility analysis was completed considering both regional experiences<br />
in Wyoming and site-specific modeling. Numerical modeling included<br />
both 2-and-3-dimensional finite difference and boundary element<br />
modeling. Results are presently being verified.<br />
3:45 PM<br />
Pumpable Roof Supports: The Next Paradigm in Roof Support<br />
Technology<br />
T. Barczak and S. Tadolini; NIOSH - Pittsburgh Research Laboratory,<br />
Pittsburgh, PA<br />
Historically, roof support elements have been brought into the mine, often requiring<br />
construction prior to installation of the support product. For standing<br />
support systems, such as wood or concrete cribbing, this could involve han-
dling several pieces of relatively heavy support material that slowed the<br />
progress of the support construction and caused a range of musculoskeletal<br />
injuries to the miners installing the supports. Support systems that are preassembled,<br />
such as concrete filled containers or large concrete sections, are<br />
big and bulky requiring specialized handling machinery to install. These systems<br />
are also not likely to be used in areas of the mine where access is limited.<br />
Pumpable roof support systems overcome these issues and limitations<br />
by pumping a cementitious material from the surface through a borehole into<br />
a lightweight bag at any location within the mine. They also provide full roof<br />
to floor support and a stiff support response. Most other standing supports require<br />
the use of a secondary support material to establish roof contact that<br />
often softens the support response or creates opportunities for instability.<br />
4:05 PM<br />
Button-Core Channel Sampling: A Method for Underground Coal<br />
Quality Sampling<br />
W. Dennis, C. Thielen, C. Thompson and C. Van Arsdale; Peabody Energy,<br />
Oak Creek, CO<br />
Channel sampling is a method used to collect detailed coal quality data in existing<br />
mine workings. Samples are typically collected manually using hand<br />
tools such as picks. Sample consistency, especially in hard, thick coals, can<br />
be difficult to obtain using manual sampling methods. This paper describes a<br />
new mechanical channel sampling method that employs a hand-held core<br />
drill which has improved operator safety and sample consistency independent<br />
of geologic conditions and operator skill. The paper will also discuss the<br />
method’s impact on mine planning and quality forecasting.<br />
Construction Materials and Aggregates:<br />
Resource Evaluation and Planning<br />
2:00 PM • Monday, February 25<br />
borehole spacing and other long term issues such as mine planning and reclamation<br />
will bring value to the project. A presentation with examples will be<br />
given with respect to this approach.<br />
3:05 PM<br />
Practical Approach for Siting Crushed Stone and Sand and Gravel<br />
Mines<br />
M. Zdunczyk; Continental Placer Inc., Albany, NY<br />
The purpose of this paper is to describe the methods that might be used to locate<br />
and develop crushed stone quarries or sand and gravel deposits. The<br />
methods involved are interchangeable; that is to say some methods may be<br />
used to site a source, some methods may be not used at all or others may be<br />
added. The methods should be cost effective because of the low unit cost of<br />
the products being produced. The relationship between each method described<br />
in this paper is critical to achieving the location, market and pricing<br />
necessary for that business to survive and prosper. This paper will attempt to<br />
define the methods necessary to achieve these goals.<br />
3:25 PM<br />
Hydraulic Fracturing Sand “The Facts of Frac”<br />
M. Zdunczyk; Continental Placer Inc., Albany, NY<br />
Hydraulic fracturing sand (frac sand) currently and for the past few years has<br />
been in high demand in the United States. This is directly related to the rising<br />
prices of crude oil and natural gas. Frac sand consists almost entirely of<br />
quartz (silica sand). It is used as a proppant to open fracture in the subsurface<br />
rocks to increase flow to the well. The American Petroleum Institute has<br />
rather rigid specifications for this type of sand, rendering many quartzose<br />
sands unusable. Some US companies who produce silica sand are adjusting<br />
their processing plants to try to meet frac demand, while others are seriously<br />
looking for new deposits.<br />
Chair: W.Willis, Weyerhaeuser, Hot Springs, AR<br />
2:05 PM<br />
The Often Arduous Process to Permit an Aggregates Mine<br />
G. Stevens; Civil & Environmental Consultants, Inc, Downers Grove, IL<br />
During the 2007 <strong>SME</strong> meeting in Denver, I presented a paper focusing on the<br />
multidisciplinary team of scientists and engineers often required to develop a<br />
natural resource, and permit a construction aggregates mining operation. One<br />
of the critical components essential to planning and developing an aggregates<br />
resource is to move methodically through the zoning and permitting process.<br />
This is particularly true when the development is located in a suburbanized<br />
environment. However, this process is frequently fraught with pitfalls related<br />
to zoning and planning boards that are generally unprepared for the level of<br />
technical analysis presented, a contentious and litigious local citizenry with a<br />
“Not In My Back Yard” (NIMBY) agenda, and a barrage of characteristically<br />
irrational debate. This paper will focus on a few specific aggregates mining<br />
projects that have gone through this arduous process and the substantial<br />
technical and legal efforts required prior to developing these aggregate<br />
mining facilities.<br />
2:25 PM<br />
Coastal Louisiana and Mississippi After Katrina – Aggregate Market<br />
and Royalties<br />
W. Rapier; William F Rapier & Associates, Plano, TX<br />
How does a $20-$25 dollar asking price for aggregates shipped into the<br />
coastal markets translate into actual fixed prices back at the quarry or pit and<br />
therefore ultimately into royalty value for the landowner? Royalty rates for<br />
aggregates throughout the United States still range from a low of about 1% of<br />
the Selling Price for very old leases to a high of 15% of the Selling Price for<br />
West Coast leases. Nevertheless, location, transportation (distance and<br />
mode), deposit parameters, availability and demand all impact selling prices<br />
at the consumption point and the production plant which ultimately affects<br />
royalty value.<br />
2:45 PM<br />
Exploration Modeling<br />
J. McCalip; McCalip & Company, Inc., Dallas, TX<br />
Resource and Reserve projects are often intiated with only immediate needs<br />
in mind, without considering all of the obstacles and benefits that may result<br />
from an exploration project. An exploration plan that encompasses geology,<br />
sampling procedures, existing maps, costs, safety, land and permit issues,<br />
28<br />
DREYER LECTURE<br />
1:30 PM<br />
Monday, February 25<br />
Lecturer: C. Mark Rebagliati<br />
Environmental: Environmental Management Systems<br />
2:00 PM • Monday, February 25<br />
Chairs: P. Kunkel, Freeport McMoRan, Phoenix, AZ<br />
W. Cobb, Phelps Dodge Corporation, Phoenix, AZ<br />
2:05 PM<br />
Sustainable Environmental Management Systems: Leveraging<br />
Operational & Environmental Performance in the Mining Industry<br />
D. Meyer; Brown and Caldwell, San Diego, CA<br />
With the quickly changing regulatory environment of Sarbanes-Oxley to the<br />
emergence of a “green” revolution, the mining industry is seeking means to<br />
optimize operational efficiency, meet community stakeholder needs and manage<br />
environmental constraints. Sustainability Environmental Management<br />
Systems (SEMS) can add value to the mining “value” chain, including primary<br />
and secondary product producers, and downstream suppliers of equipment<br />
and process materials. Competitive strategies for local, regional and<br />
transnational mining enterprises are evolving toward balanced “quadruple<br />
bottom line” consideration of optimizing social,operational and environmental<br />
performance. This paper outlines a strategy for building and implementing<br />
an SEMS that incorporates and harmonizes ISO 14001-2004, OHSAS 18001<br />
and sustainability models such as the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) and<br />
industry specific initiatives (NSSGA, NRMCA and PCA). Case studies will<br />
be presented that describe SEMS approaches and best practices. Benefits and<br />
outcomes include leveraged organizational risk, optimized operational efficiencies,<br />
reduced waste, improved cost of sales, and stakeholder confidence.
2:30 PM<br />
EMS Standards for a 21st Century Mine<br />
E. Diaz-Gonzalez; Resolution Copper Mining, Superior, AZ<br />
Resolution Copper’s concept of 21st-century mining has encouraged its operations<br />
to work in ways that are environmentally friendly. Resolution Copper<br />
has recently started the ISO 14001 certification process which calls for building<br />
an environmental management system. Based on the principles of quality<br />
management, the EMS provides a framework to identify, monitor and meet<br />
environmental obligations. When the company first began the certification<br />
process, it had 15 permanent employees and 50 contractors. By the time the<br />
certification audit took place, Resolution Copper had increased its workforce<br />
dramatically causing difficulties in training and in implementing the new ISO<br />
standards.<br />
2:55 PM<br />
Improved Environmental Compliance through the Use of<br />
Environmental Management Systems at Mine Sites<br />
S. Hoffman and S. Mahmud; Office of Solid Waste and Emergency<br />
Response, US EPA, Washington, DC<br />
In 2004 USEPA issued an EMS Strategy that encouraged industry and the<br />
states to use EMSs to improve regulatory complaince. Executive Order 13148<br />
ordered all federal agencies to implement EMSs by December 2005. EPA’s<br />
Sector Worgroup has cooperatively developed EMS for five sectors. In 2006<br />
<strong>SME</strong> initiated the drafting of a mining EMS. EPA’s National Mining Team is<br />
supporting this effort since we believe that implementation of a mining EMS<br />
will improve environmental compalince at mining sites. Many mining companies<br />
have already implemented ISO 1400 programs, however the use of a<br />
comprehensive mining EMS will focus managment attention on the unique<br />
environmentl risks associated with large scale gold cyanide leach and copper<br />
dump leach mining operations. The use of the <strong>SME</strong> mining EMS may also<br />
help to supplement both federal and state regulatory programs.<br />
3:15 PM<br />
Environmental Management Systems for Aggregate Producers<br />
J. Hayden; National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association, Alexandria, VA<br />
The National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association’s (NSSGA) Environmental<br />
Guiding Principles encourage its members to adopt and implement an<br />
Environmental Management System (EMS) program to meet its environmental<br />
requirements and improve its overall performance. An EMS is a continual<br />
cycle of planning, implementing, reviewing and improving the actions that an<br />
organization takes to meet its environmental goals. In the spirit of NSSGA’s<br />
guiding principle, an EMS template for aggregate producers was created to<br />
provide a written framework that can be used in sections or in its entirety to<br />
develop a voluntary EMS program. The template, which conforms with revisions<br />
to ISO 14001 that occurred in 2005, takes the form of modules so that<br />
each aggregate producer can choose the individual modules and adapt them<br />
to best fit their company’s needs and stated environmental goals and principles.<br />
This presentation will focus on how and why NSSGA developed this<br />
voluntary EMS program as well as the benefits derived from, and obstacles<br />
encountered when, implementing an EMS.<br />
3:35 PM<br />
EMS Implementation Guideline for Small and Medium Sized Hard<br />
Rock Mines<br />
P. Kunkel; Environmental, Freeport-McMoRan Copper and Gold Inc,<br />
Phoenix, AZ<br />
<strong>SME</strong> is leading an effort to develop a guideline for small and medium sized<br />
hard rock mines to implement an effective Environmental Management<br />
System. This guideline focuses on a no-frills, integrated management system<br />
that is effective in addressing a mine’s most significant environmental issues<br />
- and can be implemented quickly by site staff. The guideline is being developed<br />
in a joint effort between <strong>SME</strong> and US EPA.<br />
29<br />
Chair:<br />
Environmental:<br />
Mine Reclamation - Risk & Sustainability<br />
2:00 PM • Monday, February 25<br />
R. Reisinger, URS Corporation, Denver, CO<br />
2:05 PM<br />
FMC Granger Mine Closure for Solution Mining<br />
C. Pritchard 1 and T. Jacobsen 2 ; 1 Mine Engingineering, FMC, Green River,<br />
WY and 2 Environmental Engineering, FMC, Green River, WY<br />
FMC Granger Mine Closure for Solution Mining In 2005 it was decided to<br />
abandon the FMC Granger underground mining operation and prepare the<br />
mine workings for solution mining by surface installed deep well pumps.<br />
Work involved recovering mine conveyor equipment, power cables, mobile<br />
equipment, pumps and other installed infrastructure. Environmental work included<br />
gathering hazardous chemicals and draining abandoned mining equipment<br />
of fluids. Final work involved building bulkheads around the shaft bottom<br />
area to prevent potential subsidence damage due to solution mining of<br />
support pillars directly below the process plant facilities.<br />
2:25 PM<br />
Impacts of Surface Mining and Valley Fills on Storm Runoff in Central<br />
Appalachia<br />
P. Michael 1 , M. Superfesky 2 and D. Stump 3 ; 1 U.S. Office of Surface Mining,<br />
Pittsburgh, PA; 2 U.S. Office of Surface Mining, Morgantown, WV and 3 U.S.<br />
Office of Surface Mining, Pittsburgh, PA<br />
The central Appalachian physiographic region is a highly dissected plateau<br />
with high, tree-covered hills and deep, narrow valleys or “hollows.” Surface<br />
mining, including construction of excess spoil fills, alters the topography,<br />
drainage patterns, vegetation, and soil cover in and around the valleys. These<br />
alterations can impact storm-runoff discharges through the hollows. Concern<br />
has been expressed that surface mining above—and valley fill construction<br />
within—inhabited hollows increases the potential for flooding, and consequent<br />
loss of life and severe property damage. A number of studies have been<br />
conducted in response to this concern, including several projects under the<br />
Mountaintop Mining/Valley Fill Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) released<br />
in 2005. Several studies indicated a connection between mining activity<br />
and increases in peak discharge. Significantly, actual storm-runoff events<br />
in 2002 and 2005 demonstrate a “window of vulnerability” during the excess<br />
spoil fill construction process in which severe, uncontrolled erosion over the<br />
face of an unreclaimed fill can cause or augment dangerous debris flows and<br />
floods through a local community.<br />
2:45 PM<br />
Hurley Townsite Residential Soil Remediation: A Case Study in<br />
Sustainable Reclamation<br />
D. Crawford 1 and J. Pepe 2 ; 1 Environmental Science, Golder Associates,<br />
Redmond, WA and 2 Engineering, Golder Associates, Silver City, NM<br />
Residential soil remediation in Hurley, New Mexico incorporated sustainability<br />
aspects of environmental, economic, and social benefits into an ongoing<br />
restoration project. Historical operations at the Chino Mines copper smelter<br />
and concentrator facilities resulted in elevated copper in soil in nearby residential<br />
yards. Remediation removed and recycled soils that posed potential<br />
health risks, ensured resident and worker safety throughout remediation, used<br />
local materials and labor, and involved the community in public and private<br />
property improvements. Town improvements inspired the community to form<br />
a new town pride committee that initiated additional town improvements,<br />
local festivals, and fund raising events.<br />
3:05 PM<br />
Mine Closure Planning under the BHP Billiton Closure Standard<br />
E. Bingham 1 , G. Byrne 3 and R. Reisinger 2 ; 1 Group Environment, BHPB<br />
Billiton, Miami, AZ; 2 Mine Closure & Reclamation Services, URS<br />
Corporation, Denver, CO and 3 Mining Environment, URS Corporation,<br />
Melbourne, VIC, Australia<br />
According to its Closure Standard, BHP Billiton investment properties and<br />
operations are required to have closure plans that are regularly reviewed and<br />
updated and that manage both current and future health, safety, environment<br />
and community (HSEC) and other business risks associated with closure.<br />
Key outcomes of the closure planning process are the development of a preferred<br />
base closure plan and valuation of that plan. This paper compares/contrasts<br />
recent closure plans developed according to the BHP Billiton Closure<br />
Standard including plans for projects in Australia, South America, South<br />
Africa and United States.
YOUNG LEADERS: IDENTIFYING AND VALUING<br />
UNTAPPED POTENTIAL<br />
1:00 – 5:00 PM<br />
Monday, February 25<br />
Speaker: Kay Sever<br />
CQIA and President of OptimiZ Consulting<br />
Opportunities to improve performance slip through your fingers<br />
every single day. This session offers insights on three dimensions of<br />
missed opportunity and their relationship to sustaining improvement<br />
and culture change:<br />
1. The Power of Process Optiumum – why budget is the wrong<br />
number, strategies for selecting optimum values, using optimums<br />
to achieve culture change.<br />
2. Connecting Dollars to Problems – cost of quality concepts<br />
“morphed” for mining applications, why employees need to<br />
know about COQ.<br />
3. Engineering’s Role in Building Partnerships and Driving<br />
Culture Change – unintentional barriers created by engineers<br />
and techniques for removing them.<br />
Each session will contain mining examples/exercises.<br />
Chair:<br />
Industrial Minerals: Shortages<br />
2:00 PM • Monday, February 25<br />
B. Robison, Graymont Western US Inc, Salt Lake City, UT<br />
2:05 PM<br />
Barite Industrial Mineral Shortages for the Future<br />
W. Miles; Miles Industrial Mineral Research, Denver, CO<br />
In the 1970s, China began supplying barite to the world drilling market to<br />
help develop their economy. Their extremely low pricing and ocean transport<br />
caused barite producers in the USA and other countries to close mining<br />
operations. Barite is used as a nonabrasive weighting agent for drilling for oil<br />
and gas exploration and production. The major market and value for barite<br />
increased rapidly beginning in 2003 with increasing world demand for oil and<br />
gas. In recent years the internal demand for barite in China increased tremendously<br />
as their market developed. Now China no longer pursues world<br />
markets for barite weighting agents. In addition, barite with a minimum 4.2<br />
specific gravity is in scarce supply at present mines. The API is presently<br />
reviewing the physical properties of 4.1 specific gravity barite in order to<br />
approve previously depleted mines and provide new sources.<br />
2:25 PM<br />
The Changing Face of Tire Management<br />
J. Lavallee and B. Johnson; ETMS International, D&D Tire, Inc.,<br />
Fernely, NV<br />
Tires cost a lot of money. This by itself is not news, but how we view that<br />
expense and deal with the associated details can have a huge impact on tire<br />
operating costs and on the bottom line of our operations.<br />
Mineral & Metallurgical Processing: Leveraging New<br />
Process Technologies Involving Mineral Processing<br />
2:00 PM • Monday, February 25<br />
Chairs: T. Braden, AMIRA International, Aurora, CO<br />
S.Gilbert, Phelps Dodge Mining Co, Safford, AZ<br />
2:05 PM<br />
Secondary Copper Recovery in Heap Leach Operations<br />
A. Guzman 1 , S. Flaherty 1 , L. Schlink 2 , R. Romero 2 , D. Shade 3 and<br />
D. Ramey 4 ; 1 ARCADIS U.S Inc, Tucson, AZ; 2 Cyprus Tohono Corporation,<br />
Casa Grande, AZ; 3 KD Engineering, Tucson, AZ and 4 Freeport McMoRan,<br />
Oro Valley, AZ<br />
30<br />
Current market conditions for the North American mining industry are characterized<br />
by a strong demand of metal and a limited availability of new deposits.<br />
In this context, mining companies are focusing on optimizing their available<br />
resources. This paper discusses a secondary metal recovery program implemented<br />
in the Cyprus Tohono Corporation (CTC) and highlights technical<br />
challenges, additional production from existing resources and potential environmental<br />
benefits of such program. The CTC implemented a secondary copper<br />
recovery program in its dormant heap leach facility. Leaching and removal<br />
of residual copper was complicated by a number of technical issues. These<br />
challenges required devising a solution delivery scheme that circulated enough<br />
reagents through the heap while maintaining physical stability of the slopes.<br />
Copper production data after 30 months of operation suggest that solution delivery<br />
system has been able to maintain reasonable copper recovery rates<br />
while minimizing potential stress on the slopes. To date, 6,000 Tons of high<br />
quality copper have been produced at a rate of nearly 1% of the “recoverable”<br />
copper per month in accordance with the initial production model.<br />
2:25 PM<br />
Hyperbaric Centrifugal Filtration<br />
S. Keles 1 , G. Luttrell 1 , R. Yoon 1 , T. Estes 2 and W. Schultz 2 ; 1 Center for<br />
Advanced Separation Technologies, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA and<br />
2<br />
Decanter Machine, Inc., Johnson City, TN<br />
The solid-solid separation processes employed by modern coal preparation<br />
plants require large amounts of process water. After cleaning, the unwanted<br />
water must be removed from the surfaces of the particles using mechanical<br />
dewatering equipment such as disc filters and screen-bowl centrifuges.<br />
Unfortunately, the existing processes that are used to dewater fine particles<br />
are inefficient in terms of moisture reduction or solids recovery. To overcome<br />
these problems, a novel hyperbaric centrifugal filter has been developed as a<br />
joint effort between academic and industrial partners. Data collected to date<br />
indicate that this new technology can reduce moisture by 30-50% over what<br />
can be achieved using conventional processes with high solids recoveries. In<br />
this communication, the newly patented technology will be described along<br />
with recent test results obtained from laboratory, pilot-plant and in-plant<br />
test programs.<br />
2:45 PM<br />
Evaluation of Sulfide Flotation Efficiency by Analysis of Misplaced<br />
Particles<br />
L. Roman, E. Blanco, J. Medina, J. Nalaskowski, C. Lin and J. Miller;<br />
Metallurgical Engineering Department, College of Mines and Earth<br />
Sciences University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT<br />
The loss of sulfide mineral values in tailings during flotation can occur due to<br />
inappropriate operating conditions (retention time, reagent addition, air flow,<br />
bubble size, etc.) or due to particle properties. Important particle properties<br />
which might limit flotation include size, shape, composition (incomplete<br />
liberation), slimes interference, and surface activity (oxidation, hydrolysis).<br />
The significance of these factors are considered for selected sulfide<br />
flotation systems.<br />
3:05 PM<br />
Application of Passive Sonar Technology to Minerals Processing Flow<br />
Measurement Applications<br />
C. O’Keefe, R. Maron, P. Rothman and J. Poplawski; Minerals Processing,<br />
CiDRA Corporation, Wallingford, CT<br />
In this presentation, CiDRA’s patented technology platform and its applications<br />
will be described. CiDRA’s non-invasive, passive sonar array-based<br />
flow meter technology provides the volumetric flow rate of single or multiphase<br />
fluids by measuring the speed at which naturally occurring structures<br />
such as turbulent eddies or density variations convect with the flow past an<br />
axial array of sensors. These sensors are incorporated in a band that is<br />
wrapped around the outside of the pipe, resulting in no process downtimes for<br />
installation and unprecedented reliability. This technology has resulted in a<br />
unique ability to measure the flow rate of most fluids – clean liquids, high<br />
solids content slurries, pastes, and liquids and slurries with entrained air.<br />
Unique and difficult minerals processing flow measurement problems and<br />
their solutions will be described. Examples of these problems include flow<br />
measurements in froth lines and flotation feed lines with entrained air, slurry<br />
lines with magnetite and other magnetic ore, slurry lines with abrasive or corrosive<br />
materials, high pressure lines, and lines exhibiting scale buildup.<br />
Recent technology developments will be covered.<br />
www.smenet.org
Mineral & Metallurgical Processing:<br />
New Technologies and Cross Pollination for Improved<br />
Energy, Minerals or Metals Recovery<br />
2:00 PM • Monday, February 25<br />
Chairs: P. Taylor, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO<br />
J. Hohn, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO<br />
2:05 PM<br />
Mill feed: by 8 m ore block assay or by 8 cm rock sensing? Sorting<br />
technology can fill the gap between mine and mill<br />
G. Van Weert 1 and M. Kowalczyk 2 ; 1 Oretome Limited, Caledon East, ON,<br />
Canada and 2 Terra Vision, Lac Beauport, QC, Canada<br />
Mining project feasibility is projected from a geological model. Ore grade is<br />
assumed to be continuous, based on drill hole assays as much as 80 m or<br />
80,000,000 micron apart. Base metal flotation works at 80 micron. In short,<br />
metallurgical and financial performance in metal mining is forecast on rejecting<br />
waste after comminuting the ore down by a volume factor of<br />
1,000,000,000,000,000,000. This is the gap between mine and mill, and ultimately<br />
between lenders/shareholders expectations and mine/mill performance.<br />
By inserting ore sorting in this gap, opportunities for reserve enhancement<br />
and cost reduction are created. Blast holes for extracting the outlined<br />
ore might be 8 m apart. Most ore bodies do not abruptly change composition<br />
at 8 m intervals; nor are they homogeneous in grade at the 8 cm (3”) rock<br />
size, optimum size for sorting. Mining in 8 m blocks will inevitably cause<br />
dilution of the mill feed and ore losses in the waste rock. This paper looks at<br />
ore sorting technologies currently available and under development, and what<br />
conditions would be needed for their application. The sorting results of<br />
various ores will be presented.<br />
2:25 PM<br />
A Low Temperature Thermal Method for Energy and Metals Recovery<br />
from Organic Wastes<br />
P. Kruesi 1 , S. Shuey 2 , E. Vidal 3 , J. Montenegro 3 and P. Taylor 3 ; 1 Cato<br />
Research Corp, Golden, CO; 2 Phelps Dodge Mining Co, Safford, AZ and<br />
3<br />
Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO<br />
Laboratory experiments have been performed on a variety of waste materials<br />
to evaluate methods to react the organic materials in such a way as to<br />
generate a energy rich off gas and a carbon-metal solid residue. The reaction<br />
utilizes carbon dioxide and alkali earth carbonates as reactants in the temperature<br />
range of 300 -450 C. These experiments were complimented by tests on<br />
pure polymeric materials. Results and conclusions are given.<br />
2:45 PM<br />
Integrating hydro-fracturing technology and geophysics into 3D<br />
mapping and extraction of metals in heap leaching; Hydro-Jex and<br />
High Resolution Resistivity<br />
T. Seal 1 and J. Fink 2 ; 1 NV Leach Metallurgy, Newmont Mining Corp.,<br />
Carlin, NV and 2 Geophysics, hydroGEOPHYSICS, Inc, Tucson, AZ<br />
Large heap leach operations around the world contain significant underleached<br />
metal values that present recovery challenges to operators. The first<br />
challenge is to find the location of the highest inventory. High resolution resistivity<br />
has proven sensitive enough to detect such zones in the interior of<br />
heap leach pads to target treatment or re-leaching. Newmont Mining Corp.<br />
has adapted the high pressure fracturing technology, used in oil wells to stimulate<br />
select zones in heap leach pads to add reagents in 3-D for re-leaching,<br />
changing zonal chemistry for improved recovery and heap closure. High<br />
Resolution Resistivity is able to subsequently monitor injected solution<br />
flow and determine directional permeability during Hydro-Jex stimulation.<br />
The combination of these technologies has shown strong economic success,<br />
for selecting targets in the heaps and monitoring solution application. These<br />
technologies are now available to the mining industry for adoption.<br />
3:05 PM<br />
The big guy, the little guy, and the other guy: Examples of technology<br />
transfer between industries<br />
L. Southwick; L.M. Southwick & Associates, Cincinnati, OH<br />
The cost of developing new processes is often quite large, and frequently<br />
therefore large companies take the lead. The Big Guy. In other examples,<br />
innovative ideas seem more readily accepted by smaller operations without<br />
the bureaucracy that may bog down the whole technology acceptance mechanism.<br />
The Little Guy. However, rarely are those two aspects sufficient by<br />
themselves – the technology must be viable, the development process must<br />
be properly managed, the company must be realistic in their expectations and<br />
thoroughly understand the process. Sometimes, too, reference to other industries<br />
brings relevant examples of basic concepts, and guidance with research,<br />
design, equipment selection and operation. Lastly, the due diligence ordered<br />
by the Board as a final check before proceeding with a process becomes more<br />
a “join the parade” stock promotion tool rather than the objective, curmudgeonly<br />
skeptical document it should be. So the Right Guy is objective oversight,<br />
thorough insight, the example from another industry, and unflinching<br />
skepticism. These and other examples will be reviewed, focusing on building<br />
a check list of mileposts on the road to successful commercialization.<br />
3:25 PM<br />
Morenci Concentrate Leaching Plant – Construction and Start Up of<br />
the Copper Concentrate Leaching Plant at Morenci, AZ<br />
J. Wilmot; Technology and Product Development, Freeport-McMoRan<br />
Mining Co., Phoenix, AZ<br />
In March, 2006, Freeport-McMoRan began construction on a commercial<br />
scale copper concentrate leaching plant at the Morenci mine in southeastern<br />
Arizona. A successful start up of the plant occurred in 2007. This presentation<br />
describes the process facilities constructed at Morenci and discusses the start<br />
up successes and challenges of the plant. The most recent performance of the<br />
plant is presented, along with comparisons to the design criteria.<br />
3:45 PM<br />
Clean Technology in Coke Production<br />
F. Habashi; Laval University, Quebec City, QC, Canada<br />
The present technology for coke manufacture is based on heating coal in<br />
retorts in absence of air then quenching the product with a limited supply of<br />
water shower. This last step is highly polluting due to dust and toxic organic<br />
emissions. A new technology first introduced by Nippon Steel Corporation at<br />
Kitakyushu in 1976 now used in Japan as well as at few plants in other countries,<br />
known as dry quenching, uses nitrogen in a closed circuit to avoid environmental<br />
emissions. In addition, heat is recovered in form of steam, from the<br />
red-hot coke.<br />
Mineral & Metallurgical Processing: Technologies<br />
Involving Hydrometallurgy/Pyrometallurgy<br />
2:00 PM • Monday, February 25<br />
Chairs: E.Vidal, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO<br />
S. Shuey, Freeport McMoRan, Tucson, AZ<br />
2:05 PM<br />
Oxidation of Refractory Gold Ores<br />
B. Chen and R. Reddy; Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, The<br />
University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL<br />
Degree of successes in recovering gold from refractory gold ores is not<br />
clearly understood. In this study, rate of oxidation of refractory gold ores<br />
were investigated using TGA. The effect of time, temperature and different<br />
types of refractory gold ores were studied. DTA analyses of gold ores showed<br />
endothermic reactions are mostly due to decomposition of carbonates and dehydration<br />
of kaolinite compounds. The oxidation rates increased with increase<br />
in temperature and also with higher initial carbon and sulfur in the<br />
samples. It was concluded that carbon has to be oxidized to a minimum value<br />
before appreciable sulfur can be oxidized from the gold ores. Applications of<br />
results to an industrial gold processing are discussed.<br />
2:25 PM<br />
Controlling Organic in Aqueous Entrainments<br />
L. Schlink 1 , M. Brueggemann 2 and S. Dominquez 3 ; 1 Cyprus Tohono Mine,<br />
Casa Grande, AZ; 2 Safford Mine, Safford, AZ and 3 Chino Mine, Hurley, NM<br />
The start up of Solvent Extraction (SX) plants in 1968 has allowed high purity<br />
copper to be produced at a low cost. The battle of high production at low<br />
cost is becoming increasingly important as the cost of petroleum based<br />
reagents increases, primarily the cost of diluent and extractant (organic).<br />
Reducing the amount of organic entrainment in the raffinate solutions will<br />
lead to several benefits in an SX plant. The largest benefit is the reduction of<br />
reagent costs each month. Many methods have been employed to reduce the<br />
31
amount of the organic leaving the system through the aqueous raffinate solution.<br />
Some of the methods used have included operational adjustments,<br />
Jameson Cell, coalescing packs and picket fencing. Each of these solutions<br />
has had some effect on the amount of organic entrainments lost through the<br />
raffinate. Implementation of the methods above has led to significantly<br />
reduce organic entrainment at two Phelps Dodge, SXEW plants in New<br />
Mexico. Similar methods were adopted at other Phelps Dodge sites with<br />
continued success. This paper provides insight as to the methods tested and<br />
results recorded for the two New Mexico sites.<br />
2:45 PM<br />
The Effect of Particle Size and Other Process Variables in the Stripping<br />
of Gold Cyanide from Activated Carbons<br />
F. Elnathan, S. Zheng, C. Lin and J. Miller; Metallurgical Engineering<br />
Department, College of Mines and Earth Sciences University of Utah, Salt<br />
Lake City, UT<br />
Activated carbon is being used extensively for the recovery of gold from<br />
cyanidation plants. However, gold losses on fine activated carbon particles<br />
and the attendant high carbon inventories are quite significant. The effect of<br />
particle size and other process variables on the stripping of gold cyanide from<br />
activated carbon has been studied and will be discussed with respect to chemistry<br />
and procedures for elution.<br />
3:05 PM<br />
Hydrometallurgical Design Considerations at the Safford Leach Project<br />
L. Todd; Freeport McMoRan Americas, Safford, AZ<br />
The Safford Leach Project located in Graham County, Arizona began construction<br />
in 2006 and will begin production in early 2008 at an annual design<br />
production rate of 109,000 tonnes of cathode copper. The project includes<br />
open pit mining, three-stage crushing, agglomeration with sulfuric acid,<br />
conveyor stacking, heap leaching, solution extraction and electrowinning to<br />
produce cathode copper from low-grade oxide ores. The project employs a<br />
number of design features to control project capital and operating costs and<br />
incorporates experience from existing properties. Design considerations of<br />
the hydrometallurgical recovery circuit are discussed in this paper.<br />
3:25 PM<br />
Improvement of Silver Leaching from High Silver Grade Ores Using<br />
the Celp<br />
G. Deschenes; CANMET, Ottawa, ON, Canada<br />
The leaching of silver from high purity silver, high purity silver minerals<br />
(acanthite, stephanite and pyrargyrite) and a mixture of silver minerals was<br />
determined under various conditions and compared to a new leaching process<br />
called “CANMET Enhanced Leaching Process (CELP)”. In the absence of<br />
sulphide minerals, increased dissolved oxygen of the slurry produced the<br />
fastest silver leaching kinetics. For a slurry containing acanthite, a 23% improvement<br />
in silver extraction (from 76% to 99%) was obtained with the<br />
CELP whereas silver extraction increased from 75% to 90% for the slurry<br />
with pyrargyrite. No improvement was obtained for the slurry with stephanite<br />
(99% extraction in 72 hours). However, the silver leaching rate was much<br />
faster with the CELP. The slurries containing the mixtures of minerals<br />
showed improvements of 21% Ag (from 75% to 96%) and 37% Ag (from<br />
56% to 93%) with the CELP. Leaching of a high grade gold/silver ore with<br />
the CELP resulted in higher silver and gold extractions while using a lower<br />
cyanide concentration.<br />
3:45 PM<br />
Electrochemical Study of Gold Cementation onto Copper in Thiosulfate<br />
Solutions<br />
J. Lee 1 and B. Hiskey 2 ; 1 Newmont Metallurgical Services, Newmont<br />
Mining, Englewood, CO and 2 Materials Science and Engineering, University<br />
of Arizona, Tucson, AZ<br />
The electrochemistry of gold cementation in thiosulfate solution with rotating<br />
disk electrode and electrochemical quartz crystal nanobalance has been<br />
investigated. Sodium thiosulfate of 0.25M solution is used for standard condition<br />
at pH 9.5 and initial gold and copper concentrations are changed.<br />
Mixed potential was recorded under various conditions to investigate passivation<br />
phenomena. The characteristics of the potential curves vary according to<br />
the parameters showing different passivation patterns. Evans’ diagrams were<br />
plotted by superimposing polarization diagrams of the gold reduction and<br />
copper oxidation. Corrosion currents increased with increasing gold concentration,<br />
disk rotating speed, and thiosulfate concentration as expected by<br />
kinetic study.<br />
32<br />
Mineral Valuation:<br />
Recent Case Histories and Analysis of Methods<br />
2:00 PM • Monday, February 25<br />
Chairs: E. Moritz, Gustavson Associates, Boulder, CO<br />
J. Gustavson, Gustavson Associates, Boulder, CO<br />
2:05 PM<br />
When Partial Takings Take More Than You Think<br />
R. Frahme; Appraisal, Gustavson Associates, Boulder, CO<br />
Appraisers are often asked to develop an opinion of the value of a partial taking.<br />
It is incumbent upon the appraiser, in the review of the condemnation<br />
documents, to form an independent opinion of the larger parcel(s), the part(s)<br />
to be taken and the remainder(s). Sometimes, the project causes the remainder(s)<br />
to have no economic value. In such cases, the purported “partial taking”<br />
may be tantamount to a total taking and must be appraised as such. This<br />
paper relates some of an appraiser’s experiences in such determinations.<br />
2:25 PM<br />
Use of Comparables Sales in Appraising Coalbed Methane Properties<br />
E. Moritz; Gustavson Associates, Boulder, CO<br />
There has been a surge in interest in the acquisition and development of<br />
coalbed methane properties. Depending on the location, coalbed methane<br />
projects require economies of scale and other considerations in order to be<br />
attractive. The appraisal of such acreage can be complex especially if the<br />
acreage is undeveloped and some distance from production. This paper<br />
describes the use of comparable sales as one method to approach a value in<br />
the appraisal of coalbed methane properties. Case histories from certain areas<br />
of the Rocky Mountains are presented.<br />
2:45 PM<br />
Property in Transition — Appraisal of Mining and Upscale Residential<br />
Use, Saguaro National Park, AZ<br />
J. Gustavson; Gustavson Associates, Boulder, CO<br />
The claim named Comet 1 is located on Yuma Mine Road near Tucson. The<br />
Saguaro National Park nearly surrounds the parcel with unfriendly, private<br />
neighbors to the north. A Validation Examination was provided. Patenting<br />
was recommended by BLM for gold-lead mining. Interior found no legal reason<br />
why the mining patent would not be issued. Appraisal includes other<br />
value since residential land value will surpass that of mining. Maximally productive<br />
use then changes to residential. FMV is estimated as the sum of transitional<br />
mining and long-term residential use. The former was estimated on a<br />
lease basis similar to appraisal in temporary takings, where Fair Market<br />
Rental Value may be estimated. Claim changed to residential use after 5 years<br />
of mining. Adjustment was made for availability of access through mining<br />
use. Cost of access by necessity and construction of road are included in the<br />
mining use. Reclamation for residential purpose is included. Value was adjusted<br />
based on appreciation in Tucson residential market. The transitional<br />
value and the long-term value were added, yielding the FMV. Both private<br />
owner of claim and NPS agreed to the FMV for purchase by the NPS.<br />
Mining & Exploration: Surface Mining: Big Pits<br />
2:00 PM • Monday, February 25<br />
Chair: T. Swendseid, Phelps Dodge Sierrita Inc, Green Valley, AZ<br />
2:05 PM<br />
Suncor’s Big Rocks, A review of mine productivity initiatives<br />
L. Hale; Mining, Suncor Energy, Fort McMurray, AB, Canada<br />
Suncor Energy operates a large open pit mine as part of an integrated oil production<br />
facility in Northern Alberta. The 2008 mine plan calls for over 450<br />
million tonnes. Mining Oilsand presents a unique set of challenges and a<br />
combination of specialized equipment and mining techniques make this an<br />
interesting application of technology. This paper will introduce Suncor<br />
Energy and review our mine hauler tire life program and a number of productivity<br />
initiatives that were successful in allowing our mine to meet our aggressive<br />
growth and production plans.
2:25 PM<br />
Black Thunder Mine — Helping to Meet America’s Energy Needs<br />
K. Cochran; Thunder Basin Coal Company, Wright, WY<br />
Arch Coal’s Black Thunder Mine, located in Wyoming’s Powder River Basin,<br />
is one of the world’s largest coal mines, producing approximately 90 million<br />
tons annually and supplying coal for approximately 9% of the U.S. electric<br />
generation. Black Thunder Mine utilizes a combination of dragline, truck -<br />
shovel and blast casting operations to remove overburden. The mine employs<br />
a state of the art truck dispatch system as well as numerous technology advancements<br />
as part of normal mining activities. Success at Black Thunder is<br />
judged by the ability to meet energy needs in a safe, environmentally responsible<br />
and profitable manner.<br />
2:45 PM<br />
Overview of the Grasberg Open-Pit Operations<br />
D. Cornette; Freeport McMoRan Copper and Gold, Phoenix, AZ<br />
In 1972, people of Freeport (now Freeport McMoRan Copper and Gold or<br />
FCX) opened the Ertsberg open-pit mine in what is now Papua Indonesia on<br />
the island of New Guinea. The Grasberg deposit was discovered in the 1980’s<br />
and a world-class open-pit mine was opened in 1989. The Ertsberg District is<br />
now the world’s premier mining and mineral district and contains the largest<br />
single copper reserve and the largest single gold reserve of any mining district<br />
in the world. Mining is presently conducted in the Grasberg open-pit and<br />
DOZ underground block cave mines to feed a central concentrator. Copper,<br />
gold and silver concentrate is shipped to smelters located in Indonesia and<br />
throughout the world. Grasberg is one of the safest and largest open-pit mines<br />
in the world. Grasberg has one of the world’s largest equipment fleets and all<br />
support facilities necessary for safely producing about 700,000 metric tons of<br />
material per day. The dedicated people of Grasberg face significant challenges<br />
regarding the size of the operation, remote location, difficult logistics,<br />
large amounts of rain and fog, and the depth of the pit to safely and productively<br />
operate every day.<br />
Chair:<br />
Mining & Exploration: Underground Mines:<br />
New Mines & Expansions<br />
2:00 PM • Monday, February 25<br />
D. Ward, Revett Minerals Inc, Spokane Valley, WA<br />
2:05 PM<br />
Development of the RCWF Ore Bodies at Doe Run’s Fletcher Mine<br />
G. Sutton; Doe Run Company, Viburnum, MO<br />
The Doe Run Company operates six underground room and pillar mines in<br />
Southeastern Missouri. The primary product mined is lead with byproducts of<br />
zinc and copper. These metals occur in the forms of galena, sphalerite, and<br />
chalcopyrite. During late 2004 a decision was made to develop several ore<br />
bodies approximately 3000 feet south of the then current Fletcher Mine. This<br />
presentation will discuss the background of the decision, the scope of the<br />
project, the trials and tribulations of mine expansion in the current boom<br />
cycle, and the results to date.<br />
2:25 PM<br />
Contractor/Owner Partnering – “The Pleasures and Perils”<br />
R. Guill; Small Mine Development, Boise, ID<br />
In this era of high metals prices and new and/or expanding projects, when<br />
everybody wants it all and “wants it all right now”, a contractor would seem<br />
to present solutions, but things always are “never what they seem”. Some<br />
thoughts on this subject after 25 years of trying.<br />
2:45 PM<br />
Troy Mine – Reopening a Past Producer<br />
L. Erickson; Revett Silver Company, Troy, MT<br />
ASARCO Inc. opened the Troy Mine, located in Lincoln County, Montana in<br />
1980 as an 8,500 ton per day underground room-and-pillar operation. This<br />
copper and silver producer operated until April 1993 when, due to low metals<br />
prices, the mine was placed on “temporary” care-and maintenance.<br />
“Temporary” turned into 12 years. Revett Silver Company purchased the<br />
mine in 1999 from ASARCO and kept the facility on a high level of care-andmaintenance<br />
in anticipation of improved prices. By the end of 2003, prices finally<br />
began to move and Revett initiated engineering to restart the mine in<br />
2004. As the mine, process facilities and infrastructure had been kept in good<br />
33<br />
condition, the restart should have been straight forward. Then reality struck –<br />
no equipment, no people, no supplies… were easily available. This is a case<br />
study of how the mine reopened in these conditions.<br />
Geology: Marketing and Mining of Uranium/New<br />
Projects/Forecasts<br />
3:00 PM • Monday, February 25<br />
Chair:<br />
J. Cash, Ur-Energy USA, Casper, WY<br />
3:05 PM<br />
Development of the Inkai Uranium Project<br />
S. Magnuson; Cameco US, Lakewood, CO<br />
Inkai is an in situ recovery (ISR) uranium project under development in<br />
southern Kazakhstan near the small village of Taikonur. The project is operated<br />
by JV Inkai and owned 60% by Cameco Corporation and 40% by the<br />
Kazatomprom, the Kazakhstan national atomic company. Test plant operations<br />
have been ongoing since 2002 and commercial construction of the main<br />
processing plant and commercial well field started in 2005. The project will<br />
have an annual capacity of 2,000 tonnes U (5.2mm lbs U3O8) at full production<br />
and plans are underway to double that level to 4,000 tonnes U (10.4 mm<br />
lbs U3O8).<br />
3:25 PM<br />
Fast-Track Advancement Of the Lost Creek ISR Project<br />
W. Heili and S. Hatten; Lost Creek ISR, LLC, Ur-Energy USA, Inc.,<br />
Casper, WY<br />
Ur-Energy’s Lost Creek In-Situ Recovery Uranium Project was discovered in<br />
the early 1970’s. Over 2,800 drill holes were completed on the site during that<br />
decade. The project and the drill data was set aside during the prolonged uranium<br />
market depression that lasted until the renaissance that began in earnest<br />
in 2005. Ur-Energy (URE) acquired the project along with the historic drill<br />
data in June of 2005 and immediately started the permitting process. As a<br />
start-up Junior mining company with great ambitions, URE faced many challenges<br />
in attempting to fast-track it’s first mining project. This paper reviews<br />
aspects from assembling a technically competent and experienced team of<br />
employees and consultants, to converting historic data intended for conventional<br />
mining techniques into data useful for ISR mining techniques. The<br />
complex State and Federal Permitting requirements for ISR Uranium extraction<br />
will be reviewed in the context of how the detailed permitting schedule<br />
was resolved. The challenges of preparing engineering feasibility studies<br />
concurrently with detailed mine planning and design for the permit applications<br />
are reviewed as well.<br />
3:45 PM<br />
In Situ Uranium Recovery<br />
M. Pelizza; Corporate, Uranium Resources, Inc., Lewisville, TX<br />
In situ uranium recovery involves the circulation of ground water, fortified<br />
with oxygen, through a uranium ore body. This oxygenated water is pumped<br />
into injection wells, through the mineralized sandstone were the uranium is<br />
oxidized and solubilized, continuing through the sandstone to the extraction<br />
wells where the uranium-bearing ground water is pumped to the surface to<br />
ion exchange for uranium removal. This re-circulation of the same ground<br />
water continues over and over, until the uranium in the sandstone is depleted.<br />
Loaded ion exchange resin is processing into yellowcake, which is dried, and<br />
drummed for shipment.<br />
4:05 PM<br />
Energy Metals Corporation: Growth with a Purpose<br />
D. Stover; Uranium One - Americas, Edmond, OK<br />
Energy Metals Corporation was formed in July, 2004. During the next three<br />
years, a directed program was undertaken that sequentially focused on acquisition<br />
of historical uranium data bases from major mining companies, known<br />
mineral properties, and experienced personnel. By mid-2007, EMC has<br />
amassed uranium resources exceeding 250 M pounds, assembled an experienced<br />
ISR production team of 60+ employees, and filed license applications<br />
for new production centers in Texas and Wyoming. From its modest beginnings,<br />
EMC’s market capitalization had reach $1.7 billion US when its business<br />
combination with Uranium One was announced. The successor company<br />
is now the second largest publicly traded uranium company, exceeded in<br />
value only by Cameco. The path taken by EMC to rapidly move through<br />
growth phases of exploration, development and now production is presented.
tuesday, february 26<br />
morning<br />
Bulk Material Handling by Conveyor Belt 7:<br />
Design Considerations for Long Overland Conveyor<br />
9:00 AM • Tuesday, February 26<br />
Chair: R. Kidman, Robert & Schaefer, Salt Lake City, UT<br />
2:05 PM<br />
Evolutionary Belt Conveyor Design - Optimizing Costs<br />
C. Wheeler; The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Australia<br />
This paper will present findings of research that is currently being undertaken<br />
to reduce the annual equivalent cost of belt conveying systems. The work involves<br />
utilizing models to predict the motion resistance of belt conveyors that<br />
take into consideration the influence of key conveyor variables, such as idler<br />
roll diameter, spacing, etc. Given a specified conveyor configuration the<br />
capital and ongoing costs of the system can then be approximated based on<br />
the required belt, structure, drives, etc. The research provides an evolutionary<br />
computational means to analyze a large number of potential conveyor<br />
configurations and to compare each on an annual equivalent cost basis.<br />
2:30 PM<br />
Dynamics of long belt conveyors with distributed drives<br />
G. Lodewijks; Transport Engineering and Logistics, Delft University of<br />
Technology, Delft, Netherlands<br />
Today most belt conveyors used for the transportation of bulk solid materials<br />
are driven in a centralized way with all drives in one location. The dynamics<br />
of these systems has been studied since the early seventies of the previous<br />
century and are well understood. Compared to the more conventional belt<br />
conveyor system with a centralized drive station positioned at the head or tail<br />
of the system, a decentralized driven layout with drive stations distributed<br />
along the whole length of the belt offers a number of advantages. However, to<br />
make a decentralized driven configuration a good alternative to a centralized<br />
drive, the system designer will have to balance these benefits with the increased<br />
complexity. The full potential of a decentralized driven system can<br />
only be realized if the right balance is found between the locally applied drive<br />
force and the motion resistances occurring along the system. This paper discusses<br />
the dynamics of long belt conveyors with distributed drives. It further<br />
discusses the fundamental differences between centralized and decentralized<br />
driven belt conveyors. It ends with a discussion of the design of decentralized<br />
driven belt conveyors.<br />
2:55 PM<br />
The Merits of High Speed Conveying in Relation to Layout Capital and<br />
Operating Cost<br />
P. Staples; Ckit Conveyor Engineers, Bedfordview Johannesburg, South<br />
Africa<br />
High speed conveying has been proposed in the materials handling industry<br />
for a number of years with the aim of reducing the “capital” cost of the installation.<br />
This paper sets out to explore the effect of high speed conveying at;<br />
the transfer point where material containment is critical, in relations to idler<br />
size and spacing, in relation to power utilization and subsequently in relation<br />
to the overall operating cost translated into a cost per ton and a cost per ton /<br />
kilometer. The writer will amongst other issues display a computer modeling<br />
tool developed specifically to demonstrate the effects of speed on capital and<br />
maintenance cost.<br />
3:20 PM<br />
Applied Loss Prediction due to Belt Cover Indentation<br />
T. Rudolphi; Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Mechanics, Iowa State<br />
University, Ames, IA<br />
Abstract: Characterization of rubber compounds of belt cover backings and<br />
prediction of indentation losses based on simple computational models can<br />
provide good estimates of power requirements for a range of operating temperatures<br />
and belt speeds. A standardized prediction methodology using rubber<br />
test data and routine numerical software allows for the prediction of indentation<br />
loss in conveyor design and potential savings in otherwise overly<br />
conservative designs. This paper discusses the development indentation loss<br />
models, from both the deformation and material characterization aspects.<br />
Limitations and sensitivity of the numerical models to the data is discussed<br />
and results of some typical backing materials are given. Finally, an enveloping<br />
approach for grouping rubber compounds is suggested.<br />
3:45 PM<br />
Belt Conveyor Idler Roll Behavior<br />
A. Reicks; Overland Conveyor Co Inc, Lakewood, CO<br />
This paper reviews the impact of the idler set on the performance of belt conveyors.<br />
Idler rolls as part of the load support system and their interaction with<br />
the conveyor system will be discussed. In particular, the rotating performance<br />
of the individual idler roll concentrating on the rotating resistance and life of<br />
the bearing and seal design are addressed in detail. A basis for the<br />
development of performance specifications for use in conveyor design that<br />
takes advantage of the idler manufacturers design and manufacturing<br />
expertise is proposed.<br />
Coal & Energy: Environmental – Coal Restoration<br />
9:00 AM • Tuesday, February 26<br />
Chair: P. Conrad, Montana Tech of the Univ of Montana,<br />
Butte, MT<br />
9:05 AM<br />
A New Field Procedure for Evaluating the Reforestation Potential of<br />
Reclaimed Surface-Mined Land<br />
K. Hunt, R. Sweigard and V. Badaker; Mining Engineering, University of<br />
Kentucky, Lexington, KY<br />
Excessive compaction of the replaced root growth medium on reclaimed<br />
surface-mined land severely limits reforestation success. Previous studies<br />
have demonstrated the utility of a recording static cone penetrometer in<br />
characterizing the physical properties of the replaced material as it relates to<br />
tree survival and growth. However, those studies were conducted on specially<br />
designed reclamation plots that were accessible to a tractor-mounted<br />
recording static cone penetrometer. Large-scale reforestation on reclaimed<br />
land requires loose-dumping and minimal grading of the material. The<br />
surface that results is not accessible to a farm tractor. A new method of<br />
characterizing the physical properties has been developed using a portable<br />
dynamic cone penetrometer. This method is applicable to surfaces that have<br />
been reclaimed according to the standards for reforestation and it produces<br />
information about the physical condition of the replaced material that will<br />
predict the likelihood of reforestation success.<br />
9:25 AM<br />
Paste Thickening of Fine Coal Refuse<br />
S. Slottee and J. Johnson; Pastethick Associates, Salt Lake City, UT<br />
Limited refuse pond life, lack of additional land for new pond, the need for<br />
water recovery, dam safety, and environmental sustainability are drivers for<br />
many coal mines to use paste disposal for coal refuse. Belt press produced<br />
paste has been the preferred method of producing paste for the past decade.<br />
High operating and maintenance costs of belt presses, as well as the high<br />
chemical cost have opened the door for paste thickening. Paste thickening as<br />
applied to coal refuse is discussed. Paste thickener installation is described as<br />
a case study.<br />
9:45 AM<br />
An Inconvenient Reality<br />
L. Weakly; Washington University, St. Louis, MO<br />
Global warming is a political reality in the United States today. However, the<br />
actual impact of the continued utilization of fossil fuels is not known and is<br />
open to debate. The growing concern over the continued use of these fuels is<br />
problematic. The inconvenient reality is that we cannot totally replace fossil<br />
fuels and Americans do not appear ready to pay the extra cost required to develop<br />
new clean energy. This paper identifies the projected energy demand<br />
for America and a realistic solution which allows us to continue to utilize<br />
fossil fuels and alternative energy to meet this projected demand.<br />
34
10:05 AM<br />
Paste Thickening of Fine Coal Refuse<br />
J. Johnson 1 and S. Slottee 2 ; 1 PasteThick Associates, Salt Lake City, UT and<br />
2<br />
PasteThick Associates, Salt Lake City, UT<br />
Limited refuse pond life, lack of additional land for new pond, the need for<br />
water recovery, dam safety, and environmental sustainability are drivers for<br />
many plants to use paste disposal for coal refuse. Belt press produced paste<br />
has been the preferred method of producing paste for the past decade. High<br />
operating and maintenance costs of belt presses, as well as the high chemical<br />
cost make paste thickening an attractive alternative. Paste thickening as applied<br />
to coal refuse is discussed. A paste thickener installation is described as<br />
a case study.<br />
10:25 AM<br />
Long-Term Changes in Spoil Characteristics On Reforested Surface-<br />
Mined Land<br />
P. Conrad 1 , R. Sweigard 2 , V. Badaker 2 , K. Hunt 2 , D. Graves 3 and C. Barton 3 ;<br />
1<br />
Mining Engineering, Montana Tech of the University of Montana, Butte,<br />
MT; 2 Mining Engineering, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY and<br />
3<br />
Forestry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY<br />
Experience has shown that, since the passage of the Surface Mining Control<br />
and Reclamation Act, over-compaction of spoil during the reclamation process<br />
has severely limited tree growth on reclaimed land. Researchers at the<br />
University of Kentucky have conducted a ten-year investigation at a surface<br />
mine in eastern Kentucky that monitored the changes in spoil physical characteristics<br />
for various reclamation and compaction alleviation methods. More<br />
specifically, research plots were developed for reforestation that employed<br />
three different levels of compaction and two different methods of ripping for<br />
overly compacted spoil. Each year measurements were made in the field of<br />
dry bulk density, using a nuclear density gage, and maximum penetration<br />
depth, using a recording cone penetrometer. In addition to good correlation between<br />
tree growth and spoil characteristics, the data demonstrated a gradual<br />
convergence of the measured spoil characteristic data over the study period.<br />
10:45 AM<br />
Recreating a Headwater Stream System on a Head-of-Hollow Fill<br />
C. Agouridis 1 , R. Warner 1 , C. Barton 2 , D. Bidelspach 4 , G. Jennings 3 ,<br />
R. Osborne 5 and J. Marchant 6 ; 1 Biosystems & Agricultural Engineering,<br />
University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY; 2 Forestry, University of Kentucky,<br />
Lexington, KY; 3 Biological & Agricultural Engineering, North Carolina<br />
State University, Raleigh, NC; 4 Stantec Consulting Services, Raleigh, NC;<br />
5<br />
B&N Coal Company, Dexter City, OH and 6 Civil Engineer, Blacksburg, VA<br />
Head-of-hollow fills have gained national attention due to increasing environmental<br />
concerns, particularly with regards to headwater stream loss.<br />
Researchers at the University of Kentucky in conjunction with outside scientists<br />
and consultants in the fields of stream restoration, wetland restoration,<br />
and mined land reclamation have developed new design methodologies for<br />
creating a headwater stream system for a head-of-hollow fill in eastern<br />
Kentucky. The design was largely built on the Forestry Reclamation<br />
Approach (FRA), which encourages a non-compacted spoil medium to promote<br />
tree growth, in an effort to address concerns related to water quantity<br />
and quality as well as habitat development. The major components of the design<br />
included 1) modifications to the crown geometry, 2) compaction of the<br />
crown to control infiltration, 3) utilization of natural channel design techniques,<br />
4) use of the FRA to promote tree growth, 5) creation of ephemeral<br />
channels and vernal ponds, and 6) implementation of a novel bioreactor-wetland<br />
treatment system to improve water quality.<br />
Chair:<br />
Coal & Energy: Research & Development I<br />
9:00 AM • Tuesday, February 26<br />
J. Johnson, NIOSH Spokane Research Lab, Spokane, WA<br />
9:00 AM<br />
An Innovative Rotary Triboelectrostatic Separator for Fly Ash<br />
Purification<br />
M. Fan, K. Jiang and D. Tao; Department of Mining Engineering, University<br />
of Kentucky, Lexington, KY<br />
More than 80 million metric tons of fly ash is produced annually in the U.S.<br />
as coal combustion by-product. Fly ash can be converted to value-added<br />
products if unburned carbon is reduced to less than 2.5%. However, most of<br />
fly ash is currently landfilled as waste due to lack of efficient purification<br />
35<br />
technologies to separate unburned carbon from fly ash. A rotary triboelectrostatic<br />
separator has been developed and patented recently at the University of<br />
Kentucky with unique features. Several fly ash samples have been used to<br />
understand the effects of major process parameters on the separation<br />
performance. The results show that compared to existing triboelectrostatic<br />
separators, the rotary triboelectrostatic separator has significant advantages in<br />
particle charging efficiency, solids throughput, separation efficiency, applicable<br />
particle size range. Other applications of the technology include fine coal,<br />
phosphate, GCC, etc. and typical performance data will be presented.<br />
9:25 AM<br />
Linear Behavior of Rock Joints in Uniaxial Joint Compression Tests<br />
D. Nutakor 1 and J. Daemen 2 ; 1 Mining Engineering, University of Missouri-<br />
Rolla, Rolla, MO and 2 Mining Engineering, University of Nevada, Reno, NV<br />
Rock joint stiffness is not only a poorly known parameter, but it also has no<br />
established laboratory measurement procedure. This paper presents methods<br />
used to determine the normal and shear stiffnesses of healed joints filled with<br />
vapor-altered minerals obtained from the Yucca Mountain site in Nevada.<br />
Results show that these joints behave linearly up to 85% of their loading history<br />
and they are stiff with strengths very close to the strength of the intact<br />
rock. Factors that might have contributed to the linear behavior of these joints<br />
are discussed, and areas requiring further investigation are provided.<br />
9:45 AM<br />
Cyclonic Separation Mechanism of Cyclonic Static Micro-Bubble<br />
Column Flotation and Its Application<br />
X. Zhou 1 , J. Liu 2 , C. Zhao 3 , Y. Wang 2 and X. Li 2 ; 1 School of Chemical and<br />
Environmental Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology<br />
(Beijing), Beijing, China; 2 School of Chemical Engineering and Technology,<br />
China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou, China and<br />
3<br />
Department of Mining Engineering, University of Kentucky,<br />
Lexington, KY<br />
The presence of increasing percentage of fine particles in raw coal has<br />
become a noticeable phenomenon in coal industry. This can be attributed to<br />
the fact of the wide application of mechanized mining methods. Froth flotation<br />
is the most cost effective separation process for fine particles and is<br />
widely used in mineral processing and coal cleaning. In this paper, a novel<br />
flotation device, cyclonic static micro-bubble column flotation (FCSMC),<br />
was introduced. FCSMC has been widely applied for fine coal flotation in<br />
China, and its application has been further expanded to the mineral processing<br />
industry. The FCSMC system features a unique cyclonic structure which<br />
enhances the separation performance of the column. The separation principle<br />
of this particular flotation equipment was discussed in this paper and the cyclonic<br />
separation mechanism process of the FCSMC was investigated<br />
through particle movement and force analysis. Kinetics equations were established<br />
to depict particle movement and settling time in the cyclonic zone of<br />
FCSMC. Finally, some typical examples of using FCSMC for the treatment<br />
of different materials including coal, copper, fluorite, etc., were presented.<br />
10:05 AM<br />
Analysis of Seismic Signatures from Methane Based Explosions at the<br />
Lake Lynn Laboratory<br />
M. Murphy 1 , A. Iannacchione 1 , E. Westman 2 and M. Chapman 3 ; 1 NIOSH,<br />
Pittsburgh, PA; 2 Mining and Minerals Engineering, Virginia Polytechnic and<br />
State University, Blacksburg, VA and 3 Geosciences, Virginia Polytechnic<br />
and State University, Blacksburg, VA<br />
A seismic monitoring system located at NIOSH’s Lake Lynn Laboratory has<br />
collected experimental methane based explosions, rock drop tests and blasts<br />
from adjacent mines. The seismic signatures from three different methanebased<br />
explosions of different sizes and characteristics were analyzed using<br />
standard waveform analysis procedures and compared in terms of magnitude<br />
and energy. By studying the waveform characteristics of different types of<br />
mining-related seismicity these events can be properly distinguished in<br />
the future.<br />
10:25 AM<br />
Reducing Coal Mine Rock Fall Injuries in the Illinois Basin G. Molinda,<br />
C. Mark, D. Pappas, T. Klemetti<br />
G. Molinda, C. Mark, D. Pappas and T. Klemetti; Rock Safety Engineering<br />
Branch, NIOSH, Pittsburgh, PA<br />
Some of the most difficult coal mine roof in the U.S. can be found in the<br />
Illinois Basin. Factors contributing to the high injury rate include: extremely<br />
weak, moisture-sensitive roof rock, high horizontal stress, and limited long-
wall mining. Moisture-sensitive roof rock can contribute to roof skin deterioration.<br />
NIOSH has shown through lab and field studies that highly moisturesensitive<br />
roof rock can be directly correlated to poor roof conditions. The<br />
testing of both exploratory core and roof samples for moisture-sensitivity can<br />
allow the operator to anticipate long term deterioration. Controlling the skin<br />
is the key to reducing rock fall injuries, and roof screening is the gold standard.<br />
Illinois basin coal operators have been successful in reducing the number<br />
of “struck by rock” injuries in recent years. One large coal operator has<br />
significantly reduced the number of rock fall injuries since the introduction of<br />
on-cycle roof screen. NIOSH has documented safe, efficient practices for<br />
screen installation. Other solutions to skin failure include: five bolt patterns to<br />
reduce spans between bolts, straps and large pans protecting operators, and<br />
air conditioning.<br />
10:45 AM<br />
Summary of NIOSH Research Completed on Dust Control Methods for<br />
the Surface Mine Blasthole Drill<br />
W. Reed, J. Listak, S. Page and J. Organiscak; Respiratory Hazards Control<br />
Branch, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health,<br />
Pittsburgh, PA<br />
NIOSH has been conducting respirable dust control research for surface mine<br />
blasthole drilling operations. Research areas included; testing variables<br />
(shroud leakage area, drill deck cross-sectional area, shroud height, etc.) that<br />
have the most impact on respirable dust control, development of a dust collector<br />
inlet hood, development of a dust collector dump point shroud, and<br />
testing of a small diameter water separating sub. This summary shows the results<br />
of the aforementioned research activities recently completed.<br />
Additionally, past U.S. Bureau of Mines dust control research for drilling<br />
operations for both underground and surface mines is reviewed.<br />
Environmental: Environmental and Social Hot Topics<br />
9:00 AM • Tuesday, February 26<br />
Chair:<br />
D. Kravets, Freeport-McMoRan, Phoenix, AZ<br />
9:05 AM<br />
Analyzing and Allocating Environmental Risks in Mergers and<br />
Acquisitions<br />
S. Hammer; Debevoise & Plimpton LLP, New York, NY<br />
The proliferation of merger and acquisition activity in the mining industry is<br />
posing unique challenges for parties analyzing and allocating environmental<br />
risks. Parties to these transactions find themselves with less time to conduct<br />
their due diligence and are often forced to rely on publicly available information<br />
or the limited documentation made available in due diligence. Moreover,<br />
the target company’s key environmental personnel are often not made available<br />
to answer due diligence inquiries. In addition, the allocation of environmental<br />
liabilities continues to be a key negotiation issue as sellers seek deals<br />
with no (or limited) environmental indemnities. This presentation will address<br />
important environmental due diligence and contractual issues from the<br />
perspective of sellers, buyers (both financial and strategic) and lenders.<br />
9:25 AM<br />
Foreign Corrupt Practices Act Implications in Development of<br />
Environmental Laws and Regulations in Foreign Markets<br />
B. Glass and D. Kimball, III; Gallagher & Kennedy, Phoenix, AZ<br />
The United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (“FCPA”) prohibits bribery<br />
and other corrupt business practices by U.S. companies conducting business<br />
in foreign markets. Many foreign markets that are attractive for investment by<br />
U.S. companies lack adequate environmental laws and regulations. In order<br />
to ensure that their investments are protected from allegations of inappropriate<br />
actions under FCPA, U.S. companies investing in foreign markets prefer<br />
formal legal frameworks that allow them to determine their compliance<br />
obligations. As a result, U.S. companies must look for ways under FCPA to<br />
encourage foreign countries to develop clear environmental legal structures<br />
without violating FCPA.<br />
36<br />
9:45 AM<br />
Community-Driven Environmental Assessment at the Tintaya Copper<br />
Mine, Peru, with Implications for Mining Projects around the World<br />
D. Atkins 1 , E. Morales 2 and R. Rudy 3 ; 1 Watershed Environmental, Boulder,<br />
CO; 2 Walsh Peru, Boulder, CO and 3 Ecology and Environment, Boulder, CO<br />
In many developing countries, the greatest challenge to mining can be on the<br />
social side addressing skeptical communities where mining has no history or<br />
a negative legacy. The relationship between the Tintaya mine in Peru and the<br />
surrounding community has been fraught with conflict and mistrust since the<br />
beginning. The origin of this mistrust can be traced to the expropriation of<br />
land by the state when the mine began operation, but since the late 1990s,<br />
much of this mistrust has focused on perceived environment impacts. In<br />
2006, a committee composed of government, community, non-governmental<br />
organizations and company officials developed the terms of reference for an<br />
environmental and social assessment. The work conducted was not a traditional<br />
compliance audit, but rather was designed to evaluate specific concerns<br />
of the community through a process of external verification and engagement.<br />
The project focused on the role of external verification and participatory<br />
monitoring in helping to resolve conflict at the Tintaya mine, and in this presentation<br />
we will use the Tintaya example to draw general conclusions that are<br />
applicable to mine sites in developing countries.<br />
10:05 AM<br />
Restarting the Inactive Unit: The Perils and Pitfalls of Relying on<br />
Your Permit<br />
E. Hiser; Jorden Bischoff & Hiser, PLC, Scottsdale, AZ<br />
Many mines and mills carry multiple units on their air quality permits.<br />
During cyclical period of depressed mineral prices, one or more of these units<br />
may be placed in inactive reserve pending a recovery in the market.<br />
Historically, many facilities have tended to regard reactivation of these units<br />
as either a non-permit or minor permitting matter. Recent developments in<br />
federal New Source Review (NSR) regulations, the Communities for a Better<br />
Environment v. Cenco Refining Co. case and administrative rulings demonstrate<br />
that such reactivations are anything but minor. This article will detail<br />
when a shut down, inactivation and subsequent reactivation may trigger NSR<br />
review, the consequences of NSR, particularly if missed, and finally will<br />
outline steps that mine and mill managers can take to prevent future<br />
NSR complications.<br />
10:25 AM<br />
Analyzing and Allocating Environmental Risks in Acquisitions<br />
S. Hammer; Debevoise & Plimpton LLP, New York, NY<br />
There has been a proliferation of merger and acquisition activity in the mining<br />
and metal industries. Parties to these transactions are often confronted<br />
with challenges that hinder their ability to effectively conduct environmental<br />
due diligence. Parties are often provided with insufficient time, resources or<br />
information to effectively assess environmental risks. These limitations have<br />
forced some parties to rely significantly on publicly available information or<br />
limited documentation made available in due diligence. Moreover, the allocation<br />
of environmental liabilities continues to be a key negotiation issue as<br />
sellers seek deals with no (or limited) environmental indemnities. This presentation<br />
will address important environmental due diligence and contractual<br />
issues from the perspectives of U.S. and non-U.S. sellers, buyers (both financial<br />
and strategic) and lenders.<br />
10:45 AM<br />
Strategies for Lobbying the Federal Executive<br />
R. Fabricant; Akerman Senterfitt LLP, Los Angeles, CA<br />
A discussion of lobbying at our Nation’s capital typically conjures up images<br />
of deal making in the dark corridors or “smoky” back rooms of Congress. In<br />
reality, however, the vast majority of standards are set by federal administrative<br />
agencies. For example, the Clean Air Act is contained in several hundred<br />
pages; its implementing regulations issued by EPA require many thousands<br />
of pages and, finally, it would be impossible to determine with any certainty<br />
the tens of thousands of pages of air-related guidance documents issued to<br />
regulate industry. If an industry’s issues can’t wait until the next comprehensive<br />
statutory revision by Congress, the “real” action in Washington, DC is in<br />
the sparse, grey-walled meeting rooms and the presentation of endless<br />
“power point” slides before federal regulators each year. Based on Mr.<br />
Fabricant’s 15 years of high-level government service, including General<br />
Counsel to the EPA, he will discuss strategies for successful advocacy before<br />
the federal executive. With each of these strategies, Mr. Fabricant will present<br />
real life illustrations and examples of the “dos and don’ts” of lobbying the<br />
federal executive.
Environmental: Mine Water Treatment Technologies:<br />
Successful Case Studies<br />
Chair:<br />
9:00 AM • Tuesday, February 26<br />
M. Winter, CH2M Hill, Englewood, CO<br />
9:05 AM<br />
Taming the World’s Worst Water<br />
J. Spitzley; Environmental Services, CH2M HILL, Redding, CA<br />
With over 1 million pounds of copper, cadmium, and zinc discharged in wet<br />
years, Iron Mountain was the largest discharger of metals to surface waters in<br />
the United States. At the site, the Richmond Mine is infamous for producing<br />
the most acidic waters known with pH values as low as -3.6 and dissolved<br />
metals as high as 1.6 pounds per gallon. Since 1994, treatment of over 2.3<br />
billion gallons of acid drainage has reduced the site discharge by more than<br />
95 percent, stopping over 2.2 million pounds of copper and 7.3 million<br />
pounds of zinc from entering the Sacramento River.<br />
9:25 AM<br />
Reduction of Gypsum Saturation within an HDS Plant Treating Acid<br />
Mine Drainage from the Resolution Copper Mine, Superior, Arizona<br />
J. Stefanoff 1 , G. Hickman 2 , J. Mavis 3 and S. Herman 4 ; 1 CH2M HILL,<br />
Spokane, WA; 2 CH2M HILL, Corvallis, OR; 3 CH2M HILL, Seattle, WA and<br />
4<br />
EALV, Hellertown, PA<br />
Resolution Copper Mining Company (Rio Tinto) is planning to dewater the<br />
old Magma mine in Superior, Arizona, to resume copper production. CH2M<br />
HILL is providing design and construction services for a treatment system for<br />
the extracted mine water consisting of high density sludge (HDS) lime precipitation<br />
for metals removal, and possibly reverse osmosis (RO) for TDS reduction.<br />
The treatment system incorporates an innovative modification for relieving<br />
gypsum saturation in the HDS process. This process modification<br />
uses lime-soda ash softening chemistry to reduce dissolved calcium concentrations,<br />
thereby preventing gypsum scaling of downstream equipment and<br />
streambed, and enhancing RO recovery (if needed).<br />
9:45 AM<br />
Passive Management of Mining Influenced Water (MIW) at the Closed<br />
Haile Gold Mine, SC<br />
J. Gusek 1 , T. Turner 2 and R. Schneider 2 ; 1 Water Treatment Group, Golder<br />
Associates Inc., Lakewood, CO and 2 Haile Mining Company Inc.,<br />
Kershaw, SC<br />
To address the long-term post closure management of MIW from a backfilled<br />
pit and two capped heap leach pads, an engineered passive system was constructed.<br />
The system design includes a sulfate reducing bioreactor (SRBR)<br />
which uses natural microbial processes to remove heavy metals and adjust<br />
pH. MIW is first routed through two SRBRs, plumbed in parallel; the flow<br />
from the two SRBRs is subsequently polished in an aerobic free water surface<br />
wetland. The system was designed based on experience gained from operating<br />
a pilot-scale system and bench tests. Since its completion in 2005, the<br />
system is working as designed and its effluent is meeting permit limits.<br />
10:05 AM<br />
Reduction of Gypsum Saturation within an HDS Plant Treating Acid<br />
Mine Drainage from the Resolution Copper Mine, Superior, Arizona<br />
J. Stefanoff 1 , G. Hickman 2 , J. Mavis 3 and S. Herman 4 ; 1 CH2M HILL,<br />
Spokane, WA; 2 CH2M HILL, Corvallis, OR; 3 CH2M HILL, Bellevue, WA<br />
and 4 EALV, Hellertown, PA<br />
Resolution Copper Mining Company (Rio Tinto) is planning to dewater the<br />
old Magma mine in Superior, Arizona, to resume copper production. CH2M<br />
HILL is providing design and construction services for a treatment system for<br />
the extracted mine water consisting of high density sludge (HDS) lime precipitation<br />
for metals removal, and possibly reverse osmosis (RO) for TDS reduction.<br />
The treatment system incorporates an innovative modification for relieving<br />
gypsum saturation in the HDS process. This process modification<br />
uses lime-soda ash softening chemistry to reduce dissolved calcium concentrations,<br />
thereby preventing gypsum scaling of downstream equipment and<br />
streambed, and enhancing RO recovery (if needed).<br />
10:25 AM<br />
Application of Sulphate-Reducing Bacteria (SRB) in acid mine drainage<br />
bioremediation<br />
M. Golestanifar 1 , A. Bazzazi 2 and S. Behzadnia 3 ; 1 Department of Mining<br />
Engineering, Islamic Azad university- Science and Research branch, Tehran,<br />
Iran; 2 Department of Mining and Metallurgy, Amirkabir University, Tehran,<br />
Iran and 3 Department of Marine Biology, Islamic Azad university - North<br />
Tehran branch, Tehran, Iran<br />
Oxidizing metallic Sulphide minerals, particularly pyrite and pyrotite, and<br />
subsequently forming acid mine drainage (AMD), contain high concentration<br />
metallic ions, sulphates and salts, is one of the most perilous long-term environmental<br />
problems in mining industry. In conventional chemical treatment<br />
system, lime has been used for AMD neutralization. Lime is expensive material<br />
and it is consequently produced high contents of chalky sludge which<br />
contains heavy metals. Sulphate-Reducing Bacteria (SRB) capable to produce<br />
hydrogen sulfide and bicarbonate when supplied with sources of carbon<br />
and sulfate. Hydrogen sulfide reacts with metal ions in AMD and precipitating<br />
them as metal sulfides. The bicarbonate can be help to neutralize the<br />
drainage quickly. In this paper a comprehensive review on SRB characters,<br />
effective factors, and principles in bioreactors planning, with its application<br />
in Central Alborz coal mine were discussed. Application of this newly developed<br />
system has proved its success in coal mining industry.<br />
GAUDIN LECTURE<br />
8:30 AM<br />
Tuesday, February 26<br />
Lecturer: Thomas W. Healy<br />
Geology: Mineral Deposits/New<br />
Developments/Political Updates<br />
9:00 AM • Tuesday, February 26<br />
Chair:<br />
D.Taylor, The Doe Run Mining Company, Viburnum, MO<br />
37<br />
9:05 AM<br />
Application of the GORE Module Soil Gas Geochemistry Technology<br />
to Minerals Exploration<br />
M. Arnold, D. Baker and A. Leibold; Royalty Exploration LLC,<br />
Lakewood, CO<br />
Passive sampling of soil gases using the GoreTM Module technology in environmental<br />
and oil & gas sectors has proven highly effective in mapping<br />
plumes of certain contaminants, and hydrocarbon distributions, respectively.<br />
Potential application to minerals exploration programs is being evaluated<br />
through the generation of a number of case studies over known metal deposits<br />
representing a wide variety of deposit types. To date, the approach has been<br />
empirical, attempting to identify those deposit types and general climatic<br />
conditions under which the approach appears to have potential application,<br />
especially in terrains with post-mineral cover.
9:25 AM<br />
The Gaoua Copper-Gold Porphyry Mineralization, Burkina Faso, West<br />
Africa<br />
G. Franceschi, A. Nare and M. Higgins; Goldcrestresources Ltd, Toronto,<br />
ON, Canada<br />
The Gaoua copper-gold mineralization is located in the Boromo greenstone<br />
belt, which is part of the Paleoproterozoic Birimian sequence of the West<br />
African craton. The mineralization is of porphyry type and genetically related<br />
to diorite-quartz diorite porphyry complexes. Essentially all the high-grade<br />
copper-gold mineralization is contained in steeply inclined hydrothermal breccia<br />
bodies and predominantly consists of hypogene chalcopyrite with which<br />
gold values appear to be closely correlated. The breccias may be classified as<br />
magmatic-hydrothermal in origin, implying that the overpressured fluids responsible<br />
for rock fragmentation were of direct magmatic parentage, presumably<br />
released from deeper levels of the corresponding porphyry complexes.<br />
9:45 AM<br />
Tenke-Fungurume - a new world-class sediment-hosted copper cobalt<br />
district in the DR Congo<br />
W. Schuh; Tenke Fungurume Mining, Freeport McMoRan, Phoenix, AZ<br />
After ninety years of quiescence since their modern-day discovery, the sediment-hosted<br />
copper-cobalt deposits of the Tenke Fungurume District are finally<br />
being brought into production. A rapid, extensive, and fast progressing<br />
drill program continues to provide new insights into their geology. This review<br />
focuses on mineralogy, geochemistry, and geology of Kwatebala, the<br />
most important deposit for the current project. Correlation between lithofacies,<br />
alteration mineralogy, and geochemistry allows for new understanding<br />
of the genesis of copper-cobalt ores in Katanga. Comparisons are made with<br />
other sediment-hosted copper deposits such as the Kupferschiefer, Lisbon<br />
Valley, and Dzezkazgan.<br />
10:05 AM<br />
Unconformity Uranium Deposits of the Athabasca Basin, Canada –<br />
Summary and Trends<br />
C. Macdonald and D. Thomas; Cameco Corporation, Saskatoon, SK, Canada<br />
The Proterozoic Athabasca basin in northern Saskatchewan, Canada, hosts<br />
the highest grade exploitable uranium deposits in the world. These deposits,<br />
termed unconformity-type uranium, are high-grade uranium concentrations<br />
located at or near the unconformity between quartz-rich sandstone of the<br />
Athabasca Group and underlying metamorphic basement rocks. Mining<br />
grades have ranged between 0.5% and 24% U3O8. Uranium production from<br />
the basin in 2006 amounted to 11, 632 tonnes U3O8 which represented about<br />
30% total world production. As we have begun a new cycle of uranium<br />
exploration worldwide, the Athabasca basin has benefited from a renewed<br />
interest in exploration, with a gradual trend to deeper targets.<br />
International I<br />
9:00 AM • Tuesday, February 26<br />
Chairs: M.Gavrilovic, E3 Consulting LLC, Denver, CO<br />
D.Malhotra, Resource Development Inc,<br />
Wheat Ridge, CO<br />
9:05 AM<br />
Traveling in Central Europe<br />
F. Habashi; Department of Mining / Metallurgy, Laval University, Quebec<br />
City, QC, Canada<br />
Central Europe was dominated for centuries by the Austrian Empire until it<br />
collapsed at the end of World War I. Metallurgists, mining engineers and geoscientists<br />
will find a wealth of historical landmarks of great interest, for example<br />
the Salt Mine Museum in Wielichka near Warsaw; the Mercury Mine<br />
in Idria, Slovenia; and one of the first SChools of Mines in Freiberg, Saxony.<br />
Also of interest is the Legnica flash smelting and blast furnaces producing<br />
matte and metallic copper in Silesia. Other historical sites wll be outlined.<br />
9:25 AM<br />
Is Mining Bad For Developing Countries?<br />
T. Bruington; IFC, Washington, D.C., DC<br />
Numerous well publicized reports have discussed the “Resource Curse”,<br />
purportedly linking mineral development as a causal factor of poverty. An<br />
objective study of individual countries with mining industries demonstrates a<br />
38<br />
contrary finding: mining projects do bring increases in economic development.<br />
Countries with emergent mining industries tend to demonstrate increased<br />
economic growth. Countries with reducing mining industries often<br />
show deteriorating economic performance, sometimes becoming “Failed<br />
States”. Nine specific country case studies are examined.<br />
9:45 AM<br />
El Chanate Gold Mine, Sonora, Mexico. The Path Through<br />
Exploration, Development, Permitting, Financing, Construction<br />
and Production<br />
R. Newell; Capital Gold Corporation, New York, NY<br />
Capital Gold Corporation is a publicly traded mining company in both the<br />
U.S. and Canada. The El Chanate open-pit gold project, located about 100 km<br />
southwest of Nogales, Arizona was acquired from Anglogold in 2001 and<br />
poured its first gold on July 31st, 2007. Initial production is planned to be<br />
7,500 tpd to produce between 45,000 and 48,000 oz/yr. The deposit is hosted<br />
in clastic sedimentary rocks and lies along the regional Sonora Mega-Shear<br />
Structure. Feasibility capital costs are $17.9 million and cash costs are $259<br />
per oz. The dore is being refined in Mexico by Penoles. In September 2007<br />
the reserves and resources were updated using a $550 gold price. Proven and<br />
probable reserves are 39.5 million metric tons at a grade of 0.66 g/t or<br />
832,000 contained ounces of gold. The contained gold has increased 70%<br />
from the previous number calculated in 2006. Waste to ore ratio is 0.6:1 and<br />
mine life is expected to increase from seven years to about eleven years.<br />
10:05 AM<br />
International Cooperation in Training Community People for Work in<br />
Mining Projects<br />
M. Cedron; Coordinator - Mining Areas, Catholic University of Peru,<br />
Lima, Peru<br />
One way of preventing conflicts between mining companies and the local<br />
communities in new mining projects is by involving the local people in the<br />
project at a very early stage. This paper describes the experiences gained by<br />
“Centro Tecnologic Minero” (Cetemin) in South America, and their new project<br />
at la Quinua, near the mining town of Cerro de Pasco in the central<br />
Andean mountains of Peru, developed with the aid of the Canadian international<br />
Development Association (CIDA) through the Cegep de Abitibi<br />
Temiscangue of Quebec.<br />
10:25 AM<br />
Peru’s Newest Gold Mine - Mina Andres De Arasi<br />
G. Del castillo; Del Castillo, Lima, Peru<br />
The Andres De Arasi Mine is located at 4,800 meters altitude in the Peruvian<br />
Andes at Ocuviri, Lampa, in the Puno Department. Great emphasis is placed<br />
on protection of the environment in all production units such as drilling and<br />
blasting, ore and waste transportation and dumping, and leach and recovery<br />
plant by this Peruvian company. Similarly, safety and social responsibility<br />
programs are in force covering training, health and education programs and<br />
sustainable development. An aid program has commenced to establish a 200<br />
pupil school to teach the English language to the local people. Arasi is part of<br />
Aruntani, the thrid largest gold produder in Peru. <strong>Annual</strong> gold production is<br />
anticipated to be 120,000 oz.<br />
10:45 AM<br />
San Cristobal: Taking Corporate Social Responsiblility to the<br />
Next Level<br />
J. Danni; Apex Silver Mines Corporation, Denver, CO<br />
The San Cristobal Project is one of the largest silver, zinc and lead mines in<br />
the world. Production from the 40,000 ton per day operation commenced in<br />
August 2007. The project is located in southwestern Bolivian where the<br />
mostly indigenous population previously consisted of subsistence farmers<br />
living in poverty. A critical element in the successful development of the project<br />
was the implementation of an effective corporate social responsibility<br />
program that respected local values and traditions while still meeting the<br />
business needs of the company. The program consisted initially of the relocation<br />
of a community and 400 year old church and has evolved into a long term<br />
community partnership and a core value of the company.
Mining & Exploration: Mining in Nevada<br />
9:00 AM • Tuesday, February 26<br />
9:05 AM<br />
Simulation of spontaneous heating in longwall gob areas with a<br />
bleederless ventilation system<br />
A. Smith and L. Yuan; NIOSH Pittsburgh Research Laboratory,<br />
Pittsburgh, PA<br />
Although it is only utilized in a few U.S. longwall mines, a bleederless ventilation<br />
system can be an effective spontaneous combustion control method in<br />
mines with a demonstrated history of spontaneous combustion. In order to<br />
provide insights for the optimization of bleederless ventilation systems for U.<br />
S. underground coal mines, a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) study was<br />
conducted to model the spontaneous heating in longwall gob areas with a<br />
bleederless ventilation system. One longwall panel with typical ventilation<br />
conditions was simulated. The permeability and porosity profiles for the<br />
longwall gob were estimated using a geotechnical model and were used as inputs<br />
for the CFD modeling. The effects of methane emissions from the longwall<br />
face and overlying coal seam, and coal properties on the spontaneous<br />
heating were studied. The possible ventilation control methods to ensure<br />
effectiveness of the bleederless ventilation system were also examined.<br />
Chair: D. Dwyer, Barrick Goldstrike Mines Inc., Elko, NV<br />
9:05 AM<br />
Designing to Mine at Turquoise Ridge<br />
C. Newton; Mine Engineering, Barrick Turquoise Ridge Joint Venture,<br />
Golconda, NV<br />
“Designing to Mine at Turquoise Ridge” will outline Barrick Turquoise<br />
Ridge Joint Venture’s complex ore body, ground conditions, and mining techniques.<br />
This presentation will focus on many of the design changes and behaviors<br />
used in an attempt to overcome everyday challenges ranging from<br />
ground conditions to dewatering to lack of skilled manpower.<br />
9:25 AM<br />
Marigold Mine – The Successful Transformation into a Major Heap<br />
Leach Operation<br />
P. Maloney; Marigold Mining Company, Valmy, NV<br />
Marigold Mine in Valmy, NV is a run of mine heap leach operation that commenced<br />
production in 1988. Beginning life as a modest milling operation with<br />
a small heap leach, Marigold operated quietly for a number of years operated<br />
by Rayrock Resources and its joint venture partner, Barrick (Homestake). In<br />
1999 Glamis Gold Ltd. acquired Rayrock’s 2/3 interest in Marigold and initiated<br />
a comprehensive optimization study of the mine. The mill was closed the<br />
same year. With the discovery of additional oxide ore zones in the Millennium<br />
Deposits, the joint venture partners made the decision to proceed with the<br />
Marigold expansion project. Over the next few years, the mine began to acquire<br />
additional equipment and ramp up its manpower levels. In 2004 the<br />
Millennium SEIS was approved. In 2006 the mine converted to a 24/7 operation.<br />
Later that same year, Glamis merged with Goldcorp. In January, 2007<br />
Marigold Mine was the first operating mine in the world to become certified as<br />
compliant with the International Cyanide Management Code by the<br />
International Cyanide Management Institute (ICMI).<br />
9:45 AM<br />
Barrick Storm Project – Keeping It Simple<br />
B. Young; Barrick, Elko, NV<br />
The Storm Project is a joint venture between Barrick (60%) the operator, and<br />
Meridian Gold Corporation (40%). The Project is a gold mining property located<br />
in north-central Nevada, nine miles north of Barrick’s Goldstrike<br />
Property. Mine life is scheduled to be four years at a production rate of 550<br />
tons per day, utilizing a drift and fill technique. Access to the mine is through<br />
either of the Dee or Storm Portals, both located in the east high wall of old<br />
Dee Gold Open Pit. This presentation will describe the Project from start-up<br />
through production with Barrick providing the project management and the<br />
mining being carried out by an underground mining contractor. Project<br />
management, design, engineering, surveying, geology, and ore control are<br />
handled by a staff of five Barrick personnel.<br />
Mining & Exploration: New & Emerging Technologies<br />
9:00 AM • Tuesday, February 26<br />
Chair: J. Brune, CDC/NIOSH Pittsburgh Research, Pittsburgh, PA<br />
39<br />
9:25 AM<br />
In-Mine Evaluation of Smart Mine Fire Sensor<br />
R. Franks, G. Friel and J. Edwards; Disaster Prevention and Response<br />
Branch, CDC / NIOSH - Pittsburgh Research Laboratory, Pittsburgh, PA<br />
An evaluation of a nuisance-emissions-discriminating smart mine fire sensor<br />
was made in an operating coal mine. These field tests were to determine the<br />
devices ability to discern nuisance emissions such as diesel exhaust, emissions<br />
from cutting and welding operations or hydrogen gas emissions that<br />
would generate false alarms in a Carbon Monoxide (CO) monitor. The sensor’s<br />
ability to operate successfully in the environment of an operating coal<br />
mine was also tested. Prolonged test runs were conducted in a haulage way, a<br />
belt entry, and a track entry. The system functioned in accordance with its developmental<br />
tests in the belt entry where the sensor system discriminated new<br />
event types not anticipated during development. It was ineffective in the<br />
haulage way and track entry due to a combination of significant air temperature<br />
variations in moderately high air flow, dust, and mechanically induced<br />
vibrations. Also, deteriorating rib conditions contributed to operational problems<br />
in the haulage way evaluation. The smart mine fire sensor providing nuisance<br />
emissions discrimination is a viable new approach for enhancing miner<br />
safety. Recommendations are presented for improving the system.<br />
9:45 AM<br />
Evaluation of a Virtual Reality Simulator Developed for Training New<br />
Miners to Install Rockbolts Using a Jackleg Drill<br />
D. Nutakor 1 , D. Apel 2 , L. Grayson 3 , M. Hilgers 4 , R. Hall 5 and M. Buechler 6 ;<br />
1<br />
Department of Mining Engineering, University of Missouri-Rolla, Rolla,<br />
MO; 2 Department of Mining Engineering, University of Missouri-Rolla,<br />
Rolla, MO; 3 Department of Mining Engineering, University of Missouri-<br />
Rolla, Rolla, MO; 4 Department of Information Science and Technology,<br />
University of Missouri-Rolla, Rolla, MO; 5 Department of Information<br />
Science and Technology, University of Missouri-Rolla, Rolla, MO and<br />
6<br />
Department of Information Science and Technology, University of<br />
Missouri-Rolla, Rolla, MO<br />
The ability of computers to create synthetic representations of the real world<br />
in virtual reality offers a number of opportunities to enhance training methods<br />
used in the mining industry. Unfortunately, the training effectiveness of virtual<br />
reality systems currently used in the mining industry has received only<br />
limited testing. Miner Simulation (MinerSIM), an augmented reality system<br />
with integrated hypermedia suitable for training underground miners in the<br />
basics of using a jackleg drill to install rock bolts in a virtual mine environment<br />
is in its evaluation process at the University of Missouri-Rolla<br />
Experimental Mine. This paper discusses evaluation methodologies of the<br />
MinerSIM system, which consists of experimental/control groups; with control<br />
students learning via traditional lecture/text formats.<br />
10:05 AM<br />
Field Testing of the High Resolution Target Movement Monitor for<br />
Convergence Monitoring in an Underground Mine<br />
T. Jones 1 , D. Apel 1 , S. Watkins 2 and R. Moss 2 ; 1 Mining Engineering,<br />
University of Missouri-Rolla, Rolla, MO and 2 Electrical and Computer<br />
Engineering, University of Missouri-Rolla, Rolla, MO<br />
Fall of ground continues to be a leading source of worker injury and fatality<br />
indicating a persistent need for development of convergence monitoring technology.<br />
The HRTMM is an experimental convergence monitor utilizing a digital<br />
camera and custom software to track the position of one or more lasers<br />
across the target. Apparent laser movement is proportional to the target convergence.<br />
The HRTMM was installed in an underground mine near retreat<br />
operations. Sag in the back induced by pillar removal was monitored, with a<br />
tape extensometer serving as control. Results and potential of the new monitoring<br />
technology will be discussed.<br />
10:25 AM<br />
Slope Monitoring and Identification of Potential Rockfall Using Three-<br />
Dimensional Digital Imaging<br />
J. Donovan and W. Raza Ali; Department of Mining Engineering, University<br />
of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT<br />
Between 1995 and 2003 approximately 10% of all surface mine fatalities<br />
were the result of either slope failure or other failures of ground. The identification<br />
and evaluation of comparatively high risk slopes and exposed rock sur-
faces remains a prohibitive task and one that is complicated by the broad<br />
range of geologic conditions that influence rockfall hazards. Using data collected<br />
from remote monitoring devices a “change detection” algorithm has<br />
been developed and implemented for the identification of unstable or potentially<br />
unstable slopes or ground. The algorithm is capable of detecting and<br />
measuring displacement/movement of rock surfaces using geometric 3D data<br />
from time-lapsed, three-dimensional digital images (captured using either<br />
laser scanning or photogrammetry). The measurement accuracy is limited to<br />
approximately 10 mm due to current technological constraints, but no prior<br />
knowledge or indication of slope movement or failure is required. Automated<br />
change detection and measurement of surface movements will allow mines to<br />
identify, prioritize, and mitigate potential rockfall hazards, resulting in improved<br />
safety and more efficient production.<br />
10:45 AM<br />
Field Evaluation of the Coal Dust Explosibility Meter<br />
M. Harris 1 , M. Sapko 2 , K. Cashdollar 1 and H. Verakis 3 ; 1 Pittsburgh Research<br />
Laboratory, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health,<br />
Pittsburgh, PA; 2 Sapko Consulting, Finleyville, PA and 3 Mine Safety and<br />
Health Administration, Triadelphia, WV<br />
In underground mines, coal dust explosions are prevented by the addition of<br />
rock dust sufficient to render the coal dust inert. The National Institute for<br />
Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has developed a hand-held instrument<br />
that uses optical reflectance to determine the explosibility of a rock dust<br />
and coal dust mixture. This instrument is called the Coal Dust Explosibility<br />
Meter (CDEM). During 2006 and 2007, NIOSH personnel accompanied<br />
Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) inspectors on their routine<br />
band surveys in underground coal mines in MSHA District 2 (PA) and<br />
District 11 (AL). While underground, NIOSH personnel and MSHA inspectors<br />
used the CDEM to assess the explosibility of the dust samples. The values<br />
of percent incombustible content (%IC) determined by the CDEM agreed<br />
well with those obtained by low temperature ashing in both MSHA and<br />
NIOSH laboratories. Further, the meter identified some samples as potentially<br />
explosible which lab analysis did not. Rapid identification of explosible<br />
areas with the CDEM allows for immediate intervention rather than waiting<br />
weeks for lab analysis.<br />
Rare Earths – Mining, Geology, and Metals<br />
9:00 AM • Tuesday, February 26<br />
Chair: J. Hedrick, US Geological Survey, Reston, VA<br />
9:05 AM<br />
Magnetic Refrigeration/Heat Engines<br />
K. Gschneidner and V. Pecharsky; Ames Laboratory and Department of<br />
Materials Science and Engineering, Iowa State University, Ames, IA<br />
Magnetic refrigeration (MR) offers the promise of improved energy efficiencies<br />
to be competitive with conventional gas-compression refrigeration technologies.<br />
This includes household uses, automotive climate control, etc. Large<br />
scale cooling includes industrial gas liquefaction, frozen food processing and<br />
storage, and large building air conditioning. To date about 30 MRs have been<br />
built to test various concepts and ideas, including a proof-of-principle device,<br />
and several prototype near room temperature cooling machines. By reversing<br />
the process the magnetic refrigerator can be utilized as a heat engine or a heat<br />
source for a variety of applications. In addition MR is an environmentally<br />
green technology. This development bodes well for the rare earth industry. The<br />
use of the lanthanides as the magnetic refrigerant, and Nd2Fe14B permanent<br />
magnets as the magnetic field source for small scale cooling devices should result<br />
in large markets when this technology is commercialized.<br />
9:25 AM<br />
Significance of REE-, BA-, and F-RICH Primitive, Ultrapotassic Dikes<br />
in the Southern Mountain Pass District, Mojave Desert, California<br />
G. Haxel; U.S. Geological Survey, Flagstaff, AZ<br />
The Mountain Pass (MP) rare earth district, famous for its uniquely LREEand<br />
Ba-rich carbonatite, also is home to a remarkable suite of ultrapotassic<br />
silicate igneous rocks. Small, primitive, mantle-derived microshonkinite<br />
dikes, best preserved in the southern one-third of the MP district, represent a<br />
or the parental magma for this ultrapotassic suite. These microshonkinite<br />
dikes are remarkably rich (compared to other mafic alkaline rocks) in LREE,<br />
Ba, and F; but have only moderate concentrations of high-field-strength elements<br />
(Ti, Zr, Hf, Nb, Ta). The MP microshonkinites thus share several of the<br />
most distinctive characteristics of the MP carbonatite. Both microshonkinite<br />
40<br />
and carbonatite must have been derived from the same zone of highly anomalous<br />
upper mantle, evidently rich in phlogopite and one or more LREE-bearing<br />
phases. Fluorine apparently is a key factor in the petrogenesis of both<br />
magma types; and I speculate that the extraordinary igneous rocks of the MP<br />
district fundamentally represent a mantle fluorine anomaly.<br />
9:45 AM<br />
Criteria for the Evaluation of REE Deposits on a World Level<br />
A. Mariano 1 , J. Hedrick 2 and C. Cox 3 ; 1 Consultant, Carlisle, MA; 2 Minerals<br />
Information Team, U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, VA and 3 The Anchor<br />
House, Inc., Evanston, IL<br />
The current demand for rare-earth elements (REE) has prompted increased<br />
exploration activity. Initial interest in an area for exploration is most often directed<br />
to locations where anomalous REE values have been found.<br />
Evaluation of these anomalies is complex and must be made with a firm understanding<br />
of what constitutes a viable REE deposit that can compete in the<br />
world market place. In the past, tonnage and grade were the primary factors<br />
in REE deposit evaluation; however, the innovation made by the Chinese on<br />
the exploitation of ion-adsorbed REE in clays has greatly reduced the importance<br />
of grade in the evaluation process. Mineralogy, geochemistry, and REE<br />
distribution are crucial in the evaluation of deposits with sufficient tonnage,<br />
but amenability to processing can make or break an otherwise high-ranking<br />
REE mineral deposit. Increasing environmental concerns have affected the<br />
REE mining industry in some world locations and may greatly reduce the<br />
value of current economic sources. This report reviews the basic geology of<br />
the current world REE deposits and examines the potential new sources.<br />
10:05 AM<br />
Thorium and rare earths in the Lemhi Pass region<br />
R. Reed; Idaho Engineering & Geology, Inc., Boise, ID<br />
Thorium and rare-earth deposits in the Lemhi Pass area of Idaho and<br />
Montana are the largest known in the United States. U.S. Government agencies<br />
have performed a number of geologic investigations throughout the years<br />
and have greatly contributed to the current understanding of the deposits.<br />
Further mapping and evaluation of the Lemhi Pass area by the U.S.<br />
Geological Survey (USGS) and the Idaho Geological Survey (IGS) provided<br />
information on the regional geology and tectonics of the region and its relationship<br />
to the thorium and rare-earth deposits. The USGS estimated indicated<br />
and inferred reserves in the Lemhi Pass District of 277,000 metric tons<br />
(t) of thorium oxide and 279,000 t of rare-earth oxide (REO). The claim holdings<br />
of Thorium Energy, Inc. in the district are estimated to cover about 89%<br />
of the thorium reserves reported by the USGS. Additional rare-earth reserves<br />
of 322,000 t of (REO) were contained in the holdings of Thorium Energy.<br />
Recent interest in the generation of nuclear power using thorium fuel to provide<br />
electricity and recent large increases in the price of uranium has renewed<br />
interest in the thorium and rare-earth deposits in the Lemhi Pass region.<br />
10:25 AM<br />
Ion-Adsorption Type Lanthanide Deposits<br />
R. Grauch 1 and A. Mariano 2 ; 1 Mineral Resources Team, US Geological<br />
Survey, Denver, CO and 2 consultant, Carlisle, MA<br />
Ion-adsorption type lanthanide (IAT) deposits are hosted by laterites that<br />
occur throughout south China, especially in the Provinces of Jiangxi,<br />
Guangdong, Hunan, and Fujian where they have been commercially developed.<br />
Over 100 deposits are known. The deposits are low-grade, 0.03 to 0.35<br />
% total REE oxides; low tonnage, 3000 to 12,000 ton reserves; and are lowcost<br />
producers. Production costs are low because (1) the deposits are mined<br />
in shallow, open-pit operations, and (2) ore processing is relatively simple involving<br />
extraction with a weak acid followed by production of lanthanide<br />
oxide through the calcining of lanthanide oxalate precipitated from the acid<br />
extract. Low radiation levels of IAT deposits decrease some environmental<br />
concerns associated with mining. At this time, the South China IAT deposits<br />
constitute a major, if not the major, World source for Y and the heavy rare<br />
earth elements.<br />
10:45 AM<br />
Rare Earths Supply: the Alternatives to China<br />
D. Kingsnorth; Industrial Minerals Company of Australia, Perth, WA,<br />
Australia<br />
The global market for rare earths in 2007 is approximately 120,000t REO<br />
with an estimated value of $1.5 Billion. Currently China is the major global<br />
supplier with a market share of 95%. However, in 2006 China announced that<br />
it is restricting supply to conserve its resources; thereby creating the potential
for a shortfall in supply of 30-40,000t REO in 2012, when demand is forecast<br />
is to be 180-190,000t REO. This paper identifies the non-Chinese projects<br />
that have the potential to meet this shortfall, with reference to their geology,<br />
processing and the ‘match’ between supply and demand for individual<br />
rare earths.<br />
Minerals and Metallurgical Processing:<br />
Applied Separation Technologies<br />
9:30 AM • Tuesday, February 26<br />
Chairs: S. Mathur, Engelhard Corp, Gordon, GA<br />
M.Ityokumbul, Pennsylvania State University,<br />
University Park, PA<br />
9:35 AM<br />
Novel Passive Technology for Entrained Air Measurement in Pipes and<br />
Gas Holdup Measurements in Column Cells<br />
C. O’Keefe, P. Rothman, J. Poplawski and R. Maron; Minerals Processing,<br />
CiDRA, Wallingford, CT<br />
Measurements of the quantity of entrained air within processes have challenged<br />
instrumentation developers for years. In minerals processing applications,<br />
entrained air plays a role in errors seen within nuclear density gauge<br />
measurements, true flow rate determination and in pumping efficiency. It is<br />
also the major component of flotation processes. The quantity of entrained<br />
air, known as the gas void fraction, can now be measured non-invasively<br />
through CiDRA’s patented passive sonar array-based technology. The sensors<br />
performing this measurement are incorporated in a band that is wrapped<br />
around the outside of the process pipe, resulting in no process downtimes for<br />
installation and unprecedented reliability. Within column cells, the need for a<br />
robust, no maintenance, accurate means of measuring the entrained air,<br />
known as gas holdup, has resulted in a submersible version of this technology.<br />
This paper will present the measurement technology, its operation, its<br />
calibration and its application in a variety of gas void fraction and gas holdup<br />
measurement situations such as pumping efficiencies, hydrocyclone operation,<br />
external sparging, and column cells.<br />
9:55 AM<br />
The Effect of Particle Shape on the Filtration Rate at an Industrial Iron<br />
Ore Processing Plant<br />
J. Carlson and S. Kawatra; Chemical Engineering, MIchigan Tech,<br />
Houghton, MI<br />
Filtration is very important in iron ore processing plants due to utilization of<br />
100,000 gallons per minute of water. It had been observed in one plant that<br />
the filtration rates varied as much as 60% when filtering material from two<br />
different locations in the pit. It was thought that the variance in filtration may<br />
have been due to the difference in the original ore particle shape. However,<br />
systematic studies revealed that although the ore from the two pits was<br />
originally different, after being processed the average particle shape at the<br />
filters was similar in nature, and therefore not contributing to the variation in<br />
filtration rate.<br />
10:15 AM<br />
Flotation Staging in a Dual Extraction Column for Improved Mineral<br />
Separation<br />
M. Ityokumbul 1 and G. Brooks 2 ; 1 Energy and Mineral Engineering,<br />
Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA and 2 Beneficiation<br />
Technologies LLC, Nichols, FL<br />
The Dual Extraction Column (DEC) is a relatively new flotation cell where<br />
two separation stages are combined in a single unit. A description of the unit,<br />
its operation and advantages are presented. In rougher applications, the column<br />
combines rougher and scavenger flotation while in cleaning operations,<br />
it offers two stages of cleaning. <strong>Full</strong> scale and pilot plant studies have shown<br />
that the DEC to be effective in rougher and cleaner operations in the phosphate,<br />
iron ore and coal industries (raw coal and cleaning pond slurry). The<br />
results from these studies are presented and discussed.<br />
10:35 AM<br />
Heavy Mineral Potential from Canadian Tar Sand Deposits<br />
M. Ityokumbul; Energy and Mineral Engineering, Pennsylvania State<br />
University, University Park, PA<br />
The mineable tar sand deposits in Alberta are located in the Athabasca region<br />
near Fort Murray. Suncor, Syncrude Canada Limited and Albian Sands<br />
Energy employ the hot water extraction process for the recovery of bitumen<br />
from these tar sand deposits. This process has been shown to concentrate the<br />
titanium, zirconium and rare earth minerals present in these deposits. A review<br />
of the recovery processes for these minerals is presented. Unlike other<br />
processes that have been developed, only the one that utilizes flotation has<br />
been proven to recover the rare earth minerals present in these tailings. It is<br />
shown that at current production levels, the Athabasca tar sands are capable<br />
of producing over 36,000 TPY of monazite, and 500,000 TPY of titanium and<br />
zirconium mineral concentrates.<br />
10:55 AM<br />
Revamp and Modernization of Gearless Mill Drives<br />
M. Ahrens; ABB Switzerland, Daettwil, Switzerland<br />
Gearless mill drives (GMD) are a well established solution for grinding applications<br />
in the minerals and mining industries. The paper describes the<br />
functionality and technical features of such drive systems as well as the development<br />
and the progress of GMD systems over the years. With an increasing<br />
installed base and many drives operating for many years, there is an increasing<br />
need to modernize or revamp existing GMD installations. The first<br />
installations of GMD took place in the cement industry and have demonstrated<br />
that ringmotors can achieve a lifetime well above 40 years, if maintained<br />
properly. The life cycle time of many other components, especially<br />
electronic parts, is usually shorter. It is therefore necessary to replace aged or<br />
out-dated components early enough in a planned manner in order to reduce<br />
the risk of component failures and the related shutdown times. Modernization<br />
upgrades can range from minor software updates to a revamp of the cycloconverter.<br />
The paper describes typical examples of such upgrades and shows<br />
the most important aspects that need to be considered.<br />
11:15 AM<br />
Magnetic Separation for the Production of High Quality Trona<br />
Concentrate<br />
O. Ozdemir 1 , V. Gupta 2 , M. Cinar 3 , M. Celik 4 and J. Miller 5 ; 1 Metallurgical<br />
Engineering Dept., University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT; 2 Metallurgical<br />
Engineering Dept., University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT; 3 Mining<br />
Engineering Dept., Dumlupinar University, Kutahya, Turkey; 4 Mineral<br />
Processing Dept., Istanbul Technical University, Istanbul, Turkey and<br />
5<br />
Metallurgical Engineering Dept., University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT<br />
Soda ash (Na2CO3) produced by chemical treatment from the trona deposits<br />
of the Green River Basin in Wyoming is valued at approximately $800 million<br />
per annum. Existing process technologies for the production of soda ash<br />
from trona involve dissolution in hot brine, drying, sedimentation and filtration<br />
for the removal of impurities, and subsequent crystallization and calcination<br />
for the recovery of soda ash. In this regard, mining and operating costs,<br />
particularly energy costs, are relatively higher than desired. In this most recent<br />
research, dry magnetic separation was used to remove insoluble mineral<br />
particles from the crushed and sized trona ore. Results from this study show<br />
that in the best case (10x18 mesh) a trona product of 95% purity with a recovery<br />
of 95% can be achieved with proper control of operating variables.<br />
The preliminary results show that this dry, low-cost separation can be used to<br />
remove most of the insolubles from narrowly sized trona ore. The remaining<br />
insoluble impurities such as shortite can be removed by flotation and is the<br />
subject of current research.<br />
41
Mineral & Metallurgical Processing:<br />
Increased Productivity Associated With<br />
Hydrometallurgy/Pyrometallurgy Unit Operations<br />
9:30 AM • Tuesday, February 26<br />
Mineral & Metallurgical Processing:<br />
Reduction of Wastes and Emissions Through<br />
Recycling and Suppression<br />
9:30 AM • Tuesday, February 26<br />
Chair: C. Anderson, Montana Tech, Butte, MT<br />
9:35 AM<br />
Improving Operational Effectiveness in Hydrometallurgical Plants<br />
O. Bascur and R. Linares; OSIsoft, Houston, TX<br />
A methodology for enabling operational effectiveness is discussed. A two<br />
level technical support and influence business process using the Web based<br />
support is presented. The paper reviews several implementations in which<br />
they have started with new ways of using information management from the<br />
beginning of the hydrometallurgical plants. The implementation of a real time<br />
performance management infrastructure is reviewed to assist in the implementation<br />
of mine to product strategies, metallurgical mass balances, solvent<br />
extraction composition statistical process control, methods to minimize organic<br />
losses and to improve metal extraction. Several examples are provided<br />
to improve operations by simplifying the access and analysis of information<br />
from assets and metallurgical processes. Continuous improvement and innovation<br />
have been enabled to minimize start times and for faster troubleshooting<br />
and resolution of operational problems.<br />
9:55 AM<br />
Multiphase Fluid Flow in Porous Media Based on X-ray Computed<br />
Tomography Analysis Coupled with the Lattice-Boltzmann Simulation<br />
Method<br />
A. Videla, C. Lin and J. Miller; Metallurgical Engineering Department,<br />
College of Mines and Earth Sciences University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT<br />
We have taken a numerical simulation approach coupled with X-ray<br />
Computed Tomography (CT) analysis for the study of multiphase flow in<br />
porous media. The numerical method is based on kinetic theory and is known<br />
as the Lattice-Boltzmann Method (LBM). Such a methodology presents great<br />
possibilities to improve our understanding of these complex systems. The X-<br />
ray CT is used to capture real porous structures going from small sand samples<br />
to a complete column sample for heap leaching analysis. We have evaluated<br />
the real capabilities of this new computational fluid dynamic approach to<br />
simulate operational conditions as might be expected under heap leaching<br />
conditions. In this regard results from our exploratory research are presented<br />
together with some insights about the utility, applicability and extension of<br />
the LB method for use in the analysis of mineral processing problems.<br />
10:15 AM<br />
Copper SX circuits: An Historical Perspective<br />
T. Robinson, B. Savage and J. Robertson; Freeport-McMoRan, Safford, AZ<br />
The technological progression of solution extraction (SX) from its origins in<br />
the uranium industry to its widespread use and acceptance in the recovery of<br />
copper and other base metals is summarized. This paper examines the influence<br />
of chemical advances in extraction reagent formulation on circuit configuration<br />
and performance. The evolution of SX circuit design is detailed<br />
from the early uranium industry through presently accepted operating practices<br />
in copper, nickel/cobalt, and zinc. The impacts of site specific feedstock<br />
chemistry are also considered with respect to circuit design and optimization.<br />
10:35 AM<br />
Leaching of Chalcopyrite with Sodium Hypochlorite<br />
E. Cho, R. Yang and R. Garlapalli; Chemical Engineering, West Virginia<br />
University, Morgantown, WV<br />
Experiments were conducted to leach chalcopyrite with 0.5 molar sodium<br />
hypochlorite at 90 degree Celsius and various pHs ranging from 12.46 to<br />
13.25 for 2 hours. This leach mineral was washed, filtered and leached again<br />
with 1 normal sulfuric acid at room temperature for one hour. It was found<br />
that the leaching conversion yielded a peak conversion of 84% around pH 13.<br />
This conversion is much higher than those with ferric sulfate or ferric<br />
chloride which have been used in many previous research work.<br />
42<br />
Chairs<br />
J. Ripke, Midrex Technologies Inc, Charlotte, NC<br />
C. Copeland, Michigan Technological University,<br />
Houghton, MI<br />
9:35 AM<br />
Factors Influencing Dust Suppressant Effectiveness<br />
C. Copeland and K. Kawatra; Chemical Engineering, Michigan<br />
Technological University, Houghton, MI<br />
Water sprays are a common method used to reduce particulate matter (PM)<br />
emissions. Various factors such as: wetting ability, surface area coverage, fine<br />
particle engulfment rates, interparticle adhesion forces, suppressant penetration,<br />
and suppressant longevity have all been suggested as critical factors in<br />
achieving effective PM control. However, it has not been established which<br />
factors are the most critical. Experimental work indicated that suppressant<br />
penetration is more critical than other previously thought factors. Suppressant<br />
effectiveness was also improved using hygroscopic reagents which retained<br />
moisture, improving longevity. This type of approach led to an average 86%<br />
reduction in PM10 concentration.<br />
9:55 AM<br />
Recovering Zinc at Horsehead<br />
J. Pusateri; Horsehead Corporation, Monaca, PA<br />
Horsehead Corporation, the world’s largest recycler of zinc, generates nearly<br />
150,000 tpy of zinc products from 100% recycled feeds. Horsehead has<br />
processed more than 6.5 million tons of electric arc furnace (EAF) steel-making<br />
dust since 1984, utilizing Waelz (rotary) kilns, and Flame Reactor flashsmelting<br />
technology. Processing at four plants (three regional kiln locations<br />
and one on-site Flame Reactor unit) provides over 85,000 tpy of zinc to the<br />
electrothermic smelter/refinery in Monaca, Pennsylvania as “calcine.”<br />
Skimmings and drosses from galvanizing plus other zinc secondaries are included<br />
in the smelter feed mix. Products include PW zinc metal, Frenchprocess<br />
ZnO, zinc dust and zinc powder. Improvements to material handling,<br />
feed preparation, off-gas handling, process control and maintenance procedures<br />
have increased the productivity of recycling and smelting circuits.<br />
10:15 AM<br />
Ausmelt – Extracting Value from EAF Dust<br />
S. Hughes, R. Matusewicz, M. Reuter and D. Sherrington; Ausmelt Limited,<br />
Melbourne, VIC, Australia<br />
EAF dust is recognised as a major secondary zinc resource, particularly in<br />
Europe where several operations have been established to treat this material.<br />
As a waste material that potentially attracts a disposal credit it represents an<br />
economically attractive feed for zinc producers, although the presence of significant<br />
levels of halide species requires special considerations in plant design.<br />
Ausmelt’s Top Submerged Lance technology has proven to be well<br />
suited to the processing of secondary zinc feed materials, including zinc leach<br />
residues and EAF dust. As zinc is recovered to a high grade intermediate<br />
fume product from the Ausmelt furnace, further treatment to produce zinc<br />
metal is required to extract full value from this resource. This paper reviews<br />
the application of Ausmelt’s ironmaking and zinc fuming technology, coupled<br />
with halide tolerant processes for zinc metal production, as an ideal solution<br />
for the treatment of EAF dust.<br />
10:35 AM<br />
FASTMET® Recycling of Steel Mill Wastes<br />
J. Ripke and J. McClelland; Commercial, Midrex Technologies, Inc.,<br />
Charlotte, NC<br />
Now is the right time to take a step back to “see the forest through the trees,”<br />
in order to reintroduce Midrex’s successful and commercially proven rotary<br />
hearth furnace (RHF) technologies. The first commercial FASTMET® plant<br />
has been in operation for nearly eight years (since April 2000) at Nippon<br />
Steel’s Hirohata Works in Japan, treating 190,000 tpy of BOF dust. With<br />
start-up proceeding smoothly and rapidly, the Performance Guarantee Test<br />
was achieved in July, 2000. The second commercial FASTMET plant has<br />
been operating for six years at Kobe Steel’s Kakogawa works in Japan,<br />
recycling 14,000 tpy of iron-bearing wastes. Since then, Nippon Steel has
purchased another FASTMET plant, which has been operating for three years<br />
at 190,000 tpy. These plants have excellent availability and their production<br />
exceeds their design capacity. In addition, the status of current FASTMET®<br />
projects will be discussed which include the recycling of Electric Arc<br />
Furnace Dust (EAFD).<br />
10:55 AM<br />
Grindability Study of Steelmaking Slag for Size-by-Size Recovery of<br />
Free Metal<br />
C. Rawlins, V. Richards and K. Peaslee; Materials Science & Engineering,<br />
University of Missouri-Rolla, Rolla, MO<br />
The total amount of ferrous slag generated in the U.S. is about one-third the<br />
amount of iron ore mined, thus ferrous slag can be considered a significant<br />
mineral body for processing. Steelmaking slag contains up to 30 wt.% metal<br />
of which only the fraction >25mm is commonly recovered. A crushing and<br />
grinding study was conducted of BOF, EAF, and LMF slags using the Bond<br />
Work Index method to determine grindability to 106µm. Work index value<br />
obtained were 13.8-24.9 kWh/ST depending upon the slag type and composition.<br />
Steel particles were magnetically recovered from the crushed and<br />
ground samples for size-by-size analysis, yielding up to 18% of the slag mass<br />
recovered as metal. The recovered steel, as characterized by inert gas melting<br />
was found to be >75% metallic.<br />
11:15 AM<br />
Building value with, or extracting value from technology developers:<br />
What are the steel companies looking for?<br />
L. Southwick; Southwick & Associates, Cincinnati, OH<br />
In developing new processes in recycling and waste treatment, one of the<br />
most difficult hurdles is getting a technology accepted by a potential user for<br />
the first facility. If the developer’s company is a part of the industry, then that<br />
company becomes a potential host site for the first plant. If the developer is<br />
from outside the industry, then acceptance can be slower in coming.<br />
However, in the early days of implementation of technologies to process or<br />
treat electric arc furnace (EAF) dust from steel mills, faced with tight regulatory<br />
deadlines, steel mills were quick to buy into new technologies, even<br />
though they were unproven and the developers had no experience in such<br />
processes. All of these new developers failed. The only process that did not<br />
fail was from an existing service provider (Horsehead). As a consequence of<br />
all these failures, steel companies have become very skeptical of the claims of<br />
new EAF dust processes. To move beyond this “extracting value” approach,<br />
the developer must sell their technology from the standpoint of “building<br />
value” with the steel company. Several examples of ways to do this will be<br />
presented and discussed.<br />
11:35 AM<br />
Recycling EAF Dust Using Submerged Combustion Melting Technology<br />
S. Brodie 1 , G. Balcar 1 , R. Farrell 2 and D. Rue 3 ; 1 International Melting &<br />
Manufacturing, LLC, Stuart, FL; 2 Advanced Glassmaking Technologies,<br />
Toledo, OH and 3 Gas Technology Institute, Des Plaines, IL<br />
Submerged Combustion Melting (SCM) allows Electric Arc Furnace dust,<br />
combined with other wastes, to be fully recycled into glass ceramic blasting<br />
abrasive.Submerged burners mix melt and combust organic carbon.<br />
Quenching and cooling cause glass to partly de-vitrify. Crystals, primarily<br />
dendritic and equiaxed mixed-metal spinels, are embedded in glass matrix.<br />
Glass ceramic is used as loose grain abrasive with blasting performance<br />
comparable to fused aluminum oxide, lower hardness, good particle shape,<br />
80% blocky down to less than 80-microns.Waste vitrification is a commercial<br />
reality because of low capital and operating costs and unique physical and<br />
chemical properties of SCM furnace.<br />
tuesday, february 26<br />
afternoon<br />
Bulk Material Handling by Conveyor Belt 7:<br />
The State of the Conveyance Industry from the<br />
Perspective of Mining Executives<br />
2:00 PM • Tuesday, February 26<br />
Chair: M. Alspuagh, Overland Conveyor Co., Lakewood, CO<br />
Executives from major mining companies responsible for large capitol expansion<br />
projects and day to day operations express their views on the current<br />
state of the conveyance industry. What is done well and what is not. Hear how<br />
material handling problems effect an overall mining operation. What are the<br />
biggest problems facing operators. Is existing technology adaquate for todays<br />
demanding needs? What will the future require? What better way to understand<br />
where our industry needs to focus research than from the people building<br />
and running todays equipment and planning tomorrows. This open format<br />
will allow everyone the opportunity to question our distinguished panel representing<br />
a board cross section of mining.<br />
Chair:<br />
Coal & Energy: Research & Development II<br />
2:00 PM • Tuesday, February 26<br />
J. Johnson, NIOSH Spokane Research Lab, Spokane, WA<br />
2:00 PM<br />
Evaluation of Dust Exposures Associated With Mist Drilling Technology<br />
for Roof Bolters<br />
T. Beck and G. Goodman; Pittsburgh Research Laboratory, National<br />
Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Pittsburgh, PA<br />
Overexposure to respirable dust remains a widespread health hazard to roof<br />
bolter occupations in underground coal mines. Recently implemented mist<br />
drilling technology has been evaluated for its effectiveness in controlling respirable<br />
dust exposures for roof bolting personnel. This work presents the<br />
findings from NIOSH field and laboratory studies comparing respirable dust<br />
levels for mist drilling roof bolter machines to machines using a conventional<br />
vacuum drilling system. The target mist drilling system injects a combination<br />
of water mist and compressed air through the drill steel to the drill bit to control<br />
dust. A conventional vacuum system captures dust through the drill steel<br />
with a four-compartment dust box and single canister filter. Gravimetric and<br />
instantaneous respirable dust samples were collected and reported for the<br />
complete bolting cycle including collaring, drilling, and bolt insertion. These<br />
dust measurements were used to assess the potential dust control capabilities<br />
of this emerging technology.<br />
2:00 PM<br />
Multi-Tool-Miner for All Rock Conditions<br />
W. Kogelmann; Alpine Equipment Corp., State College, PA<br />
For over 50 years, manufacturers have developed machines for mining and<br />
tunneling. These were dedicated machines such as continuous miners for cutting<br />
coal, salt, potash and trona. Roadheaders were designed for cutting of<br />
minerals and soft to medium hard rock in drifts and tunnels of all cross-section<br />
shapes and sizes. Unfortunately, often unexpected hardrock is encountered<br />
which cannot be cut. In order to remedy this limitation, special machines<br />
were equipped with hammers, hammer-buckets, and even blasthole<br />
drills. A German company developed a 30-ton machine with these attachments<br />
including a cutter head. Because no “continuous miner” exists for<br />
high-production mining in the growing “energy” minerals industries, Alpine<br />
Equipment Corporation of State College, Pennsylvania, developed a heavy,<br />
60-ton Multi-Tool-Miner (MTM) with a powerful 240kW transverse cutter<br />
head. This American MTM can be used for large cross-section excavation in<br />
mines and quarries for oil shale, uranium and tar sand. The Alpine MTM<br />
teamed with a novel support installation system (SIS) can double shift<br />
production. The MTM with SIS will excavate rock and minerals at the<br />
lowest-possible cost per ton.<br />
43
2:00 PM<br />
An Assessment of Engineering Noise Controls at a Talc Processing Plant<br />
E. Spencer 1 and E. Reeves 2 ; 1 NIOSH, Pittsburgh, PA and 2 MEI<br />
Technologies, Inc, Houston, TX<br />
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) researchers<br />
conducted an investigation to quantify sound levels and to determine the<br />
amount of sound reduction provided by engineering noise controls installed<br />
in a talc processing plant. Baseline sound level and sound intensity measurements<br />
were performed at the plant and the measurement locations were<br />
recorded for comparison to post-control measurements. Follow-up measurements<br />
were then made at the same locations after the initial noise controls<br />
were installed. The plant subsequently decided to implement additional noise<br />
controls and the researchers returned to conduct measurements for a final<br />
analysis of all noise controls. The most significant results show a sound level<br />
reduction in the main mill area from a range of 92.5-104 dB(A) down to 90.4-<br />
93.6 dB(A), and a total sound power level reduction of 21 dB(A) for air classifying<br />
mill 3. Workers are still required to use administrative controls or<br />
hearing protection to avoid over-exposure, but the extent of over-exposure<br />
was decreased significantly.<br />
2:00 PM<br />
Reducing Coal Mine Rock Fall Injuries in the Illinois Basin<br />
G. Molinda, C. Mark, D. Pappas and T. Klemetti; Rock Safety Engineering<br />
Branch (RSEB), National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health<br />
(NIOSH), Pittsburgh, PA<br />
Some of the most difficult coal mine roof in the U.S. can be found in the<br />
Illinois Basin. Factors contributing to the high roof fall rate include: weak,<br />
moisture-sensitive roof rock, high horizontal stress, and limited longwall<br />
mining. Cover ranges from 0-1000 ft. Moisture-sensitive roof rock is common<br />
above the # 5 and # 6 seams in the Illinois basin, and contributes to roof<br />
skin deterioration. The roof fall rate increases significantly in the humid summer<br />
months. NIOSH has shown through lab and field studies that highly<br />
moisture-sensitive roof rock can be directly correlated to poor roof conditions.<br />
Controlling the skin is the key to reducing rock fall injuries, and roof<br />
screening is the gold standard. Illinois basin coal operators have been successful<br />
in reducing the number of “struck by rock” injuries in recent years.<br />
NIOSH has documented best practices for screen installation which have resulted<br />
in a safe, efficient operation. Other solutions to skin failure include:<br />
five bolt patterns to reduce spans between bolts, systematic supplemental<br />
support in intersections, straps and large pans protecting operators, and air<br />
conditioning to remove moisture from the intake air.<br />
2:00 PM<br />
Error Analysis of Underground Void Mapping Using an In-Seam<br />
Seismic Technique<br />
H. Wang and M. Ge; Penn State Univercity, State College, PA<br />
Delineate underground void by using reflection surveys was the objective of<br />
In-Seam Seismic (ISS) technique. An innovative approach named as<br />
Elliptical Mapping Method (EMM) that is inherently compatible with underground<br />
conditions was carried out in the current research. There were several<br />
factors contributing to the overall mapping error. The first one is arrival time<br />
reading error. The arrival time should be treated as ‘time window’, rather than<br />
‘time point’. The second one is velocity error. It was very challenging for velocity<br />
determination as channel wave is highly dispersive. In this paper, error<br />
analysis was conducted for a field experiment at an anthracite mine with pillar<br />
width of 150 ft. With statistics study, the distance error between the ‘void’<br />
by ISS survey and actual boundary is within 8 ft. Thus, ISS technique was believed<br />
to be a feasible method for void detection at anthracite mines.<br />
Coal & Energy: Ventilation<br />
2:00 PM • Tuesday, February 26<br />
Chairs: J. Tien, University of Missouri Rolla, Rolla, MO<br />
F. Calizaya, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT<br />
this work is to develop reliable technology that will completely close and seal<br />
the mine opening from floor-to-roof and rib-to-rib. NIOSH, in partnership<br />
with Strata Mine Services Inc., is evaluating the capability of a two-component<br />
phenolic foam-based product, called ROCSIL, that is intended for cavity<br />
filling, air and gas sealing, and consolidation of highly fractured strata. When<br />
the resin and catalyst are mixed, an immediate foaming reaction occurs followed<br />
by rapid expansion up to 30 times the original volume. By virtue of its<br />
fire-resistance properties, ROCSIL foam can be used for sealing underground<br />
mine areas undergoing heating from spontaneous combustion and it may be<br />
useful for remote mine seal construction to aid in mine fire control and suppression.<br />
This paper presents the development of a novel borehole tool to facilitate<br />
and direct placement of ROCSIL in the mine void and a discussion of<br />
a full-scale test at the NIOSH Lake Lynn Experimental Mine.<br />
2:25 PM<br />
Reservoir modeling-based prediction and optimization of ventilation<br />
requirements during development mining in underground coal mines<br />
C. Karacan and S. Schatzel; Pittsburgh Research Laboratory, CDC/NIOSH,<br />
Pittsburgh, PA<br />
During development mining, insufficient ventilation air quantities and the occurrences<br />
of high methane liberation rates both limits the development of that<br />
section and increases the risk for an explosion. Thus, the prediction of ventilation<br />
air requirements prior to mining can enhance worker safety when<br />
working in development entries by reducing the likelihood of the formation<br />
of explosive methane-air mixtures. This study presents an approach for prediction<br />
of methane inflow rates using coalbed methane reservoir modeling.<br />
For this purpose, a two-phase coalbed reservoir model is developed of a<br />
three-entry type roadway, which is typical of Pittsburgh Coalbed mines in<br />
Northern Appalachian Basin. In the model, grids are dynamically controlled<br />
to simulate development of entries. Example are given for methane inflow<br />
and ventilation air requirements as a function of mining rate, development<br />
section length, mining height, and the existence of degasification boreholes.<br />
This technology can be used to limit the methane concentrations occurring as<br />
a result of the influence of various coalbed and operational parameters.<br />
2:45 PM<br />
Simulation of DPM Dispersion in Underground Metal/Nonmetal Mines<br />
Using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) Method<br />
Y. Zheng and J. Tien; Mining Engineering Department, University of<br />
Missouri - Rolla, Rolla, MO<br />
There have been many studies on DPM control technologies in the past two<br />
decades, but one of the critical aspects that have not been fully examined is<br />
the DPM dispersion pattern after they have been discharged into the<br />
airstream. This has to be fully understood in order to effectively ventilate the<br />
affected area. This paper examines DPM dispersion patterns using CFD<br />
method and program. A large enough model on face area is built to simulate<br />
how effectively the DPM exhaust could be delivered into the mine’s main<br />
airstream. Local ventilation facilities are designed and evaluated on the delivery<br />
process. Estimation of DPM concentrations in the affected areas will be<br />
provided and optimized local ventilation practice discussed. Further field experiment<br />
to validate simulation will also be addressed.<br />
3:05 PM<br />
Utilization of belt air to ventilate working sections<br />
J. Tien and F. Calizaya; Mining, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT<br />
This paper summarizes the basic requirements for the utilization of belt entry<br />
as an intake air course to ventilate working sections at remote locations in relation<br />
to the main fans. It highlights the risks involved, potential problems,<br />
and the provisions that must be followed by the mine operators. It presents a<br />
brief review of the current regulations, conveyor belting tests, atmospheric<br />
monitoring system (AMS) requirements, and the experienced gained by mine<br />
operators to utilize the belt entries to ventilate remote working sections or<br />
areas where mechanized equipment is being installed or removed. The paper<br />
concludes with a set of recommendations with respect to the utilization of<br />
belt air and the composition of belt material in underground coal mines.<br />
2:05 PM<br />
Use of ROCSIL Foam for Remote Construction of Mine Seals<br />
M. Trevits 1 and C. McCartney 2 ; 1 NIOSH, Pittsburgh, PA and 2 Strata Mine<br />
Services, Inc., Richlands, VA<br />
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is conducting<br />
a program of research to evaluate and improve remote mine seal construction<br />
technology for mine fire control and suppression. The main focus of<br />
44<br />
3:25 PM<br />
Ventilation strategies to reduce self-heating spots in longwall mines<br />
S. Lolon and F. Calizaya; Mining, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT<br />
Spontaneous combustion fires in longwall mines are most likely to occur in<br />
the gob area, and therefore are quite difficult to detect. Preventive means<br />
using bleeder systems are considered as acceptable methods to reduce selfheating<br />
events. However, the effectiveness of these systems is highly depend-
ent on the bleeder entry conditions and many other contributing factors. This<br />
study is an investigation of the locations of hot-spots in the gob using CFD<br />
(Computational Fluid Dynamics) package. It also includes permeability<br />
measurements on selected coal samples, and studies on the effectiveness of<br />
existing and proposed ventilation systems.<br />
3:45 PM<br />
Skyline Mine - A case study in two-entry coal mining<br />
G. Kenzy; Skyline Mine, Helper, UT<br />
This paper describes and illustrates the Skyline Mine primary ventilation system<br />
and the ventilation of two-entry longwall gateroads during development<br />
and retreat longwall mining. The mine-wide utilization of an atmospheric<br />
monitoring system and the specific mine atmospheric monitoring requirements<br />
in two-entry development and retreat mining is presented and analyzed.<br />
The efficiency and performance of the mine, gateroad and bleeder ventilation<br />
systems are described, analyzed and illustrated using computer-based<br />
ventilation network modeling. Spontaneous combustion prevention in both<br />
ventilated and sealed longwall gobs is detailed, including a description and<br />
examples of the instrumentation and procedures used.<br />
Chair:<br />
Environmental: Acid Rock Drainage<br />
2:00 PM • Tuesday, February 26<br />
R. Williams, Bureau of Land Management, Butte, MT<br />
2:05 PM<br />
Culturing and Characterization of Rock Pile Microbes<br />
J. Kennedy, B. Richins and D. Adams; University of Utah,<br />
Salt Lake City, UT<br />
Expansive rock piles are often generated during large-scale mining operations.<br />
Microorganisms can directly contribute weathering actions and accelerate<br />
reactions that contribute to stability or instability within rock piles.<br />
Pared rock pile samples were collected for microbial and geochemical analysis<br />
to examine microbial variation across geological zones and geochemistry.<br />
Microbial populations were examined using selected microbial media, classical<br />
culture techniques, and nucleic acid profiling. The information gathered<br />
was used to examine the microbial populations relative to the site, across geological<br />
zones found within the rock pile, and geochemical parameters.<br />
Microbial populations found included aerobic and facultative anaerobic sp.,<br />
sulfate and iron reducing and oxidizing sp., Archea sp., Thiobacillus and<br />
Leptosprillum sp, denitrifying sp., and acidophilic species. Denaturing gradient<br />
gel electrophoresis (DGGE) was used to generate microbial population<br />
nucleic acid profiles for selected cultures obtained from different rock pile<br />
samples. Selected sequences from the profiles generated were further<br />
analyzed to identify the specific microbes present.<br />
2:25 PM<br />
Arsenic Binding Proteins for Removal of Arsenic From Solution<br />
J. Kennedy 1 , B. Richins 2 and D. Adams 3 ; 1 Metallurgical Engineering,<br />
University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT; 2 Metallurgical Engineering,<br />
University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT and 3 Metallurgical Engineering,<br />
University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT<br />
Removal of soluble forms of arsenic from water is an expensive process.<br />
Alginate biopolymer bead immobilization was selected as a method to evaluate<br />
the ability of arsenic binding proteins to remove arsenic from water.<br />
Protein extracts were obtained from several microbial consortiums selected<br />
for their ability to reduce soluble metalloids. Immobilized protein extracts at<br />
a concentration 0.50 mg/ml yielded near maximal arsenic removal. Arsenic<br />
removal was somewhat dependent on temperature and pH, with maximum<br />
removal occurring at about 35° C and pH of 5.8. Kinetics studies show that<br />
selected protein mixtures remove ~98% of soluble arsenic in 24 hours. When<br />
compared with the live microbes from which they were extracted, the immobilized<br />
proteins bind more than four times the arsenic. Immobilization of<br />
arsenic-binding proteins permits arsenic recovery and potential reuse of the<br />
immobilization biopolymer-protein complex. Additional data will be<br />
presented on the arsenic-binding proteins, functional lifespan of various<br />
immobilization biopolymer-protein complexes, and arsenic removal in a<br />
bench scale bioreactor.<br />
2:45 PM<br />
Optimisation of single-layer cover made of desulphurized tailings :<br />
application to the Doyon mine tailings impoundment<br />
I. Demers 1 , B. Bussiere 1 , M. Mbonimpa 1 and A. Blier 2 ; 1 UQAT, Rouyn-<br />
Noranda, QC, Canada and 2 UQAT, Rouyn-Noranda, QC, Canada<br />
Doyon mine, Quebec, Canada evaluates the possibility of desulphurizing<br />
their tailings to produce material to be used in as cover over their acid generating<br />
tailings impoundment. Laboratory tests were conducted and showed<br />
that a single-layer desulphurized tailings cover placed over reactive tailings<br />
can prevent the generation of acid mine drainage. Modelling with the software<br />
Vadose was undertaken to optimize the design parameters, namely<br />
cover thickness, water table position, and residual sulphide content of desulphurized<br />
tailings following laboratory work. The optimal scenario for the<br />
Doyon mine tailings impoundment was selected according to a maximal<br />
acceptable oxygen flux reaching the reactive tailings predicted by the model.<br />
3:05 PM<br />
Arsenic retention by soil mineral components is inhibited by natural<br />
organic matter<br />
A. Redman 1 , D. Macalady 2 , D. Ahmann 2 and K. Ritter 2 ; 1 HydroQual,<br />
Millville, UT and 2 Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO<br />
Inorganic arsenic species (e.g. arsenate and arsenite) are commonly found in<br />
acid rock drainage. The migration and retention of these inorganic arsenic<br />
species by soils or sediment are generally controlled by the adsorption of<br />
these compounds to iron and aluminum oxides. This reaction can be strongly<br />
affected by certain water quality characteristics. Dissolved, naturally occurring<br />
organic matter (NOM) from stream water was shown to dramatically reduce<br />
the rate and extent of arsenate and arsenite retention by a pure ironoxide<br />
mineral and by natural soils or sands. The apparent decline in arsenic<br />
removal by the presence of NOM is due to three major process: 1) competitive<br />
adsorption of NOM to the mineral phases, 2) formation of stable aqueous,<br />
or colloidal complexes that reduces that availability of arsenic to bind to<br />
soil minerals and 3) NOM promotes the reduction of arsenate to a more<br />
mobile form of arsenite. Stable aqueous complexes are thought to occur<br />
through the formation of dissolved ternary NOM-metal-arsenic complexes<br />
that are most likely mediated by iron or aluminum ions.<br />
3:25 PM<br />
Update on the INAP GARD Guide<br />
T. Chatwin 1 and K. Ferguson 2 ; 1 Technical Manager, INAP, Salt Lake City,<br />
UT and 2 Principal, Sustainability Engineering, Vancouver, BC, Canada<br />
The objective of the INAP GARD Guide (Global Acid Rock Drainage Guide)<br />
is to produce the broadest and most up-to-date reference for the mining industry,<br />
regulators, NGO’s and the public on the subject of acid-rock drainage<br />
(ARD). The Guide will address the production of contaminants from sulfide<br />
mineral oxidation that can result in ARD, neutral mine drainage (NMD) and<br />
saline mine drainage (SD). The GARD Guide is bringing together best technical<br />
and management practices with the objective of creating a body of work<br />
with high industry and external stakeholder credibility. The Guide will cover<br />
all phases of a mining operation from initial discovery through to final closure<br />
(“cradle-to-cradle”). Thus, it will assist industry in providing high levels<br />
of environmental protection, assist governments in the assessment and regulation<br />
of facilities under their jurisdiction and enable the public to have a<br />
higher degree of confidence in and understanding of acid prevention<br />
proposals and practices.<br />
3:45 PM<br />
Automated Mineralogy in the prediction of Acid Rock Drainage:<br />
Accessible mineralogy using QEMSCAN®<br />
W. Goodall; Intellection Pty Ltd, Brisbane, QLD, Australia<br />
Mineralogy is a key driver in Acid Rock Drainage (ARD) and yet access to<br />
routine and scalable mineral identification techniques has been limited on the<br />
scale required for accurate ARD prediction. Quantitative X-Ray Diffraction<br />
(XRD) has been utilised but is limited in its achievable detection limits for<br />
minerals of interest. An alternative, with cost comparisons, is proposed using<br />
QEMSCAN® for quantitative bulk mineralogical analysis. The use of QEM-<br />
SCAN® makes routine mineralogical analysis a cost effective and useful addition<br />
to ARD characterisation programs opening up new possibilities for the<br />
application of mineralogical information in better ARD management.<br />
State-of- the-art Woldwide Technical Information!<br />
45
4:05 PM<br />
Reduction of mineral acidity and zinc from the National Tunnel<br />
drainage using a modular sulfate reducing bioreactor system<br />
A. Ruiz 1 , L. Figueroa 1 , M. Zaluski 2 and D. Bless 3 ; 1 Environmental Science<br />
and Engineering, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO; 2 MSE<br />
Technology Applications, Inc., Butte, MT and 3 Mine Waste Technology<br />
<strong>Program</strong>, EPA National Risk Management Research Laboratory,<br />
Cincinnati, OH<br />
Long-term sustainability is a key issue for sulfate reducing bioreactors.<br />
Modular sulfate reducing bioreactors (1000 gallon volume) were installed in<br />
October 2006 with a flow rate of 0.3 gpm of National Tunnel Drainage, Black<br />
Hawk, CO. The reactors were packed with a mixture of walnut shells, corn<br />
stover and manure in volumetric proportions of 0.7, 0.25, 0.05 respectively.<br />
The project goal is to evaluate the system design (hydraulic and substrate sustainability)<br />
and treatment effectiveness. The microbial diversity is also being<br />
investigated using molecular biology tools. One year of molecular biology<br />
composition, field operation and monitoring data will be presented.<br />
Geology: African Ore Deposits:<br />
Recent Discoveries and New Developments<br />
2:00 PM • Tuesday, February 26<br />
Chairs: D. Spatz, Freeport McMoRan, Tucson, AZ<br />
D. Broughton, Freeport Exploration, Arvada, CO<br />
2:05 PM<br />
Alteration and Mineralization at the Guelb Moghrein Magnetite-<br />
Copper-Gold Deposit, Akjoujt, Mauritania<br />
M. Kirschbaum and M. Hitzman; Dept. of Geology & Geological<br />
Engineering, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO<br />
The Guelb Moghrein mine is an IOCG type deposit containing pyrrhotite and<br />
chalcopyrite mineralization with minor arsenopyrite. The oxidized portion<br />
has been mined periodically since the 1950’s and sulfide production commenced<br />
in 2006 under the current owner, First Quantum Minerals. The sulfide<br />
system is focused along a series of mineralized southwest dipping Fecarbonate<br />
bodies occurring within a northeast directed thrust fault. The ore<br />
body is thickest to the northwest, thins to the south and is truncated to the east<br />
and west. Host rocks are Precambrian basalts and volcaniclastic rocks with a<br />
complex history of deformation and metamorphism.<br />
2:25 PM<br />
The Otjikoto Gold Deposit, Namibia<br />
E. Pesce; Geology and Geologic Engineering, Colorado School of Mines,<br />
Golden, CO<br />
Owned by Teal Exploration and Mining and situated in North Central<br />
Namibia, the Otjikoto Gold Deposit consists of a series of thin sheeted veins,<br />
which run parallel to the regional metamorphic foliation. The deposit exhibits<br />
characteristics of both epigenetic and metamorphic mineralization, being<br />
hosted within highly albitized metamorphic units of the Okonguarri<br />
Formation in the Northern Central Zone of the Damara Orogen. Vein mineralogy<br />
varies over the deposit, with the predominant minerals being pyrrhotite,<br />
pyrite, magnetite, quartz, carbonate, and garnet. The project is currently in<br />
the pre-feasibility stage, with an estimated resource of 1.3 million ounces<br />
of gold.<br />
2:45 PM<br />
An overview of the Kalukundi Cu-Co Project, Katanga Province, DRC<br />
T. Harwood 1 and M. Evans 2 ; 1 Africo Resources Ltd., Bedfordview, South<br />
Africa and 2 Africo Resources Ltd., Summerstand, South Africa<br />
The Kalukundi Mining License area is 60km to the East of Kolwezi on the<br />
Katanga Copperbelt. The project area was explored by Gécamines and its<br />
predecessors between 1927 and 1987. A definitive feasibility study commenced<br />
in May 2004 by Africo Resources Ltd., including detailed metallurgical<br />
& mining studies plus final plant design to produce pure copper and<br />
cobalt metal, was completed in May 2006. The plant has an initial design capacity<br />
of 67,000 tonnes of ore per month of ore to produce 16,400 tonnes of<br />
copper metal and 3,800 tonnes of cobalt metal per annum from 4 open pits<br />
over ten years. The depth of oxidation ranges from 40m to as much as 140m,<br />
enabling oxide ores to be mined by open pit methods to significant depths.<br />
46<br />
Chair:<br />
Industrial Minerals: Oil Field Supply<br />
2:00 PM • Tuesday, February 26<br />
C. Landis, Halliburton Energy Services, Houston, TX<br />
2:05 PM<br />
Wyoming Bentonite Supply for the Global Petroleum Industry<br />
C. Landis; Industrial Drilling Products, Halliburton Energy Services Inc,<br />
Houston, TX<br />
The natural sodium bentonite of the western United States or, “Wyoming”<br />
bentonite continues to enjoy significant market share in the global oilfield<br />
drilling market. Although drilling has shifted to more international basins as<br />
compared to the period in the early 1980’s, Wyoming bentonite is following<br />
the opportunities presented in this cycle to Europe, the Middle East, and Latin<br />
America, as well as in North America. Several uniquely favorable aspects of<br />
Wyoming bentonite products continue to simultaneously allow the customers<br />
to enjoy the range of API 13A grade products, and suppliers the versatility to<br />
formulate a range of products for fluid systems required to address new exploration<br />
challenges. These features of Wyoming bentonite most often recognized<br />
are its high montmorillonite content (purity), the relatively uncommon<br />
interlayer chemistry, consistent quality and reliable supply from API<br />
certified facilities.<br />
2:25 PM<br />
The Legacy and Future Outlook of Barite Supply from Nevada<br />
T. Hall; Halliburton Industrial Drilling Products, Halliburton Energy<br />
Services Inc, Houston, TX<br />
Nevada is responsible for almost all domestic barite production in The United<br />
States, but supplies less than twenty percent of the domestic market. The<br />
three major producers are Baker Hughes, Halliburton Energy Services and<br />
MI-SWACO. A fourth producer, Spirit Minerals, plans to go into production<br />
in early 2008. In addition to the deposits already being developed there are<br />
120 bedded deposits and 60 vein deposits that were identified in Nevada. This<br />
presentation will offer a discussion of existing operations and the future<br />
impact of Nevada barite in the domestic market.<br />
2:45 PM<br />
Light at the End of the Hole – New Applications for Materials in Down<br />
Hole Drilling Cements<br />
D. Eyde; White Cliffs Mining Inc., Cortaro, AZ<br />
There are new oil well cement products that can be used to greatly reduce the<br />
density of down hole drilling cements while simultaneously improving their<br />
workability and mechanical properties. These products are based upon the<br />
natural zeolites chabazite and clinoptilolite. Ongoing research found additional<br />
applications using diatomite. Careful control of mineral blends, their<br />
particle size distribution, and the accelerators and retarders have created a<br />
unique cementaceous product previously unavailable for oil and coal gasification<br />
well completions. The products are based on technologies initially<br />
used in Canada and refined in the US under a Joint Development Agreement<br />
with a major oilfield service company. Zeox Mineral Materials Corp was<br />
formed as the operating company in the US to commercialize the technologies<br />
licensed from Halliburton. Production and distribution facilities for these<br />
products include the Ash Meadows plant in Amargosa, NV and the White<br />
Cliffs plant near San Manuel, AZ. Other facilities for processing and<br />
distribution are being evaluated.<br />
International II<br />
2:00 PM • Tuesday, February 26<br />
Chairs: D. Malhotra, Resource Development Inc,<br />
Wheat Ridge, CO<br />
M. Gavrilovic, E3 Consulting LLC, Denver, CO<br />
2:05 PM<br />
Project Development:- Ghana - The Adamus Resources Story<br />
M. Connelly; Adamus Resources, West Perth, WA, Australia<br />
Adamus Resources Limited is a mineral exploration company listed on the<br />
Australian Stock Exchange, and TSX-Venture Exchange. The Company’s<br />
primary focus is on exploring and realising the economic potential of the<br />
Southern Ashanti Gold Project in Ghana, West Africa. The project encom-
passes approximately 500 sq.km of granted tenure in the Ashanti Gold Belt,<br />
host to over 60moz of gold and some of the largest gold mines in the world.<br />
The paper provides a concise project description and development history,<br />
with an emphasis on the activities related to local, regional and federal governments<br />
and influential agencies, including the EPA and Minerals<br />
Commission. Project lessons learned, are outlined and discussed in the context<br />
of Adamus’ evolving status from explorer to gold producer.<br />
2:25 PM<br />
An Update on Endeavour Silver’s Projects in Mexico<br />
G. Walton; Endeavour Silver Corporation, Vancouver, BC, Canada<br />
Endeavour Silver Corp. has focused on advanced exploration and production<br />
properties in Mexico that required technical and capital to locate new resources<br />
and reserves and expand production. Expansion programs are now<br />
underway at Endeavour’s two operating silver mines, Guanacevi in Durango<br />
and Bolanitos in Guanajuato. In addition, Endeavour is actively exploring<br />
projects in Chihuahua and Michoacan states. The Company’s acquisition and<br />
expansion programs should enable Endeavour to join the ranks of the top primary<br />
silver producers worldwide. In 2006, Endeavour’s production rose 42%<br />
to 1.35 million oz silver. The Guanacevi plant processed 117,255 tonnes<br />
grading 449 gpt silver and 0.90 gpt gold and metal recoveries averaged 80%<br />
silver and 73% gold. Proven and probable reserves jumped 285% to 9.93 million<br />
oz silver at year-end from 3.48 million oz silver in March 2006.<br />
Indicated resources rose from nil in March 2006 to 21.06 million oz silver at<br />
year-end 2006. In 2007, Endeavour is expected to produce 2.8 million oz. of<br />
silver, up 107% from 2006.<br />
2:45 PM<br />
The Importance of Cultural Issues in the Successful Implementation of<br />
Mining Ventures Worldwide<br />
L. Harris and D. Malhotra; Resource Development Inc., Wheat Ridge, CO<br />
The authors have together almost 100 years of experience in the mining industry<br />
working with and consulting to mining companies, and companies engaged<br />
in the supply of goods and services to the mining industry worldwide.<br />
They present their experiences and ideas onthe importance of cultural aspects<br />
in the successful development and implementation of mining ventures. Their<br />
suggestions on handling cultural shock (a condition of anxiety and confusion<br />
that can affect an individual suddenly exposed to alien culture or milieu -<br />
Webster’s Dictionary) will be of interest to ex-pat managers, operators, social<br />
workers and engineering and construction personnel posted to overseas operations,<br />
as well as to nationals posted to other parts of their own country.<br />
3:05 PM<br />
Alamos Gold’s Mulatos Project, Sonora, Mexico<br />
J. Van De Beuken; Alamos Gold, Inc., Hermosillo, Mexico<br />
Jesuits came to the area in 1635 and found gold. Mulatos is located 220 air<br />
kilometers southeast of Hermosillo, the capital of Sonora. Mulatos has a long<br />
history of gold production but was dormant from the Mexican Revolution<br />
until recently. Development interest increased as Ejido privatization lawsbegan<br />
in the late 1980’s to support foreign investmentin nearly all sectors of the<br />
Mexican economy. Mulatos has been developed as a 15,000 tpd heap leach<br />
operation with ore being crushed to a P80 of 3/8”. High grade ore has been<br />
encountered as well as a significant increase in resources. The presentation<br />
will describe the development of Mulatos, current plans for high grade treatment,<br />
and further increases in reserves and throughput.<br />
Mineral and Metallurgical Processing: AMIRA:<br />
Collaborative International Research<br />
2:00 PM • Tuesday, February 26<br />
Chairs: M. LeVier, Newmont Mining Corp., Englewood, CO<br />
T. Braden, AMIRA International, Aurora, CO<br />
2:05 PM<br />
What is P9<br />
E. Manlapig; JKMRC, Indooroopilly, QLD, Australia<br />
Operating since 1962, the AMIRA P9 project has established itself as one of<br />
the world’s leading, collaborative mineral processing research project. The<br />
major aim of the Project is to help its sponsors achieve ‘best practice’ in the<br />
design and operation of mineral processing plants. This is done principally<br />
through the development and demonstration of modelling and simulation<br />
47<br />
techniques and measurement tools. The P9N research program is in the<br />
process of being finalised. In January 2008 the 15th extension of the P9 project<br />
is to begin. The vision for this program is to improve comminution, classification<br />
and flotation performance on sponsor sites through modelling, simulation<br />
and characterisation of particles and their process environments, and<br />
through training and transfer of skills and technology to the industry. The research<br />
will be carried out by using multi-discipline research teams consisting<br />
of key staff and students from the JKMRC, University of Cape Town, McGill<br />
University, University of Newcastle and Hacettepe University.<br />
2:25 PM<br />
Steel Media Wear Research - The AMIRA P9 Experience<br />
P. Radziszewski; McGill Univ, Montreal, QC, Canada<br />
Over the decade that steel media wear research was addressed in the AMIRA<br />
P9 project, a robust steel media wear model was developed. The present<br />
paper will discuss the evolution of the project over this decade highlighting<br />
the strong points and some of the short comings of university research along<br />
with its benefit to industry. Avenues for future research and development are<br />
also presented.<br />
2:45 PM<br />
A Perspective on Effective Global Collaborative Research – The<br />
AMIRA International Model<br />
J. Marsden; Freeport, Phoenix, AZ<br />
The mining and minerals industry has a strong need for effective collaborative<br />
research opportunities that; (i) provide value-adding solutions to common<br />
problems that are shared among mining companies and sometimes<br />
across disciplines, (ii) help strengthen the academic and research communities<br />
that serve the business sector, (iii) develop technical talent for the mining<br />
industry, and (iv) to foster networking and communication amongst technical<br />
leadership within the industry. In many cases, industry collaboration and participation<br />
allows important research to occur to solve problems that would<br />
otherwise not be addressed, or might be addressed less effectively. AMIRA<br />
has a long history as a broker and facilitator of collaborative research for the<br />
minerals industry. The depth and breadth of AMIRA in this role has changed<br />
significantly over the past 10 years. AMIRA International has moved to globalize<br />
the services it offers, expanding out of Australia and into South Africa,<br />
North America, and South America.<br />
3:05 PM<br />
Development of a Code of Practice for Metal Accounting in the<br />
Mining Industry<br />
P. Gaylard; U of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa<br />
The AMIRA P754 project, ‘Metal Accounting and Reconciliation’, has the<br />
primary objective of improving the auditability and transparency of Metal<br />
Accounting from mine to product thus assisting in good corporate governance.<br />
The project is supported by five sponsoring companies in South Africa<br />
and Australia and involves three academic supervisors and seven students.<br />
Project areas have broad coverage from precious metals to commodities and<br />
mine to product.<br />
3:25 PM<br />
AMIRA P768: Progress Towards a Comprehensive Understanding of<br />
Heap Bioleaching<br />
D. Dixon 1 , J. Petersen 2 , H. Watling 3 , J. Plumb 4 and S. Harrison 2 ; 1 Materials<br />
Engineering, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada;<br />
2<br />
Chemical Engineering, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa;<br />
3<br />
CSIRO Minerals, Perth, WA, Australia and 4 CSIRO Land and Water, Perth,<br />
WA, Australia<br />
A joint effort by research teams at the University of British Columbia, the<br />
University of Cape Town, CSIRO Minerals and CSIRO Land and Water,<br />
AMIRA P768 – Improving Heap Bioleaching – is the most significant collaborative<br />
research effort on heap leaching to date. The purpose of the project<br />
is to develop a complete understanding of heap bioleaching in all of its aspects<br />
– hydrological, mineralogical, chemical and biological – culminating in<br />
a comprehensive mathematical model. In this talk, key outcomes of the project<br />
so far will be presented, a 3-D axisymmetric model of heap bioleaching<br />
will be demonstrated, and prospects for the future of the project will<br />
be discussed.
Mineral & Metallurgical Processing:<br />
Plant Expansions or Modernizations<br />
2:00 PM • Tuesday, February 26<br />
Chairs: D. Malhotra, Resource Development Inc,<br />
Wheat Ridge, CO<br />
M. Erickson, FFE Mineral USA Inc., Bethlehem, PA<br />
2:05 PM<br />
Expansion and Modernization of an Iron Ore Pelletizing Plant in<br />
Northern Sweden<br />
M. Ahrens; ABB, Daettwil, Switzerland<br />
The paper describes the main drive systems of an iron ore pelletizing plant<br />
and related important design aspects. It is shown how today’s drive systems<br />
provide the desired flexibility for the process and lead to high energy efficiency<br />
and system reliability. With respect to electric drives expansion projects<br />
have many technical issues in common with green-field installations.<br />
However, there are aspects where important, distinct differences occur. It is<br />
shown which considerations for selecting and sizing drive systems for such a<br />
plant as well as for integrating them into an overall plant control concept need<br />
to be taken into account. Besides the design of the drive systems a key aspect<br />
for such an expansion project is the network interaction. Harmonics levels at<br />
different points in the plant network need to be checked carefully with simulations<br />
during the design phase to avoid problems later-on during operation.<br />
The power factor compensation and the harmonic filtering of the new production<br />
line cannot be designed independently of the already existing plant.<br />
The paper highlights areas where problems could occur and which points<br />
need to be paid attention to when a plant is expanded.<br />
2:25 PM<br />
Simulation Assisted Performance Improvements in Iron Ore<br />
Processing Plants<br />
S. Ersayin 1 , W. Bond 2 , J. Arola 3 , B. Kettunen 4 and R. Strukel 2 ; 1 NRRI-<br />
Coleraine Minerals Research Lab, University of Minnesota, Coleraine, MN;<br />
2<br />
Minorca Mine, Mittal Steel USA, Virginia, MN; 3 Minnesota Department of<br />
Natural Resources, Hibbing, MN and 4 Noramco Engineering, Hibbing, MN<br />
In 1998, the Concentrator Modeling Center was established within the<br />
Coleraine Minerals Research Lab to develop models for simulation of iron<br />
ore processing plants, and to assist plant operators in improving performance<br />
of their aging plants. The short term objective was to develop necessary models<br />
for reliable simulation using conventional techniques, while the long term<br />
objective was set as liberation-based modeling and simulation of these plants.<br />
The short term objective was achieved in 2002, after the development of<br />
models for magnetic separators, hydroseparators and fine screens. A project<br />
funded the US Department of Energy was carried out to demonstrate the capability<br />
in improving iron ore processing at the Mittal plant. As a result of<br />
this study, a 10% improvement in throughput at the plant was obtained, and<br />
simulation became a desired tool for plant operators. A significant step in the<br />
long term objective was reached in 2005 with the development of a liberation<br />
model. This was followed by incorporation of models capable of processing<br />
liberation data into the software. By early 2007, the Center had the capability<br />
of performing liberation-based simulation of entire plants.<br />
2:45 PM<br />
How soon we forget. Bond’s work indices revisited<br />
E. Bentzen and D. Spiller; NONE, NONE, Wheat Ridge, CO<br />
Beginning in the 1930’s, Mr. Fred C. Bond led the way in predicting commercial<br />
grind power requirements from laboratory ore testing. His ‘third theory’<br />
of comminution evolved into the empirical Bond Grindability Tests and<br />
served as the foundation of many empirical and theoretical forays into specific<br />
energy requirements for grinding and how to efficiently deliver that<br />
power. This paper reviews the control parameters established by F.C. Bond<br />
and points out a few of the more common mistakes in its application.<br />
3:05 PM<br />
Start-Up and Optimization of the Pebble Crushing Circuit at the<br />
KUCC Concentrator<br />
D. King; Kennecott, Magna, UT<br />
In the fall of 2006 the Copperton Concentrator, at Kennecott Utah Copper,<br />
commissioned a pebble crushing circuit. This circuit offered some unique<br />
challenges, operationally and maintenance related, due to the unconventional<br />
design. This design also offered flexibility in operation and identified areas<br />
48<br />
for improvement. This paper aims to explain the lessons learned during<br />
startup and commissioning and explains the approach to controlling the circuit.<br />
Explanations of the development of the SAG mill grates will be addressed<br />
along with the challenges of using a Trommel instead of a standard<br />
screen for pebble production.<br />
Chair:<br />
Mineral & Metallurgical Processing:<br />
Snapshot: Student Research<br />
2:00 PM • Tuesday, February 26<br />
S. Ravishankar, Cytec Industries Inc, Stamford, CT<br />
The session will highlight mineral and metallurgical processing research<br />
conducted by undergraduate students. The first part of the program will<br />
feature oral presentations and the second portion will be a poster session by<br />
the undergraduate researchers.<br />
Chair:<br />
Mining & Exploration:<br />
Mine Improvements & Applied Technology<br />
2:00 PM • Tuesday, February 26<br />
E. Robinson, Phelps Dodge Corporation, Green Valley, AZ<br />
2:05 PM<br />
Reducing Injuries in Underground Mining Through the Application of<br />
Waterjet Scaling<br />
M. Kuchta and H. Miller; Mining Engineering Department, Colorado<br />
School of Mines, Golden, CO<br />
An analysis of accident statistics for underground metal/nonmetal mines<br />
show that nearly one-quarter of all fatalities at these operations were related<br />
to rock falls, where nearly one-third of these fatalities involved scaling activities.<br />
As a consequence, research is being conducted to evaluate the effectiveness<br />
of high-pressure waterjet technology as part of a mechanized scaling<br />
system to safely remove loose and unstable rock from underground mine<br />
openings and improve the adhesion characteristics of shotcrete by scarifying<br />
rock surfaces. Sponsored by CDC NIOSH, this project is intended to investigate<br />
the relative effectiveness of various nozzles designs, including continuous,<br />
rotational, and pulsed jets.<br />
2:25 PM<br />
Mining Haul Truck Cab Noise: An Evaluation of Three Acoustical<br />
Environments<br />
S. Bealko; Hearing Loss Prevention, NIOSH PRL, Pittsburgh, PA<br />
A previous NIOSH study showed that up to 90 percent of miners will have a<br />
hearing impairment by retirement age suggesting the need for noise reduction<br />
research. This study examines haul truck cab acoustical treatments and the effects<br />
on noise reduction. Operator performance and maintenance along with<br />
design features are evaluated to determine noise exposure and cab attenuation.<br />
Dosimetry tests were used to demonstrate whether cabs provide a safe<br />
acoustical environment and to determine if a correlation exists between cab<br />
design and the amount of cab attenuation. Data showed that 96 percent of<br />
samples did not exceed the MSHA PEL, but half did exceed the action limit.<br />
Operators who circumvented protective cab features doubled the noise dose<br />
inside the cab. <strong>Preliminary</strong> data indicate that cab design has an influence on<br />
noise protection. This paper demonstrates noise reduction is achievable and<br />
provides specific targets for future research and interventions.<br />
2:45 PM<br />
Utilization of Coarse Preconcentration Rejects in Underground<br />
Backfills<br />
T. Weatherwax, A. Bamber, B. Klein and R. Pakalnis; Norman B. Keevil<br />
Institute of Mining Engineering, University of British Columbia, Vancouver,<br />
BC, Canada<br />
As part of a strategic research initiative at UBC to design and evaluate integrated<br />
underground mining and mineral processing systems, work has been<br />
done to determine how to utilize the coarse rejects of pre-concentration in the<br />
underground environment. An amenability study for nine orebodies from four<br />
of Xstrata Nickel’s Ontario operations evaluated both processing and waste<br />
disposal methods. The utilization of the rejects as a high quality backfill with<br />
minimal binder requirements has been identified as the preferred disposal
method. Fill mixes utilizing the rejects in combination with classified tailings,<br />
full tailings, and cement were developed based on the geotechnical<br />
properties of the rejects. The mix designs were examined for both strength<br />
and rheological properties. The paper will present the results of the pre-concentration<br />
testwork, the design and strength testing of various mix designs for<br />
rejects from the nine ores and presents a conceptual design for an underground<br />
pre-concentration system based on this test work.<br />
3:05 PM<br />
SMART Mining Systems<br />
S. Holmes 1 and R. Coyle 2 ; 1 Mine Technology, Freeport McMoRan, Safford,<br />
AZ and 2 Mine Technology, Freeport McMoRan, Safford, AZ<br />
Advances in mining have been dominated by increasing machine size and<br />
unit productivity. However, the future of mining belongs to the Information<br />
Age, where the “mining” and use of data will become the new “efficiency”<br />
frontier. Machines today are not only larger, they are also much smarter and<br />
are equipped with sensing packages and on-board computers that can measure<br />
the machines performance. Operator performance can also be assessed in<br />
remarkable fashion thus providing management with an abundance of data<br />
and information that allows efficiency and productivity improvements to be<br />
made. New advanced wireless technologies are emerging that allow access to<br />
remote machine data in real-time allowing mining fleets to be monitored by<br />
centralized expert maintenance staff. Ironically these SMART Mining<br />
Systems will greatly help resolve the growing problems of limited qualified<br />
field personnel that currently challenge the industry. This paper will present<br />
the Freeport McMoRan Mine Technology Group’s vision and advancements<br />
in SMART Mine technology.<br />
3:25 PM<br />
Advanced Camera Based Monitoring of Mining Shovels<br />
S. Tafazoli; Motion Metrics International Corp, Vancouver, BC, Canada<br />
ToothMetrics is a rugged embedded computer vision system that monitors<br />
the condition of mining shovel bucket teeth 24/7, and informs the operator of<br />
possible tooth breakage in real-time. Live video acquired by an industrial<br />
grade camera is processed by the computer to determine the teeth status. The<br />
results are communicated with the operator via a touch-screen LCD and audible<br />
alarm. As such, the broken tooth is prevented from going to the mine<br />
downstream processing equipment (specially, the crusher) improving the<br />
safety and efficiency of the operation by reducing the shovel downtime.<br />
Three wide-angle rugged cameras are added to the system for ViewMetrics<br />
functionality and the embedded software is upgraded to provide live viewing<br />
of the surroundings of the mining equipment. In this presentation, the product<br />
specifications and design challenges will be outlined. The experience of MMI<br />
installing systems in surface mines around the world will be shared with<br />
the audience.<br />
Mining & Exploration: Underground Mining<br />
2:00 PM • Tuesday, February 26<br />
30-vein. A pre-feasibility study is underway to evaluate the economics of several<br />
different mining methods to increase production from the smaller intermediate<br />
veins that lie within the mineralized zone. These narrow, steeply dipping,<br />
irregular veins pose numerous challenges. The bulk of the intermediate<br />
vein resource lies in 15 separate veins between 5,000 and 6,000 feet underground<br />
in a weak rockmass under high stress. Various aspects of the study<br />
will be discussed from definition drilling, geologic modeling, mining method<br />
selection and rock mechanics.<br />
2:45 PM<br />
Performance Monitoring of Block Cave Mines Using Signal Processing<br />
and Waveform Analysis of GPS Data<br />
D. Rutledge 1 , M. Ness 2 , M. Allen 3 , J. Purcell 4 , N. Brown 5 and C. Baldwin 1 ;<br />
1<br />
Leica Geosystems, Sonora, CA; 2 Freeport McMoRan Copper & Gold, Oro<br />
Valley, AZ; 3 Chevron Mining Inc., Questa, NM; 4 Golder Associates, Inc.,<br />
Silver City, NM and 5 Leica Geosystems AG, Heerbrugg, Switzerland<br />
Discrete (digital) signal processing techniques are proving to be very valuable<br />
tools for miners using the block cave method. Waveform analysis of different<br />
measured signals associated with active mining provides valuable information<br />
on production dynamics and safe operation of the mine. For<br />
example, correlation of the 3D surface displacement velocity waveform and<br />
the production output waveform reveals a remarkably predictable time-varying<br />
physical process. In this paper we discuss the signal processing techniques<br />
used to study these relationships, as well as the related implications<br />
for mining.<br />
YOUNG LEADERS:<br />
TALENT DEVELOPMENT & RETENTION<br />
2:00 PM<br />
Tuesday, February 26<br />
Chair: S. Kautzman<br />
CVRD Inco Ltd., Sudbury, ON, Canada<br />
Due to the decline in the number of graduates from mining, geological<br />
and metallurgical programs, it is becoming increasingly difficult<br />
to meet the staffing needs of companies engaged in resource extraction.<br />
Further complicating matters is the increase in the median age<br />
of the workforce, many of whom are rapidly nearing retirment age.<br />
These are two of the factors driving the perception that there will be<br />
an even greater shortage of talent in the mining industry in the years<br />
to come. This session focuses on how companies are dealing with the<br />
labor crunch, and their strategies for recruiting, training and<br />
retaining human resources.<br />
Chair: S. Graber, McIntosh Engineering Inc, Tempe, AZ<br />
2:05 PM<br />
Small mine contractor safety – A case study<br />
F. Calizaya and M. Nelson; Mining, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT<br />
Small mine contractors perform a number of tasks during each shift. In accordance<br />
to the 30CFR, mine operators must provide each worker with the<br />
required safety training. In practice however, these operators, constrained by<br />
limited resources only make the necessary efforts to comply with regulations<br />
and meet the minimum standards. This paper presents a case study in which a<br />
small mine contractor completes a number of different tasks associated with<br />
powered transportation including hauling, loading and storage. It highlights<br />
the training received by the small mine contractor, the common hazards to<br />
which he is exposed to and the work practices he uses to overcome them. The<br />
study concludes with a summary of good work practices and potential hazards<br />
observed in several small mines in the Western U.S.<br />
2:25 PM<br />
Deep vein mining at Hecla’s Lucky Friday Mine<br />
D. Bayer; Mining, Montana Tech, Butte, MT<br />
The historic Lucky Friday Mine located in north Idaho is currently considering<br />
ways to increase production from the deep Gold Hunter vein system. The<br />
bulk of the production is currently extracted from one large vein, called the<br />
49
wednesday, february 27<br />
morning<br />
Coal & Energy: Coal Preparation<br />
Bulk Material Handling by Conveyor Belt 7:<br />
Solving Real Problems Using Numerical<br />
Analysis and Simulation<br />
9:00 AM • Wednesday, February 27<br />
Chair: T. Hollingsworth, Conveyor Engineering, Meridian, ID<br />
9:05 AM<br />
Simulation for Equipment Sizing – Longwall to Stockpile<br />
E. O’Donovan; E.J. O’Donovan & Associates, Spring Hill, QLD, Australia<br />
When longwall equipment is being specified, a nominal capacity is generally<br />
given on which to base the design of the various face and out-bye systems and<br />
components. This capacity generally comes from a nominal annual capacity<br />
requirement based on realistic utilization rates. From illustrative examples of<br />
simple system simulation, this paper sets out to show that a single nominal<br />
capacity is not sufficient to size the different systems. The manner in which<br />
the Longwall is operated and the overall system configuration can have a significant<br />
impact on overall productivity. The importance of component availability<br />
on overall output is also addressed.<br />
9:35 AM<br />
Simulation as a Tool to Determine Stockyard Handling Capacity<br />
E. Monrad and H. King; Simulation Modelling Group, Sandwell<br />
Engineering, Vancouver, BC, Canada<br />
Discrete event simulation modeling provides a tool to quantify the throughput<br />
capacity of stockyards. Interactions between the main equipment types<br />
(trains, dumpers, conveyors, stackers, reclaimers, shiploaders) can be captured,<br />
including route blockages, breakdowns, and planned maintenance.<br />
This tool has been successfully used at world-class stockyard facilities to determine<br />
current capacity and to identify gains resulting from improvement<br />
projects. Recent projects have focused on iron-ore, coal, and soya facilities,<br />
but the technology is suitable to be used on any bulk material type.<br />
10:05 AM<br />
Interfacing Belt Feeders and Hoppers to Achieve Reliable Operation<br />
J. Carson 1 , F. Cabrejos 3 and M. Rulff 2 ; 1 Jenike & Johanson, Inc., Tyngsboro,<br />
MA; 2 Jenike & Johanson, Ltd, Toronto, ON, Canada and 3 Jenike & Johanson<br />
Chile S.A., Vina del Mar, Chile<br />
Belt feeders are commonly used to meter the flow of bulk solids from bins<br />
and hoppers. If the interface between the hopper outlet and belt feeder is not<br />
designed correctly, flow from the bin may be severely compromised, resulting<br />
in problems of no-flow, segregation, flooding, etc. By knowing the flow<br />
characteristics of the bulk solid being handled and applying proven design<br />
techniques, such problems can be avoided. Relevant bulk solids flow characteristics<br />
will be identified, along with measurement techniques. Design procedures<br />
for correcting problems with existing feeders as well as proper design<br />
of new feeders will be presented, along with case histories of successful<br />
application of these procedures.<br />
10:35 AM<br />
Predicting Material Behavior on Conveyors using DEM<br />
B. Ren and G. Mustoe; Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO<br />
Energy losses are important factors in a conveyor’s performance and design.<br />
A significant energy loss due to belt sag within a conveyor system occurs<br />
when shearing motion between the bulk material particles occurs as the material<br />
moves along the belt. This sag energy loss has been studied previously<br />
using analytical mechanical methods that employ several simplifying approximations<br />
such as: a) dry bulk material, b) assumed pressure distributions between<br />
the bulk material and belt, and c) inertial effects within the bulk material<br />
and belt, etc. The current work employs a discrete element modeling<br />
(DEM) approach eliminating the need for the simplifying assumptions required<br />
in previous analyses. The DEM method models: a) the bulk material as<br />
a discrete system of particles with a specified size distribution, and interaction<br />
laws for dry and wet materials, and b) the belt geometry shape with a detailed<br />
3D CAD description. In this paper the effects of: a) idler spacing, b)<br />
belt speed, b) belt sag, and c) different bulk materials are studied.<br />
9:00 AM • Wednesday, February 27<br />
Chairs: R. Honaker, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY<br />
M. Mohanty, Southern Illinois University Carbondale,<br />
Carbondale, IL<br />
9:05 AM<br />
Capital and Operating Cost Models for Coal Preparation Plants<br />
Z. Huang 1 , M. Mohanty 2 , H. Sevim 3 , B. Arnold 4 and S. Bhagwat 5 ; 1 Mintec<br />
Inc., Tucson, AZ; 2 Department of Mining and Mineral Resources<br />
Engineering, Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Carbondale, IL;<br />
3<br />
School of Engineering, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville,<br />
Edwardsville, IL; 4 PrepTech, Inc., Apollo, PA and 5 Illinois State Geological<br />
Survey, Champaign, IL<br />
Circuit-wise capital and operating cost models are developed for those cleaning<br />
and dewatering circuits that are widely used in current coal preparation<br />
plants. For each circuit, capital and operating costs are calculated for at least<br />
five feed capacities. For each feed capacity, the sizes of the major and ancillary<br />
equipment in the circuit are determined. The purchasing cost and operating<br />
cost of each piece of equipment are calculated based on the cost data collected<br />
from a variety of sources. The circuit capital cost is calculated as the<br />
sum of the capital cost of each piece of equipment in the circuit. Similarly,<br />
circuit operating cost is the sum of the operating cost of individual equipment<br />
in the circuit. Capital and operating cost estimating equations are then obtained<br />
by best-fitting the cost data as a function of feed capacities. The capital<br />
cost also includes the installation cost. Capital and operating cost tables,<br />
equations and figures are given for each cleaning and dewatering circuit. The<br />
utilization of these equations is also introduced by applying them in a new<br />
developed coal preparation plant simulator for conducting cost and<br />
economic analysis.<br />
9:25 AM<br />
The Design, Construction, Commissioning and Operation of the Arch<br />
Castle Valley Plant in Wellington, Utah<br />
P. Bethell 1 and M. Kelley 2 ; 1 Arch Coal Inc., Charleston, WV and 2 Castle<br />
Valley Plant, AWBG, Wellington, UT<br />
This paper will describe the design philosophy behind the 400 t.p.h. “Coarse<br />
Only Washing” preparation plant. The study of the potential feed coals lead to<br />
the design incorporating the latest technology of fine dry coal screening<br />
(Roxon Roller Screen). The plant also incorporates a Peters Dense Media<br />
Vessel treating the plus 1 ⁄4” material. Once the circuit was designed, the plant<br />
was bid and CEnty of Salt Lake City, Utah was awarded the contract to build<br />
the facility. The new Roxon/Dense Media Vessel plant was retrofitted into an<br />
old McNally jig plant, which posed obvious demolition/construction issues.<br />
The plant was successfully commissioned in October 2006 and has subsequently<br />
run highly efficiently at in excess of 20% above design capacity.<br />
Plant efficiency data will be reviewed, as will availability and quality data.<br />
9:45 AM<br />
Development of a Transponder-Based Tracer System for Evaluating<br />
Dense Medium Separator Performance<br />
C. Barbee 1 , C. Wood 2 and G. Luttrell 3 ; 1 Arch Coal, Inc., Charleston, WV;<br />
2<br />
Partition Enterprises Pty Ltd., Indooroopilly, QLD, Australia and 3 Mining<br />
& Minerals Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA<br />
Density tracers are a useful diagnostic tool for evaluating the separation efficiency<br />
of dense medium circuits. Unfortunately, the full capabilities of density<br />
tracers are often not realized in practice due to problems that occur during<br />
the retrieval step. To overcome this problem, an electronic monitoring<br />
system has been developed to automatically identify and count the tracers as<br />
they pass through a coal cleaning circuit. This technique, which relies on recent<br />
technological breakthroughs in transponder technology, improves the reliability<br />
of tracer data by eliminating statistical errors associated with lost<br />
tracers. Field tests showed that very accurate counts (>98%) of the transponder-based<br />
tracers could be achieved in full-scale trials. In addition, this simple<br />
system makes it possible for efficiency tests to be performed very rapidly<br />
by a single person in an extremely cost-efficient manner.<br />
50
10:05 AM<br />
Enhancing Coal Flotation Performance Using Recyclable Hydrophobic<br />
Particles<br />
C. Munoz Dias 1 , M. Mankosa 2 and R. Honaker 1 ; 1 Mining Engineering,<br />
University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY and 2 Eriez Manufacturing, Erie, PA<br />
Recent investigations found that the addition of highly hydrophobic particles<br />
into the froth phase can improve the selectivity achieved from a froth flotation<br />
process. In a subsequent study, the concept was advanced by using ultrafine<br />
magnetite particles that were encapsulated in an epoxy. The result was<br />
hydrophobic magnetic particles that have a contact angle greater than 90o and<br />
are easily recovered by a low intensity magnetic separator. After mixing the<br />
hydrophobic magnetite particles with a feed slurry, coal recovery was improved<br />
by as much as 20 absolute percentage units at a given retention time<br />
and, in some cases, selectivity was improved. The flotation rate was increased<br />
from about 0.6 min-1 to 1.0 min-1. Significantly greater improvements were<br />
realized when floating under acidic and alkaline conditions. Results from a<br />
detailed flotation study evaluating the benefits of the hydrophobic magnetite<br />
will be presented and discussed in this publication.<br />
10:25 AM<br />
Slurry Cells Prove Successful Alternatives to Impoundments<br />
J. Gardner, K. Houston and K. Rose; Engineering Consulting Services, Inc.,<br />
Lexington, KY<br />
Environmental and safety related issues concerning slurry impoundments<br />
have created a new dimension in permitting and design which has forced engineers<br />
to examine other possible alternatives. A Central Appalachian coal<br />
producer has successfully implemented excavated slurry cells into solid rock<br />
for slurry disposal. These cells, however, have had their shares of engineering<br />
challenges, including: external wall and spillway design; increase capacity<br />
for sediment control in the event of a breach or slurry discharge through spillways;<br />
subsidence concerns from underground mining; cell wall conditions<br />
due to previous surface mine blasting; permitting challenges, etc. This paper<br />
will describe the design process from initial planning through operation and<br />
closure and economics.<br />
10:45 AM<br />
Ultra Fine Coal Recovery Utilising the Imhoflot G-Cell Centrifugal<br />
Flotation Technology in a Russian Coal Operation<br />
R. Imhof 1 , A. Yuryev 2 and M. Battersby 1 ; 1 Maelgwyn Mineral Services Ltd,<br />
Cardiff, United Kingdom and 2 OJSC “West Siberian Iron & Steel Plant”,,<br />
Novokuzetsnk, Russian Federation<br />
The “Zap-Sib” mining concern has installed the first world-wide commercial<br />
use of the Imhoflot G-Cell flotation in coal at its preparation plant in Siberia.<br />
This paper describes the testing and design of the application through to the<br />
installation and operation of a 200 tph pneumatic flotation plant. The<br />
Imhoflot G-Cell is an innovative pneumatic flotation process that can be<br />
utilised for ultra fine coal recovery. The technology utilises centrifugal forces<br />
to assist in the separation of the froth phase from the tailings and consequentially<br />
reducing the residence time in the separating vessel to below 45 seconds.<br />
This considerably reduces the size of the flotation plant installation and<br />
therefore the capital expenditure necessary.<br />
Coal & Energy: Surface Mining<br />
9:00 AM • Wednesday, February 27<br />
Chair: C. Fritz, Kiewit Mining Group, Point of Rocks, WY<br />
9:05 AM<br />
Ergonomic Redesign of Dragline Workstations<br />
E. Rainis, T. Matty and J. Torma-Krajewski; Pittsburgh Research<br />
Laboratory, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health,<br />
Pittsburgh, PA<br />
A recent study shows that 75% of dragline operators suffer from cumulative<br />
injuries that may be a result of poor workstation design. Because operators<br />
are typically in a seated posture for long shifts, it is important that they are<br />
properly supported by the workstation. However, many workstations currently<br />
have little or no adjustability. Therefore, the first objective of this study<br />
was to compare the adjustments made by experienced and non-experienced<br />
operators when they were provided with a workstation that was fully adjustable.<br />
The second objective was to determine if providing operators with<br />
more adjustability would decrease discomfort. Neither group of operators<br />
51<br />
made more adjustments when provided with a workstation that was capable<br />
of further adjusting. Data collected one year following the installation of the<br />
NIOSH workstation showed a reduction in discomfort levels for all body<br />
parts except for the wrists/hands and knees. The results of this study confirm<br />
the importance of training on workstation adjustments. Because discomfort<br />
levels dropped after only one year, it is clear that an adjustable workstation<br />
will improve the health and safety of the operators.<br />
9:25 AM<br />
Using continuous mining equipment to develop an open cut mining<br />
operation<br />
D. Morrison; Resources, Sinclair Knight Merz, Brisbane, QLD, Australia<br />
Dwindling fuel supplies and increased labour costs have changed the paradigm<br />
whereby mining equipment selections are made. Recent successful performance<br />
trials using the latest technology in mineral sizers and the increasing<br />
maturity of the large scale materials handling systems has seen the<br />
emergence of a competitive and credible suppliers of continuous materials<br />
handling machines for open cut mining operations. In this paper a means<br />
whereby a large open cast hard rock mine might be initiated, developed<br />
through the early operations of increasing depth and spread of the operation<br />
throughout the mine’s early life and also the later expansion of the mine capacity<br />
is considered. The proposed system creates an essentially truck free<br />
mine and achieves substantial reductions in manning when compared to the<br />
more conventional approach, with associated gains in operating costs without<br />
substantial additional capital investment.<br />
9:45 AM<br />
Risk Assessment of Truck-Related Fatalities in Mining<br />
Z. Md Nor 1 , V. Kecojevic 1 , D. Komljenovic 2 and W. Groves 1 ; 1 Energy and<br />
Mineral Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park,<br />
PA and 2 Hydro-Québec; Nuclear Generating Station G2, Bécancour, QC,<br />
Canada<br />
Risk assessment and risk management are well established loss control techniques<br />
that have been applied successfully in many industries. As a result, interest<br />
in this structured approach has grown in the mining industry. The main<br />
objective of this research was to develop a risk assessment process that can be<br />
used by the U.S. mining industry to more thoroughly characterize risks associated<br />
with truck-related fatalities. The assessment is based on historical data<br />
obtained from MSHA investigation reports which includes 113 fatal incidents<br />
that occurred from 1995 through 2006. The risk assessment process used in<br />
this research involves three basic steps: (i) identification of the risks associated<br />
with truck-related fatalities; (ii) risk analysis; and (iii) risk evaluation.<br />
The <strong>Preliminary</strong> Hazard Assessment (PHA) method is used in identifying and<br />
quantifying risks. A qualitative risk value is then developed using a pre-established<br />
risk matrix that classifies according to frequency and severity. The<br />
resulting assigned risk value can then be used to prioritize control strategies.<br />
10:05 AM<br />
A Practical Solution to Highwall Mining Coal Reserves Sterilized by<br />
Auger Mining<br />
M. Amick; ECSI, Lexington, KY<br />
Over the last few years as the coal industry has seen an increase in the price<br />
of coal, a renewed interest in the additional mining of pre-law highwall sites<br />
has occurred. Much premium coal and property remains behind these pre-law<br />
highwalls but access to mining is limited because prior mining used auger<br />
machines to remove coal from under the highwall. These properties are ideal<br />
for additional mining with state-of-the-art highwall mining machines that<br />
have a reach up to 1200 feet, except for the relatively thin auger mined de-stabilized<br />
zone. This has driven research into finding a economically viable way<br />
to stabilize the highwall so that the highwall mining machine can recover additional<br />
coal. This research discovered and fine-tuned a process that is economical<br />
and is successfully supporting the highwall at a highwall mining operation.<br />
This paper discusses the research involved in determining the<br />
strengths needed, the methodology used to place any grouts, the effect on<br />
mining plans and the increase recoveries. The failure of the highwall when<br />
not grouting and the success when grouting using the new materials and<br />
equipment discovered confirmed the ARMPS-HWM method.
10:25 AM<br />
Investigation of Enclosed Cab Filtration System Performance Factors<br />
J. Organiscak and A. Cecala; National Institute for Occupational Safety and<br />
Health, Pittsburgh, PA<br />
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health has investigated<br />
various factor effects on cab air filtration system performance. The factors experimentally<br />
investigated were intake filter efficiency, intake air leakage, intake<br />
filter loading (filter flow resistance), recirculation filter use, and wind<br />
penetration. Results indicate that the intake filter efficiency and recirculation<br />
filter use were the most two influential factors on cab potection performance.<br />
Use of the recirculation filter significantly improved cab protection over the<br />
intake air filter by itself due to the mulplicative filtration of the cab interior<br />
air. Intake air leakage and intake filter loading also notably affected<br />
cab performance.<br />
10:45 AM<br />
Deep Pit Temperature Study<br />
J. Humphrey 1 and R. Dillinger 2 ; 1 Large Mining Truck - Product<br />
Development, Caterpillar, Decatur, IL and 2 Mining Engineering, University<br />
of Missouri - Rolla, Rolla, MO<br />
Anecdotal evidence would have us believe there are extreme differences between<br />
the temperatures at the surface level and the pit bottom of a deep open<br />
pit mines. While surface temperature data is readily available, very little empirical<br />
data is available for pit bottom temperatures. The authors undertook a<br />
project to gather empirical data in order to correlate the surface ambient air<br />
temperature with the pit bottom air temperature. This study involved mines in<br />
South Africa, Australia and the U.S. The analysis of the data resulted in an algorithm<br />
to calculate typical pit bottom temperatures as a function of surface<br />
temperatures and pit depth.<br />
Environmental: Exploration and Mine Development:<br />
Environment, Community & Sustainability<br />
Chair:<br />
9:00 AM • Wednesday, February 27<br />
C. McKeon, Resolution Copper Mining, Superior, AZ<br />
9:05 AM<br />
The Debate over the Impact of Mining on the Environment and<br />
Sustainability in the Local Community<br />
G. Campbell and C. Walck; School of Business and Economics, Michigan<br />
Technological University, Houghton, MI<br />
Recent efforts to start mines in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and northern<br />
Wisconsin have generated statewide controversy and new laws. There is concern<br />
about the sustainability of mining in communities that depend on the environment<br />
for tourism and recreation. This paper briefly looks at the cases of<br />
the Flambeau Mine, Crandon Project, and Lynne Project in Wisconsin and<br />
the Eagle Project in northern Michigan. The ongoing effort for the Eagle<br />
Project is looked at in detail by using the method of discourse communities<br />
and discourse analysis to gain insights into the dialogue between mining<br />
company and stakeholders and how it might be improved.<br />
9:25 AM<br />
Innovative applications of interactive media for mining projects<br />
J. Sanderson; Interactive Media, Brown and Caldwell, Los Angeles, CA<br />
Jim is working with the City of North Port, Florida, Orange County,<br />
California, California Department of Transportation and many private clients<br />
to develop interactive strategies for communications support on public presentations<br />
for mining permit approvals, bond referendums, and online workshops.<br />
Broadcast and web tools were produced to inform a variety audiences<br />
on the value of upgrading wastewater collection and treatment facilities, mining<br />
simulations to show end of project results, and seed testing procedures for<br />
landscape architects. With the projects now underway results of each outreach<br />
campaign can now be measured and feedback used to evolve the campaign<br />
as conditions change for construction, permiting and testing.<br />
9:45 AM<br />
Sustainable Development in Mining – Building the Mine of the<br />
21st Century<br />
J. Cherry and A. Duex; Kennecott Minerals - Eagle, Marquette, MI<br />
Record demand, production and consumption of metals and minerals is driving<br />
the world economy and improving the standard of living in most parts of<br />
the world. Throughout the history of the world, the need for minerals and<br />
metals has never been greater. With this increased demand comes increased<br />
responsibility to produce those minerals and metals in a way that meets the<br />
needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations<br />
to meet their own needs. By effectively applying the principles of sustainable<br />
development, new mines of the 21st Century can create positive environmental<br />
and economic legacies in the environments and communities where they<br />
are located and have an even longer lasting impact than mines of the past<br />
100 years.<br />
10:05 AM<br />
NovaGold: Successful Partnerships and Sustainable Practices<br />
B. Murphy; NovaGold, Fairbanks, AK<br />
NovaGold is committed to creating wealth by executing its business plan and<br />
remaining focused on its core values of: respect,integrity, safety, accountability,<br />
empowerment, communication,growth and sustainability. NovaGold’s<br />
experience at both its Galore Creek Project and the Nome Operations, including<br />
the Rock Creek Mine, are a testament to the company’s practice and implementation<br />
of its core values. At both locations NovaGold developed projects<br />
of which the Company is proud of, projects which have built a variety of<br />
successful partnerships. As NovaGold continues to grow, we will strive to<br />
continuously implement and improve on industry best practices, consider the<br />
Company’s impact on the environment, local communities, shareholders, and<br />
employees as each decision is finalized to maintain the philosophy of “doing<br />
it right”.<br />
10:25 AM<br />
Putting the Equator Principles into Practice<br />
K. Clarke-Whistler; Golder Associates Limited, Toronto, ON, Canada<br />
World demand for metals is at an all time high, yet development of mineral<br />
properties has never been harder. Increasingly, mine Feasibility Studies are<br />
based, not only on proof of reserve, but also on whether environmental constraints<br />
and social acceptability – the ‘social license to operate’ – will allow<br />
them to be developed. National legislation is largely silent on the ‘softer’ issues,<br />
relating to the social and cultural impacts. Instead international standards<br />
are developing through the Equator Principles, a voluntary standard developed<br />
by the banking community and based on the updated performance<br />
standards of the International Financial Corporation (IFC). So what constitutes<br />
‘Equator Principle compliance’? While there is no universal definition<br />
this paper describes key activities that should be considered. Junior mining<br />
companies should pay particular attention to Equator Principle issues as they<br />
may affect the ability to obtain finance or to sell a project on.<br />
10:45 AM<br />
Towards Sustainable Mining<br />
G. Peeling; Mining Association of Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada<br />
The Mining Association of Canada (MAC) publicly launched the “Towards<br />
Sustainable Mining” (TSM) initiative in 2004 after four years of internal<br />
work. TSM’s goal is to improve the mining industry’s performance and earn<br />
its social licence to operate by aligning its actions with the priorities and values<br />
of Canadians. Members of MAC subscribe to TSM’s guiding principles,<br />
a set of commitments that address all areas of our industry’s performance.<br />
Over the past two years, MAC has designed a performance assessment and<br />
verification system for these performance areas. In 2007, MAC members reported<br />
their third party verified results in the TSM report, a global first for the<br />
industry. The initiative continues to evolve as policies on biodiversity and<br />
aboriginal relations have been developed and are now moving into the next<br />
stage of defining performance criteria. The evolution of this initiative, as well<br />
as the challenges faced in developing a verification system applicable to an<br />
entire sector, will be examined.<br />
BE A SPONSOR – Influence the Industry!<br />
52
GEM: THE COMMUNITY OF MINING:<br />
FROM DISASTERS TO SUSTAINABILITY<br />
COMMUNICATION IS THE KEY<br />
9:00 AM<br />
Wednesday, February 27<br />
Chairs: J. Steven Gardner<br />
Engineering Consulting Services, Inc., Lexington, KY<br />
Stan Krukawski<br />
Oaklahoma Geological Survey, Norman, OK<br />
This program will examine examples of how mining companies have<br />
worked with communities so that they will be sustainable/thriving<br />
before, during and after mining. Planning for assistance to Mining<br />
Communities during the ups and downs of the mining industry<br />
should be a key element of a business plan. While during the “up”<br />
cycles it is a time when companies can infuse some additional capital<br />
and energy into community projects to help them thrive with or<br />
without the presence of a highly profitable mine. After the mining<br />
tragedies of 2006 and 2007, dealing with the risk of mining and how<br />
to proactively work with the community in the event of a disaster is<br />
an important aspect of companies strategic planning, both small and<br />
large and is now required by law. All of these concepts can be tools<br />
to assist companies in earning the all important “Social License to<br />
Mine” and help the entire industry improve its public image.<br />
Following presentations, a panel discussion of presenters will be<br />
held to address audience questions.<br />
Industrial Minerals: Recent Startups and Expansions<br />
9:00 AM • Wednesday, February 27<br />
Evaluation of mine development alternatives will be covered including how<br />
horizontal directional drilling (HDD) was utilized to access the reserves<br />
through placement of pipelines under the Illinois River.<br />
9:40 AM<br />
Mining and Marketing Altered Volcanic Tuff at the Heart of Nature’s<br />
Alum/Sulfur Mine<br />
J. Heter; PIM,LLC, Santa Clarita, CA<br />
An alum/sulfur deposit (USDA organic registered) was mined underground<br />
for alunite (K,Na) Al3 (SO4)2 (OH)6 from the early 1900s to the 1930s. It is<br />
now being mined as an open pit quarry. A larger assemblage of minerals is included<br />
with this method (Alunite, Potassium–Alum, Jarosite, Gypsum,<br />
Native Sulfur and K-feldspar). This assemblage of minerals provides the necessary<br />
requirements as a Volcanic Soil Conditioner Sulfur-Potash. Heart of<br />
Nature Company has been marketing this product to farmers on the west<br />
coast as a (1) pH reducer, (2) soluble sulfur and potassium source for plant<br />
growth and (3) soluble calcium. Recently, a new market has been tapped.<br />
This product has been found to solve many odor, bacteria and algae problems<br />
faced in the dairy industry.<br />
10:00 AM<br />
“Evolution of the Ione, California Kaolin Deposits” David E. Jenkins<br />
Ione Minerals, Inc. Ione, California<br />
D. Jenkins; Ione Minerals Inc., Ione, CA<br />
The Ione kaolin deposits are about 35 miles southeast of Sacramento along<br />
the western edge of the Sierra Nevada Mountains in central California. The<br />
Ione Formation consists of a kaolin rich fluvial / deltaic shallow marine deposits<br />
of Eocene age. These deposits, near the city of Ione, represent a principle<br />
source of high-alumina kaolin clay and silica sand in California and have<br />
a long history of economic use. Starting in the late 1940’s, there have been a<br />
series of corporate owners that have developed and marketed the sand and<br />
clay from these deposits. The kaolin development started with Gladding<br />
McBean to Interpace to North American Refractories to ANH Refractories<br />
then to Ione Minerals, Inc. The silica sand development started with Owens<br />
Illinois then to Unimin Corporation.<br />
Mining and Exploration: Health and Safety<br />
Chair:<br />
K. Santini, Santini & Assoc., Oro Valley, AZ<br />
9:00 AM • Wednesday, February 27<br />
9:00 AM<br />
Active Minerals International, LLC - A New Beginning<br />
R. Southerland; Operations, Active Minerals International, LLC,<br />
Gordon, GA<br />
Active Minerals International, LLC is the culmination of one year’s due diligence<br />
work fo five business partners and an investment firm. Out of this<br />
work, a new company has been formed within the industrial minerals industry<br />
that is ready to take on a global vision of supplying industrial minerals to<br />
the world. The relationship of the five partners is not unique, but has within itself<br />
the components of success. Each partner brings to the table knowledge<br />
and experience from their separate areas of the business which when combined,<br />
will lead to a very succssful venture. The President of the company has<br />
the unique level of experence which crosses different boundaries of the business<br />
and provides the bond and momentum to move the company into the<br />
profitable future. Active Minerals International, LLC is an international<br />
industrial minerals distributing company, a major producer of high end<br />
attapulgite products and one of the largest air floated kaolin producers in<br />
the world.<br />
9:20 AM<br />
An Application of Horizontal Directional Drilling in Industrial Silica<br />
Sand Mine Development<br />
J. Jahn; US Silica Company, Berkeley Springs, WV<br />
US Silica Company hydrualically mines 2.5 million tons of silica sand annually<br />
from it’s Ottawa, Illinois operation.The plant site and historic mining<br />
areas are located north of the Illinois River. Long term reserves for the operation<br />
are located south of the Illinois River. This paper discusses the process<br />
by which a new mine was opened up on the South Illinois reserve properties.<br />
Chair: E. Bauer, NIOSH, Pittsburgh, PA<br />
9:05 AM<br />
“Tame the Flame”…Cutting and Welding Safety for Underground Coal<br />
Miners<br />
E. Cullen; NIOSH, Spokane Research Laboratory, Spokane, WA<br />
The Darby Mine Explosion in May, 2006, claimed the lives of five miners.<br />
This explosion was caused by improper use of a cutting torch in highmethane<br />
concentrations. With a growing number of inexperienced miners<br />
entering the workforce, it is imperative that effective safety awareness<br />
materials be made available to trainers and mine operators so that methane<br />
explosions due to cutting and welding can be prevented. This presentation<br />
provides information on how NIOSH created a multi-media curriculum for<br />
safety training based on accident data, an occupational ethnographic study<br />
of coal miners, and detailed technical information provided by master<br />
mechanics.<br />
9:25 AM<br />
What Do Coal Miners Need to Know About Refuge Chambers<br />
R. Peters and J. Geletko; Mining Injury Prevention Branch, NIOSH,<br />
Pittsburgh Research Laboratory, Pittsburgh, PA<br />
Refuge chambers are required in West Virginia’s coal mines, and may be required<br />
nationally in the future. NIOSH is evaluating the functioning and usability<br />
of refuge chambers. This presentation provides an overview of training<br />
requirements and needs related to refuge chambers. Miners need effective<br />
training about when and how to use the chambers. It would also be helpful for<br />
miners to be able to understand and anticipate the various types of physical<br />
and psychological distresses associated with being inside a chamber for 96<br />
hours. An update on NIOSH’s progress in developing training to address<br />
some of these issues is given.<br />
53
and processing equipment indicated that noise levels greater than 90 dB(A)<br />
were present. <strong>Full</strong> shift worker noise exposures revealed that, laborers,<br />
mechanics, oilers, helpers, pickers, and greasers are the most exposed<br />
workers and most likely to develop NIHL. Knowledge of equipment and area<br />
noise levels, and worker exposures are the tools that management and<br />
employees can use to reduce exposures through administrative and<br />
engineering noise controls.<br />
9:45 AM<br />
Identifying major opportunities for energy savings in coal, metals and<br />
industrial minerals in the U.S. Mining Industry<br />
M. Aziz 1 , R. Tiley 1 , I. Johnson 1 and M. Mosser 2 ; 1 BCS, Incorporated, Laurel,<br />
MD and 2 National Energy Technology Laboratory, Morgantown, WV<br />
The U.S. Department of Energy’s Mining R&D Portfolio has developed an<br />
energy bandwidth report that determines energy savings opportunity in the<br />
U.S. mining industry (non-oil & gas). Energy savings achieved would directly<br />
correlate with a reduction in CO2 emissions. The report estimates that<br />
the CO2 emissions reduction achievable from practical energy savings is 40<br />
million metric tons. Global warming is an issue that affects health and safety,<br />
and the implementation of energy saving practices and adoption of energy-efficient<br />
technologies will improve the health and safety of the mining industry<br />
and the United States.<br />
10:05 AM<br />
Mitigating mining hazards through risk-based solutions<br />
G. Poplin 1 , J. Burgess 1 , H. Miller 2 , J. Hill 1 and J. Joy 3 ; 1 Univ. of Arizona,<br />
Tucson, AZ; 2 Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO and 3 University of<br />
Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia<br />
The hazards associated with mining are dynamic, and change as a consequence<br />
of normal mine operations. In Australia, individual mine operators are<br />
required to seek and mitigate hazards through proactive risk management<br />
programs. The risk-based regulatory approach adopted in the Australian coal<br />
mining industry was accompanied by a marked reduction in lost-time injuries<br />
as compared with the United States (U.S.), which utilizes a largely compliance<br />
based methodology (Poplin et al, 2007). This paper explores the history<br />
and evolution of risk management strategies in Australian mining, and how<br />
such strategies might be adapted to the U.S. regulatory paradigm.<br />
10:25 AM<br />
Using Mine Planning and Other Techniques to Reduce DPM in Large-<br />
Opening Mines<br />
R. Grau, III and R. Krog; Disaster Prevention and Response Branch,<br />
NIOSH, Pittsburgh Research Laboratory, Pittsburgh, PA<br />
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has conducted<br />
research to improve the ventilation of large-opening mines such as underground<br />
stone operations. NIOSH research has demonstrated that the ventilation<br />
of large-opening mines improves significantly when incorporating<br />
ventilation planning into the mine planning process. The use of long pillars to<br />
eliminate crosscuts and the proper placement of both auxiliary fans and ventilation<br />
stoppings improve ventilation efficiency by directing a larger percentage<br />
of the total mine airflow to the production face. These various modifications<br />
of the mine’s ventilation plan will reduce mineworkers’ exposure to<br />
airborne contaminants such as diesel particulate matter (DPM) and will help<br />
these large-opening underground mines meet the reduced DPM standard of<br />
160 ug/m3 TC to be enacted in May, 2008.<br />
10:45 AM<br />
A Snapshot of Noise and Worker Exposures in Sand & Gravel<br />
Operations<br />
E. Bauer and E. Spencer; Hearing Loss Prevention Branch, NIOSH,<br />
Pittsburgh Research Laboratory, Pittsburgh, PA<br />
To delineate the potential for noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL), NIOSH<br />
researchers conducted a survey of equipment noise and worker exposures in<br />
sand and gravel operations. Sound levels on the dredges, mobile equipment<br />
54<br />
Mining & Exploration: IT in Mining<br />
9:00 AM • Wednesday, February 27<br />
Chair: A. Nieto, Virginia Polytech Inst & State University,<br />
Blacksburg, VA<br />
9:05 AM<br />
Mine Safety Applications of a Geographic Information System<br />
S. Phillipson; Roof Control Division, U.S. Dept. of Labor - MSHA,<br />
Pittsburgh, PA<br />
MSHA’s Roof Control Division integrated lineaments, geologic structures,<br />
and stress directions into a GIS. Incorporating different kinds of information<br />
into the same geographic coordinates and map projection, placed on digital<br />
geologic maps, allows data to be evaluated in a regional geospatial context,<br />
identifying trends. The GIS will evolve as a tool for district- and basin-wide<br />
evaluations of controls on ground instability, and may evolve into a predictive<br />
tool for some geologic hazards. The GIS also serves as a searchable database<br />
of previous mine investigations, and can be searched for a variety of criteria,<br />
with results displayed in real geographic coordinates to find the locations of<br />
previously visited mines or to evaluate mine fatality and injury data. This allows<br />
old reports to be found, and places the information in a geospatial context<br />
with respect to neighboring mines or geographic areas. The GIS also has<br />
the capability to serve as a digital mine map repository, with maps stored in<br />
digital, georeferenced format for evaluation of multiple seam mining interactions<br />
and proximity to other mines, and on a national level could serve as an<br />
abandoned mine map database.<br />
9:25 AM<br />
Process controlling, understanding, and optimization in a solution salt<br />
mine through the data acquisition system<br />
V. de Ruiter 3 , H. de Ruiter 1 , R. te Gussinklo Ohmann 2 and T. Bakker 3 ;<br />
1<br />
Mining Engineering, Delft Unitveristy of Technology, Delft, Netherlands;<br />
2<br />
Frisia Zout, ESCO, Harlingen, Netherlands and 3 BECi, Vries, Netherlands<br />
In the northwestern part of the Netherlands lies one of the deepest solution<br />
salt mines in the world. The company operating the mine is Frisia Zout bv.<br />
Extracting the NaCl from caverns at a depth of nearly 3,000 m has a lot of<br />
challenges. Continuously monitoring, among others, the flows, pressures and<br />
salt concentrations is necessary to safely and economically mine the salt. A<br />
system has been set up at Frisia to be able to monitor the data from a distance.<br />
Data has been put in graphs to monitor the trends daily. All gauges are also<br />
continuously monitored to maintain accuracy. With this system a better<br />
understanding of the mining process has been made and has led to many<br />
optimizations.<br />
9:45 AM<br />
Risk-based Production Scheduling of Open Pit Mines with Simulated<br />
Annealing and Application in a Copper Deposit<br />
A. Leite and R. Dimitrakopoulos; Mining and Materials Engineering,<br />
McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada<br />
Life-of-mine (LOM) production scheduling is a critically important part of<br />
open pit mining ventures; it determines the quantity and quality of ore and<br />
waste materials to be mined over time, so as to maximize the net present<br />
value of the mine. LOM production scheduling is adversely affected by geological<br />
risk, which can, however, be accounted for and managed while constructing<br />
production schedules. In this study, the LOM scheduling process of<br />
a disseminated copper deposit demonstrates the intricacies of a new scheduling<br />
approach based on the technique of simulated annealing and stochastically<br />
simulated representations of the copper orebody. The approach presented<br />
is found to generate a LOM schedule with a NPV 26% higher than that<br />
of the conventional schedule. Risk analysis results show that the stochastic<br />
schedule has low chances to significantly deviate from targets; the probability<br />
that the conventional schedule will deviate from production targets is high.<br />
Results suggest that LOM schedules that incorporate geological uncertainty<br />
lead to more informed investment decisions and improved mining practices.
10:05 AM<br />
Ore waste classification of a lead zinc deposit using support<br />
vector machine<br />
S. Chatterjee 1 , S. Bandopadhyay 2 and D. Machuca 3 ; 1 Department of Mining<br />
and Geological Engineering, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK;<br />
2<br />
Department of Mining and Geological Engineering, University of Alaska<br />
Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK and 3 Centre of Computational Geostatistics,<br />
University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada<br />
The objective of this study is to classify ore and waste in a selected mine. The<br />
support vector machine, was used for the classification purpose, is applied to<br />
a zinc ore body in a skarn deposit located in the central region of the Peruvian<br />
Andes. The input parameters used for the model are spatial coordinates and<br />
the lithological information of the ore body. The input data was divided into<br />
training and testing data sets and the performance of the model was tested<br />
using the testing data set. The results show that more than 76% of the data<br />
could be properly classified by this method. The ore waste maps of the deposit<br />
was then developed using SVM model. From the result, it was observed<br />
that a comparatively very few number of cells are classified as ore. The ore is<br />
concentrated in small lodes at the middle of the volume of study, and not uniformly<br />
distributed throughout the study area. The lithological map of the deposit<br />
was also constructed as it was used as an input parameter for the SVM<br />
model. The indicator kriging was used for generation of lithological map of<br />
the ore body.<br />
10:25 AM<br />
Web Based Real Time Integration of Mining and Metal Information<br />
O. Bascur, G. Schwenzer and R. Linares; OSIsoft, Houston, TX<br />
The lack of integration of mining and metallurgical information with sufficient<br />
detail to analyze and act is a problem. Without such data, mine cut-off<br />
grade can not be optimized on a per grade basis. It is difficult to analyze the<br />
economics without an integrated view of mine transactions, stockpile inventories,<br />
process flows and assays. However, to take action we requires real<br />
time information from manufacturing assets, corrected for gross errors from<br />
trucks, shovels, conveyors, faulty sensors and metallurgical laboratories.<br />
Validation methods use process models to identify inconsistent information<br />
in the case of corrupt actionable information. This paper presents new tools<br />
that sift through available data, identify and eliminate gross errors, and use<br />
statistical data reconciliation based on the process topology to create material<br />
balanced, internally consistent flows. This technical presentation will review<br />
recent implementation enabling large metallurgical complexes mass balancing<br />
enabling metal valuation. The evolution of Webservices to troubleshoot<br />
plant information and the integration with ERP Systems is discussed.<br />
10:45 AM<br />
Application of Business Intelligence Technologies to Improve<br />
Performance in Mining Operations<br />
K. Meikle and P. Orr; Gemcom Software, Vancouver, BC, Canada<br />
This paper examines the application of business intelligence technologies to<br />
the challenge of improving operational performance throughout the mining<br />
value stream. The authors describe how business process improvement (BPI)<br />
methodologies adopted from other industries are being applies to mining operations.<br />
Several case studies examine the use of mine-to-mill information<br />
technology solutions to enable business process improvement. The cases<br />
present evidence that improvement in information flows between processes<br />
within mining operations increases the mine’s profitability.<br />
11:05 AM<br />
Relationship of the Kriging Variance with the Block-Estimation<br />
Parameters in Mineral Resource Modeling: A Case Study<br />
A. Samal; Geostatistics, Pincock Allen and Holt, Lakewood, CO<br />
A block model representing a homogenous mineralization in a mineral<br />
deposit is generated and manipulated using an industry standard exploration<br />
and mining software system. The values stored inside the block-model<br />
include density, rock-type, and percentage of litho-units and concentration of<br />
55<br />
elements of interest such as gold (Au), copper (Cu) etc. The elemental<br />
concentrations in the block model are usually estimated using an interpolation<br />
technique such as kriging. Parameters that impact the estimation of the<br />
elemental concentration values by kriging include those of a variogram<br />
model, number of samples used to estimate a particular block and distance of<br />
a block center from the sample. Kriging variance provides a measure to<br />
assess the uncertainty factor associated with kriging. Often the number of<br />
samples and distance factors are used to classify the mineral resource as<br />
measured, indicated or, inferred category. This project examines the<br />
relationship of the kriging variance with samples and distance. The findings<br />
of this project may help identifying set of parameters to classify resources<br />
with reduced uncertainty.<br />
Mineral & Metallurgical Processing: Modeling and<br />
Simulation of Minerals and Metallurgical Processing<br />
Chair:<br />
9:30 AM • Wednesday, February 27<br />
M. Moats, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT<br />
9:35 AM<br />
Use of the JKTech MLA to Size IsaMill Product<br />
M. Larson 1 , R. Morrison 1 and K. Pietersen 2 ; 1 JKMRC, University of<br />
Queensland, Indooroopilly, QLD, Australia and 2 JKTech, University of<br />
Queensland, Indooroopilly, QLD, Australia<br />
As mining operations are forced to employ equipment such as the IsaMill to<br />
achieve liberation by grinding finer, use of laser particle sizing devices such<br />
as the Malvern Mastersizer is becoming more widespread as a practical<br />
means to measure these fine particle products. Concerns exist about the precision<br />
of measurements between different machines and their overall accuracy<br />
when confronted with particles of more rounded shape. This paper will<br />
introduce a specialized sample preparation procedure that has been developed<br />
at the JKMRC to allow the JKTech MLA to analyze a sub 10 micron<br />
IsaMill product for both size distribution and shape characteristics to be used<br />
in calibrating the Malverns.<br />
9:55 AM<br />
Developing a Flotation Model on the Basis of CFD Simulation and<br />
PIV Studies<br />
H. Do 1 , Y. Yang 1 , D. Telionis 1 , P. Vlachos 2 and R. Yoon 3 ; 1 Engineering<br />
Science and Mechanics, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University,<br />
Blacksburg, VA; 2 Mechanical Engineering, Virginia Polytechnic Institute<br />
and State University, Blacksburg, VA and 3 Mining and Minerals<br />
Engineering, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University,<br />
Blacksburg, VA<br />
Control of the hydrodynamics of a flotation cell is of critical importance in<br />
mixing, bubble-particle interaction, bubble generation, energy consumption,<br />
and wear. Therefore, the hydrodynamics of a 0.3 m3 laboratory-scale Dorr-<br />
Oliver EIMCO flotation cell has been studied using the computational fluid<br />
dynamic (CFD) simulation and digital particle image velocitymetry (DPIV)<br />
techniques. The simulations were carried out by changing the impeller speed,<br />
the relative positions of rotor and stator, and the clearance between the impeller<br />
and the floor. The simulation was in a reasonable agreement with the<br />
experiment. The information on the spatial distribution of turbulence, flow<br />
velocities and energy dissipation has been used to develop a more realistic<br />
flotation model.<br />
10:15 AM<br />
A Model for Froth-Phase Recovery<br />
H. Do 1 , I. Sherrell 2 and R. Yoon 2 ; 1 Engineering Science and Mechanics,<br />
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA and<br />
2<br />
Mining and Minerals Engineering, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State<br />
University, Blacksburg, VA<br />
In flotation, hydrophobic particles are selectively collected by air bubbles,<br />
and the bubble-particle aggregates enter the froth phase. However, less hydrophobic<br />
particles drop off from the froth phase, while more hydrophobic<br />
particles are recovered. Thus, the froth phase provides an important cleaning<br />
mechanism. In the present communication, the froth-phase recovery process<br />
has been modeled by considering particle retention times and the carrying<br />
capacities of bubbles. The model predictions are compared with the experimental<br />
data reported by Seaman and Franzidis (2005). The results show that<br />
the froth-phase recovery varies with particle size, particle hydrophobicity,<br />
and bubble coarsening.
10:35 AM<br />
Using particle properties from MLA analysis to model separation<br />
behaviour – From ore to product<br />
D. Ferguson 2 , K. Deysel 2 and K. Pietersen 1 ; 1 JKTech Pty Ltd, Brisbane,<br />
QLD, Australia and 2 Richards Bay Minerals, Richards Bay, South Africa<br />
The metallurgical behavior of a particle in a physical separator is dependant<br />
on several particle properties, namely: shape, size, surface angularity, density,<br />
electrostatic potential, flotability and magnetic susceptibility. The effect of<br />
the aforementioned properties may be enhanced or depressed by the separator<br />
variables, for example: environmental conditions, medium or matrix effects<br />
and the applied forces (strength, direction, gradient). The MLA produces<br />
contextual mineralogical data which quantifies the particle properties and<br />
therefore permits modeling of the effect of the combined variables. The construction<br />
of a plant flow model created from plant survey, plant duty model or<br />
laboratory metallurgical scale data allows the modeling of the effect of mineralogy<br />
on plant behaviour: an essential step towards the creation of a<br />
geometallurgical predictor of plant behavior. A prior step to a well<br />
constrained model is a simple multi-dimensional comparison of exploration<br />
samples to plant feed that can be characterized as Good, Fair and Poor<br />
performing ore.<br />
10:55 AM<br />
Advances in 3D Image Analysis of X-ray Micro CT Data for the<br />
Characterization of Multiphase Particles in Mineral Processing<br />
A. Videla, C. Lin and J. Miller; Metallurgical Engineering Department,<br />
College of Mines and Earth Sciences University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT<br />
Recent efforts on the development and utilization of X-ray micro CT (XMT)<br />
for the compositional analysis of multiphase particles in the copper and phosphate<br />
industries are discussed. The three dimensional XMT image data of<br />
multiphase mineral particles is post-processed in order to determine the characteristic<br />
relationship between mineral phases and liberation for individual<br />
particles from a packed particle bed. Based on the development of new algorithms<br />
it is now possible to have 3D exposure/liberation analysis by micro CT<br />
for as many as 30,000 particles in less than 3 hours, including sample preparation<br />
time. Each particle is identified and interrogated at a resolution of 10<br />
microns. With this software, it is expected that micro CT data can be used to<br />
improve the efficiency of mine to mill operations in a significant way. The<br />
classification and characterization of particles by micro CT opens new areas<br />
of research that could lead to further optimization of particulate separation<br />
processes such as are common in the mineral processing industry.<br />
11:15 AM<br />
Pogo Mine Control System: A Hybrid of DCS and PLC<br />
X. Chen and R. Dittrich; Teck Pogo Inc, Delta Jct, AK<br />
Xiangdong Chen Teck Pogo Inc. PO Box 145 Delta Jct, AK 99737 Phone:<br />
907-895-2716 Email: shawn.chen@teckcominco.com Russ Dittrich Teck<br />
Pogo Inc. PO Box 145 Delta Jct, AK 99737 Phone: 907-895-2713 Email:<br />
russ.dittrich@teckcominco.com Pogo Mine, near Delta Junction, Alaska is a<br />
new 2500 TPD gold operation. The control system of the mine and mill is a<br />
hybrid of DCS (Distributed Control System) control and PLC (<strong>Program</strong>ming<br />
Logic Controller) control. A DeltaV DCS system serves as the main control<br />
and operation platform while the PLCs operate dozens vendor packages. The<br />
communication backbone of the DCS system is a hybrid of star topology and<br />
ring topology, which provides reliability and flexibility. The communication<br />
between the DCS and PLCs are typically done by serial communication. This<br />
communication insures the integrity of the whole control system.<br />
This paper discusses established on-line particle size analysis technologies<br />
and presents experiences on the use of a new technique employing laser diffraction<br />
in several minerals processing operations. The main innovations in<br />
the new instrument are a simple dilution system and multiple scattering correction<br />
algorithm, which allows wide solids content variations of diluted<br />
sample in the measurement cell. Representative sample for laser measurement<br />
is produced by a simple and reliable dilution system. The applications<br />
discussed are,:Blaine number measurement of Fe concentrate before pelletizing,<br />
grinding of variable batches of ore and paste thickener control.<br />
9:55 AM<br />
Getting more out of Near-stream Energy Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence<br />
(EDXRF) Slurry Analyzers<br />
T. Strombotne; Process Engineering Resources Inc., Salt Lake City, UT<br />
Recent advances in detector design, cooling and digital signal processing are<br />
available as off-the-shelf solutions. This technology provides the basis for a<br />
modular yet rugged and flexible EDXRF based Near-stream Slurry Analyzer<br />
that can be adapted to incorporate the newest technology as it comes to market.<br />
Because spectral data is accessed by USB from a Windows PC platform,<br />
analysis and open-standard data interfaces can be readily implemented and<br />
deployed. Traditional base-metal elemental analysis is the primary analytical<br />
result but other high quality data can be used to derive additional valuable information<br />
for both the plant operator and metallurgist.<br />
10:15 AM<br />
On-line Cross Belt Analysis Applications in the Minerals Industry<br />
I. Cottle and V. Lanz; Australian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy,<br />
Adelaide, SA, Australia<br />
Thermo Fisher Scientific is the World’s leading supplier of analysers for laboratories<br />
and process industries. The Prompt Gamma Neutron Activation<br />
Analysis (PGNAA) technique has the unique ability to provide on-line elemental<br />
analysis of bulk materials on a conveyor belt. The company released<br />
its 8th generation Cross Belt Omni analyser using PGNAA in 2007. Cross<br />
belt analysers have gained wide acceptance in related cement and coal applications<br />
and the benefits are beginning to be appreciated by the Minerals sector.<br />
Results from recent projects are presented. Potential applications with<br />
strong financial justifications are also presented.<br />
10:35 AM<br />
3D Interfacial Area Analysis of Multiphase Particle Breakage<br />
D. Garcia, C. Lin and J. Miller; Metallurgical Engineering Department,<br />
College of Mines and Earth Sciences University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT<br />
Direct observation of intergranular fracture during multiphase particle breakage<br />
is a difficult task to achieve. One method of analysis is based on the<br />
measurement of interfacial area before and after comminution. Conservation<br />
of interfacial area after crushing is indicative of transgranular random breakage.<br />
On the other hand, if interfacial area is diminished after breakage some<br />
degree of preferential breakage has occurred. For complete liberation of all<br />
grains after crushing the interfacial area goes to zero. Thus the interfacial area<br />
criterion is an important metric to assess the significance of preferential grain<br />
boundary fracture for different breakage conditions. This study describes the<br />
development of the procedures to quantify the extent of preferential breakage<br />
in 3D for different breakage conditions using cone beam X-ray microtomography<br />
(XMT). The detailed analysis for interfacial area measurements and the<br />
determination of the extent of grain boundary fracture of multiphase particles<br />
for different breakage conditions are discussed.<br />
Mineral & Metallurgical Processing: New Tools —<br />
Analytical or Devices or Those Emerging from<br />
Nanotechnology Part I<br />
9:30 AM • Wednesday, February 27<br />
Chairs: M. Free, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT<br />
A. Nguyen, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD<br />
9:35 AM<br />
Next Generation Slurry Particle Size Analyzers<br />
M. Kongas and K. Saloheimo; Outotec Oyj, Espoo, Finland<br />
New technology for on-line particle size analysis of mineral slurries has<br />
opened up new applications for particle size measurement. In some cases the<br />
particle size distribution of the final concentrate is an important quality issue.<br />
56<br />
10:55 AM<br />
Emerging Technologies for Particle Characterization<br />
M. Pohl; HORIBA Instruments, Irvine, CA<br />
The mining and metallurgy industries have long understood the importance<br />
of particle size distribution, morphology and surface charge on bulk properties<br />
and processability. Unfortunately, the rich history in particle technology<br />
hasn’t necessarily translated into quick adoption of the latest characterization<br />
techniques or methodology. This presentation introduces emerging technologies<br />
used for particle characterization and describes current best practices for<br />
method development. Technologies discussed include static and dynamic<br />
light scattering, automated image analysis, and acoustic spectroscopy.<br />
Applicable developments adopted in the nanotechnology and life sciences industries<br />
that could be transferred to the mining and metallurgy industries will<br />
also be reviewed.
11:15 AM<br />
Automated Quantification of Complex Minerals with the MLA<br />
K. Pietersen and R. Fandrich; JKTech Pty Ltd, Brisbane, QLD, Australia<br />
Automated mineralogical analysis systems based on scanning electron microscope<br />
(SEM) technology employ Energy Dispersive Systems (EDS) to perform<br />
mineral identification. To achieve reasonable analysis speeds and hence<br />
effective levels of automation, successful and reliable mineral identification<br />
needs to be achieved with x-ray spectra with limited counts. Rather than attempting<br />
to derive chemical composition information from such spectra to<br />
achieve mineral identification, the MLA employs advanced pattern matching<br />
techniques to correlate measured with stored mineral standard spectra. New<br />
spectral treatment techniques, known as advanced classification, are employed<br />
to achieve new levels of mineral identification accuracy and reliability.<br />
The challenges presented by Arsenic bearing pyrite in Gold ores is used to<br />
demonstrate the effectiveness of advanced classification.<br />
Chair:<br />
Mineral & Metallurgical Processing:<br />
Water & Energy Conservation, New Reagents<br />
9:30 AM • Wednesday, February 27<br />
D. Nagaraj, Cytec Industries Inc, Stamford, CT<br />
9:35 AM<br />
Characterisation of particle tribo-charging and electron transfer with<br />
reference to electrostatic dry coal cleaning<br />
R. Dwari 1 , H. Kota 2 and S. Ponniseril 3 ; 1 Chemical Engineering and<br />
Geosciences, Lulea University of Technology, Lulea, Sweden; 2 Chemical<br />
Engineering and Geosciences, Lulea University of Technology, Lulea,<br />
Sweden and 3 Earth and Environmental Engineering, Henry Krumb School<br />
of Mines, Columbia University, New York, NY<br />
Tribo-charging of quartz, pyrite and coal particles contacted with various<br />
metals and polymer materials have been monitored and the charge acquisition<br />
is assessed through surface energy calculations from liquid contact angle<br />
data. The charge polarity and the amount of the charge acquired by quartz,<br />
pyrite and carbon particles with metal tribo-chargers were found to be in<br />
good agreement with the reported work functions of the contacting surfaces.<br />
The surface energy of quartz and pyrite showed that tribo-charging increases<br />
the surface energy. Both polar and non-polar components of surface energy<br />
increased with tribo-electrification. However, the polar component divided<br />
into acid and base components manifest decreasing acid part and increasing<br />
base part. Since quartz and pyrite charged negatively during tribo-charging<br />
with metal surfaces and therefore accepted electrons, the acid-base surface<br />
energy components determined are consistent with the charge transfer<br />
process. Thus a method for characterising the changes in surface energetic<br />
structure of solids during tribo-electrification between the contacting surfaces<br />
has been described for the first time.<br />
9:55 AM<br />
Improving Energy Efficiency in Copper Heap Leaching with the use<br />
of Binders<br />
K. Lewandowski and S. Kawatra; Department of Chemical Engineering,<br />
Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI<br />
Leach heaps are plagued with problems due to fine material migrating downwards,<br />
clogging the spaces between the coarser ore particles, resulting in decreased<br />
metal recovery rates. The use of a binder in agglomeration would<br />
allow the fine material to be immobilized, increasing the availability for the<br />
solution to come in contact with all the ore. As much as 1.64*10^12 BTU per<br />
year would be able to be saved if a 25% increase in copper recovery was experienced,<br />
assuming that 70% of heap leaching units converted to using agglomeration<br />
technology. This is equivalent to approximately 18% of the energy<br />
currently being used in leaching heaps.<br />
10:15 AM<br />
Flotation Performance-Influence of Pulp Rheology<br />
W. Perez; Cytec Industries Inc., Stamford, CT<br />
The importance of pulp rheology in flotation performance has long being realized;<br />
the effects of pulp % solids and pulp viscosity has been quantified in<br />
terms of their influence on froth retention time, water hold-up in the froth<br />
phase and concentrate grades. However, very few attempts have been made at<br />
correlating pulp rheology with flotation recovery. In addition, information describing<br />
the correlation between froth or bubble structure and rheology at best<br />
57<br />
is scant. A series of test were conducted in an attempt to correlate pulp rheology<br />
with flotation recoveries. In addition, the froth structure and bubble<br />
structural characteristic were associated with pulp rheology. The use of<br />
chemicals reagents to illustrate how the pulp rheology can be manipulated to<br />
enhance the flotation metallurgical parameters is illustrated.<br />
10:35 AM<br />
Tracking Multiphase Mineral Particles in Flotation<br />
S. Vianna 1 and P. Lamberg 2 ; 1 JKMRC, UNIVERSITY OF QUEENSLAND,<br />
Brisbane, QLD, Australia and 2 Outotec Research Centre, PORI, Finland<br />
The relevance and value of liberation analysis for plant design and optimisation<br />
is undisputable. In flotation, the use of liberation information by the<br />
Mineral Industry has been largely restricted to the determination of the adequate<br />
degree of liberation of the valuable mineral for an optimum separation<br />
and assessment of deportment (or losses) of the mineral of interest in circuits.<br />
In addition, in most if not all-commercial data presentation packages available<br />
such as the ones provided by the Julius Kruttschnitt Mineral Liberation<br />
Analyser (MLA) and Intellection (QEMSCAN), liberation data are presented<br />
in a simplified fashion. Multiphase mineral particles are treated as binaries<br />
(i.e. the valuable mineral plus all the other minerals lumped together). A more<br />
robust approach for diagnosing, modelling and simulation of circuits is to<br />
perform liberation analysis considering all mineral phases in particles. In this<br />
paper, the methodology for reconciling and tracking multiphase particles in<br />
circuits is discussed and its application is demonstrated in one case study<br />
using a high-grade from BHP-Billiton Cannington Mine in Australia.<br />
10:55 AM<br />
Water and Energy Balances in Mineral Processing Plants<br />
O. Bascur and A. Soudek; OSIsoft, Houston, TX<br />
New reagents improve the management of water separations and energy delivery.<br />
Energy and water are very scarce resources in many large metallurgical<br />
complexes in the world. Recent advances in information technologies provide<br />
tools to improve the management of these resources. However, industrial<br />
measurements are subject to both statistical errors, which can lead to poor estimation<br />
of recovery and grade performance calculations. Once the measurement<br />
gross errors have been eliminated, it is possible to estimate performance<br />
indicators such as water consumption by ton and kwh/ton. The generated information<br />
can be used to develop process alerts to avoid problems and simplify<br />
fault detection and elimination. Improved metallurgical mass balances<br />
are a must to define the most energy and water efficient circuits in mineral<br />
processing plant. The collaboration process in defining the mass balance<br />
using new Web Based portals enables a team effort to improve results and implementation<br />
at the enterprise level.<br />
11:15 AM<br />
Effect of surface mobility on water drainage in flotation froth<br />
S. Karakashev and A. Nguyen; The University of Queensland, Brisbane,<br />
QLD, Australia<br />
Water drainage and recovery in flotation froth determine both the grade and<br />
recovery of valuable minerals. The production and maintenance of a satisfactory<br />
froth phase at different stages of a flotation process has been an art rather<br />
than a science. In this paper the effect of interfacial properties of surfactants<br />
adsorbed at the air-water interface on water drainage in a froth column was<br />
investigated. The volumetric flow rate of water drainage as a function of<br />
frother concentration and liquid pressure in the Plateau borders was determined<br />
using a home-designed froth apparatus. The liquid volume fraction<br />
was determined using the froth conductivity measured concurrently with the<br />
drainage experiment. The surface shear viscosity of frother solutions was determined<br />
using a deep-channel surface viscometer. The experimental data<br />
were compared with the standard and extended drainage theories. The water<br />
drainage process was controlled by the interfacial rheology of flotation surfactants<br />
adsorbed at the gas-liquid interface.<br />
WADSWORTH LECTURE<br />
8:30 AM<br />
Wednesday, February 27<br />
Lecturer: Randolph E. Scheffel
wednesday, february 27<br />
afternoon<br />
Bulk Material Handling by Conveyor Belt 7: Case<br />
Studies of Large Belt Conveyance Projects Part II<br />
9:00 AM • Tuesday, February 26<br />
Chair: E. Brady, Twentymile Coal Co., Oak Creek, CO<br />
9:05 AM<br />
CADMAN Overland Conveyor<br />
P. Sehl 1 , W. Sayer 2 and M. Mendez 1 ; 1 ThyssenKrupp Robins inc, Greenwood<br />
Village, CO and 2 Cadman, Inc, Redmond, WA<br />
The new Cadman Overland Conveyor transports pit run from an upper mining<br />
area in North Bend, WA, downhill to a lower pit. The conveyor belt has a rated<br />
capacity of 1,000 stph, is 1.2 miles long and an elevation drop of 900 ft. The<br />
design includes provisions for transporting material uphill. The regenerative<br />
energy produced by the loaded conveyor is used to offset the power consumptions<br />
of the crusher and feed systems. The project team was faced with the<br />
challenge of building a conveyor that follows a complex route and maintains a<br />
“low–profile” design, which is minimally obtrusive to the environment.<br />
9:35 AM<br />
Replacing the Long Distance Pipe Conveyor Belt at Western Arch Coal<br />
Skyline Mine<br />
M. Keller; ContiTech, Northeim, Germany<br />
Located approx. 3500 m above sea level the Arch Western Coal Skyline Mine<br />
Pipe Conveyor in Utah has a centre distance of 3414 m and an elevation drop<br />
of 172 m. It transports coal at approx. 1200 tph downhill from the pit to the<br />
mine’s train loading facilities. In 2006, after 13 years of service, the replacement<br />
of the initially installed belt had become inevitable. The turnkey project<br />
to the customer covered both the design and supply of the pipe conveyor belt<br />
as well as the procedures for the actual carry-out of the belt installation and<br />
commissioning. With its 22 horizontal and 45 vertical curves the conveyor system<br />
follows the natural geographical contour in order to minimize the conveyors<br />
impact to the environment. Therefore the biggest constraints for the project<br />
were to ensure the new pipe conveyor belt being accepted by the existing<br />
structure as well as minimizing the inevitable downtime during belt installation<br />
and commissioning and therefore to avoid a potential loss of production.<br />
10:05 AM<br />
Large-scale Stacking System at the Phelps Dodge Safford Mine<br />
M. Schmalzel 1 , A. Osterloh 2 and G. Graber 3 ; 1 Phelps Dodge, Safford, AZ;<br />
2<br />
Fluor Canada Ltd, Vancouver, BC, Canada and 3 Terra Nova Technologies,<br />
Santee, CA<br />
Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold, Inc., will begin copper production from<br />
the Dos Pobres and San Juan deposits near Safford, Arizona. Ore reserves<br />
total 615 M tons grading 0.36% copper, predominantly as chrysocolla.<br />
Copper extraction will be by leaching with sulfuric acid. Fluor Canada Ltd.<br />
provided EPCM services to design an ore handling and conventional SX/EW<br />
facility capable of producing a nominal 240 million pounds per year of cathode<br />
copper. The ore handling facility will process 114,000 tons per day of ore<br />
through three-stage, open-circuit crushing followed by agglomeration and<br />
product placement on the permanent leach pad. Stacking of ore on the leach<br />
pad will utilize Terra Nova Technologies’ “Super Portable” mobile stacking<br />
system, comprising a fleet of (13) self-propelled, crawler-mounted, 72”-<br />
wide, 6,800 ton/hour mobile conveyor units, including (10) 250-ft-long<br />
portable conveyors, a 300-ft-long horizontal conveyor and a 220-ft-long<br />
radial stacker.<br />
10:35 AM<br />
Thirty-Year Old Transfer Point Challenge<br />
R. McEwen; Drummond Equipment Co, Mississauga, ON, Canada<br />
Conveyor equipment beyond its prime chronically suffers from lack of understanding<br />
in today’s plant environment regularly delivers more material than<br />
original designers ever expected. A case in point is a belt conveyor in a major<br />
hard rock mine/milling operation asking to bring the unit up to current standards<br />
while eliminating spillage and reducing airborne dust. The challenge<br />
was to keep the system going by revamping the system while keeping the<br />
same footprint and allowing for higher production rate. Thirty years of daily<br />
maintenance and dust collection costs have virtually disappeared by the end<br />
of this challenging upgrade.<br />
Chair:<br />
Environmental: Water Management:<br />
The Environmental Challenges of Too Much or<br />
Too Little<br />
2:00 PM • Wednesday, February 27<br />
P. Gorman, URS Corporation, Tucson, AZ<br />
2:05 PM<br />
Post-Closure Flooding of the Homestake Mine at Lead, South Dakota<br />
A. Davis 1 , W. Roggenthen 2 , L. Stetler 3 , Z. Hladysz 4 and C. Johnson 5 ;<br />
1<br />
Geology and Geological Engineering, South Dakota School of Mines and<br />
Technology, Rapid City, SD; 2 Geology and Geological Engineering, South<br />
Dakota School of Mines and Technology, Rapid City, SD; 3 Geology and<br />
Geological Engineering, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology,<br />
Rapid City, SD; 4 Mining Engineering and Management, South Dakota<br />
School of Mines and Technology, Rapid City, SD and 5 RESPEC, Inc.,<br />
Rapid City, SD<br />
The historic Homestake gold mine at Lead, South Dakota, was closed in<br />
December of 2001, after 125 years of operation. Since closure, the mine has<br />
been selected by the National Science Foundation as the host site for the<br />
Deep Underground Science and Engineering Laboratory. Pumps in the 8000-<br />
ft deep mine were shut off on June 10, 2003. Post-closure flooding of the<br />
mine has resulted in rising water levels that reached the 5000-ft level in July<br />
of 2007. The rate of water inflow into the mine is about 700 gal/min. A plot of<br />
water level vs. time shows that the rise has not followed an exponential decay<br />
curve. When the pumps are turned on for dewatering, the rate of water-level<br />
decline will be monitored. Water in the Homestake mine contains arsenic that<br />
results from arsenopyrite. In samples of pumped water, the mean concentration<br />
of arsenic was below the surface-water aquatic life standard for<br />
beneficial use.<br />
2:25 PM<br />
Determination of Surface Hydrologic Consequences for the Extension of<br />
a Western Semi-arid Surface Coal Mine<br />
S. Raugust 1 , B. Brock 1 , F. Lan 2 and C. Brown 3 ; 1 URS Corporation,<br />
Albuquerque, NM; 2 URS Corporation, Denver, CO and 3 BHP Navajo Coal<br />
Company, Fruitland, NM<br />
Office of Surface Mining mandated permit application for any proposed coal<br />
mine operation has two crucial components, i.e. baseline hydrologic information<br />
and probable hydrologic consequences (PHC). This paper presents the<br />
methodologies for the baseline surface hydrologic study and surface PHC<br />
evaluation for a mine extension project in a western semi-arid surface coal<br />
mine operated by BHP Navajo Coal Company. The new project will receive<br />
hauled back coal combustion byproducts (CCBs) for placement in new pits<br />
and a major arroyo will have to be diverted. Finally, the mine is to be reclaimed<br />
using a geomorphic reclamation approach. The study will begin with<br />
a baseline channel inventory of all surface water bodies, followed by determination<br />
of pre-mining/mining/post-mining hydrology and sedimentation using<br />
analytical tools. Based on the results obtained, the probable impacts of mining,<br />
CCB disposal, arroyo diversion and reclamation on surface water resources<br />
will be evaluated. Any changes in stream flow, sedimentology and<br />
water quality of the arroyos will be predicted. Finally, changes in erosion and<br />
sediment yields from disturbed and reclaimed areas will be assessed.<br />
2:45 PM<br />
Managing precipitation events on reclaimed mining lands in the arid<br />
Four Corners Region – facilitating infiltration while controlling runoff<br />
D. Place; San Juan Coal Company, BHP Billiton, Waterflow, NM<br />
San Juan Coal Company’s La Plata and San Juan surface mines are located in<br />
the arid Four Corners Region in New Mexico. Although only about 20 miles<br />
apart there is quite a difference in average annual precipitation with La Plata<br />
Mine receiving about 12 inches and San Juan Mine receiving about 7 inches.<br />
The majority of the precipitation falls as rain between July and October during<br />
intense thunderstorms. The remainder falls as snow or short duration<br />
showers. The reclaimed lands must be able to capitalize on these showers by<br />
facilitating infiltration while controlling the runoff created during the intense<br />
events. This presentation discusses ways in which those two different goals<br />
are met and shows how the reclaimed lands stood up to a recent 200 year<br />
storm event that produced over 2 inches of rain in less than 3 hours.<br />
58
Mineral & Metallurgical Processing: Mineralogy of<br />
New Ore Reserves as it Applies to Processing<br />
2:00 PM • Wednesday, February 27<br />
Chairs: A. Hagni, Intellection Corporation, Rolla, MO<br />
P. Miranda, Montana Tech, Butte, MT<br />
2:05 PM<br />
Refractory Copper Ore from Nchanga, Zambia: A Materials<br />
Characterization Study<br />
A. Hagni 2 , O. Sikazwe 1 and R. Hagni 3 ; 1 Geology, University of Zambia,<br />
Lusaka, Zambia; 2 Intellection Corporation, Rolla, MO and 3 Geological<br />
Sciences and Engineering, University of Missouri-Rolla, Rolla, MO<br />
The Nchanga Cu-Co ore deposit of the Zambian Copperbelt, is hosted in the<br />
Neoproterozoic siliciclastic-carbonate sedimentary rocks, and consists of two<br />
orebodies: the Lower Orebody (shale) and the Upper Orebody (arkose).<br />
Refractory Cu ores present in the Upper Orebody comprise 150 Mt with<br />
avaerage 0.87% Cu, and are characterized by inadequate recovery of copper<br />
by leaching. This materials characterization study, conducted on refractory<br />
ore samples from the Upper Orebody using optical, QEMSCAN, and microprobe,<br />
has shown that copper occurs mainly in biotite-phlogopite, malachite,<br />
pseudo-malachite and goethite. QEMSCAN has quantified the abaundance of<br />
phases and total Cu in each phase.<br />
2:25 PM<br />
Geology and Mineralogy of REE-bearing breccia pipes, Pea Ridge<br />
Mine, Missouri<br />
C. Seeger; Missouri Geologic Survey <strong>Program</strong>, Rolla, MO<br />
The Pea Ridge Mine contains four REE-bearing breccia pipes located near<br />
contacts between major lithologic zones. The pipes contain rhyolite,<br />
hematite, and silicified rock clasts in a groundmass of rock flour, feldspar,<br />
chlorite, barite, apatite, monazite, quartz, and calcite. REE-bearing minerals<br />
include monazite, xenotime, and rare bastnaesite and britholite. Thorium and<br />
uranium are present in the groundmass. Bulk samples have average REO concentrations<br />
of 12 weight percent; grab samples are as high as 37.8 weight percent.<br />
Cerium, lanthanum, and yttrium are present in recoverable quantities.<br />
Estimated reserves are 180,000 tonnes of 12% REO.<br />
2:45 PM<br />
Head Grade Effects on Gold Recovery<br />
M. Brittan; Gold Fields, Denver, CO<br />
The occlusion of unliberated gold particles in silicates and sulfides in<br />
crushed/milled ore dictates the recovery that can be expected. The grade of<br />
this occluded gold in cyanide leach residues shows a consistent, general<br />
relationship to the head grade of the ore, irrespective of mineralogy or<br />
geographical location. The residue grade almost invariably increases with the<br />
head grade, but not in proportion to it. This phenomenon appears to stem<br />
from the nature of the geological events originally responsible for creating<br />
the ore deposits. A statistically-based technique for determining the true head<br />
grade-tail grade relationship from gold plant operating data is described. The<br />
effect is illustrated with results from several worldwide gold milling<br />
operations analyzed over the last 35 years.<br />
3:05 PM<br />
The Sulphide Mineral Assemblages and <strong>Preliminary</strong> Metallurgical<br />
Characterization at the Pebble Porphyry Deposits, Alaska<br />
S. Freudigmann 1 , B. Fielder 2 , D. Barratt 3 and R. Schafer 1 ; 1 HunterDickinson<br />
Inc., Vancouver, BC, Canada; 2 Melis Engineering Ltd., Saskatoon, SK,<br />
Canada and 3 DJB Consultants Inc., Vancouver, BC, Canada<br />
Northern Dynasty Mines Inc. is preparing development plans for the Pebble<br />
Project in Alaska, about 200 miles (320 kms) southwest of Anchorage. The<br />
property hosts significant copper-gold-molybdenum porphyry deposits that<br />
have been delineated by substantial exploration drilling since the initial discovery<br />
of Pebble West in 1988. In 2005 exploration drilling revealed the presence<br />
of a large, higher-grade Cu-Au-Mo deposit, ultimately designated<br />
Pebble East, at the east end of the then-known resource beneath younger volcanic<br />
cover rocks. The lithology, mineralogy and alteration of the deposits are<br />
being correlated to the metallurgical trends observed. Both deposits have<br />
been the subject of extensive metallurgical testwork, which has developed<br />
preliminary process flow sheets. Factors such as grind size versus recovery,<br />
flotation reagents, flotation pH and gold recovery techniques have been<br />
assessed and optimisation and variability work continues. A significant comminution<br />
testwork program has been conducted in parallel with flotation. An<br />
innovative approach is being used to incorporate these data into the<br />
feasibility plan.<br />
3:25 PM<br />
MLA: Current Projects and New Ore Reserve Mineralogy at the Center<br />
for Advanced Mineral and Metallurgical Processing<br />
P. Miranda and C. Anderson; Montana Tech/CAMP, Butte, MT<br />
The Center for Advanced Mineral and Metallurgical Processing (CAMP) has<br />
obtained a Mineral Liberation Analyzer (MLA) and successfully evaluated<br />
over 30 projects using this new technology. CAMP has utilized the technology<br />
for several projects with some surprising results. The MLA is able to<br />
both analyze and quantify minerals and phases. For this presentation, current<br />
CAMP projects have been evaluated and data collected using the MLA.<br />
These projects include Platinum Group Metal (PGMs) refinery evaluation<br />
from a mine located in Montana. Secondly, a copper molybdenum mine<br />
process evaluation with surprising results was evaluated. Next, a potential<br />
gold and PGM tailings pile was considered using the technology. A uranium<br />
deposit was evaluated and finally, a Canadian copper mine with native copper<br />
and gold was reviewed for potential improvements. For all projects, MLA<br />
application results will be presented and discussed.<br />
3:45 PM<br />
Peñasquito, Mexico - Exploration of a Giant Diatreme-hosted Au-Ag-<br />
Zn-Pb Deposit<br />
G. Brown; Exploration, Goldcorp, Inc., Zacatecas, Mexico<br />
Peñasquito is a world-class Au-Ag-Zn-Pb deposit centered on two diatremes<br />
cutting Cretaceous clastic units above an Eocene-Oligocene intrusive complex.<br />
Its discovery under post-mineral Quaternary alluvium in the<br />
Concepcion del Oro District of northern Zacatecas state is a testimonial to<br />
perseverance during more than a decade of exploration. Disseminated and<br />
lesser fracture-controlled sphalerite, galena, various silver sulfosalts, and<br />
electrum are hosted by milled-clast breccias within the diatremes and by clastic<br />
units in the surrounding mineralized halo. Proven and probable open pit<br />
reserves of 917.5 million metric tonnes (Mt) of ore containing 13.0 Moz Au,<br />
864 Moz Ag, 5.81 Mt Zn, and 2.67 Mt Pb continue to increase with additional<br />
exploration and drilling. Alteration and mineral zoning suggest these reserves<br />
represent distal mineralization related to an underlying porphyry system.<br />
4:05 PM<br />
MLA: Current Projects at the Center for Advanced Mineral and<br />
Metallurgical Processing<br />
P. Miranda and C. Anderson; Montana Tech, Butte, MT<br />
The Center for Advanced Mineral and Metallurgical Processing (CAMP) has<br />
recently obtained a Mineral Liberation Analyzer (MLA) and has currently<br />
evaluated over 15 projects using this new technology. CAMP has utilized the<br />
technology for several projects with excellent results. The MLA is able to<br />
both analyze and quantify minerals and phases. For this presentation, current<br />
CAMP projects have been evaluated and data collected using the MLA.<br />
These projects include Platinum Group Metal (PGMs) refiner evaluation<br />
from a mine located in Montana. Secondly, a copper molybdenum mine<br />
process evaluation with surprising results was evaluated. Next, a potential<br />
gold and PGM tailings pile was considered using the technology. Finally, a<br />
Canadian copper mine with native copper and gold was reviewed for potential<br />
improvements. For all projects, MLA application results will be presented<br />
and discussed.<br />
Mineral and Metallurgical Processing: New Reagents<br />
and Technology<br />
2:00 PM • Wednesday, February 27<br />
Chair: D. Nagaraj, Cytec Industries Inc, Stamford, CT<br />
2:05 PM<br />
An overview of fine particles (slimes) in flotation<br />
A. Gorken; Mining, Cytec Industries Inc., Stamford, CT<br />
Effects of very fine particles (slimes) occurring mostly in the form of clay<br />
minerals has been so strong that it was recognized even in the early stages of<br />
flotation development. Numerous researchers have studied this phenomenon<br />
in great details from mineralogical, chemical and equipment points of views.<br />
59
These studies over the years resulted in some significantly improved process<br />
alternatives, more effective slime dispersants and better desliming equipments.<br />
However, the overall slime effect still remains to be one of the most<br />
important aspects of the overall flotation separation of minerals. In this article,<br />
a review of the overall slime problem in flotation has been made based on<br />
past accomplishments and present new developments. The overall slime<br />
problem has been critically examined based on mineralogical characterizations,<br />
processing alternatives, available and potential desliming chemicals<br />
and equipments. Potential areas for further improvements are identified.<br />
2:25 PM<br />
Improving Au recovery from Cu and Cu-Au ores<br />
D. Nagaraj; Minerals Processing Chemicals, Cytec Industries, Stamford, CT<br />
Over the past decade or so, our efforts have focused on developing the rationale<br />
and concepts for new approaches and technology in reagent development<br />
and optimization in the processing of base and precious metals. Two major<br />
outcomes of these efforts have been new reagents for precious metals recovery<br />
in flotation and Flotation Matrix 100 (FM100) which is comprehensive<br />
program to facilitate the implementation of a holistic approach to reagent development,<br />
selection and optimization in flotation. The new reagents for improving<br />
precious metals recovery include collectors and modifiers. An<br />
overview will be given using examples to highlight the application of the new<br />
reagents and technology in the processing of Cu-Au and Primary Au ores.<br />
2:45 PM<br />
Clay Binders for Enhanced Mineral Beneficiation Using Froth Flotation<br />
D. Tao 1 , X. Zhou 1 , W. Wang 1 , C. Zhao 1 , M. Aron 2 and J. Wright 2 ;<br />
1<br />
Department of Mining Engineering, University of Kentucky, Lexington,<br />
KY and 2 Georgia-Pacific Resins, Inc., Decatur, GA<br />
The presence of ultra-fine clay particles is known to have adverse effects on<br />
froth flotation performance. This has been attributed largely to slime coatings<br />
that inhibit bubble attachment and to adsorption of the frother and/or collector<br />
by the clay particles. Therefore, selective agglomeration of clay particles<br />
by use of clay binders can be expected to improve the froth flotation performance.<br />
In this study, froth flotation tests were conducted to evaluate the effectiveness<br />
of clay binding agents in enhancing mineral flotation performance<br />
with phosphate, potash, and iron ores. Process parameters investigated included<br />
slurry solids percentage, impeller rotation speed, binder dosage, collector<br />
dosage, etc. Flotation results show that use of clay binders significantly<br />
enhanced flotation efficiency under various conditions. More significant improvements<br />
in the process efficiency were observed at higher solids percentage<br />
and higher impeller rotation speed.<br />
3:05 PM<br />
Chemical enhancement in the magnetic separation of mineral<br />
beneficiation<br />
S. Ravishankar and A. Gorken; Cytec Industries Inc., Stamford, CT<br />
The value creation with kaolin in paper and paint applications depends on<br />
higher brightness, achieved by removing the colored impurities. A chemical<br />
enhancement technology for magnetic separation has been developed for removing<br />
colored impurities from kaolin. Besides, offering the best attributes<br />
of flotation and selective flocculation, the technology consumes less chemicals<br />
and uses available magnetic separator. The paper will outline the technology<br />
and illustrate flexibility on a wide variety of crude, process needs and<br />
plant limitations. The major advantages of chemical enhancement technology<br />
to magnetic separation include: simple extension to existing magnetic separation<br />
technology to produce higher brightness products, ability to produce<br />
comparable product in quality with cost effectiveness compared to flotation<br />
and selective flocculation, removal of impurity minerals over wide size range,<br />
removing non-magnetic impurities, providing robust process with high<br />
process yield and operator-friendly nature. Furthermore, the chemical enhancement<br />
technology for magnetic separation can be extended to other mineral<br />
systems containing valuables or impurities at low levels.<br />
3:25 PM<br />
A Multivariate Study of the Influence of Flotation Reagent Interactions<br />
on the Froth Phase<br />
A. Rojo 1 , D. Nagaraj 2 and S. Vianna 1 ; 1 JKMRC, Indooroopilly, QLD,<br />
Australia and 2 Cytec Industries, Stamford, CT<br />
Froth phase characteristics are influenced by all of the flotation reagents<br />
(Collectors, Frothers, and Modifiers) interacting simultaneously with the<br />
physical factors and the various mineral species in the froth phase. Much research<br />
has been conducted on two-phase froths (in the absence of solids), but<br />
such research has no direct relevance to the three-phase froths in flotation<br />
plants. Although collector-frother interactions have been reported in the literature,<br />
there is little published on collector-frother-modifier interactions, especially<br />
in the three phase systems involving complex mineralogy. A holistic<br />
approach is necessary to study and understand these complex interactions. In<br />
this paper we discuss the results such as study using batch flotation tests on a<br />
Cu-Mo ore.<br />
Mineral and Metallurgical Processing: New Tools:<br />
Analytical or Devices or Those Emerging from<br />
Nanotechnology Part II<br />
2:00 PM • Wednesday, February 27<br />
Chair: M. Free, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT<br />
2:05 PM<br />
Nanobubble effect on nanoscale interaction between hydrophobic<br />
surfaces<br />
M. Hampton, B. Donose and A. Nguyen; Division of Chemical Engineering,<br />
The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia<br />
Although advances in surface science have been tremendous, nanometer<br />
scale interactions between hydrophobic surfaces in aqueous solutions<br />
encountered in many industrial processes remains one of the greatest challenges,<br />
from both experimental and theoretical perspectives. In this paper,<br />
friction forces between hydrophobized silica surfaces were measured by<br />
atomic force microscopy (AFM). The surfaces were tested to quantify the<br />
strength of the van der Waals, electrical double layer and non-DLVO forces.<br />
The normal and lateral interaction forces between a silica bead and an atomically<br />
smooth silica substrate hydrophobized by esterification with octanol<br />
were concurrently measured. Nanobubbles of dissolved gases preferentially<br />
accumulated at the surfaces were observed using the AFM tapping mode<br />
imaging technique. The surface pre-treatment, specifically the rinsing order<br />
with water and ethanol was found to have a significant impact on the dependence<br />
of friction force on normal load. The friction dependence on the scan<br />
rate was also studied to examine the transient behavior of the nanobubble<br />
layer. A mechanism was proposed to explain the observed phenomena.<br />
2:25 PM<br />
A Molecular Dynamics Simulation Study of Water Structure and<br />
Adsorption States at Talc Surfaces<br />
H. Du and J. Miller; Metallurgical Engineering Department, College of<br />
Mines and Earth Sciences University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT<br />
A preliminary molecular dynamics simulation (MDS) study regarding interfacial<br />
phenomena at talc surfaces is reported. Water organization at face and<br />
edge surfaces reveals characteristic features which distinguish the naturally<br />
hydrophobic surface state from the hydrophilic state. Further, simulation results<br />
show that the hydrophobic chains of the cationic surfactant, dodecyl<br />
trimethyl ammonium bromide (DTAB), preferentially adsorb at the talc basal<br />
plane surface through hydrophobic interactions. On the other hand, the<br />
DTAB cationic surfactant adsorbs at the talc edge surface through electrostatic<br />
interactions. Finally, when a model dextrin molecule is considered, it<br />
was found that the hydrophobic interactions play a significant role in dextrin<br />
adsorption at the talc face surface. Whereas, at the talc edge surface the<br />
dextrin molecule is not able to displace interfacial water molecules.<br />
2:45 PM<br />
Particle Characterization of Phosphate Flotation Feed and Products<br />
L. Hupka, C. Lin, M. Al-Wakeel, J. Nalaskowski and J. Miller; Metallurgical<br />
Engineering Department, College of Mines and Earth Sciences University of<br />
Utah, Salt Lake City, UT<br />
Phosphate flotation recovery and product grade vary considerably with respect<br />
to the feed quality. As in any flotation process the efficiency of separation<br />
may be determined by many different feed characteristics all of which<br />
may influence product grade and recovery. Phosphate flotation is no exception.<br />
These feed characteristics include liberation, slimes content, and surface<br />
chemistry features, to mention a few important factors. The significance of<br />
these factors on recovery are discussed for variations in phosphate flotation<br />
feed material.<br />
60
3:05 PM<br />
New innovations in on-stream analysis for flotation circuit management<br />
and control<br />
M. Kongas and K. Saloheimo; Outotec Oyj, Espoo, Finland<br />
Over the years on-stream XRF analyzers have become more sophisticated.<br />
They have been integrated with controlled sampling systems, operator does<br />
not need to manually change windows, WD and ED channels can be used in<br />
the same analyzer for best analytical performance. Operator interface is much<br />
more user friendly.<br />
3:25 PM<br />
Direct measurement of particle-bubble interaction forces using atomic<br />
force microscopy<br />
S. Assemi 1 , A. Nguyen 2 and J. Miller 1 ; 1 Department of Metallurgical<br />
Engineering, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT and 2 Division of<br />
Chemical Engineering, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD,<br />
Australia<br />
Important industrial processes such as froth flotation and wastewater treatment<br />
rely on complicated particle bubble interactions. In this work interaction<br />
forces between a hydrophilic silica particle and an air bubble were measured<br />
by atomic force microscopy (AFM) for simplified model systems using<br />
deionized water and dilute electrolyte solutions. In each measurement, a captive<br />
bubble with a diameter of ~700 microns was formed on a graphite surface<br />
and slowly brought into contact with a fine silica sphere glued to an<br />
AFM cantilever. Contribution of hydrodynamic force was minimized by<br />
using a low piezo speed. Particle-bubble separation distance and bubble<br />
spring constant were calculated from linear regression of the piezo extension<br />
versus cantilever deflection. The measured forces were compared with the<br />
Hogg-Healy-Fuerstenau approximation for colloid forces, using the surface<br />
element integration method. Dependence of the particle-bubble interaction<br />
forces on the maximum applied force, particle size, and position of the particle<br />
relative to the bubble were investigated. The measured forces were influenced<br />
by the local deformation of the bubble surface.<br />
Mining & Exploration: Excavators & Heavy Equipment<br />
2:00 PM • Wednesday, February 27<br />
Chair: M. Cigla, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO<br />
2:05 PM<br />
Field Studies and Laboratory Cutting Tests for Performance Prediction<br />
of Chain Saw Machines<br />
H. Copur, C. Balci, N. Bilgin, D. Tumac and I. Duzyol; Mining Engineering,<br />
Istanbul Technical University, Istanbul, Turkey<br />
<strong>Preliminary</strong> results of a project supported by TUBITAK (The Scientific and<br />
Technological Research Council of Turkey) are presented in this paper.<br />
Parameters affecting net cutting rate and tool wear rate of chain saw machines<br />
used for extraction of natural stones are summarized. Field measurements<br />
on net cutting and tool wear rates of chain saws are also summarized.<br />
Block natural stone samples are obtained from quarries in Turkey to perform<br />
a set of full-scale laboratory linear rock cutting tests using chain saw cutting<br />
tools to determine cutting characteristics of chain saw machines and sample<br />
cuttability, in addition to some physical and mechanical property tests.<br />
<strong>Full</strong>-scale laboratory linear rock cutting tests result in tool forces and specific<br />
energy to cut a unit volume of rock. <strong>Full</strong>-scale cutting tests can be used to<br />
define optimum cutting configuration for a certain stone type by reducing<br />
torque and thrust requirement of the machine, thus increasing machine<br />
performance.<br />
2:25 PM<br />
Development and Evaluation of an Automated Waterjet Scaling System<br />
M. Kuchta and G. Ross; Mining Engineering, Colorado School of Mines,<br />
Golden, CO<br />
Water-jet scaling is an emerging technique used for removing loose rock from<br />
mine openings. Automation has the potential to improve the effectiveness of<br />
the operation. An automation system was added to an existing rig and used to<br />
sweep the water-jet across the surface to be scaled. The major components of<br />
the system developed include position sensors, electronic (solenoid) valves<br />
on each hydraulic actuator, adjustable valve throttles, an amplifier board, a<br />
DAC/ADC board (a Labjack U12) to drive each amplifier channel and read<br />
voltage from position sensors, a personal computer, and automation software.<br />
System details and field trial results are discussed.<br />
2:45 PM<br />
Application of the Topsis Method to Solve Hydraulic Excavator<br />
Selection Problem in Mining<br />
M. Yavuz; Mining Engineering Department, Eskisehir Osmangazi<br />
University, Eskisehir, Turkey<br />
Decision-Making (DM) is the first and one of the most important stages in the<br />
design or project procedure of mining engineering operations like other engineering<br />
professions. Every mining engineer might make precise decisions in<br />
all mining operations. There are a number of techniques available for solving<br />
different type of decision problems in the literature. In this paper, the<br />
Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS),<br />
which is the one of the Multiple Attribute Decision Making (MADM) techniques.<br />
As the decision in the equipment selection has radically influenced<br />
the economic life of any mining scenario, they are considered as complex<br />
MADM problem. After introducing the Multiple Criteria Decision Making<br />
(MCDM)methods, the TOPSIS method and its algorithm were explained in<br />
this paper shortly. The TOPSIS has not been extensively used to model decisions<br />
pertaining to the mining applications although most often it has been<br />
used for DM on corporate level. The TOPSIS method was used for a<br />
Hydraulic Excavator selection by considering the data obtained from magnesite<br />
industry in Turkey.<br />
3:05 PM<br />
Virtual Dump Truck Simulation for Efficient Haul Road Engagement<br />
S. Frimpong 1 and Y. Li 2 ; 1 Mining Engineering, University of Missouri-Rolla,<br />
Rolla, MO and 2 Mining Engineering, University of MIssouri-Rolla,<br />
Rolla, MO<br />
Samuel Frimpong and Ying Li Abstract The interaction of dump truck and<br />
haul road has been simulated with the dynamic model established in this<br />
work by combining the multi-body and soil dynamics with the Automatic<br />
Dynamic Analysis Mechanical Systems (ADAMS) software. Mathematic<br />
models governing the interaction of the dump truck with the haul road have<br />
been modeled based on the theory of multi-body and soil dynamics. These<br />
models consist of the tire-haul road contact model for generating the contact<br />
force between road and tire, finite element (FE) tire model for calculating the<br />
stress distribution, and load-deformation road model for capturing the dynamic<br />
behavior of haul road. A virtual prototype consisted of dump truck 775<br />
E and oil sand haul road has been created in the ADAMS environment. The<br />
tire stress in response to the haul road deformation is simulated. The results<br />
indicate that the deformation value fluctuate between 0007-0.043m. The result<br />
also shows that high stress field applied to each tire is around contact<br />
point between tire and road. KEYWORDS: Dump Truck, Haul Road,<br />
Interaction, Dynamic Modeling, Virtual Prototype, Simulation.<br />
Mining & Exploration: Hot Topics<br />
2:00 PM • Wednesday, February 27<br />
Chair: H. Miller, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO<br />
The Hot Topics Session was created by the Mining & Exploration Division to<br />
focus on specific areas of interest to the <strong>SME</strong> membership. To keep the session<br />
topical, the subject matter is chosen by an M&E Committee several<br />
months before the annual meeting. As such, the topic and speakers will be announced<br />
and publicized immediately before the meeting.<br />
61
<strong>SME</strong> Foundation Dinner/Dance<br />
Date: Sunday, February 24<br />
Time: 7:00 PM<br />
Place: Marriott Downtown<br />
Tickets: $90<br />
Join us with dinner and dancing to a live band. Black tie optional.<br />
<strong>SME</strong> Foundation Booth and Silent Auction<br />
Date: During Exhibit Hours<br />
Place: Exhibit Hall, Salt Palace Convention Center<br />
Registrants can drop by to visit with the <strong>SME</strong> Foundation Trustees, about the<br />
<strong>SME</strong> Foundation mission, current activities and future goals. The Foundation<br />
Trustees also welcome feedback from supporters.<br />
The booth will also feature a Silent Auction. Different items will be offered<br />
each day, so be sure to visit every day and bid often! Proceeds will be used to<br />
support current commitments, such as funding <strong>SME</strong>’s GEM and Professional<br />
Engineers Exam <strong>Program</strong>s.<br />
The <strong>SME</strong> Foundation is soliciting items for the auction. Last year we received some very unique and<br />
valuable items, as well as cash donations to purchase some highly desirable items for auction.<br />
If you wish to make a tax-deductible donation (item or cash) please contact George Luxbacher<br />
(george_luxbacher@oxy.com) or Mary O’Shea (oshea@smenet.org) to make the appropriate<br />
arrangements. Some popular items in the past have been historical mining memorabilia, maps, and<br />
books; high quality mineral or fossil specimens; quality jewelry or gem specimens, and/or pieces of art<br />
(statues/prints/photographs).<br />
Any exceptionally unique, valuable, or highly desirable items will be placed on the <strong>SME</strong> website<br />
(www.smenet.org) for early bidding.<br />
62
2008 <strong>SME</strong> Exhibit<br />
at the Salt Palace Convention Center<br />
Exhibit Opens<br />
Sunday, February 24<br />
Photo courtesy of Salt Lake City Convention & Visitors Bureau<br />
EXHIBIT HALL HOURS & FUNCTIONS<br />
Located in the Lounges and Restaurant in the hall.<br />
Sunday, Feb. 24<br />
Exhibit Hall Opening Reception<br />
Monday, Feb. 25<br />
Exhibit Hall Luncheon<br />
Tuesday, Feb. 26<br />
Exhibit Hall Afternoon Social<br />
Wednesday, Feb. 27<br />
Exhibit Hall Continental Breakfast<br />
5:00pm – 7:00pm<br />
5:00pm – 7:00pm<br />
11:00am – 5:30pm<br />
11:30am – 1:30pm<br />
11:00am – 5:30pm<br />
3:30pm – 5:30pm<br />
8:00am – Noon<br />
8:00am – 9:30am<br />
89%<br />
Reserved!<br />
A variety of social functions are planned for the exhibit hall to maximize<br />
traffic and encourage interaction. Exhibit hall activities are planned around<br />
technical sessions. Exhibitors are encouraged to take advantage of<br />
sponsorship opportunities for these functions.<br />
To Reserve Booth Space call: <strong>SME</strong> Exhibit Sales and Operations 303-948-4213<br />
E-mail: gury@smenet.org Website: www.smenet.org<br />
Advertising and Sponsorship<br />
New this year… JANUARY AND FEBRUARY ISSUES OF THE 2008 SHOWGUIDE:<br />
Stand out from the other exhibiting firms! Place your company advertisement in the official ShowGuide that lists sponsors and exhibitor contact<br />
information, products and services to be displayed. Opportunities are limited. Contact <strong>SME</strong>’s Media Manager at (303) 948-4243 or email at<br />
mcginnis@smenet.org for further information.<br />
ADVERTISING IN THE 2008 POCKET PROGRAM:<br />
Place your company’s name in the hands of every attendee. Insert your ad (only cover positions are available) in the on-site pocket program.<br />
Contact <strong>SME</strong>’s Media Manager at (303) 948-4243 or email at mcginnis@smenet.org for further information.<br />
New this year… 2008 SPONSORSHIP BANNERS:<br />
Banners in the Salt Palace Common Areas: Exhibitors who sponsor functions in the exhibit hall will have one to two banners depending on<br />
sponsorship level. They will be hung from the overhang railing going to the technical sessions and exhibit hall for all attendees to see. The banner<br />
will highlight your company name, logo, booth number and event sponsored in the exhibit hall. For more information contact bonic@smenet.org<br />
or call Heather Bonic at (303) 948-4216.<br />
63
10/07 Shading indicates SOLD Booths<br />
list of exhibitors and booth numbers<br />
AATA International, Inc. 1204<br />
ABB 929<br />
Abel Pumps, L.P. 518<br />
Abresist Corp. 1201<br />
ACZ Laboratories Inc. 726<br />
Advanced Sonic Processing Systems 1825<br />
Advanced Terra Testing, Inc. 1423<br />
Aero-Metric, Inc. 1626<br />
Agapito Assoc., Inc. 1631<br />
Agru America, Inc. 1526<br />
Aker Kvaerner 926<br />
Alberta Research Council 1043<br />
Alderox ASA-12 (RCAI) 1801<br />
AMEC 604<br />
American Biltrite (Canada) Ltd. 1302<br />
American Institute of Professional 1618<br />
Geologists<br />
ARCADIS Inc. 331<br />
Arizona Instrument LLC 527<br />
ArrMaz Custom Chemicals 1529<br />
ASGCO Manufacturing, Inc. 501<br />
Atkinson Construction Co. 526<br />
Atlas Copco CMT USA, Inc. 1101<br />
Baldor-Dodge-Reliance 1724<br />
Baroid Industrial Drilling Products 413<br />
Barr Engineering Co. 1435<br />
BASF Construction Chemicals LLC 1341<br />
Beltek, Inc. 500<br />
BICO Inc. 1012<br />
Boart Longyear Drilling Services 1227<br />
Breaker Technology, Inc., BTI 1240<br />
Brookville Equipment Corp. 335<br />
Bruker AXS Inc. 718<br />
Calder & Workman, Inc. 1323<br />
Canadian Institute of Mining, 1136<br />
Metallurgy & Petroleum (CIM)<br />
Carlson Software 1500<br />
Camoplast Track Vehicles 1216<br />
CAST Transportation 509<br />
Casualty & Surety, Inc. 1922<br />
Cattron Group International 1718<br />
Cellular Concrete, LLC 1747<br />
CEntry Constructors & Engineers, Inc. 1700<br />
Century Systems Technologies Inc. 1417<br />
64<br />
CETCO Lining Technologies 1534<br />
CH2M HILL, Inc. 1436<br />
Chevron Phillips Chemical Co. 1109<br />
CiDRA Corp. 1411<br />
Cognis Corp. 1809<br />
Collins Engineers, Inc. 430<br />
Colorado Mining Association 512<br />
COMANCO Environmental 1528<br />
Connors Drilling LLC 626<br />
Consol Energy Inc. 541<br />
Continental Conveyor & 820<br />
Equipment Co.<br />
Contitech Conveyor Belt Group 1427<br />
Conveyor Engineering, Inc. 1522<br />
Cornell Pump Co. 1300<br />
Crystals Unlimited 1610<br />
CTLGroup 1622<br />
Cubex Ltd. 1041<br />
Cytec Industries Inc. 608<br />
Datamine North America, Inc. 1813<br />
Delkor Inc. 1222<br />
Derrick Corp. 900
DownerEDI Mining – Mineral 1527<br />
Technologies<br />
Drummond Co., Inc. 435<br />
Dynatec Mining Corp. 1628<br />
Dyno Nobel Inc. 1102<br />
Dywidag Systems Intl., DSI 907<br />
Ground Support<br />
Emerson 339<br />
Enduride Canada USA Inc. 1040<br />
Energy Fuels - LSX Joint Venture 801<br />
Energy Laboratories, Inc. 1200<br />
Envirocon, Inc. 1231<br />
Environmental Products & 735<br />
Applications<br />
Eriez-CPT 611<br />
ERM 602<br />
EXPO Multi Services Inc. 1046<br />
Fairmont Supply Co. 410<br />
F & R Manufacturing, Inc. 329<br />
Flexco 522<br />
FLSmidth Dorr-Oliver Eimco 811<br />
FLSmidth Krebs 917<br />
FLSmidth Minerals 817<br />
FMC Technologies 1022<br />
Formsprag LLC 1601<br />
Gemcom Software International, Inc. 1234<br />
General Kinematics 1510<br />
Geotech Computer Systems, Inc. 1401<br />
GIW Industries, Inc. 302<br />
Glenn Corp. 829<br />
Godwin Pumps 1309<br />
Golder Associates 816<br />
The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. 605<br />
Grindex Pumps 1547<br />
GSE Lining Technology Inc. 1605<br />
Gundlach Equipment Corp. 1623<br />
Gustavson Associates 1305<br />
Hagglunds Drives Inc. 940<br />
Harrison R. Cooper Systems, Inc. 1520<br />
Heintzmann Corp. 1328<br />
Hilfiker Retaining Walls 428<br />
The Hilliard Corp. 1706<br />
Hilti, Inc. 1420<br />
65<br />
Hitachi Construction & 1331<br />
Mining Products<br />
HLS HARD-LINE Solutions Inc. 947<br />
Holland Loader Co. 1523<br />
Hose Solutions Inc. 404<br />
Huesker, Inc. 1416<br />
Humboldt Wedag Inc. 1511<br />
hydroGeophysics, Inc. 330<br />
IKON Mining & Exploration 523<br />
IMP Group Pty Ltd 1117<br />
Independent Mining Consultants, Inc. 923<br />
Industrial Process Machinery 721<br />
Industrial Rubber Products 508<br />
Industrial Scientific Corp. 530<br />
InfoMine 617<br />
Innoveq International 1335<br />
Innov-X Systems 1205<br />
Intellection Corp. LLC 1017<br />
IP Access International 1731<br />
JBR Environmental Consultants, Inc. 417<br />
Jennmar Corp. 1430<br />
JKTech/Contract Support Services 806
Johnson Industries Ltd. 935<br />
Johnson Screens 310<br />
Joseph Oat Corp. 1913<br />
KD Engineering & Metcon Research 1434<br />
Kennametal Inc. 836<br />
Kepner Tregoe 1404<br />
Kinder Morgan Engineering & 409<br />
Conveying<br />
Kleinfelder, Inc. 1730<br />
Knight Piesold and Co. 707<br />
Koppern Equipment, Inc. 734<br />
Larox Flowsys, Inc. 805<br />
Leica Geosystems 702<br />
Liebherr Mining Equipment Co. 1021<br />
LIGHTNIN-SPX Process Equipment 720<br />
Operation<br />
Luff Industries Ltd. 1137<br />
Lyntek Inc. 800<br />
Mackay School of Earth Sciences 1327<br />
and Engineering<br />
Manyan Inc. 1316<br />
Maptek/KRJA Systems, Inc. 1611<br />
Marland Clutch 1603<br />
Martin Engineering 1426<br />
Maxam North America 1805<br />
McIntosh Engineering 1716<br />
McLanahan Corp. 1506<br />
McLellan Industries, Inc. 1530<br />
ME Elecmetal 729<br />
Measurement Devices Limited 1121<br />
Met-Chem Canada Inc. 1122<br />
Metso Minerals Industries, Inc. 901<br />
Micromine North America 1035<br />
Midwest Industrial Supply 810<br />
Mill Man Steel, Inc. 612<br />
Mincom Inc. 401<br />
Mine Cable Services Corp. 1034<br />
Mine Site Technologies USA Inc. 1037<br />
Minemax 1729<br />
The Mineral Lab, Inc. 628<br />
Miners News/Mining Directories 408<br />
Minesteel Fabricators Ltd. 1143<br />
Mining Communications Ltd. 1116<br />
Mining Engineering 1705<br />
Mining Media Inc 934<br />
The Mining Record 1001<br />
Mining Technologies 941<br />
International Inc. (MTI)<br />
Mintec Inc. 904<br />
MMD Mineral Sizing (America) Inc. 1617<br />
Mobilelight 1220<br />
Montana Tech - School of Mines & 431<br />
Engineering<br />
Morton Salt 543<br />
MWH 1723<br />
National Institute for Occupational 1535<br />
Safety & Health<br />
National Mining Association 1304<br />
Naylor Pipe Co. 1100<br />
Netafim USA 911<br />
Neuralog, Inc. 1725<br />
New Mexico Institute of Mining & 728<br />
Technology<br />
Newmont Mining Corp. 535<br />
Noramco Engineering Corp. 723<br />
Norcast Casting Co. Ltd. 1134<br />
Nordic Mine Technologies 1141<br />
Northwest Mining Association 1326<br />
Norwest Corporation 1319<br />
Ore-Max Division of Wade Rain Inc. 1005<br />
OSIsoft 1208<br />
Outotec Technology Inc. 709<br />
Peruvian Institute of Mining 1221<br />
Engineers<br />
Pincock, Allen & Holt 717<br />
Pipeline Systems Inc. 1407<br />
Pocock Industrial, Inc. 1111<br />
Polycorp Ltd. 1036<br />
Polydeck Screen Corp. 1831<br />
PolyPipe, Inc. 1334<br />
Pomp Action Inc. 1135<br />
Precision Pulley & Idler 930<br />
Process Engineering 827<br />
Resources, Inc. (PERI)<br />
QSP Packers, LLC 1431<br />
Quinn Process Equipment Co. 1113<br />
R.E. Monks Construction C. LLC 600<br />
Rain for Rent 517<br />
Raw Materials Group 1722<br />
REI Drilling Inc. 1418<br />
The Reinforced Earth Co. 1504<br />
Rexnord Industries, LLC 303<br />
Richwood 1301<br />
Rio Tinto 536<br />
Roberts & Schaefer Co. 1308<br />
Rocklabs 1322<br />
Rocky Mountain Bio Products 422<br />
Rocky Mountain Fabrication 716<br />
RSG Inc. 1823<br />
Ruen Drilling, Inc. 1321<br />
Runge 719<br />
Schauenburg Flexadux Corp. 1237<br />
Scotia International of Nevada 841<br />
SGS North America 1235<br />
SIUC - Dragline Productivity Ctr. 619<br />
<strong>SME</strong> Auction – 1808<br />
Environmental Division<br />
<strong>SME</strong> Auction – 1709<br />
Mineral & Metallurgical Proc. Div.<br />
<strong>SME</strong> Foundation 1711<br />
SMI Evaporative Solutions 834<br />
Society for Mining, Metallurgy & 1701<br />
Exploration (<strong>SME</strong>)<br />
South Dakota School of Mines and 634<br />
Technology<br />
Southwest Research Institute 1829<br />
66<br />
Spendrup Fan Co. 1312<br />
Split Engineering 803<br />
Sprung Instant Structures, Inc. 1822<br />
SRK Consulting Inc. 1607<br />
Stephens-Adamson Conveyor 635<br />
Components (METSO)<br />
Stewart Brothers Drilling Co. 516<br />
Strata Products (USA) Inc. 1927<br />
Sunrise Engineering 1336<br />
Surround Technologies 427<br />
SWCA Environmental Consultants 1621<br />
Techbase International 818<br />
Technip USA, Inc. 326<br />
TEFSA-USA 505<br />
Terex Mining 1935<br />
Terra Remote Sensing Inc. 1042<br />
TerraSource Software 1917<br />
Tetra Tech 1212<br />
The Frog, Switch and 1930<br />
Manufacturing Co.<br />
Thermo Scientific 1008<br />
Thermo Scientific - NITON Analyzers 1006<br />
3D-P 1517<br />
Thunderbird Mining Systems 700<br />
ThyssenKrupp Robins, Inc. 1223<br />
TIC - The Industrial Co. 601<br />
Tracks and Wheels Equipment 1217<br />
Broker Inc.<br />
Tsurumi Pump 701<br />
U.S. Dept. of Interior; Office of 623<br />
Surface Mining<br />
U.S. Geological Survey, 842<br />
Mineral <strong>Program</strong><br />
United Central Industrial Supply 1213<br />
United States Gypsum Co. 542<br />
University of Arizona Mining and 631<br />
Geological Eng.<br />
University of Kentucky 531<br />
Mining Engineering<br />
University of Missouri-Rolla 1616<br />
University of Utah, 630<br />
Mining Engineering Dept.<br />
URS Corp. 704<br />
Valley Forge & Bolt Mfg. Co. 835<br />
Vector Engineering, Inc. 1317<br />
Veolia Water Solutions & Technologies 513<br />
Vermeer Mfg. Co. 416<br />
Victaulic/Aquamine 913<br />
Virginia Tech Dept of 1329<br />
Mining & Minerals Engineering<br />
Voith Turbo Inc. 627<br />
W.S. Tyler Canada Ltd. 1140<br />
Washington Group International, Inc. 730<br />
Washington Group Intnl., Inc. 534<br />
Webco Industries Inc. 1241<br />
West Virginia University, 1516<br />
Dept. of Mining Engineering<br />
WesTech Engineering, Inc. 1009<br />
Westpro Machinery Inc. 1209<br />
Wildlife Control Technology, Inc. 1203<br />
Wiley Consulting, Inc. 1105<br />
Willowstick Technologies, LLC 1340<br />
Wirtgen America Inc. 1630<br />
Wooster Hydrostatics 1828<br />
The Wright Group Inc. 1907
About Salt Lake City Hotels<br />
• For all hotels check-in time is 3PM and check-out time is Noon.<br />
• Call hotel for recommended airport-shuttle information.<br />
• All hotels have handicap facilities, request special needs when<br />
making reservations.<br />
• All hotels are AAA Diamond Rating.<br />
1<br />
RADISSON<br />
ADD’L FREE<br />
ROOM RATES PERSON AIRPORT FITNESS<br />
HOTELS ADD 11.2% TAX CHARGE SHUTTLE ROOM SERVICE FACILITY<br />
HOTEL<br />
215 West South Temple ()<br />
Salt Lake City, UT 84101<br />
801-531-7500 Fax: 801-328-1289<br />
$115 Single<br />
$115 Double<br />
$125 Triple<br />
$125 Quad<br />
$10<br />
per night<br />
No<br />
6 AM – 11 PM<br />
Yes<br />
Indoor Pool<br />
2<br />
SALT LAKE PLAZA HOTEL<br />
122 West South Temple ()<br />
Salt Lake City, UT 84101<br />
801-521-0130 Fax: 801-322-5057<br />
$129 Single<br />
$129 Double<br />
$139 Triple<br />
$139 Quad<br />
$10<br />
per night<br />
Yes<br />
6 AM – 10 PM<br />
Yes<br />
Outdoor Pool<br />
3<br />
MARRIOTT DOWNTOWN<br />
75 South West Temple ()<br />
Salt Lake City, UT 84101<br />
801-531-0800 Fax: 801-523-4127<br />
$152 Single<br />
$152 Double<br />
$162 Triple<br />
$162 Quad<br />
$20<br />
per night<br />
No<br />
6:30 AM – 11 PM<br />
Yes<br />
Indoor Pool<br />
4<br />
SHILO INN HOTEL<br />
206 South West Temple ()<br />
Salt Lake City, UT 84115<br />
801-521-9500 Fax: 801-359-6527<br />
$109 Single<br />
$109 Double<br />
$119 Triple<br />
$119 Quad<br />
$10<br />
per night<br />
Yes<br />
NOON – 12 PM<br />
Yes<br />
Indoor Pool<br />
5<br />
HOTEL MONACO<br />
15 West 200 South ()<br />
Salt Lake City, UT 84101<br />
801-595-0000 Fax: 801-532-8500<br />
$142 Single<br />
$142 Double<br />
$152 Triple<br />
$152 Quad<br />
$10<br />
per night<br />
No<br />
24 Hours<br />
Yes<br />
No Pool<br />
6<br />
HILTON SALT LAKE CITY CENTER<br />
255 South West Temple ()<br />
Salt Lake City, UT 84101<br />
801-328-2000 Fax: 801-238-4888<br />
$149 Single<br />
$149 Double<br />
$164 Triple<br />
$179 Quad<br />
$15<br />
per night<br />
No<br />
6 AM – 11 PM<br />
Yes<br />
Indoor Pool<br />
7<br />
SHERATON CITY CENTRE HOTEL<br />
150 West 500 South ()<br />
Salt Lake City, UT 84101<br />
801-401-2000 Fax: 801-531-0705<br />
$122 Single<br />
$122 Double<br />
$122 Triple<br />
$122 Quad<br />
$10<br />
per night<br />
Yes<br />
6 AM – 2 PM<br />
5 PM – 10 PM<br />
Yes<br />
Outdoor Pool<br />
67
➤<br />
➤<br />
➤<br />
➤<br />
➤<br />
West Temple<br />
.<br />
hotel reservation form<br />
2008 <strong>SME</strong> <strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Meeting</strong> & Exhibit / February 24-27 / Salt Lake City, Utah<br />
The Housing Connection<br />
175 South West Temple, Suite 140 / Salt Lake City, UT 84101 / FAX: (801) 355-0250 (Secure Line)<br />
NEW HORIZONS – NEW CHALLENGES<br />
1. TYPE OR PRINT CLEARLY. Any incomplete information will delay<br />
processing of your form. Submit one room request per form.<br />
If additional forms are needed, please photocopy this form.<br />
2. Requests must be submitted on the official form. You must contact<br />
The Housing Connection to make hotel reservations, the hotels<br />
will NOT accept reservations directly.<br />
3. Reservations must be made by January 25, 2008 in order to guarantee<br />
meeting rates.<br />
4. All reservation changes and cancellations must be made in<br />
writing and processed through The Housing Connection by e-mail:<br />
thc@housingregistration.com or fax: 801-355-0250.<br />
5. Reservations are made on a first-come, first-serve basis. If the hotel<br />
requested is not available, your next choice will be assigned based on<br />
availability.<br />
6. The Housing Connection will send you a confirmation of your<br />
reservation. Please review all information for accuracy. E-mail<br />
confirmations will be sent if an e-mail address is provided (preferred), or<br />
they will be mailed. If you do not receive a confirmation or have<br />
questions, please call The Housing Connection.<br />
You will NOT receive a confirmation from the hotel.<br />
7. Read the acknowledgement carefully checking for any errors.<br />
If no acknowledgement is received within 14 days, contact<br />
The Housing Connection at (800-915-0618) or by e-mail:<br />
thc@housingregistration.com<br />
8. A first nightʼs deposit is required to process your room<br />
reservation by credit card. Please verify your departure date as<br />
some hotels will charge you a fee for early departure.<br />
9. For inquiry, call The Housing Connection at (800-915-0618).<br />
Headquarters: Marriott Downtown<br />
Co-headquarters: Hilton Salt Lake City Center<br />
PLEASE PRINT CLEARLY<br />
Occupant: ________________________________________________<br />
Company: ________________________________________________<br />
Address:<br />
LAST FIRST M.I.<br />
________________________________________________<br />
600 West<br />
100 South<br />
200 South<br />
500 West.<br />
400 West<br />
Airport<br />
16 Miles to Great Salt Lake<br />
300 West<br />
300 South<br />
Rio Grand<br />
Depot<br />
Pioneer<br />
Amtrak<br />
Park<br />
400 South<br />
Freeway Access (I-15 Northbound)<br />
200 West.<br />
500 South<br />
Freeway Access (I-15 Southbound, I-80 Westbound)<br />
➤<br />
One-way<br />
Union<br />
Pacific<br />
Depot<br />
South Temple<br />
1<br />
Delta<br />
Center<br />
Pierpont Ave.<br />
Salt Palace<br />
Convention Center<br />
4<br />
Pierpont Ave. 6<br />
One-way<br />
North Temple<br />
Temple<br />
Square<br />
Crossroads<br />
Plaza<br />
ZCMI<br />
Center<br />
City &<br />
County<br />
Building<br />
1 – Radisson Hotel $115 $115 $125 $125<br />
2 – Salt Lake Plaza Hotel $129 $129 $139 $139<br />
3 – Marriott Downtown $152 $152 $162 $162<br />
4 – Shilo Inn Hotel $109 $109 $119 $119<br />
5 – Hotel Monaco $142 $142 $152 $152<br />
6 – Hilton Salt Lake City Center $149 $149 $164 $179<br />
7 – Sheraton City Centre Hotel $122 $122 $122 $122<br />
Hotel Preference: (Please select six preferences to ensure placement).<br />
1. ______________ 3. ______________ 5. ______________<br />
2. ______________ 4. ______________ 6. ______________<br />
7<br />
2<br />
3<br />
Market St.<br />
Gallivan<br />
Plaza<br />
Exchange Pl.<br />
HOTELS Single Double Triple Quad<br />
5<br />
Main St.<br />
State St.<br />
200 East<br />
City:____________________ State: ____________ Zip: __________<br />
Country:__________________________________________________<br />
Daytime Phone #:______________________ Extension: __________<br />
Fax #: __________________________________________________<br />
E-mail: __________________________________________________<br />
Arrival Date: ________________ Departure Date: ______________<br />
MONTH DAY YEAR MONTH DAY YEAR<br />
Other Occupant Names:<br />
Share With: ____________________________________________<br />
Share With: ____________________________________________<br />
Share With: ____________________________________________________<br />
Special Room Requirements:<br />
Visit www.smenet.org to reserve your room online!<br />
On-line Room Reservations will be available after 11-4-07<br />
Type of Accommodations Needed:<br />
❑ Single (1 Bed, 1 Person) ❑ Non-smoking<br />
❑ Double (1 Bed, 2 People)<br />
❑ Double/Double (2 Beds, 2 People)<br />
❑ Add rollaway to room<br />
Payment:<br />
❑ American Express ❑ Diners Club ❑ Discover<br />
❑ MasterCard ❑ VISA<br />
Name (as listed on credit card): ______________________________________<br />
Card Number:________________________________________________<br />
Signature:<br />
❑ Suite (For suite availability and<br />
rates, contact <strong>SME</strong> directly).<br />
❑ Handicap accessible room<br />
________________________________ Exp. Date________<br />
MO. YR.<br />
Cancellation Policy: One night’s deposit is required with a valid credit<br />
card. Your credit card will be charged on or after January 25, 2008. Reservations<br />
guaranteed by a credit card may be cancelled without penalty until 5:00 PM MST on<br />
January 25, 2008. After January 25, 2008, a $25.00 cancellation/processing fee will<br />
be charged. All reservations: your full deposit will be forfeited if you cancel within<br />
72 hours of your arrival date.
INSTRUCTIONS<br />
NEW HORIZONS – NEW CHALLENGES<br />
☞<br />
ATTENDEE<br />
advance registration form<br />
2008 <strong>SME</strong> <strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Meeting</strong> & Exhibit<br />
February 24-27, 2008<br />
Salt Lake City, Utah<br />
• A $25 processing fee will be assessed on substitutions received after January 25, 2008.<br />
• Registration may be sent via FAX only if payment is by credit card [FAX 801-355-0250 secure line].<br />
• General registration questions – contact <strong>SME</strong> Conference Registration at 1-800-915-0618.<br />
email: thc@housingregistration.com. Conference program questions – contact <strong>SME</strong> <strong>Meeting</strong>s Dept. at 303-973-9550.<br />
• Mail form and payment by January 25, 2008, to above address.<br />
• Checks should be payable to <strong>SME</strong> in US funds.<br />
• All cancellations must be submitted in writing by email: thc@housingregistration.com or fax: 801-355-0250<br />
and are subject to a $100 processing fee. No refunds after January 25, 2008.<br />
• Registration is required to purchase tickets; however registrants may purchase more than one ticket.<br />
ATTENDEE REGISTRATION<br />
First Name Last Name To appear on badge (if different):<br />
Job Title<br />
Company<br />
Address<br />
City State Country Zip/Postal Code<br />
Day Phone Evening Phone FAX<br />
E-mail<br />
Special Needs<br />
Member #(required for discount) Member of: ❑ <strong>SME</strong> ❑ TMS ❑ AIST ❑ SPE<br />
SPOUSE/GUEST REGISTRATION – $100 (Check the Spouse/Guest Box in REGISTRATION FEES below.)<br />
Spouses must register to attend the Exhibit. Fee covers: daily exhibit access, Opening Reception (Sunday), Luncheon (Monday), Afternoon Social (Tuesday) and Continental Breakfast<br />
(Wednesday). All of the functions listed are held in the exhibit hall.<br />
First Name Last Name To appear on badge (if different):<br />
HOW TO REGISTER<br />
• ONLINE www.smenet.org<br />
• MAIL The Housing Connection<br />
175 South West Temple, Suite 140<br />
Salt Lake City, UT 84101<br />
• FAX (801) 355-0250 (Secure Line)<br />
• PHONE 1-800-915-0618<br />
Please Note: This represents MANDATORY<br />
COMPLETION for processing<br />
Icon☞of your registration.<br />
If a NONMEMBER, are you applying for membership? ❑ YES<br />
❑ Check here if this is an address change.<br />
❑ YES, I am interested in being a MENTOR.<br />
❑ YES, I am interested in being a MENTEE.<br />
City<br />
☞<br />
State<br />
REGISTRATION FEES<br />
BEFORE 1/25/08 AFTER 1/25/08<br />
FULL 1-DAY FULL 1-DAY<br />
❑ Member (M) $455 $230 $530 $290 $ ____________<br />
❑ Student Member (SM) $ 95 $ 95 $110 $110 $ ____________<br />
❑ Retired Senior Member (RM) $235 $235 $265 $265 $ ____________<br />
❑ Legion of Honor Member (LH) $235 $235 $265 $265 $ ____________<br />
❑ Nonmember Author (AT) $455 $230 $530 $290 $ ____________<br />
❑ Nonmember (NM) $580 N/A $655 N/A $ ____________<br />
❑ Student Nonmember (SN) $115 $115 $130 $130 $ ____________<br />
❑ Spouse/Guest (SG) $100 $100 $100 $100 $ ____________<br />
❑ 1-day Exhibit Hall Only (EXO) N/A $ 75 N/A $ 75 $ ____________<br />
If you are registering for the MEMBER-ONLY 1-DAY REGISTRATION or<br />
1-DAY EXHIBIT HALL ONLY PASS, indicate which day:<br />
❑ SUNDAY ❑ MONDAY ❑ TUESDAY ❑ WEDNESDAY<br />
SOCIAL FUNCTIONS<br />
(No refunds or exchanges on social function tickets after January 25, 2008).<br />
Sunday, February 24<br />
____ <strong>SME</strong> Foundation Dinner [$95] FDD $ ____________<br />
Tuesday, February 26<br />
____ Coal & Energy Division Luncheon [$40] CDL $ ____________<br />
____ Environmental Division Luncheon [$40] EDL $ ____________<br />
____ Industrial Minerals Division Luncheon [$40] IML $ ____________<br />
____ Scotch Nightcap [$40] SN $ ____________<br />
____ Women of <strong>SME</strong> Breakfast [$35] WSB $ ____________<br />
Wednesday, February 27<br />
____ Mining & Exploration Division Luncheon [$40] MEL $ ____________<br />
____ Mineral & Metallurgical Proc. Div. Luncheon [$40] MPL $ ____________<br />
____ <strong>SME</strong> Dinner:<br />
____ Individual Tickets [$70] SD $ ____________<br />
____ Table of 10 [$700] SDT $ ____________<br />
TOURS<br />
(Tours are subject to cancellation based on participation.<br />
No refunds or exchanges after January 25, 2008).<br />
Saturday, February 23<br />
____ Utah Olympic Park [$50] UOP $ ____________<br />
Sunday, February 24<br />
____ Morman Tabernacle Choir & Crossroad of the<br />
West City Tour [$40] MTC $ ____________<br />
Monday, February 25<br />
____ Historic Buildings of Salt Lake City [$48] HBS $ ____________<br />
Tuesday, February 26<br />
____ Quilts and Handicrafts of Salt Lake City [$75] QAH $ ____________<br />
Wednesday, February 27<br />
____ Alps of Utah [$80] AOU $ ____________<br />
FIELD TRIPS<br />
(Field Trips are subject to cancellation based on participation.<br />
No refunds or exchanges after January 25, 2008).<br />
Thursday, February 28<br />
____ Bingham Canyon Mine [$50] FTB $ ____________<br />
☞<br />
PROCEEDINGS and CD-ROM<br />
Available for pick-up at the meeting in the <strong>SME</strong> Bookstore.<br />
(<strong>Full</strong> registrations, one-day and students receive a complimentary 2008 <strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Meeting</strong><br />
Preprint CD-ROM).<br />
Additional copies may be purchased:<br />
____ 2008 <strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Meeting</strong> CD-ROM ROM $ ____________<br />
____ [$49 Member, $59 Nonmember $39 Student Member]<br />
____ Bulk Material Handling by Conveyor Belt BMH $ ____________<br />
____ [$79 Member, $99 Nonmember $66 Student Member]<br />
Continue ➡
ATTENDEE – Advance Registration Form continued<br />
First Name<br />
☞<br />
(Check one)<br />
____ Coal Mining (1B)<br />
____ Coal Processing (6)<br />
____ Construction Materials & Aggregates (CA)<br />
____ Economics (4)<br />
____ Environmental (7)<br />
____ Geology/Exploration (8)<br />
____ Government (2)<br />
____ Industrial Minerals Mining (1C)<br />
____ Industrial Minerals Processing (1D)<br />
____ Manufacturing (5)<br />
____ Marine Mining (1M)<br />
____ Metallurgy (9)<br />
____ Metals Mining (1A)<br />
____ Metals Processing (10)<br />
____ Underground Construction/Tunneling (11)<br />
☞<br />
(Check all that apply)<br />
____ Consultant (C)<br />
____ Educator (D)<br />
____ Engineer (E)<br />
____ General Manager/Vice President (G)<br />
____ Geologist (H)<br />
____ Marketing/Sales (M)<br />
____ Mine/Plant Manager (N)<br />
____ Owner (O)<br />
____ President/CEO/COO (P)<br />
____ Purchasing Agent (R)<br />
____ Scientist/Researcher (S)<br />
____ Student (T)<br />
____ Supervisor/Foreman (U)<br />
☞<br />
PLEASE TOTAL BOTH PAGES<br />
FIELD / INTEREST<br />
JOB DESCRIPTION<br />
Payment must be in US Dollars GRAND TOTAL $<br />
❑ Check or Money Order Payable to (<strong>SME</strong>) Society of Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration, Inc.<br />
Last Name<br />
ADVANCE REGISTRATION DEADLINE:<br />
JANUARY 25, 2008<br />
SHORT COURSES<br />
(Fees are in addition to <strong>SME</strong> registration. All short courses are held at the Salt Palace<br />
Convention Center.)<br />
February 23-24, 2008<br />
Mine Closure Planning in Today’s Global Environment: A Risk-Based Approach<br />
ADVANCE AFTER 1/25/08<br />
____ Member $550 $625 MCM $ ____________<br />
____ Nonmember $650 $725 MCNM $ ____________<br />
____ Student Member $450 $525 MCSM $ ____________<br />
February 23-24, 2008<br />
Optimum Selection of Belt Conveyor Drives<br />
ADVANCE AFTER 1/25/08<br />
____ Member $550 $625 OSM $ ____________<br />
____ Nonmember $650 $725 OSNM $ ____________<br />
____ Student Member $450 $525 OSSM $ ____________<br />
February 24, 2008<br />
Risk Assessment for Ore Reserves and Mine Planning: Stochastic Simulation<br />
Application for the Mining Industry<br />
ADVANCE AFTER 1/25/08<br />
____ Member $350 $425 RAM $ ____________<br />
____ Nonmember $450 $525 RANM $ ____________<br />
____ Student Member $250 $325 RASM $ ____________<br />
PAYMENT<br />
❑ American Express<br />
Expiration Date<br />
❑ MasterCard<br />
Expiration Date<br />
❑ Visa<br />
Expiration Date<br />
❑ Discover<br />
Signature __________________________________________________________________________<br />
I agree to pay the total according to card issuers agreement.<br />
Expiration Date<br />
If paying by credit card the number and expiration date must be<br />
included for processing.<br />
If you are a NONMEMBER please visit the <strong>SME</strong> website at www.smenet.org<br />
See for yourself the cost savings and benefits of <strong>SME</strong> Membership!
peak level sponsors<br />
Caterpiller Inc.<br />
Official Conference Padfolio<br />
Newmont Mining Corporation<br />
Student Mixer<br />
Kennecott Utah Copper Corporation<br />
Foundation Dinner<br />
timberline level sponsors<br />
Maptek<br />
Neck Lanyards<br />
Martin Engineering<br />
2008 <strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Meeting</strong> Badges<br />
Hitachi Construction & Mining Products<br />
2008 <strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Meeting</strong> Pocket <strong>Program</strong><br />
2008 Sponsors<br />
Thank You<br />
to the following Sponsors<br />
for their generous support<br />
of the<br />
2008 <strong>SME</strong> <strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Meeting</strong><br />
and Exhibit.<br />
For more information<br />
about Sponsorships<br />
please contact:<br />
303-948-4216<br />
or bonic@smenet.org.<br />
foothills level sponsors<br />
Aker Kvaerner<br />
Keynote Session<br />
MWH<br />
International Reception<br />
Joy Mining Machinery and P&H Mining Equipment<br />
United States Gypsum<br />
MWH<br />
Washington Group International<br />
<strong>SME</strong> Student Forum<br />
Mintec, Inc.<br />
CD-ROM Jacket Advertising<br />
Weir Minerals North America<br />
Golder Associates Ltd.<br />
Scotch Night Cap<br />
skyline level sponsors<br />
Washington Group International<br />
Young Leaders<br />
sme division sponsors<br />
PrepTech Inc.<br />
Coal & Energy Division Luncheon & Silent Auction<br />
Zeox Corporation<br />
Industrial Minerals Division Luncheon & Silent Auction<br />
Outotec (USA) Inc.<br />
Mineral & Metallurgical Processing Division Luncheon<br />
Hitachi Construction & Mining Products<br />
Mining & Exploration Division Luncheon & Silent Auction<br />
71<br />
sme technical session sponsor<br />
MWH<br />
Environmental
For details on the 2008 <strong>SME</strong> <strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Meeting</strong> and Exhibit contact:<br />
<strong>SME</strong>, <strong>Meeting</strong>s Dept., (800) 763–3132 / (303) 973–9550 / Fax: (303) 979–3461 / E-mail: meetings@smenet.org<br />
For Exhibit information contact:<br />
<strong>SME</strong> Exhibit Sales and Operations (303) 948-4213 / E-mail: exhibits@smenet.org<br />
<strong>SME</strong><br />
Society for Mining, Metallurgy,<br />
and Exploration, Inc.<br />
8307 Shaffer Parkway<br />
Littleton, CO 80127-4102 USA