Annual Meeting Preliminary Program - Full Brochure (PDF) - SME

Mining & Exploration: Mining in Nevada
9:00 AM • Tuesday, February 26
9:05 AM
Simulation of spontaneous heating in longwall gob areas with a
bleederless ventilation system
A. Smith and L. Yuan; NIOSH Pittsburgh Research Laboratory,
Pittsburgh, PA
Although it is only utilized in a few U.S. longwall mines, a bleederless ventilation
system can be an effective spontaneous combustion control method in
mines with a demonstrated history of spontaneous combustion. In order to
provide insights for the optimization of bleederless ventilation systems for U.
S. underground coal mines, a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) study was
conducted to model the spontaneous heating in longwall gob areas with a
bleederless ventilation system. One longwall panel with typical ventilation
conditions was simulated. The permeability and porosity profiles for the
longwall gob were estimated using a geotechnical model and were used as inputs
for the CFD modeling. The effects of methane emissions from the longwall
face and overlying coal seam, and coal properties on the spontaneous
heating were studied. The possible ventilation control methods to ensure
effectiveness of the bleederless ventilation system were also examined.
Chair: D. Dwyer, Barrick Goldstrike Mines Inc., Elko, NV
9:05 AM
Designing to Mine at Turquoise Ridge
C. Newton; Mine Engineering, Barrick Turquoise Ridge Joint Venture,
Golconda, NV
“Designing to Mine at Turquoise Ridge” will outline Barrick Turquoise
Ridge Joint Venture’s complex ore body, ground conditions, and mining techniques.
This presentation will focus on many of the design changes and behaviors
used in an attempt to overcome everyday challenges ranging from
ground conditions to dewatering to lack of skilled manpower.
9:25 AM
Marigold Mine – The Successful Transformation into a Major Heap
Leach Operation
P. Maloney; Marigold Mining Company, Valmy, NV
Marigold Mine in Valmy, NV is a run of mine heap leach operation that commenced
production in 1988. Beginning life as a modest milling operation with
a small heap leach, Marigold operated quietly for a number of years operated
by Rayrock Resources and its joint venture partner, Barrick (Homestake). In
1999 Glamis Gold Ltd. acquired Rayrock’s 2/3 interest in Marigold and initiated
a comprehensive optimization study of the mine. The mill was closed the
same year. With the discovery of additional oxide ore zones in the Millennium
Deposits, the joint venture partners made the decision to proceed with the
Marigold expansion project. Over the next few years, the mine began to acquire
additional equipment and ramp up its manpower levels. In 2004 the
Millennium SEIS was approved. In 2006 the mine converted to a 24/7 operation.
Later that same year, Glamis merged with Goldcorp. In January, 2007
Marigold Mine was the first operating mine in the world to become certified as
compliant with the International Cyanide Management Code by the
International Cyanide Management Institute (ICMI).
9:45 AM
Barrick Storm Project – Keeping It Simple
B. Young; Barrick, Elko, NV
The Storm Project is a joint venture between Barrick (60%) the operator, and
Meridian Gold Corporation (40%). The Project is a gold mining property located
in north-central Nevada, nine miles north of Barrick’s Goldstrike
Property. Mine life is scheduled to be four years at a production rate of 550
tons per day, utilizing a drift and fill technique. Access to the mine is through
either of the Dee or Storm Portals, both located in the east high wall of old
Dee Gold Open Pit. This presentation will describe the Project from start-up
through production with Barrick providing the project management and the
mining being carried out by an underground mining contractor. Project
management, design, engineering, surveying, geology, and ore control are
handled by a staff of five Barrick personnel.
Mining & Exploration: New & Emerging Technologies
9:00 AM • Tuesday, February 26
Chair: J. Brune, CDC/NIOSH Pittsburgh Research, Pittsburgh, PA
39
9:25 AM
In-Mine Evaluation of Smart Mine Fire Sensor
R. Franks, G. Friel and J. Edwards; Disaster Prevention and Response
Branch, CDC / NIOSH - Pittsburgh Research Laboratory, Pittsburgh, PA
An evaluation of a nuisance-emissions-discriminating smart mine fire sensor
was made in an operating coal mine. These field tests were to determine the
devices ability to discern nuisance emissions such as diesel exhaust, emissions
from cutting and welding operations or hydrogen gas emissions that
would generate false alarms in a Carbon Monoxide (CO) monitor. The sensor’s
ability to operate successfully in the environment of an operating coal
mine was also tested. Prolonged test runs were conducted in a haulage way, a
belt entry, and a track entry. The system functioned in accordance with its developmental
tests in the belt entry where the sensor system discriminated new
event types not anticipated during development. It was ineffective in the
haulage way and track entry due to a combination of significant air temperature
variations in moderately high air flow, dust, and mechanically induced
vibrations. Also, deteriorating rib conditions contributed to operational problems
in the haulage way evaluation. The smart mine fire sensor providing nuisance
emissions discrimination is a viable new approach for enhancing miner
safety. Recommendations are presented for improving the system.
9:45 AM
Evaluation of a Virtual Reality Simulator Developed for Training New
Miners to Install Rockbolts Using a Jackleg Drill
D. Nutakor 1 , D. Apel 2 , L. Grayson 3 , M. Hilgers 4 , R. Hall 5 and M. Buechler 6 ;
1
Department of Mining Engineering, University of Missouri-Rolla, Rolla,
MO; 2 Department of Mining Engineering, University of Missouri-Rolla,
Rolla, MO; 3 Department of Mining Engineering, University of Missouri-
Rolla, Rolla, MO; 4 Department of Information Science and Technology,
University of Missouri-Rolla, Rolla, MO; 5 Department of Information
Science and Technology, University of Missouri-Rolla, Rolla, MO and
6
Department of Information Science and Technology, University of
Missouri-Rolla, Rolla, MO
The ability of computers to create synthetic representations of the real world
in virtual reality offers a number of opportunities to enhance training methods
used in the mining industry. Unfortunately, the training effectiveness of virtual
reality systems currently used in the mining industry has received only
limited testing. Miner Simulation (MinerSIM), an augmented reality system
with integrated hypermedia suitable for training underground miners in the
basics of using a jackleg drill to install rock bolts in a virtual mine environment
is in its evaluation process at the University of Missouri-Rolla
Experimental Mine. This paper discusses evaluation methodologies of the
MinerSIM system, which consists of experimental/control groups; with control
students learning via traditional lecture/text formats.
10:05 AM
Field Testing of the High Resolution Target Movement Monitor for
Convergence Monitoring in an Underground Mine
T. Jones 1 , D. Apel 1 , S. Watkins 2 and R. Moss 2 ; 1 Mining Engineering,
University of Missouri-Rolla, Rolla, MO and 2 Electrical and Computer
Engineering, University of Missouri-Rolla, Rolla, MO
Fall of ground continues to be a leading source of worker injury and fatality
indicating a persistent need for development of convergence monitoring technology.
The HRTMM is an experimental convergence monitor utilizing a digital
camera and custom software to track the position of one or more lasers
across the target. Apparent laser movement is proportional to the target convergence.
The HRTMM was installed in an underground mine near retreat
operations. Sag in the back induced by pillar removal was monitored, with a
tape extensometer serving as control. Results and potential of the new monitoring
technology will be discussed.
10:25 AM
Slope Monitoring and Identification of Potential Rockfall Using Three-
Dimensional Digital Imaging
J. Donovan and W. Raza Ali; Department of Mining Engineering, University
of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT
Between 1995 and 2003 approximately 10% of all surface mine fatalities
were the result of either slope failure or other failures of ground. The identification
and evaluation of comparatively high risk slopes and exposed rock sur-