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

TECHNICAL PROGRAM
Silica sand is processed by crushing, grinding, screening, classification, attrition
scrubbing, and in some cases magnetic separation. Typical product yields would
be 60-75-80% or more. Cooperative approach between Universities and industry
could go a long way in benchmarking the scale of operation and therefore the
mining and processing technology. In this context, current processing of industrial
minerals in India will be discussed, and alternative technologies for processing
will be presented.
11:05 AM
Fluorspar (CaF2) Beneficiation Plant Design: A Basic Approach
S. Kumar and S. Bhattacharya; Fuel & Mineral Engineering,
Indian School of Mines, Dhanbad, India
Fluorspar is widely used in aluminium, iron and steel industries and to manufacture
hydrofluoric acid. World reserves of fluorspar are estimated at 230Mt of
which 16Mt (16% to 30% CaF2) is in India. The plant under discussion produces
acid grade (CaF2 > 97%) and metallurgical grade (CaF2: 60 - 85%) concentrates.
The process consists of crushing by jaw crusher and HPGR, wet screening of
HPGR product, flash flotation of wet screen underflow, closed circuit grinding of
wet screen overflow, two stage flotation followed by magnetic separation for acid
grade concentrate, separate dewatering circuits for both grades of concentrate
and tailing disposal. The design approach would be useful for other upcoming
fluorspar beneficiation plants.
Industrial Minerals & aggregates:
Sustainability in Industrial Minerals &
aggregates
9:00 AM • Wednesday, February 27
chairs: F. Heivilin, HGPS, LLC, Thomasville, GA
B. Li, Michigan Technological University,
Houghton, MI
9:00 AM
Introductions
9:05 AM
Rare Earths Not Rare Anymore
F. Heivilin; Exploration, HGPS LLC, Thomasville,, GA
As of July 6, 2012 Technical Metal Resourches (TMR) was trackingr 440 rareearth
deposits being developed by 265 companies in 37 countries. This is rising
rapidly and will change upward monthly. Only a few of these can go into production.
China is still in the drivers seat in Light Rare Earth (LREO) Production with
35 million tons in reserves. the problems is not if rare earths will be availible. The
question is which deposits can product rare-eqarths safely, at lowest cost, and in
balance with usage. China, Lynas at Mount Weld, Molycorp at Mounatian Pass,
and Rare Earth Resources at Bear Mountain are in production or ready to move
into production, but even they can be hurt by other deposits with lower costs.
Eliminating the perception of health and safety problems as experienced in
China, the U. S. and Malaysia will be the key to future successes.
9:25 AM
Industrial Mineral Sustainability Opportunities
F. Heivilin; HGPS, LLC, Thomasville, GA
Three billion people are going to move into citiesby 2050. The problem is not if
the material is availible, but how we are going to permit it and permit it and produce
it in a sustainable manner. In other words, produce it with the lowest possible
carbon footprint, help the economics of the community before, during and
after mining, conserve and enhance the supply of clean water, and recycle as
much material as possible. Permiting is the #1 challenge. The closer to the point
of use, the lower the transportation cost for aggregate, sand, and gravel. The quality
of reclamation, noise and dust control, selling the pre-mining and post mining
use are important to getting permitting for all minerals. Being ableto enhance the
water supply and reduce the carbon footprint before, during, and after mining will
help sell the permit. The economic and environmental aspects of pre and post
mining are important. new technology is also important.
9:45 AM
Beneficiation of Low-grade Limonite Ore by HIMS-Cationic
Reverse Flotation and Magnetic Roasting-LIMS Techniques
X. Liu, W. Chen, L. Luo and W. Liu; Department of Mineral
Resources Exploitation Engineering and Technology, Changsha
Research Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, Changsha, China
Limonite is a general term for a group of amorphous iron oxide and iron hydroxide
materials. It is considered as one of the very refractory iron ore types due to
its wide variation in chemical composition, iron content, moisture content and
easily sliming in the course of comminution. Iron grade of tested sample is
25.48%, the iron minerals are mainly limonite, and the gangue minerals consist
of quartz and feldspar in majority, secondarily silicate minerals. In this testwork,
high intensity magnetic separation (HIMS)-cationic reverse flotation and magnetic
roasting-low intensity magnetic separation (LIMS) tests were conducted on
limonite ore. The test results show that the concentrate with iron grade of 50.97%
and recovery of 68.50% can be obtained by HIMS-cationic reverse flotation technique;
while using magnetic roasting-LIMS technique, the better concentrate indexes
of iron grade of 60.36% and recovery of 89.71% are achieved, and the iron
grade of tailing is only 4.42%. Therefore, the magnetic roasting-LIMS technique
is a better suitable method for beneficiation of low-grade limonite ore.
10:05 AM
Vermiculite Sustainability in a Changing World
E. Moeller; Nanoparticle Consultancy, LC, Inverness, CA
Vermiculite is a classic high value added industrial mineral, providing many
unique benefits to the markets in which it is utilized. Sustainability is a commitment
to stakeholders and the environment; and is measured socially, economically
and environmentally. The vermiculite industry has developed metrics and
processes to promote sustainability wherever vermiculite is used in the world.
Successes are highlighted with real world examples.
10:25 AM
Sustainable Applications of Stamp Sand in Keweenaw Peninsula of
Michigan
B. Li 1 , R. Hodek 1 , J. Hwang 1 , D. Popko 2 and J. Drelich 1 ; 1 Michigan
Technological University, Houghton, MI and 2 Lesktech Ltd,
Lake Linden, MI
In the region of Keweenaw Peninsula of Michigan, approximately 5 million tons
of copper tailing waste, called stamp sand, was dumped in the interior waterways
and along the shorelines of Lake Superior. Mineralogical studies have shown that
the stamp sand is primarily basaltic, granular form, and contains with high concentration
of copper (0.2-0.6wt %). To enhance the ecosystem of Lake Superior,
removing this mining waste material from the waterways and the lake would be
helpful. Researches have demonstrated that the stamp sand has excellent antimicrobial
activity. The granules sized between 8 and 40 mesh are ideal material for
manufacturing of antimicrobial roofing shingles. The coarse granules and fines,
respectively, are also suitable to other industrial applications. This study exhibited
a sustainable approach for environmental restoration by permanent removal
and consumption of stamp sand. Meanwhile, the problematic waste being a contamination
source will become a resource for value-added products.
10:45 AM
The Future of Potash: Fortune or Misfortune?
H. Ewaschuk; Runge Mining (Canada) Ltd, Toronto, ON, Canada
When shortages of a commodity are anticipated, much thought is devoted by the
existing and would-be players on when, how much and where to invest the billions
of dollars required for major developments. For years, capacity for producing
one of the key crop nutrients, potash, has been in over supply. Despite this,
discipline within the industry has kept prices buoyant. With growing demand the
end of overcapacity and the possibility of shortages was imminent. Demand in
2008 drove the spot price of potash to almost $900 per metric ton of KCl, compared
to under $200 per metric ton just a year and a half earlier. Over the past few
years, old and new participants have invested billions of dollars for new capacity.
Not since the late 1960s has there been so much capital investment in potash production.
Recent and anticipated future trends in demand that have motivated
these large expenditures, the major expansions already completed or started, as
well as those that are expected to be developed in the next few years, are reviewed.
The big question for those investing huge sums is whether the previous
production discipline can be maintained to keep prices buoyant in coming years.
This is the Technical Program as of September 1, 2012. IT IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE.
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Please see the Onsite Program for final details.