3,922 research outputs found
An assessment of the quantum for financial provision of mine closures: a Monte Carlo approach.
No full textIncludes abstract.Includes bibliographical references.Poor mine closure policy threatens both society and the environment. Some of the more prominent threats that have manifested are acid mine drainage, slimes dams and toxic dust from dumps. Current legislation requires that new mines set aside funds to cover their rehabilitation costs at closure
An Analysis of the Concept of 'Sustainability' in Mining Agreements in Papua New Guinea: The case of Hidden Valley/Hamata Mine
No full textThis thesis examined the way in which notions of economic, social and environmental sustainability were addressed in mining agreements in Papua New Guinea (PNG), through a case study of the Hidden Valley/Hamata mine. The thesis offered a discussion of indigenous and western perspectives on economic, social and environmental perspectives and practices. It then developed a model of sustainable development drawn from the scholarly literature and applied it to the case study.
The thesis explored the extent to which principles of sustainable development were incorporated into the mining agreement, as well as in negotiations amongst key actors. The study analysed key documents relating to sustainable development in PNG, including relevant national legislation and the memorandum of agreement negotiated amongst the principal actors in the Hidden Valley/Hamata mine. In addition, interviews and focus groups with the main participants in the Hidden Valley/Hamata case were also analysed. The analysis revealed significant deficiencies in the understandings of issues around sustainable development among all actors, which affected the negotiations of the mining agreement. The dominant concern for all actors, reflected in the analysis of documents and interviews, was economic. Furthermore, indigenous perspectives on sustainability were not given a hearing in the negotiations.
The study demonstrated that the major power differences between government and the mining company, on the one hand, and the landowners, on the other hand, prevented meaningful participation of the affected villagers in the negotiation process. The contradictory role of the state as both the regulator of the mining company and its partner in the mining development, along with a lack of awareness about issues of sustainable development, adds to the difficulty of implementing the provisions of the Environment Act. The thesis concludes by developing an analytical framework for negotiating sustainable development in mining agreements through incorporating indigenous and western perspectives and practices of economic, social and environmental sustainability in development projects.
The significance of this research is that it addresses a gap in the literature on sustainable development with specific reference to mining in PNG. It offers insights into the negotiation process of mining agreements and offers a framework for negotiating sustainable development in practice in the future
Polymer-based treatments to control runoff, leachate and erosion from engineered slopes at Simfer Mine, Guinea, Africa
No full textIt is necessary to understand the erodibility and hydrological response of mine-site slope forming materials (SFMs), because of increasing awareness of the environmental impacts of mining. Steep engineered slopes in high intensity rainfall environments present a serious erosion risk. Temporary surface stabilisers, such as polyacrylamides (PAMs) and polyvinylacrylic latex (PVALs) are potentially cost effective erosion control solutions. In this study PAM and PVAL efficacy to reduce runoff, leachate and erosion was assessed at two application rates, with and without gypsum on SFMs from an iron ore mine in Guinea (West Africa). NSPASS (near-surface photogrammetry assessment of slope forming materials’ surface roughness) is a novel method that integrates digital image capture and GIS. It is shown to detect and quantify surface micro-relief changes of 2-3 mm, not visible to the naked eye.
As expected, soil and non-soil SFMs were significantly different in terms of their physical and chemical properties. Phase I of the study investigated the erodibility of ten SFMs, including soil, ore and waste-rock. The results indicate that the hydrological response to rainfall of most SFMs is to generate leachate. Weathered phyllite (PHY-WEA) is the most erodible SFM by both runoff and leachate. Multiple regression analysis demonstrated that magnetic susceptibility, mineralogy and dry aggregate distribution; parameters not commonly assessed in erosion studies, are important in explaining SFM erodibility and hydrological response.
Phase II evaluated critically the effectiveness of three commercially available polymer solutions (two PAMs and one PVAL) at reducing runoff, leachate and erosion from four of the most erodible SFMs identified in Phase I. The results indicate that some PAM and PVAL treatments significantly reduce runoff, leachate and erosion. Polymer efficacy is highly dependent on the physical and chemical properties of the SFM, as well as the mechanism of polymer to SFM adsorption. Increasing the application rate of select treatments lowered leachate volumes, runoff and leachate total sediment loads. Contrary to previous studies, gypsum amendments did not significantly improve polymer efficiency.
This research has added to our understanding of the erodibility and hydrological response of soil and non-soil SFMs. This is the first study to evaluate critically the efficacy of PVALs in controlling erosion from mine-site SFMs. Future studies should continue to optimise NSPASS performance in monitoring changes in surface micro-relief
Analysis of mining mechanization in the fluorspar mine, Southern Illinois
No full textThe purpose of this study is to analyze the underground mechanization in the fluorspar mines in Southern Illinois. The mining mechanization in this district is confronted with manifold problems which are typical of most small or medium size mines.
The ore reserve in each mine is not very large. The method of development had to be planned accordingly such as not to exceed the depreciative capacity of the deposit.
The ore bodies consist of thin bedded layers or small veins. This thickness controls the sizes of the equipment to be used.
The mining operations always lack skilled equipment operators. In a large mine the company is able to provide pre- training before any new operator is assigned to a certain job, while in a small mining operation, this cannot always be done.
This district produces approximately one half of the United States fluorspar domestic production (52% in 1957). The fluctuation of the market price has a fast impact on the operations in the district. The decreasing price in the last few years caused by the cheap imported fluorspar that flows into the domestic market, together with the increasing labor cost, requires that the mining companies introduce more mechanized production methods so as to reduce costs.
In this paper the author evaluates these problems first with the operational or process analysis. The second is the study of the employed equipment, their performance and efficiency, with the aid of the time studies.
The human efforts involved in the underground production processes, and the economic effects of the application of certain types of equipment will also be investigated. Conclusions are presented after the discussion on the drilling, loading and haulage operations.
For the field studies, the author obtained the permission from the three major companies in the district, the Minerva Oil Company, the Ozark Mahoning Company and the Aluminum Company of America to visit the following mines: Mine No. l, Cave in Rock, Minerva Oil Company Crystal Mine, Cave in Rock, Minerva Oil Company West Green Mine, Cave in Rock, Ozark Mahoning Company Oxford Mine, Cave in Rock, Ozark Mahoning Company Hill Mine, Cave in Rock, Ozark Mahoning Company A. L. Davis Mine, Cave in Rock, Ozark Mahoning Company Fairview Mine, Rosiclare Aluminum Company of America
The field work was accomplished during the period of June 3, 1957 through July 31, 1957. With the aid of the companies the author ran the time and motion studies, and collected the necessary information --Introduction, pages 1-2
Scholars\u27 Mine Reaches 3 Million Downloads
No full textOn 12 May 2019 Scholars\u27 Mine reached an important milestone: three million downloads. Since December 2014, when Scholars’ Mine went live following a major refresh of a system first created in 2007, researchers and other users have downloaded material including theses and dissertations, faculty publications, conference proceedings and more.
Two popular downloads highlight the variety of information in Scholars\u27 Mine:1. Case Study and Analysis of a Low Cost Housing Project in an Urban Area in India from the 1970 International Symposium on Low Cost Housing Problems Related to Urban Renewal and Development, held in Rolla, Missouri. This paper has been downloaded over 8,000 times since it was posted in August 2017, and2. An Analysis of the Environmental Impact of Electric Vehicles, published in Peer to Peer, a Missouri S&T undergraduate journal. Also posted in August 2017, this article has been downloaded more than 6,600 times.
Scholars\u27 Mine also provides a permanent online presence for the INSPIRE-University Transportation Center, enabling the sharing of INSPIRE faculty research, newsletters, webinars and progress and performance reports in an open access environment.
Another important aspect of Scholars’ Mine is the SelectedWorks Author Gallery which showcases S&T’s faculty and their research.
This video highlights important aspects of Scholars\u27 Mine
Coal Mine Face Area Ventilation
No full textOne of the most difficult places to ventilate in any mine is the working face area of an advancing mine heading. With an ever changing configuration, continual modification and extension to the ventilation system is necessary to maintain an adequate supply of fresh air and to control mixing and recirculation. An understanding of the air flow patterns which develop through use of different face ventilation systems can be reached by undertaking underground measurements or through observations using physical models. Tests undertaken by the author to determine the adequacy of different system configurations are discussed together with approaches adopted by others working in the United States. Various new methods have been proposed for improving face ventilation beyond that sustained using conventional brattice curtain or tubing systems. The adequacy of some advances adopted by mining companies to improve ventilation while maintaining output efficiency is discussed
Initial Plant Growth in Sand Mine Spoil Amended with Peat Moss and Fertilizer Under Greenhouse Conditions: Potential Species for Use in Reclamation
No full textThe Great Lakes Basin exhibits the largest collection of freshwater sand dunes in the world. Sand dunes are ecologically important and support a unique assemblage of flora and fauna. Sand dunes are also economically valuable. However, when sand dunes are mined, soil quality is drastically reduced. Therefore, soil quality improvements followed by revegetation maybe necessary for successful reclamation. This study evaluates the germination and initial growth of 2 legume species, sundial lupine (Lupinus perennis) and Illinois bundleflower (Desmanthus illinoensis), and 2 warm-season grass species, Indian grass (Sorghastrum nutans) and little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium), in the presence of 2 soil amendments (inorganic fertilizer and sphagnum peat moss) added to spoil from a local sand mine. We sowed species in pots and propagated them under greenhouse conditions. Results indicate that sundial lupine and Illinois bundleflower exhibited the greatest germination and growth among species. Peat moss had the greatest overall impact on germination and growth while the addition of fertilizer positively affected initial growth. Based on these results, sundial lupine is recognized as a primary candidate for sand mine reclamation, while Illinois bundleflower is also recommended as an appropriate species for revegetation efforts. We recommend using soil amendments that are functionally equivalent to peat in increasing soil water holding capacity. We further suggest that fertilization may be accomplished by including legumes in plant species mixes used for revegetation. Results presented here may help to identify appropriate species and soil amendments for the reclamation of former sand mines or restoration of freshwater sand dunes
Princess Patricia Mine
No full textPrincess Patricia Mine where Baiba Berzins nee Kundrats worked as a cook64.0 Latvian Immigration into Canad
The mine manager’s guide to underground emergency response: TUC-lectures on mine rescue, fire and explosion protection
No full textThis textbook is a contribution to the literature on mine rescue, targeting specific aspects of fire and explosion protection, rescue operations, and self-rescue in deep underground mines, in particular deep collieries. Here, methane production and spontaneous combustion of coal, as well as the explosion hazard linked to both, take center stage amongst the mine safety challenges. Furthermore, the work of the mine rescue brigade is frequently characterized here by a significant climatic load, which requires a special physical fitness of miners and rescuers, a corresponding physiological knowledge base, and safety rules derived therefrom. Generally, however, importance must be placed today on supporting an effective self-rescue and escape of the workforce on its own in case of an event, and on the related implementation of the necessary boundary conditions in terms of fire and explosion protection. The book is based on the lectures held by the author at Clausthal University of Technology (TUC), Germany, since 2009. It reveals the previous decades of underground emergency response in German collieries from the point of view of academic training of future executives and staff and is also intended as a guidebook for planning and mine rescue operation. Tables summarize individual contexts and topics for quick reference, and a detailed outline facilitates retrieving information. Lists of the basic technical literature of German mine rescue centers and mine research institutes as well as relevant technical rules of German mining authorities (mostly in German language) complete the book
Sensing Domesticity: From Mine to Mine
No full textFrom Mine to Mine is a research and design project that confronts the concept of the house and the domestic with its emerging context of data transmission and resource extraction. In the middle of the Atacama desert in Chile, the house of the miner is confronted with the physical outgrowth of our global data industry: Copper, the material underlying any kind of digital connection, is extracted in the world‘s biggest open-pit mine, while the mining industry is destructing and contaminating a whole territory.Thinking towards a time of copper depletion, From Mine to Mine, envisions in three chapters transitions for these copper landscapes - turning them from destructive into productive ones while giving agency to the house of the miner itself. From there, the miner of the future enters remotely through screens the three chapters - “The Toxic Forest“, “The Baquedano Oasis“ and “The London Mine“ - all mines in their on right, that materially and programmatically feed into the house. This way, the house becomes both consumer and constructor of a context in trans-ition, a context that is being “mined“ trans-territorially, trans-temporally and trans-disciplinarily.Architecture, Urbanism and Building Sciences | Explorela
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