Mining Engineering Commons^™

All-In Sustaining Cost Analysis, Asseu Gilbert Yapo

Graduate Theses & Non-Theses

Cost reporting has focused on the direct cost of mining and processing ore which was summarized in the non-GAAP cash cost developed by the Gold Institute in 1996. In 2013, a group of mining companies, working with the World Gold Council, developed a more inclusive approach to reporting costs designed to solve the dilemma of showing a more comprehensive reflection of recurring costs involved in producing gold, without discouraging investors.

Optimization Of The Quantity Of Heated/Refrigerated Air Required For Ventilating Underground Mines With Ventilation-On-Request Systems, Samuel C. Wiley

Graduate Theses & Non-Theses

Development of deeper and more complex orebodies has increased the demand for efficient use of the air ventilating underground mining operations. Deeper and heavily mechanized operations present increasing difficulty for maintaining the air temperatures encountered by personnel, which must be removed to ensure their safety and health. The efficient use of air is made possible by the implementation of Ventilation-on-Request (VOR) systems. However, reductions in the quantity of air supplied by VOR may reduce the quantity below that which is necessary for effective heat exchange.

The objective of this thesis is to develop a heat simulation program that will determine …

An Evaluation Of Carbon Concentrations Associated With Biodiesel Particulate Matter In An Underground Metal Mine, David Evans

Graduate Theses & Non-Theses

Exposure to diesel particulate matter from diesel exhaust has been shown to have adverse health effects in humans. In 2012 The International Agency for Research on Cancer classified diesel exhaust as a group 1 know human carcinogen. Because of the associated health effects, there has been a strong push to reduce the amount of diesel exhaust present in the mining industry. Biodiesel is one to the more common and promising control options used to reduce the amount of diesel particulate matter that is generated during fuel combustion. The use of biodiesel over petroleum diesel has been shown to reduce not …

Management Challenges In Nurturing A Safe Work Environment, Thomas W. Camm

Mining Engineering

As engineers, we are trained to use logical, rational problem solving to insure our mines operate at maximum efficiency. We tend to use the same technical approach to design safety into all mining systems. This works well for machines, but not so much for the human component. Recent insights in the field of behavioral economics provide useful ideas for addressing the fact that we are driven by emotions more often than by rational thought. Understanding the nonrational aspect of human behavior is an important piece of any safety system design.

What A Ride: Mining Industry To University, Scott Rosenthal

Mining Engineering

This paper will share my ‘shift in career direction’ journey from corporate mine engineer, with 31 years of mining various commodities with a wide range of responsibilities in a variety of countries, to the world of academia. There are times in one’s career that a change is required, albeit perhaps not as drastic of a change as moving to teaching. This paper will share how the transition arose, the decision to make the change, the challenges of the first year in academia, and the journey within academia going into the second year.

Keeping Civilization From Collapsing, Thomas W. Camm

Mining Engineering

No abstract provided.

The Dark Side Of Leadership: Dealing With A Narcissistic Boss, Thomas W. Camm

Mining Engineering

Some of the defining characteristics of narcissists include a grandiose sense of self-importance, preoccupation with success and power, a sense of infallibility, and a supreme confidence in their ability and intelligence. Ironically, many of these characteristics are rewarded in business organizations, which may explain why there seems to be so many narcissists in management positions. Assuming we will be dealing with narcissists throughout our career, it makes sense for us to understand what makes them tick, and more importantly what we can do to work with them in a constructive manner.

Power And Politics In Organizations, Thomas W. Camm

Mining Engineering

Aristotle made the observation that man is a political animal. Engineers often like to think they are above the fray when it comes to organizational politics, but most organizational theorists believe politics is a fundamental dynamic in any group. This paper examines the various ways that people use power within organizations to negotiate the political interactions in the work place.

Creating Lakes From Open Pit Mines: Processes And Considerations, Emphasis On Northern Environments, Christopher H. Gammons, Les N. Harris, James M. Castro, Peter A. Cott, Bruce W. Hanna

Geological Engineering

Creating Lakes from Open Pit Mines: Processes and Considerations, Emphasis on Northern Environments. This document summarizes the literature of mining pit lakes (through 2007), with a particular focus on issues that are likely to be of special relevance to the creation and management of pit lakes in northern climates. Pit lakes are simply waterbodies formed by filling the open pit left upon the completion of mining operations with water. Like natural lakes, mining pit lakes display a huge diversity in each of these subject areas. However, pit lakes are young and therefore are typically in a non-equilibrium state with respect …

Simplified Cost Models For Prefeasibility Mineral Evaluations. U.S. Bureau Of Mines Information Circular 9298, 35, Thomas W. Camm

Mining Engineering

In this U.S. Bureau of Mines report, mine and mill cost models are presented to make quick estimates of the cost to develop mineral deposits in the desert region of the Southwest United States. Regression analysis was used to generate capital and operating cost equations for each model in the form Y = AXB, where Y is the cost estimated and X is the assumed daily capacity in short tons. A and B are constants determined by the regression analysis. Each is broken down into 11 subcategories to facilitate escalation of costs for inflation and to increase their versatility in …

The Mono-Rail Timber Transfer, James D. Wallace

Bachelors Theses and Reports, 1928 - 1970

My report covers the desire and need for a practical machine of this type to save labor, time and fatigue in underground timber transportation. A design is suggested including description, sequence of operation, design details and calculations.

A Portfolio Of Advanced Mining Equipment Ideas, George L. Wilhelm

Bachelors Theses and Reports, 1928 - 1970

This paper presents a series of idealized sketches and accompanying descriptions of mining equipment. The ideas contained herein apply broadly to the mechanization of underground mining and development. Considered here are new techniques of material handling, drilling, mucking and rock transportation.

Description Of Sand-Water Pumping Experiment And Preliminary Photographic Investigation, Allen F. Westerdahl

Bachelors Theses and Reports, 1928 - 1970

The objective of this report is threefold: to provide a brief description of the Sand-Water pumping experiment; to describe the flow of sand and water in the experimental equipment; and to present the results of a preliminary photographic investigation of fluorescent minerals in clear plastic pipes.

Cost Comparison Of Planer Mining And Open-Stope Mining Of Phosphate Rock, George Krempasky

Bachelors Theses and Reports, 1928 - 1970

This paper outlines and describes a proposed mining method and its cost. The object of the paper is to evaluate a low-cost, maximum recovery, underground mining method for mining Western phosphate rock as compared to an open-stope system.

Shaft Mucking Investigation Part 2, Jorge R. Delzo

Bachelors Theses and Reports, 1928 - 1970

By use of several digging principles, such devices as scrapers, clamshells, power shovel loaders, etc., have been perfected. The net results have been an almost complete elimination of hand mucking, an increase of loading speed, and a reduction of sinking costs. Moreover, the elimination of hand mucking has had a favorable psychological effect on the crew, as well as saving physical effort for the other phases of the shaft-sinking cycle.

Diamond Drilling Equipment, William R. Cox

Bachelors Theses and Reports, 1928 - 1970

Diamond drilling is based on the extreme hardness of the diamond enabling it to cut or abade rocks, minerals or other materials found in the earth's crust, or that may be manufactured by man.

Design Of A Portable Headframe, Rodney C. Foster

Bachelors Theses and Reports, 1928 - 1970

Present day methods of ore exploration consists of surface geology, geophysical methods and drilling datum. These methods have all produced results, but, the sure way of telling whether ore is present is to look at it in place, determine it's tonnage, grade and ease of mining. This can only be done by the use of a headframe to sink a shaft. Therefore a low cost, well designed and easily constructed headframe would be a great aid to underground exploration work. For this reason the report is devoted to the design of a portable headframe to be used in preliminary ore …

Open Pit Mining Operations, James A. Simon

Bachelors Theses and Reports, 1928 - 1970

This report on open pit mining operations will discuss: the history of open pit mining, factors important in the selection of open pit mining and in the development of an open pit, and the various mining and operational methods used in this type of an operation. Stripping coal mining operations will be discussed but the majority of the report will be on open pit metal mines.

Techniques Of Underground Sampling And Calculation Of Ore Reserves, James E. Cleveland

Bachelors Theses and Reports, 1928 - 1970

In the mining industries, samples and the technique of sampling play an important role in the life and production of a mine. From the initial prospect to the final pound of ore produced, the production depends on the grade of ore coupled with a mining system that will realize a profit, the one thing a mine cannot survive without.

A Device For Testing Model Hydrostatic Rock Pressure, K. Robert Dorman

Bachelors Theses and Reports, 1928 - 1970

This report describes a machine which exerts hydrostatic pressure similar to those encountered at depth in the earth. The machine permits visual observation of pressure effects on a wax-talc mixture used to represent actual rock.

The Adaptation Of An Ore Feeder To Replace A Chute, Donald M. Forsman

Bachelors Theses and Reports, 1928 - 1970

I believe that by installing apron ore feeders in place of chutes, spillages, manual labor, and loading time could reduced, and greater safety and the average car factor could be increased. Although an apron feeder would be a considerable investment, maintenance should be very low and the feeder would be re-usable many times.

Shaft Mucking Investigation Part 1, Jorge R. Delzo

Bachelors Theses and Reports, 1928 - 1970

This paper represents an attempt to explain the operation of inclined-shaft mucking, and the machines developed for this purpose. It also covers some research done for the design of a continuous shaft mucking device, which could in the future prove to be the answer to this important problem. In many small or intermediate mining operations, where this problem has been a prime headache, the added costs of shaft mucking, because of lack of speed, and versatility, might very well mean the difference between profit and collapse.

An Investigation Of Ground Pressure By Scale Model, Theodore F. Berthelote

Bachelors Theses and Reports, 1928 - 1970

This report includes a brief survey of the literature pertaining to the application of scale models to the study of ground pressure, a discussion of the theory of scale models, description of model material and loading devices used in this study, and a discussion of results obtained in actual experimentation.

Shaft Mucker Design, P. J.G Du Toit

Bachelors Theses and Reports, 1928 - 1970

The mucking principle employed in the design of this mucking machine is that of a continuous operation instead of an intermittent one. The mucker was primarily designed for operation in shafts (vertical or inclined) and winzes but the mucker is not restricted to these.

Modern Hydraulic Filling In Underground Metal Mines, Rainer Gevers

Bachelors Theses and Reports, 1928 - 1970

While the practice of back-filling is almost as old as mining, it was only when modern machines made possible the removal of vast tonnages of rock, that the support of underground workings-- by filling work-out stopes-- became peremptory from both the humane and economic aspects.

Shaft-Sinking Investigation, Johan De Beer

Bachelors Theses and Reports, 1928 - 1970

During the past few years there has been a tremendous advance in the rate of sinking shafts. The sinking of shafts has always been one of the more costly and time consuming operations in the development of a mine. Shaft sinking is a long-term operation and only in the past few years has there been a remarkable increase in the rate of sinking.

Prospect Drilling, George Allen Mealey

Bachelors Theses and Reports, 1928 - 1970

This report covers four types of prospect drilling: churn drilling, diamond drilling, percussion drilling and calyx drilling. No other types of prospect drilling are discussed except these four types because any other method are not extensively used.

Underground Concreting, J. D. Riggleman

Bachelors Theses and Reports, 1928 - 1970

Concreting has in the past few years become a prime consideration in underground support; therefore, this report will endeavor to outline some of the basic fundamentals of underground concreting. Greater emphasis has been placed upon the characteristics and criteria of good concrete and placing procedures and techniques. Actual examples of practice have been cited but only to illustrate the basic fundamentals which are outlined in the major part of this report.

Mine Cars Of The United States, Edward Sadar

Bachelors Theses and Reports, 1928 - 1970

Underground transportation of mineral, waste and supplies is a vital function in mine operation. For this reason the selection and design of a mine car is important. Each type of mine car is constructed for a certain type of job. The design of a mine car is the result or product of the many people connected with its construction. It is the purpose of this report to bring forth many of these ideas by way of discussions, statistical classifications and drawings of the mine car.

The Venturi-Mucker, Don A. Rohrenbach

Bachelors Theses and Reports, 1928 - 1970

Shaft sinking has been and still is one of the biggest bottlenecks in any mining operation. Consequently, the shaft is by far the most expensive and time-consuming excavation of any development program. When the shaft-sinking problem is broken up into its components, it is found that shaft mucking represents the largest fraction, both costwise and timewise. Since the mucking operation is the most important part of shaft sinking, it is, then, the most logical place for the introduction of cheaper methods.