Mining Engineering Commons^™

Recovery Of Valuable Metals From Electronic Waste Using A Novel Ammonia-Based Hydrometallurgical Process, Peijia Lin

Theses and Dissertations--Mining Engineering

The growing quantity of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE), also known as electronic waste (E-waste), has been an area of growing public concern. The abundance of valuable metals contained in waste printed circuit boards (WPCBs) has made it a promising secondary resource, especially for Cu and Au. Although the recovery of metals from WPCBs via hydrometallurgical routes has been studied extensively over the past 20 years, most of the research has been limited in the laboratory. In current hydrometallurgical processes, strong acids and expensive oxidizers are often used to ensure a high recovery of metals without considering the sustainability …

A Laboratory And Numerical Investigation Of The Strength Of Irregularly Shaped Pillars, Zachary Wedding

Theses and Dissertations--Mining Engineering

Underground mining operations utilize the room-and-pillar mining method that extracts the orebody and creates ‘rooms’ and leaves the remaining in-situ material as ‘pillars’ to support the overburden. Room-and-pillar mines are traditionally designed in square or rectangular-shaped pillars. This work presents laboratory experiments testing the compressive strengths of specimens modeled after square and parallelogram-shaped pillars and numerical models of square and -parallelogram-shaped pillar systems. The uniaxial compressive strength of the specimens’ shape and the observations of the extent of the specimen core post-failure were analyzed. There was insufficient evidence from the laboratory experiments to conclude that there is a difference in …

Prediction Of Blast-Induced Ground Vibrations: A Comparison Between Empirical And Artificial-Neural-Network Approaches, Luis F. Velasquez

Theses and Dissertations--Mining Engineering

Ground vibrations are a critical factor in the rock blasting process. The instantaneous load application exerted by the gas pressure during the detonation process acts on the blasthole walls creating dynamic stresses in the adjacent rock. This triggers different sorts of stress waves, mainly divided into two categories: body and surface waves. The first comprises the P and the S waves, while the second comprises Rayleigh waves. These waves spread concentrically starting at the blast location and move along the ground surface and its interior, being attenuated as they reach further distances.

In most cases, and accepting the hypothesis that …

An Acid Baking Approach To Enhance Rare Earth Element Recovery From Bituminous Coal Sources, Ahmad Nawab

Theses and Dissertations--Mining Engineering

Rare earth elements (REE) are a group of 17 elements typically classified as light and heavy rare earth elements, which play a crucial role in developing the latest technologies for energy, defense, and medical sectors. Even though REEs have been found in more than 200 minerals, only bastnaesite, monazite and xenotime are commercially exploited for REE extraction. However, the recent exponential increase in REE demand has spurred countries such as the United States into research for the extraction of REEs from secondary sources such as coal, acid mine drainage, and coal ash. Several coal sources (e.g., Fire Clay seam coal) …

Prediction Of Dynamic Subsidence In The Proximity Of Longwall Panel Boundaries, Jesus David Romero Benitez

Theses and Dissertations--Mining Engineering

The development of mining subsidence has a dynamic character, and it is related to the mining rate and a time coefficient. Reliable prediction of dynamic deformations is important when planning to undermine important structures that cannot account for large relative deformations and or large horizontal strains. This thesis discusses subsidence development for a number of points over a retreating longwall panel in the eastern US. The prediction points are at different distances from the excavation rib and, therefore, present a different response in terms of dynamic movements. Final movements, i.e., measurements after the panel was fully extracted, were used to …

Assessment Of Air Overpressure From Blasting Using Computational Fluid Dynamics, Cecilia Estefania Aramayo

Theses and Dissertations--Mining Engineering

Air overpressure is a shock wave that occurs when explosives detonate and travel through the air. This can cause damage and annoyance in mining blasts, making it a significant concern for the surroundings of the operation. Currently, the cube root scale distance is used to predict air overpressure, but this method has limitations. To accurately determine air overpressure behavior, a new method is needed. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) is a reliable and advanced technique that can simulate and solve complex physical problems, including the behavior of air overpressure. In this thesis, two techniques, the bursting balloon, and total pressure boundary, …

An Entropy-Based Risk Index (Eri) Of Mining Health And Safety Using Clustering And Statistical Methods, Dharmasai Eshwar Reddy Sirigiri

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Over the last decade, the mining industry has seen a significant reduction in the number of fatalities in the United States. However, the annual employee hours have also decreased during the same period. Therefore, it is crucial to evaluate the historical mining data and identify the potential risks of a mine through the mine risk index. The risk indicators also describe the severity of accidents and injuries at mine sites. The variables such as citation, order, significant & substantial citations, lost time, and no lost time injuries and penalties are considered for the determination of the risk index. However, using …

Verification Of Oil Recovery Mechanism Through Alteration Of Relative Permeability Curve And Analytical Measurements, Tina Tharn

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

In the petroleum production industry, there are several methods that can be utilized to increase oil recovery. These methods are so-called Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR). Nowadays, Low Salinity Water Flooding (LSWF) is one of the considerable of those techniques due to its cost and simplicity. However, understanding its main oil recovery mechanism is still limited. Therefore, the investigation of oil mechanism provided by LSWF would help refine its application to oilfields. In this study, the Johnson–Bossler–Naumann (JBN) approach is employed to examine relative permeability curves during LSWF in different rock formations including clean sandstone (SS), shaly-sandstone (SHS), and dolostone (DL). …

Augmented Reality And Mobile Systems For Heavy Equipment Operators In Surface Mining, Juan David Valencia Quiceno

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

U.S. federal laws mandate that mining companies ensure a safe workplace, implement approved training programs, and promptly report work-related injuries. The mining industry's commitment to innovation reflects a history of adopting advancements to enhance environmental sustainability, workplace safety, and overall productivity, while simultaneously reducing operational costs. This thesis proposes the integration of Augmented Reality (AR) technology and digital applications to enhance the surface mining industry, presenting two innovative solutions: an AR Training System and an Operational Digital System. These business solutions have been developed and applied at a surface mine in the southwest of the US, having the potential to …

Development Of A Hydrometallurgical Process For The Extraction Of Cobalt, Manganese, And Nickel From Acid Mine Drainage Treatment Byproduct, Alejandro Agudelo Mira

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Critical minerals (CMs) are defined as crucial elements for the country's economy due to the development of new cutting-edge applications and the risk of an eventual disruption in their supply chain. The unique chemical and physical properties of the CMs have made these elements decisive in the growth of industries such as telecommunications, army, medicine, Aerospace, etc. In 2022, the US Geological Survey established a list of 50 CMs, including manganese, cobalt, nickel, aluminum, magnesium, and others. Of the total of CMs, 26 are 100% imported from outside the United States (Venditti, 2022).

Driven by the ever-increasing demand for critical …

Analysis Of The Brittle Failure Mechanism Of Underground Stone Mine Pillars By Implementing Numerical Modeling In Flac3d, Rosbel Jimenez

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The room and pillar mining method is the most commonly utilized method for extracting minerals found in flat-lying stratiform, and it has been used in the majority of underground stone mines in the United States (Esterhuizen et al., 2011), as a consequence, it is a primary topic of study in the mining field. If a set or layout of pillars is unstable, it can cause a major collapse, resulting in not only the destruction of the underground mine, but also air blast, subsidence, and convergence of the mine opening, especially if they occur in a short period of time (Esterhuizen …

Selective Recovery Of Rare Earth Elements From Acid Mine Drainage Treatment Byproduct, Zeynep Cicek

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Rare earth elements (REEs) are critical in emerging clean energy, advanced technologies, and military defense applications due to their unique physical, chemical, optical, and luminescent properties. Given the potential supply chain restrictions imposed by one country's dominance in the global REE market and the consistently growing demand for REEs, developing the US domestic REE supply chain is imperative. Thus, alternative sources are crucial to supply the demand and prevent interruption in manufacturing products that consume REEs. Concurrently, acid mine drainage (AMD) is a long-standing and widespread global challenge the mining industry encounters. AMD is generated in large volumes and continuously …

Identification Of Rockmass Deformation And Lithological Changes In Underground Mines By Using Slam-Based Lidar Technology, Francisco Eduardo Gil Hurtado

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

In mining, hazards causing rib and roof fall accidents generally develop with time. The development of a hazard depends on factors like geology, excavation geometry, overburden stress, and mining-induced stresses. Hazard mapping in an underground mine is essential for roof and rib stability assessment. However, often it is neither practical nor economical to inspect and map vast areas of mine workings with limited personnel. New technologies, recently, have been adopted in the mining industry that can solve this problem. Advances in LiDAR technology and simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) algorithms have led to the development of portable and mobile laser …

A Novel Technique For The Quantitative Determination Of Wettability Of A Severely Heterogeneous Tight Carbonate Reservoir, Saleh Al-Sayegh, Ralph E. Flori, Waleed Al-Bazzaz, Abdulaziz Abbas, Ali Qubian, Hasan Al-Saedi

Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The objective of this study is to accurately measure the wettability contact angle of a cretaceous carbonate reservoir in a vertical well set-up known for as an unconventional tight carbonate oil reservoir. Also, to investigate the relative heterogeneity of these samples using digitally captured images; these images accurately capture natural pore-system in this carbonate rock samples and their wettability performance attributed towards building a vertical depth wettability/heterogeneity model. To capture, measure and model natural tight matrix static contact angle wettability in order to understand their new physics that will advance unconventional tight oil reservoir characterization. Entire vertical well depth reservoir …

Practical Imaging Applications Of Wettability Contact Angles On Kuwaiti Tight Carbonate Reservoir With Different Rock Types, Saleh Al-Sayegh, Ralph E. Flori, Waleed Al-Bazzaz, Sohaib Kholosy, Hasan Al-Saedi, Abdulaziz Abbas, Ali Qubian

Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

This study focuses on a tight carbonate reservoir which is located in Northern Kuwait and is classified as an unconventional reservoir. A practical imaging technique of wettability contact angle (θ°) presents "big data" as well as relative-permeability (Krw and Kro) measurements. Also, modeling, through rock image technology, the vast well-documented grain/pore boundary morphology available inside fresh rock fragments have achieved good results. Conventional laboratory relative-permeability experiments are expensive and time-consuming. This study introduces a novel method to measure/calculate relative permeability through fast, less expensive, non-destructive, and environmentally friendly techniques of imaging technology. One tight carbonate reservoir is selected, imaged, processed, …

Moving Towards Sustainable Mining Communities: The Case Of The Community-Led Non-Cyanide Non-Mercury Cold Extraction Method (Clinn-Cem) In Compostela Valley, Philippines, Rowee Joy S. Decena

Journal of Public Affairs and Development

The small-scale mining industry and communities are left behind in terms of development. They are confronted with economic, environmental, and social problems. Thus, to address these problems and move towards sustainable development, this social development research explores how CLINN-GEM, as a technological innovation, contributes to achieving sustainable mining communities. The researcher employs a single case study approach and adopts qualitative methods in data gathering and analysis. Data gathering methods include document reviews, guided tour, key informant interviews with seven informants, focus group discussions with the operations group and the members of the project staff, and a structured learning exercise with …

Investigating Pore Body, Pore Throat, Nano-Pore Wettability Preference In Several Unconventional Kuwaiti Carbonate Reservoirs, Saleh Al-Sayegh, Ralph E. Flori, Hussain Alajaj, Waleed Hussien Al-Bazzaz

Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

This study will investigate measuring the wettability contact angles of native unconventional tight carbonate as well as other unconventional pore system reservoir samples that hosts varied pore shapes and subsequent wettability contact angle distributions in both reservoir matrix and possible natural fractures. Also, the investigation will include validation of the grain/ pore-wall wettability regions and classify the natural wettability preference available inside pores of the rock and their overall wettability performance and recovery efficiency contributions. Further investigation will include modeling pore throat contact angle wettability, and to understand their new physics that will advance reservoir characterization and oil recovery improvement.

Kuwaiti Carbonate Reservoir Oil Recovery Prediction Through Static Wettability Contact Angle Using Machine Learning Modeling, Saleh Al-Sayegh, Ralph E. Flori, Waleed Hussien Al-Bazzaz, Hasan Al-Saedi, Mostafa Al-Kaouri, Ali Qubian

Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The objective of this study is to predict EOR efficiencies through static wettability contact angle measurement by Machine Learning (ML) modeling. Unlike conventional methods of measuring static wettability contact angle, the unconventional digital static wettability contact angle is captured and measured, then (ML) modeled in order to forecast the recovery based on wettability distribution phenomenon. Due to success in big data collection from reservoir imaging samples, this study applies data science lifecycle logic and utilizes Machine Learning (ML) models that can predict the recovery through wettability contact angles and thus identify the treatment of oil recovery for a candidate reservoir. …

An Eye Tracking Based Framework For Safety Improvement Of Offshore Operations, Muhammad A. Raza, Raj Kiran, Saima Ghazal, Ziho Kang, Saeed Salehi, Edward Cokely, Jiwon Jeon

Mining Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Offshore drilling operations consist of complex and high-risk processes. Lack of situational awareness in drilling operations has become an important human factor issue that causes safety accidents. Prolonged work shifts and fatigue are some of the crucial issues that impact performance. Eye tracking technology can be used to distinguish the degree of awareness or alertness of participants that might be related to fatigue or onsite distractions. Oculomotor activity can be used to obtain visual cues that can quantify the drilling operators' situational awareness that might enable us to develop warning alarms to alert the driller. Such systems can help reduce …

Task-Specific Ionic Liquids For Selective Separation And Recovery Of Rare Earth Elements, Mostafa Khodakarami, Lana Alagha

Patents

The present disclosure is directed to novel functionalized ionic liquids (ILs) that are used, for example, for enhanced recovery and separation of rare earth elements from aqueous solutions. The liquids and processes disclosed herein lead to greater separation efficiency, increased stability of separation materials, increased selectivity, and a reduced amount of waste materials.