Engineering Commons^™

Implementing The Empirical Stone Mine Pillar Strength Equation Into The Boundary Element Method Software Lamodel, Samuel Escobar

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

In this research, the equation for the increasing stress into the interior of a stone mine pillar, as a function of the pillar width-to-height ratio, is derived from the empirical pillar strength equation proposed by Esterhuizen et al. (2011). The gradient stress equations for the stone mine pillars were derived by following similar approaches to those presented by Mark et al. (1992) and Johnson et al. (2014). In these approaches, it is assumed that the variation of stresses within the pillar is a function of distance to the closest rib. The stress gradient function provides the stress distribution within the …

Evaluation Of Various Separation Techniques For The Removal Of Actinides From A Rare Earth-Containing Solution Generated From Coarse Coal Refuse, Deniz Talan

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Rare earth elements have emerged as a vital commodity due to their significance in the production of high-tech devices as well as their utilization in defense and military systems. They are deemed critical due to potential scarcity, supply constraints, and the lack of minable concentrations. Therefore, alternative sources are needed to meet the demand and continue manufacturing rare earth-required products. Coal and coal by-products, in that regard, have presented a significant opportunity and proven to contain a considerable amount of rare earths. However, toxic elements such as thorium and uranium are frequently seen in the same mineralization as rare earths. …

Various Operational Aspects Of The Extraction Of Critical Minerals From Acid Mine Drainage And Its Treatment By-Product, Zhongqing Xiao

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Acid mine drainage (AMD) is environmentally hazardous acidic water, which is continuously generated in large volumes at coal mining sites, typically when pyrite is exposed to oxygen and water. As its continuous migration under the geologic conditions, AMD tends to leach metal elements out from the surrounding minerals, leading to high concentrations of metal elements, like iron, aluminum, magnesium, manganese, lead, arsenic, as well as critical cobalt and rare earth elements (REEs). AMD must be treated and monitored to meet the effluent limits, under U.S.C §1251, the Clean Water act, before being discharged to receiving streams.

Recently, the research is …

The Effect Of Natural Fractures On The Mechanical Behavior Of Limestone Pillars: A Synthetic Rock Mass Approach Application, Mustafa Can Süner

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

In general, underground limestone mines have inherently strong rock and experience good ground stability. Also, modern pillar design guidelines developed by National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) have improved the design of stable layouts for modern limestone mines. However, ground control-related incidents are still an important problem. In underground limestone mines, previously mined sections stay open for the life of the mine which may be many years, and it is possible for travel ways to working faces to pass through these old sections. In a recent massive pillar collapse in an old section of a mine in Pennsylvania …

Geology Oriented Loading Approach For Underground Coal Mines, Deniz Tuncay

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Mining-induced stresses in underground coal mines play a significant role in pillar and support design, hence in the safety of mining operations. Adequate design of pillars and roof control plans rely on the accurate assessment of the mining-induced loads, as well as the load-bearing capacities of the supports. In pillar design tools frequently used by the underground coal mining industry and Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA), overburden loading is estimated by geometric concepts such as the tributary area and the abutment angle method. These methods do not explicitly consider important mechanical responses such as specific overall ground behavior. The …

Summary Of High Density 3d Seismic Exploration In The Mining Districts Of Coal Mines In Shanxi Province, Hou Zeming, Yang Deyi

Coal Geology & Exploration

Based on the analysis of geological characteristics of the study area, it is considered that the geological conditions of H₂S occurrence are the capping effect of dense surrounding rock on the roof and floor, the water-conducting fractured zone is unable to guide the overlying aquifer, and the low degree of coal metamorphism is not conducive to H₂S adsorption, resulting in maximum H₂S concentration of about 0.001 4% in the main mined coal seam 4 during the construction of Yadian mine at the north of Binchang mining area. Through the analysis of sulfur distribution, sulfate …

Analysing User Experience Of Mobile Banking Applications In Nigeria: A Text Mining Approach, Omotosho Babatunde S.

CBN Journal of Applied Statistics (JAS)

This paper analyses textual data mined from 37,460 reviews written by mobile banking application users in Nigeria over the period November 2012 – July 2020. On a scale of 1 to 5 (5 being the best), the average user rating for the twenty-two apps included in our sample is 3.5; with the apps deployed by non-interest banks having the highest average rating of 4.0 and those by commercial banks with national authorisation having the least rating of 3.4. Results from the sentiment analysis reveal that the share of positive sentiment words (17.8%) in the corpus more than double that of …

Experimental Evaluation Of Square Ferrocement Panels Using Polypropylene Wire Mesh, N. Khurram, U. Akmal, M. Raza, A. Hameed, M. Irfan Ul Hassan

Mining Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Ferrocement panels are thin section comprised of hydraulic mortar reinforced with steel wire mesh and are susceptible to micro cracks at service conditions. The moisture and rainwater may infiltrate through these cracks and cause the reduction in capacity due to the corrosion of steel wire mesh. In the present study, a polypropylene (PP) wire mesh has been used to overcome this problem. The main objective of the study is to investigate the punching shear and bending capacity of the ferrocement panels using PP wire mesh. Experimental tests conducted on 32 simply supported square slabs panels of 450x450 mm subjected to …

Life Cycle Assessment To Demonstrate How Automation Improves The Sustainability Performance Of An Underground Mining Operation, Kyle Moreau, Corey Laamanen, Ron Bose, Helen Shang, John A. Scott

Journal of Sustainable Mining

The worldwide move to introduce more automation into underground metal ore mining is currently aimed at improving both operational productivity and safety. We have used a comparative life cycle assessment (LCA) as a novel approach for the industry to determine the beneficial impacts automation can also have on environmental performance using data collected on mine site productivity and energy consumption. The LCA looked at four impact categories: global warming potential, acidification, eutrophication, and human toxicity. When comparing key automated equipment to their traditional manual counterpart, all four impact categories experienced a reduction with automation and a subsequent improvement in sustainability …

Review Of The Tight Radius Drilling Technology Based On High Pressure Water Jet, Fan Yao, Zhang Qun

Coal Geology & Exploration

Tight radius drilling technology based on high pressure water jet is an important technical means to realize low-cost and efficient development of oil and gas resources. According to the research and application of tight radius drilling technology based on high pressure water jet, the equipment buildup, drilling theory, technical process and application effect of three tight radius drilling technologies and equipments(i.e., forging milling and reaming hydraulic type, forging milling and reaming jet thrust type and casing window type) are summarized systematically, and the advantages, disadvantages and adaptability of different technologies are included. From the point of view of increasing production …

True Cost Of Coal: Coal Mining Industry And Its Associated Environmental Impacts On Water Resource Development, Noshin Masood, Karen Hudson-Edwards, Abida Farooqi

Journal of Sustainable Mining

Coal is a strategic and essential resource that ensures quality of life, energy security and sustainable development. Being the cheapest source of energy, it is the second after oil that is used to generate 40% of the world's electricity. However, traditional and conventional coal fuel extraction can threaten human health bycontaminating air and water, harming land, and contributing to global warming. The environmental impacts associated with conventional methods of coal mining and consumption can affect all components of the environment, and these impacts may be beneficial or harmful, permanent or temporary, repairable or irreparable, and reversible or irreversible in nature. …

Global Aeolian Dust Variations And Trends: A Revisit Of Dust Event And Visibility Observations From Surface Weather Stations, Xin Xi

Michigan Tech Publications, Part 1

This study revisits the use of horizontal visibility and manually reported present weather (ww) records from the NOAA Integrated Surface Database (ISD) for characterizing the aeolian dust variability and recent trends over the globe and three largest source regions (North Africa, Middle East, and East Asia). Due to its qualitative nature, ww is combined with visibility to derive a new variable, VI, which has higher correlations with the dust emission and burden from satellite observations and global aerosol reanalyses than does the dust event frequency (FR) derived from ww only. Both FR and VI capture …

Measurement Of Surface Subsidence And Ground Collapse Caused By Underground Mining In The Boleo Copper District, Mexico, Jong-Gwan Kim

Journal of Sustainable Mining

Subsidence and vertical movements in mines are a challenge in mining operations. To qualify as a controlled mine site, ground movements must be measured regularly during mining operations. Boleo Copper District mine was monitored and the movement during mining operations was measured from Oct. 31, 2018 to March 15, 2019. The evaluation of vertical and horizontal movement was determined in four locations in the mine areas M303, M303S, M303 C, and M305. The exploitation area, which measured approximately 80 x 90 m² with a height of 2.4 m, impacted the surface in the form of cracks. These cracks were …

Mineralogical Variations With The Mining Depth In The Congo Copperbelt: Technical And Environmental Challenges In The Hydrometallurgical Processing Of Copper And Cobalt Ores, Michel Shengo Lutandula, W. S. Kitobo, M. B. Kime, M. P. Mambwe, T. K. Nyembo

Journal of Sustainable Mining

For a long time in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the mining of ores for the production of copper cathodes and salts of cobalt was mostly conducted in the near-surface oxidized mineralization of the Congo Copperbelt. An important part of this mineralization is found in geological settings where copper and cobalt mainly exist as mixtures of oxides and sulfides. With the depletion of surface-rich minerals, mining is taking place at depths where sulfide minerals are prevalent. Using current technologies, the hydrometallurgical processing of ores with high levels of sulfide minerals results in poor metal recovery due to their retention in …

In Search Of A Future For Mining: Participative Scenarios For Colombia, Santiago Arango-Aramburo, Ricardo Smith, Patricia Jaramillo, Yris Olaya, Adrian Saldarriaga, Oscar J. Restrepo, Yuly Arboleda, Carla Rua, Sebastian Bernal, Pablo E. Londono, Erik R. Larsen

Journal of Sustainable Mining

We describe and discuss the development of scenarios for the Colombian mining industry. The scenarios were developed with a large group of stakeholders from across the Colombian government, society, and commerce, all with interest in and/or affected by the future of the mining sector. The process resulted in the creation of three different scenarios for the Colombian mining sector to 2030. The article describes the participatory process used for involving the stakeholders, including the workshops and the mapping technique that was used. It also outlines the three scenarios and possible policies that should be considered by the Colombian government in …

Optimising The Management Of Mining Waste By Means Sentinel-2 Imagery: A Case Study In Joda West Iron And Manganese Mine (India), Daniela Guglietta, Girolamo Belardi, Daniele Passeri, Rosamaria Salvatori, Stefano Ubaldini, Barbara Casentini, Francesca Trapasso

Journal of Sustainable Mining

A smart economy minimizes the production of waste from mining activities and reuses waste as a potential resource, with the goal of moving towards a near-zero waste society. This paper presents integrated multidisciplinary methodology in order to optimise the management of mining waste. The test site is the FeeMn mine in Odisha (India). The mining waste present in the mine has been collected and afterwards X-Ray Powder Diffraction, X-Ray Fluorescence and spectral signatures analysis have been performed for mineralogical, chemical and spectral characterization of the materials. Finally, the classification and mapping of the characterized mining waste was carried out by …

Effect Of Calcination Time On The Physicochemical Properties And Photocatalytic Performance Of Carbon And Nitrogen Co-Doped Tio2 Nanoparticles, Emile Salomon Massima Mouele, Mihaela Dinu, Franscious Cummings, Ojo O. Fatoba, Myo Tay Zar Myint, Htet Htet Kyaw, Anca C. Parau, Alina Vladescu, M. Grazia Francesconi, Sara Pescetelli, Aldo Di Carlo, Antonio Agresti, Mohammed Al-Abri, Sergey Dobretsov, Mariana Braic, Leslie F. Petrik

Mining Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The application of highly active nano catalysts in advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) improves the production of non-selective hydroxyl radicals and co-oxidants for complete remediation of polluted water. This study focused on the synthesis and characterization of a highly active visible light C–N-co-doped TiO2 nano catalyst that we prepared via the sol-gel method and pyrolyzed at 350 °C for 105 min in an inert atmosphere to prevent combustion of carbon moieties. Then we prolonged the pyrolysis holding time to 120 and 135 min and studied the effect of these changes on the crystal structure, particle size and morphology, electronic properties and …

Analysis Of Paleoclimatic Cycles In The Ultra Thick Coal Seam Of Yan'an Formation In The Southern Ordos Basin, Dong Guoqi, Wang Dongdong, Liu Haiyan, Mao Qiang, Yin Lusheng

Coal Geology & Exploration

Coal is a climate-sensitive sediment that contains abundant paleoclimate information. In order to find out the paleoclimate information contained in the coal seam and the evolution of its controlling factors, the No.4 thick coal seam in the first member of Yan’an Formation in the south of Ordos basin was studied. Based on the intensive sampling of the thick coal seam, the information of organic macerals, major and trace elements, and stable carbon isotopes of organic matter were systematically tested. By using the macerals, characteristic elements and carbon isotopes of coal and rocks, four cycles of paleoclimate with alternation of warm-wet …

Spectroscopic Measurements Of Dissolved O3, H2o2 And Oh Radicals In Double Cylindrical Dielectric Barrier Discharge Technology: Treatment Of Methylene Blue Dye Simulated Wastewater, Emile Salomon Massima Mouele, Jimoh O. Tijani, Milua Masikini, Ojo O. Fatoba, Chuks P. Eze, Chionydua T. Onwordi, Myo Tay Zar Myint, Htet Htet Kyaw, Jamal Al-Sabahi, Mohammed Al-Abri, Sergey Dobretsov, Katri Laatikainen, Leslie F. Petrik

Mining Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Advanced oxidation technologies (AOTs) focusing on nonthermal plasma induced by dielectric barrier discharge are adequate sources of diverse reactive oxygen species (ROS) beneficial for water and wastewater treatment. In this study, indigo, peroxytitanyl sulphate and terephthalic acid methods were used to approximate the concentrations of O₃, H₂O₂ and OH produced in a double cylindrical dielectric barrier discharge (DCDBD) plasma configuration. The effect of pH and scavengers as well as the amount of chemical probes on the generation of oxidants was investigated. The efficiency of the DCDBD reactor was further evaluated using methylene blue (MB) as …

Assessing The Energy Management Culture Of Global Leading Mining Companies: Curbing Carbon Emissions In A World Of Growing Climate Change Concerns, Irene Ateng

Graduate Theses & Non-Theses

Industries such as the oil, mining and chemical industry have been under a lot of pressure from governments and certain organizations worldwide to reduce their carbon footprint. The United Nations (UN), the International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM) and other organizations, have mapped out policies and recommendations that can be used to achieve this. Mining companies all over the world have adopted sustainability commitments based on recommendations by the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and have set targets for managing their energy use and GHG emissions. This research assessed the energy management culture of twenty (20) leading …

Paleomagnetic Evidence For Modern-Like Plate Motion Velocities At 3.2 Ga, Alec R. Brenner, Roger R. Fu, David A.D. Evans, Aleksey V. Smirnov, Raisa Trubko, Ian R. Rose

Michigan Tech Publications, Part 1

The mode and rates of tectonic processes and lithospheric growth during the Archean [4.0 to 2.5 billion years (Ga) ago] are subjects of considerable debate. Paleomagnetism may contribute to the discussion by quantifying past plate velocities. We report a paleomagnetic pole for the ~3180 million year (Ma) old Honeyeater Basalt of the East Pilbara Craton, Western Australia, supported by a positive fold test and micromagnetic imaging. Comparison of the 44°±15° Honeyeater Basalt paleolatitude with previously reported paleolatitudes requires that the average latitudinal drift rate of the East Pilbara was ≥2.5 cm/year during the ~170 Ma preceding 3180 Ma ago, a …

Investigation Into Mine Pillar Design And Global Stability Using The Ground Reaction Curve Concept, Ravi Chandan Ray

Theses and Dissertations--Mining Engineering

Pillars form an important support structure in any underground mine. A bulk of the overburden load is borne by the mine pillars. Thus, the strength of pillars has been a subject of detailed research over more than 6 decades. This work has led to the development of largely empirical pillar design formulations that have reduced the risk of pillar failures and mine collapse. Current research, however, has drawn attention to the fact that some of the assumptions used in the development of conventional pillar design methodologies are not always valid. Conventional pillar design methodology assumes that the pillars carry the …

Role Of Ergonomics In The Selection Of Stemming Plugs For Surface Mining Operations, Atta Ur Rehman, Muhammad Zaka Emad, Muhammad Usman Khan

Mining Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Stemming plugs are one of the widely used accessories in surface mining operations. Stemming plugs assist conventional stemming material in gas retention and help in better fragmentation and explosive utilization. Effective use of the stemming plugs results in economic benefits and enhance the efficacy of the project. Economic and productive viability of stemming plugs have been conducted in depth by different researchers. Addition of stemming plugs to a new system requires ergonomic challenges for operators conducting drilling and blasting operation. Induction of a newer product in already established system is subject to overall positive feedback. This work investigates ergonomics of …

Modeling And Optimization Of Froth Flotation Of Low-Grade Phosphate Ores: Experiments And Machine Learning, Ashraf Alsafasfeh

Doctoral Dissertations

”In this research work, bench-scale and micro-scale flotation tests were conducted to separate “minerals from silicate minerals using direct and reverse flotation approaches, respectively. Experiments were conducted at different flotation conditions including reagents’ type, reagents’ dosages, pulp’s pH, and flotation time.

In the direct flotation process, two polymers were selected to promote the depression of silicates: hybrid polyacrylamide-based polymers (Hy-PAM) and chitosan. Results indicated that the highest recovery of P₂O₅ (86.82%) was obtained when the Hy-PAM polymer was used compared with 66.7% and 40% when chitosan and commercial inorganic depressant were used, respectively. The experimental datasets obtained …

Application Of Geophysics And Remote Sensing Techniques For Economic Mineral Exploitation In Libya, Awad Abdussalam Henish Lemnifi

Doctoral Dissertations

“This study investigates crustal thickness and properties within the north central Africa region. Results obtained from 15 seismic stations belonging to the Libyan Center for Remote Sensing and Space Science are reported, in addition to 3 seismic stations publically available, using receiver functions, the first P-to-S receiver function investigation of the 410 km and 660 km depth discontinuities bounding the mantle transition zone (MTZ), and P wave tomography methods. The results from the first method show crustal thicknesses ranging from 24 km to 36 km (with uncertainties ranging between ±0.10 km and ±0.90 km). More specifically, crustal thickness ranges from …

Shock Wave Propagation Behavior At Corners And Crosscuts In Five Small-Scale Tunnel Scenarios, David Pierre Doucet

Masters Theses

"Shock wave propagation in tunnels and other enclosed environments is substantially more complicated than in an open-air or even a surface detonation. There is still much to learn about how shock wave properties change as a wave propagates in an enclosed space, such as a mine tunnel, inside of a building, or city street. The geometry of the enclosure will have a large role in the propagation of the shock wave. This means that many different tunnel designs must be studied. This work tested five different designs using a modular small-scale model. The scenarios tested were Straight-line, Single Turn, Around …

Joint Simulation Of Continuous And Categorical Variables For Mineral Resource Modeling And Recoverable Reserves Calculation, Sentle Augustinus Hlajoane

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Spatial variability and uncertainty of continuous variables (grade) and categorical variables (rock-types) in mineral evaluation significantly impact the economics of mining projects. The conventional approach of simulating grades using deterministic rock- types is problematic since spatial variability, and uncertainty of grades at rock-type contacts are not well captured in deposits where the grade changes gradually between rock-types. Therefore, jointly simulating these variables can improve confidence (reduce uncertainty) in a resource model. Also, resource classification and recoverable reserve calculation can significantly improve the understanding of the deposit and its economic viability. This research utilized the Plural-Gaussian geostatistical simulation to jointly simulate …

Fundamental Studies On The Recovery Of Rare Earth Elements From Acid Mine Drainage, Xue Huang

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The Rare Earth Elements (REEs) are a group of 17 chemically similar elements that are essential raw materials for modern society. Given their increasing importance in civil and defense applications, many national governments, including the US, have denoted the REEs as critical materials and emphasized the need to identify and develop both conventional and unconventional resources to meet the growing demand. To address this challenge, the US Department of Energy has recently spearheaded efforts to evaluate the technical and economic feasibility of recovering REEs from coal and coal byproducts, which have been shown to contain REEs at an elevated concentration …

Adaptation Of Coal Mine Floor Rating (Cmfr) To Eastern U.S. Coal Mines, Sena Cicek

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Floor heave—the excessive deformation and failure of floor strata—is a serious problem for many underground coal mining operations in the U.S. There is an accepted floor heave design methodology developed for the Illinois basin coal mines (Gadde, 2009). However, for Eastern U.S. coal mines in the Appalachian region, there is not any systematic design method to assess floor heave potential. In order to prevent stability problems associated with floor failure and to ensure the safety of the miners in this region, a systematic and proactive method to assess the potential of floor stability that also takes the floor failure mechanisms …

Mining’S Impact On Environmental And Human Health: A Case Study Of Ramba County’S Gold Mine, Vivika Fernes

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

This research project aims to gain a greater understanding of the health implications that Ramba County’s goldmine has on miners, their families, and the environment. While this study observes the community-at-large, inclusive of visiting miners and extended family members of workers, it will focus on women who engage in artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM). Millions of people in the developing word depend on ASGM for their livelihood, evident in this case study in Ramba County. However, while gold is associated with wealth, there is great irony in the fact that those working within the mining industry are being exploited …