Mining Engineering Commons^™

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 …

Relating Detonation Parameters To The Detonation Synthesis Of Nanomaterials, Martin Langenderfer

Doctoral Dissertations

“This research investigates the physical and chemical processes that contribute to the detonation synthesis of silicon carbide nanoparticles. Bulk production of SiC nanoparticles through detonation is possible due to pressures achieved over 20 GPa and temperatures over 2000 K as well as quenching rates in excess of 13 billion K/second. These conditions catalyze reaction and bottom-up molecular growth while retaining particles < 100 nm in diameter. In this work, detonation synthesis of SiC was demonstrated by incorporation of polycarbosilane, an SiC precursor material, into an RDX/TNT explosive matrix prior to detonation. Detonation Synthesis of SiC was also accomplished by reacting elemental silicon with carbon liberated by the detonation of negatively oxygen balanced TNT. Hydrodynamic simulation of a 60:40 mass ratio RDX/TNT detonation created conditions thermodynamically suitable to produce cubic silicon carbide within the first 500 nanoseconds after the passage of the detonation wave while carbon remains chemically reactive for molecular formation. Simulations and experimental tests indicated that loading configuration and impedance mismatch of the precursor additives used in detonation synthesis results in conditions in the additives that exceed the accepted detonation pressure of the explosive by greater than three times. Finally, a full factorial experimental design showed increasing silicon concentration, reducing silicon size, and reducing oxygen balance by adjusting the ratio of RDX to TNT decreased the explosives detonation pressure by 20% and increased the soot yield and concentration of SiC observed in the detonation products by 82% and 442% respectively”--Abstract, page iv.

Assessment Of Rib Failure Mechanisms Using Discontinuum Mechanics Based Modeling Approach, Maurice Nuonituo Sunkpal

Doctoral Dissertations

"Coal mine rib failures are major safety and health challenge for coal mines worldwide. The need for clear procedures to evaluate mine rib behavior and to provide an efficient, reliable, and consistent rib control protocol is needed. Understanding coal rib geomechanics is essential for improving rib stability and eliminating fatality and injury trends due to rib failures. This knowledge is also vital to determine support requirements.

The rib control practices used in the 21st Century in most countries originated in roof control techniques. Understandably, applying roof control methods to coal rib does not yield desirable results. The geology of structures …

Using Similitude Theory And Discrete Element Modeling To Understand The Effects Of Digging Parameters On Excavation Performance For Rubber Tire Loaders, Atta Ur Rehman

Doctoral Dissertations

"The large sizes of mining equipment pose challenges for analysis using experiments or simulation. While scaled physical and simulation models can address this challenge, no previous work has explored how similitude theory and modeling can provide valid analysis of large equipment such as rubber tire loaders. The objective of this research was to apply similitude theory and discrete element modeling (DEM) to study the effect of different digging parameters on the penetration and the draft on the buckets of rubber tire loaders. The work sought to (1) test the hypothesis that the geometry of a rubber tire loader bucket and …

Downhole Water Drainage From A Gas Reservoir For Water Dumpflood In An Underlying Oil Reservoir, Htet Myet Zin Naing

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

For wells drilled in a bottom water-drive gas reservoir, water coning may lead to a considerable amount of water production which diminishes the gas recovery. If the gas reservoir has an oil reservoir underneath, a method called “Downhole Water Drain for Water Dumpflood” (DWDDF) can be performed to drain water from the aquifer underneath the gas reservoir and dump it into the oil reservoir to perform waterflooding. DWDDF technique can help increase gas production from the upper gas reservoir and oil production from the lower reservoir at the same time. In this study, a simple reservoir model having common rock …

Quality Control Of Chemical Grade Calcium Carbonate From Lopburi Limestone Deposit In Thailand, Pimpichcha Teawpanich

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

Calcium carbonate (CaCO3) is naturally produced from calcite, limestone, chalk, and marble. It is being used as raw material in various industries (e.g., cement, plastic, paint, paper, and pharmaceutical industries). The low-grade CaCO3 samples obtained from a calcite plant at Khoktum Sub-district, Muang Lopburi District, Lopburi Province, Thailand were used in this study. These samples contain more than 98% of CaCO3 while Fe2O3 contents are higher than 0.1% and increased after finished the process. Because of this problem, the products could not be sold since lower Fe2O3 contents are required (e.g., ≤0.05% for filler grade and ≤ 0.1% for animal …

Effects Of Clay Minerals On Oil Recovery Mechanism In Low Salinity Waterflooding In Shaly-Sandstone Formation, Tri Yudha Putra

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

Low Salinity Waterflooding (LSWF) is one of Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) techniques that are often mentioned nowadays. Several studies showed that injecting low salinity water leads to Multi-component Ion Exchange (MIE) which is one of oil recovery mechanisms provided by this technique. This study was performed to investigate the effects of specific clay mineral in rock and ion in injected water. First, representative clays were analytically tested to ensure their mineral compositions and the selected representative clays were tested by filtration with different water formulations to identify ionic capacities in MIE for each clay. Results obtained from filtration test and …

Calculation Of Real Evapotranspiration By The Application Of Metric Method On Landsat-8 Data, Ali Imanian, Majid Hashemi Tangestani, Adel Asadi, Mohammad Zare

Michigan Tech Publications, Part 1

In geological remote sensing approaches for estimating evapotranspiration, METRIC method is among the most modern and precise approaches that many positive experiments have been reported regarding its applicability. In this study, the value of actual evapotranspiration (ET) occurred in Marvdasht farmlands, Fars province, Iran, was calculated instantaneously (hourly) and daily (24 hours), at 24 April 2017 using METRIC method and Lansat-8 data. In order to accuracy assessment of the results, estimated values were compared to the values calculated with Penman Monteith method in places that covers by alfafa crop. Our observations showed that ET values obtained via METRIC model on …

Nonlinear Wave Evolution In Interaction With Currents And Viscoleastic Muds, Elham Sharifineyestani, Navid Tahvildari

Civil & Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

A numerical model is extended to investigate the nonlinear dynamics of surface wave propagation over mud in the presence of currents. A phase-resolving frequency-domain model for wave-current interaction is improved to account for wave modulations due to viscoelastic mud of arbitrary thickness. The model compares well with published laboratory data and performs slightly better than the model with viscous mud-induced wave damping mechanism. Monochromatic and random wave simulations are conducted to examine the combined effect of currents, mud-induced wave dissipation and modulation, and nonlinear wave-wave interactions on surface wave spectra. Results indicate that current effects on wave damping over viscoelastic …

Celestite Upgrading By Jigs In Presence Of Steel Balls As Ragging Material, Ahmed Sobhy, Ayman A. El-Midany, Suzan S. Ibrahim

Mining Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Gravity separation using jigs is widely used for coarse particle sizes separation. However, fine sizes reduce jig performance. In this study, the upgrading of celestite ore by jig was investigated at different size fractions in the presence of ragging material. Three size fractions, i.e., -15+2 mm, - 2.0 + 0.50 mm and - 0.50 + 0.08 mm were used. The steel balls were used, as ragging material, to improve the separation of fines as well as to improve the concentrate quality. The statistical design was used to correlate celestite grade and recovery with studied operating variables, i.e., the ragging number …

Projectile Generator Design For Underground Coal Mine Seal Testing, Ethan Allan Steward

Masters Theses

"Underground coal mines have several dangers, one of the most hazardous of which is the possibility of an explosion caused by the ignition of methane gas. To reduce ventilation costs, coal mines have the option to close off abandoned areas that are no longer active with structural seals to keep an explosion from propagating into working areas of the mine. Though seals have been designed to resist the overpressure, none have been evaluated for their resistance to the impact of heavy objects. Underground explosions produce high velocity gasses that, traveling through mine openings, may propel objects in the mine at …

The Effects Of Rigid Polyurethane Foam As A Confinement Material On Breaching Charge Detonations, Nathan Franz Paerschke-O'Brien

Masters Theses

"The effects of a rigid polyurethane foam used as a confinement material on four types of breaching explosives were tested, focusing on the changes in shockwave peak pressures, detonation load compression forces, and brisance cratering abilities. The Plate Dent testing procedure was modified to incorporate a load cell force sensor, and two air overpressure sensors were included adjacent to the blast to quantify each test result. The testing variables focused on the polyurethane foam cure times and thickness volumes around the breaching explosives to determine the breaching charges' optimal energy output capabilities when confined by the foam material. The rigid …

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. …

Recovery Of Phosphorus From Florida Phosphatic Waste Clay, Amir Eskanlou

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This MS thesis examines the recovery of phosphorus (P) from Florida waste clay (WC). A comprehensive literature review revealed that: (i)-The most important values being lost to WC are P and rare earth elements (REEs). For the recovery of these values from WC, two crucial attempts are the removal of extremely fine-sized clays, followed by the recovery of phosphate content, which can pave the path for the recovery of REEs; (ii)-Any scientific/ technological solution should, at the same time, be economically and environmentally attractive to the industry. As such, moving from mostly chemical separation processes to the primarily physical/ physicochemical …

Optimization Of Operating Conditions And Design Parameters On Coal Ultra-Fine Grinding Through Kinetic Stirred Mill Tests And Numerical Modeling, Francisco Patino

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This study investigated the ultra-fine coal grinding performance of four low- to moderate-cost grinding media: ceramic balls, granular sand, alumina beads, and silica beads. The kinetic grinding tests were conducted using a stirred mill, while different operating conditions, including the media size, solids concentration, and the addition of viscosity modifiers, were examined. Characterization studies in terms of particle size, shape, and surface morphology were further performed to support the experimental findings. Moreover, using population balance modeling, grinding simulation was performed in Matlab to forecast the particle size distribution based on the specific energy input and experimental size-related data. The results …

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 …

Evaluation Of Excavated Surface Irregularities And Hardness Of Mechanical Excavations And Their Relationship With Excavator Performance, Prosper Evaristus Akansah Ayawah

Doctoral Dissertations

"This research involved lab and numerical excavation of a clastic sedimentary rock (Roubidoux Sandstone) using a long-bladed disc cutter in a Linear Rock Cutting Machine (LCM) with the aim of establishing relationships between the cutting parameters, excavated surface parameters (underbreaks, overbreaks and hardness), and performance parameters (specific energy and cutting rate). Three-dimensional cutting forces were recorded during the linear cutting. A structured laser imaging system was used to image the excavated surfaces for the estimation of the irregularities (ridge volumes (RV) and overbreak volumes (OV)). The excavated surface hardness was measured using the N-type Schmidt hammer. The numerical simulation was …

Mining Haul Road Defect Detection -- Advancement In Automated Road Extent And Response Calibration For Improved Maintenance, Alexander David Douglas

Doctoral Dissertations

Mine haul roads degrade rapidly due to extremely heavy loads on sub optimal construction materials. This research tests two methods of defect detection to determine limitations to current technology: optical detection and vehicle vibration response. Optical defect detection was found to have the least significant limitations for surface defect detection and vehicle vibration response modeling has the least significant limitations for subsurface defects. This research proposes novel methods to eliminate the critical limitations of both technologies.

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) equipped with GPS and a high-resolution camera is used to create a 3-D point cloud using a structure-from-motion algorithm. This …

Investigating The Focusing Effect Of Charge Geometry With Computer Simulations, Witness Plates, And High-Speed Videography, Kelly Ray Williams

Doctoral Dissertations

"Scaled distance is used to calculate a safe standoff radius from the detonation of a known mass of an explosive. It has been shown that varying only the geometry of the charge significantly overdrives regions of the blast wave potentially resulting in hazardous overpressure levels at scaled distance safe radii. Pressure transducers are used to measure overpressure surrounding spherical, cylindrical, and cubic charges to determine if bridge waves were formed at the edges between flat sides as seen in published studies of cylindrical charges. In the fireball field a witness plate is used to evaluate radial energy distribution with a …

The Application Of Ovt Domain Processing Technology In Deep Cbm Exploration In Qinshui Basin, Tian Zhongbin, Li Juan, Shen Youyi, Feng Ajian, Yang Xiaodong

Coal Geology & Exploration

The high concentration slurry is poured into the goaf to form filled piers. The bearing capacity of the piers to the superstructure are affected by the overlap size. In order to grasp the influence of the overlap size on the bearing capacity of the overlying rock layer, high concentration slurry was prepared which selected cement as the cementing material, standard sand as the aggregate. 3D printing technology was used to make the mold to produce the overlapped round table samples. The uniaxial compression test was carried out. Test results show that, when the top area and height of each single …

Pulverized Coal-Controlling Method Based On Supermolecular Film In Cbm Well, Wu Ying, Li Xiaonan, Liu Zixiong, Liu Rumin

Coal Geology & Exploration

Correctly understanding the micro-scale fracture characteristics of the Lower Cambrian shale and the evolution law of acoustic emission signals are of great reference value in the study of shale mechanical characteristics, fracture mechanism and shale gas development and utilization. In this paper, based on digital image processing technology, the non-uniform characterization of quartz-filled shale is carried out, and a numerical model is established using the real rock fracture analysis system RFPA^2D-DIP to simulate the failure process of shale under different confining pressures. The test results show that under the micro-scale structure, the shale failure mode can be roughly …

Analysis On The Cbm Extraction Effect Of The Horizontal Wells In The Coal Seam Roof In Luling Coal Mine In Huaibei, Fang Liangcai, Li Guihong, Li Dandan, Li Haozhe, Liu Jia

Coal Geology & Exploration

Aiming at the scientific evaluation of coaxial casing heat transfer of geothermal resources with medium burial depth(1 500-4 000 m), a rock-water coupled heat transfer model of a vertical single well was built based on the simulation platform of COMSOL Multiphysics software. Taking the stratigraphic and geothermal characteristics of Xi'an area as the simulation background, the heat transfer capacity of single well(3 500 m)casing under two different geothermal gradients(0.027℃/m and 0.030℃/m) and four flow velocities(0.25, 0.50, 0.75, 1.00 m/s) was calculated and analyzed. Meanwhile, the numerical models of group wells with five kinds of well spacing were established, and the …

Construction And Transformation Technology Of Three-Dimensional Fine Model Of Mine Water Diversion Structure, Fan Juan, Hou Enke, Jin Dewu, Qiao Wei, Nan Shenghui

Coal Geology & Exploration

The development degree of natural fractures is the main factor affecting coalbed methane productivity. In order to accurately obtain the distribution position of the natural fractures in the a coalbed methane field in the southern Qinshui basin, 7 refracturing wells in the area were adopted by surface microseismic vector scanning to monitor the natural fractures. A certain amount of three-component geophones were deployed around the fracturing well to collect microseismic events in the surrounding reservoir during fracturing, and after Semblance superposition, the fracture energy slices at different times in the monitoring area were obtained to explain the natural fractures in …

Research On The Fracture Mechanics Model Of Deep Hole Pre-Splitting For Forced Caving, Li Jinhua, Chen Wenxiao, Su Peili, Duan Dong, Song Yongjun

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 …

Freezing Temperature Field Characteristics Of Multi-Loop Pipers Under Different Working Conditions At The Interface Of Deep Thick Sand And Clay, Yang Qing, Rong Chuanxin, Li Mingjing, Yang Guobing

Coal Geology & Exploration

When drilling in a complex heterogeneous formation, due to the limitation of bit crown shape, the cutters of each part of the bit are subjected to non-uniform force, and the cutters at the local location are subjected to large impact load, which lead to the occurrence of bit vortex. In order to solve the problem, a “multi-level force balance” cutter circumferential arrangement scheme is proposed. By establishing the rock breaking finite element simulation model of the bit, the mechanical characteristics of the cutter and the bit under three circumferential cutter distribution modes(clockwise, counterclockwise and “multi-level force balance”) are analyzed. Simulation …

Gas Drainage Technology And Practice Analysis Of Large Diameter High Position Directional Long Borehole, Hao Shijun, Duan Huijun, Mo Haitao, Peng Xu, Peng Dong

Coal Geology & Exploration

In order to solve the problem of the high mud content and easy hydration and dispersion of the Cretaceous sedimentary strata in well Songke-2, the bit balling is prone to occur in the water-based drilling fluid environment, which affects the drill bit ROP and induces downhole adhesion stuck, the paper combined the core drilling technology of well Songke-2, systematically analyzed of the causes of bit balling generated by the drill bit in the mudstone and water-based drilling fluid environment, provided a basis for the design of the anti-balling of the drill bit and the formulation of the anti-ball in drilling …

Interpretation Method Of High Density 3d Seismic Depth Domain Data In Coal Mining Districts, Meng Fanbin

Coal Geology & Exploration

The development height of the water conducting fractured zone is one of the important technical parameters for mine water hazards prediction. In this paper, the combined well-surface microseismic monitoring technology was used to analyze the development characteristics of the water conducting fractured zone in working face 4103 in Wenjiapo coal mine. The results showed that for deep buried coal seams, the microseismic events occured in the advance mining face with advanced influence angle ranging from the minimum of 28° to the maximum of 35°. The stability of overburden decreased due to the faults. Thus, compared with normal bedrock, the overburden …

Seismic Attribute Recognition Technology Of Magmatic Rock Intrusive Coal Seam, Wu Bin, Meng Fanbin

Coal Geology & Exploration

In order to increase the degree of production of CBM development blocks, when the production of a single well enters a decline period, the development plan needs to be adjusted, and the production increase and stability can be achieved through the measures such as layer adjustment or layer compensation. In terms of time, it is believed that the main coal seam should be developed first when it is put into production. After the decline period, the secondary main coal seam should be supplemented and combined; in space, combined with the development dynamics, the analytic hierarchy process is used to determine …

Technology And Application Of High Efficiency Gas Extraction By Directional Long Borehole Hydraulic Fracturing In Coal Seams Of Medium Hardness And Low Permeability, Guo Chaoqi, Zhao Jizhan, Li Xiaojian, Zhang Jingfei, Wu Shengli, Chen Dongdong, Huang Xingli, Li Baojun

Coal Geology & Exploration

Grouting quality test is the key technology for efficient development and utilization of waste land in the goaf of a coal mine, it is of great significance to evaluate the stability of the site and the safety of construction after goaf management. Based on many engineering practices, this paper summarizes the evaluation method of the qualified standards of the grouting quality and the errors existed in the testing work. The results proved that the quality inspection after grouting is a systematic work. The test method could be optimized according to the characteristics of the construction and grouting design requirements, following …