Ph.D. thesis, Faculty of Engineering (Mechanical Engineering), University of the Witwatersrand, 1993 (2 v.)

I takt med att gruvbrytningen går djupare förändras förutsättningarna för malmbrytning. Med djupet ökar de vertikala bergspänningarna och beroende på brytningsmetod kan även de horisontella bergspänningarna öka. Geologin förändras också genom att vissa bergarter och mineral kan bli ovanligare på djupare nivåer och andra kan bli vanligare. Flera andra omständigheter kan förändras i takt med att mer bergmaterial tas ut. Dessa faktorer ställer höga krav på en fungerande bergförstärkning för att säkerställa personalens säkerhet och för att göra det möjligt att uppnå den planerade produktionskapaciteten. Kunskap om bergförstärkningens egenskaper är därför mycket viktig. Dess styrkor och svagheter måste kännas till. Detsamma gäller bergförstärkningens livslängd. I LKAB:s underjordsgruva i Malmberget har vissa malmkroppar länge haft problem med förekomst av biotitskiffer i malmkontakten. Biotit är ett anisotropt mineral som har mycket dålig hållfasthet. Det orsakar problem för ortstabiliteten, speciellt i området Alliansen – Hoppet – Prinzsköld där vissa ortar har blivit kraftigt deformerade, eller till och med rasat ihop. För att hantera stabilitetsproblemen i området testas en ny variant av bergförstärkning. Förstärkningsbågar bestående av nätkorgar av stål täcks med fiberarmerad sprutbetong och minst 7 meter långa wirebultar installeras genom dessa. Eftersom det är en ny bergförstärkningsmetod är inte dess hållbarhet och deformationsbeständighet dokumenterad. I detta arbete mäts deformationerna i några utvalda förstärkningsbågar i syfte att undersöka hur deformationerna utbildas och vilka samband de har med sprängningar, geologi, seismisk aktivitet och den omgivande bergmassans deformationer. Resultatet av arbetet visar att det är en mycket komplex situation med många variabler som troligen samverkar för att orsaka deformationerna. För att övervaka den nya förstärkningen rekommendera

Tailings dams, due to their sheer size and metal content, pose safety and environmental hazards. The Småltjarnen repository, which hosts material from the largest known tungsten mineralization in Sweden named the Yxsjöberg deposit, is estimated to contain 2.2 million tons of material from previous operations when recovery rates of scheelite, chalcopyrite, and fluorite were low. The repository is also observed to contain at least four of the listed critical raw materials by the European Commission in 2017, namely tungsten, fluorite, beryllium, and bismuth. The amenability of this tailings repository as secondary sources for valuable minerals and metals supports the Raw Material Initiative and the drive of the European Union towards a more circular economy. This masters thesis is part of the REMinE (Improve Resource Efficiency and Minimize Environmental Footprint) project that aims to evaluate the amenability of historical mining waste for re-processing from the technical, economical, and environmental perspectives. The study focuses on work package 3 of the project: Identification of new processing methods for mine waste. Previous work on this repository includes geochemical characterization and physical separation through magnetic and gravity separation tests. Since scheelite, the main mineral of the deposit, is commonly recovered through combinations of gravity separation and flotation methods, it is imperative to investigate the response of the material to flotation tests. Further characterization work and flotation tests were rendered on samples from sampling location 6 (60°02'33.6"N 14°46'30.8"E). Previous work was done on samples from and near sampling location 1, which is southwest from location 6. Characterization methods performed on the material included elemental analysis through ICP-SFMS, X-ray diffraction measurements, and mineral liberation analysis as well as physical characterization through particle size distribution analysis and determination of specific gravity. Based on MLA, the material from the main samples showed good liberation by free surface which is important for flotation processes. Mineral association also showed low percentages between scheelite and other Ca-bearing minerals which is a main concern for scheelite flotation. Comparison of characterization work between the two sampling locations allows information on the repository at a larger scope. The common scheelite flotation collector sodium oleate, as well as novel formulations Atrac 2600 and Berol 8313 from Nouryon were tested in combination with the depressant sodium silicate. Based on mass recovery, grade and recovery, selectivity, required dosage, and the degree to which it is environmentally safe, Atrac 2600 at 400 g/t is deemed to produce the most positive results. Based on characterization of the material and flotation tests, an estimated 222,200 tons of -75 µm can go directly into the flotation circuit with an average grade of 0.2768% WO3 and 0.195% Cu. Approximately 15,000 tons at 0.50% WO3 and 14,000 tons at 0.224% Cu can be recovered at a single flotation. Rough mass balance of the process flowsheet indicates a Cu concentrate at 30% Cu will produce 880.50 tons, while a saleable scheelite concentrate at 65% WO3 will yield 672.16 tons from only the original -75 µm fraction of the material. Including the gravity separation tails intended to join the flotation circuit after grinding, an estimated 1,205.54 tons of scheelite at 65% WO3 and 1.860.20 tons of 30% Cu concentrate can be produced. Aside from this, the gravity separation circuit will still be able to yield 188,000 tons of 0.92% WO3 concentrate, which can be further studied if it can be beneficiated to a saleable product. Value estimation of the products for the recommended flowsheet indicate a total of US$ 17 million for the WO3 and Cu concentrates to be produced from the readily amenable -75 µm fraction to be treated directly by flotation. Inclusion of the gravity separation tails mass into the flotation feed yields a value estimated at US$32 million.

Thesis (M.Phil.) - University of Queensland, 2006. / Includes bibliography.

Habilitationsschrift--Fakultät für geowissenschaften, geotechnik und bergbau--Freiberg--TU Bergakademie Freiberg, 2006. / Bibliogr. p.[337]-420.

The Pima mine, a 39,000 ton per day copper mine, is located 17 miles south of Tucson, Arizona. The mine is in a sequence of Paleozoic and Mesozoic sediments striking east-northeast and dipping southeasterly intruded by Tertiary quartz monzonite porphyry. The Paleozoic Permian(?) dolomites, limestones, and sandstones have been altered to calc-silicate skarn, marble and quartzite. The overlying Mesozoic Triassic(?) clastic sediments have undergone some recrystallization and hydrothermal alteration. The clastic metasediments are divided into three distinct lithologic units: lithic arenite, arkose, and interbedded and overlying black argillite. Three types of hydrothermal alteration in the clastic rocks are propylitic alteration (eqidote, chlorite, and quartz, with or without sericite), quartz-sericite alteration, and potassic alteration (K-feldspar and quartz, with or without sericite and chlorite). The porphyry has undergone potassic alteration. Dominant structures are an east-west post mineral fault in teh western part of the pit, and strong low angle shearing and faulting which truncates the ore body at depth. Two joint sets, one parallel to bedding and the other at right angles to bedding are prominent in the mine. Faulting is in two dominant directions, one striking northwest, dipping northeast and the other striking northeast, dipping northwest. Mineralization is predominantly disseminated pyrite and chalcopyrite, and molybdenite-quartz veinlets. There are less important amounts of magnetite, hematite, sphalerite, galena, tennantite, and bornite. Mineralization is believed to be both structurally and chemically controlled.

The Williams Brothers Mine is located in Mariposa County, California. Surface waters from the site drain into the south fork of the Merced River and the San Joaquin River Basin. The mine was developed in the 1980s and mined intermittently until 1996. In 1998, concerns of acidic drainage at the site arose. Effluent sampling by Engineering Remediation Resources Group (ERRG) found acid mine drainage (AMD) characterized by a pH of 3.9, sulphate concentrations of 100 mg/L and low metal concentrations of 0.074, 4.60, 1.23, 0.047 and 0.133 mg/L for Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni and Zn, respectively. The aim of this research was to evaluate passive treatment system alternatives for the mitigation of the AMD to meet water quality objectives for the San Joaquin River Basin. A bench-scale study was undertaken which consisted of 3 systems treating synthetic AMD: (1) a peat biofilter to remove dissolved metals followed by an anoxic limestone drain (ALD) to increase alkalinity and pH; (2) a sulfate reducing bacteria (SRB) bioreactor followed by an ALD, in which SRB reduce sulphate to sulfides, generating alkalinity and decreasing metal concentrations via metal sulfide precipitation; and (3) a SRB bioreactor. Synthetic AMD was produced to represent AMD characteristics observed at the site. The peat-ALD system effluent pH was 6.9 and concentrations of Fe and Cu decreased to below water quality objectives with concentrations of 0.008 and 0.06, respectively. The SRB-ALD and SRB system effluents met water quality objectives for pH and Cu, Ni and Zn metal concentrations. The effluent pH for both systems was 6.5. The SRB-ALD system reduced Cu, Ni and Zn to concentrations of 0.004, 0.016 and 0.025 mg/L, respectively. The SRB system reduced metal concentrations for Cu, Ni and Zn 0.006, 0.010 and 0.027 mg/L, respectively. Based on the bench-scale study, the pilot-scale system consisted of a combined passive treatment system containing a peat biofilter, SRB bioreactor and a limestone drain. Pilot-scale testing commenced on May 23rd, 2007. To date, some metal attenuation has been observed, with average effluent concentrations of Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni and Zn equal to <0.005, 0.92, 0.45, <0.005 and 0.049 mg/L, respectively. / Thesis (Master, Geological Sciences & Geological Engineering) -- Queen's University, 2008-01-29 12:42:03.58

The Creighton Mine is a structurally complex and seismically active mining environment. Microseismic activity occurs daily and increases with depth, complicating downward mine expansion. Larger magnitude events occur less frequently but can damage mine infrastructure, interrupt operations and threaten worker safety. This thesis explores the relationships between geological structure and mining-induced seismicity through geological, seismological and numerical modelling investigations in an area known as the Creighton Deep, with concentration on the 7400 Level (2255 m). Geological features within the Creighton Deep have a reported association with seismic activity. Four families of shear zones were identified during field investigations, the most prominent striking SW and steeply dipping NW. Seismicity from 2006-2007 is analyzed. Spatial and temporal trends and seismic event parameters show little correlation to shear zone geometry. Instead, seismic event parameters correlate to spatial clusters of events. A remote cluster of events to the southwest of the excavation exhibits anomalously high seismic parameter values. This area of the mine continues to be a source of elevated seismicity. Fault plane solutions are utilized to compare shear zone geometry with active slip surfaces. Solutions for macroseismic events are inconsistent, while microseismic event focal mechanisms have similar pressure, tension and null axes. The resulting solutions do not align with shear-zone orientations. A stress inversion using microseismic focal mechanism information yields a stress tensor that is comparable to the regional stress tensor. Universal Distinct Element Code numerical models demonstrate that a yield zone exists immediately surrounding the excavation. SW-striking shear zones modify the stress field, resulting in increased stress to the southeast of the excavation. These high-stress zones are areas of preferred seismic activity. Slip is induced on select SW-striking shear zones to the south of the excavation as well as localized yielding. The characteristics of mining-induced seismicity do not correlate to shear zones. Seismicity does compare to modelled stress: the yielded rock mass adjacent to the excavation has little seismicity; areas of high stress are areas of rock mass damage and dense seismic activity. It is thus proposed that seismicity in the Creighton Deep results from stress-induced rock mass degradation rather than fault-slip. / Thesis (Master, Geological Sciences & Geological Engineering) -- Queen's University, 2009-09-11 10:35:17.525

The purpose of this thesis was to investigate the potential ability of nano-scale zerovalent iron (nZVI) to remediate multiple metal contaminants, specifically in the context of mine tailings. The project began by adopting techniques reported on by investigators researching the remediation effectiveness on metal contaminants of nZVI within the framework of civil engineering applications, such as groundwater treatment (Karabelli et al, 2008). This phase of the project saw the treatment of laboratory prepared samples of copper contaminated waters (at 10, 30, 50 and 100 ppm) by the addition of unstabilized nZVI. Results showed that all but the 100 ppm samples were effectively cleared of nearly all metal contamination following treatment additions of 1 mL nZVI to 50 mL of sample water. The second phase of the project sought to expand on this success by subjecting laboratory prepared water samples containing multiple metal contaminants to the same dose on nZVI. A collection of metal contaminants, known as the Arctic Suite, containing arsenic, cadmium, cobalt, chromium, nickel, lead and zinc, was made up as contaminated waters (at 1, 3, 5, and 10 ppm concentrations) and was tested for nZVI remediation. Results showed that only the 10 ppm samples were not effectively remediated and furthermore showed preferential treatment of arsenic, chromium and lead instead of an even distribution of treatment amongst all metal contaminants present. The final phase of the project saw the testing of contaminated waters produced from five mine tailings, acquired from separate sources, by the same dose of nZVI as in the first two phases of the project. Results showed that where contaminant metals were present some remediation effect did occur. However, an inability to produce highly contaminated leachates from the mine tailings meant that no trends in nZVI remediation effectiveness could be determined with any certainty. / Thesis (Master, Mining Engineering) -- Queen's University, 2011-09-01 11:04:28.869

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