Geology

Uranium Geology

I’ll start with a general discussion of uranium its uses, production, resources and the main uranium ore minerals. Then I want to focus the bulk of the course on the types of Uranium Ore deposits, discussing as I go along how those deposit types are formed and how we go about exploring for them. Then … Read more

Rock Blasting

In this topic, we will discuss about blasting. Blasting is an operation that engineers resort to in order to break the rock mass, and to facilitate the removal of the overburden material. Blasting is am operation that has safety, stability, and economical viability issues, and it’s a science itself. First of all, blasting requires explosives. … Read more

Mineral Reserves, Mineral Resources and Estimation

The goal of the exploration program is to proof up resources and reserves and to estimate the value of what is being found. In short to answer the question; Can we make money from this pile of rocks or not? Some background to this question of resources and reserves. In 1969 the Vietnam War was … Read more

Slope Stability Determination Methods

Methods suitable for slopes in soil like materials, where the strength of the material can be determined from testing small specimens of the material in a laboratory. Classical soil mechanics slope stability analysis and material strength testing methods are applicable. Methods suitable for slopes in hard jointed rock where the stability of the slopes is … Read more

Ammolite

Ammonite is an iridescent gem formed within an ancient marine fossil for which it was named—ammonite. Originally discovered by the Blackfoot Indians, ammolite is mined only in Southern Alberta, Canada. Most ammolite is assembled into doublets or triplets to increase durability because solid ammolite is usually thin and fragile, If it’s untreated and solid, ammolite is usually priced per … Read more

Economic Geology

Understanding the feed to processing operations is key to maximizing cash flow (economic value). Unfortunately the subject of economic geology is not covered within most undergraduate programs preparing students who enter the mining industry as process engineers. The good news is that there are reference materials available to help people learn these subjects. Some good … Read more

How to Extinguish a Mine Fire

In the anthracite fields of Pennsylvania, mine fires occur with more or less regularity and their existence is an ever-present hazard in coal mining. In all probability 90 per cent, of the mine fires can be ascribed directly or indirectly to the ordinary miner’s open lamp. Other causes may be smoking, electrical installations, gas explosions, … Read more

Handling Ore in Stopes and Drifts

Handling Ore

Every one connected with a mine knows that it is hard to keep down the costs of moving ore from the place where it is broken to the shaft or portal. Considered broadly, the subject of handling would cover all work done in a mine but here it has been limited to handling ore in … Read more

Core-Oven

The Core-Oven tests here described were made to obtain information regarding costs, efficiency, etc. of baking cores in an oil-fired oven, and two electric ovens, which were installed, early in 1920, in the core room of The Ohio Brass Co. and were used almost continuously during the rest of that year. Operating costs were rather high … Read more