Mining Engineering Nv 2014

November 2014 VOL. 66 NO. 11

Hecla’s Silver Shaft rehabilitation  Autonomous haulage in surface surface mines Paste tailings disposal

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OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF SME www.miningengineeringmagazine.com

November 2014 VOL. 66 NO. 11

Feature Articles 31

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Rehabilitation of Hecla’s Lucky Fridays silver shaft D. Berberick and B. Strickland

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Mining Foundation of the Southwest to host 32nd annual banquet

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Overcoming preconceptions for a successful launch of autonomous haulage James Humphrey

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Enabling automation on drilling rigs; Improves capability and reach 31

Technical Papers (peer-reviewed and approved) 52

Paste tailings disposal in the Coeur d’Alene Mining District Grant A. Brackebusch

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Remediation of large-scale slope failures and impact on mine development at the Gold Quarry Mine R.J. Sheets, S.J. Douglas, R.M. St. Louis and J.A. Bailey

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November 2014 VOL. 66 NO. 11

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Cover Story  The idea of autonomous haul trucks has been in the making for several decades. Caterpillar has been working toward autonomous haulage for more than 30 years and had a truck operating during the 1990s. But, as Cat’s James Humphrey explains on page 45, autonomous haulage is not everyone. The Silver Shaft at Hecla’s historic Lucky Friday gold, silver, lead and zinc mine in Idaho underwent a major rehabilitation during 2012 and 2013. D. Berberick and B. Strickland detail the large amount of planning, partly due to MSHA regulations, that went into the project, page 31. Cover photo shows work being on the Silver Shaft. Photo courtesy of Hecla.

President John O. Marsden President-Elect J. Steven Gardner Past President Jessica Elzea Kogel Executive Director David L. Kanagy

Mining Engineering Committee Robert W. Reisinger (Chair), Gary P. Tomaino (Vice Chair), Richard A. Weber, Vishal Gupta, Vivien Hui, Mark K. Jorgensen and Christopher J. Bise

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Social license to operate — trust before gold Elizabeth Adey, Wardell Armstrong International Plus: Follow all of the recent news and developments from around the world, including: • Legislation that aects the mining industry. • The latest merger and acquisition news. Plus much more! See it all at www.MiningEngineeringMagazine.com

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President’s Page

 A convenient excuse: Politics of climate change is bad for the US economy

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was reminded the other day that an opinion and $5 will get you a cup of coffee at Starbucks. So, speaking of opinions, I am constantly amazed at how polarized and uninformed/illinformed the climate change debate has become. A few months ago a prominent mining academic challenged me that the SME really needed to take a position on climate change, assuring me enthusiastically that the entire scientific community was on board with the fact that anthropogenic global warming was now proceeding at an alarming rate. A few days later by John O. Marsden someone else cornered me in an 2014 SME President elevator and advised me categorically that there was no evidence for manmade climate change, and it was all a big hoax designed to suck the rich dry and plunge us back into the Stone Age. These are not the only opinions I have heard from SME members on the subject. The last straw was when I was talking to a neighbor who wanted to know how it was possible to know whether man-made carbon dioxide was actually increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide levels. How is it possible in this age of information and technology that we have got this so wrong? Clearly, the science has been hijacked by political agendas. There is no longer any attempt at objectivity in reporting the science by the media. Sensationalism and fear-mongering win the day, and any attempt by scientists to question or refute the so-called “scientific consensus” is met with ridicule and scorn. And it appears that we, the mining industry, are a big part of the problem as a major carbon dioxide producer and energyconsumer. Really? Let’s consider a few rough numbers for illustrative purposes. The earth’s atmosphere contains about 10 16 tons of air. Currently we burn about 8.2 Gt/a (9 billion stpy) of carbon, generating 30 Gt (33 billion st) of carbon dioxide. Since 1850, humanity has burned an estimated 590 Gt (650 billion st) of carbon putting an estimated 2,200 Gt (2,400 billion st) of CO 2 into the atmosphere. Depending on whose data you believe (and it doesn’t really matter for the purposes of this discussion), the baseline carbon dioxide concentration in 1850 was about 280 ppm. It was much much higher than that during the last interglacial warm period. As we all know, a portion of emitted carbon dioxide is

taken up by the biosphere and another significant portion is absorbed by the oceans contributing to a gradual lowering of pH (an unfortunate chemical reality with real consequences). Both the biosphere and the oceans “breathe,” taking up and releasing in the range of 50-100 times the net uptake/absorption each year. The current carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere is around 400 ppm, and it is projected to increase to around 560 ppm by 2075. As carbon dioxide concentration increases, it is expected that uptake by the biosphere and absorption into the oceans will also increase. Opinion: no one really knows by how much nor the effect that this and other positive and negative feedback mechanisms will have on climate (and I challenge you to find this in any of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change reports). And, of course, many factors affect climate, not just atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration. Climate models are being used to predict future climate change, and the output of these models in terms of global average temperature and sea level rise have been widely reported. During the past 15 years or so, global average temperatures have remained largely the same. Climate change proponents and climate modelers claim this is within the range of variability of their models, which may well be true. As more time passes with little change in average temperature, the climate change proponents will probably continue to say this is within the range of variation of their models, or perhaps add more sophisticated components and feedback mechanisms into the models (“tweaks”). If temperatures increase, the climate change proponents will declare victory, and we will be faced with the same issue we face today — a growing imperative to aggressively tackle climate change. Either way, this issue will not be resolved quickly. Whether or not you believe that anthropogenically driven climate change is occurring, the current “war on coal” is bad for the United States economy and bad for climate change. Why? Firstly, such a drastic shift away from coal will increase energy costs and will place more reliance on natural gas which, in the longer term, will lead to higher and potentially more volatile gas prices, further affecting energy pricing. The shale gas/tight gas revolution we have experienced during the past 10-15 years has been amazing and beneficial in many ways. On (Continued on page 30)

Politics of Mining

Northern Dynasty’s lawsuit against EPA dismissed JUDGE H. RUSSEL Holland of the United States District Court in Alaska dismissed Northern Dynasty’s lawsuit against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) potential limitations to the Pebble Mine in Alaska. Holland ruled that the lawsuit filed in May is premature because the EPA has not taken final action against the proposed mine, The Hill  reported. Northern Dynasty Ltd., owner of the Pebble Partnership that is developing the mine, filed the lawsuit after the EPA decided in February to move forward and consider whether to block the mine. This ruling did not judge the merits of the statutory authority case, it only deferred that hearing and judgment until after a final determination has been made by the EPA. “The ruling today relates to timing of our challenge of this pre-emptive authority and in no way decides the underlying issues,” said Pebble Partnership chief executive officer Tom Collier in a statement. “We

remain very confident in the merits of this case. Should EPA finalize its proposed veto restrictions regarding Pebble, we will pursue our claim that EPA lacks statutory authority to do so at that time.” “The decision has simply deferred the case until or if the EPA makes a negative decision on Pebble Project prior to our filing a permit under the Clean Water Act.” “The February 28, 2014 letter does not represent the consummation of the agency’s decision making process, but rather the commencement of the agency’s decision making process,” Holland wrote in the ruling released Sept. 26. Because the letter was not a final action, federal courts lack jurisdiction over Pebble’s complaints, he said. The Pebble Mine was proposed years ago, and would be the largest copper and gold mine in the world, located near Alaska’s Bristol Bay. It is likely to require a Clean Water Act permit to dispose of waste materials in a way that could harm local streams and eventually the bay itself.

This ruling did not judge the merits of the statutory authority case, it only deferred that hearing and judgment until after a nal determination has been made by the EPA.

The lawsuit argued that although the EPA can veto Clean Water Act permits, the agency’s decision to move forward before Pebble filed an application is illegal. Holland did not rule on the merits of the case, but left the door open for Pebble to file a lawsuit when the EPA makes a final decision. After Pebble filed its lawsuit, the EPA formally proposed in July to put restrictions on the mine’s operations in an attempt to protect Bristol Bay’s salmon population. Pebble said those restrictions would amount to blocking the entire mine development. The EPA said it would make a final determination on Pebble in February. n

 Australian prime minister shows support for coal prime minister, Tony Abbott, showed his support for the coal industry by not just being on hand for the opening of the $4.2-billion Caval Ridge coal mine in Moranbah, but he took it one step further and declared “coal is good for humanity.” The BHP Mitsubishi Alliance (BMA) coal mine is expected to produce 5.5 Mt/a (6 million stpy) of hard coking coal, and was built at an estimated cost of $4.2 billion. With an operational workforce of more than 500 people, the mine has seen controversy over its decision to employ a wholly fly-in-fly-out workforce instead of hiring from within the local community. At the opening of the mine, Abbott said, “Coal is vital for the future energy needs of the world, so let’s have no demonization of coal. Coal is good AUSTRALIA’S

for humanity.” The Guardian reported that Abbott

said, “The future for coal is bright and it is the responsibility for government to try to ensure that we are there making it easier for everyone wanting to have a go. “It is a great day for the world because this mine will keep so many people employed … it will make so many lives better.” In May, Abbott told a minerals industry parliamentary dinner he could think of “few things more damaging to our future” than leaving coal in the ground. A month later, after a meeting with U.S. President Barack Obama in June of this year, Abbott said he took climate change very seriously. In Moranbah, the prime minister said he was proud to have abolished

“It is a great day for the world because this mine will keep so many people employed … it will make so many lives better.” Tony Abbott the carbon tax and the mining tax. In October, China imposed a 6-percent tariff on noncoking coal and announced attempts to address pollution in its cities by increasing spending on renewable energy. Last year, China spent $56 billion on wind, solar and other renewable energy projects while Australia’s renewable industry slumped by 70 percent, due to uncertainty over the government’s intentions for the Renewable Energy Target. n

Industry Newswatch

Fewer mines landing on POV list; MSHA and industry lay claim to the safety improvements THE NUMBER OF  mines

landing on the U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration’s (MSHA) pattern of violations (POV) list has dropped dramatically, according to numbers released by the government on Oct. 2. There is no question that this is good news for the mining industry, but there are questions about how, and why the change came about. MSHA says mines have cleaned up their acts for fear of landing on the dreaded POV lists, which is reserved for mines that pose the greatest risk to the safety and health and miners and can lead to work stoppages at the mine. The National Mining Association (NMA) says the industry has played a major role in change, without the threat of regulation, and credits the success of its CORESafety program (endorsed by SME). “NMA’s own CORESafety program, consisting of best safety practices from around the world and from other industries, was implemented in our biggest member company mines beginning in 2011,” Luke Popovich, a spokesman for

Newswatch contents 16 Cleanup eorts mark milestone in Colorado 20 Citations issued for fatal accident 27 US coal exports decline

the NMA said. “I don’t think it’s coincidental that this program coincided with the documented improvement in the numbers MSHA is now showing.” He added that mines have an incentive to operate safely. “Our members recognize because they’ve documented the correlation between safe mines and productive mines,” Popovich said. Prior to 2010, according to MSHA, no mine had been put on that list. But partly in response to the 2010 Upper Big Branch explosion in West Virginia, which killed 29 miners, MSHA toughened its enforcement that year and began citing mines for POV actions. Since then, seven mines have been on the POV list, The Associated Press reported. In its 2010 screening, 51 chronic violators were identified for further review among mine operators. But for this year’s screening, that number had dropped to 12. The biggest reduction came in coal mines, which dropped from 42 in 2010 to six this year. “For the first time in the history

of the Mine Act, mine operators were under the threat of being placed on a POV action if they failed to clean up their act,” Assistant Secretary of Labor for Mine Safety and Health Joseph A. Main said. “That was really never a threat before. We’re not seeing the kind of records that Upper Big Branch and other mines were amassing anymore.” In the 2010 screening, the worst 12 offenders were cited for 2,050 violations of significant health or safety standards; by this year, that number had fallen to 857. Main said that there was a corresponding reduction in the number of deaths and injuries, noting that for the most recent fiscal year for which numbers are available, ending Sept. 30, 2013, there were record-low fatality and injury rates, as well as the fewest mining deaths, 33. But MHSA also announced in January that fatalities for the 2013 calendar year had increased. There were 41 fatalities, up from 36 the previous calendar year, because of an especially deadly final three months, which claimed the lives of 14 miners. n

Work on El Morro Mine halted by Chile’s Supreme Court DEVELOPMENT OF Goldcorp’s El Morro gold and copper mine was halted by Chile’s Supreme Court, which ruled that the local indigenous groups opposed to the $3.9- billion project need to be better consulted. The court ruled that an environmental permit awarded last year should be stopped until a fresh consultation, based on an International Labor Organization convention, has taken place with the local Diaguita community, Reuters reported. It is yet another court ruling against mining companies in Chile and Latin America. Chile is struggling to find a balance between mining-led growth and

environmental protection. Billions of dollars worth of projects have been halted altogether or delayed in recent years, snarled up in red tape and opposed by local communities. The decision about El Morro overturns a local appeals court finding from last April, which dismissed an appeal lodged by the opposition group Diaguita. The Diaguita — who also opposed the massive Barrick Gold Pascua-Lama project, stalled since last year — claimed that a previous consultation on El Morro was not properly conducted. They also say the mine in northern (Continued on page 26)

Newmont continues to look for support for mine in Peru THE LEADING opponent of

Newmont Mining’s Conga project in Peru’s Cajamarca region, Gregorio Santos, was re-elected to a second four-year term as president of the region despite being in jail on corruption charges during the election. Santos, who helped lead waves of protests against the mine forcing Newmont to shelve the $5 billion project in 2011, won 44.2 percent of the vote, more than 20 percent than his closest opponent. Despite the political victory, Newmont has vowed to push for local support of the project, Reuters reported. “We express our interest in continuing to invest in Peru and especially the Cajamarca region,” the company said in an open letter addressed to the people of Cajamarca. The Colorado-based miner said last year it would reevaluate its proposed $5 billion Conga Mine after the election. Its local unit, Yanacocha, said it would work with all elected officials in Cajamarca. Peruvian miner Buenaventura, as Newmont’s junior partner in Yanacocha, owns 43.65 percent in Conga. Conga was initially expected to offset dwindling reserves from a nearby gold mine that the two companies have operated for more than two decades. Santos and his followers have resisted several efforts to secure local backing for Conga. Santos has spent the past three months in prison pending a corruption investigation. He has denied all wrongdoing. His political party depicted his imprisonment as a ruse to remove him from power in order to push Conga — a campaign strategy that several analysts said was successful. Hilario Porfirio Medina, Santos’ incoming vice president, will likely govern for him while he remains behind bars. Opponents say Conga will ruin water supplies for surrounding peasant towns by building the mine on top of Andean lakes. The company has said it is building reservoirs for community use to ensure water for communities year-round. n

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Grand Canyon uranium mining ban upheld THE 20-year-old ban on

mining of uranium near the Grand Canyon was upheld in U.S. District Court in Arizona on Sept. 30. The ban prevents new mining on more than 405,000 ha (1 million acres) of land. Mining groups that sued the federal government have 60 days to appeal the decision. Mining associations and other groups with a stake in the industry argued that the U.S. Department of the Interior had erred in the 2012 decision to ban new mining for 20 years on public land near the national park. They argued the ban was based on “overly cautious,” speculative environmental risks. The withdrawal decision was based on studies assessing potential impacts on water, soil and other resources, AZ Central reported. The ban prohibits

the exploration and development of new claims but does not affect previously approved mining. Judge David Campbell heard oral arguments on Sept. 9 and ruled Sept. 30 that then-Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar did not violate the law when he chose to “err on the side of caution in protecting a national treasure,” even if he did not have “definitive information.” A coalition of environmental groups and the Havasupai Tribe joined the lawsuit to defend the ban, saying the effects of uranium mining are long lasting and may not be fully known for decades. Laura Skaer, executive director of one of the plaintiffs, the American Exploration and Mining Association, said she would need time to review Campbell's reasoning before deciding any next steps. n

X2 Resources to enter sector with a bang FORMER Xstrata

Plc chief executive officer Mick Davis is getting back into the mining business in a big way. Bloomberg reported that Davis has amassed $4.8 billion for his startup company, X2 Resources. X2 now has $3.3 billion of committed equity capital and a further $1.5 billion conditional, it said in a statement.

“With almost $5 billion in equity and access to significant additional debt funding, X2 Resources is uniquely positioned and we are currently reviewing a number of opportunities in the metals and mining sector,” Davis said in the statement. Davis raised $3.75 billion in March from five investors. n

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Industry Newswatch

Cleanup eforts mark milestone in Colorado; Bulkheads installed in abandoned mine in Summit County of Reclamation, Mining and Safety workers finished installing one of two bulkheads in the abandoned Pennsylvania Mine in Summit County, CO. The installation of the bulkheads are part of a massive plan in the county to clean up mines that have been seeping contaminated water for years. The Summit Daily  reported that the bulkhead was installed about 152 m (500 ft) inside the mine. There were several federal, state and local officials promoting Summit’s mining cleanup efforts at a ceremony celebrating the installation of the bulkhead. The mine, considered the worst in the state, releases toxic heavy metal concentrates and acidifies water flowing COLORADO

DIVISION

into the Peru Creek, a tributary of the Snake River, which feeds Dillon Reservoir. Peru Creek lacks fish, insects and other aquatic life. The Snake River has life, but it’s sparse and found only in the lower reaches. According to project manager Jeff Graves, once both bulkheads are installed, toxic burps of chemicals and blowouts will be a thing of the past. “That won’t happen again. It can’t,” he said. The bulkheads are designed to prevent water from flowing through the mine. Experts say water will back up inside, reducing the amount of oxygen the metals and sulfides are exposed to, which should improve water quality. Though the more than $3 million

The bulkheads are designed to prevent water from owing through the mine. Experts say water will back up inside, reducing the amount of oxygen the metals and suldes are exposed to, which should improve water quality.

project still has far to go, reclamation efforts seem to have had positive impacts already. Last year, the Peru Creek turned reddish-orange seven or eight times. That hasn’t happened this year. In addition to the bulkheads, new drainage ditches channel water away from waste-rock piles. Those piles have been capped. Limestone has also been added to raise the pH of the water, which could help filter out metals into settlement ponds. n

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Industry Newswatch

MSHA says coal dust sampling results show mines are complying with new dust rules THE U.S. MINE Safety and

Health Administration (MSHA) announced that approximately 99 percent of the 7,456 valid respirable dust samples collected during the first two months under the new respirable coal mine dust rule met compliance levels.  Between Aug. 1 and Sept. 30, MSHA collected 4,255 dust samples from 515 coal mines; 20 of those (or nearly 0.5 percent) exceeded compliance levels used to determine if a violation is warranted. Of the 3,201 samples submitted by mine operators, 42 (or 1.3 percent) exceeded compliance levels.  The rule, “Lowering Miners’ Exposure to Respirable Coal Mine Dust, Including Continuous Personal

Dust Monitors,” became effective on Aug. 1. It aims to substantially increase operator sampling for respirable coal mine dust and requires an operator to take immediate corrective action when an operator’s sample shows excessive concentrations. The final rule authorizes MSHA to cite an operator based on a single MSHA sample showing excessive dust, rather than on an average of samples.  “These samples were all generated under the new, more rigid standard that requires them to be taken when mines are operating at 80 percent production or more,” said Joseph A. Main, assistant secretary of labor for mine safety and health. “And the results clearly show that mine operators are able to comply with the rule. That’s good news for the

health of all coal miners and our efforts to end black lung disease.”  Since Aug. 1, MSHA has conducted comprehensive outreach, education and training on the new respirable dust rule. In addition to meeting with the mining community across the country and posting dozens of frequently asked questions on its website to help mine operators comply, MSHA coal enforcement and training personnel have trained and certified more than 1,200 individuals in respirable dust sampling and calibration.  In collaboration with the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, MSHA will host a series of workshops on “Best Practices for Controlling Respirable Dust in Coal Mines.” n

Industry Newswatch

Industry Newswatch

Citations issued for fatal accident; Deadly accident at Patriot Coal’s Brody Mine deemed preventable THE U.S. MINE Safety and

Health Administration (MSHA) released the findings of its investigation into a fatal accident in May at Patriot Coal’s Brody Mine in Boone County, WV. MSHA issued three citations to Patriot’s Brody Mining LLC for serious violations related to the May outburst that killed two miners. The citations allege Patriot’s Brody Mining LLC did not protect miners from hazardous conditions, did not report a similar incident that happened three days before the deaths (May 9) and allowed the destruction of evidence about that earlier incident. Kevin Stricklin, MSHA’s coal administrator, told The Charleston

Gazette that the agency’s

investigation showed the deaths at Brody were almost certainly preventable if the company had taken appropriate actions. “I can’t be 100 percent sure, but everything I’ve seen would indicate that neither of these individuals would have died,” Stricklin said in an interview. “If [company officials] would have reacted, it would definitely have decreased the chances of fatalities occurring.” On May 12, miners Eric D. Legg and Gary P. Hensley were killed when a coal outburst occurred at Brody. At the time of the fatal incident the mine near Wharton was engaged in retreat mining. The West Virginia state Office of

Miners’ Health, Safety and Training, released its report on the Brody deaths a week earlier and cited the company both for a violation related to the incident that killed Legg and Hensley and for two violations related to the May 9 incident. In its enforcement actions, MSHA cited Brody Mining for failing to control the mine walls, or ribs, to protect miners from “the hazardous conditions associated with a coal burst.” MSHA said that Brody “failed to recognize a precursor burst” and did not “take adequate corrective actions to protect the miners” after the earlier incident. “The accident occurred because the mine operator failed to recognize (Continued on page 26)

Industry Newswatch

Industry Newswatch

Lundin to buy Candelaria Mine;

Freeport-McMoRan to sell copper mine for $1.8 billion LUNDING MINING Corp. will

buy Freeport-McMoRan’s Candelaria copper mine in Chile for $1.8 billion. It is the largest acquisition by the Canadian company and it will be the company’s first mine in South America. Lundin Mining will double its production of copper with the purchase and comes as fears of weaker demand from China persist, The Globe and Mail   reported. Economic growth in China, the world’s largest consumer of copper and other commodities, is slowing, and big new copper mines are expected to start producing next year, which will add to an already well-supplied market and likely weigh on prices for some time. For Lundin, however, the downturn

represents a buying opportunity. The base-metals miner will fund the deal through debt and an equity financing. Toronto-based mining royalty company Franco-Nevada Corp. will help finance the deal by paying Lundin $648-million for a stream of Candelaria’s future gold and silver production. The Candelaria complex includes an openpit copper mine, infrastructure and the nearby Ojos del Salado underground copper mines. Lundin announced a $600-million share offering in connection with the acquisition, one of the largest equity issues in the Canadian mining industry this year. Franco also raised half a billion dollars in August to help finance

its part of the acquisition. Lundin produces copper, zinc, nickel and lead from mines in Europe, Africa and the United States. The acquisition will boost its production to 237 kt (261,000 st) of copper next year from 128 kt (141,000 st) without the new mine. The Candelaria acquisition will be the second-biggest deal in the Canadian mining industry this year. Earlier, Canadian gold miners Yamana Gold Inc. and Agnico Eagle Mines bought Osisko Mining for nearly $4 billion. The Lundin-Freeport deal is expected to close before the end of the year. Japan’s Sumitomo Corp. would retain a 20-percent stake in the Chilean mine. n

Sierra Gorda begins shipping copper THE FIRST COPPER shipments from KGHM Polska Miedz’s new Chilean mine will reach customers in November, the company said as it inaugurated the project that marks the Polish industry’s attempts to expand internationally, Reuters reported. Sierra Gorda is targeting 220 kt/a (242,000 stpy) of copper by the time it ramps up to its second phase. That should be around 2018 or 2019, project head Maciej Sciazko said in an interview at a mine launch. Sierra Gorda is slated to produce 120 kt/a (132,000 stpy) copper by the end of its first ramp-up phase next year and has a projected life of 23 years. About 6 kt (6,600 st) of copper concentrate from the mine is expected to arrive at the Toyo smelter and refinery in November, KGHM said. Sierra Gorda began operating on July 30. KGHM confirmed that the final cost of launching production at the project reached about $4.2 billion, more than a third higher than initially expected. Sciazko said the cost overrun was due to a mixture of extra engineering work needed to prevent delays. Sierra Gorda is a joint venture that is 55 percent owned by Europe’s No. 2 copper miner KGHM and 45 percent by Japan’s Sumitomo Metal Mining. n

CRIRSCO adds Mongolia as member AT ITS ANNUAL meeting in Ulaanbaatar in Mongolia,

the International Committee for Mineral Reserves International Reporting Standards (CRIRSCO) welcomed Mongolia as its eighth member and first member in Asia. Mongolia has established the Mongolian Professional Institute for Geosciences and Mining (MPIGM) as its national reporting organization (NRO). Its president is Damba D. It operates under a bylaw approved by the minister of mining and has various grades of membership. There is also provision for registered professionals, who meet certain qualification and experience guidelines. The Mongolian Resources and Reserves Committee (MRC) is a committee of MPIGM and it has developed the MRC Code for the reporting of exploration results, mineral resources and mineral reserves, which is compatible with the CRIRSCO template. This will enable MPIGM to apply to the other NROs for recognition as a Recognised Professional Organization. n

Industry Newswatch

Vulcan announces acquisitions; Aggregates company completes six acquisitions in third quarter VULCAN MATERIALS Co.,

the nation’s largest producer of construction aggregates, reported that it completed six acquisitions during the third quarter that further expand the company’s footprint and reserve positions in the best markets in America. The most recent acquisitions include five aggregates facilities and associated downstream assets in Phoenix, AZ and Albuquerque and Santa Fe, NM, as well as an aggregates operation in Delaware serving northern Virginia and Washington, D.C. These transactions follow the previously disclosed acquisitions of four aggregates facilities in the San Francisco Francisco Bay Area and aggregates

operations and distribution yards that serve the greater Dallas/Fort Worth, TX market and also complement existing Vulcan Vulcan rail-served markets in Texas. Texas. Collectively, Collective ly, through these recent acquisitions, Vulcan has added more than 408 Mt (450 million st) of high-quality, permitted aggregates reserves serving markets where such reserves are relatively scarce. scarce. These transactions, totaling approximately $320 million of investment, represent the continued strategic redeployment of capital from the sale of Vulcan’s former cement and ready mix concrete business in Florida in the first quarter of 2014. Moreover, the structure of these transactions — along with an earlier

investment in reserves at a key quarry serving San Diego, CA — has enabled the company to defer income taxes on approximately $145 million in capital gains. Tom Hill, president and chief executive officer, said, “Aggregates are an essential, long-term resource of limited availability and significant value, particularly particularly in the markets we serve. Consistent with our aggregates-focused aggregates-focused strategy and ongoing commitment to driving profitability as an industry leader in unit profit margins m argins,, these acquisitions further enhance our future earnings potential, especially given the positive momentum we see across our markets. (Continued on page 26)

Industry Newswatch

 Vulcan:  Vulcan: Acquisitions (Continued from page 24)

“We not only expect that these assets will generate attractive returns in their own right, but also that they will create significant synergies with our existing asset base. These acquisitions complement existing

Citations: Coal

position company well in key markets

aggregates sources and distribution facilities in key growth markets in Arizona, California, Cal ifornia, Texas Texas and northern Virginia while also providing access to new markets in New Mexico. We remain disciplined in our acquisition approach and focused on driving increased value for our

shareholders as we make Vulcan, the best aggregates franchise in the world, even better.” Vulcan Materials, Materi als, a member of the S&P 500 index, is the nation’s top producer of construction aggregates and a producer of asphalt mix and concrete. n

burst killed ki lled two miners in West West Virginia

(Continued from page 20)

areas with potential [outburst] conditions, and to develop and implement a method of mining suitable to mine safely and control those conditions,” MSHA said in its report. The May 9 incident involved a similar coal burst, in which a miner

was knocked to the floor and buried up to his waist in coal. MSHA alleged that Brody did not, as required by federal law, report that May 9 incident to regulators. “By not reporting this accident, the mine operator deprived MSHA the opportunity to investigate the accident and also failed to determine the root cause of the accident,”

MSHA said. Also, MSHA said that Brody “allowed the destruction of evidence that would have contributed to the investigation” of the May 9 incident. Such an investigation, MSHA said, “would have prohibited mining activity in the affected area until MSHA permitted the operator to resume normal mining activities.” n

El Morro: Mine

was due to begin producing producing in 2017 (Continued from page 10)

Chile is planned on what they deem as sacred ancestral land, and that it could pollute a local river. El Morro is a potentially large, low-cost copper and gold producer, which had been due to begin operations in 2017. But the project seems to have gone to the backburner for Goldcorp. It was absent from a list of organic growth opportunities mentioned by chief executive Chuck Jeannes at a gold conference in Denver, CO in September, with Jeannes pointing to the Camino Rojo project in Mexico as the company’s biggest internal opportunity, Reuters reported. El Morro is 70 percent owned by Goldcorp and 30 percent by New Gold. Goldcorp edged down 0.2 percent and New Gold fell 2.2 percent on the Toronto stock exchange, in line with other gold stocks. n

Industry Newswatch

US coal exports decline; Weaker demand and increased supply from Australia to blame WEAKER DEMAND for

coal from Europe and increased supply to Europe from Australia Australia and Indonesia has led to a continued decline in U.S. coal exports. During the first half of 2014, coal exports totaled 47.4 Mt (52.3 million st), 16 percent below the same period in 2013. Most of these exports go to countries in Europe and Asia, the U.S. Energy Information Administration reported. Export declines reflect lower European demand for steam coal and increased steam coal supply from Australia and Indonesia. Metallurgical coal supply from Australia, Canada and Russia has also increased. These factors have led to a cumulative decline of 8.3 Mt (9 million st) in coal exports to Europe and Asia during the first half of 2014. Coal exports fall into two categories: metallurgical coal, which is used in the production of steel, and steam coal, which is commonly used to fuel boilers that generate steam used to produce electricity. With relatively minor coal imports, the United States has been a net exporter of coal since 1949, the earliest year of data collection. Metallurgical coal production, primarily from the Illinois and Appalachian coal basins, represented less than 8 percent of production but 56 percent of total U.S. coal exports in 2013. Europe is the leading destination for metallurgical coal exports, followed by Asia. Together, these two regions accounted for nearly 80 percent of U.S. metallurgical coal exports in the first half of 2014. Steam coal is mainly used to generate electricity, but also has applications at combined heat and power plants to produce steam used in industrial processes. Steam coal generally has lower heat content than metallurgical coal and can

be found at most coal-producing basins in the United States. In recent years, steam coal accounted for more than 90 percent of domestic coal production. During the first half of 2014, Europe received 8 Mt (8.8 million st) of U.S. steam coal exports, exports, a drop of 6.7 Mt (7.4 million st) from the same period in 2013. Asia’s share of U.S. steam coal exports increased in 2014, but export tonnage to Asia decreased 2.4 percent from the first half of 2013. In 2013, six U.S. ports shipped 89 percent of U.S. U.S. coal exports. exp orts. Among them, the eastern ports of Baltimore, MD and Norfolk, VA represent 55 percent; and the southern ports of Houston TX, Mobile, AL and New

Export declines refect lower European demand for steam coal and increased steam coal supply from Australia and Indonesia. Metallurgical coal supply from Australia, Canada and Russia has also increased. These factors have led to a cumulative decline of 8.3 Mt (9 million st) in coal exports to Europe and Asia during the rst half of 2014.

Orleans, LA make up 30 percent. Seattle accounted for 4.5 Mt (5 million st), or 4 percent, all of which was steam coal exports. Eastern and southern ports are used to export metallurgical coal because it is produced in the Illinois and Appalachian basins. n

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Industry Newswatch

Number of mine inspections in British Columbia questioned in wake of Mount Polley Mine spill RECENTLY RELEASED figures show that the British Columbia government conducted significantly fewer engineering inspections following a 2010 reorganization. In 2010 – the same year that a crack was reported in the dam at the Mount Polley gold and copper mine – the government’s geotechnical engineers conducted just three inspections across the province, down from 22 the year before. The following year, in 2011, only two inspections were completed, The Globe and Mail  reported. Bill Bennett, Minister of Energy and Mines, said it appears the Mount Polley dam did not have a geotechnical inspection by ministry staff during those two years. “It

doesn’t look like it would have had,” he said. “I was surprised when I saw the numbers and not very happy about it.” The Mount Polley dam failed in August, spilling 24 million m 3 of water and mine tailings into Quesnel Lake in central B.C. The last geotechnical inspection by the ministry of mines at Mount Polley took place in September 2013, and resulted in no orders related to the tailings storage facility. Bennett said there is no evidence that the government’s missed inspections were related to the failure of the dam this year: “There is a rush to judgment right now. … We don’t know it is true.” The inspection numbers were released in response to media

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requests. Bennett openly opposed the 2010 reorganization of the so-called dirt ministries – the government departments responsible for resource development. The government reorganization in 2010 was designed to reflect a realignment of priorities under then-premier Gordon Campbell. Responsibilities of seven ministries were shuffled to move to a “single team” approach to resource management. However, a recent report by the Professional Employees Association suggests the decline hasn’t been entirely reversed. Since 2009, the number of government-licensed science officers, including geoscientists and engineers, has shrunk by 15 percent. The report, published last March, warned those cutbacks could put the environment and public safety at risk. The company’s engineering firm of record reported a crack at least 10 meters in length had been observed in the earthen dam while work was under way to raise it in 2010. That crack was almost a kilometer away from where the dam breached this year. The company’s engineering firm also warned that a number of instruments required to measure water pressure behind the dam were in a state of disrepair, which the company says were later fixed. The government has not released its geotechnical inspection reports for the Mount Polley dam, but Bennett said he has been assured by his staff that the problems flagged by Mount Polley’s engineering firm were addressed. “They advised me the 2010 deficiencies were rectified.” n

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Industry Newswatch

MSHA awards $1 million in safety grants; Brookwood-Sago safety grants given for education and training Department of Labor’s Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) awarded $1 million through its Brookwood-Sago grants program to seven organizations that provide education and training within the mining industry. The funding will be used to develop and implement training and related materials for mine emergency preparedness, as well as for the prevention of accidents in all underground mines. “Training is the key for proper, safe and effective emergency response,” said Joseph A. Main, assistant secretary of labor for mine safety and health. “The programs funded by these federal grants will enable miners working underground to be better prepared in the event of a mine emergency.” THE U.S.

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The United Mine Workers of America Career Centers Inc., based in Washington, PA, is receiving $183,575 for the development of a regional mine rescue team competition and other training opportunities, which include mine rescue skills training. The Colorado School of Mines in Golden, CO, is receiving $183,552 in funding to provide quality training to mine rescue teams. The training will focus on the development of advanced mine rescue skills using multiple training modalities. This includes preshift and on-shift mine examiner training in support of small mine rescue teams in Colorado. The Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety, whose main office is in Denver, CO, is receiving $165,364 in grant funding to provide training programs and materials for mine emergency prevention and mine emergency preparedness of underground miners. The University of Arizona in Tucson, AZ, is receiving $136,906 in grant funding for improving miner preparedness and in-emergency resiliency using multiplayer emergency response simulations. The Center for Strategic Management Public Leadership Institute Inc. in Severna Park, MD, is receiving $128,439 in grant funding for training in coal mine emergency preparedness and prevention in the following subject areas: selfassessments, continuous monitoring and measuring

Get more news at http://me.smenet.org, the homepage of  Mining Engineering magazine.

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the effectiveness of risk, and readiness and preparedness models. The Pennsylvania State University in State College, PA, is receiving $109,917 to develop an education and training toolbox for coal mine rescue instructors and mine rescue team members. Rend Lake College in Ina, IL, is receiving $92, 247 to create a mine emergency prevention and preparedness project. This includes providing mine rescue team members training experience through mine rescue skills competition.

Training grants are awarded for a 12-month performance period, and applicants must be states or nonprofit entities. The grants program was established by the Mine Improvement and New Emergency Response Act of 2006. It was named in remembrance of 13 men who died in two explosions at the Jim Walter Resources Inc.’s No. 5 Mine in Brookwood, AL, in 2001 and 12 men who died in an explosion at Wolf Run Mining Co.’s Sago Mine in Tallmansville, WV, in 2006. n

Industry Newswatch

President’s Page: A common sense plan is needed (Continued from page 6)

other hand, because natural gas has substantially lower CO 2 emissions per kWh compared to conventional coal generation, this has provided a convenient excuse to attack the coal industry in the United States. Secondly, China, India, Indonesia and other developing economies will rely on coal to provide a significant proportion of their vast needs for energy in the coming decades. If the United States does not take the lead in developing clean coal technology (e.g. high-efficiency, low-emissions technologies such as super-critical and ultra super-critical coal generation, carbon capture sequestration, and other advances), then who will? We should be embracing coal and using our resources to help develop an effective portfolio of energy

generation capability that most cost effectively meets our needs while providing adequate levels of environmental protection. A drastic, rapid reduction in U.S. coal-generated carbon dioxide emissions on its own will do little for global atmospheric carbon dioxide levels. The bottom line is we simply do not know what the effects of the anthropogenic increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration are, or will be in the future. It will be a long time before the science is settled. This doesn’t mean we shouldn’t act. We should. A sensible, long-term, forwardlooking plan to control and manage carbon emissions makes sense in the face of such uncertainty. But such action must be developed as part of a national energy policy and must consider the costs and benefits of

planned actions. Also, I believe that the mining industry has a critical part to play in helping to shape the longer term energy situation globally by providing the metals and minerals needed for the emerging energy technologies that can provide affordable energy while managing environmental impacts, whether this be clean coal technology, production of metals for efficient energy generation and power transmission, supply of metals for the new generation of transportation systems, or materials for energy storage. Also, we can lead by example in the development and implementation of lower energy-consuming mining, extraction and recovery methods for such metals and minerals. We are part of the solution. And without mining, there wouldn’t be any (man-made) energy at all. n

Lucky Friday Rehabilitation

Rehabilitation of Hecla’s Lucky Friday siver shaft by D. Berberick and B. Strickland

H

ecla’s Lucky Friday Mine is a deep, underground producer of silver, lead and zinc in the Coeur d’Alene mining district of northern Idaho. Main access into, and production from, the mine is via the Silver Shaft, a 5.5-m (18-ft) diameter, concrete lined shaft sunk by J.S. Redpath to an original depth of 1,890 m (6,200 ft) in the early 1980s. The shaft is divided into four compartments (Fig. 1), with sets made of 225 mm x 175 mm (9 in. x 7 in.) hollow structural section (HSS) steel buntons and 150-mm x 150-mm (6-in. x 6-in.) HSS dividers spaced every 4.5 m (15 ft) down the length of the shaft. Two skip compartments on the east side of the shaft are equipped with 125-mm x 150-mm (5-in. x 6-in.) HSS steel guides and 9-t (10-st) skips with three deck trailer cages for men and materials. The west side of the shaft is divided into a manway, and a fourth compartment that was originally designed for a service cage. Shaft services consist of a 250-mm (10-in.) a compressed air line and 150-mm (6-in.) sandfill line along the south side of the shaft, and 250-mm (10-in.) discharge (gray) water and 150 mm (6 in.) fresh water lines on the north wall. The mine’s primary 13.8 kV power lines, as well as communication lines are located on the west wall of the shaft. The production hoist is a 3.7-m (12-ft) diameter, double drum, double clutch, 2,238 kW (3,000 hp), direct current unit equipped, at the time, with thyristor drives. The 30-year-old drives would prove to be problematic during the rehabilitation project, leading to an upgrade to modern ABB drives later in the project, after the shaft rehabilitation was complete. The shaft had been subjected to the typical wear and tear of 30 years of operation, including intermittent sandfill and muck spills, and, in the lower areas, some corrosion. During those 30 years, the west compartment, originally designed for the service cage, could only be accessed from a work deck on top of the skips or from the manway.

Figure 1 Plan view of the Silver Shaft compartments and steel set.

The initial plan focused on what the group saw as three essential items: full inspection of the shaft to understand the true scope of the project, identification of an efficient method to complete the shaft work, and procurement of the equipment and materials required to complete that work. Due to MSHA requirements, a work plan for the entire project had to be developed and approved before any shaft work, including the inspection, could proceed. The preliminary scope of work to meet MSHA requirements included: 1. 2.

Initial planning Cementation USA, the contractor working on the #4-shaft sinking project at the mine, was selected for the rehabilitation work. Hecla and Cementation immediately began collaboration to develop a work plan to restore and, in certain circumstances, go beyond U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) requirements and upgrade the shaft.

Removal of all loose, built-up material from the steel sets, manway and shaft utilities. Remove all loose material from the concrete shaft liner and chip buildup to within 25 mm (1 in.) of the original concrete.

The following additional items were considered critical to future operations. Hecla chose to include these in planning for shaft rehabilitation:

D. Berberick  and B. Strickland,

members SME, are chief engineer and project engineer, respectively, Hecla Ltd. Coeur d’Alene, ID, email [email protected].

Lucky Friday Rehabilitation Figure 2 New sheaves being installed for Galloway stage ropes.

3.

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Repair or replacement of any steel sets and mounting brackets as required. Removal of any structures, including ventilation tubing, no longer in use. Resupport of certain existing power and communication cables. Installation of a new, 13.8 kV power feeder to support future production. Installation of brattice between the east and west shaft compartments in anticipation of a future service hoist installation.

Several concepts for completing this scope of work were identified during project meetings in late December and early January: 1.

2.

Clean only the skip compartments, installing brattice between the skip compartments and the west side of the shaft to isolate the two. This method would get the mine back into operation the fastest and would not require a power shutdown as the power cables are in the western half of the shaft. However, repair or replacement of any steel sets would be difficult or impossible without access to the western half of the shaft; later clean down of the west side of the shaft would be time consuming and difficult because there would be no access to skips, meaning travel to and from the work site would have to be by the same conveyance that would be used for the work. There would also be a high potential for dusting out the mine, and personnel working underground, during removal of built-up backfill material in the western half of the shaft. Clean down of the entire shaft from work decks on top of the existing skips using pressure washers. Buildup in the skip compartments would be removed by

chipping or scaling. This method would allow all removed material to fall down the shaft, potentially damaging existing pipelines, power or communication cables and shutting down all underground power for fans and pumps until clean-down could be completed and utilities repaired. Divide the shaft into three work areas: the south skip compartment, the north skip compartment and the west service cage compartment. The two skip compartments would be serviced from work decks on top of the skips, while work in the service cage compartment would be done from a specially designed work stage, or Galloway stage. The work could advance concurrently from the three conveyances, with all material removed from the shaft sent to the surface in the skips or in bins located in the cages. New steel could be installed using personnel on all three conveyances, and brattice could be installed between the east and west compartments as work progressed. Since the entire shaft would be clean above the work area, there would be few concerns of loose material falling on the crews from an adjacent compartment.

On Jan. 13, the third method was chosen as the preferred concept. Even though it would take longer, it had the advantages of a completely clean shaft, fully repaired steel sets and brackets, brattice and a new power feeder in a single pass. Work would be safer and more easily controlled. However, the installation of a Galloway in the service cage compartment would require a complex setup on the surface, including shaft sinking winches and ropes, primary and backup power supplies, variable frequency controls and new sheave wheels positioned in the headframe over the west compartment. Procurement times for the necessary equipment would be critical, and scheduling for the project had to identify any opportunities for concurrent activities to shorten the critical path. Detailed engineering, design and procurement began immediately, with the first task being identification and evaluation of existing infrastructure on the surface that could be used for the project. The original sinking hoist and Galloway winch building, built by Redpath, was still in place and being used for storage. The sheave deck that was used during sinking was also still in place, but its condition, and the ability of the headframe to handle the additional loads after 30 years of service, was unknown. The initial project schedule identified eight key milestones to be achieved before shaft repair

Lucky Friday Rehabilitation Figure 3 Excavation for the extension of the south winch foundation. The process was duplicated for the north winch.

could begin: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.

Design and procurement of work decks for the top of the production skips. Structural evaluation of the existing headframe and sinking sheave deck. Procurement of shaft sinking winches, ropes, and sheave wheels. Design of modifications to the headframe to accommodate the new winch sheaves. Modifications to the existing sinking hoist building to handle the new winches and electrical gear. Design and procurement of a Galloway stage that would fit within the confines of the west (service) compartment. Design of collar doors for the production compartment to protect workers in the shaft. Design and procurement of new shaft steel, including new power cable and pipe brackets.

The shaft inspection and repair from the production compartments required work decks that could be installed on top of the skips, and provide solid, overhead protection, with certified tie-off points for fall protection. The design needed to be light enough that it could easily be installed and removed by a forklift, and would not limit the personnel and material capacity of the cages and skips. The work decks were designed by Spencer Engineering, fabricated by Northwest Machine using 6061-T6 aluminum to reduce weight, and delivered to site by midFebruary. The initial work plan was submitted to MSHA on Feb. 1, 2012 with a more detailed plan, including preliminary drawings, following on Feb. 13, 2012. MSHA approved the plan, allowing operations in the shaft to begin on Feb. 17, 2012. Shaft inspection Inspection of the shaft began as soon as approval from MSHA was received and a risk assessment could be completed. The inspection began in the south skip compartment, going from the surface down to the 5970 skip loading pocket. Detailed notes and photographic records were made of the condition of the shaft liner, steel sets and utilities. The process was then repeated in the north compartment. The inspection provided information for a more detailed scope of work that was used for preparing cost and schedule estimates. The photographic records consisted of videos and still photos that allowed for detailed planning for work areas not accessible again after the inspection was completed.

Headframe

Site personnel, with a great deal of assistance from Don McMullin at Stantec Engineering (formerly McIntosh Redpath Engineering) in Tempe, AZ, were able to assemble copies of most of the original Redpath detailed drawings used during construction and sinking of the Silver Shaft. Using these, Cementation began building

Figure 4 Lowering the south winch through the roof of the old sinking hoist building and onto its new foundation.

Lucky Friday Rehabilitation Figure 5 Galloway top deck in the west compartment of the shaft.

Figure 6 Elevation view of shaft cleaning Galloway.

a model of the headframe in AutoCAD 3D. Meanwhile, the headframe was cleaned from top to bottom, in the middle of winter, removing all grease and dirt, so each connection and member could be inspected and tested by engineers. Any new information gathered from the inspection was added to the 3D model, which was then imported to STAAD software for structural evaluation. The headframe was found to be structurally sound and capable of handling the additional load of the ropes, Galloway stage and electrical cable. Design of the modifications required for the old sinking sheave deck began and sheaves and pillow blocks were ordered, with installation beginning soon afterward (Fig. 2). Collar doors were needed to protect workers in the shaft below from falling materials. However, their installation required major modifications to the collar steel and guides. The shaft is equipped with sliding guides in the collar area; guides that can be moved out of the way hydraulically, allowing the cage or skip to be removed. The only way collar doors could be installed was to completely remove the sliding guides and their control equipment. A section of guide steel was welded to the underside of the collar doors so the collar doors, when opened, would provide a portion of the guide rails for the shaft conveyances. Fixed sections of guide steel completed the replacement of the sliding guides. The hydraulic power unit (HPU) used for the sliding guides did not have sufficient capacity to operate the collar doors, so a new HPU was procured and local controls were installed. The collar door operation was tied into the Tiley hoist control system to control speeds and protect the hoist from the shaft obstruction when the doors were closed. Winches

Two 27,215 kg (60,000 lb) line pull shaft sinking winches would be required to handle the load of the Galloway stage and 1,830 m (6,000 ft) of suspended winch rope, with a third needed for installation of the new shaft power cable. In order to maintain schedule, three 28.5-mm (1-1/8 in.) ropes were actually ordered on Jan. 13, weeks before appropriate winches had been found. The search for usable winches, new or used, began immediately, and several avenues of procurement were followed at the same time to meet schedule requirements. In February, three used New Era, Model 807 winches from Mine Hoist International were acquired for the project. The winches were shipped to Cementation’s North Bay, Ontario, shop for final inspection, maintenance and roping up prior to shipping to the mine site.

Lucky Friday Rehabilitation Figure 7 Manbasket entering shaft.

The original sinking hoist building had contained not only the sinking hoist and control room, but three sinking winches as well. Evaluation of the old building required structural rehabilitation, surveying, drilling of the existing winch foundations and soils testing. The old winch foundations were still in good shape structurally, but were neither in the exact position needed for the new winches, nor did they have the mass required to prevent overturning. Concrete saws were used to cut the floor to the limits of the foundation extension. A miniexcavator then excavated to a depth of 2.4 m (8 ft) and shotcrete was applied to the trench walls for stabilization (Fig. 3). Dowels were drilled into the old winch foundations and the concrete extensions to accommodate the new winches were placed on March 7 in continuous pours of 58 m 3  (76 cu yd) per winch, avoiding any cold joints. There was concern about these massive concrete pours curing in time to set the new winches; temperature probes were placed as the pour progressed, and numerous cylinders were taken to monitor the compressive strength as curing progressed. By March 13, the internal temperatures were dropping steadily, and cylinder testing indicated that the concrete had reached a strength of more than 30,335kPa (4,400 psi), 88 percent of the ultimate design strength, and was deemed safe for winch placement (Fig. 4). Galloway The Galloway stage was the critical component of the entire operation. It had to provide work decks for access to steel sets and liner, facilitate removal of old 4.6-m (15-ft) by 1,065-mm (42-in.) steel ventilation tubing used for shaft sinking that was hanging in the same compartment, provide storage for work tools and materials, carry a compressor and generator, and fit into an awkward, not quite half-moon, shaft section (Fig. 5) of about 6.5 m 2 (70 sq ft). The Galloway stage was designed with two work decks, an equipment deck and a headcover, or ‘strongback’ where the winch cables would be fastened. Removal of the vent tube would require a monorail trolley and chain hoist, and a space of at least 5.2 m (17 ft) between the two work decks. The bottom deck was designed with a cutout to slide alongside the ventilation tube as the Galloway was lowered into position (Figs. 6 and 9). Fold-out decks would provide access around the vent tube and, using the trolley, allow sections of vent tube to be removed and placed onto one of the cages in the skip compartment. Skid rails mounted along its length guided the Galloway stage down the shaft and prevented it

from twisting into the skip compartments. Tires were mounted along the radius of each deck to maintain clearance from power cables mounted on the shaft liner. Fall protection equipment was carefully incorporated into the design because of the slim dimensions of the Galloway.

Clean-down begins To move the project forward while preparation of the surface plant and design and procurement of the shaft cleaning equipment was underway, plans were put in place to clean the first 150 m (500 ft) of shaft using a crane set up for man-travel along with a U.S. Occupational Safety

Figure 8 New shaft steel set in place.

Lucky Friday Rehabilitation Figure 9 Working from the lower deck of the Galloway to remove old ventilation tubing.

the surface and 150 m (500 ft) level, and the manbasket was fitted with guide shoes to mate to the wire rope. The goal was to start shaft work from the manbasket on Feb. 16; the actual start was six days later on Feb. 22. Clean-down using the crane suspended manbasket reached its limits on March 8. Commissioning of the winches, Galloway, and ancillary equipment for shaft cleaning was completed on March 31, 2012.

and Health Administration (OSHA) approved, four-person manbasket in the west compartment (Fig. 7). A crane pad was built on the south side of the headframe, the cladding was opened up and decking was removed to allow the boom of the crane to swing in over the shaft compartment. Weighted, wire rope guides were hung in the west side service cage compartment between

Figure 10 Cable clamps supporting the abandoned power cables. The cable above this point has had the tension removed and can be safely cut and removed.

Methods for cleaning The project discussed many possible methods to remove the cemented sand buildup from the steel sets, pipe, power cables and shaft liner, including high-pressure water, pressure blasting with dry ice, or chipping hammers. The most effective method turned out to be simple hand tools and light demolition hammers; material was collected by hand in 20-L (5-gal) buckets, dumped into the skips and sent to the surface. The crews worked from decks in all three compartments to remove the material from the walls and infrastructure in the shaft. The work in all three compartments progressed concurrently so no one was working below an area that had not been cleaned and inspected. As the built-up material was removed, all the shaft steel, wall brackets, cable supports and pipes were inspected for damage or corrosion. Steel sets and pipe were inspected using a handheld ultrasonic thickness gauge, with minimum acceptable thicknesses set by Cementation Engineering using design criteria for the shaft and forces created by setting of safety dogs on the skips. Any shaft steel that did not meet the functional criteria was replaced (Fig. 8). Unused ventilation tubing, cables, pipes and steel were removed as the cleaning progressed. Vent tubing was removed in 4.5-m (15-ft) sections using a specially designed sling to handle the tubing from the side. The tubing was suspended from the monorail on the Galloway and moved into the cage for shipment to the surface (Fig. 9). The abandoned power cables were suspended from pad-eyes anchored into the shaft liner every 45 m (150 ft). Cable clamps with carbide teeth to bite into the steel armored cable were hung from the pad-eyes using chain and ratcheting load binders (Fig. 10). As the load binder on the lower pad-eye was tightened, the weight was removed from the 45-m (150-ft) section of cable above it, which was then cut into short sections using a battery-powered band saw. New cable brackets were fastened to the shaft liner for hanging the new cables that would be installed at a later time. Brattice was installed between the east and west compartments as the clean-down progressed. Five panels, approximately 1,060

Lucky Friday Rehabilitation Figure 11 New brattice installed in the Silver Shaft. The top deck of the Galloway can be seen at the bottom of the brattice.

mm (3.5 ft) by 4,000 mm (13 ft) and fabricated of expanded metal and angle iron, were hung from new brackets placed on each bunton and anchored to new brackets on the next bunton below. The panels were then bolted together to form a curtain between the east and west compartments (Fig. 11). Specialized carriers were built to transport a full set of brattice in the cage to the worksite where they were unloaded and placed using the monorails on the Galloway stage. New power cables Construction of a new, underground refrigeration plant for ventilation air, combined with the power needs of the #4-shaft being sunk from the 4900 level to the 8800 level, had necessitated installation of a new shaft feeder cable even before rehabilitation of the Silver Shaft became a priority. Prysmian Airguard cable, 15kV, 3Ø, 3-conductor with ground, was chosen over steel-wire armored (SWA) cable for the new power feeder because of its strength and impact resistance. The absence of steel armor and smaller, overall diameter also meant it could be obtained in longer, continuous lengths on a single reel. Once the shaft clean-down started, it became apparent that additional cables would need to be replaced. All shaft utilities were powered down while crews were doing cleanup and steel installation in the Silver Shaft. Every few days, the power was reenergized to run the mine dewatering pumps. There was a great deal of concern that the old, 13.8-kV power feeder would not hold up under the constant loading and unloading, so plans were made to install a temporary power feeder down the #4-shaft project’s concrete slickline. The concrete slickline is a near vertical borehole holding a 175-mm (7-in.) pipe of P110 grade well casing, normally used to drop wet mix concrete from the surface 1,500 m (4,900 ft) to the to the mine’s 4900 level. The third winch was installed on a concrete foundation about 35 m (115 ft) from the borehole. The 28.5-mm (1-1/8in.) winch rope was run to a sheave wheel tangent to the borehole, attached to a 700-kg (1,550-lb) guide weight, and started down the borehole. A reel of the Prysmian Airguard power cable was set up on a winder behind the winch and fed parallel to the winch rope toward the borehole. The power cable was attached to the winch rope using stainless steel Band-It clamps every 1.5 m (5 ft). Polywater PJ cable pulling lubricant was applied in large quantities as the cable was lowered down the slickline. The cable lowering was successful and the power line was energized on May 3, 2013, supplying power to the main pumps and eliminating the need to energize and

de-energize the shaft power feeder. When the shaft cleaning reached the 4900 level, the cable that was in the slickline was no longer needed and was removed. The winch was then moved to a prepared foundation between the two Galloway winches and prepared for lowering new cables into the Silver Shaft. A similar process to that used to lower the power cable into the slickline was used for installation of the new cables. In this case, however, rather than strapping the cable directly to the winch rope, the cable was suspended from the winch rope using Kellems grips and bolted wire rope clamps every 36 m (120 ft). Once the full length of cable was suspended in the shaft along the winch rope, stainless steel straps were used to attach the cables to the new cable brackets previously installed. Once the cable weight had

Figure 12 New power cable being fed from the winder to the Silver Shaft.

Lucky Friday Rehabilitation Figure 13 The Prysmian Airguard power cable being fed into the shaft, parallel to the winch cable, to which it was attached using Kellems and bolted cable clamps.

been transferred to the cable brackets on the shaft wall, the Kellems and rope clamps were removed, freeing the winch to install the next cable. New loading pocket The skip loading equipment at the 5970 level had been in service since the shaft was originally commissioned, so it was decided that the time had come to replace it. Lucky Friday had previously purchased replacement skip loading equipment from FKC Lakeshore several years prior to the start of shaft rehabilitation. Lakeshore provided a great deal of assistance with the installation, providing drawings and material lists, and guiding conversion of the equipment from hydraulic to compressed air operation. The concrete shaft liner had experienced some cracking over the years, and was inspected by Lucky Friday geotechnical engineers who determined that, while the concrete was broken, the area was not taking additional weight, and no additional movement could be detected. There was no way to get shotcrete to the area, so alternative products that could stabilize and protect the liner were evaluated. The final selection was Turboliner 5502, a fire-resistant, two-component, polyurea spray on coating. Turboliner supplied training and guidance on the proper application of the product, which proved to be effective at tying the broken material together and preventing further air slacking. Conclusion By May 8, 2012, detailed engineering was complete, the full shaft rehabilitation plant

had been commissioned and was in use, and the temporary power feeder down the slickline to the 4900 level had been installed and powered up.The engineering group had completed 177 detailed drawings for fabrication and construction. Numerous suppliers and fabricators had gone above and beyond any reasonable expectation to provide the equipment and materials required in a timely fashion. The project team still had months of effort and many challenges and surprises ahead. But they achieved completion of the work on Feb. 20, 2013, with turnover to Lucky Friday operations on Feb. 21. In the end, 1,847 m (6,060 ft) of shaft were cleaned, approximately 6.8 kt (7,500 st) of cemented backfill buildup was removed, along with 1,080 m (3,540 ft) of old ventline and 26 t (29 st) of power cable. Seventy steel sets were fully or partially replaced, 135 new shaft brackets were installed, 3,110 m (10,200 ft) of power and communication cable was installed, and new brattice was installed between the east and west shaft compartments from the surface to the 5970 level. Steel columns, brattice and gates were replaced at 10 shaft stations. The total project cost was US$28.5 million, with a total critical path schedule of 419 days. More than 205,000 man-hours were invested in this project, and the work was completed with no lost time or reportable incidents. Several important conclusions can be taken from the project. The first, obviously, is to ensure that high value assets like a shaft are designed and constructed with full access for regular inspection and maintenance. Along with this, and just as important, is the need to maintain detailed records on those assets, including original drawings, as-builts and any changes or modifications made. Having representatives from the major engineering groups involved and on site during the initial design stages of a project like this is helpful. We had engineering groups working from Salt Lake City, North Bay and the mine site, and found that communication by email and phone was no substitute for face-to-face discussions and being able to walk out to look at the installations. The authors would like to extend their appreciation for the work and assistance provided by the personnel of Cementation USA and the Lucky Friday Mine, as well as the many vendors that supported the project, including Columbia Electric, Anixter, Stantec Engineering, Mine Hoists International, Schuon Manufacturing, Northwest Machine, Northern Strands, Welding Fabrication Services, MoCo Engineering and Fabrication, FKC Lakeshore, H2E Electrical Engineering, Turboliner and Strate Line Crane. n

 American Mining Hall of Fame

Mining Foundation of the Southwest to host

32nd annual banquet T

family he 32nd annual American Hall of Fame generation dealership Awards Banquet and Fundraiser, sponsored owned Caterpillar by the Mining Foundation of the Southwest for consistently (MFSW), will be held at the JW Marriott Tucson which Starr Pass Resort & Spa on Saturday, Dec. 6, 2014. ranks among the top dealers Each year, one living Hall of Fame inductee, up Caterpillar to three Medal of Merit recipients, honorees worldwide. A Special Citation from mining’s past, and recipients of an Industry will be presented to Partnership Award and a Special Citation are recognized for their respective contributions to employees of RioTinto-Kennecott the mining industry. Canyon Armine Frederick Banfield Jr., past chairman Bingham and founder of Mintec, Inc. located in Tucson, Mine for their speedy AZ, will be honored as the 2014 Hall of Fame recovery from the Inductee at the awards banquet. Banfield massive Manefay slope founded Mintec from his Tucson apartment failure in 2013. Early sponsors in 1970 and expanded it to a global operation. Ames Under his guidance, Mintec won the 2013 include President’s E-Award for Exports – the highest Construction, Asarco Brierley recognition any United States company may LLC; LLC; receive for making a significant contribution to Consultancy Caterpillar Inc.; Click the expansion of U.S. exports. Team; Medals of Merit will be awarded to Corale Automotive L. and James A. Brierley, founder and principal Deconcini McDonald of Brierley Consultancy LLC; David Nicholas Yetwin & Lacy, P.C.; Armine Frederick Baneld Jr., Southwest; 2014 inductee, guest of honor. of Call and Nicholas Inc. and Scott M. Shields of Empire Florence Copper Inc.; Joy Global. The Brierleys are being recognized for Freeport-McMoRan their true scientific partnership with parallel Copper & Gold Inc; Independent Mining achievements in academia and in business Consultants Inc.; Joy Global Inc.; Komatsu development. Nicholas is being recognized as the America Corp.; Liebherr Mining Equipment; co-founder of Call & Nicholas and for his noted Lowell Copper Ltd.; M3 Engineering & expertise in mining geotechnical engineering. Technology; Modular Mining Systems Inc.; Shields is being recognized for his innovative MWH Global; Newmont Mining Corp.; Ram work with GPS integration and for playing a key Enterprise; Rio Tinto/Kennecott, Sonoran role in laying the foundation for autonomous Process Equipment Co.; Southwest Energy LLC and SRK Consulting. mines of the future. MFSW is a nonprofit organization and its As representatives of mining heritage, the Hall of Fame will induct Patrick E. Connor, mission to promote the value of the industry “Father of Utah Mining,” for pioneering mineral to our community and profession to ensure its exploration efforts in Utah; Earl Tappan future success. Funds raised from its annual Stannard, president of Kennecott Copper Co., banquet are principally designated to support the for transforming Kennecott in to one of the foundation’s education program, a partnership largest U.S. copper producers; Arthur Barrette with the Lowell Institute for Mineral Research Parsons, mining editor and author, for his book at the University of Arizona. “The Porphyry Coppers in 1933 ,” a seminal work detailing the history and technical information  Armine Frederick Baneld, Jr. regarding major porphyry copper deposits and 2014 Hall of Fame Inductee Fred Banfield chose a career in mining Ernest R. Dickie, general manager of Bagdad Copper Co., for his foresight in converting the after his father, Armine Frederick Banfield, introduced him to the industry. Armine Banfield mine from block caving to open pit. The Industry Partnership Award will was a well-known consulting geologist with be presented to Empire Southwest, a third worldwide experience. His achievements and

 American Mining Hall of Fame

Corale L. and James A. Brierley 2014 Medal of Merit recipients.

David E. Nicholas 2014 Medal of Merit recipient.

professionalism served as a model for his son. Now a Hexagon AB company, Mintec’s A graduate of the Colorado School of Mines unparalleled longevity in a highly cyclical with a degree in mining engineering, Banfield industry begins with Banfield applying his founded Mintec from his Tucson apartment in passion for mine engineering and computers to 1970 and now presides over a global network solving mine modeling and design challenges. of dedicated mining professionals. Still After 44 years, a simple business model remains: headquartered in Tucson, Mintec now has offices Make the client successful. in eight countries and is committed to helping its clients solve their problems with MineSight Corale L. & James A. Brierley  — Mintec’s comprehensive modeling and mine 2014 Medal of Merit Recipients planning platform. The software offers integrated The Brierleys met at Montana State solutions for exploration, modeling, design, University in Bozeman, MT and subsequently scheduling, production and delivers efficiency married in 1963. Corale, the daughter of and reliability to help improve productivity at ranchers, grew up in southwestern Montana and every stage of a mine’s life. sometimes rode Betty, her horse, to her oneThe foundation of Mintec’s business plan room country school house. Jim, the only child lies partly in Banfield’s considerable wealth of of an immigrant single mother, developed his expertise, including auditing reserve calculations lifelong fascination with thermal springs when and mine plans worldwide, the design and he accidentally stepped into one on his first trip implementation of computerized systems for to Yellowstone National Park at age 9. building geologic models, calculation of grade While working on his post-graduate studies, estimates, mine design and scheduling; the design Jim’s extensive research led to the discovery of of ultimate pit limits and mining schedules the first high-temperature (thermophilic), acid— for openpit and underground mines based on loving microorganism — Acidianus brierleyi – economic and geotechnical data; calculation of named by German scientists in his honor. After reserves for metals, coal and industrial minerals earning his Ph.D., Jim joined the faculty of New and the design and implementation of financial Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology models for mining projects worldwide. (NMT) in Socorro and Corale often enrolled in According to MineSight clients, Banfield his courses. always seems to be ahead of the industry working In 1982, Corale was approached to form a on solutions before problems arise. Banfield was company to develop biotechnology for mining the 2007 recipient of SME’s Daniel C. Jackling and founded Advanced Minerals Technology. Award for significant contributions to technical Jim served as its research director. The company, progress in mining geology and geophysics. with some 23 scientists and engineers, developed Under his leadership, Mintec won the 2013 and patented technologies for bioleaching and President’s E-Award for Exports - the highest metal removal but was forced to dissolve when recognition any U.S. company may receive for the stock market crashed in 1987. Jim then making significant contribution to the expansion  joined Newmont Mining Corp. as chief research of U.S. exports. scientist and Corale soon followed as chief of

 American Mining Hall of Fame

environmental process development. Laid off by Newmont, Corale began accepting consultant work in bioleaching and with increased requests for her service, founded Brierley Consultancy LLC in 1991, aiming to provide technical and business consultation to the mining and chemical industries as well as government agencies. Jim’s confidentiality agreement with Newmont prohibited the Brierleys for the first time since 1963 to confer on technical matters. Happily, they were able to resume their collaboration when Jim retired from Newmont and became principal of Brierley Consultancy in 2001. Corale and Jim share many parallel career paths. Both earned Ph.Ds. in science, both received distinguished achievement awards from their respective universities, both are recipients of SME’s Milton E. Wadsworth Award and both are inducted members of the U.S. National Academy of Engineering for their demonstrated accomplishments in the pioneering of new technology. The first Brierley and Brierley technical paper was published in 1973, and many of their technical papers over the decades became the basis for the bioleaching technologies applied commercially today for copper and gold recovery – theirs is a true scientific partnership. David E. Nicholas

2014 Medal of Merit recipient David E. Nicholas, past president and co-founder of Call & Nicholas Inc., had no knowledge of mining or geological engineering until his University of Arizona dorm mate introduced Nicholas to his father, William C. Peters, head of UA’s Mining and Geological Engineering department. Inspired, Nicholas changed his major from astronomy to geological engineering. He found his vocation. After two summer jobs with Hanna Mining and earning a B.S. in geological engineering in 1970, Nicholas signed on full time exploring in Montana and Idaho for copper deposits. A transfer to Hanna’s Pilot Knob underground iron mine in Missouri allowed Nicholas to focus on his major area of interest: underground rock mechanics. In 1972, Nicholas returned to UA for a master’s degree in rock mechanics, studying under John Abel and Richard Call. Under Call, Nicholas studied pit slope stability; under Abel, he studied underground rock mechanics receiving an M.S. degree in 1976 for his work at the Oracle Ridge underground mine. For inclusion in CANMET’s 1977 pit slope manual, Call subcontracted Nicholas to develop a program to model the distribution of potential step paths.

After receiving his M.S., Nicholas worked for the consulting firm Pincock, Allen, and Holt with Call and worked on slope design and underground mining projects worldwide: North America, Chile, Sweden, Botswana, Liberia and China. In 1979, Nicholas and Call formed a business partnership as independent consultants and, in 1980, established Call & Nicholas, Inc. Scott M. Shields, 2014 Medal of Merit Young (CNI). Call and Nicholas Professional Recipient grew the company and created a culture of collaboration and team effort. Through his work at CNI, Nicholas has been instrumental in many large underground and openpit mine projects, including the Grasberg openpit mine and block cave mines at P.T. Freeport Indonesia. In 1982, Nicholas received the Robert Peele Memorial Award for his paper, “Method Selection, A Numerical Approach.” With Nicholas’s guidance, CNI has evolved into a world renowned consulting firm and currently has more than 50 employees at its consulting, slope monitoring instrumentation and laboratory testing operation in Tucson, AZ. Today, Nicholas consults for longtime clients and enjoys mentoring young engineers and geologists. Scott M. Shields

2014 Medal of Merit Young Professional recipient Scott M. Shields is a fifth-generation Arizona miner. In 1995 he joined the Phelps Dodge Morenci Mine as a surveyor and, despite his young age, was able to successfully implement new techniques, both conceptual and infield, to improve mine operations. Shields initiated ground breaking work with GPS integration and co-authored “Optimization of GPS on Track Type Dozers” and “GPS in the Pits: Differential GPS Applications at the Morenci Copper Mine.” This novel idea of building roads by using GPS without first conducting surveys won best of session at the Institute of Navigation conference and resulted in Shields being sponsored by Sen. John McCain to represent Phelps Dodge Mining Co. for GPS on the hill. During his tenure at Phelps Dodge, and

 American Mining Hall of Fame Mining’s past class of 2014.

Patrick E. Connor

Earl Tappan Stannard

Arthur Barrette Parsons

later with Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc., Shields helped to develop sulfide leaching with bacterial augmentation, advanced electrowinning technologies, leach pad monitoring and GPS integration. While serving as the autonomous mining program site coordinator, Shields supervised the construction of the San Juan Experimental Mine and was instrumental in laying the groundwork for a real autonomous mine of the future. Shields left Freeport-McMoRan in 2008 to earn a B.S. in mining engineering at the University of Arizona (UA). While attending school, he was employed as an associate mine engineer and was placed in charge of overseeing the design and construction of the new San Xavier Underground Training Center facilitating research funded jointly by mining companies, private organizations and the government. Although challenged with full time work and school, Shields was the winner of the 2008 Copper Club Scholarship, the 2009 Leonard Judd Freeport-McMoRan Foundation Scholarship, the mining engineering nominee for the Thomas G. Chapman fellowship and scholarship, the 2010 MMSA/SMEF Presidential Scholarship and was the UA College of Engineering 2011 Outstanding Senior in Mining Engineering. In addition, Shields graduated magna cum laude in 2011 and was inducted into Tau Beta Pi, a National Engineering Academic Fraternity. Shields now manages a team of Joy Global mining engineers, supporting the applications of P&H Surface Mining and Joy Mining Machinery underground products. Notably, he has provided optimization and best practice in more than 60 mines and in 18 countries on five continents. Shields is an advisor for the University of Arizona ILB, Montana Tech MIAB, University of Missouri Science and Technology Advisory

Ernest R. Dickie

Committee, South Dakota School of Mines ECE Advisory Board and also serves as an executive committee member and officer of the SME.

Mining’s Past Class of 2014 Patrick E. Connor, 1820 - 1892 “Father of Utah Mining”

Irish-born Patrick Edward Connor emigrated to the United States at age 12. At age 18, he enlisted in the U.S. Army, serving five years as a private in the First Dragoons in the Iowa Territory. Upon the outbreak of the Mexican War, he volunteered for duty, distinguishing himself for courage and military skill in battle. When the Civil War broke out, Connor again volunteered for duty and was appointed Colonel of the Third California Infantry with instructions to guard the overland mail route across the West. In October 1862, he moved his command to Salt Lake City, UT where he immediately engaged in a “cold war” with the Mormons; relationships were acrimonious at best. During this time, he and his command also engaged in hostile interactions with the Shoshone Indians. Connor encouraged his troops to go prospecting after realizing that the best way to dilute the strong influence of the Mormons in Utah was to make the area appealing to outside settlers. Mineral discoveries, with significant silver discoveries, were uncovered at areas now known as Bingham Canyon, Park City and Alta. In 1866, Connor, now a general, left the army and plowed his personal fortune into Utah mining. He wrote Utah’s mining laws and introduced navigation on the Great Salt Lake, shipping ores to smelters near the Rush Valley. Connor succeeded in bringing attention to Utah’s vast mineral wealth but failed to profi t by it, dying relatively poor in 1892. He was

 American Mining Hall of Fame

posthumously given the title of the “Father of Utah Mining.” Earl Tappan Stannard, 1882 - 1949, President, Kennecott Copper Co. Earl Tappen Stannard became president of Kennecott Copper Co. in 1940. Under his leadership, Kennecott increased Candor Mines Co., North Carolina. In 1917, he production at all its operations, becoming the went to India for Burma Mines Ltd. and, in 1918, world’s largest copper producer. he joined the Butte and Superior Mining Co. in Stannard graduated in 1905 with a degree in Butte, MT. mining engineering from the Sheffield Scientific He became associate editor for the Mining School of Yale University. Following graduate and Scientific Press, then associate editor of work studying ore-crushing machinery, he was Engineering and Mining Journal   and was named milling superintendent for the Federal president, Mineral Research Corp. Parsons Mining Co. (a subsidiary of Guggenheim) at Flat  joined AIME in 1914 and served as its secretary Rock, MO. from 1931-1948. He wrote the “History of the In 1910, he was transferred from Federal Institute 1871-1947.” Parsons is perhaps best to Chile to troubleshoot the new mill under known as the author of the book published by construction and testing at Braden Copper Co. AIME titled The Porphyry Coppers in 1933 , In 1913, the Guggenheims next transferred him to revised in 1956. This was a seminal work the Kennecott copper mine in Alaska to enlarge detailing the history and technical information the mill and improve its dated recovery system. available on the major porphyry copper deposits At Kennecott Alaska, he invented an worldwide. He was the author of more than 200 ammonia leaching process that increased the articles on the technical and political phases of recovery of copper to more than 95 percent by the mineral industries. Parsons died in 1966. recovering the copper contained in the carbonate ores. He also improved the output from the Ernest R. Dickie, 1902 - 1955, concentrators so fluxing requirements of the General Manager, Bagdad Copper smelters would be met and introduced flotation Ernest Dickie was the energetic general plants at the company’s Beatson Mine. With the manager who overcame many obstacles to bring reorganization of Kennecott into a multinational Bagdad Copper from a marginal underground company, Stannard eventually replaced his mine to a successful openpit operation. mentor, chief executive officer Stephen Birch. Dickie was born in Colorado near Cripple On Sept. 9, 1949, Stannard, now nearing Creek but spent most of his life in Arizona, at retirement, boarded a flight along with his chosen Jerome, Oatman, Wickenburg and Bagdad. In successor and other Kennecott executives to visit Wickenburg, while serving as mayor and working the newly acquired titanium property in Quebec at the Vulture Mine, he met John C. Lincoln, who when a bomb detonated killing all aboard. The also had interests in the Vulture. When Lincoln bomb was intentionally planted by a female acquired control of Bagdad Copper Co. in 1945, passenger’s husband to collect on her insurance he appointed Dickie to run the operation. claim. The sudden loss suffered by Kennecott Dickie quickly realized that the orebody caused a severe crack in its foundation resulting was not suitable for underground mining and with tough replacement challenges. immediately implemented plans to convert it to openpit. This conversion was accomplished Arthur Barrette Parsons, 1887 - 1966 despite shortages of materials, limited manpower Mining editor and author as well as infrastructure challenges in a remote Arthur Barrette Parsons was born in Salt area. Bagdad became the first converted mine Lake City, UT on Nov. 22, 1887. At age 17, he when World War II ended, ahead of the better was working as a farmer near Ely, NV when he publicized Inspiration and Ray mines. noted while everyone else traveled by stage or on In 1950, comparative tests were conducted horseback, the mining engineers all traveled by on four openpit haulage trucks, two from each of automobile. How much influence this may have the two major manufacturers. Based on tests at had is uncertain, but he entered the Utah School Bagdad, he persuaded the truck manufacturers of Mines and graduated with a B.S. degree in to adopt twin-disk torque converter transmission 1909. In 1910 and 1911, he worked as an assayer, for heavy duty trucks. The Tournarocker, a 32-t mill man and surveyor in Nevada and Utah. (35-st) capacity earthmover, good for short hauls, From 1911-1915, he was mill superintendent for was also proven at Bagdad.

Industry Partnership Award Empire Southwest

 American Mining Hall of Fame

Special Citation Award Employees of Rio Tinto/Kennecott Bingham Canyon Mine

Dickie is best remembered for field tests at the mine, which resulted in improvements in earth moving equipment. His life was sadly cut short by a massive heart attack in December of 1955. Industry Partnership Award:

Empire Southwest Empire Southwest is a family owned company founded in 1950 as Empire Machinery, an Eastern Oregon Caterpillar and John Deere dealership by Jack Whiteman. The name Empire originated from an area of the Pacific Northwest called the Inland Empire. However, when Jack was awarded Caterpillar’s Arizona territory in 1959, he moved the company to Phoenix and began building partnerships with Arizona’s mining and construction industries. John O. Whiteman succeeded his father as chief executive officer in the mid-1990s. Under John’s leadership, Empire focused on customer service, encouraged community involvement among its employees, established the official corporate values and celebrated its 50th anniversary. Third generation president and chief executive officer Jeff Whiteman took the company reins in early 2002. He has led the company through the economic uncertainties following 9/11 and in 2008-2010 and through times of tremendous opportunity and growth. In addition to being a strong advocate for Empire’s values, Jeff has also instituted the 6 Sigma process improvement model and renewed Empire’s commitment to supporting its clients, communities and employees. Under Jeff’s direction, Empire continually ranks among the top Caterpillar dealers in the world. The company has more than 1,600 employees in a territory that includes Arizona, southeastern California and portions of northern Mexico. Mining makes up 40 percent of Empire’s total market percentage and includes dedicated support for more than 15 mine sites throughout Arizona, California and Mexico. Several of these sites are consistently awarded zero injury safety achievements and high client loyalty rankings in Caterpillar’s Dealer Excellence program. Empire’s experienced mining support team is responsible for the sales and support of Cat

and other allied products used in coal and metals mining applications. With the recent acquisition of Bucyrus by Caterpillar, the product line has been greatly expanded and includes everything from draglines and rope shovels, to skid steer loaders and small utility dozers. Empire’s goal is to provide mine-specific product and service solutions that help clients improve productivity, enhance safety, increase efficiency and lower cost per ton. Empire is proud to serve as an active partner in the mining industry and to support the efforts of their mining clients and the communities they serve.

Special Citation Award: Employees of Rio Tinto/Kennecott Bingham Canyon Mine In April 2013, the Bingham Canyon Mine experienced the largest mining landslide ever recorded. The 149-Mt (165-million st) slide was a defining moment in Rio Tinto Kennecott’s history. Kennecott’s single biggest achievement is that it detected, monitored and acted prior to the slide to ensure that no employees were injured. With a primary goal of getting back to safely producing copper and recovering the business, employees were asked to rise to the occasion. Employees from across the operation responded in a singular effort to safely advance recover efforts. To date, numerous achievements have been realized following the slide: • • • •

•

•

Millions of tons of material have been moved to stabilize the slide area. Damaged buildings have been removed from the slide zone. Operations resumed 48 hours following the slide in nonimpacted areas. Sixteen pieces of large equipment have been recovered, including 10 of the 13 haul trucks. Four of the recovered haul trucks are back in service. The mine access road was reopened and restored top-to-bottom access within the mine seven months ahead of schedule. Valuable components and equipment continue to be recovered from the slide area.

Kennecott has made significant progress since the slide, and it anticipates cleanup efforts will be completed by the end of 2015. n

 Autonomous Mining

Overcoming preconceptions for a successful

launch of autonomous haulage by James Humphrey  here is a natural resistance to change in any form. When it comes to implementing a game-changing technology like autonomous haulage on an operating mine site, the resistance can at times appear insurmountable. Whether based on real information or misguided preconceptions, it’s essential that we don’t underestimate the effort it will take to overcome this resistance, while clearly recognizing when it’s worth the effort. These realizations did not happen overnight for sites where autonomous haulage has been implemented. Nor did they happen overnight for manufacturers of autonomous mining equipment. Caterpillar, for example, began building toward autonomy more than 30 years ago and had a truck operating in the mid-1990s. Lessons learned during those early years led to the realization that there was much more to be learned — not just about the machines themselves, but about the systems and knowledge that must be in place for a successful implementation. Working closely with customers, initiating real-life demonstrations on mine sites, having discussions with regulatory agencies and other stakeholders — these and many other activities were necessary before autonomy could be fully and successfully launched. After decades of effort, Caterpillar’s first official commercial autonomous mine site went to work in 2011 in Farmington, NM.

T

Ensuring autonomy is the right solution While the early days of autonomy were exciting and mining companies and manufacturers were eager to see it come to life in the real world, we learned that implementing a technology for technology’s sake should never be a goal. We first need to identify a problem and then determine if a technology solution exists to address it. That technology may or may not be autonomous haulage. In fact, there are more sites that aren’t candidates for autonomy than there are sites that would benefit from the implementation of this technology. There are five key characteristics to look for when determining which sites are the best

candidates for autonomous haulage: • •

•

•

Cat autonomous trucks are at work in iron ore operations in Western Australia.

Safety. Are there potential safety issues that could be alleviated with autonomy? Utilization. Are there significant delays such as shift changes, lunch breaks, meetings and training, etc., that would be eliminated if drivers were not operating the trucks? Productivity. Are there efficiencies to be gained with a higher degree of consistent and reliable performance of trucks, in addition to deployment velocity? Autonomy eliminates driverinfluenced inefficiencies such as truck bunching behind an overly cautious driver or dilution caused by loads going to unassigned locations. Additionally, it offers the ability to add or remove trucks to a circuit and is not dependent on the number of operators who showed up for work that day. Remote regions. Are there logistics issues James Humphrey, member SME, is of bringing workers senior mining market professional, to a location where Caterpillar Global Mining Organization, they must be housed, email [email protected]. fed, entertained,

 Autonomous Mining

experienced first-hand or learned from sources they trust and respect. Subconscious resistance is more difficult to overcome and is rooted in deep beliefs that may not have a legitimate cause. We have to find ways to identify the causes in order to overcome these negative perceptions. Whether conscious or subconscious, there are several concerns that rise to the top when considering potential resistance to autonomous haulage:

Automation reduces variability in mining operations, helping enhance productivity and equipment utilization.

•

etc.? These present a challenge and are a significant expense. Autonomy reduces the infrastructure requirements by reducing the number of people required for operations. People – Skilled resources. Can autonomy help reduce the number of peope that need to be hired? It is often difficult to find skilled people who will be able and willing to handle the challenges and rigor of a mining lifestyle.

Managing the change Once it is clear that autonomous haulage is the right technology solution, implementation can begin. And nothing is more important in this beginning phase than initiating a formal change management process to overcome the resistance that is likely to occur. We have identified three areas that, when combined, can build a case for autonomy that is greater than the resistance to change: 1.

Socio-economic.  One of the key benefits of autonomy is the ability to improve a site’s productivity with fewer people. A logical question follows: Will the implementation of autonomy put people out of work? If there are fewer people earning an income, how will that affect the local economy? Or does this technology provide opportunity for new or longer life operations, thereby ensuring more employment for the rest of the mine staff? Safety.  While safety is a key reason for the implementation of autonomy — keeping workers out of harm’s way — there are concerns that driverless trucks will lead to increased danger on a mine site. It’s one of the most important concerns that employees will have and it’s essential to have the technologies in place and the answers ready to address these questions. Mining processes. How will autonomy affect the processes currently in place on the mine site? Will we adopt existing processes, adapt the ones we currently follow, or create completely new ones? Will we replicate or innovate? People comfortable with the status quo may react unfavorably to a change in the way things are done. Regulatory.  The implementation of autonomous haulage will fall under strict regulations, both internally at the corporate and site levels and through organizations such as the U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration. How will we adapt to these challenges?

Urgency/burning platform. We must provide a legitimate reason for the change. What is autonomy and why do we need it? How is it going to help our operation improve safety, increase productivity,  Adopting a multi-faceted strategy  While each site and its employees will have overcome challenges? 2. Vision. What are we hoping to achieve by their own individual concerns and demonstrate the implementation of autonomy? Where their resistance to change in different ways, there are some things we can do to overcome the do we see our operation in the future? 3. First steps. How are we going to get resistance and preconceptions that are a barrier to started? Autonomy appears to be a autonomy implementation. Minimize change. First, the goal should be monumental undertaking. Can we take small steps and build up to the final to minimize change whenever possible. Because brownfield mines are the most likely locations for outcome? autonomy, the implementation will have to take It’s important to understand that resistance to place within the standard roads and incorporate change comes in two forms: conscious resistance the different types of loading tools currently and subconscious resistance. Conscious resistance being used. Autonomous machines must be able is based on real information that people have to go into these sites and work with the current

 Autonomous Mining

equipment and the existing road configuration. Minimize risk of the investment. Autonomous machines must be designed for autonomy, but also work in a standard mining operation with typical load and dump scenarios. For example, a truck does not need an operator cab when it’s being operated autonomously. However, with the significant investment mining companies make when purchasing a truck, they may want to be able to use that truck with a driver in the future. Knowing that the machine is not a singleapplication-only vehicle will help alleviate this concern. Introduce in stages. With a staged introduction, participants are brought into the discussion early and the building blocks of autonomy are implemented and successfully used before full autonomy is deployed. Be disciplined in mine planning. While it’s important to be able to integrate autonomy into existing operations as seamlessly as possible, autonomy inherently requires more planning discipline than a traditional loading and hauling scenario. Autonomous trucks follow the plan you have developed, which is one of their greatest values; however, you have to make sure your plan is a good one. Regimen and discipline are essential in planning autonomy to ensure it is possible to meet production goals today and in the future. Provide education, training and experience. Informational sessions and specialized training programs for both hands-on workers as well as those on the periphery of the operation are essential. There’s no such thing as too much information when there is resistance to change, which means communication is key. Personnel need a point of contact— a dedicated, focused resource for answers. Specialized training programs are also important. Caterpillar, for example, built the first simulator-based-training program to prepare people for autonomous operations. Ensure compliance with internal policies and agency regulations. It’s easier to meet these requirements from the beginning than it is to try to adapt to them later on or launch an effort to get the regulations changed. It’s very important to work with regulatory agencies well in advance to ensure a complete understanding and consensus on the interpretation of the requirements. Adopt as many current processes as possible. In order to overcome resistance and get the support of personnel, it’s important to adopt as many of the site’s current processes as possible into the new operation. At the same time, be cautious that the current processes don’t

artificially inhibit benefits of the technology. Once workers are comfortable with the changes, it will be easier to transition to new processes that will further improve operations. We should always look to the future, allowing the operation to evolve in order to get the complete benefit of the technology.

Getting the right people At the heart of a successful autonomy implementation are the people involved. Change management isn’t for everyone, and champions for the project — who lead by example and reinforce the importance of the strategy — are essential. Change is fragile, and if there isn’t someone on site committed to maintaining forward progress, it’s easy for sites to take a step backward. Good champions bring people along through their leadership and continue to be involved. It’s important that these people remain in this role for a long time to ensure good continuity. Operators, too, must be exceptional, with broad skills beyond those of a typical operator. In an autonomous operation, they will need the specialized skills to successfully use the autonomous technology while understanding and working toward the mine plan. Autonomous operations require a small team, which makes it even more important that personnel are capable of handling a variety of tasks. We call these people “experienced innovators.” They have the knowledge and expertise to evaluate new situations — finding a way to do the right things and the safe things while at the same time being innovative enough to try new ideas and leverage the value of new technologies.

Ensuring success Implementing a game-changing technology like autonomy on a mine site is a challenge worth tackling. The benefits in terms of productivity, safety and efficiency can be highly significant in the right application. Recognizing that there will be resistance to the changes required is essential to a successful implementation. Don’t underestimate the time and planning that will be required to overcome this resistance. Use the tools discussed here — such as minimizing change, introducing autonomy in stages, and providing education and training — to improve the results of your change management efforts. And perhaps most importantly, choose the right people to manage the change. You need strong, dedicated champions with the right balance of experience and an innovative attitude to successfully lead your autonomy efforts. n

 Autonomous Mining

Enabling automation on drilling rigs;

Improves capability and reach A

utomated drilling in surface mines is here, it’s successful, and it’s already at work in mines around the globe. Coal, copper, iron and gold mines in large mining countries such as Canada, Australia, South Africa, the United States and Chile are meeting mining objectives previously ruled out as unattainable. Pit Viper automation enables operators to accomplish more objectives safely. Operator assist functions like AutoLevel, AutoDrill, Auto Rod Changer and multi-rig teleremote control are a few of the features

mines are using to gain consistent, sustainable productivity.

performance from one repetition to the next due to fatigue, distraction or simple error, a computer performs each repetition with reliable precision. A master driller might beat a computer’s time in a single repetition, but for most tasks the computer will outpace the driller by shift’s end. It also means automated operating performance can be replicated shift after shift no matter which human operator is monitoring the automation. Fifteen years and four RCS generations later, automation packages are available for any Atlas Copco Pit Viper drill. Atlas Copco’s suite of office-based software tools, such as Surface Manager, complements automation packages with easy-to-use reporting interfaces. Surface Manager displays Pit Viper data in a sensible layout to map drill usage, evaluate production statistics, track consumables and compare planned outcomes against actual results. Portrayed on charts and graphs, such active management tools help with driller training and provide decision-making support for all stakeholders. Increased automation equals increased utilization Paulyn Espíndola, the product manager for Atlas Copco Drilling Solutions in Chile, said one of his copper mining customers is increasing rig utilization by expanding where it can use its drills. The Atlas Copco Pit Viper 351 diesel rig that joined a fleet of five PV-351 rigs in April is the first teleremote rig for openpit mining operations in Chile. Complete wireless control of the rig allows the operator to now drill in and around an impact crater at the mine since the driller is well away from the drilling operation. Espíndola said the copper mine had a unique challenge that only automation could overcome, and the Pit Viper automation package allowed the mine to choose features and upgrade packages that precisely matched its operational needs.

Full benet of RCS: safety=efciency=productivity  Since Atlas Copco first introduced its electronic rig control system (RCS) in 1998, innovative features based on RCS have come steadily one after another. Automating control of various rig functions using the RCS operating system replaces human observation and electronic inputs from joysticks and switches with computerized inputs based on sensors and programming.  Automation for limited resources Dustin Penn, the business line manager for The most noticeable gain from computerized automation is that the computer will not vary Atlas Copco Drilling Solutions in Australia, has from how it was trained to perform. While even several iron ore mine mines with RCS-based PVthe most masterful driller varies slightly in 271 blasthole rigs. Some have pushed forward

 Autonomous Mining

from AutoLevel and AutoDrill to more advanced center. Dyanamic integration is part of Atlas systems to continue to conquer operational goals. Copco’s Automation DNA. “Upkeep of the automation was meant to “The issue in Australia,” Penn said, “is the limited workforce and the extraordinary be simple as well,” said Jon Torpy, Atlas Copco expense of personnel logistics for our customers, drilling solutions VP of marketing for blasthole everything from employee housing and food drills. “We train existing technicians on its service to transportation. It’s a two-hour flight maintenance. And we stand behind it. As you can see, we have the capacity to support this product for them to get in and out of the mine.” The goal for these Australian mines is to around the world.” The result is predictable, expand their capabilities by growing a fleet reliable and efficient productivity, shift after shift. And with Pit Viper rigs, monitoring and with the quality drillers they have. That means supervising is a remote feature that can be done automation, Penn said, “With automation the as easily in the cab as back in the office, at the driller can become a supervisor of a drill fleet, mine or anywhere in the world. not just a single driller operating one machine. Automation will not just lower production costs but will also streamline servicing. Multiple  AutoDrill: Completing the product with Auto services such as water, fuel and visual inspection Rod Change Berens gave an example of putting technology will be performed at once, more efficiently. Combined with the decreased downtime at shift to work at a coal mine running two PV 275s. One changes, automation promotes greater Pit Viper PV 275 rig uses RCS electronic control while its newest PV-275 has received automation upgrades utilization. Penn emphasized that transitioning to that include auto rod changing and teleremote automation requires unified dedication from operation. The new drill was commissioned by all management groups at a mine, from senior Bryan Scoggin, one of Atlas Copco’s drillmasters. Scoggin, who has years of experience rotary management to IT and human resources drilling in just about every type of material, said departments, to drilling, planning and blasting. Then the mine has to integrate with the supplier. when he commissioned the Auto Rod Change Penn’s customers set up cross-functional teams system for this operation, he was “blown away” to work with Atlas Copco as they incorporate by its performance: “I have plenty of experience with changing pipe in multi-pass operations, and automation into the mine’s operations. The rewards make the integration process while I may beat the system over a couple of worth it, Penn said, resulting in predictable holes, it usually beats me over the course of a few productivity that will help the mine accurately hours of drilling. The Auto Rod Change is one of calculate capital from its drilling and blasting the smoothest most consistent automations that I plans. Automation also brings a greater level have had the opportunity to work with.” Berens said that this customer prides itself of equipment reliability, he said, making on its world-class productivity and looks to use fewer mistakes than human operators. Penn said everyone is happy, from management to automation to eliminate variances from shift to shift and driller to driller. As the auto rod investors. changing feature demonstrates, automation helps newer drillers reach the productivity of Predictable and repeatable Tyler Berens, the Atlas Copco product line experienced drillers faster. Atlas Copco has seen consistent performance manager for automation products on surface drills, said, “Automation isn’t about having a good from the PV-275 with automated systems in line day or bad day. It’s about having a predictable with some of the mine’s better operators. Berens said, “While it can’t out-drill the best operators and repeatable day.” Berens said that kind of consistency arises from two points about Pit yet, it is able to keep up with and out-drill many of them consistently, shift after shift, day after Viper automation. First, the automated features are based day – and that’s the real pay back you get from on the RCS system familiar to all drillers who the RCS technology.” Berens continued: “The operators at this have operated Atlas Copco RCS-equipped rigs. mine told us in the beginning that they had their Therefore, commonality of the operating system, similar ergonomics and drill functions reduce doubts, but they regularly comment now how impressed they are with how well the technology training time as drillers adjust to auto-modes. Secondly, if a mine wants to add drills to its works. In the end, that’s what’s important, that mine plan, multiple Pit Vipers can be operated we have a reliable, mine-ready product that has by the same operator or by multiple operators, in a real impact on the overall performance of the the safety and comfort of the teleremote control mining operation.”

 Autonomous Mining

Teleremote operation This same coal mine has recently put teleremote operation to use. Scoggin commented how easy it was for the operators to make the transition from drilling on board their drill to running it teleremotely: “They already had one RCS-equipped PV-275. The two run the same, so the drillers knew what to expect. Several operators told Scoggin that they couldn’t believe how simple it was and that, in the future, they don’t know who would want to go back on a rig after sitting in the comfort of the teleremote station.” Sales support manager for Atlas Copco drilling solutions Canada Chris Graves said the first mine to use teleremote in his country had approached Atlas Copco for a solution to overcome two major safety concerns. One, the region is plagued seasonally by severe electrical storms. Lightning detectors placed well beyond the mine’s periphery give the mine sufficient lead time to safely recall drillers from their rigs, which sit exposed to the storm on open pit benches. The drillers take shelter in a building to wait out the storm. During such storms, which can be daily occurrences, the mine had been losing two to three hours of drilling. Two, the mine also wanted to extend its surface pit over a historical network of underground workings. Remote operation removes any concern for the driller’s wellbeing over a previously worked property. Atlas Copco upgraded the Canadian mine’s PV-235 with a teleremote kit. That first drill was operated from a protected operator station installed on the bed of a pickup truck. It was so successful, the mine ordered another conversion, this time mounting a PV-235 cab on a trailer, which can be relocated by a wheeled truck or tracked vehicle. The cab is compact enough to move easily about the mine yet gives the operator the same room and comfort of the rig itself, without any of the noise or dust. The remote control station does not need to be within sight of the rig, since every gauge and display on the rig is cloned within the station. In principle, the only limitation for how far the remote control facility can be from the rig is the capability of the network used for remote communication. The customer has the choice of running teleremote on the customer’s own wireless network or on a separate radio network set up by Atlas Copco. Multi-rig operation Berens said user-friendliness was a design feature of the automation products. “Atlas Copco automation is meant to be easy, intuitive and

simple.” This ease of use supports operation of multiple rigs from a single operator’s station. Graves said the Canadian mine, in fact, has been successfully controlling two PV-235 drill rigs simultaneously. “From a single remote operating station, the driller moves one drill over its hole and starts the auto drilling process, and then he moves the second drill over its hole and begins its auto drilling process.” Graves said the mine may entertain the idea of having a single driller controlling more machines, but right now, it sees sufficient benefit in just being able to cover for a driller who is sick or has taken time off, or being able to add drills without waiting to add new drillers. Robust as their platform Jon Torpy, Atlas Copco’s vice president of marketing for blasthole drills, described the development and release of Atlas Copco technology systems: “As a former mining engineer who has worked in openpit mining, I feel very strongly that we need to release miningready technology. The technology we put on the Pit Viper has to be as tough as the Pit Viper drill itself, and we have now demonstrated that we can do that with technology running in multiple types of mining environments around the world. Developing the technology to be efficient is just one piece of making it successful. Designing it to be robust and to fit within the existing maintenance infrastructure of our customers is the other piece.” Berens emphasized that Atlas Copco subjected all technology to the most extreme conditions it could find. This was to ensure that the automation products would be at least as robust as their operating platform, the Pit Viper family of surface blasthole drill rigs. Pit Vipers have been subject to years of use in the dust and extreme heat of the desert copper mines in Arizona, as well as in the extreme subarctic cold of interior Canada and Northern Europe. Teleremote operation of a PV-235 in the Canada mine, for instance, was unaffected during this past winter even in temperatures that fell below minus -40° C (40° F). The Chilean copper and molybdenum mine’s PV-351 rigs have no trouble operating at more then 13,500 m (1,400 ft) elevation. Torpy and Berens said that 2014 is going to be “an exciting year with much more to come in the way of technology for Atlas Copco drill rigs.” Multi-rig remote control is the first in a series of high-tech advancements Atlas Copco plans to launch throughout 2014, with fully autonomous drilling now a realizable target in the not too distant future. n

Spanish Abstracts Editor’s note: As a service to Mining Engineering’s Spanish-speaking members, this page contains brief summaries of the feature articles and the peer-reviewed technical papers that are in this issue. Nota del Editor: Como un servicio a los miembros de habla hispana de la revista Mining Engineering, esta página contiene resúmenes breves de los principales artículos y de los documentos técnicos revisados por pares que se encuentran en esta edición.

Rehabilitación del Pique Plata de la Mina Lucky Friday  por D. Berberick y B. Strickland, Hecla Ltd., Coeur d’Alene (Idaho) Resumen: El 5 de enero de 2012, la Agencia Estadounidense de Administración de Seguridad y Salud en Minería (MSHA por sus siglas en inglés) ordenó el cierre del Pique Plata, acceso subterráneo principal a la mina Lucky Friday de la minera Hecla, para remover el material de relleno que se acumuló con el tiempo en las paredes del pique y las instalaciones. El personal de Lucky Friday y Cementation USA trabajó arduamente para identificar la manera más eficaz de tener la mina operativa nuevamente. El equipo desarrolló una vía rápida de adquisiciones y un plan de renovación utilizando winches, modificaciones del castillo, un pique temporal Galloway, y jaulas modificadas para completar no solo la limpieza de la construcción, sino también sustituir los soportes de tubería, estructuras de acero del pique y cables de comunicación y eléctricos, según se necesite en los 1860 m (6100 pies) del pique dentro de

los 14 meses del plazo. Dos compartimentos del skip en el lado este del pique están equipados con guías de acero de 125 mm x 150 mm (5 pulg. x 6 pulg.) de sección estructural y skips de 9 t (10 st) con tres secciones de remolque para el personal y los materiales. El lado oeste del pique se divide en un pozo de acceso y un cuarto compartimento que fue diseñado originalmente como un skip de servicio. Las instalaciones del pique consisten en una línea de aire comprimido de 250 mm (10 pulg.) y una línea de relleno hidráulico de 150 mm (6 pulg.) a lo largo del lado sur; y una línea de 250 mm (10 pulg.) de descarga de agua (gris) y otra línea de 150 mm (6 pulg.) de agua potable en la pared norte. Las principales líneas de alta tensión de 13.8 kV de la mina, así como las líneas de comunicación se encuentran en la pared oeste del pique. n

Fundación Minera del Suroeste patrocinara el 32 Banquete Anual El 32 Banquete Anual de Recaudación de Fondos de los Premios American Hall of Fame patrocinada por la Fundación Minera del Suroeste (MFSW) se celebrará en el JW Marriott Tucson Starr Pass Resort & Spa el Sábado 6 de Diciembre del 2014. Cada año, un

miembro vivo del Hall of Fame, hasta tres recipientes de la Medalla al Mérito, Homenajeados por su aporte pasado a la Minería, un Premio de la Asociación de la Industria y una Mención Especial son reconocidos por sus respectivas contribuciones a la Industria Minera. n

Superando los prejuicios para una exitosa  aplicación de transporte autónomo por James Humphrey  Hay una resistencia natural al cambio en cualquier forma que este se manifieste. Cuando se trata de la implementación de una tecnología innovadora como lo es el transporte autónomo en una mina en operación, la resistencia a veces puede parecer infranqueable. Ya sea basado en información real o ideas preconcebidas equivocadas, es esencial que no subestimemos el esfuerzo que se necesita para superar esta

resistencia, siempre y cuando reconozcamos cuando vale la pena realizar dicho esfuerzo. El cambio de mentalidad no se dio de la noche a la mañana en las minas donde se ha implementado el transporte autónomo. Tampoco es el caso que de un día para otro los fabricantes de equipos autónomos de minería lo hicieran. n

Technical Papers

Paste tailings disposal in the Coeur d’Alene Mining District by Grant A. Brackebusch

 Abstract n Paste tailings disposal was successfully implemented at the New Jersey mill in

Kellogg, ID with two dierent types of ore feed, a gold ore and a silver ore. The purpose of this paper is to describe the production of paste tailings, including operational problems during commissioning, and also highlight the environmental and economic benets that were realized versus conventional tailings disposal such as the recycling of process water, increased shear strength and reduced permeability of the tailings mass, and reduced environmental permitting. Mining Engineering, 2014, Vol. 66, No. 11, pp. 52-56. Ocial publication of the Society for Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration Inc.

Resumen n La disposición de relaves en pasta se aplicó exitosamente en la minera New

Jersey ubicada en Kellogg (Idaho) con dos tipos diferentes de suministro de mineral: uno de oro y otro de plata. El propósito de este trabajo es describir la producción de relaves en pasta, incluyendo los problemas de funcionamiento durante su puesta en marcha, resaltando los benecios ambientales y económicos que se obtuvieron comparado con la disposición de relaves de manera convencional. Estos benecios comprenden el reciclaje de agua del proceso, una mayor resistencia al corte y reducción de la permeabilidad de la masa de relaves, y la reducción del número de permisos ambientales.

Introduction The New Jersey mill is a 360-t/d flotation plant located 4 km east of Kellogg, ID in the center of the Coeur d’Alene Mining District, a world class silver-lead-zinc district (Fig. 1). A recent expansion of the Grant A. New Jersey mill from 100 t/d to Brackebusch, P.E. 360 t/d was completed in 2012 by and member SME,  joint venture partners New Jersey is vice president Mining Co. (NJMC) and United with Mine Systems Silver Corp. (USC) in order to Design Inc., Kellogg, treat silver-copper ore from USC’s ID. SME nonmeeting Crescent Mine and gold ore from paper TP-14-002. NJMC’s Golden Chest Mine. As Original manuscript part of the expansion, paste tailings submitted June 2014. deposition was selected as the best Revised manuscript method for tailings disposal from accepted for both economic and environmental publication August perspectives. Flotation tailings are 2014. Discussion of thickened in two 3.65-m diameter this peer-reviewed deep cone thickeners (DCT) to and approved paper produce a paste material that is must be submitted to pumped to the tailings facility with SME Publications by peristaltic pumps, and the thickener Feb. 28, 2015. overflow water is recycled back into

Figure 1 New Jersey mill location map.

Technical Papers the flotation process. No cement is added to the paste tailings. Paste tailings deposition was successful, as the flotation tailings were deposited from a hillside and formed a slope with a gradient of approximately 7% with no standing water. A minimal retaining berm is used to contain the paste stack. Initial results show that the recycling of process water did not affect overall metallurgical performance. The recycling of process water is a significant environmental and economic benefit, as there is no discharge of process water from the tailings stack to surface waters of the United States. Bleed water at the tailings stack either evaporates or sinks into the groundwater, which is classified as land application of water and is exempt from permitting in Idaho.

Figure 2 New Jersey mill fowsheet.

Mill description The New Jersey mill is located near Kellogg in the center of the Coeur d’Alene Mining District of northern Idaho. The mill was recently expanded from 100 t/d to 360 t/d or 15 t/h. The mill was designed to produce a single flotation product, a silver-copper concentrate for the Crescent Mine ore and a pyrite-gold concentrate for the Golden Chest Mine. A flowsheet for the mill is shown in Fig. 2. Ore is crushed to pass 12.5 mm prior to be being fed into a 2.5-m x 4-m ball mill. A cyclone in the grinding circuit controls the particle size distribution of the feed to the flotation circuit, which was measured to have a P80 of 73 microns for both ore types. When processing the Crescent Mine silver ore, lime and sodium cyanide are added to depress pyrite and a single collector, isopropyl ethyl thionocarbamate (IPETC), is added to selectively float the silver-copper minerals. The pH of the Crescent circuit is maintained between 8.5 and 9.0. When processing the Golden Chest gold ore, Aerofloat 404 is added as the collector, copper sulfate is added as an activator and methyl isobutyl carbinol (MIBC) is added as a frother to produce a bulk pyrite flotation concentrate at a pH between 6.5 and 7.0. The flotation circuit consists of a single rougher cell (14 m 3) followed by five scavenger cells (2.8 m3). Both the rougher and scavenger concentrate report to the cleaner cells. Two banks of cleaner cells operated in series produce the final silver-copper concentrate which

assays approximately 15% copper and 14,000 g/t silver for Crescent ore while gold concentrate from the Golden Chest assays from 150 to 300 g/t Au. Cleaner tailings are pumped back to the rougher flotation cell. Tailings from the scavenger flotation cells are pumped to two DCT’s operated in parallel. A dilute solution of flocculant (0.2% by weight) is fed into the scavenger tailings streams in the DCT feed well where 15 L/min of dilution water is added. Thickener underflow is pumped with peristaltic pumps via a 75-mm diameter pipeline to the tailings storage facility. Plans for future operations include delivering the thickener underflow to a paste backfill plant for placement underground. Paste tailings pipeline pressures observed ranged from 400 to 700 kPa. Thickener overflow reports to a process water storage tank and is recycled back to the grinding and flotation circuits. Makeup water from a nearby ground water well is added to make up for the water lost to the tailings stack. Approximately 13.5 kt of ore has been processed through the New Jersey Mill successfully using paste tailings disposal. About 11.8 kt of this ore was silver-copper ore from the Crescent Mine and the remainder was gold ore from the Golden Chest Mine. Paste tailings characteristics Paste is defined as, “a material composed of tailings or alluvial sand and silt with a relatively low water content (16% to 25%) such that the mixture has a consistency as measured by the ASTM slump cone test from zero or slightly greater to nearly 304 mm Particles of different sizes in a paste will not segregate or settle when the paste is not in motion. Cement may be a component of paste. A small amount of water will bleed to the top of the paste when allowed to be stationary” (Brackebusch, 1994). At the New Jersey Mill, two types of ore, Crescent

Figure 3 Crescent and golden chest tailings slump curves.

Technical Papers

Figure 4 Crescent tailings slump cone test.

and Golden Chest, were processed and the tailings were deposited from a hillside to form a sloped feature known as a tailings stack. Processing of the Crescent silvercopper ore produced tailings comprised of the minerals quartz, siderite and pyrite from the vein gangue and wallrock dilution of the Revett formation. The specific gravity of the Crescent tailings was measured to be 2.7. Figure 3 is a graph of the slump versus the pulp density for the Crescent and Golden Chest tailings. Slump is measured using the ASTM C143 test method. Particle size analysis of the Crescent tailings indicated the P80 to be 72 microns with abundant ultrafine particles necessary to form a paste. Processing of the Golden Chest ore produced tailings comprised of quartz and abundant clay minerals from the host rock, which was primarily an argillite of the Prichard formation. The specific gravity of the Golden Chest tailings was found to be 2.6 and particle size analysis measured the P80 to be 72 microns also. Note from Fig. 3 that the Golden Chest tailings exhibited paste characteristics over a wider range of pulp densities than the Crescent tailings, but at lower densities, which is probably attributable to the abundance of finer particles in the Golden Chest tailings. Screen analysis of the two tailings types indicated that the Golden Chest had 60% of the particles passing 38 microns, while the Crescent tailings had 53% passing 38 microns. Another reason for the selection of paste tailings disposal was the reduced permeability of the tailings mass compared with conventional tailings disposal where tailings are deposited as dilute slurry, typically from 25% to 35% solids, which promotes the segregation of tailings particles by size fraction. A significant benefit to paste tailings disposal is the nonsegregating property of the tailings particles, which produces a material with a low permeability that helps to reduce the acid-generating potential of sulfide-bearing tailings (Brackebusch, 1998). Previous permeability testing has shown paste tailings permeability of the Golden Chest tailings in the range of 2 x 10-6 cm/sec to 4 x 10-6 cm/sec after 28 days of curing in a test cylinder. No permeability testing was completed for the Crescent tailings. Acid-base accounting tests were not completed for either tailings type, as it was deemed unnecessary since both ores come from historic mines where mine drainage is near a neutral pH due to the significant carbonate content of the ores and wallrocks. Paste production Tailings from the scavenger flotation cells are pumped to the deep cone thickeners (DCT) using a 76x 51-mm centrifugal slurry pump, and the pulp density of the slurry is approximately 30% solids. The tailings flow is split with the use of a ball valve so that roughly 10 t/h of solids flow into the northern DCT and 5 t/h to the southern DCT. Flow rates of slurry to each thickener are periodically checked with an ultrasonic flowmeter. Flocculant is added to the tailings stream at a rate of 51 g of dry flocculant per tonne of tailings as it enters the feed well of the DCT thickener. A moderately charged anionic flocculant, Z-Floc 565, is used for both

types of ore. The dry flocculant is diluted and mixed with water in a mixing tank to a concentration of 0.2% (by weight) before it is injected into the tailings stream with air-operated diaphragm pumps. Dilution water is also added at 15 L/min. During operations, visual observation of the thickener overflow has been the primary method of monitoring flocculant effectiveness. Clear overflow water confirms the flocculant addition rate, while cloudy or dirty overflow water indicates the rate of flocculant addition should be raised, though, on occasion, lowering the flocculant addition rate has proven successful as well. Once a suitable flocculant and addition rate was found, the most effective operating control parameter of the paste thickeners was found to be the torque on the thickener rake drive motor. During operation of the paste tailings circuit, the mill operators monitor the torque generated by the rake at a variable frequency drive (VFD) display panel. The target range is 25% to 35% of the rated motor torque. If the torque exceeds this range, another VFD controlling the DCT underflow pump is manually adjusted to increase the pump speed, which hastens the removal of solids from the thickener thereby reducing torque. In the instance of low torque values that frequently occurs during startup, the underflow pumps are slowed down to allow the bed depth to increase. Typically, as bed depth increase, so does the pulp density in the DCT underflow. Bed depth is monitored by dropping a water bottle tied to a string from the top of the thickener. Although there are no specific geotechnical criteria that are used to control the production of paste tailings in the mill, the rake torque and underflow density are monitored to ensure that the tailings are deposited as a paste. Pulp density is monitored hourly by the operator, who takes a sample in a Marcy cup, and occasionally dries samples in an oven for confirmation. Figure 4 shows a slump cone test with Crescent tailings at a high slump (approximately 300 mm) produced at the New Jersey Mill. The DCT’s have been operated continuously and on a daily basis. Operating on a continual basis produces a higher pulp density paste tailings per unit time, while operations on a daily basis produce lower than optimum pulp densities for the startup and shut down periods. About one hour of underflow pumping, without feeding solids to the DCT, is required to shut the DCT down for

Technical Papers the night to minimize startup problems the next day. Planned improvements to the paste thickening process include the installation of pressure transducers to monitor the bed depth to control the speed of the underflow pumps automatically so less operator attention is required. Paste delivery  Paste tailings are removed from the underflow of the paste thickeners by peristaltic hose pumps that have a sliding-shoe type design. The north DCT is equipped with a 65-mm- diameter hose pump, while the south DCT is equipped with a 50-mm hose pump, and thus the reason for the unequal feed rates to the DCT’s. The total power installed between the two pumps is 11 kW. The underflow pumps are connected to a single 75-mm HDPE pipeline that delivers the paste to the tailings storage facility over a distance of 150 m with a maximum vertical rise of 15 m. Pipeline pressure is monitored by pressure transducers mounted at the outlet of each pump where a maximum pressure of 700 kPa has been observed with an average pressure range of 400 kPa to 550 kPa. There are no pulsation-dampening devices installed on t he paste pipeline and, occasionally, the pump pulses can be felt in the ground above the buried paste pipeline. Excessive hose wear was experienced in the 65mm peristaltic hose pump during the initial months of operation. For example, a single hose would wear out

Figure 5 Paste tailings deposition at the New Jersey mill.

after only 72 hours of continuous use. These hoses were made of EPDM rubber. It was found that by switching to a natural rubber, that hose life could be extended to nearly 500 hours. In the future, it may be necessary to add a concrete-type piston pump to the circuit to transport the paste from the mill to the tailings stack as the distance and resulting pipeline pressures increase.

Paste deposition A significant benefit of paste tailings disposal is that paste has shear strength and will form a slope when

deposited, which reduces the size of impoundments necessary to contain the tailings. Shear strength of the paste tailings will increase over time through consolidation and bleeding (Brackebusch, 1998). Shear testing of uncemented Golden Chest tailings using a Torvane shear tester revealed shear strengths of 13.7 kPa and 42.6 kPa, repectively after two weeks and one year from deposition. At the New Jersey Mill, berms of about 3 m in height were dozed up by scraping material from the planned tailings stack site to impound the paste tailings stack. The tailings stack is unlined. A 75-mm pipeline is buried along a road that reaches a height of about 15 m above the stack. Currently, a single pipe drops from the elevated road, and additional pipe drops will be placed along the road to distribute the tailings evenly. The ultimate berm height planned is slightly less than less than 10 m, which simplifies engineering and permitting since tailings impoundments below this height are exempt from permitting in Idaho. As the paste is discharged from the pipeline, it tends to flow in relatively narrow channels, or tongues, similar to a mudflow until the height of the paste reaches a certain point at which the paste flows into a new channel. Mudcracks form in the drying paste after about two days or sooner in drier weather. The paste can be walked upon one or two days after deposition, though this depends on the weather, to some extent. Bleed water has been observed at the toe of newly placed tailings, though, it is estimated to be less than 3% of the volume of tailings placed in the paste tailings stack. Figure 5 is a photograph of the paste stack during deposition of tailings. As can be seen from Fig. 5, there is very little bleed water near the toe of tailings stack. The amount of bleed water in laboratory testing has been measured in the range of 3% to 5% of the initial volume. During the commissioning of the New Jersey Mill, all of the bleed water seeped into the alluvial soils underneath the stack or was lost to evaporation. Once the alluvial soils are covered with paste, it may be necessary to collect this small amount of bleed water to recycle back to the mill.

Commissioning The commissioning of the paste tailings circuit was completed in about two weeks. Initially, the DCT overflow was cloudy, which caused the recycle process water pump seals to fail. And cloudy process water caused further problems throughout the plant, which were primarily the plugging of water sprays in the flotation cell launders. A series of bench tests to evaluate several different flocculants were completed and a flocculant was found that produced a very clear overflow that resolved all the recycle water problems (Rust, 2012). Four flocculants were tested ranging from nonionic flocculants to moderately charged anionic flocculants. Testing consisted of mixing the tailings with a flocculant at varying dosages and recording the settling rates observed in a 1000-mL graduated cylinder. It was found that moderately charged anionic flocculant, Z Floc 565, was best suited for the Crescent and Golden Chest tailings at a dosage rate of about 50 g of dry flocculant per dry tonne of tailings. Limited hose life on the peristaltic pumps used to pump the paste caused periods of limited throughput until

Technical Papers it was found that a natural rubber hose was better suited to the application. Variable feed rates of the tailings to the DCT’s caused surging, which resulted in poor dilution at the inverted bell dilution feature (V-Duc) located below the DCT feed well. Fine-tuning of the VFD used to control the scavenger tailings pump was required to minimize surging of the DCT feed rate. Costs

Major capital cost items associated with the paste tailings circuit included the cost of the deep cone thickeners, underflow pumps, tailings pipeline and the containment berm. A total of approximately $300,000 was spent to install the paste tailings circuit at the New Jersey Mill, and the deep cone thickeners accounted for about 75% of this capital. Minimal costs were involved with preparing the tailings stack, which included the clearing and grubbing of land and the construction of a 3-m containment berm. Future capital costs will include the addition of a piston-type positive displacement pump to distribute paste to the far end of the tailings stack and two additional 3-m raises of the containment berm. The operating costs associated with paste tailings disposal at the New Jersey Mill were primarily the costs of flocculant and electrical power. Flocculant costs were about 32 cents/t while the power cost was about 8 cents/t. Some labor was required by the mill operator to monitor the paste tailings circuit, though it was not a large portion of the operator’s shift. When compared to the costs predicted in 1998 (Brackebusch, 1998), the capital costs are very similar, but the operating costs are about 8 cents/t higher than predicted. Permitting A major reason for the selection of paste tailings disposal at the New Jersey Mill was the simplification of the environmental permitting process. Since process water is recycled in the mill and the minor amount of bleed water at the stack either evaporates or bleeds into the ground water, there is no discharge to surface waters of the United States, and, hence, no requirement for an NPDES permit from the Environmental Protection Agency. Also, water bleeding from the paste into the ground water is considered a land application related to a mining operation, which is exempt from permitting in Idaho. Finally, the inherent shear strength of the paste tailings allows for increased tailings storage using the permitting exemption for embankment heights of less than 10 m.

Reclamation No final reclamation has taken place yet at the New Jersey Mill tailings stack, though, the operational plan is to deposit the tailings at the far end of the stack and retreat once the ultimate slope has been reached. As part of the retreating strategy, the tailings will be reclaimed concurrently with the deposition of tailings. It is planned to revegetate the tailings initially with grass and then plant native conifers. This may require a covering of topsoil, though soil analysis has been conducted on both Crescent and Golden Chest tailings and it was found the tailings are capable of growing grass with the addition of fertilizer and lime. Conclusions The utilization of paste tailings disposal at the New Jersey Mill has been successfully applied to gold and silver ores from Coeur d’Alene Mining District mines. Flotation tailings were thickened to a paste consistency with deep cone thickeners and pumped with peristaltic pumps to a tailings stack, where the tailings were deposited at a slope of about 7% with no segregation by particle size. The tailings deposited had inherent shear strength, as indicated by the formation of a slope and the lack of segregation also decreased the permeability of the tailings mass compared with conventional tailings disposal. There was no discharge of process water to surface waters, as very little bleed water reported to the surface of the paste at the stack, and most of the process water was collected as thickener overflow in the mill and recycled back to the process with no apparent detrimental effects to mineral recovery. Optimization of flocculation was necessary to produce a clear thickener overflow to eliminate process water recycling problems. Future improvements to the paste tailings circuit will include the automation of the underflow pumps, and the testing of different types of underflow pumps may be necessary to reduce the downtime associated with peristaltic hose wear. ■ References Brackebusch, F.W., 1994, “Basics of paste backfill systems,” Mining Engineering, Vol. 46, No. 10, October, pp. 1175-1178. Brackebusch, F.W., and Shilabeer, J., 1998, “Use of paste for tailings disposal,” Minefill ’98, Proceedings of the Sixth International Symposium on Mining with Backfill, M. Bloss, ed., April 14-16, 1998, Brisbane, Australia, AIMM. Rust, D., 2012, “Bench testing of paste tailings flocculan ts,” New Jersey Mill Report, New Jersey Mining Co., July, 5 pp.

Technical Papers

Remediation of large-scale slope failures and impact on mine development at the Gold Quarry Mine by R.J. Sheets, S.J. Douglas, R.M. St. Louis, and J.A. Bailey  Abstract n In 2009, the Gold Quarry openpit mine experienced multiple large-scale slope

failures of the upper east highwall that reduced gold ore extraction for nearly 18 months. The slope failures occurred within a weak, consolidated sedimentary sequence that exhibits strength characteristics that are transitional between soil and rock. Instability initiated as mining exposed the lower, high plasticity subunits of the Carlin Formation. This deformation created preferential ow paths that allowed ground water from the upper sandy subunits to inltrate low-permeability, clay-rich subunits, thereby enhancing deformation of the slope toe, which, in turn, destabilized the upper portion of the highwall. The outcome was a 160 m high slope failure that had a lateral run-out of 850 m. The eort to return the pit to ore production required geotechnical and hydrogeological investigations and the preliminary remediation mining activity to be concurrent. This required the development of detailed safety procedures and a requirement to modify the remediation design as new results were obtained. An initial challenge was to mitigate a near vertical, 90 m headscarp with localized, blast-induced slope failures. Back-analyses with numerical modeling software indicated that the failure surface could be shallower, which contradicted the initial failure interpretations. Eventually, drilling results conrmed this alternative failure geometry. The nal remediation design incorporated shallower slope geometries and an approximately 3 Mt buttress along the base of the Carlin Formation and bedrock contact to reinforce the subunits with residual strength properties. The results are a stable highwall within the Carlin Formation following nearly 10 years of repeated slope failures, and an example of the necessity to conduct appropriate geotechnical and hydrogeological studies during the early stages of a new layback evaluation or new openpit development. Mining Engineering, 2014, Vol. 66, No. 11, pp. 57-71. Ocial publication of the Society for Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration Inc.

R.J. Sheets, member SME, S.J. Douglas, R.M. St. Louis, member SME, and J.A. Bailey are senior geotechnical engineer, senior hydrologist, regional hydrology manager and senior mine foreman, respectively, with Newmont Mining Corp. Paper number TP-13-046. Original manuscript submitted October 2013. Revised manuscript accepted for publication April 2014. Discussion of this peer-reviewed and approved paper is invited and must be submitted to SME Publications by Feb. 28, 2015.

Introduction Newmont Mining Corp.’s Gold Quarry openpit, hereafter referred to as Gold Quarry, is located along the Carlin Trend in northeastern Nevada, USA, approximately 11 km northwest of Carlin, Nevada (Fig. 1). Modern mining activity began at Gold Quarry in the early 1980s. Between 1985 and 2009, numerous slope failures occurred within the non-ore-bearing Tertiary Carlin Formation that overlies the primary gold deposit (Bates et al., 2006; Sherman and Sheets, 2008; Sheets, 2011). The Carlin Formation exhibits a combination of soil and rock characteristics, and previous engineering work focused on treating the formation solely as a weak rock. Ground water tends to be discontinuous in sand and gravel zones and in flow paths developed within the damage zone along faults. However, the majority of the formation exhibits unsaturated conditions. Slope failures exhibit soil-like movement along the base and within the slide mass while the headscarp and backplane typically is bounded by faults. The lower Carlin Formation subunits of consist of very weak silts and clays that exhibit strain-softening behavior. In 2009, Gold Quarry endured multiple large-scale slope instabilities, the largest of which are referred to as the Nine Points slope failures, totaling 12 Mt along the

Resumen n El 2009, la mina a cielo abierto Gold Quarry experimentó múltiples fallas de talud

a gran escala en su cresta este lo cual redujo la extracción de mineral de oro durante casi 18 meses. Las fallas de talud ocurrieron dentro de una secuencia sedimentaria débilmente consolidada que tenía características de resistencia transicionales entre suelo y roca. La inestabilidad se inició cuando el minado dejó al descubierto las subunidades de alta plasticidad inferiores de la formación Carlin. Esta deformación creó trayectorias de ujo preferenciales las cuales permitieron que el agua subterránea de las subunidades arenosas superiores se inltre hacia las subunidades de baja permeabilidad, ricas en arcilla, propiciando así la deformación del pie del talud que, a su vez, desestabilizó la parte superior del mismo. El resultado fue una falla de talud de 160 m de altura, la cual tuvo un desplazamiento lateral de 850 m. El esfuerzo para volver a tener el tajo operativo requirió que las investigaciones geotécnicas e hidrogeológicas, y la remediación preliminar de la actividad minera sean simultáneas. Esto requirió el desarrollo de procedimientos de seguridad detallados y la necesidad de modicar el diseño de remediación conforme se obtenían nuevos resultados. Un reto inicial fue mitig ar un salto de falla casi vertical de 90 m, el cual tenía fallas de talud locales inducidas por la voladura. Los análisis previos utilizando software de modelamiento numérico indicaron que la supercie de falla podría ser menos empinada, lo cual contradijo las interpretaciones iniciales de la falla. Finalmente, los resultados de perforación conrmaron esta geometría alternativa de la falla. El diseño nal de remediación incorporó geometrías de talud menos empinadas y aproximadamente 3 Mt de contrafuertes en la base de la formación Carlin y contactos de lecho de roca para reforzar las subunidades con propiedades residuales de resistencia. El resultado es un talud estable dentro de la formación Carlin tras casi 10 años de repetidas fallas de talud, y un ejemplo de la necesidad de realizar estudios geotécnicos e hidrogeológicos apropiados durante las primeras etapas de una nueva evaluación para el desarrollo de una mina a cielo abierto.

Figure 1 Location of Gold Quarry openpit, and other Newmont surface operations, along the Carlin Trend in northeastern Nevada.

instabilities was a significantly reduced gold ore extraction rate between December 2009 and May 2011. A focused slope stabilization program was developed and executed to mitigate the slope failure from propagating. The focus of this paper is the assessment of failure dynamics and remedial stabilization design; failure mechanisms are discussed in detail in other sources (Yang et al., 2011; Sheets, 2011). Remedial mining activity commenced following a

preliminary slope design based on existing knowledge and observational experience of Carlin Formation behavior. Simultaneous geotechnical and hydrogeological investigations were conducted to determine the cause of the slope failure and develop, with high confidence, a stable highwall design that would return Gold Quarry to active production. The potential risks of working around the slope failure required a strong slope-monitoring program and detailed operating procedures. Remedial mining activity was complicated by a 90 m near vertical escarpment that could not be safely approached. As a result, an exploration drill rig was used to drill angled blast holes behind the crest in order to create a shallower, more stable headscarp that could be safely approached and excavated using standard mining methods. The final remediation design, developed from data collected during the geotechnical and hydrogeological investigations and various back-analyses, incorporated a shallower overall slope geometry and an approximately 3 Mt buttress along the Carlin Formation and bedrock contact to reinforce the lower clay-rich subunits. The outcome of this slope remediation is a stable, manageable highwall within the Carlin Formation following nearly 10 years of repeated slope instability.The impact of the slope failure and necessary investigation and remediation program indicates the importance of conducting thorough geological, geotechnical and hydrological investigations during the early stages of a new layback evaluation or openpit development. This greatly improves the capability of geotechnical and hydrogeological personnel to provide confident recommendations in support of developing reliable openpit slope designs, which, in turn, improves the ability of mine operations to achieve the mine plan. Geological and hydrogeological setting Geology:  Mining activity in Gold Quarry has exposed three main geologic formations: the ore-bearing Devonian Popovich Formation (limestone) and Rodeo Creek

Figure 2 Generalized Carlin Formation stratigraphy developed from the geotechnical and hydrogeological drilling program following the December 2009 failure.

Formation (siltstone), and the non-ore-bearing Tertiary Carlin Formation. The contact between the Carlin Formation and the underlying bedrock is an angular unconformity in the southeast portion of the openpit and a normal fault zone along the east and northeast extent of the highwall (Harlan et al., 2002; Regnier, 1960). The Carlin Formation is composed of volcaniclastic layers grading upward into fluvial silty sands deposited within a basin that over time alternated between shallow lacustrine and meandering stream depositional environments. The premining topography and area surrounding the active mine site is characterized by landslide debris and alluvium deposits within and around drainages (Harlan et al., 1999, Regnier 1960). The Popovich Formation is exposed in a 450-m-thick sequence of micrite and calcarenite at the base which progresses upwards to a silty and bioclastic limestone. Overlying the Popovich Formation is the Rodeo Creek Formation, which is a 300-m-thick sequence that dominates the lower eastern pit slope. It consists of decalcified, limey siltstones, siliceous mudstone and cherty siltstone. These bedrock units are the host of gold mineralization for Gold Quarry. Two additional formations are observed near Gold Quarry. The Silurian-Devonian Roberts Mountains Formation, which stratigraphically underlies the Popovich Formation, is exposed in the upper 45-60 m in the northnorthwest corner of Gold Quarry in the hanging wall of the Good Hope Fault (Harlan et al., 1999). The Roberts Mountains Formation is in contact with the Rodeo Creek Formation along the Good Hope Fault, which is a reverse fault. This unit is characterized as being a planar-laminated silty limestone, with calcarenite inter-bedding. It is the host of ore mined in the Chukar underground mine, which is accessed by portals in Gold Quarry. The second unit, the Devonian Marys Mountain sequence, is identified in drilling between the Carlin Formation and Rodeo Creek Formation to the south of Gold Quarry, and previous minor exposures in the southeast highwall (Harlan et al., 1999). The contact of the Marys Mountain sequence with the Rodeo Creek Formation occurs along the Upper Devonian to Lower Mississippian Roberts Mountain thrust. The Marys Mountain sequence is characterized as a flaser textured limestone and sandstone with interbedded cherts. It is the host of an upper, confined

Technical Papers aquifer that will be discussed in a later section. The bedrock units are overlain by the Tertiary Carlin Formation. The Carlin Formation attains thicknesses of 600 m within structural basins near Gold Quarry. Currently a 160 m sequence is exposed in eastern highwall. The bedrock contact is characterized by gravel and swelling clays. The gravel clasts are derived from the underlying bedrock formations with varying amounts of high plasticity clay providing the matrix. Certain areas along the contact are predominately swelling clay with minimal to no gravel clasts. Variably indurated tuffaceous sedimentary subunits, with minor sand and gravel lenses, are deposited upon the basal gravels and basal clays. The lower tuff units, dominated by the lower laminated tuff, contain significant clay and montmorillonite-altered tuff. In recent years, geologists have identified evidence of potential hydrothermal alteration in the clays and lower tuffs. The middle subunits, upper sands and silts, are characterized by partially indurated, interbedded siltstone and sandstone, with minor tuffaceous and gravel lenses, and more recently recognized unconsolidated sands. The uppermost subunits consist of variably calcite-cemented sands and gravel debris flows, which are only minimally exposed in the Carlin Formation highwall. The updated Carlin Formation stratigraphic column, developed based on geotechnical and hydrogeological needs, is shown in Fig. 2. By the late 1990s, Newmont geologists had divided the Carlin Formation into 14 separate subunits, developing a welldefined stratigraphic model. This information was used in the geotechnical slope design analysis and recommendations provided for the pending Gold Quarry laybacks to begin in 2002. In the latter part of the 1990s and into the 2000s, during the decline in gold price, the resources to continually update the Carlin Formation model were decreased. Over the ensuing several years, the Carlin Formation would typically be logged and modeled as a homogeneous, continuous unit with only several well-defined faults. As Gold Quarry expansions were evaluated from 2004 through 2006, geologic exploration of the Carlin Formation to better define the unit was further hindered by the presence of a tailing storage facility that was in operation from the 1980s into the early 1990s. Because of lateral discontinuity within the Carlin Formation due to facies changes, tectonic activity synchronous with deposition, and internal deformation, it is difficult to identify some subunits based on the stratigraphic column developed in the late 1990s. Furthermore, recent drilling has encountered lithologies that were not identified in earlier investigations. In order to expedite engineering studies and mine planning, while acquiring the drill data density and allowing time for geologists to interpret the results and develop an updated, detailed Carlin Formation stratigraphic column and three-dimensional model, the logging approach for the slope failure investigated focused on identifying the dominant geotechnical and hydrogeological material properties and characteristics. The Carlin Formation stratigraphic column shown in Fig. 2 is based on this simplified approach that divides the Carlin Formation into five main stratigraphic units. Tectonic activity:   Structural development along the Carlin Trend occurred during four major tectonic episodes. The Antler Orogeny during the late Devonian to early

Technical Papers Mississippian applied east–west compression, which formed the Roberts Mountain thrust. This event resulted in repeating sequences of Ordovician age rock units thrusts upon Silurian and Devonian age formations (Roberts et al. 1958). The Elko Orogeny of the middle Jurassic imparted a north-bynortheast principal compressive stress, which developed strike-slip, reverse and dilational faulting. Tectonic activity of the Elko Orogeny provided the structural conduits that would allow hydrothermal gold mineralization (Thorman et al. 1990). Primary mineral deposition ensued during the middle Tertiary. Extensional faulting of pre-existing northnortheast and north-northwest conjugate faults allowed gold-bearing hydrothermal solutions to penetrate the host rock mass. The most recent major tectonic activity was associated with Basin and Range normal faulting activating north-south trending structures, as well as re-activating most pre-existing faults along the Carlin Trend. Tectonic activity resulted in structural control on deposition of the Carlin Formation. Major Basin and Range structures developed a generally stair-stepped bedrock contact that deepens toward the east, forming grabens and horsts. Grabens near the pit have exposed thicker sequences of basal clays and lower laminated tuff (the weaker subunits). The varying thicknesses and rapid deposition resulted in differential loading conditions upon the high plasticity clays. It is conceivable that the differential loading, growth faulting and tectonic activity caused deformation within the clays during deposition. The reactivation of the Paleozoic Good Hope fault during Tertiary Basin and Range extension is visible within the Carlin Formation. The Good Hope fault originated in the Paleozoic bedrock formations during a compressional stress regime, but the subsequent extensional regime induced normal movement upon the structures which then projected into the Carlin Formation as normal faults. In isolated cases distinct structures are visible, but more widespread evidence is a preferential fabric in the

Figure 3 Conceptual cross-section of the ground water hypothesis that the conned shallow bedrock aquifer in the Marys Mountain Formation is recharging the Carlin Formation along zones of higher permeability and/or along fault structures.

northeast sector of Gold Quarry. Hydrogeology:  There are three aquifers at Gold Quarry,

shown conceptually in Fig. 3. Bedrock ground water within the Popovich Formation and Rodeo Creek Formation has been dewatered since the early 1990s to provide dry mining conditions within the orebody and to depressurize slopes. Current maximum pumping rates are 1,500 L/sec. A depression of nearly 375 m from the original premining ground water level to the current level has been achieved. A confined, shallow bedrock aquifer was identified in recent years within the Marys Mountain sequence to the southeast of Gold Quarry. This shallow bedrock aquifer is perched upon the Roberts Mountain thrust. Discussion of this aquifer will occur in subsequent sections of the paper as its identification and mitigation was an important lesson in understanding the Carlin Formation hydrogeology. The third aquifer is present within the Carlin Formation. Overall, the hydraulic conductivities in the Carlin Formation are quite low (10-6 to 10-9 m/sec) due to the fine-grained silts and clays within the subunits. However, substantially higher hydraulic conductivities occur within localized sand or gravel zones (10-2 to 10-4 m/sec). Low permeability across faults results in variably-saturated zones separated from dry subunits. Deformation-induced alteration in clay zones, facies changes and reworking results in lateral hydraulic discontinuity and vertical anisotropy. Examples for the Carlin Formation are shown and described by Beale et al. (2013). Ground water flow within the Carlin Formation is generally toward the east-southeast. However, the lowpressure center created by the openpit causes local gradients to flow towards Gold Quarry. Dewatering of the Carlin Formation began in March 1992. By 2006, 46 Carlin Formation dewatering wells had been completed. However, many of the wells had to be cycled on and off in order to sustain pumping production. Typically, no more than a dozen of the pumping wells would be active at any given time. The downcycle allowed for sufficient ground water to recharge the formation around the well to warrant additional pumping. The inconsistency in hydraulic conductivity within the Carlin Formation also was evident in highly variable individual pumping rates, ranging from 6 to 160 L/min. A layback to the eastern side of Gold Quarry that began in late 2006 required all but seven wells to be decommissioned. Following the removal of pumping equipment, several of the high producing wells recovered to their prepumping water levels within three months. In addition to pumping wells, a number of vertical and angle drains had been constructed in an effort to target the compartmentalized ground water and drain it into the dewatered bedrock. There was limited success in construction of functioning drains due to the variability of ground water within the Carlin Formation. Dewatering drains that did produce drawdown would only do so for a short period of time before silting or blinding off the slotted casing used for construction. Piezometers completed in 2004 indicated very high upward gradients from the shallow bedrock aquifer into the Carlin Formation southeast of Gold Quarry. Heads within the shallow bedrock were measured 30 m higher than those within the Carlin Formation, suggesting that this confined

Technical Papers shallow bedrock aquifer could be a significant source of recharge. In 2006, a new piezometer network and three test wells were constructed to investigate this hypothesis. One of the test wells was completed in the shallow bedrock aquifer. Pumping showed good response in a number of nearby Carlin Formation piezometers. It was hypothesized that ground water in the Carlin Formation has been recharged from the shallow bedrock aquifer and then flowed within higher permeability sands and gravels, as well as along faults with gradients toward the openpit. Springs were often observed in the footwall of the Challenger fault, generally at the intersection of east-west oriented structures. In 2008, two more shallow bedrock wells and four new Carlin Formation wells were completed in an attempt to eliminate recharge from the bedrock, and to intercept ground water up-gradient of the pit. These wells were brought online in summer 2009. Carlin Formation properties prior to the Nine Points slope failures:  Geotechnical studies were conducted throughout

the 1990s to characterize the material strength properties of the Carlin Formation and evaluate the slope stability of proposed pit designs prior to a series of laybacks that would begin in 2001. The results from several triaxial and direct shear testing programs and back-analyses of previous slope failures provided the material strength properties. That study evaluated the peak and residual strengths. However, previous highwall performance led to the determination that the peak cohesion and friction angle for the individual Carlin Formation subunits would be appropriate for the design analysis. The pertinent data and recommended slope angles are shown in Table 1. Slope stability analyses of the Carlin Formation conducted from this point through most of 2008 would use these strength values. A large slope failure of the Gold Quarry North Waste Rock Facility (NWRF) in 2005 significantly altered the geotechnical and hydrogeological approach to understanding the Carlin Formation (Sheets and Bates, 2008). In summary, samples collected from the NWRF slide mass were characterized for grain size distribution and Atterberg limits. Results of Atterberg limits indicated a liquid limit greater than 80% and a plasticity index of approximately 35%. The material at the base of the NWRF was highly plastic, which

would make it susceptible to strain-softening behavior. Direct shear tests carried out on remolded specimens were conducted at a slow deformation rate (0.00127 cm/min) to determine the residual strength of the Carlin Formation material within the NWRF. These results were found to be within the range reported by Mesri (2002) for similar plasticity indices. The test results indicated that there would be a substantial decrease in material strength with continued deformation of the high plasticity Carlin Formation material; this strength reduction could be less than half of the peak shear strength. The strength testing results also indicated a potential brittle failure mechanism prior to strain-softening behavior. From 2004 into 2007, a series of relatively small interramp slope failures (0.5-1 Mt in average size) in the

Figure 4 Plan view of the Nine Points slope area, just prior to the April 2009 slope failure, with key features identied. The blue line indicates the location of all cross-sections. The grid spacing is 200 m by 200 m; and the contours represent the middle bench face elevation at 6 m intervals.

Carlin Formation within Gold Quarry appeared to behave similarly to the NWRF failure, but were in an area of the Carlin Formation that should have been stable based on design assumptions. A limited core drilling program was conducted to obtain samples for material characterization and strength testing focused on the determination of the plasticity and residual strength properties. In late spring 2008, the Table 1 compilation of strength testing Carlin Formation subunit strength properties and slopedesign recommendations used results and analyses was completed. for pit designs prior to 2008. The results indicated that average residual strength characteristics of Carlin fm. Average Pre-slide slope Recommended the high plasticity, clayey silts that sub-unit thickness design peak strengths inter-ramp angles compose the lower portion of the (m) Carlin Formation were negligible cohesion friction (º) cohesion and a friction angle of 12o, (kPa) angle (º) similar to the range of results for Debris fow 30-60 130 27 39-42 material investigated in the NWRF failure. Upper sands & silts 30-75 200 31 39-42 Lower laminated tu

40-150

95

20

25-35

Basal clay

25-40

100

15

25-35

30

80

26

25-49

Basal gravels

Nine Points slope failures Slope deformation that progressed into the Nine Points slope failures initiated during

Figure 5 Southwest-northeast cross-section, viewed to the northwest, of the Nine Points topography and geological model prior to the Nine Points slope failures. Note the lack of geological detail in the Carlin Formation.

summer 2008. Bench-scale failures developed within the lower, clay-rich Carlin Formation subunits as mining progressed into a graben bound by the pitward dipping Challenger fault, and the highwall dipping Gray-Tuff fault, shown in Fig. 4. The slope failure propagated up the highwall towards the Nine Points haul road intersection located behind the openpit crest. This progressive development was interpreted as displacement of the slope toe within the graben, which over-steepened the upper highwall, allowing it to deform within the weak basal clay subunit into the already displacing highwall slope toe. The Nine Points slope

Figure 6 Monitoring graphs depicting the average velocity and average inverse velocity for several survey monitoring prisms that were installed in the Nine Points Carlin Formation highwall. Slope failure occurred at approximately 5:00 am, 26 April 2009; indicated with the dashed red line.

area is shown in Fig. 4 with key features such as the Carlin Formation and bedrock contact identified. The location of the cross-section(s) discussed in the remainder of this paper is also shown in Fig. 4. The interramp slope within the lower subunits was mined at a 35° slope angle; the Carlin Formation slope height was 150 m with an overall slope angle of 28°. A cross-section through the Nine Points slope that exhibits the limited detail of the Carlin Formation model in 2009 is shown in Fig. 5. The slope design, developed from a limited geologic model, the peak strength values for the subunits, and an assumed ground water condition based on the elevations of visible seeps, exceeded the minimum required Factor of Safety (FOS) of 1.2. The ongoing slope movement observed throughout the Carlin Formation was sufficient evidence that the design assumptions were inaccurate. Mining activity at the bedrock contact was suspended to allow a five-bench, 680 kt unweighting cut to be completed while the lower portion of the Carlin Formation was sloped to between 20 and 25o. These remedial measures were temporarily successful in mitigating slope movement. However, since remediation did not address reinforcing the weakened failure surface and slope toe, overall slope movement reactivated in February 2009. April 2009 slope failure:  The toe of the Nine Points

slope continued to displace, again resulting in deformation within the upper slope. A rainy early April was followed by accelerated slope displacement in the middle of the month. Interpretation of inverse velocity data from highwall prism surveys indicated a potential failure event in late April (Fig. 6). Overall slope failure occurred April 26 as deformation approached a peak rate of 450 cm/day (Fig. 6). The Nine Points slide encompassed the entire vertical exposure of the Carlin Formation at 160 m with a width of 450 m, shown in Fig. 4. The toe displaced approximately 45 m with the primary event. Continued toe displacement resulted in slide material covering an 85-m-wide haulage intersection and spilling onto the active mining area below the intersection. The overall slope failure was estimated at 7.25 Mt. Up to this time, the Nine Points slide exhibited behavior similar to historic Carlin Formation slope failures. The progressive failure development over several months was consistent with the strain-softening behavior of the lower

Figure 7 The Nine Points slope failure on 23 December, 2009. Remediation activities had included establishing terrace cuts to slope the slide mass to the bedrock contact where a buttress could be constructed.

Figure 8

Technical Papers

The Nine Points slope failure on 24 December, 2009.

The slope remediation plan consisted of developing a 15° slope through the slide mass, cleaning the material from the intersection that was excavated in bedrock, and constructing a buttress to provide resistance along the Carlin Formation and bedrock contact.

subunits. Laboratory tests indicated that, with increasing shear strain, the cohesion and friction angle for the clayrich subunits deteriorate to a cohesionless state with an average residual frictional strength less than or equal to 12°. However, these lower subunits have been observed in core samples and openpit slope exposures to be sheared and slickensided in situ, suggesting that the premining shear strength is at or near the residual strength. Continual deformation of the slide mass created a vertical headscarp approximately 60 m high (Fig. 7). The lower 30 m of the headscarp was covered with material that had continued to ravel from the crest. The inherent hazards associated with the slide geometry limited headscarp remediation until either a safe method to mine could be developed or the headscarp attained a more stable geometry.

Figure 9 Slope monitoring data prior to the December 24 Nine Points slope failure. The area of primary interest was the head scarp as movement within the upper slide mass includes remediation activity.

December 2009 slope failure: On Dec. 24,at approximately 7 am, a second large-scale slope failure developed within the previous Nine Points slide (Fig. 8). A 1.25 Mt block, extending nearly 40 m behind the original failure crest, accelerated toward failure during the evening prior to the event (Fig. 9). Average movement rates for the headscarp, measured from a radar slope monitoring system, exhibited a typical exponential increase prior to the second failure reaching a maximum rate of 13.5 mm/hr. The movement rates over the days leading up to the failure are summarized in Table 2. The rates demonstrated an increase in the 24 hours prior to this slope failure, but exhibited a relatively rapid failure mechanism that was unexpected based on 25 years of observational experience of highwall failures in the Carlin Formation. The sudden change in loading condition at the head of the slide mass caused the previous failure mass to mobilize and run-out up to 850 m into the pit floor. The newly formed headscarp was 90 m high. Although the instability had developed within the 160 m Carlin Formation exposure, the effect of the run-out resulted in 425 m of highwall height impacted by the slide (Figure 10). The pit bottom was filled with nearly 40 m of slide debris. The original estimated size of this instability was 25 Mt. However, it was reduced to 12 Mt following a thorough investigation. The sudden slope failure and extensive run-out of the Carlin Formation could not be explained in the context of historic observations of a slow-moving, plastic deformation mechanism that were expected in the clay-rich, strainsoftening material that composed the highwall slopes. During initial discussions with external soil mechanics experts, it was determined that the Dec. 24 slide had developed as a brittle failure. Although this type of

Table 2 Average movement rate of the Nine Points scarp prior to the December 24 failure. Time

Average veloctiy (mm/hr)

Dec. 20th 12:00 am

.10

Dec. 21st 12:00 am

.75

Dec. 22nd 12:00 am

1.04

12:00 pm

1.33

Dec. 23rd 12:00 am

2.58

12:00 pm

3.08

6:00 pm

5.17

Dec. 24th 12:00 am

5.67

4:00 am

9.70

(Failure) 7:00 am

13.57

Figure 10 A cross-section through the Nine Points failure and the resulting slide mass through the bottom of the pit.

behavior would be the expected failure mechanism for rock, it can occur when an area of the strain-softening material is relatively unsupported, such as an over-steepened slope or near vertical headscarp, subjected to a significantly high overburden pressure that would be capable of driving the material to its inherent residual strength. Following the April 2009 failure, continued deformation of the slide mass and its removal during remediation allowed the scarp to become progressively over-steepened. Deformation along the clayrich, high plasticity basal subunits was likely continuing along the slip surface and propagating into the Carlin Formation beneath the headscarp. This progressed until the stress-state approached the failure envelope, which allowed the rapid, brittle failure to occur. Previous slope failures in the Carlin Formation occurred within highwalls that were established over a range of slope angles (20°-42°) that were too steep to remain stable. However, the slope geometry provided sufficient support to allow those slopes to slowly deform allowing progressive failure development over time, following a strain-softening path. The rapid run-out of the slide mass across the pit was not expected based on the behavior of previous Carlin Formation slope failures. Newmont technical staff and external consultants discussed whether the large run out was the result of liquefaction or air entrainment. The liquefaction hypothesis presumed that the April 2009 slide mass had become saturated as a result of continual recharge from Carlin Formation ground water, and that the slide mass became liquefied due to the December 2009 failure acting as the trigger event. The air entrainment hypothesis proposed that a sudden collapse of the scarp induced high energy within the April 2009 slide mass causing the unconsolidated grains to rapidly displace within and upon air as the fluid. It is very important to note that there was no uniform consensus among all parties involved; however, based on observations and experience with the Carlin Formation, the authors have believed the air entrainment hypothesis as the more plausible case. This is primarily because of the lack of significant ground water or saturated material within the slide mass, and observations of the morphology of the runout material. During the remediation effort following the April 2009 slide, up until the December 2009 slide, there were only a couple areas where saturated material was encountered. When this material sloughed or flowed, displacement would immediately cease when the viscous material encountered a shallow, flat surface or a berm. It was common to then

observe ground water seeps emanating from this material. Conversely, the portions of the December 2009 slide mass that could be safely inspected showed the slide mass to be light density, fluffed material. There were no signs of seepage from the slide toe, including material that was deposited on a downward 10% grade pit ramp that would have been conducive to flow. Another peculiarity was an open trough between the toe of the slide mass that accumulated on the 1,420 m mining phase (nearly 100 m below the Carlin Formation and bedrock contact) and a crest berm above the interramp slope to the bottom of the pit at the 1,225 m elevation. The slide mass was presumed to have been buffered from contacting the berm as air escaped from beneath the failure and carried material to the bottom of the pit. The furthest extent of run-out then had sufficient momentum to flow 400 m up a 10% grade ramp on the opposite side of the pit bottom. Up-gradient slide mass flow was never previously observed with saturated Carlin Formation slope failures. Finally, mining activity to remove the run-out material on the 1,420 m elevation was completed during spring 2011, while the slide mass in the bottom of Gold Quarry was removed during late summer and early fall 2013. Mining did not encounter significant saturated material within either the upper nor lower extent of the slide run-out. Drainage into the bedrock from the lower run-out would likely have been difficult, because the contact between the Rodeo Creek Formation and Popovich Formation, which runs through the lower part of the pit, is known to be clay-rich, sheared along a fault contact. While mining a previous phase two years prior to the Nine Points slide, perched ground water was encountered along the contact, which could only be mitigated by engineered methods (vertical drains, sumps with pumps, etc.). Therefore, it was unlikely that ground water within the slide mass would have been capable of draining through the slide material and then across the contact and into the bedrock.

Nine Points slope failure mitigation Safe working procedures for the slide area: Special procedures were implemented to govern all activities related to the remediation. These procedures were designed to ensure the safety of Newmont and contractor personnel and equipment working within and adjacent to the slide failure area. Prior to work commencing and when changes to the procedures were necessary, the new procedures would be discussed and communicated to the work force. The area(s) for which these procedures were applicable was visible on a display monitor installed on the shovels, front-end loaders and dozers. For all other personnel and equipment, the boundary was marked in the field with stakes and signage. The boundary was also included on a daily plan map that was distributed to the entire workforce with the special work procedure document.

Figure 11

Technical Papers

Progressive images of a headscarp blast.

The most basic requirement to work within the slide area was that the area had been evaluated and determined to be safe by geotechnical staff and the mine operations foremen. A qualified spotter was stationed in a dispatch tower that had a view of the entire failure area. Any personnel that needed to enter the area were required to contact the spotter to confirm that it was safe to enter. Personnel also were required to communicate to the spotter when they were exiting the area. Additional spotters would be strategically located as mining progressed to ensure visibility of the failure and personnel working in the area. All spotters were trained by geotechnical staff to understand visible signs of movement. The spotters stationed in the dispatch tower received training on the slope monitoring software. This training was not intended to enable spotters to interpret the deformation data, but to simply recognize if or when conditions had changed and to contact the shift foremen and geotechnical staff. The slope deformation monitoring system was required so that real time data were available to the spotters in the old dispatch tower, and in Mine Control, so that if alarms were triggered personnel working in the hazard zone as well as geotechnical staff could be notified and immediately evacuated. When conditions visually changed, or the slope monitoring system indicated a movement alarm, the mining area would be evacuated until the proper inspections could be conducted and the potentially hazardous condition no longer existed. Headscarp drill-and-blast program:   The geometry of the headscarp and potential for brittle failure of partially cemented sands exposed in the scarp prohibited the use of standard mining methods and equipment near the crest. Since safety restrictions precluded access to an area within 25 m of the failure escarpment crest, it was determined that a drill-and-blast approach was a potential solution. The concept was to use angle-drilled blast holes that were sequentially timed to initiate small, controlled slope failures around the headscarp crest to develop a shallower slope that could be remediated using typical mining methods (Acorn, 2011). A key blast design criterion was to minimize damage to the wall behind each blast. Surveying of the headscarp was completed using a laser scanner. Detailed surface topography was necessary to design each blast hole to be drilled perpendicular to the scarp with the appropriate burden. A reverse-circulation drill was used

to drill blast holes that varied in length from 45 to 70 m. Blast hole inclination was originally designed between -60° to -65° below horizontal to ensure that the blast product could be placed down an inclined borehole that was lined with PVC casing. Over the course of the project, the inclination was successfully decreased to -45°. Borehole deviation surveys were conducted as drilling advanced to ensure that each borehole was not deviating significantly, which allowed the current and subsequent drill holes to be redesigned as necessary to maintain the appropriate drill hole spacing. Each blast hole was loaded with two charge decks. These were not cast blasts. Instead, the intent was to create a failure plane and induce material failure. The bottom charge generated the largest displacement by pushing out the toe, destabilizing the upper scarp in the process. The top charge created a crack between the holes, similar to a presplit, which acted as a failure plane for the material to displace down onto the slide mass. The actual blast initiation and performance was evaluated from review of high speed and normal speed video recordings. A post blast survey was conducted with a laser scanner to assess the new slope geometry with respect to the designed post blast geometry. A series of photographs in Fig. 11 depict one of the headscarp blasts. Figure 11a shows the area of the scarp prior to the blast. In Fig. 11b, the lower portion of the blast area is being displaced outward; stemming material from three blast holes is visible being ejected from the collars. The third image, Fig. 11c, shows the upper portion dropping into the slide mass. The final picture in Fig. 11d shows the area following the blast. The eight light colored vertical traces are the scars of the blast holes, which visually indicate that the upper charge was able to create the necessary plane upon which the material could slide. A visual inspection of the scarp following the blast did not locate signs of backbreak. The drill-and-blast approach was very successful in developing a stable scarp configuration that could be mined using standard methods. Between February and July 2010,

Figure 12 Modied preliminary Nine Points slope remediation design that depicts the preliminary design limit (dashed green line), the inner cut limit (dashed orange line), the transition to a 12° slope (dashed red line) and the buttress foundation located on bedrock. The grid spacing is 200 m by 200 m. The contours represent the middle bench face elevation at 6 m intervals.

Figure 13 Southwest-northeast cross-section, location identied in Fig. 12, looking northwest, through the centerline of the Nine Points modied preliminary slope remediation design topography that depicts the basic Carlin Formation geologic model. The scale of this cross-section is shown in feet rather than meters (Call & Nicholas, 2010). The vertical lines represent sections or slices developed within the analysis.

seven blasts were carried out; the number of blast holes in a shot varied from a minimum of eight holes to a maximum of 43 holes. Preliminary slope remediation design: In January 2010, a major drilling campaign was initiated to improve the detail of the Carlin Formation geological model. The program included reverse-circulation drilling, core drilling and sonic drilling. The reverse-circulation drilling was primarily conducted for hydrogeological purposes. Boreholes either were completed as drains for passive dewatering of the Carlin Formation by providing a conduit for intersected ground water to the underlying dewatered Rodeo Creek Formation, or were completed with fully grouted, vibrating wire piezometers (two to four per borehole) to assess ground water and pore pressure conditions. Several boreholes also had inclinometer casing installed to identify zones of slope deformation. Core holes were drilled to obtain HQ3 size core (61.1 mm) to have sufficient samples for soil characterization and strength testing. Representative core samples (average 0.3 m length) were selected at 7.5 to 15 m intervals, dependent on the observed variation within the subunit. Total drill hole lengths varied between 150 and 450 m, depending on Carlin Formation thickness and borehole inclinations. All core holes were completed a minimum of 15 m into the underlying bedrock. Sonic boreholes were drilled through the slide mass in an effort to locate and confirm the basal failure surface. The entire drilling campaign was carried out in 2010. The combined drill programs resulted in nearly 25,000 m of total drill length along the east-northeast sides of Gold Quarry. A preliminary remediation design was necessary to direct a near-term deweighting effort while the investigation progressed. The preliminary design analyses incorporated material strengths obtained from testing of core samples collected during a previous small-scale drilling program and back-analyses using limit equilibrium modeling software. The design assumption was based on interpretations that the instability had been located within the basal clay subunit at the Carlin Formation and bedrock contact. The preliminary remediation design developed in January 2010 required an overall 12o slope angle through the Carlin Formation around the slide area. This design would attain an overall FOS of 1.0 with the slope cut. In order to raise the overall FOS to a minimum acceptable value of 1.20, the design incorporated

buttress could be constructed. In June 2010, the preliminary design was modified to split the upper portion of the remediation layback into two phases to limit the extent of the unweighting cut through the more competent upper sand subunits. After mining the first three benches (12 Mt, 37 m height) to the overall remediation design limits, indicated by the dashed green line in Fig. 12, the unweighting cut would step-in to develop a 20° interramp slope through the remaining upper sands and silts, between the dashed orange and dashed red lines. The remediation design resumed the 12o slope through the lower laminated tuff, basal clay and slide mass (the slope to the west of the dashed red line in Fig. 12). The modified remediation design still assumed that the slope failure developed within the basal clay along the bedrock contact to develop a slope that had an initial FOS of 1.0 (Fig. 13), while incorporating a buttress that would raise the FOS to 1.20 (Call & Nicholas Inc., 2010). Nine Points slope remediation design The preliminary slope remediation plan was followed, while details for the final design were developed during the ongoing investigation and characterization work. Backanalysis slope stability models were regularly updated as new interpretations or results were obtained. The analyses used limit equilibrium software packages (RocScience Inc. SLIDE and GEO-SLOPE Inc. Slope/W) similar to studies of previous Carlin Formation slope failures. However, it was recognized that these tools did not readily lend themselves to the time-based, progressive nature of the Nine Points slope failure. Therefore, numerical methods were used to provide more representative modeling of the failure. Carlin Formation characterization and strength results: Nearly 250 samples were collected from the 2010 core drilling program to characterize the various Carlin Formation subunits within and around the Nine Points failure. Grain size distribution curves were developed from wet sieve and hydrometer analyses. Atterberg limits were determined to classify the plasticity of the material. A total of 31 slow-rate,

Figure 14 Numerical modeling back-analysis study conducted with phase 2 on the southwest-northeast cross-section, looking northwest, identied in Fig. 4. The hypothesized shallow failure base more readily explained the initiation of slope deformation of the Nine Points highwall and progressing into overall slope failures (Knight Piésold, 2011).

Figure 15

Technical Papers

Numerical modeling back-analysis study conducted with FLAC on the northeast-southwest cross-section, looking southeast, identifed in Fig. 4. This independent study also found that the Nine Points slope failures could be more readily explained with the presence of another shallower weak subunit, rather than the Basal Clay (Itasca Denver, 2010).

direct shear tests were conducted to determine the drained effective residual strength of the subunits. Samples had water

added to induce moisture content similar to that determined from the field samples. The applied normal stresses ranged from 100 to 2,070 kPa. The samples were then sheared at a rate of 0.00127 cm/min to minimize excess pore pressure from developing. These tests were reversed two to four times to achieve residual strength conditions. The material strength results, summarized in Table 3, confirmed that the limited findings of the testing program completed in 2008 were within the range of Carlin Formation strengths from the NWRF failure investigation. Furthermore, the laboratory test results correlated with the range of strength values that were being developed from the four separate back-analysis studies, also shown in Table 3. These findings were strong evidence that the Carlin Formation would exhibit behavior closer to its residual strength rather than its peak strength when a pit slope is excavated through the material. Numerical model back analyses: Two external consulting groups were tasked with developing numerical models to analyze the Nine Points highwall through various stages of progressive instability, one using RocScience Inc. Phase2 and the other Itasca’s FLAC2D. The preliminary numerical models were based on the observational data. Observations indicated that the toe was within the basal clay subunit along the bedrock contact, so initial modeling focused on that scenario. However, it was soon recognized that the numerical models had difficulty re-producing a failure surface within the basal clay or along the bedrock contact (Yang et al., 2011 and Itasca Denver Inc., 2010). Both consulting groups found that their numerical models generated shallower failure surfaces that were not within the basal clay. In both cases, a hypothetical, shallower weak subunit or surface was incorporated into the models between 45-80 m above the basal clay and bedrock contact. Examples of these results are illustrated in Figs. 14 and 15. The model simulations were able to reproduce the headscarp

Table 1 Current Carlin Formation material properties and slope design recommendations.

Carlin fm. sub-unit

Hydraulic conductivity (cm/s)

Laboratory test residual strengths

Hydraulic Conductivity (cm/s)

Inter-ramp angles

model simulations

cohesion (kPa)

friction angle (º)

cohesion (kPa)

friction angle (º)

plasticity index (%)

horizontal

vertical

aquifer test results

70-95

24-28

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Upper sands &  silts

0

18-24

0

18

31.4

6.3 x 10-5— 3.0 x 10-4

2.1 x 10-6—

Lower laminated tuf

0-50

14-18

0

16

41.6

3.5 x 10-7

Basal clay

0

7.5-9.5

0

8.3

71.9

Basal gravels

0

10

0

9.5

N/A 

(º)

Debris fow -

cemented sands

 

25-30

4.0 x 10-4

18-20

3.5 x 10-7

7.0 x 10-5

14-16

3.5 x 10-8— 3.5 x 10-7

3.5 x 10-8— 3.5 x 10-7

6.0 x 10-5

12

3.5 x 10-8— 3.5 x 10-7

3.5 x 10-8— 3.5 x 10-7

9.0 x 10-5

12

3.0 x 10-5

Figure 16 Southwest-northeast cross-section through the Nine Points remediation nal slope design with the toe buttress and the updated Carlin Formation geological model. Along the central axis of the slide area, there was a portion of the slide mass, approximately 100 m wide, which was left in place, as shown behind the buttress.

and toe locations with the shallower failure surface. Due to the lack of a detailed geological model at the time, there was no definitive evidence to confirm the proposed modeling results, specifically with respect to the slip surface above the basal clay. Thus, the analyses moved forward considering both the deep- and shallower-seated scenarios until the slide mass could safely be drilled to locate the failure surface. Basal failure surface investigation:   In September and October 2010, a sonic drilling program was conducted to drill through the slide mass and intersect the base of the failure surface. Given the uncertainty regarding how the characteristics of the failure surface would visually compare to surrounding material, the large diameter samples (approximately 15 cm) provided by the sonic drill would be critical to recognition of the failure plane. Sonic coring also provided a high probability of sample recovery through the unconsolidated slide mass. The core was logged, and photographed, at the drill hole to characterize the soil and geotechnical properties. Notes were made regarding where the drillers encountered ground water within the slide mass, and the drill penetration rate, anticipating a reduction in penetration rate in intact material. The penetration rate was tracked as a potential identifier of the contact between the slide mass and intact material. The other empirical method

Figure 17 Limit equilibrium analysis for the Nine Points remediation slope design, along the southwest-northeast crosssection identied in Fig. 12, with the toe buttress indicates an acceptable overall FOS of at least 1.2 can be achieved (Knight Piésold, 2011).

used to identify the contact between the slide mass and intact material was comparing sonic core to the HQ3 core obtained during the geological and geotechnical investigation drilling program for differences or similarities. Five sonic holes were drilled through the slide mass in the attempt to identify the failure surface. Only the northern most sonic hole did not provide conclusive evidence of the failure surface because it drilled through unconsolidated sands and silty sands and passed into consolidated sands and silty sands. This borehole was drilled to the north of an observed change in the Carlin Formation fabric. It appeared that this borehole intersected a portion of the backplane rather than the base of the failure. The remaining four drill holes encountered sequences that were similar from hole to hole. The uppermost 20-35 m consisted of unconsolidated sands and silty sands. The next 30-75 m consisted of disturbed, remolded clayey silts and silty clays. Finally, consolidated clayey silts and silty clays were encountered. Laminations, bedding and slickensides could be observed within the core, similar to core obtained in the diamond core drilling programs throughout the Carlin Formation. A significant decrease in the drill penetration rate was also observed with 6 m runs going from 15-30 minutes to taking between two and four hours upon intersecting the consolidated clayey silts and silty clays. Comparing and correlating the observed slide mass core material to core obtained from intact Carlin Formation, the sonic drill core showed that the majority of the base of the failure surface had developed along the lower laminated tuff and basal clay contact. This was in contrast to the to the initial interpretation of a deep-seated failure, an assumption that the entire base of the failure was within the basal clay at the bedrock contact, which solely had been based on the observed location of the slide toe within the basal clay. The identification of a shallow failure surface in sonic core confirmed the alternate failure surface identified in numerical modeling, and resulted in a decrease in the overall size of the slope failure from initial estimates of 25 Mt to approximately 12 Mt. Final remediation slope design:   The location of the failure surface was incorporated into the new, detailed Carlin Formation geological model to develop the final remediation design as shown in Fig. 16; the section location is identified in Fig. 12. The significantly improved Carlin Formation geological model can readily be seen in geological detail in Fig. 16 compared to the geology in Fig. 5. Due to the presence of strain-softened, high-plasticity clay, and low-strength preferential slip surfaces within the Carlin Formation, a slope design with an acceptable FOS based on the slope angle would be problematic because of the necessary stripping, the proximity of infrastructure,

Figure 18 Numerical modeling results for the Nine Points remediation slope design, along the northeast-southwest cross-section identied in Fig. 12, with the toe buttress that indicate an acceptable overall FOS of at least 1.20 can be achieved. (Itasca Denver, 2010; Itasca Inc., 2011).

and an abandoned tailing storage facility located along the eastern crest of Gold Quarry. Previous experience had demonstrated that when the Carlin Formation slope was mined at a geometry that would remain temporarily stable, either a timely layback to reduce driving force or a rock buttress constructed along the toe to increase the resisting force could be used to control deformation. Based on the schedule for the next openpit layback, the decision was to pursue a remediation design that incorporated a buttress. The design integrated empirical observations and understanding of stand-up time for previous Carlin Formation slope failures that exhibited strain-softening behavior (Call & Nicholas Inc., 2011; Sheets, 2014). The slope design required a FOS of 1.0 based on modeling the material strength of key subunits scaled at a Skempton R-value between 0.8 and 0.9 (Skempton, 1964; Mesri and Shahien, 2002). The stand-up time provided by designing the slope near residual strength condition allows for construction of a rock buttress that increases the minimum FOS to 1.20 if the uppermost observed ground water levels remained approximately 1,530 m.r.s.l. This was considered feasible, because of an improved understanding of geological and hydrogeological conditions, an enhanced understanding of residual shear strength behavior of key subunits, the ability to determine the Skempton R-value and stand-up time for previous slope instabilities, and previous operational experience with buttress construction to

Technical Papers The final design analyses considered whether the preliminary design geometry that had been the basis for nearly 10 months of mining activity could be incorporated into the final design. If this was not feasible, continued mining of the exterior cut (stopped after three benches) would be required to achieve the necessary slope geometry through the Carlin Formation. Conceptual designs were analyzed with numerical models as well as limit equilibrium models for comparison to historic stability analysis studies. The numerical models incorporated pore pressure conditions obtained from vibrating wire piezometers into the stability analysis, and the limit equilibrium models used the measured water levels while adjusting the Hu or Ru in the stability analysis. Results of the stability analyses indicated that it would be possible to attain an overall slope with a FOS of 1.0 based on the existing slope geometry, meaning the preliminary design could be incorporated within the final design. However, a modification was necessary in order to allow the entire lower lift of the buttress to be constructed on a bedrock foundation. Stability analyses indicated that a minimum buttress height of 36 m with a total weight of nearly 2 Mt would be required to cover the lower laminated tuff and basal clay contact in order to provide sufficient reinforcement of the clay-rich subunits and to achieve a minimum FOS of 1.20. Examples of the numerical modeling results are shown in Figs. 17 and 18, section locations identified in Fig. 12, (Knight Piésold, 2011 and Itasca Inc., 2011). Figure 17 displays the sensitivity of the FOS results with respect to the average ground water elevation to show the potential benefit of successful depressurization. It also indicated that by increasing the buttress height an additional 6 m, the FOS improved by more than 0.1. Nine Points buttress construction Excavation of the final four benches (49 m height) of the remediation cut for the Nine Points slide was temporarily suspended to focus the remediation effort on the Challenger/Gray-Tuff Graben failure located south of the Nine Points failure. This was a concurrent, separate Carlin Formation instability, not discussed in this case history, which was similarly remediated with a 1 Mt buttress along the bedrock contact. Remediation mining had been at pace to simultaneously expose the lower laminated tuff/ basal clay/bedrock contacts of both instabilities. Given that buttress material could not be placed at a rate sufficient to

Figure 19 Nine Points buttress progress on February 8, 2011; the extent of the buttress is indicated by the dashed red line.

Figure 20 Carlin Formation highwall and buttresses on 27 August, 2013.

construct two buttresses, it was decided to first complete the Challenger/Gray-Tuff Graben buttress. A benefit derived from completion of this buttress was that it decreased the haulage distance for buttress material to the Nine Points slope toe by 2 km, thereby reducing the slope toe exposure time if unplanned movement occurred. The buttress design mitigated the potential development of increased pore pressure in the adjacent highwall with two passive methods. First, a series of vertical drains were constructed upslope of the buttress to intercept ground water flow and direct it downward into the dewatered bedrock. Second, a drainage blanket was incorporated into the buttress design to provide a permeable zone for flows that were not captured by the vertical drains. The drainage blanket provided a path for flow underneath the buttress to the toe, then flows can either evaporate or will infiltrate into the underlying bedrock. The drainage blanket was constructed with selectively blasted and stockpiled material, the majority of which had a minimum diameter of 1-2 m. The drainage blanket was designed to be 6-m-thick on the bedrock foundation and on the two Carlin Formation benches immediately above the foundation. Additionally, the designed drainage blanket thickness along bench faces was to be 15 m. The remaining buttress fill material was competent waste rock with minimal fines.

to mine slide material and concurrently place buttress material while maintaining access to excavate the foundation. Simply stated, the majority of the cut (along the prescribed 45 m strike length) had to be excavated prior to buttress construction. Safety protocol stated that buttress construction was to begin immediately after excavation. However, this protocol was not followed in one instance, resulting in a clear demonstration of the sensitive nature of Carlin Formation stability. On the morning of Jan. 12, 2011, excavation of the foundation elevation for the northern portion of the buttress began. By that afternoon the excavation had advanced to expose nearly 100 m of the basal clay/bedrock contact. An equipment operator, working 36 m above and 150 m to the east, recognized new settlement cracks that had developed since the beginning of shift. An inspection of the slope toe found that the basal clay had displaced outward 15 cm along portions of the bedrock contact. Mining activity was temporarily halted to evaluate displacement data from the slope monitoring systems. Mine operations initiated buttress construction in the evening. The following morning the first lift of the buttress had extended to the mining dig face, after which there was negligible slope movement. Mining activity and buttress construction progressed thereafter without incident. After the base lift of the northern portion of the buttress was completed in the middle of January 2011, a second lift was advanced from south to north and was completed in late January. Completion of the second lift provided sufficient confidence in the stability of the Carlin Formation to allow mining of the slide material that had overflowed onto the bedrock working benches below the buttress to begin. The final lift was constructed from both the south and east, and was completed by the middle of February 2011. The Nine Points buttress, near completion, is shown in Fig. 19. Initial mining progress through the overflow slide material is shown in the lower half of the photograph.

Southern portion of the Nine Points buttress:  Mining activity resumed on the Nine Points slide when the Challenger/Gray-Tuff Graben buttress was nearly complete in December 2010. The Nine Points slide mass was split, allowing remediation activity to focus initially on the southern extent of the instability. The mining and construction plan required that no more than approximately 45 m of the contact, measured along strike, should be exposed before placing buttress material. This dimension was based on previous experience at Gold Quarry with buttress construction to stabilize the Carlin Formation. However, due to the geometry of the contacts and the slope, portions of the buttress were constructed from the top elevation (1,520 m.r.s.l.) down to the base elevation (1,480 m.r.s.l.), while maintaining sufficient width on the pit side of the bench for access around the buttress. Bench-scale stability analysis showed that 10-15 m of buttress width could be constructed without impacting the stability of the underlying bench that was to be subsequently excavated. After the last foundation slot was excavated and backfilled, buttress construction was extended pitward to the limits on the lower two lifts. Northern portion of the Nine Points buttress:  Bench geometry and limited access width hindered the ability

Carlin Formation post-remediation The remediation cut through the Carlin Formation totaled approximately 65 Mt. An additional 5 Mt of slide material were removed to allow mining to resume on the bedrock working benches that were covered by debris during the December 2009 failure. In August 2013, mining activity had advanced into the slide material that filled the bottom 40 m of the pit. The slide material was removed to complete the current layback by the end of 2013. To date, no significant deformation within the Carlin Formation has been observed following the remediation. An Aug. 27, 2013 photograph of the Carlin Formation highwall is shown in Fig. 20. It has been 5 years since the last major Carlin Formation slope failure (December 2009), and almost 4 years (February 2011) since buttress construction was completed. This follows more than 10 years of frequent Carlin Formation slope failures that adversely impacted mine development. This outcome validates the geotechnical and hydrogeological characterization and modeling work, and points to the importance of this type of work during the early stages of a new layback evaluation or new openpit development. At Gold Quarry, it has improved potential to decrease the overall mining costs and has provided a higher probability

Technical Papers of completing an openpit as scheduled. Subsequent to the post-slope failure geotechnical and hydrogeology investigation program conducted throughout 2010, investigation of the Carlin Formation has continued in advance of the next planned layback, particularly to identify the contacts between the lower laminated tuff/basal clay/ bedrock. The objectives are to expand the Carlin Formation model to the east and southeast of Gold Quarry where the planned layback would excavate a new highwall. In addition to drilling, geophysical techniques have been used in the investigation. The methods that have been successful with the Carlin Formation include controlled source audiofrequency magnetotelluric (CSAMT) surveys and gravity surveys. Data from this work have expanded the area in which the Carlin Formation and bedrock contact has been modeled, identified additional structures and provided a map of likely ground water within the upper sands and silts. These new data have also provided potential targets for wells to depressurize the upper sands and silts in advance of the layback. Removing this ground water will prevent it from draining into the lower laminated tuff and basal clay, should slope deformation occur, which otherwise would enhance the strain-softening deformation of these units. With the increased understanding of the subunits and hydrogeology of the Carlin Formation, the location of additional drains and pumping wells to dewater the Carlin Formation can accurately target structural intersections. As a result, the potentiometric surface has been drawn down between 20 and 43 m in the Nine Points slope area since summer 2010. A sensitivity analysis with respect to ground water on overall slope stability found that, for every 15 m of average drawdown, the FOS would improve by nearly 10 percent. With more accurate information, geotechnical and hydrogeological staff will be able to develop more confident and accurate pit slope design inputs for future Gold Quarry laybacks. Prior to acquiring the necessary data, the projected design for the next layback through the Carlin Formation maintained a conservative overall 12° slope angle through all subunits, along with a foundation bench on the bedrock to allow construction of a buttress across the exposed critical Carlin Formation contacts. Further geologic definition and dewatering progress during the past three years have allowed the slope angle to be improved, up to 18° slope for specific domains. However, a buttress across the critical Carlin Formation subunit contacts is still required.

Conclusions The impact of the Nine Points instability on Gold Quarry required that the investigation of the large-scale slope failure be conducted simultaneously with mining activity necessary to remediate the instability and prevent it from propagating into nearby infrastructure. This case study summarizes important aspects that were encountered to safely implement this dual approach at Gold Quarry. In order to accomplish this, the preliminary remediation recommendations had to leverage the experience and judgment of on-site personnel from observations of previous Carlin Formation instabilities. The information necessary to finalize the remediation design details was collected throughout 2010 and implemented as it became available. Remediation of the Nine Points slope instability

resulted in a Carlin Formation highwall that has remained stable, in contrast to nearly 10 years of slope instability experience. Moreover, the performance of the highwall since remediation has reinforced the need to conduct thorough geological, geotechnical and hydrogeological investigations prior to mining large, deep openpit expansions. These efforts will significantly increase the capability of geotechnical and hydrogeological personnel to develop recommendations that support reliable openpit slope designs, which increases the probability that mine operations can safely and efficiently achieve the mine plan. ■

References Acorn, T., 2011, “Geotechnical slope remediation via rc-drilling and controlled slope failure blasting,” Proceedings, 37th Annual Conference on Explosives and Blasting Techniques, Feb. 6-9, 2011, San Diego, CA, USA, International Society of Explosives Engineers, pp. 663-776. Bates, E., St. Louis, R., Douglas, S. and Sheets, R., 2006, “Slope monitoring and failure mitigation techniques applied in the Gold Quarry openpit,” Proceedings, 31st U.S. Rock Mechanics Symposium, D.P. Yale et al. (eds), July 17-21, 2006, Golden, CO, USA, American Rock Mechanics Association, Digital Proceedings. Beale, G., De Souza, J., Smith, R., and St. Louis, B., 2013, “Implementation of Slope Depressurisation Systems,” in Guidelines for Evaluating Water in Pit Slope Stability, G. Beale and J. Read (eds), CRC Press/Balkema, The Netherlands, pp. 298, 313, 331-332. Call & Nicholas Inc., 2010, “Preliminary Runs for the Accelerated Phase 1 Design,” June 23, 2010.  Call & Nicholas Inc., 2011, “Nine Points Failure Geotechnical Investigation Failure Mechanisms Report,” April 2011. Harlan, J.B., Harris, D.A., Mallette, P.M., Norby, J.W., Rota, J.C., and Sagar, J.J., 2002, “Geology and mineralization of the Maggie Creek district,” Gold Deposits of the Carlin Trend, T. Thompson, L. Teal, and R. Meeuwig (eds), Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology, Bulletin 111, Bear Industries, Sparks, NV, USA, pp. 115-142. Itasca Denver Inc., 2010, “Gold Quarry Pit Design Section 600-Summary of MINEDW and FLAC Modeling Technical Memorandum,” Aug. 13, 2010. Itasca Inc., 2011, “Gold Quarry Pit Design Sections 600, III, VI, D, and G Technical Memorandum,” April 26, 2011. Knight Piésold Consulting, 2011, “Nine-Points Slope Stability Assessment,” March 25, 2011. Mesri, G. and Shahien, M., 2002, “Residual shear strength mobilized in first-time slope failures,” Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering, American Society of Civil Engineers, Vol. 129, No. 1, pp. 12–31. Regnier, J., 1960, “Cenozoic geology in the vicinity of Carlin, Nevada,” Geological Society of America Bulletin, Vol. 71, No. 8, pp. 1189–1210. Sheets, R.J., 2011, “Lessons from Carlin Formation slope instability at the Gold Quarry operation,” Mining in Saprolites Workshop, P. Dight (ed), Sept. 18, 2011, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, Australian Centre for Geomechanics, Digital Publication. Sherman, C.S. and Sheets, R.J., 2008, “Gold Quarry Phase 4 North slope failure,” Proceedings, 41st Symposium on Engineering Geology and Geotechnical Engineering, T. Weaver and S. Sharma (eds), April 9-11, 2008, Boise, ID, USA, pp. 269–275. Skempton, A.W., 1964, “Long-Term Stability of Clay Slopes, Fourth Rankine Lecture,” Géotechnique 14(2) pp. 77-101. Yang, D.Y., Brouwer, K.J., Sheets, R.J., St. Louis, R.M. and Douglas, S.J., 2011, “Largescale slope instability at the Gold Quarry mine, Nevada,” Proceedings, 2011 International Symposium on Rock Slope Stabili ty on Openpit Mining and Civil Engineering, E. Eberhardt and D. Stead (eds), Sept. 18-21, 2011, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, Canadian Rock Mechanics Association, Digital Proceedings.

Coming Events/Short Courses Upcoming SME Events Arizona Conference Dec. 7-8, 2014 JW Marriott Starr Pass Resort Tucson, AZ, USA

George A. Fox Conference Jan. 27, 2015 Graduate Center City University of New York  New York, NY, USA

SME Annual Conference and Expo Feb. 15-18, 2015 Colorado Convention Center Denver, CO, USA

For additional information, contact: Meetings Dept., SME Phone 800-763-3132 • 303-948-4200 • Fax 303-979-3461 • email [email protected] • www.smenet.org

Visit www.miningengineeringmagazine.com for more industry events or to list your event online.

November 2014 5-6 • AusRock 2014 - Third Australian Ground Control in Mining Conference University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia Phone: 03-9658 6126 • Fax: 03-9662-3662 email: [email protected] www.groundcontrol2014.ausimm.com.au

17-19 • Process Mineralogy 14 Vineyard Hotel, Cape Town, South Africa Phone: 44-0-7768-234-121 email: [email protected] www.min-eng.com/processmineralogy14

24-26 • Ore Body Modeling and Strategic Mine Planning Hyatt Regency Perth, Perth, WAS, Australia Phone: 61-3-9658-6105 email: [email protected] www.smp2014.ausimm.com.au

26-27 • Second CIS Responsible Mining Forum  Astana, Kazakstan Phone: 971-46091570 email: madhura.gaikwad@eminggulf.com http://energy.eminggulf.com/CIS-responsible-mining/english

December 2014 1-5 • American Exploration and Mining Association Annual Meeting JA Nugget Resort and Casino, Sparks, NV, USA  Phone: 509-624-1158 • Fax: 509-623-1241 email: [email protected] www.miningamerica.org

1-5 • Mines and Money Business Design Center, London, UK Phone: 44-0-20-7216-6060 email: [email protected] www.minesandmoney.com/london

10-12 • Global Anti-Corruption & Compliance in Mining The Grand Hotel and Suites, Toronto, ON, Canada Phone: 44-0-20-7216-6080

email: [email protected] www.anticorruptionminingsummit.com/toronto

January 2015 15-16 • Missouri Mine Safety and Health Conference Tan-Tar-A Resort, Osage Beach, MO, USA  Phone: 573-635-0208 • Fax: 573-634-8006 email: [email protected] www.mmshc.org

20-22 • 47th Canadian Mineral Processors Conference Westin Hotel, Ottawa, ON, Canada Phone: 613-996-8985 email: wesley.gri[email protected] http://cmpsoc.ca/annual-conference.cfm

26-29 • Mineral Exploration Roundup Vancouver Convention Center East, Vancouver, BC, Canada Phone: 604-689-5271 • Fax: 604-681-2363 email: [email protected] www.amebc.ca/roundup-2015-home

February 2015 1-4 • ISEE Annual Conference on Explosives and Blasting Techniques Sheraton New Orleans Hotel, New Orleans, LA, USA  Phone: 440-349-4400 email: [email protected] www.isee.org/2015-conference

March 2015 1-4 • PDAC 2015 International Convention, Trade Show and Investors Exchange Metro Toronto Convention Center, Toronto, ON, Canada Phone: 416-362-1969 email: [email protected] www.pdac.ca/convention

15-19 • TMS Annual Meeting and Exhibition Walt Disney World, Orlando, FL, USA  Phone: 805-677-4293 • Fax: 805-654-1676 email: [email protected] www.tms.org/meetings/annual-15 n

SME News

SME Foundation

What are you thankful for? A

s 2014 comes to a close, please keep the SME Foundation in mind when you plan your holiday giving. By giving a gift that gives back to your industry, you will support the next generation of global leaders. The SME Foundation is your resource through every stage of your career and provides opportunities at every age level. Contributions to the SME Foundation support:  ABET

ABET recruits, trains and deploys professionals who visit colleges or universities that offer B.S. degrees in several mining engineering fields to ensure that the programs maintain the ABET accreditation. NCEES and the Professional Engineers Exam Committee A record number of attendees registered for the mining/mineral PE exam review course in September 2014. During the last nine years, the number of candidates for the exam has been steadily increasing. Minerals Education Coalition Minerals Education Coalition (MEC) reached 16,000 science educators through the American Geosciences Institute’s Earth Science Week packets that are distributed nationally. MEC also developed aggregates-themed material for back-to-school activities and released an 18-minute video, “Iron in Our Electrical World,” which is a valuable resource for educators and students. Miners Give Back  This program supports worldwide initiatives focused on humanitarian efforts. The program will contribute to improving the lives of individuals in local mining communities. Ph.D. career grants The Ph.D. grant initiative focuses on providing financial support to qualified candidates with industry experience and a desire to pursue an academic career with the means of acquiring a Ph.D. at a U.S. accredited university in mining or extractive metallurgy/mineral processing. The fellowship is intended to cover the cost of tuition, fees, books and

other school-related expenses, as well as a stipend for living expenses, at a rate of $60,000 per year for a maximum of four years. This career grant initiative is designed to provide newly employed, nontenured assistant or associate professors with the financial support needed to better participate in activities, such as research, publication and professional service, which are necessary to achieve tenure and promotion. The proposed actions are two-fold: the development of a four-year, graduate fellowship for qualified Ph.D. students who are committed to pursuing careers in academia and the awarding of career grants intended to assist new faculty in establishing research and publication records necessary to achieve tenure and promotion. Scholarships • • • • • •

MMSA/SMEF Presidential Scholarship. McIntosh Engineering Scholarship fund. Syd S. & Felicia F. Peng Ground Control in Mining Scholarship. George V. Weisdack Scholarship. Rong-Yu Wan Scholarship. J.H. Fletcher & Co. Scholarship.

SME is your Society, this is your Foundation, and we are here for you. Your tax-deductible contribution makes a difference. There are many ways to give to the Foundation. When you go online to renew your membership, round up your renewal dues to an even $200. You can make a contribution by visiting the SME Foundation website at www. smenet.org/foundation/foundationcontributions. And, you can always mail your contribution to the SME Foundation, 12999 E. Adam Aircraft Cir., Englewood CO 80122, USA. The SME Foundation Gala Dinner and Silent Auction is THE event to kick-off the SME Annual Conference and Expo. Make it a great night and get your tickets today. Tickets can be purchased online SME News when you register for the conference. n

SMEF needs auction items

S

how us how much you love mining by contributing to the SME Annual Conference and Expo Foundation Dinner and Silent Auction in Denver, CO. Yes, it’s time to start thinking about what you will be donating to the SME Foundation’s auction on Feb. 15, 2015. The auction is an excellent way to help raise funds for the educational programs that the Foundation supports annually. You will be recognized in the April issue of Mining Engineering magazine as a contributor to the auction. You will also receive a thank you receipt for tax purposes should you choose to take the donation as a deduction. Items that generate great interest include: (Continued on page 74)

  contents

74 Minerals Education Coalition 75 Local Section Hero 76 Rock in the Box 77 Fine Grind 81 Obituaries

SME News

Minerals Education Coalition

Mining In Society merit badge launched in southern Illinois by Rachel Grimes, MEC Outreach Coordinator

T

en Boy Scouts from southern Illinois and the St. Louis metro area spent two Saturdays in September 2014 earning the new Mining in Society merit badge. The workshop was sponsored by the Illinois Mining Institute and hosted by Rend Lake College’s Coal Mining Technology Department and Knight Hawk Coal Co. The workshop was organized by Joseph Hirschi, a member of the SME’s content development team that established the merit badge requirements and wrote the handbook. The event included learning about important minerals and how they are used. Boy Scouts learned “If it can’t be grown, it has to be mined” and how even the pizza they had for lunch is a product of the mining industry. They discovered that mining operations exist all around them, whether they live in the big city or in a rural area.

To learn more about the Mining In Society merit badge and to read the entire story on the southern Illinois launch, visit www.mineralseducationcoalition.org/mininginsocietymb.

The Scouts toured an underground, surface, reclamation and preparation plant at Knight Hawk Coal Co’s Prairie Eagle Mine complex.

Joseph Hirschi, SME member and event organizer, showed the Scouts how to read underground coal mine maps.

Presentation resources available

Thank you to the SME members, sections and student chapters who continue to conduct local outreach about the importance of mining and minerals in everyday life. Are you interested in conducting presentations in your community? Visit www.mineralseducationcoalition.org/mec-presentation-resources for PowerPoint presentations, handouts and presentation tips. Contact [email protected] for more information. n

SMEF Auction (Continued from page 73)

• • •

Trips, timeshare weekends, mining tours. Maps, engineering drawings of mines and similar collectibles. Scale models of mining equipment (trucks, dozers etc.).

• • • •

Antique lamps or other mining memorabilia. Old mining company stock certificates. Rock and mineral samples. Sports jerseys.

We would also like to offer vacation packages. Do you have a timeshare or vacation home to donate? To donate auction items, please visit the Foundation’s website at http://community.smenet.org/smefoundation/home. Click on the SMEF Silent Auction Donation Form button, complete the form and submit it online. Then send in your item. Or, print your form and send it with your item. For additional questions and information, or to share your ideas, contact Megan Wayne at 303948-4224 or [email protected]. n

Local Section Hero SME News

Harvey Thorleifson is a Local Section Hero H

arvey Thorleifson is a local section hero. At the core of each local section is a group of dedicated volunteers who organize section activities, recruit members and raise money for local activities. To recognize our member volunteers for their hard work at the local section level, SME created the Local Section Hero program. Harvey Thorleifson, of the SME Minnesota Section, is November’s Local Section Hero. Thorleifson joined SME in 2009 and was already active in the Minnesota local sections. He was the 2013-2014 chair of the Minnesota Section and the 2008-2011 chair of the Twin Cities subsection. He is currently a member of the Mining & Exploration Division, a director of the Minnesota Section and a director of the Twin Cities subsection. Thorleifson is director of the Minnesota Geological Survey, the state geologist for Minnesota and a professor in the Department of Earth Sciences at the University of Minnesota. He holds a masters degree in geology from the University of Manitoba and a Ph.D. in geology from the University of Colorado. He was the founding chair of the Minnesota Center for Mineral Resource Education, 20022003 chair of the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM), Ottawa Branch and, in the late 1990s, he toured Canada as a CIM Distinguished Lecturer speaking on The Search for Diamonds in Canada. He was with the Geological Survey of Canada from 1986 to 2003. The focus of the Minnesota Section, led by Thorleifson, is its successful conference in Duluth. This year, more than 600 registrants and more than 200 exhibitors attended the three-day conference held April 21-23, 2014 at the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center. The SME Northern Minnesota Subsection and the Twin Cities Subsection played major roles in planning the 2014 conference. The

Minnesota Section is now a partner with CIM in hosting the North American Iron Ore Symposium every other year, alternating between Duluth and Montréal. In 2015, the annual conference in Duluth will be held on April 13-15, supported by a strengthened SME national/Minnesota partnership that Thorleifson worked to Outgoing Minnesota Section chair establish. Minnesota is Harvey Thorleifson addresses the also preparing to host banquet at the conclusion of the 2014 the SME Annual Con- SME Duluth conference. ference and Expo in Minneapolis, Feb. 25-28, 2018. Meanwhile, the Twin Cities Subsection has been holding a successful conference in the autumn, focusing on silica sand, crushed stone, sand and gravel. This year, 200 people attended a joint conference on Oct. 7-8 in Eau Claire, WI co-hosted by the Twin Cities Subsection and the Wisconsin Local Section. In addition, there are three thriving SME Student Chapters in Minnesota, and a Friends of Minnesota reception is held every year at the SME annual conference. Things are going well in the Minnesota Sections, and Harvey Thorleifson reports that he is proud to be a member of the highly capable team that organizes it all. n

Personal news STEVE NYE (SME) has

recently joined the sales staff at J. H. Fletcher & Co. as regional manager of the Western U.S. district. Most recently, he was regional manager for Strata Worldwide for the Western U.S. and Canadian mining industry. In his 22-year career, Nye has worked for Dwidag Systems International, Hilti, Shell Mining, Arco and Arch Coal Co. He was the SME Student Chapter president at the University of Utah. JOHN RICH has also joined the sales staff at Fletcher as a field service representative for the U.S. Midwestern region. During his 24-year mining career, he has held positions at NYE Pyro Mining, Smith Coal, American Coal and Gibson County Coal. Most recently, he was maintenance manager at Patriot Coal’s Highland #9 Mine.

R.J. GANEY (SME) has joined Syntron Material Handling

as underground product manager. Prior to joining Syntron, Ganey held positions with Walter Energy and the Drummond Co. He has more than 30 years of experience in the mining industry working directly for mining companies as well as manufacturers, which has provided him with an understanding of the underground and mining industry from the perspectives of the producer and manufacturer. He earned a B.S. in mineral engineering from the University of Alabama and acquired multiple certifications GANEY  in the mining field. Midway Gold Corp. has appointed TIMOTHY HADDON

SME News

Rock in the Box

M&E issues call for auction items by Bob Washnock, M&E Fundraising Chair

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ear fellow Mining & Exploration (M&E) Division members: I am pleased to announce the upcoming Richard E. Gertsch Memorial Silent Auction at the 2015 SME Annual Conference and Expo. The Mining & Exploration Division has given three to five scholarships annually for many years. These scholarships are needed to attract and retain the most promising students to the mining and geology fields. We depend on your generous donations to supply us with the auction items needed to bolster our scholarship fund. This year, the auction will take place during the M&E luncheon at the SME Annual Conference and Expo in Denver, CO on Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2015. We encourage you to attend both the Annual Conference and the M&E Division luncheon. All proceeds of the auction (yes, 100 percent) will be deposited into our Scholarship Endowment Fund. Would you or your organization please consider a donation for this event? Items auctioned in the past have included: • • • • • • • • • •

Mining related memorabilia. Historic mining artifacts. Outstanding mineral samples. Maps, publications and pictures. Commemorative coins. Statues and limited edition prints. Sports memorabilia or sports jerseys. Old mining company stock certificates. Scale models of mining equipment. Cash donations are gladly accepted.

If you are able to participate in this effort to raise

scholarship funds, please send the donation, with a brief description and a suggested retail price to Robert Washnock, Chair, Richard E. Gertsch Memorial Auction, SME, 12999 E. Adam Aircraft Cir., Englewood, CO 80112. All donations should be received by Jan. 31, 2015 to allow time to record your donations and prepare them for auction. Full acknowledgment of all contributions will be made during the division luncheon. Luncheon table sponsors M&E is also offering division members the opportunity to sponsor tables at the Wednesday luncheon, which will be held at the Colorado Convention Center. Table sponsorships are $1,000 and provide the following benefits.

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Reserved table of 10 (including reserved sign with logo) at the M&E luncheon. Having a reserved table gives you the opportunity to fill the table with your organization’s employees, vendors, customers or students you are recruiting to join your organization. Table sponsor acknowledgment during the program. Logo recognition in the M&E luncheon PowerPoint presentation.

If you would like to support the M&E Division’s Scholarship Fund with a silent auction donation and/or a table sponsorship, please sign up at www.surveymonkey. com/s/2015_med_donations. If you have any questions, please contact Steve Kral at SME, [email protected] or 303948-4245. Thank you for helping us with our scholarship fundraising efforts. n

Hartman Award issues call for nominations

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he Coal & Energy (C&E) and the Mining & Exploration (M&E) divisions of SME have issued a call for nominations for the 2015 Howard L. Hartman Award. The Hartman Award was established in 1989 to recognize distinguished contributions in practice, teaching or research in the field of underground ventilation engineering. There are no restrictions regarding nationality, age professional field or membership in SME. The nomination should provide a complete statement of the reasons for the nomination. It should include a record of the nominee’s professional and industrial achievements in sufficient detail for the

HARTMAN

Hartman Award Committee to judge the nominee’s worthiness for the award. Recipients of the award are selected by the award committee and are subject to approval by the executive committees of the C&E and M&E divisions, with notification to the SME Board of Directors. The award, which consists of an engraved plaque, is normally presented at the U.S. Mine Ventilation Symposium. To submit a nomination, please download the nomination form at www.smenet.org/ awards and submit the completed form to [email protected] by Dec. 31, 2014. Nominations will be forwarded to Phil Patton, chair of the Underground Ventilation Committee. n

SME News

Fine Grind

MPD will hold plenary session at Denver meeting T

he Mineral & Metallurgical Processing Division (MPD) will host a plenary session on Monday afternoon, Feb. 16, during the 2015 SME Annual Conference and Expo. During past MPD plenary sessions, the winners of the Antoine M. Gaudin, Robert H. Richards and Milton E. Wadsworth awards have given talks on flotation innovation, the impacts of super cycles on the mining industry, lessons learned in project and technology developments, bio-leaching and other relevant topics. The 2015 MPD plenary session portends to be very interesting and a must-attend event for MPD members. This year’s presentations will be given by Phil Walker, the Gaudin Award winner, Rick Honaker, the Richards Award recipient, and David B. George, recipient of the Wadsworth Award. Walker is being recognized for advancing process oxidation through the implementation of new engineering

concepts and designs. Honaker has made substantial contributions to the advancement of mineral and coal processing research, technology, education and professional service. George is being honored for his accomplishments leading to the pioneering development of extractive metallurgy technology, especially the Kennecott-Outotec flash converting process. The MPD would like to thank BHP Billiton for sponsoring the Robert H. Richards Award. Other MPD events scheduled for the 2015 conference include the unit committee meetings on Sunday afternoon, the Scotch Night Cap on Tuesday night, the Student Poster Session on Wednesday morning, the division luncheon on Wednesday and 13 other technical sessions, More details will be given in future Fine Grind articles, so check back next month. n

Student chapter members at ISM present papers

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he SME Student Chapter at the Indian School of Mines (ISM) encourages students at all levels of schooling to participate in educational group activities and gain valuable experience. The student chapter has taken on the tasks of: • • • •

Introducing new students to the mining department. Networking with graduate students, professors and industry professionals. Exposing students to all aspects related to mining, ranging from conferences to underground tours to summer employment. Helping students gain leadership skills.

The SME student chapter experience at ISM is one of

the most significant in the mining students’ academic and professional careers. This active chapter recently conducted a presentation of papers on the theme, Mineral Conservation and Development. Teams wrote papers and presented their findings on topics such as deep sea mining, mineral mapping through remote sensing and cutting edge technology in mine safety. The first place team was Shubham Chaudhary and Piyush Kumar Prasad, second year mining engineering students. Second place was taken by Tejasvi Agarwal and Abhay Kumar, second year mining engineering students. Third Place winners were Aditya Shrestkar and Gaurav Gehlot, third year environmental engineering students. n

ISM chapter members and team winners of the paper-presentation contest.

SME News

Local Section News

Engineering, Cool! Turning ideas into reality By Julie Varichak, Minnesota Section and SEH Inc.

aunching a rocket into the sky — one that you have built — this brings engineering to life. What better way to learn about how “cool” engineering really is than through hands-on, active learning. This is the goal of Engineering, Cool! Engineering, Cool! is an interactive program offered to middle school students in the Hibbing and Virginia, MN schools. Real-life engineers volunteer their time to teach the students about science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) and share their personal stories about how they ended up being an engineer or scientist. Engineering, Cool! is designed to dispel the fear of engineering and show that there is an opportunity for all students to pursue a career in the STEM fields. Engineering, Cool! is a two-hour after-school program featuring classes such as mining, ground water aquifers, physics in the real world, surface water quality, chemistry, geology of the Iron Range, rockets, circuits, watercrafts and bridge design. All classes cover a bit of the theory, but they primarily focus on hands-on application and experiments. Sixth grade students are at a pivotal age where they will start to choose classes that may affect future career paths. Engineering, Cool! encourages students to continue in elective math and science courses by connecting the dots between school courses and future STEM career paths. And who wouldn’t want to learn how to build and test a rocket, make invisible ink, create a lake, mine chocolate chips from cookies, learn about the physics of curling or build a life-size crossable bridge in the classroom?

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Engineering, Cool! offers a capstone field trip to the Duluth Children’s Museum. This field trip is full of unique learning opportunities, including a simulation of the moon landing. How do you drop an egg from the top of Three students prepare their rockets prior to a three-story blast off. building without breaking it? The students had to work together to create a light weight, yet safe, lunar landing device to protect their cargo, the egg. Engineering, Cool! would not be possible without the support of the dedicated engineers who are willing to share their time and experiences with the students and the sponsors who provide financially to ensure that all interested students are able to participate. SME has been instrumental in making this program a success through Minerals Education Coalition materials and the local section grant program. This support has allowed Engineering, Cool! to expand into a third school district. If you would like additional information on Engineering, Cool!, please contact Julie Varichak at SEH, [email protected] or Christie Kearney, Barr Engineering, ckearney@ barr.com. n

 Facility design taught these students the efciency of an

Sixth grade students learned the art of gold panning and got to

SME News

Professional Engineers Survey

Professional engineers —

SME needs your help to complete a survey By Andrew Schissler, Coordinator, Professional Engineers Exam Committee

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ME needs the assistance of licensed professional engineers in a mining or a mining-related field who will soon receive a request, either by email or by letter, to complete a web-based survey. Why? The individual states that license engineers have engaged the National Council for Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES) to administer the professional examination process for all engineering disciplines, including mining/mineral processing. SME’s 43-member PE Exam Committee supplies the questions, in four topical areas, for the mining/mineral processing PE exam. Parallel efforts occur for mechanical engineering, civil engineering, nuclear engineering, chemical engineering and others. NCEES and many states require that the licensure examinations for professional engineers be reviewed and updated every

seven years. The mining/mineral processing exam is currently under this cyclic review, and we need and respectfully ask you to complete a survey that will ensure that the exam continues to contain questions that are pertinent for current practice. The mining/mineral processing exam also includes environmental engineering. This seven-year cycle of examination review is named the Professional Activities and Knowledge Study — PAKS. Your responses are completely confidential. Those filling out the survey will placed in a drawing to receive a scientific mining antique. Your completion of this survey is critical in setting the mining/mineral processing PE exam for the next seven years. The PE Committee and Michael Schlumpberger, 2014 committee chair, thank you for your time and consideration. n

Syd and Felicia Peng endow professorship in mining/mineral engineering

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or more than 40 years, Syd and Felicia Peng have been important contributors to the future of countless mining engineering students at West Virginia University. Their contributions have been financial as well, and they have now established the Syd and Felicia Peng Professorship in Mining Engineering. Syd Peng, the Charles E. Lawall Chair Emeritus, and his wife, Felicia, an associate professor of mining engineering, donated an additional $150,000 to establish the professorship, making their total contribution to the department $500,000. “During the past two decades WVU’s mining engineering program has grown to become one of the premier programs in the world mining community,” said Syd Peng. “It is absolutely essential to maintain this reputation, and our hope is that this professorship will contribute in some way toward this goal.” The endowment will provide the holder of the professorship, who has yet to be selected, with support for research, teaching and service. While there are several endowed professorships available within the department, all have an emphasis on mining. This professorship will also be available to specialists in the mineral processing area, which is Felicia Peng’s area of research expertise. Syd Peng has written numerous textbooks and journal and proceedings articles in the areas of longwall mining, SYD PENG ground control, surface subsidence and

respirable dust. He initiated the annual International Conference on Ground Control in Mining in 1981. In addition to her work in mineral processing, Felicia Peng specializes in coal preparation, interfacial phenomena, modeling and simulation of processes and computer applications. She is an associate editor of Coal Preparation, an internaFELICIA PENG tional journal. Both are members of SME and other professional societies. n

Personal News (Continued from page 75)

(SME) as its new nonexecutive chairman. KENNETH BRUNK (SME), who has retired as chairman and chief executive officer (CEO), will continue to serve as president and CEO until a new CEO is appointed. Haddon is currently chairman of Thompson Creek Metals and president and CEO of International Resource Management. He will also replace ROGER NEWELL (SME), who is retiring from Midway’s board of directors after five years of service. Sierra Metals Inc. has appointed AUDRA WALSH (SME) as CEO and president. Walsh was the CEO and president of Minera SA and the controlling shareholder of Orvana Minerals Corp. DANIEL TELLECHEA will retire as CEO and president of Sierra Metals. n

SME News

Obituaries

LEE R. RICE

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ee R. Rice died Aug. 20, 2014 at the age of 70. Rice was born Oct. 20, 1943 in Bryn Mawr, PA. He received a B.S. degree (honors) in chemistry from Case Western Reserve University and an M.A. in geology (high honors) from the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology. He served as airborne combat crew commander in the U.S. Air Force during the Vietnam war and later as a nuclear missile commander for the Strategic Air Command. Rice began his career as an exploration geologist at the Humble Oil and RICE Refining Co.’s (Exxon), Western Metals Division in 1970. He then worked for the U.S. Bureau of Mines, Intermountain Field Operations Center in Denver, CO, until he left to found Lee Rice & Associates in 1985. He then founded Data Technology Services in 1990, a company that provided mapping and deposit evaluation services and developed processing automation and control systems for the minerals and petroleum industries around the world. At the time of his death, Rice was president, chief executive officer and director at Colorado Goldfields; vice president and chief engineer for Data Technology Services; director of IBC Advanced Alloys Corp., director

of Alto Group Holdings, chairman of the board of Great American Minerals Exploration and treasurer of the Denver Mining Club. Rice was a licensed professional engineer in Colorado and a registered member of the Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration (SME). For 23 years, Rice worked with the National Council of Examiners for Engineers and Surveyors as a member of SME’s Professional Engineers Exam Committee, writing and grading the national mining and mineral processing professional engineer’s exam. He made numerous technical presentations at professional society meetings and was a contributing author or editor of several publications. He was always ready to assist minerals organizations at science fairs and at mining events. During his career, Rice also served as president and member of the Colorado Engineering Council, chair of the Colorado Section of SME, regional vice president and director of SME and chair of SME’s Mining & Exploration Division. He was a member of the Geological Society of America, Sigma XI and the Society of Economic Geologists. He received the Lifetime Achievement Award from SME’s Colorado Section in 2010. Rice is survived by his son, Lee K. Rice; his companion, Marina LaFore; stepchildren Renee LaFore, David LaFore and Dan LaFore; six grandchildren and a sister, Mary Rice. n

Membership Chandler Absher, Nancy, KY Jason Agdeppa, Quezon City, Philippines Spencer Allen, Salt Lake City, UT Briana Anderson, Tucson, AZ Mark Anderson, Tucson, AZ Williams Amadeus Apaza M., Juliaca, Peru Yony Valer Apaza P., Juliaca San Roman, Peru Carlos Arevalo, Medellin, Colombia Julio Arrieta, Medellin, Colombia Stephane Assembe, Yaounde, Cameroon Frank Michael Barrios C., Juliaca, Peru Malkit Basi, Teaneck, NJ Nicholas Bassi, Claypool, AZ Veronica Bedoya, Pflugerville, TX Mackenzie Bennett, Herriman, UT Gheorghe Bonci, Burnaby, BC, Canada Daniel Brosig, Terrell, TX Dan Brown, Boalsburg, PA Nathan Brownell, Evansville, IN Ricardo Caceres, Lima, Peru German Alberto Calizaya F., Juliaca, Peru Stephen Candelaria, Golden, CO Pieter Caneele, Zwevegen, Belgium Karena Carpenter, Reno, NV Philip Carrier, Lynchburg, VA Jesus Cataño, Medellin, Colombia Erik Charrier, Golden, CO Saurabh Chaturvedi, Dhanbad, India Brian Chronowski, Morenci, AZ Kyle Cleary, Halifax, NS, Canada Franklin Junnior Condor H., Lima, Peru Erick Condori C., Lima, Peru John Conyer, Sahuarita, AZ

Becky Copp, Scottsdale, AZ Felipe Correia S., Houghton, MI Kin Craig, Sandy Springs, GA Richard Cubeta, Houston, TX Justin Cunningham, Climax, CO Paul D. Antonio, State College, PA Alexander Davidson, Spring Creek, NV Ed Desjardins, Tucson, AZ Michael DeVasto, Milwaukee, WI Christopher Durham, Saint-Redempteur, PQ,   Canada Oscar Echeverri, Medellin, Colombia Erin Epperson, Boone, NC Miguel Espitia, Medellin, Colombia Leandro Fagundes, Porto Alegre-RS, Brazil Jeffrey Fiorenza, Lexington, KY Alexandra Foty, Montreal, PQ, Canada Kaitlin Frary, Provo, UT Andreana Galvan, Lakewood, CO Andrii Garan, Fairbanks, AK William Garcia, Medellin, Colombia Cristian Garrido-Cisterna, Santiago, Chile Andrew Geilenfeldt, Salt Lake City, UT Craig Gelber, Carlin, NV Ricardo Gimenez, Antofagasta, Chile Harsh Golia, Dhanbad, India Matthew Gore, Austin, TX Vincent Gozdz, Quebec, PQ, Canada Michael Gross, Lakewood, CO Rick Guillen O., Ate, Peru Abdelhamed Hamed, Lexington, KY Yojan Rodrigo Hancco F., Juliaca San Roman,   Peru

C. Jane Heard, Butte, MT Javier Hernandez H., Nazca Ica, Peru Zachery Hibdon, Elko, NV William Hofer, Elko, NV Matthew Hoffer, Frankfort, IL Greg Horne, Dartmouth, NS, Canada Connor Husman, Carbondale, IL Salihi Iliasu, Carbondale, IL Idowu Itiola, Torino, Italy Andrew Jackson, Lexington, KY James Johnson, Kansas City, MO Kira Johnson, Arvada, CO Deborah Johnston, Missoula, MT Tannyr Jones, Rapid City, SD Shubham Kankane, Dhanbad, India Tyler Kaplan, North Balgowlah, NSW, Australia Hasan Kazmee, Rantoul, IL Harman Khosa, Ottawa, ON, Canada Andra Kidd, Denver, CO Scott Kier, Racine, WI Prasun Kumar, Dhanbad, India Rohit Kumar, Dhnabad, India Rajendra Prasad KVSR, Golden, CO Dominic Lamaro, Sydney, NSW, Australia Justin Lawrimore, Sandy, UT Chieh Liu, Green Valley, AZ Juan Carlos Llerena S., Lima, Peru Chun Xiao Lu, Burnaby, BC, Canada Hilda Lujan, Ruth, NV Mohamed Maghari, Golden, CO Mario Juyaki Mamani A., Puno, Peru Manuela Marin, Medellin, Colombia James Martinez, White Plains, NY

SME News

Obituaries

BERNARD SCHEINER

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ernard (Fumagalli) Scheiner, Sr., 76, died July 31, 2014 in Las Vegas, NV from a blood clot to the heart. He was born in Atlantic City, NJ, March 12, 1938 and married Estelle Barker on March 26, 1959. Scheiner earned a B.S. degree in chemistry from the University of Nevada-Las Vegas in 1961 and a Ph.D. in chemistry from the University of Nevada-Reno in 1969. He remains number 26 on the all-time scoring list in basketball at UNLV. Scheiner served with U.S. Bureau of Mines (USBM) for 30 years. He was a research chemist and project leader SCHEINER in Reno, NV from 1966-1979 and a research supervisor in the fine particle waste and technology section in Tuscaloosa, AL from 1979 until he retired in 1996. He wrote more than 200 scientific publications, edited five books and held 17 patents. He received the Meritorious Service Award from the U.S. Department of the Interior in 1981. In the 1970s, Scheiner developed a number of processes for the recovery of metal values from off-grade ores and concentrates. The research centered around the use of chlorine-hypochlorite generated in situ in the ore pulp. The technique was successfully used in pilot plant studies to recover mercury from low grade ores and to recover rhenium and molybdenum from ore grade concentrates. Scheiner’s

group was also instrumental in developing the chlorine oxidation technique for treatment of carbonaceous gold ores prior to cyanidation. The initial, full-sized plant to use the technology operated at Newmont’s Carlin #1 Mine. For this research, he received the AIME Richards Award in 1994 and was listed number one on the patent granted to the USBM. Scheiner joined BCD Technologies, a small company dealing with modeling, mineral process and computer control, as president in 1996. He later served as an adjunct chemistry professor at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa until his death. Scheiner was active in SME’s Mineral & Metallurgical Processing Division, serving on many committees. He became a Distinguished Member of SME in 1990. He was president of the American Filtration & Separations Society (AFS) in 1992 and received the AFS Frank Tiller Award in 1995, the Wells Shoemaker Award in 1996 and the Fellow Member Award 2000. He also served as editor of the AFS Fluid Particle Separation Journal . Scheiner resided in Northport, AL with his wife for the last 35 years of his life. A member of the Church of Christ for 55 years and a former elder, he was currently a member of the Northwood congregation. He is survived by his wife of 55 years; a son, Bernard Jr.; a daughter, Charlotte; four grandchildren; and his brother, Stanley Scheiner. All who knew him will remember and admire him for his dedication, scientific contributions, sense of humor, generosity and his passion for teaching. n

Membership Daniel McCormick, Salt Lake City, UT Liam Mcgrail, Golden, CO Elaina McPhetridge, London, KY Irving Mendoza, Rapid City, SD Charles Merchant, Heflin, AL Alex Ruben Merma C., Puno, Peru Jacob Milleville, Littleton, CO Ketan Mishra, Dhanbad, India Paul Moir, Ballarat, VIC, Australia Bob Mueller, Reno, NV Donna Mullenax, Savannah, GA Geison Munante P., San Pedro, Honduras Fabricio Muniz A., Cusco, Peru Brad Munns, Bountiful, UT Robert Murray, Vancouver, BC, Canada Kaleigh Mutch, Provo, UT Jeff Myerski, Pittsburgh, PA Karolina Naranjo, Medellin, Colombia Mark Neuroth, Fairbanks, AK Kevin Neville, Salt Lake City, UT Laura Nugent, Morgantown, WV Johnathan Oldham, Lexington, KY Tom Palmer, Thatcher, AZ Sidhant Panda, Dhanbad, India Daniel Paquette, Los Angeles, CA Hannah Parker, Lexington, KY Dhiren Patel, Elko, NV Meisam Peiravi, Carbondale, IL Bradley Pekas, Tampa, FL Kevin Peterson, Salina, KS Steve Peugh, Tucson, AZ

Thomas Pickett, Salt Lake City, UT Mujamet Conrac Poma H., Rimac, Peru Laura Porras, Golden, CO Theresa Poruznick, Climax, CO Matthew Powers, Lakewood, CO Justice Price, Morgantown, WV Michael Priebe, Anchorage, AK Max Hubert Quilla Q., Juliaca San Roman, Peru Miguel Angel Quilla Q., Juliaca San Roman, Peru Edwin Quispe, Puno, Peru Pammela Ribeiro, Carbondale, IL Richard Richards, Tucson, AZ Taylor Richmond, Knoxville, TN Alberto Rios, Lima, Peru Matthew Robison, Salt Lake City, UT Sebastian Rojas, Medellin, Colombia Trevor Rosania, Lexington, KY Charlie Rossman, Lakewood, CO Cristian Ruelas F., Puno, Peru Clayton Russell, Sandy, UT Joao Paulo S Aguiar, Golden, CO Jaidev Sankar, New York, NY Gireesh Sankara Raman, State College, PA Nestor Santa, Medellin, Colombia Prince Sarfo, Butte, MT Matthew Savas, West Jordan, UT Daniel Schwendeman, Winchester, KY Richard Sellschop, Stamford, CT Wesley Shafer, Lexington, KY Evan Shefik, Littleton, CO

Bailey Simmons, Midvale, UT Gabrielle Smith, Lexington, KY Cristian Soto, Medellin, Colombia Benjamin Sovinski, Houghton, MI Robert Stall, Atlanta, GA Steven Stansfield, Bluefield, VA Jacqueline Star, Bungowannah, NSW, Australia Brad Stilley, Tucson, AZ Keith Strickling, Vancouver, BC, Canada Theodore Sutton, Salt Lake City, UT Fox Thorpe, Lexington, KY Angel Ruben Ticona A., Juliaca, Peru Nicole Torguson, Superior, WI Noelia Valencia, Lima, Peru Catalina Vanegas, Envigado, Colombia Kevin Walker, Oxford, MS Li-Peng Wang, Montreal, PQ, Canada Megan Wanlass, Tooele, UT Ethan Watson, Morgantown, WV Gary Weaver, Orem, UT Olivia Welch, Butte, MT Wesley Whittington, Roy, UT Phillip Wicklein, Arlington Heights, IL Sarah Williams, London, United Kingdom Raphael Woolley, Tucson, AZ Michael Wrona, Lake Havasu City, AZ Albert YoshidaJ r., Alamogordo, NM Jaime Gerardo Yupanqui S., Comas, Peru Cristian Zapata, Medellin, Colombia n

Industry Newswatch

Executive Committee WAAIME News

WAAIME Executive Committee issues call for nominations

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he WAAIME Executive Committee is seeking nominations for the incoming Executive Committee member. Nominees will be selected from the outgoing committee member’s area. Since the outgoing committee member is the eastern representative, the incoming committee member will be from a eastern section. Please email an electronic copy of a photo and a brief biography of the nominee to AnnMarie Kochevar at [email protected]. If you have any questions, contact Kochevar, WAAIME, 12999 E. Adam Aircraft Cir., Englewood, CO 80112, phone 303-9484239, fax 303-948-3845, [email protected].

The due dates for nominations are: • • • •

Nov. 28 - All nominations with photos and

biographies must be received at SME headquarters. Dec. 1 - SME headquarters will forward the nominees to the WAAIME Executive Committee. Dec. 15 - WAAIME chair will notify SME headquarters of the incoming committee member. Dec. 22 - WAAIME chair will notify the incoming committee member and invite her to the 2015 SME Annual Conference and Expo. n

Executive Committee will meet in Denver

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he WAAIME Executive Committee will meet at the Hyatt Regency Convention Center Hotel on Sunday, Feb. 15, 2015, 8 am to noon. On Monday, Feb. 16, from 5-6:30 pm, WAAIME will host a reception for members and scholarship recipients, also at the Hyatt. If you are interested in sponsoring the reception, please

contact Laura Johnson, [email protected], or phone 303948-4222. This year, WAAIME will host a silent auction in the Hyatt lobby. Please see the midyear report below for details. If you have any questions regarding the WAAIME events, contact AnnMarie [email protected] or phone 303-948-4239. n

Synopsis of the WAAIME midyear meeting by Jean Davin, 2014 WAAIME Chair and Ea stern Representative

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ello WAAIME members. The WAAME Executive Committee met during the SME midyear meeting in Phoenix, AZ and packed in a lot of meetings in that short time. Following is a summary of our discussions and decisions including some that will directly affect the WAAIME Sections. Financials WAAIME is currently using UBS as its brokerage firm. Growth has been steady with a well-diversified portfolio emphasizing the interest and dividends needed to support our scholarships and expenses. All sections are required to complete their annual financial report for our audit. WAAIME received a wonderful letter from Howard Kraus, a former scholarship recipient, who has given us permission to share his story and who has donated $9,000 to our funds. A copy of his heartwarming story follows this article. The executive committee discussed plans to reach out to other scholarship recipients asking them to send support for future generations of students. At the 2015 SME Annual Conference and Expo, WAAIME will sponsor the Iris Whinnen-Owen Silent Auction featuring mining and nonmining items donated by our members. Earnings will be distributed to the sections. If you have any items you would like to donate, please forward them to us at SME headquarters, 12999 E. Adam

Aircraft Cir., Englewood, CO 80112 USA. The section grants of $2,000, given out to 10 sections, were very popular, and that program will be reviewed at our annual meeting. WAAIME has applied for a co-operative grant program with AIME and is waiting for a decision from the AIME board. The five WAAIME international sections will receive an increase in their yearly scholarship funds to $12,000 next year. The yearly stipend has not been increased since its inception, and current market conditions permit this increase. Scholarships SME implemented new scholarship program software for its divisions (currently on SME’s website at www. smenet.org/scholarships) and WAAIME has been included. The committee asked that the WAAIME financial page include the requirement of a copy of the assistantship agreement for all Ph.D. candidates. Also, a new interviewer review form has been forwarded to all sections to assist the interviewers with their decisions. WAAIME has decided to limit student scholarships to three years. This will accommodate fifth year seniors and graduate students. SME Foundation An SME ad hoc committee proposed that WAAIME (Continued on page 84)

WAAIME News

Section News

Missouri-Rolla Section uses grants for student activities By Laurie Miller, Education for Tomorrow Chair

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he Missouri-Rolla WAAIME section is thankful for the WAAIME grant money that the section was able to use to help our rural schools. They are so often overlooked and underfunded in the area of science. Through the grant, the section sent the eighth grade class of Salem, MO on a field trip to the Doe Run Mining Co. This trip is important to the children because many of their parents or family members work in the mines, and they can see geology, metallurgy and mining in action. The section also sent a student to a summer program called It’s a Girl Thing at the Missouri University of Science and Technology (S&T). This is a week-long residential program designed to provide fun along with an introduction to engineering, science and technology for girls entering sev-

enth or eighth grade. The girls are exposed to the various science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) careers and encouraged to explore their personal interests through group projects and design competitions. It was a $400 scholarship open to a girl who was good student. The teacher had several students who wanted to go, so she had a competition for the scholarship. This is a pivotal age for girls to see women in science. They make the camp fun, and the women of Missouri S&T are great role models for the girls. Alicia Barnett, who attended the camp this summer, said, “I want to thank you for supporting me with the tuition that allowed me to attend the camp. I learned about (Continued on page 86)

Midyear report (Continued from page 83)

align itself with the SME Foundation, since we have many of the same goals. The WAAIME Executive Committee is currently reviewing this proposal, and details will be forwarded to the dections for comments. SME has assured us that the choice is ours to make, and the executive committee will examine this thoroughly before contacting our sections for questions or concerns.

concerns or feedback is welcome. Hope you are having a good Fall. n

Founder’s Award The bid from a Mexico-DF member has been accepted for creating this award. The first award is scheduled to be presented at the annual meeting in Denver, CO in February 2015.

I am a 1960 graduate of Washington State University (WSU)with a degree in mining engineering. During the 1956-1957 academic year, I was awarded a WAAIME scholarship in the amount of $300. I promptly misspent the money by buying myself a pair of skis; shortly thereafter, I found myself on academic probation. I have felt embarrassment over how I treated the generosity that was extended to me. I now wish to repay that amount. I compute the $300 from1956 would have a present worth of approximately $8,830, assuming a 6 percent annual inflation rate compounded for 58 years. Please accept my check i n the amount of nine-thousand ($9,000) dollars for your current scholarship fund. I ultimately graduated from WSU at the top of my class and worked in the engineering field until my retirement in January 2001. My consulting firm, though small, competed successfully with very large international firms and received two national awards for engineering excellence. Thank you for your generosity. Hopefully, this money will benefit a worthy recipient. WSU no longer has a mining engineering program, however, the University of Idaho does. Perhaps you will give a student in that program special consideration.

100-year anniversary  It was noted that WAAIME will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2017. An ad hoc committee has been appointed to develop ideas and a budget for this celebration. Any suggestions are welcome and should be forwarded to the WAAIME liaison at SME headquarters. Personnel change It is with deep regret that we announce that two of the assistants who have been with us since our merger with SME have announced their resignations. We wish Mary O’Shea and Tessa Baxter the best of luck in their new positions. AnnMarie Kochevar ([email protected]) has been assigned to be the SME liaison for the WAAIME Division. As Executive Committee chair, I will try to update our members by email when things develop. So, it would help us tremendously if all sections provide email addresses for their members, even if it is a family member’s address who will assist the section member. As always, any questions,

Letter from Howard Kraus Dear Ladies,

Best regards, Howard Kraus

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Section News WAAIME News

Susan Harwood is honored by Virginia Tech’s mining department T

he Virginia Tech Department of Mining and Minerals Engineering honored WAAIME member Susan Harwood at its annual scholarship and awards banquet held in April 2014 at the Inn at Virginia Tech. Harwood was taken by surprise by the recognition, which was accomplished with the assistance of various members of the West Virginia-Southern (WV-S) section of WAAIME. According to department head Greg Adel, Harwood was recognized for “her tireless support of Virginia Tech mining engineering students and her strong advocacy on their behalf in her role with WAAIME.” She was given a Gary Prazen statue entitled Dedicated. Adel noted that Harwood is a past national president of WAAIME and currently serves as vice chair of the WV-S section, which supports students in the mining programs at several schools, including Virginia Tech. In her various roles with WAAIME, Adel said that Harwood “has provided unparalleled support to mineral-related education programs around the world.” Since 2000, WAAIME has awarded more than $750,000 in scholarships to Virginia Tech mining engineering students. According to Adel, while many members of WAAIME make this possible, none has represented the face of the organization in the Appalachian region and at the national level like Harwood. In addition to securing scholarships, she has been a strong advocate for getting extra support for students in difficult financial situations at

Susan Harwood receives the Prazen statue from Greg Adel in recognition of her service to students in the Mining and Minerals Department at Virginia Tech.

risk of having to drop out of school. Numerous mining engineers today attribute their success to her help. n

Utah-Coal Section awards nine scholarships by Gail LaFrentz, Scholarship Committee Chair

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he Utah-Coal section is fortunate that it has been able to sponsor the Coal Country Classic Scholarship fundraiser, in conjunction with Ellis Pierce of Pierce Oi l/Golden West Industries, for the past 19 years. Because of this event, the section is able to award several academic scholarships each year and to help our community with earth science educational projects. The section starts sending out scholarship applications in January, which also requires a essay on a topic of our choosing. This year’s topic was the future of the steam coal industry in America — reserves, market, labor forces, energy policy and environmental concerns. I am lucky to have two great WAAIME ladies on my scholarship committee, Jenny Richins and Danelle Boren, and our treasurer Lisa Mortenson. She does a great job writing the checks for us to take to the awards banquet. We each receive a copy of the students’ applications, and we read and re-read them before making our final decision. This year we were able to

Scholarship recipients from the University of Utah Department of Mining Engineering were: front row (l-r) Jason Young, Crystal Darger, Natalia Healey and Kendal Bergman. Back row (l-r) Gail LaFrentz, WAAIME, Ryan Burton, George Chapin, Russel Spaulding and Mark Smith. Not pictured is Kameron Stilson, Chemical Engineering Department.

WAAIME News

Section News

Missouri-Rolla (Continued from page 84)

several new and interesting things, not to mention I had a lot of fun, too. My favorite experience at camp was the glass blowing shop. It was really cool how they melted the sand and other elements to form the beautiful colors and made vases, flowers and paperweights. I wish that every girl could share the same experience that I got to have by attending this camp.” Funds for the science wish list The section also decided to give $325 to each of the following schools: Dent-Phelps R3 school, Licking junior high school, Maries County R2 school and St. James middle school. Once we approve the science wish list, we will send

the money. The teachers are happy to send us pictures of the children with the new equipment. The section would like to continue to fund the mine trip and to send more girls next year to camp. And, of course, we place a lot of value on continuing the science equipment wish lists.

The glass-blowing demonstration at It’s a Girl Thing was a favorite activity.

 A teacher’s thank you Thank you for allowing us to go to the mines again. We had a wonderful time. As you can see from the pictures we even had students drive the remote control dump truck. A student at the Doe Run Mine feld While at the mines trip got to try his hand at running the students learned about remote control dump truck. drilling for core samples and did a hands on simulation. They met with a geologist and identified minerals based on density. They visited the smelter and were able to see slag for the first time, some even got to touch it. And of course we went underground to see the actual mining. Doe Run gave each of the students a piece of Galena, the state mineral. This is the field trip that the students look the forward to all year. It is such an awesome opportunity to be able to take the entire eighth grade to the mines and let the curriculum come to life for them. Thank you for providing the funds to make that happen for us. Debbi Ritchey, eighth grade science teacher, Salem Middle school n

Santiago section honors scholarship students Members of the Santiago Section of WAAIME presented scholarships to several students during a section luncheon. Those attending the scholarship presentation included (l-r) Claudia Barrìa, scholar; Benilda Dahmen, section chair; Nadia Mery, scholar; Alejandra Gomez, scholar; Betty Vargas, WAAIME vice chair; Rosita Klohn, WAAIME Hospitality chair; Andrès Velasco, scholar; Boris Leal, scholar; Gonzalo Sepulveda, scholar; Hector Painevilo, scholar and Pablo Hechersdorf, scholar.

WAAIME News

Section News

PHYLLIS LaPRAIRIE

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ong time WAAIME member, Phyllis LaPrairie, passed away Aug. 8, 2014. She was an important member of the Reno, NV WAAIME section and served at various times as the chair and co-chair of the section. She frequently hosted the meetings at her house as well as hosting the summer picnic, so we could use her swimming pool. In addition, her son, Roger, was the chef for the section’s picnics. LaPrairie was born Oct. 13, 1926. Her father, Waldron Green, was a mining engineer, and her husband, Jules LaPrairie, was also a mining LaPRAIRIE engineer. She lived in many mining towns, including Flin Flon in northern Canada, Leadville, CO, Ely, NV, Butte, MT, Balmat, NY and Vancouver, BC, Canada. She was a nurse and found time and energy to raise five children. Two of her sons also became mining engineers. n

SHIRLEY DAY

Necrology Name, City, State

Section Year joined

Ruth Bryant Salt Lake City, UT

1992 UT-N

Shirley Day Rolla, MO

1989 MO-R

Joyce Fuerstenau Yuma, AZ

1971 NV-R

Sally Klein Tucson, AZ

1956 AZ-TSM

Phyllis LaPrairie Reno, NV

1971 NV-R

Josephine S. Leonard 1987 he Missouri Rolla section has donated $150 to the Expanding Your State College, PA M-A-L Horizons program in memory of Shirley Day, a recently deceased, longtime member of WAAIME. Day was an enthusiastic supporter of educaBonney M. Sayre 1955 tion. She was the wife of Delbert Day, a ceramics engineering faculty memBreckenridge, CO M-A-L ber at the Missouri University of Science and Technology since 1961. The Expanding Your Horizons program is a one-day camp for more than 500 girls in seventh and eighth grades from across the state of Missouri. It gives them an opportunity to learn about careers in science and engineering by attending presentations and workshops by women who have chosen careers in math, science and engineering. The donation will provide lunch for two tables of students at the Nov. 7, 2014 event. n

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Utah-Coal (Continued from page 85)

give out $12,500 divided among nine students. Eight of the students were from the University of Utah’s Department of Mining Engineering and one was from the Chemical Engineering Department. In April 2014, the Department of Mining Engineering held its annual awards banquet, and the author was able to attend. This year’s event was held at the University Guest House in Salt Lake City, UT. There are more than 17 awards given out at the banquet, some for academic excellence, others for leadership. A new one was given to recognize a faculty, staff or student member that showed exemplary service in support of the Mining Engineering Department.  It is always rewarding to talk to the students to whom we have given scholarships, both this year and in the past. The graduating class always receives their hard hats, presented by the professors. And the newer students, who have  just began their journey, are eager to start their summer internships with companies across the United States. They all are so grateful for the help they get from the scholarships, that we always come away with a full heart and a smile on

Future section plans In August, the section had it first meeting to make plans for the coming year. We will again give out scholarships and help with the Carbon Science Fair, but we are always open to new ideas to help our community with earth science projects. We also made plans for the 20th Coal Country Classic fundraiser that would be held in September. Everyone spends the day at the event, and we have made many friends in our industry. Look for more details in the May newsletter. Coal Country Classic Our section would like to give a special thank you to the Coal Country Classic Committee. It doesn’t matter how busy everyone is, they still find enough time to help put this event together. Ellis Pierce has been the chairman for this event for 20 years, assisted by committee members Jim Kulow, Tony Martines, Charlie Philips, Robert Richins and the WAAIME UT-Coal Section. And another big thank you to all the sponsors and players who give so generously to our event each year. We would not have the scholarship and educational programs without your help. n

WAAIME News

Scholarship album

WAAIME presents scholarships at Virginia Tech by Susan Harwood, West Virginia-Southern Section

n April 4, 2014, Virginia Tech held its annual mining banquet to honor its students achievements in 20132014. At the banquet, the WAAIME West Virginia-Southern (WV-S) section presented scholarship certificates to students sponsored by the Pennsylvania Western (PA-W) and WV-S sections and also to those students receiving Young scholarships. Lydia Hull, scholarship chair for PA-W, was unable to

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attend the banquet and asked the WV-S section to present the PA-W section awards. It is always wonderful to see our students working toward the future. Erik Westman, assistant professor at Virginia Tech, joined the WAAIME sections in presenting the scholarship awards. n

Students sponsored by the WAAIME WV-S received scholarship awards, (l-r) Susan Harwood, WAAIME; Andres Dahmen, Aubrey Athey, Chelsea Barrett, Izaak Dail, Greg Jennison, Jack Maxey and Marion King.

Students sponsored by the WAAIME PA-W received their awards from Susan Harwood, WAAIME (far left) and Erik Westman (far right). They are (l-r) Tyler Faulkner, Megan Huber, Tyler Daugherty and William Thomas.

The Young Scholarships

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he Lewis E. and Elizabeth W. Young scholarship grants are administered by WAAIME’s Pennsylvania-Western section. The funds are awarded as grants and may vary in amount depending on the money available from the investment of the capital funds donated to WAAIMEs by Lewis and Elizabeth Young. An eligible recipient must be a graduate from a high school located in the general area of the Pennsylvania-Western Section (western Pennsylvania, West Virginia or Virginia or a student enrolled in a college or university in the general area of the section. The grants are awarded on the basis of need, satisfactory scholastic achievement (C+ or better) and good character. Students must plan to study mining engineering, metallurgical engineering, material science or petroleum engineering in a four-year curriculum. Lewis Young was a noted mining engineer and president of AIME in 1949. Elizabeth Young was an active member of the Pennsylvania-Western section for many years. n Susan Harwood, (far left) and Erik Westman (far right) presented Young Scholarships to Virginia Tech students (l-r) Dillon Clark, Adam Lis, Stephanie Poole, Elizabeth Van Nostrand, Brittany Wilson and Sam Sydnor.

University of Pittsburgh students received Young Scholarships presented by Badie I. Morsi, director of the petroleum engineering program. They are Payton Forrest, Yemin Hong, Morsi and Patrick Soloski.

WAAIME News

Scholarship Album

WAAIME scholarship album 2015

West Virginia University (WVU) students (l-c) Jeffery Stevens and Mehdi Rajaeebaygi received WAAIME scholarship checks from Christopher Bise (r), chair of the Department of Mining Engineering at WVU, presented on behalf of the WAAIME WV-S section. University of Kentucky students (l-c) Douglas Addo and Kevin Harris received WAAIME scholarship checks, which were presented by professor Rick Honaker (r).

University of Nevada-Reno scholarship recipients, back row, D.D. LaPointe, NV-Reno scholarship chair, Chase Barnard and Rahul Thareja. Front row, Prasoon Tiwari, Pedram Roghanchi, Nick Potter and Beth Price, NV-Reno section chair. University of Nevada-Reno scholarship recipients (l) Virginia Ibarra and (r), Ebrahim Karimi-Tarshizi.

The University of Utah WAAIME scholarship recipients were recognized April 22, 2014 at the Department of Mining Engineering’s annual awards dinner. They are: back row (l-r) Aaron Young, Nathan Ellgen, Nathan Rigby, Olan Nielson, Ryan Burton, Joshua Howard, Russ Spaulding, Kyle Spaulding, Sheldon Kargis and Jake Seiter, Front row (l-r) Ashley Hodgson, Natalia Healey, Michale Stine, Tyler Peck, Kendall Bergman, Oleg Serdyuk, Jordon Prestwich, Crystal Darger and Dixie Hale, UT-Northern scholarship chair.

New Products

Terra Sonic introduces SPT automatic hammer

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erra Sonic International (TSi), manufacturer of Sonic drill rigs and provider of Sonic drill services, has introduced a standard penetration test (SPT) automatic hammer to maximize the capabilities and efficiency of all Terra Sonic drilling rigs. Previously available only with conventional drilling methodologies, the SPT automatic hammer enhances what the advanced Sonic drill rigs can accomplish in the field. Unlike portable SPT hammers, the SPT automatic hammer is permanently mounted to the TSi 150T truck-mounted rig, the TSi 150C crawler-mounted rig or the TSi 150CC compact crawler. Because the SPT automatic hammer is permanently mounted and not portable, it increases efficiency on job sites since no time is required for set-up and take-down.The SPT automatic hammer can hinge directly over the hole and then moved out of the way rapidly when not in use. The Terrasonic hammer is operated from an easy-to-use, hydraulically powered control panel.

www.terrasonicinternational.com

Remotox precipitates heavy metals from process wastewater

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emotox from Graus Chemicals is a calcium polysulfidebased liquid designed to bring practical and cost-saving advantages to wastewater treatment, while ensuring that discharge limits on heavy metals are consistently met. The product is effective even when treating chelated or complexed metals. It also removes chromates and dichromates without preliminary reduction of the chromium to the trivalent state. Advantages of Remotox include a high reactivity with

heavy metal ions and extremely low solubility of resulting metal sulfides across a wide pH range, producing lower effluent concentrations and better settling and dewatering aspects of the metal sulfides, resulting in a more compact solid sludge. It is also able to remove metals from chelated metal compounds by a ligand exchange process. Selective metal precipitation allows for recovery of valuable metals. www.grauschemicals.com

ClearSpan oers new lengths in tension fabric buildings

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learSpan, manufacturer of tension fabric structures, has added additional length options to its line of HD buildings — 49, 55 and 61 m (160, 180 and 200 ft). The HD buildings are available in gable- and roundstyle designs and can be mounted as freestanding structures

or affixed to other foundations, such as ponywalls or containers. The building frame is made from triple-galvanized structural steel tubing with a 354-g (12.5-oz), high-density polyethylene rip-stop fabric cover. There are no internal support posts, which provides maximum usable internal space. The fabric cover is available in several colors, and its permeable properties make it energy efficient. The polyethylene material allows the transmission of abundant natural light, cutting the cost of supplemental lighting. The prefabricated design of 6.1 m (20 ft) on center truss rafter spacing yields an expedited production time, so customers can receive their building quickly.

The ClearSpan buildings start at 7.6 m (25 ft) wide. Endpanels and accessories are sold separately.

www.clearspan.com

New Products

Boart Longyear designs TruCore for drillers

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oart Longyear has introduced TruCore, an integrated core orientation system that enables drillers to increase productivity and decrease spending on consumables. This innovation improves productivity and reduces the number of parts drill crews need to maintain a core orientation system. Compared to other systems, additional extensions are not needed when the integrated TruCore housing is combined with Boart Longyear’s outer tubes, reducing the number of joints and high wear on outer tube extension barrels. TruCore’s unique core marking technology allows one tool to always be in the hole. The ability to send a second TruCore tool down the hole immediately after the first tool is

Highly visible ashing LEDs direct alignment, which reduces total measurement time. TruCore is offered in sizes BQ through PQ.

retrieved, combined with wireless communication, means core readings can be taken without having to break a joint in the inner tube. The design uses optical communication to send measurements to a handheld control device allowing the drill string to stay assembled. The pocketsized controller simultaneously controls the two core orientation instruments, increasing productivity by validating measurements while minimizing errors. www.boartlongyear.com/trucore

HydroFloat from Eriez recovers coarse particles up to 6 mm

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o effectively recover coarse particles, the Eriez Flotation Division has combined the advantages of traditional teeter-bed separators with the selectivity of flotation cells to develop a new separation device, the HydroFloat separator. The primary benefit is the flotation of very coarse material, up to 6 mm (0.23 in.), that is otherwise lost using conventional methods. The HydroFloat separator is a flotation device and a density separator, combining the advantages of froth flotation and gravity separation. With this technology, the HydroFloat enhances coarse particle recovery, produces higher throughout capacity and reduces reagents and air consumption. The fluidization (teeter) water is supplied through a network of pipes that extends across the bottom of the cross-sectional area of the separation chamber. The teeter bed is constantly aerated by injecting compressed air and a small amount of frothing agent into the fluidization water. As the air bubble dispersion rises through the teeter bed, the bubbles become attached to the hydrophobic particles, reducing their effective density and increasing their buoyancy. The lighter bubble particle aggregates rise to the top of the denser teeter bed and overflow the top of the separation chamber. Hydrophilic particles that do not attach to the air bubbles continue to move down through the teeter bed and eventually settle into the dewatering cone. These particles are discharged as a high-solids stream through a control valve at the bottom of the separator. The HydroFloat separator combines the functions of a otation device and a density separator.

http://efd.eriez.com/products/index/hydrooat

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LEGAL NOTICE: UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE STATEMENT OF OWNERSHIP, MANAGEMENT AND CIRCULATION (Required by 39 U.S.C. 3685) 1. Title of Publication: MINING ENGINEERING 2. Publication no.: N/A 3. Date of Filing: September 30, 2014 4. Frequency of Issue: Monthly 5. Number of issues published annually: 12 6. Annual subscription price: $245 7. Complete mailing address of known office of publication: 12999 E. Adam Aircraft Circle, Arapahoe County, Englewood, CO 80112 8. Location of the headquarters or general business offices of publisher: 12999 E. Adam Aircraft Circle, Arapahoe County, Englewood, CO 80112 9. Full names and complete maili ng addresses of publisher and editor: Publisher, David Kanagy, 12999 E. Adam Aircraft Circle, Arapahoe County, Englewood, CO 80112; Editor, Steve Kral, 12999 E. Adam Aircraft Circle, Arapahoe County, Englewood, CO 80112 10. The owner is The Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration, Inc., 12999 E. Adam Aircraft Circle,Arapahoe County, Englewood, CO 80112. A membership corporation organized as a nonprofit, nonstick corporation 11. Known bondholders, mortgagees and other security holders: none 12. Tax status: Has not changed during preceding 12 months: 501 (c) 3 13. Publication title: Mining Engineering 14. Issue date for circulation data below: September 2014 15. Extent and nature of circulation: Average number copies each issue during preceding 12 months

a. Total no. copies printed b. Paid and/or requested circulation 1) Paid/requested outside-county mail subscriptions 2) Paid in-county subscriptions 3) Sales through dealers and carriers, street vendors, counter sales and non-USPS paid distribution 4) Other classes mailed through USPS c. Total paid and/or requested circulation d. Free distribution by mail 1) Outside-county 2) In-county 3) Other classes mailed through USPS e. Free distribution outside the mail f. Total free distribution g. Total distribution h. Copies not distributed i. Total  j. Percent paid and/or requested circulation

Average number copies each issue published September 2014

14,854 13,539 0

14,392 14,007 0

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0 0 0 1,315 1,315 14,084 0 14,854

0 0 0 385 385 14,392 0 14,392

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97%

16. Publication of Statement of Ownership Printed in the November 2014 issue of Mining Engineering I certify that the statements made by me are correct and complete. THE SOCIETY FOR MINING, METALLURGY AND EXPLORATION, INC. David Kanagy Publisher

Classifeds Colorado School of Mines Faculty Openings Department of Mining and Department of Metallurgical/Materials Engineering Colorado School of Mines invites applications for multiple f aculty positions in the departments of Mining Engineering and Metallurgical/Materials Engineering. Professor and T.J. Haddon/Alacer Gold Chair The successful candidate will teach at both the undergraduate and graduate levels and develop a strong externally funded research program. The successful applicant will also be appointed to manage the Edgar Experimental Mine.  Applicants will be expected to have strong network connections with both the national and international mining industry. The successful candidate must bring the management skills needed to develop a world class research program that would take advantage of the CSM Edgar Experimental Mine. An operational background with mining experience is preferred.  As si st ant/A ss oc iate Professo r – Und erg ro un d Cons tr uction and Tu nneli ng The successful candidate will teach at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. Teaching responsibilities will include both core courses for the department and UC&T degree program courses. Areas of particular interest include hard rock tunneling, advance numerical modeling, rock cutting, disk and bit cutting performances, cutter head design, tunnel construction management, deep tunnels, tunneling under squeezing and swelling conditions, dynamic loading and rock burst conditions, drilling and blasting, tunnel support design.  As si st ant Pr of essor –Metall ur gi cal /Materi als Engi neer ing The successful candidate will teach existing undergraduate and graduate level courses in the Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering. Candidates will demonstrate potential for research excellence in an area of metallurgical and materials engineering preferably with strong experimental or computational expertise in one of the core areas in the department, namely, (1) extractive metallurgy/chemical processing primarily particulate, electrochemical, aqueous, and/or high-temperature chemical processing, (2) physical metallurgy or (3) ceramics. For the complete job announcements and directions on how to apply, visit: http://inside.mines.edu/HR-Academic-Faculty

Colorado School of

Virginia Tech Department of Mining and Minerals Engineering

Mines

Faculty Position - Natural Gas Production

The Department of Mining & Minerals Engineering at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) invites nominations and applications for a tenure-track faculty position at any level (Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, or Professor), with rank to be determined by applicant qualifications. Endowed professorships/chairs may als o be available for well-qualified individuals. Faculty members at Virginia Tech are expected to pursue and sustain a high level of scholarly research and publication; teach and advise undergraduate and graduate students; and contribute quality service and outreach to the department, college, university and profession. The successful applicant is expected to develop an internationally recognized and externally funded research program in the broad area of “energy, materials and the environment” with a specific focus in natural gas/shale gas production (Reservoir Modeling, Advanced Drilling, Geomechanics, Hydraulic Fracturing, Well Stimulation, Geophysical/Well Monitoring, Petrography, Health and Safety, Sustainable Practices and Environmental Considerations). The successful applicant will be expected to assist in the development of a new graduate degree program in Natural Gas Engineering. A Ph.D. in petroleum engineering, natural gas engineering, chemical engineering, mining engineering, geosciences or closely related field is required. Demonstrated practical and/or research experience in upstream natural gas/shale gas production is preferred. All candidates are encouraged to have, or seek upon employment, professional engineering registration. Virginia Tech’s Mining and Minerals Engineering Department is one of the largest mining engineering programs in North America. The Department currently enjoys a strong international reputation for its academic, research and outreach programs. The Department is currently comprised of 9 full-time faculty members, with an enrollment of +200 undergraduate and +35 graduate students. Research expenditures in the Department are in excess of $6 million per year. External funding for ongoing research includes support from state, federal and industry sources. The Department is housed within a nationally ranked College of Engineering at Virginia Tech. Virginia Tech, the land-grant University of the Commonwealth, is located in Blacksburg, Virginia, adjacent to the scenic Blue Ridge Mountains. The university has a total enrollment of +30,000 with +7,000 students enrolled within the College of Engineering. Candidates who wish to be considered for these positions should apply online at www.jobs.vt.edu to posting number 117604. Please submit online a vitae, transmittal letter, statement regarding research/teaching interests, and names/addresses of three references (including contact phone numbers and email addresses). The review of applications will begin on December 15, 2014, with the intent to have the position filled before August 10, 2015. For further information regarding this announcement, please visit the Mining & Minerals Engineering Department web site at www.mining.vt.edu. Questions regarding the search may be directed to Dr. Gerald Luttrell ([email protected]) who serves as chair of the departmental search committee. Virginia Tech is committed to the principle of diversity and, in that spirit, seeks a broad spectrum of candidates including women, minorities and people with disabilities. Virginia Tech is a recipient of a National Science Foundation ADVANCE Institutional Transformation Award to increase the participation of women in academic science and engineering careers. www.mining.vt.edu

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J. DAVID LOWELL PROFESSIONAL PROGRAM IN MINERAL RESOURCES

Courses available for credit or non-credit Non-credit Cost: $600 Courses are available on-site, via live internet streaming, or on-demand internet. Additional information can be obtained by contacting the Lowell Institute for Mineral Resources. Non-credit registration deadlines is 4 weeks prior to the course. www.IMR.arizona.edu • 520.621.6063 [email protected] FALL 2014 - SPRING 2015 SHORT COURSES

• November 13-15  

Modern Mining Information Systems: Data Integration – Contact Sean Dessureault ([email protected])

• February 12-14

Integrated Industrial Information Systems with Case Studies in Mine to Mill Contact Sean Dessureault ([email protected]).

• March 6-7

Basic Concepts in Mineral Economics

• March 27-28

Introduction to Stakeholder Engagement

• April 16-17

Modern Mining Information Systems: Data Mining - Contact Sean Dessureault ([email protected])

• April 22-24

Mining Institute for Supervisor Leadership Contact Eric Lutz, [email protected]

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THE UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA Department of Materials Engineering  Extractive Metallurgy Chair – Assistant Professor Position  The Department of Materials Engineering at the University of British Columbia seeks an outstanding individual for a grant tenure-track position at the Assistant Professor level in the field of Extractive Metallurgy with an emphasis on high temperature processing. The starting date of the position will be May 1, 2015, or as soon as possible thereafter. The Extractive Metallurgy Chair has been funded by 4 Canadian and international companies and is strongly supported by the Faculty of Applied Science at UBC. The successful candidate for this competition will be expected to complement UBC’s existing strength in extractive metallurgy and will develop an internationally recognized, externally funded research program in the field of high temperature processing. The candidate will be expected to teach undergraduate and graduate level courses and to supervise graduate students at the Masters and Ph.D. level. In addition, as part of the Chair program, the candidate will be expected to teach short courses at sponsor sites, develop industrial research proposals and programs and generally support the activities of the Chair. The candidate will hold a Ph.D. degree or equivalent in Metallurgical or Materials Engineering or a closely related field and will be expected to register as a Professional Engineer in British Columbia. Further information on the department is available at www.MTRL.ubc . ca, and information on the employment environment in the Faculty of Applied Science is available at www.apsc.ubc.ca/careers .

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 M a n a g i n g  c e  m a i n t e n a n  s    t  s e p a r a o r  M a g n e t i c  z i ne.co m  r i ng maga  i nge ng i nee  w w w. m i n

Applicants should submit a curriculum vitae, a statement (1-2 pages) of technical and teaching interests and accomplishments, and names and addresses (e-mail included) of four referees. Applications must be submitted online at http://www.hr.ubc.ca/careers-postings/faculty.php . The initial closing date for applications is February 28, 2015 but applications will be accepted until a suitable candidate is found. All Canadian, permanent residents and international candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. UBC hires on the basis of merit and is committed to employment equity. All qualified persons are encouraged to apply. UBC is strongly committed to diversity within its community and especially welcomes applications from visible minority group members, women, Aboriginal persons, persons with disabilities, persons of any sexual orientation or gender identity, and others who may contribute to the further diversification of ideas. Canadians and permanent residents o f Canada will be given priority

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Index of Display Advertisers

Mining Engineering

November 2014

 ABUS USA

14

 Agru America

28

 American Peat Technology Technology LLC

16

OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF SME

Business Ofce

Chemineer Inc

20

12999 E. Adam Aircraft Circle Englewood, CO 80112 USA  Main Tel: 1-303-948-4200   1-800-763-3132 Fax: 1-303-973-3845 www.miningengineeringmagazine.com

Colorado MPD Subsection

11

ADVERTISING AND PRODUCTION/ MEDIA MANAGER

 Atlas Copco Construction & Mining USA LLC Barrick Gold of North America

Cummins Filtration

27 3

7

Donaldson Torit

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ERIEZ

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GEA Westfalia

12

GIW Industries Inc

5

HYTORC Industrial Bolting Systems

25

Independent Mining Consultants

26

Maptek M TU

Outside Back Cover 9

Naylor Pipe Co

92

Pemo Pumps/Applied Process Equipment Inc

22

Sandvik Mining Americas

13

SRK Consulting

29

Stantec

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Thyssenkrupp Resource Technologies GmbH

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Viega LLC Veolia Water Technologies Wirtgen America

16-17 15 Inside Front Cover

Ken Goering [email protected]

Sales Ofces Hooper Jones Central, NW U.S. 1-847-486 -1021 Cell: 1-847-903-1853 Fax: 1-847-486-1025 [email protected] Marsha Tabb East, South, West U.S. 1-215-794-3442 Fax: 1-215-794-2247 [email protected] Sherri Antonacci East, South, West U.S. 1-267-225-0560 Fax: 1-215-822-4057 [email protected] Darren Dunay  Canada 1-201-781-6133 Cell: 1-201-873-0891 [email protected] Eberhard G. Heuser  Europe +49 202 2838128 Fax: +49 202 2838126 [email protected] Patrick Connolly  United Kingdom +44 1702-477341 Fax: +44 1702-477559 [email protected] Ken Goering International Sales 1-303-948-4243 Fax: 1-303-973-3845 [email protected]

The Drift of Things

Mines support manufacturers From mines to manufacturing

T

Steve Kral, Editor

he National Mining Association (NMA) earlier this year commissioned a study to track minerals mined and refined in the United States through to their end uses in finished products. The goal was to find out which minerals mined in the United States feed domestic manufacturing industries. SNL Metals & Mining carried out the study, which can be found on the NMA website, www.nma.org. The SNL study said the average American born in 2013 will require about 1.36 kt (3 million lbs) minerals, metals and fuels throughout their lifetimes. That includes 12.4 t (27,416 lbs) of iron ore, 444 kg (978 lbs) copper, 236 kg (521 lbs) of zinc and 56 g (1.8 oz) of gold. The NMA report found that there is a sizable mismatch between domestic supply and demand for minerals. “Although the United States is a major mining country, it enjoys a much higher global ranking as a manufacturer than a miner,” the report stated. The United States is the largest manufacturing nation in the world, followed by China and Germany. Value-added products from industries that consume processed mineral materials amounted to about $2.4 trillion, or 14 percent of the nation’s gross domestic product (GDP) in 2013, the report said. And given the nation’s wealth of mineral resources and reserves, that figure could be even higher. However, several domestic issues have kept the United States ranked as only the seventhlargest global producer of metals and industrial minerals, the report said. In 2013, the nation’s mines produced about $74.3 billion worth of mineral raw materials. That said, the country is a top ten producer of copper, gold, silver, zinc and iron ore, among other metals. But the United States is import-dependent on several critical materi-

als that are needed for traditional and high tech manufacturing applications, including lithium, platinum, cobalt and rare-earth elements. The SNL report said that to produce one wind turbine, about 3.6 kt (8,000 lbs) of copper is required, while about 4 kg (9 lbs) of nickel are used in a single hybrid vehicle. And another 4 kg (9 lbs) of lithium is needed to produce one battery for an electric vehicle. On the manufacturing side, the report points out that some American manufacturers are returning to the United States. “This move is being driven by manufacturers’ desire to reduce the risks in their supply chains, which are highly complex, fragmented and multi-layered, often extending to more than seven tiers of suppliers for any given product,” the report said. In addition, U.S. consumers are holding large companies accountable for the way they do business. “Consumers want to see evidence of sustainable production processes, use of recycled materials, sound environmental practices and that raw materials are not sourced from conflict zones.” A third important finding from the study is that the domestic mining industry has many competitive advantages over other nations. U.S. miners are “highly efficient, often exemplifying best practices with regard to productivity, sustainability and safety. The United States remains highly prospective from a geological standpoint,” the report said, “with abundant, diverse minerals of high quality.” Along with that is the notion that the nation’s mining industry is in a position to “support manufacturers’ need for greater sustainability and shorter supply chains in the the production process,” the report said. However, the United States has an outdated and inefficient permitting system that presents a “barrier to American companies’ access to the minerals they need and, thus, to economic competitiveness.” The SNL study concludes that the U.S. mining industry can contribute even more to the nation’s manufacturing sector and the economy through a well-managed, sustainable supply chain. n