Extracting the science : a century of mining research

556 Pages·20.222 MB·English

by  Jürgen F Brune

Extracting the Science
A Century of
Mining Research
Edited by Jürgen Brune
Extracting the Science
A Century of
Mining Research
© 2010 by the Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration.
All rights reserved. Electronic edition published 2010.
© 2010 by the Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration.
All rights reserved. Electronic edition published 2010.
Extracting the Science
A Century of
Mining Research
Edited by Jürgen Brune
Published by
© 2010 by the Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration.
All rights reserved. Electronic edition published 2010.
Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration, Inc. (SME)
8307 Shaffer Parkway
Littleton, Colorado, USA 80127
[phone] / [phone]
www.smenet.org
SME advances the worldwide mining and minerals community through information exchange and
professional development. SME is the world’s largest association of mining and minerals professionals.
Copyright © 2010 Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration, Inc.
Electronic edition published 2010.
All Rights Reserved. Printed in the United States of America.
Information contained in this work has been obtained by SME, Inc., from sources believed to be reliable.
However, neither SME nor its authors guarantee the accuracy or completeness of any information published
herein, and neither SME nor its authors shall be responsible for any errors, omissions, or damages arising
out of use of this information. This work is published with the understanding that SME and its authors are
supplying information but are not attempting to render engineering or other professional services. If such
services are required, the assistance of an appropriate professional should be sought. Any statement or views
presented here are those of the authors and are not necessarily those of SME. The mention of trade names for
commercial products does not imply the approval or endorsement of SME.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or
by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written
permission of the publisher.
ISBN: 978-0-87335-328-1
iv
© 2010 by the Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration.
All rights reserved. Electronic edition published 2010.
Contents
Preface ......................................................................................................................................................ix
SECtion 1. GEnEraL MininG
The Development of Mining and Minerals Research in Canada ..........................................................2
Louise Laverdure, John Udd, Gilles Tremblay, Thomas Hynes
Coal Mining Research in the United Kingdom: A Historical Review ................................................10
Sevket Durucan, Robert Jozefowicz, David Brenkley
Hearing Loss in the Mining Industry: The Evolution of NIOSH and Bureau of Mines
Hearing Loss Research .......................................................................................................................23
R.J. Matetic, Robert F. Randolph, Peter G. Kovalchik
Heat Stress Management in Hot Mines ..............................................................................................30
Petrus Schutte
Mine Illumination: A Historical and Technological Perspective ........................................................35
John J. Sammarco, Jacob L. Carr
U.S. Bureau of Mines/NIOSH Mining Electrical Safety Research: A Legacy of Protection
Against Shock, Fires, and Explosions ................................................................................................45
Michael R. Yenchek, Gerald T. Homce
Environmental Research by the U.S. Bureau of Mines ......................................................................58
L. Michael Kaas
CSIRO Coal Mining Research and Technologies ...............................................................................70
Hua Guo, Rao Balusu, David W. Hainsworth, Baotang Shen, Deepak P. Adhikary,
Shi Su, Jonathan Roberts
100 Years of Underground Applied Mining Research in Southeast Missouri (SEMO) ....................81
Richard L. Bullock
Maintenance Management and Sustainability: A Historical Perspective ...........................................96
José A. Botin
Innovative Solutions Developed at KOMAG to Improve Operational Safety
and Reliability of Mechatronic Systems in Mines ............................................................................102
Antoni Kozieł, Małgorzata Malec
Immigrant Labor Forces and Mine Safety ........................................................................................114
Nancy L. Dorset, Lawrence A. Hunchuck
SECtion 2. MinE ProDuCtivity
40 Years of Technical Development at RAG Deutsche Steinkohle ..................................................122
Martin Junker
Improving Dragline Productivity Using a Diggability Index as an Indicator ...................................134
Mehmet Kizil
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© 2010 by the Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration.
All rights reserved. Electronic edition published 2010.
Assessment of Cutoff Grade Impurities: A Case Study of Magnesite Ore Deposit ..........................142
Suheyla Yerel, Adnan Konuk
An Empirical Relationship to Determine the Performance of Bucketwheel Excavator, Bench
Conveyor, and Spreader Systems Verified with Data from the Rhenish Lignite Mining District ....146
Robrecht M. Schmitz, Holger Franken, Stefan Blunck
SECtion 3. GrounD ControL
Mitigating the Risk of Rockbursts in the Deep Hard Rock Mines of South Africa:
100 Years of Research .......................................................................................................................156
Raymond J. Durrheim
Coal Mining Research in Australia—A Historical Review of Developments ..................................172
Bruce K. Hebblewhite
The Impact of Ground Control Research on the Safety of Underground Coal Miners:
1910–2010 ........................................................................................................................................177
Christopher Mark, Thomas M. Barczak
The Rise of Geophysics for In-Mine Imaging in South African Gold and Platinum Mines ............189
Declan Vogt, Michael van Schoor
Continuous Assessment of Rockfall Risk in Deep Tabular Mines ...................................................199
Van Zyl Brink
Pillar and Roof Span Design in Stone Mines ...................................................................................209
Gabriel S. Esterhuizen, Dennis R. Dolinar, John L. Ellenberger
Laboratory Investigation of the Potential Use of Thin Spray-on Liners in Underground
Coal Mines ........................................................................................................................................225
Simon Gilbert, Serkan Saydam, Rudrajit Mitra
Geotechnical Instrumentation Research Leads to Development of Improved Mine Designs ..........235
Hamid Maleki
Review of Rock Slope Displacement-Time Curve and Failure Prediction Models .........................247
Hossein Masoumi, Kurt J. Douglas
Investigation into the Stress Shell Evolving Characteristics of Rock Surrounding
Fully Mechanized Top-coal Caving Face .........................................................................................260
Ke Yang, Guangxiang Xie, Jucai Chang
Analysis of a M 4.0 Mining Induced Seismic Event .......................................................................267
L
Michael Alber, Ralf Fritschen
Microseismic Monitoring in Mines ..................................................................................................277
Maochen Ge
SECtion 4. MinE vEntiLation
How Mining Disasters Changed the Face of Mining in Australia ....................................................286
Paul Harrison, Stewart Bell, Darren Brady, Jan Oberholzer, Ray Davis
History of the Research in Polish Coal Mining Industry and Its Present Trends .............................297
Józef Dubiński
Disaster Prevention in Deep Hard Coal Mining: A German Review................................................308
Per Nicolai Martens, Walter Hermülheim
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© 2010 by the Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration.
All rights reserved. Electronic edition published 2010.
How Will We Respond to a Mine Disaster in 2010? ........................................................................314
Paul Harrison, Stewart Bell, Darren Brady
Prevention of Methane and Coal Dust Explosions in the Polish Hard Coal Mines ..........................324
Krzysztof Cybulski, Józef Dubiński
A Centennial of Mine Explosion Prevention Research.....................................................................335
Michael J. Sapko, Eric S. Weiss, Marcia L. Harris, Chi-Keung Man, Samuel P. Harteis
Development of Mine Gas Management Technology and Practices in Australia
Following the Moura Mine Explosions ............................................................................................346
Paul Harrison, Stewart Bell, Darren Brady
Large Scale Tests U.S. BoM and CMI Collaboration .......................................................................358
Kazimierz Lebecki
Underground Coal Mine Disasters 1900–2010: Events, Responses, and a Look to the Future .......363
Michael J. Brnich, Jr., Kathleen M. Kowalski-Trakofker
MSHA Mine Emergency Operations—Then and Now ....................................................................373
John E. Urosek, Virgil F. Brown
The Use of Self-Contained Self Rescuers (SCSRs) During Recent Mine Accidents
in the U.S. and Subsequent Regulatory Improvements for SCSRs ..................................................381
Jeffery H. Kravitz, John H. Gibson
A Century of Bureau of Mines/NIOSH Explosives Research ..........................................................388
Richard J. Mainiero, Harry C. Verakis
A Summary of U.S. Mine Fire Research ..........................................................................................397
Alex C. Smith, Edward D. Thimons
Proactive Strategies to Prevent Fires and Explosions in Longwall Mines .......................................408
Rao Balusu, Ting Ren, Kelvin Schiefelbein, Paul O’Grady, Tim Harvey
Development of Methods for Determining the Evacuation Routes in Case of Fire in Polish
Underground Mines ..........................................................................................................................418
Andrzej Strumiński, Barbara Madeja-Strumińska
History of Research in Mine Refrigeration, Cooling, and Ventilation in South Africa ....................424
Stephen J. Bluhm, Wynand M. Marx, Russell Ramsden, Frank H. von Glehn
A Summary of USBM/NIOSH Respirable Dust Control Research for Coal Mining .......................432
Jay F. Colinet, James P. Rider, John A. Organiscak, Jeff Listak, Gregory Chekan
An Overview of USBM/NIOSH Technology to Reduce Silica Dust in Metal/Nonmetal
Mines and Mills ................................................................................................................................442
Andrew B. Cecala, John A. Organiscak, Gregory J. Chekan, Jeanne A. Zimmer,
James P. Rider, Jay F. Colinet
A Review of the USBM/NIOSH Diesel Research Program .............................................................453
Steven Mischler, Aleksandar Bugarski, James Noll, Larry Patts, Emanuele Cauda
Simultaneous Ventilation, Power, and Cooling Supply with Compressed Air .................................463
George Danko, Davood Bahrami, Rajeev Gunda
Historical Development of Technologies for Controlling Methane in Underground Coal Mines ....478
Charles D. Taylor, C. Özgen Karacan
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© 2010 by the Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration.
All rights reserved. Electronic edition published 2010.
SECtion 5. traininG
Global Mining Engineering Education: Past, Present, and Future ...................................................490
Michael Karmis, Bruce Hebblewhite, Hans de Ruiter, Malcolm Scoble,
Mario Cedrón, Huw Phillips
A Review of NIOSH and U.S. Bureau of Mines Research to Improve Miners’ Health
and Safety Training ...........................................................................................................................501
Robert H. Peters, Charles Vaught, Launa Mallett
Training Using Virtual Environments: The Problems of Organisational Knowledge Creation .......510
Damian Schofield
Training for Tomorrow—Application of Virtual Reality Training for the Mining Industry ............517
Bruce Dowsett
Virtual Environments for Surface Mining Powered Haulage Training ............................................520
Ryan P. McMahan, Steven Schafrik, Doug A. Bowman, Michael Karmis
A Century of Mining Visualisation: Moving from 2D to 5D ............................................................529
Damian Schofield, Andrew Dasys, Pavel Vasak
index ......................................................................................................................................................537
viii
© 2010 by the Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration.
All rights reserved. Electronic edition published 2010.
Preface
The year 2010 marks the 100th anniversary of the formation of the Bureau of Mines as the premier min-
ing research organization in the United States. The Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration, Inc.
(SME), is celebrating this anniversary with a special symposium, “Extracting the Science: 100 Years of Mining
Research,” held in conjunction with the 2010 Annual Meeting in Phoenix, Arizona, USA.
When the United States Congress founded the Bureau of Mines in 1910, it established the primary gov-
ernment agency to conduct scientific research and to disseminate information on the extraction, processing,
use, and conservation of mineral resources. The initial focus of the bureau’s work was to conduct research on
the prevention of disastrous mine accidents. On December 6, 1907, the explosion of the Monongah mine in
West Virginia killed 362 miners. This disaster, the worst in U.S. mining history, was followed 2 weeks later by
a severe explosion that killed 239 miners at Jacobs Creek, Pennsylvania. One hundred fifty-four miners died
at Marianna, Pennsylvania, in November of 1908, and 259 were killed at Cherry, Illinois, in November 1909.
Mine disasters in European countries, specifically the catastrophic explosion at the French Courrières mine in
1906 that killed 1,099 miners, sparked similar organized research efforts in Europe.
During the past 100 years, the U.S. mining industry has made remarkable improvements in mine safety
and health, and equally remarkable advances in mining technology, equipment, and mine productivity. Mine
operators benefit from the economics of scale offered by larger mines with higher-capacity equipment and
increasingly automated control, remote sensing, and diagnostic technology. Computers and digital communi-
cation systems are common in all mine types. Sophisticated mine planning and design tools are available to
optimize cut-off grades and mining sequences.
Along with the above advances, the productivity of mining operations has vastly improved with the
introduction of more powerful equipment and sophisticated technologies, more extensive mine workings, and
more efficient production technology. These improvements have led to specialized mining research challenges,
including the following:
• To prevent catastrophic events such as fires, explosions, inundations, and major roof or slope failures
• To provide adequate ventilation to dilute explosive or toxic gases
• To prevent respiratory illness caused by inhalation of harmful dusts, diesel particulates, blasting or
welding fumes, and radon progeny
• To properly engineer and design ground support and prevent falls of roof or back
• To provide protection from moving equipment and machinery
• To prevent hearing loss caused by workplace noise
• To facilitate an ergonomic work environment and prevent musculoskeletal diseases
• To provide emergency communications and tracking technology as well as life support for miners
trapped in underground mines
• To conduct surveillance studies in mine worker safety and health
• To develop training materials and industry guidelines for the improvement of safety, health, and pro-
ductivity in mines
For this symposium, we invited more than 50 leading scientists from 11 mining countries around the world to
present their research findings. Their papers, as compiled in this volume, provide an in-depth cross section of
research and technological achievements in the mining industry aimed at improving the health and safety of
mine workers as well as furthering mine productivity. We asked the authors to include a brief historical view
but to mainly focus on today’s knowledge and on directions and expectations for future development. Keynote
presentations introduce the subjects and provide a framework for the more detailed technical papers.
ix
© 2010 by the Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration.
All rights reserved. Electronic edition published 2010.