SME mining reference handbook

657 Pages·2020·24.624 MB·English

by  Heather N. Dougherty, Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration (U.S.), Andrew P. Schissler

SME
MINING

REFERENCE
HANDBOOK
2ND EDITION
EDITED BY
HEATHER N. DOUGHERTY, P.E. & ANDREW P. SCHISSLER, P.E.
PUBLISHED BY THE
SOCIETY FOR MINING, METALLURGY & EXPLORATION
Copyright © 2020 Society for Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration. All rights reserved.
!SME_MiningRef_HB_TitlePg_L3.indd 1 11/29/19 12:48 PM
Society for Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration (SME)
12999 East Adam Aircraft Circle
Englewood, Colorado 80112
[phone] / [phone]
www.smenet.org
The Society for Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration (SME) is a professional society whose more than 15,000
members represent professionals serving the minerals industry in more than 100 countries. SME members
include engineers, geologists, metallurgists, educators, students, and researchers. SME advances the
worldwide mining, underground construction, and environmental engineering community through informa-
tion exchange and professional development.
Disclaimer
Information contained in this work has been obtained by SME from sources believed to be reliable. However,
neither SME nor its authors and editors guarantee the accuracy, correctness, or completeness of any infor-
mation published herein, and neither SME nor its authors and editors shall be responsible for any errors,
omissions, or damages arising out of use of this information. SME, authors, reviewers, editors, and anyone
who contributed to the handbook do not have insight in and control over the use of the handbook.
This work is published with the understanding that SME and its authors and editors are supplying informa-
tion but are not attempting to render engineering or other professional services. This information shall be
used for general information and general reference only.
Any information in the handbook shall not be deemed appropriate or relied on for specific application.
Therefore, although information is contained in the handbook, it shall not be deemed as appropriate for
any specific application or project without subsequent independent analysis, evaluation, verification, and
assessment of appropriateness for such an application by the engineer of record.
Based on the preceding, SME, its representatives, assignees, and anyone contributing to the handbook
hereby declines any liability and shall not be liable whatsoever for losses and/or damages of whatever kind
(and sustained by whomever) that might result from the above.
It is sold with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting, 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 978-0-87335-435-6
eBook 978-0-87335-436-3
Copyright © 2020 Society for Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration
All Rights Reserved. Printed in the United States of America.
Copyright © 2020 Society for Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration. All rights reserved.
Contents
Foreword . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .v
Preface to the Second Edition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .vii
Preface to the First Edition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .ix
About the Editors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .xi
Contributors to the Second Edition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .xiii
Technical Reviewers to the Second Edition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xv
CHAPTER 1 Conversion Factors, Constants, and Symbols . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
CHAPTER 2 Material Properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23
CHAPTER 3 Mathematics, Statistics, and Probability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .73
CHAPTER 4 Physical Science and Engineering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .97
CHAPTER 5 Geology and Geophysics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .165
CHAPTER 6 Sampling and Analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .181
CHAPTER 7 Mineral Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .197
CHAPTER 8 Economics and Costing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .223
CHAPTER 9 Project Evaluation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .239
CHAPTER 10 Mining Methods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .257
CHAPTER 11 Blasting and Explosives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .277
CHAPTER 12 Excavation, Loading, and Material Transport . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .293
CHAPTER 13 Haul Roads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .319
CHAPTER 14 Ground Control and Support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .331
CHAPTER 15 Ventilation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .349
CHAPTER 16 Power: Electrical and Compressed Air . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .365
CHAPTER 17 Pumping . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .373
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SME MINING REFERENCE HANDBOOK
CHAPTER 18 Placer Mining . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .397
CHAPTER 19 In Situ Leaching . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .409
CHAPTER 20 Mineral Processing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .415
CHAPTER 21 Tailings and Water Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 513
CHAPTER 22 Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .541
CHAPTER 23 Health and Safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .555
CHAPTER 24 Environment and Reclamation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .581
CHAPTER 25 Bonding and Liabilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .603
CHAPTER 26 Key Resources for the Mining Industry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .609
Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 629
iv Copyright © 2020 Society for Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration. All rights reserved.
Foreword
As a profession, mining engineering is often viewed as being distinctly unique from other fields of engi-
neering. Paramount among the factors driving this opinion are the multidisciplinary nature of the technical
considerations influencing the design and operation of mines and processing facilities, the uncertainty
inherent to mineral resources and the geomaterials in which these facilities are constructed, and the
economic risk that underlies these investments. Furthermore, all aspects of resource development are
governed by specific nonnegotiable values that establish corporate responsibilities toward employee safety
and health, environmental stewardship, and community engagement that extend well beyond the law or any
regulatory standard. The combination of these realities mandate that professionals in the mining industry
have broad-based skill sets, as well as a technical understanding of how to solve complex problems and
determine solutions vital to the efficient and safe performance of any activity.
Since the first modern technical mining handbook was published in the United States more than 100 years
ago, mining professionals have extensively relied on information obtained from reference guides as an
aid in solving these types of problems, as well as other calculations relevant to performing specific tasks
and facilitating the basis for making decisions. Over time, changes in mining systems, equipment and
processes, economics, and the regulatory environment necessitate the inclusion of new information and
revision of established topics. The second edition of the SME Mining Reference Handbook is exactly that,
and it represents a concise, well-organized reference guide of important information and data for everyday
use by engineers and other professionals engaged in mining, exploration, mineral processing, and environ-
mental compliance and reclamation.
As editors of the second edition, Heather N. Dougherty and Andrew P. Schissler have done an exceptional
job building on the strengths and success of the previous edition through the introduction of new and
updated materials and enhancing the presentation of useful data within tables and figures. Both of these
individuals are consummate industry professionals, highly respected for their expertise and breadth of
knowledge that extend from engineering and mine operations to economic valuation and project manage-
ment. Heather and Andy are both registered Professional Engineers, hold advanced academic degrees in
mining engineering as well as business administration, and are extremely active in professional service,
including SME.
I first met Heather because of her position as a Research Engineer at the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention NIOSH Pittsburgh Mining Research Division and through her exemplary service to
numerous SME committees. She has extensive industry experience in underground coal, where she has
worked in capacities related to operations and engineering, which has contributed to her success as a
researcher at NIOSH. Heather is a recognized expert in mine ventilation, environmental air monitoring, and
ground control.
I’ve had the distinct pleasure of knowing Andy for nearly 15 years, dating back to when he worked as the
engineering manager of several potash mines in New Mexico. I am delighted to say that over the years, we
have become friends and colleagues. Among his many professional activities, Andy currently serves as an
Adjunct Professor at the Colorado School of Mines, where it has been gratifying to watch him interact with
students in the courses he teaches in mine plant design, explosives engineering, and mine design. Andy has
more than 46 years of global mining experience, during which he has held numerous positions that span a
wide range of technical and managerial capacities in nearly every industry sector and commodity.
One of the strengths of this edition of the Mining Reference Handbook is the tremendous wealth of talent
that has contributed to this publication. These contributors include authors and subject matter experts,
as well as technical reviewers. When coupled with the long list of contributors from the first edition, it
literally represents a who’s who of industry experts; each prominent in one or more specific area(s) of
Copyright © 2020 Society for Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration. All rights reserved. v
SME MINING REFERENCE HANDBOOK
technical expertise. The culmination of these efforts is a reference guide that is relevant, well-written, and
comprehensive in subject matter. The professional layout, appearance, and detail of the handbook clearly
reflect the exceptional skills and contributions of Jane Olivier, SME’s Manager of Book Publishing, and her
truly talented team.
As with the previous edition, the second edition of the SME Mining Reference Handbook is intended to serve
as the go-to resource for working professionals throughout the mining industry. I have little doubt that this
edition of the handbook will become an industry standard as a reference guide for engineers, scientists, and
students today and into the foreseeable future.
Hugh B. Miller
2019 SME President
December 2019
vi Copyright © 2020 Society for Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration. All rights reserved.
Preface to the Second Edition
The first edition of the SME Mining Reference Handbook, published in 2002, was the first concise refer-
ence published in the mining field and quickly became the industry standard. It is placed on every mining
engineer’s bookshelf, if not open on his or her desk, with worn pages, tabs to find the most used equations,
and personal notes. It has been the unequaled single reference and is the first go-to source for countless
engineers, whether in the mining, environmental, geological, or processing fields.
That edition is the backbone of this second edition. Raymond L. Lowrie, P.E. and his group of authors,
reviewers, and editors worked to ensure that it had the breadth to last. As with everything, time passes,
conditions change, and knowledge and technology advance. This second edition updates the text, tables,
and figures throughout the book, as well as adds a new chapter on mining methods.
A compact reference, this second edition remains a distillation of key technical information from the mining
literature. This handbook is intended as a problem-solving aid for mining engineers, mineral processing
engineers, and environmental engineers.
We have worked closely with subject matter experts to again make a concise comprehensive reference
for professionals, whether they are in the field, in their vehicles, in their offices, or considering the two
examinations for professional licensure: the Fundamentals of Engineering Examination and the Professional
Engineers Examination for Mining/Mineral Processing.
The SME Mining Reference Handbook will continue to be used by engineers for their daily work, but also
for the advancement of their careers. It now becomes the single-source reference for the Professional
Licensure of Mining and Mineral Processing Engineers.
As with Lowrie’s first effort, we feel as if this is just that, an effort in the progression on advancement in
technology and experience in the mining field. We hope that when off-earth mining or other advancements
become a reality, the most recent edition of the SME Mining Reference Handbook will be packed and ready
to accompany you to destinations unknown.
Copyright © 2020 Society for Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration. All rights reserved. vii
Copyright © 2020 Society for Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration. All rights reserved.
Preface to the First Edition
Engineers in the mining industry often must solve problems while in the field at prospects, projects, or
places far from any personal bookshelf, company office, or public or private library. And it isn’t always
feasible to bring along the voluminous authoritative books on mining topics so familiar to the profession.
This handbook, then, is designed to fill the technical reference gap for the mobile professional who is away
from the normal workplace with its comprehensive store of technical information and resources. It is a
distillation of key technical information from the mining literature.
To keep this handbook a reasonable and portable size, the volume editor and all chapter editors had to
strictly budget the number of pages allocated to particular subjects. We assumed that the reader is already
knowledgeable about the topics and may just need a reminder “on the fly.” For this reason, many of the
ideas, data, graphs, tables, equations, constants, and rules of thumb are presented with little if any explana-
tion. Detailed explanation or elaboration can be found in the original source.
The volume editor and all chapter editors are currently licensed or retired registered professional engineers
in one or more states. Although the intended audience for this handbook is primarily mining/mineral
engineers who work for mining companies and other mining-oriented firms around the world, we hope that
academia, students, and state and federal government agencies will also find it useful. This is a first effort.
We anticipate that technological change, along with experience in using the handbook in the field, will allow
improvements in future editions.
Copyright © 2020 Society for Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration. All rights reserved. ix