Mechanism of separating pyrite and dolomite by flotation

To study the mechanism of separating pyrite and dolomite by flotation, the acting mechanisms of WHL depressor and both the minerals were studied by means of thermogravimetric and differential thermal analysis （TG-DTA）, Fourier transform infrareddiffuse reflection spectroscopy （PTIR-DRS）, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy （XPS）. The results indicated that WHL formed metal salts with metal ions dissolved in water from dolomite and pyrite, which then deposited on their surfaces. Both of the minerals could be depressed by WHL. In the process of flotation, sulfur was created besides the WIlL being absorbed on the surface of the sulfur concentrate, and its recovery rate was slightly affected.

Research on characters of surrounding rock in complex geology conditions and supporting time

The methods combined by test, field monitoring and theoretical analysis were adopted to do the systemic research on the rock mass from micro-structure to macro-deformation, and rheological model of Jinchuan rock mass was established to discuss the reasonable supporting time. Resuhs show that supporting after suitable stress and displacement release can benefit for the long-term stability of surrounding rock.

The multistage genesis of the giant Dongshengmiao Zn-Pb-Cu deposit in western Inner Mongolia,China:Syngenetic stratabound mineralization and metamorphic remobilization

The genesis of the giant Dongshengmiao in the northern margin of the North China Block has been debated since its discovery in the 1950 s,because it shows geological and geochemical characteristics with both syngenetic and epigenetic signatures.It has geological settings and sulfur and lead isotopic compositions that are similar with typical SEDEX（sedimentary exhalative） deposit,while the Zn-Pb-Cu mineralization was controlled by shear deformation and metamorphism,showing similarities with orogenic-type deposits.In this contribution,both the syngenetic and epigenetic features of the Dongshengmiao are envisaged,and accounted for in the context of a genetic model with two metallogenic periods.Massive pyrite at the Dongshengmiao was mostly recrystallized during metamorphism,but finegrained texture was locally preserved,indicating its syngenetic origin.On the contrary,all the Zn-Pb-Cu ores observed in this study show characteristics of epigenetic hydrothermal mineralization that controlled by metamorphism and accompanying shear deformation.The sulfur and lead isotopic compositions of sphalerite and galena indicate that they were in situ remobilized from a syngenetic stratabound source,and the oxygen and hydrogen isotopic ratios of ore-fluid indicate that the large-scale remobilization was assisted by metamorphic fluid.The thermodynamic modeling indicates that the orefluid during remobilization has a great potential of transporting Cu.This may account for the abnormally enriched Cu in the remobilized SEDEX deposit.The metamorphic fluid might strip Cu from the fluid source during devolatilization,and overprint it on the Zn-Pb orebodies during remobilization.A secondary flowthrough modeling reveals that Zn- and Cu-sulfides would be preferentially redistributed in Fe-rich carbonates during remobilization,as a result of fluid-rock interaction.Conclusively,a multistage genetic model is proposed.During the development of the Proterozoic rift,stratabound Zn-Pb mineralization took place in a SEDEX ore-forming system.The syngenetic sulfides subsequently underwent a large-scale fluidassisted remobilization during the early Cretaceous metamorphism and thrusting,forming the shear zone-controlled epigenetic orebodies.During the remobilization process,Cu was scavenged from the source of metamorphic fluid,and deposited accompanying remobilized Zn-Pb sulfides.Shear structures and Fe-rich carbonates are ideal sites for redistribution and re-deposition of remobilized sulfide.

Measurement and study of the distributing law of in-situ stresses in rock mass at great depth

To solve the technical cruxes of the conventional system in deep rock mass, an automatic testing system for hydraulic fracturing that includes a single tube for hydraulic loop, a pressure-relief valve, central-tubeless packers, and a multichannel real-time data acquisition system was used for in-situ stresses measurement at great depths （over 1000 m） in a coalfield in Juye of Northern China. The values and orientations of horizontal principal stresses were determined by the new system. The virgin stress field and its distributing law were decided by the linear regression from the logged 37 points in seven boreholes. Besides, the typical boreholes arranged in both the adjacent zone and far away zone of the faults were analyzed, respectively. The results show that a stress concentration phenomenon and a deflection in the orientation of the maximal horizontal stress exist in the adjacent zone of the faults, which further provides theoretical basis for design and optimization of mining.

Seepage effects of groundwater and its make-up water on triggering ground subsidence

The functioning mechanism of groundwater and its make-up water in the process of ground subsidence was studied from such three aspects as osmotic corrasion, osmotic pressure effect and concretion effect, As to osmotic corrasion, its forming conditions, mechanical mechanism and process were analyzed, As to osmotic pressure effect, it was mainly studied from hydrostatic pressurizing effect, sop softening effect and negative pressure sealing effect. Through concretion and saturation of soil, the factors of concretion settlement were analyzed. The results showed that both groundwater and its make-up water are important triggering factors to ground subsidence.

Cementing properties of steel slag activated by sodium silicates and sodium hydroxide

Steel slag which is mainly composed of γ-Ca2SiO4 and other silicates or alumino-silicates is activated by sodium sificates and sodium hydroxide. The powders of such steel slag are usually inert to hydrate and subsequently have very low ability of cementing. But when sodium silicates and sodium hydroxide are used as activators the steel slag shows very good properties of cementing. When activated with NaOH solution the hardened slurry of the steel slag has a compressive strength of 11.13 MPa after being cured for 28 days. When activated with Na2SiO3 solution the samples after being cured for 28 days have an average compres- sive strength of 40.23 MPa. While the steel slag slurry which is only mixed with water has a compressive of 0.88 MPa after being cured for 28 days.

Preparation of basic magnesium carbonate and its thermal decomposition kinetics in air

The thermal decomposition process of basic magnesium carbonate was investigated. Firstly, Basic magnesium carbonate was prepared from magnesite, and the characteristics of the product were detected by X-ray diffraction （XRD） and scanning electron microscopy （SEM）. Subsequently, the thermal decomposition process of basic magnesium carbonate in air was studied by thermogravimetry-differential thermogravimetry （TG-DTG）. The results of XRD confirm that the chemical composition of basic magnesium carbonate is 4MgCO3·Mg（OH）2·4H2O. And the SEM images show that the sample is in sheet structure, with a diameter of 0.1-1 μm. The TG-DTG results demonstrate that there are two steps in the thermal decomposition process of basic magnesium carbonate. The apparent activation energies （E） were calculated by Flyrm-Wall-Ozawa method. It is obtained from Coats-Redfem＇s equation and Malek method that the mechanism functions of the two decomposition stages are D3 and A1.5, respectively. And then, the kinetic equations of the two steps were deduced as well.

Responses of calcareous sand foundations to variations of groundwater table and applied loads

The long-term settlement of calcareous sand foundations caused by daily periodic fluctuations has become a significant geological hazard,but effective monitoring tools to capture the deformation profiles are still rarely reported.In this study,a laboratory model test and an in situ monitoring test were conducted.An optical frequency domain reflectometer(OFDR)with high spatial resolution(1 mm)and high accuracy(10-6)was used to record the soil strain responses to groundwater table and varied loads.The results indicated that the fiber-optic measurements can accurately locate the swelling and compressive zones.During the loading process,the interlock between calcareous sand particles was detected,which increased the internal friction angle of soil.The foundation deformation above the sliding surface was dominated by compression,and the soil was continuously compressed beneath the sliding surface.After 26e48 h,calcareous sand swelling occurred gradually above the water table,which was primarily dependent on capillary water.The swelling of the soil beneath the groundwater table was completed rapidly within less than 2 h.When the groundwater table and load remain constant,the compression creep behavior can be described by the Yasong-Wang model with R2¼0.993.The daily periodically varying in situ deformation of calcareous sand primarily occurs between the highest and lowest groundwater tables,i.e.4.2e6.2 m deep.The tuff interlayers with poor water absorption capacity do not swell or compress,but they produce compressive strain under the influence of deformed calcareous sand layers.

Effects of CO₂Injection on the Seismic Velocity of Sandstone Saturated with Saline Water

Geological sequestration (GS) of carbon dioxide (CO2) is considered as one of the most promising technologies to reduce the amount of anthropogenic CO2 emission in the atmosphere. To ensure success of CO2 GS, monitoring is essential on ascertaining movement, volumes and locations of injected CO2 in the sequestration reservoir. One technique is to use time-lapsed seismic survey mapping to provide spatial distribution of seismic wave velocity as an indicator of CO2 migration and volumes in a storage reservoir with time. To examine the use of time-lapsed seismic survey mapping as a monitoring tool for CO2 sequestration, this paper presents mathematical and experimental studies of the effects of supercritical CO2 injection on the seismic velocity of sandstone initially saturated with saline water. The mathematical model is based on poroelasticity theory, particularly the application of the Biot-Gassmann substitution theory in the modeling of the acoustic velocity of porous rocks containing two-phase immiscible pore fluids. The experimental study uses a high pressure and high temperature triaxial cell to clarify the seismic response of a sample of Berea sandstone to supercritical CO2 injection under deep saline aquifer conditions. Measured ultrasonic wave velocity changes during CO2 injection in the sandstone sample show the effects of pore fluid distribution in the seismic velocity of porous rocks. CO2 injection was shown to decrease the P-wave velocity with increasing CO2 saturation whereas the S-wave velocity was almost constant. The results confirm that the Biot-Gassmann theory can be used to model the changes in the acoustic P-wave velocity of sandstone containing different mixtures of supercritical CO2 and saline water provided the distribution of the two fluids in the sandstone pore space is accounted for in the calculation of the pore fluid bulk modulus. The empirical relation of Brie et al. for the bulk modulus of mixtures of two-phase immiscible fluids, in combination with the Biot-Gassmann theory, was found to satisfactorily represent the pore-fluid dependent acoustic P-wave velocity of sandstone.

Screening and flocculating properties of bioflocculant-producing microorganisms

Screening of bioflocculant-producing microorganisms was carded out. A strain that secreted excellent bioflocculant was isolated from municipal sewage using the spread plate technique, identified as Klebsiella sp. by the analytical profile index （API） identification system, and named A9. Several important factors that had an effect on A9＇s bioflocculant-producing and flocculating activity were studied. A total of 4 g/L Kaolin suspension was used to measure the flocculating activity of the bioflocculant from A9. It was found that maltose and urea were Ag＇s best carbon and nitrogen sources, respectively, and the flocculating activity of the flocculating agent from A9 was markedly increased by the addition of trivalent cations such as Fe^3＋ and Al^3＋; furthermore, the bioflocculant produced by A9 was most effective when the pH value was 6.0.

Biodesulfurization of vanadium-bearing titanomagnetite concentrates and pH control of bioleaching solution

Vanadium-bearing titanomagnetite concentrates were desulfurized with Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans （A. ferrooxidans）. The sulfur content of the concentrates was reduced from 0.69wt% to 0.14wt% after bioleaching for 15 d with a 10% pulp density at 30℃. Maintaining a stable pH value during biodesulfurization was critical because of high acid consumption, resulting from a combination of nonoxidative and oxidative dissolution of pyrrhotite in acid solution. It is discovered that the citric acid-disodium hydrogen phosphate buffer of pH 2.0 can control the solution pH value smoothly in the optimal range of 2.0-3.0 for A. ferrooxidans growth. Using the buffer in the volume fraction range of 5.0%-15.0% stimulates A. ferooxidans growth and improves the biodesulfurization efficiency. Compared with the buffer-free control case, the maximum increase of biodesulfurization rate is 29.7% using a 10.0vol% buffer. Bioleaching provides an alternative process for desulfurization of vanadium-bearing titanomagnetite ores.

Identification of Contaminant Source Characteristics and Monitoring Network Design in Groundwater Aquifers: An Overview

The groundwater system is often polluted by different sources of contamination where the sources are difficult to detect. The presence of contamination in groundwater poses significant challenges to its delineation and quantification. The remediation of a contaminated site requires an optimal decision making system to identify the pollutant source characteristics accurately and efficiently. The source characteristics are generally identified using contaminant concentration measurements from arbitrary or planned monitoring locations. To effectively characterize the sources of pollution, the monitoring locations should be selected appropriately. An efficient monitoring network will result in satisfactory characterization of contaminant sources. On the other hand, an appropriate design of monitoring network requires reliable source characteristics. A coupled iterative sequential source identification and dynamic monitoring network design, improves substantially the accuracy of source identification model. This paper reviews different source identification and monitoring network design methods in groundwater contaminant sites. Further, the models for sequential integration of these two models are presented. The effective integration of source identification and dedicated monitoring network design models, distributed sources, parameter uncertainty, and pollutant geo-chemistry are some of the issues which need to be addressed in efficient, accurate and widely applicable methodologies for identification of unknown pollutant sources in contaminated aquifers.

A linear programming model for long-term mine planning in the presence of grade uncertainty and a stockpile

The complexity of an open pit production scheduling problem is increased by grade uncertainty. A method is presented to calculate the cost of uncertainty in a production schedule based on deviations from the target production. A mixed integer linear programming algorithm is formulated to find the min- ing sequence of blocks from a predefined pit shell and their respective destinations, with two objectives： to maximize the net present value of the operation and to minimize the cost of uncertainty. An efficient clustering technique reduces the number of var/ables to make the problem tractable. Also, the parameters that control the importance of uncertainty in the optimization problem are studied. The minimum annual mining capacity in presence of grade uncertainty is assessed. The method is illustrated with an oil sand deposit in northern Alberta.

Carbonation of low heat portland cement paste precured in water for different time

The carbonation technique was applied to accelerate the hydration of low heat portland cement （LHC）. Before carbonation, the demoulded pastes were precured in water for 0, 2, 7, and 21 d, respectively. The results show that precuring time in water strongly influences the carbonation process. The phenolphthalein test indicates that the paste precured in water for a shorter time is more quickly carbonated than that for a longer time. The content of calcium hydroxide increases with increasing the precuring time in water, whereas, the amount of absorbed carbon dioxide changes contrarily. Scanning electron microscope （SEM） observation shows that portlandite always fills up big air bubbles in the paste during precuring in water, and the mercury intrusion porosimetry （MIP） results show that there are less large capillary pores in the paste precured in water for a longer time. It is found that the paste without precuring in water has more carbon dioxide absorption during curing in carbon dioxide atmosphere, and its total pore volume decreases remarkably with an increase in the carbonation time than that precured in water. X-ray diffraction （XRD） and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller （BET） surface area analyses indicate that the carbonate products are vaterite and calcite; CxSHy formed from carbonation has low BET surface area in comparison with that of C-S-H formed from curing in water.

Characteristics and evolution of ore-forming fluids of the Chongjiang copper deposit in the Gangdise porphyry copper belt, Tibet

Petrography, microthermometry, and scanning electron microscope/energy dispersive spectrometer （SEM/EDS） studies were performed on the fluid inclusions in the ore-beating quartz veins and quartz phenocrysts in the porphyry of the Chongjiang porphyry copper deposit. The analyses of the fluid inclusions indicate that the ore-forming fluids were exsolved from magma. They are near-saturated, supercritical, rich in volatile constituents, and have the capture temperature of 362-389℃ and salinities of 17.7wt%- 18.9wt% NaC1 eq. With the decreasing of temperature and pressure, the supercritical fluids were separated into a low salinity vapor phase and a high salinity liquid phase. During quartz-sericitization, the high salinity fluid boiled and separated into a low salinity vapor phase and a high salinity liquid phase. The high salinity inclusions that formed in the boiling process had daughter mineral melting temperatures higher than the homogenization temperatures of the vapor and liquid phases. The late fluids that are responsible for argillization are of lower temperature and salinity.

Instrumented borehole drilling for interface identification in intricate weathered granite ground engineering

The successful application in drilling for HK simple weathered granite foundation has revealed its further use in instru- mented drilling system as a ground investigation tool in the detection of other lithology formations, geohazards, underground water, and boundary of orebody. To expand the further use and test the accuracy in identification of formation, an R-20 rotary-hydraulic drill rig was instrumented with a digital drilling process monitoring system （DPM） for drilling in an intricate decomposed granite site. In this test ground, the boreholes revealed that the weathered granite alternately changes between moderate and strong. The qualitative and quantitative analysis of the penetrating parameters, indicates the effective thrust force, rotary speed, flushing pressure, penetrating rate, and displacement of the bit fluctuate at ground interfaces. It shows that the parameters get a good response with the change of rock strength at the interfaces, which can reveal the change of the intricate granite formation. Besides, a variable-slope method has been established, for identification of dominative and subsidiary interfaces in the granite site. The result from a t-test shows that the confi- dence of the instrumented drilling system in identification of the geotechnical interfaces is up to 99%.

Thermal integrity profiling of cast-in-situ piles in sand using fiber-optic distributed temperature sensing

Defects in cast-in-situ piles have an adverse impact on load transfer at the pile‒soil interface and pile bearing capacity. In recent years, thermal integrity profiling (TIP) has been developed to measure temperature profiles of cast-in-situ piles, enabling the detection of structural defects or anomalies at the early stage of construction. However, using this integrity testing method to evaluate potential defects in cast-in-situ piles requires a comprehensive understanding of the mechanism of hydration heat transfer from piles to surrounding soils. In this study, small-scale model tests were conducted in laboratory to investigate the performance of TIP in detecting pile integrity. Fiber-optic distributed temperature sensing (DTS) technology was used to monitor detailed temperature variations along model piles in sand. Additionally, sensors were installed in sand to measure water content and matric suction. An interpretation method against available DTS-based thermal profiles was proposed to reveal the potential defective regions. It shows that the temperature difference between normal and defective piles is more obvious in wet sand. In addition, there is a critical zone of water migration in sand due to the water absorption behavior of cement and temperature transfer-induced water migration in the early-age concrete setting. These findings could provide important insight into the improvement of the TIP testing method for field applications.

Corn cob modified by lauric acid and ethanediol for emulsified oil adsorption

Corn cob is a naturally renewable material with developed micropore and hydrophobic characteristics, which enables it to show good oil adsorption capacity. In order to improve oil adsorption capacity, corn cob was modified with lauric acid and ethanediol. The structure of raw and modified corn cob was investigated using Fourier transform infrared(FTIR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy(SEM), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller(BET) method, thermogravimetric analysis(TGA) and Ze Ta potential analyzer. The effects of p H level, adsorption time, adsorbent dosage, and initial oil concentration on oil absorbency of corn cob were studied. The results indicate that the modification significantly improved the lipophilicity of corn cob, making the modified corn cob with much better adsorption capacity on oil absorbency. Compared with raw corn cob, the maximum saturated adsorption capacity of modified corn cob is 16.52 mg/g at p H 5, and the increasing percentage is found to be 141%, which indicates that the modification causes a better adsorption capacity for oil removal. In addition, due to high oil adsorption capacity, affordable price and low secondary pollution, the modified corn cob could be considered promising alternative for the traditional oil adsorbent to clean up the emulsified oily water.

Regularity and prediction of ground pressure in Haigou Gold Mine

Previous mining excavation in upper sublevels left several mined-out areas in Haigou gold mine. To ensure safety of the main and auxiliary shafts and mining production in deeper sublevels, systematical studies on regularity, prediction, and control of ground pressure in the mine were carried out. Through 3D-numerical modeling and in-situ monitoring of acoustic emission, pressure and displacement, the ground pressure activity and the stability status of surrounding rock masses and the two shafts were assessed. Based on in-situ monitoring practice in Haigou mine,4 modes to judge rock stability according to the monitoring information of acoustic emission,pressure,and displacement were presented.

Stability analysis of the open-pit mine slope and the study on the incensement of the slope angle

Based on the exploration of the engineering geology and the rock mechan-ics testing, limit equilibrium analysis method was adopted to calculate the stability of the Huogeqi Copper Mine slope, the results show that the original slope angle is too con-servative and the slope have the potential of more preferable slope angle. In order to discuss the possibility of slope angle enhancement, sensitivity analysis of parameters related to limit state slope was made. Quantitatively determined angle value of the add-ing and the optimal slope angle was obtained. The study having performed showed that it is not only useful for the safety control of open-pit mine slope but also for the open-pit mine design for the similar geological condition.