Beneficiation Process Research Articles

Rock Fragmentation Evaluation towards Blast-To-Mill Concept of Blast Optimization in Hard Rock Mines

Traditional blast optimisation studies ensure efficient mining operation but ignore potential impact of blasting on primary crushing. The performance of the primary crusher is key to the ore beneficiation process. Optimisation studies conducted through the mining operations to the comminution circuit is vital to the mine-to-mill concepts in the mining industry. In this approach, an innovative approach to the assessment of in-situ blasting is proposed and evaluated. This approach focuses on the acceptability of rock fragments on the Run-of-Mine (ROM) pad as opposed to the pits. Fragmentation analysis was conducted in the pit and on the ROM pad. A correlation efficiency of 0.92 was realized between the measured rock fragments in the pit and that on the ROM pad. About 10% of the rock fragments in the pit were classified as boulders while about 30% of the same rock fragments deposited on the ROM pad were classified as boulders. However, about 30% of the rockpile on the ROM pad was estimated to be lower than the Close Side Setting (CSS) of the primary crusher. It is recommended that future research evaluates the energy consumption and its related cost at the primary crusher in comparison to in-pit fragmentation and mucking cost performance.

Spinning no-scale {mathcal {F}}-SU(5) in the right direction

The Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (FNAL) recently announced confirmation of the Brookhaven National Lab (BNL) measurements of the g-2 of the muon that uncovered a discrepancy with the theoretically calculated Standard Model value. We suggest an explanation for the combined BNL+FNAL 4.2sigma deviation within the supersymmetric grand unification theory (GUT) model No-Scale {mathcal {F}}-SU(5) supplemented with a string derived TeV-scale extra 10+overline{10} vector-like multiplet and charged vector-like singlet (XE,XE^c), dubbed flippons. We introduced these vector-like particles into No-Scale Flipped SU(5) many years ago, and as a result, the renormalization group equation (RGE) running was immediately shaped to produce a distinctive and rather beneficial two-stage gauge coupling unification process to avoid the Landau pole and lift unification to the string scale, in addition to contributing through 1-loop to the light Higgs boson mass. The flippons have long stood ready to tackle another challenge, and now do so yet again, where the charged vector-like “lepton”/singlet couples with the muon, the supersymmetric down-type Higgs H_d, and a singlet S, using a chirality flip to easily accommodate the muonic g-2 discrepancy in No-Scale {mathcal {F}}-SU(5). Considering the phenomenological success of this string derived model over the prior 11 years that remains accommodative of all presently available LHC limits plus all other experimental constraints, including no fine-tuning, and the fact that for the first time a Starobinsky-like inflationary model consistent with all cosmological data was derived from superstring theory in No-Scale Flipped SU(5), we believe it is imperative to reconcile the BNL+FNAL developments within the model space.

Academician L. A. Vaisberg’s contribution to advancement in coal beneficiation

Coal as one of the main strategic materials has always been an objective of scientific thought for many scientists. To date, coal is still competitive with hydrocarbon sources. The coal industry is developing in its own way and remains a priority for many countries. This is due, first, to the use of coking coals for the metallurgical industry, for which there is, as of today, no alternative. The existing huge resources and the newly discovered coal deposits in Russia are the impetus for the development of new beneficiation and deep processing technologies. The research in the field of coal beneficiation using dry processing methods is ongoing in Russia and worldwide, thanks to the fundamental foundations laid by the great modern scientist Leonid Abramovich Vaisberg. The development of scientific and methodological framework for the dry coal beneficiation processes has always been one of the priorities of Mekhanobr-Tekhnika Research and Engineering Corporation and its Head Academician of RAS L.A. Vaisberg. In the framework of XVIII International Congress on Coal Preparation (ICPCI-2016) in Saint Petersburg, held by the Mining University, and during the further work in India and Australia, a large amount of joint research work was carried out. Leonid Abramovich remained a member of the International Organizational Committee (IOC) for 5 years and until his last days, and team-worked with the staff of the Mining University. This gave a strong impetus to the development and continuation of coal-related research in the University’s scientific environment. Leonid Abramovich Vaisberg, Doctor of Engineering Sciences, Professor, Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences, a leading specialist in Russia in the field of mineral and mining waste management, mining engineering, theory of design, as well as operation of vibrating machines and devices used in mining, construction, industrial and municipal waste recycling has made a huge contribution to the development of the international and national coal industry.

PRACTICE OF TEMPLE DEVELOPMENT GRANTS’ DISCOURSE OF BADUNG DISTRICT GOVERNMENT, BALI

This paper analyzes the policy of development grants in the cultural and religious sector of the Badung Regency Government in Bali with the realization of assistance targeting community groups in the construction of the physical infrastructure of the temple as a Hindu holy place that has political tendencies and power. This topic is researched because it is one of the public policies that is sentimental and very intimate because it directly touches social life and previous cultural values. The problem examined in this study is how the mechanism, strategy, which is carried out by the agent in exercising power. The power in question is not the power of a person but the power is everywhere and intertwined with knowledge. This research data was obtained based on the results of interviews, observations, and documentation studies which were then analyzed with the theory of power and knowledge by Foucault, and practical theory by Pierre Bourdieu. The analysis in is first indicated a mutually beneficial process between the lead district government, legislative members who became facilitators and the community, the application of religious, customary, and cultural concepts in perpetuating power and pragmatism and lack of education.
 Keywords: temple development grant, public policy, power relations

Effect of Nutrition on Age-Related Metabolic Markers and the Gut Microbiota in Cats.

Age-related changes in the gut microbiota and metabolites are associated with the increased risk of detrimental conditions also seen with age. This study evaluated whether a test food with potential anti-aging benefits results in favorable changes in plasma and fecal metabolites and the fecal microbiota in senior cats. Forty healthy domestic cats aged 8.3–13.5 years were fed a washout food for 30 days, then control or test food for 30 days. After another 30-day washout, cats were switched to the other study food for 30 days. Assessment of plasma and fecal metabolites showed lower levels of metabolites associated with detrimental processes (e.g., uremic toxins) and higher levels of metabolites associated with beneficial processes (e.g., tocopherols) after cats consumed the test food compared with the control food. A shift toward proteolysis with the control food is supported by higher levels of amino acid metabolites and lower levels of carbohydrate metabolites. Operational taxonomic units of greater abundance with the test food positively correlated with carbohydrate and nicotinic acid metabolites, and negatively correlated with uremic toxins, amino acid metabolism, secondary bile salts, and branched-chain fatty acids. Taken together, the test food appears to result in greater levels of metabolites and microbiota associated with a healthier state.

Contributions of Indigenous Knowledge to ecological and evolutionary understanding

Indigenous Knowledge (IK) is the collective term to represent the many place‐based knowledges accumulated across generations within myriad specific cultural contexts. Despite its millennia‐long and continued application by Indigenous peoples to environmental management, non‐Indigenous “Western” scientific research and management have only recently considered IK. We use detailed and diverse examples to highlight how IK is increasingly incorporated in research programs, enhancing understanding of – and contributing novel insight into – ecology and evolution, as well as physiology and applied ecology (that is, management). The varied contributions of IK stem from long periods of observation, interaction, and experimentation with species, ecosystems, and ecosystem processes. Despite commonalities between IK and science, we outline the ethical duty required by scientists when working with IK holders. Given past and present injustice, respecting self‐determination of Indigenous peoples is a necessary condition to support mutually beneficial research processes and outcomes.

Biosynthesis of α-Gal Epitopes (Galα1-3Galβ1-4GlcNAc-R) and Their Unique Potential in Future α-Gal Therapies.

The α-gal epitope is a carbohydrate antigen which appeared early in mammalian evolution and is synthesized in large amounts by the glycosylation enzyme α1,3galactosyltransferase (α1,3GT) in non-primate mammals, lemurs, and New-World monkeys. Ancestral Old-World monkeys and apes synthesizing α-gal epitopes underwent complete extinction 20–30 million years ago, and their mutated progeny lacking α-gal epitopes survived. Humans, apes, and Old-World monkeys which evolved from the surviving progeny lack α-gal epitopes and produce the natural anti-Gal antibody which binds specifically to α-gal epitopes. Because of this reciprocal distribution of the α-gal epitope and anti-Gal in mammals, transplantation of organs from non-primate mammals (e.g., pig xenografts) into Old-World monkeys or humans results in hyperacute rejection following anti-Gal binding to α-gal epitopes on xenograft cells. The in vivo immunocomplexing between anti-Gal and α-gal epitopes on molecules, pathogens, cells, or nanoparticles may be harnessed for development of novel immunotherapies (referred to as “α-gal therapies”) in various clinical settings because such immune complexes induce several beneficial immune processes. These immune processes include localized activation of the complement system which can destroy pathogens and generate chemotactic peptides that recruit antigen-presenting cells (APCs) such as macrophages and dendritic cells, targeting of antigens presenting α-gal epitopes for extensive uptake by APCs, and activation of recruited macrophages into pro-reparative macrophages. Some of the suggested α-gal therapies associated with these immune processes are as follows: 1. Increasing efficacy of enveloped-virus vaccines by synthesizing α-gal epitopes on vaccinating inactivated viruses, thereby targeting them for extensive uptake by APCs. 2. Conversion of autologous tumors into antitumor vaccines by expression of α-gal epitopes on tumor cell membranes. 3. Accelerating healing of external and internal injuries by α-gal nanoparticles which decrease the healing time and diminish scar formation. 4. Increasing anti-Gal–mediated protection against zoonotic viruses presenting α-gal epitopes and against protozoa, such as Trypanosoma, Leishmania, and Plasmodium, by vaccination for elevating production of the anti-Gal antibody. The efficacy and safety of these therapies were demonstrated in transgenic mice and pigs lacking α-gal epitopes and producing anti-Gal, raising the possibility that these α-gal therapies may be considered for further evaluation in clinical trials.

Beneficiation of cassiterite from primary tin ores using gravity and magnetic separation

Alluvial tin ore deposit of PT. Timah is predicted to be depleted in the next 5 to 10 years. Finding a new source of tin ore is important for the company’s sustainability. PT. Timah has been exploring for primary tin ore. Tin (Sn) content in primary tin ore ranges from 0.2 – 1.0%. The Sn particles liberated in the cassiterite mineral are above 50% so they can be processed by the physical separation method. This research aims to observe the beneficiation of cassiterite from primary tin ore (oxide and skarn samples) using gravity and magnetic separation. The cassiterite concentrate produced from the beneficiation process is expected to be used as feed for the smelting process. Beneficiation results of primary tin ore (oxide and skarn samples) showed that cassiterite (SnO2) content were 15.09% and 40.03%, respectively and the recovery was 42.9% and 11.87%, respectively. The cassiterite concentrate produced from the beneficiation process cannot be used to feed the smelting process.

Plant ecological genomics at the limits of life in the Atacama Desert

The Atacama Desert in Chile-hyperarid and with high-ultraviolet irradiance levels-is one of the harshest environments on Earth. Yet, dozens of species grow there, including Atacama-endemic plants. Herein, we establish the Talabre-Lejía transect (TLT) in the Atacama as an unparalleled natural laboratory to study plant adaptation to extreme environmental conditions. We characterized climate, soil, plant, and soil-microbe diversity at 22 sites (every 100 m of altitude) along the TLT over a 10-y period. We quantified drought, nutrient deficiencies, large diurnal temperature oscillations, and pH gradients that define three distinct vegetational belts along the altitudinal cline. We deep-sequenced transcriptomes of 32 dominant plant species spanning the major plant clades, and assessed soil microbes by metabarcoding sequencing. The top-expressed genes in the 32 Atacama species are enriched in stress responses, metabolism, and energy production. Moreover, their root-associated soils are enriched in growth-promoting bacteria, including nitrogen fixers. To identify genes associated with plant adaptation to harsh environments, we compared 32 Atacama species with the 32 closest sequenced species, comprising 70 taxa and 1,686,950 proteins. To perform phylogenomic reconstruction, we concatenated 15,972 ortholog groups into a supermatrix of 8,599,764 amino acids. Using two codon-based methods, we identified 265 candidate positively selected genes (PSGs) in the Atacama plants, 64% of which are located in Pfam domains, supporting their functional relevance. For 59/184 PSGs with an Arabidopsis ortholog, we uncovered functional evidence linking them to plant resilience. As some Atacama plants are closely related to staple crops, these candidate PSGs are a "genetic goldmine" to engineer crop resilience to face climate change.

Implementation and Use of Workplace-Based Assessment in Clinical Learning Environments: A Scoping Review.

Workplace-based assessment (WBA) serves a critical role in supporting competency-based medical education (CBME) by providing assessment data to inform competency decisions and support learning. Many WBA systems have been developed, but little is known about how to effectively implement WBA. Filling this gap is important for creating suitable and beneficial assessment processes that support large-scale use of CBME. As a step toward filling this gap, the authors describe what is known about WBA implementation and use to identify knowledge gaps and future directions. The authors used Arksey and O'Malley's 6-stage scoping review framework to conduct the review, including: (1) identifying the research question; (2) identifying relevant studies; (3) study selection; (4) charting the data; (5) collating, summarizing, and reporting the results; and (6) consulting with relevant stakeholders. In 2019-2020, the authors searched and screened 726 papers for eligibility using defined inclusion and exclusion criteria. One hundred sixty-three met inclusion criteria. The authors identified 5 themes in their analysis: (1) Many WBA tools and programs have been implemented, and barriers are common across fields and specialties; (2) Theoretical perspectives emphasize the need for data-driven implementation strategies; (3) User perceptions of WBA vary and are often dependent on implementation factors; (4) Technology solutions could provide useful tools to support WBA; and (5) Many areas of future research and innovation remain. Knowledge of WBA as an implemented practice to support CBME remains constrained. To remove these constraints, future research should aim to generate generalizable knowledge on WBA implementation and use, address implementation factors, and investigate remaining knowledge gaps.

Optimizing Mueller polarimetry in noisy systems through over-determination.

Mueller polarimetry measurements are increasingly being used to image highly dynamic and short-lived phenomena such as plasma discharges. For phenomena such as these, exposure times below 1 µs must be used. Unfortunately, these low exposure times significantly reduce the signal-to-noise ratio, making accurate and consistent measurements difficult. To overcome this limitation, we investigated increasing the number of Stokes vectors produced from a polarization state analyzer and polarization state generator, a process known as over-determination. To conduct our analysis, we used results from physical experiments using Stokes vectors generated by liquid crystal variable retarders. These results were then verified using data from simulations. First, we conclude that increasing the degree of over-determination is a simple and effective way of dealing with this noise; however, we also convey that choosing the best scheme is not an entirely trivial process. Second, we demonstrate that over-determination gives rise to hitherto inaccessible information that allows for the quantification of statistical noise and, crucially, the pinpointing of the origin of systematic error, a highly beneficial process that has been lacking until now.

A short review on environmental impacts and application of iron ore tailings in development of sustainable eco-friendly bricks

Increased mining activity of iron ore has led to the generation of voluminous wastes of various nature, especially during the different stages of its extraction and production. The improper disposal of such waste causes negative impact on the environment. One such waste which is generated during the beneficiation process of iron ore is waste iron ore tailings, which is also termed as IOT. Further, dumping of IOT on open ground creates huge dumping sites. This dumping sites have been a concern to the environment and human population in its close vicinity. Therefore, a need to effectively use IOT has become one of the subjects of interest for many researchers. This article provides a short review of environmental problems caused due to improper disposal of IOT, and also reviews on the reuse methods of IOT in the construction sector, which helps to alleviate the environmental pollution associated with improper disposal of IOT. Furthermore, reuse of IOT in construction sector reduces the exploitation of the virgin materials for production of construction material, and thus reducing depletion of natural resources. Based on the existing literatures and findings it was observed that the use of IOT to develop stable building blocks using unconventional methods showed great potential and improved performance, when compared with conventional materials such as clay fired bricks.

Formation and arsenic distribution of egg-type structure of matte droplets inside the copper smelting slag

Arsenic (As) element is always accompanied with Cu-rich phase and forms egg-type structure in the copper slag concentrate through beneficiation process, which means that As element may be recycled through beneficiation process and therefore increase the burden of smelting system. In this work, the formation mechanism of egg-type structure in the slag is systemically studied through thermodynamics and dynamics, which may provide theoretic guidance to separate As and Cu elements in the copper smelting system.

Simulation to Recover Niobium and Tantalum from the Tin Slags of the Old Penouta Mine: A Case Study

Demand for niobium and tantalum is increasing exponentially as these are essential ingredients for the manufacture of, among others, capacitors in technological devices and ferroniobium. Mine tailings rich in such elements could constitute an important source of Nb and Ta in the future and alleviate potential supply risks. This paper evaluates the possibility of recovering niobium and tantalum from the slags generated during the tin beneficiation process of mine tailings from the old Penouta mine, located in Spain. To do so, a simulation of the processes required to beneficiate and refine both elements is carried out. After carbothermic tin reduction, the slags are sent to a hydrometallurgical process where niobium oxide and tantalum oxide are obtained at the end. Reagents, water, and energy consumption, in addition to emissions, effluents, and product yields, are assessed. Certain factors were identified as critical, and recirculation was encouraged in the model to maximise production and minimise reagents’ use and wastes. With this simulation, considering 3000 production hours per year, the metal output from the tailings of the old mine could cover around 1% and 7.4% of the world annual Nb and Ta demand, respectively.

Selection of recycled water electrochemical conditioning parameters for preparation of diamond-bearing kimberlite for froth separation

The main reason of decreasing diamond recovery through froth separation is their surface hydrophilization by hypergene minerals and technogenic films, crystallized from the supersaturated aqueous phase, fixed on the surface structurally or by adhesion. Various types of physical actions, including thermal and ultrasonic treatment of the initial feed of froth separation, are recommended to increase the diamond-bearing kimberlite beneficiation process performance, providing cleaning of the surface of diamonds due to destruction of their accretions with rock minerals and removal of film hydrophilizing coatings from the surface of diamond crystals. A sample of kimberlite material with a given content of diamonds of 1.5–2 mm in size was used as a subject of research in the process of froth separation. The results of thermodynamic calculations and experimental research have substantiated the necessity of using electrochemical conditioning of recycled water for increasing the efficiency of diamond surface cleaning in froth separation operation when using the process of thermal treatment of initial ore feed. The use of diaphragmless electrochemical conditioning of recycled water increases the efficiency of thermochemical dissolution of hydrophilizing compounds on the surface of diamonds through reducing the concentration of calcium and carbonate ions as well as through shifting the medium pH to 6.1–6.5. The measurements of the limiting wetting angle showed that the maximum effect of increasing the diamond surface hydrophobicity was achieved when heat and electrochemical treatment were used together. Laboratory studies showed the possibility of increasing flotation diamond extraction from 65.7 to 91.4 % through application of electrochemical conditioning of recycled water. The optimum parameters of diaphragmless electrochemical treatment of recycled water of the froth separation cycle in conditions of application of pulp heat treatment: current density of 175–200 A/m2 and power consumption of 1.2–1.5 kWh/m3. Tests carried out at processing plant No. 3 of the Mirny GOK (Mining and Processing Complex) (Mirny, Yakutiya) showed that the application of the developed froth separation process intensification method with the use of thermal treatment of pulp and electrochemical diaphragmless treatment of recycled water allowed increasing the recovery of diamonds of +0.5–2 mm size by 4.9–5.1 %.

Coal mining pyritic waste in Fenton-like processes: Raw and purified catalysts in Reactive Blue 21 dye discoloration

Raw pyritic waste (RPW) from South Brazilian coal deposits and pure pyritic waste (PPW) were used as catalysts for organic dyes discoloration. Samples were characterized for their chemical, morphological, and structural properties. There was a significant content of Fe and S in both samples from the presence of iron sulfide. The average particle size is 10.9 μm for RPW and 7.4 μm for PPW, demonstrating that the beneficiation process could remove the larger quartz particles, interfered in the distribution, and average particle size. Smaller particle sizes promoted a larger surface area for the PPW. The influence of the pyritic waste in dosage, H2O2 concentration, and pH was evaluated, obtaining discoloration values above 95% for 0.5 g/L of pyritic waste, 2 g/L of H2O2, and pH 4.3 for both pyritic wastes. The degradation kinetics of the Reactive Blue 21 using the raw pyritic waste obtained a dye concentration removal above 93% in 90 min, with an iron release of 5.4 mg/L into the solution. Using PPW, the dye concentration removal was over 92% in 40 min, with the iron release of 15.5 mg/L into the solution. Discoloration rate for the PPW sample is 7 times greater than the rate obtained for RPW, indicating a faster decay rate for the purified sample. A decrease in discoloration efficiency is observed for PPW after 6 cycles of use, due to the higher concentration of iron leached into the medium. From the results, it was concluded that the raw pyritic waste has excellent potential for use as a catalyst for Fenton reaction, especially for dye-containing water discoloration, thus demonstrating the excellent applicability potential of pyritc waste in the degradation of organic pollutants in wastewater.

A Method for Quality Control of Bauxites: Case Study of Brazilian Bauxites Using PLSR on Transmission XRD Data

Available Alumina (AvAl2O3) and Reactive Silica (RxSiO2), the main parameters of bauxite controlled in the beneficiation process are traditionally measured by laborious, expensive, and time-consuming wet chemistry methods. Alternative methods based on XRD analysis, capable to provide a reliable estimation of these parameters and valuable mineralogical information of the ore, are being studied. In this work, X-ray diffraction data in transmission mode was used to estimate AvAl2O3 and RxSiO2 from Brazilian bauxites using the Partial Least Square Regression (PLSR) statistical tool. The proposed method comprises a routine of sample classification according to their similarities by Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and K-means, calibration of the PLSR model for each group of samples, grouping new bauxite samples according to the generated clustering model, and subsequent estimation of the parameters AvAl2O3 and RxSiO2 using the PLSR models for these samples. The results showed good accuracy and precision of the models generated for samples of the main ore lithology. The quality and pre-processing of the XRD data required for this method are discussed. The results demonstrated that this method has the potential to be industrially applied to quality control of bauxites as a rapid and automated procedure.

COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE TAX SYSTEMS OF COUNTRIES IN THE EURASIAN ECONOMIC UNION (ON THE EXAMPLE OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION AND THE KYRGYZ REPUBLIC)

The article compares the tax systems of the two countries that are members of the Eurasian Economic Union (the Russian Federation and the Kyrgyz Republic). The points of contact of tax systems have been found, where a certain level of harmonization has already been achieved, there are general agreements and integration and mutually beneficial processes are progressing successfully.

Adsorptive transformation of ultralow-temperature heat using a “Heat from Cold” cycle

Adsorptive transformation of ultralow-temperature heat from various sources and its involvement in beneficial processes require pioneer approaches and intelligent solutions. One such approach, the so-called “Heat from Cold” (HeCol), has recently been proposed to amplify heat with an ultralow-temperature potential of only 0–20 °C to the temperature level sufficient for heating dwellings. This work addresses testing a HeCol prototype by simulating conditions of three locations in the Russian Federation (Moscow, Novosibirsk, and Oymyakon) with quite different climates. The effects of the cycle time, evaporator and condenser temperatures on the cycle useful heat and power were studied. The specific power was found to reach 300 W/kg-adsorbent under climatic conditions of Moscow city and more than 500 W/kg under the much colder conditions of Oymyakon. Furthermore, the maximal temperature of heat transfer fluid (water) experimentally measured under closed-loop conditions gradually reached 36 °C that is of certain practical interest. Finally, the feasibility of using the HeCol cycle for the adsorptive transformation of ultralow temperature heat was clearly demonstrated.

Studying the effect the physicochemical properties of fine size raw coal organic and mineral composition have on beneficiation efficiency

Introduction. This work presents the results of the research on the effect the petrographic characteristics, elemental and mineral composition have on the Kedrovsko-Krohalevskoe fine coal beneficiation efficiency. The data has been analyzed of raw coal physochemical properties at the stage of mining and dressing mill raw material base formation. Research objective is to study thermal coal by physicochemical methods of analysis to identify the main parameters affecting the quality of beneficiation products. Based on the data obtained, the research aims to develop the method of assessing the indicators affecting the beneficiation process and further forecasting during the development of new areas and coal seams. Methods of research. The structural features of raw KCN (coking low-caking low-metamorphosed) coal were determined by comparative analysis of three samples according to the following parameters: laboratory flotation results, general technical parameters, maceral composition, organic matter elemental composition, and ash mineral composition. Results. It has been established that coals of a similar nature of origin and stage of metamorphism, can have different indicators in vaarious parameters: particle size, number and morphology of microcomponents according to quantitative petrographic analysis, as well as the presence of hydrophilic functional groups on the surface of coals. Conclusions. The results of the studies made it possible to identify a number of dependencies that can be used in a preliminary assessment of the quality of raw coal sent to a coal processing enterprise.