Investigating the pore size characteristics and mechanical properties of the stone bodies formed by residual grout is crucial for understanding the authentic permeability and load-bearing capacity of grouting materials after being scoured by water flow. In this study, the pore size distribution, porosity, uniaxial compressive strength (UCS), and elastic modulus (E) of stone bodies formed by residual

Lithium extraction from spodumene is considered increasingly essential due to the growing demand for lithium batteries in the new energy industry. However, industry still relies on the sulfation method, which requires energy-intensive calcination (1273.15–1373.15 K) to transform α-spodumene into β-spodumene. This study proposes an economical and efficient approach for extracting lithium from α-spodumene

The creep of rock salt greatly influences the performance and safety of rock salt caverns when they are used as an underground repository for oil, nuclear waste, or other hazardous materials. Creep may cause shearing of casings of oil wells drilled through thick layers of salt rock formation. The crystallographic structure of salt rock grains, in-situ deviatoric stress changes caused by excavation

In the mining industry, flotation serves as a critical step in the on-stream processing of slurry. A prompt and accurate acquisition of target elemental concentrations is fundamental for evaluating the efficiency of the flotation process. In this study, an algorithm of principal component analysis (PCA) combined with an artificial neural network (ANN) was proposed. This algorithm was based on a low

Copper oxide ore is the important component of copper resources and cannot be effectively recovered by conventional beneficiation method. In this work, the low-content and complex copper oxide ore was efficiently recovered by magnetic-leaching process. Under the optimized magnetic separation condition (feed ore size: −2 mm, rod matrix size: 3 mm, magnetic induction intensity: 1.5 T, pulsating frequency:

Copper, nickel, iron, zinc, lead, and molybdenum are among the important metals commonly found as sulfide minerals in nature. Some of these metals are also found as sulfides in intermediate products like matte and mixed sulfide precipitates (MSP). The extraction processes of these metals from their sulfide forms through either pyrometallurgy or hydrometallurgy encounter various challenges. This study

The useful mineral apatite in phosphate ore has a fine embedded particle size, requiring fine grinding for monomer dissociation, which will lead to a large number of fine apatite generation, resulting in low flotation efficiency and other problems. In this study, the effects of pH, agent concentration and stirring rate upon agglomeration behavior and rheological properties of fine apatite were investigated

Accelerated production of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) implies an increase in the raw materials demand, especially for metals like lithium, cobalt, and nickel. Spent LIBs recycling guarantees the regeneration and reincorporation of valuable materials into the manufacturing industry; therefore, recycling methods and techniques must be optimized. In this investigation, alkaline and reductive acid leaching

Crompton et al. (2023) developed a new algorithm for describing the performance of coarse particle flotation. They used the flotation rate constant, k, normalised by the maximum rate constant, kmax, for the pure mineral, as a proxy for the fractional surface liberation. The algorithm was used to produce the partition curve for a separation performed by a novel device, the CoarseAIR™. Part I of this

In this study, lithium extraction from a Li-rich kaolin is performed by roasting with Na2SO4 and water leaching. The thermal analysis of the Li-rich kaolin is characterized by TGA and DSC analysis. The comparison tests are conducted through roasting alone and H2SO4 leaching, in the aspects of ions concentration, Li recovery and solid wastes. Under Na2SO4 roasting and water leaching, 84 % of Li is leached

Magnetic separation is a primary method for processing iron ore and plays a crucial role in both current beneficiation practices and other fields. Extensive research has been conducted on the motion behavior of magnetic particles within magnetic separation equipment. However, force analysis, particularly the calculation of magnetic forces, remains imprecise when dealing with irregularly shaped particles

Separating complicated linked fluorite and calcium-containing gangue minerals efficiently is challenging with a standard oleate (NaOL) collector due to its limited selectivity and flexibility. In order to improve the efficiency of separating fluorite ore through flotation, a new collector called (E)-N-(2-hydroxyethyl)octadec-9-enamide (NOE) was created and compared to the standard collector sodium

Acoustic emission (AE) and 4D X-ray computed tomography (4D XCT) were used simultaneously to study crack initiation and propagation in two different types of quartz-rich sandstones during the four-point bending experiments. Statistical analysis of the AE response indicated the failure mechanisms and their dynamics. The characteristic changes observed in the AE response defined the timing of the bending

This paper presents and analyzes the geometallurgy of ores at the Tenke-Fungurume district, a major global source of Cu and Co. Ores at depth are mainly Cu, Cu-Fe, and Cu-Co sulfides (chalcocite group, chalcopyrite, bornite, carrollite, pyrite) hosted in variably silicified dolomite and shale layers. Within roughly 200 m of the surface the sulfides are overprinted by malachite, heterogenite, brochantite

Geotechnical stability analyses of mine waste rock (WR) piles require the critical friction angle (ϕcr) of the coarse blasted rock. However, due to the presence of oversized rock clasts, shear strength can only be characterized on small samples prepared using grading scaling techniques, such as scalping. Thus, considering a testing device able to handle samples of characteristic size D, the material

The flexural toppling occurring in anti-dip layered slopes exhibits complex mechanical behaviours and poses a serious threat to human engineering practices. In this paper, a novel method for evaluating the stability of flexural toppling is proposed by combining analytical solution and numerical simulation. The anti-dip rock layers in the slope are regarded as inclined slabs, and the deflection equations

In order to improve the motion characteristics of particles in vertical roller mills (VRMs), the assumption that different structures of helical guide blades affect the internal flow field of the VRMs was put forward. The distributions of fluid velocity and vorticity in VRMs were analyzed, and the mechanism affecting the motion of particles and the separation performance was studied. The study took

It is of great importance to determine peak shear strength (PSS) of rock fractures, and data-driven criteria have showed advances in fitting capability in recent years. However, the generalization ability of existing data-driven criteria is limited by dataset size and fracture roughness characterization, which is negative to predictive power and robustness of models. Here we proposed a novel data-driven

Xanthates are the main trapping agents used in the processing of metallic sulfide ores and residual xanthates in beneficiation wastewater can potentially contaminate the environment at the mine site. Finding efficient methods to degrade butyl xanthates has received much attention. Micro–nano bubble (MNB) and advanced oxidation technologies (AOPs) have recently become increasingly important as effective

Rock failure under external force is a process of energy conversion between the external environment and the rock system. This study aims to quantify rock damage and predict failure from an energy perspective. Infrared radiation (IR) and acoustic emission (AE) technologies were used to monitor the failure process of red sandstone during uniaxial loading experiments in real time. The energy evolution

Fractures control fluid flow, solute transport, and mechanical deformation in crystalline media. They can be modeled numerically either explicitly or implicitly via an equivalent continuum. The implicit framework implies lower computational cost and complexity. However, upscaling heterogeneous fracture properties for its implicit representation as an equivalent fracture layer remains an open question

Fracability evaluation for unconventional reservoir is critical to the selection of candidate zones for post-frac productivity and plays a key role in fracturing design. Historically, the prevailing models for assessing fracability have been largely relied on brittleness indices. Brittleness indices focus mainly on rock fracture characteristics and offers limited assessment of fracture surface area

In the last decades, there has been a growing demand for critical metals such as nickel (Ni) and cobalt (Co). Olivine, an orthosilicate mineral containing Ni and Co, presents a viable primary source for these metals. This study investigates the leaching behavior of selected elements, namely magnesium (Mg), silicon (Si), iron (Fe), Ni, and Co, from olivine using hydrochloric acid (HCl) and the impact

Understanding the mechanical properties of ores is critical for optimizing the crushing and grinding processes. To investigate the breakage characteristics of tungsten ores with different particle sizes in different crushing sections during the comminution process, the breakage index (t10) and fractal dimension (D) of different particle sizes in different crushing sections were calculated using particle

In many engineering applications, understanding gas adsorption and its induced swelling in nanoporous materials is crucial. In this study, we propose a novel coarse-grained molecular dynamics (CGMD) model with gas-gas, solid-solid, and gas-solid interactions explicitly controlled to achieve the coupling between gas transport and solid deformation at the microscale. The CGMD model has the capability

Rockburst hazards exhibit different spatiotemporal characteristics in deep tunnel excavation. Failure characteristics and energy evolution process of delayed and instantaneous rockburst of basalt rock were investigated based on single-sided unloading experiments under true triaxial conditions. High-speed photography and acoustic emission (AE) monitoring were used, and computed tomography (CT) scanning

Direct measurement of the real contact area of rock joints under normal loading is crucial for comprehending the subsurface geological processes. However, measuring this phenomenon quantitatively at site-scale or laboratory-scale is challenging. Here, we investigate the evolution mechanism of the real contact area in rock joints by conducting closure tests on artificial and saw-cut sandstone joints

Microseismic source mechanisms in underground mines can provide information about the rock mass response to mining. Conventional approaches to such studies rely upon moment tensor solutions that are susceptible to modeling assumptions and need reliable information about source locations and high-resolution velocity models. We propose the application of unsupervised clustering to group microseismic

This study systematically investigated the potential of organic acids as Ca2+ ions chelating agents in bastnaesite flotation. Naturally, bastnaesite is associated with calcium-bearing gangue minerals, such as calcite (CaCO3) and fluorite (CaF2). The flotation beneficiation of bastnaesite in the presence of calcium-bearing minerals (e.g., calcite) is exceptionally complex due to the release of Ca2+

Pyrrhotite, a ubiquitous gangue sulfide mineral in base metal sulfide ore deposits, has little to no economic value but can dilute base metal sulfide concentrates, reducing their quality and emitting SO₂ during downstream smelting. Therefore, effective rejection of pyrrhotite is crucial in the flotation of base metal sulfide ores. Pyrrhotite is characterized by various crystallographic superstructures

Axial studies on cable bolts can be conducted using various scale testing apparatuses. Large scale testing, while providing a powerful platform for testing, is expensive and time consuming. This study presents details of a small scale pull out testing campaign on cable bolts and investigates the results achieved. Six popular types of cable bolts were studied using an anti rotation apparatus while encapsulated

Abandoned iron mine soil (MS) contains elevated concentrations of heavy metals (HMs) with poor bio-physicochemical characteristics, causing significant risk to the environment including associated living organisms if not handled properly. Studies related to iron ore MS remediation and reclamation with commercially important bioenergy plants and economically viable amendments are still scarce and elusive

In geotechnical engineering, activities such as landslides, rockfalls, blasting, and excavation often subject jointed rock masses to dynamic shear loads, impacting project stability. With continuous innovation of anchoring support technology, the appearance of energy-absorbing bolts has provided more options for rock support. This study selected fully-grouted bolts and energy-absorbing bolts, considering

The Cerchar test is the most commonly used method for evaluating rock abrasivity and estimating tool wear. The conventional test results are reported based on the measured changes of the wear parts, and little attention is paid to what happens on the rock surface and scratching force. Since the cutting process is the interactive behavior between cutting tools and rock materials, the changes in both

This study investigates the role of alkyl ether monoamine-coated nanobubbles (NBs) in assisting the flotation process of quartz across various particle sizes, on a bench scale. Experiments were conducted in a mini lab column utilizing a consortium of bubble sizes: D32 = 1200 μm for macrobubbles and D32 = 180–220 nm for amine-coated NBs. The study revealed that an increase in amine-coated NBs correlates

The SAG mill’s discharge end cover, which comprises the slurry lifters, the grate liners, and other structures, significantly impacts the machine’s discharge capacity. The working performance of the current SAG mill when the radial structure and arc structure were adopted in the lifting bars of the grate liners and slurry lifters, respectively, was compared to investigate the influence of the discharge

Freeze-thaw cycles are recognized as one of the key triggers for some major landslides in cold regions around the world. Though the effects of freeze-thaw cycles on the rock strength degradation have been studied extensively, little effort has been made to qualitatively evaluate how it contributes to the evolution from a stable rock slope to a large-scale mass movement. In this study, we use a discrete

Germanium is considered by many world economies, including the USA and EU, as a critical raw material. One of the methods, which may be used in its recovery is solvent extraction. Using it application of more environmentally harmful processes like tannin concentrate precipitation or chlorination may be reduced. Solvent extraction of germanium from solution after oxidative leaching of copper cake by

This paper presents a three-dimensional numerical analysis of multiple fracture growth leading to the development of excavation disturbed zones and spalling around deposition boreholes in a geological disposal facility. The development of fracture patterns is simulated with the Imperial College Geomechanics Toolkit, a finite-element based simulator that can model the simultaneous nucleation, growth

This study investigates why ceramic balls achieve superior grinding performance compared to steel balls at lower densities and lower energy consumption. Particle motion analysis shows that increasing the filling level significantly improves the velocity distribution of the grinding media. The energy input from the mill is mainly converted into the kinetic and potential energy of the media, with potential

Frothers play a key role in froth flotation by stabilising bubbles, which serve as a platform for separation of minerals of interest. This paper presents D-α-Tocopherol Polyethylene Glycol 6000 Succinate (VitE_PEG6000), an eco-friendly green frother. VitE_PEG6000′s frothing performance was evaluated and benchmarked against MIBC using metrics such as the dynamic and static foam stability index (DFI

Cobalt is mainly produced globally from Cu-Co sediment-hosted deposits in the Democratic Republic of Congo. As mining operations progress, oxidic supergene mineralisation gradually depletes, and many have been or are shifting towards extracting sulphide ore at depth. Overall, copper recovery is consistently higher than cobalt, but no in-depth investigation has been conducted to determine if this difference