Topic 7: Mining Methods Part ITI: Surface mining- Placer Mining Hassan Z. Harraz hharraz2006@yahoo.com 2015- 2016 “Thig material i inlonded ior use i leclures, prasentafons and ‘as handouts ta students, and is provided in Pawer point formal so as fo allow customization for the individual needs of course Eevustors. Permasion of fe author and publisher i required ft ary other usage. Please cos hharraz2006@yahoa.com fot Coftact details. ‘he concepts indicated in these sides are considered common to those familar with the field. Many of these ideas have toon pushed fs wae of differen ters and papessover te ‘one. which was specifically wed.as an outline for this work,Outline of Topic 7: Q Placer Deposits Q PLACER MINING 1) Hydraulicking mining 2) Dredging mining: Q Types of Excavation Methods Using Dredging: i) BUCKET WHEEL HYDRAULIC DREDGES. ii) BUGKETLINE DREDGES iii) SUCTION CUTTER DREDGES Q PLACER MINING COSTS We will explore all of the above in Topic 7.Placer Deposits Placer Deposits: site of sediment deposition near bedrock or course gravel in streams: Q Placer deposits are concentrations of heavy minerals, usually within loose alluvium that can easily ibe excavated and washed. Q Placer minerals such as gold, tin, and tungsten minerals, are of relatively high value, but the value ‘of the placer gravel itself may be very low, often less than a dollar per cubie yard. For deposits of such low grade to be worked they must be near water, on or near the surface of the ground, and should be only loosely consolidated so that drilling and blasting are not rosea ‘SurfPlacer mining are among the most econamical of all mining methods but can only be applied to limited categories of mineral deposits Placer mining affects large surface areas for the volume of material mined, is highly visible and has serious environmental problems with surface disturbance and stream pollution. Q Placer mining is used to exploit loosely consolidated deposits like common sand and gravel or gravels containing gold, tin, diamonds, platinum, titanium, or gems. Q There are two types of placer mining: 1)_Hydraulic_mining: Generally used for weakly cemented near-surface ore deposits. Hydraulic mining of a placer gold deposit. Hydraulic king utilizes a high-pressure stream of water that is directed against the mineral deposit (normally but not always a placer), under-cutting it, and causing its removal by the erosive actions of the water. 2) Dredging mining: Generally used most often for mineral-sands and some near-shore alluvial diamond mining operations. Dredging performed from floating vessels, accomplishes the extraction of the minerals mechanically or hydraulically. "Dredging" is a method often used to scraping- (or bring-) up underwater mineral deposits. Although dredging is usually employed to clear or enlarge waterways for boats, it can also recover significant amounts of underwater minerals relatively efficiently and cheaply.HYDRAULIC MINING involves directing a high- pressure stream of water, via a MONITOR or nozzle, against the base of the placer bank. The water caves the bank, disintegrates the ground and washes the material to and through sluice boxes, and / or jigs, and / or tables situated down- slope Hydraulic mining totally disturbs large areas and puts much debris into the drainage system Presently, hydraulicking is used primarily in Third World countries. Itis closely contrallad or prohibitedFigure shows Hyclaulic mining af a placer gold deposit = iataale ming ol 2 places The “Stang Intelligiant” monitor {operator controlled high pressure water discharge point) mounted onaskid ‘Figures from Hartman and Mutmansky, 2002.2) Dredging Mining Large alluvial deposits are mined by floating washing plants Capable of excavating the gravel, processing it in the washing plant, and stacking the tailings away from the dredge pond. Q ADredge floats in water and digs the gravel by an endless string of buckets. Coarse material is screened out and dumped out the back. The fine material passes into a series of sluices where the gold in recovered. Q Several types of excavation methods are in use: DRAGLINE and BACKHOE PLANTS. Q Dragline use in placer mining with washing plants is limited to shallow digging depths. Its bucket is less controllable on the bottom than the backhoe, and it is less able to dig into the bottom to clean up all the ore that may be there. However, it has the advantage of a longer reach. Q The digging reach of the backhoe extends to as much as 70 feet below the surface. It has the advantage of relatively low first cost, excellent mobility, and an ability to excavate hard materialFigure (vow Hartonan ant Mtenan sky, 2002 “Dredging” is a method often used to bring up underwater mineral deposits. Although dredging is usually employed to clear or enlarge waterways for boats, it can also recover significant amounts of underwater minerals relatively efficiently and cheaply.Types of Excavation Methods Using Dredging: iL BUCKET WHEEL HYDRAULIC DREDGES are becoming more ular for underwater excavation, except where high content of sottclay exists or where excessive oversize material occurs. Itis dependent upan flooded pump openings that convey the material mined jo the washing plant, and therefore it cannot work above water level. Placement of the pump suction is critical, i) BUCKETLINE DREDGES are capable of Continuous excavation and are very efficient. They ming, process, and discard tailings to waste in one continuous stream. However, na stoma: ‘opportunities ©xcst, and the stream moves through the system by the force oF gravy Buckets, supporied by a LADDER, dig the mine face Maternal moves up the ladder and dur intoa hopper that feeds the washi ng pent They are capable of high excavation rates. ili) SUCTION GUTTER DREDGES are similar to the Bucket Wheel Dredge except the digging device consists of a series of cutting arms rotating in a basket about.a suction intake. The rotating arms break up the bank material, slurrying it so it can be drawn into the dr suction. Ithas proven to be successful in mining unconsolidated beach sands and aflshore placers. Various methods are utedte pasition the dredge —anchored by wire ‘ropes or pling (SPUDS) at the rear of the dredge. Boulders can couse sertous problems.PLACER MINING COSTS Capital Cost of Bucketline Dredge (1990): Operating Cost (2990 Bucket Capacity Cost (SUS x i) | ia [fa eae et ——— WalaysianTin 0.80 =a Peruvian Tin 067 —s—7 | CaliforniaGold | = 1.20 Australian 0.32 0 80 _ ‘Titanium Because large placer deposits can be thoroughly explored before floating a dredge, such operations can lend themselves to thorough planning, and it is possible to carry out reclamation as mining progresses at only a slight increase in operating costs.