BEHAVIOUR OF DAMP FINE-GRAINED BULK MINERAL CARGOES.

BULK MINERAL CARGOES ARE GENERALLY CONCENTRATES, VALUABLE MINERALS SEPARATED FROM ORES AT OR NEAR THE MINES, PRIOR TO SHIPMENT TO SMELTERS OR REFINERS. THE MAJORITY OF MINERAL SEPARATION PROCESSES INVOLVE THE USE OF WATER AND GRINDING, ANDTHE CONCENTRATES PRODUCED ARE THEREFORE DAMP, PARTICULATE MATERIALS. DURING SHIPMENT THESE MATERIALS CAN UNDERGO A 'DRY' SHIFT OF CARGO; OR LIQUEFACTION, IN WHICH THE DAMP CARGO BECOMES TEMPORARILY ABLE TO FLOW LIKE A LIQUID. THIS PAPER ISCONCERNED PRIMARILY WITH THE PHENOMENON OF LIQUEFACTION, AND MUCH OF ITS CONTENT IS DERIVED FROM THE RESEARCH PROGRAM AT WARREN SPRING LABORATORY (WSL).