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By W A. James

The use of spectrographic semi-quantitative analysis has recently been of considerable value in establishing the geological relationships in a complicated orebody. The principal minerals found in the Mount Pleasant orebody are cassiterite, stannite, sphalerite, molybdenite, wolframite, chalcopyrite and galena, associated with arsenopyrite, pyrite and fluorite. In addition to the large number of minerals, a further com-plication is the non-uniform distribution of the economic minerals, with one mineral being the only one present in major amounts in one area and another mineral being predominant in another area. At the same time, all minerals are present to a minor extent throughout the deposit. This heterogeneity made it advisable to analyse all exploration samples thoroughly. Analysis by conventional means would have resulted in prohibitive costs. By the use of emission spectroscopy, however, it was possible to obtain, quickly and relatively inexpensively, a reasonably comprehensive picture of the orebody un-der investigation.

Jan 1, 1963

By Jun Xiao, Xiaodong Li, Chunming He, Daixiong Chen

"Benzohydroxamic acid with double dentate can react with copper to form cyclic hydroxyl oxime acid copper chelate, indicating a good selectivity for copper oxide minerals flotation, especially for malachite. The flotation results of the pure malachite mineral show a strong synergistic collecting effect between hydroximic acid and xanthate at a ratio of 3.5:1, achieving a malachite recovery of 95.5% when certain sodium sulphide is used as a sulphidizing agent in the optimal pH range. Thanks to the synergistic collecting effect, the flotation recovery of malachite of a real refractory ore flotation ,can reach over 92% under the optimum condition, a 12% higher than the recovery achieved with the conventional collectors. In industrial application, the flotation of the copper oxide minerals is improved , leading to a high efficiency utilization of copper oxide resources.INTRODUCTIONBeneficiation of copper oxide ore is one of the recognized challenges in mineral processing industry. Copper oxide ore is a vital component of copper resource in the world, which has abundant reserves. Majority of sulphide deposits has oxidized zone on the top, and some deposits are oxidized to become the large and medium-sized oxide deposits (Willam & Chavez, 2001). Most copper oxide ores have problems in processing such as high slime consumption, poor floatability, complex ore property and low flotation recovery, so it is of great significance in beneficiation of copper oxide ores to develop an efficient collector, especially for malachite (Fu & Gu, 1997; Wen, 2010; Riet, Kier & Elford, 1980). At present, sulphidization-xanthate flotation is the most important method for treating copper oxide ore. In recent years, due to the decreasing ore grade, the utilization of refractory copper oxide ore draws more and more attention (Zhou, 2003), except for sulphidization-xanthate method, chelating flotation method (Lu, 2009), chemical beneficiation method (Lenormed, Salman & Yoon, 1979), microwave radiation flotation method, hydrothermal sulphidization-flotation method (Mao, Wen & Fang, 2014) and ammonia leaching of sulphide precipitation-flotation method (Lekang, Stevik & Bomo, 2003) have occurred."

Jan 1, 2016

By G. D. Bateson

"The Low NOx/SOx (LNS) Burner is a technology which, in pilot-scale tests, significantly reduces acid rain-forming emissions from the burning of coal. The precursors of acid rain are nitrous oxides (NO) and sulphur dioxide (SO:;) . TransAlta is currently planning two demonstration projects.Esso Resources Canada and TransAlta are undertaking a project to demonstrate how coal can be burned cleanly for steam raising in heavy oil operations by using TransAlta's LNS Burner on a steam generator at Esso's Cold Lake Production Project. The $10.7 million project started up in mid-J990, with testing to be completed in mid-I99J. The province of Alberta and Western Economic Diversification Canada, along with other private industry, are contributing funding to the project.The other demonstration project that has been selected for funding under the United States Department of Energy's Innovative Clean Coal Technology Program is a retrofit of LNS Burners to a 33 MW cyclone unit at Southern Illinois Power Cooperative's Marion generating plant. The US$13.6 million project is scheduled for completion 18 months after final funding arrangements are made.TransAlta believes that these demonstrations will lead to the development of a commercial ""clean coal"" technology. Other demonstration projects being planned will further broaden the base of applications.IntroductionTransAlta has recognized an increasing concern worldwide for the environment, and in particular the acid rain problem. Increasing public concern and the need to meet either current or possibly more stringent emission regulations have prompted them to explore various emission reducing technologies - despite the low sulphur content of its coal.The flue gas desulphurization (FOD) and selective catalytic reduction (SCR) technology currently available to reduce sulphur and nitrous oxides from coal burning power plants is very costly. Having to incorporate FGD technology, or ""scrubbers"", greatly adds to the cost of producing power. Having to add such high costs to electric customers' bills is something TransAlta is striving to avoid.There are many research programs now underway which are evaluating ways to provide electricity from coal in a clean manner. TransAlta has been observing or participating in a variety of these programs. However, there is one new technology which the company has identified as having the potential to control acid rain causing emissions at a fraction of the cost of conventional systems. That technology is called Low NOx/SOx, Burner - or LNS Burner."

Jan 1, 1990

By John Convey

This short paper deals with the subject of research and its relation to productivity. All who have stopped to even think about industrial re-search and its impact on the nation-al economy take for granted that research and development are pre-requisite to increased productivity. It is another matter, however, to identify and properly evaluate the many factors entering into the relationship between the two. Some studies are currently underway in the United States on the subject, but, so far, nothing much in the way of conclusive data has come to light. In Canada, we have not yet even produced any statistical figures on national productivity, although work is now being done on this subject and information will soon be available. The usefulness of being able to measure the benefits of investment in re-search and development in terms of industrial growth or productivity need not be laboured for the benefit of those interested in research management.

Jan 1, 1964

By J. Clark

Erosion control during the mining cycle can be more effectively planned using Erosion and Sedimentation Control Plans (ESCPs). This raises the issue of who should develop an Erosion and Sedimentation Control Plan Guidance document (ESCPG) to standardize the content of ESCPs. A search for ESCPG documents in Canada revealed no examples for mine sites. In the U.S. there are a number of regulatory authorities who developed such documents for mine sites, including EPA. An ESCPG is expected to result in: (a) plans will be more standardized (b) more clarity and efficiency for those generating ESCPs; (c) assisting regulators tasked with reviewing/approving ESCPs; (d) providing guidance for the mine effluent permitting process relative to sediment control; (e) providing a basis for developing and including ESCPs in the Environmental Assessment (EA) phase and the mine economic assessment; (f) applying and optimizing ESCPs above the ?watersheds? of sediment ponds; (g) utilizing the ESCPG document for ?exploration? sites; (h) lowering the risk of adversely impacting water quality downstream of mining activities; (i) providing a methodology for determining the need for sedimentation pond(s) during the construction and production phases; and (j) providing a clear environmental sustainability message relative to sediment control if the mining industry takes the lead in developing an ESCPG. ESCPs will proactively create increased administrative (regulatory) efficiency in the EA and sub-EA reviews relative to erosion control and sediment release from mine sites. This also assists the new initiative in BC, One Project, One Process (OPOP) and synchronous permitting (a variation of concurrent permitting): as an example, enhanced erosion control planning at the EA phase then allows the synchronous permitting initiative to proceed efficiently, particularly for the mine permit (Ministry of Energy, Mines and Natural Gas) and effluent permit (Ministry of Environment). Approximately twenty more management plans (e.g. ARD/ML, explosive management, emergency response, hazardous waste, sediment pond operation, environmental effects, environmental sampling, etc.) may also be entered into the EA process to create increased efficiency, and then feed into the synchronous permitting effort. The BC OPOP initiative also adds support to the Canadian Federal ?One Project, One Review Process? approach. The ESCP and a sediment pond management plan will also address the Canadian Metal Mining Effluent Regulations requirement for all discharges from mine sites to meet a grab sample of 30 mg/L Total Suspended Solids.

Aug 1, 2013

By J. P. Cooney

Placer Dome is learning from experience in Latin America, Asia and Africa, as well as in North America, that contributing effectively to sustainable human progress in the areas of its operations presents unending challenges to think creatively, communicate effectively and remain culturally sensitive. People must be better off in terms of their economic circumstances, their social conditions and the quality of their natural environment not only during the life of the mines, but after mines close. Stakeholders, all those who are directly or indirectly affected by a mining project, should be able to participate in decisions which affect them. The development of sustainability strategies, the monitoring of sustainability performance and the implementation of sustainability programs are best done in partnerships with governments, communities, nongovernmental organizations and multilateral development institutions. Ultimately, the success, if not the survival of mining, will depend on our ability to get the sustainability equation correct.

Jan 1, 2000

By J. J. Denny

IN November, 1932, an investigation of silicosis was undertaken at the Mcintyre Porcupine mine, Schumacher, Ont., after a discussion of the p"roblem with Sir Frederick Banting and his staff. As a result, it was decided to carry on dusting experiments with animals at the mine in a manner that would duplicate as far as possible actual industrial conditions. At that time 50 guinea pigs were placed in the crusher house tunnel of the mill where a considerable quantity of fine dust, containing approximately 35 per cent of free silica, was being constantly produced. These animals lived in this atmosphere for periods up to one year, and, while on autopsy large amounts of dust were found in the lungs, not a single case of silicosis had developed. These negative results suggested, among other things, that the mine gases might be a predisposing factor in the production of silicosis, and the results of this investigation (1) led us to undertake the study of the hydrogen-ion concentration of the condensate of the atmosphere, both in the mine and in various sections of the mill. The CO, combining power of blood serum on a series of 400 miners was also studied at this time. While these results were inconclusive, the variation in the hydrogen-ion concentration of the condensate between the surface and underground atmospheres encouraged us to investigate the effect of neutral, weak acid, and alkaline solutions on the solubility of siliceous materials. Gye and Purdy (2) were the first to point out that the chemical reaction, and not the physical presence of siliceous material, was responsible for the production of the fibrosis in silicosis. This work was investigated by Gardner and Cummings (3), who showed that the tissue reaction to quartz was definitely proportional to the size of the particle. They found that 1-3 micron particles of quartz produced an acute proliferative fibrotic response, while the 10-12 micron particles produced only a foreign-body reaction up to a period of three years. It is accepted that the dangerous silica particles retained by the lung are under 5 microns in diameter.

Jan 1, 1937

By W. J. Langford

"Conventional design criteria assume that the fracture strength of a structural material exceeds its yield strength. Fracture below the design load is not expected, y et many structures have failed in this way. The causes of the fractures are almost always discontinuities such as cracks and welding defects. Linear Elastic Fracture Mechanics (LEFM or simply 'fracture mechanics') provides an analytical framework for assessing the influence of sharp defects on the load-bearing capability of a structure. Fracture mechanics techniques have reached the point of acceptance by ASME Design Codes for nuclear components, and ASTM Standards now include well-defined rules for measuring fracture toughness. Starting with a simple equation which relates applied stress and crack size, the influence of the material's thickness and yield strength can be calculated. Thus, the size of defect which will cause failure under the applied stress may be determined. Armed with this information, the metallurgist can assess the safety of a structure from the viewpoints of non-destructive testing standards, construction standards and conditions of operation throughout its service life."

Jan 1, 1976

By R. Charlier, G. Radioti, J. -P. Radu, S. Delvoie, F. Nguyen

"In order to investigate the fracturing of the bedrock and its possible heterogeneous distribution in situ, four boreholes equipped with double-U geothermal pipes of 100 m long were installed on the campus of the University of Liege (Liege, Belgium) over a surface area of 32 m². The bedrock, which starts at a depth approximately of 8 m, is quite fractured and consists mainly of siltstone and shale interbedded with sandstone.Different geophysical methods are applied at two different phases, after drilling the boreholes and after injecting the grouting material. The first approach consists in lowering an ultrasonic borehole imager (borehole televiewer; Zemanek, Glenn, Norton, & Caldwell, 1970), an instrument that acts as an ultrasonic transducer and receiver, into the boreholes to obtain high-resolution, continuous images with 360° coverage of the local geology and fracturing. Moreover gamma-ray logs of the four boreholes are obtained and inclinometry is conducted.After drilling the boreholes fiber optic cables are attached along the pipe loops and the double-U pipes are installed inside the boreholes. Then the grouting material is injected. The second approach consists in measuring the temperature along the fibers by applying the Distributed Temperature Sensing technique (Soto, Sahu, Faralli, Bolognini, Di Pasquale, Nebendahl, & Rueck, 2007). A laser pulse is injected into the optical fiber and the temperature along the fiber is determined by the intensity of Raman stokes and anti-stokes reemitted signals. Temperature evolution is measured during hardening of the grouting material. Local maxima of the temperature curve are probably due to a local lower thermal conductivity and/or a local larger quantity of grouting material due to gathering of fractures.A detailed fracture characterisation (position, opening, orientation, dip angle) is obtained based on the acoustic signal travel time and amplitude. The fractures are characterised by the same dipping and orientation but significantly vary in number and location in the four boreholes, despite the close distance between them. Gamma-ray data and observation of the cuttings during drilling result in rock identification through depth as well as in determination of the layer dipping. The inclination of the four boreholes tends to be perpendicular to the dipping. The combination of the two geophysical methods as presented provides information useful for the hydro-thermo-mechanical behaviour of the bedrock. The contribution of the thermal behaviour of borehole heat exchangers to bedrock investigation will be further studied by conducting Distributed Thermal Response tests (Fujii, Okubo, & Itoi, 2006). During the tests we will measure the temperature variation thanks to the installed fiber optics. These data will allow us to correlate any anisotropic thermal behaviour to the geological characteristics. The available information could be used for a detailed numerical model."

Jan 1, 2015

By D. B. Smith

DURING the summer of 1953, test work commenced at the Sullivan Concentrator with a view to the modification of filtration practice by the inclusion of wet cyclone classification of the lead concentrates, with separate filtration of the underflow and overflow products. Formerly, practice was conventional and the equipment employed comprised one 50-foot diameter thickener ?with the underflow routed via a 20-foot stock tank to two 8-foot by 12-foot Oliver filters. Heating of the filter feeds to 40° C. and the use of mechanical slappers on the filter drums ?have both been standard features of Sullivan practice for years. Both of these have been retained. Currently (February, 1956), lead concentrates are being classified into sands and slimes by 12-inch cyclones with the underflow, at 75 per cent solids, being fed to No. 1 Oliver filter. The overflow is thickened to 75 per cent solids and filtered separately by a No. 2 Oliver filter . The tonnage split is approximately two of underflow to one of overflow. The overflow contains 75 to 80 per cent of the total minus I 500 mesh slimes in the feed.

Jan 1, 1956

By Douglas R. Piteau

"Assessing the stability of a slope cut in rock is basically a problem of engineering geology - geology, because it involves a sound understanding of the important aspects of geology, such as geological structure, ground water, weathering and other natural phenomena, which all relate to or exist in a geological environment, and engineering, in that quantitative evaluations and calculations are necessary, these being based on mechanics and relating to the strength of the geological materials and the forces causing instability of the slopes. The engineering geologist must make every attempt to. provide, in a quantitative way, information on those geological factors which are necessary for making calculations of the probable stability of the slope. These include numerical assessments of quantities relating to the characteristics of structural discontinuities, rock types, topography, hydrogeology, tectonic history and other environmental factors. Based on the development and extension of these general principles, both preliminary and final slope stability studies of some open pits in South Africa, Swaziland and Zambia have been conducted. Some of the basic concepts and techniques developed to carry these studies out are described."

Jan 1, 1972

By M. Saghaeian, R. Hejazi, Fakoor Sanat Tehran Company, H. Abedini, M. Zare

"Dewatering of final tailings is one the biggest issues in iron ore processing plants. Because of the fine and hydrophilic particles in the iron ore tailings, dewatering of such material is difficult and, in most of the cases, needs to be processed using expensive and complicated equipment. In this study, a novel method based on classification of small and large particles has been proposed to improve the dewatering performance of iron ore tailings. In the proposed method, a hydrocyclone has first been used to separate the fine and coarse fraction of iron ore tailings. Then, the coarse fraction (hydrocyclone underflow) is easily dewatered by using vacuum belt filter. Then, the fine fraction (hydrocyclone overflow) is primarily dewatered by using a high rate thickener. Finally, the thickener underflow is added to the bed of solids on the same belt filter, which is used for dewatering of hydrocyclone underflow. The efficiency of this method has been compared with other solutions for tailings dewatering including changing vacuum filtration parameters, using fabric with larger pore size, and using pressure filtration, all through laboratory scale experiments on the tailings of an iron ore processing plant in Iran. The results indicated the superiority of this method compared to the other ones, which increased the specific filtration capacity of the tailings by around 46%.INTRODUCTIONWet beneficiation of minerals requires a substantial amount of water to enhance the efficiency of the process. Used water should be recovered at the end of process to minimize shipping costs, meet contract specifications, and reuse process water (Wills and Napier-Munn, 2006). Dewatering equipment is usually divided into sedimentation (thickening) and filtration (pressure and vacuum) equipment, the choice of which depends on particle size, solid content of slurry, and material nature (Mular et al., 2002)."

Jan 1, 2016

By A. Boeing

Rock-breaker automation and remote operation improves the safety and efficiency of mining operations. This article presents an overview of the Rocklogic rock-breaker automation system architecture that provides collision avoidance, automated parking, and remote operation functionality. The system consists of a distributed computer control system that interfaces with sensors attached to the rock-breaker, the rock-breaker hydraulics, and the site infrastructure. We present results of an automated Transmin rockbreaker installed in a production environment at an underground Australian mine site. The system has been in production use for over 900 days during which there have been no reported collisions, and 100% adoption of the remote operation technology. As a result, Rocklogic has significantly improved the safety of rock-breaking operations and reduced the rock-breaking cycle time, thereby improving the sites overall throughput.

Aug 1, 2013

By D. J. MacKinnon

"The Canadian Copper Company, formed in 1885, began mining the nickel-copper ores of Sudbury in 1887 and producing nickel-copper matte from its smelter in 1888(1). Although it was quickly appreciated that the separation of nickel and copper (i.e. refining) was critical to the production of a marketable nickel product, refined nickel was not produced in Canada until about 1918. From the beginning of the industry, there was considerable political agitation to refine nickel in the Province of Ontario(2). The companies, however, claimed that the existing processes, viz. the sodium sulphide ""tops and bottoms"" process operated by the Orford Copper Company of New Jersey, U.S.A.(1,3,4) and the carbonyl process(5,6) developed by the Mond Company at Clydach, Wales, were too costly to operate in Canada. Nickel was first refined in Ontario about 1918 when the International Nickel Company opened a nickel refinery at Port Colborne, Ontario(6). Initially, however, the refinery at Port Colborne employed the Orford sodium sulphide process, and the first electrorefined nickel in Canada was produced in 1920 by the British America Nickel Corporation whose mine and smelter were located in Sudbury, Ontario, but whose electrorefinery was located at Deschenes, Quebec, near Ottawa, Ontario. The purpose of this article is to outline the early history of nickel electrorefining and to trace the significant developments which led to the first successful commercial electrolytic nickel refinery in Canada. The development of an electrolytic process for refining nickel is due largely to the efforts of four individuals, viz. Carl Hoepfner, Hans A. Frasch, D.H. Browne and ultimately N.V. Hybinette, and the contribution of each is discussed separately below."

Jan 1, 1999

By David A. Orava, Richard C. Swider

"The technical knowledge and practical experience accumulated by industry and others in abating acid mine drainage (AMD) is being proactively applied at every phase of the mine life cycle. This paper traces the mine life cycle from exploration to post closure monitoring and maintenance, and reviews AMD abatement measures that have become an integral component of exploration and mining activities.Attention is increasingly being given to evaluating AMD potential as part of exploration work, and studies related to project feasibility and design. Mining, mineral processing, and waste management options are selected taking into consideration their suitability to inhibit AMD. These inhibition measures are typically committed to in closure plans submit-ted at the permitting stage. Mines are operated and decommissioned, often progressively, as planned and in accordance with environ-mental protection policies."

Jan 1, 1996

By John M. Gordon

DURING and after 1949, various groups of British mining engineers came to the Dominion Coal Company, Limited, at Sydney, N .S., to see at first hand the Dosco MINER ( 1). These visits culminated in 1952 with the ordering of four Dosco Miners by the (British) National Coal Board on an experimental basis through their Experimental Expenditure Funds. Others are now on order. The first machine was delivered in February, 1953, and, after slight alterations to suit the different power supply, the machine was made ready to work. Due mainly to the size of the machine, new rules and regulations governing its operation had to be put into effect and it was not until April, 1954, that the machine was put underground. It started to produce in June of that year. The three others were delivered early in 1955. The authors were sent to England by the Dominion Coal Company to install and demonstrate these machines and to work with the Coal Board engineers to- further interest in the machines in the British coal fields .

Jan 1, 1956

The Mineral Industry of Canada in 1951 Continuance of the remarkable, successive increases in the value -of Canada's mineral production, chief basis of the nation's post-war expansion, was one of the highlights of Canadian development in 1951, when, according to the preliminary estimate is-sued by the Dominion Bureau of Statistics and reported in the BULLETIN for February, 1952, mineral output for the year reached a new high of $1,228 millions. This marked an increase of 17.5 percent over the previous year, which was the first in which the billion dollar mark had been reached, and an increase of 143.7 per cent over 1946, when production was valued at approximately $503 millions. While higher prices for the principal base metals accounted for a large part of the 1951 increase, quantity gains were made by copper, nickel, zinc, asbestos. lead, cement, and strikingly important. by petroleum, the value of which exceeded for the first time that of coal production. Gold was an exception to the general trend, being lower in both quantity and value than in 1950. For the first time nickel .came within $9 millions of surpassing-gold as the leading mineral product. Metals and Fuels The value of all metals, estimated at $733 millions, was 18.7 per cent more than in the previous year. Nickel advanced 11 per cent in volume and 34 per cent in value. Copper was up 2.4 per cent in quantity and 21 per cent in value, zinc rose 6.6 per cent in quantity and 35 per cent in value, and although the volume of lead produced was lower by 8 per cent, its value increased by 17 per cent. The tonnage of iron ore was 31 per cent higher than in 1950.

Jan 1, 1952

By M. Sengupta, A. A. de Gast

"With rapid deterioration in the urban environment caused by air pollution, the possibility of chemical reaction between dimension stone and the industrial waste gases present in the ambient atmosphere remains. The chemical reaction can cause expensive damage to building stone; it is essential that a stone evaluation for use in construction should assess the possibility of this type of decay. This paper endeavours to develop testing procedures for evaluating stone decay in polluted environments. Such tests can accompany other standard tests used in dimension- stone evaluation."

Jan 1, 1972

By Mark Liskowich

When is it the proper time to initiate engagement with various stakeholders, including Indigenous communities? This paper will demonstrate what stage of a project’s evolution is the appropriate time to initiate a stakeholder engagement plan. It will look at aspects to consider when identifying the communities to involve. It will describe the contents of a Stakeholder Engagement Management Plan as well and touch on how tried and true options analyses, such as a Multiple Accounts Analysis can be used to inform the results of the engagement, guide the development of your project and clearly document the engagement process. It will illustrate the benefits of initiating engagement at the appropriate point in your project’s schedule, and the limitations of doing so too early and at later stages of the project engineering. The benefits of this approach can be realized within any legislative Jurisdiction including the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act 2012 and Canada’s new Impact Assessment Act.

Jan 1, 2020

By A. G. Matyas

Process improvements which have reduced the lead content of slag from the Brunswick lead blast furnace are described. Microscope examination and electron microprobe analyses, supported by the results of slag settling and viscosity tests, showed that typically about 70% of the lead in the lead blast-furnace slag was present in the form of entrained prills of metallic lead. The total lead content was found to increase with the magnetic susceptibility of the slag. Measurements in the furnace settler indicated the presence of a magnetite-rich layer between bullion and slag, arising from high magnetite levels in the slag. This layer was believed to inhibit the settling of entrained lead from the slag. Tracer tests showed that the average slag residence time in the settler was less than 2 minutes. Improvements in coke quality and sizing, which led to a reduction in the slag magnetite content, and the installation of a larger settler and a continuous Roy tapper, have all contributed to a significant decrease in the slag lead content.

Jan 1, 1977