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By G. S. Hume

THE discovery of natural gas with naphtha in 1924 in the Upper Palaeozoic limestone of Turner Valley, 35 miles southwest of Calgary, has led to continuous developments in this field. Drilling undertaken soon after this discovery demonstrated that the anticlinal structure was in reality a major drag-fold cut off on the east side by a westerly inclined fault of large displacement. The faulted edge of the .limestone at depth determines the eastern limits of the field, which between 1924 and 1936 was shown to have a gas area 14 miles long by about 1 mile wide. Since the strata dip westerly, away from the axis of the fold, drilling becomes progressively deeper to the west and, with the advent of deeper drilling, crude oil was discovered in 1936 on the west flank of the structure but in the same porous reservoir rocks as the gas on the crest and upper parts of the fold. Since 1936, drilling has been undertaken wholly for the production of crude-oil and at present two producing areas have been found within the Turner Valley structure. The larger of these, at the south end of the field, in the vicinity of Highwood river, has a length of about 4 3/4 miles and a proved width of one mile, whereas the smaller, in the north end of the field, south of the north fork of Sheep river, has only a few producing wells.

Jan 1, 1939

By W. F. Giuvlore, E. Mcroberts, T. S. Golosinski

"The rising demand for Canadian coal and depletion of shallow deposits, most suitable for surface mining, result in rapidly increasing volume of waste materials which have to be moved by the coal mining industry. While at present this challenge is being successfully met using conventional mining methods, in the future, innovative methods must be considered if Canadian coal is to remain competitive.The need for more efficient mining methods is also faced by the oil sands industry to assure competitiveness of the synthetic oil price.A look at the world mining practice indicates that large volumes of material can be economically mined and moved by the continuous mining systems comprising bucket-wheel excavators, belt conveyors and stackers. To assess the state of art and applicability of this mining method to Canadian conditions, the field trip was organized by the Department of Mining Engineering o f the University of Alberta, to several typical mining operations in Europe. It is in Europe where the continuous mining methods were developed and are almost exclusively used in large-scale surface mining."

Jan 1, 1984

By W. Curlook, L. M. Pidgeon

THE PURPOSE of this investigation was to study part of the ternary system Co-Fe-S. Jensen ( 1) established the solubility limits of sulphur in pyrrhotite. The compound with 61.7 per cent Fe, corresponding to a formula Fe12S13, was found to melt congruently at l,192°C. Hulsmann and Weibke(2) determined the Co-S phase diagram from O to 35.2 per cent S. The solubility limits of sulphur in the com-pound Co(l-x)S were not determined. The initial object of the present in-vestigation was to determine the composition at which the compound Coci-xiS melted congruently. Once this was ascertained, it was decided to investigate the ternary system Co-Fe-S from the region of 100 per cent Co(1-x) S to the region of 100 per cent Fe12S13.

Jan 1, 1953

By D. R. Lentz, J. A. Walker

"Abstract -The Flat Landing Brook Zn-Pb-Ag deposit of the Bathurst Mining Camp occurs within a narrow thrust-bound nappe containing felsic volcanic and volcaniclastic rocks of the Tetagouche Group. Within the host nappe, the Tetagouche Group is represented by the Nepisiguit Falls Formation and the overlying Flat Landing Brook Formation. The Nepisiguit Falls Formation is divided into two members: quartz- and quartz-feldspar-phyric volcaniclastic rocks ± minor lavas (Grand Falls member), and aphyric, fine-grained volcaniclastic rocks (Little Falls member). The Flat Landing Brook Formation consists of aphyric rhyolite flows and interbedded pyroclastic rocks. Several gabbroic intrusions occur in both the footwall and hanging-wall sequences. These gabbros locally cut out the mineralized horizon at shallow levels, and are considered to be feeders to tholeiitic basaltic flows (Forty Mile Brook member) of the Flat Landing Brook Formation. The Flat Landing Brook deposit has many of the characteristics typical of volcanogenic massive sulfide deposits occurring within the highly productive Nepisiguit Falls Formation in the eastern part of the Bathurst Mining Camp. Mineralization occurs within or at the top of the Grand Falls member and comprises four or more massive to semi-massive sulfide lenses that vary in thickness between 3 and 5 m. Massive lenses are laterally gradational to, or underlain by, zones of disseminated sulfides up to 38 m thick. The deposit contains an estimated resource of 1.7 Mt grading 4.9% Zn, 0.94% Pb, and 19.54 g/t Ag to a depth of approximately 150 m. From 150 to 300 m below surface, mineralization is low grade and mostly disseminated. However, below 300 m, ore-grade (>10% Pb+Zn) massive sulfide lenses have been intersected over mineable widths. Oxide facies iron formation overlies and (or) grades laterally into the sulfide lenses. The oxide facies has strong positive Eu anomalies and gently sloping rare earth element (REE) profiles suggesting that it was formed from relatively hot acidic fluids that had interacted with felsic volcanic rocks in the footwall. In contrast, the silicate facies iron formation that is more distal to sulfide accumulations has very weak positive Eu anomalies and gently sloping REE profiles, suggesting either cooler hydrothermal fluids or dilution of the hydrothermal component by detrital material. Hydrothermal alteration has affected most footwall rocks. Most notably, albite-destructive alteration has resulted in Na2O depletion, whereas mass addition of K2O is manifested in the formation of sericite (white mica). In more intensely altered quartz- and feldspar-phyric volcaniclastic rocks of the Grand Falls member, feldspar destruction is accompanied by chlorite alteration, producing quartz-phyric rocks similar to those in the footwall of many Bathurst Camp deposits."

Jan 1, 2006

To create a successful growth oriented diamond company that succeeds in the practical business of mining and selling rough diamonds, and which pursues an aggressive exploration strategy to seek and develop worldclass diamond mining opportunities in a market that has become increasingly under-supplied.

May 1, 2008

By G. Hamel

The LCL&L process (Low Caustic Leaching & Liming) is a patented hydrometallurgical route developed by Rio Tinto Alcan (RTA) to economically process spent pot lining (SPL) generated by aluminum cells. The three resulting end-products (carbonaceous, fluorinated and caustic liquor) are inert and have valorization possibilities. An industrial size pilot plant located in Saguenay (Quebec) was inaugurated in mid-2008 to demonstrate and optimize the technology. This paper describes characteristics of the LCL&L process and the experience acquired by RTA since the plant's start-up, including ramp-up capacity and technology challenges that were overcome. Possible end-products valorization methods are also presented. The carbonaceous end-product can be separated into carbon and brick rich fractions and used as either alternative fuel, reducing agents, or as raw material for third party processes. The development of a conversion process for the fluorinated end-product would allow its reuse as a substitute to fluorspar mineral for aluminum fluoride production. Finally concentrated caustic liquor is already valorized at the nearby RTA Vaudreuil alumina refinery.

Jan 1, 2011

By J. F. Wright

The cold, or Kississing, Lake area in northwestern Manitoba was the scene of considerable prospecting and mining activity last summer. At the Sherritt-Gordon property, four diamond drills were at work exploring a large deposit of copper and zinc ore, and underground work was in progress on this deposit from two shafts. Some preliminary diamond drilling was completed in five other deposits, and surface exploration work was in progress at a dozen or more additional localities where copper and zinc sulphides were known to be present. Many prospectors visited the area and spent some time in search for new deposits, but apparently few discoveries were made; consequently, last autumn some returned a little disappointed in the area as a prospecting field. Although many visited Cold Lake area last summer in the search for mineral deposits, it should be emphasized that this new prospecting field is a very large one, and that to date only a small proportion of the ground has been examined, except in a very general way. Within the past 18 months, a village of several dozen cabins, and with a population of l00 or more persons, has sprung up on the shore of Cold lake, just west of the Sherritt-Gordon mine. This at present is the business centre of the area, and two banks, a post office - named Kississing by the Postal authorities - a Mining Recorder's office, as well as several restaurants and stores carrying a fairly complete stock of groceries, dry-goods, and general prospecting equipment, are already established.

Jan 1, 1929

By F. Bourgeois, J. -S. Kroll-Rabotin

ABSTRACT: Falcon concentrators are enhanced gravity separators designed for concentrating fine particles. The Falcon UF model is unique in that it is dedicated to beneficiation of ultrafines, one key feature being that it does not make use of any fluidization water. We investigated the physics of particle transport inside Falcon concentrators, and concluded that separation efficiency is governed by differential settling velocity. We derived and published a predictive model of the partition function under dilute conditions. We intend to extend the initial model to concentrated ultrafine suspensions for application to industrial scenarios by adding hindered settling to account for solid concentration effects.

Jan 1, 2011

By G. Eaton

Safety management is an important mortal and business function in construction. Contractors have traditionally tracked and reported lagging indicators, e.g. fatalities and lost-time accident rates, to measure their safety performance and stay in compliance with relevant regulations. Over the last several decades, contractors became more proactive in their approach to safety and developed programs that track leading indicators, e.g. safety audits and safety climate. In particular, safety climate measures workers? perception of safety management and its effectiveness in the workplace. Past literatures indicated that, while some industrial construction contractors ignore safety climate measures, others are limited by a lack of a formal means to measure safety climate. In this study, a survey approach is used to measure an industrial construction contractor?s safety climate through three key areas: management commitment, job control, and general safety climate. As a pilot study, a total of 214 individuals at a fabrication facility participated in the survey to verify the validity and effectiveness of the proposed survey approach. This survey study also confirms that job control and management commitment have a positive correlation and that worker demographics have an effect on respondents? perceptions of management commitment.

Aug 1, 2013

By G. Stenning

The paper outlines the need for high-volume ventilation in a uranium mining operation based on the design to meet environmental requirements for dust, radiation and diesel equipment. Mining methods in a highly mechanized operation, a key factor in design, are discussed. The construction and installation of major intake and exhaust fans are described briefly, together with the development of the mine airways and distribution system. Controls in the form of doors and bulkheads are important considerations in planning. Finally, the need to lower ventilation requirements in response to increasing power costs will result in future improvements.

Jan 1, 1979

By A. A. Iranzadeh

The performance of a tunnel boring machine (TBM) depends on the efficiency of the cutters, which can be influenced by geological conditions and rock mass properties. In this study, a three-dimensional numerical model, based on a discrete element method, was used to evaluate the effects of joint orientation and its spacing on the fragmentation process by a TBM cutter. Several models were constructed to study the effects of variable orientation; these models incorporated different spacing, variable spacing, different orientations on the fragmentation process, and different sections of the block model. Three parameters, consisting of induced tensile stress, induced shear stress and maximum displacement, were calculated. The stress in each section that forms chips was considered as critical stress; critical joint spacing and orientation in each section were determined. Results show that the critical orientation was in the range of 45 to 60º, where there was a possibility to achieve the maximum penetration rate. The critical joint spacing was 200 mm and, by increasing joint spacing, the value of critical stress decreased significantly. Furthermore, joint orientation could influence more than joint spacing in the rock cutting process.

Jan 1, 2009

By S. Flewelling, M. Scobie, G. R. Baiden

"SynopsisA feasibility study to develop a research program, the Mine Automation Plan (MAP), was recently completed. This was undertaken by a team comprised of Inco Ltd., Falconbridge Limited, the Canadian Centre for Automation and Robotics in Mining (CCARM) and the Centre for Resource Studies (CRS). The study was sponsored by PRECARN Associates, which is a consortium of thirty-six Canadian companies focussed on research and development in artificial intelligence and robotics. PRECARN Associates was formed in 1987 when a number of research proposals were funded in the fields of process control systems, robotics systems and intelligent engineering systems. In July 1991, PRECARN accepted the next round of proposals for research. The MAP project was one of the successful proposals, being awarded $100,000 for the development of a feasibility study defining a long-term R&D plan for underground hardrock mining automation.The development of the feasibility study started by addressing the fundamental structure of the mining process, and its relationship to the metallurgical process, over-all infrastructure support and management systems (Fig. I).Mining may be considered as comprising five subprocesses: (I) delineation; (2) development; (3) production; (4) backfilling; and (5) infrastructure support services. Within these subprocesses many applications for artificial intelligence and robotics exist. The mining process is dependent upon the interaction between the physical mining process and information. For example, the delineation process is dependent on geomechanical, geochemical and geophysical techniques to develop a model of the orebody based upon access to such data. This same relationship between the physical and information models holds true through the development, production, backfill and infrastructure support systems.The foundation for the MAP study has been the recent development by Inco Ltd. of an underground communications system (Fig. 2). The system has the ability to supply high bandwidth communications, over voice, data and video to mobile and stationary locations within the mining operation. It is seen to be the future backbone of a comprehensive, automated information system which should permit the application of the concept of Computer Integrated Manufacturing (CIM) to underground mining. CIM, through the automated flow of information, has been successful in integrating the engineering, production and various support groups in manufacturing."

Jan 1, 1994

By S. Kline

The compositions of metamorphic minerals of the south limb of the Dore Lake Complex have been determined by microprobe techniques. Mineral assemblages typical of the greenschist facies occur in Mg-rich bulk compositions, but in Fe-rich rocks albite-epidote amphiboli te facies assemblages occur. Low oxygen fugaci ties and a general paucity of metamorphic fluids prevailed in most of the complex, but a higher oxygen fugacity is indicated near the Chibougamau Pluton, and a local abundance of C0z and Cl in fluids near the pluton is suggested by the presence of scapoli te. The metamorphic gradient overprinted on the complex near the Grenville Front is apparent in mineral chemistries as well as by the appearance of garnet. Chlorite becomes richer in Mg, and iron is fractionated more strongly into hornblende. The amphibole also increases in Alz03.

Jan 1, 1984

By William Winsor, Harold L. Snyder

"AbstractShould oil and gas be proven in commercial quantities on the Labrador Shelf, current technology is not adequate for production operations in this severe environment, which includes yearly invasion of pack ice and icebergs. The fishery of this section of the North Atlantic is a vital resource to which a major oil spill or blow-out would impose an intolerable burden, This means that production systems must be designed and built to be fail-safe.The experiences of mining in Bell Island and Cape Breton have shown that it is possible to operate beneath the ocean floor, and this technology may hold the key for safe, reliable and economic production, This paper attempts to define particular problems and outline possible solutions.IntroductionOUR DISCUSSION is subject to the assumption that large hydrocarbon reservoirs will be discovered in the sedimentary basin of the Labrador continental margin. The petroleum industry has not attempted to operate in a harsher area. The Labrador coastline is exposed to North Atlantic storms and icebergs year’round, Arctic pack ice occurs up to six months of each year. However, there is no doubt that, if sufficient hydrocarbon potential is outlined, development will proceed."

Jan 1, 1977

By Z. I. Zaki

Synthesis of TiC /A1203 Composite from TiO2, Al and graphite using combustion technique has been investigated at different initial temperatures; room, 400 and 600 °C. The effect of initial temperature on the composition of the product, wave velocity and combustion temperature of the reaction was studied. The measured combustion temperature and wave velocity were increased with increasing the initial temperature of the combustion reaction. The maximum wave velocity obtained was 5.9mms-1 when conducting the combustion reaction at initial temperature of 600 °C. Oxidation resistance of the obtained composite was also studied at the temperature range 300-800 °C. No oxidation is detected before 400 °C while it takes place effectively at 700 °C forming different titanium oxides. Wave velocity measurements method was used to calculate the activation energy of the reaction between the starting materials. It was found to be 316.34 kJ mol 1 at the temperature range that was studied.

Jan 1, 2007

By A. M. Bell

General Summary THIS paper attempts to describe in a preliminary and general manner the nature of certain copper discoveries now being developed by Gaspe Copper Mines, Limited, in Holland township, in the interior of the Gaspe peninsula. Some copper mineralization appears to have been known here at the time of the earliest French explorations, was rediscovered in 1921, and has been under intermittent development by Noranda Mines since 1938. In the last two years discoveries have enhanced the picture so that the deposit now promises to develop into one of the important Canadian copper producers. As ideas are constantly changing with continuing development, any picture given now is very partial and tentative and must be subject to future revision. The nature of these copper occurrences differs from others known in eastern America. In many respects they have unique features but they are most closely akin to some copper deposits found away from the intrusive rocks in the porphyry copper districts of the western United States. The most important orebodies are replacement deposits in a limestone horizon in which the ore gangue is converted to skarn. These lie at considerable distances from any known intrusive but seem to have been derived from a buried stock of granite that intrudes the sedimentary rocks of Lower Devonian age. This intrusive has produced alteration effects in the overlying rocks that may afford a key to locating other ore areas in the Peninsula.

Jan 1, 1951

By James D. Bamburak

Total mineral production in Manitoba has averaged C$1 billion over the past ten years. Industrial mineral production has comprised almost 10% of the total, with more than half coming from the aggregate sector. In southeastern Manitoba, tantalum, spodumene and amblygonite concentrates, cesium and rubidium ores, cesium formate, dimension stone and sphagnum peat moss are produced. Gypsum, high-calcium limestone and lime are produced in the Interlake area. Early industrial mineral production consisted of tools and implements, salt and pottery. Historical production has included: salt, building stone, aggregate, lime and dolime, lignite coal, gypsum, natural and Portland cement, calcium bentonite, brick, light-weight aggregate, caustic soda and soda ash, and silica sand. Future industrial mineral production may come from reactivated quarries, pits and wells or from new producers of current commodities. Newproducts may include: stainless steel master alloy, silicon metal, titanium and magnetite, lithium carbonate, float-plate glass and ferrosilicon, "marble" dimension stone, magnesium metal, potash and kaolin.

Jan 1, 2001

By Sunil S. Gandhi

Magmatic-hydrothermal deposits rich in magnetite and/or hematite form a broad group that includes monometallic Fe deposits and polymetallic (mainly Cu and Au) deposits. They show a considerable variation in deposit characteristics, but share the genetic processes of magmatic differentiation and related hydrothermal activity in intermediate to felsic melts, and in some cases involve brines and/or meteoric waters during mineralization. They include several world-class deposits. They range in age from Proterozoic to Recent, and form important metallogenic districts in Scandinavian, Canadian, Brazilian and Australian Shields, Circum-Pacific regions, and in China, Iran and Turkey. Monometallic deposits have been important sources of iron in the past and still contain significant resources of the metal, e.g., the Kiirunavaara deposit in Sweden. The giant Olympic Dam Cu-Au-Ag-U-REE deposit was discovered in 1975, and since then explorationists have focussed on search for analogues worldwide. This has brought to light a number of economically important new deposits and prospects, including examples in Canada. The discoveries have in turn prompted considerable research on individual deposits and the group as a whole. This short paper is an attempt to summarize the main aspects of the group from the literature cited in Gandhi and Bell (1996), and from the papers published recently in two milestone volumes on these deposits, edited by Porter (2000 and 2002).

May 1, 2003

By A. R. Sorta, D. C. Sego

ABSTRACT Temperature, solute, texture, and thixotropic effects on time domain reflectometry (TDR) measurements of water content in oil sands tailings are investigated. Results indicate that TDR water content measurements are influenced by temperature, residual bitumen, and percent clay in the tailings. A correction of 0.03–0.10/ °C must be applied to the apparent dielectric constant (Ka) to account for the effect of temperature. The Ka-volumetric water content relationships of slurries differ significantly from the commonly used Topp calibration equation. The age of the tailings and the addition of phosphogypsum did not influence TDR water content measurements.

Jan 1, 2013

By Douglas Macaulay

"The Work contains the personal views and opinions of the Author and in no manner should it be construed as reflecting the official position of Export Development Canada. The Author makes no representation or warranty with respect to the accuracy or completeness of the contents of the Work and specifically disclaims any implied warranties, merchantability or fitness of use for a particular purpose". Export Development Canada ?Canada?s official export credit agency, established 1944 ?Mandate to support export and foreign investment ?Financially self-sustaining, AAA rated borrower ?Services include: Financing (FIN), Political Risk Insurance (PRI), Contract Insurance & Bonding (CIB), Accounts Receivable Insurance (ARI) ?A trusted partner in troubled times

May 1, 2010