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By F. Charette

The paper reviews the requirements of the instrumentation required to monitor mining excavations in a high stress environment, and the development plan to instrument the D-Bolt in such a fashion as to be able to follow the behaviour of the bolts in relationship to the ground movements and support performance. Recent field observations of D-Bolts under static and dynamic conditions are also presented. Also discussed is the assumed mechanical behaviour of the D-Bolt. D-Bolts are used in two (2) Canadian underground mines operating in high stress environments and tested in three (3) other operations.

Jun 1, 2012

By L. G. Smith, C. A. Shook, W. H. W. Husband, W. Schriek

"The flow of slurries in pipelines is governed by many variables, and the study of the influence of each of these variables is difficult, if not impossible, in some cases. Many correlations are available which fit data within a given range. However, no one method is yet available to design a slurry pipeline for all desired conditions without at least some physical measurements on the slurry itself. For this reason, the slurry pipeline facilities at the Saskatchewan Research Council have been developed during the past 12 years and it is hoped that the development will continue until the process is thoroughly understood and test facilities are no longer necessary. This paper outlines methods currently used and under development at the Saskatchewan Research Council for measurement, control and study of the variables governing the flow of slurries."

Jan 1, 1973

By Marty Hudyma

Mining-induced seismicity and rockbursting is one of the primary risks in deep mines. Seismic data management software has been created to facilitate analysis of mining-induced seismicity. The Mine Seismicity Risk Analysis Program (MS-RAP) is a purpose built database with mine seismicity analysis tools. One of the primary features of MS-RAP is the creation of seismic hazard maps in quasi-real time. The seismic hazard maps identify areas that are more prone to large seismic events and rockbursts, allowing risk management measures to be focused on the areas of greatest risk. These maps allow mining engineers to be more proactive about identifying and managing seismic related geomechanics risks in mines.

Oct 1, 2009

By Palaniappan Chidambaram

Despite the advances in processing technologies, construction techniques, inspection methods, and materials, the number of process safety incidents are still increasing, and often the same types of incidents are being repeated. While regulators are enforcing stringent requirements in regards to safety management systems, process safety incident statistics reflect a failure in effective implementation. Upon closer look at the implementation of safety management systems, it becomes evident that the systems were not built on robust risk recognition. The risk-based implementation approach enables facilities to develop systems focused on managing specific risks and quickly gain momentum and confidence to take next steps towards implementing comprehensive systems. This paper will cover the importance of risk recognition and governance, risk based implementation and the role of Process Hazard Analysis in managing operational risks through the lifecycle.

Jan 1, 2014

By Alain Tshilombo, Vijay Reddy, Chowdary Meenavilli, Kelvin Buban, Cory Kosinski, Sriraj Meenavilli, Siddhartha Tirumalaraju

The use of artificial intelligence (AI) for process optimization is expected to play an increasingly important role in the future of the mining industry. The objective of AI is to develop a data driven soft (virtual) sensor using historical data that can estimate unmeasurable characteristics of the process and provide appropriate recommendations during operation to optimize the process through continuous learning. The application of AI to a hydrometallurgical process was evaluated by Sherritt Technologies in coordination with NTWIST. Historical operating data obtained from the Ambatovy facility’s High Pressure Acid Leach (HPAL) circuit was used to develop models to predict autoclave discharge parameters based on operating conditions and ore mineralogy. The prediction models were developed in such a way to also allow the user to simulate and test different operating conditions. A second set of models (AI model) were developed based on the prediction models, economic data and operating constraints for a given process unit to identify optimal reagent and steam dosages across the HPAL circuit. The development of these models was significantly complex due to the dynamic and interactive nature of the HPAL process. Despite the complexity of the models, the models were able to predict, with accuracy, the relationship between ore composition, leach autoclaves retention time, acid addition and steam addition with metal extractions as well as levels of impurities in the autoclave discharge slurry. The study showed that AI has the potential to improve the overall operation of a facility through providing tools to assist with training, troubleshooting and process optimization. INTRODUCTION The Ambatovy project, located in Madagascar, is one of the world’s largest nickel and cobalt mining and processing operation, with a design capacity of 60.000 tonnes of nickel and 5,600 tonnes of cobalt per year (Collins et al., 2016). Commissioning and start-up of the Ambatovy mine and plant facilities were completed in 2012, with acid first introduced to the ore leach in March 2012. Commercial production (defined as 70% of design capacity) was achieved in January 2014 and the production level required to achieve financial completion (90% of design capacity for 90 days) was achieved in March 2015 (Valle et al., 2016). Figure 1 shows a simplified flowsheet of the hydrometallurgical pressure acid leach (PAL) process employed by Ambatovy.

Jan 1, 2019

By A. Navarra, Norman Toro, T. Marín, Fernando Ayala

The quantitative techniques to evaluate the enhancement of a particular unit operation should consider the corresponding changes to the adjacent unit operations. For example, the expansion of off gas handling capacity should consider the corresponding changes in converter cycle times, matte grade, and other operational parameters, that can provide the optimal system-wide benefit. In general, the upgrading of smelter equipment is risky due to the size of capital investment, as well as any unforeseen impacts on rest of the operations. However, this risk can be mitigated by applying the principles of Front End Loading (FEL) in the formulation of multiphase re-engineering projects. The initial phases of engineering are relatively inexpensive, and determine whether or not to pursue the subsequent phases that are comparatively more expensive. Each phase of engineering depends on increasingly detailed descriptions regarding the critical phenomena that can effect design decisions; the increasing levels of detail may result from numerical simulations, as well as laboratory and plant trials. The quantitative framework should be sufficiently flexible to accommodate these increasing levels of detail, regardless of the particular phenomena, so that it may evolve throughout the project. The current article describes the combined usage of mass balancing, thermochemistry and multiphysics, in the development of discrete event simulation (DES) and finite differences (FD). The incorporation of finite differences into a DES framework depends on adaptive time-stepping, to determine threshold-crossing times, e.g. when the matte temperature surpasses a critical level that necessitates the addition of cold charge. The hybridization of DES and FD is appropriate for multiphase smelter development projects, as it supports semi-continuous material flows, operational policies and scheduling, as well as unexpected events and trends, in increasing levels of detail. This type of framework will support the installation and tuning of modern control systems, including state-of-the art sensors and machine learning algorithms.

Jan 1, 2019

By Jason Prno

Context ? Climate change an issue of global significance ? Research is lacking ? Study initiated by the David Suzuki Foundation, led by ArcticNorth Consulting Industry Surveying ? 34% and 48% of respondents indicated climate change is already affecting operations ? Majority believed climate change would have negative impacts in the future ? Cost and uncertainty of Future impacts are major barriers to adaptation

May 1, 2010

By Abhilash

Uranium is conventionally extracted using a process that employs strong acid (H2SO4) and an oxidant (MnO2) as leaching agents. This method often creates environmental problems, requires large amounts of energy, and involves a complex operational plant. It is not, however, economically attractive to extract uranium from low-grade ores by chemical leaching. Because the content of U3O8 in the Indian ore is usually below 0.1% by weight, it is necessary to develop an alternative process to enable the efficient and economic recovery of uranium. Uranium ore from the Narwapahar mines, UCIL is a type of vein deposit found in India, which accounts for ~54% in India. The ore (0.047% U3O8), though of Singhbhum area, possess exceptionally different mineralogy due to presence of some refractory minerals and richness of apatite (5%) resulting in a maximum 78% recovery through conventional processing at UCIL, with a very high consumption of sulfuric acid and pyrolusite, besides possible loss of uranium as uranium phosphate. To avoid usage of environmentally non-benign oxidants, remediation of influence of phosphates, and improve the overall process output of uranium; an alternate extraction technology using microbial isolate(s) is worthwhile exploring and the same is presented in the paper. The microbial isolate enriched with Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans grown from source mine water was employed for bio-leaching of uranium while varying pH, pulp density (PD), particle size, etc. On varying pH at 35oC using 20%(w/v) PD and <75µm particle size, 83.5% and 78% uranium bio-recovery were observed at 1.7 and 2.0 pH in 40 days against maximum recovery of 46% and 41% metal in control experiments respectively. Whereas, it was observed that grinding of ore to finer size actually helped dissolution of uranium. Finer size particles (<45µm) gave a maximum biorecovery of 93% in 40days at 10%(w/v) PD, 1.7 pH and 35oC. The bio-recovery of uranium fell down from 93% to 82.73% and 60% on increasing the pulp density from 10% to 20% and 30% respectively for particles of <45µm size. The higher uranium dissolution during bioleaching at 1.7pH can be correlated with increase in redox potential from 433 mV to 664mV in 40 days.

Aug 1, 2010

By James R. Kuipers

Center for Science in Public Participation CSP2 ? Organized in 1997 to provide technical assistance to public interest groups on mining and water quality issues ? 80%of effort devoted to direct support of grassroots groups and tribal governments ? 20% of effort devoted to public-oriented education for public, tribal, state and federal regulators, and for industry ? Board represented by public interest groups, at large citizens, and academia ? Professional staff with experience from mining industry, academia and government ? website: www.csp2.org CSP2 Mission Statement The CENTER for SCIENCE in PUBLIC PARTICIPATION provides training and technical advice to grassroots groups on water pollution and natural resource development issues, especially those related to mining. CSP2 seeks to focus the debate on factual issues, as brought to light by its technical analyses, and whenever possible to seek consensus and win-win solutions. CSP2 also performs policy related work with federal and state regulatory agencies on the implementation of water quality, waste disposal, and mining reclamation regulations.

May 1, 2002

By M. Knot

Fans delivered to the Russian Federation, and eventually to countries of the former U.S.S.R., for mine ventilation must meet the legislative requirements of local jurisdictions. This paper presents a discussion of these legislative requirements and presents examples of fan equipment designed to meet the requirements. The legislative obligations discussed include four (4) separate requirements, including: ?Technical design requirements ? The Federal Agency for Technical Regulation and Metrology is responsible to issue a GOST R certification declaring conformance to the requirements ?Operational requirements ? A ?License for Application? must be obtained prior to operation ?Explosion risk requirements ? If the area of operation includes potential for explosion a special certificate must be obtained ?Technical condition requirements ? Market segments within the mining industry require special conditions that must be satisfied Examples of fans designed specifically for use in the Russian Federation are also discussed and examples provided. Designs for fan volume flow control will be highlighted.

Aug 1, 2013

By Jeonghwan Kim

Intelligent Excavation System (IES) has been considered to be one of the desirable solutions to improve the productivity, quality and safety of the current earthwork processes. IES is composed of various hardware and software modules including task planner (work command generator), local and global work environment sensors, GPS and other sensors to acquire the excavator?s status, robotic controller and electronic valves, and the manipulator (excavator). A data communication manager was required to coordinate the signal or data-flow in between these modules considering the operational status of IES such as; excavation start/completion, truck detection, terrain model update, emergency stop, local sensing, GPS/motion sensor data handling, and so on. This paper presents the role and functions of this data communication manager. After every possible operational status of IES operation was identified, a protocol of each communication process in the form of string-type was made. The components of IES are connected with either wired or wireless network. Therefore, they can communicate with the manager using socket (TCP/IP) communication. The data communication manager is also capable of accessing a web-based project management information system, which constantly updates the performance of excavation robot to online database.

Aug 1, 2013

By V. Polotski

This paper describes a platform for autonomous operations in open pit mining environments. A typical operation consists of: (1) Initial locomotion toward a remote worksite; (2) Pattern navigation within the worksite; (3) Worksite manipulations and (4) Return locomotion to the start location. The platform includes precise localization module based upon the fusion of odometry, inertial and GPS measurements. The guidance module starts from a set of way points specified on a GPSreferenced map and plans and executes the mission. A typical mission includes specified manipulative tasks along the navigation path. During motion execution the on-board system continuously verifies that the path is free of obstacles and that the hardware is not overloaded. Momentary losses of external positioning measurements does not adversely affect the performance, owing to the redundancy in position and heading estimation. A rehearsal phase follows planning and allows the supervisor to examine the kinematic behavior of the platform during motion, thus reducing the need for continuous monitoring during execution and providing protection against potential losses of communication.

May 1, 2003

The following guidelines have been recommended by the Diamond Exploration Best Practices Committee established by the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum. These guidelines are applicable to public companies and their consultants reporting diamond exploration results. In respect of these guidelines, Diamond Exploration Results are results derived from the initial activities undertaken to investigate a diamond bearing prospect or deposit, to generate tonnage, grade and value estimates that cannot be classified as a Mineral Resource or Mineral Reserve. They do not address the earlier stage reporting of geophysical, geochemical or kimberlite indicator mineral results. Public reports of Diamond Exploration Results relating to mineralization not classified as Mineral Resource or Mineral Reserve must address the confidence limits of the result and contain sufficient information to allow a considered and balanced judgement of the significance of the results. The objective of these guidelines is to assist public companies and consultants in making appropriate disclosure of diamond exploration results by reporting in a manner which is: ??Uniform within the diamond exploration industry; ??Consistent with reporting from other industry sectors; ??Comprehensive; ??Unambiguous. The guidelines are not prescriptive. Materiality is the overriding principle that determines the information that should be disclosed. However, where a company or consultant deviates from the guidelines, the disclosure or technical report should state the extent to which the guidelines have not been followed, and the reasons for the deviation. The guidelines do not in any way replace jurisdictional reporting requirements (For example, the requirement for Canadian reporting issuers to comply with Canadian Securities Administrators National Instrument 43-101 by having technical disclosure endorsed by a Qualified Person as defined in that legislation).

May 1, 2003

By O. Bernal

The Sociedad Minera Cerro Verde S.A.A, a subsidiary of Phelps Dodge Mining Company, operates a copper mining facility located in southern Peru. This "mine-forleach" operation currently produces 90,000 mtpy of copper cathode from secondary sulfide ore utilizing crushing, leaching, solvent extraction and electrowinning processes. The leach solution handling and application rates have undergone constant development over the years. This paper discusses the improvements in leach application designed to: 1) satisfy the needs of the "lixiviant request rate", which requires the use of application rates as low as 3.5 L/h/m2 and as high as 15 Llhlm2 with variable rest periods according to the leach kinetics, and 2) alleviate the poor solution distribution on the surface of the leach heaps inherent to drip emitters. Low application rates result in poor surface solution distribution and the formation of upside down cones of dry, non-leached material in the top meter of stacked ore, with heavy jarosite and iron salt precipitation; moreover, ferric iron is lost as insoluble precipitates. On the other hand, high unit flows associated with poor agglomerate quality can lead to uneven solution flow patterns within the heap leading to solution short-circuits, fines migration, and ponding with adverse effects on acid consumption and recovery.

Jan 1, 2007

By M. A. Upham

"Prairie Evaporites of the Province of Saskatchewan in a deep oil-well hole. Exploitation started in 1950 under a shroud of doubt that this huge reserve could be mined. It was fraught with almost insurmountable physical problems in penetrating the Prairie Evaporites. After 12 years of experimentation and development of new shaft-sinking methods, mining equipment and processes to treat the high-grade potash ore (sylvanite), a new era of high-risk resource development dawned in Saskatchewan.The development of 10 new mines opened up the largest known mineable potash reserves in the world and Canada became the second largest. producer of potash to supply domestic (U.S.A. and Canada) and overseas markets. A monumental program in marketing-devising new transportation systems and strategically locating warehouses-was developed in order to expeditiously service domestic and overseas customers. The year 1969/70 started a period of overcapacity and the problem of prorationing. As the market strengthened in 1974, the Saskatchewan Government applied the reserve tax to the industry. Then, they announced the setting up of a Crown corporation to acquire ownership by purchase of up to fifty per cent of the industry. During this time, potash was discovered in New Brunswick within 50 to 60 miles of a seaport, where two deposits have been explored by the same pioneers who started the potash development in Saskatchewan.With this background, the paper will examine various elements of the economics and marketing of Canadian potash."

Jan 1, 1980

By Ron Doucet

Industry today is now more than ever dependent on its assets and on the standard of maintenance. Changes in technology, environmental regulations, a continually improving focus on safety and global competitiveness has made maintenance a key activity in sustaining safe, financially viable and environmentally integral operations. Maintenance used to be looked upon as a cost centre with a sole focus of fixing equipment to attain high availability. Maintenance today affects all aspects of the business: safety, environmental integrity, energy efficiency, productivity, costs, and product quality. These new demands on the function of maintenance requires us to think vastly differently about what maintenance is all about, even to the point of contradicting old beliefs. In the following paragraphs we will examine some of the changed thinking that has evolved over the last 50 years. These new concepts will lay the foundation for the implementation of 21st century best practice maintenance.

May 1, 2003

By E. Roman E.

A novel anode slime purification process was developed and tested at pilot scale in the Chuquicamata Refinery. The process consists of three main stages: First, an atmospheric alkaline leaching at 90°C, under controlled pH and ORP operation parameters where metalloid impurities are preferentially removed from the anode slimes with high efficiency. In a second stage, alkaline washing of the mud leached with addition of reducing agent, with the intention of reducing the silver of the AgCl to metallic silver releasing the chloride, and finally, copper and other remaining impurities are leached out in mild conditions (60°C, one hour in sulphuric acid). In a side process Se, Te, and Sb are recovery with high efficiency from the alkaline liquor as chemical grade products. The global balance shows a high mass loss yielding a final product with high precious metal and low impurities content showing advantages in both a technical and economic point of view with a clear environmental sustainability. This treatment allows either the direct sale of the purified anode slimes or its pyrometallurgical treatment to obtain metal doré without emissions of Se, Sb and As. Chemical mechanisms for this novel process are also described.

Jan 1, 2007

"Cambior currently has nearly 80 exploration properties, acting as operator on about 60 of these. The company&apos;s exploration budget has increased to over $11,100,000 for 1990. On-going efforts recently yielded a new gold discovery on the Douay- Vezza property, a joint venture project with Inco and Vior. Cambior continues to seek out new opportunities, recently acquiring an option agreement on the Sleeping Giant project in Quebec and four new exploration agreements in the United States, through its Reno office. Other nearly-concluded joint venture agreements have also given the company entries into Indonesia and Guyana.SummaryWhen it acquired SOQUEM&apos;s assets on August I, 1986, Cambior also acquired interests in 45 exploration projects. The subsequent mergers with Aiguebelle Resources and Sullivan Mines in 1987 brought the total number of exploration projects to 83, most of which are concentrated in northwestern Quebec. Cambior&apos;s strategy emphasizes gold exploration, and exploration activities were, therefore, initially limited to the Val d&apos;Or and Rouyn-Noranda mining camps, where Cambior has a large portfolio of properties. Approximately $25.8 million has been spent on surface exploration in this area since the formation of the company, resulting in the discovery of the Mouska deposit and four sub-economic zones on the Porcupine, Forbex, Bloc Sud and Flavrian project s. In 1988, Cambior became involved in projects in the United States to which the company expects to allocate about 38070 of its 1989 exploration budget."

Jan 1, 1990

By Rob Kelso

The PISCES Goals ? To conduct research and develop programs to enable and promote planetary surface exploration ? To host international tests and technology demonstrations at the PISCES Test Site. ? To promote STEM education, inspiring students by connecting Hawaiian culture to space exploration and settlement. - economic and workforce development ? To involve the commercial sector, spinning off technologies to help the local Hawaiian economy. ? To develop a full-scale, technically valid, analog lunar/Martian outpost on Hawai`i Island.

May 1, 2013

By W. Wallace

The aerospace industry celebrated 100 years of powered flight in 2003, and the remarkable achievements that have occurred during the past 100 years are in no small way due to major developments in materials. Modern alloys for airframes, engines and other major sub-systems have evolved through the intelligent application of new processing concepts involving melting, casting, hot and cold working, heat treatment and more recently vapour phase processing. Alloy design has evolved in parallel to allow maximum benefits to be achieved from these processing advances. However, the pace of development seems to be slowing and future gains are likely to be made by learning how to extract major value from aerospace assets. Understanding the modes of deterioration and establishing cost effective lifetimes by holistic life cycle management seem to be the way of the future. Extending component lifetimes by repair, rejuvenation and refurbishment are all viable possibilities and they offer great opportunities for Canada, which, traditionally, has been a major user of modern aerospace materials rather than a supplier. The challenges for metallurgist, physicists and engineers will be no less than in the past and should create new business opportunities for Canada. The scenario described above will be developed by calling upon examples drawn from the author&apos;s experience.

Jan 1, 2004