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By E. De Souza

The instrumentation and monitoring of rock behaviour have played an important and necessary role in the practice of potash, rocksalt, gypsum, trona and coal mining. The art of rock instrumentation applied to soft rock and coal mining has progressively evolved over the past years and will surely continue to advance at a faster pace in the future as a result of the technological revolution we experience today. The development of sophisticated mine-wide data communications systems is being used for instrumentation and sensor automation, and laser, sonar and geophysics technology are being continuously adapted for rock monitoring purposes. In this paper, the author provides an overview of typical rock instrumentation used today and offers some views of the progressive evolution in rock mechanics instrumentation sophistication and design.

Jan 1, 1998

The Boleo project is located in Mexico close to the town of Santa Rosalia on the Baja Peninsula. The Boleo deposit contains copper, cobalt, zinc and manganese values as oxides with minor sulfides. The Boleo deposit is metallurgically challenging due to: 1) the requirement to recover four separate metals; 2) the presence of high levels of clay in the deposit resulting in difficult solid-liquid separations, and; 3) the need to use seawater for the bulk of the processing. Baja Mining, Bateman Engineering and SGS Lakefield Research have collaborated to develop and test a process flowsheet to recover copper, cobalt, zinc and manganese products at Boleo. The key steps in the flowsheet are: ? Feed preparation (scrubbing and ball milling of oversize) in copper raffinate ? Ore leaching using oxidative and reductive leaching ? CCD washing using high rate thickening technology ? Copper SXlEW ? Treatment of a bleed solution for cobalt, zinc and manganese recovery The process for cobalt, zinc and manganese recovery involves iron and aluminum removal followed by cobalt/zinc bulk extraction using CSIRO's DSX solvent extraction system and selective zinc and cobalt stripping. The zinc strip solution is evaporated to produce zinc sulfate monohydrate crystals to market and cobalt is recovered via a further SXlEW process as high purity metal. Manganese is precipitated as manganese carbonate from the DSX raffinate solution. This paper will review the Boleo process flowsheet and provide detailed results from the 2006 pilot plant operation conducted at SGS Lakefield in Canada.

Jan 1, 2007

By Arne Renström

A fleet management system such as Minestar with CAES and Aquila could basically be defined as a tool for production control and distribution of drill and load maps, but should also be considered as continuous improvements and a never ending production study. The objective of production studies is to establish facts to be used for production improvements. In a mine operation there are many issues to improve and they spread from achieving productions plans, drilling precision, improved spotting while loading to equipment utilisation. This gives that there is not one single key value to present; we need to manage information presented on maps, as trends, graphs, tables and pre-calculated data for ?free-use? normally in spread-sheets to be able to turn data into useful information.

May 1, 2003

By P. M. Chapman

Risks to aquatic receiving environments from uranium mining and milling fall into three categories: physical (habitat change), chemical (e.g., uranium, selenium, total dissolved solids [TDS], metals including vanadium), and radiological. Although all categories of risk need to be managed, chemical risks are the most significant and are typically chronic rather than acute. For instance, selenium toxicity is primarily manifested as reproductive impairment due to maternal transfer, resulting in embryotoxicity and teratogenicity in egg-laying vertebrates. Risk is best assessed using a weight of evidence approach focused on ecosystem services. Risk management should be based on both risk assessment and adaptive monitoring.

Aug 1, 2010

By Edmund C. Bovey

"AS I begin my remarks this morning, please let me say how honoured and gratified I was to receive your invitation to address you here during your deliberations in historic Quebec City. The high esteem in which your Institute is held is reflected in the respect and deference accorded to it by industry across Canada. I feel privileged to be here with you today.I would like to discuss with you some applications of natural gas in the mining industry and suggest to you, in closing, some possible avenues of future development.Natural gas first became avail-able for industrial purposes in Northern Ontario in late 1958. Acceptance of natural gas, as a source of energy by the industry of that area, has been both widespread and gratifying. The mining industry of Northern Ontario has in-creased its annual use of natural gas by approximately 35 per cent each year since 1958. We believe that this trend will continue, al-though we will probably have to accept a more modest 10 per cent annual gain as the market approaches saturation. I would like to explain how we were able to do this and where all this gas is used. Our first sales were largely a matter of price-and the savings we offered were substantial."

Jan 1, 1966

By J. M. Rios

Without conscious effort and understanding, a number of factors peculiar to mineral exploration campaigns conspire against building sustainability in host communities. These include the episodic and transitory presence of an exploration team in the community and the inherent uncertainty of outcomes; most projects fail. Given these circumstances, there is a strong tendency to apply a simple formula of providing employment, pragmatic philanthropy and supporting infrastructure improvements (roads, schools and clinics) to demonstrate that mining provides benefits. Experience in rural native communities of Mesoamerica has shown that it is possible to create positive, sustainable outcomes quite rapidly within communities, which build capacity, improve quality of life and support a strong social license to operate. Success comes from an understanding of community structure and dynamics; engaging with all segments of the community; creating healthy, transparent and accountable relationships based on clearly defined roles and responsibilities; and supporting and strengthening the role of women in a culturally appropriate way. To this are added innovative and culturally appropriate ways of incorporating sustainability through genuine social investment in areas more typically addressed by exploration companies; health, education, and environmental management.

Aug 1, 2013

By Carol E. Jones

?Reclaiming the land? in the Athabasca Oil Sands is becoming a household phrase in Canada. Advances in soil salvage and placement, increasing biodiversity of forest ecosystems and improved design of the landforms are beginning to change the trajectory of the ?reclaimed land? towards a boreal forest. The boreal forest is much more than just a forest; in the area of Fort McMurray AB, roughly one half of the boreal forest is composed of organic wetlands, often called muskeg. How important is muskeg to the boreal forest ecosystem and to the local aboriginal people? Should muskeg be reclaimed? Can muskeg be reclaimed? Ten years ago it was broadly accepted that organic wetlands could not be re-established; in fact this was so well accepted that reclamation of organic wetlands had not been attempted. Over the past decade this conclusion has been re-evaluated and research projects have been undertaken to examine the potential to create organic wetlands in a reclaimed oil sands landscape. This paper examines these questions and the research initiatives necessary to reclaim the other half of the Athabasca Oil Sands.

May 1, 2011

By A. Bhowmik

Uranium Refining is the process in which undesirable neutron absorbing elements such as Boron (B), Gadolinium (Gd), Cadmium (Cd), Europium (Eu), Samarium (Sm) and other heavy metals (Fe, Ni, Co, Ca, Mg etc.) are removed to make it nuclear pure. At present, Uranium refining is carried out by solvent extraction process by using organic based solvent e, g. TBP diluted with Kerosene. The above process generates lot of nitrate bearing liquid waste and degraded organic. In order to eliminate use of hazardous organic and ammonia for Uranium refining altogether, a new process has been developed. In the new process, Yellow Cake is dissolved in nitric acid and uranium peroxide hydrate is precipitated selectively from the solution leaving all the impurities in the solution by using commercial grade hydrogen peroxide at a pre-defined pH, U conc., temperature and stoichiometric quantity of hydrogen peroxide under mild agitation. The precipitate is filtered and washed with DM water to obtain nuclear pure product meeting purity standard as per ASTM C ? 753-99.The product is spray dried and calcined to obtain uranium oxide. The process eliminates use of organic, flammable, toxic chemicals, consumes less quantity of nitric acid and uses environfriendly chemical hydrogen peroxide. The process is simple and can be integrated in the mill. A patent application is entering national phase in several countries including CANADA and abstract/full paper is available in WIPO publication no: WO/2009/013759.

Aug 1, 2010

By Y. Qi

A cell-level nonlinear dynamic model of solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) based on physical diffusion principles is built in this note. It demonstrates that reactant diffusion processes from gas flow bulks to triple phase boundaries (tpbs) play an important role in the dynamic behaviors of SOFC. The simulation shows that under certain condition, the effect of the double layer capacitance may be neglected. The phenomenon of slow rise of voltage in current interrupt experiment may be explained by the dynamic behaviors of partial pressures in the vicinity immediately above tpbs.

Jan 1, 2005

By K. H. March

In the present very highly competitive condition of the bituminous coal business, it is becoming increasingly apparent that coal mines which do not lend themselves to efficient mechanization cannot long survive. It would seem that those mining operations best fitted to survive the struggle for existence are burdened with the considerable capital and maintenance cast of carefully selected mechanical and electrical mining equipment. The ever changing conditions of coal mine operations require equipment which is adaptable to a variety of uses; and investigation of the mechanical and electrical equipment in most mines will show that the operating duty of much of this equipment is considerably different from that duty for which it was originally selected. And it would appear that one of the essential qualifications for a successful mine management is a marked ability to get satisfactory operating results from equipment which has been transferred from some other operation, rebuilt, rearranged, or in some way adapted to the job at hand. As a striking example of such mechanical ingenuity, many of us recall that the first longwall jigging conveyor used in Nova Scotia was built in Sydney Mines from odds and ends in the scrap pile at a total cost of less than $50.

Jan 1, 1930

By Ernest Becker

Golder Associates provided overall radiological direction and assistance to the client in their interactions with the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission and operational radiation protection services for the remediation of a calciner that had been used to process uranium. The project was somewhat unusual in that the radioactivity from within the calciner room was removed from the site and the cleaned steel recycled. The presence of yellowcake within the process equipment required stringent radiation protection measures. This project was completed successfully with minimal radiation exposures to the workers and the effective protection of the environment.

Aug 1, 2010

Adaptive Processing as proposed in geometallurgy has to rely on spatially interpolated information on geometallurgical parameters like phase composition, size distributions of particles of different phases, grain shape parameters, and portions of value elements in different grains. Using the geostatistically predicted values for adaptive processing, e.g. for the selection of milling diameters, thresholds in physical separation, or choices on using an extra pre-separation step, is typically not optimal. Mathematically this effect is introduced by two forms of nonlinearities: 1) The nonlinear scales of compositions, distributions, and shapes have special properties with respect to geostatistics. Classical geostatistics creates some artefacts for these nonlinear scales. On the other hand, modern geostatistical procedures adapted to these scales do not provide unbiased results with respect to linear transformations of the data (e.g. biased block estimates). 2) Neither economic nor ecological effects (e.g. monetary gain) of processing decisions are linear in the interpolated geometallurgical parameters. These nonlinear transforms are not unbiasedly estimated by the likewise transformed unbiased geostatistical predictions of the geometallurgical parameters. Furthermore, we need to optimize the conditional expectation of the gain, rather than obtain an unbiased estimate. Standard geostatistics as such does not provide the "right sort" of estimates for adaptive processing. A nonlinear kriging procedure is needed to approximate the nonlinearities mentioned before. We propose to solve these problems simultaneously using a nonlinear geostatistical technique for predicting the target function (the monetary gain), rather than to predict the geometallurgical parameters and compute the gain from them. The optimization can then be performed directly on this estimated function. It can be shown that this optimization performed on the conditional expectations, not on unbiased predictions, would yield the best possible processing choice. We propose a procedure choosing the processing parameters on an approximation of the conditional expectation. The difficulties with the classical approach and the effectiveness of this new approach are illustrated by a simplified simulation example with a single processing parameter and a simple dependence on the microstructure.

Aug 1, 2013

By Brent Robertson

Failure to meet quality objectives during the execution of any industrial project has lasting negative impacts on facility life cycle performance. Cost overruns, schedule delays, and rework are characteristics of project quality issues that arise during the project. Commissioning and start-up problems, low production, production bottlenecks, breakdowns and the necessity for operational work-arounds are characteristics of project quality issues that appear after project completion. Risks such as production facility downtime, shortened equipment life, and potential HSE violations must be clearly identified and addressed during project planning phases. Appropriate Quality Assurance (QA) and Quality Control (QC) focus must be placed on identified high-risk areas. In order to be effective, quality systems must be flexible, non-confrontational, consistent, and adaptable to projects of any size ? from capital mega-projects to small maintenance projects. All project participants must be aligned in how they are approaching quality and the difference between QA and QC must be clear to everyone on the project. Emphasis must be placed on QA activities to minimize project cost, reduce rework, manage change, and reduce the production facility operational risk. QA is focused on the work processes used to generate the design and confirming that the processes are present and being followed. Issues in the work processes guarantee that the output drawings and specifications will be less than optimal. The identification and monitoring of quality-critical processes provides a focus for QA activities. QC activities are then used to generate proof that the project was implemented correctly and become a key part of the turnover.

Nov 1, 2011

By A. Kowalski

This paper presents methods of implementation and the added value that can be achieved by connecting personnel tracking systems and alarm-broadcasting systems. The authors point out the functions of the two systems that enable cooperation between them. Methods for connecting the systems on the surface and underground areas of mines require some intervention in both systems, so the authors point out a possible phased approach to introducing cooperation methods. Due to the fact that tracking systems in Polish mines are at an early stage of implementation, the article aims to provide new functionality, attempts to identify the needs of future users, and describes the experience of both production companies in terms of the development of cooperation methods.

Aug 1, 2013

By J. H. Bernard, K. Žák

The three traditional types of Variscan vein Pb-Zn-(Ag) mineralization recognized in the Bohemian massif from historic paragenetic studies are confinned by modem metallogenic studies. Stable C, S, and O isotope data, as well as Pb and Sr isotopic ratios of the deposits, indicate a predominantly crustal origin of the constituents in all three types. Although the data also suggest differences in temperature and pressure of formation, and the oxidation conditions and nature of the hydrothermal fluids, nonetheless they are consistent with prevailing metallogenic classifications of the vein mineralization

Jan 1, 1992

By Todd Smith

AGENDA Newalta overview Dewatering underground slimes: current technique & challenges Why centrifugation? Process improvements & advantages How centrifuge technology works Implementation: first step Summary of benefits

May 1, 2013

By Martin P. O'Connell

"IT IS INDEED A PRIVILEGE to address a group representing a sector of the Canadian economy so important as is the mining sector. Important, not only today, but certainly of great importance for the future development of Canada, for employment, for our trade balance and indeed, when one looks at what we are calling increasingly an industrial strategy, for the future. Surely mining will have a very significant role to play in fulfilling that. It's of special interest to me, as the Minister of Labour - and I ought to confess at the very beginning that I am just two months into this function - of special interest for me to know that you are giving such attention to labour-management relations. I think it is timely that, from my point of view at least, you do this, because for the first time in twenty four years major revisions of the Canada Labour Code as it relates to industrial relations and disputes settlements are currently in the House of Commons going through their second reading, after an easier introduction and some changes which I would be very pleased to describe later this morning. It is very timely too, I think, that we should be looking at this area because public interest is certainly at a high level. It is not only at a high level but it expresses a good deal of irritation with the current status and procedures and results in collective bargaining and there is some urgent search for more sophisticated or modified procedures for settling differences in labour-management relations. The public wants different kinds of results. I think that is apparent to all of us. They want results in terms of justice and equity on both sides. And it means that a Minister of Labour and certainly governments who often are representing, or are the third party in discussions, have a very important and complex role to play in attempting to create a balance as these two parties come to contracts and come to agreements."

Jan 1, 1972

By F. W. Gray

Ideal utilization of the heat energy in coal should theoretically be secured by supplying each atom of combustible material present with the exact quantity of oxygen necessary for complete combination. An intimate and equal admixture of the fuel particles with air is therefore to be sought. Coal, or the combustible substances of which coal is composed, may be used in solid or liquid or gaseous form. The use of coal in small particles intimately mixed with air is, in effect, a specification of coal in pulverized or dust form. There has been much important development of this manner of using coal, which may be instanced as the outstanding advance in the use of coal as a solid. The completeness and efficiency of combustion in a properly designed dust-fired furnace permits the use of locally available coals of inferior quality, and enables them to be used commercially instead of imported coals of better quality. That is to say, some grades of coal of low calorific value, that are not economically useable in lump form on grates, are useable in pulverised form, because of the more complete combustion thereby obtained, and the consequent more efficient results. In the case of coals that are unsuitable for steam-raising in grate-fired furnaces, because of clinker troubles, (arising usually from a combination of high sulphur content and low-temperature fusibility of the ash content) use in pulverised form has obvious advantages, and in addition gives the benefit of any heat units that are contributed by free sulphur in the coal.

Jan 1, 1924

By Aimee Williamson

Bio-mining is a cost-effective, energy efficient and potentially environmentally protective method of exploiting a variety of ore deposits, from high-grade base metal deposits of nickel to lower-grade uranium deposits such as are found in the uraniferous quartz-pebble conglomerate beds of the Quirke Syncline, Elliot Lake, Ontario, using bacterial metabolic processes are used to enhance the solubilization of the metal(s) of interest. The cost effectiveness of bio-mining in Elliot Lake depends on the bacterially-influenced dissolution metals of economic importance, as well as on the ability to suppress microbiological activity following the release to solution of the economically important elements. This poster provides an overview of elemental recovery results and release kinetics for more than 50 elements. The data is obtained using a combination of advanced spectroscopic tools (ICPAES and ICP-MS) to analyze solutions obtained from a series of environmentally controlled biologically mediated uranium ore extraction experiments. The focus will be on rare earth elements, potential environmentally toxic elements, and metals of economic importance. Furthermore, the importance of these findings will be put into an economic and geologic context for the re-development of the mining industry of the Elliot Lake Camp.

Aug 1, 2010

By D. P. Wilkinson

There are significant global environmental and supply issues with existing energy paths today . Global emission and fuel regulations, global fuel and power structure, energy security, and cost are driving new technology and non-conventional approaches . Fuel cells will play a significant role in the strategy to effect positive global change, increase fuel efficiency and decrease dependency on traditional fossil fuels. Fuel cells do not require recharging, just refuelling and a wide range of fuels are possible with hydrogen being the most desirable. Technical progress as well as investments in fuel cells for transportation, stationary, portable, and micro fuel cell applications have been dramatic in recent years. The present view is very optimistic for fuel cell power generation and the status is presently at the field trial level, or early commercialization stage, moving into volume commercialization. A number of demonstration programs are in progress worldwide such as the California Fuel Cell Partnership which involves original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), fuel providers, transit authorities, state and government bodies. Fuel cells and a hydrogen infrastructure are key to a long-term solution to global energy issues. Fuel cells will need to be competitive on an economic basis with the established and highly developed internal combustion engine and other forms of power generation There has been significant technical progress in a number of fuel cell areas including power density, transient / dynamic response, multiple fuels, cost potential, reliability and durability. However, significant technology gaps still remain today. This presentation will focus on the status and progress of the fuel cell today, current fuel cell research and development, the challenges going forward, and the future view of the fuel cell and it's impact on global energy issues.

Jan 1, 2005