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By J. C. O'Rourke

"This paper presents an overview of Alberta Oil Sands Technology Research Authority's in situ oil sands recovery project at its underground test facility near Fort McMurray. It covers the rationale for horizontal wells drilled from tunnels below the oil sands, the tunnel layout, the drilling program, and the recovery process and facilities. INTRODUCTIONThe Alberta Oil Sands Technology and Research Authority (AOSTRA) has constructed an Underground Test Facility (UTF) in the Athabasca oil sands deposit in northern Alberta, approximately 50 km northwest of Fort McMurray (Fig. 1). The facility initially is to serve as an underground laboratory from which to field test new approaches to in situ recovery of the bitumen (oil) in the Athabasca deposit.The UTF employs mine access to get at the effective exploitation of an oil reservoir. It does so, however, under conditions considerably more difficult than those faced by most other applications of the technology. Because of the unconsolidated nature of the McMurray formation, the development of drilling chambers directly in the reservoir would be prohibitively expensive. Further, mobilization of the extremely viscous bitumen requires intensive steam stimulation with the attendant concerns of large, complex well completions and potentially hazardous operations Over-all, the oil sands presents mining, drilling and operations challenges which push the technology to a new state-of-the-art. The UTF as it now exists consists of:• a 20 000 ha lease with all-weather road access;• 925 m of 5 m by 4 m tunnels in the limestone 15 m below the oil sands at roof depth of 178 m below the surface (Fig. 2);• two 3 m diameter steel lined shafts to a depth of 213 m;• administration and sur face mine support facilities from which to operate the UTF (Figs. 3 and 4);• underground piping systems to transport drill fluids, steam, produced fluids and services to and from the future well heads underground (Fig. 5);• surface steam generation and production handling facilities (Figs . 3 and 4).• a drilling rig and auxiliary systems specifically designed to drill long horizontal wells into the oil sands from tunnels in the underlying limestone (Fig. 6);• an experienced staff to engineer and operate the facility (Fig. 7)"

Jan 1, 1989

By G. S. Hume

Introduction Core drilling of the bituminous sands of northern Alberta has been carried on by the Mines and Geology Branch, Department of Mines and Resources, under the supervision of the Director, W. B. Timm. This was part of the Dominion Government's wartime investigations, which included an agreement with Abasand Oils, Limited, for the study of commercial possibilities of obtaining oil from the bituminous sands. The drilling programme, commenced in 1942 by the Consolidated Mining and Smelting Company of Canada, was continued in 1943 and subsequently by Boyles Bros. under contract with the Mines and Geology Branch. Several areas have been investigated and one of these, the Mildred-Ruth Lakes area, ' herein described, is of special importance in that it contains a sufficiently rich and large deposit of bituminous sands and bitumen beds to warrant consideration of commercial developments for the production of oil. The Steepbank Area, East Side of Athabaska River The Steepbank area, on the east side of Athabaska river in township 92, about twenty-two miles north of Fort McMurray, was selected for drilling in 1942 because previous investigations by Ells indicated it was one of considerable promise both from the standpoint of having reasonably rich bituminous sands under relatively light overburden and also having an excellent tailing disposal and plant site for large-scale operations in proximity to Athabaska river. The drilling done in 1942 and 1943 was largely exploratory, and, when it was found that the southerly part of township 92 had only low-grade material, closer drilling was done in 1944-45 in the richer, more northerly part.

Jan 1, 1947

By F. R. Erick Mulder

"AbstractTwo bottom-hole samples have been taken from two new completions in the Turner Valley field, Royalite Lowery No. 8 on the west flank and Royalite No. 73, which was deepened into a lower fault block, on the northeast flank. From the bottom-hole oil of Royalite Lowary No. 8 a synthetic sample was prepared to simulate the original fluid in the reservoir, saturated at the gas-oil contact conditions. The sample from Royalite Lewery No. 8 has been shown to be the original fluid present at this well and represents the oil phase near the oil-water contact in• the reservoir. Complete chemical analysis, P.V.T., and viscosity data have been obtained on these reservoir fluids, which represent the range of saturation from the gas-oil to the oil-water contact in the Turner Valley oil structures. Sampling techniques and the application of the analytical data to reservoir conditions and field operations are discussed. Super-compressibility curves for an average separator tail gas have also been prepared. These data have not been available before. They will be of fundamental value in futu.re reservoir engineering studies of this field and will also serve as a guide in determining operating practices."

Jan 1, 1950

By R. S. James, D. C. Peck, P. T. Chubb

"The East Bull Lake gabbro-anorthosite intrusion is one of several Early Proterozoic layered mafic intrusions occurring along the Southern Province - Superior Province boundary in the Elliot Lake - Sudbury region, Ontario. The base of the East Bull Lake intrusion comprises abundant plagioclase cumulates (Leucogabbronorite Zone) hosting two distinct styles of sulfide mineralization: (1) disseminated magmatic sulfides, and (2) disseminated to massive, structurally controlled sulfides. Both types of mineralization are enriched in Pd, Pt, Au, Cu and Ni. The host rocks to the sulfide mineralization display a range of interesting features including nodular textures, dendriticpegmatitic mafic pods, inclusion-rich zones (pyroxenite, anorthosite and granitic inclusions) and magmatic breccias. Disseminated chalcopyrite, pyrrhotite and pentlandite occur in concentrations of up to 100/0 within erratically distributed gossan pods near the base of the intrusion. The sulfides were originally precipitated from intercumulus liquids, but were subsequently recrystallized and locally remobilized along fractures during the major period of metamorphism and deformation that affected the East Bull Lake intrusion. The base- and precious-metal tenor of the structurally controlled sulfides can be explained by extensive remobilization and reconcentration of the pre-existing magmatic sulfides in the vicinity of a major shear zone. Both styles of sulfide mineralization locally contain ppm abundances of POE + Au and are generally Pd- and Cu-rich, although both display large variations in Pd:Pt and Cu:Ni ratios. The magmatic sulfides are more strongly enriched in POE and contain up to 1470 ppm Pd in 100% sulfide. Several factors, including source characteristics, magmatic processes (crustal assimilation, fractional crystallization) and post-magmatic interaction with hydrous fluid, have influenced the present distribution of POE, Cu and Ni in the East Bull Lake intrusion.The magmatic sulfide occurrences from the East Bull Lake intrusion compare favorably with marginal-type deposits from rift-related intrusions (Noril'sk-Talnakh region, Siberia; Duluth Complex, U.S.A.) in terms of their distribution, but are most similar to reef-type POE deposits with respect to their base- and precious-metal geochemistry. The combination of high POE tenors and large tonnages that is observed for the POE-Cu-Ni mineralization from the East Bull Lake intrusion suggests that a good potential exists for the presence of economic concentrations of Pd, Pt, Au, Cu and Ni in the intrusion. On a global scale, the East Bull Lake intrusion is part of a suite of Early Proterozoic plutons, many of which contain significant volumes of stratiform and/or marginaltype POE-Cu-Ni mineralization. The East Bull Lake intrusion is also one of the oldest mineralized intrusions derived from a sub-Superior Province mantle source region that has given rise to several significant magmatic POE-Cu-Ni deposits during the period 2.5 Ga to 1.1 Ga."

Jan 1, 1993

By H. Huang, R. N. Gow

Acidic treatment of enargite (Cu3AsS4) dissolves both arsenic and copper from the mineral and then attempts to separate them in the leach solution. The reactivity of enargite was examined in acidic to neutral solutions, over the pH range 1-7, to determine a potential range for co-dissolution. Enargite mineral samples from Butte, MT and Quirivilca, Peru were used as working electrodes in a cyclic voltammetry corrosion cell setup, which were then cycled multiple times over -1000 to 1000 mV. Surface reactions and transitions were characterized using in-situ Raman spectroscopy, which were then compared to updated EH-pH diagrams for the copper-arsenic-sulfur-water system from a previous study done under alkaline conditions. The region of co-dissolution is limited to > 600 mV vs. SHE and pH < 1 under the proposed diagram.

Jan 1, 2014

By J. Seo

We propose a dynamic biomechanical simulation method that uses motion capture to evaluate the risk of Work-related Musculoskeletal Disorders (WMSDs). Statistics show that WMSDs accounted for 33% of all non-fatal occupational injuries and illness in construction in 2009, and were a leading cause of temporary and permanent disability. Present methods rely largely on self-reports from workers, observational techniques, and direct measurements of motion and muscle activity to assess awkward postures, physical loads, repetitiveness, and the duration of exposure. While these methods have helped to prevent WMSDs in construction work, they may not be suitable for estimating the internal tissue loads associated with WMSDs. We propose a dynamic biomechanical simulation method to estimate internal forces and moments at each body joint of construction workers with motion capture data. Particularly, we explore the biomechanical loads by simulating active 3D musculoskeletal models based on measured postures and movements. To demonstrate the feasibility of this approach, we studied a ladder climbing task using a portable ladder under controlled laboratory conditions. Postures and motions were determined with a commercial motion capture system (e.g., VICON). The results were analyzed to investigate the feasibility of identifying risk factors based on biomechanical simulation. The results show that the proposed approach allows us to determine the biomechanical basis for WMSDs, and to identify postures and movements associated with excessive physical demands on each body joint. When combined with marker-less motion capture which is our ongoing work, the proposed approach has the potential to assess an individual?s motions and to provide personalized feedback for the purpose of reducing biomechanical loads and WMSD risk in real workplaces.

Aug 1, 2013

By S. P. Narayan

The hot deformation behavior of Pure Mg and Mg-0.29Ce alloy were studied by isothermal hot compression tests in the temperature range of 250 - 500°C and strain rate range of 10-3 - 102 s-1 in a computer-controlled 50kN servo hydraulic universal testing machine (UTM). The results show that the flow stress of Mg pure and Mg-0.29Ce alloy increases with strain rate and decreases after a peak value, indicating dynamic recovery and recrystallization. Process efficiency was increased by nearly 10 to 12% by addition of Ce in Mg. Mg pure exhibits instability zones between 250-275°C at 10 ? 102 s-1 and 400¬500°C at 101 ? 102 s-1 temperatures and strain rates respectively, rest is the safe deformation zone. Wherein, Mg-0.29 Ce exhibits two low efficiency zones from 250 ? 300°C at 10-2? 10° s-1, 400 ? 500°C at 101 ? 102s-1 and high efficiency zone at 450 ? 500°C at 10-3? 10-1s-1. 4D process maps were generated for the above said alloys which illustrate contours of power dissipation and instability in the 3D space of strain rate, temperature and strain.

Jan 1, 2011

By R. K. Carnochan

MANY improvements have been made in recent years in the milling of industrial minerals and it is the purpose of this paper to review some of the more important innovations that are now being used in the preparation of these products. Some of the observations which will be made have been prompted by what was seen on a recent trip to industrial mineral milling plants in the north and central sections of the eastern United States. The flotation plants visited were those of the Valley Forge Cement Company at West Conshohocken, Pa., the International Agricultural Corporation at Mount Pleasant, Tenn., and the Aluminum Ore Company at Rosiclare, Ill. Besides these, sand plants in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Ohio, coal-cleaning plants in Pennsylvania, pyrophyllite, mica, feldspar, clay, and kyanite plants in North Carolina, and a zinc mill and the Tennessee Valley Authority ceramic laboratory in Tennessee were visited. The milling of industrial minerals can be considered under three broad headings, namely, crushing, grinding, and purification. Usually there is both a separation and grinding problem in treating an industrial mineral, but the problems are distinct, although sometimes a separation is made while grinding, as in the case of a Raymond throw-out mill, which grinds and at the same time throws out most of any hard material present in its feed.

Jan 1, 1939

By J. A. Espinosa-Guillen, J. A. Lopez-Molina, S. García, J. A. Valencia-Quintanar

"The design and implementation of grouting treatments in rock masses are procedures that require continuous adjustment of parameters and criteria to optimize the results. In this proposal we describe a set of tools that enhance decision-making for this type of jobs particularly in dam projects. The methodology is focused on hydrogeological zoning of the site and its constant update combining engineer’s experience with artificial intelligence techniques to integrate the site knowledge; as well as the evaluation of grouting results for different scrutiny scales, with special attention on the relationship between water absorption and grout consumption. INTRODUCTIONSeveral methodologies for design, implementation and evaluation for grouting rock masses have been developed for the solution of specific problems and tested in diverse geological conditions. Each of these methodologies is focused on results evaluation for different scrutiny scales (Table 1) and is employed to assist decision-making before or during the grouting process.Some methods define specifications for grouting each stage of the borehole, making theoretical, semi empirical or experience-based considerations to define basic parameters as maximum pressure, maximum volume, grouting time, flow rate, etc. Ultimately each approach aim to optimize the injection process, adjusting volumes or the grouting time required to obtain satisfactory results, reducing risk of creating new flow paths or unnecessary grout travels, and enhancing the mixture properties to achieve adequate penetrability and long-term behaviour. Some of these criteria have been widely used in dam projects, for example the concept of Grouting Based on Facts to define the maximum pressure and volume (Ewert, 1997), the GIN method (Lombardi & Deere, 1993; El Tani, 2012), or the North American standards based on Apparent Lugeon measures (Naudts, 1995; Bruce 2011); on the other hand, there are relatively new criteria that have shown good results for dam grouting as the Aperture Control Method (Bonin et al., 2012; Carter et al., 2012) or the Real Time Grouting Control Method (Stille et al., 2012)."

Jan 1, 2015

By Chris M. Healey

"The Jasper Gold mine in northern Saskatchewan produced a total mill feed of 140 127 tonnes at an average grade of 19.0 g/t Au. Both diamond drilling and chip samples from underground workings returned extremely high values, up to 12851 g/t (375 oz/T) Au over 0.10 meter from a chip sample. In the presence of such extremely high grades, the accurate estimation of reserves is a major problem.In the first part of this study, production data from the mine were used to evaluate the results of a variety of reserve estimation techniques in this environment. In two out of three cases studied, indicator kriging with assays cut to 342.9 g/t (10 oz/T) gave extremely good results. In the third case, however, indicator kriging gave unacceptable results. Instead, lognormal kriging of uncut data gave the best results.Secondly, from the same database, a number of drill-hole spacings were simulated, and reserves estimated from the simulations. As may be expected, the results of this analysis show increasingly better results with tighter drill-hole spacing. However, even with a 5 m by 5 m spacing the variation from actual grade was quite large. This is not a systematic under- or over-estimation of grade, rather a random scatter of results.The results of this study show very clearly the problems of deriving good estimates of reserves when extremely high-grade samples are encountered. There is a high degree of randomness to this data base, so reserve estimation in this situation will remain a high-risk operation."

Jan 1, 1993

By S. J. van Rensburg

Competition for resources, including water and arable land, refocused attention on water and gold tailings management with respect to quantity and quality. MINTEK established and validated an "Advanced Leach Facility" to record kinetic leach information aimed at gold refractory sulphide ores. This facility was developed because of the need for additional leach process information to enable proactive decision making. Instead of focussing on optimised gold recovery only, the impacts of pre-oxidation methodologies were evaluated by considering key parameters, including cyanide speciation, reagent consumption, thiocyanate, arsenic, heavy metals, salt loads, water quality and residue stability. Results from oxidative leaching of a refractory gold ore employing oxygen, ozone, ultra-fine grinding, high shear and pressure oxidation are discussed. The relative cyanide and lime costs and environmental and sustainability effects associated with these technologies are briefly outlined.

Jan 1, 2011

By R. K. Collings

Mineral wastes from the mining, metallurgical and chemical processing industries in Canada amount to about 800 million tonnes annually. Such wastes often are largely non-metallic in composition and are of interest for traditional non-metallic mineral uses and applications. Mineral waste disposal and maintenance are costly; furthermore, these wastes may pollute groundwater, rivers and lakes. These factors and an increased appreciation of the potential utility of some mineral wastes have stimulated research in this area.

Jan 1, 1984

By M. P. Tixier

Abstract In a review of the application of electrical logging in Canada, examples are .given of long and short distance correlations by means of the electrical logs. The use of MicroLogging for the determination of permeable and porous formations is explained. The question of log analysis for the quantitative determination of fluid saturation and porosity is .discussed. An example is provided to illustrate the significance of the resistivity gradient. The advantages of the new method of the Laterolog are shown, chiefly for the case of wells filled with high-salinity mud. Introduction Electrical logging techniques developed rapidly in Canada at the time an intensive drilling activity started for the exploitation of the Devonian series in Alberta, namely, at the beginning of 1947. The conventional service was soon thereafter supplemented with the latest technica1 improvements. Canada has been among the first regions to take advantage of MicroLogging*, which has proved a most powerful .tool for the investigation of permeable and porous formations; also, the more recent development known as the Laterolog has ?been introduced in Canada. The Laterolog provides a better determination of .the formations, particularly in the case of salty mud where the conventional logging is greatly handicapped. The various methods of electrical logging are now commonly known in oil industry and have been described in numerous publications ( 1) ( 2) (3).

Jan 1, 1951

By G. A. Bezuidenhout, J. Davis, S. M. Bradshaw, J. P. T. Kapusta, D. K. Chibwe

"This research work forms part of an assessment to complement the feasibility of implementing high pressure sonic injection into relatively small (2.25 m I.D by 3.66 m I.L) Peirce-Smith converters (PSC) used at Lonmin Plc. Work has been carried out to characterize the fluid dynamics of three-phase (air, matte and slag) fluid flow in these converters using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations. The investigation has been done to study the flow pattern of the three phase system at high air pressure injection achieving sonic velocity at the tuyere exit into the converter. The 2-D and 3-D simulations of the three phase system were carried out using the volume of fluid (VOF) and realizable k -e turbulence models to account for the multiphase and turbulence nature of the flow, respectively. These models were implemented using the commercial CFD numerical code FLUENT. A detailed study of the flow pattern has been presented in the form of contour plots and the results obtained are useful for understanding plume extension and velocity distribution, shear wall stress distribution, and phase distribution characteristics in the system. The results provide a basis for further development of sonic injection technology into relatively small industrial Peirce-Smith converters with the ultimate objective of achieving lower energy consumption, improved process efficiency and increased throughput of the converting process. INTRODUCTIONPeirce-Smith converters (PSC) have been used in copper (Cu) and nickel (Ni) making smelters for more than a century for the purpose of removing iron (Fe) and sulphur (S) chemically associated with copper-nickel mattes through exothermic oxidation reactions. This process is commonly referred to as conversion. In principle, conversion is a submerged injection process, where typically air (or oxygen enriched air), at subsonic velocity (typically < 150 m/s), is laterally blown into liquid matte (Cu-Ni-Fe-S system). Oxygen preferentially reacts with Fe and S to produce iron oxide (FeO), which is slagged off, and sulphur dioxide (SO2), which reports to the process off gas."

Jan 1, 2012

By J. Mcdvcka

Sustainable development has become a driving imperative for the resource industry as it is for the rest of the global business world. Being unsustainable is a risk no business can afford. Yet implementation of sustainable development practices beyond satisfaction of compulsory reporting is still sporadic. The current standard approaches to problem analysis and decision making are too narrow to capture the complexity of the issues at stake. Hence it is necessary to develop innovation in thinking and in doing. Those who search for ways to implement sustainable development use concepts such as Whole Systems Thinking and Eco-efficiency as well as tools like Life Cycle Analysis. Others develop their own instruments. In their effort to innovate they face both resistance and support within their organisation as well as within the industry or the wider context. This paper explores the factors that support, hinder and shape the sustainable development drive of the industry and proposes a comprehensive decision-making framework that links the goal of sustainability with the tools of sustainable development. This exploration is illustrated by a case study used in a doctoral research conducted on an engineering firm providing services to our industry.

Jan 1, 2007

By Gerald Blackmore

This paper discusses the present state and future trends within the coal industry, and then goes into the reasoning behind these planned trends. Such factors as marketing, costs, new mining techniques and machinery, and manpower and human resources are considered. Finally, the author refers to the effect that these trends will have on the coal industry of Cape Breton.

Jan 1, 1968

By O. J. Restrepo-Baena, L. Rojas-Mendoza

Gold losses must be controlled during extracting processes, especially during cyanidation. Otherwise recovery decreases and therefore the profitability of projects too. One of the phenomena that generate such losses is known as preg-robbing which occurs when some mineral constituent adsorbs aurocyanide complex from a cyanide solution. There are some laboratory methods to identify potential preg-robbing in gold ores, highlighting the PRP method, the BGMI test, and cyanidation tests by conventional agitation without activated carbon (BRP) and with activated carbon (CIL). For this study we performed an initial characterization of a sample from Antioquia - Colombia and then we carried out the methods described above in order to identify the presence of carbonaceous matter. We obtained a percentage of preg-robbing of 78.7% by applying the BGMI test; the preg-robbing potential by the PRP method was 97.9% with an extraction of 0.77% and an inferred recovery of 36.6% if preg-robbing did not occur. Finally we obtained under the BRT test a recovery of 0%, while for CIL test an extraction of 33.6% what confirmed the presence of preg-robbers agents in the gold ore. We conducted all tests in the Institute of Minerals - CIMEX at Universidad Nacional de Colombia - Medellin.

Jan 1, 2014

By G. Mihaylov

The basic principles of systems analysis are presented. A model has been designed to determine the location of the Main opening in the presence of three or more stock orebodies. The necessary condition is to find a location for the Collection point which is an essential element in opening up each orebody (stock). The model takes into account the total transportation costs from each orebody to the collection point. Three variants are considered provided that the orefield is divided into two levels at least: - a collection point is designed at every level; - a collection point is designed at the lowest level, i.e. where the so-called concentration level is formed; - the collection point is located at a point between the planes of the two levels; The effect of the depth of mining and mine output on determining the method of opening up the orefield has been analyzed by considering a vertical and/or an inclined shaft. A function has been constructed which allows for investigating in both a static and dynamic regime the capital costs for constructing the whole complex including the shaft. The character of the function does not allow finding the global limits. Therefore, it is of particular importance to specify the limiting conditions. In this case these are the flow capacity of development openings and the shaft. The basic groups of cost and natural indicators for assessing and selecting an optimal technological solution have been systematized. The combined analysis of the two approaches to finding the location of the Main opening and determining the mining method enables us to determine when an inclined shaft is best, and the depth at which opening by a vertical shaft has no alternative. Thus, a transition area is formed for which the selection of an optimal technological solution requires an analysis similar to that proposed in this paper. Conclusions are finally drawn which serve as a basis for determining the areas of application of each opening, including the use of a combined scheme of mine opening. The approach presented can be used in both investigating the possibilities for opening up new orefields and reconstructing existing ones in cases when the mining operations go deeper.

Aug 1, 2013

By Junhyun Choi, Allan Gomez-Flores, Chonbuk National University, Siyoung Q. Choi, Gahee Kim, Seungkon Kim

In this study, to confirm the effect of depletion attraction on the flotation, we theoretically and experimentally investigate the effect of the depletion attraction force on flotation. While varying the concentration of the depletion agent (polyethylene glycol), three different systems are studied: pure malachite, pure silica, and a 1:1 mass ratio of malachite and silica binary system. We find that recovery increases significantly as the concentration of the depletion agents increases for all three systems, as the depletion agent facilitates the adsorption of the particle on the bubble surface. However, the recovery suddenly decreases in a certain concentration range, which corresponds to the onset of the decreased surface tension when high concentrations of the depletion agent are used. This non-monotonic overall recovery trend implies the surface adsorption of the depletant on a surface. The decreased surface tension of the air/water interface suggests that the recovery rate is lowered due to the adsorption of the depletion agent to the bubble surface, acting as a polymer brush. Based on our observations, we conclude that the depletion force can greatly improve particle adsorption, as predicted in the accompanying theory paper, while simultaneously the adsorption of the depletion agent on the bubble surface plays an important role because it hinders particle adsorption. We also perform experiments in the presence of a small amount of a collector, sodium oleate. An extremely small amount of the collector leads to the increase in the overall recovery, which eventually reaches nearly 100 percent. Nevertheless, the grade worsens as the depletant provides the force to silica particles as well as target malachite particles.

Jan 1, 2016

By N. E. Nelson

"The Hidden Creek mine is about l~ miles north of the north end of Granby bay; a nearly landlocked body of water on the west side of Observatory inlet; 90 miles north of Prince Rupert; British Columbia.The main haulage way of the mine at 385 feet above sea-level has been driven north into the somewhat precipitous end of a north-south ridge that rises from the tide flats between the east and west forks of Hidden creek. The outcrops of the principal orebodies, two prominent bluffs of stained rocks and sulphides, were higher on the face of the ridge and extended from about 530 to 850 feet elevation. North from the bluff tops, the ridge comb rose gradually to about 1,200 feet elevation. The name of the discoverer and the date of discovery of the Hidden Creek orebodies are probably unknown, but the discoverer is believed to have been an Indian from one of the reservations along Observatory inlet. The deposit was brought to the attention of John Flewin, Government Agent at Post Simpson, near the beginning of the present century. Mr. M. K. Rodgers, developer of the Nickel Plate mine at Hedley, did the first organized work on the deposits. Next the Hidden Creek Copper Company prospected the property. Rodgers acquired the prospect a second time, did more work, and finally in 1910 optioned the property to the Granby Consolidated Mining, Smelting and Power Company, Limited, at that time operating at Phoenix and Grand Forks in the Boundary district of British Columbia. The optionees stepped up the development work and brought the property to production in 1914. The ores were direct smelted until 1924. In that year a mill was built. From 1930 until the end of the productive life of the properties in 1935, all of the ore was milled and the concentrate smelted. From March 17, 1914, until July 31, 1935, the production from the Hidden Creek mine was, in round numbers, 18,000,000 tons of 1.70 per cent copper ore and 6,000,000 tons of low grade dilution rock. The Hidden Creek mine ""died with its boots on"". During 1934 the average monthly production was 146,377 tons of 1.06 per cent copper ore. For 7 months of 1935 the average was 161,750 tons of 1.03 per cent ore, and for the final month, July 1935, the production was 156,950 tons."

Jan 1, 1954