Search Documents

By T. R. Stanley

Introduction The purpose of this paper is to interest mining men in the economic possibilities of sand deposits suitable for modern foundry work. Many members of the profession are constantly travelling over the country and it is felt that some knowledge of the necessary properties of foundry sands will enable these men t0 recognize such deposits. It is the experience of the writer that good sands suitable for the varied work of a foundry, such as that of the Consolidated Mining and Smelting Company, at Trail, are almost impossible to obtain from western Canadian sources. It is hoped that the following discussion may arouse some interest in the search for such sands. Sands are used in foundries for two purposes. The main use is for making moulds suitable for receiving hot metal. The mould must retain the? required shape until the metal has solidified. The second use of sand in the foundry is as an abrasive in sand blasting. This is a relatively minor use, and consequently will not be dealt with in detail. Any coarse sand with a high content of quartz will serve this purpose, but round-grained sands are superior to angular types, because they have not the same tendency to shatter on impact with the casting. Sand plays an extremely important part in the successful production of sound castings. This is more evident today than ever before, due to the greater variety of castings and alloys, each of which requires special sand characteristics. Poor sand is responsible for a great many foundry troubles which formerly were attributed to bad? metal; in fact, one investigator goes so far as to say that ninety per cent of bad castings can be traced directly to the sand. Very little of the vast amount of sand distributed over the earth's surface is suitable for moulding. It is the purpose of this paper to describe briefly the properties which are essential in good moulding sand. Sand for this work must be able to withstand the wash and hydrostatic pressure of molten metal, and yet be sufficiently porous to allow the gases generated in the mould to escape.

Jan 1, 1935

By R. E. Evans

This paper contains an analysis of the geography and geology of the Black Lake area, Eastern Townships of Quebec, an outline of the work to be performed, an explanation of the design concept and how it was developed, and a discussion of the actual stripping operation, including details of the machinery being used, etc.

Jan 1, 1967

By A. Bauer

This paper describes the trends in recent years in explosives formulated to produce larger blast-hole spacings and over-all lower drilling and blasting costs in hard formations. A consideration of current rotary drilling costs per ft of hole and per ton of muck versus hole diameter indicates that it is now possible that we shall see much further use of lower-energy-content, lower-cost slurries and dry mixes, and larger-diameter and, in many instances, cheaper blast holes. These will be drilled on current or slightly larger blast patterns to yield the same energy input per ton of rock and similar fragmentation at lower costs.

Jan 1, 1968

By G. M. Behrend

"The mining and processing of mineral ores is a very old industry which is steeped in tradition. Rising demand for metals has recently forced the exploitation of lower-grade orebodies which require extensive beneficiation. The high capital expenditures involved, together with market pressures for high-quality concentrates and pellets, have forced the development of new process technologies which are heavily dependent on automatic process control. Development of suitable instrumentation has been rapid and it is being applied to mining processes today with a high degree of sophistication. The drive for higher efficiency and profitability goes on and has reached a level at which modern digital computers appear to be the only answer. However, the efficient application of a digital process computer is extremely complicated and is therefore approached by the mining industry with considerable hesitation.Some of the benefits promised by the digital computer can be obtained today by other means, which are more manageable and can provide immediate payoff. The result would be a building-block system which would utilize the digital process computer as its final component, to perform true plant optimization, free from routine chores."

Jan 1, 1971

By C. Holmes, T. Holmes

Engineered-in material handling problems are responsible for significant unrealized value in mineral processing plants. At the root, is a lack of awareness and understanding of bulk material handling science and how important it is, especially in early design stages. Mineral processes add value to mined raw feedstock through physical and chemical transformations in unit operations, but only if the material can flow through them. Essentially, each unit operation receives a unique feedstock and produces a unique product to be collected, transported, and fed into the next unit operation. Such material-handling systems can only be expected to achieve design throughput if the system equipment is designed to the materials’ characteristics, over their full range of conditions. This requires quantification of flow properties to support the necessary customized equipment designs. Too often, assumptions or “library values” of a material’s properties are used as the basis for flow modelling and conceptual, and sometimes even detailed, design. This is especially true for hazardous materials like uranium ore, for which the additional precautions, costs, and time necessary for safe handling are often used to rationalize postponing or even bypassing testing. The surprises that often transpire in the wake of insufficient material handling consideration can have acute and costly effects. Fortunately, there is a better way.

Jan 1, 2020

By H. Salamanca

Recently, the mining industry has become one of the leading target markets for the technology industry as they need to innovate in their productive processes in order to boost productivity, reduce operation costs, increase operation safety, and improve the quality of life of their workers. This work presents the technological developments that HighService has done in different stages of the mining productive processes to include robotic manipulators in their automation solutions as well as the development of new equipment and sensors. The robotic technology integration is presented in different applications such as handling and selection of cathodes in E-W machines, automation of base plate maintenance, automation of cathode stripping machine, and multi-tools handler for liner bolt replacement in SAG mill liner maintenance activities. The proposed solutions show technical and economical viability with low initial investment and short implementation period of six (6) to ten (10) months. The results have been validated in plant, obtaining higher production rates and availability.

Jan 1, 2007

By P. E. Cavanagh

"The Davis tube test has been used for many years as a laboratory method for determining the magnetic iron re-coverable from a magnetite iron orebody. This paper de-scribes a method for determining the recoverable iron from ores of the Labrador Trough type, with the usua1 flow sheet utilizing spirals followed by magnetic separation.The mechanical structure of a metamorphosed iron ore, resulting from recrystallization over long periods of time, is the basis for the laboratory method developed. Similarities between the structures of such recrystallized ores and the structure of annealed and recrystallized steel are noted.A laboratory technique to determine the size of the different grains of gangue and iron ore minerals is de-scribed and the application of this information to arrive at recommended grinding techniques and flow sheets is demonstrated. The use of the method to determine recoverable iron in such ores is compared to actual iron recovery in the pilot-plant and commercial concentrations of the same ore.The use of a specified lower limit of recoverable iron as determined by this method, in order to design open-pit limits, achieves practical results when compared to designing a pit based on an arbitrary lower limit of total soluble iron. The Ungava Iron Ore deposits are used in giving an example of the resulting pit design changes."

Jan 1, 1968

By J. Pepin

When using alternating current submerged arc welding (SAW) to produce pipes from microalloyed linepipe steels, it is critical to balance penetration depth and deposition rates, in order to minimize the number of weld passes while still maintaining good heat affected zone (HAZ) microstructures and properties. A series of bead-on-plate (BOP) submerged arc welds were performed on X70 steel, using different waveform variable settings (i.e., balance, offset and frequency). Weld bead cross-section profile deposition and penetration areas were measured, and both Vickers hardness and Charpy V-notch impact testing were performed. Both single electrode and tandem electrode welds were evaluated.

Jan 1, 2011

By C. W. Drake, J. H. Walsh

"The Canadian Carbonization Re-search Association was formed during 1965, with seven founding members representing four integrated steel companies, two coal companies and one high-temperature tar processing company. The purpose of this paper is to review the circumstances which led to the formation of this new research association and to discuss its general objectives. Also discussed will be the organization of the Association, the nature of its relationship with the Department of Energy, Mines and Resources in the early stages, and some of the technical programs which have now been initiated."

Jan 1, 1967

By John L. Bonus

"WITHIN THE BROAD PARAMETERS implied by the title of my speech, I propose to deal more particularly this evening with a subject the many aspects of which have constituted the essential elements of one of the main thrusts undertaken by the MAC in the past two years, i.e., to create among Canadians a much greater awareness of the importance of mining and to demonstrate to them what are the many and varied benefits they derive from mining activities across their country. In other words, MINING - WHAT IT MEANS TO CANADA.I also intend to discuss some aspects of government-industry relationships.I am very conscious of the fact that I am speaking to an audience made u in large part of experts in several fields of mining and exploration activities. They will be familiar with many of the points I intend to discuss. However, without in any way suggesting that familiarity breeds contempt, might I emphasize that even in this particular forum there is justification for reiterating some of our basic philosophies and suggesting ways whereby they might be better understood and promoted.Let us first summarize the present dimensions of the Canadian mining industry."

Jan 1, 1971

By M. S. Badollet

Introduction Very little fundamental research has been done on asbestos fibre to cake maximum advantage of its properties and to determine in what commercial products it can best be utilized. For the research chemist who is associated with asbestos development work, a thorough study of mineralogical information on asbestos deposits would furnish reliable information on the rock formations and the mineral impurities closely associated with the asbestos. Furthermore, ?he must have an intimate knowledge of the uses of the fibre in various products so that he can visualize the importance of the fibre and the role it plays in industry. Some of the properties of asbestos fibres such as strength, composition, length, harshness or softness, and mineral associates are of considerable importance to the manufacturer because they are responsible for many production difficulties. Fibre Strength It has been known for some time chat asbestos filaments have considerable tensile strength. These strengths have been referred to merely as 'weak' to 'very strong'. Not until recently have numerical values been applied to the strengths of asbestos fibres. But today we can take a thin fibre filament and mount it between two holders and apply a gradually increasing load or pull until the fibre breaks. By measuring the cross sectional area of the filament and the amount of load applied, we can calculate the tensile strength of the fibre in terms of pounds per square inch. This type of test is slow and rather difficult, but the fundamental data obtained furnish important basic information that can be applied to mechanical processing equipment and to certain asbestos products.

Jan 1, 1948

By John A. C. Fortescue

There is a need for better communication between scientists who plan and carry out mineral exploration research in glacial terrain and the exploration geologists who look for mines. In this paper, four ways in which workshops could be used to close this communication gap are described and discussed in relation to the solution of this problem in Canada.

Jan 1, 1973

By John A. Teeter

"A SHORT WHILE AGO I enquired about The Mining Society of Nova Scotia. In all honesty I was apprehensive about addressing such a body if it was highly geared to the technical aspects of discovering and obtaining mineral resources. I was told that this would not be the case. Rather, there would likely be in attendance a broad cross section of people from business, industry and government and from across Canada and the U.S.A. Thus there would be an interest in a free-wheeling discussion of the prospects for industrial development in Cape Breton. Accordingly - being one who hates to miss an opportunity - I intend to exploit the invitation of your executive by being, over the next short while, frankly promotional. I would like to talk about what I consider to be some of the most important attributes of Cape Breton for industrial development and identify some of those prospects. Secondly, I will quickly review some of the things the Cape Breton Development Corporation is doing these days to stimulate some of that industrial development."

Jan 1, 1972

By A. Sobering, G. N. Carlson

"This paper describes the conversion of the grinding section of the W a bush Mines pelletizing plant from conventional wet, open-circuit trunnion overflow ball milling, with filtering, and bentonite mixing on a common conveyor belt, to dry, open-circuit, grate discharge grinding, with pug mill mixing of bentonite and water at individual mills.The test work and data on operating economies to justify the cost of conversion are given. It is too early, at the time of writing, to have complete operating confirmation, but data are available. A brief description of the original plant is included."

Jan 1, 1971

By Gordon L. Draeseke

"Before getting into more specific aspects of my talk today I should put in one disclaimer - one week in Mainland China and one day with Premier Kosygin does not make me an expert on Sino-Soviet affairs nor on Canadian-Chinese relations. Perhaps though there is a message in the fact that one meeting took place in relative openness in China and the other was at least partly in a bullet-proof limousine in Canada. I thought it might be interesting and appropriate to explain something of the forest industry to you who are engaged in the mining industry. Our industry, like yours, is based on a natural resource and the basic activity that we engage in is the extraction and conversion of that resource into saleable materials. However, the fundamental difference between our industries is that our resource is on top of the ground - easily visible and easily measurable, whereas yours is under the ground - difficult to find and, having been found, expensive to measure. A second difference is that ours is renewable while yours is extractive, and you must keep finding more to keep up reserves."

Jan 1, 1971

"The asbestos mining industry in the Eastern Townships of Quebec has early recognized the undesirable side-effects associated with mineral production, such as air pollution, noise and unsightly waste dumps. In order to efficiently achieve the industry's aim of eliminating or minimizing these objectionable features of mining, all of the asbestos producers in Quebec interchange information, knowledge and design dealing with the environmental control measures through the Environmental Committee of the Quebec Asbestos Mining Association.The paper describes what has been done and what is planned for the future in the various problem areas, such as control of dust emitted during the open-pit drilling operation, control of dryer stack emissions, control of the environment in ore, fibre and tailings handling operations, rehabilitation of the countryside covered by waste dumps, and many others."

Jan 1, 1971

By G. D. Bateson

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

Jan 1, 1990

By 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 Moe Momayez

Shotcrete is a practical and economical support system in many Canadian underground mines. Although shotcrete technology has gained acceptance in the mining industry, there are some problems that have emerged with respect to quality assessment and thickness measurement of the liner. This paper presents recent tests performed with a miniature seismic reflection device developed primarily for thickness measurement of this heterogeneous liner. Work was performed on site in an underground mine in Ontario, Canada. This paper also presents the results from laboratory tests performed on fibre reinforced and non-reinforced shotcrete panels that were used to assess the P-wave velocity in both materials. The results of these tests were used in a second on site investigation. The NDT thickness measurements showed good agreement with direct thickness measurement such as coring.

May 1, 2001

By Frank Mucciardi, Zhongsen Yuan

A new heat transfer technology --- termed Thermopump technology has been developed. This technology originates from conventional heat pipe configurations but has now evolved into its own class of heat transfer units, which we refer to as `Thermopumps (TP)'. A key feature is that Thermopump technology can be applied to high temperature / high heat flux environments where conventional heat pipe technology fails. Moreover, when implemented in less demanding applications where heat pipes appear to operate, Thermopump units have been found to function more smoothly and reliably. This paper will introduce Thermopump technology and several applications of this technology in steelmaking and refining will also be discussed. In addition, this paper will focus on three classes of applications: 1) waterless, non-consumable, high efficiency Thermopump oxygen lance and/or burner for EAF's, 2) Thermopump ladle lance for the desulfurization process, and 3) Thermopump cooling panels for furnace walls and roofs. Facilities equipped with Thermopump technology are expected to he better than the current corresponding ones in terms of increasing productivity and energy efficiency while at the same time lowering operating costs.

Jan 1, 2004