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By D. Royston

In SAG mills fed with a variety of ore types, hard packing between the shell lifters can come and go depending on rock type and rock size distribution and the presence of a binder. Packing can appear in all sizes of SAG mills, and can be tenacious. High ball impact forces (depending on ball size) in larger mills may compact and encourage packing. Packing can have a negative impact on milling performance and a change in shell liner design may be required to remove it. However shell liner design changes need to be managed with care to ensure liner reliability. In smaller mills control of packing can extend shell plate wear-life and may help to maintain milling performance in fixed-speed mills through the liner wear-cycle.

Jan 1, 2012

By Kyeong Woo Chung, Ho-Sung Yoon, Jyothi Rajesh Kumar, Chul-Joo Kim, Sung-Don Kim

The aim of the present study is to investigate the extraction, separation and recovery of the indivisible metals of dysprosium and neodymium from permanent magnets scrap leach liquor solutions with meaningful recovery. The present experimental development focused on dysprosium separation from neodymium and recovery by suitable mineral acids. Fundamental studies of the effect of time, pH and extractant concentration on the metal separation were conducted followed by proposal of a mechanism for extraction. Process development included generation of McCabe-Thiele diagrams and counter current extraction (CCE) studies. After loaded organic generation from the CCE process, this was followed by scrubbing studies as well final recovery of dysprosium.

Jan 1, 2014

By C. D. Williams

The following paper deals with some of the aspects of the law as it relates to the oil and gas industry in the Province of Alberta, but it should be stated here that consideration of this large subject will be confined to discussion of only those laws, rules, and regulations which affect actual exploratory operations. The paper will not touch on those branches of the law which deal with such matters as income tax, customs, and other kind red subjects which are of a highly technical nature and which are more properly the field of the specialist. Generally speaking, any system of law consists of certain major components. There must be, firstly, a national authority capable of ensuring the existence of the state itself and of maintaining the stability and continuity of its institutions; secondly, a philosophy of government covering the relationship of the state to the individual and of the individuals to one another; thirdly, a body of law to effect the purposes of the philosophical principles; and, fourthly, a judiciary to arbitrate any disputes that may arise from such relationships. All of these components and the system itself are, of course, subject to a varying degree of modification with the changing times and with the influence upon them of other systems of law. Now. while it is true to say that all systems of law comprise these similar basic features, it is apparent that the end result of any two systems of law in their impact upon the individual may be quite different.

Jan 1, 1951

By G. S. Hume

FOR MANY YEARS Canada lived in the hope of attaining a substantial production of petroleum and natural gas that, to geologists familiar with the sedimentary basins of this country, seemed an entirely reasonable expectation. There have been surges of exploration activity stimulated by oil and gas discoveries and development such as occurred in Turner Valley. However, it was not until the Leduc field in Alberta was found in 1947, and the significance of that discovery was realized, that the search became really intensive and continuons. Expansion now has become a matter-of-fact attitude based on results which would have been considered impossible of achievement a few years ago.

Jan 1, 1957

By P. Maltais

Over the last 10 years, Computer Aided Design, Finite Elements Analysis and field testing of prototypes have enabled the cycling industry to grow and to significantly improve its products. However, today's cyclists have become more and more demanding, making these classical design approaches almost obsolete. Devinci understood that problem four years ago and fully revisited its design approach; to offer bicycle frames better suited to real life riding, one must fully know those real life conditions. In partnership with the University de Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada, Devinci then developed a bicycle enabling them to measure the actual load applied on a bicycle frame in real-time for real riding conditions: the instrumented bike. Today, Devinci uses its instrumented road and mountain bikes, combined with virtual prototyping and laboratory testing capabilities to develop better bicycles, faster.

Jan 1, 2006

By Chris M. Healey

"Abstract - Perhaps the single most significant variable in the evaluation of a mining project is the reserve estimate. Many parameters are considered when estimating reserves, among them geology. This paper examines the link between the quality of a reserve estimate and a good understanding of the geological controls for the deposit. A clear understanding of the geometry is essential to the accurate definition of the shape and size of the deposit. This includes the definition of any structural controls as well as the proper interpretation of the stratigraphy. Further when the distribution of grades is erratic and there is consequently a high nugget effect, there are significant problems in estimating the true grade of the deposit.Two Saskatchewan examples are presented, one with good knowledge of the controls and therefore good estimates of reserves, and the other with a poor understanding of the geology and resultant problems in deriving good estimates. In both cases the reserve estimates at various stages in the project development are compared to actual results from underground work. The first example is the Star Lake Mine where just about all the estimates were within 10% of the actual on both tonnage and grade. The Laurel Lake deposit is discussed to show how problems in interpreting the geological data make reserve estimation very difficult. Laurel Lake has the additional problem of erratic grade distribution."

Jan 1, 1992

By W. J. Bennett

"I AM very happy to have this opportunity of speaking to the Montreal Branch of the Canadian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy.I have selected as the subject of my remarks transportation in that area which is at present our only source of uranium -Northwest Canada. Considering the widespread interest in atomic energy, the end-product of uranium, it may be wondered why I have not chosen to speak of a more spectacular aspect of the development. I hope it will be evident from what I have to say that transportation plays a very dominant role in our effort to maintain a continuing supply from Eldorado's producing property at Port Radium on Great Bear lake and from its coming producer at Beaver lodge Lake in Northwest Saskatchewan. Moreover, transportation has such a bearing on the entire mineral development of the Northwest that it cannot help but be of concern to an organization of this kind. Finally, the transportation problem, of which I shall try to tell you something, is quite unique and the story of its solution or partial solution is, I believe, an interesting one.Transportation experience on this continent indicates that the cheapest method of moving freight is still by water -with •rail, highway, and air transportation following, and in that order •of economic significance. Excluding rail transportation, since the area has as yet no railway lines, this order also applies in the Northwest. I shall direct my remarks to the two kinds of transportation which serve our uranium producers -water and air."

Jan 1, 1952

By P. K. Gummer

Gold was fir t di covered on the Seabee property in 1947 by the Con olidated Mining and Smelting Company Limited. Acquired by Claude Resource Inc. in 1984, the property is now being explored by Placer Development Ltd . in joint venture with Claude Re ources. Between Augu t, 1985 and March, 1986, Placer completed 54 drill holes, extending the main o. 2 and o. 5 vein y tern to a depth of 1000 feet below surface and di covering two new satellitic gold zone 800 feet west of the o. 5 gold zone. Drill proven and probable geological re erve in four zone ( os. 2, 5, II, 14) to a vertical depth of 1000 feet, are approximately 1,120.000 tons averaging 0.32 oz. Au/ton.

Jan 1, 1986

By Sunil S. Gandhi

"The Mountain Lake deposit is a tabular sandstone-type uranium deposit, hosted by the basal unit of Middle Proterozoic Dismal Lakes Group. Uranium occurs mainly as sooty pitchblende disseminated in stratiform lenses within gently dipping quartzose sandstone. It is associated with copper sulphides, pyrite, hematite, and traces of nickel and cobalt arsenides and of silver.Exploration HistoryUranium showings on the PEC claim group were discovered during 1969 by an airborne radiometric survey carried out over the Dismal Lakes-Great Bear Lake area by Aquitaine of Canada Limited (Bizard and Salat, 1969). Some drilling was done in the vicinity of the showings in 1975 by the company under a joint venture with Eldorado Nuclear Limited but the results were not encouraging (Hassard and Woollett, 1975). During 1972, Trigg, Woollett and Associates Limited conducting surveys for Imperial Oil Limited, discovered numerous high-grade radioactive boulders scattered over a distance of several kilometres north and west of the showings, and the area north of the PEC claims was staked as the YUK claims (Ahuja, 1974). A systematic study of the boulder distribution and Pleistocene geology suggested a source additional to the showings. More intensive exploration followed, and in 1976 drilling just north of the PEC claim group boundary intersected the main deposit at a depth of 75 m to 150 m, beneath overburden up to 60 m thick. Part of the deposit extends into the PEC claim group which is under exploration by the Aquitaine-Cominco Joint Venture.The following brief description is based on the presentations in 1978 by F. Hassard of Trigg, Woollett and Associates Limited at the Geoscience Forum in Yellowknife, and by S.S. Gandhi of the Geological Survey of Canada at the Mineralogical Association of Canada Uranium Short Course in Toronto."

Jan 1, 1986

By A. A. Brant

Self-potential methods are based ?on measurements on the surface of voltage distributions caused by natural sub-surface oxidation phenomena. The attempt is made to. correlate voltage minima or maxima with the location of mineral materials or geological conditions which may give rise to such naturally produced spontaneous potentials. Any orebody undergoing oxidation is a source of electric current. Ground waters carrying free oxygen attack the upper surface of the body, rendering this the positive pole of a galvanic cell, with the lower portion of the body the negative pole and the surrounding weak acidic waters the electrolyte. Current flow is from positive to negative through the orebody and negative to positive through the electrolyte, i.e., through the surrounding rock. The upper end of a steeply dipping, tabular orebody is hence indicated as lying below the point on the surface where the largest negative potential is observed(l). From its basis, it is apparent that the self-potential method was developed primarily for ore exploration.

Jan 1, 1942

By C P. Gravenor

In 1953, a deposit of sedimentary oolitic iron ore was discovered in the Clear Hills area of northwestern Alberta. Since that time, detailed drilling has outlined reserves in excess of 200 million tons of ore grading 30 to 35 per cent iron. Attempts to physically beneficiate the ore to meet blast furnace or direct reduction feed specifications have been, in general, unsuccessful. In 1960, Premier Steel Mills Limited and the Research Council of Alberta jointly sponsored a pilot-plant test at the R-N Corporation at Birmingham, Alabama. About 5,000 tons of ore were treated, and briquettes containing 90 per cent Fe were produced, with 83 per cent recovery. At the same time that the R-N tests were being made, the Research Council initiated a program to produce high-purity powders by chemical methods. Several purification techniques were investigated; hydrochloric acid dissolution of reduced ore was finally adopted. Briefly, the steps involved in this acid process are as follow

Jan 1, 1964

By V. G. Papangelakis, G. A. Moldoveanu

"Rare earths adsorbed on clay minerals are easily recovered via ion exchange during leaching with inorganic monovalent salt solutions. The leaching efficiency of various salts at 0.5M and 25°C was investigated as a function of cation type and salt system (sulphates vs. chlorides). (NH4)2SO4 was identified as the lixiviant of choice and a procedure was established to investigate the influence of lixiviant concentration, temperature, pH and agitation on desorption kinetics and REE extraction levels. It was determined that the kinetics were fast and the optimum leaching conditions (for >80% total REE extraction) required pH below 5 and moderate temperatures (<50°C). INTRODUCTIONRare earth elements (REE) are at the core of numerous advanced applications due to their various uses in high strength permanent magnets, lasers, automotive catalytic converters, fiber optics/superconductors, and electronic devices (as phosphors in TVs and display screens for computers and cell phones). Because of the ongoing development of new technologies, there is an increased demand for REE in the international market, with emphasis on identifying new resources to insure an adequate supply for present and future use. World production of rare earths is dominated by China, the United States and Australia; however, in terms of resources, China dominates the world potential with reserves estimated to be over 90% of the total (Chen, 2011).The main commercially significant REE sources, as reviewed by O’Driscoll (1991) are bastnasite (carbonate) and monazite (phosphate) minerals, containing up to 70% wt. rare earth oxides (REO). In spite of being high grade, these ores are associated with elevated recovery costs due to difficulty in mining, separation and beneficiation. Moreover, aggressive conditions are required to solubilize the REE from the mineral, such as leaching with hot, concentrated acids or baking in 70% NaOH (Gupta & Krishnamurti, 2005)."

Jan 1, 2012

By D. Lopez, D. L. Doerr, T. J. Drake

Automated scanning electron microscopy has been widely used in recent years for gold and other precious metals characterization. However, application of this technology is resource intensive and in most instances needs specialized technical personnel to process the samples and information. Newmont Metallurgical Services (NMS) has recently acquired an ASPEX SEM. The ASPEX SEM offers some significant benefits/improvements in sample preparation and sample processing time. NMS and ASPEX have been working together to develop an approach utilizing this technology for the minerals processing industry and specifically for gold characterization.

Jan 1, 2011

By A. Ehsani

"Seas and oceans constitute about 70% of the earth’s surface. They contain an enormous stock of various mineral resources such as sedimentary (marine placers), massive sulfide ore deposits, manganese nodules and cobalt-rich ferromanganese crusts. Sea and ocean floor ore deposits could well contribute to the meeting of ever-rising demand for raw materials in the metal industry. In this regard, more research and development in science and technology appear to be required to ensure maximum benefit from the mineral resources of seas and oceans. Since the 1960s, a variety of mineral and metallurgical processes have been studied and developed to deal with marine ores and to extract metals such as gold, nickel, copper, cobalt, manganese, tin, platinum group metals (PGM), zirconium, thorium, etc.In marine environments, there are many parameters which can affect the selection of the mineral and metallurgical processes. These include the extent and grade of the deposit, mineralogical and chemical properties of the deposit, and physical properties of minerals present with particular reference to particle size distribution and mineral liberation size.In this paper, we briefly review the latest trends in processing and extraction of marine mineral resources. Mineral processing technology is mostly applied for recovery of precious metals i.e. gold and PGM, in particular, from marine placers. In general, pre-treatment (sizing, classification, dewatering), gravity concentration techniques (shaking tables, spirals, jigs, etc.,), flotation, magnetic, and electrostatic separation are the options for enrichment of marine placer ore deposits. In the case of massive sulfides, manganese nodules/cobalt-rich crusts, hydrometallurgical and pyrometallurgical methods (as proven technological methods) can be exploited for extraction of metals from concentrates after physical separation or directly from marine ores. The hydrometallurgical treatments involve acid (e.g., sulfurichydrochloric) and alkaline (e.g., ammonia) leaching with different reducing agents and pre-treatments such as roasting. Alternatively, pyrometallurgical treatments involve mostly smelting, chlorination and segregation processes."

Jan 1, 2016

By A. Anderko, V. G. Papangelakis, G. Moldoveanu, G. Azimi, M. Carlos

"OLI Analyzer is a software package that uses the powerful Mixed Solvent Electrolyte (MSE) model to simulate the behavior of multicomponent electrolyte solutions from infinite dilution to the limit of fused salt, and from temperatures below the freezing point up to near critical temperature of the mixture. The software also allows the creation of thermodynamic parameters for new chemical systems unavailable yet in public-domain or commercial software databanks. This communication reviews the basics of the model and provides some examples of modeling hydrometallurgical applications with emphasis on high temperature applications, including calcium sulfate scale formation in autoclaves, high temperature pH inference and iron control. INTRODUCTIONModeling of electrolyte systems has been of particular interest to various industrial processes, such as separation processes (e.g., solution crystallization, extractive distillation, seawater desalination or bio-separations), environmental applications (e.g., gas treatment, wastewater treatment or chemical waste disposal) and hydrometallurgy (e.g., pH control and neutralization, iron control, scaling and fouling of equipment). Using a chemical model, time-effective predictions of various properties of electrolytes can be obtained, which is beneficial not only during process monitoring, but also during process optimization and process scale up. As a result, pilot scale studies can sometimes be eliminated where budgetary constraints exist. Development of such a powerful model requires the use of a speciation-based model, in which solution chemistry is explicitly addressed (as compared with some models that treat electrolytes either as undissociated or fully dissociated systems), despite being computationally challenging. In addition, as a feature of electrolyte systems, speciation equilibria inherently influence the phase equilibria due to complex formation, ion pairing, and acid-base reactions. Therefore, how the electrolyte solutions behave at various conditions may differ significantly due to the non-ideality, which must be carefully addressed to obtain a model that is applicable to a wide range of conditions such as concentration, temperature, pressure and solvent system."

Jan 1, 2012

By K. Sawamukai, S. Ogasawara, D. Umenai, T. Tsuruta

"Removal of cobalt, strontium or cesium ion from the aqueous solution containing each metal ion only using microorganism was examined. Arthrobacter nicotianae which had a high ability to remove cationic metal ion was used for the removal of each metal. The removal of cobalt, strontium or cesium using A. nicotianae cells was affected by the solution pH, concentration of metal ion, and cell amount. The effects of above mentioned factors on the removal of each metal and time course of strontium from the solution containing each metal only using A. nicotianae cells were reported in this paper. INTRODUCTIONRadioactive elements, such as cesium, iodine, strontium, plutonium, barium, cobalt, lanthanum, yttrium, and tellurium, were detected around Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, which was damaged by the magnitude 9.0 earthquake and the tsunami followed.The removal of radioactive elements from contaminated sources is a worthwhile subject to investigatein terms of environmental control. Research efforts have been especially concentrated on studying microorganisms that remove uranium including bacteria (Andres et al, 1993, Hu et al, 1996, Marques et al, 1991, Strandberg et al, 1981), actinomycetes (Byerley et al, 1987, Friiss and Myers-Keith, 1986, Golab et al, 1991), fungi (Byerley et al, 1987, Galun et al, 1983a, Galun et al, 1983b,Tsezos and Volesky, 1981, White and Gadds, 1990) and yeasts (Strandberg et al, 1981, Schmate II et al, 1978).We have investigated removal and recovery of uranium from aqueous systems using microorganisms isolated from uranium mines. We identified some strains of bacteria with extremely high uranium removing abilities (Sakaguchi et al, 1996), and thus, the microbial biomass may be considered as an adsorbing agent for the removal and recovery of uranium and heavy metals present in aqueous systems around Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.In the present study, we screened various species and strains of bacteria, actinomycetes, fungi, and yeasts for their ability to adsorb uranium (Tsuruta, 2002). Basic features affecting uranium adsorption?co-existing cations and anions, cell amounts, pH, and the adsorption time course?by Arthrobacter nicotianae cells, which adsorbed the largest amount of uranium, were also investigated. In addition, we examined the removal of an other actinoid element, thorium ion, which may be present with uranium in refining effluents.In this paper, the removal of cobalt, strontium, or cesium from the solution containing each metal ion using A. nicotianae cells is discussed."

Jan 1, 2012

By M. Aushouri, S. H. Mansouri, N. Aminizadeh

A thermo-chemical model of the Peirce-Smith copper converter in blowing the copper stage has been developed to predict the molten temperature. The key assumption of the model was that white metal and gas phases in the converter were in thermal and chemical equilibrium. In this model, the chemical reaction of white metal and oxygen was accomplished completely. So long as sulfur existed in the bath, the generation of Cu2O was frozen. The reaction rate was considered to be constant and controlled by the reacted sulfur. The converter temperature was calculated by heat balances over time. The model was validated by a detailed comparison with measured industrial data. A good agreement was obtained. The converter temperature depended on process parameters such as oxygen efficiency, molten emissivity and oxygen enrichment.

Jan 1, 2007

By L. H. McKay

Tailing Dams Three types of dam have been structed to impound tailings from the Allenby mill: 1.- By classifier unit 2.- By earth dam 3.- By direct deposition of tailings The first type, which includes two dams, was built across a shallow valley which sloped down to Similkameen river, just below the mill site. Two earth embankments, one below the other, were built across the valley. Tailings were then piped to Akins classifiers mounted on wooden wheels. The classifiers were set up at one side of the valley and gradually moved ahead on the sand embankment created by the sand discharge from these classifiers, the slime overflow going to settli.ng ponds formed by the dams. Decanting wells were built in the settling ponds by placing four six-by-six timbers vertically in the ground, two feet apart, to which two-by-six tongue-and-groove boards were nailed. The elevations of the ponds were raised, as required, by nailing additional two-by-six boards on the well and bolting on more six-by-six timbers when required. The bottoms of the wells were attached to a covered launder made of three-inch lumber laid on a one per cent grade. This launder carried the overflow through the dam. The second type of dam was built across a long, narrow valley, known as Hitchen&apos;s Flat, the upper ~n d of which was about 2½ miles north of the mill. This valley, an ideal tailings site, was 4,000 feet long and from 600 to 800 feet wide. An earth embankment with a concrete spillway through the top was built approximately 28 feet high across the lower end of this valley. Tailings were then dumped into the upper end of valley, with no further expense until the basin was filled up to the level of the flume where this entered the valley. When the upper end of the valley was filled to this point there was still room for more tailings at the lower end. Therefore, a pump was installed to elevate the tailings to build a wall around the upper end of the valley by depositing sands from a launder built up on 20 foot supports and sloping both ways from the pumping station around the upper end of the basin.

Jan 1, 1950

By Z. D. Hora

Air hough diatomite is known in many parrs of British Columbia, deposirs of mineable size have only been found in the area between Kam/oops and Quesnel in the sourh-cenrral parr of rhe province. Ar Quesnel, commercial producrion has continued since 1950 from diatomite lenses up ro 35m rhick. OCCURRENCES of diatomite are reported from many parts of British Columbia, but deposits of mineable size are known only from the area between Kamloops and Quesnel. Only Quesnel deposits have yet reached the production stage. Commercial production dates back to 1950, and up until 1979 approximately 22,700 tonnes of diatomite had been produced. Most extracted diatomite was processed until 1980 by Crownite Industrial Minerals Limited in Quesnel to produce an oil absorbent and animal bedding. Smaller shipments are used to make insulating bricks on the lower mainland. Deposits near Quesnel extend 40 km along the western bank of the Fraser River from Quesnel to Alexandria; most production has come from Lots o. 6132 and 906. Di atomite is present as discontinuous lenses up to 35 m thick. Diatomite beds Industrial Minerals in Canada are of Upper Miocene age and are overlain by plateau basalts. Diatomite consists almost exclusively of Melosira granulara diatoms that are usually very small and mixed with variable amounts of clay, ilt and volcanic ash. In recent years, extensive beds of diatomite were identified near the confluence of the Chilcotin and Fraser rivers. Diatomite in this locale is a part o f the Upper Miocene to Pliocene Chilcotin Group of sedimentary rocks that are overlain by olivine basalt and related luffs. A deposit near Red Lake is situated 50 km northwest of Kamloops. Diatomite beds occur in the Tranquille Series of Eocene age and are similar in composition to those in the Quesnel area. The Red Lake deposit is abo ut 4 m thick but its areal extent is only a few tens of hectares.

Jan 1, 1984

By Grant J. Goddard

"The Iron Ore Company of Canada (IOC) has been in operation for over 30 years. Today, and in the future, technology and its application will play an ever more critical role in the company’s business success.The Carol Mining and Concentrating (CMC) division of IOC is energetically applying technology today to enhance performance and results, and is aggressively exploring opportunities to apply technology to support improved business results in the future.A critical area of focus is the application of technology to maintenance management performance. CMC has taken a “back to basics” approach to the fundamentals of maintenance management in 1995 and 1996. In parallel, the mine is aggressively implementing its Vision 2000 maintenance integration plan. This plan is targeted at levering the energies applied to sound maintenance management fundamentals as the company moves to a fully condition based maintenance approach.This paper discusses some of the strategies, key technologies and objectives of theVision 2000 maintenance integration plan at the mining operations of IOC."

Jan 1, 1996