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By W. P. Campbell

Foreword At the outset, it should be stated that this paper does not pretend to present a panacea for the ills that 'frozen' wells are heir to, but rather is an attempt to bring to the attention of those whose special concern it is, a little theory and some facts, which have been brought to light recently, in connection with the problem of 'freezing' as it applies to naphtha-producing wells in the Turner Valley field, and to draw some conclusions that follow from the facts discovered. It should also be stated that the investigation is not to be regarded as in any sense complete, but in progress. Doubtless new facts will be brought to light from time to time which may modify present ideas on the subject, but whether favourable or contrary, these will be welcomed, as the purpose of the Department is to secure as complete information as possible of the factors contributing to 'freezing', since this must be the first step to an intelligent attempt to remedy or prevent its occurrence, if such can be done. It is possible, too, that the cause or causes of freezing may not be the same in all cases, but whether this be so or not will have to be determined later as new information comes to hand. Introduction One of the worries which must constantly confront the operators of gas-naphtha producing wells in Turner Valley-although all, fortunately, have not met with it-is the possibility of the occurrence of what is commonly called 'freezing' (going off production).

Jan 1, 1930

By Jason Palmer

"Water in mining is the commodity that has driven the mining industry for decades. Often used frivolously, modern economic and social pressures are forcing change to use less water and to improve the quality of water and effluents. Used in many processes, water is ultimately consumed in tailings disposal and technologies which can increase the recovery of water are constantly being developed. Filtration and thickening are often seen as competing technologies for water recovery however new cases are developing that show significant advantages can be achieved by combining the two technologies to develop the most effective solution. Supported by case studies this paper investigates the merits of each of the technologies and which strategies of combining the two produce the best outcomes.INTRODUCTIONMineral processing applications generally require water for the processing of ores, whether utilising physical or chemical methods. Water is first added in the milling stage and additional water added as required throughout the circuit. Water losses from the circuit are principally associated with the tailings stream. Optimised water recovery is necessary both because it is a scarce commodity and to minimise the environmental impact.Water recovery is usually accomplished through a sedimentation or filtration processes. Water can be removed from the tailings impoundment by evaporation but this does not improve the mine’s water consumption. The water recovery methodology also determines the water quality; increasing water recovery concentrates solutes in the process water and may create recirculating loads of fine solids."

Jan 1, 2016

By Seshadri Seetharaman, Nurni N. Viswanathan, Haijuan Wang

The present work aims at some process modifications in specified metallurgical processes, wherein CO2 can be used successfully as an oxidant for decarburization in steelmaking and applied in some non-ferrous metals production processes. During the decarburization of Cr-containing high alloyed steels, the present researchers investigated the possible use of CO2 instead of Ar-O2 mixture and could successfully decarburize the steel melt without significant loss of alloyed Cr to the slag phase. A mathematical model was developed based on the bubble formation accompanying the chemical reaction: C(molten steel)+ CO2(gas)= 2 CO(gas). The model predictions were tested by laboratory scale (1 kg) experiments carried out in an induction furnace and very good agreement between the model predictions and experimental results were observed. A national project has been sanctioned in China for the implementation of CO2 in decarburization of ferroalloys as well enable the addition of pig iron in the electric arc furnace process when the scrap supply is limited. New processes have been developed for the utilization of CO2 in the case of non-ferrous processes. A novel method of treatment of Al dross by leaching with water and capturing the evolved NH3(formed by the hydrolysis of AlN) has shown very promising results.

Jan 1, 2015

By H. A. Gorrell, S. R. L. Harding

"The potash beds in the Saskatchewan portion of the Williston Basin occur in the upper portion of the Prairie Evaporite formation of the Devonian Elk Point Group. They represent the late stage of a major evaporitic cycle. Two other evaporitic cycles are known in overlying beds, but these apparently never reached the stage of potash salt deposition. The basin in which salt deposition took place extended from the northwestern corner of Alberta southeastward across Saskatchewan into Manitoba, North Dakota and Montana. Deposition of potash salts was apparently restricted to the southeastern portion of the evaporite basin. On a regional basis, five major stratigraphie divisions of the potash-bearing strata have been made. Locally, several of these units may be divided into correlatable sub-units. The potash-bearing strata are separated and overlain by predominantly halite layers of varying thickness. Cross sections show the regional correlation of the potash-rich zones, and maps show the present distribution of the individual potash-bearing zones and the areas of richer development for each zone. The maps tend to substantiate the interpretation of considerable subsurface solution of salt and potash beds."

Jan 1, 1967

By W. P. Campbell

In the course of the development of the Red Coulee field, northwest of Coutts, Alberta, a considerable amount of information has been gathered by the Department of the Interior regarding the chemical character of waters encountered in the drilling of wells in this area. The writer, in this paper, has undertaken to assemble the available material with the idea of deducing what relations, if any, may exist between the different waters from the same well, and also how these compare with waters encountered in similar horizons in other wells. From no other district, with which the Department of the Interior has had to do, have there been received so many samples of water, and yet not all the waters logged in the drilling reports were sent in for analysis. The information, therefore, herein contained is not as complete as the writer would have desired, but sufficient evidence has been accumulated to indicate some very definite tendencies in the chemical nature of the waters of this field. The drilling of Red Coulee wells has been carried out exclusively by percussive tools. These permit 'dry' drilling, and, consequently, water-sands are recognized when encountered. Had rotary tools been used, information regarding water-sands would have been very meagre, if not entirely lacking, since, in the mudding-off process, water-sands would have been overlooked, with the result that, should water break through into a completed well, its source would not be known and remedial efforts would be greatly handicapped, if not entirely defeated.

Jan 1, 1931

By B. R. Boardman

Project Environmental Approval is a multi-faceted issue. From a mining perspective, it is a costly item because of avoidable time delay. The government perspective is that the approvals are a necessary part of meeting departmental requirements to ensure that the wellbeing of other uses of the environment is maintained. This paper outlines some of the problems inherent in the environmental approvals process and makes recommendations to both the proponent and government about improving the efficiency of the process.

Jan 1, 1978

By C. G. McLaughlan

The Noranda concentrator was placed in operation in October, 1928, and the object of this paper is to outline operations during the twelve months which have elapsed since that time. The ores milled are massive sulphides carrying copper and gold, and, in certain cases, zinc. These ores have a specific gravity of about 3.8. The average assay of the copper-gold ore so far treated has been 2.0 - 3.5 percent Cu; 0.10 - 0.20 oz. Au; 40 - 51 percent Fe; and 6 - 15 percent SiO2. In this ore the copper occurs almost entirely as chalcopyrite, and the iron which is not combined with the copper is present mainly as pyrite and pyrrhotite. ?some iron is also combined with the silica, the ratio being about 1 to 4, and a small percentage is present as magnetite. The occurrence of the gold has been shown by microscopic work carried out by Prof. L. C. Graton, of Harvard University, to be very variable. Some of it is free, and is included within the base-metal sulphides or occurs at their boundaries. A similar distribution also holds for a portion of the gold which is combined as a telluride. Little is so far known of the occurrence of the silver other than that some of it may be combined with the gold in the telluride, petzite. The copper-zinc ore contains up to 6 percent copper, and has a very variable zinc content. The copper in such ore is present as chalcopyrite, and the zinc as sphalerite. In starting the mill we had three conditions to face; the first of these was climatic, the second was the lack of skilled flotation operators, and the third was the ore itself." The last of these three proved much more difficult to contend with than the other two combined.

Jan 1, 1930

By Jonathan Ruiz Lizardo, Met-Chem Canada Inc., Flavio Ccuno, Constante Umipig, Ewald Pengel, José Ruiz

"Cerro de Maimón is located in the Dominican Republic on the island of Hispaniola approximately 75 kilometers northwest of the capital city, Santo Domingo. The processing facility consisted of two separate processing plants for oxide and sulphide ores. The oxide plant processed oxide ore bearing gold and silver ore using cyanide leaching and Merrill Crowe processes, while the sulphide plant produced a copper concentrate using conventional flotation. Cormidom is a commendatory example how mineral processing facilities can co-exist in balance with the environment. In 2014, natural occurring copper oxide contamination with finer grained copper-zinc sulphide mineralisation was expected to dominate the sulphide ore body. In anticipation Cormidom contacted the original plant designer Met-Chem to assist in overcoming this challenge. Test work indicated that increased flotation time and subsequent very fine grinding were required. Met-Chem provided the detailed engineering and Cormidom proceeded with the expansion project internally. Currently Cormidom has processed the sulphide ore successfully by implementing flotation modifications. This paper describes the history of Cormidom, test work on the “new” ore body, modification in process design in the Cu-Zn sulphide flotation circuit, construction and implementation.INTRODUCTIONCorporación Minera Dominicana (CORMIDOM) was a wholly owned subsidiary of GlobeStar Mining Corporation (a Canadian based minerals exploration company) with extensive exploration of base and precious metals in the Dominican Republic. In 2007-2008 CORMIDOM constructed the Cerro de Maimom project. The company was subsequently sold and purchased by Perilya Limited from Australia in 2013. Cerro de Maimón is located in the Dominican Republic on the island of Hispaniola approximately 75 kilometers northwest of the capital city, Santo Domingo. It is near the town of Maimón in Monsenor, Nouel Province (see Figure 1)."

Jan 1, 2016

By C. O. Stee

Introduction The property of Siscoe Gold Mines, Limited, is located on an island of three hundred and forty acres in lake Kienawisik, about fifty-two miles east of Noranda and forty-three miles south of Amos, Quebec. Lake Kienawisik is a part of the Harricanaw drainage system and is crossed by the main line of the Canadian National railway at Amos. This waterway is navigable for boats with a draught of six to eight feet. Diesel engines have been the source of power at the property since milling operations were commenced in January, 1929. The power plant as first designed and built was for a milling capacity of 100 tons. Two Polar-Atlas units, each of 200 h. p., comprised the original installation. With the growth of the 'mine, more engines were added until, at the present time, there is installed at the Siscoe what is rated the largest Diesel plant at any mining property in Canada. Definition of a Diesel 'The Diesel engine is an internal combustion engine which works with liquid fuel introduced after, and independently of, the air charge at a time when communication between the cylinder and the outside atmosphere is cut off, and which ignites the fuel by compression-beat and stored combustion-heat unassisted by heat sources outside the cylinder itself while the engine is in stable operating condition"(1).

Jan 1, 1934

By M. Dupuis, V. Bojarevics

It is well known that horizontal current density in the metal pad contributes greatly to the generation of MHD driven bath-metal interface wave. It is possible to compute very accurately the metal pad current density using a very detailed finite element model [1], but a MHD model must be compatible to this level of mesh refinement and to recalculate the current distribution at each time step, including the full busbar supply system. The accuracy of the instability prediction of the cell depends on the accuracy of the metal pad current density calculation. This study presents the comparison of the metal pad current density calculation of the detailed finite element model and the MHD-Valdis model for different metal pad heights and ledge thickness. It also presents the corresponding cell MHD stability predictions.

Jan 1, 2006

"9.1. IntroductionThe application of the electron microprobe for in-situ analysis of platinum-group minerals (PGM), first reported by Borovskii et at. (1959) and Genkin (1959), has resulted in a large and growing number of analyses of unidentified PGM. Figure 9.1 charts the increase in the number of reported unnamed PGM from 3 in 1959 to a total of 140 by 1979. All these minerals, with the exception of UN1968-5 and UN1976-1, were analyzed with the electron microprobe.There has been no recognised or consistent manner for reporting these unidentified PGM. The term ""unnamed"" has been used for PGM that are considered to be new species without a name as well as for PGM which have not been exhaustively compared to named and unnamed PGM in order to determine whether they are unique. Many of the so-called unnamed PGM are only unnamed because of poor microprobe analyses or because larger than usual elemental substitutions (e.g. Bi for As) made it difficult to calculate the true stoichiometry. Some of these unnamed minerals have been unnecessarily reported with non-stoichiometric formulae, as discussed by Cabri (1980). Better analytical data should reduce the number of such proposals.Another unfortunate practice, possibly used to by-pass the scrutiny of the Commission for New Minerals and Mineral Names, I.M.A., is to report a ""new"" mineral by referring to it by a name made up of its constituent elements. This has been deplored on a number of occasions (cf. discussion in Fleischer et at., 1976, p. 179), but some journals continue to publish such material. The Commission on New Minerals and Mineral Names has not recognised such ""names"" and these PGM are therefore included in this chapter with other unnamed minerals.A further example of inconsistency in reporting unnamed minerals is the report of a specific ideal stoichiometry with no further details (not even an analysis!); sometimes with a note that this will be reported in greater detail in due course. I have also been guilty of similar optimistic statements and, unfortunately, it is not always possible to follow through. Some authors give data on unnamed minerals in such a discrete manner that their reports are sometimes missed in literature searches."

Jan 1, 1979

By T. Liu, C. Shi, T. Fu, M. Zhong

Water inrush in coal mines is induced by the imbalance of the groundwater flow field and the engineering geo-mechanics field. Therefore, to prevent water inrush it is important to predict the critical hydraulic pressure of water inrush in coal seam floors. This paper will investigate a method for conducting theoretical forecasting of the critical hydraulic pressure of water inrush in coal seam floors by adopting the combination method of a genetic algorithm-neural network. First, the topology structure of a neural network (NN) based on genetic algorithms (GA) will be determined and then the critical pressure of water inrush in a coal seam floor using the chosen NN will be predicted. Finally, theoretical forecasting results will be compared with actual measurement results to determine the feasibility and applicability of this method.

Jan 1, 2008

By E. A. Sobering

Hydraulic filling or sand filling is a system used to fill underground excavations with a dense pulp. Milltailings are commonly used. The resultant fill, after being placed and de-watered, is known as hydraulic fill. These fills have been effectively used to (a) provide immediate support of the workings place during stoping; (b) .facilitate the recovery of pillars; (c) limit surface damage by subsidence; (d) permit the mining of parallel hanging-wall orebodies; (e) stabilize the ground in mines, thereby reducing the rock burst hazard; (f) control and prevent mine fires; and (g) solve tailings disposal .problems. The various uses of hydraulic filling have been developed during the last ninety years. In 1864 it was employed only to control surface subsidence. Since then, this system has been successfully applied to meet specific ground support problems. Methods of handling mine-fill derived from a source outside the stope include transportation ?Of the material by hand, mechanical, pneumatic, and hydraulic means, or a combination of these methods. The hydraulic method has many advantages not found in the others; a significant advantage is the low compressibility of the material when compared to other mine-fill material. The hydraulic filling operation includes the .preparation and transportation of the pulp. The underground practices in .placing the fill vary from mine to mine. The chief reason, formerly, for using hydraulic fill was the exceptional support it provided, but recently it has proven an important means of reducing mining costs. This is especially true where labour is a large part of an alternative method, or where timber consumption is greatly reduced. The indirect benefits of hydraulic filling are probably as important as the direct benefits, and few important disadvantages exist.

Jan 1, 1956

By Lebeau M., P. Duguay

"The cost of occupational injuries and diseases in the mining industry in Quebec was estimated for the period of 2010 to 2012. The method used takes into account the financial and human costs assumed by employers, workers, and the community. To better direct research and prevention toward issues with the most significant consequences, the results are presented in various ranking tables, which stakeholders might find useful.RÉSUMÉ Le coût des accidents du travail et des maladies professionnelles dans l’industrie minière au Québec a été estimé pour la période 2010-2012. La méthode utilisée prend en compte les coûts financiers et humains endossés par les employeurs, les travailleurs et la communauté. Afin de mieux orienter les recherches et la prévention vers les problèmes ayant les plus graves conséquences, les résultats sont présentés dans divers tableaux de classement, qui seront d’une grande utilité aux parties prenantes. INTRODUCTIONThe mining industry is much safer today than it was 30 or 40 years ago, mainly due to a more qualified workforce, the use of automated equipment, and a corporate culture more focused on occupational health and safety (OHS); however, the number and the severity of occupational injuries and diseases continue to make this industry one of the most hazardous. In the province of Quebec, the mining industry accounts for approximately 0.4% of paid workers but is the source of 4% of fatal work accidents. It is, therefore, important to continue the prevention efforts already underway in the mining industry.The difficult global economy, which has affected the mining industry in the last few years, is an opportunity to reaffirm that sound management of OHS can have a positive impact on companies’ productivity and profitability. Occupational injuries and diseases are costly for the companies concerned and for society as a whole. Reducing their occurrence makes it possible to reduce not only the size of workers’ compensation board contributions but also several other financial and human costs."

Jan 1, 2018

By C. Stamberg, W. McGuire, R. C. Carlson, L. W. Vollmer

"The selection of materials and pre-cautionary measures for handling natural gas and condensate containing aqueous hydrogen sulphide are presented. Based on the results of a pilot production test and laboratory studies, together with several years . of operating experience, it was found that the behaviour of materials in sour gas environments can be predicted sufficiently accurately for engineering purposes.The selection of proper materials is essential for preventing sulphide-stress cracking. Where high strength materials are not required, low car-bon steel is used. Components requiring high tensile strength and hardness characteristics should be made from K-monel or properly heat-treated carbon-manganese-molybden-um and AISI 4140 steels. Welded connections are a potential source of sulphide-stress cracking. Consequently high quality welding and strict inspection are suggested as the most economical precautionary measures available.A maintenance program based,. where possible, on visual inspection of equipment and/or test spools located at strategic points should be used to follow weight loss and putting corrosion in sour gas environments. If severe weight loss or pitting corrosion is encountered, inhibitors have been found to be an effective deter-rent."

Jan 1, 1960

By J. G. Cullain

Inco Limited is an integrated mining, smelting, refining and manufacturing company with operations located worldwide. The Ontario Division operations consist of 13 mines and 10 processing facilities located in Sudbury, Port Colborne and Shebandowan. The scope of our utilization of energy in the Ontario Division in 1976 included in excess of 2.2 billion kilowatt hours of electric power, 12 billion cubic feet of natural gas, 60 million Imperial gallons of residual oil and smaller quantities of other fuels. In addition to the primary energy consumption, waste-heat energy is recovered in various operations throughout the Division, thereby reducing our primary energy requirements. Total expenditures for primary energy alone in 1976 exceeded 60 million dollars. Energy management studies were initiated by Inco's Utilities Department in late 1972, and resulted initially in a program of electric power cost reduction. This program produced significant results by improving the use of the water available for our hydraulic generation facilities and by a comprehensive peak reduction program. Our experience showed that a program of peak power control creates an awareness of both peak and energy costs, and thereby encourages a general reduction in the electric energy consumption as well as lowering the peak demand. Energy management is a continuing program at Inco and, recently, a formal energy management policy and program was instituted. Energy management committees were formed in each plant or mine area to identify the major areas for energy; consumption, thereby isolating areas with large potential energy losses, and determining immediate action which will improve the energy efficiency or reduce the energy waste within their respective areas. A decentralized program with good cross-communication between all committees was felt to be the best method of providing an on-going effective energy management program. In the future, the projections of dwindling fossil-fuel supplies in Canada and the resultant spiralling energy costs will further emphasize the need of sound energy management practices for all Canadian industry.

Jan 1, 1977

By Beaumier. M., J. -P. Lalonde

"Les réultats obtenus dans les sols sur quatorze aires d'essai et six cheminements régionaux dans I'A bitibi-Témiscamingue indiquent clairement qu'il existe des variations régionales importantes dans les teneurs en éléments traces de l'horizon A1 formé sur l’épais recouvrement glacio-lacustre de cette région. Les anomalies obtenues correspondent à celles qui ont été décelées lors de précédents levés des eaux souterraines et du till de base.Selon les critères d'évaluation utilisés, treize des quatorze aires d'essai ressortent comme anomales dans Ie contexte abitibien; dix de celles-ci sont tres anomales. Ceci suggère fortement qu'un levé régional de sols, fondé sur une approche multi-éléments, identifierait entre 70 et 90 % des cibles géochimiques reconnues par des échantillonnages en profondeur. Les résultats d'un échantillonnage systématique effectué sur une région de 1000km2 viennent aussi appuyer cette hypothèse. Conséquemment, les sols formes sur les sédiments glacio-lacustres sont un médium très utile pour inventorier de grandes regions recouvertes par ce typ e de sédiments.L 'horizon A1 est Ie plus utile pour ce type de levé parce qu'i1 est facil e d échantillonner, qu 'it assure une plus grande constance du typ e de matériel échantillonne et qu'il contient des teneurs accrues.De multiples mécanismes de dispersion géochimique ont joué des rôles d 'importance variable pendant et après la mise en place des sédiments glacio-Iacustres. Les plus importants sont la pression hydrostatique, la diffusion chimique et électrochimique ainsi que la bio-accumulation. Si on veut progresser dans la connaissance de ce milieu complexe, on devra adopter une approche plus systemique tenant compte de I'interaction des mécanismes agissant dans l'environnement global avant, durant et apres Ie depôt du mort-terrain."

Jan 1, 1984

By P. Burke, V. Vuaroqueaux, A. Doyle, C. Petit, Kipouros. G. J.

Magnesium and its alloys are attractive for use in automotive and aerospace applications because of their low density and good mechanical properties. However, difficulty in forming magnesium and the limited number of available commercial alloys limit their use. The present work reviews the efforts to improve the attractiveness of magnesium through non-traditional processing, and presents results of current work on producing magnesium alloys via powder metallurgy (P/M). P/M can be used to alleviate the formability problem through near-net-shape processing, and also allows unique chemical compositions that can lead to new alloys with novel properties. The surface layer formed on the Mg powders during processing acts as a barrier to diffusion and sintering is problematic. The layer contains oxides, hydroxides and carbonates of magnesium, formed by reactions with the atmosphere. There are several means to possibly overcome this barrier. Alloying additions have been identified that may promote surface layer disruption during sintering. Processing variables such as sintering atmosphere may reduce the layer or allow the formation of less detrimental compounds. Post-sintering processes such as hot working may disrupt the layer and improve density. The experimental effect of all these processing parameters is presented in this paper.

Jan 1, 2010

By Imane Benhamed, Jaouher Diouani, Laurent Cassayre, Florent Bourgeois, Carine Julcour-Lebigue, Université de Carthage

The attrition-leaching process aims at improving leaching performance when formation of passivation layers at the surface of leached particles is a severe limiting factor, as discussed recently by Julcour and coworkers (Julcour et al., 2015). This paper proposes a geochemistry-based modelling scheme for deriving the window of possible operating conditions for the attrition-leaching process to match the properties of the processed ore. The rationale is that the attrition-leaching process maintains the surface of reacting particles in an unpassivated state by continuous mechanical removal of surface leach layers, so that the process reactions can be modelled from thermodynamic equilibria throughout the duration of the process. The strength of the proposed modelling approach is that it bridges the gap between the properties of the ore and the process operating conditions. The present paper exemplifies the proposed process modelling route for derivation of the attrition-leaching process operating conditions in the context of the leaching of silicate ores, matching model predictions against controlled laboratory experiments. It is shown how thermodynamic modelling, when used in conjunction with a solid knowledge of the phases present in the system, can assist with deciding upon suitable process operating conditions. As an example, this firstprinciple modelling approach predicted that steel grinding medium would be converted into siderite (FeCO3) under a wide range of operating conditions, which led to questioning this initial choice of grinding medium for the attrition-leaching process under mineral carbonation conditions. It is emphasised that the same approach could be applied to ores of greater economic significance.

Jan 1, 2016

By S. S. Sephton, Kirit C. Vyas, Melvin J. Greaves

Energy requirements for various pelletizing systems are considered from a fuel and power aspect, with the presentation of typical energy heat balance flow sheets. A partial calculation for the firing zone of a straight grate system is shown and a comparison of an actual measured and a theoretical-calculated heat balance for a grate-kiln is presented. The power used for each pelletizing system and future possible energy savings a1•e also reviewed.

Jan 1, 1976