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By K. Sakaguchi, T. Yokoyama

"In-situ rock stress measurement was carried out in the Kamaishi mine of Iwate Prefecture to quantify the variation of the shallow crustal stress field associated with the 2011 Tohoku-oki earthquake. Stress measurement was conducted by the Compact Conical ended Borehole Overcoring (CCBO) technique, which is one of the stress relief method. The CCBO technique is the one of the suggested method of ISRM. Measurement period is from 1991 to 2014. Main results obtained in this study can be summarized as follows.The direction of the maximum principal stress did not change much before and after the earthquake. However, the directions of the intermediate principal stress and the minimum principal stress of one year after the earthquake changed from those of before earthquake. Namely, the direction of intermediate principal stress was East-West horizontally, and the direction of minimum principal stress was vertically. This state of stress is reverse fault type and was maintained for three years after the earthquake.The magnitudes of principal stresses and the vertical stress of one year after the earthquake became more than the double before the earthquake. However, the magnitudes of the maximum principal of two year after the earthquake became smaller comparing with those of one year after the earthquake. Furthermore, the magnitudes of the intermediate principal stress and the minimum principal stress of two year after the earthquake became almost same as those before earthquake, and the vertical stress of two year after the earthquake became almost equal with the overburden pressure. And the magnitudes of three principal stresses of three year after the earthquake became the same level before the earthquake."

Jan 1, 2015

By P. K. Chatterjee

"The operations of a large-scale open-cut mine are simulated to produce a user-oriented interactive digital model. SIMULA is chosen as the programming language and a sophisticated data base system is designed to consider the complex information network of large mines. The main features of the program are the mine planning and mine evaluation modules. These modules are responsible for the computation of truck-shovel performance and other equipment details in a mine. Stochastic methods are employed to generate event times. The use of a Data Base Management System and the data base provide an efficient method of information storage and retrieval. Truck allocation techniques have been examined in detail and comparisons between random dispatching and conventional methods are made. The model is intended for mine operators and engineers and the program is well structured and very readable. It is hoped that these features will make the model readily acceptable.IntroductionThe Department of Mining and Metallurgical Engineering at the University of Queensland has been conducting research into computer simulation methods in mining since 1972. The research has been mainly applied to actual operations, with both open-cut and underground mining being equally emphasized. The results of the research to date have not only strengthened the methodology of the approach to complex mining problems, but have also increased confidence in the use of modelling and computer simulation technique s in mining.The model described in this paper translates a complex LHD situation into a user-oriented interactive digital model using SIMULA. The present methods of evaluating truck dispatching and trolley assist are tedious and laborious. This model provide s the engineer with readily acceptable means of rapidly assessing the relative merits of these techniques in a large-scale open-pit operation. Poor utilization figures in many current operations (for example, 40% for trucks, 70% for shovels) are of serious concern to mine officials and computer-controlled dynamic truck dispatching systems have been considered by some of these mines to improve equipment utilization ."

Jan 1, 1981

By A. Malfliet, A. Van den Bulck, D. Willems, M. Guo

The feed stock of copper fire refining processes consists of two major constituents: blister copper and high-Cu secondary scrap. A large fraction of this secondary scrap, originating from urban mining, is quite high in impurities such as Fe, Ni, Pb and Sn. Problems arise in electro-refining when these elements exceed certain limits. As a consequence, transformation of the secondary copper raw materials into high grade copper has become troublesome. However, the behavior of impurities relevant to fire refining conditions, essential for anode refineries, has not been studied in detail. Furthermore, limited research has been performed on the distribution of Ni between copper metal and slag. In this study, equilibration at 1300°C of liquid Cu-1wt.% Ni alloy and CaO-CuOx- FeOy-SiO2 slag in vacuum sealed quartz ampoules was performed for 12 hours, followed by water quenching. Electron Probe X-ray Microanalysis was employed to investigate the composition of the equilibrated alloy and slag. The distribution coefficients of Ni between slag and alloy were determined as a function of oxygen partial pressure and CaO concentration. INTRODUCTION Europe’s initiatives for a circular economy, pushing for resource-efficient ways for a sustainable future, puts Europe at the forefront of the globe. In Europe, 50% of the copper originates from recycling, being an excellent example of Europe’s circular economy (Juncker, 2018; Lacasse, 2018). High-grade copper recyclates are made available which regularly contain impurities like Fe, Ni, Sn and Pb. Aurubis Belgium is responsible for recycling these types of recyclates to anodes, cathodes and copper products. However, after fire refining of copper, the aforementioned impurities remain in the anode copper, leading to problems in electrorefining. During the fire refining of copper, a CaO-“Cu2O”-“Fe2O3”-SiO2 slag is used. Fundamental information of the distribution of impurities between the copper and this slag system is therefore essential to understand and improve the copper fire refining process at Aurubis Belgium.

Jan 1, 2019

By H. Somekawa

The fracture toughness and deformation structures an AZ31 magnesium alloy processed by equal-channel-angular extrusion (ECAE) were investigated. The average grain sizes of as-ECAE and annealed-ECAE alloys were 4.0 and 16.3 µm, respectively. The plane-strain fracture toughness, Kip, in as-ECAE and annealed-ECAE were estimated to be 27.3 and 23.5 MPam1/2, respectively, by stretched zone analysis. The fracture toughness indicated higher value with grain refinement. From optical microstructural observations in samples after fracture toughness tests, although deformation twins were observed in annealed-ECAE, no deformation twins were observed in as-ECAE. From TEM observations, the dislocations on basal and non-basal planes were activated in as-ECAE. With grain refinement, the activations of dislocations on both basal and non-basal planes were possibly related to the reduction in formation of deformation twins in as-ECAE. In addition, in comparison with direct extruded process, ECAE process was more effective method to improve the fracture toughness in magnesium alloys.

Jan 1, 2006

By Marek Mika

This Paper has been prepared to be presented at the 23rd World Mining Congress & Expo ? Montreal 2013. It presents the idea how to carry out the shaft sinking operation, going through highly water-bearing and very weak rock strata, giving as an example one specific shaft sinking project which is being executed for one of the Polish collieries by our Shaft Sinking Company Content 1. Introduction. 2. Hydrogeological conditions within the area of the shaft. 2.1. Hydrogeological conditions assumed at the stage of designing. 2.2. Hydrogeological conditions encountered in the course of sinking. 3. Designed shaft lining. 4. Procedures for the shaft sinking. 4.1. Designed procedures of the shaft sinking. 4.2. Procedures for preservation and strengthening of the shaft lining and the surrounding rock strata. 5. Technological guidelines for proceeding with the shaft sinking ? selection of special methods. 6. Options for mechanization of work for the selected method. 7. Conclusions.

Aug 1, 2013

By G. P. Gu

The in-service 90/10 cupro-nickel tubes in a water-chiller system suffered from severe corrosion damage during their relatively short service life causing unexpected down time. In addition to downtime, the environmental risk associated with losing refrigerant was also a concern that initiated this investigation, Microstructural investigation using SEM and electron microprobe indicated that pitting corrosion had resulted in local nickel depletion, During the corrosion process, copper appeared to have re-deposited around the corrosion pits accelerating the local corrosion.

Jan 1, 2005

By Jean-Yve Tremblay, Michel Prud'homme

"IntroductionIndustrial minerals include a group of more than fifty minerals which are marketed into almost all the sectors of industry; they are the backbone of many manufacturing industries. Table I shows major end-uses for industrial minerals in manufacturing sectors.At Energy, Mines and Resources, industrial minerals are divided in three major categories: (I) agro chemicals and chemicals, (2) construction mineral s, and (3) ceramics and specialty minerals. A listing of the major groups of minerals is shown in Table 2.Agro-chemicals and chemicals are sold on the basis of their chemical content and purity. Construction minerals or structural minerals are distinguished by their performance as low cost and bulky commodities. Ceramics and specialty minerals are performance-specific and are sold for their property on imparting functions on end-products. Industrial minerals have unique characteristics that are useful in many stages of processing; from crushed size to micronized fillers a single mineral ca n serve a broad range of industries because of its intrinsic properties.The Industrial Minerals Industry in CanadaCanada has a large industrial minerals base and is a world leader in the production of some of them. The total value of product ion of these minerals has grown by 115% over the last 10 years despite the misfortune of asbestos.Industrial minerals have shown remarkable growth in the past 20 years at an average annual rate of 9.2%, compared to 7.8% for metallic minerals. In 1986, the value of industrial minerals rose to $4.9 billion, or 14% share of the Canadian mineral production. Figure I shows the value of production of the mineral industry for the period 1966-1986.The leading segment in industrial minerals segment since 1976 is the chemicals and agro-chemicals sector which has an average annual growth rate of 5.75 % in terms of value of production. During the same period, the growth rate for the whole Canadian mining industry was 1.37% per annum. The chemicals and agro-chemical s sector increased its contribution to the total value of production of 2% to 6070 despite the growing share of fuel minerals with 59%."

Jan 1, 1988

By A. A. Lavrinenko, N. I. Gluhova, L. M. Sarkisova, D. V. Makarov

"The investigated sulfide Cu-Ni ores are characterized by low PGE contents and emulgated impregnations of pentlandite and palladium minerals in the main ore-forming mineral pyrrhotite, which hinders their selective separation, requiring a collective flotation of sulfides to concentrate, and hydrometallurgical processing. As revealed by studies of floatability of Pt-Cu-Ni ore in a mixture of butyl xanthate and chelating phosphorus containing reagents, the most effective additive is Aerophine 3416 (a phosphinates mixture) manufactured by Cytec. Using collective flotation with a butyl xanthate – Aerophine 3416 composite in the ratio of 1:3 has afforded to enhance the Pt, Pd, and Ni recovery by 13.6 %, 9.2 %, and 9.4 %, respectively. The optimal ratios of Aerophine 3416 to butyl collector for the collective flotation are the following: 1:1 for Pt and Pd and 3:1 for Ni. The effect of these reagents on the electrode potential and surface hydrophobicity of pyrrhotite, pentlandite, and platinum black has been investigated. The extraction UV spectrophotometry experiments demonstrate that DIBDTPI exists on the pyrrhotite surface mainly in the form of disulfide in weak acid medium and in the form of compounds with Fe on the mineral surface in minute amounts. There appears some disulfide and few amount of (DIBDTPI)2Ni on the surface after interaction of DIBDTPI and pentlanditeINTRODUCTIONXanthates are widely used in flotation of copper-nickel ores containing platinum group metals (PGM) as sulfides collectors which can concentrate the most part of PGM connected with the sulfides. Though xanthates are hardly efficient for flotation of free PGM, the latter are floated more slowly compared to the sulfides of base metals. The reasons for poor floatation of free (mineral) forms of PGM are under-researched, however the key accepted reasons are: fine disseminations of free PGM, insufficient interaction with xanthate and negative influence of blue copperas and sulfur-containing ions which are sulfides oxidation products (Penberthy et al. 1999; Shackleton et al., 2007). That’s why an additional collector, normally dialkyldithiophosphates, is used during flotation of PGM-containing copper-nickel ores. A reagent DP-4 is used for recovery of PGM at Norilsk mining and metallurgical plant. The reagent represents a slightly-soluble organic calcium sulfonate which is given to flotation pulp in the form of water emulsion of 5% - solution in automotive diesel oil."

Jan 1, 2016

By R. Frank Chiappetta, E. B. Wilson

"The maintenance records for AL-60 airlegs at Falconbridge Ltd. are used to demonstrate some of the procedures for the analysis of such data.The data are not representative of pure failure s of one type or another. In fact, the records are for the undefined pseudo-failures which are usually found in industrial operations. However, because the machines are brought to the shop only when inoperative, the individual recorded components are treated as failures. Manual calculations are conducted to show the analysis of variance (ANO VA) approach to determine whether certain data can be combined; only a limited number of the 206 machines being considered. The manual procedures continue with the weighting of the suspensions; i.e. terminations f or reasons other than the failure of the given component. After the data are sequenced in the proper order, the nature or pattern of the data is determined using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov (KS) test.It is recognized that these manual examples must be replaced by compute r methods 10 process voluminous data of this nature. Such programs are developed and available. However, a program called RELCODE is used in this case to correspond to the manual examples and to take into account the suspensions. These analytical procedures form the basis for those studies required for good maintenance management."

Jan 1, 1985

By M. M. Papic, J. C. Whitehead

"A sample of Hat Creek coal has been extracted using supercritical aromatic solvents in a laboratory-scale extraction unit. Extract yields in the range 21 to 27 per cent of dry-ash-free coal were obtained.These yields are significantly lower than yields available from high-volatile bituminous coal and some lignites. Thus in a combined extraction/hydrocracking scheme for the production of liquid fuels from Hat Creek coal the char product would exceed that required to supply the energy and hydrogen requirements of the process. Excess char could be used for the production of power or gas for sale.IntroductionThe Supercritical Gas Extraction (SGE) process developed by the U.K. National Coal Board operates in two stages: an extraction stage in which a coal extract is separated from mineral matter and undissolved coal and a subsequent hydrogenation stage.The SGE process is based on the ability of a compressed supercritical fluid to dissolve relatively high molecular weight substrates. It is operated under conditions where a hydrogenrich portion of the coal is selectively extracted in a short residence time extraction stage leaving a hydrogen-deficient char. The process schematic shown in Figure I illustrates that the extract produced is separated from the solvent and passed to a conventional hydroprocessing stage while the char product is utilized in the production of heat, power and hydrogen for the process. An extract yield in the order of 50 per cent dry-ash- free coal represents a ""balanced"" case for such a process in which there is just sufficient char for the provision of these commodities."

Jan 1, 1985

By W. G. Jeffery

"The mining and mineral industries have been, and remain, a major component of the Canadian economy. There are approximately 560 producing mining establishments of which there are some 130 metal mines and an equal number of non-metal mines, the balance being quarries for stone, sand and gravel. For 17 metals and minerals, Canada ranks within the top five as a world producer. There are 29 metallurgical plants. Employment in mining, smelting and refining was about 150000 in 1990. Mineral production, including coal, is about $20 billion. Exports up to the metal stage amount to $15 billion providing a positive trade balance of some $10 billion.The producing industry has a wide diversity of products. The companies range from small single mining operations to large multinationals. In terms of technology the industry has always been in the forefront of cost-effective practice, either using home-grown innovation or freely importing technology from around the world,The Mining Industry Technology Council (MITEC) makes an annual survey of the exploration and R&D expenditures of the senior mining industry that is the mining companies that are involved in mineral production from their existing mines. It does not include those companies solely involved in exploration using funds raised through equity sales.Table 1 shows the actual R&D and exploration expenditures as a per cent of sales. R&D shows a rising trend since 1988although the drop in value of output due to lower prices must be recognized as contributing to the increase. The point about this compilation is that the mining industry re-invests some 4070 of its sales in both exploration and R&D in order to sustain itself. Exploration for the renewal of metal inventories for future mining is a process unique to mining. It is not classified as R&D, and the necessity for this investment goes unrecognized by those who state that the industry does not do enough R&D."

Jan 1, 1993

By Peter Moon, Lloyd G. Campbell

"How well supervisors supervise, and are supervised determines whether management's goals will be reached and ...how effective the work force will be... Upper management must recognize the potential returns of viable training programs for both management and mine workers… The key to performance, from the standpoint of safety and productivity, is the ability of the line supervisor to manage(1).In this article, the authors will share their experiences in supervisor selection and development. They also draw on the work of two men in particular, Douglas Bray and William Byham, both of whom have contributed significantly to the understanding of supervisory development and training.IntroductionYears ago, there was not much training for supervisors. They worked under an authoritarian style of management and modelled themselves on it. They were generally selected for their skill as miners, mill operators or mechanics. Things have changed. Today, companies have different needs. The selection of supervisors is far too important to rely on guesswork. Progressive companies want supervisors who think like managers - supervisors who know how to plan and organize, set performance standards and monitor them, analyze problems, develop solutions, show sound judgment and deal effectively with people. The evaluation of these supervisory ""dimensions"" is best accomplished through the use of an assessment centre. The Assessment Centre Method increases the accuracy of predicting the future success of candidates being considered for promotion.Mining and other resource companies use assessment centres to select the most suitable people for supervision. The Assessment Centre Method is based on extensive research. It eliminates hit-and-miss selection methods by using several different exercises that simulate the problems and activities that candidates would face if they were promoted into supervision . In other words, they get a realistic "" sample"" of the supervisor's job and are required to deal with and manage interpersonal and problematic circumstances."

Jan 1, 1990

By J. A. Russell

"UNTIL the last few years, the collieries of the Dominion Coal Company, Limited, while highly mechanized as to the cutting and transportation of the coal, still relied on the hand-loading of coal from the seam onto face conveyors. In these circumstances it was possible to assure that no large proportion of extraneous materials would be loaded with the coal, and the product could be quite well cleaned for the market by screening and hand-picking.Within the past few years, however, the Company has introduced an intensive programme of mechanization which will result in the virtual elimination of hand-loading .of coal. It has been the experience of other producers that mechanical loading inevitably leads to a very large increase in the amount of impurities in the product. This is occasioned by the fact that, at least up to the present, all types of loading machines have relied on the coal being broken from the seam by under-cutting and shooting. In this operation, a certain amount of roof and pavement material inevitably becomes mixed with the coal and, since selective loading is impossible with a loading machine, all this foreign material is loaded out with the product."

Jan 1, 1952

By A. Montini, M. H. Moys

"A conductivity probe mounted in the shell of the mill has been used to measure the behaviour of the load in the mill as a function of operating variables. It was found that certain properties of the conductivity signal correlate strongly with the per cent solids of the slurry passing through the mill; in particular the angular location ?D of the shoulder of the load is an increasing function of the per cent solids. A method for measuring the viscosity of the pulp discharging from the mill has also been developed. The use of the measurements in mill control is illustrated by simulating various control strategies for open circuit milling. It is shown that the use of ?D allows very tight but imprecise control of the slurry rheology in the mill, while the use of viscosity is subject to severe limitations in speed of response. A cascade control system involving both measurements provides adequate control of slurry rheology within the mill. Applications to closed circuit milling are discussed.IntroductionMultivariable control of milling circuits continues to receive a lot of attention in the literature. Hulbert and co-workers and Niemi, et al. have described the use of Inverse Nyquist Array (INA) techniques while Herbst has recently described the use of Optimal Control. It is significant that in neither of these three projects was any variable associated with the grinding mill itself (e.g. power or properties of the mill discharge) used in the control strategy. Pauw, et al.do, however, use mill power in their multivariable peak-seeking controller for pebble-mill control. Little work has been published on the use of measurements of the properties of the slurry being discharged from grinding mills, in spite of the fact that milling efficiency is known to be strongly affected by slurry rheology».Moys has recently developed a technique for measuring the dynamic behaviour of the load in the grinding mill. This method involves the monitoring of the response of a conductivity probe mounted in the shell of the mill which gives a measurement of the orientation of the load inside the mill. It was found that the load behaviour was strongly influenced by slurry rheology. In this project a technique was also developed for the measurement of the viscosity of the slurry in the mill discharge. It was, thus, decided that it would be worth investigating the use of these measurements in mill control schemes since direct control of the slurry rheology in the mill must inevitably increase the efficiency and productivity of the grinding circuit as a whole.This will be done by using the dynamic responses measured by Moys and Montini to simulate the behaviour of an open circuit ball mill. While the control of open circuit mills is of little interest, this simulation provides a simple but powerful demonstration of the advantage provided by these measurements, advantages which should apply to closed circuit operation of any mill type (including autogenous milling). Investigations into multivariable control of a closed circuit ball mill are currently nearing completion and will be published soon."

Jan 1, 1987

By M. H. Moys, J. A. Engelbrecht

"Large-diameter flotation columns are subject to severe axial mixing which has reduced column recovery and has generally limited it to cleaner applications. It has been assumed that columns with diameter greater than 1 m should be baffled to reduce axial mixing, but little work has been reported quantifying the effectiveness of baffling. Tests were done on a 0.2 m by 2 m column fitted with baffles of different geometry. It was generally found that the inclusion of baffles in the column worsened rather than improved mixing conditions in the column. This is explained in terms of a model for the effect of poor gas distribution on the behaviour of the column; this showed that under typical conditions a 16% excess of gas flux in the one compartment of a two-compartment column could result in one of the compartments being ""dead"" (i.e. with no net flow of slurry through it), resulting in a substantial loss of performance. The quality of mixing in the laboratory column was only reliably improved when the baffle was raised so that its top was positioned above the froth-slurry interface level. It should be possible to increase column recovery substantially with this configuration. The improved residence time distribution also means that columns can be used more effectively in roughing and scavenging applications. IntroductionFlotation columns have generally been used in cleaner applications, starting with their dramatic success at Mines Gaspe(1). Their lack of applications as roughers and scavengers is probably due to their poor residence time distribution (RID) when compared to the conventional cells they would replace. Espinosa-Gomez et al,(2) recently used them in rougher applications but installed three columns in series, presumably to cope with this disadvantage.Dobby and Finch in their seminal papersl(3,4) on the scale-up of flotation columns were the first to quantify the impact of axial mixing on the performance of industrial flotation columns. Laplante et al.(5) collected further data from the literature for column diameter D, ranging between 5 cm and 183 cm, gas superficial velocity Jg ranging between 0.7 cm/s and 2.8 cm/s and per cent solids in the feed S ranging between 3% and 52%. These data were analyzed with reference to the axial mixing model using the boundary conditions for closed vessels (the latter are more appropriate for flotation columns but the model is more difficult to use because analytical solutions for the RID are not available). The data were correlated by:"

Jan 1, 1993

By Tony Lipiec, Ian Orford

"A key part of plant design is the selection of the design tonnage which is the hourly tonnage target that the equipment selection is based on. Its selection is critical for ensuring that the nominal tonnage which is critical to the financial performance of the project will be met. With deposits being developed at lower grades, higher tonnages and a higher degree of hardness variability, it is essential to ensure that the design process selects the comminution equipment which will be able to deal with the impact of this ore quality variation.Ore hardness and its variance are key factors to be taken into consideration for the selection of the design tonnage. It is well accepted that for the nominal or name plate tonnage to be consistently achieved, it is necessary to base the design tonnage on a hardness value greater than the average ore hardness of the deposit to be mined. The question is how much greater should this design value be to ensure that the nominal tonnage is met to the satisfaction of the project financial model. Standard industry practice is to set the design tonnage by:1. Select an ore hardness percentile that is greater than the average ore hardness to be the basis of the nominal tonnage. Typically either the 75th or 80th percentile value from the data set will be selected.2. Selection of a design factor to multiply by for determining the design tonnage, i.e. the design tonnage = tonnage (based on the average ore hardness) multiplied by design factor.This paper discusses the selection of the design ore hardness through the use of modelling or the use of a design factor. It further shows the impact of ore hardness variance on the capacity of the process and its ability to meet the nominal tonnage. Insight is provided as to what ore hardness percentile value should be selected balancing the shortfalls of tonnage for ores harder than the design value versus the above target production achieved for ores softer than the design ore hardness."

Jan 1, 2016

By N. Morrison, E. J. Rogans, A. J. Macintosh, N. Schoeman

"The design of carbon-in-pulp (CIP), and carbon-in-leach (CIL) adsorption circuits has essentially remained unchanged since the early days of the carbon process for gold recovery. For CIP circuit the pulp residence time is traditionally fixed at one hour per contactor with a carbon concentration of between 15 and 20 grams per litre, and the counter current carbon transfer rates are in the region of 15% pulp recycle. For CIL, the pulp residence time is usually three hours per contact or, with lower carbon concentrations ( 5 to 10 grams per litre).The drawbacks of using the counter current CIP/CIL adsorption circuits are discussed using modeling developed for CIP/CIL plant design. Counter current CIP/CIL, circuits are then compared with the carousel method of adsorption circuit design.The use of equipment suitable for the carousel approach is discussed which is, the AAC cylindrical and pumping (MPS) screens, the AAC pump-cell plant and launder designs.Finally, two plants at the Vaal Reefs Gold Mining and Exploration Company that use carousel adsorption circuits, namely the Vaal Reefs No. 1 Gold Plant, a CIL plant with stepped contactors, and the Vaal Reefs No. 2 Gold Plant, a CIP using a very short residence time (AAC pump-cell) are discussed."

Jan 1, 1998

By James Tuer, John R. Goode, Jim Cambon

"Hudson Resources Inc. (Hudson) has defined a major resource of high purity anorthosite (calcium feldspar) assaying about 30% Al2O3 at the White Mountain (Naajat) deposit in Western Greenland. Extensive beneficiation and evaluation testwork has shown that the material can be simply beneficiated to produce a feed material ideal for the production of low-alkali E-glass used for making glass fibre. An offtake agreement is in place with a major US fibreglass manufacturer and, subject to the mine construction schedule, shipments are scheduled for late 2016 or early 2017. In parallel with the E-glass program, Hudson has completed an initial program of metallurgical testwork which shows that the White Mountain anorthosite can be processed by hydro- and pyro-metallurgical processes to yield either smelter-grade alumina (SGA), suitable for conversion to aluminium metal, or a high purity, chemical/specialty-grade alpha-alumina (CGA) commanding a premium price. The process includes dissolution of the anorthosite in hydrochloric acid, HCl sparging to precipitate aluminium chloride hexahydrate (ACH), recycle of the ACH filtrate to leaching with a bleed stream processed for HCl regeneration from CaCl2, and two-stage calcination of the ACH to regenerate HCl and produce SGA and/or CGA. Calcium silicate and amorphous silica are marketable by-products. This paper discusses the White Mountain anorthosite deposit; the process testwork completed to develop production processes for SGA and CGA; production plans, and indicative economics.INTRODUCTIONHudson Resources Inc. (Hudson) holds a 100% interest in the Naajat Exploitation Licence in Western Greenland that cover the White Mountain high-calcic anorthosite deposit. Anorthosite is a calcium aluminosilicate of slightly variable composition but generally containing about 30% Al2O3. The alumina content is similar to that in bauxite and anorthosite has long been studied as a feedstock for the production of alumina. Other potential uses include feedstock for the high-end fiberglass (E-glass) industry and as a filler for use in paint and plastics."

Jan 1, 2016

By M. M. Papic, G. M. Kimber

"Hat Creek coal was treated by the liquid solvent extraction process in a continuous plant at the U.K. National Coal Board Coal Research Establishment.Extraction levels of over 80 per cent dry-mineral-matter-free (dmmf) coal were achieved.Total light oil yield was around 47 per cent of the dmmf coal. The light oil was shown to be a good feedstock for secondary refining into gasoline, jet fuel and diesel fuel.In spite of the high mineral matter content of the coal the solid residue was successfully removed from the coal extract by filtration.IntroductionBritish Columbia Hydro (BCH) and the National Coal Board of Great Britain (NCB) undertook a joint project to test the Hat Creek coal from British Columbia in the NCB's coal liquefaction process designed to produce transport fuels and feedstocks for the chemical industry by the liquid solvent extraction of coal(1), In this process most of the coal is dissolved in an aromatic solvent and the residual solids consisting of mineral matter and undissolved coal are removed by filtration. The resultant coal extract solution is fed to a hydrocracker for conversion to light liquid products and a fraction suitable for recycling as solvent. The light liquid products can be converted to gasoline and diesel fuel in a secondary refining stage.The dissolution of the coal is effected by heat-treating a slurry at a temperature in the region of 400°C which causes some bonds in the coal to rupture with the formation of radicals(2,3). These radicals are stabilized by hydrogen transfer from the hydroaromatic groups in the solvent, resulting in a reduction in the molecular weight of the coal. In the absence of donor groups the radicals combine to form an insoluble high molecular weight product(4). From studies of the kinetics of these reactions it has been shown that the formation and stabilization of the radicals is rapid at temperatures around 400°C(2,3). The dissolution of the depolymerizing coal is, however, relatively slow and the need to ensure complete dissolution in order to achieve a high extraction restricts the selection of digestion time(5). Further, it is important that digests do not contain depolymerizing coal as it may re-form under the applied stress in the filter cake inhibiting flow through the bed and resulting in low filtration rates(6).Thus, in practice relatively long digestion times are generally required in order to ensure complete dissolution of the depolymerizing coal, while it is also important to avoid depletion of the hydrogen donor groups in the solvent which would lower the rate of hydrogen donation to the coal and thus reduce the extraction yield and adversely affect the filtration(7). Clearly it is desirable to optimize the digestion time and temperature with regard to the extraction yield and filtration properties.The precise control of the distribution of products from the hydro-cracker is important for the composition of the recycle process solvent. The principal functions of the solvent are to provide a source of donatable hydrogen and a vehicle for the dissolution of the depolymerizing coal. Hydrogen transfer from the solvent, achieved by the conversion of hydroaromatic to aromatic groups, stabilizes the radicals formed by thermal cleavage of some of the bonds in the coal resulting in a progressive reduction in the size of the coal molecules(8,9) and dissolution in the solvent. The combination of radicals would result in the formation of insoluble material and a reduced extraction yield of the coal(4). Thus to achieve a high extraction yield the solvent should contain sufficient hydrogen donor groups to prevent extensive radical combination. The composition of the solvent should also be controlled to allow dissolution of the depolymerizing coal and to prevent precipitation of this material during the subsequent processing of the coal digest and extract solution. The formation of a precipitate not only reduces the extraction yield of the coal and adve"

Jan 1, 1985

By Stephen Mcgibbon, Tim Twomey

"Abstract - The High-grade Zone (HGZ) was discovered 5000 ft (1520 m) below surface in the hangingwall of the existing orebody, 46 years after the Red Lake mine first went into production. The very rich ore of the HGZ is characterized by a remarkably abundant distribution of visible native gold. The location of this discovery challenged conventional wisdom at the time and its genesis has yet to be fully understood. Textural observations of ore within carbonate veins as well as crosscutting relationships suggest peak-metamorphic emplacement for at least some of the gold. Post-lamprophyre dike remobilization of gold is locally observed in the HGZ. Structure and dilatancy were the key elements for localizing ore at the Red Lake mine. Ore occurs where a fault trend intersected folded ultramafic volcanic rock that created a semi-permeable cap-rock to ore fluids ascending the "feeder" structure. This was enhanced by strong competency contrasts between the eastern ultramafic rocks, felsic volcanic rocks west of the HGZ, and the mafic volcanic host to ore - an exceptional environment for the development of protracted dilatant fluid pathways for gold deposition.Development in the HGZ began in February 2000 and reached commercial production on January 1, 2001 at a capital cost of US $53 million. December 2001 reserves are 1.9 million short tons (1.73 Mt) at an average cut and diluted grade of 2.05 ounces per ton gold (70.5 g/t) containing 3.8 million ounces of gold. The extremely rich ore presented a unique challenge in grade estimation for the Geology Department at the mine. The historic cutting factor was replaced by a statistical method as more data were collected from mining and mill reconciliation. The mine produced 503 000 ounces of gold in 2001. Exploration at the mine is targeting HGZ-type ore formation within basalts associated with the intersections of fluid pathways and folded ultramafic rocks, as well as other targets."

Jan 1, 2001