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By J. J. Ferreira, M. L. Thurston, I. L. Chinn, D. M. Rose

"Concerns about using microdiamonds for resource estimation have been raised by workers because multiple diamond populations exist in many parts of the mantle source region, small diamonds in kimberlite could be exposed to proportionately greater levels of resorption and modification, and euhedral microdiamonds could crystallize immediately prior to kimberlite eruption. This paper addresses these concerns; discusses the geology of the mantle, the principal diamond host rocks, and the impact of mantle processes; compares micro- and macrodiamond properties and features; and outlines steps to identify and mitigate the risk of diamond resorption and its impact on the diamond grade-size relationship.RÉSUMÉ Des travailleurs se sont interrogés sur l’utilisation de microdiamants pour estimer la ressource; en effet, de multiples populations de diamants existent dans plusieurs secteurs de la région source dans le manteau. Des petits diamants dans la kimberlite pourraient être exposés à des niveaux proportionnellement supérieurs de résorption et de modification; de plus, des diamants idiomorphes pourraient cristalliser immédiatement avant l’éruption de la kimberlite. Le présent article traite de ces questions, discute de la géologie du manteau, des principales roches-mères des diamants et de l’impact des processus dans le manteau, compare les propriétés et les caractéristiques des micro- et des macrodiamants et définit les étapes pour identifier et mitiger le risque de résorption des diamants et son impact sur la relation entre la taille et la qualité des diamants."

Jan 1, 2016

"Virtual reality, a 3D computer-generated environment, has become a recognized delivery system for many forms of education. This paper describes the application of virtual reality to mineral processing education. An interactive mineral processing visualization module developed at the University of New South Wales, Australia, provides users with an overview of a base-metal concentrator and details about how the mined ore progresses through stages in processing. The module also involves developing instructional based plant layouts and flowsheets in the virtual environment. These assist the user in understanding the essential components of the base-metal concentrator.RÉSUMÉ La réalité virtuelle (RV), un environnement en 3D généré par ordinateur, est devenue un système de prestation reconnu pour diverses formes d’éducation. Cet article décrit l’application de la réalité virtuelle à l’éducation dans le domaine de la minéralurgie. Un module interactif de visualisation du traitement des minerais développé par l’université de Nouvelle-Galles du Sud, en Australie, offre aux utilisateurs une vision d’ensemble d’un concentrateur de métaux communs ainsi que des détails concernant la progression du minerai extrait à travers les différentes étapes de traitement. Ce module implique également le développement de schémas de réalisation et de traitement didactiques dans l’environnement virtuel, lesquels schémas aident les utilisateurs à appréhender les composantes essentielles d’un concentrateur de métaux communsINTRODUCTIONVirtual reality (VR) is the creation of an artificial environment that is experienced through sights and sounds provided by a computer (Squelch, 2001). The simulated environment is achieved through technologies such as 3D graphics, audio feedback, and special peripheral devices to produce interactive environments.Virtual reality has been used in diverse fields including medicine (Riener & Harder, 2012), entertainment (Hsu, 2011), military (Manojlovich, Prasithsangaree, Hughes, Chen, & Lewis, 2003), manufacturing (Zimmermann, 2008; Jiang, 2011), and chemical processing (Squires, Andersen, Reklaitis, Jayakumar, & Carmichael, 1992; Schofield, Lester, & Wilson, 2005). Virtual reality is also becoming the recognized delivery system for education in many fields, including engineering (Bell & Fogler, 1996, 1998; Shin, 2002). For example, VR laboratories have been designed and developed to teach users fundamental features of heterogeneous catalytic mechanisms and absorption columns (Bell & Fogler, 1995), the multi-phase and multi-component blast furnace iron-making process (Babich & Senk, 2009), and to guide users to identify various safety measures while working in a real laboratory (Bell & Fogler, 1996)."

Jan 1, 2017

By Chris Dougherty

"This presentation will provide a demonstration of the methodology used in designing a modern shaft and hoisting plant utilizing a review of the challenges faced and solutions delivered for the Elk Creek Superalloy Materials Project (Niobium/Scandium). The development of the design required the review of complex hydrogeological conditions, mine production requirements, demanding capital expenditure (CAPEX) limitations and tight schedules. Through an extensive review of various alternatives to satisfy these constraints, the Nordmin Group (including Nordmin Engineering Ltd.) (Nordmin) was able to define a concept and design that addressed risks to the project, met production requirements, cost and schedule constraints and improved constructability. INTRODUCTION The Elk Creek Project, owned by NioCorp Developments Ltd. (NioCorp) presently, will become Nebraska’s first underground metals mine, built to access the Elk Creek Niobium/Scandium deposit. The development of the design for this facility required the review of challenging hydrogeological conditions, mine production requirements, demanding CAPEX limitations and tight schedules. Through an extensive review of various alternatives to satisfy these constraints, the Nordmin Group was able to define a concept and design that addressed risks to the project, met production requirements, cost and schedule constraints and improved constructability. This paper will review the challenges faced, and solutions arrived at in a demonstration of a methodology used in designing a modern shaft and hoisting plant. THE CHALLENGES Nordmin became involved in the project in 2015, invited by the Feasibility Study Consultant to provide input on estimating and layouts for the new operation. Many of the fundamental decisions regarding mining methodology, water handling and production strategy had been made, and the scope of Nordmin’s involvement was very limited in this first engagement. Following submission of that study in late 2017/early 2018, Nordmin had opportunity to discuss the overall effort, and its many assumptions and challenges, with NioCorp’s project team. The dialogue quickly identified several significant opportunities to improve the project construction schedule and costs along with the mine production profile and operational approach while reducing project risk."

Jan 1, 2019

"The Cooperative Research Centre for Mining Technology and Equipment (CMTE) is funded by the Commonwealth Government, by its mining research members — the Universities of Queensland and Sydney and the CSIRO1, and by its industry members — BHP Coal, RioTinto R&TD, Hamersley Iron, Mining Technologies Australia, Pasminco, Shell Coal, WMC Resources, Advanced Mining Technologies, and Aberfoyle. The Centre conducts work aimed at improving the competitiveness of the Australian mining industry. The current work is focused in four areas: new mining and drilling systems, geological sensing, automation, and equipment maintenance and reliability. This paper describes much of the work in these program areas that relates to metalliferous mining. Mechanized Rock ExcavationThe disadvantages of the drill-and-blast excavation method are widely recognized and the last half of the 20th century has seen mining companies and mining research organizations aggressively pursue technology to excavate rock by other means. As discussed below, despite considerable effort and large amounts of funding, the quest for mining’s “Holy Grail” has been unsuccessful in all but the weakest rock types.COMRO (the Chamber of Mines Research Organisation) supported by the South African gold mining industry, spent three decades and (probably) tens of millions of dollars developing prototype drag bits and, later, impact breaking machines aimed at the mechanized stoping of narrow, tabular reefs. This work has not yet produced a commercially-attractive mining system. Work continues in South Africa to mechanize these stoping operations although now the emphasis is on the use of diamond-wire sawing techniques. This work remains in the experimental phase.Both British Coal and Germany’s Bergbau- Forschung spent many years developing techniques trying to extend the range of rock types which roadheaders could cut economically. Again, although new knowledge was produced, it is difficult to claim that any new commercial mining systems emerged from this work."

Jan 1, 2001

By Michael Harley, E. Guy Charleworth

"Bedding-parallel thrust-hosted gold veins are developed in the Sabie-Pilgrim's Rest goldfield, eastern Transvaal, South Africa. The reefs display a complex history characterized by temporally and spatially overlapping events of similar mineralization and deformation. Recognition of the episodic reactivation of these low angle (5° to 10°) thrust faults implicates high fluid pressures (equalling or exceeding lithostatic pressures). Geochemical constraints limit the amount of fluid-rock interaction and the occurrence of transgressive mineralization within the Archaean granitoid basement suggests that the high pressure fluids originated at depth beneath the Transvaal Basin.Similarities exist between gold deposits of Sabie-Pilgrim's Rest and Telfer, Western Australia as well as Passagem de Mariana, Minas Gerais, Brazil. All deposits are sub-parallel to the enclosing bedding which is shallowly inclined. Furthermore, they are also hosted by contractional deformational structures and are clearly epigenetic in origin."

Jan 1, 1994

By M. A. Gomez, V. Yahorava, J. A. Strauss

"It is accepted widely that pressure oxidation (POX) is the most appropriate technology for processing of arsenic containing refractory gold ores. However, studies on the stability of various iron-arsenic precipitates formed during POX are limited. Since the behaviour of these phases could have significant practical implications for gold processing plants, it is important to study them in isolation. This paper compares two synthetic precipitates, basic ferric arsenate sulphate (BFAS) and basic ferric sulphate (BFS) in terms of their formation, behaviour during hot curing and cyanidation, as well as their environmental stability. BFS and BFAS were synthesised hydrothermally at 205°C and their mineralogy was confirmed using various techniques. During synthesis, the addition of H3AsO4 into an aqueous Fe2(SO4)3-H2SO4 mixture significantly decreased the iron yield to BFAS in comparison to BFS under equimolar initial iron and acid concentrations. The BFAS dissolution kinetics was slightly faster, as compared to BFS, during subsequent hot curing. Cyanidation test work on the washed synthetic precipitates indicated that the lime consumption of BFAS was three times lower in comparison to BFS, while cyanide consumptions were comparable. Fresh BFS and BFAS precipitates, as well as their cyanidation residues, were found to pass the respective environmental tests in terms of arsenic release.INTRODUCTION Pressure oxidation (POX) is generally viewed as the most appropriate technology for the processing of arsenic-containing refractory gold ores due to the stabilisation of arsenic in the leach residue (Dutrizac & Jambor, 2007; Gomez et al., 2008; Harris, 2003; Collins, Berezowsky, & Weir, 1988). Detailed laboratory studies indicated that several Fe(III)-arsenate type compounds may be formed under typical conditions of autoclave treatment of refractory gold ores (Swash & Monhemius, 1994; Dutrizac & Jambor, 2007; Gomez et al., 2008, 2010; Gomez, Becze, Cutler, & Demopoulos, 2011). The basic ferric arsenate sulphate (BFAS) phase (Gomez et al., 2008), also known as Type II ferric arsenate (Swash & Monhemius, 1994) or Phase 3 (Dutrizac & Jambor, 2007), is one of the most common arsenic-bearing products (Harris, 2003; Dutrizac & Jambor, 2007). BFAS precipitation is viewed as one of the best routes for arsenic stabilisation and performed equally well to scorodite during environmental stability tests (Harris, 2003; Swash & Monhemius, 1994; Dutrizac & Jambor, 2007; Gomez et al., 2008, 2011)."

Jan 1, 2017

By R. Vracar, D. Sinadinovic, Ž. Kamberovic

The paper presents a study on the oxidation of polymetallic gold ore by oxygen in an autoclave. It presents optimum parameters of autoclave leaching of sulphide refractory ore in self-generated sulphuric acid solutions aiming to get products with favourable technological characteristics from which precious and other useful metals can be recovered. A high partial oxygen pressure (1.5 MPa to 2 MPa), high leaching temperature (190°C to 200°C), pulp density 80 g/L to 240 g/L, ore fraction size 76 µm and leaching time up to 4 hours yield good results in rich ores. The full extent of copper and zinc conversion as well as a high extent of iron conversion has been achieved, while lead, gold and silver and a minor part of iron remain as a solid residue among gangue minerals.

Jan 1, 2001

By E. Nolasco, J. Ouellet, T. Tikka

"Shaft bottom structural systems are used in underground mining to support transfer of personnel, equipment and ore to and from underground to the surface. This paper first summarizes the evolution of design philosophy from a concrete tower supported on a concrete plug to the current structural steel design arrangement with unlined shaft walls, clear shaft bottom area with only a concrete housekeeping pad. Then the paper reviews the design parameters, analysis and design, and construction methodology for this rather unique shaft bottom structural system consisting of three sets of hitch beams, with each having specific functional requirements. INTRODUCTION Shaft bottom structural systems are used throughout the world in underground mining operations to provide a means to support the transfer of personnel, equipment, materials, ore and waste entering and exiting a vertical shaft ready for transport to and from the surface via the hoisting system. The shaft bottom structural system, for the Service Shaft (SS) at the Jansen Mine, is designed to accommodate two skips, a personnel/equipment cage, counterweight, services, loading pocket, rope changing, arrestor system, crash (or catch) beams, access platforms, stairs and rope divider system. Stantec and BHP have engineered a unique structural steel shaft bottom system for hoisting system at a Potash Mine. The shaft bottom structural system connects to a fixed guide and cantilever bunton system, used in the vertical shaft (shaft barrel), above the shaft bottom. The geometry for the shaft bottom structural system, shown in Figure 1 a), features three sets of hitch beams, beams which span across the shaft excavation or barrel. At the top of the structural system are two upper hitch beams. These hitch beams support a 64 metre suspended rectangular braced tower (upper tower), complete with steel guides for the conveyances. The upper tower passes through the main station (potash or mining) level and then connects to the top of the arrestor (lower) tower structure via a sliding vertical connection. The potash level is supported by two hitch beams spanning the shaft and loading pocket excavations. The arrestor tower, a braced compression tower structure, is carried by a third set of hitch beams. Below the third set of hitch beams is a short suspended tower complete with access platforms, stairs and the rope divider system."

Jan 1, 2019

By Phillip J. Mackey, Susumu Okabe

Copper mining and smelting has been carried out in Japan for over 13 centuries and in fact stretching back into antiquity. In 1889, the first electrolytic copper refinery in Japan based on Elkington’s principles was started by Furukawa Mining at Honjyo in downtown Tokyo based on the multiple or parallel system. Within two decades, a number of other copper refineries had begun operation. Interestingly, but perhaps not surprising given Japan’s long history of copper production, this first refinery in Japan commenced just ten years after the first refinery in the USA (1879), and not long after the first plants in Europe. By 1935, as a result of growth in copper demand, there were six domestic copper electro-refineries in Japan with an installed capacity of 97,800 tonnes/a, while actual production was 71,200 tonnes/a. Since about 1932, the majority of these plants were based on the more common parallel or multiple system. In 1946, just after World War II, domestic production capacity had dropped considerably to 29,000 tonnes/a, however with reconstruction, capacity and production expanded rapidly, with production reaching 81,000 tonnes/a in 1955, 187,000 tonnes/a in 1960 and 307,000 tonnes/a in 1965. The introduction of the first refinery and the early ones that followed and subsequent developments are discussed in this paper. The major technical achievements during the high growth period from 1945 to 1963 included: the use of fire- refined anodes; the introduction of newly-developed rectifiers; the introduction of lead-lined or vinyl-lined concrete cells; improvements in the electrolyte heating system; application of improved anti-corrosion materials and the introduction of heat-insulating surface coverings. In 2018, Japan’s refined copper production totaled 1,595,000 tonnes of copper, with Japan ranking third in the world after China and Chile. INTRODUCTION In 2018, Japan’s refined copper production totalled 1,595,000 tonnes of copper and Japan ranked third in the world for refined copper after China and Chile (Wood Mackenzie, 2019). There are now eight copper refineries in Japan which provide Japan’s production of refined copper. These plants are listed in Table 1 (Wood Mackenzie, 2019), also showing the production trend since 2013; in general, production over this period has been relatively steady. The Toyo plant is now the 7th largest copper refinery in the world after several large plants as rated by capacity in China, Russia and India (ICSG, 2019).

Jan 1, 2019

By K. Chattopadhyay

Fluid flows in metallurgical reactors play a vital role on liquid metal cleanliness for both ferrous and non-ferrous metallurgy. Thus, it is absolutely critical to understand different fluid flow mechanisms, and the use of computational methods to model the complex non-isothermal, turbulent, single- and multiphase-flows, has to be appreciated. The present case study emphasizes on controlling the flow of liquid steel in a tundish and enhancing liquid metal cleanliness. CFD modeling was used to build a robust mathematical model, and effects of flow control furniture and non-isothermal conditions were analyzed. The mathematical model was validated against water model experiments. Parameters that were conducive for inclusion removal were identified and implemented in the plant. Some flow control devices could increase inclusion removal to a great extent compared to the existing configurations. In cases, where a hot ladle was poured into a relatively cooler tundish, inclusion removal was better, whereas results were catastrophic in cases where colder liquid was poured from ladle to the tundish. Similar techniques can be applied for other liquid metals including light metals and non-ferrous metals.

Jan 1, 2015

By W. J. Adams

It is recognized that within life cycle assessment that the eco-toxicity potentials (TPs) derived for metals require additional research to improve their reliability. Current models used to develop TPs do not include important fate process for metals such as speciation and bioavailability. Toxicity potentials are standard values used in LCA to enable a comparison of potential toxic impacts between substances. Huijbrechts (2001) calculated toxicity potentials for 181 substances utilizing the USES model for six impact categories, i.e. freshwater aquatic ecotoxicity, marine aquatic ecotoxicity, freshwater sediment ecotoxicity, marine sediment ecotoxicity, terrestrial ecotoxicity and human toxicity (not considered here). Marine ecotox potential for metals is typically high using this approach, whereas most open ocean metal concentrations are very low. A sensitivity analysis of the USES-LCA model was undertaken using copper as an example. Results indicate: fate processes on the global scale are driving the marine water and sediment TPs for copper most; the second most important fate parameter is sedimentation from the water and burial in deep sediment layers; inclusion of speciation and bio-availability processes would be very beneficial; more accurate estimates of input parameters should be used, and the PNECwater and PNECsediment and all partition coefficients for metals should be updated in the model.

Jan 1, 2007

By K. Trapani

"The study undertaken aims to investigate an ice stope heating and cooling system for its potential to be implemented in sub-arctic mines, as a low carbon alternative to conventional natural gas and refrigeration chiller systems. Its performance was simulated for a years’ worth of data, taking into consideration hourly temperature data. Results showed that to supply the required heating and cooling loads, the ice stope system had to supplement its heating with natural heating. The techno-economic performance of this system was compared to that of a conventional heating and cooling system in a mine, with the ice stope thermal storage system hawing the lowest annuitized cost and significantly lower carbon emissions.INTRODUCTIONConventional heating and cooling, in a mine is implemented using natural gas heaters and chiller refrigeration systems respectively. This results in a significant portion of energy consumption in underground mines attributable to ventilation (De Souza, 2015), including the conditioning of the air to ensure that temperatures do not exceed work comfort standards (ACGIH, 2011). Especially at depth where heat could become a significant issue. An ice stope thermal storage, using ice as the storage medium is being proposed as an alternative to provide the heating and cooling—with the ice creation resulting in heating and the ice melting providing the cooling required. A techno-economic investigation of the two systems is undertaken to identify the capital and operating costs for the two systems, and to assess the ice stope’s potential to be considered a low cost and carbon solution for heating and cooling of mines in sub-arctic climates.NATURAL STORAGE SYSTEM – CONCEPT DEVELOPMENTThe concept for the natural storage system is developed from the ice stope at Frood-Stobie Mine, ON, Canada (Stachulak, 1991). The ice stope was developed for mine air heating, with the heating occurring by spraying warm return service water onto the cold intake air—resulting in the air temperature increasing and ice being created in the stope. In summer this ice was melted by passing warm air on top of it, resulting in slight cooling of the air but no significant temperature difference which could allow effective cooling. A schematic of the Frood-Stobie Mine ice stope is provided in Figure 1."

Jan 1, 2019

By R. P. Nicholson

On September 3rd, 1947, the Acadia Coal Company put into operation a central coal preparation plant. This plant was designed to process all coals mined by this Company in the Pictou County coal field. The problem, briefly, was to make a three-way separation of the raw coal fed into the plant. It was desired to remove all stone, metal, and wood from the marketable coal and to produce a splint coal from the raw material which would be suitable for making power. This splint coal product is belted directly to the power plant which is adjacent to the wash plant. To attain this object it was therefore necessary, first, to wash the raw coal, removing all splint, stone, metal, and wood. The stone, metal, wood, and highest-ash splint had then to be removed by a second washing in order to obtain the lower-ash splint for use in the power plant. The plant is on the east side of the Allan colliery, in the town of Stellarton (see accompanying photograph). It is of steel frame construction with wood siding, covered on the exterior with corrugated galvanized iron. Considerable concrete had to be poured for the foundation piers as the plant site is largely 'fill' ground. This necessitated the construction of extremely heavy footings containing a large amount of reinforcing steel. In all, 884 cu. yds. of concrete were poured for the various pits, tanks, and foundations; its average test was about 3,500 lb. per square inch. At the time the plant was constructed, the steel shortage in Canada and the United States was acute and, in order to obtain steel for the structure which is four stories high- an unused part of the Allan bankhead was torn down. Enough steel was obtained from this demolition to fabricate the new plant.

Jan 1, 1948

By E. T. W. Bailey

A HISTOR Y of the development and application of instruments, from the simplest U gauge to a modern indicating recording controller, would contain many interesting accounts of difficulties experienced and over-come. Important as is the history of development to any branch of science, this phase will, of necessity, have to be omitted from this paper and remarks confined to the results from the use of instruments in their present form. The steel industry bas, in the past decade, become increasingly instrument minded. More than ever, economy and adherence to doser specifications are demanded, and any tool that will aid in attaining these objectives by intelligent application and use finds a ready acceptance. The open-hearth furnace bas offered a field for instruments which is different from almost any other and one in which even a small percentage saved in operating costs may represent a considerable sum. Nevertheless, this department of the steel industry has been more cautions than most others in accepting the benefits which automatic control bas given on many other types of industrial furnaces, and one is puzzled why open hearths have not more generally benefited by the application of controlling instruments. The furnace operator bas to adjust the same three main valves that control fuel, combustion air, and stack draft as on most other furnaces, with the additional regulation of reversing the furnace. He is just as aware of the importance of proper draft control and correct air volume to burn most economically the applied fuel as any good boiler-plant engineer. What, then, are the special conditions that pertain to the open-hearth furnace?

Jan 1, 1939

By P. Bramwell, R. Tremblay

"The Port Radium leaching plant of Eldorado Mining and Refining, Limited, produces 450 t./d. of sulphuric acid leach liquor containing l. 73 g. /I. U 308. After solvent extraction, the waste solution is discarded at 0.002 g./l. U30s for a recovery of 99.8 to 99.9 per cent. The solvent is acidified with weak sulphuric acid, loaded to 4.5 g./l. U80:1 in three-stage extraction, scrubbed with water, and stripped with soda-ash solution in single-stage stripping. Caustic removes the UaOs from the pregnant strip solution as a precipitate. The slurry is filtered, re-pulped with water, and re-filtered. The pressed precipitate at 81 to 82 per cent equivalent U30s is dried and packaged. The carbon-ate filtrate is cooled to remove sodium sulphate build-up and carbonated to convert excess caustic. Reagent consumptions are 4.1, 0.22, and 0.39 pounds per 1,000 gallons of pregnant solution for Diesel oil, amine, and alcohol, respectively. Caustic consumption averages 1.3 to 1.4 pounds per pound U3O8.Extraction and stripping is accomplished in sheet-iron mixer-settlers lined with Phenoline. Piping on both circuits is Schedule 80 polyvinyl chloride. Valves are straightway Buna N lined with American Hycar diaphagms. Extensive instrumentation ensures good metallurgy with a minimum of variations and labour. Mixing in a continuous organic medium and careful acidity control are required to minimize third-phase formations. Heating the precipitate slurry is conducive to good filtering in Perrin presses with neoprene-coated, rolled-steel sectors. Sodium sulphate is crystallized from carbonate filtrate solution by batchwise cooling to 54°F. with lake water."

Jan 1, 1959

By J. A. E. Bell

"Inco has shifted part of its traditional extractive research effort at its J..Roy Gordon Research Laboratory in Mississauga toward new, value-added products. Most of the effort is being expended on new Ni powders for batteries and new Ni-coated products which will be produced in Inco's carbonyl nickel refineries. New products under development are Ni-coated powders, Ni-coated fibres and ultra-fine Ni powders. Other new products for advanced material applications include controlled expansion composites, NiGOLD strip, Thermal barrier coatings on Inco alloys, and plasma coatings.Research and Corporate Strategic ThrustsThe newest strategic thru st of the company is to increase the value of the primary metal products. These new products are to be in addition to any new alloys or downstream alloy fabrication.Historically Inco has had the highest research expenditures in the extractive metallurgy field in North America. This has resulted in many new processes including flash smelting , matte separation, fluid bed roasting, pressure carbonyl refining and cobalt electrowinning which have contributed to establishing Inco as the lowest cost nickel producer. The recession of the 1980s caused a restructuring of Inco research and corporate goals .As shown in Figure I, from 1975-1982, i.e. pre-recession, Inco spent around 33 million dollars per year on research. Some 48070 of that sum was spent in Corporate Laboratories in Sterling Forest in the United States and in the United Kingdom , mostly on alloy associated research. A further 10% was spent on alloy research at the alloy production facilities in Hunting- ton, West Virginia, and Birmingham and Hereford in the United Kingdom. On extractive research, 13% was spent by process technology groups at the plant s, 20% at the pilot plants in Port Colborne and 9% at the J. Roy Gordon Research laboratory.The relative research expenditures (Fig. 2) have decreased so that today they are at the same level as 1975-80. The research as a per cent of sales has been cut from 2.2% to 1.2% of normalized sales. A normalized sale price of $4.00/lb Ni was used in the 1988 figures. This was partly achieved by closing Corporate Laboratories. Most of the essential alloy research was moved to producing plants and total alloy research is now 27%.A new thrust initiated in the 80s was mining research which now accounts for 20% of research expenditures. Over a period of the past five years this research has doubled the mining productivity in Inco. The pilot plant expenditures have been cut in half. One entire research station at Port Colborne was converted into a platinum group metals intermediate refinery. The decrease in pilot plant expenditures has been compensated by full scale plant trials devoted to the S02 abatement program at Sudbury."

Jan 1, 1990

By Magella Pelletier

"IntroductionDepuis une vingtaine d'année, les nombreux travaux de géochimie effectués par l'industrie privée et les milieux gouvemementaux ont permis:• de découvrir de nombreuses zones minéralisées a valeur économique;• d'identifier et de vérifier certains patrons de dispersion géochimique au-dessu s de secteurs minéralises déjà connus;• de favoriser le développernent des techniques analytiques;• de forcer le développement d'une mise en carte des résultats d'analyse, qui soit plus adéquat afin de permettre une meilleure interprétation géochimique.L'une de ces cartes géochimiques qui permet le mieux de mettre en valeur les données analytiques et qui fut instaurée au debut des années 80, est la carte d'interprétation géochimique par pondération.Cette carte numérique semi-quantitative, qui est construite à partir des données de base et de l'importance des éléments indicateurs pour une substance donnée, permet d'identifier et de définir des zones possédants de fortes probabilités pour la recherché de sources minéralisées."

Jan 1, 1987

By W. L. Nelson

The orebodies at Copper Mounta1n lie along and within a few hundred feet of the contact of an intrusive stock of gabbro with a series of bedded volcanic rocks of the Nicola formation. These. orebodies are all entirely within the volcanic series but in many cases the centre line of the orebody at depth is directly under the gabbro contact at the surface, due to a slight overhang of the gabbro. The gabbro and volcanic rocks are cut by a number of faults and fault zones which did not materially affect early mining operations, but, as undeground openings increased in size, the faults became more important factors in determining mining methods and procedure. Caving methods were adopted to take advantage of ground weakness in fault zones, and the effect of ground subsidence which resulted from the division of the ground 1nto large, independent blocks by faulting had to be considered in planning the sequence of mining of certain ore blocks. The faults have been divided into two classes: the longitudinal system and the cross faults, or 'breaks' as they are termed locally. In addition to the two classes of faults, the zones of parallel ore fracture also control mining procedure, but to a lesser degree, in regard to caving or ground subsidence. A third structural feature which influences mining procedure is the mine dyke system. The longitudinal or main fault system roughly parallels the gab? bro contact and is made up of a number of branches and auxiliary fractures. The main fault itself is essentially vertical, but there are a number of branches and fractures on each side of it which, though parallel m strike, may dip as flat as 50 degrees toward or away from the main fault. The full width of the main fault system has not been determined, but it is known to extend beyond the zone of mine workings. A marked schistosity follows the main fault and both schistosity and chloritic alteration have been noticed along the secondary faults of this system. Several prominent orebodies lie along the main fault and its branches. The influence of the main fault system on mining is probably related more to subsidence than to actual cavi.ng, although it is effective in both.

Jan 1, 1950

By E. Godin, M. Rigaud, S. C. Panigrahy, I. Malinsky

"RésuméDes boulettes de concentres d'hématite spéculaire à basse silice ont été produites en substituant la bentonite par de la tourbe, adéquatement traitée, additionnée d'une faible quantile de soude caustique durant le boulettage. La réductibilité de telles boulettes et leur gonflement pendant la réduction ont été évacues, en utilisant quatre mélanges gazeux différents, formes de H2 - CO - N2.L'influence du pouvoir réducteur du gaz utilise, sur le gonflement des boulettes, à été mis en évidence. Quelles que soient ces conditions réductrices, les propriétés mesurées sur les boulettes liées a la tourbe sont comparables aux propriétés obtenues avec des boulettes traditionnelles liées à la bentonite.ABSTRACTAdditions of peat moss and small quantities of NaOH during balling of low silica specular hematite concentrates have eliminated the need to use bentonite as a binder. The reducibility and swelling of such pellets have been evaluated using four different gas mixtures, consisting of H2 - CO -N2. The influence of the reducing power of the gases, on the swelling behaviour of pellets has been documented. Under the different reducing conditions, this new type of pellets exhibit properties similar to the ones obtained using bentonite."

Jan 1, 1987

By A. J. Williams

"IntroductionAN EXCELLENT paper entitled Potash Discoveries in Western Canada (l) was presented to the 1948 Annual Meeting of the C.l.M. by L. Heber Cole, of the Department of Mines and Resources, Ottawa. In the intervening three and a half years, the search for oil and gas in Saskatchewan has added considerably to the information available on the occurrence of potash. It is the purpose of this paper to summarize the additional data. For greater clarity, it may be useful, first, to recapitulate some of the highlights of Mr. Cole's paper.Underlying the western plains of Canada there is a large deposit of sodium chloride, believed to be of early Devonian age. Associated with the sodium chloride are certain potash salts, primarily 'sylvinite,' a mechanical mixture of sodium chloride (halite) and potassium chloride (sylvite) crystals. The potash salts, when present, are usually near the top of the salt formation, though in at least one well they were found near the central part of the deposit. Cole reported on some seven wells in Saskatchewan which had encountered appreciable amounts of potash; these were the Ogema, Radville, Davidson Nos. 1 and 2, Prairie Salt Nos. 1 and 2, and Verbata wells. Depth of potash from surface ranged from 7,653 feet in the Radville well to a minimum of 3,466 feet in the Verbata well. Such depths do not compare favourably with those at which the potash is found in mines in the United States, France, and Germany, where about 1,000 feet is the average. The greatest concentration of sylvite encountered was in the Verbata well, where a bed 11 feet thick carried the equivalent of 21.64 per cent K20."

Jan 1, 1952