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By J. S. Stewart

THIS paper was prompted by a persistent demand for what information we have that will throw light on the oil and gas possibilities of the Maritime Provinces. The problems involved were made familiar to the writer during three seasons of field work in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. The reasons for renewed interest are: (1) In many parts of that region, the surface is underlain by a thick series of unaltered sedimentary rocks. (2) Oil seepages occur, and oil in commercial quantity has been exploited' near Moncton, New Brunswick, for many years. (3) In recent years, a new method of attack has been developed toward the finding of stratigraphic traps. This method is based on a detailed study of the geological history of the region, as revealed in surface outcrops and samples from deep wells. The well samples show the lateral variation of strata, far from any possible surface outcrop of the same beds. Sufficient work has now been done in the Maritime Provinces to reveal the broad features of the geological history and the character and distribution of the various rock formations. Comparatively little deep drilling has been done in this region, but the holes are widely scattered and the samples from them have added much to the information obtained from the numerous outcrops of bed-rock. The following discussion gives a summary of available information that has a bearing on the subject.

Jan 1, 1943

By M. Santaluce

"The revamp of critical process assets that require a significant plant outage (shutdown) presents a unique and demanding set of challenges for plant operators. They are executed in a more complex Brownfield environment, typically with limited working space and often involve unknown conditions or scope. For plant operators, such a project is often a high cost event both in terms of opportunity cost of lost production and the resource cost of labor and materials. It can also be a high risk event in terms safety, environment, and future plant reliability/availability. This impacts current and future performance or Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE). In our experience, the sequential nature of the EPCM approach does not provide the proper framework to facilitate the level of coordination, stakeholder cooperation and detailed planning required to adequately address the construction and shutdown complexity of a critical asset revamp projects. This paper proposes a more integrated approach to handling shutdown revamps of critical assets. Its main thesis is to involve the key performing stakeholder groups early in the project lifecycle (engineering team, procurement team, construction team and plant operations) to form an integrated shutdown management team that is focused on ensuring delivered results are aligned with project objectives. In this model, the construction team executing the shutdown/construction is preparing the detailed shutdown/construction planning concurrently with detailed engineering and procurement planning. This allows construction/shutdown requirements to influence engineering and procurement, with the desire to optimize safety, speed, quality and cost. The paper also discusses how to overcome the procurement hurdle in applying such an approach. The outcome of this integrated approach is better planning, coordination, communication and alignment between the project stakeholders, a shutdown/construction driven planning approach that more fully addresses the challenges of these projects and delivered results that are aligned with project objectives."

Jan 1, 2015

By C. Tissot, R. Palmer

"Due to the low concentrations of gold, direct measurement of gold concentration in ore on belt has not been seriously considered to now. Pre-concentration or sorting strategies have largely consisted of particle sorting based on secondary characteristics such as colour, which can be successful in select cases. CSIRO has produced sample measurement results using gamma activation analysis of ~300 gm samples with accuracies of around 30 ppb at best. With this encouragement, a feasibility study into gold ore measurement on belt for the purpose of sorting pods of gold ore has been undertaken. The study described here included, prototype design options with existing industrial Linacs, extensive Monte Carlo modelling of measurement sensitivity and shielding, further sample measurement, a study of the interaction of target measurement accuracy and sorting efficiency, and a rough estimation of potential economic benefit. The projected model sensitivity of around 0.1-0.15 ppm (1 standard deviation) in 10 seconds for 1 ppm average feed result in good bulk sorting performance and intriguing economic potential.INTRODUCTION Pre-concentration or sorting strategies for gold ores have largely consisted of particle sorting based on secondary characteristics such as colour or density, which can be successful in select cases (Klein, 2010). No method is available to measure gold content for sorting in particles or even in bulk on belt, principally due to the low concentrations of gold present. In fact, in many cases it is difficult to do rapid bulk grade measurements of base metal ores with concentrations many orders of magnitude higher. By a fortunate quirk of nature gold is particularly amenable to gamma activation analysis (GAA). CSIRO has performed extensive work in GAA of samples of crushed ore (Tickner, 2017). This has resulted in the Photon AssayTM technique that is currently being commercialised through the CSIRO spinoff company Chrysos. The technique relies on the recent availability of industrial high intensity X-ray sources such as Linacs which are currently being used in industry for security, medical and sterilisation applications. This development has led to CRC ORE funding a feasibility study to determine whether on-belt measurement of gold concentration is possible at a rate and accuracy sufficient to be useful for bulk sorting, where pods of ore are diverted rather than individual rocks. The study in the first instance is based on Monte Carlo modelling that has successfully predicted the performance of the sample based gold measurements. As well as the measurement feasibility consideration was also given to the likely heterogeneity of gold ores and hence the degree to which useful separation could be achieved. This is then tied to a back of the envelope evaluation of the order of magnitude economics of bulk sorting in an example deposit."

Jan 1, 2017

By Himmelman. Nicholas P.

In this paper, the hardware foundations and data collection methods of a real time collision avoidance system for electric surface mining rope shovels are described. The primary goal of the system is to help a shovel operator avoid accidentally colliding the shovel?s dipper with either a nearby haul truck or the shovel?s tracks. To achieve this goal, the system requires complete and precise knowledge of the shovel?s geometry and movement, as well as the location of any nearby haul trucks. This paper describes the subsystems created to acquire this necessary information. This system is unique in that all of its components are mounted solely on the shovel and that it is designed to be easily retrofitted to a shovel without significant modifications.

Oct 1, 2009

By E. Trickey

In the mining industry there exists a constant drive for increased safety and productivity and decreased operating costs. This acts as a driver for implementing advanced technology. As more and more mining operations turn to new technologies, an observed bottle-neck for technology advancement has been the limitation of machine vision solutions available. LiDAR has been seen as a possible solution to the machine vision problem. In the past, a few studies on machine vision solutions have been undertaken by various groups involving scanning laser range-finders and millimetre-wave radar. These studies have done little more than highlight the limitations of both technologies in the mining environment. Little work has been done, however, exploring the applicability of LiDAR imaging technology for mining applications. Neptec Technologies Corp. has developed an obscurant-penetrating LiDAR (OPAL) sensor technology which overcomes the limitations faced by traditional LiDAR sensors when operating in a dusty environment, as well as advanced 3D real-time intelligence (3DRi) data processing algorithms that enable the real-time exploitation of 3D imaging data with sensors mounted on moving vehicles. Working with Teck Resources Ltd. and Barrick Gold Corporation, Neptec is adapting the OPAL sensors and 3DRi technology to mining applications. This paper highlights a number of real-time OPAL/3DRi based mining applications demonstrating how this technology overcomes the limitations of traditional LiDAR to provide a real-time machine vision solution that supports mine machine autonomy.

Aug 1, 2013

By J. Zhou1

"The extractive metallurgy of gold ores is largely driven by their grade and mineralogy. The concentration of gold in the crust is extremely low and highly variable, resulting ore variability in many gold and copper-gold deposits. More importantly, gold in an ore may occur in two or three forms (i.e. microscopic gold, submicroscopic gold and surface gold), making gold ore processing extremely challenging. Geometallurgy is a technique to document variability within an orebody and quantify and evaluate the impact of many factors including geology and mineralogy on grinding, flotation, leaching and metal recovery processes. The objective of gold geometallurgy is to reduce and minimize the technical risk in project evaluation, plant design, mine planning and production forecasting through geometallurgical modelling, representative sampling and subsequent systematic mineralogical and metallurgical testwork. Gold deportment study is a powerful tool in characterization of various gold ores. Effective and quantitative gold deportment results are critical and useful for predicting gold recovery and building geometallurgical models of gold ores. This paper provides an overview of geometallurgy fundamentals and applications in gold processing, with a focus being on the ore characterization and gold deportment study.INTRODUCTION Geometallurgy is an inter-disciplinary approach which links the geological, geochemical and mineralogical characteristics to the metallurgical performance of an orebody. Combined with mine planning, it has been used in scoping, prefeasibility and feasibility studies, process design and optimization of gold, copper-gold, copper-moly, nickel and iron projects among others (Williams & Richardson, 2004; Dobby, Bennett, Bulled, & Kosick, 2004; Bulled, 2007; Bulled, Leriche, Blake, Thompson, & Wilkie, 2009; Kormos, Sliwinski, Oliveira, & Hill, 2013; Muinonen, Sciortino, Korczak, & St-Jean, 2013; Leichliter & Larson, 2013; Leichliter, Jahoda, & Montoya, 2013; Hatton & Hatfield, 2013; Baumgartner et al., 2011, 2013; Hoal, Woodhead, & Smith, 2013; Zhou, 2013). The goal of a gold or copper-gold geometallurgical program is to characterize and understand the metallurgical variability of an orebody, such as comminution, gravity, flotation and cyanidation parameters and metal recoveries, and to build a geomet model which can be used to assist in mine planning and to predict the plant performance. In any geometallurgical program, representative sampling is the key to ensure the results of a geometallurgical study will reflect future performance once the plant is commissioned. Geometallurgy compliments, but does not replace, the traditional mineralogical and metallurgical approach during the development and operation of a gold or copper-gold project. Geometallurgy is a methodology for testwork design and a framework for mine planning. The first part of this paper provides an overview of geometallurgy fundamentals and application in gold ore processing."

Jan 1, 2017

By R. Lodha, C. Oprea, G. Oprea, H. Zargar, T. Troczynski

"The basic refractories used in non-ferrous industry contain chrome ore for improving the thermal shock resistance, thus reducing the penetration of molten metal and fayalite-type slags into the lining. The current study aims to replace chrome ore with Me4+ ions along with Fe3+ ions in order to form MgO-Al2O3- FeOx-Me4+O2 based complex spinel systems that could perform similar to the complex chromia-bearing spinel in the magnesia-chrome refractories. This system allows for lower temperatures of synthesis and sintering. In our study, compositions with 60% MgO were fired below 1500°C and resulted in complete formation of complex spinel, and open porosity less than 5%. The in-situ formation of the complex spinel from the fine mix of oxides in the MgO-Al2O3-FeOx-Me4+O2 system offers a suitable alternative of binding system to produce basic refractories at lower temperatures and of similar physical and mechanical properties with magnesia-chrome bricks fired above 1750ºC. INTRODUCTIONThe synthesis of magnesium aluminate spinel (MgAl2O4) (Maschio, Fabbri, & Fiori, 1988) or magnesium chromate spinel (MgCr2O4) from their respective oxides is diffusion controlled resulting in a sluggish reaction even at high temperatures. For instance, the diffusion of Mg2+ and Al3+ ions in the intermediate spinel layer during reaction is slower than the diffusion of Mg2+ in corundum and Al3+ in periclase. The interfacial layer of spinel formed during the reaction increases the diffusion path for the spinel forming cations. This accompanied by ~8% volume expansion retards further reaction resulting in incomplete spinel forming reaction during sintering and hence densification during the reaction cannot be achieved. In order to assess sintering studies with fine particulate oxides that would result in a lower diffusion path, a mechanical mixture of the hydroxides of aluminium and magnesium calcined at 1400ºC to 1600ºC for 1 hour does not result in complete spinel formation (Sarkar, Das, & Banerjee, 2003), which indicates that reaction sintering of stoichiometric magnesium aluminate spinel is retarded by initial reaction forming the interfacial spinel layer. The basic bricks used as linings in non-ferrous pyro-metallurgical convertors are manufactured using magnesia and chrome ore, the sintering of which produce spinel solid solution. This solid solution is a mix of both normal and inverse spinel structures that sinters at temperatures in excess of 1800ºC in air."

Jan 1, 2012

By John D. Smith, Robert J. Mitchell

"There is a world-wide trend toward underground bulk mining methods employing hydraulically placed backfill. This trend is recent and therefore there is little in the literature to assist an operator in the design of backfill properties, the design of drainage facilities, the calculation of the operating forces on a bulkhead, and the control procedures considered necessary before, during and after pouring. This paper presents recommended procedures that are based on over to years of experience in the various aspects of backfilling large openings. Free-draining timber or concrete block bulkheads are shown to be a viable alternative to massive reinforced concrete bulkheads for the containment of backfill pours. Hydrostatic pressures cannot develop in backfills provided adquate drainage facilities are installed.IntroductionThe increasingly adverse relationship between mining costs and mineral values has led mining companies to develop more productive, lower-cost, bulk mining methods. This has led to the increasing use of large, more or less continuous, hydraulically placed backfill pours to enable the recovery of a higher proportion of pillar ore. The success of any bulk mining method depends on the degree of stability maintained during the stoping operations with reference to the mining rate, the performance of the backfill with respect to the per cent extraction of pillar ore, and the control of the mine structure with respect to safety and productivity. One such method has been previously described(I) where a steeply dipping orebody is being mined with a sub-level method that employs large, hydraulically placed tailings pours for delayed pillar recovery. The paper describes the rock mechanics analysis undertaken to establish the stope and pillar geometry and the approach taken to establish backfill strength requirements to prevent dilution during pillar recovery. Production with this method started in 1970 and because few, if any, large bulk pours had previously been used in- this way (judging by the lack of information in the literature), design data and criteria were needed for several aspects of the work. Methods to establish backfill quantities and pertinent ""in-place"" fill properties are described in 2, 3 and 4 in the list of references. Results of field measurements taken to establish fill pressures for bulkhead design purposes are described in 5 and 6. Laboratory large-scale model tests undertaken to confirm a fill strength design equation, which takes into account fill arching, have recently been completed. A paper describing these tests and the results will be forthcoming in the near future."

Jan 1, 1982

By Arsalan Talebzadeh

Construction -Surface ?First two intake fans constructed in 2007; third fan added in 2008 to reduce resistance in the system. 450 HP fans. ?Excavation for exhaust fans started in 2008. ?In parallel with underground construction in preparation for the changeover. ?Bulkhead in place prior to completion/ commissioning of

Oct 1, 2010

By Henri-Louis Jacob

Le secteur des substances non-metalliques repose au Quebec sur !'exploitation et la transformation d'une dizaine de mineraux ainsi que sur la production de materiaux de base destines surtout a l'industrie de la construction. L'ensemble de cette production representait en 1982 une valeur estimee a plus de 797 millions $, soit tout pres de 400Jo de la production minerale du Quebec. L'amiante et Jes scories de titane destines a la production de pigments, qui comptent parmi Jes plus importantes substances minerales produites au Quebec, representent respectivement 370Jo et I 70Jo de la valeur totale des non-metalliques tandis que le groupe des materiaux de construction represente pres de 400Jo. Les autres substances, parmi lesquelles ressortent nettement la tourbe, la silice et la magnesite, representent une valeur totale de 61.5 millions $.

Jan 1, 1984

By J. -M. Lalancette, D. Lemieux, C. Chouinard

"A gold bearing concentrate containing 107 g/T of gold, 9.3% copper and 706 ppm of mercury was processed at the demonstration scale for the extraction of gold and copper using a cyanide free process. The concentrate was generated through flotation to upgrade the gold and copper grade, but also showed contamination with mercury. This concentrate was submitted to the DST process demonstration plant. The concentrate was first oxidized using a fluidized bed to produce a calcine. The mercury was volatilized during the oxidation stage with an efficiency higher than 98%. The mercury was condensed and removed from the sulfuric acid using a thiosulphate process. Copper was extracted from the calcine as copper sulphate using diluted sulfuric acid. The solid remaining after acid leaching was submitted to the DST chlorination process for gold extraction. Under optimized conditions, a gold extraction of 97.3% was achieved in the chlorination reactor. Gold was recovered from the pregnant brine by precipitation on silica using a DST proprietary process.INTRODUCTION Dundee Sustainable Technologies Inc. (DST) offers proprietary metallurgical processes for the treatment of material from the mining industry. DST processes enable the extraction of precious metals and for the removal and stabilization of contaminants, such as arsenic, from ores and concentrates. DST provides environmentally-friendly, viable and efficient processes, capable of handling complex and refractory ores which cannot be processed with conventional approaches due to metallurgical issues or environmental considerations. Several mining jurisdictions around the world have banned or restricted the use of cyanide. DST has developed a closed loop chlorination process as an alternative to the conventional cyanidation process for the extraction of precious metals from minerals. The tailings from the process are inert from toxic substances such as cyanide and organic compounds, are sulphide depleted which means they do not generate acid, and thus, meet and/or exceed environmental norms. The process has demonstrated excellent gold recoveries within a fraction of the time needed for cyanidation to obtain similar results. Moreover, the closed loop process does not generate any liquid effluent and does not consume much water: it only requires a water make-up to compensate for moisture leaving with the tailings and by-products, and seawater may be used. The improved environmental footprint of the DST process has been certified by the Environment Technology Validation program (ETV) which provides an independent evaluation of the performance claims of innovative technologies."

Jan 1, 2017

By William Ferguson, Claude Deveau, Wade Hazel, Stephen R. Young, Allen Lussier, Robert Copeland

"LocationSometimes known as the Bernie Lake mine, the mine is located about 180 km east-northeast of Winnipeg on the northwestern shore of Bernie Lake, close to the Nopiming Provincial Park and the Manitoba-Ontario boundary. The mine is accessed from Lac du Bonnet which is linked to the provincial road system.Brief Description of OperationTantalum Mining Corporation of Canada Ltd. operates an underground mine employing ramp access, room and pillar mining, and shaft hoisting for the production of tantalum, lithium and cesium minerals. Daily campaigned crushing of the tantalum and lithium ores supply separate concentration circuits. Tantalum recovery employs conventional gravity equipment together with recently developed centrifugal concentration methods. All tantalum concentrates go to Cabot Performance Materials for the production of tantalum chemicals and metal. Lithium minerals are recovered using heavy medium separation and silicate flotation to produce spodumene and montebrasite/amblygonite concentrates. The lithium concentrates are shipped worldwide for use in ceramics, specialty glass and mold powders. Cesium processing involves the dry grinding of pollucite as feed stock for the recently built on-site chemical plant dedicated to tl1e production of cesium formate, a high-density drilling fluid for use in the oil industry."

Jan 1, 2000

By Z. Ren, M. Tomlinson, E. Asselin

"Organic carbon blinding is a common, yet often partial, solution to the reduction of preg-robbing. A quantitative method to assess the extent of adsorption of a given blinding agent is presented herein. The adsorption of several blinding reagents on various carbon samples is quantified using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). EIS results showed that kerosene is more strongly adsorbed on carbon than sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS), while SLS can hinder the charge transfer process of the oxygen reduction reaction on the carbon surface more effectively. The effectiveness of SLS is pronounced when its concentration is higher than 100 ppm. Raman spectra are presented for selected carbon samples: as the area ratio of the disordered peak to the graphitic peak increases, blinding agent adsorption increases.INTRODUCTION The presence of naturally occurring constituents in gold ores may adversely affect the extraction of gold in cyanide leaching since the gold cyanide complex, Au(CN)2–, can be adsorbed by these constituents (M. Adams & Fleming, 1989; Afenya, 1991; Miller, Wan, & Díaz, 2005). Such ores are known as “preg-robbing”. Preg-robbing behavior may arise from natural carbonaceous materials in the ore (M. Adams & Burger, 1998). In the past decades, a number of pre-treating methods have been developed for refractory carbonaceous ores (Arriagada & Osseo-Asare, 1984; Beer, 1994; Dunne et al., 2007; Jiang, Liu, Xiao, & Yang, 2012; Kohr, 1997; Kulpa & Brierley, 1993; Menne, 1992; Menne & Revy, 1994; Moyes & Houllis, 2010; Petrie, Craw, & Ryan, 2005; Simmons, 1996). The method known as blinding is one of the most effective and economical pre-treatment methods (M. D. Adams & Burger, 1998; Albert, 1923; Darrow, 1924; McQuiston & Shoemaker, 1975; Van den Berg, 2000). Blinding, also referred to as blanking or passivation, uses a chemical reagent to passivate the preg-robbing carbon by selective absorption or wetting (Bas, Altinkaya, Yazici, & Deveci, 2012; Brierley & Kulpa Jr, 1993; Dunne et al., 2012; Van den Berg, 2000; Yang, Qian, Song, & Dong, 2013; Yen, Amankwah, & Choi, 2008; Zhou, Jiang, & Choi, 2014). Organic reagents, which selectively adsorb on the surfaces of activated carbon and “smother” the surface, have been used for blinding carbonaceous matter in gold ores prior to cyanidation. Two comprehensive studies by Abotsi and Osseo-Asare and Adams and Burger have been published on this topic (Abotsi & Osseo-Asare, 1986; M. D. Adams & Burger, 1998)."

Jan 1, 2017

By D. M. Maijer, S. M. Mohseni, A. B. Phillion

The microstructure evolution kinetics of aluminum alloy B206 during artificial aging has been investigated using non-isothermal calorimetry. A combination of differential-scanning calorimetry (DSC) and tensile tests have been utilized to develop an Avrami model to predict the precipitation kinetics as a function of the thermal processing parameters. The Avrami coefficients, found based on a Kissinger analysis, compare well against those reported in the literature for aluminum-copper alloys. The rapid precipitation kinetics predicted by the Avrami model at temperatures higher than 200°C were assessed through a qualitative comparison against hardness measurement results. In contrast to the continuous hardening observed at 150°C, the material softens with continuing heat treatment at 250°C resulting in an overaged state. This can be attributed to the rapid precipitation kinetics at this temperature, leading to the termination of the precipitation-hardening effects at early stages of artificial aging.

Jan 1, 2015

By Eric J. Grimsey, Don C. Ibana, David E. Grimsey

The segregation process as applied to nickel laterite ores involves the formation of gaseous nickel and iron chlorides which are subsequently reduced to form ferronickel on the surface of a solid carbon reductant. A fundamental study of the process has been carried out using limonite, nontronite and garnierite ores. The study highlighted the significant impacts that ore mineralogy and carbon addition have on the amount of nickel which is segregated rather than retained within the ore due to in-situ reduction. These important aspects affecting nickel recovery and the success of the process are discussed in this paper.

Jan 1, 2017

By A. K. Debnath

The water resource is key to survival of the mankind and this resource is now becoming critical in many parts of globe including India. As per an assessment of Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) of India, a huge shortfall of about 58 billion m3 of water is anticipated by the year 2050. In order to counter this shortfall, there is thrust from Government of India to adopt water conservation measures. National Environment Policy, 2006 of Government of India also stresses upon the need to take up water conservation measures for water security of the country. The coal mines in India provide an excellent opportunity to take up water conservations measures therein. The mine water is not acidic unlike western countries and it conforms to the prescribed regulatory standards. This nature?s gift is utilized in Coal India Limited by allowing mine voids to get filled with mine water. The net recharge potential of the opencast mining area is found to be about 5% in comparison to 2% in non-mining area offering good prospects for ground water recharge. The seasonal rainwater is also diverted into mine voids left at the end of mining operations which act as huge reservoirs/ pit lakes for storage of the water. They also serve as surface water bodies for recharging of water table in the surrounding areas. The area and space left from where coal has been extracted completely in underground mines and will not be entered by any man or machinery after the extraction, called goaf, are also potential source of water conservation. These additional water resources created are being utilized for meeting the industrial, domestic, irrigation and other requirements of the projects and local communities eliminating the need to tap other fresh water resources including ground water. Presently, 75% of the water demand of the coal mining project is being met from the water stored in the mine pits. In future, CIL is likely to create about 3.3 billion m3 of water resource, on an average, in its opencast mines alone. In the mine closure plan of opencast mines, the last cut is proposed to be developed into water body for recharge of ground water and creating additional water resources. A clean potential source of potable water is thus developed after mine closure. This will ensure water security of the country.

Aug 1, 2013

ABSTRACT The inevitable uncertainty in modelling spatial variables decreases as more data become available. This reduction depends on the properties of the variable being modelled. Spatially continuous variables show less uncertainty for a given spacing than erratic variables. A geostatistical simulation based approach is developed to quantify the relationship between uncertainty and data spacing. Reference realizations are sampled to condition additional realizations and quantify uncertainty. The procedure is automated, making it straightforward to consider sensitivity and different geological domains. A case study of the relationship between uncertainty and data spacing for net oil sands thickness data from northern Alberta is presented. _ KEYWORDS Simulation, Sampling,

Jan 1, 2013

By R. B. Nourse, S. F. Gwynn-Jones, S. Nikolic, M. L. Bakker, I. McDougall, H. Joubert

"Tenova Pyromet’s core furnace knowhow and expertise has been built within the ferroalloy and nickel/platinum group metal (PGM) industries with the supply of electric furnaces for a number of nickel/PGM operators, including Eastplats, Lonmin, and Anglo-Platinum in South Africa, Mineraçào Serra Da Fortaleza in Brazil, and Norilsk Nickel in Russia. Tenova Pyromet has also supplied the electrode columns and associated electrode equipment – the heart of the electric furnace technology – for cobalt recovery in furnaces in Zambia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The quantity and size of projects undertaken by Tenova Pyromet has provided the opportunity to continuously improve furnace designs and the scope of supply, culminating in the most recent nickel/PGM project currently under construction at Northam Platinum. Through this innovative culture, the Tenova Pyromet Base Metals Initiative was formed in 2015 to develop the Novasmelt™ Furnace; a next generation optimised Top Submerged Lance (TSL) furnace design. The combination of Tenova Pyromet’s advanced Novasmelt™ product with our industry leading electric furnace technology are discussed with reference to applications for nickel and cobalt production. Flowsheet arrangements are compared summarising potential capital savings, operating requirements and achievement of downstream product quality.INTRODUCTION Tenova Pyromet is a leading player in the field of smelting technology development and equipment supply. Tenova Pyromet is the result of the union of three furnace suppliers under the Tenova banner: Techint Technologies (Tagliaferri), Core Furnace Systems Corp (Lectromelt) and Pyromet Technologies. The furnace experience of the combined groups dates back over a century with the earliest Lectromelt going into production in the early 1900s. Throughout the modern era, Tenova Pyromet has developed a reputation for providing dependable innovative smelting technology, high quality equipment and sound project execution to a worldwide client base with customer plants operating in Europe, Southern Africa, North America, South America, Russia, Kazakhstan, the Middle East, South Korea, and India. Tenova Pyromet’s core knowledge and expertise was developed in the South African ferroalloy, base metals, and platinum group metals (PGM) smelting industries. Tenova Pyromet has spent considerable effort on development and has contributed significantly to improve the state of the smelting industry. Tenova Pyromet’s electrode columns have become widely renowned and are now providing significant benefits, especially in increased furnace availability, to many smelting furnace operators. The electrode column is the heart of the furnace as it delivers a controlled amount of electrical energy, at an optimum depth in the burden/bath, to the smelting process. Every furnace is custom designed to the specific operating range and optimal operating point of that furnace and process"

Jan 1, 2017

By R. Duinker

"This paper, an update to the 2003 paper titled "Knowledge, Technology and Profit" (Twigge-Molecey, 2003) analyzes 45 "problem projects" from the mining and metals industry over the last eleven years representing $133 billion in CAPEX. The projects have been designated as "problem projects" as they did not meet their owner’s initial expectations for project performance as defined in the paper. This paper explores some of the challenges that were present, through interviews with the knowledgeable individuals that were familiar with the projects and investigations using publically available information. The aim of the exercise was to identify the key challenges faced by the projects, and the contributing factors that led to the project failures so that the lessons can be applied to future projects.The project challenges have been categorized into four themes, technical, organizational, environmental & social and missing "homework" prior to board approval. Of noteworthy interest is that environmental permitting aspects have risen to become a significant and notable contributor to problem projects in 11 years from 2003 to 2014. It is further observed that many projects have been challenged by increasing size and complexity and with execution in more remote locations since the previous paper.It is a reality that every project will face challenges. Some projects are simply more challenging than others, and success or failure of the project is often determined by whether the project team is fully prepared to respond to the challenges. This in turn is largely dependent on whether the project "homework" was adequately completed and considered for all aspects of the project."

Jan 1, 2015

By F. P. Hassani, A. Hara, M. Momayez

To be competitive on the international market, the Canadian mining industry must reduce its costs, increase its productivity and maintain a high standard of safety. There is a great need today for improved methods that would allow the detection of geological structures in advance of mining to reduce dilution and the monitoring of underground structures to increase safety. This will facilitate planning for optimum exploitation of the mine and to increase production at lower costs. This paper discusses two examples of more efficient mine planning using new technologies such as Ground Probing Radar (GPR). In Kidd Creek mine, GPR technology was used at the 2500and 2600 levels to (1) monitor the stability of the sill pillar; (2) locate the presence of disseminated sulphide pockets in the sill pillar for extracting the mineral content; (3) monitor the stope backs and wall structures to evaluate the effect of on-time filling sequences; and (4)assess rockfill quality in terms of the presence of voids and fractures within the rockfilled areas. In the New Brunswick coal mine in Minto, GPR was used along with core log data to map and construct a 3D block of a section of the bench showing the relative position of different layers overlying the coal seam.

Jan 1, 1996