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By J. J. Mather

NEPHELINE SYENITE is a feldspathic rock resembling granite in texture and hardness but it is white in colour and contains appreciable quantities of the mineral nepheline, the result of a silica deficiency. It is relatively common, with known occurrences in Russia, Scandinavia, India, Canada, United States, and other parts of the world. However, the particular deposit being mined at Nephton, Ontario, by American Nepheline Limited is unique in its remarkable uniformity and low content of iron bearing minerals, both qualities essential in a ceramic raw material. The orebody is a pear-shaped mass over five miles in length, up to a mile in width, rising in three prominent ridges as much as 300 feet above the surrounding lakestudded terrain. American Nepheline holdings, consisting of 2,200 acres, comprise some 85 per cent of the total mass.

Jan 1, 1957

By W J. Riva

This paper reviews the circumstances that led to the development and construction of a commercial-scale vertical shaft carbonizer at Conmore, Alberta. This form coking process may be regarded as having potential application in other areas. Coal pelletizing offers a promising method of decreasing coal agglomeration costs under certain circumstances. Pellets can be rolled easily from -35-mesh coal, provided that a minimum of -200-mesh coal is present. Bentonite was found to be the best binder and was most effective when added in amounts of about 2 per cent. The water content of the coal pellets was observed to vary from 18 to 23 per cent. As a by-product of this investigation, it seems possible that fine coal could be converted into stoker feed by this process. A short investigation of the effect of heating rate on the carbonization of pellets was conducted. The low maximum heating rates in certain temperature ranges, necessary to avoid crack formation in the pellets as reported by other

Jan 1, 1964

By Jacek Paraszczak, Stefan Planeta

"RésuméDans la première partie de cet article on discute Ie contexte technico-économique de l'usage des foreuses à l'eau sur béquille dans des mines sud-africaines. Par la suite on présente les résultats d'une étude comparative du forage avec les foreuses à l'huile et à l'eau par rapport aux foreuses pneumatiques. La performance des foreuses est discutée sous les deux aspects: l'aspect technique concernant Ie taux de pénetration et la quantité d'eau rejetee dans les galeries et l'aspect de fa santé et sécurité au travail, et plus particuliérement, les niveaux de bruit et de vibrations ainsi que Ie brouillard de l'huile. On conclut par l'évaluation du potentiel de forage à I'aide des foreuses hydrauliques dans Ie contexte canadien.AbstractIn the first part of this paper the technical and economical aspects of water-powered drilling are discussed. This technology, originally employed in South Africa, received some interest from Canadian mine operators. In this context a comparative experimental study of pneumatic and hydraulic (oil- and water-powered) jackleg drills has been realized. The performance of the drills is compared and the results reviewed with regards to technical aspects (penetration rate, amount of water spilled) as well as health and safety considerations (noise and vibration level, presence of oil mist). The potential for application of hydraulic jackleg drill is discussed."

Jan 1, 1995

By Jehan Rondot

Les bancs de quartzite inhabituellement purs et epais decouverts lors de la cartographie geologique de la region de Charlevoix sont maintenant entres au stade de !'exploitation et se revelent etre une richesse naturelle durable pour cette region. Les etudes stratigraphiques effectuees dans cette partie (Quebecia) du bouclier canadien indiquent que la succession: lo. complexe a amphibolite et leptynite a la base, 2o. quartzite et gneiss a sillimanite, muscovite et gneiss calcosilicate et conglomeratique au sommet est constante sur de grandes distances (de Charlevoix a la Basse Cote Nord) et represente une sedimentation continentale et de plateforme, peu epaisse, du proterozotque inferieur. La purete et la grande epaisseur du quartzite s'expliqueraient par un processus de sedimentation continentale complexe ou se succedent climat tropical-humide et glaciaire-aride et transport fluviatile et eolien. Parmi la multitude de depots de quartzite qui existent dans le monde, peu sont de qualite superieure. Or, de par sa composition chimique, le quartzite de La Galette se compare avantageusement a ceux des meilleurs gisements des Etats-U ni s, de l'Europe de l'Ouest et de I' Afrique du Sud. D'acces facile pour l'exploitation, les gisements ne sont qu'a une quarantaine de kilometres de Baie Saint-Paul ou de La Malbaie, sur le SaintLaurent. L'utilisation en metallurgie du quartzite de La Galette comprend la production de silicium, de ferro-silicium et d'autres alliages de silicium . La composition du quartzite est en outre appropriee pour la production de carbure de silicium et de silicate de sodium. Les fines peuvent etre utilisees pour la fabrication du verre et comme matiere de charge.

Jan 1, 1984

By M. Tsesarsky, M. Hazan, E. Gal

"Rock masses comprised of stiff inclusions in softer matrix are common in various geological environments. The heterogeneity and multi-scale nature of these materials make the evaluation of their mechanical properties a challenging task, which cannot be accomplished using conventional laboratory tests and composite mixture rules. We employ the homogenization method to estimate the mechanical properties of geological materials with inclusions. The homogenization method solves the equations of elasticity on the material (microscopic) scale for a unit cell subjected to unit strains under periodic boundary condition. The micro-scale elasticity equations are solved using the Finite Elements Method, and are in turn used to obtain the structure scale (macroscopic) material matrix.In this research, Finite Element models for unit cells with spherical and ellipsoidal inclusions were developed. Using the unit cells, a parametric study of the geometrical and statistical microscopic properties of the material composites was performed. The following parameters were studied: volumetric ratio, Young’s modulus ratio, size-distribution of inclusion and inclination angle of inclusions. The main purpose of the parametric study was to study the deviation from isotropy as a function of the aforementioned parameters.It was found that for volumetric ratio of 5%-40%, the deviation from isotropy increases, as the volumetric ratio of inclusions increases. For spherical inclusions, most of the cases studied exhibit quasiisotropic behaviour; whereas ellipsoidal inclusions exhibit considerable deviation from isotropy. The inclination of the ellipsoidal inclusions enlarges the deviation from isotropy (9% at random orientation and 26% at 0°)."

Jan 1, 2015

By E. Swartzman

"IntroductionGENERALLY, the necessity for mining coals of higher impurity content, the drive for lower costs by intensive mine mechanization, changing market requirements, and the increasing competition of oil and natural gas, have continued to result in an upward rise in coal preparation, and have necessitated a more intensive study of coal preparation problems.Increasing adoption of •continuous mining equipment, for example, is introducing new problems in coal preparation. Limited experimental work in the United States (1) shows that the effect of the continuous miner on size distribution varies with the characteristics of the seam. In some seams, the fines problem is lessened, in others it is greatly aggravated. Generally there is a decrease in the relative amount of the top sizes (plus 2 in.) and a substantial increase in the intermediate sizes (down to about 1/8 in.). Contrary to expected results•, where continuous miners with vertical-moving cutting heads are used, an increase in impurities in the slack sizes does not necessarily occur where draw-slate is taken. This is because the draw-slate tends to be kicked out in lump form. However, if a seam contains bands •and lenses of impurities they are bound to be in the mined product."

Jan 1, 1952

By V. Baboudjian, R. J. Geren, J. Thiriar

"The electrolytic tankhouse at CCR was recognized by management as lagging behind modem refineries in terms of productivity, energy efficiency and controls. The operation was also burdened by high maintenance costs of cells, floors and electrolyte recirculation systems.A bench marking program was started in 1986 to evaluate processes and other technology by visiting major copper refineries in North America, Europe and Japan. The basic principles necessary to optimize the operation were defined, and a program calledCCR 2000 was prepared for approval of the necessary capital investments.This paper describes the results obtained to date and outlines the remaining work to complete the modernization program, in particular, the control of electrolytes, the elimination of the Baltimore groove and studies to modernize the stripping operation or adopt permanent cathode technology.IntroductionThe CCR Refinery of Noranda Copper Smelting and Refining (Noranda Minerals Inc.) , in Montreal East, is one of the world 's largest custom copper and precious metal refineries with a capacity to refine 350000 tonnes of copper per year. The silver refinery, which treats the copper tankhouse anode slime, foreign slime and precious metal ingots, produces 800 000 kg of silver, 26 000 kg of gold and 3800 kg of platinum-palladium concentrate annually. Copper anodes are received from the Horne Smelter at Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec, and Mines Gaspe Division in Murdochville, Quebec. CCR also refines anodes from Hudson Bay Mining and Smelting Co. Ltd. in FIin Flon, Manitoba, and remelts anode scrap along with blister and purchased copper scrap ."

Jan 1, 1993

By J. Jacob, A. G. Guézennec, F. Savreux, S. Nanaa, M. Delclaud, P. d’Hugues

Mining wastes can contain base and precious metals, but also metalloids and rare earth elements that are nowadays considered as highly critical for the industrial development of the European Union. The development of alternative routes to conventional processing is still required in order to decrease the cost associated with the treatment of these resources, which are more complex in composition and with lower grades. An ecologically acceptable and yet economic alternative for processing of low-grade sulphidic primary ores as well as mining wastes is the extraction of metals using bioleaching processes. The purpose of this study was to test the potential of bioleaching procedures for the extraction of residual metals contained in sulphide-rich tailing wastes coming from a European copper mine. These wastes are mainly composed of pyrite (60%) and contain cobalt (0.06 %) and gold (0.95 g/t). Bioleaching experiments were performed in 2 L stirred reactors in batch mode and in pilot tanks (110L) in continuous mode, using the "BRGM-KCC" bacterial consortia. High metal extractions were obtained (cobalt dissolution > 90%), which confirm that bioleaching is an effective process for this tailings material. Experimental results were used to design a global treatment process scheme and to perform a preliminary economic evaluation, showing good profitability of a hypothetical industrial project.

Jan 1, 2014

By Fabian Mohr

The methyl substituted binuclear cyclometallated gold(I) complexes [Au2(?-n-MeC6H3PPh2)2] [n = 4, 5 and 6] all undergo oxidative addition reactions with halogens and, in the case of the 4- and 5-methyl substituted analogues, with dibenzoyl peroxide to give metal-metal bonded digold(II) complexes [Au2X2(?-C6H3-n-MePPh2)2]. The 4- and 5-methyl substituted digold(II) compounds on warming or exposure to light undergo carbon-carbon coupling reactions to give gold(I) complexes containing the corresponding 2,2'-n,n'-biphenylyldiphenylphosphines. The 6- methyl substituted digold(II) complexes rapidly isomerise above ca. -20° C to binuclear heterovalent gold(I)/gold(III) compounds [XAu(?-2-Ph2PC6H3-6-Me)AuX{?2-(6-MeC6H3-2-PPh2)}], containing a fourmembered cyclometallated ring on a gold(III) centre. Surprisingly, no carbon-carbon coupling could be induced for any of the 6-methyl substituted compounds, even under forcing conditions. This difference in reactivity of the 6- methyl derivative, compared to that of the 5-methyl and unsubstituted analogues was studied by ab initio calculations using a series of model compounds. The results are in excellent agreement with the experimental findings and suggest that the key-step in the C-C coupling reaction is the partial opening of the Au(III)-P bond in one of the transition states. In the 6-methyl system this transition state is energetically inaccessible and hence no C-C coupling occurs.

Oct 1, 2003

By B. Surender Mohan

Mining lignite pollutes the environment and causes ecological damage if unattended. Being conscious of the importance of environmental resources for the well-being of the living system, the Neyveli Lignite Corporation (NLC) adopts the policy of environmental regeneration as the foundation on which productivity is built. NLC started investing on Eco Care and Environment Protection long ago and it continues. Early investment in environmental protection has resulted in steady growth of the Company along with a healthy environment. The future vision of NLC is to be in the vanguard among the contributors to the community, environment and the nation by developing and utilizing industrial and human resources to the optimum. Untiring efforts are being put in mines (NLC as a whole) to maintain and sustain the ecological balance arising due to continuous mining activity. NLC?s Environmental Management System is becoming a symbolic role model for many of the opencast mines in Southeast Asia. NLC has been bestowed with number of prestigious Environment and Sustainability awards in recognition of the mammoth contribution in maintaining a clean and green environment.

Aug 1, 2013

By F. M. Waldie

THE 2,538-foot belt conveyor recently installed underground at the Sullivan mine hoists ore from the 3,350-foot level to the 3,900-foot or main haulage level, a vertical distance of 680 feet. The design and planning of development work, under the direction of Mr. R. H. Stewart, Consulting Engineer, was begun in the spring of 1941. Development work was started in July of that year from the 3,350-foot level, and headings were started on the 3,650-foot and 3,900-foot levels later in the same year. It was the intention at that time to keep three headings going on development work necessary for the installation of the system: two on the conveyor incline, and one on the 3,900-foot level. This programme was modified in 1942 when there was some doubt whether the material for construction could be obtained. This problem of supply was eventually solved and the development work was pushed to completion in December, 1943. Construction was started in December, 1943, "'under the supervision of Mr. G. H. McKay, Superintendent of Construction and? Maintenance, and was completed in November, 1944.

Jan 1, 1945

In the last five years, new iron ore pellet plants have been built with significantly reduced air pollution levels compared to the older generation of plants. European and American pollution controls are more stringent that in China and Brazil. The recent American plants have successfully employed circulating fluidized beds for sulfur control, baghouses for particulate control, activated carbon injection for mercury and a new design of specialized low-NOx burners.

Jan 1, 2015

By K. Jomoto, H. Majima

"Experimental work has been attempted to find a useful criterion of comminution which can be determined simply in a laboratory. The suitability of the ratio of the square of tensile strength to Young's modulus, St2/E, previously derived from the theory of elasticity as a criterion of comminution, was examined measuring tensile strength, Young's modulus and critical height for drop-weight impact of five different rocks. However, satisfactory correlation between St2 /E and critical height has not been obtained, suggesting the necessity of further experimental verification of the representative value of Young's modulus of rocks. The plot of St2 vs. critical height, however, shows one-to-one correspondence, and this finding suggests that St• may be a useful criterion of impact crushing. Also, a close relationship was observed between st• and the energy index for tumbling mill grinding of •the sample rocks. It is confirmed from these findings that the quantity St• is a useful criterion of comminution of rocks, not only for impact crushing but also for tumbling mill grinding. As shown in the experimental part of this paper, the determination ol St with irregularly shaped specimens is simple."

Jan 1, 1972

By P. R. Geoffroy

Extensive and Intensive Prospecting As often pointed out, the search for new ore deposits may be carried on along two widely divergent lines. It may be either extensive or intensive. By extensive prospecting we mean a search for mineralized outcrops conducted over large and more or less virgin tracts of land, followed by a test of the practical value of any discovery made, the test being limited to the immediate vicinity of the outcrop. Extensive prospecting, was, in fact, the only policy known to the early prospectors. of the American continent and is still the rule in the remote sections of the Canadian Shield and in the African wilderness. It can be further characterized by the lack of emphasis placed on geological and other technical means as an aid to the search for ore. However, very little virgin ground is left, nowadays, for a man or a company to test their luck, and whatever is left is so remote from the necessary means of development that any new discovery will require considerable delay and expenditures to be amenable to profitable mining. On the other band, a great many of the favourable and still unexplored areas (and this is particularly true in Canada) are overburdened to such an extent that outcrops of bed-rock are extremely scarce and extensive prospecting is nearly impossible. Intensive prospecting, to the contrary, must be understood as a detailed search for ore carried on over limited areas in districts already known to be mineralized and covering regional structures whose relation to mineral deposits bas been estahlis.hed with a fair degree ot certainty. The search for deep-seated deposits in the vicinity of successful mines is a perfect example of intensive prospecting. As a matter of fact, the majority of the geologists employed by the mining industry are engaged in some kind of intensive prospecting.

Jan 1, 1950

By C. A. Sosa-Blanco

Minera Sabinas in central Mexico treats a complex sulfide ore containing galena, chalcopyrite, sphalerite and argentite as valuable minerals, and in some cases important amounts of non-magnetic pyrrhotite. For high pyrrhotite ores, results obtained by selective flotation showed good grades and recoveries in the lead-copper circuit, but a commercial zinc concentrate could not be produced due to the high floatability of pyrrhotite. When this is the case, an alternative method was proposed to produce a bulk concentrate by flotation which is then leached to recover copper and zinc from liquor in a SX-EW circuit. Leaching was conducted in an autoclave in order to study the effect of temperature and pressure, but bioleaching tests were also conducted. Leaching lead-silver residues were treated by cyanidation in order to recover silver values. The results obtained by selective flotation and by bulk flotation with leaching of the bulk concentrate showed that the latter alternative increased zinc recovery by 30 % with similar recoveries of the other metals.

Jan 1, 2007

"Syncrude Canada Ltd. operates one of the largest surface mines in the world. The mining operation has two distinct phases: (1) the removal of the overburden, utilizing trucks and shovels; and (2) the mining of oilsand with drag lines and bucketwheels. Both phases combined move approximately 330 000 BCM per day.In support of current production demands and to provide a contingent oi/sand source, Syncrude has developed an Auxiliary Production System (APS) supported by the truck and shovel operation. This system utilizes oilsand sources within the existing mine area on an as-needed basis.The recent increased capabilities of the processing plant to handle a larger volume of oilsand has increased the reliance of the APS system. To facilitate the increased capacity, an auxiliary mine was developed external to the Base Mine operation with a production capacity of4.7 MBCM of oilsand per year.Development of the Northwest Auxiliary Pit began in January 1990, with the first cubic metre of oilsand taken to the plant in June, 1990. The Auxiliary Pit, as designed, has a total ore reserve of 68 MBCM of oi/sand."

Jan 1, 1993

By N. A. Warner

Virtually zero gas emission smelting is promoted as a means for securing environmental advantages and the general public’s acceptance. Concerns about climate change will increasingly make it more difficult for new primary metals projects to come to fruition unless greenhouse gas emissions are decreased. Assuming a sustainable market for sulphuric acid is not locally available, the next best option is high temperature reaction of strong SO2 with limestone or dolomite. This is followed by CO2 liquefaction and disposal either underground or in the deep ocean. The Voisey’s Bay nickel project is cited as an example where appropriate location of a new smelter close to large dolomite or limestone deposits would lead to a virtually zero gas emission operation. Most of the electrical energy required for producing technically pure oxygen and for liquefying CO2 and transporting it to disposal can be derived from smelting a bulk sulphide concentrate and then reacting SO2 at high temperature. Provided the smelter gases are properly cleaned before sulphur fixation, the sulphated stone should be uncontaminated and environmentally benign and possibly of use in the building and construction industry.

Jan 1, 1999

By J. E. Rehder

IN A DISCUSSION of use of any material of ?construction in the mining industry, two points of view must 'be kept in mind - that of the producer or manufacturer of mining and metallurgical equipment, and that of the maintenance and operating staff of the mining plant. In the first case, the choice of material of construction is up to the manufacturer and the user of the equipment has little direct say in the matter. However, if materials are badly chosen and the equipment does not function properly, wears out rapidly, or costs too much, repeat orders ?will likely go to a different manufacturer, so that, in the end, the consumer or mine operator does have the final voice. In the case of materials for maintenance work and plant operations, however, .the mill personnel have direct control over purchases and it is then that a well-balanced knowledge of materials, their properties, and their costs, can be directly useful. With all materials of construction, the final criterion is unit cost versus service performance, so that the lowest possible total operational cost will be obtained. Sometimes this means using the cheapest material available, sometimes the most expensive, but in any case careful analysis of service performance, replacement cost, and material cost is essential to determining the material that produces lowest total cost.

Jan 1, 1956

By Sub-Committee of the Committee on Research

"THE FOLLOWING REPORT was compiled by a sub-committee of The Metallurgical Society of CIM, Committee for Research, and represents a viewpoint of the steel industry in Canada. The objective was to define those areas in which the industry considers that external sources of Research and Development are a necessary function in supporting the in-house R & D conducted by the industry.On future occasions, the viewpoints of other metallurgical industries, such as those of nickel, copper and aluminum, will be presented. The report is divided into several sections: 1.-R & D Spending by the Steel Industry (a) Memberships in Recognized Steel Research Centres (b) Memberships in Recognized Industry Associations (c) Sponsored Research at Recognized Centres (d) Sponsored Research at Universities(e) Sporadic Research 2.-Areas for Research and Development(a) Instrumentation (b) Environment Control (c) Refractories (d) Sponsored Research at Universities(e) Electric Furnaces (f) Continuous Casting"

Jan 1, 1970

By P. Cicmanec

Mining activities in the territory of Slovakia have a long history. Mining techniques have developed rapidly in the last centuries. This paper deals not only with mining history, but also with underground brown coal mining, magnesite mining and other mining activities at present and sustainable developments of the mining industry in the Slovak Republic. This paper looks forward in the context of mineral raw materials in Europe (Global Europe, 2012).

Aug 1, 2013