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By Nav Dhadli

Tailings from Oil Sands MiningWhat are they? Challenges Solutions Regulatory Environment Definition of the AFD Tailings Treatment Process 2010 AFD Pilot/Demonstration ProgramTechnical challenges Performance and Results Next steps Oil Sands Industry Collaboration on Tailings Technology TAILINGS ?WHAT ARE THEY? Mixture of remaining water and solids following bitumen extraction process Composed of water, sand, silt, clay, small amounts of hydrocarbon (bitumen, solvent, and asphaltenes) A necessary part of production in excavation of oil sands and removal of bitumen

May 1, 2011

By S. P. Lowe

Introduction In the following pages a general description is presented of the concentrator and cyanide plant of the Hudson Bay Mining and Smelting Company, Limited, at Flin Flon, Manitoba, together with some account of the steps which have led to the adoption of the present practice. For an account of the preliminary test-work and pilot-mill operation, the reader is referred to a recent paper by R. E. Phelan on the History of Flin Flon Mine up to Construction (1). Additional notes may be found in a paper which the writer presented at the Annual Meeting of the Institute in 1930 (2). The first ore was crushed in the present plant on July 1st, 1930, and the first ball-mill was started one month later, on August 1st. Since that time, production has been continuous with the exception of one month lost during a strike in the summer of 1934. There have been no major changes in equipment or methods of treatment since the present plant was built, but many minor changes have contributed to the improvement in results obtained and to the increase in capacity to the large tonnage now being milled. The accompanying flow-sheets indicate the equipment used in the several plants, with the average life and repair cost. As originally built, the concentrator was to treat 3,000 tons per day, but the capacity has been increased to 4,400 tons. The methods adopted to make possible this increase in tonnage will be referred to below. It was the intention to produce two classes of ore: (1) a heavy sulphide, and (2) a disseminated ore. The mill was consequently divided into two sections, each adapted for most efficient treatment of one particular type of ore. However, it was soon found that it would be impossible to mine the two classes of ore separately, so it was decided to treat open-pit ore, which varies greatly in character, in the sulphide section, and underground ore, which is fairly constant, in the disseminated section. This segregation is still maintained.

Jan 1, 1935

By D. F. Zhang, X. Q. Jiang, N. Tahreen, D. L. Chen, F. S. Pan, D. Y. Li

Alloying with rare-earth elements has been proven to be an important tool for magnesium to achieve superior properties via texture randomization. The role of yttrium in texture weakening and the link between texture and formability are fairly well known. Since annealing is a vital part of metal processing which could significantly contribute to ductility, it is important to ascertain the impact of annealing in terms of texture change. Also, an understanding about texture development during pre- and post-deformation annealing is essential to improve the industrial deformation processing as texture is closely related to formability. While there is independent information in the literature regarding the effect of rare-earth addition and heat treatment on the texture formation, no systematic studies have been reported on the collective impact of yttrium addition, annealing and deformation on texture evolution. The present study was, therefore, aimed to identify the inter-relationship among texture evolution, yttrium content, heat treatment and deformation behavior in an extruded Mg-Zn-Mn-Y alloy. Annealing at 450°C for 1 hour and uniaxial compression tests at a certain amount of deformation were performed. The deformed and annealed samples were then subjected to annealing and compression test, respectively, followed by texture measurements. It was observed that yttrium addition effectively weakened the crystallographic texture in all conditions, which was evident from the changes in the microstructures and textures.

Jan 1, 2015

By G. Reuben Yourt

IN 1935, Wright-Hargreaves Mines, Limited, initiated an enlarged programme of ventilation. In the mine, surveys were made from time to time by the geological staff, and improvements in ventilation were effected to accord with progress in mining as greater depth was attained. In the summer of 1938 an engineer was trained in the technique of dust sampling. Instruments and equipment for this purpose, such as konimeter, microscope, furnace, etc., were purchased, and a suitable office, equipped with laboratory facilities, was provided. The full time of the engineer is devoted to ventilation and dust control. On surface, in the mill crushing-plant and in the assay office and sample crushing room, an elaborate arrangement of hoods and exhaust systems has been installed to eliminate the dust. These installations, however, are not described in the present paper, which deals only with an extensive programme of underground ventilation as a method of coping with high dust concentrations, increasing temperatures and high humilities.

Jan 1, 1940

By A. Warczok, C. M. Diaz, A. Bergman, T. Utigard, M. Barati

The world wide consumption of energy is steadily increasing and by 2030 it is forecasted to grow by another 50%, leading to mounting political and economic pressures. For any pyrometallurgical operation, it is therefore paramount to investigate and implement methods to decrease the use of energy. In the pyrometallurgical processing of steel, copper, nickel and other high temperature metals, a large amount of energy is lost in hot off-gases, molten slags, mattes and molten metals. Most of this energy is generally lost during the cooling and solidification steps with very little focus on energy recovery or reuse. In this paper we will quantify how much energy is contained in the various slag streams, then review previous attempts and methods employed to recover some of this energy, and finally evaluate some novel technologies that could potentially be employed.

Jan 1, 2011

By J B. McConnell

The Thompson smelter has three unique features which form the basis ~f its design: fluid bed roasters which treat nickel concentrate filter cake from the mill, as well as the flux, in order to achieve partial desulphurization; the use of electric furnaces for the smelting of the partially desulphurized, preheated roaster product; and the disposal of slag by water granulation and slag slurry pumping. The installation consists of three fluid bed roasters, each feeding an electric furnace. Nickel concentrate is received at the smelter via pipe line. It is thickened and filtered, and the filter cake, together with siliceous flux, is fed through rotary bin feeders and reciprocating double-gate seals into the fluid bed roasters. Air injected into the roasters through club-head tuyeres oxidizes part of the sulphur and associated iron in the concentrate. The heat of reaction dries and heats the charge. Roaster product is recovered from the gas stream in cyclones and from the roaster bed through automatic valves.

Jan 1, 1963

By D. A. Karvonen

In 1970, the Government of Saskatchewan instituted a program aimed at resolving the dilemma of excess productive capacity over the market demand which existed for potash produced in Saskatchewan. The two primary elements of the program were prorationing of potash production to market demand and a minimum selling price. The paper reviews the factors, both local and international in nature that led to the introduction of the program. The licensing mechanics and the operation of the program, along with the changes that have been introduced in two and one-half years of operation, are discussed. Attention is given to the results of the controls as they affect the industry and the province. Also discussed is the outlook for Saskatchewan potash in world markets.

Jan 1, 1973

By J. G. Kelly, C. P. Brown

"In June 1983 a new borehole hoisting system was commissioned at Sherritt Gordon's Fox Mine. Twelve hundred tons-per-day of ore from the 2600 and 2800 levels are being hoisted to the 2000 level through an 8-jt diameter bored winze. This new method replaces the diesel truck haulage system which had been in operation at the mine since 1975.A study was initiated in 1980to determine the most effective method of achieving the required production. The study examined several hoisting alternatives including: expanding the existing trucking system; converting to electrically -powered truck haulage; and deepening the skip compartments of the existing main shaft. The alternative selected as the hoisting method most suited to the requirements was borehole hoisting.Development of the new system commenced in April 1982. Underground excavations included 700 feet of 8-ft diameter borehole, a hoistroom and headframe, storage bins, and a grizzly and rockbreaker station. Equipment installations included: a 5-ft diameter double-drum Nordberg hoist; a counterweighted Kimberley-type skip; two rockbreakers; and the steel sets in the winze. These installations were completed in June 1983. Some problems were encountered after the initial commissioning but these were solved, and since August 1983, the system has proven that the designed capacity is achievable within expected costs."

Jan 1, 1985

By Joseph W. Mills

"The Mic Mac property comprises 994 acres held under mining concession and approximately 2,000 acres held under development licenses in Bousquet township, Abitibi county, western Quebec.Gold was first discovered in this locality by Tom Duval in June, 1936. In February, 1937, Cassels Duval Mines, Limited, was incorporated under Quebec charter to take over the property. In September, 1937, the property was examined by Agaura Explorations, Limited, and an option agreement was signed on October 6th, 1937. In June, 1938, an option for complete ownership was taken on adjoining claims belonging to Norgold Mines, Limited, and in September, 1938, a mining plant was installed and the sinking of a 3-compartment shaft begun. In June, 1939, an option was taken by Mic Mac Explorations, Limited, on seven claims of Mooshla Gold Mines Company, Limited, that adjoined the Norgold block to the east. In December, 1939, a new company, Mic Mac Mines, Limited, was formed, amalgamating the Cassels Duval, Norgold, and Mooshla claims, as well as two claim groups to the west of the mine known as the Vaughan and West Cassels groups."

Jan 1, 1954

By E. P. Evoy, A. W. Jolliffe

"The Uranium deposit of Gunnar Mines, Limited, is on the south shore of Crackingstone peninsula in the Beaverlodge area of northern Saskatchewan.The ore consists of disseminated pitchblende and uranophane in brecciated syenite, and forms a tubular or pipelike body, outcropping at the surface and plunging southward at about 45 degrees for a known length of1,400 feet (see Figure I). The upper portion is being removed by open-pit mining to a depth of 300 feet below adjacent Lake Athabasca. The remainder will require underground mining methods (see Figure 2).The property was staked in July, I 952, and the orebody was subsequently defined by about 70,000 feet of diamond drilling. A 1,250-ton mill was completed in 1955, and production commenced in September of that year with ore from the open-pit operation. The mill is presently being increased to 1,650 tons capacity, and a three-compartment vertical shaft is being sunk to 1,250 feet in preparation for underground mining.GeologyThe mine property is underlain by an assemblage of Precambrian metasediments known locally as paragneiss, granite-gneiss, and syenite. These lie on the southeast limb of a southwest-plunging anticline, strike about north 75 degrees east, and dip southward at about 45 degrees. Para- gneiss outcrops in the northwestern half of the claim group, and again on the islands south of St. Mary's Channel. The granite-gneiss lies conform-ably within the paragneiss and makes up the southeastern part of the property. The syenite forms an irregular, triangular-shaped mass within, and near the footwall of, the granite-gneiss band. Small lenticular bodies of mafic rocks are also present, the former being most prevalent in the paragneiss.The granite-gneiss is coarse to medium-grained, pink to grey, well foliated, and composed of feldspar (65 per cent), quartz (20 per cent), chlorite, and minor mica. The general concordance of its contacts with paragneiss and the absence of intrusive relationships along these, the presence of uniformly oriented inclusions of obviously sedimentary origin within the granite-gneiss, and the variation in colour and texture across the strike all strongly suggest that this member represents a granitized sedimentary rock."

Jan 1, 1949

By G. F. Warning

"THE H. B. Mine is situated on the north side of Sheep Creek valley, about six miles southeast of Salmo, B.C. It is the most northerly producer along a belt containing a number of zinc-lead deposits, including the Jersey mine of Canadian Exploration Limited, 3 miles to the south, and the Reeves MacDonald mine, 12 miles to the southwest. The important zinc-lead producing area around Metaline Falls, Washington, lies 23 miles to the south. Two prospectors, Horton and Benson, located and staked the oxidized outcrops in 1.907. The property was named the H.B. after the two discoverers. Exploration by a number of operators failed to locate any sulphide orebodies until 1946, when Cominco began a geological study followed by surface drilling which was successful in locating extensive sulphide mineralization. A program of underground exploration revealed sufficient ore to war-rant mill construction. A 1 ,000-ton mill was completed by 1953, but due to low metal prices production was deferred until May, 1955. To September 1, 1959, 1,900,000 tons of zinc-lead ore have been milled; present milling rate is about 1,250 tons per day. Concentrates are trucked to the Trail Smelter, a distance of 35 miles."

Jan 1, 1960

By R. M. S. Häggblad

The article deals with stabilisation and regeneration of Ce02 and Ce02/Zr02 based Pt water gas shift catalysts, subject to high initial deactivation. The reaction gas species effect on the catalyst deactivation was investigated by H2-TPR. Activity measurements enabled the effect of different promoters, some added to the Ce02 based catalysts and some to the Ce02/Zr02 based Pt catalysts, to be investigated. The catalysts were also characterised by BET and CO-TPR. Deactivated catalysts activity was restored by using various regeneration methods. Of the two selected carriers the Ce02/Zr02 based Pt catalyst showed the highest resilience to deactivation. For the two different carriers, Ce02 and Ce02/Zr02, Wand Re were the best promoters when the catalyst was subject to deactivation. Experiments with Hr TPR indicate a fast initial change in the platinum oxides concentration and composition. The CO-TPR was used to make conclusions about the various regeneration effects of water and oxygen on the catalyst. Finally it is suggested that not one deactivation mechanism is possible and which mechanism that dominates is dependant on the catalyst and the reaction gas composition.

Jan 1, 2005

By 13409, B. Arjang

"Ground stresses are one of the significant factors in the context of rockbursts and underground instability at some hard rock mines in Canada. Overcoring strain relief measurements using triaxial strain cells were performed at several mine sites to provide stress data for stability evaluations and mine design. Pre-mining stress determinations carried out at depths between 60 m to 1890 m resulted in the following average stress gradients:Maximum horizontal stress, s Hmax = 8.18 + 0.0422 MPa/m depthMinimum horizontal stress, s Hmin = 3.64 + 0.0276 MPa/m depthAverage horizontal stress, s Ha = 5.91 + 0.0349 MPa/m depthVertical stress, a; = 0.0266 ± 0.008 MPa/m depthThe maximum and minimum horizontal compressive stresses, with an average ratio of J.75 ± 0.45, prevail in east-west and northerly directions, respectively. Horizontal compressive stresses in excess of vertical overburden load were determined, indicating large variations in ratios to a depth of about 1000 m with decreasing trend toward depth.From present data, a particular regional zoning for the magnitude and direction of horizontal stress fields cannot be outlined.A common feature at mines with near vertical orebodies is that the maximum horizontal stress acts perpendicular to strike while the minimum horizontal stress is aligned on-strike. The vertical stress components approach the gravitational overburden load."

Jan 1, 1991

By H S. Ellis

Flow studies have been conducted on nickel-water suspensions in a 1in.-diam., 42-ft.-long transparent lab-oratory pipeline at concentrations of up to 25 per cent, by volume, and slurry velocities of up to 15 ft/sec. The average size of the nickel powder was approximately 150 mesh (106J.L). Three flow regime were noted. At the highest velocities, i.e., above 10 ft/;sec., where the concentration distribution through the vertical diameter was most uniform, pressure gradients could be correlated with the Durand-Condolios equation (7,8). An intermediate region, i.e., from 7 ft/sec. to10 ft/sec., could be distinguished, the lower velocity limit being that at which nickel particles began to deposit. This region was also marked by decreasing pressure gradients, for a given concentration, as the velocity was reduced. The upper velocity limit in this region was also uniquely defined in that the friction factor for any nickel concentration was the same as that for water. In the third regime, below about 7 ft/sec

Jan 1, 1963

By D. Fodor

In Romania, there are significant lignite and brown coal reserves hosted by different regions of the country. The most important lignite bearing zone of the country situated in the North ? West part of Oltenia region and which covers a surface area of 2,500 km2 and host a total reserve of 3.0 billion tons of lignite, of which more than 95% can be exploited by open cast method. The paper deals with the existing geological and mining conditions of the zone , the distribution by mining basins and exploitation perimeters, the open cast working technologies and the economic outcomes obtained throughout the time. Years ago, for the improvement of the economic situation as a whole and in each unit, a large production reorganization, technology update and modernization process was started up. There are described the rehabilitation measures of the technological lines and modernization of the equipments of the production flow-sheet, measures developed at present, too and which will still continue in future. There are mentioned the equipments considered, the components under modernization and the economic outcomes obtained so far. At the end of the paper there are presented the future actions for the equipment modernization and perspectives of the lignite deposit exploitation to meet the national economy requirements of solid fuels.

Aug 1, 2013

By Robert Strachanm

The East Kootenay coal-field, situated close to the boundary between the provinces of Alberta and British Columbia, is composed of four small areas locally called the Crow's Nest Pass, the Upper Elk, the Flathead and Crown Mountain, and comprises an area of about 3 78 square miles. From eleven to twenty-five seams have been exposed of two feet and over in thickness, with a total thickness of about 200 feet of coal, and reckoning about one hundred feet to be workable, gives an estimate of coal available of about thirty-seven billion tons. The coal is a high-grade bituminous, occasionally tending towards anthracite, and the majority of the seams furnish a. very good quality of coking coal as well as an excellent steam coal. The coal-field is found in the mountain ranges in long narrow strips. The age of the fonnation and the thickness of the covering beds have had considerable influence on the character of the coal, and lateral pressure and disturbances in the process of mountain-building have wrought great changes. With such an abundance of coal, it has been a disappointment that the East Kootenay field has not figured larger industrially. So far only one portion of the coal-field has been utilized. This is the Crow's Nest, where, in 1898, the Crow's Nest Pass Coal Company commenced development. Access to the coal seams was easily obtained, the mountain creeks having eroded away the covering, and mines were driven into the coal seams. In that year about ten thousand tons of coal were produced from the mine at Coal Creek.

Jan 1, 1924

By Carl Lausen

Within recent years several mining companies have sent expeditions co the east end of Great Slave lake co determine the mineral possibilities of that area. Little was known of the geography of the region, and even less of the geology; and, not until Blancher's survey was made and the results published, was an accurate map of the lake available. Early explorers followed the Inconnu channel and the north shore of McLeod bay to Port Reliance, and, just prior to Blancher's survey, Hornby showed that the southern passage was feasible. Apparently, but few geologists have ? travelled through the country, for geological information is meager. In 1900, Robert Bell, of the Geological Survey, made a trip to Fort Reliance by way of the north shore of McLeod bay, and he gives a brief description of the geology. The present paper is the result of an expedition into this little-known region by Mr. Geo. M. Douglas and the writer in the summer of 1928. The south shore of Great Slave lake was followed to the east end of Tochatwi bay, and an extensive exploration was made of Kahochella and Pethei peninsulas. The prime object of the expedition was co determine the presence or absence of the copper-bearing Keweenawan basalts.

Jan 1, 1929

By J. E. Reeves, J H. Morgan

Certain non-metallic minerals are used widely as fillers in the manufacture of many Canadian products. The first part of this paper deals in a general way with deposits of such minerals and their mining, with the concentration and preparation of the minerals for market, with specifications of the consumers, and with methods of control of the products to meet the specifications. The second part of the paper de-scribes talc as a specific example of mineral filler. Its production and uses in Canada and the possibility of producing higher grades of talc are discussed. Some suggestions are made for meeting the needs for mineral fillers as Canada's industry expands. RELATIVELY few people are sufficiently aware of the vast and important role that is being played in our everyday lives by mineral fillers. Many kinds of paints, papers and plastics, to mention three major classes of industrial products, are literally loaded

Jan 1, 1961

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 S. Tavani, T. Rees

The current mining operations at Newmont Boddington Gold Mine (NBG) commenced in 2008, and commissioning of the processing plant started in the latter half of 2009. Metso Process Technology and Innovation were engaged to assist NBG with commissioning and project ramp-up through the implementation of a comprehensive “Mine-to-Mill” Process Integration and Optimisation project. This methodology entailed extensive data collection which included drill and blast audits, ore characterisation, comprehensive comminution circuit surveys and review of operational data to assess the limitations within the current mining and processing operations. The results of these investigations have been used to define the operating base line of both the mining and processing areas and identify improvement opportunities. The use of modelling and simulations, utilising actual production data, has allowed for multiple scenarios to be evaluated, minimising the requirement for actual trials and thereby minimising impact on the operation. Improvements implemented to date include: the introduction of routine rock strength measurement for inclusion in block models, modifications to blast design improving ROM fragmentation and downstream comminution process performance, and changes to improve performance of secondary crushing and grinding circuits. Close cooperation between the mine and plant personnel is playing a significant role in overcoming the challenges presented to this operation and further improvements are targeted for the second full year of process plant operation.

Jan 1, 2012