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By T. Newton, G. A. Bezuidenhout, P. J. Tauetsile, F. Trask

The technology to selectively leach gold, silver and base metals from ores, concentrates, and wastes, using an alkaline glycine solution, has initiated significant interest in using the new technology in various environments such as in-situ, in-place, dump, heap, and vat and agitated tank leaching. It has been shown that glycine acts synergistically with a number of other lixiviants to lower the net consumption of the other lixiviants while allowing low cost glycine solution recovery. Glycine is a non-toxic, stable, environmentally benign reagent that is available in bulk industrial quantities. It has the ability to dissolve most copper oxide and sulfide minerals, as well as native copper, whilst not interacting with acid consuming gangue nor dissolving iron and various or ubiquitous gangue elements. It acts synergistically with small amounts of cyanide to leach gold-copper ores at leach rates higher than either glycine or cyanide on their own, while significantly reducing cyanide consumption and eliminating detoxification requirements. The leaching behaviour of various glycine based systems will be reviewed, followed by the evaluation of the adsorption of gold onto activated carbon. Where the economics merit it, copper can be easily recovered using solvent extraction or sulfide precipitation.

Jan 1, 2017

By C. Feng, D. W. M. Arrigan

Arsenic is often associated with gold mining operations and poses a significant health and environmental hazard. While a number of technologies are available for removing arsenic, none of them is effective under all conditions. Although adsorption is a promising approach, most methods focus on the purification of water under neutral or acidic conditions and tend to be less effective in gold mining process waters, operating under alkaline conditions. In this study, the removal of As (III) and As (V) from both arsenic-only solutions and simulated process waters using composite magnetic nanoparticles was investigated. The nanoparticles consisted of magnetite (Fe3O4) or maghemite (?-Fe2O3) cores covered by various metal oxides with Langmuir adsorption capacities of As (III) and As (V) ranging from 31.4 to 79.1 mg/g and 10.2 to 25.5 mg/g, respectively, in arsenic-only solutions at pH 9. Their adsorption capacities were further recognised by the adsorption tests conducted in simulated process waters. The ability to remove As (III) is of particular importance as it is harder to remove it from alkaline solutions. The magnetic cores allow simple and efficient magnetic recovery of the As-loaded nanoparticles.

Jan 1, 2017

"THE OTTAWA BRANCH, CIM, each year holds a symposium on a subject of topical interest. The symposium this year was on Canada's Offshore Mineral Resources, at which papers were presented by: Dr. Donald G. Crosby, chief, Resource Administration Di-vision, Department of Energy, Mines and Resources, Ottawa; John A. Beesley, head, Legal Division, Department of External Affairs, Ottawa; and David W. Smith, man-ager, offshore exploration and production, Shell Canada Limited, Calgary. Because of the interest which this topic holds for our members, and because of the wealth and significance of information presented, the three papers -representing the first comprehensive review of our offshore resources -are reproduced herewith. The opening remarks of the Chairman, Dr. F. K. North, Professor of Geology, Carleton University, are also recorded, together with a few of the questions asked by the large attending audience. The symposium was held February 13th, and was organized by Dr. W. M. Tupper, chairman of the Branch Program Commit-tee. Differences in the extent of the continental shelf will be noted in the papers. These differences are related to slightly different definitions of the continental shelf by the authors."

Jan 1, 1969

By Erik Richer La Fleche

LEGAL RISKS LEGAL RISKS ARE COUNTRY RATHER THAN PROJECT RISKS OTHER COUNTRY RISKS ARE POLITICAL AND MACRO-ECONOMIC RISKS COUNTRY RISKS ARE EXAMINED AFTER PROJECT RISKS COUNTRY RISKS COUNTRY RISKS INCLUDE: WAR AND ARMED CONFLICT TERRORISM AND SABOTAGE CURRENCY INCONVERTIBILTY AND TRANSFER NATIONALIZATION AND CREEPING EXPROPRIATION GOVERNMENTAL BREACH AND REPUDIATION OF CONTRACT CHANGE OF GOVERNMENT CORRUPTION COUNTRY RISKS FIRST NATIONS AND LANDOWNER CLAIMS LABOUR UNREST SINGLE CAUSE ACTIVISTS REGULATORY AND BUREAUCRATIC DELAYS CONFLICT BETWEEN GOVERNMENT LEVELS ETHIC AND RELIGIOUS TENSIONS INTERNATIONAL SANCTIONS TAXATION CHANGES CHANGES IN LAW

May 1, 2013

By Z. D. Hora

Air hough diatomite is known in many parrs of British Columbia, deposirs of mineable size have only been found in the area between Kam/oops and Quesnel in the sourh-cenrral parr of rhe province. Ar Quesnel, commercial producrion has continued since 1950 from diatomite lenses up ro 35m rhick. OCCURRENCES of diatomite are reported from many parts of British Columbia, but deposits of mineable size are known only from the area between Kamloops and Quesnel. Only Quesnel deposits have yet reached the production stage. Commercial production dates back to 1950, and up until 1979 approximately 22,700 tonnes of diatomite had been produced. Most extracted diatomite was processed until 1980 by Crownite Industrial Minerals Limited in Quesnel to produce an oil absorbent and animal bedding. Smaller shipments are used to make insulating bricks on the lower mainland. Deposits near Quesnel extend 40 km along the western bank of the Fraser River from Quesnel to Alexandria; most production has come from Lots o. 6132 and 906. Di atomite is present as discontinuous lenses up to 35 m thick. Diatomite beds Industrial Minerals in Canada are of Upper Miocene age and are overlain by plateau basalts. Diatomite consists almost exclusively of Melosira granulara diatoms that are usually very small and mixed with variable amounts of clay, ilt and volcanic ash. In recent years, extensive beds of diatomite were identified near the confluence of the Chilcotin and Fraser rivers. Diatomite in this locale is a part o f the Upper Miocene to Pliocene Chilcotin Group of sedimentary rocks that are overlain by olivine basalt and related luffs. A deposit near Red Lake is situated 50 km northwest of Kamloops. Diatomite beds occur in the Tranquille Series of Eocene age and are similar in composition to those in the Quesnel area. The Red Lake deposit is abo ut 4 m thick but its areal extent is only a few tens of hectares.

Jan 1, 1984

By Z. D. Hora

Limestone of economic interest is widespread in British Columbia. Triassic deposits on Texada Island are a convenient 1idewa1er source of li111es1one for cemen1 and lime for 1he Pacific orthwes1. Permian limes/one near Pavilion Lake is used for quicklime, and a deposit near Kam/oops is used for cement. Quarries at Dahl Lake and Pwrmigan Creek serve local pulp and paper needs.

Jan 1, 1984

By A. M. L. Cushing, S. Kelebek, A. Ghahreman

Iron sulfides are part of many ore deposits affecting flotation separation of non-ferrous base metals from them. Open-circuit potential (OCP), potentiodynamic polarization, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) measurements were carried out with pyrite and pyrrhotite electrodes to investigate their reactivity under various flotation conditions, which involved the use of TETA, SMBS, and their combination. TETA was found to adsorb on the electrode surfaces causing a significant increase in charge transfer resistance of the product formed, which was most significant at OCP. This effect is much less with SMBS, indicating its greater surface reactivity compared to TETA. The combined use of these reagents decreases charge transfer resistance to a greater degree than that experienced with their individual uses. Addition of Cu2+ as a potential activator to this system nearly eliminates the action of TETA on the electrode surface, which can be attributed to sequestration/chelate formation in liquid phase. The relative effects of these reagents on pyrrhotite electrode are similar to that of pyrite. The main difference between the pyrite and pyrrhotite electrodes is that the observed charge transfer resistance on the pyrrhotite surface with each reagent case is significantly lower by 3 to 4 fold. This is compatible with its anodic nature and ease of oxidation since the OCP value of pyrrhotite is lower than that of pyrite. Results are discussed in relation to flotation/depression behavior of these iron sulfide minerals in mineral separation processes.

Jan 1, 2017

By Z. D. Hora

Traditionally, industrial minerals in British Columbia comprise about 10 per cent of the combined value of mineral, coal, petroleum and natural gas production. Over the years a wide variety of industrial minerals have been produced in British Columbia, often with a different level of marketing success. For some products such as building stone, common brick or expanded shale, once strong demand gradually disappeared; for others such as asbestos and barite, new discoveries or new industrial activities created demand and new markets. For yet other minerals such as fluorite, talc and perlite, wider use has been prevented by the small size, poor quality or remote locations of the deposits. Bentonite (1926 to 1944-as a by-product from coal mines) Building stone (intermittently since the mid-1800s) Chromite (1918 and 1929) Over the past years, the list of industrial minerals produced has been expanded to include several new commodities: glassgrade silica sand, magnesite, pumice and silica for ferrosilicon and silicon carbide manufacture.

Jan 1, 1984

By Osvaldo A. Bascur

Business Challenges ? Many Versions of the Truth ? Lack of Enterprise Visibility (Transparency) ? Limited Communication & Collaboration ? Complex Implementation & Maintenance of software ? End user ease of use of information applications ? Responsive to change ? Access to timely information ? Secure computing ? Maturing Workforce Real time Portal - First of All ? Why Move to a Portal - Portals Recaptures the Business User - Broader Scope - Easy Navigation, World Standard - Features of a Portal - User Profile - Delegation (Secure Delegation of Admin Authority e.g. portal\pat) - Single Sign-On ? HUGE

May 1, 2004

By L. Voisin, E. Díaz, V. Montenegro, W. Kracht

Grinding media is of great concern in the mining industry mainly because its consumption represents an important part of the costs during mineral processing and consequently, of the total mining business OPEX. In addition, grinding media consumption impacts directly on flotation performance through negative contamination by corrosion, affecting the pulp chemical potential, complicating the understanding and control of the process, as galvanic interactions between mineral species also occur. In addition, during the process there is also a physical consumption of the grinding media through erosion and impact. In both cases, mineralogy has an important role because pulp abrasion power, chemical reactivity, rheology, hardness and other variables depend on the minerals contained in the pulp and their interactions. In the present study, a geometallurgical and phenomenological model, which describes the grinding media consumption and its relationship with mineral hardness expressed by Bond Work Index, was obtained based on advanced mineral characterization techniques such as Hylogger3TM, X-ray diffraction, X-ray fluorescence and experimental grinding tests using a laboratory mill applied on Chilean copper pulps. The results obtained show that pH has an important effect on grinding media consumption, because corrosion varies with hydrogen ions availability. Also, mineral hardness depends on mineralogical composition, but textural analysis must be performed to have a better description of this property. Finally, minerals present in a sample define the grinding media consumption mechanism, because a sample with harder minerals and a greater value of Bond Work index is capable of protecting grinding media from impact wear, while a sample with lower hardness but with a big sulfide minerals content would be more aggressive with grinding media because corrosion is more important in this case. The geometallurgical model obtained is capable to relate the grinding time, mineral hardness, content of sulfide minerals and grinding pH to estimate the grinding media consumption.

Jan 1, 2017

By Raj Thamburaj

"Over the last few decades, the emphasis on affordability and reduced cost of ownership has necessitated the development of innovative processes to carry out repairs in aero engine components. Conventional weld and braze repairs have evolved into advanced, sophisticated processes using state of the art knowledge in lasers, robotics and materials technology. This paper illustrates past and present scenarios in an attempt to illustrate progress that has been made in this area. The problems encountered in the past have been detailed along with the solutions that have been developed and commercially implemented to address these issues. Apart from technical progress, this presentation also addresses the progress made in business approaches and in Certification/Regulatory issues surrounding aero engine repair. Progress in Technology Repair technologies have also been the embryo from which new and revolutionary manufacturing technologies have evolved as well. Electron Beam Free Forming and LENS are examples of how a completely new manufacturing concept can evolve what was originally only a process to join metals. The current and future potential of these spin offs is discussed providing examples of application. While several problems have been solved over time with the implementation of advanced repair technologies, the demands of the industry have created new challenges. The paper describes these issues, outlines potential solutions and discusses the future of repair technologies in terms of the far reaching influence it is sure to have in design, manufacturing, maintenance management and life extension. Progress in Business Trends.Business approaches to repair and maintenance have also gone through considerable change with the introduction of ""Power by the Hour"" and other similar arrangements between the companies responsible for engine overhaul and the end-users. Program Based Logistics (PBL) is yet another innovation to provide a win-win situation for the repair service provider and the end user. This paper traces the development of these business initiatives and highlights successful applications. Progress in Repair Certification, Regulatory Issues.Understanding of the issues surrounding certification of repairs has also evolved with time and regulatory issues have been clarified considerably. Procedures for analysis and testing are much clearer and ""Check Lists"" are being drafted for certifying repairs on various engine components. The PMA phenomenon has added yet another dimension to the issues regarding certification and these are discussed as well."

Jan 1, 2010

By S. C. Ells

Introduction An investigation of the bituminous sands of Alberta was begun by the Mines Branch, Department of Mines, in 1913. This investigation was interrupted during the period 1916-19, but was resumed in 1920. Work completed in October 1924 has included detailed topographical surveys of extensive areas, examination and sampling of principal outcrops, the mining of trial shipments, laying of demonstration pavements, and a study of methods adapted to the recovery of hydrocarbons from the crude bituminous sand. Bituminous sand consists, for the most part, of clear quartz grains, cemented together by petroleum residuum or bitumen. In form the quartz grains are most irregular, varying from sharply angular to smooth, waterworn shapes. The bitumen has a specific gravity of 1.018 and has a penetration of 9.00 mm. (77° F. 100 grams 1 sec.). The percentage of bitumen associated with the sand varies from 5 to 25 per cent. A large tonnage is available in which the percentage of bitqmen is 15 per cent or over. Production Up to the present time, production has been restricted to requirements for experimental .and demonstration work. The total quantity shipped for such purposes has not exceeded 750 tons.

Jan 1, 1925

By Pingchao Ke, Zhihong Liu

Fe(III)-As(V) precipitates were synthesized from the Fe(II)-As(V)-SO42--H2O system at 90°C in initial Fe(II)/As(V) molar ratios of 4.0 and 5.0, respectively. The synthesis were carried out by introducing oxygen gas into the system to oxidize Fe(II) ions into Fe (III) ions, and at the same time, adding aqueous sodium carbonate solution into the system to neutralize the acid released by the hydrolysis reactions, with the purpose of keeping the pH constant at 1.5±0.05. The precipitates obtained were characterized by XRD, chemical composition analysis, SEM, XPS, and Raman spectrum. The results indicated that the particles in the precipitates were in the morphology of irregular aggregation with their sizes in the range of about 1–4 µm. The precipitates consisted of scorodite, ferric arsenate and amorphous hydrated ferric oxide, of which amorphous hydrated ferric oxide formulated as Fe(OH)x(SO42-)y. The characteristic XPS peaks of Fe-AsO43- and Fe-O in the precipitates located at 711.8 and 713.3 eV, separately, and the existence of amorphous hydrated ferric oxide led to two series of shake off lines developed over the end of high binding energy of Fe2p XPS. The precipitates were stable in TCLP tests at pH 4.93 for 60 hours with the arsenic concentrations in the leaching solutions being 0.27 mg/L and 0.59 mg/L for the precipitates prepared in the initial Fe(II)/As(V) molar ratios of 4.0 and 5.0, respectively. The tests for the long-term stability of the precipitates were carried out by leaching them for 40 days at 25°C under various media in the pH range from 9.50 to 10.57, and the results showed that the precipitates synthesized in this study were much more stable than those by previous researchers.

Jan 1, 2017

By A. B. Irwin

Abstract The techniques used in recognizing, recording, and interpreting structures in the Slocan sedimentary ceries in the West Kootenay district of B.C. are presented here in the hope that they will be of use to others working in complexly folded areas. The general pattern of folding in the Central Slocan area is obscured by lack of outcrop over a large part of the country, lack of marker horizons, local complexities of folding, and several systems of faulting. 1t was found necessary to observe and record in great detail all primary and secondary structural features and to analyse those observations on a statistical basis. The determination of bedding tops as well as bedding attitudes proved to be of fundamental importance in determining the pattern of folding. The interpretation of secondary linear and planar structures confirm:; this pattern. Accordingly, the thickness of the Slocan sedimentary series is computed to be several times that formerly postulated. Introduction The data upon which this paper is based were collected largely during the field seasons of 1947 and 1948 when the writer was employed by the British Columbia Department of Mines on detailed mapping in the Slocan mining camp. Additional observations were made by the writer during 1950 when engaged in property examinations for the Geological Survey of Canada. This presentation is largely a condensation of part of a more comprehensive thesis (5) and is restricted to observations and conclusions pertaining to the mapping of complex folds, stripped of any hypothetical discussion. Except for some unique occurrences of primary structures, there are no features or techniques described here which are not presented in standard textbooks on structural geology. It is felt that the major contribution of this paper is the method used in applying these standard techniques to a specific field problem and in interpreting the results.

Jan 1, 1951

By Larry B. Smith

"Feasibility studies are the means by which mineral reserves are established prior to financing a project. However, guidelines are generally lacking for the content, data quality and accuracy of these studies. Regulators take a principle-based rather than prescriptive approach to the content of studies and look to the industry to define study content. Professional organizations, engineering firms and mining companies must eventually establish guidelines and best practices for this work. Most likely these will draw on standards or “stage gates” that have been developed by major mining houses and engineering firms. Engineering studies must: 1.,Define optimal mining and processing methods, production rates, infrastructure, product sales, environmental management and risk mitigation. 2.,Increase confidence in resources, reserves, production plans, processing performance, infrastructure design, environmental management, permitting, capital and operating costs, and financial performance to support financing. 3.,Provide engineering designs suitable for accurate cost estimates. 4.,Develop project execution plans with sufficient confidence that project delays and cost overruns will not occur. Conceptual (scoping, preliminary assessment) Establish the principal characteristics of the project from the geology, resources, metallurgy and development constraints. Assess different approaches to mining and processing. Identify project execution requirements. Test project viability with economic analyses. Recommend additional work to increase the confidence in geology, resources, metallurgical performance, infrastructure, operating and capital costs, environmental conditions and permitting to allow selection of the best development options."

Jan 1, 2003

By F. E. P. PEARSON

Sandstone quarried from an island in Lake Winnipeg is barged 130 km to a processing plant at Selkirk on the Red River. The stone is white, poorly consolidated, and consists of rounded quartz grains of high natural purity. It is an important supplier of silica in Western Canada for glass, fiberglass, foundry and other industrial uses.

Jan 1, 1984

By Jim Richard

Introduction Electric Vehicle Controllers (EVC) and the Northern Centre for Advanced Technology (NORCAT) have created two generations of Lunar Highland Simulant ?Simulant preparation techniques and equipment resulted from drilling activities in support of Regolith and Environment Science and Oxygen and Lunar Volatiles Extraction (RESOLVE ) ?The purpose of defining the compaction process was to minimize the effect of density on drill testing This allowed other variables including drill bit geometry, auger, RPM, and thrust to be evaluated independent of density ?Density of Highland Regolith falls within a range of 1.40 to 2.29 g/cm3 (p484 Lunar Source Book)

May 1, 2013

By M MacMillan

THE following is a brief description of the method of hoisting ore automatically at the No. 14 shaft of Mcintyre Porcupine Mines, Limited, Schumacher, Ontario. All ore and waste below the 3875-ft. level is hoisted up No. 14 shaft from the 7000-ft. level to the 3000-ft. level. Seventy to seventy-five per cent of the mining is done in this area. The shaft consists of four compartments: a man way, a ventilation compartment and two skip compartments. The hoist, located on the 3500-ft. level (see Figure l), is an 80-in.-diameter, 4-rope friction winder, utilizing two 6-ton front-dump skips in balance. The hoist is powered by a 1,100-h.p. A.C. motor, the maxi-mum speed being 2,400 ft. per minute. The operation can be either manual, push-button automatic from the pocket, or fully automatic. Men can be raised or lowered in the skips, using a collapsible aluminum platform placed inside the skip box.

Jan 1, 1963

By R. R. Irrinki

Abstract -The Key Anacon deposit consists of four sulfide zones called, from south to north : Key Anacon No. 1, Key Anacon No. 2, Key Anacon No. 3, and Key Anacon Copper Zone. Massive sulfides of zones 1, 2, and 3 are underlain by rocks correlated with the Nepisiguit Falls Formation and are overlain by matie volcanic rocks correlative with the Boucher Brook Formation. In contrast to zones 1, 2, and 3, narrow northwesterly-trend.ing, copper-rich fracture zones occur within the Patrick Brook Formation. Sulfides in zone 2 occur as three mineralogical associations, namely: pyrite-chalcopyrite, pyrite-sphalerite-galerta, and pyrrhotite-sphalerite-galerta. The distribution of lithologies and en-echelon patterns of the three sulfide lenses of Key Anacon No. 2 zone are the result of F1 and F2 folding. Zone 2 is the most promising economically, with proven reserves of 1.11 million tonnes grading 0.2207o Cu, 3.47% Pb, 8.41% Zn, and 96 g/t Ag; the zone is open below a depth of 427 m.

Jan 1, 1992

By Abhilash

Uranium is conventionally extracted using a process that employs strong acid (H2SO4) and an oxidant (MnO2) as leaching agents. This method often creates environmental problems, requires large amounts of energy, and involves a complex operational plant. It is not, however, economically attractive to extract uranium from low-grade ores by chemical leaching. Because the content of U3O8 in the Indian ore is usually below 0.1% by weight, it is necessary to develop an alternative process to enable the efficient and economic recovery of uranium. Uranium ore from the Narwapahar mines, UCIL is a type of vein deposit found in India, which accounts for ~54% in India. The ore (0.047% U3O8), though of Singhbhum area, possess exceptionally different mineralogy due to presence of some refractory minerals and richness of apatite (5%) resulting in a maximum 78% recovery through conventional processing at UCIL, with a very high consumption of sulfuric acid and pyrolusite, besides possible loss of uranium as uranium phosphate. To avoid usage of environmentally non-benign oxidants, remediation of influence of phosphates, and improve the overall process output of uranium; an alternate extraction technology using microbial isolate(s) is worthwhile exploring and the same is presented in the paper. The microbial isolate enriched with Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans grown from source mine water was employed for bio-leaching of uranium while varying pH, pulp density (PD), particle size, etc. On varying pH at 35oC using 20%(w/v) PD and <75µm particle size, 83.5% and 78% uranium bio-recovery were observed at 1.7 and 2.0 pH in 40 days against maximum recovery of 46% and 41% metal in control experiments respectively. Whereas, it was observed that grinding of ore to finer size actually helped dissolution of uranium. Finer size particles (<45µm) gave a maximum biorecovery of 93% in 40days at 10%(w/v) PD, 1.7 pH and 35oC. The bio-recovery of uranium fell down from 93% to 82.73% and 60% on increasing the pulp density from 10% to 20% and 30% respectively for particles of <45µm size. The higher uranium dissolution during bioleaching at 1.7pH can be correlated with increase in redox potential from 433 mV to 664mV in 40 days.

Aug 1, 2010