Search Documents

?Podolsky Water treatment plant discharges to Norman North bog which drains into Whistle / Post Creek watershed and into Wanapitei Lake ?Whistle Mine closed and reclaimed but continues to treat and discharge water to Whistle Creek

May 1, 2009

By Kuwauchi. Y., M. Barati

Recycling of dust using a rotary hearth furnace (RHF) has gained considerable attention in the past two decades for the sustainable production of steel with less environmental impact. In order to further promote the recycling of electric arc furnace dust and carbonaceous wastes using the RHF process, a mathematical model was developed to predict the reaction behaviour of dust-reductant composites. The reduction kinetics of zinc and iron oxides as well as the volatilization behaviour of volatile matter in the reluctant were considered. The modeling approach and some preliminary results are presented in this article.

Jan 1, 2011

By M. Alvarez-Silva, A. Uribe-Salas, J. A. Finch, M. Mimezami

The point of zero charge (PZC) of electrokinetically anisotropic minerals (chlorite and serpentine) was determined using the Mular-Roberts (M-R) titration technique, and compared to isoelectric point (IEP) obtained from electrophoretic mobility measurements. To validate the M-R technique, the point of zero charge and isoelectric point of two isotropic minerals (alumina and silica) were shown to be comparable. For serpentine and chlorite, respectively the PZC was found at pH 4.3 and 4.6, while the IEP occurred at pH 3.2 and <3. Settling tests showed that the maximum settling rate, which corresponds to aggregated particles, for chlorite was around pH 3, i.e., close to the IEP; lizardite did not show a conclusive maximum.

Jan 1, 2009

By M. Djivre, T. Eger, A. Godwin, I. Bhattacherya

Load-haul-dump vehicles (LHDs) are extensively used in underground mining, however, equipment design and operating conditions contribute to restricted operator sight lines. The inability to clearly see people, objects, or hazards around the machine has contributed to a number of accidents including fatal injuries. In order to identify vehicle design characteristics resulting in restricted and blocked sightlines, line-of-sight assessments are traditionally completed in the field. However, field methods are unable to evaluate lineof- sight under dynamic operating conditions, and are limited in their ability to provide feedback on the impact of various operator characteristics such as sitting height. Results of this research show computer simulation and virtual reality can be successfully used to evaluate line-of-sight during the operation of LHD vehicles. In order to benefit from virtual reality applications, the work environment, LHD vehicle, and human posture need to be represented as accurately as possible. A computer simulation program with ergonomic analysis features, Classic JACK 3.1, was successfully used. Threedimensional CAD models of LHDs were developed from manufacturer specifications and pictures taken from LHDs currently in use. The LHD models were imported into the JACK environment, a digital human was positioned in the cab of the LHD vehicle, and the vehicle and human were driven over a typical mine route. Real-time feedback in the JACK program was used to identify what the operator could see under different operating conditions. Machine characteristics and operating scenarios resulting in impaired line-of-sight were successfully identified with this method. The JACK program could also provide real-time feedback on the human’s joint forces and torques, strength requirements, postural comfort, and metabolic energy expenditure. As a result, this method could be used to successfully evaluate musculoskeletal injury risk factors along with system design recommendations to improve workplace safety and productivity in any setting. The LHDs evaluated in the JACK software package can also be combined with mine models and imported into other VR software packages (e.g. Blender) in order to enable viewing in Laurentian University’s Virtual Reality Laboratory. The VR models using these packages can be viewed in stereo to provide better appreciation of spatial vision issues.

Jan 1, 2005

By A. R. Farkoosh, J-P. Fortin, M. Pekguleryuz, S. Bagherpour

"Titanium aluminides are structural intermetallics which offer an attractive combination of high temperature strength and light weight. For such properties, these intermetallic alloys have become front-runners in replacing nickel-based superalloys used for several high temperature applications. These alloys are produced from metallic titanium, aluminum and master alloys involving an expensive and difficult process. A low cost alternative to current industrial production method is the new modified aluminothermic process which directly reduces titanium oxide (TiO2) to titanium aluminides. Nevertheless, this process has itself significant challenges in achieving alloys free of oxide inclusions; the close densities of the slag and the titanium aluminides makes slag/molten metal separation a challenging task. Usually, the alloy produced requires a second refining step. In this study, thermodynamic calculations based on CALPHAD method were performed to determine the solidification path and an attempt has been made to develop a criterion to increase the density deference between the slag and the alloy by alloying with appropriate elements. Furthermore, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and x-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques were utilized to examine the microstructure and phase selection of three Ti-Al alloys produced by the aluminothermic reaction, including the as-cast, refined in a controlled atmosphere and inert-gas-refined alloys. The composition range of the alloys studied was restricted to the a2-Ti3Al + ?-TiAl phase field (Ti-30Al) in the binary Ti-Al phase diagram leading to a lamellar structure with different complex intermetallics as shown in Figure 1.INTRODUCTIONTiAl based alloys are promising structural materials for high temperature aerospace and automotive applications. This is due to some attractive properties such as low density, high specific strength, high specific stiffness and high temperature strength retention (Wen-bin, Xue-wen, Hong-fei, & Yong-feng, 2011). These alloys have become leading candidates to replace Ni-based super alloys in gas turbine engines. Replacement of Ni-based super alloy parts with titanium aluminides is expected to reduce the structural weight of high performance gas turbine engines by as much as 20–30% (Kothari, Radhakrishnan, Sudarshan, & Wereley, 2012)."

Jan 1, 2016

By P. A. Riveros

The literature on the arsenic disposal practices of the metallurgical industry and the long term stability of the disposed arsenic compounds were reviewed from a Canadian perspective. The review was complemented with visits to selected operating metallurgical sites to obtain information on their specific arsenic disposal practices and the behaviour of their impounded residues. The arsenic disposal procedure currently favoured by the industry involves the formation of an insoluble ferric arsenate compound which is allowed to sediment at the bottom of tailings or residue ponds. It has been shown recently that this poorly formed crystalline compound is similar to ?arsenical ferrihydrite? which is ferrihydrite containing strongly adsorbed arsenate anions. Despite concerns about its long term stability on thermodynamic grounds, arsenical ferrihydrite appears to be stable for many years in the proper environment which includes a slightly acidic pH and oxidizing conditions. A high Fe/As ratio and the presence of heavy metals appear to increase the stability of arsenical ferrihydrite. High temperature operations, such as those encountered in the autoclave treatment of refractory gold ores, are conducive to the formation of scorodite, FeAsO42H2O, and/or a series of ferric arseno-hydroxy-sulphate compounds depending on the solution composition. Scorodite has several advantages over arsenical ferrihydrite as a disposal compound including a lower iron demand, a higher density and a greater thermodynamic stability. New procedures have been developed to generate scorodite at ambient pressure. These procedures would offer significant reductions in capital cost because of the elimination of the need for autoclaves. Lime precipitation which was widely used in the past is being abandoned as a result of strong evidence showing that calcium arsenate compounds decompose slowly in contact with atmospheric CO2 to form calcium carbonate and soluble arsenic acid. In all cases, the long term stability of the disposed arsenic compounds depends on a number of factors including disposal site characteristics, particle crystallinity and size distribution, the presence of complexing agents and the effect of bacterial activity.

May 1, 2002

By Jean-Loui Frenetie, Françoi Himbeault

"Flow of traffic in the underground mine has been improved through the years with clever use of traffic lights. The evolution is characterized by three major design changes. This paper will scan the basic criteria of these designs.IntroductionMines Gaspe, formerly known as Gaspe Copper Mines Limited, is a member of the Noranda Group of companies. The mine is the ""raison d&apos;etre"" of the town of Murdochville, located 600 m above sea level on the Gaspe Peninsula. Paved highways link the town with Gaspe, 95 km to the east, and with Anse Pleureuse, 400 km to the north, on the Gulf of St. Lawrence.The low-grade copper mineralization was discovered in 1921 at Copper Mountain by local prospectors, the Miller brothers. Noranda Mines Limited obtained an interest in the property in 1937. World War II interrupted exploration work and it was not until 195I that a decision was made to bring the property into production.Initially, operations were confined to the Needle Mountain underground deposits which commenced production in 1955. Between 1968 and 1982, low-grade ore from the Mountain open pit supplemented the production. Due to the depressed market, surface and underground operations were suspended in 1982. Needle Mountain underground mining resumed in the second half of 1984, but the Copper Mountain open-pit operation remained idle. Since 1979, more than 75 km of exploration drilling resulted in the discovery of two new deposits, one which is located under the town of Murdochville . Mines Gaspe&apos;s present ore reserve, approximating 8 million tonnes, will be depleted by the end of 1992."

Jan 1, 1988

There are many inherent risks in creating a mine plan for a new ore zone in an underground mine; one of such risks is the redistribution of stresses that could be a cause of instability. Using numerical modelling tools, it is possible to model the planned stope extraction sequence and evaluate the influence of mining induced stresses on the stability of remnant pillars, and use this information to remedy potential setbacks. This paper demonstrates this approach through a case study of the short-term mine plan of the Lapa mine of Agnico Eagle Mines Ltd., an underground gold mining operation near Val d?Or. Three-dimensional boundary element modelling is used to compute the stresses induced by the stope extraction sequence as planned with a longitudinal retreat mining method. The proposed methodology can be generalized to other mines that require an understanding of the stress concentrations at the pre-feasibility stage of mine design.

May 1, 2009

By T. T. Wang, T. H. Huang, Y. C. Chiu

Quantitatively analyzing deformation of a tunnel with lining anomalies for structural safety evaluation is essential for sustainable tunnel engineering. However, a complete theory and associated methodology accounted for displacement of a built tunnel is absent. This manuscript introduces a novel characteristic matrix method proposed by the authors which is an integrated procedure that analyzes displacement of rock tunnels in operation. First, establish a numerical model expressing a specific state of the tunnel in interest. Derive the characteristic displacement modes by a unit disturbances and check their independency. Once the characteristic displacement modes are proved to be orthogonal (independent), they are ready for use. Given a tunnel displacement, modal decomposition returns the magnitude of each characteristic displacement modes that together consist the given displacement. By realizing the definite value of horizontal and vertical translation, rotation, uniform compression/expansion, elliptic deformation, triangular deformation…etc. for a tunnel displacement, one can distinguish tunnel displacement and deformation types from their modal composition. A circular tunnel with elastic structure and surrounded by elastic rock mass is chosen to demonstrate the outcome of characteristic modes and how they work. The influences of tunnel shape, elastic modulus ratio between rock mass and tunnel structure, and numbers of monitoring points on a tunnel profile were also discussed. Identifying possible tunnel deformation causes is attainable if further connections between mode combination and force increments were built.

Jan 1, 2015

By P. Blonde

Recent analysis has suggested that a balanced recovery profile can improve flotation bank performance. Test work was conducted to test the balanced profile concept at the Penhorwood talc mine near Timmins, Ontario, Canada. Plant trials were devised to determine how to control the recovery profile and the resultant impact on grade and recovery in a rougher bank of four cells. Accompanying gas dispersion measurements revealed a maintenance issue with one cell that was corrected. By manipulating air and frother addition it was possible to bring the bank closer to a balanced recovery profile and the down-the-bank grade/recovery improved. Plant production showed an increased talc grade at similar yield with the balanced profile. The results provide justification for a long term plant trial.

Aug 1, 2013

By H. Y. Sun, Q. Y. Tan, X. P. Niu, L. Li, Y. Jia, R. M. Ruan

During bioleaching processes of sulfide minerals, the sulfide minerals act as the natural habitats for acidophiles, of which, most are autotrophic iron and sulfur oxidizing microbes. These microbes acquire energy by oxidation of sulfide minerals, and play crucial role in bioleaching processes. In the industrial bioleaching heaps, microbial community and their activity are highly related to engineering configurations, while the optimized industrial operation can help to fast dissolution of aim minerals and acid/iron balance under optimized microbial condition. Microbial community succession and activity formation, the function of microbes to mineral dissolution, the mechanisms to promotion and inhibition of sulfide minerals oxidation, and the industrial instances for microbial community regulation were reviewed. For these instances, promoted microbial activity helped to fast pyrite oxidation for sulfuric acid generation, which realized zero sulfur acid addition to the irrigation solution in the initiation of a bioleaching heaps. High microbial activity by optimized operation parameters improved Cu leaching efficiency during the heap bioleaching process. And also by inhibition of microbial activity, especially the iron oxidizing microbes, the excessive pyrite oxidation can be inhibited, which helped to the acid/iron balance during heap bioleaching. INTRODUCTION Around the world, high grade copper ore are exploited, while barely new high-grade deposits are succeeded, the copper grade of ore deposit is constantly decreasing. The increasing copper demands worldwide requests to process these low-grade ore deposits. Processing of low-grade ores are not economical by usual extraction processes. Heap leaching is a cheaper process for recovery of low-grade ores, and has been applied to extract valuable metals from sulfide minerals worldwide, such as copper, gold, uranium and nickel (Gericke et al., 2009). Heap leaching process has greatly decreased the economic grade and expanded the recoverable ore reserve worldwide (Brierley, 2008). It is usually carried out in the open environments, and could process huge amount of ore (usually in millions of tonnes in one reactor) in the heap reactor (Gericke et al., 2009). For copper sulfide, especially the secondary copper sulfides, heap (dump) bioleaching is successfully applied. Heap bioleaching process is cost saving, and sometimes can be achieved without adding chemical into heaps, by microbial fixing of the atmospheric N2 and CO2, and generating oxidant Fe3+ and sulfuric acid in heaps from oxidation of sulfide minerals. Also heap bioleaching is environment friendly by cycling use of the leaching solution, and without exhaust emission.

Jan 1, 2019

By Z. Z. Öztürk, N. Sarica, A. H. Üçisik, C. Bindal

"Titanium oxide films were fabricated on commercially pure titanium surfaces via anodization procedure. Anodization parameters, anodization time and voltage were altered, whereas temperature and chemical composition of anodization bath were kept constant. The main idea in this study is to obtain rough titanium-oxide surfaces. The type and feature of titanium oxide formed were observed via SEM and EDX analyses. What was revealed from SEM and EDX analyses were combined with Ti-O phase diagram in order to make judgment on the type of phases obtained, e.g. solid solution and/or compounds. Studies on the different regions of each sample showed that surfaces consist of different titanium oxide compounds with various O/Ti ratios in nano level and solid solutions varying in terms of chemistry on the same sample. Thus together rough surfaces and inhomogeneous distribution of "titanium oxides" were obtained. It was also found that when anodization time and voltage were increased, more granular surface with higher O/Ti atomic ratio was obtained."

Jan 1, 2015

By Champoux. G., E. Ghali, W. Zhang, G. Monteith, A. -M. Lafront, G. Houlachi

The efficiency of the electrowinning process of zinc depends on the performance of oxygen evolution reaction, anode quality and corrosion resistance of lead anodes. Original surfaces of rolled commercial lead-silver anodes were examined using conventional polarisation methods in acid zinc sulfate electrolyte with manganese sulphate at 38 °C. The self-discharge method (potential decay) following 5 h polarisation at 50 mA cm-2 was considered to evaluate electrochemical activity, oxygen overpotential and anode stability. The influence of silver content is compared to that of the microstructure, the fabrication process and the composition of the corrosion products. Polished anode samples have also been examined for microstructural and corrosion performance studies. The experiments show that the duration of the plateau at 1600 mV versus SHE, the potential level (active corrosion state/stationary state) and the rate AEco/At during the decay could be a good indicator to compare the corrosion rates of the anodes in industrial zinc electrolytes.

Jan 1, 2008

By N. N. Rulyov

"Starting from fundamental principles of colloid-hydrodynamic theory of disperse systems we have shown that application of strongly non-uniform hydrodynamic fields allows to achieve not only faster rates of flocculation of suspension, but also supports significant improvements in the quality of clarified water and separation characteristics of solid phase. Specifically, it has been experimentally proven that the new treatment method based on these principles (then termed as ""ultra-flocculation"") allows:•,Increase the output of thickeners and pressure filters by 1,5-1,7 times;•,Decrease solids fall through into the filtrate in the process of vacuum filtration by 2¬3,5 times;•,Improve the rate of purification of water phase in the upright thickener by 1,5-1,9 times;•,Decrease flocculant consumption by 1,5-3 times;•,Increase the effective operational life time of cloth filters by 3-4 times;•,Ensure sustainable operation of separation equipment, i.e. decrease the sensitivity of process to variation in suspension concentration, as well as to variations of suspension composition and dispersion characteristics;•,Apply flocculant solutions of concentration 2-3 times higher, thus increasing the capacity of equipment used for solutions preparation."

Jan 1, 2004

By François Charette

High stress conditions in underground mines push the performance envelope of support systems to their limit. In weak rock masses these conditions lead to large deformation and breakdown of the rock material, while stress release events in hard rock mines can lead to sudden and usually violent rock and support failure. In typical support systems, a combination of different reinforcement and support mechanisms provide the required convergence control and retainment. These systems usually involve a multi-pass support installation. The advantages of a single pass support system are investigated and several bolting combinations are compared. Criteria for design are reviewed and new criteria are proposed to include cost and effectiveness in commonly used engineering approaches. Field observation and testing is used to illustrate the difference between the proposed approach and more conventional systems.

Nov 1, 2011

By J. G. Schofield, C. G. Tan, R. J. Ord

"Most electric furnaces in the nickel and copper smelting industries are still fitted with conventional electrode holders which consist of water-cooled electrical contact clamps and a pressure ring. The water cooling exerts a significant cooling effect on the electrode column. The importance of controlling the temperature of the Soderberg electrode paste at the contact clamp area is examined, using in-plant experience and computer simulation of the paste melting and baking process. In addition to the effect of water-cooling, the effect of other variables, including the mantle air temperature, the electrode current, the furnace freeboard temperature and the electrode slipping rate are discussed. Ways in which the variable heating conditions in the paste melting zone can be controlled are outlined.IntroductionIn most non-ferrous electric smelting operations, the breakage of Soderberg electrodes is an infrequent, isolated occurrence. Occasionally, however, a rash of breakages may be experienced on a particular furnace for what appears to be no obvious reasons. The extent of the breaks may not exhibit a uniform pattern; sometimes the break may be less than half a metre above the electrode tip; at other times it may be at or just below the roof level. The latter type of break is, of course, the most dangerous since it is closest to the non-baked, weak portion of the electrode paste column. No matter where the breaks occur, they result in abnormal furnace power, charging and tapping conditions and loss of production while the new electrode section is slipped and baked. On a six-electrode furnace, breakage on one electrode has the immediate effect of reducing the total furnace power by one-third. On a three-electrode furnace, the effect is more drastic, one half of the power being lost."

Jan 1, 1995

By J. Illescas, N. C. Murray

This paper provides an economic comparison and technical evaluation of different approaches for copper recovery from small-scale resources such as historic tails, dumps, pond and pit water as well as acid mine/rock drainage. Factors such as the location, the availability and cost of reagents, power availability and cost and a local market for end product alter the preferred processing technique. A number of scenarios are presented and technologies considered include; solvent extraction, ion exchange, sulphide precipitation, cementation, copper sulphate crystallization, membrane (RO) and copper cathode production.

Jan 1, 2014

In the leaching and recovery of gold from copper containing gold ores using cyanidation, some copper minerals also dissolve which can have a detrimental effect on the process efficiency and economics. There are also environmental concerns with current operations discharging cyanide and copper cyanide species into tailings dams, and strict regulations prohibit this for greenfield plants. Cyanide destruction however is not an economic option for new plants treating copper-gold ores. This paper evaluates a potential recovery process to overcome the copper cyanide problem. Despite gold dissolution occurring in copper cyanide solutions having no free cyanide, gold recovery from ores is lower compared to free cyanide. Thus, cyanide addition has to be optimised to maximise the gold recovery whilst endeavouring to eliminate free cyanide at the completion of leaching (CN:Cu less than 3:1). Subsequently, copper cyanide can be recovered using activated carbon. The loaded copper cyanide is easily recovered from the carbon with a cyanide soak and distilled water wash such that the eluted CN :Cu ratio is less than 4:1. The copper could be recovered efficiently by electrowinning, by decreasing the pH of the eluant to 5. The remaining cyanide solution, after electrowinning, is then neutralised to form NaCN and recycled.

Jan 1, 2005

By A. A. Ruitenberg, L. R. Fyffe

"This paper compares several distinct types of mineral deposits associated with different families of granitoid rocks in the New Brunswick Appalachians. Porphyry copper deposit s are associated with late-stage differentiates of Lower to Middle Devonian I-type igneous complexes. Contact metasomatic deposits were formed where these plutons intrude carbonate rocks and they gave rise to vein deposits in fracture zones near wrench faults. The I-type granitoids were emplaced mainly in areas of thin continental crust and locally along prominent faults in areas of thick continental crust.In contrast, tin-tungsten-molybdenum-bearing greisen deposits and skarns, and antimony-bearing quartz veins are associated with predominantly S-stype granitoid complexes ranging in age from Middle Devonian to early Carboniferous. The mineral deposits occur within or along the contacts of very fractionated (specialized) late phases of these intrusive complexes, which are characterized by high K2O/Na2O, Rb/Sr and Rb/Ba, and low Fe, Mg, Zr and Ti contents. These specialized granitoids are in a large wrench fault zone that cuts across thick continental crust in southwestern and central New Brunswick.IntroductionA great variety of igneous intrusions and subvolcanic stocks were emplaced in the New Brunswick Appalachians during the latter stages of and immediately after the Acadian Orogeny (late Lower to Middle Devonian) and during the subsequent Hercynian Orogeny (Carboniferous). The presence or absence and characteristics of mineral deposits associated with these intrusions reflect the level of intrusion, the composition of the associated igneous rocks and the composition of the invaded sequences.Nickel-copper sulphide deposits occur in mafic intrusions in the St. Stephen area of the southwestern Magaguadavic - St. Croix Zone and in the Goodwin Lake area of the northeastern Mirarnichi Zone. Contact metasomatic and vein-type copper-rich base metal sulphide deposits and porphyry copper deposits with or without molybdenum are related mainly to high-level granitoid stocks of intermediate composition in the Matapedia-Tobique and northwest Miramichi zones. Tintungsten - molybdenum deposits with or without base metal sulphide minerals and antimony-uranium deposits are mainly associated with Upper Devonian and Lower Carboniferous biotite-muscovite granites and related &apos;subvolcanic intrusions that occur in an arc-shaped belt extending from the southwestern Magagaudavic - St. Croix Zone into the central Mirarnichi Zone."

Jan 1, 1982

By K. Yamaguchi

To contribute highly efficient and environmentally conscious copper smelting process, several topics in chemistry of the continuous converting were discussed. Through the reviewing the authors&apos; thermodynamic simulations, it is recognized that small amount and low copper content of the coexisting slag is preferable. Some discussions were added to the Takeda&apos;s diagram for Cu20-Fe0x-Ca0 ferrite slag, and the activity curves of the constituents were derived. Thermodynamic calculations were carried out on the copper contents of the slag during the blister copper formation. The dissolution of copper in slag decrease somewhat with increasing temperature, but the effects of increasing S02 pressure and decreasing %S in copper are considerable to increase in copper content of the slag. The optimum oxygen enrichment in the supplied air, and regulation of the oxidation degree for the blister copper are important in practice. The gypsum phase separation in the calcium ferrite slag was also evaluated thermodynamically, and concluded that decreasing temperature, increasing CaO content or S02 pressure, and extensive oxidation of the blister copper tend to separate CaS04. 0

Jan 1, 2007