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By R. J. Goodman, P. Lafleur

This paper presents a current interpretation and projections of recent statistics on raw materials availability based on familiarity with the Canadian steel industry and its development. Problems and opportunities are recognized and discussed.

Jan 1, 1976

By Guthrie. R. K., H. B. Hill

"INTRODUCTION During the early 1920's world-wide attention was attracted to a group of oil fields (Mexia, Wortham, Currie, Richard, and Powell) later known as Mexia-Powell fault-line fields in Limestone, Freestonne, and Navarro Counties, Tex. Enormous yields of high-gravity oil from the wells in these fields resulted in drilling campaigns that quickly surpassed all previous records for rapid, intensive development of productive areas. The discovery of oil in the Mexia filed in September 1921 was followed quickly by the finding of oil in the Currie field in October. In January 1923 oil was discovered in the Powell field; in February 1924 the Richland field, midway between Currie and Powell fields, was brought in; and in November 1924 oil was discovered in the Wortham field, situated between Mexia and Currie fields. Each of the fileds was developed rapidly: wells were spaced closely and had high initial production; production peaks were reached early in the producing lives of the fields; subsequent decline was rapid, and there was early and rapid encroachment of edge water.In 1927 Bureau of Mines engineers, in their investigations a engineering conditions in oil,completed a preliminary study and published a mimeographed report 4/ on underground conditions in the Wortham field, and in 1928 they reported on production and development problems in the Powell Field. 5/ field."

Aug 1, 1943

By Paul M. Tyler

The literature on radium is already voluminous, but mcuh of it is too technical to be intelligible to the average reader, and there is no single publication that covers certain economic features of the radium industry. As a result of the renewed interest in the possibilities of domestic carnotite deposits a number of requests have been made to the Bureau of Mines for information, more particularly with reference to the business aspects of the industry. In order to meet this apparent need, the present paper has been prepared from material available in the files of the bureau. The technical data are compiled from various sources and are believed to be reasonably dependable, but the attempt has been not so much to achieve meticulous scientific accuracy as to brim; together facts of industrial significance and popular interest. GENERAL DESCRIPTION Radium is a brilliant white metal that melts sharply at about 700°C. and volatilizes appreciably at that temperature. With an estimated specific gravity of nearly 6.0, it is more than twice as heavy as aluminum and 25 per cent lighter than irons. Although it has been isolated in its metallic state, it is not used in that form, partly because it tarnishes rapidly even in dry air (forming a nitride), partly because of the greater expense of reducing it to metal, and partly because of the difficulty of dealing with such minute quantities of material. It is used always in the form of its compounds, the most important of which from the vie point of utilization are the bromide, chloride, and sulphate.

Jan 1, 1930

The request for proposal from the U.S. Bureau of Mines outlined the purpose of this study in the following terms. "High grade near surface deposits are largely a matter of history. Most of the current mineral production in the united States is from large low grade ore deposits mined by large scale methods. It appears likely that exhaustion of near surface deposits and public resistance to open pit mining will tend to reverse the present trend toward open pit mining and lead to increased reliance on large scale underground mining. In view of the long lead time needed to improve basic technology, an in-depth study of the major underground mining methods is needed. "This study is intended to provide a systematic review and analysis of large scale non-coal underground mining technology with particular emphasis on current practices and problems, needed technological improvements, existing or potential environmental conflicts, and possible modifications or innovations that will assist in the satisfaction of projected national mineral supply requirements."

Jan 1, 1974

By F M. Weir, M Fowler

A discrete fracture network (DFN) approach involves numerical modelling that explicitly represents how defects may be spatially distributed through a rock mass. A DFN is a 3D realisation of the ‘smaller scale’, non-deterministic defects; it is not an attempt to model larger, deterministic structures that should be identified as part of an engineering geology model. The approach utilises structural data in stochastic analyses to give a range of possible models that provides a tool for visualisation and analysis of a rock mass and indicates the potential large-scale slope or tunnel performance and stability.Stochastic fracture modelling for rock mass characterisation has significantly advanced over the past 25 years. With recent improvements to field data collection and computational power, it has become recognised internationally as a valuable tool for modelling some geomechanical problems encountered when designing excavations in fractured rock masses.This paper provides an introduction to the DFN approach, particularly the necessary input parameters and derivation of these from typical structural data sources, such as boreholes or scan line mapping. Of particular importance for engineering applications is validation of the simulated fracture network and techniques for doing so are discussed here.CITATION:Weir, F M and Fowler, M, 2014. An introduction to discrete fracture network modelling and its geotechnical applications, in Proceedings AusRock 2014: Third Australasian Ground Control in Mining Conference , pp 435–444 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Nov 5, 2014

By Paul M. Hall

In the last several years, the coal mining industry has made significant changes in the design of longwall mining systems to make them more productive. Some changes, such as increasing the length of the coal faces and increasing the capacity of the face conveyors, have resulted in problems with achieving sufficient motor torque to start and operate the longwall face conveyors. Other changes, such as increasing the size and/or decreasing the percent impedance of longwall power center transformers, have resulted in problems with the short-circuit currents on the transformer secondaries exceeding the interrupting ratings of the molded case circuit breakers used to protect the secondary circuits. A survey of 24 longwall mining systems in northern West Virginia was conducted to investigate both problems. The results of the survey are presented and analyzed. Several recommended solutions to the problems are presented to enable the coal mining industry to design safe and productive longwall mining systems.

Jan 1, 1982

By Martin J. Gavin

The results of investigations of the oil-shale resources of the United States were first published by the United States Geological Survey in 1915.1 Other reports 2 have followed. These reports, investigations by private individuals and corporations, and the beginning of the development of an oil-shale industry in this country have aroused considerable interest in the possibilities of these shales as a commercial source of hydrocarbon oils. The Bu- . reau of Mines bas appreciated these possibilities, and since 1916 one or more of its engineers have given all or part of their time to investigations relating to the treatment of oil shales. A short pamphlet a containing general information on the possibilities of oil shale in this country, particularly the shales of the Rocky Mountain district, has already been published. This pamphlet gives methods for assaying the shales of oil and ammonia and contains a bibliography for the use of those desiring to search the literature.

Jan 1, 1924

The U.S. Bureau of Mines, Department of Labor, and United States National Committee of the CIE hosted the TC4.10 Mine Lighting Committee Meeting and Second International CIE Mine Lighting conference at the MSHA Academy in Beckley, WV from October 12-16, 1981. This was the first time the meeting and conference had been held in the United States. The TC4.10 Mine Lighting Committee, chaired by Dr. Adam Peretiatkowicz of Poland, was attended by 15 committee members and six guests representing eight countries. Discussion during the meeting covered mine lighting instrumentation, open cast (surface mine) lighting, and lighting sources. The committee also reviewed a draft of proposed lighting terminology and suggested changes to make the definitions more acceptable to representatives of the nations present. The mine-lighting conference featured 20 papers presented by 18 speakers representing six countries. The papers covered all phases of mine lighting, including research, hardware development and application, personnel acceptance, and requirements for system maintenance. The conference attracted 126 attendees and also included displays by eight lighting hardware manufacturers and four mining machine manufacturers. Papers from the conference are being published by the Government Printing office, with copies presented to the conference attendees. Copies will be available to others interested through the NTIS. During the course of the TC4.10 meetings and conference, committee members toured three mining equipment assembly plants, and six of the foreign representatives visited a longwall installation in an underground mine. Planning and administrative services for the meeting and conference were handled by Bituminous Coal Research, Inc., under USBM Contract H0318038.

Jan 1, 1982

By A Golsby

Although much talked about, social licence to operate (SLTO) is a relatively new concept that has been deemed as one of the four biggest business risks to a mining project over the life-of-mine. There is no accepted single definition of SLTO and this author understands SLTO to be stakeholder perception of the legitimacy of a project, a company or an industry. At a specific site, and across different sites within the same organisation, SLTO ranges through different levels according to stakeholders’ degrees of acceptance in time and space. Management of SLTO is vital for the mining sector but is difficult as it is informal and intangible. Although there are no key performance indicators, there are certain indicators that enable relative measurement of the ‘level’ of the SLTO. Because of the importance of the SLTO, information management during the entire life-of-mine, from exploration to rehabilitation, becomes crucial for the continued operation of a project. This paper identifies ten basic principles for the management of information to support the SLTO.CITATION:Golsby, A, 2014. Managing information to support a social licence to operate, in Proceedings Life-of-Mine 2014 , pp 389–398 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Jul 16, 2014

By C. E. Fivaz

SYNOPSIS Tribute is paid to J.S. MacArthur and the Forrest brothers for their invention. The opinion is expressed that the successful application of their process, not only saved the gold-mining industry on the Witwatersrand from stag¬nation for an indefinite but probably prolonged period, but also made a major contribution to the economic growth of the country in the twentieth century. A background is given of the activities of prominent chemists who researched the solubility of gold in cyanide solution prior to the MacArthur-Forrest invention. An account is given of the invention and patenting of the cyanidation process, and of the golden rule that the patentees laid down for themselves, which came close to wrecking the invention. The South African gold-mining scene from the discovery of gold on the Witwatersrand in 1886 up to 1890 is sketched. An account is given of how, when unoxidized ores were first encountered, the recovery efficiency dropped alarmingly, gold shares were sold on an unprecedented scale, and doom and despondency seized the town of Johannesburg. The complete turnabout in the fortunes of the South African gold-mining industry after the introduction of the cyanidation process in 1890, the steady rate of increase in production after the Anglo-Boer War, and its effect on the South African economy are described. A brief look is taken at the effect of gold mining on secondary industry. The deportment of the gold that is not dissolved from the ore by the cyanidation process is illustrated. Some thoughts are expressed on what can be done to increase the gold recovered by cyanidation.

Jan 1, 1988

I N the introductory chapter to "Man and Metals," T. A. Rickard wrote "Five hundred thousand years ago the first footfalls of man's oncoming echoed down the corridors of time." This phrase has always appealed to me, not only for its resonance but because it seems to place in some perspective man's place in the cosmos. As we go about our daily occupations and as we meet here tonight, we must agree that we have come a long way slowly at first through the ages of change but with a quickening pace that has brought to man's know-ledge and use, within the last hundred years, more ideas, more material advantages, more opportunities and more comforts than were ever imagined or dreamed of in those long corridors of time. Looking back to the dawn of his-tory, a mere five thousand years ago, there is one aspect of the birth and growth of civilization that has particular significance for the miner and the metallurgist.

Jan 1, 1965

By Launa G. Mallett, Charles Vaught, Dana C. Reinke, Lisa J. Steiner, Lynn L. Rethi, Kathleen M. Kowalski-Trakofler, Jr. Brnich, William J. Wiehagen

Safety and health professionals recognize that training is a critical element of any effective safety and health program. An extensive literature survey has led the authors to conclude that we are at the beginning of a revolution in training due to changes in the demographics of the workforce, the rapid growth of technology, and the universal ascendance of the information age. Of present major concern in the mining industry is how to provide appropriate training for an aging workforce and concurrently develop training for the expected influx of new and less experienced miners as older workers retire. This report explores the key issues in the changing safety and health training area as identified by the multidisciplinary team of NIOSH researchers who conducted the literature survey. Issues include generational differences between newer mine workers and the present workforce with respect to their physical, psychological, social, and cultural characteristics; their learning styles and work expectations; and the impact of technology. Some preliminary conclusions are offered for future training needs.

Jul 1, 2004

By Staff

Minerals contribute to U.S. gross domestic product (GDP) at several levels - from mining and processing to the manufacturing of finished products. In 2010, the estimated real GDP of the United States increased by 2.8 percent compared with 2009 and the estimated nominal GDP was about $14.6 trillion (Table 1).Trends in various sectors of the domestic economy are often rejected in mineral production and consumption rates. For instance, continued declines in the construction industry during 2010 were rejected in further reductions in the production and consumption of cement, construction sand and gravel, crushed stone and gypsum, which are used almost exclusively in construction. Performances in other sectors were mixed and less easily characterized. Recovery from the economic decline of 2008-2009 became apparent in 2010, as prices for many mineral commodities continued to rise with increasing demand for those materials or the products in which they are found.

Jan 1, 2011

Q: It is May 1961 at Bill Wrather's Washington house. Bill, think back to your first job after college. Wrather: Perhaps I ought to go back a little bit further than my first job. I entered the University of Chicago with the idea of studying law. My intention was to take a 4-yr liberal arts course and superimpose a law degree on that. But during my undergraduate work I fell under the influence of R. D. Salsbury. He decided I had some talent as a geologist and influenced me to take a geological course. Nevertheless, I did not give up the idea of law. While in school I took a spell of typhoid fever and almost died. The doctor recommended outdoor exercise, so a geological job seemed logical. W. H. Emmons was a graduate student in the University and he interceded with Dr. Hayes of the USGS. I went on the payroll as assistant packer at $60 a month. I had one of the most glorious summers I ever spent in my life. That fall and the following year I took law courses and became thoroughly convinced that I was cut out for a geologist rather than a lawyer. I finished up my law work in 1908 while waiting for a job with Bill Emmons, who was doing a careful study of Goldfield and Tonopah.

Jan 4, 1964

By Pierre Pelletier, Christian Pichetie, Dany Pelletier

"IntroductionDuring 1994, Barrick Gold Corporation, or American Barrick at that period, acquired Lac Minerals Ltd. properties. One of them was the Bousquet Complex. The Bousquet Complex is divided into three distinct sites: one mine (Bousquet 2), one mill (Est-Malartic Division) and one analytical chemistry laboratory (Les Terrains auriferes).The Bousquet 2 orebody was discovered in 1986. An extensive drilling program was initiated during 1987. Its purpose was to define the orebody extent. At the end of 1997, gold production from Bousquet 2 mine reached 1 290 000 oz of gold from a cumulative tonnage processed of 4 175 000 M t.From 1980 to 1990, the Est-Malartic mill was used for the treatment of ore from the following mines: Bousquet 1, Doyon, Francoeur (Richmont mines), Buckshot and 1-20 stope. At present, the mill receives ore from the Bousquet 2 mine.HistoryThe Est-Malartic mill is located close to the town of Malartic in northwestern Quebec. The mill has been in production since the mid-1930s processing mainly clean, free mill gold ore. Active mining from the Est-Malartic mine ceased in 1979 and the mill was switched to custom processing of ore from La Mine Doyon located some 45 km to the west. This custom processing arrangement continued until 1987 when the expanded mill at Doyon became available to process all of the Doyon production. In 1987, Lac Minerals commenced development of a second mine at the Bousquet site located 40 km west of Malartic. This mine, Bousquet 2, is the down dip extension of the La Ronde mine developed by Agnico Eagle. During pre-feasibility evaluations, it was determined that it would be economically more attractive to modify the existing Est-Malartic mill than building a new facility on site. The Est-Malartic mill modifications for processing the high-copper/gold ore from the Bousquet 2 mine began in late 1989 and new circuits were commissioned in mid-1990. Modifications included the addition of both gravity and flotation concentration circuits to recover coarse, free gold and the copper. The existing leaching circuit continued to operate on the copper flotation tailings with some minor modifications to the solution handling systems. A S02/Air cyanide destruction circuit was also added at that time."

Jan 1, 2000

By J. Trow

Dowsing is really IESG which inductively locates electric gradients (dv/dx) on the flanks of SP anomalies. "Sensors" are in one?s head. The "meter" consists of one?s body, limbs, and two $.69 welding rods. The method was calibrated near Mamainse Point, Ontario, where IESG-negative chalcopyrite-bornite-chalcocite-native copper ores reveal mineral zoning related to the IESG-positive Keweenaw fault, down which oxidizing solutions moved. In Michigan, the IESG-positive Keweenaw fault suggests that oxygen-bearing solutions from the Jacobsville Sandstone moved downward to oxidize hydrothermal sulfur to produce native copper, and to supply sufficient water to satisfy Walter White.

Jan 1, 1992

By George Hope, Brigitte Lacouture

"The Red Dog Mine has increased mill throughput for most years since startup. Although flotation equipment has been added over the last 10 years, the Red Dog metallurgical performance has been restricted by a lack of adequate flotation capacity. Two reduced tonnage trials conducted in 1997 as well as numerous SAG relines have consistently indicated the potential to significantly increase both zinc concentrate recovery and grade with additional flotation capacity. Late in 1999, a new circuit was designed with increased flotation capacity while simplifylng the current circuit, providing for three stages of dilution cleaning, and creating a retreat section. The purpose of the retreat section is to target the more complex particles and allow the chemical environment to be fine tuned for improved iron depression. In total, twentyone (21) Outokumpu OK50 mechanical flotation cells and four (4) 3.66m dia. column cells will be added to the current flotation circuit. The VIP (Value Improvement Program) Mill Optimization project is also addressing thickening, water treatment and power issues and has a total budget of $US105 M. Startup of equipment will be phased in to minimize the impact on current operations and is expected to be complete by the end of Q3-2001.INTRODUCTIONRed Dog Operations started production in November 1989. The mine is located above the arctic circle in northwest Alaska. It is linked by an 80 km road to a port-site facility where the concentrate is stored. Concentrate is shipped to markets throughout the world during the one hundred (100) days of open seas. Typical of sedimentary exhalative deposits, the metallurgy proved to be challenging and coupled with many mechanical shortcomings, the initial few years were very difficult. The start-up issues were slowly resolved and in 1998, a major grinding expansion, the PRI (Production Rate Increase) project, was completed. The project was designed to allow a 40% increase over the 1995 throughput. In 2000 mill throughput was 3,050,000 tonnes to produce a total of 960,000 and 140,000 dry tonnes of zinc and lead concentrates respectively, making Red Dog the largest zinc concentrate producer in the world. To address a shortage of flotation capacity remaining from the PRI grinding expansion, a project designated as the VIP (Value Improvement Program) Mill Optimization project was initiated. The mill optimization project is targeted to produce 1,100,000 tonnes of zinc concentrate at 56% zinc grade and 87% zinc recovery. The project will add twenty-one (21) Outokumpu OK50 (50m3) flotation cells, four (4) 3.66mO column cells and address water treatment, thickening and power generation capacities."

Jan 1, 2002

By Finlay Campbell

Nickel laterite pressure acid leach plants and reduction roast plants have had a checkered history in their engineering, construction, startup and operational reliability. Many potential projects have been the subject of detailed studies over the last thirty to forty years but relatively few have advanced to commercial production. Four reduction roast plants are currently operating, an additional one was partially constructed but never completed, and another was started up in 1974 and shut down after 12 years operation. Three acid leach plants have been built and commissioned in the last five years, trying to follow the example of the Moa Nickel plant in Cuba. An additional acid leach plant project is currently on hold, following limited construction work, its future subject to review by the owner because of potential cost over-runs. This paper attempts to discuss difficulties that may be encountered as a project is developed and will address factors which may affect production ramp-up schedule, long term production performance and overall production success. Comparisons are made with ramp-up performance at other large metallurgical plants that employ some comparable unit operations. Keywords: Caron, PAL, nickel laterite ore, ramp-up, reliability, process development, equipment design, step-out, commissioning, startup.

Jan 1, 2004

By F. D. Forgeron

"ONE OF THE FIRST DOCUMENTED APPLICATIONS of soil geochemistry in the Canadian Shield was that carried out by Chisholm in the Kenora district in 1949. This survey proved successful in outlining sulphide-associated gold veins utilizing cold-extractable metals. Since then, mining companies, government agencies - both provincial and federal - and universities have conducted soil investigations. Some of the results are documented in publications, others are on open file in provincial and federal mines departments and, unfortunately, many other investigations with both successful and unsuccessful results are buried in company files or have been discarded. This paper deals with soils within the scope of chemical studies of overburden in the Canadian Shield. The subject is a broad one and some definition is required. The soil investigations discussed herein are those aimed at the testing of specific targets more or less in the source area. This definition distinguishes soil investigations from other overburden studies which commonly monitor metal accumulations at some substantial distance from the metal source. Naturally this distinction is relative, because in many instances there is overlap."

Jan 1, 1971

By J. N. Geyer

During the early stages of the mining industry of the United States an apparently inexhaustible supply of high-quality, easily accessible coal made the product cheap and the attendant mining methods wasteful of recoverable coal. Because coal from advance places could be mined with less effort and a large outwit obtained as the entries advanced, much of the coal left in pillars to support the roof was lost. Squeezes often developed in these mined-over areas, or, if pillars were of sufficient size to-prevent squeeze, the roof would be so weakened by long exposure that any pillar recovery was extremely hazardous. As the value of unmined coal increased, a high recovery of the available coal became necessary. Numerous plans were tried during the period that followed, some of the methods proving successful while others were complete failures or only partly successful. As a better knowledge was pained of the roof strata and its behavior, however, pillar mining became more successful and methods suited to special roof conditions were developed.

Jan 1, 1933