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By A. L. Mackie

Arsenic is a highly toxic element and a known human carcinogen. It is often a contaminant in mine water discharges, particularly from gold mining and roasting operations, and has been found at concentrations as high as 4 g/L. Increasingly stringent controls on the concentration of arsenic allowed to be discharged into the environment cannot always be met by current treatment processes and thus enhanced technologies are required to achieve low treated effluent concentrations at reasonable costs. A novel two-step physicochemical treatment process was developed and tested at the bench-scale using synthetic mine water solutions (SMWs) in order to reduce arsenic concentrations in treated effluent to exceed current discharge regulations. The process includes chemical coagulation with ferric sulphate and ballasted flocculation for enhanced solid-liquid separation. The SMW contained 59 ± 2 mg/L arsenic with a slightly alkaline pH. The effect of arsenic speciation on the process was tested by using either arsenite, As(III), or arsenate, As(V), in the SMW solutions. Tests were performed at cold temperature (3 ± 1 °C) to ensure the process? efficacy year-round in northern climates. Arsenic in As(V) SMW solutions was removed to a final total concentration of 0.0054 ± 0.002 mg/L, almost half the current recommended allowable drinking water concentration of 0.010 mg/L. As(III) was removed to a concentration below the Metal Mining Effluent Regulations? (MMER) current limit of 0.50 mg/L, to 0.32 ± 0.06 mg/L, with double the coagulant dose used in Stage 1 for As(V) removal. Oxidant addition at a concentration of 5 mg KMnO4/L in Stage 2 resulted in final total arsenic concentrations of 0.017 ± 0.002 mg/L and pH adjustment with lime in Stage 2 resulted in 0.0415 ± 0.0007 mg As/L in treated As(III) SMW. Both of these modifications to the process reduced arsenic concentrations to below proposed new MMER limits (i.e., 0.10 mg/L). This two-stage treatment process was shown to reduce arsenic concentrations to well below current treatment guidelines while reducing or eliminating chemical oxidant demand.

Aug 1, 2013

By Cindy Schiewek

Industrial injury occurrences are an ongoing concern for Mine Operators. Along with the personal suffering of injured workers comes an increase in compensation and productivity costs. Growing recognition of repetitive stress and bodily injuries, accompanied by recent studies, validates the assumption that a relationship exists between ergonomic injuries and machine design. Intuitively, there is a belief that an ergonomically designed machine will reduce repetitive stress injuries through design and education however; quantifying this belief has been a challenge for Mine Operators. Sandvik Tamrock has undertaken a project aimed at developing a business model to assist in quantifying the benefits of ergonomic intervention. This model focuses on distinguishing and quantifying this method of intervention to allow for a better evaluation of the machine. For simplicity, the project initially focused on the Face Drill Jumbos. The target of the project was three fold: !" Recognition of the cost drivers for compensation; ergonomic injuries !" Identification of the relationship between ergonomic machine design, and the decrease of the negative effects associated with the cost drivers !" Systematic prioritization for ?prevention by design? The project findings substantiate the expected reduction in injuries and compensation claims. Based on all ergonomic intervention studies conducted, each case showed a reduction in compensation cost; through prevention by design, one can reduce the amount of potential risk. The paper addresses the resources and methodology used, along with the findings and its relevance to the issues that face the Mining industry.

May 1, 2003

By C. M. Campbell

The Inconceivable Wealth propaganda goes on apace. Premier King, at Vancouver, has stated that we still have, untouched, natural resources, "beyond the wildest dreams." Principal Currie, in an address before the Canadian Society in New York said that Canada's resources, "are as yet merely scratched and it is not possible to compute her almost fabulous natural wealth." Mr. Meighen, in the last election campaign announced that, "under the providence of God, Canada is more richly endowed, perhaps, than any other country in the world." Four years ago a despatch was sent to Premier King "on behalf of" this Institute advising him that "Inconceivable Wealth" in minerals in this country was assured. This was made as a statement ~f "incontrovertible fact." Specifically, this despatch stated that this wealth was on such a scale that the mining industry would in the future lead all others in this country. This inventory is still in effect as far as this Institute is concerned.

Jan 1, 1926

By Lionel A. York

This paper outlines the type of water-bearing formations encountered in the Prairie Sediments and describes a method for effectively sealing these zones in order that shaft-sinking operations may be carried out with safety. Details are given of the procedure for carrying probe holes ahead of the shaft bottom. These probe or grout holes are employed for establishing a series of overlapping grout covers around the proposed shaft excavation to safeguard against large inflows of water during sinking. The pattern and length of grout covers cannot be standardized, and each cover needs to be specially designed to suit the varying ground conditions. In order to provide effective protection through the Prairie Sediments, the number of holes in any one cover would not be less than 8, and possibly as many as 64 would be required in certain zones. The length of covers would vary from 100 ft. to 250 ft. Emphasis is placed on the need for obtaining accurate geological and water information from exploratory holes, drilled in the shaft vicinity, in order to effectively plan all grout covers.

Jan 1, 1964

By Franz Xaver Spachtholz

K+S Potash Canada GP (KSPC) is part of the K+S Group, one of the world's leading suppliers of standard and speciality fertilizers and the world?s leading salt producer. Globally, the K+S Group employs more than 14,000 people. The K+S share ? the only commodities stock on the German DAX index ? is listed on all German stock exchanges. Legacy, K+S Group?s most recent project, is a greenfield solution potash mine and production plant in the south of the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. Therefore K+S will invest 4.1 billion CAD. With the expected commissioning in summer 2016 the company projects to reach the two-million-tonnesmark of production capacity at the new location at the end of 2017. The gradual extension of the annual capacity to 2.86 million tonnes of potash products will occur afterwards. The Legacy Project will be Saskatchewan?s first new potash mine in nearly 40 years. It is one of the world?s most economically attractive potash projects. The project will contribute to Saskatchewan?s growth through employment, tax revenues, utilities, and local partnerships. Located in the southern part of Saskatchewan?s potash belt, the deposit is too deep to be mined conventionally due to rock mechanics and high temperatures. Legacy will therefore be a solution mine. Proximity to the urban centers of Regina and Moose Jaw is imperative, with their workforces and economy, as well as access to highways, railway carriers and, most importantly in the prairies, water. With this unique project setting and mining technique, we are convinced that Legacy will be one of the most efficient, economic, sustainable and safe potash facilities in the world.

Aug 1, 2013

By Tim Watson

Andacollo Hypogene Project ?Overview Project description: Sulphide copper concentrator Throughput:55,000 tpd Location: Approximately 50 km from La Serena Elevation: Approximately 1,000 m ASL Start feasibility study: July 2005 Start of construction: May 2007 Construction completion: December 2009 Final cost(1,2,3):435 Million US $ (1) Excludes third party costs, 220 kV power line (2) Cost is based on a Chilean Peso to US Dollar foreign exchange rate of 535 to 1 (3) Does not include US$40.3 million for the Elqui River Pipeline Project or US$8.0 million for the stock pile cover

May 1, 2010

By M. G. Lipsett

"Mining properties are becoming increasingly remote, a challenging situation for operating and maintaining equipment. Logistics of transporting workers and materials can be alleviated by having timely, accurate information of equipment location and operating condition, and by automating some activities. This paper discusses an infrastructure for remote operations, with strategies for communicating different types of data, and a design method so that systems can interact with either an operator or another system. A remotely operated excavator prototype is described, with on-board performance and diagnostic monitoring systems now used on production equipment. IntroductionSyncrude Canada Ltd. operates an openpit oil sands mine near Fort McMurray, Alberta. For twenty years, draglines and bucketwheel reclaimers have fed conveyors that transport dry oil sand to an extraction and upgrading plant. In converting to a truck and shovel operation, Syncrude has developed slurry pipelines and bitumen froth pumping to allow more remote leases to be mined more than 30 km from the base plant.There are organizational and resourcing challenges in operating and maintaining equipment in three nearby, but separate, mines. The logistics of transporting workers and materials to production and support equipment become more difficult, and operations and maintenance personnel and facilities become more distributed. Supervising mine operations will rely even more on having timely, accurate information about equipment location and operational status.Syncrude is typical of an open-pit operation. Voice communications are the preferred way to exchange information for making immediate decisions about operations and maintenance. A large number of narrowband FM broadcast radio channels keep teams of miners working together. Haul truck drivers, shovel operators, and dispatchers talk on one channel while maintainers coordinate activities with the control tower on another. Cellular phones have become popular for supervisors who have to talk with planners and engineers in offices without radios."

Jan 1, 2000

By R. V. Tomkins

Introduction In the past fifteen years, bentonite production in the United States has increased very rapidly. From l50,000 tons in l934, it rose to 400,000 tons in l 942 and to a record 920,000 tons in 1948. Occurrences of bentonite ?in western Canada were described in the early part of the century by Ries and Keele (3), Ells (2), Spence (4). and other officer of the Dominion Department of Mines, and, in Saskatchewan, Professor W. G. Worcester (6), of the University of Saskatchewan has explored and carried out tests on deposits of the material at various times during the past thirty years. Nevertheless, Canadian developments have not kept pace with those in the United States. Exact figures for total Canadian production are not released, but it is probably under l0,000 tons annually. There are a great number of uses for bentonite, but in the United States three alone account for 90 per cent of the consumption. These are for drilling gel, foundry sand bond, and oil decolorizer. The tremendous oil exploration programme on the Canadian prairies has increased the possibility of an adequate domestic market for drilling gel. Therefore, in Saskatchewan, our efforts have been directed mainly to the production of a good drilling gel, with a minor part of the project devoted to activation of bentonites for oil decolorizing.

Jan 1, 1952

By Turgut Yalcin

"In this study, potential benefits of focculant usage were explored in the processing of mill tailings by hydrocyclones. Tests conducted on copper-nickel mill tailings have demonstrated that, under suitable conditions, flocculation could significantly enhance solid-liquid separation in hydrocyclones. For example, at a feed pulp density of approximately 9%, focculant-assisted hydrocyclone produced an underflow with over 98% solids recovery, compared to a recovery of less than 53% with conventional hydrocyclone. However, feed pulp density was found to be a critical factor, and tailings with pulp densities of greater than about 15%required a two-stage hydrocyclone operation where the focculant-assisted hydrocyclone was employed at the second stage to process the overfow of a conventional hydrocyclone.The underflow and overflow products obtained from the focculant-assisted hydrocy-clone may be discharged into tailings dams in the same manner as those produced by gravity thickeners. The focculant-assisted hydrocy-clone would, however, provide a higher throughput."

Jan 1, 1996

By B. Leonard

As of November 2012, the Alberta government listed 53 oil and gas, oil sands, and mining construction projects either proposed or currently under construction. These industrial plant construction projects have an estimated value greater than 105 million dollars. A common construction method employed for industrial plant projects is fast-track construction, which is used to reduce construction time. Contractors begin fast-track construction with highly generic scheduling information. This high level schedule turns into a lower level schedule as more detailed information becomes available. From a contractor?s perspective, a challenge faced using fast-track construction is the visualization of generic and constantly changing project schedules. This paper discusses the use of a Plant Information Modeling (PIM) system, designed to create a 4D animation to visualize project schedules for fast-track industrial plant construction projects. The proposed PIM system creates a modified project schedule by obtaining specific information from a generic construction schedule. Obtaining the information involves grouping schedule activities in accordance with the level of detail in a 3D model, and the level of detail in a project schedule. The modified project schedule is then used in conjunction with a 3D model to simulate the construction sequence in the form of a 4D animation. This allows for 4D visualization of project activities, installation dates, and crane movements. Furthermore, as engineering reaches completion, the PIM system creates a streamlined channel for schedule information updates to be easily uploaded into the model for a more accurate 4D visualization. Through analyzing a nonmodular construction case study, this paper discusses the successes and benefits of the PIM system for 4D visualization, such as increased productivity, shortened construction time, increased constructability, and decreased field costs.

Aug 1, 2013

By Ray Holmes

This paper describes one approach in our search for greater stope efficiency and lower costs. The uppers technique with wagon drills in cut-and-fill stopes was commenced, on an experimental basis, in our Sudbury mines in 1961. To date, the method has developed into an accept-ed production operation. This technique minimizes the intermittent aspects of the drilling, blasting, mucking and filling operations associated with other cut-and-fill methods. However, studies show that not all cut-and-fill stopes are suitable for uppers, the governing factors being ore width, dip of the orebody, and ground conditions where large areas of unsupported back remain stable for ex-tended periods of time until rockbolting can be accomplished. Introduction F ALCONBRIDGE Nickel Mines Limited operates seven mines within a radius of 30 miles of the city of Sudbury, Ontario. These mines extend in depth from 1,500 to 6,300 ft. The ore consists of brecciated, massive and disseminated sulphides, and the ore minerals consist primarily of pentlandite, pyrrhotite and chalcopyrite. Widths are generally irregular and vary up to 150 ft. The ore dips at between 35 and 90 degrees.

Jan 1, 1965

By Bahaa Hussein

Considerable number of methods and procedures has been introduced for trending and progress reporting of engineering, procurement and construction projects. This paper introduces a novel method, designed to augment the set of indices for measuring schedule performance. The concept behind the developed method is to provide early warning by dynamically evaluating the schedule cumulative impact of construction projects. The proposed method is designed to highlight the gradual deterioration in schedule status resulting in a cumulative impact due to the aggregation of small delays encountered during the execution of non-critical activities, and can be used as an add-on utility to existing software systems that perform CPM scheduling. The proposed method is based on a developed formulation for quantification of the Schedule Compression Index, which takes into consideration the remaining project activities durations. The index is developed based on periodic comparisons of ?Current Schedules? and the project ?Baseline Schedule? using the summation of the remaining activities durations. A numerical example is presented to demonstrate the application and capabilities of the developed method. It is expected that the developed index together with other schedule performance indices would be of value to decision makers and members of project teams.

Aug 1, 2013

By R. J. Rotzinger

The Gibraltar Mine and Mill facility were commissioned in 1972 by Gibraltar Mines Ltd utilizing a flowsheet consisting of two stages of crushing followed by a rod mill / ball mill grinding circuit. During operations a number of opportunities were evaluated to expand the mill capacity; however, the economics of the day did not allow any of these projects to proceed. The mine continued to operate until late 1998 when it was shutdown and put on care and maintenance due to low commodity prices. Taseko Mines acquired Gibraltar in 1999 and in 2004, with the improvement in the metal markets, made the decision to restart operations. During the restart planning a number of opportunities for mill improvements and upgrades were identified and, after operations were successfully restarted, the decision was made to once again review expansion opportunities for Gibraltar. Taseko evaluated various expansion alternatives eventually deciding to install a SAG Mill, convert the existing rod mills to ball mills and distribute the SAG discharge to the resultant six 6 parallel ball mills. This paper discusses the design, implementation and commissioning of the SAG mill grinding circuit.

Jan 1, 2012

By Karl J. C. Harries

"The Table of Contents that follows is only an example and is the Table of Contents from an actual negotiated agreement. It is merely intended to show how an agreement might be set out and the nature of possible provisions. As a negotiated agreement the format was dictated by the negotiations. It is not offered as a precedent of what should be contained in a joint venture agreement (“JVA”), the “proper” sequence of Articles, or a complete listing of the contents of joint venture agreements generally. The set-up used for an agreement should be decided by the parties and be one they consider flows in a logical and workable sequence. This example sets out the “deal” first, followed by the provisions relating to how work is to be carried out and then by administrative provisions necessary to make the agreement work. If you are more comfortable with, say, having the Committee provisions at the beginning, by all means have it drafted that way -- you are going to have to live with the agreement and work under it.Notes:1. The Table of Contents provisions appear in bold print. The italicized sections are annotations, which have been provided in some cases where the heading may not clearly describe the contents. They are not intended to be comprehensive, but refer to some specific matters that are considered to be of interest or to need some clarification.2. The subject matter of many of the articles and paragraphs is discussed or commented upon in the text of the book. Some of section cross-references have been provided. Such references are only to sections where the topic is a principal subject and no attempt has been made to provide a comprehensive indexing.3. Although this particular agreement is a three-party agreement, *B* and *C*, the Owners, are required to act as a unit (see para. 1.09. – § 8.44.), making the agreement effectively a two-party agreement. The parties insisted upon having a decision-making Committee and structuring the agreement accordingly. As is explained in § 8.11., such an arrangement is not recommended and can result in problems.5. See also §§ 8.24., 8.41. and 14.13. for discussions on tables of contents, summaries, and headings."

Jan 1, 2003

By S. Ng, Peter Stapleton, Paul Mankowski, J. Spence, R. Siy

"Syncrude has developed a low energy extraction process for the recovery of bitumen from oil sand. This new process operates at a temperature of 25 °C, resulting in substantially lower energy costs and lower capital costs, especially for the thermal energy generation equipment. The process will be used in Syncrude’s Aurora Mine, which is scheduled for startup in mid 2000. The flowsheet for Low Energy Extraction includes hydraulic transport of oil sand slurry, and bitumen separation using collector and frother chemicals and air as process aids. A number of flow sheet innovations and optimizations have been included, resulting in the next generation of extraction technology. Experimental pilot plant results, engineering progress to date and areas of ongoing work will be discussed. SUMMARYThe Low Energy Extraction Process has been successfully developed for commercial implementation at Aurora. The 1996 100 tonne hour Field Pilot demonstrated that the bitumen recovery target could be met with an 11.1% grade oil sand. However, pilot plant bitumen recoveries for a lower grade oil sand were not acceptable. The subsequent flowsheet optimization study led to a new flowsheet for Low Energy Extraction, which includes a primary separation vessel, a flotation circuit for PSV middlings, and the use of middlings displacement in the PSV cone bottom with flotation underflow. A test program conducted in 1997 showed that the new flowsheet could significantly improve the bitumen recoveries for lower grade oil sands. Engineering work on process scale-up led to selection of a 30 meter diameter PSV, with a tangential feedwell. The successful development and commercialization of Low Energy Extraction for the Aurora Mine Project is a major enabling step in the Syncrude 21 program. The low energy requirements of this process allow Syncrude to develop the Aurora leases more cost effectively. The use of this process results in major capital cost savings, predominantly in the thermal energy infrastructure and also provides long term operating cost advantages for Syncrude."

Jan 1, 1999

By B. R. Hart, S. S. Dimov, J. Fournier

Carbonaceous matter (c-matter) in sulphide ores can adversely affect the process of gold recovery during cyanidation due to its ability to adsorb, or preg-rob, gold from a cyanide leach solution. This paper describes a standardized procedure for characterization of c-matter in an ore sample providing detailed information on its composition, maturity and preg-robbing capacity. The procedure utilizes the following complementary analytical techniques in conjunction with several chemical tests and assays: SEM/EDX Raman spectroscopy and TOF-SIMS. Results of the test can be used as a predictive tool to estimate the impact the c-matter will have on the gold recovery process. A comparison between predicted preg-robbing behaviour and cyanidation test results are presented.

Jan 1, 2011

By Marc Piard

In a cool mine, tapping high-pressure lines through reducing valves lowers the temperature beyond remedy. It is the writer's suggestion that, for low-pressure work, law-pressure air ,should be generated in a compressor installed underground adjacent to the work, and that the jacket-water of the compressor should be utilised for re-heating purposes. Such a system of compressed air distribution, designed especially for service in cool mines, is described in the following notes. The suggested system includes a three-wire pole line from the sub-station to the opening nearest to the working face, with a cable connection extending to the latter from the openings; an electrical centrifugal unit; a reservoir excavated in the ground; and a distribution line, re-heated by jacket-water. As regards the reservoir, it may be pointed out that in many mines there are blind or abandoned tunnels that could be used for the purpose. The centrifugal type of compressed air machine is a comparatively new departure, and it was formerly considered that such a machine, operating at less than 1,000 kilowatts per unit, would be commercially impracticable. At the present time, however, these machines are being built in Europe for as little as 400 kilowatts per unit, and as much as 110 lb. per sq. inch pressure. One advantage which these centrifugal machines have over other types is that they may be driven by plain induction motors, without the help of special starters-a consideration of the first importance where the electrical regulations are severe.

Jan 1, 1926

By R. B. Anderson, N. J. Sherren

The mining equipment at the Scully Mine, Wabush, consists of approximately twenty-five large haulage units, eight large dozer-loader applications and seventy other related pieces of service and maintenance equipment. This equipment is operating in sub-Arctic conditions. This pa-per presents a description of the tire maintenance procedures in use here and discusses the tire troubles that are being encountered and the methods of dealing with them.

Jan 1, 1969

By R. C. Rowe

DR. W. F. GRAY (Contributed discussion, presented at meeting by Mr. S. C. Mifilen): Mr. Rowe's suggestion that the Institute should organize itself to interpret the needs of the mining industry to federal and provincial mines departments should commend itself to our membership as sensible and practical, and as one which these public administrative bodies may welcome. One has to start with the premise that those who head the departments of mines in question have the welfare of the industry at heart. Also, it must be postulated that the technical viewpoint of our membership is necessarily free of political considerations. With these reservations, one ventures to state that both Mr. Rowe in his communication to the present session of the Institute, and Professor M. Y. Williams in his earlier communication to the Western Meeting, on The Geological Survey and Mining Development (1), voice the regret general among our membership at the abandonment of the honoured name, and to some extent of the status, of the Geological Survey of Canada. The writer, in 1932, devoted his Presidential Address to the Institute to an appreciation of the value to Canadian mining of the Geological Survey of Canada (2), affirming the desire of the Institute "that the work of the Survey shall be maintained at the highest pitch of efficiency the resources of our country will permit, because, to scrimp expenses on the Survey, is 'to save at the spigot and lose at the bunghole'." He believes that is still the opinion of the Institute, and, if contraction of the usefulness of the Survey is feared by our members at this time, it is incumbent upon the Institute, in fairness to those who direct our government, to say so in precise and explicit terms. Mr. Rowe puts the situation pithily when he writes: "We have reached a stage in our development where a stock-taking and co-ordination of existing knowledge and data is essential. This is a part of that basic function of Dominion mineral technical services which is national and not provincial in its scope".

Jan 1, 1939

By R. Walker

This paper deals with the selection and design of a belt conveyor handling steam coal between a mine and a barge loading terminal, and extending for some 5 ¼ miles over some of the most rugged terrain in the state of West Virginia, U.S.A. After a thorough analysis by consulting engineers and the owner's engineers, a single-flight cablebelt conveyor was chosen as representing the alternative of greatest reliability and lowest over-all cost. The value analysis and design features of the system are covered in this paper along with an updated report on the performance of the system since its start-up in the spring of 1969.

Jan 1, 1971