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By Don Welch

Pressures for change ?Land use constraints ?Project financing ?Local communities ?Environmental issues ?Sustainability requirements ?Stricter regulatory procedures ?Technical excellence ?Reduce risk ?Impacts of failure & non-compliance

May 1, 2010

By Nicholas J. Grant

It is the purpose of this paper to examine a number of the recent developments in powder metallurgy, being most concerned with those which are yet to prove themselves rather than those which have achieved commercial maturity. Such developments include the production of very much coarser and very much finer powders, down to the near-micron size range. Also considered are activated sintering, direct powder rolling and extrusion (both hot and cold), brazing and welding, hydrides of reactive metals, oxide dispersion strengthened alloys and theoretical evaluations. Introduction T HERE surely can't be very much argument with the fact that powder metallurgy has made large advances on many fronts during the past ten or more years (1). These advances have taken place in raw materials, in processing, in product development and in a better understanding of many of the phenomena which occur in the various steps involved in powder metallurgy. It should be clear, in view of such growth, that it will not be possible to highlight all of the new developments in the present paper. Many of these developments,

Jan 1, 1965

By J. E. Sepulveda, R. Morrow

"In full scale mineral grinding operations, the steel balls normally utilized as auxiliary grinding media get to be consumed at different specific rates, as determined by 3 basic mechanisms: abrasion/corrosion (wear), impact ball breakage and impact surface spalling, the latter relating to the removal of rather small pieces of steel coming off the exposed surface of the balls due to repetitive impact with other balls in the charge or the surrounding mill liners. In conventional ball milling applications, the clearly predominant mechanism is gradual wear by abrasion/corrosion. In the case of SAG mills, where the make-up balls may be as large as 6”f diameter, breakage and spalling mechanisms are significant contributors to total ball consumption, although not to the extent of overriding wear mechanisms.Ball wear has been well characterized by the Linear Wear Theory, as presented at the last CMP 2014. Impact breakage has been customarily monitored, at the ball manufacturing site, via Drop Ball Tests (DBT) consisting of repeatedly dropping balls from a standard height and accounting for the number of broken balls and the weight loss (spalling) of the remaining unbroken balls. When properly conducted, DBT’s should provide meaningful indications of the breakage and spalling resistance of large diameter balls. The current publication is focused on the interpretation and projection of DBT results to full industrial scale, taking into account all 3 mechanisms of grinding media consumption in SAG mills.INTRODUCTIONA thorough, quantitative understanding of the independent contribution of all active grinding media consumption mechanisms is of the highest practical relevance, particularly in semiautogenous (SAG) milling operations where ball breakage and spalling can not be ignored or neglected, as it has been normally acceptable for conventional ball milling processes. The high severity impact conditions currently imposed in typical SAG mill environments create serious challenges to the manufacturers and suppliers of large diameter (5”–6”) SAG balls, whose products must be capable of surviving such harsh operational conditions with minimum breakage or spalling."

Jan 1, 2015

Certain information contained herein regarding Champion Minerals Inc., including management?s assessment of future plans and operations, may constitute forward-looking statements under applicable securities law and necessarily involve risks, including but not limited to risks associated with mining exploration, operating costs, production costs, volatility of share prices, currency fluctuations, imprecision of resource and reserve estimates, environmental risks and ability to access sufficient capital from internal and external sources. As a consequence, actual results may differ materially from those anticipated in any forward looking statements. Plans, intentions or expectations disclosed in any forward-looking statements or information should not be read as guarantees of future results or events, and will not necessarily be accurate indications of whether or when or by which such results or events will be achieved. Except as required by law, Champion Minerals Inc., expressly disclaims any intention and undertakes no obligation to update any forward looking statements or information as conditions change. The historical mineral resources mentioned are strictly historical in nature and are non-compliant to National Instrument 43-101 mineral resources and mineral reserves standards, and should therefore not be relied upon. A qualified person has not done sufficient work to upgrade or classify the historical mineral resources as current National Instrument NI-43-101 compliant.

May 1, 2011

By Paul J. Sylvester, Yeonuk Choi, Mike Nelson, Louis J. Cabri, Mike Tubrett

"The development and characterization of sulphide standards containing as many as seven precious metals has increased the efficiency and comprehensiveness of micro-analyses for deportment studies using laser ablation microprobe inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LAM-ICPMS). Because trace precious metals occurring in solid solution or as sub-micron inclusions in sulphides, arsenides, and sulpharsenides are often heterogeneously distributed, a significantly large number of analyses are required. Using well-prepared samples it is possible for up to 120 analyses per day, far more than by other comparable methods. Examples will be discussed from projects focused on the deportment of Au and the platinum group elements (PGE).INTRODUCTIONBecause gold and the platinum-group elements (PGE) occur as both discrete minerals and in trace quantities in a variety of minerals (mostly sulphide, arsenide, and sulpharsenide minerals), specialized trace analytical methods were developed and applied to determine the deportment of precious metals in ore deposits, requiring sensitivities ranging originally from about hundreds to presently tens of ppb for individual precious metal or less.In mineralogical studies, micro-analytical techniques such as the electron microprobe were first applied to obtain analyses for major elements in about 1959-60, but as the instrumentation improved early attempts for PGE in potential carrier minerals indicated that reasonable levels of detection (LOD) were of the order of 300-400 ppm, depending on analytical conditions, X-ray spectral lines, and mineral matrix (e.g., Cabri and Laflamme, 1976). Eventually, the lowest detection levels by electron probe micro-analyses (EPMA) obtained for some PGE were of the order of 10s of ppm using high accelerating voltage and current for extended measuring time on peak and background (Gervilla, Cabri, Kojonen, Oberthür, Weiser, Johanson, Sie, Campbell, Teesdale and Laflamme, 2004)."

Jan 1, 2010

By Bern Klein

Motivation for Improved Energy Efficiency in Mining ? Canada potentially adopting Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Intensity Legislation in 2013 ? BC -Climate Action Plan and Energy Conservation Agreement in 2008 ? BC Energy Plan 2007 -BC Hydro is mandated to save 50% of new load growth ? TSM Initiative -Energy Management, Energy Reporting, Setting Energy Targets, GHG Management BC MOU for Energy Conservation Agreement -MEMPR, MABC, BC Hydro

May 1, 2010

By O. J. C. Runnalls

"Canada became the world's largest uranium producer in 1984. That leadership position is likely to be maintained for many years into the future because of a firm production base, many undeveloped known deposits with commercial promise, and a large geologicalpotential for new discoveries.There are some uncertainties on the horizon, principally because of restrictive actions in process within the U.S.A., which are aimed at preserving a deteriorating domestic uranium industry. Should such actions result in import restrictions, for example, there would be a negative effect on foreign producers at least in the short term. Canada may avoid such difficulties under a tentative U.S.-Canada free-trade agreement where restrictions on the import of Canadian uranium into the United States would be eliminated. Over the longer term, demand for Canada's uranium resources will grow because of the foreseen growth in the world's installed nuclear power capacity. IntroductionSince the phenomenon of nuclear fission was discovered in 1938, the utilization of uranium has grown substantially. Initially, the principal use for uranium was in the production of nuclear weapons. However, once civilian nuclear power reactors began to be built in the 1950s, an increasing fraction of uranium output was directed to the production of fuel elements for use in electricity generating stations.The cumulative uranium production by those countries in the World Outside Centrally-Planned-Economies Areas, WOCA, during the period 1938 to 1985 exceeded 800 000 tonnes of uranium. Some 60% of that was mined in the United States and Canada, as indicated in Figure 1. In 1986, nearly 80% of WOCA output came from five countries, Canada, United States, South Africa, Australia, and Namibia, as indicated in Table 1 and illustrated in Figure 2.During the past decade the world annual consumption of nuclear energy has more than tripled (Fig. 3). As of December 31, 1986, the world total of nuclear power reactors had reached 394 with a total net capacity of 270 GWe. The thermal output from nuclear power plants in 1985 exceeded 60% of the energy contained in all of the oil produced that year in the Middle East. Thus, nuclear power has already become an important component in the world energy supply picture."

Jan 1, 1988

By J. D. Bliss, G. J. Orris, W. O. Menzie

"Analysis of gold placer data from gold placers throughout the world suggests that gold grades and volumes cannot be used to distinguish between most types of gold placers. Only the alluvial plain and fan placers are significantly different among the types of gold placers considered. Gold grades and volumes change when working gold placers go from small-volume methods to large-volume methods. The small-volume methods are either of the surface or subsurface (drift mining) type. The odds that a gold placer will be dominantly worked using small volume methods at the surface are about 5:3. Once small volume mining has occurred, the odds against subsequent large-volume mining are about 4:1. If a placer deposit is suitable for large-volume mining, and the amount of gold produced from small-volume mining was reported, an estimate of the remaining gold (log10kg) can be made using the following equation:The relationship shown by this equation suggests that very large gold placers have over half their total gold content in the rich gravels appropriate for small-volume mining. These relationships in conjunction with other data and computer simulation can be used to estimate placer gold resources for an area targeted for mineral resource assessment. IntroductionGold placers have been an important source of gold throughout man's history and may have been one of the first sources-dating back to around 6000 B.C. (Gregory, 1980). From the primitive basket to the modern floating dredge, a variety of methods have been used to work gold placers. Placers are found in a wide spectrum of geologic and climatic settings. They have been classified by using a mixed set of criteria including age (Recent, Tertiary), climate (desert), fluvial position (modern channel, bench, alluvial fan), environment of deposition (eluvial, alluvial, residual, beach), type of transport (stream, wind, glacier), and whether the placer is buried or at the surface (Boyle, 1979; Wells, 1969). Several mining methods have usually been used to extract gold from anyone placer."

Jan 1, 1987

By Y. Bai, J. J. Liu, D. Q. Li, S. Z. Liu, X. T. Wang

"This paper presents the results of an industrial test using 8 t/d of Baotou concentrate (50% REO) of a clean metallurgical process, which includes: 1. Roasting with H2SO4 at low temperature (220~260 0C) in a batch roasting furnace followed by water leaching to obtain a leach liquor as feed with a yield of >95% RE and Th, recovering F as fluoride, producing a leach residue amounting to 1/3 of an equivalent high temperature residue and containing <0.03% Th and radioactivity < 3×104 Bq/kg compared to the normal high temperature residue containing 0.2-0.3% Th and 1×105 Bq/kg. 2. Separating Th with N1923 and extracting RE by P507 has been completed in mixer-settlers. Test results indicate that the ThO2 product has a purity of > 95% with a yield of 99%, and the RE has a yield of >95%, in which ThO2/REO <5×10-6, and that P507 loaded RE connect straight with separating RE using P507-HCl system. 3. Treatment and multipurpose use of "three wastes" (water, gas and solids) are discussed in some detail."

Jan 1, 2014

By B. S. Fee, R. R. Klimpel

"Froth flotation is the most widely used and economic means of concentrating metal sulfide ores such as those containing copper, lead, zinc, nickel, molybdenum, and pyrite. Also recoverable are other metal species that are often associated with sulfide ores such as cobalt, platinum, gold, silver, etc. Most of the initial developments made with the process of froth flotation in the early 20th century were based on the processing of metal sulfide ores. It is the relative technical and economic ease of floating metal sulfide minerals with small amounts of appropriate frothers and sulfur containing (thio) collectors that has been a major economic driving force behind the rapid expansion in the supply of metals such as copper, lead, zinc, and nickel that has occurred in the world's economy in the last 50 years. This author estimates that 1.6 billion tons of sulfide ores are processed each year (1980) in the free world based on the froth flotation process.While there has been a tendency for the quality of metal sulfide ores in any one geographic location to deteriorate over time due to mining intensity, the overall global supply of sulfide minerals is still very large. Thus, the physical supply side of sulfide ore concentrates has not been under strong technology improvement pressure with increasing metal demands. Part of this is due to the ability of capital to consistently move to new geographic locations having suitable grade sulfide ores. In these moves, the actual froth flotation technology used (including collector chemicals) has had to change little. As an illustration of this trend, of the approximately 80,000 metric tons of thio collectors used commercially (1980) in the free world, almost 98% were known and manufactured in some form 25 years ago (1). This is clearly not typical of reagent development in other process related industries. In addition, the industrial scale practice of froth flotation applied to sulfide ores has proceeded since the 1920 s with often little direct (predictive) scientific explanation due to the extreme complexity of the flotation process. Empirical testing has been a mainstay of industrial flotation reagent development and use. Even today there is often strong disagreement between researchers as to the mechanisms of chemical flotation practices that have been performed successfully at an industrial scale for many years."

Jan 1, 1987

By T. P. R. de Jong, H. Harbeck

"This contribution reports recent mineral sorting experience and lists the opportunities of the newest generation of automatic sorters with a special focus on electromagnetic detection and Xray transmission. With the available sensor resolutions and actuator systems that are available today sorting of minerals down to 2 mm size and up to 250 mm lump size is technically feasible. In industry, ore as well as coal is still hand-picked and current automation potential only utilised in a handful of specific applications. Recently a number of technological developments took place that may increase sorting potential, save mill costs and lead to lower overall tonnage costs.They are:??High speed and high resolution sorting systems based on X-ray transmission imaging??High speed on-line image processing and further development of advanced data processing??Modular multi-sensor automatic sorting units (using one or more sensors such as colour, electromagnetic and X-ray in a single device)??Sensitive electromagnetic sensors for sorting based on differences in magnetic susceptibility and electric conductivityThe above enables compact dry separation, insensitive for moisture fluctuations and at high separation sharpness, as well as “electronic” high gradient magnetic separation for larger particles. Besides conventional X-ray transmission (XRT), dual-energy XRT (DE-XRT) is now being redesigned to meet the requirements of the mining industry. The mentioned technologies provide automatic dry separation of minerals and rock as alternative for conventional processing."

Jan 1, 2005

By Donald Leroux, Martin Suichies, Andy Trusiak, Chris Dechert

"In modem concentrators, the operation of flotation machines is often stabilized by simple control loops. Froth level, slurry density and aeration rate are all physical parameters typically controlled through classical PID loops. Few concentrators, however make use of advanced computing technologies for controlling the grade of flotation product streams. Technical challenges such as long process delay and the long and uneven sampling interval of on-stream XRF analyzers often restrain their implementation. Model Predictive Control (MPC) is known to have better performance than PID for controlling processes with long delays (such as flotation circuits). This paper describes the implementation of a multi-input/single-output (MISO) MPC algorithm and an FIR model identification routine using an object-oriented graphical computing environment.The MPC module (controller and identification) was implemented on an industrial control system and applied to many sulfide flotation circuits in the Brunswick Mining concentrator (New Brunswick, Canada). In most cases, the manipulated variable was the collector addition. As long as it is provided with decent process models, the performance of the MPC controller is good on all the flotation circuits on which it was applied. Significant reductions of grade variance are reported and the controller responds well to set-point changes. The user-friendly, graphical nature of the computing environment led to a high degree of acceptance by both the process engineers and the flotation operators.1. INTRODUCTIONOver the past three decades, much instrumentation has been developed for flotation machines. The introduction of instruments such as pulp density gauges and cell level probes was particularly well received by the plants where pneumatic and electronic controllers were available for implementing PID control loops. In a way, these simple loops revolutionized the mineral industry. The operation of flotation circuits could then be stabilized through the use of automatic controllers."

Jan 1, 1999

By Zhuo Chen, Jun Zhou, Jiemin Zhou

Samples of the reacting suspension particles were taken from the reaction shaft of a commercial flash furnace at different heights. The processes of matte and slag formation and morphology of the samples in the shaft were observed and analyzed. Variations of matte and slag composition in the shaft were investigated. By analyzing the samples taken from the settler at different locations, settler processes were studied such as slag formation, agglomeration and separation of matte-slag phases, Fe3O4 reduction, copper-in-slag reduction etc. In accordance with the characteristic of matte and slag formation the flash furnace can be divided into 6 functional regions, and a mechanism model called as “Micro bath process” is proposed for matte and slag formation in a commercial flash furnace. INTRODUCTION During flash smelting, concentrate particles scattered in the reaction shaft complete their oxidation reactions in suspension. The droplets produced fall into the settler beneath with a small amount of un-melted solid particles, agglomerate and separate into matte and slag layers which are tapped out from their tap holes separately. With respect to the extent of slagging reaction in the reaction shaft, there isn’t any commonly accepted understanding in literature (Kimura, Ojima, Mori & Ishii, 1986; Kemori & Kondo et al.,1988; Kemori, Denholm & Kurokawa, 1989; Fagerlund &Jalkanen, 2000). Some assume that the slagging reaction in the shaft can be ignored and some propose that all slag is produced in the shaft. With regards to the characteristics of the physical-chemical changes of concentrate particle in the reaction shaft, although there are some research results reported from pilot scale and commercial scale experiments (Kemori, Ojima & Kondo, 1988; Hagni, Vierrether & Sohn, 1988; Jorgensen, Taylor, Dickinson & Stevenson, 1992; Swinbourne, Simak & Yazawa, 2002; Kivinen & Tuominen, 2005), they are generally limited themselves to theoretical analysis and calculations. No studies are published concerned with the processes of matte and slag generation in the shaft, quantitative analysis of the processes, variations of matte and slag composition and morphologies of the melts along the axis of the shaft, etc.

Jan 1, 2019

Plan de l?exposé ?? Présentation du site de la mine Restigouche et du mandat confié à Genivar ??Dénoyage de la mine ??Processus d?enlèvement des boues au fond de la fosse ??Utilisation de Géotubes dans le procédé à l?usine de traitement des eaux.

Feb 1, 2008

By Denis Labrie

Le minage en profondeur sous contrainte modérée à élevée présente de nombreux défis aux opérateurs et aux ingénieurs de mine notamment au niveau du contrôle de terrain et de l?environnement minier souterrain, pour assurer la sécurité des travailleurs sous terre et la continuité du cycle d?opération. Des conditions de contrainte élevée signifient une pression accrue au front de taille et sur les structures minières tels les piliers de mine et les fins de zone, un risque de rupture violente ou de coup de toit plus élevé, des zones de rupture plus grandes au pourtour des excavations, des charges accrues sur le support de terrain, etc. Le présent article fournit un aperçu du travail fait à l?intérieur du Programme de Contrôle de terrain de CANMET au cours des sept (7) dernières années, entre 1995 et 2001, pour comprendre et suivre l?évolution des niveaux de contrainte à l?intérieur des structures minières. Les propriétés déterminées en laboratoire sur des échantillons rocheux et les prévisions effectuées au moment de la conception sont comparées avec les observations effectuées en chantier à la paroi des excavations et à l?intérieur de la masse rocheuse. La plupart des cas discutés ici montrent une corrélation satisfaisante entre les observations effectuées en chantier d?une part, et les résultats d?essai obtenus en laboratoire et les calculs réalisés lors de la conception d?autre part. Ces observations peuvent donc être considérées comme des moyens relativement sûrs pour vérifier et suivre l?évolution des niveaux de contrainte présents à l?intérieur des structures minières.

May 1, 2002

By Derek Ettie

"In the Hydrometallurgical processes, the presence of the so-called "crud" is a constant challenge in solvent extraction. Crud is a stable emulsion which forms along the interface between the aqueous and organic phase. The spread is influenced by the following parameters: first, wind blows the dust and impurities into the open sedimentation tanks. Second, the undissolved solids such as sand transported in the PLS causing problems in conjunction with incorrect agitator design.The crud fraction can decisively impact the efficiency of the hydrometallurgical extraction because the phase interface can constitute a large fraction and the sedimentation tanks cannot react flexibly to it. In the downstream process of the series-connected sedimentation tanks, they are thus all contaminated with crud. At the same time, the necessary mass transport is significantly impeded at the phase boundary between organic phase and aqueous phase due to the crud formation.The transfer of the organic phase into the electrolysis cell can result in a "burnout" of the cathode. The carryover of this electrolyte into the extraction can cause problems with the pH regulation. The carry-over of the organic components into the raffinate also leads to contamination of the leaching circuit. The continuous treatment of the crud with a 3-phase decanter centrifuge is extremely effective in combating this problem. This technology splits all three phases from each other and they are consequently continuously separated. All subsequent process steps exhibit a stable, uniform effectiveness. The main advantage for the customer is that fluctuations in the process are eliminated and the organic phase can be recirculated back to the extraction. The recycling of the solvent alone justifies the investment in less than 6 months as examples from South Africa and Chile show.To operate solvent recovery in daily operation fully automated online at the optimum limit, the decanter centrifuge is equipped with a concentration-dependent pond adjustment called DControl® by this means, we can guarantee our customers the maximum possible solvent recovery and minimize the solvent costs in this process step. This system is presented in detail in this paper."

Jan 1, 2014

By S. Banisi, J. Marois, A. R. Laplante

"This paper compares the behaviour of gold and ore in the grinding circuit of Hemlo Gold Ltd. Particular attention is given to grinding kinetics, classification behaviour, and liberation. For grinding kinetics, laboratory grinding of gold flakes and silica, 840-1200 um in size (14/20 mesh), was also performed to provide a standard for comparison and to study in a controlled environment the mechanisms of breakage, folding, smearing and impacting.Grinding kinetics were characterized at laboratory scale with breakage and selection functions. The breakage function showed that 75% of gold disappearing from the 840-1200 um class reported to the 600-840 um; this figure is much higher than for silica ( 46%) or most other minerals, and implies that comparatively fewer fine fragments are produced from the breakage of gold flakes, on account of gold's malleability. The selection function of silica was four times that of gold. At plant scale, the ratio of the selection function of ore and gold increased from 6 for at 50-100 um to 20 at 500-1000 um.Observation of original flakes and their fragments with the scanning electron microscope showed that the main mechanism of ""grinding"" from the 840-1200 um to the 600-840 um class was folding rather than actual breakage. This was confirmed by a measure of individual flake weight. The postulated breakage cycle is that relatively globular flakes become increasingly serrated through grinding; they can then regain their original shape through folding and reflattening into cylindrical and spherical shapes, as the majority does; however, some fragments will at this point undergo actual breakage. Photographic evidence is presented to support the proposed mechanisms.Smearing of gold unto silica was observed when silica was ground after a gold, and embedding of silica into gold flakes when gold was ground after a silica. Both mechanisms occur whenever gold and harder minerals are jointly ground, and result in ""unliberation"" of gold. It is postulated that smearing of gold onto other minerals plays an important role in explaining how gravity recovery can increase overall gold metallurgy, especially when used ahead of flotation.Classification of gold in the primary hydrocyclones takes place at a much finer cut-size than ore, 20 vs. 57 um. This and the slower grinding kinetics result in high gold circulating loads in the primary loop, 6700%, and a gold content in the primary cyclone underflow (PCUF) is twenty four times that of the ore. The gold size distribution for primary cyclone overflow is much finer than that of the ore, although they are essentially similar in the PCUF.Liberation, or more accurately ""gravity recoverability"", was assessed with a 7.5 cm (3"") Knelson concentrator. It varied between the thirties for the primary mill discharge and two cyclone overflows, to highs of 89 to 92% for the PCUF and secondary mill discharge, 89 and 92%, respectfully."

Jan 1, 1991

By R. Laplante, P. Radziszewski, P. De Ciccio

"Predicting the effect of wear can lead to improved control strategies that can possibly minimize the risk of catastrophic failure due to wear while maximizing useable life. In the field of geological exploration, diamond drill rod wear illustrates just such a case. Wear conditions vary with geological formations and compositions. The objective of this paper is to determine a general relationship, based in theory and practice, that will approximate drill rod wear and therefore predict remaining drill rod life in the context of Canadian, Australian and South American drilling campaigns. Simulation results allow the definition of simple graphical tools that permit the estimation of the potential drill depth remaining on a given drill rod string. IntroductionWear, in many industrial processes, is an undesired phenomenon for which enormous efforts are made to control, if not eliminate. However, wear, in many other cases, is an intrinsic phenomenon of the given process. In such cases, predicting the effect of wear can lead to improved control strategies that can possibly minimize the risk of catastrophic failure due to wear while maximizing useable life. In the field of geological exploration, diamond drill rod wear illustrates just such a case where abrasive conditions vary with geological formations and compositions.A number of studies have been published on drill rod wear especially with regards to the petroleum industry over the last thirty years (Lewis, 1968; Rollins, 1968; Smith, 1978; White 1978; Rowe and Wilson, 1981; Cheng, 1982; Eustes, 1986; Dudman et al., 1989; Besaisow et al., 1990). Of these, most studies covered management techniques (Rollins, 1968; Smith, 1978; White, 1978; Rowe and Wilson, 1981; Besaisow et al., 1990) and some described case histories (Cheng, 1982; Eustes, 1986; Dudman et al., 1989). However, little (Lewis, 1968) was presented that could aid in predicting wear in the particular case of diamond drilling in the metal mining industry.The objective of this paper is to determine a general relationship, based in theory and practice, that will approximate diamond drill rod wear and therefore predict remaining drill rod life in the context of Canadian, Australian and South American diamond drilling campaigns."

Jan 1, 2002

By U. Olsson, M. Ramström

"The IREDES1 Special Interest Group (SIG) for drill rigs has been active since its launch during MineExpo 2000 in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States. SIG for drill rigs is responsible for the development of an IREDES drill rig profile, including the exchange of production planning, performance, and quality reporting data between various kinds of drill rigs and the databases used by the operating mine. During 2001, a first draft of the drill rigs profile was jointly prepared by drill rig suppliers, mining companies, and third-party suppliers and reviewed during several SIG meetings. The profile for prototyping projects was released in mid-2002; the first official IREDES release was based on feedback received from these projects.In 2002, LKAB and Atlas Copco decided to carry out an IREDES prototyping project using the Simba L6C production drill rig. The goal was to verify the drill rig profile and identify potential problems prior to the official release. This was done by implementing the IREDES prototype version into LKAB’s production planning and Simba rig control systems. The Simba rig control system was designed to handle drill plan and logging information coming from the mine planning system. In parallel to this, the mine production system was adapted for drill plan export and logging data import in IREDES format.This paper presents the most recent results of the IREDES prototyping project. Results from late 2002 show that the basic architecture of the drill rig profile works and that a common language for data exchange, IREDES, will be a central requirement for future mine automation.As a result of the IREDES prototyping project, the IREDES standard was approved at the IREDES board meeting held at the 2003 CIM Annual Conference and Exhibition. Soon thereafter, IREDES compliant products, including drill rigs and mine production planning systems, were put on the market."

Jan 1, 2005

By J. Asfahani

"The Schlumberger configuration used in geoelectrical sounding is slightly adapted here to obtain reliable data for both shallow and deep penetration depths from the same survey. In this configuration, two kinds of current electrode half-spacings are used: the first enables construction of vertical electrical resistivity sounding (VES) curves for shallow depths (<50 m), and the second for depths =250 m. For a given VES location, two field curves are measured and interpreted using two standard approaches. Practical characteristics of such a modified configuration are illustrated with two field applications in Syria. The first aims to characterize the structure of Quaternary and recent deposits in the Al-Ghab depression region, and the second deals with exploration for phosphatic sedimentary units in the Al-Sharquieh mine. La configuration de Schlumberger normalement employée dans les levés géoélectriques a été légèrement modifiée afin d’obtenir des données fiables à faible et forte profondeur durant le même levé. Dans cette nouvelle configuration, deux types de demi-espacements des électrodes sont utilisés : le premier permet le développement de courbes de sondage de résistivité électrique verticales (REV) pour les faibles profondeurs (<50 m), et le second atteint des profondeurs =250 m. Pour une localité REV donnée, deux courbes de champs sont donc mesurées et interprétées grâce à deux approches standardisées. Les caractéristiques pratiques de cette configuration modifiée sont illustrées par deus exemples d’application en Syrie. Le premier vise la caractérisation de la structure des dépôts Quaternaires et récents de la région de la dépression d’Al-Ghab, et le second traite de l’exploration pour des unités phosphatiques sédimentaires à la mine Al-Sharquieh."

Jan 1, 2009