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By E. M. Watkin

"Although Canada has achieved one of the highest living standards in the world, people and organizations have, over the past decade, begun to question the cost and means of this achievement. Concern has been expressed about the degree of environmental disturbance arising from industrial activities which have greatly contributed to our increased living standards. These industries include hardrock mining, pit and quarry operations, hydro-electric schemes, various agricultural enterprises and urban land developments.In the construction and operation of the above industries many environmental problems arise because the natural vegetative land cover is destroyed or drastically disturbed. Disturbance may occur to such a degree that revegetation is di ffi cult, often it appears impossible. Portions of the environment around such industries remain aesthetically unacceptable and appear to offer little or no potential for future resource use in wildlife, recreation or agriculture.The general public cannot dissociate itself from the activities of the aforementioned industries. It has, over many years, accepted the benefits and conveniences arising from those activities. Despite this, the increasing level of public concern imposes upon industry a need to alleviate or repair past, present and future environmental disturbance. Therefore it is incumbent upon industry to modify present technology or develop new techniques which would allow the disturbed environment to be easily and rapidly repaired."

Jan 1, 1975

By Jan E. Nesset, James A. Finch, Frank Rosenblum, Rebecca Payant

"Under certain conditions of moisture and oxygen, sulphides can spontaneously heat, a phenomenon known as self-heating. In this paper, we test a hypothesis that galvanic interaction between some sulphides can promote self-heating. Galvanic interaction is controlled by restpotential difference between minerals and their surface area of contact (particle size). In order to decrease rest-potential, four sulphides were tested: pyrite, chalcopyrite, sphalerite and galena. Two series of samples consisting of mixtures of two sulphides, each representing a mass fraction of 50 %, were run in standard self-heating tests. The first series comprised five mixtures, two with low rest-potential difference (pyrite-chalcopyrite and chalcopyrite-sphalerite) and three with high rest-potential difference (pyrite-galena, chalcopyrite-galena and pyrite-sphalerite). The second series was performed on a pyrite-sphalerite mixture at four particle sizes (80 % passing 850 µm, 300 µm, 75 µm and 38 µm). The first series showed that the individual sulphides and the mixtures of low rest-potential difference did not self-heat but the mixtures of high rest-potential difference did self-heat. The second series showed that self-heating increased inversely with particle size (increased specific surface area) and revealed that it was the fineness of the pyrite (high rest-potential sulphide) that governed the self-heating effect, indicating the rate-limiting step is the reduction reaction on pyrite (cathodic mineral). The increase in self-heating with high rest-potential difference and increasing particle fineness supports the hypothesis that galvanic interaction contributes to sulphide self-heating. A possible mechanism based on the hydrogen sulphide hypothesis is proposed where the reduction reaction at the cathodic mineral surface is ferric to ferrous. The understanding gained will be of interest to those involved in storage, shipping and disposal of sulphide minerals.INTRODUCTIONSulphide mineral ores are the major source of most base metals such as copper, zinc, nickel and lead. Once the ore is extracted, the sulphide minerals are liberated by size reduction (crushing and grinding), concentrated by flotation, and the concentrates sent for further processing to extract the metal (smelting and refining). At the various stages from mining to concentrate shipment and tailings storage, the sulphides are exposed to a variety of environments, which under certain conditions of air (oxygen), humidity and temperature can cause them to heat. Since no external heat source is involved, this pyrophoric process is known as spontaneous heating or, more commonly, self-heating. The self-heating of sulphides is associated with oxidation reactions under moist conditions. If the heat generated is greater than the heat dissipated, the sulphides will self-heat and the material temperature will rise. This can make working conditions potentially dangerous as oxygen is consumed from the surrounding air and significant quantities of sulphur dioxide (SO2) can be released (Ninteman, 1978)."

Jan 1, 2011

By Jamie King

This paper describes the use of dynamic scheduling and discrete event control to provide coordinated control of multiple automated vehicles. In the past decade there have been significant advances in the field of robotics for underground mining. As this trend progresses toward a realization of a completely automated underground mine the need for a central control system, capable of providing coordination for multiple vehicles in a semistructured environment, becomes more evident. In the past year general research into multi-robot coordination has been applied to the underground mining scenario and demonstrated in a scaled model underground mine in a laboratory setting. This system shows significant potential to be adopted into a full-scale implementation for mine wide automation.

May 1, 2001

By Paul Armstrong

THE first discovery of lead and zinc ore on Calumet island was made in 1893 by John Lawn, who then staked a portion of the property now owned by Calumet Mines, Limited. His discovery was developed by James and Calvin Russell, who are said to have shipped a few tons of sorted ore, averaging 39 per cent zinc, 13 per cent lead, and 11 oz. silver per ton. In 1898, the property was being operated by the Grand Calumet Mining Company, who mined and shipped, for treatment in a Belgian smelter, 1,100 tons of ore averaging 32 per cent zinc, 9 per cent lead, and an unreported content of gold and silver. After some indecisive exploration by an American syndicate in 1907, the property lay idle until1910, when the Calumet Metals Company-later reorganized as the Calumet Zinc and Lead Company-re-commenced exploration. After sinking an 85-foot shaft-the McDonald shaft-and doing a few hundred feet of drifting and cross-cutting, this Company, in 1912, erected a 150-ton daily capacity gravity-concentration plant, in which some 800 tons of ore, mined from the McDonald shaft and Bowie pit, were milled. Owing to very disappointing mill recoveries, the property was shut clown and-after several years of idleness-in? 1916 the mill and mining plant were destroyed by fire and the Company went into bankruptcy. In 1918, an unknown operator shipped to an Omaha, Nebraska, smelter 22 tons of ore, probably sorted from the dumps of the Ste. Anne shaft and Galena pits, averaging 44 percent lead, and 0.26 oz. gold and 61 oz. silver per ton. The British Metals Corporation (Canada), Limited, in 1926, optioned the property. They unwatered the McDonald shaft and, after doing an additional 300 feet of cross-cutting and drifting on the 85-ft. level, estimated there were some 33,000 tons of ore between this level and the surface. Surface exploration, including trenching, on other showings on the property gave discouraging results and the option was dropped.

Jan 1, 1941

By T. W. Wlodek

"AbstractSatisfactory mine drilling operations depend on the good performance of the drilling machine, and of what may be called the drill set, i.e., the following four elements: bit, attachment, drill rod, and shank end. The field performances of these four elements in the drill set are analysed and their service lives are compared. The most .common causes of service failure are reviewed and possibilities of increasing service life are discussed.The laboratory methods now employed for the simulated service testing of tungsten carbide bits, conical push-on and threaded .types of attachments, drill rods, and shank ends are described, and some results are discussed. The objectives of the research programme now being carried out •on the above mentioned elements are outlined.A number of mines in British Columbia, northern Ontario, and northern Quebec have been visited, and, with the co-operation of the C.I.M. Branches in these areas, meetings with representatives of the mining and steel industries concerned have been held. In this paper, the mechanical-metallurgical problems most frequently encountered and discussed during these visits and meetings are described and .analysed.IntroductionSUCCESSFUL mine drill operations depend to a great extent on• the satisfactory field performance of the four elements which form the mining drill set, shown diagrammatically in Figure 1.These important elements are:1. -The bit, which may be one of the following types:(a) Detachable tungsten carbide bit( b) Inserted rod bit, so called chisel bit( c) Detachable steel bit( d) Solid rod bit"

Jan 1, 1952

By A. R. Harrington

BEFORE discussing some of the technical aspects of the steam generating plants of Nova Scotia Light and Power Company, Limited, it might be of interest to go back through history and see the development of steam generation in this public utility. Back around 1902 Nova Scotia Light and Power Company, Limited, had three slide-valve engines in-stalled at its Water Street, Halifax, generating station for a total capacity of 1,800 kilowatts. The plant remained at about this size until 1910 and in 1911 a 2,000 kilowatt steam turbine was installed to raise the total capacity of the plant to 3,800 kilowatts. In 1916, a 3,000 kilowatt turbine was installed and one of the slide-valve engines was removed to make a total plant capacity of 6,200 kilowatts. The total demand in the Company's service 8rea was at that time 4,000 kilo-watts.

Jan 1, 1958

By D. J. Thorkelson

New data indicate Wernecke Breccia-associated iron oxide copper-gold (IOCG) deposits likely formed from moderate-temperature, high-salinity, non-magmatic brines. The breccias formed in an area underlain by a sedimentary sequence that locally contained evaporites (potential source of chloride and possibly sulfur) and was thick enough to produce elevated fluid temperatures. Metals (Fe, Cu, Co, U) were probably derived from host strata, transported as chloride complexes, and precipitated due to changes in fluid temperature and pressure during brecciation. These new data suggest that the spectrum of genetic models for IOCG deposits that typically invoke formation from magmatic or hybrid magmatic-non-magmatic fluids should be expanded to include those systems that formed in a non-magmatic environment. Modifications to the definition of IOCG systems are proposed that reflect the degree of involvement of magmatic and/or non-magmatic fluids and the nature of the mineralizing environment. A division into magmatic, non-magmatic, and hybrid magmatic-non-magmatic IOCG types is suggested. Typical magmatic end-member IOCG deposits include Lightning Creek and Eloise, Australia. Hybrid magmatic-nonmagmatic IOCG examples include Ernest Henry and Olympic Dam, Australia. The Wernecke Breccia and Redbank deposits are suggested as possible representatives of non-magmatic IOCG end members. Endmember magmatic IOCG deposits have similarities to some porphyry deposits, whereas non-magmatic IOCG end members share characteristic with some sediment-hosted Cu deposits, suggesting that the range of IOCG deposits may form a link between intrusive- and sediment-related deposits

Jan 1, 2007

By R. Gallinger

In 1997, a group of Canadian mining companies met to review the Mine Environment Neutral Drainage (MEND) program and to consider future activities. They concluded that (1) that Canadian industry and Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) should fund a small secretariat in Ottawa to support technology transfer in Canada and, (2) that it was important for industry to continue the momentum of MEND on an international scale. The need for the International Network for Acid Prevention (INAP) was strongly endorsed by consultants, company, university, and government experts from Australia, Canada, and the United States who convened in Vancouver in February 1998. The initial focus was the development of a solid knowledge base covering the collective experience of INAP?s members to promote the dissemination of successful practices, the identification of knowledge gaps, and the formulation of effective research proposals. The sharing of information on past successes and failures alone was viewed as sufficient justification for the formation of INAP. INAP was officially launched in October 1998, and is now an effective, industry-based initiative to globally coordinate research and development in the management of sulphide mine waste. Significant improvements in the management of sulphidic mine materials through knowledge sharing, research, and development of technology by INAP will reduce liability associated with acid drainage. This paper will explore the international efforts and activities of INAP

May 1, 2005

By P. C. Holloway, A. Tshilombo, T. Xue, M. J. Collins, R. Lopetinsky, I. Mihaylov, I. M. Masters

The Voisey’s Bay deposit contains a trace amount of cadmium, which reports to solution during pressure leaching of the nickel concentrate at Vale’s Long Harbour Hydrometallurgy Plant, and must be removed to produce high quality nickel cathode. In 2006, Vale approached Sherritt Technologies to collaborate on the development of a process for removing cadmium to low levels (<1 mg/L) in the nickel raffinate. Following successful bench scale and pilot plant testing at Sherritt’s laboratories, the cadmium removal process was then moved through engineering and construction, culminating in the successful commissioning and startup of a cadmium removal circuit at the Long Harbour Hydrometallurgy Plant in 2017. This paper presents the results of this collaboration and the challenges that were encountered through each stage of development, as well as current results from operation of the commercial cadmium removal circuit. INTRODUCTION Vale’s Long Harbour Processing Plant, with a nameplate capacity of 50,000 t/y nickel, began operation in 2014. In addition to electrolytic nickel rounds, the plant also produces electrolytic cobalt rounds and copper cathode. The Long Harbour Processing Plant uses a unique hydrometallurgical process developed by Vale Base Metals Technology Centre, as shown in Figure 1, to treat a nickel sulphide concentrate produced at the Voisey’s Bay mine and mill located in northern Labrador (VBN concentrate) (Stevens et al., 2009).

Jan 1, 2019

By Dr. Ralph W. Edie

The limestone reef reservoir at Swan Hills consists essentially of a "buildup" of successively smaller atoll-like layers. Precipitation of calcium carbonate within the lagoonal area of each layer essentially kept pace with growth of the outer organic lattice. Within the reef mass, six de-positional environments characterized by specific suites of fossils (or fossil fragments) and associated limestone textures are recognized as follows: ( 1) Aerated moderately agitated water of normal marine salinity (widespread shelf or submerged reef-built platform). Thamnopora-type corals, Amphipora, "pancake" stroma-toporoids, crinoids, articulate bra-chiopods, rare rugose cup corals, and ostracods occurs in light gray-buff skeletal microgranular limestone of low permeability. (2) Semi-stagnant quiet water of normal marine salinity (leeward side of reef). Crinoids, articulate brachio-pods, rare thamnopora-type corals, Amphipora, pancake and bulbous stromatoporoids, rugose cup corals, ostracods and gastropods occur in impermeable dark brown argillaceous skeletal calcilutite with thin black bituminous shale beds and rare dark chert nodules.

Jan 1, 1961

By George R. Pratt

Although the title of this paper focuses attention to the Winnipeg coal market the following remarks should be considered applicable not only to conditions in Winnipeg but to the whole western coal industry. Technical descriptions of coal and coal-burning have been omitted. These details are already covered in other numerous publications. In discussing a market the first consideration must be the product which is required to be sold. The class, quality and price at the point of origin must be taken into account and therefore this feature will be discussed before proceeding to outline conditions in the Winnipeg local market. The writer thinks of coal as a manufactured article, not, as it is generally considered, a fuel to be dug from the ground and dumped into the consumer&apos;s bin. The work of manufacturing must be considered in detail:- 1. Consider first the coal as it is in the ground: (a) What is its fuel value? (b) Where is its market? © With what will it be in competition? 2. Consider secondly: (a) What it will cost to mine the coal. (b) What has to be done to prepare the coal for market after it is mined. This must be considered in conjunction with the answer to question 1 ©. 3. Thirdly, consider the method of business to be adopted by the producer:- (a) Is it proposed to build a market on price? Or (b) On quality?

Jan 1, 1925

By M. L. McAllister, M. Veiga

The mineral industry has seen many significant changes in the past decade. Increasingly, it has responded to unanticipated pressures and demands with a variety of voluntary initiatives. Yet there is still much to do. Mining now takes place in a different context than was the case in the past. Socio-economic, political and environmental considerations must now be integrated into traditional mining systems. This process of integration needs to involve industry, governments, academics, communities and other stakeholders to design a new approach to mining, one that can be fostered through interdisciplinary links and holistic strategies. This paper considers the meaning of sustainability in the context of the Canadian mining industry and explores the need for a broader vision for the mining industry. The role of technology is then analyzed and related to an initiative recently taken by Canadian universities to develop a national network for interdisciplinary research into sustainable mining, CaSM.

Jan 1, 1999

By F. R. Nogas

"Because of the elements of uncertainty and instabilitp associated with single-enterprise communities, there is increasing interest in the alternatives to developing additional new communities of this nature. Gulf Minerals Canada Limited has chosen a unique alternative means to accommodate employees at a new uranium mine/mill complex at Rabbit Lake in Northern Saskatchewan. Gulf has adopted a fly-in program which moves their staff from a 450-mile radius, in and out of the on-site facilities, on a 7-day rotation."

Jan 1, 1976

"Automatic flotation control in varying degrees of sophistication is practiced at a number of concentrators throughout the world. Practically, the variable conditions in the flotation circuit and the difficulty in maintaining accurate instrumentation information all add to the complexity of automatic control.Further development at the Kidd Creek concentrator has resulted in a 3075 mtpd copper flotation circuit capable of running twenty-four hours a day under the direct control of an optimizing supervisory computer.Three main streams, continuously monitored by an XRF analyser, supply circuit information to the optimizing computer. Circuit efficiency calculations (from smelter contract terms) and target setpoints allow the computer to determine the economic optimum direction to move the circuit based on the grade/recovery relationship. Circuit manipulation is accomplished by precise pumping of collector and frother reaqents together with accurate control of flotation bank pulp levels. The former uses computer controlled diaphragm pumps and the latter is achieved by control loops utilizing a float type level transmitter, variable position dart plugs and a process computer working to setpoints determined by the optimizing computer.The development of a fully automated flotation circuit is by no means complete, but increased knowledge and major hardware improvements have allowed its progression to a higher level of sophistication."

Jan 1, 1983

By H. L. Martin

A joint federal-provincial approach in gathering basic information from industry on mine production, concentrator operations and ore reserves, initiated during 1978, is a major step toward the goal of achieving better government-industry communication through a common data base. Information from questionnaires sent out by provincial governments is shared with the federal government; correct interpretation is ensured by mine visits conducted jointly by provincial and federal representatives. Initial focus is on nonferrous metal mines. The federal Department of Energy, Mines and Resources (EMR) is responsible for a national analysis that is aimed at the early detection of worrisome developments-and their reasons-in the flow from resources to reserves and from reserves to supply of these metals. The heart of the national analysis is the annual construction of a "monitoring curve", showing each metal&apos;s aggregated mine production as it would decrease over time if no new reserves and production capacity were to be added from the year of analysis. For a given metal, a comparison of monitoring curves from year to year can reveal early signs of supply stagnation. In anyone year, a monitoring curve in conjunction with foreseen needs for Canadian mine output will show the production gap that would have to be filled from reserves and production capacity yet to be developed. The production gaps for copper, nickel, zinc and lead, the four leading base metals mined in Canada, are shown for the 20-year period ahead, in the context of production achieved during the past 20 years. It is shown that reserve levels commensurate with likely future production levels would require that average annual reserve additions during 1978-98 exceed the average annual additions during the preceding 20 years. Reserve levels of all four metals have declined in recent years. A review of significant discoveries in the last five years suggests that this fall in reserves is not the result of a lack of exploration successes, but of stagnation in development for various economic reasons.

Jan 1, 1979

By Jerry J. Ran

In open stope mining borehole deviation is one of the main factors affecting the blasting results. Though previous research has identified some actual deviation patterns, these studies are unable to relate the hole deviation pattern with the blasting results and therefore it is not possible to modify the design or take remedial measures based on the prediction of the blasting results. An alternative to the conventional method for borehole surveying is the in-hole probing techniques. With their inherent errors, it is important to evaluate these surveying systems under conditions of different mine sites. The lack of available assessment methods has limited the application of these techniques. In this paper some of the characteristics of the actual hole deviation pattern are discussed based on data from surveying production holes in six stopes. A method of predicting the blasting results is proposed by considering the borehole deviation pattern. Based on the prediction stope design can be modified or further surveying is carried out to improve the blasting results. The tolerable error is introduced to relate the surveying error with the drilling pattern and therefore it is possible to assess various in-hole-surveying techniques.

May 1, 2002

By P. deH. Eastcott

The paper summarizes a slide presentation made during the CIM Mechanical-Electrical Operators&apos; Conference, held at Sudbury. Ontario, January 25-27, 1977. Its scope has been limited to a few specific aspects of modern Canadian hoisting plant practice that are likely to be of interest to operating personnel. It is intended to serve as a brief review of established methods discuss in more detail the present state-of-the-art and suggest trends that will appear as products during the next few years.

Jan 1, 1977

Session 1 ? Intro to MiHR ? Business Case for Aboriginal Inclusion ? Overview of the Mining HR Guide for Aboriginal Communities ? Two presentations of Programs featured in the Guide ?? The RAP Program from NWCC ?? First Nations Youth Employment Program PDAC-MM Session 2 ? Presentation from MAC ? Taking up the AFN Corporate Challenge ? Presentation on Mastering Aboriginal Inclusion in Mining About MiHR Who we are: ? National Sector Council for the Minerals and Metals Sector ? 18-person Board of Directors ? 100+ Industry Leaders volunteer on our project committees ? PPP - Funded by HRSDC and industry What we do: ? Identify national HR challenges and opportunities for the minerals and metals industry ? Create national solutions through collaboration, partnerships and Synergy

May 1, 2009

By M. J. Beus

Many mines in Canada, the United States and South Africa are reaching the hoisting limit. Very little payload will be possible without compromising safety due to the excessive weight. It has been suggested (DeLorme, 2000) that one of the most attractive concepts to enable deeper hoisting is to reduce the allowable factor of safety in the wire rope. Researchers at the Spokane Research Lab are developing new technology to improve hoisting safety and productivity by providing new monitoring and analytical tools. A Shaft Conveyance Monitoring System (SCMS) has been developed which determines hoist rope end load, true conveyance position and acceleration, and rope safety factor, as well as other hoist operating parameters. This information is transmitted to the hoist operator display 20 times per second. Recent field measurements on 45 mm (13/4 in.) diameter hoist rope indicate that dynamic forces during loading of a 9000 kg (10 ton) skip could exceed the safety factor of the rope. To improve on the current understanding of the mechanical behaviour of hoist ropes, and to help interpret the results from field-testing of the SCMS, a new approach to computer modelling of stranded wire rope is also being developed. Particle Flow Code, PFC3D (Itasca, 1999), is used to simulate the structural behaviour of wire rope and the interaction between individual strands when the rope is subjected to static and dynamic end loading. Details of the SCMS, field results from the measured rope loads, and the results of numerical modelling on the wire rope will be discussed.

Jan 1, 2002

By Michael G. Rulff, Tracy M. Holmes

"Vast amounts of time and money are spent fighting flow problems in plants that involve the handling or processing of industrial minerals. Because these types of projects tend to be capitalintensive, the right decisions, made at the design stage, can have a substantial positive effect on the economics of the project.Some of the problems related to solids flow in mineral processing plants include:•,Flow stoppages•,Uncontrolled flow•,Segregation of blended materials•,Build-up and dead material resulting in loss of live capacityUnfortunately few Universities in North America provide courses in the design or selection of bulk solids handling equipment, let alone the theory of bulk solids flow, with the result that engineers do not fully appreciate the effects of bulk solids handling on their process. The usual method of selecting “standard” equipment, all too often, leaves plant operators hammering on hoppers to promote flow, a technique that is not only usually ineffective but also unsafe and often causes damage to equipment. In short, too little consideration is given, at the design stage of projects, to the particular material and operating environment involved and how these will affect handling between process steps.This paper seeks to give a general understanding of bulk solids flow theory including flow patterns and flow property tests, and presents functional design guidelines to ensure reliable flow. As well, a case history will be presented. Our message is clear: To ensure uniform, reliable flow, a plant design must take into account the specific flow characteristics of the bulk solid to be handled or processed."

Jan 1, 2008