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By Jae-sang Ahn

As the amount of construction information used in the growing construction field increases, the importance of efficient construction field management has been growing. Therefore, construction industry have been tried to introduce and conjugate various software and IT technology such as PMIS, Web Camera, RFID, GPS, PDA. However, existing IT technology especially PMIS have not been performed systematically because of difficulty of real time information collection and decision-making from the insufficient handy equipment. These problems make construction manager cannot efficiently respond to diverse condition occur in construction sites. In addition, after the completion, individual who use PMIS have to move another site and use another system so than cannot use information from previous sites. On the other hand, development of IT technology transmute PDA phone for text-based work like schedule management, internet research to smart phone for network based multimedia service. In other words, smart phone is not just IT equipment but new way for overall industry and it can satisfy the demand IT technology on construction sites. Therefore, the purpose of this study is introduce mobile based individual unit PMIS system using cloud computing and SNS which is in development progress. It is expected to be possible to collect and record the real-time information that occur at the site and make rapid decisions based on the recorded information, by converting the office works that are managed based on the site PC or Web, if the site management system that is based on the smart phones and Cloud computing that will be constructed through this research are utilized. After this study, it is necessary to research about interwork with project unit PMIS system and test on real construction site.

Aug 1, 2013

By R. H. Andrews, F. J. West

"Jones & Laughlin Mining Company, Ltd. operate the Adams mine at Kirkland Lake, Ontario, where they mine approximately 4,000,000 tons of extremely hard iron-formation and 3,500,000 tons of volcanic waste rock annually in order to produce 1,100,000 tons of iron pellets. This paper will discuss the maintenance of the four Model 1600 P & H shovels and the two 50-R drills used to obtain this production. The chief maintenance problems at the mine are due to the hard, abrasive ore and the cold winter weather."

Jan 1, 1970

By M. L. Trépanier

"Engineering and technical services are supplied by the Engineering Department, located at Thetford Mines, Quebec, approximately 60 miles southwest of Quebec City. The department serves the three operating mines in the Thetford area, the Asbestos Hill mine at Putuniq, Nouveau Quebec, and the Nordenham plant at Nordenham, West Germany. The Engineering Department is responsible for supplying the following services. 1. Administration and coordination of capital projects. 2. Engineering, design and drafting services for in-plant changes or improvements. 3. Preparation of geological plans for mine planning and ore reserves determinations. 4. Short-, medium- and long-term mining plans. 5. Rock mechanics studies and monitoring. 6. Grade control monitoring. 7. Environmental control engineering and construction. Details of the organization and services rendered will be the basis of the paper."

Jan 1, 1976

By S. S. Burns

"AbstractShovels of 18 cubic yard capacity and larger are described which incorporate advanced technology and techniques providing performance and operation tailored to meet the needs of open-pit mining.To achieve the goal s of increased production at lower cost with consideration of maximum availability, lower energy consumption per ton and low •impact on pit power, Harnischfeger Corporation developed a solid -state drive system (""Electrotorque"" - P&H trademark) and applied unique transmission methods.To date, more than 250,000 hours of experience in different parts of the world under varying operating and environmental conditions has proven that the ""Electrotorque"" shovel is the shovel of the future, today.This paper will discuss the electrical features and touch briefly on some mechanical features.Introduction to ""Electrotorque""THE hoist, crowd, propel and swing machinery of an electric mining shovel are driven by direct-current motors.A D.C. motor is used instead of an A.C. motor because the torque output per ampere input is at a maximum and the fact that it is doubly-fed (armature and field ) provides optimum flexibility in control.The power that is available in the pit is alternating current power. It is therefore necessary to change or convert this A.C. power to D.C. power so that the D.C. motors can be used."

Jan 1, 1977

By P. Roman, L. Daneshmend

"During the last decade, mining companies have been overwhelmed by technological solutions to perceived problems. This is particularly true with information technology where rapid advances have resulted in a professional climate characterized by technomania — the perception that failure to adopt emerging technologies will result in a loss of competitive advantage. This paper describes the applicability of structured analysis and design techniques as an appropriate methodology for integrating emerging technologies in the mining industry. The potential of this approach to improve overall mine effectiveness through improved communication and co-ordination between operations and maintenance is discussed. IntroductionA strong working relationship between the operations and maintenance departments in both open pit and underground mines is fundamental to the overall success of the mining endeavour. Unfortunately, for many mines, this characterization is far from accurate. Short-range production targets dominate the day-to-day management of the mines. This can be seen in Bostwick and Buchanan’s (1993) report on American Barrick Resources efforts to achieve an aggressive 415 000 tpd mining program at their Goldstrike operation in Nevada. When production managers do not meet their quotas, the finger is often pointed at maintenance. As a result, a confrontational culture can develop between the two organizations, resulting in a lack of cooperation that exacerbates the problem. Historically, production planning has taken priority over maintenance planning. This is reasonable since production is the primary purpose of the mine with maintenance serving in a support role. This basic relationship remains intact today. However, the trends toward mechanization, increasing levels of automation, and larger equipment, have resulted in increased reliance on the equipment used in the mine. As a result, downtime costs now go well beyond the direct labour associated with the repair of the machine. Lost production costs due to downtime resulting from failed equipment are becoming an increasingly important factor in determining a mine’s overall economic performance."

Jan 1, 2001

By O. D. Maurice

Feldspar mining in Canada came to an end during 1972 after many years of continuous activity. The deposits are not exhausted and the domestic demand for this product is expected to continue at about the same level as in recent years. The size of the industry does not justify the installation of expensive equipment in the mills, but it is believed that a modest profit could be made by a small operation using rudimentary methods of separation. Largescale and accurate mapping of the pegmatite dykes could help in planning mining operations for a better recovery of a uniform product.

Jan 1, 1973

By Lanny Pasternak

"This article is directed at plant production, engineering and maintenance personnel. Seldom does any industrial operation take the time to study the costs involved in the generation of what is probably their most expensive plant utility energy source.IntroductionIn the typical industrial plant in Canada, a 200 hp, 900 cfm, air compressor costs about $60,000* per year to operate (Fig. 1). In 1989 when BC Hydro embarked on their industrial energy management program Airflow Energy Ltd. were asked to spearhead the “Efficiency Compressed Air” portion of that program with a mandate to perform onsite overview surveys and physical hands-on testing of some 300 selected industrial plants throughout British Columbia for compressor efficiencies and wasteful air leaks (Fig. 2). The program duration lasted until 1995, during which time a tremendous amount of data were amassed relating to equipment types, clients’ operating habits, end-use applications and operating costs.During the past six years, Airflow Energy also performed somewhat similar surveys but on a smaller scale in Alberta, Ontario, the United States and the Republic of China. It was no surprise to find some inherent equipment concerns related to efficiency as well as neglected energy wasteful air leaks, so British Columbia was not alone and the problems appear somewhat universal."

Jan 1, 1996

By MacDonald W. L. F. C. A.

IN accordance with the usual approach to a participation in a panel discussion, this paper is, in some respects, intentionally controversial. I would suggest, how-ever that there is more than a grain of truth in many of the comments made. Before dealing with a particular problem. It is appropriate to set out a few of the more significant objective of an: accounting system: (1) The provision of historical data <•concerning past events, for the information of shareholders, tax authorities, etc. This data can also be used as a tool to predict the future. (2) The provision of a record to safeguard the company's assets and to form the basis of any claim for insurance or other damages. (3) The provision of an accounting framework in making an economic study of a proposed course of future action such as the development of an orebody or the outlay of a substantial sum for new equipment. ( 4) The

Jan 1, 1962

By W E. vanSteenburgh

The Polar Continental Shelf Project was initiated in 1959 to provide an administrative and logistic vehicle for research in the physical sciences of the land, sea and channel area of the Arctic Archipelago. Most of the scientists are supplied on secondment from the professional branches of the Department. The yearly expeditions number some eighty scientists and sub-professional staff, and they are supported by a fleet of fixed-winged aircraft and helicopters. Accurate positioning is obtained by the use of a Decca Lambda navigational system which is moved as the area of interest is shifted. The Project is designed to accommodate not only physical scientists, but to provide facilities for other scientist who may have an interest in the area under study. The main research scope of the Project includes topographical surveys, hydrography, oceanography, geology, including marine sedimentary studies, gravity, magnetics, seismology, glaciology and geography. The Polar Continental Shelf Project was initiated and recommended by the Committee on Northern Development in 1958.

Jan 1, 1963

By F. Ford, Z. Dai, A. W. Lee

ABSTRACT: As high-grade nickel sulphide ores are being depleted and processing laterite ores continues to pose challenges, the future of nickel extraction lies in low-grade ultramafic ores. Canada has large resources of low-grade ultramafic nickel sulphide ores in the Thompson Nickel Belt. Most of the deposits are high tonnage and open pittable, but have high MgO content. The main challenge in processing low-grade ultramafic ores is the presence of serpentine. Chrysotile, one of the three polymorphs of serpentine, is the most common form of asbestos. In addition, the high slurry viscosity associated with ultramafic ores makes grinding and flotation possible only at a very low solids percentage.

Jan 1, 2011

By Randy McMeekin, Chris Twigge-Molecey, J. Peter Blake

The project implementation phase, FEL4, is generally a complex undertaking. The project has been approved for construction and the capital has been allocated. At this point the project team comes under significant pressure to meet the safety, schedule, cost, and start-up committments. For the design team the principal tasks are to finalize detailed design, complete procurement, and issue construction contracts. Design activities must be closely coordinated with equipment and material procurement. A clear engineering plan should be based on well-defined work packages to meet construction, commissioning, and startup requirements. A range of review processes by discipline, area, and third parties assure quality. Constructability, safety, and hazard reviews are performed throughout the design process. Three-dimensional models that incorporate extensive databases help to maximize efficiency and minimize errors. Well-managed projects have a clearly accountable design team, rigorous change control processes, and well-defined workflows. Key individuals from the design team participate in commissioning, operator training, and startup.

Jan 1, 2015

By Benoît Demers

Dans ses opérations de traitement de concentré de zinc, l?usine de Zinc Électrolytique du Canada à Valleyfield génère un résidu minier appelé « jarosite ». Jusqu?en 1998, le jarosite était transporté hydrauliquement dans des bassins construits en argile. Le jarosite sédimenté possède une consistance très molle (impossible de circuler à pied sur le résidu consolidé) avec une eau interstitielle acide contenant des teneurs élevées en métaux. Ces caractéristiques particulières au jarosite rendaient très coûteuses la construction et la fermeture des bassins de résidus. En 1998, Zinc Électrolytique du Canada a implanté un nouveau procédé, développé chez Noranda, dont le principal objectif était de stabiliser chimiquement et physiquement le jarosite. Un nouveau concept de déposition a été élaboré pour le nouveau résidu minier appelé « jarofix ». Les grandes caractéristiques du nouveau procédé et du concept de déposition sont : ? Le jarosite est lavé et déshydraté à l?usine avec un système de filtre; ? De la chaux, du ciment et de l?eau sont ajoutés pour former le jarofix; ? Le jarofix est transporté par camions jusqu?à l?aire d?accumulation; ? À l?aire d?accumulation, le résidu est géré selon un concept d?empilement. L?élaboration du concept d?empilement et de l?aire d?accumulation devait tenir compte des caractéristiques de déposition du jarofix, de sa résistance à l?érosion hydrique et éolienne, de la gestion de l?eau de ruissellement, de la faisabilité de construire les digues de ceinture en utilisant du jarofix durci et de la nécessité de restaurer progressivement l?aire d?accumulation. Le déchargement du jarofix se fait à partir d?une rampe qui progresse avec une pente ascendante pour développer un front de déversement de plus en plus haut. La hauteur du tas de jarofix atteindra 30 m au centre du site. L?aménagement initial de 1998 a inclut une digue d?amorce de 3 m de hauteur, une rampe de déversement de 8 m de hauteur et un bassin pour la gestion de l?eau de ruissellement. Les propriétés du jarofix consolidé dans l?aire d?accumulation sont déterminées annuellement. Le jarofix durci possède la consistance et la résistance d?une argile très raide. Sa conductivité hydraulique est similaire à celle d?un silt et il résiste bien à l?érosion éolienne. Après trois années de déposition, la température du jarofix au milieu du dépôt demeure élevée. Le jarofix durci est facile à excaver et à compacter, ce qui en fait un excellent matériau pour la construction des digues de ceinture en périphérie du site.

Nov 1, 2002

By Kyle Selga, Christopher J. Greet

"The Pulp Chemistry Monitor (PCM) has been installed and operated in a number of concentrators in Australasia, and has produced some very interesting results. PCM measures the pH, Eh, dissolved oxygen, temperature and oxygen demand of process streams within a concentrator continuously and in real time.In the example presented in the paper the cleaner feed pulp chemistry is measured, and related back to changes in the mineralogy as well as variations in metallurgical response. For example, a decrease in Eh and dissolved oxygen as well as an increase in the oxygen demand. These changes in the pulp chemistry appear to coincide with increases in the feed grades, probably higher pyrite grades. Further, these variations in pulp chemistry and feed mineralogy have a negative impact on the concentrate grade and recovery.The implication is that if the pulp chemistry is monitored it is possible to predict changes in the mineralogy of the system, and from this the metallurgical response. Further, the changes in pulp chemistry can be used in a control system to counter the changes in mineralogy and maintain the metallurgy.IntroductionIt has long been recognized at a fundamental level that the flotation behaviour of sulphide minerals is dependent on the pH and Eh of the system (for example: Tolun and Kitchener, 1964; Woods, 1976). However, measuring pulp chemical parameters within an operating concentrator has had limited attention. Woodcock and Jones (1970a and b) were among the first to actually collect data from operating plants. Jones and Woodcock (1984) identified some of the chemical complexities of flotation pulps, and noted that most concentrators already operate at high levels of metallurgical performance but there was still considerable scope for improvement. These gains would, in part come from more effective chemical control. In the same volume, Healy (1984) discussed metal ion hydrolysis and precipitation, redox chemistry and how the surface chemistry of sulphide minerals can be influence flotation behaviour. The impact of grinding environment on the pulp chemistry and flotation response of a complex polymetallic sulphide ore is discussed by Forssberg and Subrahmanyam (1993). Their work essentially contrasts the pulp chemical and flotation performance of pulps ground with conventional ferrous grinding media to a fully autogenous system. The data suggested that the reduction or removal of iron hydrolysis contamination from the system could have a positive influence on flotation behaviour, and perhaps the first stage of “controlling” the chemistry of the system should be in the grinding circuit. Grano et al (1995) demonstrated that the collection of pulp, solution and surface chemical data could identify weaknesses within a concentrator, and from these data develop, test and implement solutions that improved the process. Greet et al (2006) showed that the pulp chemical trends observed through primary grinding and rougher flotation circuits of most sulphide flotation concentrators are approximately the same. There are differences in the magnitude of various pulp chemical parameters (pH, Eh, dissolved oxygen, temperature and oxygen demand) as a result of variations in the feed mineralogy and processes employed. Further, it was noted the Eh shifted to more reducing values of the ten days measurements were collected, and this change could be traced to an increase in the iron sulphide content of the feed. Metallurgically, this resulted in an increase in nickel recovery through the recovery of nickeliferous iron sulphides, and a decrease in nickel concentrate grade."

Jan 1, 2016

By D. G. Brophey, J. A. O’Neill

"High costs, both in terms of human resources and financial costs, have long been the end result of accidents involving vehicles which continue to occur too often throughout our industry.For example, radio remote control LHDs too often seriously injure their operators in underground operations. Costly efforts are required by mine owners to provide safety bays and platforms from which their operators can work safely. In open pit operations, large heavy haulers have too frequently backed over vehicles or turned into vehicles unfortunate enough to be situated in their large blind spots. These are just two examples of situations that have occurred again and again under similar circumstances.Meanwhile, electronic methods of detecting proximity to vehicles have continued to develop. The time has come for the industry to think “outside the box” to evaluate whether many of these new methods can solve these recurring problems.This note takes a look at various types of proximity detection technologies that are in use today in other industries, and discusses the various potential applications within our industry."

Jan 1, 1998

By N. Katsikaros, A. Lewis-Gray, P. Richards

"To optimize gold recovery in complex leach-to-electrowinning processes, Gekko Systems developed the Gekko resin exchange column (G-REX) as an intermediate step, using a highly gold-selective resin to isolate contaminant metals. The AuRIX®100 resin produced by Purolite is licensed exclusively to Gekko, with the G-REX column designed specifically for this resin. Operational experience has been gained at the Castlemaine Goldfields Ballarat gold mine. In near-continuous operation since 2008, the Ballarat plant treats unclarified concentrate leach solution. The extension of this technology to higher throughputs and more complex chemistry is discussed.RÉSUMÉ Afin d’optimiser la récupération de l’or dans des procédés complexes impliquant la lixiviation suivie de l’extraction électrolytique, Gekko Systems a développé la colonne Gekko de résines échangeuses d’ions (G-REX) comme étape intermédiaire, à l’aide d’une résine hautement sélective pour la récupération de l’or qui permet d’isoler les métaux contaminants. Gekko détient la licence exclusive pour la résine AuRIX®100 produite par Purolite, et la colonne G-REX a été spécifiquement conçue pour cette résine. C’est à la mine d’or Ballarat de Castlemaine Goldfields que l’expérience opérationnelle a été acquise. L’usine de Ballarat, en exploitation quasi-continue depuis 2008, traite une solution concentrée non clarifiée de lixiviation. L’extension de cette technologie à des capacités supérieures et à une chimie plus complexe est examinée.AURIX®100 RESINAuRIX100 resin is a crosslinked polystyrene alkaline resin developed by Henkel (Virnig, Mackenzie, & Adamson, 1996). The resin beads are off-white in colour and spherical, with a nominal size of 100% +600 µm. This resin is highly selective for gold and silver over many metals, by way of extracting precious metal–cyanide complexes from leach solutions with a pH of less than 11.5. The higher end of the pH scale produces the best selectivity according to the order of preference: Au > Ag > Hg > Zn > Ni > Cu > Co > Fe. Purolite produces the resin and Gekko Systems maintains licensing of AuRIX100 resin for use in its G-REX column, as part of its unique suite of gravity gold–handling equipment.Significant cost savings over carbon-in-solution (CIS) systems are realized with AURIX100 resin: approximately 4–12% in capital savings and 27–40% in operating costs (Virnig, Mackenzie, Katsikaros, & Gray, 2004). Additionally, AuRIX100 resin is not susceptible to fouling; that is, the resin does not load with inorganic salts or organic compounds that would affect the loading and extraction of precious metals. To counter any potential for fouling by inorganic salts, a dilute acid wash is periodically conducted in service on the resin to unblock resin pores."

Jan 1, 2017

By J. Girard, V. Aubé, M. Barakate, S. Bellec, M. R. Eddahabi, Y. Chaik, M. Deshaies

"The activated carbon used in the carbon-in-leach (CIL) process to absorb gold is subject to breakage. This carbon breakage can be minimized, but it will always be necessary to deal with fine carbon particles, known as carbon fines. These fines contain a significant amount of gold and mining operations generally struggle with the treatment of this product. Since IAMGOLD’s Essakane mine is located in Burkina Faso, shipping carbon fines out of the country was not considered a viable solution due to the logistical burden and legal procedures in place. A benchmarking study demonstrated the complexity of treating carbon fines on site. IAMGOLD partnered with the host government to find an innovative approach to economically recover the gold locked in these fines. This paper describes the new circuits commissioned in July 2016 built to improve carbon fines collection, incinerate the carbon fines and leach the gold in the ashes produced by incineration. These new circuits successfully demonstrate that it is possible to extract more than 94% of the gold content in the carbon fines. This is profitable for the company as it improves the overall mill recovery rate by 1.0% to 1.5% and significantly decreases gold inventory build-up on site.INTRODUCTION The activated carbon used in the carbon-in-leach (CIL) to absorb gold is subject to breakage. This breakage can occur in the CIL tanks, the stripping circuit, the regeneration process or anywhere throughout the pumping and handling processes of carbon through the circuit. Fine carbon particles are invariably created and, because of their small size, present a large specific surface which favors gold absorption (Hilsher et al., 2014). At the very beginning of operations at Essakane, the carbon fines were recovered by means of a thickener and a filter press, but the circuit was undersized and inefficient. Subsequently, a decantation basin was used to settle the fines before the thickener. The settled fines were shovelled from the basin into bags. All these bags were stored in the backyard of the plant. The average tonnage of carbon fines recovered monthly was 23.5 tons with a gold grade at 1938 g/t."

Jan 1, 2017

The stability of paste fill bulkheads forms an integral part of a successful paste fill system. Bulkheads are constructed at the draw points of open stopes to contain paste fill while the initial pour cures and forms a consolidated plug. Mobilization of uncured paste fill as a result of a bulkhead failure can lead to significant consequences, including endangering the safety of personnel, property damage and production losses and delays. The loading conditions in the paste fill and the resultant lateral loads on the bulkheads are complex and are dependent on many factors. This paper presents a case study of several paste fill bulkhead failures; the results of an in-situ pressure monitoring program to ascertain the pressure loads, and the subsequent paste fill bulkhead evaluation.

May 1, 2007

By C. Blawert

In previous studies of various HPDC magnesium alloys we found that the corrosion properties of the skin are inferior in comparison to the bulk, However, this is surprising as one would expect better corrosion properties for the finer microstructure of the skin, In a more detailed study using 2 and 6 mm thick sections from HPDC AZ91 step plates, the corrosion results of the original skin, the slightly removed skin and the bulk were compared, Indeed, the corrosion measurements including potentiodynamic polarization, long term polarization resistance measurements and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) revealed a lower corrosion resistance of the original as-cast skin. An explanation for this corrosion behavior was found, on the one hand, in the microstructure concerning especially the amount and distribution of the 13-phase and, on the other hand, in the composition, including the distribution of the most important alloying element Al and of some impurities such as Fe.

Jan 1, 2005

By Jonathan Allen, Peter Radziszewski

"Stirred mill technology dates back to 1928 where the idea to use “an agitator and spherical grinding media” was presented. The year 1948 saw the successful application of DuPont’s “sand mill” for pigment grinding. Subsequent years have led to the development of different types of stirred mills spanning a number of industries that require fine and ultrafine grinding. In the context of the mining industry, smaller grain size and other mineralogical characteristics have motivated the need to grind finer. In order to address this need, the interest in stirred milling technologies has grown over the last 20 years as can be illustrated by the large body of literature published over this same period of time. The typical observation reported in the literature is that in certain circumstances stirred milling is significantly more efficient than ball milling. Despite these developments, the tumbling mills are continuing to be used in fine and ultrafine grinding applications. The main reason for this, as communicated at the Canadian Mineral Processors roundtable discussion in 2013, is that the comfort level in understanding stirred milling technologies is not at the level of that of tumbling mills. The aim of this paper is to contribute to increasing the general comfort level with stirred milling technologies by developing a better understanding of how power and energy is affected by stirred mill impellor design and mill operation. This will be accomplished by first completing an overview of the power models found in the literature followed by a general description of DEM and CFD stirred mill models as well as the insights that can be drawn from them. Finally, a generic stirred mill power model will be presented and applied to different stirred mill types in order to develop some insights into the differences between different mill types. The paper will close with a discussion on some of the challenges that these models have and how future research might contribute to overcoming them."

Jan 1, 2014

By H. Feldheiser

Acid resistant brick linings are state of the art for anti-corrosion linings in tanks for high pressure acid leaching (HPAL) treatment. The design of these brick linings has to take into account the almost non-elastic behaviour of the brick lining inside a relatively highly elastic steel vessel. There must be tools and data available to determine for the steel vessels the thermal growth plus the pressure expansion and for the brick lining the linear thermal expansion and the chemical swell. Thermal shocks and pressure drops are not regular operating events but their negative influence on the lifetime of a brick lining has to be a part of the engineering study. Finite Element (FE) models as well as a lot of research and development on brick lining materials is the only way to find a path through the complex engineering work for pressure vessels.

Jan 1, 2004