Search Documents

By Chris M. Healey

"Perhaps the single most significant variable in the evaluation of a mining project is the reserve estimate. Many parameters are considered when estimating reserves, among them geology. This paper examines the link between the quality of a reserve estimate and a good understanding of the geological controls for the deposit. A clear understanding of the geometry is essential to the accurate definition of the shape and size of the deposit. This includes the definition of any structural controls as well as the proper interpretation of the stratigraphy. Further when the distribution of grades is erratic and there is consequently a high nugget effect, there are significant problems in estimating the true grade of the deposit.Two Saskatchewan examples are presented, one with good knowledge of the controls and therefore good estimates of reserves, and the other with a poor understanding of the geology and resultant problems in deriving good estimates. In both cases the reserve estimates at various stages in the project development are compared to actual results from underground work. The first example is the Star Lake Mine where just about all the estimates were within 10070 of the actual on both tonnage and grade. The Laurel Lake deposit is discussed to show how problems in interpreting the geological data make reserve estimation very difficult. Laurel Lake has the additional problem of erratic grade distribution."

Jan 1, 1992

By R. H. Seraphim

"The Phoenix Camp, in the Boundary Creek district of southern British Columbia, produced before 1920 about 15 million tons of ore averaging more than l ·5 per cent copper, about 0.03 ounces per ton in gold, and 0·5 ounces per ton in silver. Attwood Copper Mines Ltd. conducted an exploration program in the Phoenix area from 1951to1953.Publications on the camp are listed in the bibliography. Brock's work was not sufficiently detailed to unravel the structural and stratigraphic pro bl.ems. The work of LeRoy and McNaughton is referred to later.The stratigraphic column is as follows:Tertiary.Midway Formation: Volcanics and hypabyssals; dacitic to basaltic flows, with associated dykes and sills of syenite (pulaskite in part) and augite porphyry.Jura-Cretaceous.Intrusives of quartz diorite and diorite (nearest outcrop two miles from Phoenix).Late Palaeozoic or Triassic (Attwood Series).Brooklyn Formation: Sharps tone conglomerate, limestone, grey-wacke and/ or andesitic tuff, with minor shale and basalt. Rawhide Formation: shale with minor conglomerate.Early Palaeozoic.Knob Hill Formation: Chert and andesite, with minor limestone, shale, and serpentine.This column differs from that of LeRoy in two important respects: (I) Attwood's work indicates that the Rawhide shale is basal to, rather than stratigraphically above, the Brooklyn formation. The shale contains conglomerate lenses, which become more abundant and thicker toward the top, and grades upward into Brooklyn conglomerate. Ripple marks indicate that the shale is right side up."

Jan 1, 1949

By A. R. Kinkel JR.

"The Buffalo Ankerite mine is in the southern part of the Porcupine gold district of northern Ontario. The mine has a history of exploration and development reaching back to 1911, and has been operated continuously since 1932. From 1932 to 1942 a total of 510,874 oz. gold was produced from the mine. In 1941 the production was 71,654 oz. from 448,621 tons of ore.With few exceptions, the ore-bearing veins did not crop out. They were discovered during the prospecting of the prominent outcrops of barren or low-grade quartz-carbonate breccia near the veins.GEOLOGICAL SETTINGThe Porcupine gold district lies in an area of folded and sheared Precambrian lavas, sediments, and intrusives. The Buffalo Ankerite mine is in the southern part of a large fold. The structure appears to be a continuation of the Vipond cross anticline and accompanying syncline described in earlier papers (1, 2). The orebodies lie along both flanks of the synclinal part of the fold, and are known as the north and south vein systems, respectively. No mineable veins have been found on the axis of the syncline (Fig. 1).The rocks found in the mine area are pillow lava, dacite, conglomerate, quartz porphyry, tuff, and fragmental lava. The tuff and fragmental lava are now largely altered to chlorite schist. Productive veins have been found only in pillow lava, dacite, and conglomerate, but a minor amount of gold occurs in some of the quartz porphyry. The Porcupine Creek fault, a zone of intense shearing over 1,000 feet in width, lies immediately south of the mine. A spur fault branches to the northwest from the Porcupine Creek fault, separating the north from the south vein systems ( Fig. 1) ."

Jan 1, 1954

By F. Ford, J. Dong

"Laboratory and miniplant testwork was carried out to reject uranium from an Iron Oxide Copper Gold (IOCG) deposit that contains an average of 60-70 ppm uranium with high variability. The dominate copper bearing mineral is chalcopyrite with minor bornite and trace covellite. The main gangue minerals are iron-rich chlorite, quartz and magnetite. The main uranium-containing mineral is uraninite (UO2). Downstream processes require the maximum uranium level of no more than 80 ppm in final copper concentrate.Mineralogical examination reveals that uraninite particles are finely disseminated with grain size of less than a few microns in the deposit requiring fine regrind in order to liberate uraninite from chalcopyrite particles. A lab flowsheet was developed to include ultrafine regrind of the rougher concentrate to the particle size of 80% passing 11-13 µm with up to four stages of recleaning in flotation columns. Finer regrind to 80% passing 5-6 µm may continue to improve liberation but does not decrease uranium level in the final concentrate. In each of the successive recleaning stages by flotation column after fine regrind, uraninite is rejected into the column tailings, with the final copper gold concentrate containing less than 70 ppm uranium from a feed containing 83 ppm uranium. The conceptual flowsheet was further tested in an integrated, continuous miniplant showing average 94% copper recovery with average 74 ppm uranium. The uraninite particles that report to the final concentrate are either locked with chalcopyrite or entrained as liberated particles of less than 5 µm in size."

Jan 1, 2016

By Patrick J. Williams

Defining Features of IOCGs ? Sulphur-poor Cu-Au(-Fe) deposits ? Contain low-Ti iron oxides ? Hydrothermal origin (breccia, vein, replacement) ? Local structural controls (no ?causitive? intrusions) Common Features (Economically-Significant Terranes) ? Regional space-time association with plutons ? Association with widely metasomatized crust ? Na ? Na-Ca ? K ? Variable enrichment in F, Co, Ba, LREE, U ? Little hydrothermal quartz (cf. porphyry deposits)

May 1, 2006

By Shahé Shnorhokian

Numerical modeling is increasingly being used as a tool to examine complex geomechanical issues related to rockmass behaviour and stability of underground openings. The in-situ stress regime and the evolution of mining-induced stresses during the life of an operation, taking into account the planned stope sequence, are topics that can only be handled through the use of a realistic and calibrated numerical model. This paper presents a case study of a deep underground Canadian mine in northern Ontario. A FLAC3D model was constructed and calibrated based on in-situ stress measurements. In the first stage, the evolution of stress regime was studied and compared with the occurrence of rockburst events during a period of three years. The locations of clusters were examined and compared to the mining sequence during that period. In the second stage, stresses within a diminishing ore pillar were examined based on the planned stope sequence and compared to levels deemed acceptable to the mine. Based on the results, an alternative sequence was arrived at to reduce stress accumulation in the pillar, or induce it to occur at a further distance from a brittle dyke in the vicinity of the orebody.

Aug 1, 2013

By C. J. Rockingham

"A comparative study of sulphide textures has been carried out on samples from four Archean copper-zinc massive base metal sulphide deposits: Kidd Creek, Ontario; Lake Dufault -Norbec, Quebec; Hood River-41, N. W. T.; and Geco, Ontario. These deposits have undergone metamorphic recrystallization under a range of conditions, and results of this study indicate that certain sulphide textures may be used as qualitative indicators of metamorphic grade, whereas other cannot.The sulphide textures of most value in this regard are sulphide grain sizes, which increase with increasing metamorphic grade, and the presence or absence of sedimentary/diagenetic textures, which are destroyed at the lower amphibolite facies of metamorphism. Chalcopyrite and pyrrhotite intergrowths in sphalerite increase in size, in degree of coalescence and in the ratio of unmixed pyrrhotite to chalcopyrite inclusions with increasing metamorphic rank. With increased metamorphic grade, the pyrrhotite intergrowths change from rounded inclusions on grain boundaries to rod-like shapes along sphalerite twin planes. There is also a general increase in the relative proportion of pyrrhotite in the deposits. Textures that appear to have little value as indicators of metamorphic grade are sulphide deformation textures, and triple junction point angles and their standard deviations, which show little variation from the lower greenschist to the upper amphibolite facies of metamorphism. The presence or absence of myrmekite-like magnetite also has little value in determining the relative metamorphic history of these deposits, as it is a product of local contact metamorphism."

Jan 1, 1980

By Seunghoon Lee

The increase in the number of higher and larger buildings is expected to require the buildings' outer wall maintenance process, which includes cleaning, painting and monitoring, still depends on manpower. In this study, we proposed the robotic building maintenance system and aimed to reduce the jerk effect through the motion control of the system, improve the performance of the maintenance task, and ensure longer life and safety by improving the stability of the building structure and robot system. Through the results of the motion control and field-test with the proposed system, in specific, horizontal sliding module (HSM) showed that the jerk oriented by impact force was significantly reduced, feasibility of the proposed method was verified, and the robotic challenges were explored.

Aug 1, 2013

By Arnfinn F. Prugger, Fritz F. Prugger

"The Saskatchewan potash beds are overlain by a number of water-bearing formations. There are water zones in the footwall as well. These aquifers created difficulties during the construction of shafts to the potash beds at 1()(}() m depth, and they pose a continuous threat to the safe and efficient operation of potash mines in the province.The first shafts to be sunk in Saskatchewan encountered major problems during shaft sinking. Of the 17 potash shafts started in the province, five had major water inflows during shaft sinking or after production startup, and one was abandoned because of water problems. The biggest obstacle encountered during shaft sinking was a poorly consolidated sand-shale-clay-siltstone unit commonly called the Blairmore Formation, which occurs at a depth of about 500 m. The initial problems with shaft sinking were overcome in the 19605by using European methods of freezing and the installation of cast-iron tubbings or a double-steel lining through water bearing horizons.From the start of production in the early 19605, operators have been aware of the ever-present hazard of potential water inflows into mine openings from permeable units in both the hanging wall (carbonates of the Dawson Bay Formation which occur 15 m to 50 m above the mining level) and the footwall (carbonates of the Winnipegosis Formation which occur 50 m to 150m below). This awareness has been reflected in conservative over-all extraction rates and mining layouts specific to local conditions. In spite of this consciousness, a number of water problems have occurred in operating mines. These have resulted in everything from simple increases in expenditure to the shut-down of one mine in 1987.In this paper a history of water problems in the Saskatchewan potash industry is given, followed by a summary of measures that are now commonly used to avoid these problems. A description of each inflow event is given, and the attempt is made to analyze the causes of each occurrence. Based on what was learned f rom each event, suggestions are made to prevent future water inflows into potash mines."

Jan 1, 1991

By Malcolm R. Gent

"The presence in Saskatchewan of sixteen kimberlite pipes of probable late Albian age has been reported. An abundance of aeromagnetic anomalies possibly attributable to kimberlite pipes have been identified and it is anticipated that industry has acquired reasonable proof of the presence of more than seventy k imberlite pipes in Saskatchewan. Historical reports of diamonds, the discovery of kimberlite pipes and these aeromagnetic anomalies indicate the Phanerozoic Basin and some parts of the exposed Shield in Saskatchewan have an excellent potential f or the occurrence of economically exploitable diamond deposits. The presence of some igneous minerals found in some salt solution breccias also indicates the probable occurrence of extensive diatreme activity during the Devonian.A Laramide Orogeny-induced crustal hinging or arching of the eastern margin of the Phanerozoic Basin and probably dextral wrenching-induced arching and faulting within the basin are proposed as major factors in the emplacement of Cretaceous or younger kimberlites. Zones of crustal weakness between subcratonic Archean blocks and internal faults are also thought to be significant controlling factors in the location of kimberlites in Saskatchewan.Mapped aeromagnetic anomalies interpreted as being possibly due to kimberlite pipes generally tend to be concentrated in, areas underlain by a basement of or with components of Archean age. Within Saskatchewan, these anomalies occur within the probable Trans-Hudson Orogen zone; the Rae-Hearn Craton margin; and the northeast flank of the Elkpoint Basin. Recognized areas of potential f or kimberlite emplacement are the Phanerozoic basin margin, the western limit of the Superior Province adjoining the Churchill Province, and a swath approximately 150m wide along the northeast-southwest trending Shaunavon linear and other areas of inner basin arching."

Jan 1, 1992

By Lloyd A. Clark

"The kuroko deposits, which are extremely variable in size, comprise both stratiform layers of clastic sulphide particles and cross-cutting vein and disseminated components. The ores lie on the flanks of rhyolitic lava domes which have risen from a postulated subvolcanic magma chamber that provided cupriferous hydrothermal solutions and also acted as a heat source driving ground-water convecting cells. The polymetallic sulphides precipitated initially in explosion craters, pipe fillings and feeder veins as rising hydrothermal solutions mixed with sea water. As sulphides clogged the plumbing system, minor phreatomagmatic explosions produced layers of sulphide fragments on the adjacent sea floor. One to ten repetitions of this process produced multiple fragmental sulphide beds. Each deposit formed in a relatively short space of time, because only minor tuff beds are intercalated in spite of active volcanicity in the region. In this model, the heated ground waters convecting through thick piles of acidic pyroclastic rocks leach the zinc, lead and barium later deposited as kuroko ores. As the subvolcanic pluton cools, the supply of silica and copper wanes and the minor counter-circulation cells above the pluton are replaced by main cell fluids bearing zinc, etc. This change in solution flow is abrupt rather than gradual, as the plumbing system is somewhat disrupted by the magmatophreatic explosions that create each ore layer.IntroductionKnowledge of the kuroko deposits ha s greatly expanded during the 25 years since modern recognition of their volcanogenic origin. However, one aspect of the ore s, which may be of unique importance in their genesis, has received little attention. That is the fragmental character of much o f the sulphide ore, which was briefly referred to in a previous publication (Clark, 1971) and is examined in more detail by Barton (1978). Most researcher s have concentrated their attention on or e deposition above and beyond the vent, which is inconsistent with the geology."

Jan 1, 1983

By M. P. Filion, K. Ferguson, L. L. Sirois

Acidic drainage is the largest single environmental problem facing the Canadian mining industry today. Technologies to prevent acidic drainage from occurring in wasterock piles and tailings sites, and on the walls of open pits and underground mines, need to be developed and demonstrated. There are two groups in Canada which have accepted this challenge: the national Mine Environment Neutral Drainage (MEND) program and the British Columbia Acid Mine Drainage (BCAMD) Task Force. This paper summarizes the activities of these two organizations.

Jan 1, 1990

By Ken Wood, Luc Duval

"The development and operation of the milling circuits treating the different Selbaie orebodies are discussed in this paper. The project is reviewed from metallurgical evaluation through construction to present operating status. The current flowsheets are described, with discussion of some unusual features.IntroductionThe Selbaie concentrator commenced initial production in August 1981, treating underground B zone copper ore in a single 1500 t/d circuit. Throughput was increased to 1650 t/d in 1985. The mill was expanded in 1986 to treat ore from the A-I zone open pit; an independent circuit was added to selectively treat 5000 t/d of copper-zinc ore. Current total mill throughput through both circuits averages 7200 t/d with the production of approximately 270 t/d of copper concentrate and 230 t/d of zinc concentrate.This paper describes the stages involved in bringing the project from initial laboratory testing to its current status as one of the most important producers of silver, copper and zinc in Quebec and a major employer in the region."

Jan 1, 1990

By B. R. Schneiders

"Atikokan is 200 km west of Thunder Bay and earned its mining fame from the discovery of the Steep Rock Iron Range in the late 1930s. Gold, however, was discovered in the Atikokan and Mine Centre areas in the late 1800s and eventually led to one of Ontario's first gold camps, and a total production of approximately 52,000 oz of gold and 174,000 oz of silver from 218,000 tons milled.The general geology of the area consists of Early Precambrian rocks of the Wabigoon and Quetico subprovinces, separated by the east-trending Quetico Fault. The Wabigoon Subprovince, to the north, consists of metavolcanics, minor metasediments and granitic batholiths. The Quetico Subprovince consists of metasediments and granitoids. Small ultramafic plutons occur throughout the metasediments.Within a 50-km radius of Atikokan, more than 50 gold occurrences, prospects and past producers have been discovered since the 18oos. The Atikokan Gold Study performed by the Ontario Geological Sur vey (Wilkinson, 1980, 1982) defined three types of gold mineralization in which gold is concentrated in quartz and quartz-carbonate veins:I) Metavolcanic-Hosted, Stratabound Type-associated with altered felsic fragmental units and chemical sedimentary rocks; possible gold mineralization source rocks. The mineralization is due to metamorphogenic (epigenetic) enrichment. Associated with dynamic metamorphism events and/or felsic intrusive events.2) Marmion Lake Batholith Type-occurs within the gneissic core of the batholith associated with north east-trending lineaments, representing faults or shear zones. Mineralized veins are related to several periods of deformation and shearing, suggesting that metamorphogenic veins were produced during dynamic metamorphism.3) Contact Zone Type -occurs in the contact zone rocks between gneissic batholiths and meta volcanic belts. Hydrothermal solutions produced during several deformational periods acted to leach and concentrate gold mineralization. Localized, discontinuous shear zones host the epigenetic (metamorphogenic) veins.Twenty-one properties in the area were mapped and sampled, and researched petrographically and geochemically. Geological data from the Atikokan Economic Geologist Program of the Ontario Geological Survey are used in discussing the types of mineralization, genetic models, and exploration targets and techiques."

Jan 1, 1983

Red Chris Project Project Status ? Tahltan, Iskut First Nations MOU ? Bankable Feasibility Study ? BC Environmental Assessment Certificate ? CEAA (Federal Environmental) ? EPCM contracts LOI?s ? US$110 million Project Debt Financing(credit approval pending) ? 1st5 years concentrate production sold ? 99,150 m of drilling in 371 holes First Nations Participation Agreement ?Advanced stage negotiations

May 1, 2006

Presentation Outline Introduction Deposit Characteristics Geology Grade, Value and Tonnage Estimates 2006 Advanced Program Drilling Bulk Sampling DMS Test Facility 2006 Exploration Summary

May 1, 2006

By P. R. A. Andrews, I. Jackman

"A mineral processing investigation to recover chromite was performed at Lakefield Research, under the guidance of CANMET personnel, on a 70 tonne ore sample from the Bird River deposit in Manitoba. In the laboratory phase a flowsheet was developed which involved grinding, gravity separation and flotation. The gravity concentrates were upgraded by magnetic separation and the flotation concentrates by gravity concentration . Pre-concentration by electronic ore sorting, magnetic separation and heavy media separation also was examined.The developed flowsheet was applied on a pilot-plant scale in the second phase of the testwork to the ore as received, and to ore pre-concentrated by electronic ore sorting and magnetic separation. Ore pre-concentrated by heavy-media separation was treated on a laboratory scale based on the pilot-plant flowsheet ,Processing the are as received resulted I n 77% recovery of chromite in a concentrate analyzing 30% Cr20 J; processing are pre-concentrated by electronic are sorting resulted in 64% recovery of chromite in a concentrate analyzing 30.5% Cr20J."

Jan 1, 1988

By P. R. A. Andrews, I. Jackman

"A mineral processing investigation to recover chromite was performed at Lakefield Research, under the guidance of CANMET personnel, on a 70 tonne ore sample from the Bird River deposit in Manitoba. In the laboratory phase a flowsheet was developed which involved grinding, gravity separation and flotation. The gravity concentrates were upgraded by magnetic separation and the flotation concentrates by gravity concentration. Pre-concentration by electronic ore sorting, magnetic separation and heavy media separation also was examined.The developed flowsheet was applied on a pilot-plant scale in the second phase of the testwork to the ore as received, and to ore pre-concentrated by electronic ore sorting and magnetic separation. Ore pre-concentrated by heavy-media separation was treated on a laboratory scale based on the pilot-plant flowsheet.Processing the are as received resulted in 77% recovery of chromite in a concentrate analyzing 30% Cr20 J; processing are pre-concentrated by electronic are sorting resulted in 64% recovery of chromite in a concentrate analyzing 30.5% Cr20J.IntroductionA five-year mineral development sub-agreement was signed between the federal government and the province of Manitoba in 1984. The purpose of the agreement was to establish a work program which would strengthen and diversify the mineral resource industry of Manitoba. Basically, the agreement covers three sectors: Sector A, geoscience; Sector B, mining and minerals technology research; and Sector C, development studies.Project selection involved input from industry, federal and provincial representatives. In the case of industrial mineral s, the selection was initiated at a meeting held at the offices of the Department of Mines and Energy, Winnipeg, Manitoba, in October 1985. One such project was the evaluation of the chromite ore deposits at Bird River, Manitoba."

Jan 1, 1988

By Bill Dupley

We believe that the inability of employees to effectively manage information has reached an epidemic problem throughout the corporate world. ? All the available knowledge in the world is accelerating at a phenomenal rate. ? The whole world's codified knowledge base (all historical information in library books and electronic files) doubled every 30 years in the early 20th century. ? By the 1970s, the world's knowledge base doubled every seven years. ? Information researchers predict that by the year 2010, all the world's codified knowledge will double every 11 hours.

May 1, 2003

Fatalities Incident Four people perished May 15 ? 17, 2006 ??Doug Erickson ??Bob Newcombe ??Kim Weitzel ??Shawn Currie Incident details available at: ??http://www.mediaroom.gov.bc.ca/sullivan_mine/ ??sullivan_mine.htm Outline Immediate facts/observations from incident ?? #1 Shaft Waste Dump closure program ?? Technical investigations under Panel guidance ?? Findings to date and direction ?? Broaden awareness of potential risks

May 1, 2008