Search Documents

By J. F. Davis

Pegmatite dykes containing lithium minerals and beryl occur dose to the borders of intrusive masses of granitic rock in the Winnipeg River area of Manitoba. Both vertical and flat-lying dykes are present. Most of the pegmatites consist of zones, containing characteristic mineral assemblages, arranged more or Jess parallel to the borders of the dykes. Five important lithium minerals are present; each occurs in a separate zone, but all the lithium-bearing zones are situated toward the centres of the pegmatites. Spodumene is the most abundant and widespread of the lithium minerals and occurs as small crystals intimately intergrown with quartz. Beryl is not an important constituent of the lithium pegmatites, but when .present, occurs outside the lithium zones, toward the margins of the -dykes. Beryl is most common in dykes containing few or no lithium minerals. The mineral assemblage in the beryl zone of the lithium dykes is the same as that of the beryl dykes. The attitude and internal structure, particularly zoning, of the pegmatite dykes, and the texture and assemblages of the constituent minerals, have an important bearing on exploration, development, and mining of these pegmatites, and on the extraction of various mineral products from them.

Jan 1, 1958

By Courtney E. Cleveland

THE gold deposits of the Pioneer and Bralorne mines, in the Bridge River district of British Columbia, are closely associated with a long, narrow intrusive body of extremely variable composition, outcropping on the northeast side of Cadwallader creek and lying almost entirely within the property boundaries of the two companies. Other masses of the same type of intrusive rock are found in the district, more or less along the line of the main axis of the Pioneer-Bralorne in trusive, and have associated with them variable amounts of gold-quartz mineralization (Figure 1). The ore deposits of the district have been the subject of investigation by officers of the Geological Survey of Canada at various times during the past 25 years, and articles on the geology and mines of the district have been published by various individuals in technical journals. A list of the more important re-ports follows: SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY

Jan 1, 1938

By Silvana Costa

The quality of life in remote mining communities is a significant factor that impacts the mining industry?s ability to attract and retain high quality workers in remote areas. The rapid growth of mining development, along with the shortage of skills and training globally are reflected in an increasing need to identify the ideal conditions for employee wellbeing and investigate ways to improve quality of life of miners and their families in remote locations.

May 1, 2007

By L. M. Pidgeon

Introduction The production of magnesium by direct reduction of the oxide has far passed the experimental stage and was responsible for 30 per cent of the recent wartime production of 246,000 tons per annum. This paper describes the small-scale experiments which culminated in a number of the wartime plants. The paper traces the author's early experiments on various direct reduction reactions leading to his choice of the ferrosilicon reduction of dolomite and the realization that this reaction would proceed at a satisfactory rate at temperatures obtainable in metal apparatus. MgO has a standard heat of formation of 146,100 cal. and is therefore one of the most difficult oxides to reduce. However, if advantage is taken of the relative volatility of magnesium metal, thermally unfavourable reactions may be utilized. In reaction MgO + X = XO+ Mg . . . . . . . . . . . . . (1) the removal of Mg as a gas at high temperatures displaces the equilibrium to the right in the face of the unfavourable thermo-chemistry which is inevitable with any X other than calcium metal. If X is carbon, not only is the reaction highly endothermic, but CO is gaseous. A temperature of l,864°C. is required to produce a pressure of one atmosphere of Mg. Between l,900°C. and perhaps 400°C., the back reaction takes place readily and special shock cooling devices are required to recover magnesium from the gaseous mixture. This reaction does not lend itself to small-scale experiments and was not examined by the author. If, in reaction, carbon is replaced by a relatively pan-volatile metal, the oxide of which is also non-volatile and possesses a fairly high heat of formation, a reduction reaction is offered which is free from the difficulties associated with carbon. The typical case of silicon will serve as an example: 2MgO + Si = SiO2 + 2Mg (g) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (2) At temperatures above l,000°C., a positive pressure of magnesium will exist over the system. Removal of the magnesium vapour will displace the reaction to the right in the face .of an unfavourable thermal balance. Since magnesium is the only volatile component at this temperature, it may be evolved and condensed, using attractively simple distillation technique.

Jan 1, 1946

By Qin-yong Ma, Jing-shuang Zhang, Bo Han, Pu Yuan

In order to improve the utilization rate of blasthole and blasting effect in vertical shafts, 5 kinds of millisecond blasting model tests with three circle vertical blastholes have been conducted in various delay times with concrete as model material. The blasting effects of millisecond blasting model tests are investigated from cutting volume, cutting depth, and blasting fragmentation, then a reasonable delay time is obtained. In the middle of concrete model, there are 4 blastholes uniformly distributed in the first circle, 6 blastholes uniformly distributed in the second circle, and 10 blastholes uniformly distributed in the third circle. Each blasthole is charged with one millisecond delay electric detonator, and the rest is blocked with stemming. The depth of blastholes in the first and second circle is 180mm, which is 20mm deeper than those in the third circle. After initiation, the blasting cavity is cleaned up, then the cutting volume and cutting depth are measured. Meanwhile, the blasting fragments are gathered and have analysed by function Rosin-Rammler. The test results show that when the inner two circle blastholes initiated simultaneously and the third circle blastholes initiated with millisecond delay, the reasonable delay time is 50 ms. At this time, the cutting volume and cutting depth of blasting model are 3920 cm3 and 68 mm respectively. The fragmentation indexes of blasting fragments, X50 and X80, are 53.2 mm and 74.6 mm respectively. While when all three circle blastholes initiated with millisecond delay, the reasonable delay time is also 50 ms. At this time, the cutting volume and cutting depth of blasting model are 10705 cm3 and 118 mm respectively. The fragmentation indexes of blasting fragments, X50 and X80, are 51.0 mm and 81.7 mm respectively. The researches indicate that for millisecond blasting with multiturn blastholes, the reasonable blasting scheme is multiturn blastholes initiated in millisecond delay and the reasonable delay time is 50 ms.

Jan 1, 2015

By A R. Bullis

Metal Mines Limited (Bancroft Division) was incorporated m 1964 to take over the assets of Faraday Uranium Mines Ltd., including their uranium deposit near Bancroft. Ontario. This paper outlines the geology of the Bancroft area, and. then go on to describe the principle rock types m the mine workings, especially the pegmatite, which is the host rock for the uranium mineralization. The structure and mineralogy of the orebodies are thoroughly covered, and, after a summary of the production and ore re-serve figures, the paper concludes with suggestions for further exploration work. Location and History M ETAL Mines Limited, Bancroft Division, is located in Faraday township, Hastings county, Ontario. The main production shaft and concentrator are about: Y2 mile north of Highway 28 and about 5 miles west of the village of Bancroft (Figure 1). The presence of radioactive minerals in the Ban-croft-Wilberforce area has been known since the early 1920's. Uraninite was found at the Richardson deposit near Wilberforce in 1922, and some attempts were made to produce radium from the deposits of the area between 1929 and 1931.

Jan 1, 1965

By R. White, C. Doyle, B. Martin, C. Díaz, J. Hrepic, G. Cuthbert

"A program initiated to improve the service life of the magnesite-chrome refractory in the top blown rotary converters at INCO’s Copper Cliff Nickel Refinery identified slag corrosion as a major wear mechanism. Target slag compositions were established to produce a non corrosive slag. A plant program to achieve this target slag by the addition of controlled amounts of do lime and MgO was instituted. Addition to rates of the slag modifiers was optimized based on the slag composition assays achieved and the requirement to address corrosion effects on the high alumina content ladle refractory. A60% gain in TBRC refractory performance was eventually achieved and has been maintained yielding a net annual savings of $700,000. A significant gain in available converter operating time has also been realized.IntroductionINCO’s Copper Cliff Nickel Refinery utilizes two top blown rotary converters (Fig. 1) to smelt a blend of semi-refined nickel concentrates, producing a granulated nickel matte suitable for the adjacent carbonyl based nickel refining operation. The converter, or TBRC, operation is a batch process composed of feed charging and melting, oxidation of the excess sulphur in the matte, and reduction of residual nickel oxide. The final matte, containing about 78% nickel, is tapped at 1600°C from the converter and is granulated in a sluice equipped with high pressure water jets."

Jan 1, 1997

By V. A. James

The new electrolytic copper refinery situated at Copper Cliff, Ontario, has been in operation for over a year and a half. This plant is operated by the Ontario Refining Company, Limited. The associated companies behind the enterprise are the International Nickel ?company of Canada, Limited, the American Metals Company, Consolidated Mining and Smelting Company of Canada, Limited, and Ventures, Limited. The plant was an outgrowth of the rapid development of copper resources in the nickel-copper ores of the Frood and other great mines in the Sudbury district, and of the desire to have all primary production units grouped together as compactly as possible. Starting anode furnace operations in June, 1930, and electrolytic refining on July 1st of that year, after a record-breaking construction programme completed in only fifteen months, the plant soon settled into its stride and the usual starting-up difficulties were .rapidly overcome. The rated capacity of the plant, namely, twenty million pounds of refined copper per month, has, of course, never been reached, due to depressed business conditions and latterly to the world copper agreement limiting production. It may be said, however, that the present installation has proved its ability to produce in excess of its rated capacity, and with relatively minor additions to plant and equipment that capacity can be doubled. Owing to the severity of the winters, when temperatures of from 20 to 40 degrees below zero are to be expected, the building of this refinery involved a number of problems in insulation, layout, ventilation, etc., which were rather unusual in copper-refinery construction.

Jan 1, 1932

By I. Cotman

Dimensional stone processing has become an important part of the world extractive industry, and today?s total stone block yearly production is estimated to be around 134.000.000 tons and is still growing by an average yearly rate of approximately 20%. In future, the same production will become an important part of the mining industry and presently, in some countries it represents even the main mining output. New environmental regulations, together with landscape and nature conservation requirements, create a number of difficulties in setting up new open pit dimensional stone quarries. As a result, many dimensional stone producers have recently started to apply underground techniques in order to produce the ornamental stone blocks intended for further processing. Underground production of stone blocks requires special mining methods and so far it has not been a cost-effective excavation method for all types of rocks. Presently, this type of stone excavation is generally applied in sedimentary and marble deposits because the rock has small to no mineral quartz content. When starting a new underground dimensional stone mine, it is necessary to analyse the impact of all primary factors which are crucial to set up a technically and cost effective advanced underground dimensional stone mine. The role of physical and mechanical properties of the rock, geological conditions, mineralogical composition, micro-tectonic state of the site, rock mechanic conditions on the site, durability and saw ability of the stone are decisive factors in foreseeing the future methods of extraction. The laboratory research work as well as the field work, is very important in decision-making aimed to choose the future excavation method. Also of equal importance is the serious market research, because it renders the indication of selling price potential. Having obtained the results from both types of research, mining engineers can design the mining methods which optimize financial return to the mine. The practice approved by 15 years of testing in the underground limestone quarry of Kanfanar gives future producers very useful advice and general data to facilitate the process of exploration intended to establish new similar underground quarries.

Aug 1, 2013

By Leonard L. Fischman

It is important to define "adequacy," and the most useful definition is a continuing availability of mineral materials under cost and other conditions which imply no significant burden on the achievement of otherwise attainable levels of consumption and well-being. For current decision making, it is sufficient to consider adequacy just to the end of the century, with some regard being given to then remaining mineral inventory. A comparison of cumulative demand projections to the year 2000 with already identified reserves ( economically recoverable amounts in known deposits) suggests little reason for concern with world adequacy of iron ore, aluminum, manganese, chromium or potash. Conservative estimates of "prospective" reserves (amounts producible at today's prices, but yet to be discovered) suggests that there are ample quantities of virtually all other mineral resources as well. A probable exception is oil and gas, of which there may be scant amounts remaining after the turn of the century. However, there is an evident sufficiency of substitute forms of energy, though it is difficult to see just where developing technology will take us. The critical questions have to do with the increasing dependence of the industrialized countries on external sources of supply , coupled with a new international politic s which complicates the problem of insuring timely development of, and access to, remaining deposits. In this context, Canada, a still mineral-rich nation, is in one of the more favorable positions.

Jan 1, 1977

By Paul E. Lamoureux

Introduction The Author As the pail of smoke and wartime destruction gradually rises from the surface of the earth, from all countries, statesmen assemble to discuss and prepare pacts and treaties which are designed to, once more, bring people of all nations to understand each other and live in harmony. Scientists and engineers throughout the world are also undergoing a drastic reconversion in their ideas and objectives. No longer do they think only in terms of destruction and twist their brains to develop more devastating weapons or to surpass production records of war machinery. They have turned their eyes and ambitions to more pleasant tasks and are taking stock of wartime developments in materials, fabricating procedures, and equipment, many of which had been carefully shrouded with a veil of secrecy, and are applying their new knowledge to the fabrication or improvement of the tools of peace. The next few years will see the gradual elimination of scores of substitutes and makeshifts, expedients which the constantly changing law of supply and demand' under wartime stress necessitated. The universal search for satisfactory substitutes, however, has resulted in a general awakening of plant engineers to the possibilities of materials with which they were relatively inexperienced, with the result that, in many instances, what was considered a substitution at the outset turned out to be more satisfactory than the original material, and, in reality, can be considered a worthwhile development. Not only have materials been explored, but existing fabricating processes have been reviewed, and others, built around the properties and characteristics of new materials, created.

Jan 1, 1947

By S. Hobo, M. Yagisawa, T. Uchida, C. Tokoro, T. Kato

In this study, quantitative modeling was carried out for the treatment of simulated waste water containing As(V), Zn(II) and Hg(II) as toxic elements, and Fe(III), Na(I) and sulfate as coaxing ions. The objective was to predict the pH and residual concentrations of all the elements in solution after the neutralization/co-precipitation treatment. To accomplish this, the removal mechanism for As(V) and Hg(II) by ferrihydrite precipitation was first investigated for simulated waste water containing only As(V) or Hg(II). From the experimental results, it was confirmed that the removal mechanism involves not only surface complexation but also surface precipitation. However, surface complexation is the main mechanism for As(V) and Hg(II) removal to meet the target levels regulated in Japan. Next, the surface complexation model was constructed for the removal of As(V) and Hg(II) by ferrihydrite. The specific surface area and site density were determined from reference values proposed by Dzombak and Morel (1990). By comparing the experimental and calculated results, it was confirmed that our constructed model could successfully represent the experimental results. Furthermore, the surface complexation model was coupled with chemical equilibrium calculations and applied to the neutralization of simulated waste water containing As(V), Hg(II), Zn(II), Na(I), Fe(III) and sulfate. The constructed model could successfully represent the pH edge for As(V), Hg(II), Zn(II), Fe(III) and SO42- removal. In addition, the constructed model could represent the ion balance. Thus, our constructed model is useful to estimate the amount of neutralizer that is needed to achieve a target pH.

Jan 1, 2016

By X. Cao, A. Birur, R. R. Chromik, J. Cuddy, P. Wanjara, J. Gholipour Baradari, T. Shariff

In this study, 3.1 mm thick Ti-5553 (Ti-5Al-5V-5Mo-3Cr) butt joints were autogenously welded using a 4 kW continuous wave Nd:YAG laser. The effect of welding speed and defocusing distance on the weld quality was investigated in terms of the surface morphology, welding defects, microstructure and hardness. Welds with full penetration were achieved at a defocusing distance ranging from -1 mm to 0 mm and welding speeds from 2.25 to 6.0 m/min. Underfill and porosity were the two main defects most frequently observed but within the optimum process window these defects could be maintained to meet aerospace specification tolerances. The fusion zone (FZ) consisted entirely of retained beta with a refined dendritic morphology. Compared to the bimodal alpha (a) + beta (ß) microstructure of the base metal (BM), the dissolution of the a phase was observed in the heat affected zone (HAZ), which led to an 11 % decrease in hardness from the BM to the FZ. To determine the tensile properties of the welded samples, an automated 3D deformation measurement system was used to measure the local strain in the weld region. The yield strength (YS) and ultimate tensile strength (UTS) increased with increasing welding speed with a highest joint efficiency of 75 % being achieved, albeit with a concomitant reduction in the ductility.

Jan 1, 2010

By A. M. Bell

General Summary THIS paper attempts to describe in a preliminary and general manner the nature of certain copper discoveries now being developed by Gaspe Copper Mines, Limited, in Holland township, in the interior of the Gaspe peninsula. Some copper mineralization appears to have been known here at the time of the earliest French explorations, was rediscovered in 1921, and has been under intermittent development by Noranda Mines since 1938. In the last two years discoveries have enhanced the picture so that the deposit now promises to develop into one of the important Canadian copper producers. As ideas are constantly changing with continuing development, any picture given now is very partial and tentative and must be subject to future revision. The nature of these copper occurrences differs from others known in eastern America. In many respects they have unique features but they are most closely akin to some copper deposits found away from the intrusive rocks in the porphyry copper districts of the western United States. The most important orebodies are replacement deposits in a limestone horizon in which the ore gangue is converted to skarn. These lie at considerable distances from any known intrusive but seem to have been derived from a buried stock of granite that intrudes the sedimentary rocks of Lower Devonian age. This intrusive has produced alteration effects in the overlying rocks that may afford a key to locating other ore areas in the Peninsula.

Jan 1, 1951

By T. A. Lloyd

"This paper indicates the extent to which Canadian coal mine operators have taken advantage of developments in the science and technology of coal that would allow them to better satisfy changing market demands through improving the properties of their products. At some mines, no attempt is made to alter the coal from its as-mined condition, but at most mines grading into various size ranges and hand-cleaning of lump sizes is undertaken.Over-all, Canada Jags behind most of the other major world coal producers in the proportion of its coals being processed in wash plants. To some extent, this is due to the fact that a high proportion of the coal production satisfies market demands without such treatment. On the other hand, a few of the coal mines in Canada, which produce about 25 per cent of the nation's total coal output, have in operation some of the most modern coal beneficiating equipment available, including jigs, flotation cells, water cyclones, centrifuges, disc filters and thermal dryers."

Jan 1, 1968

This paper presents a case study where Cenozoic age detritals and an ancient buried landslide have been modelled in the final walls of an iron ore pit. Orebody 25 is located in Western Australia’s Pilbara region and is an operating pit where a redesign of the final wall cutback was required. The existing slope design utilised a simplistic geological model of mixed conglomeratic, calcretic and clay –dominated detritals overlying deformed bedrock sequences. This simplicity resulted in a conservative design that was not reflective of the slopes performance to that point. Further field investigation was carried out with the results assessed in conjunction with historic drilling, mapping and laboratory testing. A detailed geotechnical model was developed including three conglomerate and two clay dominated units and laterstage calcrete overprinting. The clay units were of significant importance to the stability assessment and resulting slope design due to the thickness and poor strength conditions indicated by the laboratory and field testing. However, the drilling investigation shed only limited understanding as to the origin of the clays and thereby how they should be treated as a component in the stability analysis. A comparison of the ratio of various geochemical elements measured by assay was made between the clays and 1) shale bedrock and 2) clays of known detrital origin from other nearby sites. This indicated the clays had a strong affinity with weathered bedrock. This and other textural features resulted in the interpretation that the clay units were relic debris preserved following ancient landslides in bedrock shale. Using laboratory testing data and calibration of results for a landslide origin, stability analyses were run, resulting in a steeper slope design being implemented. Excavation of the final cutback is now in progress with the model confirmed as appropriate.

Jan 1, 2015

By D. J. Bowen

"Abstract -The Great Dyke extends for 540 km along strike, to unknown depth, and varies in width from 3 km to 11 km. Rb/Sr age determinations gives values of approximately 2470 Ma.The Dyke consists of a variety of mafic and ultramafic rocks, many altered to serpentinites. These include, from top to bottom, successions of gabbro/norites, pyroxenites, peridotites/harzburgites, and dunites/picrites.The layers dip in from either margin, steepest at the edges (20°) and flattening toward the central sections. Four separate complexes are present. From north to south these are termed the Musengezi, Hartley, Selukwe and Wedza Complexes, and are described as 'boat-shaped' or 'pig-troughed'. All are similar in petrological sequences. Physiographically, the Dyke is spectacular in the north, where as a mountain range it meets the Zambezi Escarpment. Elsewhere in the central parts there is little surface expression and wide open treeless vleis. Dyke rocks cut through granite and schist belt terrain and are termed 'The Magnesia Belt'.Vast mineral resources exist. These include chrome, asbestos, platinoids, nickel, copper and gold. Up to eleven chrome seams numbered from top to bottom occur in the lower ultramafic sequences. Seams are narrow at 10 cm to 30 cm but of high grade. The platinum occurs 10 m to 40 m below the norite/pyroxenite contact.A 60 m wide zone of Light Sulfide Mineralization (LSM) of Jess than 1% sulfides extends from the lower gabbronorites into the upper pyroxenites. In this LSM, four enriched zones carry up to 5% sulfides. The most widespread is termed the Main Sulfide Zone (MSZ), below which is No. 2, No. 3 and No. 4 Sulfide Zones. The MSZ carrying pyrite, pyrrhotite and chalcopyrite is a multi­ element ore with components of PGE (Pt-Pd-Rh), nickel, copper and cobalt, and gold and silver.Extensive exploration programs have been carried out and the intention is to begin large-scale mining. However, with Russia supplying metals to the western markets, South Africa's cutback on production, and an end to the Cold War, delays have arisen."

Jan 1, 1994

By R. T. Elworthy

Canada ranks second in the list of world consumers of natural gas. In 1923 our production was nearly fifteen million thousand cubic feet valued at $5,800,000. Our output, however, appears very small compared with that of the United States, which in 1923 totalled over one thousand and eight million cubic feet, valued at $240,000,000. Natural gas is found in commercial quantities in three? provinces in Canada. New Brunswick: Natural gas in New Brunswick has been utilized commercially only since 1912,although the investigation of oil and gas possibilities of the province commenced as early as 1859. The annual production is a little more than one-twentieth of the total Canadian production and remains fairly constant from year to year. Ontario: In Ontario the earliest gas wells were drilled in Essex and Welland counties between the years 1885 and 1890. On account of the small demand in Canada the cities of Detroit and Buffalo were supplied with large quantities of gas from these wells, but this export was curtailed in 1898 and finally ceased in 1900. The production of natural gas in Ontario, mainly from fields in Lambton, Kent, Essex, Norfolk, Haldimand and Welland counties, increased rapidly from 1900 until the peak was reached in 1917, when over nineteen million thousand cubic feet valued at $3,641,587 was consumed.

Jan 1, 1925

By E. C. Payne

"IntroductionTHE SMALLER industrial and commercial steam generating plants in the United States are suffering from an ‘engineering deficiency' which, if allowed to continue, will probably result in the extinction of the species• that now burn •approximately 75 million tons of coal. We will classify as 'small' those plants which should require not more than one operating man per shift, including those in which as little .as thirty minutes per day should be adequate for .all service attention. These are the small steam plants that need the most, and get the least, expert attention for fuel :planning, equipment selection, design layout, .and proper operating technique. Dissatisfaction with bituminous coal is usually caused by one or more preventable weaknesses such as excessive or burdensome labour •for firing, .coal or ash handling and manual operation, smoke and fly ash emission above nuisance levels:, high maintenance and premium coal application for acceptable operation, and .finally, overall steam costs which are not .competitive. These 'deficiencies', so .common in the small coal-fired steam plants, can be readily eliminated by competent engineering and modern equipment with automatic controls."

Jan 1, 1953

By B P. Scott

Podsol soil horizons developed on Pleistocene glacial sediments overlying the Coronation Mine orebody were analyzed for copper and zinc spectro-photometrically, using biquinoline-isoamyl alcohol and dithizone carbon tetrachloride reagents. Copper and zinc are concentrated in the A. and C horizons, whereas the A1, A2 and B horizons are leached. Of economic significance is the fact that the C horizon contains a copper anomaly, in excess of 100 times back-ground, directly over the orebody. Due to the erratic distribution of high copper concentrations in the Ao horizon with respect to the orebody, that horizon is not considered as a reliable prospecting datum. U NDER certain conditions, metallic ore deposits are accompanied by primary halos of trace elements in unweathered rock surrounding the orebodies or by secondary halos in weathered rock, alluvium, soil, or vegetation above or near the mineralized zones. Where such halos occur, chemical analysis, as applied to the detection of trace elements, is a valuable prospecting aid, permitting the detection of mineralization of possible economic value.

Jan 1, 1965