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By Arsalan Talebzadeh

Construction -Surface ?First two intake fans constructed in 2007; third fan added in 2008 to reduce resistance in the system. 450 HP fans. ?Excavation for exhaust fans started in 2008. ?In parallel with underground construction in preparation for the changeover. ?Bulkhead in place prior to completion/ commissioning of

Oct 1, 2010

By Sib N. Mukherjee

Main ventilation fans are used in all the mines and they run continuously 24 hours a day and 365 days in a year. Any improvement in their performance can lead to considerable power saving. The basic principle for selection, operations, and related measures are discussed in brief in the paper. The contributions of different elements of mine fan on its performance are discussed in brief. The means to improve efficiency of a running fan is also discussed and the importance of saving even 1 Kwh is elaborated. It is found that the cost of the energy saved may even permit a replacement fan to be procured in a few years time.

May 1, 2007

By R. J. Mitchell

"High narrow backfills of significant strike length approach the stress conditions associated with a free standing wall but this lower bound design approach is not considered efficient for earth structures. This paper considers the design of high narrow backfills using upper bound limit analysis, retaining wall theory with backfill arching and centrifuge model tests. Complex toe support situations pertaining to operational factors at Falconbridge's Lockerby Mine are investigated. It is shown that the susceptibility of high narrow fills to toppling is much lower than anticipated from the retaining wall analysis and that toppling can be avoided by a suitable toe support. It is also concluded that adhesion between the fill and an adjacent pillar can markedly increase the stability of the fill. INTRODUCTIONFalconbridge's Lockerby Mine pillar projects will expose cemented tailings backfills to heights (H) up to 55 m. The exposed backfills may have strike lengths (L) greater than the heights but are relatively narrow, having widths (w) of up to 12 m. The bulk cement content of the fills varies from 8.3% (12.1 T:C) to 3.0% (33.1 T:C). Exposed faces may have up to a metre of overhang due to stope overblasting, as shown in Figure 1. These fills have a solids specific gravity of close to 3.0 and were placed at a pulp density of about 68%. The tailings have a fairly uniform grain size with 32% less than 0.075 mm (200 sieve) and about 12% slimes (less than 0.02 mm sizes). The fill exposed by early pillar removal will be backed by adjacent, near vertical, ore pillars. Future pillar removal may expose similar fills which are not supported by an adjacent ore pillar but which will be backed by either an open void or by uncemented backfill. Furthermore, these fills may be undercut when the pillar slot is driven, further reducing stability (case 3, Fig. I) or a wedge could be left to help support the fill (case 2, Fig . 1). This paper presents limit equilibrium analyses for these various backfill conditions in a 22: 1 T:C fill and com- pares the results to data from centrifuge model studies at a scale factor of A= 157 as indicated in Figure I. Prototype fills have a 6 m deep cone plug of 16:1 T:C which is accounted for in the comparison of centrifuge model test with analytical results."

Jan 1, 1989

By Daniel D. M. Adams

In 2004, Rio Tinto started a major project to implement Mine Monitoring and Control (MMC) systems worldwide. A detailed selection processes was undertaken and migration to a standard system was started. Today systems are operating around the world and serve as the core of to many business processes. Implementations include highly union areas, large mines, centrally managed mines, and remote areas. Each implementation has unique challenges but all are working towards the common goal with common systems. This paper reviews two projects that Rio Tinto has deployed in diverse conditions. The projects are the Rossing Uranium upgrade from the original Wenco system to the common standard and Iron Ore of Canada?s general technology upgrade. Also discussed is the future of mining at Rio Tinto, specifically the drill automation projects, and how it is utilizing the common standard MMC systems.

May 1, 2010

By D. Murray

A 2-hectare uranium tailings area has been reclaimed. The exposed tailings of 1.4 hectares were capped with glacial till and vegetated with grasses and legumes. The water running through the tailings was diverted around the tailings in a line ditch and treated with sodium hydroxide and barium chloride. Difficulties occurred in placing the till capping because of the low bearing strength and the uneven surface of the tailings. This led to varying thicknesses of till and the need for manual labour in some areas. Total reclamation costs were $32,200, with vegetation establishment costs at $13,700 per hectare. This report provides a record of work for use in assessing the long-term suitability of these treatments.

Jan 1, 1979

By Cris Sideco

This paper describes the concentration processes of the Sullivan. Concentrator, including crushing , transportation, sink-float, grinding , flotation and dewatering. Handling of hot muck has had a deleterious effect on most of the processes, resulting in significant operating problems and poorer metallurgy. These problems are described -in detail. THE SULLIVAN CONCENTRATOR is situated in Kimberley, high up in the Purcell Range of the Selkirk Mountains, at an elevation of 3,600 feet, approximately 4 miles from the Sullivan Mine (see Fig. 1). The original plant went on stream on August 23, 1923 at a designed capacity of 2,500 tons per day. This has been increased in stages to its present rated capacity of 11,000 tons per day. The latest stage was in 1949, when several major projects, including the underground crushing plant, the sink-float plant and the installation of a rod mill, were completed. Some 112,800,000 tons of ore have been treated in this concentrator to November 1975. The plant started on a 48-hour/ week schedule, but was reduced to 44 hours/week in October 1946 and down to 40 hours/week by the end of 1949. Except for a 6-month period in 1952 when the mill operated continuously, the 40-hour/week, Monday to Friday schedule was in effect.

Jan 1, 1977

By Hugh P. Godard, K. Winslow

"AbstractA number of panels of various aluminum alloys in different combinations and secured by steel and three types of aluminum rivets were exposed underground at two locations in a Northern Ontario gold mine for two years and then examined to determine the extent of corrosion. The results indicate Alcan 65S-T to possess considerable advantages over Alcan 178-T, which has been employed in the construction of light skips and cages with considerable success for almost twenty years. Information on the behaviour of these alloys when used with steel rivets and in mixed combinations with themselves was obtained.IntroductionBy the complete substitution of aluminum alloys for steel in the fabrication of mining skips and cages, their weight can be reduced as much as 50 per cent. Lesser savings are possible though its savings are possible through its plates, doors, reinforcing members, etc. Reduced weight leads to economy through increased hoisting efficiency.For a new installation, the basis of design is the rate of production, which thus fixes the live load to be hoisted per trip. A lighter skip permits the use of a lighter rope and a smaller hoist. In deep shafts with high-speed hoists operated in balance, the power required for accelerating is considerable. The hoist size is determined by the weight of skip, load, and rope plus the force required to accelerate or decelerate these three elements A light skip may result in a considerably lighter rope. This is important because, even though the skip can be completely balanced this is not true of the rope. Partial balancing is possible, but conical hoist drums or other devices for this purpose are costly; thus a smaller rope results in a smaller hoist, with consequent general reduction in cost of the whole installation. A reduction in power consumption is also obtained as a result of keeping to a minimum the amount of unbalanced load and the weight of all moving parts which must be accelerated."

Jan 1, 1950

By M. C. Ethier, A. L. Laramie

"The Granisle and Bell Copper mines were officially put into production in 1966 and 1972, respectively. The Granisle Mine was purchased in late 1979by Noranda and the two operations were amalgamated as one division. Both mines were closed in 1982after sustaining heavy financial losses during a period of low copper prices beginning in 1981.This paper describes the resumption of operations at the Bell Mine in 1985 after its shutdown period of three years and the dramatic and sustained improvements in productivity and efficiency realized as a result of a commitment by employees and management to the application of Participative Management and Employee Involvement principles. After a general description of the effects of such a philosophy on the operation as a whole, and a comparison to the operation's last full year as a producer, it deals with the practice of this philosophy in the maintenance department at the Bell Mine and the superb results realized.IntroductionThe Bell Copper deposit was discovered in 1963 and came onstream as a 10000 ton s per day open pit mine in the fall of 1972. Identified reserves at that time were 46 million tons of ore containing 0.50% copper. The mine shared facilities of the townsite of Granisle with the nearby Zapata-Granby mine which had established the community six years earlier.Because of easy grinding ore and improvements to milling circuits, Bell's throughput rate was increased to 17 000 tons per day by the late 1970s. In the open pit, improvements resulted in mining of additional reserves with higher stripping ratios. At startup, a half ton o f waste was mined for every ton of ore processed.By the end of 1982, with 48.2 million tons already mined, the Bell Mine had identified additional mineable reserves of 39.4 million tons containing 0.52% Cu.In November 1979 the Granisle Mine was purchased from Zapata-Granby. The two mines, with a total of 700 employees, were operated under common management as the Babine Division until 1982 when low copper price s forced the closure of both for an indefinite period.The outlook for copper prices remained bleak and only 50 people were retained on the payroll to maintain the two plants, most of them working on a part-time schedule.The population of the Village of Granisle dwindled from over 1500 inhabitants to under 500, as people moved away to seek other employment.Prior to the shutdown, the Bell Mine employed 370 people and pit extraction averaged nearly 50000 tons per day of which 16000 tons was mill feed, and the remainder waste. Total cost to produce a pound of copper was C$1.36 in 1982."

Jan 1, 1990

By A. Lee Barrett

"THE COAL INDUSTRY of the United States• and Canada has made great progress in recent years. Coal mining in •the old days represented one of the most arduous tasks for labour and industry, but over the years great progress has been made in reducing the effort required from labour. Also, the tonnage produced per man, the cost of the coal per ton, and the overall safety of the operation, have been greatly improved.Looking back over the past fifty years:, the era can be divided into four principal parts: (a) hand-loading, (b) track mining methods, (c) off-track mining methods, and (d) continuous mining. For many years, all of the coal was won by hand-mining methods. The first forms of mechanization •resembled the move from the horse •and buggy to the automobile. Early track mechanical mining methods were usually adaptations of the direct methods involved in hand-mining, with each improvement directed toward some specific process. A revolutionary development came about with off-track mining methods. The first efforts in this direction were provided by off-track mechanical loading machines, which loaded the cars •on track and differed from conventional track mining methods only in that the loading machines themselves operated on the mine floor. With the advent -of the shuttle car about ten years ago, true off-track mining came into being, and real progress in this direction began to be made.At the present time we •are at the beginning of a new era -.the era of continuous mining. There will be a period of development with some time needed before the system is generally applied throughout the industry, but -already enough •has been done to indicate rather dearly what the future holds in this direction."

Jan 1, 1953

By D. A. Beck

The load-deformation response of discontinuous rock under static and dynamic loading conditions has been simulated using Explicit Finite Element models. The intent of the analysis was to investigate the effects of specimen size and confining stress on strength, dilation and comminution. The simulations allow the development of homogenised constitutive material properties for discontinuous rock masses using laboratory scale measurements and representative Discrete Fracture Networks (DFNs). A procedure for this is presented which includes a comparison of measured seismic response in a mine to the Dissipated Plastic Energy (DPE) that is released in the simulated rock masses. The models also show how confinement and scale affect the stress-strain and DPE response of the simulated rock specimens, reproducing a number of known rock phenomena that are often poorly captured in geotechnical modelling. A case study is presented showing a satisfactory match between the model-derived, homogenised material properties and values achieved by calibration of a mine-scale model where many thousands of seismic, displacement and damage measurements were available.

May 1, 2009

By M. Venkatraman

The limit of Hall - Petch relationship in ultra fine grained steels has been examined based on dislocation pile-up mechanism. When the grain size becomes small the dislocation multiplicity ceases resulting in very low work hardening rate in these materials. An approximate analysis of the theories of hardening indicates that H-P relation is obeyed up to 100nm. It appears that grain refinement is not the suggested approach to improve toughness as well as strength below a critical size.

Jan 1, 2004

By Herbert D. Drechsler, James B. Stephenson

"AbstractThe paper identifies the major components of price change which affect the determination of the internal rate of return of a mining project. It illustrates several price indexes which may be used to measure general price increases, identifying techniques which might incorporate them into mine valuation procedures. The ""hurdle rate"" for new investment is discussed.IntroductionDECISIONS regarding the value of an orebody and whether or when to mine an orebody are based on an estimate of the cash flows which would be associated with its exploitation. These pro-forma cash flows represent cash in or out of a possible mineable deposit and include exploration and construction costs, sales revenues, operating expenses, taxes, debt borrowings, interest and debt repayment. It has long been recognized that when combining the cash flows occurring over the life of the mine, dollars received or paid out early have greater value than those received or paid out later. This time value of money has been incorporated into mine evaluation calculations through the use of present-value or discounting techniques. Another factor affecting mine valuation, inflation, is not accounted for by valuation techniques now in use. In recent years, price changes have become more volatile. In the past, price change could easily be ignored when evaluating potential mines. Today, the combination of larger investments and greater price volatility leads to great concern about the effects of price change on mine valuation."

Jan 1, 1977

By E. A. Hart, J. E. Gill

"The property of Arntfield Mining Corporation, formerly Arntfield Gold Mines, Limited, covers an area of 2,110 acres and lies in Beauchastel township, western Quebec. The Francoeur mine lies to the west, and to the east are the West Wasa and Wasa Lake properties.The property was staked in September, 1923, by the late F. S. Arntfield. The early surface work was concentrated in the west part of the property along the Francoeur-Arntfield shear zone. The zone was opened by No. 1 shaft, which was sunk for an inclined depth of 250 feet. A series of silicified lenses were discovered farther east, where No. 2 shaft was later raised to the surface. A third shaft explored a shear zone about 1,900 feet to the east, where No. 3 shaft orebodies were developed.The mill was built at No. 3 shaft and production commenced in July, 1935, at 125 tons a day. This was increased to 280 tons by 1938, and later to 350 tons. The mine continued operations on this scale until April, 1942, when the exigencies of war necessitated closing. The Company was reorganized in 1944 and underground development was resumed in June, 1945. The total value of gold and silver produced to April, 1942, was $2,011, 755 from 529,987 tons of ore.ROCK TYPESThe area is underlain by highly deformed and altered Keewatin volcanics overlain by little deformed Cobalt sediments along the south boundary. The lavas in the vicinity of the mine workings are rhyolite, trachyte, andesite, and a flow breccia of intermediate composition. The fragmentals range from fine, well-bedded tuffs to coarse agglomerate in which acidic and basic horizons can be distinguished.The intrusive rocks are diorite and quartz-feldspar porphyry in the form of stock and sills, and narrow dykes of mica lamprophyre and syenite porphyry."

Jan 1, 1954

By T. G. Joseph, M. Welz

ABSTRACT: Joseph (2002) introduced passive seismic monitoring to measure mining equipment performance. This paper evaluates the potential of passive seismic monitoring to correlate mining equipment operation with oil sands surface response, with a mining hauler as the seismic source. When applied to moving haulers, this action–reaction approach is complex. Vibrations from on-board equipment, such as pumps and tires, dirty the signal with noise. To facilitate any correlation, the signal must be cleaned up. Existing geophysical analytical techniques were manipulated to evaluate the noise problem and to filter sufficiently to permit an evaluation of whether a mining equipment action–ground response relationshipis in fact discernable.

Jan 1, 2011

By Zygmunt Kowalczyk

"A theory permitting the determination of expected surface deformations for planned underground exploitation is proposed and discussed in this paper. The relations between surface subsidence and various methods of mining are analyzed, and allowable horizontal .deformations for protected objects, according to the degree of their significance, are reviewed."

Jan 1, 1966

Bahuerachi Project Characteristics Why it?s nicer at Bahuerachi Mexico is a mining country Low political, regulatory and trade risk Low social/permitting risk Proximity to infrastructure Road Power grid (8 km) Rail line (25 km) High grade zones (skarns), CRD and near surface oxide component are sweet spots to the overall system. Size of low grade system points to potential long mine life?and numerous new targets developing. Timelines-2006? 90 to 100 combined RC and core holes to go! MAIN ZONE Drilling ? Goat ?Finish Mid April ? Main Zone, going North, depth of testing dependent, estimated for May ? North Lobe-May ? Commission independent resource estimate by May 06 for results of first pass drilling to date ?tonnesand grades ?Main Zone Milestone. ? Continue infill or expanded drilling to July (minimum) ? 1stpass RC scheduled until September OTHER Targets ? Begin drill testing North Skarn target Mid-April, minimum 5 drill holes, 1,000 meters. Ongoing expansion of target with surface work (mapping) ? Road to Colome(Skarnin north of Main Zone) as part of porphyry program ? Tule(southern) porphyry and skarn system-soils and mapping OUTSTANDING events Metallurgical report on floating and leaching tests (Sulphide/oxides).

May 1, 2006

By Hamid-Reza Manouchehri

Coarse particles flotation is controlled by detachment (particle hydrophobicity and flotation cell turbulence) For composite particles (the bubble may attach to good hydrophobic region, but the expansion of the three phase line of contact is limited. Hence, the equilibrium contact angle, characteristic of the hydrophobic region, may never be attained, and the force of attachment is decreased relative to that possible for homogenous hydrophobic surfaces.

May 1, 2013

"Here, we statistically proved that giant earthquakes occur at lunar phases specific to each subduction zone. Enough attention during the lunar period, especially when seismicity is occurring, will significantly reduce damage from giant earthquakes. Two case studies in which giant earthquakes occurred after seismicity in dangerous lunar phases were discussed, and the mechanisms underlying why giant earthquakes occur around neap tide at some subduction zones were explained by prohibition of giant earthquake occurrences due to high strain rates at spring tides at N–S subduction zones. The prohibition was statistically proven for uniaxial creep tests on Inada granite with slight stress disturbances. INTRODUCTIONIn previous studies, we showed that from 1900 to present, giant earthquakes (MW ??8) have occurred at lunar phases specific to each subduction zone (Fujii & Ozaki, 2012; Ozaki & Fujii, 2012). Although we later proposed a possible reason for these occurrences, the study lacked statistical analyses (Fujii et al., 2013). Therefore, this paper shows the results of such statistical testing and presents case studies for the Tohoku 2011 and Chile 2014 events, thereby providing updated data on giant earthquakes through July 2014."

Jan 1, 2015

By R. Carter, C. S. Samis

"SummaryThe results of this investigation indicate that the gold in the cyanide tailing of refractory gold cyanides is occluded in fused •particles formed during roasting. This conclusion was reached following microscopic examination of calcines produced at various furnace temperatures with different atmospheres, and a •comparison with calcines produced by decomposing samples of completely sulphated concentrate under conditions such that the maximum particle temperature varied between 6•50°C. and 1,100°C. This comparison showed that the particle temperature during a normal roast may be several hundred degrees higher than the furnace atmosphere, or that the fusion is associated with a low melting (950°C.) eutectic mixture of FeO and FeS.Because of the unavoidable particle fusion during a furnace roast, and because low particle temperatures are essential for gold extraction by cyanidation, aqueous medium oxidation under high oxygen pressures was studied. Gold recovery from calcines produced by this means was over 98 •per cent •compared with a maximum of 80 per cent from furnace calcines.IntroductionMANY arsenical gold ores are called 'refractory' because much ' of the gold cannot be satisfactorily extracted by cyaniding the raw ore or concentrate. Even when such ores are roasted to oxidize .the iron and arsenic and 'release' the gold, often 10 to 25 per cent of the gold present is lost in the cyanide residues."

Jan 1, 1952

By R. M. Clowes

"As part of LITHOPROBE's multidisciplinary earth science research program to understand the evolution of the North American continent, studies have been undertaken in a number of key areas in Canada. In the Trans-Hudson Orogen of Manitoba and Saskatchewan, LITHOPROBE results require re-evaluation of tectonic models related to its origin. In the Abitibi greenstone belt of Quebec and Ontario, results indicate a more complex evolution for the southern Superior province, one that links with the development of gold and massive sulphide deposits. As part of the program, the seismic reflection profiling method is being adapted for the mining industry. Three examples demonstrate the subsurface information that can be obtained. In Noranda, the base of the volcanic Blake River group is imaged and reflectivity is tied to geology through well logs; in Matagami, the zone of mineralization is shown to be downdropped along a majorfault; in Sudbury, a new structural model is developed, one that shows marked asymmetry at depth and indicates that some ore-bearing units on the margins of the igneous complex may be repeated at depth. IntroductionLITHOPROBE is Canada's national, collaborative earth science research project, established to develop a comprehensive understanding of how the North American continent has evolved. Ten transects, or study areas, were chosen to investigate pivotal geological features to their deep lithospheric roots. They span the country from the Pacific to the Atlantic Oceans and from the U.S. border to the Yukon and Northwest Territories, and geological time from four billion years ago to the present. A multidisciplinary approach, which is spearheaded by seismic reflection techniques, is essential to developing complete interpretations and outstanding scientific results. LITHOPROBE also has pioneered the use and demonstrated the value of using reflection technology to determine subsurface geology in mining camps.This paper provides an overview of the transects and their significance for the tectonic evolution of North America. Two specific examples demonstrate how we detennine present three-dimensional lithospheric structure and past geotectonic processes which formed it. The application of the reflection method to imaging complex structures in ""shallow"" crystalline rocks has been developed with funding and other support from the mining industry and provincial geological surveys. Sustaining funds, however, are derived from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council and Geological Survey of Canada. Emphasis has been placed on developing deeper penetrating tools for exploration of deeply buried, but economically retrievable, mineral resources near existing mines, where an expensive infrastructure already is in place. Three examples, Rouyn-Noranda in western Quebec, Matagami in northwestern Quebec and Sudbury in northeastern Ontario, illustrate these developments."

Jan 1, 1994