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By Michael Zurowski

This paper traces the history of International Mogul's assessment program on the Lake Ainslie barite-fluorite deposits of Cape Breton Island. The geology of the area is outlined, and the main vein systems described. The geophysical and geochemical exploration techniques employed are explained, the metallurgy of the ore is covered, and the market prices and economics of operation are described.

Jan 1, 1972

By M. Saghaeian, R. Hejazi, Fakoor Sanat Tehran Company, H. Abedini, M. Zare

"Dewatering of final tailings is one the biggest issues in iron ore processing plants. Because of the fine and hydrophilic particles in the iron ore tailings, dewatering of such material is difficult and, in most of the cases, needs to be processed using expensive and complicated equipment. In this study, a novel method based on classification of small and large particles has been proposed to improve the dewatering performance of iron ore tailings. In the proposed method, a hydrocyclone has first been used to separate the fine and coarse fraction of iron ore tailings. Then, the coarse fraction (hydrocyclone underflow) is easily dewatered by using vacuum belt filter. Then, the fine fraction (hydrocyclone overflow) is primarily dewatered by using a high rate thickener. Finally, the thickener underflow is added to the bed of solids on the same belt filter, which is used for dewatering of hydrocyclone underflow. The efficiency of this method has been compared with other solutions for tailings dewatering including changing vacuum filtration parameters, using fabric with larger pore size, and using pressure filtration, all through laboratory scale experiments on the tailings of an iron ore processing plant in Iran. The results indicated the superiority of this method compared to the other ones, which increased the specific filtration capacity of the tailings by around 46%.INTRODUCTIONWet beneficiation of minerals requires a substantial amount of water to enhance the efficiency of the process. Used water should be recovered at the end of process to minimize shipping costs, meet contract specifications, and reuse process water (Wills and Napier-Munn, 2006). Dewatering equipment is usually divided into sedimentation (thickening) and filtration (pressure and vacuum) equipment, the choice of which depends on particle size, solid content of slurry, and material nature (Mular et al., 2002)."

Jan 1, 2016

By P. E. Cavanagh

THIS REPORT is not intended to be a ?comprehensive survey of the steel industry in Europe. For the past ten years the Ontario Research Foundation has been interested in several developments in the steel industry in Europe which it was felt would be of particular interest in Canada and might possibly find application in this country. This is an account of the present status of some of these developments. The economies of steel making in Canada are somewhat different than in the United States because of the nature of the market and the relative costs and availability of such raw materials as metallurgical coke and electric power. There are cases in Europe where a great deal of effort and money has been spent in trying to make steel profitably by methods which take advantage of locally available and cheap raw materials by modifying standard practices. ln cases wl1ere the investigations have been successful and the data are available to allow translation of the results into Canadian conditions, it is felt that such information may be of great benefit in the future in Canada and at !east should be known to all those in the steel industry in this country. The field to be covered in this report only comprises the steps from concentration and treatment of iron ores to production of iron and is only concerned with those commercially operating processes well known to us and judged to be of present interest in Canada.

Jan 1, 1957

By Tuula Mäkinen, Lauri Pesonen, Peter Björklund, Jouni Pihlasalo, Mikko Korpi

Outotec Direct Blister Flash Smelting technology has proved to be an efficient and environmentally friendly way to treat copper concentrates from the Zambian Copperbelt at Konkola Copper Mines' (KCM) Nchanga smelter in Zambia. The modeling of slag chemistry and thermodynamics with MTDATA software played a central role in deciding the operation parameters for the smelter. Outotec FSF Online Process Advisor is used to calculate the process parameters and to give valuable information of the process state for the operating personnel. The pre-calculated slag liquidus graphs are also integrated to the Online Advisor.

Jan 1, 2011

By M. Dupuis

It has been previously demonstrated [1,2] that using selective collector bar rodding has a big impact on the uniformity of the current density at the top surface of the cathode block and hence on the intensity of the horizontal current in the metal pad, The present study investigates the impact of using selective collector bar rodding on the MHD stability of a 500 kA aluminium electrolysis cell, For this purpose the recently developed MHD package for the aluminium reduction cell time dependent behavior is used.

Jan 1, 2005

By B. E. Halbert, K. T. Himbeault, S. L. Fernandes, R. L. J. Phillips, B. J. Topp

The Beaverlodge uranium mining and milling facilities operated from 1952 to 1981 with about 94% of the ore extracted from the main underground mine and 6% from smaller satellite deposits. Decommissioning work occurred from 1982 to 1985 involving periods of shutdown, salvage and reclamation. Transition phase monitoring, leading to eventual delicencing commenced in July 1985. Over the last 15 years, discharge from the tailings management facility (TMF) and a fresh water stream, impacted during the operational phase by tailings spills, has improved in water quality for most parameters of concern. Loadings to the environment of three key contaminants (radium-226, total dissolved solids, and uranium) have consistently been less than during the operational phase with radium-226 having the greatest variability. Outstanding environmental issues associated with the recovering drainage system formerly used for tailings disposal, are being addressed in an enhanced environmental monitoring program to commence in 2000. Changes in water chemistry and the natural re-introduction of aquatic organisms are issues of concern. In the meantime, application for release from selected satellite areas commenced in 1999. This paper reviews the issues which have arisen during the transition phase, outlines how they have and are being addressed, and provides a comparison of original and current predictions of the recovery process under way at the former Beaverlodge mine site.

Jan 1, 2000

By R. E. Dye

IF gold mining is to assume, or it might be better said to resume, a place of ' importance in the national economy of this country following the present war, then one must accept the thesis that gold will maintain the place it has for many generations held in the minds of men as a substantial and lasting emblem of material wealth-a metal in exchange for which men have always been ready to give up the possession of their worldly goods. The thought bas been advanced by some that gold is not necessary as a basis for exchange, that it has no real value anyway and, therefore, the world would wake up some morning to find that no one wanted gold and that, over night, its possession bad in some way ceased to be desired. Holding an equally extreme view there are those who advance the idea that, following the war, gold will in some mysterious way enjoy a fantastic increase in value. Neither of these extreme views can be successfully supported. To presume that by legislation or by general agreement gold would be or could be, over night, dethroned to the position of common stone is wholly beyond the realm of any possibility. The thought that this could come to pass is advanced by, and is attractive to, only those peoples who do not have gold and do r:ot have the means of producing it. To believe that the fundamental value of gold will suddenly change is likewise fantastic. I refer to the fundamental value, not the dollar price, of gold, for it cannot be denied that, with the colossal war expenditures now being made and with the huge national debts which are being piled up, there is a possibility, indeed per-haps a likelihood, that the dollar price .of gold may be revised upward. For the purpose of this discussion, however, that possibility is irrelevant and need not be considered.

Jan 1, 1943

By C. Allen, V. Hensel, J. S. Stachulak

"Vale has been actively evaluating new technologies to curtail diesel emissions. This paper discusses the selection, installation, operation, and evaluation of the MANN+HUMMEL SMF®-AR diesel particulate filter system to reduce diesel particulate matter emissions in underground mines. The system uses a sintered metal filter element, an iron fuel-borne catalyst with an onboard dosing system, an electric heater that uses onboard power, and a sensor-based control unit. More than 6,000 h of testing demonstrated that the system represents a breakthrough in the successful control of soot emission from light-duty vehicles with differing soot emission levels, exhaust temperatures, and duty cycles.RÉSUMÉ La compagnie Vale évalue activement de nouvelles technologies pour réduire les émissions de diesel. Le présent article discute du choix, de l’installation, du fonctionnement et de l’évaluation du système MANN+HUMMEL SMFMD-AR de filtrage des particules de diesel pour réduire les émissions de particules de diesel dans les mines souterraines. Le système utilise un élément filtrant en métal fritté, un catalyseur à base de fer dans le carburant avec un système de dosage intégré, un élément de chauffage électrique qui utilise l’alimentation incorporée et une unité de contrôle avec un capteur. Plus de 6 000 heures d’essais ont démontré que le système représente une avancée pour réussir à contrôler les émissions de suie des véhicules légers avec différents niveaux d’émission de suie, différentes températures d’échappement et différents cycles opératoires."

Jan 1, 2015

By P. Burke, V. Vuaroqueaux, A. Doyle, C. Petit, Kipouros. G. J.

Magnesium and its alloys are attractive for use in automotive and aerospace applications because of their low density and good mechanical properties. However, difficulty in forming magnesium and the limited number of available commercial alloys limit their use. The present work reviews the efforts to improve the attractiveness of magnesium through non-traditional processing, and presents results of current work on producing magnesium alloys via powder metallurgy (P/M). P/M can be used to alleviate the formability problem through near-net-shape processing, and also allows unique chemical compositions that can lead to new alloys with novel properties. The surface layer formed on the Mg powders during processing acts as a barrier to diffusion and sintering is problematic. The layer contains oxides, hydroxides and carbonates of magnesium, formed by reactions with the atmosphere. There are several means to possibly overcome this barrier. Alloying additions have been identified that may promote surface layer disruption during sintering. Processing variables such as sintering atmosphere may reduce the layer or allow the formation of less detrimental compounds. Post-sintering processes such as hot working may disrupt the layer and improve density. The experimental effect of all these processing parameters is presented in this paper.

Jan 1, 2010

By J. F. J. Thomas

"AbstractBoth the quantity and quality of waters available as raw materials are important to Canadian industry and to the national economy. The huge demands of many Canadian industries is illustrated by tabulated figures, based on the 1950 Canadian production of certain products, and on United States figures for the gallons of water required to produce a unit quantity of each product. It is suggested from comparison with American survey results and figures that Canadian industrial water consumption is 1 to 11/2 billion Imperial gallons per day. Since present information on Canadian usage is meagre and it is not certain that American survey results can be directly applied to Canadian industry, this estimate must await confirmation in future studies.The hydrologic cycle and the principal factors affecting the quantity and quality of water, namely, climate and season, topography, geology, vegetation, and human activities, are discussed and the principal salts dissolved in water which affect industrial use are enumerated.The present survey studies by the Mines Branch on water quality are outlined. Besides chemical analyses of municipal water supplies within a watershed, periodic sampling and analyses of major surface waters for a one-year period is being carried out. The importance of studies on seasonal variation in quality is stressed by comparing the dissolved salts in various river waters with river flow. Figures showing such relationships in the Rideau river and Ottawa river at Ottawa, the Columbia river at Trail, B.C., and the Battle river at Unwin, Sask., are presented. Different rivers show different quality changes with changing flow, and possibly only after long-term studies can the relationships be predicted.Quality studies on water may be as important as studies on many other raw materials. The quantity of the raw material, water, is not inexhaustible nor is the quality indestructible, and more realization of its importance, followed by conservation and intelligent use, is desirable."

Jan 1, 1952

By A. Brown

IN INTRODUCING the subject of rock pressures, it may safely be assumed that mining men are only too familiar with the physical effects of strata stresses that accompany the extraction of minerals. It may be further assumed that they have, as individuals, arrived at certain conclusions regarding their nature, based upon years spent in observing such phenomena and in learning how to continue mining in spite of them. Such hardly won experience forms the core of what is often referred to as 'pit sense'. This essential type of knowledge is not ?based on theoretical considerations, nor can it be found in text books. It is highly individualistic in nature and almost impossible to pass on from one generation to another in terms of precise rules for guidance. It is this aspect of individual judgment based on practical experience that has led to the significant phrase The Art of Mining.

Jan 1, 1956

By C. Joulian, A. G. Guézennec, A. Chmielarz, Y. Ménard, M. Hanke, P. d’Hugues

"The copper concentrate used in this study is produced by flotation of a black shale organic rich ore. This resource is a carbonate-rich, polymineral concentrate. In the last 5-6 years, ore characteristics changed and the concentrate grades degraded. This study evaluated bioleaching of the concentrate in stirred tank reactors as an alternative to the pyrometallurgical technology that is currently applied, and which may no longer be feasible in future given the concentrate chemistry.The first part of the study focused on testing non-traditional operating conditions during continuous bioleaching experiments: high solids concentration (> 20% solids), reduced agitation and aeration rates. For the same residence time, bioleaching performance at high solids loading (25%) was the same as that reached during previous bioleaching experiments at 15% solids. No mixing or microbial issues were encountered. The bacterial consortium used in the experiments demonstrated a high copper tolerance.The second part of the study was devoted to technology development for metal recovery from copper bearing solutions obtained during bioleaching experiments. Due to the high copper concentration of the leachate, solvent extraction prior to electrowinning was not necessary. After iron removal, high quality copper cathodes (morphology and composition) were obtained from the PLS by electrowinning."

Jan 1, 2014

By W. R. A. Graeser

"The Nordenham finishing mill is situated in the town of Nordenham, Fede1•al Republic of Germany, on the banks of the Weser River opposite the town of Bremerhaven, with access by water to the North Sea.The unfinished fibre, shipped j?•om Deception Bay during the sub-Arctic summer shipping season, is unloaded from bulk ocean carriers, stored and then processed throughout the year until the following shipping season. This paper describes the unloading and storage facilities,the finishing mill and the finished-fibre storage arrangement. Details of environmental and dust control practices and West German environmental standards are discussed. A resumé of fibre markets is included."

Jan 1, 1976

By J. Gao, H. O. Gekonde, S. V. Subramanian

"The functional role of inclusions at low cutting speeds is to promote ductile fracture in chip formation process, whereas the role of inclusions at high cutting speeds is to prevent tool crater wear by suppressing the tribological phenomenon of seizure at the tool-chip interface. Glassy oxide inclusions are engineered into the workpiece to form a viscous layer in-situ at the tool-chip interface at high cutting speeds. The viscous layer lubricates the tool-chip interface to prevent the seizure. In comparison with the large volume fraction of inclusions needed for promoting ductile fracture at low cutting speeds, the amount of inclusions required for lubricating the toolchip interface at high cutting speeds is very small and is in the range that is typical of clean steels. The chip fracture process at high cutting speeds is aided by strain rate hardening of the matrix, which facilitates chip disposal of relatively clean steel.Inclusion engineering for high speed machining involves the control of the rheology and composition of inclusions to meet target viscosity at the tool-chip interface. The application of thermodynamic models in controlled production of inclusions in steels designed for high speed machining is discussed."

Jan 1, 1998

By Gordon S. Farnham

THIS paper summarizes the results of investigations carried out at Sydney Mines, N.S., and at Ottawa, following the disaster at Princess colliery, December 6th, 1938. The Honourable Minister of Mines for Nova Scotia appointed A. E. Cameron special investigator to enquire into and report upon the cause of the rope failure. Public hearings were held in Sydney Mines and evidence taken from many witnesses. The site of the accident was examined in detail and investigations made of the rope layout and colliery practice. At the request of the special investigator, the Department of Mines and Resources, Ottawa, kindly undertook technical and scientific examination of the broken ends of the rope. These investigations were carried out in the Metallurgical Laboratories of the Department of Mines and Resources, under the supervision of G. S. Farnham, Metallurgist for the Department. Valuable assistance in interpretation of many features of the investigation was received from other sources. Acknowledgment is due to Messrs. Stuewe, McCall, and Gordon, and other members of the staff of the Dominion Steel & Coal Corporation; to Messrs. Morrison and Scott, and other members of District 26, United Mine Workers of America; and to Messrs. Timm, Parsons, Haycock, Haanell, and other members of the staff of the Department of Mines and Resources, Ottawa, for helpful ad vice and technical assistance in assembly of information, and preparation of material and interpretation of evidence obtained.

Jan 1, 1939

By P. C. Benedict

"The Island Mountain mine is at the southeast end of Island mountain; across Jack of Clubs lake from the Cariboo Gold Quartz mine.; The orebodies consist of quartz veins and pyritic replacement deposits in limestone. To December 31; 1944; there has been mined 296; 273 tons of quartz-vein ore averaging about 0.34 oz. gold a ton; and 101; 002 tons of sulphide ore averaging about 0.83 oz. gold a ton; a total of 397; 275 tons averaging 0.46 oz. From this; 175; 985 fine oz. of gold and about 26; 450 fine oz. of silver were recovered; having a value of $6; 510; 521.More than 95 per cent of the production has come from a band 500 feet wide along the contact of the Rainbow and overlying Baker members and extending about 100 feet into the latter. Evidence that the Rainbow belongs stratigraphically above the Baker is presented later in this paper. Both members are most variable lithologically, and individual beds and whole series of beds pinch out in short distances. In part, at least, this is due to squeezing out incidentally to intense folding. No section can be claimed with assurance to be really representative. However, both memb.ers are composed predominantly of quartzitic rocks. Both contain argillaceous quartzite, argillite, limy quartzite, limy argillite, limestone (marble), and minor amounts of highly ankeritized rocks believed to be igneous sills possibly originally approaching diorite in composition."

Jan 1, 1954

"The Crescent, DM, and Pothook zones are copper-gold porphyry deposits which formed in association with alkalic intrusions of the early Jurassic Iron Mask batholith. The characteristics of the Crescent and DM deposits are nearly identical. Both formed along the contact between the Cherry Creek monzodiorite and Pothook diorite phases of the batholith. Permeable intrusion breccias along the contact concentrated the flow of hydrothermal fluids. Early, pre-ore alteration is represented by pervasive, sulphide-barren potassium metasomatism. The precipitation of copper-gold ore occurred during subsequent fracture-controlled potassic alteration, and is most strongly developed in chlorite-sulphide veins and their alteration envelopes. A central zone of potassic alteration is surrounded by a propylitic, pyritic halo in both deposits. The DM zone is unique among alkalic porphyry deposits in its high abundance of quartz-sulphide veins.The Pothook deposit formed at the westernmost contact of the Iron Mask batholith with enclosing Nicola Group volcanic rocks. Pervasive potassium metasomatism, similar in style to that at Crescent and DM, is associated with intrusion of the Cherry Creek monzonite. Pervasive and fracture-controlled albitic alteration is associated with intrusion of the Sugarloaf diorite and introduced minor copper-gold mineralization. Most of the copper-gold mineralization was introduced during formation of veins and breccia matrices dominated by magnetite/hematite and sulphide. Late-stage chlorite veining may have remobilized or introduced additional gold mineralization.Copper and gold assays in the Crescent deposit are well-correlated and have a nearly constant Cu:Au ratio, suggesting that the metals coprecipitated during a single hydrothermal event. In the Pothook deposit, copper and gold do not correlate closely, lack spatial correspondence, and suggest that transport and/or deposition of the two metals were not identically controlled and that they may have been introduced at different times by separate hydrothermal events."

Jan 1, 1995

By S. Setayeshgar

The identification of potential accidents on construction sites has been a major concern in the construction industry and it needs a proactive safety plan to reduce the risk of accidents. There are no efficient methods for checking if safety measures are taken properly on construction sites. Consequently, workers on site are not given enough awareness about dangerous areas. In addition, construction sites are dynamic and on-site situations are changing in terms of permanent and temporary structures and facilities. This information can be represented using Building Information Modeling (BIM). This paper proposes the integration of BIM and safety risk analysis by considering the risk levels associated with the work spaces of different construction tasks. Work spaces are generated in a BIM model according to the Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) of the project, reference objects in the BIM, and the schedule and resources of the task. Each work space is assigned to one or more tasks or functions, e.g., work spaces for specific tasks, shared spaces (paths), storage spaces, or spaces prohibited to workers. The assignment of work spaces is based on the workers, equipment and materials involved in the task. All the work spaces are associated with a specific duration according to the schedule of the project. Then risk evaluation of the construction site is applied in order to evaluate safety risks based on their severity and the degree of exposure of workers. For example, work spaces for storing hazard materials and for heavy construction equipment have higher risks than other work spaces. The results of the risk evaluation can be visualized in a 4D BIM model.

Aug 1, 2013

By J. U. MacEwan

THE basis on which the modern metallurgical industry is operated is the endeavour to attain maximum return in purchasing power for the least expenditure of energy. This has always been the general objective of the industry, as of all industries. In recent years, however, it has received a new emphasis. Today, as never before, increased attention is being directed to the detailed study of plant operations and the application of scientific knowledge and of business principles in order to achieve the maximum efficiency. This new emphasis is the result in large part of the new problems and conditions with which the industry has been confronted, chief among which are the following: (l) Development of new ore-bodies and the treatment of complex ores. (2) Necessity of achieving a greater degree of purity in some of the metals in order to meet the newly discovered demands for some of the industrial metals. (3) Discovery of new markets for many of the metals, either in pure form or in the form of alloys. ( 4) Change in values, absolute or relative, of some of the important metals. (5) Increasing scale of investment in expensive plant and equipment, which makes imperative most efficient utilization if total unit costs are to be kept to a minimum. (6) Increasing scale of operations in some important branches of the industry, which also makes essential maximum efficiency in organization, administration, and operation. The success with which the metallurgical industry has met the problems created by these changing conditions has been due primarily to the following factors: (1) Results of research and experimental work carried on by universities, government laboratories, and many private corporations in the industry itself. (2) Closet study of every detail of plant operation, both from the technological and from the economic point of view, with the object of increasing plant efficiency. (3) Interchange of information and experience amongst the operating companies. It is only by the concerted efforts of numerous investigators and experimenters that the underlying fundamentals of plant operations can be learned. The exchange of results permits their easy assembly and correlation with maximum benefit to the whole industry. Unnecessary duplication of research and experimental work is avoided and the industry as a whole is able to reap the fruits of this work with the maximum of-speed and efficiency. (4) Advances made in recent years in so-called 'scientific management' in industry as a whole and the application of the principles learned to the metallurgical industry. A review of the modern trends in extractive non-ferrous metallurgical processes illustrates the afore-mentioned new conditions and problems, and gives some idea of the methods by which they have been and are being surmounted.

Jan 1, 1937

By Erwin L. Zodrow

THE AUTHORS welcome this timely opportunity to comment o n a paper by MacLean and Merner (" Room-and- Pillar Mining at the Prince Mine of the Cape Breton Development Corporation " , ClM Bulletin , June 1978, pp. 59-62) concerning the rock falls and their relation to "a change in the strata". First, however, it is proper to express our gratitude to the Cape Breton Development Corporation, and in particular to A. R. MacLean, for making it possible for us at the College of Cape Breton to start two new collections. The first of these is a fossil plant reference collection from the Sydney Coalfield, Cape Breton (Upper Carboniferous period) , and the second is a documentation of the role o f pyrite in the formation of hydrated sulphates (samples from No. 26 Colliery, 1-B Mine, and the Prince Mine at Point Aconi). Conditions of sedimentation in the deltaic-type basin of the Upper Carboniferous time in the Point Aconi area were such that on the (coal) swamp, now represented by the Stubbart (or Hub) seam , (a) clays of varying thickness and extent were deposited , (b) biogenetic sulphur was introduced and (c) flora were buried. These are essentially the culprit s that make rock falls possible and at the same time predictable over large areas (in the present mine). The clays lithified to become shale, and biogenetic sulphur combined with iron to become pyrite (marcasite?), which exists as nodules and in fine-grained layers.

Jan 1, 1978