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By L. Sun

In this work, strontium doped lanthanum ferrite (LSF) and their composite cathodes were fabricated by screen printing on yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) electrolytes. Their electrochemical properties were evaluated by using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and steady-state polarization methods. All the cathodes were screened by comparing their total polarization resistances before and after activation processes at different temperatures. The improved LSF composite cathodes were also screen-printed on YSZ/NiO half cells to fabricate solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs), which have reached the output power densities of 170 mW/cm2 at 650 °C, 230 mW/cm2 at 700 °C, 304 mW/cm2 at 750 °C and 388 mW/cm2 at 800 °C.

Jan 1, 2005

By Steve Forgeron, Brendan MacKenzie, Kevin MacPherson

"The geological composition of strata immediately adjacent to coal seams has a significant effect on the safe and efficient extraction of coal from underground mines of the Sydney coalfield. Geological features such as paleo-sandstone river channels, seam splits, floor rolls, paleo-soils and stone-filled rupture features can rapidly alter the competency of immediate roof and floor strata, significantly reduce the height of the coal seam, cause rapid variations in seam gradient and influence the in situ and run-of-mine quality of the coal.The impact of these features on the over-all mining operation can be significantly reduced if mine management can be for-warned of their impending occurrence. Using the information acquired from boreholes, geological mapping, x-ray diffraction analyses, microscopic studies, geophysical logs and seismic surveys, sedimentary models have been constructed which enable the mine geologist to predict, with increasing accuracy, the future occurrence of deleterious geological features ahead of the working face."

Jan 1, 1986

By J. G. Peacey

"Canada has a special place in non-ferrous pyrometallurgy because it is the only country in the western world that is a significant producer of all the major non-ferrous metals; aluminum, copper, lead, magnesium, nickel and zinc. This large non-ferrous pyrometallurgy industry has developed because of Canada's abundant mineral wealth and energy resources. Table I summarizes the number of primary non-ferrous production facilities in Canada and their share of western world production.Production of non-ferrous metals is a mature, capital intensive business and its basic processes have been in use for many years. Nevertheless, these processes have continued to evolve in response to changing needs and external pressures; such as the energy crisis of the early seventies; historically low metal prices in the early eighties and the continuing pressure to reduce plant emissions and improve in-plant working conditions. Canada's major metallurgical companies: Alcan, Cominco, Falconbridge, Inco and Noranda have played a leading role in pioneering new process technology and continue to meet the difficult challenge of keeping their operations competitive in the global metals market. This paper will try to give an overview of the major developments in non-ferrous pyrometallurgy, largely from the Noranda and Canadian perspectives, highlighting the current status of process technology and possible future directions.AluminumCanada has the world's second largest aluminum smelting industry and its capacity has expanded rapidly in recent years with the completion of several large projects in Quebec. The location and capacity of the Canadian aluminum smelters are given in Table 2. All these plants use the Hall-Heroult process, that was invented over a century ago but over the last twenty years considerable improvements have been made to increase productivity, reduce power requirements and emissions.The developments in aluminum cell technology can be illustrated by the experience at Noranda Aluminum. In 1971, Noranda Aluminum started its first pot line using Kaiser's P69 prebake cell, which was considered, at that time, the best available technology. The P69 cell was designed primarily for high productivity, operating at 150 000 amps and high current density to produce just over tonne Al per cell-day. The P69 cell is a simple design, typically operating at about 88070 current efficiency and 15 800 kWh/tonne Al. When Noranda Aluminum decided to expand in 1980, the Alcoa 697 cell was selected as it then represented the most proven, stateof- the-art technology. This cell is similar to that installed at Alcan's new Grande Baie and Laterriere smelters and is designed to operate at 180000 amps and 93070 current efficiency, producing about 25070 more aluminum per pot-day than the P69 cell using about 15070 less power. The 697 cell has a much more sophisticated cell design, with very good balancing of the magnetic field giving a flat metal pad and allowing efficient operation at the higher amperage. Alumina is fed via point feeders that provide an almost continuous feed allowing close control of the alumina level in the bath and the use of low-ratio bath composition, giving much higher current efficiencies."

Jan 1, 1991

By Kristie D. Tarr

Ideally, in situ monitoring would supply the input data for numerical modeling of backfill material property requirements. However, clue to production requirements and costs of conducting field tests, input data are often based on small-scale laboratory tests. The size of test samples is known to play an important role in the laboratory assessment of the behaviour of geotechnical materials, including backfill. There are observed differences between the mechanical properties of laboratory-scale samples and those of in situ materials, and these are generally attributed to the differences in scale. Various scaling factors have been proposed for converting laboratory observations to anticipated in situ conditions for soil and rock materials. With regard to mine backfill, very limited studies exist which have involved the effects of sample size on material properties. The literature indicates that reported backfill strength data are based on a variety of test sample sizes and in some cases, specimen geometries. Carefully determined laboratory scale effects could play an important role in estimating the potential backfill behaviour in the field, especially when developing new backfill systems. Laboratory studies were conducted with sample diameters ranging from 50 to 300 mm. Scale factors relating specimen size to strength were developed wherever possible, and are presented in this paper

May 1, 2008

By Z. Sun

The hydrogen embrittlement and stress-corrosion cracking (SCC) behavior of an a -titanium alloy and its two kinds of welding samples have been investigated. The results show that this alloy has very low susceptibility to SCC, and the values of Kiscc for the alloy are 46.4 MPa ? m' 65.86 MPa ? mu2 in the direction of T-L and L-T, respectively. The scanning electron fractographs show transgranular and quasi-cleavage fracture. The hydrogen embrittlement results show that the notch sample of the alloy is not sensitive to hydrogen, but the electro-beam welding and diving-arc welding samples are sensitive.

Jan 1, 2005

By O. Hyvärinen

Outokumpu has developed a new chloride leaching process called HydroCopper®. In this process copper sulfide concentrates are leached at atmospheric pressure in concentrated sodium chloride solution using cupric ions as the oxidant. Copper is recovered from the purified leach solution by precipitating cuprous oxide, which is then reduced to pure copper and further melted and cast directly into copper products. The key reactants: sodium hydroxide, hydrogen and chlorine are generated from the spent sodium chloride using chlor-alkali technology. An important feature in the HydroCopperTM process is that the gold contained in copper concentrates is leached as chloride complexes and recovered from solution by activated carbon. Conditions for the leaching of gold-bearing pyrite can also be achieved in the chloride system by optimizing the redox conditions. This paper deals with the basic factors affecting gold leaching from copper sulfide concentrates. Opportunities for the recovery of refractory gold associated with arsenopyrite and pyrite will also be discussed.

Jan 1, 2005

By T. Gerritsen, C. Martinez, F. Stober, T Ma, J. R. Frias, M. Sedighy, J. Janzen

Electrode control systems regulate power by physically positioning electrodes. Due to the weight and inertia of the electrodes and hoist equipment, this is a relatively slow process where power fluctuations of less than a few seconds are not fully corrected. Nickel laterite AC furnaces operating in high voltage, shielded arc mode typically incur frequent power variations of approximately +/- 20% or more around the power set point. To provide enhanced power control, Hatch has recently supplied, at commercial scale, a thyristor-switched reactance system called an SPLC. The SPLC incorporates predictive control software to operate furnaces at the maximum transformer rating by reducing the large power swings experienced without the SPLC. The resulting higher average power enables higher production, without increasing transformer or power plant capacity. A 60 MW production version of the SPLC has been commissioned on Falconbridge Dominicana's laterite nickel furnace, yielding excellent results with a 3 to 1 reduction in power fluctuations.

Jan 1, 2005

By M. D. Johnson, R. K. Bezys

"The majority of Ontario's limestone and dolostone production comes from a few Paleozoic carbonate units. In eastern and central Ontario, Ordovician rock units, which are the main sources for production, include the Oxford, Gull River, Bobcaygeon, Verulam, and Lindsay Formations. They are predominantly utilized for aggregate and cement manufacturing, with the Bobcaygeon Formation being used as a source of building stone. Along the Niagara Escarpment, the Silurian Lockport, Amabel, and Guelph Formations are sources for the limestone industry. The largest tonnage of rock extracted by the industry comes from these Silurian units, especially the Lockport and Amabel Formations. These units are used primarily for aggregate, although they are also a source for lime. In southwestern Ontario, the Silurian Bertie Formation and Devonian strata, represented by the Bois Blanc Formation, Onondaga Formation, Detroit River Group, and Dundee Formation, contribute to Ontario's production of lime, cement production and crushed stone. The Detroit River Group (Lucas and Amherstburg Formations) is the main source of the lime and cement produced in the province.Northern areas, which may become significant sources for the industry, include Manitoulin Island, the Lake Timiskaming area, and the James Bay Lowland. IntroductionThe Engineering and Terrain Geology Section of the Ontario Geological Survey has undertaken a geological inventory of all active and abandoned limestone and dolostone quarries in Ontario. This geological study, combined with a commercial study of active quarries carried out by the consulting firm of Derry, Michener, Booth and Wahl, will provide an up-to-date report on the industry in the province and will be published by the Aggregate Resources Section of the Ministry of Natural Resources. This report will follow the format and style of D.F. Hewitt's Ontario Department of Mines Industrial Mineral Reports and Circulars (Hewitt, 1960, I964a, 1964b, 1964c; Hewitt and Vos, 1972). Examinations of the quarries were carried out by geologists in the Paleozoic I Mesozoic Geology Subsection of the Engineering and Terrain Geology Section, and include, in addition to the authors, R,R. Wolf, V.A . Mazur, and D.K. Armstrong in the summer of 1986."

Jan 1, 1988

By M. D. Johnson, R. K. Bezys

"The majority of Ontario's limestone and dolostone production comes from a few Paleozoic carbonate units. In eastern and central Ontario, Ordovician rock units, which are the main sources for production, include the Oxford, Gull River, Bobcaygeon, Verulam, and Lindsay Formations. They are predominantly utilized for aggregate and cement manufacturing, with the Bobcaygeon Formation being used as a source of building stone. Along the Niagara Escarpment, the Silurian Lockport, A mabel, and Guelph Formations are sources for the limestone industry. The largest tonnage of rock extracted by the industry comes f rom these Silurian units, especially the Lockport and Amabel Formations. These units are used primarily for aggregate, although they are also a source for lime. In southwestern Ontario, the Silurian Bertie Formation and Devonian strata, represented by the Bois Blanc Formation, Onondaga Formation, Detroit River Group, and Dundee Formation, contribute to Ontario's production of lime, cement production and crushed stone. The Detroit River Group (Lucas and Amherstburg Formations) is the main source of the lime and cement produced in the province.Northern areas, which may become significant sources for the industry, include Manitoulin Island, the Lake Timiskaming area, and the James Bay Lowland. IntroductionThe Engineering and Terrain Geology Section of the Ontario Geological Survey has undertaken a geological inventory of all active and abandoned limestone and dolostone quarries in Ontario. This geological study, combined with a commercial study of active quarries carried out by the consulting firm of Derry, Michener, Booth and Wahl, will provide an up-to-date report on the industry in the province and will be published by the Aggregate Resources Section of the Ministry of Natural Resources. This report will follow the format and style of D.F. Hewitt's Ontario Department of Mines Industrial Mineral Reports and Circulars (Hewitt, 1960, I964a, 1964b, 1964c; Hewitt and Vos, 1972). Examinations of the quarries were carried out by geologists in the Paleozoic I Mesozoic Geology Subsection of the Engineering and Terrain Geology Section, and include, in addition to the authors, R,R. Wolf, V.A . Mazur, and D.K. Armstrong in the summer of 1986."

Jan 1, 1988

By B. N. Church, A. R. Pettipas

"The second vertical derivative method of processing aeromagnetic data from low level helicopter surveys yields results correiatable with the known geology and may be utilized to indicate possible targets for future exploration in the Silver Queen and Equity Silver mines areas, near Houston in central British Columbia . The principal zones of alteration associated with mineralization, known from detailed mapping, are further delineated and extended in a way not possible by a cursory examination of the original magnetic data.IntroductionThe second derivative method of processing aeromagnetic data is a long established procedure used to enhance the short wavelength content of the magnetic fields. Some recent exam pies of the use of the second derivative technique have been published by Chandler (p. 385), Sun Yunsheng et al. (p. 424) and Yarger (p. 223) in Hinze, 1985. According to theory, the ""second vertical derivative"" is closely related to the rate of curvature of magnetic (or gravity) fields and is particularly useful in resolving and sharpening local anomalies. The contours on second derivative maps may coincide with important features such as lithological boundaries, faults and mineralized zones.In the Houston area, central British Columbia, aeromagnetic data supplied by local mining companies provide a ready base for analyses. Examples are data sets for the Silver Queen and Equity Silver mines centred 35 km and 34 km south and southeast, respectively, from Houston (Fig. 1), (Cochrane, 1970 and Church, 1985)."

Jan 1, 1990

By K. Adham, C. Lee

The demand for nickel is continuing to exceed inventories, and producers are working vigorously to increase capacity. Many nickel processes utilize the fluidized bed technology for its fast heat and mass transfer, excellent temperature control and low maintenance. The following four nickel applications of the fluidized bed technology have been commercialized: I) Sulfide ore roasting; II) Nickel sulfide (matte) roasting; III) Nickel oxide reduction; IV) Nickel chloride pyrohydrolysis. This paper examines the issues surrounding the application of fluidization technology to the above processes, from the stand point of the engineer modeling the process and designing the key equipment, based on the historical success stories and the fundamental principles of flow sheet synthesis. Using the available data in open literature, typical flow diagrams (with convenient bases of 1 t/h feed or product) are developed to illustrate the relative flow rates and to highlight the key features of each application. In addition, some historical background information is provided for each process with supplemental notes with regards to our company's involvements.

Jan 1, 2005

By D. Perednis

Fuel cells with thin samaria-doped ceria (SDC) electrolyte films deposited onto an anode support using spray pyrolysis were fabricated. The SDC films were deposited onto porous NiO-YSZ substrates at deposition temperatures between 400°C and 450°C. The influence of process parameters such as deposition temperature, flow rate, type of salt and salt concentration on the quality of the film was studied. A smooth dense film was successfully deposited using the precursor cerium ammonium nitrate and samarium nitrate dissolved in butyl carbitol (33.3 vol.%), 2-methoxy-l-propanol (33.3 vol.%), and ethanol (33.3 vol.%) solvent mixture. A deposition rate of 125 nm/h was achieved.

Jan 1, 2005

By Y. Kusuda

Since 1981, the Annaka refinery has recovered zinc from zinc leach residues by the Waelz Process. The important considerations of this process are the prevention of the growth of coating accretions in the Waelz kiln and the improvement of the zinc volatilization rate. In this paper, simulation predictions and the results of the industrial operation regarding the prevention of coating accretions in the Waelz kiln and the improvement of the zinc volatilization rate at the Annaka refinery are reported and compared.

Jan 1, 2006

By D. E. M. Plaumann

"The wet grinding of asbestos has attracted the attention of engineers for many years as a means of improving fibre liberation from the ore. Today, added impetus for wet grinding has resulted from a need to minimize worker exposure to asbestos dust in conventional dry mills using air, as well as a need to provide a cleaner, technically superior fibre for use by product manufacturers. However , high viscosities of asbestos slurries create transport and grinding difficulties which have been a factor impeding use of a wet grinding process.Laboratory evaluation of reagents to reduce viscosities of asbestos slurries found that one reagent, XFS-4272.00, reduced the viscosity of a 35% (by weight) slurry by 75%. The impact of XFS-4272.00 on actual grinding parameters were evaluated using a pilot plant rod mill. Slurries containing 78% solids and XFS-4272.00 were successfully milled and asbestos fibres from that milling compared favourably in liberation and relative surface area to asbestos fibres obtained from milling a 4% slurry without additives.IntroductionAlthough the use of asbestos has been declining over the last few years, the large deposits of chrysotile in eastern Canada (Quebec in particular) remain very important. Asbestos production in Canada stands ninth in volume for mineral production with over 740 000 tonnes produced in 1985. Of this quantity, 722000 tonnes were exported with a value of $446 million . Canada is second in world production of asbestos behind the U.S.S.R ."

Jan 1, 1988

By Nathan Deisman

Coupled reservoir geomechanical simulations have become a key component of caprock integrity assessments for SAGD operations. This work demonstrates the differences of stress evolution when considering coupled versus uncoupled reservoir simulation. Coupled simulation involves the use of a reservoir and a geomechanical simulator with feedback to each simulator to update reservoir or geomechanical variable (permeability, porosity, relative permeability, pressure, temperature, saturations). Uncoupled simulation only passes the pressure and temperature to the geomechanical simulation with no reservoir simulator updating. Therefore, it is possible to complete uncoupled simulations exclusively with no knowledge of geomechanical flow property evolution. However, it is important to understand the differences between the stress evolution in each model for caprock integrity analysis. A single geological model was selected and parametric analysis was completed while varying the geomechanical the production injection pressures (1600 kPa, 1900 kPa, 2200 kPa) for a reservoir with an initial pressure at the injector of 1300 kPa. The results of the six uncoupled and coupled models are compared through the changes in mean stress, shear stress, and strength with focus on geomechanical assessment of caprock integrity.

Jun 1, 2012

By Graham Popplewell

"Modular, predesigned diamond recovery plants have been a feature of the diamond mining industry for more than 20 years. The reasons for the selection of such a design route are contrasted with the alternative option of custom-designed route and the relative merits of the two approaches are discussed. The predesigned, modular plant is shown to be particularly applicable for the smaller operation, whether as part of a diverse alluvial mine, an auditing facility for an adjacent large plant, bulk sampling or a remote installation such as is envisaged in the Canadian diamond industry. The characteristics of the predesigned modular plant are described, as well as the inevitable compromises resulting from the concept. IntroductionThis paper explores the application of predesigned modular plants to the diamond mining industry and contrasts their features with the custom-designed installation .A predesigned modular plant is a self-contained unit, or a number of self-contained units, which, when assembled , make up a treatment facility. This is usually small scale in treatment capacity, although multiple modules may be used to increase over-all throughput.A move toward the use of such plants in the diamond mining industry resulted from the relatively unsophisticated nature of the design , the proven nature of pretested , standard plants and the low cost per tonne of capacity and their specific application in remote locations.The recovery of heavy minerals by dense medium separation (DMS) is intrinsically safe and more efficient than the older methods, such as jigs and rotary pans.All diamond recovery plants feature three distinct sections:• feed preparation• gravity separation, and• final recovery."

Jan 1, 1992

By A. Zangooi, J. A. Finch

Flotation is a separation process based on the collection of particles on the surface of bubbles. Flotation machines disperse air into bubbles using a variety of techniques. The characteristics of the bubble population are strongly affected by the selection of frother type and concentration. As metallurgical results depend on the bubble distribution, the measurement of frother concentration is vital to understand and control performance. A previously developed colorimetric technique was refined to work with low solubility frothers and to increase daily analysis rate. Field-testing demonstrated that the method is robust, reliable and accurate. As well as relating frother concentration to gas dispersion measurements, the results can be used to answer operational questions including: how well a frother dissolves, how reliable and stable frother delivery is, how evenly frother is distributed down a bank, and whether frother distributes between the pulp and froth zones. Some of these points are illustrated from plant experiences. Advances in Mineral Processing Science and Technology Proceedings of the 48th Annual Conference of Metallurgists ofCIM Sudbury, Ontario, Canada Edited by

Jan 1, 2009

By R. D. Studer

"The Snow Lake massive sulphide deposits are hosted by Aphebian volcanic rocks of the Flin Flon - Snow Lake greenstone belt, which in this area were deformed and metamorphosed to the amphibolite facies during the Hudsonian orogeny. All the known deposits occur in felsic rocks a short distance below the contact with an overlying mafic rock unit.The Stall Lake copper deposit occurs close to the top of an explosive felsic volcanic sequence. Rocks stratigraphically underlying the deposit have been hydrothermally altered by the mineralizing fluids. The sulphides were probably deposited from submarine volcanic vent(s) on the flanks of a felsic dome. The ore has been tightly folded, flattened and elongated parallel to the northerly trending lineation of the surrounding rocks during the several periods of deformation. Strike lengths of the lenses range from 60 to 300 feet and plunge-to-strike ratios are as much as 15:1.Ore lenses I to 4 typically consist of massive coarse-grained pyrrhotite, chalcopyrite and pyrite. A stratigraphically higher lens differs in that it contains fine-grained pyrite and chalcopyrite, with an increase in sphalerite toward its hanging wall. The No.4 orebody has a distinct footwall alteration zone characterized by brecciation and abundant chlorite-staurolite- garnet schist, with minor kyanite, anthophyllite, cordierite and anhydrite, as well as sulphide minerals. Chemically, the alteration zone is distinguished from the unaltered felsic rocks by Na20 depletion and Mg-Fe enrichment"

Jan 1, 1982

By D. E. M. Plaumann

"The wet grinding of asbestos has attracted the attention of engineers for many years as a means of improving fibre liberation from the ore. Today, added impetus for wet grinding has resulted from a need to minimize worker exposure to asbestos dust in conventional dry mills using air, as well as a need to provide a cleaner, technically superior fibre for use by product manufacturers. However, high viscosities of asbestos slurries create transport and grinding difficulties which have been a factor impeding use of a wet grinding process.Laboratory evaluation of reagents to reduce viscosities of asbestos slurries found that one reagent, XFS-4272.00, reduced the viscosity of a 35% (by weight) slurry by 75%. The impact of XFS-4272.00 on actual grinding parameters were evaluated using a pilot plant rod mill. Slurries containing 78% solids and XFS-4272.00 were successfully milled and asbestos fibres from that milling compared favourably in liberation and relative surface area to asbestos fibres obtained from milling a 4% slurry without additives. IntroductionAlthough the use of asbestos has been declining over the last few years, the large deposits of chrysotile in eastern Canada (Quebec in particular) remain very important. Asbestos production in Canada stands ninth in volume for mineral production with over 740 000 tonnes produced in 1985. Of this quantity, 722000 tonnes were exported with a value of $446 million. Canada is second in world production of asbestos behind the U.S.S.R. The milling of asbestos ore has been done primarily by a series of steps involving crushing, dry-grinding and aspiration using large quantities of air to release the fibres. Contrast this process to those practiced in the purification of virtually every other mineral. Ores other than asbestos are crushed and milled using an aqueous slurry in rod, ball or pebble mills. The finely ground mineral, still as a slurry, undergoes beneficiation by froth flotation, heavy media separation, hydrocyclones or any of the other aqueous techniques currently employed in mineral processing.One of the driving forces behind the use of air instead of water as a means of separating asbestos is the nature of the aqueous asbestos slurry. While most slurries of minerals contain as much as 80070 solids and can still be pumped and transported, asbestos slurries become highly viscous with as little as 10070 solids. These high viscosities reduce the pumpability of the slurry and create severe handling problems. Mills become prohibitively large and uneconomical due to having to handle slurries containing only 10% rock and 90% water.Health-related issues have affected the use of asbestos in many countries. In Canada, the asbestos-producing provinces have introduced stricter occupational legislation to improve safety in the workplace. This primarily means strict control minimizing release of air-borne asbestos fibres . Quebec and Ontario have set limitations of airborne asbestos at 2 (2) and 1(3) fibre per cubic centimetre of air. With present milling technology, maintaining these low levels in the workplace requires constant vigilance."

Jan 1, 1988

By K. Sakaguchi, T. Yokoyama

"In-situ rock stress measurement was carried out in the Kamaishi mine of Iwate Prefecture to quantify the variation of the shallow crustal stress field associated with the 2011 Tohoku-oki earthquake. Stress measurement was conducted by the Compact Conical ended Borehole Overcoring (CCBO) technique, which is one of the stress relief method. The CCBO technique is the one of the suggested method of ISRM. Measurement period is from 1991 to 2014. Main results obtained in this study can be summarized as follows.The direction of the maximum principal stress did not change much before and after the earthquake. However, the directions of the intermediate principal stress and the minimum principal stress of one year after the earthquake changed from those of before earthquake. Namely, the direction of intermediate principal stress was East-West horizontally, and the direction of minimum principal stress was vertically. This state of stress is reverse fault type and was maintained for three years after the earthquake.The magnitudes of principal stresses and the vertical stress of one year after the earthquake became more than the double before the earthquake. However, the magnitudes of the maximum principal of two year after the earthquake became smaller comparing with those of one year after the earthquake. Furthermore, the magnitudes of the intermediate principal stress and the minimum principal stress of two year after the earthquake became almost same as those before earthquake, and the vertical stress of two year after the earthquake became almost equal with the overburden pressure. And the magnitudes of three principal stresses of three year after the earthquake became the same level before the earthquake."

Jan 1, 2015