Search Documents

By A. Mazhary

"Although sensor-based ore sorting has gained significant attention recently, sorting gold deposits still face a high level of skepticism by gold mining companies. In order to shed some light on the matter, this article looks at two different gold deposits that were examined using X-ray Fluorescence, Electromagnetic and X-ray Transmission sensors. The heterogeneity of each sample is measured based on the assay results of each particle and is related to its sortability. Multivariate linear regression analysis was also performed on the XRF results to find potential proxy elements for detecting gold. The results from these deposits were varied and each sample showed different levels of sortability. While both X-ray sensors proved efficient for different deposits, the electromagnetic sensor failed to produce any promising results. Despite unsatisfactory result for one sample, this technology can have significant advantages in terms of lowering the operational costs and improving head grades and recoveries providing that the deposit is amenable to such separation methods. Therefore, it is important to mention that sensor-based ore sorting is ore and sensor dependent, and as a result, it cannot be applied and be beneficial to all deposits. Therefore, amenability tests are required in order to examine the potential for sensor-based ore sorting before one can reject the idea.INTRODUCTION Although sensor-based ore sorting has gained significant attention recently, sorting gold deposits still face a high level of skepticism by gold mining companies. Except for a few cases presented previously, no new case studies have been published. Previously, mines such as Kloof Gold Mine in South Africa used an optical sorter to sort their waste stockpile in 2003–2004 (Von Ketelhodt, 2009) and then again in 2009 (Von Ketelhodt, Falcon, & Falcon, 2011). More recently, Coeur Operations utilized an XRT sorter for their Kensington Mine in Alaska (Lasley, 2014) and also Anglo-American Platinum used an XRF sorter to pre-concentrate Platinum Group Metals through an algorithm that used chrome, copper and nickel as proxies (Rule, Fouchee, & Swart, 2015)."

Jan 1, 2017

By B. M. Das, F. Claridge, V. K. Garga

Coal, as well as a large part of other minerals in Canada, is produced by surface mining methods. This has resulted in short and long-term accumulation of waste rock in dumps. Two main problems arise from the flow of water through these dumps: stability of dumps and the impact on stream flows. In recent years, a number of mines have started placing waste rock in valleys for general disposal or far constructing mine access road ways. All these have created challenges in the following areas: effective design of dumps and flow-through dams; stability monitoring of the structures; environmental impacts downstream by way of increased amount of fines in suspension, sedimentation, and toxic substances; and long-term status of flow and flood. Similar situations also exist in many civil engineering structures. This paper discusses the status of rock drains and the immediate and future research needs.

Jan 1, 1990

By P. Rocque, S. Talebi

Although the measurement of blast vibration close to the blasthole is critical to the understanding of rock fragmentation mechanisms and blast damage in the rock masses, limited experience for such monitoring exists. Because much higher vibration amplitude and frequency ranges are expected in rock masses close to an explosive charge as compared to far field vibrations, different problems from those for the far field monitoring must be considered for near field blast vibration monitoring. Currently, guidelines for design of the near field blast monitoring systems do not exist. This paper describes the development of an integrated technique for vibration monitoring close to a blast hole, including selection and installation of transducers, design of a monitoring system and signal recording. A densified cement was designed for grouting accelerometers in order to match p-wave impedance between the rock and grout. The monitoring technique described has proven suitable for blast vibration monitoring within 2 m to 15 m of a blast hole having loading conditions similar to production blasts.

Jan 1, 1993

By F. Hampshire

"IntroductionThis paper is intended to cover questions raised by operating staff at various installations and is not intended to give comprehensive coverage of power plant and power system design. The paper is concerned mainly with the electrics , although a brief section gives the reasons for selection of diesels rather than other prime movers.The material is not new but brings out points which seem to be raised regularly during the design , commissioning and operation o f a new plant. Diesels versus other Prime MoversDiesel-electric plant for the mining industry falls into two major categories -emergency power and prim e power.1) Emergency power (for use only when the regular utility supply has failed) requires reliable starting and operation and reasonable first cost. Fuel economy and maintenance are of little importance as the machine(s) generate few kilowatt hours only. The diesel's competition in this field is the gas turbine, however diesels are more widely used than gas turbines in this application.2) Prime power is a different situation as the bottom line of total cost is highly affected by fuel costs.In general , mines which are within reasonable transmission distance of an existing utility find the lowest net cost result s from hooking up to the utility. If a min e is remote from an electric utility then the possible alternatives are:a) Hydro- electric power if there is a site capable of development at reasonable cost including the cost of transmission facilities. Such sites are not common, but brief and inexpensive considerationof this possibility is warranted .b) Diesel power with consideration of different grades of fuel.c) Thermal (steam) power generation from coal or oil.d) Gas turbines.In addition to the above there is the possibility of wind power (as a supplementary source) and a number of technologies which may become feasible in the future (e.g. small nuclear plants, fuel cells). For obvious reasons, small isolated generating systems required for remote mines, tend to lean to conservative technology.Among the fossil fuel plants, the diesel enjoys advantage on over-all costs as summarized in Table 1."

Jan 1, 1986

Although Canadian bentonite is competitive in quality for most uses, it has not been accepted for the pelletizing of iron ore concentrates. In 1962, Canada consumed about 10,000 tons of imported bentonite for this use. By the end of 1965, the planned domestic consumption for this purpose alone will probably be more than 100,000 tons a year, valued at about $3 million. Consequently, a challenge exists for the establishment of a Canadian source of high-quality bentonite for pelletizing. Such a bentonite would also be suitable for the two other major applications -well drilling and foundry use. Brief mention is made of such topics as the identification, 1noperties, occurrences, exploration, applications, technology and laboratory testing of this clay. In particular, the type of bentonite in demand, the geological horizons warranting exploration, and simple preliminary test methods are discussed.

Jan 1, 1964

By E. Nolasco, J. Ouellet, T. Tikka

"Shaft bottom structural systems are used in underground mining to support transfer of personnel, equipment and ore to and from underground to the surface. This paper first summarizes the evolution of design philosophy from a concrete tower supported on a concrete plug to the current structural steel design arrangement with unlined shaft walls, clear shaft bottom area with only a concrete housekeeping pad. Then the paper reviews the design parameters, analysis and design, and construction methodology for this rather unique shaft bottom structural system consisting of three sets of hitch beams, with each having specific functional requirements. INTRODUCTION Shaft bottom structural systems are used throughout the world in underground mining operations to provide a means to support the transfer of personnel, equipment, materials, ore and waste entering and exiting a vertical shaft ready for transport to and from the surface via the hoisting system. The shaft bottom structural system, for the Service Shaft (SS) at the Jansen Mine, is designed to accommodate two skips, a personnel/equipment cage, counterweight, services, loading pocket, rope changing, arrestor system, crash (or catch) beams, access platforms, stairs and rope divider system. Stantec and BHP have engineered a unique structural steel shaft bottom system for hoisting system at a Potash Mine. The shaft bottom structural system connects to a fixed guide and cantilever bunton system, used in the vertical shaft (shaft barrel), above the shaft bottom. The geometry for the shaft bottom structural system, shown in Figure 1 a), features three sets of hitch beams, beams which span across the shaft excavation or barrel. At the top of the structural system are two upper hitch beams. These hitch beams support a 64 metre suspended rectangular braced tower (upper tower), complete with steel guides for the conveyances. The upper tower passes through the main station (potash or mining) level and then connects to the top of the arrestor (lower) tower structure via a sliding vertical connection. The potash level is supported by two hitch beams spanning the shaft and loading pocket excavations. The arrestor tower, a braced compression tower structure, is carried by a third set of hitch beams. Below the third set of hitch beams is a short suspended tower complete with access platforms, stairs and the rope divider system."

Jan 1, 2019

By J. G. Whellock, J. W. Matousek

"In spite of their importance to the economics of many metallurgical projects, the values and technical aspects of precious metals losses in smelting operations are relatively undeveloped subjects. This paper attempts to provide a condensed overview of precious metals losses in pyrometallurgy, using some of the limited production and experimental data available. It is intended for three general groups of metallurgists - operators attempting to improve recoveries, cost-accounting engineers making estimates of metal losses in new or modified smelting plants, and research engineers and students.Distribution coefficients of precious metals, the ratios of metal or matte assays to slag assays, are convenient means of comparing smelting processes and the tendencies of the different metals to enter the slag. For silver in lead blast furnaces this ratio is approximately 250;for gold and the platinum group metals in submerged-arc, electric furnaces it is 900. The ratio for gold and PGMs in converters varies with the degree of oxidation of the charge. The over-all cycle-average for industrial installations is tentatively estimated to be 35.IntroductionThe magnitude of precious metal s losses in pyrometallurgical operation s is difficult to assess. The primary producers are generally reluctant to discuss the subject. The by-product producers (the large sulphide smelters o f copper , nickel, and lead) might be more willing to disclose information, but these have precious metals in their feeds in such dilute quantities that accurate accounting is extremely difficult. It is not until numerous processing steps have been taken t hat the precious metals become sufficiently concentrated to permit acceptably accurate sampling and analytical procedures to be followed. Thus, knowledge of the precious metals contents o f the intermediate mattes and slags may simply be unavailable."

Jan 1, 1990

By D. Racicot, T. Hanel, E. H. Chown

Over thirty plutons in the Chibougamau-Desmaraisville belt were examined briefly in the field and sampled, in addition to the few masses that have been studied in detail. The survey indicates that the intrusions may be conveniently grouped in four main categories, based on their time of intrusion. These are; remobilized basement domes, pre-kinematic intrusions, syn-kinematic intrusions and postkinematic intrusions. Basement domes, as exemplified by the Lappa rent Massif, are composed of migmatized tonalite-diorite gneiss that has undergone at least two periods of mafic dyke intrusion and at least three major deformational periods. The rise of the basement domes was accompanied by extensive mylonitization and the intrusion of syn-tectonic plutons. Pre-kinematic plutons, such the Chibougamau pluton, are diori te-tonalite in composition, and were intruded into the supracrustal pile and partly eroded before the main deformation of the belt. Syn-kinematic plutons occur principally as marginal intrusions bordering the belt (Barlow), or as discrete intrusions along structural highs (La Dauversiere), and are either hornblende monzodiorite or tonalite in composition. Post-kinematic plutons, such as Muscocho, are principally granodiorite and often porphyritic intrusions locally deforming the enclosing rocks. The close relationship between mineralization and high-level intrusions such as the pre-kinematic and some of the post-kinematic plutons is discussed.

Jan 1, 1984

By Håkan Schunnesson, Kirsten Holme

"When mining high grade, narrow ore bodies, the mining method often implies a very detailed knowledge of the ore contacts to avoid unacceptable ore loss and waste rock dilution. During the past decade, the use of microprocessor based drill monitoring equipment has become an accepted technique, even for percussive drilling. On the basis of the recorded drill performance, such as penetration rate, torque pressure, thrust etc., a fast evaluation of the lithological sequence of the ore zone can be made. In order to evaluate the potential of percussive drill monitoring to pro-vide detailed information of the geometry of the ore body, the technique was tested in the Viscaria copper mine in Sweden during 1996.To provide understandable information to the mine geologist, great emphasis was placed on the separation between the drilling response generated by variations in rock conditions from variations caused by the operator and the drill system. Due to the complicated geology in Viscaria, the drilling response presented to the geologists was separated in two independent signals, one representing the hardness of the rock and one representing the in homogeneity(fracturing) of the rock. With those signals a good separation between different rock types in the ore horizon was achieved.The experience from the Viscaria copper mine is that drill monitoring not only can be used to locate contacts between rock types, but also to characterize rock conditions and, often, also to specify the exact rock type present. Because it is possible to get the drill monitoring information very quickly it is a valuable complement to diamond drilling for increasing the specific knowledge of the geology and the ore body."

Jan 1, 1997

By James K. Gowans

"Cominco Ltd's Polaris Mine, located on Little Cornwallis Island, Northwest Territories (latitude 75degrees 30') went into production in late 1981, becoming the world's most northerly base metal mine. The concentrator, powerhouse, shops, offices, dry and warehouse, were uniquely designed and constructed on a 100f t wide by 400 ft long by 65 ft high barge. This process barge was constructed in southern Canada at Trois Rivières, then towed 3,500 miles into the High Arctic Islands and beached on Little Cornwallis Island.The paper deals with the original design philosophy, flowsheet and the initial year's operation of the Polaris process barge.IntroductionTo bring a mining property into production in the Canadian High Arctic, a company must deal with the harsh environment, the short shipping season and the high cost of labour. In trying to minimize the effect of these fact or s, the concept of a barge-mounted process plant was investigated as an alternative to the conventionally built concentrator. Cominco's previous experience gamed at the Black Angel Min e on Greenland's west coast suggested that this would be a practical alternative.The normal shipping season at Little Cornwallis Island is approximately six weeks long, from mid-August to the end of September. All equipment and materials must be delivered during the ""shipping window"". The logistics problems are enormous; if the conventional approach had been used the major process equipment would have been delivered to Little Cornwallis Island at the same time as the completed barge actually was! Construction would also be starting at the start of the worst climatic conditions, the Arctic winter. Nine months' production was gained by opting for the ""barge"" approach."

Jan 1, 1983

By J. Chenier, M. Boissoneault, D. Ducharme, R. Schonewille

The operation of Falconbridge's Sudbury nickel smelter has undergone significant change since the production was consolidated to a single electric furnace in 1994. In the late 1990's a capital program of about $100 MM (Cdn) was undertaken to expand and modernize the smelter. This project, known as Smelter 2000, was mainly driven by the need to process the new concentrate produced at Falconbridge's Raglan operation in northern Quebec. Included in the scope of the project was the installation of dry concentrate handling facilities, modifications to the roaster feed preparation system, installation of a matte granulation system and modification of one of the converters. Improvements to in-plant hygiene were also an important part of the Smelter 2000 project. Over the past 5 years much has been learned about the challenges in treating two significantly different concentrates. More recently, the introduction of a third concentrate from Falconbridge's new Montcalm operation near Timmins, Ontario has added another dimension to the operation. This paper will describe how the main challenges from the past 7 years have been overcome and discuss the path forward for the Sudbury Smelter Business Unit.

Jan 1, 2005

By Balmer Neilly

In these days of arrested prosperity, when patience is tried and the future but dimly outlined, Canada's gold mining industry stands out as a beacon light shedding its rays of hope and confidence and demonstrating that there is still one product unaffected by Customs barriers and eagerly sought by all the people of the world. Some other forms of industry have hesitated and side-stepped. Some have cried for help, and in spite of public assistance, generously extended, they are still unable to demonstrate definitely their ability to resume the onward march. But gold mining has never hesitated. As an industry, it has bad an unique experience. When prices are high and conditions are generally referred to as prosperous, this industry is adversely affected. The cost of production goes up; profits are diminished; public sympathy is lacking; and, thrown upon its own resources, the industry tightens up its belt and throws its whole energy into an effort to improve operating conditions, and offset high prices by increased efficiency. When, in due course, depression follows inflation and prices ebb, the gold miner, through necessity, finds himself physically and mentally prepared to meet the situation.

Jan 1, 1932

By J. G. Conaway, P. G. Killeen

"Gamma-ray spectral logging, a useful technique for uranium exploration and evaluation, has generally been underutilized by the Canadian mining industry. Provided that the technique is properly applied, it is capable of yielding reliable quantitative information regarding the distribution of uranium and other radioelements along the borehole under most conditions.In practice. there are numerous factors which potentially can degrade the quality of the log and thus any quantitative interpretation based on it. Fortunately, the appropriate choice of logging equipment and technique can avoid many such problems, and corrections can be applied to the data to compensate for most of the others."

Jan 1, 1980

By A. L. Craven, J. P. L. Bacharach, D. B. Stewart

"Inert gas use for underground mine fir e control is a well-established mature technology in some parts of the world. This paper reviews three candidate inert gases and describes three case histories where inert gas fire-fighting technology was used in actual underground fires.IntroductionInerting is the introduction of an inert gas into an atmosphere in contact with a fire to reduce the level of oxygen and hence the intensity of the fire 10 the point of extinction. The benefits of inerting include:a. Reduced Explosion HazardBy displacing oxygen from the atmosphere surrounding the fire the risk of secondary gas explosions is reduced. For example, simple methane-air mixtures at standard temperature and pressure are non-explosive below 12% oxygen. In actual mine fires, combustible gases may include hydrogen and carbon monoxide as well as methane. Such gases are also rendered non-explosive with oxygen removal to below 40/0. Fuel-rich oxygen-deficient mixtures can however be made explosive through dilution with air. Such dilution can occur downwind of the fire. It is also important to remember that the atmosphere in a sealed-off fire zone is rarely homogenous.b. Reduced Fire Intensity and SpreadIn a fire zone the initial combustion may well set alight materials surrounding the fire. Inerting can reduce the intensity and spread of secondary combustion and can cool the area surrounding the fire zone after the fire itself has been extinguished.c. Reduced Air LeakageLeakage of air into sealed areas in excess of the natural leakage may be reduced either by introducing inert gas into the leakage paths to replace air or by pressure balancing seals and providing a chamber of nitrogen on the outbye side of the seals. Both methods assist in the reduction of the intensity of combustion and hasten oxygen starvation."

Jan 1, 1986

By Stephen D. Butt

Presentation Outline Overview of abandoned mine workings problem. Outline project phases and major outcomes. ? Phase 1 ? Assessment of current imaging technology ? Phase 2 ? Prototype technology development. ? Phase 3 ? Proof of concept ? Montague Gold Mines field trials. Research status - summary of ongoing and future work.

Apr 1, 2005

By W. H. S. McFarland

THE Yukon Consolidated Gold Corporation, Limited, a Canadian company, operates alluvial gold dredges in the Klondike goldfields of Yukon Territory. Its operations are of unique interest to Canadian mining as it is the only large-scale placer mining operation of this type in Canada. Its properties lie in the valley of the Klondike river and its tributaries, Bonanza, Hunker, Bear, Last Chance, and All Gold creeks, and in the valley of Indian river and its tributaries, Dominion, Gold Run, Sulphur, Eureka, Montana, and Quartz creeks. At the end of 1938, they consisted of 1,650 placer mining claims and 9 leases or concessions. They cover a belt with an area of approximately 1,000 square miles. This vast area covers in part claims which have been previously worked by other methods such as 'drift' and 'open-cut' mining, and areas which were too low grade for such methods. The ground held by the Company is not held in freehold but in the form of mining claims and mining leases granted by the Dominion Government under the provisions of the Yukon Placer Mining Act. Full-size creek claims are 500 feet in length by 1,000 feet on either side of the base-line. Hill and bench claims are 500 feet up and clown the valley and 1,000 feet at right angles to the valley. All claims are held on the basis of an annual renewal fee of $10 for each claim plus 'representation work' of an assessed value of $200 per claim per annum. For the purpose of such representation work, claims may be 'grouped'. This means that work done by one dredge is sufficient to 'represent' a comparatively large block of claims. It is only in this way that it becomes possible to consider operations on a large scale over a term of years, for such operations would obviously be impossible on law-grade ground if representation work had to be done separately on each individual claim in each year.

Jan 1, 1939

By Gaston Gendreau, Marcel Allard

"Sidbec-Normines Inc. est une société formée de trios partenaires soient: Sidbec, British Steel Corporation et la Compagnie Minière Quebec Cartier. L'objectif de l'opération minière est d'exploiter à ciel ouvert le gisement d'hématite spéculaire de Fire Lake et de produire au concentrateur de Lac-Jeannine, près de la ville de Gagnon, 6 million de tonnes de concentré pour alimenter l'usine de bouletage de Port Cartier.Le présent exposé a pour but de fa ire ressortier les caractéristiques d'une opération dont la mine est située à plus de 100 km du concentrateur, d'en faire ressortir les particularités touchant le transport du personnel et du minerai. En plus, on traitera de l'importance dans une telle situation d'une organisation efficace dans la gestion des services et de l'opération (atelier, concasseur, entrepôt, etc.).IntroductionSidbec-Normines Inc . a entrepris l'exploitation minière du gisement de Fire Lake, le 1er janvier 1977. Le but de l'entreprise est de produire annuellement six millions (6 000 000) de tonnes de concentré d'hématite (oxide de fer) titrant 66% Fe au concentrateur de Lac-Jeannine a partir d'un minerai d'une teneur moyenne de 33% Fe, extrait de la mine de Fire Lake. Ce concentré est ensuite achemine à Port-Cartier et alimente I'usine de bouletage.Les installations minières de Sidbec-Normines sont situées a trois endroits différents : la mine à Fire Lake, le concentrateur à Lac-Jeannine et l'usine de bouletage à Port-Cartier. La mine de Fire Lake se situe à 83 km de la ville de Gagnon et à 100 km du concentrateur de Lac-Jeannine. Une route provinciale relie la ville à la mine et au concentrateur. Le minerai est acheminé de la mine au concentrateur par chemin de fer et le concentré est transporté par train sur une distance de 309 km à l'usine de bouletage de Port-Cartier."

Jan 1, 1982

By Earl Gebhardt

"The planning and design of mining panels in the Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan Inc., Lanigan Division mine Block B involved a number of investigative techniques. The techniques utilized to gain insight into the viability of mining included2-D and 3-D seismic surveys, longhole drilling, exploration wells, photo lineament, magnetic and gravity surveys, and actual room excavation.IntroductionPotash Corporation of Saskatchewan Inc. (PCS) owns and operates four potash mines in the province of Saskatchewan. The Lanigan Division mine is located 110 Ian east of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, near the town of Lanigan.The Lanigan Mine commenced production in August 1968under the ownership or Alwinsal Potash of Canada Limited. The mine was purchased by PCS in 1977.Lanigan Division's productive capacity is 3.4 million tonnes of product per year. Ore is extracted from the "" B"" zone or Layer III or the Patience Lake member of the Prairie Evaporite, more than 1000m below surface . The Patience Lake member (approximately 20 m thick) consists of potash interbedded with salt. The average run-of-mine ore grade is 21070 K20 (Fig. I).The mine was initially developed using the room-and-pillar technique. Improvements in mining resulted in the use or extensible conveyors in long panel rooms."

Jan 1, 1993

By Robert B. Parsons

"On February 15, 1984 Finance Minister Lalonde presented to Parliament a budget heavily flavoured with the current consultative mood of the Government. Notably absent from the budget was the typically long list of tax changes of immediate effect. Instead, the bulk of the budget papers consisted of a wide variety of white papers on significant topics that would have a far reaching impact on the future of all Canadians.This month. Tax Notes examines the highlights of Mr. Lalonde's budget.IntroductionThe mining industry need not feel slighted in Finance Minister Lalonde's budget of February 15, 1984: the budget offered very little that would have an immediate impact of significance on any sector of the economy. Apart from some welcome announcements for the oil and gas industry to postpone the implementation of certain negative tax changes, the budget was surprisingly scant in terms of definitive tax proposals.While massive revisions in the rules relating to pensions, small businesses, commodity taxation and profit-sharing were brought forward, many of these proposals are set out in White Papers or other documents to be implemented into legislation only after further consultation. Canadians will accordingly have to wait for such promised benefits as increased RRSP and other pension contribution limits."

Jan 1, 1984

By D. G. Osborne

"The paper describes current 'tools' available to the coal preparation engineer for carrying out the evaluation of data, process design, selection of equipment and layout and design of coal preparation plants.Laboratory and pilot-scale equipment is widely available and test data can be used to provide valuable design information regarding capacities and sizing for specific applications. Pilot plants, unless they fit closely to the basic design envisaged for the eventual commercial plant, C(In often provide only limited useful information.Computing aids such as equipment simulation, plant modelling, etc. are becoming widely applied for establishing design criteria and investigating flowsheet options . Other computer tools such as computer-aided design systems are taking over some of the time-consuming tasks of detailed layout and design and estimation of quantities, etc. and providing the means for detailed examination of more than a single option.Besides computer modelling there is also physical modelling of plant buildings, plant sites and entire proposed mining areas; the former can be especially useful in finalizing design and threading' pipework and electrical reticulation systems through the plant without the resultant risk of impairment of flow, obstruction or wastefulness. Not the least of the benefits of plant models is the assistance provided for training new operating and maintenance staff."

Jan 1, 1985