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By R. L. Amelunxen

"In January 1983, Gibraltar Mines Ltd. started an exploratory program on Column Flotation with hopes of improving performance of the Molybdenum Cleaning circuit. The encouraging results led to a column test trial in the Bulk Copper Cleaner circuit where the test unit has per¬formed well. A program was undertaken to understand the mechanics of column operation. A year and a half later, Gibraltar is considering the replacement of existing Bulk Copper and Moly Cleaning flotation cells with a fully computer con¬trolled Column Flotation circuit.BRIEF SUMMARY OF TESTWORKInitial testwork was done with a home made 20 inch diameter x 31 foot high column, equipped with a doppler flow-meter at the tail line and automatic level conrol. This loop maintained constant level in the column by throttling the tail valve. This column was placed in a variety of locations around the Moly circuit as shown on Figure 1 a, b. Test re¬sults indicated that the column could achieve much higher grades than the conventional cells, but recovery wise, the performance was low. Spillages from overloaded pump boxes were a common frustration during this time.Column control strategy was reviewed; and, in light of information received from McGill University, changed to conform with the methods that had been employed by D. Wheeler, of the Column Co. of Canada4 and Gaspe Copper Mines3.The column was tested replacing a portion of the bank, figure lc. The results obtained were more or less equal to the circuit. However, as we had Nitrogen gas connected to the column and not the regular cells, the column was kept in service. With the use of Nitrogen in the column, the usual copper depressant, Sodium Cyanide could be replaced with Sodium Hydrosulphide, hence lower operating cost.As time went on, a 10 inch diameter column was added in series to re-treat the concentrate of the 20 inch diameter column with hopes that the copper content would decrease from 0.6% down to 0.3% in order to save on subsequent leach¬ing costs. So far, results indicate there has been some im-provement, hut we are not achieving 0.3% copper. (See figure 1d)."

Jan 1, 1985

By Karen M. Moffitt

Developments in mining methods and rates have led to an increase in the frequency and size of waste dump failures that have not been adequately predicted or explained in terms of conventional slope stability analysis. Monitoring data and visual observations suggest a unique mode of failure responsible for large runout events. A numerical model has been developed to capture commonly observed patterns of deformation, and investigate the formation of the ensuing failure mechanism. The analyses have yielded a good correlation with observed field behaviour and have provided significant insight into the coincident stresses and deformations within the dump. Results indicate that while creep effects in the waste dump could have a significant effect on the magnitudes of displacement, the overall dump stability is governed by the strength of the foundation soils underlying the toe region. Consideration of both the stress and velocity fields leads to factors of safety for various dump heights and foundation slopes that are considerably less than predicted from limit equilibrium analysis. The results suggest that conventional limit equilibrium analysis techniques may not be adequate when assessing the stability and design of waste dumps on steeply sloping terrain.

May 1, 2001

By D. B. Dreisinger, D. G. Dixon, G. Nazari

"The kinetics of chalcopyrite leaching in acidic ferric/ferrous sulfate media under atmospheric conditions in the presence of pyrite has been investigated. It has been found that pyrite samples from different sources affect the rate of chalcopyrite leaching differently. A strong correlation between the amount of silver associated with the pyrite and its effectiveness has been noted. In this study, improvement of the catalytic properties of pyrite such that all pyrite samples accelerate the rate of copper extraction regardless of their sources is demonstrated, and a detailed discussion of the mechanisms involved in the process of chalcopyrite leaching in the presence of silverenhanced pyrite is presented. INTRODUCTIONIt is well known that chalcopyrite resists leaching in sulfate media. It has been proved that pyrite facilitates the leaching of chalcopyrite (Berry et al., 1978; Dixon et al., 2008; Mehta and Murr, 1983; Muñoz et al., 2008; Nowak et al., 1984, Tshilombo, 2004). Considering the catalytic effects of pyrite on accelerating the kinetics of chalcopyrite leaching, Dixon and Tshilombo (2005) have developed a new process, known as Galvanox™, which has several advantages over other hydrometallurgical processes. Galvanox™ runs under atmospheric conditions, so it requires only low-cost leaching tanks. The sulfur yield at this temperature is high (>95%) which leads to low oxygen consumption and low sulfuric acid generation. The operating temperature is below the melting point of sulfur which eliminates the use of surfactants. This process also does not require fine grinding. Reaction 1 shows the overall leaching reaction in the Galvanox™ process.CuFeS2 + O2 + 2 H2SO4 = CuSO4 + FeSO4 + 2 S0 + 2 H2O (1)Complete copper recovery from the Galvanox™ process can be achieved at a considerably higher rate than other atmospheric ferric sulfate leaching processes (Dixon et al., 2008). Recycling pyrite and recovering copper from tailings with the Galvanox™ process have also been evaluated in continuous pilot leaching campaigns (Dixon et al., 2007)."

Jan 1, 2012

The steam-filtration process for dewatering solids involves the application of slightly superheated steam to a filter cake during filtration. The mechanism by which the technique promotes water removal has been deduced from bench-scale experiments on coal and on granular iron ore concentrates. The mechanism, along with some of the applications and limitations of the process, is presented. Introduction I N the steam-filtration process, slightly super-heated steam is applied to the filter cake during filtration to remove more water than can be extracted by conventional filtration. Although this process was developed by Burton for coal filtration (1), it should have far wider applicability; certainly, it could be used to treat any mineral product, because only low-temperature steam is needed and most conventional filtration equipment can be easily adapted to it. As few restrictions apply to this process, however, it is important that its more obvious advantages and disadvantages be appreciated and, especially, that the criteria on which economic evaluations can be based are understood.

Jan 1, 1965

By R. C. A. Thurston

AT A FATIGUE SESSION organised by the A.S.T.M. in 1949, R. E. Peterson presented a brief introductory paper ( 1) in which lie referred to a discussion on the fatigue of metals which took place in England in 1849, and then proceeded to review some of the subsequent researches concerning the mechanism of fatigue. In the course of the review, he discussed metallograpl1ic studies with single crystals and polycrystalline materials, studies with X-ray methods, and the application of the electron microscope. During that hundred-year period considerable progress was made toward a better under-standing of the nature of fatigue, although it is probable that even greater attention was directed to the more practical aspects of the problem, such as the effects of notches, temperature, corrosion, surface treatment, residual stresses, and so on. Since then there has been an appreciable acceleration in the tempo of the fundamental work, partly influenced by the rapid development of the theory of dislocations, with the result that our knowledge of the mechanism of slip, the initiation of fatigue cracks, and their subsequent propagation, has still further advanced, although it is by no means complete as yet. The present paper is an attempt to out-line the more recent developments in these basic studies, to correlate them when possible, and to draw attention to those directions in which research might profitably be pursued.

Jan 1, 1957

By R. J. Chase, C. Davies

"Abstract- The Merelani graphite-tanzanite deposit is located in northeast Tanzania, 14 kilometers south of Kilirnajaro International Airport and in close proximity to the towns of Moshi and Arusha . The graphite mineralization is hosted by relatively undeformed linear Proterowic metasedimentary gneisses, several of which have been subjected to hydrothermal alteration resulting in tanzanite mineralization. Exploration work comprised detailed geological mapping coupled with pit and trench channel sampling and a subsequent 1500 meters of diamond drilling. In addition, metallurgical tests have shown the graphite to be of unusually coarse flake size, crystallinity and high purity.Feasibility studies have shown the economic viability of a major coarse flake graphite deposit with the measured resource to 50 meters in excess of 9 million tonnes assaying over 8o/o graphitic carbon . Production is due to start by the end of the first quarter of 1994 with the processing plant design capacity initially set at 15 000 tonnes per annum.ln addition to graphite production, tanzanite will be produced through selective mining within the graphite open pit in the upper horizon and from underground workings within the lower horizon.The Merelani graphite-tanzanite deposit will be the first major orebody to be exploited through means of private funding since Tanzania gained independence."

Jan 1, 1994

By R. J. Chase, C. Davies

"The Merelani graphite-tanzanite deposit is located in northeast Tanzania, 14 kilometers south of Kilimajaro International Airport and in close proximity to the towns of Moshi and Arusha. The graphite mineralization is hosted by relatively undeformed linear Proterozoic metasedimentary gneisses, several of which have been subjected to hydrothermal alteration resulting in tanzanite mineralization. Exploration work comprised detailed geological mapping coupled with pit and trench channel sampling and a subsequent 1500 meters of diamond drilling. In addition, metallurgical tests have shown the graphite to be of unusually coarse flake size, crystallinity and high purity.Feasability studies have shown the economic viability of a major coarse flake graphite deposit with the measured resource to 50 meters in excess of 9 million tonnes assaying over 85 graphitic carbon. Production is due to start by the end of the first quarter of 1994 with the processing plant design capacity initially set at 15 000 tonnes per annum.In addition to graphite production, tanzanite will be produced through selective mining within the graphite open pit in the upper horizon and from underground workings within the lower horizon.The Merelani graphite-tanzanite deposit will be the first major orebody to be exploited through means of private funding since Tanzania gained independence"

Jan 1, 1994

By W. S. Dyer

Considerable attention has been paid in recent years to the fire-clay and silica-sand deposits of the Mattagami and Missinaibi rivers and ? to the lignite occurring in them. The fireclay especially deserves this attention; it is of first-class quality; it appears to be widespread; it is the only fire-clay in central Canada, and part of it lies not more than 20 miles west of Coral rapids, to which point steel will be laid this coming spring by the Temiskaming and Northern Ontario railway. Undoubtedly, these clays will rapidly find a place in industry. The fire-clays and the better grades of silica-sand are Mesozoic in age and have been referred to the Lower Cretaceous or Upper Jurassic. Glacial clays and sands and Palaeozoic shales also occur in the same region, but are of little economic value, and will not be dealt with in this paper. Dr. Robert Bell was perhaps the first to discover the clays, since in the Report of Progress of the Geological Survey of Canada for 1877 and 1878 he reported beds of lignite on Coal brook, a tributary of the Missinaibi river, underlain by sticky clay and overlain by glacial drift. In 1880 E. B. Borron (1) discovered an extensive deposit of white sand and clay on the east bank of the Missinaibi river, five miles below Coal brook, and in 1890 (2) he examined the deposit found by Dr. Bell on Coal brook. He recognized that the underlying clays were quite distinct from the glacial clays of the region, and suggested that they might be used for fire-brick if metallurgical operations were undertaken in the region. Somewhat later, J. M: Bell described a deposit of fire-clay and silica-sand on the Wabiskagami river, another tributary of the Missinaibi.

Jan 1, 1928

By G. S. Farnham

Abstract This paper lists the interests of the Physical Metallurgy and Chemical Research laboratories of the Metallgesellschaft, which were visited by the authors, members of a group of Canadian investigators sent to Germany by the Department of Reconstruction in 1945. The Physical Metallurgy Research Laboratory The following information was obtained from Professor E. Schmid, Chief of the laboratories. It is understood that Dr. Schmid is a former Nazi and was to be removed from his post in November (1945). Aluminium Research The laboratories investigated the corrosion resistance of the high-strength aluminium-magnesium-zinc alloys. The same test procedure as used by V.L.W. was followed and Dr. Schmid co-operated closely with Dr. Brenner on this project. Intercrystalline corrosion was combatted by additions of chromium, titanium, or vanadium, and the work in this field parallels that of Dr. Brenner of V.L.W. * Dr. Schmid reports that Bollenrath and Siebert believe that corrosion difficulties with these alloys can be overcome to some extent by heat treatment. He himself was of opinion that the correct answer lay not only in correct alloying but also in correct heat treatment. The heat treatment involved either interrupted quenching or a change in quenching rate from a solution temperature of 500°C. The procedure is either a slower cooling from solution temperature or an interrupted cooling with a holding period at l50°C. Work had been done on piston alloys, the 11-13% Si, 1% Ni, 1% Cu, and 1% Mg being the favoured material. This is called Lo-Ex and is similar to Mahle 124 or KS1275.

Jan 1, 1946

By L. J. Friedman

The recovery of sulfur dioxide from metallurgical gases for the production of sulfuric acid has been the primary means of reducing sulfur dioxide emissions from nonferrous smelters. Sulfuric acid has been produced from gas originating from fluid bed roasters, electric furnaces, reverberatory furnaces, flash smelting furnaces, Pierce Smith and flash converters, sinter machines, etc. The gas from each of these sources has a unique set of variables that affect the design and operation of the sulfuric acid plant. In addition, the sulfuric acid plant itself has been evolving, with new equipment designs and materials. This paper will review each of the unit operations in the gas cleaning and contact sections of the metallurgical sulfuric acid plant, discussing various equipment designs, materials and the handling of gas stream variables and impurities. The paper updates to 2007 previous works on metallurgical sulfuric acid plants by the authors, and analyzes new equipment and systems, including: FRP or alloy quench systems, alloy converters, towers and pump tanks, heat recovery systems, high efficiency mist eliminators, tower packing, etc.

Jan 1, 2007

By A. J. DeArdo

Linepipe steels have come a long way in the past forty years. In fact, modern, high strength steels for large diameter linepipe applications represent one of the seminal accomplishments in metallurgy of the past half-century. The synergy of advanced steelmaking, alloy design including microalloying, hot rolling, and interrupted accelerated cooling has led to the marvelous steels being used today. The drive for higher performance pipelines has been motivated by the energy sector of our global economy who wanted both higher throughput capacity, i.e., larger diameters and higher pressures, and lower material cost, i.e., relatively thinner gauge wall thicknesses. These requirements led to new steels with higher strengths, better toughness and improved weldability. The goal of this paper is to trace the evolution of linepipe steels from the X60 grades of the small diameter pipelines of the 1960s to the (X80 - X120) grades used in the large diameter pipelines of today. The metallurgical triumphs permitting this success story, e.g., clean steel practices, controlled rolling, microalloying with Nb, and using IAC to obtain low temperature transformation products, will be highlighted and discussed.

Jan 1, 2005

A brief description of the hydro-gen reduction of nickel from ammoniacal solutions by the Sherritt process is given, indicating how this procedure can now be used to coat a great number of materials -particularly powders -with nickel or cobalt, whereby so-called composite powders are produced. The technique for the production of composite powders is described, particularly with regard to the surface activation of noncatalytic powders, whereby it is possible to coat core powders uniformly with nickel or cobalt. The properties of some of the more interesting composite powders, such as Ni/ AI, Ni/WC, Co/WC, Ni/Graphite and i/P, are discussed as well as possible fields of application for these new products. INTRODUCTION DURING the last decade, no-table advances have been made in pressure hydrometallurgy, so that large quantities of three of the more com1r.on metals, copper, cobalt and nickel are now produced on a commercial scale by hydrometallurgical processes.

Jan 1, 1963

By C. Schlumberger

INTRODUCTION The object of the present paper is to discuss, from a geological point of view, the practical results obtained by the authors with the method of the 'resistivity map of the subsoil' in the study of various mining problems. Some of the studies described date from 1920, 1922, and 1923. They are, therefore, quite old, at least as far as geophysical research is concerned (1). Others, on the contrary, are very recent (2). We shall deal only very briefly with the theoretical and technical sides of the processes employed. This paper has, essentially, a practical purpose, and it has seemed unnecessary to enter into a detailed discussion of the methods. Such a discussion cannot be presented without introducing ,quite. Complex considerations both of mathematics and experimental physics, which interest only the geophysicist: whose work is highly specialized.

Jan 1, 1931

By D. A. Jacobson

Mining operations, whether new or existing, are constantly looking for ways to maximize production and improve energy efficiency, while keeping the footprint required to a minimum. The Nordberg MP1250 cone crusher was designed with these three goals in mind. A series of side-by-side evaluations comparing an MP1250 to an MP1000 were completed at two Freeport-McMoRan operations. The first evaluation began October 2009 in a tertiary position and the second began March 2010 in a secondary position, where it remains in full production today. Utilizing 25% higher power capacity than the existing MP1000 tertiary crushers, the MP1250 had 29% higher capacity and 17% lower specific energy, adjusted for differences in feed and product size. The MP1250 compared to the existing MP1000 secondary crushers achieved 30% higher capacity at a slightly reduced specific energy, while achieving a finer product. The MP1250?s higher capacity and energy efficiency may have application in many crushing plants. Depending on site specific economic factors, greenfield projects may benefit from a smaller footprint and less ancillary equipment, whereas brownfield projects may benefit from higher capacity or a finer product within the same footprint.

Jan 1, 2012

By S. Koski, M. Schmalzel, D. A. Jacobson, S. Crosby, P. Cook, M. Mular

"Mining operations, whether new or existing, are constantly looking for ways to maximize production and improve energy efficiency, while keeping the footprint required to a minimum. The Nordberg MP1250 cone crusher was designed with these three goals in mind. A series of side-by-side evaluations comparing an MP1250 to an MP1000 were completed at two Freeport-McMoRan operations. The first evaluation began October 2009 in a tertiary position and the second began March 2010 in a secondary position, where it remains in full production today. Utilizing 25% higher power capacity than the existing MP1000 tertiary crushers, the MP1250 had 29% higher capacity and 17% lower specific energy, adjusted for differences in feed and product size. The MP1250 compared to the existing MP1000 secondary crushers achieved 30% higher capacity at a slightly reduced specific energy, while achieving a finer product.The MP1250’s higher capacity and energy efficiency may have application in many crushing plants. Depending on site specific economic factors, greenfield projects may benefit from a smaller footprint and less ancillary equipment, whereas brownfield projects may benefit from higher capacity or a finer product within the same footprint."

Jan 1, 2012

By M. M. Holgate

"Porosity neutron deflection scales can be derived more easily by cumulative correlation than by the conventional method of plotting corresponding points on a graph. The micro-log can be used as a porosity datum for the neutron log by transforming the permeability cut-off it shows to a porosity cut-off by a permeability-porosity function obtained from core analysis. Porosity footage values calculated in this manner from the neutron log are within 20 per cent of core analysis values."

Jan 1, 1960

By F. E. Lee

The following outline gives a brief account of some of the ways in which microscopy is applied to the problems arising from the various operations of the Tadanac reduction works, at Trail, B. C. The Sullivan ore is a very fine-grained mixture of galena, marmatite, pyrite and pyrrhotite. The separation of minerals associated so intimately is a difficult task and requires careful control. Various oils and reagents are used in the process as developed, and it is essential that the operators have a means of control which shall be rapid, and at the same time, approximately correct. This result is obtained by microscopic analysis in the following manner: The operator places a quantity of the material upon a slide, a drop of water is added, and it is covered with a cover glass. Upon examination with transmitted light, the zinc mineral particles appear reddish, the ordinary gangue colorless, the lead and iron sulphides opaque. This method has proved of great assistance both in the development and in the operation of the present method for concentrating Sullivan ore. The miscroscope has thus become as much a part of the metallurgical equipment as the balance and burette. The microscope used in the laboratory is a Fuess "petrographic" with a specially-made vertical "illuminator" by Bausch & Lomb, with the usual accessories.

Jan 1, 1924

By Derek H. C. Wilton, David T. W. Evans

"Abstract - The Midas Pond gold prospect, central Newfoundland, is hosted by sheared and altered felsic and mafic pyroclastic rocks of the Tulks Hill volcanics, Victoria Lake Group, and has been trenched and tested by 19 diamond-drill holes. Gold values are sporadic, with the best diamond-drill intersection assaying 7.3 g/t over 0.9 m, and the highest grade channel sample containing 14.7 g/t over 1.15 m. Alteration and mineralization are confined to a 200 m wide brittle-ductile shear zone. This shear zone formed in response to regional D1 deformation, and the shear zone fabric parallels the regional S1 foliation. D2 deformation resulted in broad Z-shaped flexuring of the shear zone. The deformation was probably related to the ca. 396 Ma to 420 Ma Salinic Orogeny.Advanced argillic alteration and an extensive halo of Fe-carbonate and pyrite surround the gold mineralization. Alteration minerals include pyrophyllite, paragonite, quartz, plagioclase, chlorite, fluorite, Fe-carbonate, and pyrite. As such, the alteration seems to reflect combined epithermal (argillic) and mesothermal (carbonate) mineralizing environments. The argillic alteration and fluorite represent a regional hydrothermal effect on the felsic volcanic rocks; whereas, the Fe-carbonate and pyrite represent a mesothermal alteration associated with auriferous quartz veins. The Au, which is spatially associated with pyrite, occurs in three structurally-controlled vein sets. These veins are confined to the contact between a highly deformed breccia (the banded mafic tuff) and structurally overlying, altered felsic tuffaceous rocks. The vein sets include: V1 boudinage veins that parallel the shear-zone fabric (C-shear veins), and V2 and V3 extensional fracture veins which are controlled by an S2 fracture cleavage. V1 veins are the earliest and contain the lowest concentrations of Au. V2 and V3 veins are concentrated within the hinges of the D2 flexures.Pb isotope data for galena separates indicate that the Pb in the vein systems was probably of local derivation. Sulfur, C, and O isotope data for mineral separates are similar to data for typical mesothermal lode gold deposits. Fluid inclusion data suggest the presence of at least three hydrothermal fluid types in the region, viz., (1) an early saline fluid which produced the argillic alteration, (2) a CO2-bearing fluid directly related to the auriferous mineralization, and (3) H2O-NaCl fluids which flowed through the Midas Pond shear zone at a lateral distance from the zone of mineralization. The mineralizing fluids are interpreted to have been CO3 -2-rich types which originated through metamorphic dehydration and decarbonation of mixed island-arc and continental crustal rocks. Gold precipitation resulted from the reaction of these fluids with the Fe-rich breccia unit. Pre-existing and simultaneously crystallizing pyrite served as loci for Au precipitation."

Jan 1, 2000

By L. A. Melis, K. S. Fraser

"This paper describes the development of a milling circuit for the complex Midwest orebody, containing a high-arsenic uranium ore typical of that found in northern Saskatchewan. The results of preliminary bench-scale test work are summarized. Data from a pilot-plant program carried out at the Ontario Research Foundation are provided for the selected mill flowsheet. Also described are waste circuits which have been established to produce effluents of acceptable quality. Pilot-plant testing of sub-aerial tailings deposition is also described. The applicability of manufacturers' equipment for the various circuits in the flowsheet is discussed.IntroductionThe Midwest uranium deposit is in northern Saskatchewan, 700 km north of Saskatoon, near the eastern edge of the Athabasca BasinDevelopment work on the project is directed by Canada Wide Mines Ltd., a subsidiary of Esso Resources Canada Limited. Participants in the project are Esso Resources Canada Limited, Numac Oil and Gas Ltd., Bow Valley Industries Ltd ., Mink Mining Corporation and Midwest Mining Corporation.The deposit consists of a series of flat lenses of massive ore overlain by a halo of lower-grade sandstone ore. The massive ore is formed of pitchblende and nickel arsenides, along with clay, and averages about 10% U and 9% Ni, The principal minerals are pitchblende (UO2-UO3), coffinite (U(SiO4)1-x(OH)4x), gersdorffite (NiAsS), niccolite (NiAs) and rammelsbergite (NiAs2). The sandstone ore, a friable clay-rich sandstone with sooty pitchblende, averages about 0.4% U and 0.6% Ni. Typical expected mill feed analyses are given in Table I.A bench-scale development program ore was carried out during the period from August 1978 to May 1981 in the laboratories of Lakefield Research of Canada Ltd. (Lakefield), (Lakefield, Ontario), the Colorado School of Mines Research Institute (CSMRI), (Golden, Colorado) and, to a lesser extent, the Ontario Research Foundation (ORF), (Mississauga, Ontario) and the Saskatchewan Research Council (SRC), (Saskatoon, Saskatchewan). Direction of the development studies was shared by Canada Wide Mines Ltd. and its metallurgical consultants, A.H. Ross and Associates. Input was received from Envirotech, Enviroclear, Interox America, and Knight and Piesold Ltd."

Jan 1, 1983

By W. G. Wahl

The Slave Province, a segment of Archean continental crust, migrated west and north from the northern flank of the Superior protoshield shortly after the Kenoran orogeny. The probable cause of migration, the path it followed and the cause of its coming to rest can be inferred from the Bouguer gravity data. The migration caused an indentation in the edge of the Superior protoshield which precluded the development of the Hudsonian orogenic front under Hudson Bay. As the nickel and asbestos deposits of the Thompson Nickel Belt and the New Quebec Nickel Belt are restricted to this orogenic front, no such deposits would occur under Hudson Bay.

Jan 1, 1973