Search Documents

In late 1993, Inco Ltd. completed a $600-million environmental improvement project at its Sudbury, Ontario operations -the largest single environmental project ever undertaken by a Canadian corporation. Efficient new facilities and innovative technologies installed during the course of the project have also significantly improved Inco's productivity and competitiveness. In early May 1994, a panel of 18 Inco authors contributed to a Technical Forum, "Environmental Programs at Sudbury," presented at the 96th Annual General Meeting of the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM) in Toronto. Their papers have been published in CIM's Toronto `94 Proceedings Volume, pp. 62-77. The following report draws primarily on discussions of Inco's milling and smelting operations published in the Proceedings Volume. The Proceedings Volume also includes papers on the acid and oxygen plants and on engineering, construction and commissioning of the project. The 222-page Proceedings Volume is available from CIM, $C27 plus shipping. To order, contact: V. Ward, CIM, Xerox Tower, 1210-3400 de Maisonneuve Blvd W, Montreal, Quebec, Canada H3Z 3B8; phone 514-939-2710, fax 514-939-2714. Lane White, Publisher.

Jan 1, 1994

By Gregory R. Gorrell

The legal issues surrounding the regulation of subsidence are among the major concerns facing the underground mining industry today. Whether subsidence occurs almost immediately as a result of longwall mining or without warning as a result of room and pillar mining conducted years ago, the resulting disputes are highly controversial and typical of the disputes involving the competing interests of surface and mineral estate owners. Until recently, the law governing these disputes was firmly established under the common law. The passage of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act 1, the utilization of new mining technologies, and the general heightened environmental awareness of our times, however, have interjected new issues into this area of the law. State and Federal court decisions and administrative agency interpretations have helped clarify some of the issues. However, as evidenced by the many recent lawsuits between operators, surface owners, and regulatory agencies, many uncertainties still exist.

Jan 1, 1986

By D. K. Marjaniemi

The U.S. Bureau of Mines inventoried and characterized mineral sites and production plants within 200 km of the border in both the U.S. and Mexico. Sources of information included the USBM Minerals Availability System, the USBM Automated Mineral Information System, the USGS Mineral Resources Data System, the Mine Safety and Health Administration Address/Employment File, and the literature. Three hundred seventy-eight major construction material and industrial mineral properties were identified and characterized in the U.S. and Mexican parts of the Borderlands. Sixty-six major metallic mineral properties were identified and characterized in the Mexican part of the Borderlands.

Jan 1, 1996

By Laurent Rus, Bakar Amara, Jean Habimana

The La Fontaine Tunnel in Montreal, Quebec is currently undergoing major structural rehabilitation work and systems upgrade work to comply with current codes, standards and best practices in fire life safety and to extend its lifespan of this 55-year-old immersed tube tunnel for at least another 40 years. The paper discusses design consideration of ongoing works that include structural analyses to evaluate repair strategies for the post-tensioned reinforced caissons, the scheme to repair two leaky joints between caissons, the design of passive fire protection that involved in situ and real scale laboratory tests, and other tunnel systems upgrades.

Jun 13, 2023

By L. P. James, W. W. Atkinson

Utah has produced about one billion troy oz. (31.7M tonnes) of silver, more than any U.S. state except Idaho. Several very high grade ore systems, now closed, occur within large polymetallic limestone-hosted districts related to plutonic complexes. These Utah mines fed several major lead smelters for nearly a century. Interaction of magmatic chloride-rich fluids with carbonate rocks localized significant bonanzas within these districts. A low sulfidation state was produced in the fluids by their passage through limestones. The Bingham porphyry mine has also yielded more byproduct silver than other porphyry copper-gold systems. Away from exposed intrusive rocks, some large silver-only systems occur in Mesozoic sandstone and in caldera-related veins in volcano sedimentary rocks. Thick permeable latest-Proterozoic basement meta quartzite sequences present beneath western Utah may have been important, as perhaps they were in the Coeur d’Alene district of Idaho, in providing chloride and silver-rich ore fluids. However, it is clear that specific Tertiary magmatic events played an essential role in the evolution of the Utah silver-rich metallogenic province. The largest silver districts in the state are genetically related to porphyritic plutonic rocks.

Jan 1, 2000

By L. P. James, W. W. Atkinson

Utah has produced about 31.7 kt (1 billion oz) of silver, more than any state in the United States except Idaho. Several high-grade ore systems in Utah, where the mines are now closed, occur within large polymetallic limestone-hosted districts related to plutonic complexes. These mines fed several major lead smelters for nearly a century. Interaction of magmatic chloride-rich fluids with carbonate rocks localized significant bonanzas within these districts. A low sulfidation state was produced in the fluids by their passage through limestones. The Bingham openpit mine has also yielded more byproduct silver than other porphyry copper-molybdenum-gold systems. Away from exposed intrusive rocks, some large silver-only systems occur in Mesozoic sandstone and in caldera-related veins in volcaniclastic rocks. Thick permeable latest-Proterozoic basement metaquartzite sequences present beneath western Utah may have been important, as perhaps they were in the Coeur d'Alene district of Idaho, in providing chloride and silver-rich ore fluids. However, it is clear that specific Tertiary magmatic events played an essential role in the evolution of the Utah silver-rich metallogenic province. The largest silver districts in the state are genetically related to Tertiary porphyritic plutonic rocks.

Jan 1, 2003

By Rihab Guellala

In Tunisia, the Paleocene-Eocene series has an important socio-economic interest. It contains profitable oil and water accumulations. Moreover, it encompasses phosphate reserves. The present study uses seismic reflection prospection and borehole data for the reconstitution of the Paleocene-Eocene deposit structure in the Jerid area (southwestern Tunisia), a crucial step for the phosphate exploitation. Firstly, lithostratigraphic correlations incorporating water and petroleum wells were established according to different directions for a tentative approximation of the Paleocene- Eocene deposit geometry by following their lateral evolution. To give more details, seismic reflection profiles were interpreted in the second step. The Paleocene-Eocene formations were associated with their corresponding reflectors on the closest seismic profile using the relation of time and depth in petroleum wells. Analysis of lithostratigraphic correlations shows notable variations in the Paleocene-Eocene series thickness and depth. Seismic profile interpretation explains these variations by highlighting different buried tectonic features. The results confrontation reveals that the phosphatic deposit geometry in the Jerid area is mainly influenced by the (1) emergence of the Saharan platform and the Chott northern chain since the Late Cretaceous, (2) syn-sedimentary normal activity of E-W and NE-SW faults during the Paleocene-Eocene epoch, (3) reverse-reactivation of these faults, and (4) major Tortonian folding phase. This study can enormously enhance the Jerid area socio-economic development by presenting useful findings that may orientate the phosphate exploration.

Aug 15, 2021

By Verya Nasri, Jaeseoung Lee, Ashish Bhargava, Shashank Gupta

This paper presents the unique design and construction challenges for the Technoparc Station, located in downtown Montreal as a part of Réseau Express Métropolitain (REM), a light rail rapid transit system. The station is located 15 m below the street with rock-bearing secant pile wall as the primary structural system working as both the retaining and gravity structure. The paper highlights the challenges related to the support of excavation structure, invert slab resisting high hydrostatic forces, waterproofing tightness etc. It also focuses on the importance of Building Information Modeling (BIM) in underground tunneling projects for effective coordination, clash-free, optimized design and costs.

Jun 13, 2021

By W. K. Wedge

The chemical composition of the Pennsylvanian Bethany Falls Limestone Member of the Swope Formation was investigated using optical emission spectroscopy and both flame and flameless atomic absorption spectroscopy. Elements determined were Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn, AI, Si, Na, K, P, Ti, Zn, Cd, Ni, Co, Cu, Pb, Cr, V, and Mo. Over 100 samples were collected from active quarries along a 320-km-long (200-mile) outcrop in northwestern Missouri. Intervals were sampled representing uniform lithology to determine vertical and lateral geochemical variation. The Bethany Falls Limestone is the most extensively quarried Pennsylvanian limestone in Missouri. In 1975, 42 active quarries produced almost 5.4 million tons (6 million st) of stone valued at over 15 million dollars.

Jan 1, 1977

By Steve Kral

Good times make for happy miners. And the past few years have seen a lot of smiling mining engineers, geologists, metallurgists, corporate executives, analysts, investment bankers and shareholders. And nowhere was that more evident than at the 74th Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada’s (PDAC) annual meeting. The meeting, held in Toronto March 5-8, attracted a record 14,500 people. Of those, the PDAC said attendees came from an estimated 100 countries. And about 40 countries sent national delegations to the meeting. Argentina, for example, sent nearly 100 people. The PDAC meeting has always been a event where companies and individuals can get a look at numerous properties in all parts of the world that could potentially become major mines. And through the many receptions, hospitality suites and just sitting in the local restaurants and taverns, deals are usually made.

Jan 1, 2006

By J. Hunter

The Highland Uranium Project in Wyoming is an in-situ leach (ISL) facility owned and operated by Power Resources Inc. It is the largest uranium producer in the U.S. and the largest uranium producer by ISL in the western world. With its limited capital investment and low operating costs, the ISL technique has been demonstrated to be an effective and environmentally sensitive method for recovering minerals from these low grade and otherwise uneconomic orebodies.

Jan 1, 1996

When a company like Lonmin, the third largest platinum producer in the world, is mining one of the most precious metals in the world, time is money. Every piece of equipment is expected to be in top shape because every minute of downtime can add up to lost profit. Two different types of platinum ore are mined and processed by Lonmin, namely Merensky and UG2. Merensky has a grade of 3.5 g/t (0.1 oz/st) and UG2 has a grade of 4.5 g/t (0.13 oz/st). The mine also produces platinum group metals (PGM), which consist of platinum, osmium, palladium, rhodium, iridium and ruthenium. Although South Africa has more than 80 percent of the world?s PGM reserves, these minerals are very scarce. Lonmin is considered a low-cost producer of these minerals, generating 21.5 t (694,000 oz) of platinum and 18.6 t (600,000 oz) of PGMs in 2012. So when the company?s Karee K3 concentrator plant in Rustenburg, North West Province, South Africa, was experiencing high operating costs on the transfer points, a solution was needed.

Jan 1, 2012

By E. R. Mueller

The natural lives of machines and components vary tremendously! Maintenance managers struggle constantly to maximize their equipment lives while minimizing their maintenance costs, but they normally lack the tools and techniques they need to do this properly. This paper proposes a methodology based on probabilities of failure and expected values for repairs that recognizes the variation among individual machines and components as well as the high costs associated with catastrophic failures. It enables a user to determine the optimum change-out intervals for many types of equipment. The approach proposed here is sophisticated enough to be reliable but simple enough to be applied by the maintenance staff on the shop floor. It will complement existing preventive and predictive maintenance programs.

Jan 1, 1995

By T. Motzer

Sustainability management and reporting plays an important role in controlling and communicating a company's efforts in sustainable development. A variety of standards comprising a multitude of indicators often require similar information but with different data quality, level of detail and coverage. This may lead to inconsistencies in external communication because of the difficulties in collection and aggregation of data from different company sites and organisational levels. Using a central database system accessible via internet makes the process of data management more efficient: All relevant information can be collected on-site, with a defined data quality, credibility and consistency. Any type of sustainability indicator can be calculated automatically, once the data is collected. Individual analyses and predefined reports, e.g. GRI G3, can be easily generated and immediately published, making your sustainability communication transparent and reliable.

Jan 1, 2007

By John C. Morrisey, Harold M. Ray

With full production from the Casteel Mine in 1987 The Doe Run Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Fluor Corporation, encountered a significant increase of copper and iron to the Viburnum Mill. This major change of the lead, zinc, and copper metal ratios in the ore created circuit problems which adversely affected concentrate quality. Recognizing the problem, the company embarked on a metallurgical research program to include laboratory, pilot plant, and plant testing. The program developed an innovative copper prefloat process which both increased copper recovery and significantly improved concentrate quality. The process was tested and first operated at Doe Run's Brushy Creek Mill then installed at the Viburnum Mill in 1992. A brief history of development, plant operating data, and other potential applications for the patented processes will be described in the paper.

Jan 1, 1993

By Peter Bigwood

Whether drilling through tough clay or breaking rock, or facing the most severe conditions including mixed face ground, perched water and running and flowing sands, working under-ground certainly comes with no shortage of challenges. In an environment where the unknown is faced on a daily basis, tunneling contractors must be able to rely on their equipment to get the job done properly. Not only that, their equipment must comply with two of the highest priorities: safety and efficiency. In addition to being the number one concern, a proven safety record provides additional benefits to a company. A safe work environment serves as a key component to company growth, including the ability to remain competitive in bidding and maintaining higher-level, more challenging projects.

Jan 1, 2012

By C. Anderson, D. Kolstad, M. Unger

Operators are often challenged with the management of water throughout the life cycle of a mine. High water levels can lead to physical or chemical instability of water-retaining structures. Operators need to predict changes in water levels to make timely operational decisions and plan for contingencies, particularly in remote legacy mines. A closed mine in northern Canada with no permanent on-site personnel had a simple water balance model that was effective for decades to inform annual water treatment operations. In recent years challenging water quality and more stringent effluent quality criteria has strained those treatment operations and led to more water being stored. Additionally, the region has experienced more precipitation and higher water levels, which have triggered emergency response activities. A calibrated probabilistic model was used to provide enhanced prediction capabilities and to identify key sensitivities in the water balance for monitoring. A several-year case study shows the value that this modelling tool provided for mobilizing personnel and performing response actions, particularly the inclusion of probability paired with forecasted pond water levels. Annual drawdown targets were subsequently established which provided more certainty in scheduling of annual treatment operations

Mar 2, 2022

By H. Y. Sohn

The paper discusses two processes, flash ironmaking technology (FIT) and moving-bed ironmaking technology (MBIT), which aim to reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions in the ironmaking industry by using concentrate directly without pelletizing and without using coke.

Aug 1, 2023

By H. Y. Sohn

Considering the two most important issues the ironmaking industry faces today, i.e., energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, it would be advantageous to utilize the concentrate-size raw materials directly without pelletizing or sintering, especially without the use of coke. This plenary lecture describes two such processes developed at the University of Utah. One is the Flash Ironmaking Technology (FIT) and the other is a moving-bed process for continuous ironmaking with gaseous reduction of iron ore concentrate (MBIT). These technologies are designed to produce iron directly from iron concentrate without requiring pelletization/sintering and cokemaking in two significantly different temperature ranges. They take advantage of the high reactivity of the concentrate particles and will considerably reduce energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions compared with the current processes. The process of the development from the conception of the idea, to kinetic feasibility establishment, to laboratory flash furnace, and finally to the operation of a prototype facility for the development of the FIT is discussed. The development of the MBIT also started with the formulation of the process concept, followed by kinetics feasibility establishment, and the design of a potential industrial reactor. The results of economic analyses on the FIT are briefly described.

May 12, 2023

By B. Huang, H. Sevim, R. Honaker

The use of medium-to-high sulfur coals has been negatively impacted by the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendment (CAAA). In this article, a method is demonstrated that can render these coals competitive and yet compliant with Phase II of CAAA. The method uses strategic mining and optimized preparation plant operation to minimize production costs, and it utilizes advanced coal-cleaning technology and an SO2 allowance to produce a compliant coal. The method is illustrated through an example from southern Illinois. For an annual production of 3.2 Mt (3.5 million st) and with a $150/st SO2 allowance cost, it was possible to produce a competitive coal for $0.84/million Btu. The production and allowance costs were $0.608/million Btu and $0.232/million Btu, respectively.

Jan 1, 2002