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By G. Grassmück

The question of whether the air curtain principle could be used under conditions prevailing in Canadian metal mines was investigated. A vertical, portable BERRY air curtain was tested, at first in a wind tunnel built at Ecole Polytechnique at full scale (8-by 8-ft cross section) to simulate a drift and its lateral connections, and then in the haulage ways of a metal mine under actual conditions. The results permit us to predict under what conditions this type of air curtain is capable of acting as an air stopping or flow regulator and how it could be further developed.

Jan 1, 1969

By F. Crundwell, N. Steenekamp

"The leaching of sulphide minerals generates a significant amount of energy. There are three systems that might be used to remove this energy. These are: cooling coils, quench water, and flash recycle. Flash recycle is the recycling of slurry from the autoclave to the feed tank. Heat is removed in this arrangement when the slurry at elevated temperature and pressure is flashed to atmosphere, releasing steam. The slurry is returned to the autoclave at lower temperature, resulting in cooling. The cooling is directly proportional to the steam released from the recycled slurry. Design equations and results for the flash recycle system are presented. A fourth proposal for removing heat is to recycle slurry from the back of the autoclave. These four alternatives not only remove the heat, but also have an effect on the leaching efficiency. Amongst the four alternatives, design calculations indicate that the flash recycle option is the optimal solution in terms of leaching efficiency and heat removal, and recycling product from the back of the autoclave is the worst. In spite of its efficiency in terms of heat removal and leaching, the implementation of the flash recycle system is limited to a few operations in the platinum industry.INTRODUCTIONIn considering ways to improve leaching operations, focus is placed on the chemistry, on the kinetics, the agitation and perhaps even on the gas mass transfer conditions. Attention is less frequently placed on the removal of energy from these reactors and how this might limit performance.The pressure leaching of sulphides releases a significant amount of heat. For example, the reaction for the leaching of chalcocite, Cu2S, given by"

Jan 1, 2012

By P. Kordi, L. Egorova, R. J. Bowell, D. Gurevich, V. Sedov, A. Mikhailov, D. A. Holwell

ABSTRACT Reconnaissance exploration in the Kuene region Namibia has included geological mapping, soil and stream sediment geochemistry, and ground geophysical methods. Copper mineralization occurs within a well-defined belt with north-northwest to south-southeast trend, parallel to the regional strike of the sedimentary rocks. The occurrences vary in size but are generally stratabound. The mineralization is centred on the transition from calcareous shale and interbedded limestone, through carbonate rocks, to quartzite. Geochemical anomalies have been identified correlating to induced polarization (IP) and magnetic anomalies. The anomalies identify one potential metallogenic zone more than 17 km in strike length.

Jan 1, 2012

By H. Thomasson

This paper will deal with on-site maintenance welding using the stick electrode, electric arc process. It is primarily concerned with the underlying principles, the application of which, or the lack of such application, governs the success or failure of the operation. It will discuss first the base metal or item to be welded, including the field identification of its weld-ability and the determination of the procedures to be followed. Second, it will outline heat effects and the interrelation between heat applied as part of a welding operation and heat deliberately applied as part of a heat treating cycle, stressing the fact that in welding the same basic principles are effective. The third consideration will be weld metal and its control of both composition and properties. Last, but not least, distortion, shrinkage and residual stress will be considered and practical means for minimizing their adverse effects outlined.

Jan 1, 1967

By L. D. van Dyk, G. S. Tshofu

Iron ore fines are by-products of iron ore mining operations. Unlike iron ore lumps, fines cannot directly be used in conventional iron making processes, and consequently large quantities accumulate around the world. Pelletizing and sintering can be used to convert iron ore fines into agglomerates or briquettes for processing with lump ore, but these techniques are energy intensive and produce greenhouse gases. This research investigated the extraction of iron from iron ore fines using acetylacetone (a ß-diketone) as an environmentally friendly alternative process for fines utilization. A 2k factorial experiment design was used to identify the significant extraction variables. It was found that the reaction temperature and solid to liquid ratio had significant effects on the extraction process. The extraction kinetics were studied at different temperatures and the highest iron extraction (97 %) was obtained after 48 hours at 413 K and 0.025:1 (g:mL) solid to liquid ratio for a particle size range of +106 to -150 µm. The extraction products were easily separated from the unreacted acetylacetone by flash distillation and iron(III) acetylacetonate crystals were recovered. An economic evaluation showed that selling the crystals was profitable. Alternatively, the crystals can be reduced with hydrogen to iron particles and acetylacetone (for reuse).

Jan 1, 2015

By R. B. Hyde

"Severe drilling conditions and difficult mud problems are briefly out-lined as the major cost items in all production operations. The chief problems discussed are abnormal pressures, high temperature, trouble-some shales, and low rates of penetration. These problems have been eliminated or greatly reduced in many areas by• the proper application of recently developed drilling mud products and techniques. These severe problems and their solutions are discussed generally: the application of high-density weighting materials to overcome abnormal pressures; surfactant muds with sodium polyacrylate as a solution for deep and high-temperature drilling; shale control muds and new dispersants for severe shale problems; and low-solids emulsions and •extreme-pressure lubricants for greatly improved rates of penetration."

Jan 1, 1959

By R. M. Lauer

OVER THE YEARS concentration of the Sullivan ore has become progressively more difficult as the ore has become increasingly refractory. The introduction of new reagents and changes in the flow of the concentrator have been and continue to be necessary in order to maintain and improve the efficiency of metal extraction. Prior to the completion of the pilot mill in 1957 ail new ideas were developed in laboratory equipment. If these were found to be promising, there was no alternative but to introduce them directly to the main mill flow in one step. When a major change was involved there was always the possibility of serious losses while the mill was being adjusted to the changed conditions. It proved difficult to determine whether these losses were the result of the changed procedure or of failure to adjust the flow to a change in the condition of the ore during the test. The pilot mill has provided a valuable intermediate step between the laboratory and the mill. It avoids the losses which occurred when unsuccessful full-scale tests were attempted, and conversely it provides assurance that full-scale flow changes can be made without serious hazard.

Jan 1, 1960

By Alain Simard, Sylvain Lacroix, Louis-Martin Dubé, Pierre Pilote

"The Harricana-Turgeon belt (HTB) is a poorly known volcano sedimentary belt in the NW part of the Abitibi Sub-province; it includes the Matagami, Joutel, Brouillan and Casa-Berardi mining districts. The HTB is dominated by volcanic rocks, which covers 65% of its surface area, followed by sedimentary (18%) and plutonic (17%) rocks. It is also transected by numerous deformation zones located either at the contacts of volcano-sedimentary units and granitoid bodies or cross-cutting them. A preliminary geological synthesis shows that mineral deposits are associated with certain regional geologic elements.The volcano-sedimentary units are grouped here into twelve band-shaped lithotectonic domains, most of which extend for more than 150 km E-Win the HTB. Each domain is defined by lithologies and facies associations, and gradiometric and electromagnetic signatures.Eight domains are composed of basaltic or basaltic to komatiitic associations, interlayered with thin pelagic sediments, representing sub-marine lava plains. Two domains are composed of basaltic to rhyolitic associations that are interpreted as volcanic arcs formed by one or several central volcanic complexes.The sedimentary rocks are grouped into two lithotectonic domains. Each is composed of rhythmic sequences of turbiditic sandstone- siltstone-shale, Algoma-type banded iron formations and conglomerates bearing plutonic and volcanic pebbles. These three facies come partly from mass flow at the bottom of a slope in a moderately deep marine environment. In each domain, a conglomerate sandstone- siltstone sequence, containing poly genetic pebbles of local provenance, is similar to Timiskaming-type alluvial deposits.The nineteen granitoids, found within the HTB and at its border, belong to numerous petrographic suites, and have been grouped into four structural families: pre-tectonic, pre- to early-tectonic, syn- to late-tectonic, and late- to post- tectonic. The pre- to early-tectonic plutons are presumed to be sub-volcanic and are generaly associated with the volcanism of central complexes.The HTB mineral resources consist essentially of polymetallic (Cu-Zn-Ag-Au) and gold (Au-Ag) deposits. The polymetallic deposits are located exclusively in the two lithotectonic domains composed of basaltic to rhyolitic associations (Matagami-Brouillan and Joutel Raymond). All gold deposits are associated with deformation zones superimposed on lithotectonic domain contacts and highlighted by graphitic units. Most of the deposits are hosted in the Casa-Berardi and Douay deformationzones, located at the contact of the Cartwright basaltic to komatiitic domain and the Taibi sedimentary domain"

Jan 1, 1990

By A. G. Roach

Introduction The plant described in this paper is located at Coniston, Ontario, the smelting centre of the former Mond Nickel Company. Coniston is situated some eight miles east of Sudbury on the main line of the Canadian Pacific railway and on the Toronto-Capreol branch of the Canadian National-railways. The plant is now under control of the International Nickel Company, as a result of the merger of the two companies in 1929. The smelter proper includes four 50-in. by 240-in. blast furnaces and five 13 ft. by 30 ft. converters, and has a capacity of about 65,000 tons of ore charge per month. As accessories to the smelter there are a mill, where some 10,000 tons per month of low-grade ores are concentrated, and the sintering plant, which is the subject of this paper. The present 6-unit sintering plant replaces a former 4-unit installation. Here, fine ores, concentrates, and flue-dust are sintered on Dwight-Lloyd machines, the sinter produced being charged into the blast furnaces. At the time of writing (1931), only the concentrator is operating at capacity, due to present world conditions.

Jan 1, 1932

By Lloyd Buckingham

Barrick Gold Corporation (Barrick) has undertaken innovative methods of evaluating and improving the performance of grinding mills in several of its operations around the world. The results have been positive with some of the mines showing more than 20% net energy improvement leading to more than 43,000 tonnes per year reduction in CO2 emissions in four of the operations reviewed.

Jan 1, 2012

By Charles T. Harper

The uranium deposits discovered by Amok (Canada) Ltd. in the Cluff Lake area of north western Saskatchewan occur at or near the southern edge of the uplifted basement core of the Carswell circular structure. Two types of mineralization, distinguishable, by their geological and structural setting and mineral paragenesis, have been recognized. The N-Claude type is characterized by a relatively simple mineral assemblage, consisting of uraninite or pitchblende with coffinite, and is accompanied by variable amounts of graphite and organic matter, and Fe, Cu, Pb and Mo sulphides. Both N and Claude orebodies occur within quartzofeldspathic gneisses of the basement core. On the other hand, the D-type ore has a complex mineral assemblage consisting of: uraninite, pitchblende, thucholite and coffinite, along with native gold and selenium; gold tellurides, and selenides of Pb, Bi, Ni and Co; sulphides of Fe, Cu and Pb; and organic matter. The D orebody occurs within carbonaceous shales at the base of the Athabasca Formation as well as in fault zones in regolithic quartzo feldspathic gneisses above the inverted unconformity. An age of 1050 m.y., which is consistent with a period (circa 1200-1000 m.y.) of widespread hydrothermal activity and uranium mineralization or reworking within and adjacent to the Athabasca Basin, has been obtained from uranium mineralization from the D orebody. Later reworking (circa470 m.y.) of the mineralization occurred at the intersection of older mineralized shear zones with radial faults produced during meteorite impact.

Jan 1, 1978

By S. L. Zekovic

This paper analysis the medium and long-term perspectives, framework and considered possibilities of sustainable development of RTB "Bor" (Copper mines in East Serbia) after consolidation in the period of transition. The copper mine was opened in 1903. and today is the best quality copper producer on Balcan. This paper are elaborates the problems of privatization, debt, investment, growth of copper production from own mines (and imported raw), opening of new mines, economical efficiency of production, markets, environmental problems and impacts of the recent industry consolidation. The RTB "Bor" is a serious hot spot in Serbia. Unsustainable trends and processes are identified, as follows: open-pit waste dumps, flotation tailings, mining and processing waste waters, air pollution; no efficiency (excessive) using nonrenewal resource in the copper production; inefficiency in the use of energy, water and other inputs in copper complex; transboundary character of emissions of dust; environmental degradation and quality of wide area and ecologically highly risk, etc. Analysing some trends and planning-developmental perspectives and development strategies of company, it might be assumed that in the forth coming period, in parts of the Serbia, the borders areas of Bulgaria and Romania, there is an anticipated increase of ecological risk.

Jan 1, 2007

By Thomas Genty, Pascal Marcotte, Matthew Gillman, John Baechler

Elevated concentrations of ammonia nitrogen is a common characteristic of mine impacted water and generally results from the dissolution of undetonated explosives (i.e., Ammonium Nitrate and Fuel Oil and emulsion explosives) by contact water. Several active water treatment technologies are commercially available to remove ammonia nitrogen, but reduction of active treatment demand by promoting natural attenuation is considered best industry practice. In this paper, the results of laboratory-scale and full-scale trials of a semi-passive approach (i.e., enhanced algae growth) to remove ammonia nitrogen at the Meliadine mine are presented. Phosphorus was found to be the limiting factor to algae growth at the mine site. The addition of various concentrations of phosphorus was first tested at a laboratory scale. The samples were exposed to in-situ conditions, and ammonia nitrogen removal rates ranging from 40% to 93% were achieved over a period of 24 days. This paper also presents the methodology and results of an in-pond treatment during which a 50% ammonia nitrogen removal rate was observed after 68 days. The studied mine site uses breakpoint chlorination as its primary treatment approach for ammonia nitrogen removal. The results presented in this paper show the potential of using enhanced algae growth as a pre-treatment method, subsequently reducing the quantity of chemicals required for operating the breakpoint chlorination plant. This potential requires further investigation and additional trials are currently under evaluation.

Jan 1, 2023

By C. O. Stee

IN the October, 1936, issue of the Canadian Mining Journal there was published a series of very comprehensive and exccellently illustrated papers by Mr. C. O. Stee and members of his staff dealing with Siscoe operations and ore-bodies. These were, in the order in which they appeared: Geology of Siscoe Gold Mine, by O. L. BACKMAN Diesel Power at Siscoe Gold Mines, Ltd., by C. O. STEE andE. A. BLOMQUIST Mining at Siscoe, by L. T. POSTLE and W. F. Engineering and Surveying, Siscoe Milling Practice, Research and Testing Laboratory, Assaying of Mill Tails and Solutions, BROWN(6) by P. A. TEEPLE (7) by L. E. DJINGHEUZTAN by L. RIVETT (8) by G. IRWIN (9) The Editor of the Canadian Mining Journal cordially assented to our suggestion that these papers be reviewed at the 1937 Annual General Meeting of the Institute, and the authors very kindly accepted our invitation to present such reviews . Of these courtesies, full acknowledgment is here accorded. To our readers, we commend the original papers in the Canadian Mining Journal. The summaries presented at the meeting follow. EDITOR. THE GEOGLY OF THE SISCOE MINE The Siscoe gold deposits lie in and near a stock of granodiorite, related to the Bourlamaque batholith, which has intruded highly folded Keewatin volcanic rocks .. The volcanic rocks lie to the north of a belt of Timiskaming sediments.

Jan 1, 1937

By J. Walker, G. E. Kim

Since May of 2000, Mogas Industries, in partnership with F.W. Gartner Thermal Spraying Co. and using the services of Perpetual Technologies, has invested time, energy, and resources towards developing novel ball valves for high-pressure acid-leach (HPAL) service. In addition to developing new valve designs, an aggressive coatings development effort has been undertaken to improve the protective quality of the coatings so as to enhance the performance and extend the life of valves in severe HPAL conditions. In 2001, Mogas Industries qualified and applied a nanostructured titanium oxide (n-TiO2) coating for gold and nickel/cobalt HPAL services. The n-TiO2 coating provided dramatically superior protection against abrasive and erosive wear, fared very well against high-pressure autoclave corrosion testing, and has performed well in HPAL service.

Jan 1, 2004

By K. C. Hendrick

The paper will review the significant developments in world copper over the past ten years and their impact on the Canadian industry. It will also examine the outlook for the future.

Jan 1, 1971

By A. F. Sirianni

The Peace River iron ore deposit represents the sole source of raw material for an integrated steel industry in Alberta. The ore has proved refractory to beneficiation by a number of techniques. A selective oil-phase agglomeration technique is described. Medium-grade concentrates, analyzing 48-53% Fe and 10-14% SiO2 were obtained with recoveries of about 75% of the total iron. These results appear to represent the optimum possible for this ore body.

Jan 1, 1977

By M. Savella

The Runruno Gold Project is located on the island of Luzon, approximately 200 km north of Manilla in the Philippines. The mine is a surface mine operation and use the proven BIOX® and carbon in leach processes to recover gold, and the ASTER™ process for detoxification of the CIL residue prior to discharge to the Residue Storage Impoundment (RSI). Work to date has defined a mineral resource of 1.39 million ounces of gold, and the operation will produce 96,700 ounces of gold per annum over a mine life of 10.4 years. The BIOX® circuit is designed to treat 140,000 tpa of concentrate with a design capacity of 404 tpd of concentrate at a design sulphide sulphur grade of 17% S2-. The Runruno project is the first BIOX® plant to implement the Generation III BIOX® design principles. As part of the Generation III BIOX® program Outotec supplied a turnkey, containerised metallurgical laboratory to facilitate the first four stages of the BIOX® and ASTER™ inoculum build up requirements. BIOX® inoculum build-up was started during early January 2015 with 5 litres of stock cultures shipped from South Africa. The BIOX® culture was successfully adapted to concentrate produced from the mini plant during March 2015. The ASTER™ inoculum build-up commenced during early August 2015 utilising 27 litres of ASTER™ bacterial inoculum already adapted to similar process conditions expected during commercial operation. This paper will detail the various stages of inoculum build-up through to commissioning and ramp-up of the BIOX® and ASTER™ Processes at the Runruno Gold Project. The paper will highlight some of the factors affecting the commissioning process as well as the improvements seen through the introduction of the Generation III BIOX® design principles.

Jan 1, 2017

By F. G. Vetsch, F. A. Ronaghan

"Introduction1N THE FALL of 1951, Peace River Allied Fort St. John No. 1 well was drilled in Lsd. 1, Section 9 Township 83, Range 18, West of the 6th Meridian, on the flats of the north side of Peace river, six miles southeast of the village of Fort St. John, B.C. During this operation, non-commercial shows gas in three zones and of oil in one zone were obtained during the drill-stem tests. Further geological study indicated that this well was on the southeastern edge of the Fort St. St. John structure.Pacific Fort St. John No. 4, drilled shortly afterwards, obtained possible commercial gas flows on drill-stem test in five zones and thus encouraged development of what has become Canada's largest multizone gas field.In general, the productive horizons in this area possess fair per-meabilities and high porosities, a combination which provides for high reserves and moderate productivities. Development to date has therefore stressed experimental techniques in drilling and completion practice to provide high deliverability wells.Data and information of a specific nature apply, in all cases, to the pools in the Fort St. John structure."

Jan 1, 1954

By O. W. Borgeson, D. K. Honsberger, R. T. Bell

The Scully Mine, situated in the Labrador Trough near the Quebec-Labrador boundary, is one of the world's largest continuous ore deposits. This paper outlines the sequence of the mining operations from the planning stages to the delivery of the ore to the crusher at an average rate of 50,000 tons per day, 7 days per week. The principal equipment required to maintain this production rate includes four 12.\1.1-inch rotary drills, seven 8-cu.-yd electric shovels and a fleet of large haulage trucks. Particular attention is given to grade control, programmed by computer, drilling and blasting techniques and operational aspects inherent with open-pit mining in Canada's North.

Jan 1, 1969