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By L. R. Hougen

The Falconbridge Matte Leach Process yields high-purity nickel chloride by selectively dissolving nickel from copper-nickel converter matte with hydrochloric acid , purifying the solution by solvent extraction and crystallizing NiCl2 4H2O by further acidifying the purified leach liquor. In the Kristiansand Matte Leach Plant, a granular oxide is produced by high-temperature hydrolysis of the nickel chloride for subsequent reduction to a high-purity granular metal product, designated NICKEL 98. This paper describes the investigation of on alternate route to processing nickel chloride in which high-quality cathode nickel is produced by electrowinning from all- chloride electrolyte. The investigation was made in a pilot circuit containing two production-size electrowinning tanks operated in conjunction with the commercial-scale leach plant.

Jan 1, 1977

By Mike Broczkowski, Laura Dewhirst, Kieran Large, Angelo R. Fernando, Heather Daigneault, Jim Johnson, Randy Wiens

The radioactive isotope radium 226 is a contaminant of potential concern in effluent waters from metal mining operations in Canada. Acceptable release levels of radium 226 are governed by Metal and Diamond Mining Effluent Regulations. Since radium is invariably present as a companion element in uranium ore, monitoring and controlling of radium 226 is a must for uranium mining operations. Measurement of radium 226 is traditionally carried out through a radiochemical technique involving selective co-precipitation of radium with barium sulphate followed by alpha spectroscopy for quantification. As of 2010, Cameco has also been using an ICP-MS based radium analysis method developed in collaboration with a research team at Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario. This method, which is highly automated and requires significantly less sample handling, with improved turn-around-times, is being used by Cameco site laboratories at the McArthur River and Cigar Lake mines as well as the Port Hope Conversion Facility. This paper compares the benefits and drawbacks of this new method, compared to the traditional alpha counting procedure drawing from almost ten years of field experience.

Jan 1, 2020

By Karl J. C. Harries

13.1. RIGHT TO RECEIVE ROYALTY CONTRACTUAL ONLY1

Jan 1, 2003

By J. M. Livingstone

"This paper covers some of the problems confronted by Canada's railways in moving bulk materials from their source to the dock-site. The ""cost center"" concept is presented, and hypothetical examples of its use given. Also discussed are systems design, the unit train and pipelines.INTRODUCTIONCANADA LIVES BY RER EXPORTS and the Port of Vancouver by the exports of the Mountain and Prairie Empire at her back. The most recent estimates of off-shore shipments of bulk from the Port of Vancouver rise to 35.8 million shipping tons in 1985 and deep-sea general cargo estimates, in and out, are estimated at 7.6 million shipping tons for the same year. This compares to 7.67 and 2.87 million shipping tons, respectively, in 1965."

Jan 1, 1968

By H. Rozovsky

"AbstractThis paper discusses the methods of handling air in a large asbestos mill presently being completed at the Jeffrey mine of the Canadian Johns-Manville Company in Asbestos, Quebec.The mill, being the largest single asbestos producer in the world and capable of handling over 14,000 tons of ore per day, requires vast quantities of air. A minimum of 2,500.000 c.f.m. is required or about 10 tons of air for each ton of ore milled.Short descriptions of the process and systems requiring this air are given, followed by details of the fans and filters which make up the heart of the mill.This 'draw through' system, located on the top or 12th floor, is an automatically .controlled volume-pressure system creating the required suction to draw .air throughout the mill building and its numerous air systems.The dry mechanical method of milling develops enormous quantities of airborne dust and fibre. A section of this paper is devoted to a description of the multiplicity of dust systems within a system to control, filter, and remove this dust.Finally, the paper describes the method of returning the filtered air to the• working floors or to the outside, with some notes on heat, humidity and dust counts.IntroductionGeneralTHE discussions in this paper deal only with operations where air movement is involved. No attempt is made to delve into production methods.The Jeffrey mine of the Canadian Johns-Manville Company, located about 100 miles east of Montreal, is the largest single asbestos producer in the world, being responsible for over half of Canadian asbestos fibre production."

Jan 1, 1955

By D. W. Tully

Sedimentary and volcanic rocks of the Timiskaming series trend west-ward across the property of the Upper Canada mine, forming part of the north limb of a regional syncline which is truncated on the south by the Larder Lake fault zone. A wide zone of schistosity strikes east-west through the sediments and volcanics. The central portion of this zone is occupied by a system of narrow gouge-filled fractures in highly altered rocks, mainly tuff, trachyte, trachyte porphyry and syenite porphyry. The alteration zones have developed through repeated stages of deformation and accompanying metamorphism. The initial stages were marked by carbonatization and sericitization, followed by silicification and the introduction of minor amounts of sulphide minerals. Gold was finally de-posited in relatively late fractures within silicified zones and pyrite. Repeated movements along the Up-per Canada break have offset post-ore dykes of minette and diabase, and have resulted in minor displacements within the orebodies.

Jan 1, 1963

"IntroductionNOTE.-All figures on the supply and consumption of coal in Canada cited in this paper were collected and reported by the Dominion Bureau of Statistics. The friendly and efficient co-operation of the officials of the Bureau. is the foundation upon which it has been my privilege to rely in the preparation of this and two earlier papers ( 1). My thanks are due also to our own staff on the Dominion Coal Board, who spared neither time nor effort in helping to prepare this paper.STATISTICS are comparatively dull and, to many people, coal statistics are duller than most. Coal is, however, the one basic mineral upon which our whole way of life depends and it may be well if attention is drawn to this fact by an occasional statistical review of the coal position in Canada. The recent furore over the oil and gas discoveries has so obscured the basic position of coal in many minds that a little basic coal information may be useful. It is for this reason that, for the third successive year, a factual survey of the coal position is being presented.In the previous papers (1) explanations have been given of the basic considerations in the preparation of these reports and some special phases of the overall picture have been examined. For these explanations, the earlier papers may be consulted."

Jan 1, 1952

By R. A. Wyman, F. E. Hanes

THE demand for high-quality aggregate is increasing in all phases of the construction industry and in all organizations associated with road building in Canada. The production of aggregate in Canada has increased almost continuously since the end of the war and has quadrupled since 1948. Increases during the past fifteen years can be accounted for by the expansion in all types of construction, particularly that of roads and highways. Total construction in 1959, based on preliminary estimates, has been valued at $7 billion, and an increase fore-cast for 1960 indicates optimism on the •construction horizon (1). Cement produced in Canada in 1959 amounted to 6.3 million tons. This is more than 2.5 times the 1948 production. Increased cement production indicates an increased use of concrete, and thus an increased need for aggregate. Natural sand and gravel deposits are gradually being depleted.

Jan 1, 1962

By E. R. Hughes

Introduction Situated 182 miles east of Vancouver, on the Kettle Valley branch of the Canadian Pacific railway, the Princeton coal field is readily accessible to the Coast markets. The area covers approximately forty square miles and present indications are that the deposits should contain at least 300,000,000 tons of coal. Comparatively little development has yet taken place in this coal field. Since the commencement of recorded output, the collieries operating in this area have produced 1,640,518 tons of coal. The coal field proper includes only the Tertiary deposits adjacent to the town of Princeton and does not include the Coalmont or Nicola deposits. Production has never been on a large scale. The largest annual output from any property was 81, 780 long tons mined at the Granby colliery in 1940. Coal output was first recorded in 1909 and since that time fifteen properties are reported to have either mined coal or to have done prospecting or development work; of these, only two are presently active. However, none of the properties now inactive were closed because their coal resources were exhausted. The accompanying key map shows the extent of the Princeton coal field, and the location of the coal mines and prospects in this field General Geology The Princeton field is underlain by rocks of Oligocene age and is one of the series of more or less isolated Tertiary lake basins in which coal, or lignite, has been found in the interior of British Columbia. Resting on the Nicola group rocks of Triassic age, the Princeton sedimentaries consist of sandstones, conglomerates, shales, bentonite, bentonitic clays, and several seams of coal. Tertiary volcanics occur both above and below the stratified rocks and in places they have been thrust through the overlying measures. In some areas, the coal has been burned to a red ash as the result of vulcanism, while in other parts some of the moisture has been driven from the coal, thus improving the grade. The field can best be described by dividing it into two areas: the Southern area, lying to the south of the town of Princeton, where most of the mining has been done; and the Northern area, to the north of Princeton, where very little development has taken place.

Jan 1, 1947

By A. O. Dufresne

A Step which, it is believed, will prove extremely beneficial to the Quebec asbestos-mining industry was taken during 1931, when the asbestos mine operators of the Province assembled to work out a uniform method of naming the products of their mines. The outcome of several meetings was the drawing-up of a classification which defined, limited, and designated anew the numerous grades of asbestos marketed. It entailed no drastic departure from the existing processes of grading, nor any revolutionary changes in methods of testing, but aimed rather to perfect existing methods. The classification proposed has been accepted by all operators in the Province, who, from January first of this year, began introducing the new nomenclature. Unless one is conversant with the properties and mode of occurrence of chrysotile asbestos, with the unique milling methods devised for its recovery, and with the history of the development of their technique, he may not readily understand the basis of the new classification. For information on these and other data concerning the industry, the reader is referred to a recent publication, Chrysotile Asbestos in (Canada, by James Gordon Ross, issued by the Mines. Branch of the Department of Mines, Ottawa. The object of this paper is to present briefly some of the phases in the evolution of the classification of Canadian chrysotile asbestos, in the hope that the recent effort to standardize the marketable products of one of Canada's most important non-metallic mineral industries will open a field for discussion, fruitful in new ideas and constructive suggestions. The necessity for the grading of asbestos results fundamentally from the fact that the price per ton depends on the length of fibre. At all times in the history of the industry, the very limited available supply of the longer grades, as well as the requirements of the trade, have caused relatively very high prices to be paid for fibre over half an inch in length, while for the shorter grades the price decreases rapidly, and at a rate which bears no proportionate relation to the length of fibre.

Jan 1, 1932

By Paul B. Batten

Shutdown is a generic term for what may be called an Outage, Turn Around (TAR) or Overhaul etc. Running a plant shutdown well has always been key to the financial contribution of a mine. However, something important has changed. The post pandemic reality is that it is harder to retain workers and many of those near retirement just didn’t come back to work. This is creating a shortage of experienced people and a workforce that changes employers easily. We are seeing the impact of this manifested in the erosion of established maintenance and supply chain processes that now struggle to yield the plant runtime that could once be taken for granted. The scope, cost and duration of a shutdown varies widely depending on the nature of the work and the equipment being renewed. The PM of an electric shovel might require a week of downtime and cost $100,000. A gold plant may need to go down for 3 days when its time to change mill liners and cost $500,000. A turnaround in a refinery can take more than a month and cost multi millions. Despite the huge differences.

Jan 1, 2023

Access to accurate real-time information is critical to maintaining efficiency and competitiveness in any modern minerals processing facility. At MMG LXML Sepon Copper Operation in Lao P.D.R., controlling the copper grade of the feed to the leaching circuit is paramount for maximising productivity and copper recovery. Since 2008, real-time analysis data has been available to process engineers from the Geoscan on-belt analyser installed on the Copper Mill feed conveyor. Access to accurate real-time results from the Geoscan has allowed the process engineers to strictly control blending based on copper grade to overcome variability in the plant feed, where conventional sampling and laboratory analysis is difficult, error prone and time consuming. In addition to enjoying these benefits since the Geoscan’s installation, in recent times the process engineers have expanded the use of the Geoscan by observing elemental results other than copper grade to control different aspects of the operation, focussing on the reduction of Gangue Acid Consumption. This paper discusses the process of expanding the Geoscan use at the operation, including an explanation of the calibration process. Additionally, a brief description of the Geoscan and its use at MMG LXML Sepon Copper Operation is provided, as well as a summary of recent calibration and analysis results. A discussion of future works concludes the paper.

Jan 1, 2016

By K. Hawboldt, J. E. Halfyard, C. Bottaro, I. A. Harrison

"The removal of elemental sulfur from leach residues derived from massive sulfide concentrates via hydrometallurgical routes has been demonstrated in a laboratory setting by converting water-insoluble sulfur to water-soluble polysulfides. The approach was applied to leach residue from Vale's nickel hydromet demonstration plant in Argentia, Newfoundland, which contained significant amounts of elemental sulfur. This technique offers an alternative treatment protocol for residues with a sulfur component not amenable to standard flotation/hot filtration processes. The practical considerations of a proposed flow sheet will be discussed including the impact of other sulfur species (e.g. thiosulfate and sulfides) and key process variables. INTRODUCTIONPresently, large scale elemental sulfur extraction from hydrometallurgical leach residue is performed by Teck Resources using a process of sulfur flotation followed by hot filtration (Chalkley et al., 1993). As mentioned, the technique proves viable for residues derived from specific concentrations - in this case zinc - whose residues constituency is primarily elemental sulfur itself. However, problems arise when this constituency is altered as happens when, for example, a mine containing one particular concentrate is mixed or replaced with a differing concentrate from a second mine. Such cases can often strain the effectiveness of current sulfur removal processes (D'Odorico, 2004). If hydrometallurgical residue containing elemental sulfur cannot be effectively treatment by flotation, the residue is stored subaqueously as is the case in some 'grass roots' hydrometallurgical plants (those not coupled with smelting operations). Hydrometallurgical processing of concentrates involving pressure leaching is becoming increasingly common throughout the mining world, the genesis of which can be found in research performed by Sherritt in Fort Saskatchewan since the 1950’s (Ozberk et al., 1995).The investigation of elemental sulfur removal by means other than flotation includes the uses of sulfide salts (NH3S or Na2S) effecting the conversion of hydrophobic elemental sulfur to hydrophilic polysulfides. The work of Kunda et al. (1974) and Olper et al. (2007) shows that elemental sulfur can be quantitatively removed from hydrometallurgical leach residue via the formation of a mixture of polysulfides."

Jan 1, 2012

By L. Van Wyk, J. Fernandez, J. Suarez, L. J. Diaz, A. Uria, D. Breeuwer

"Ventilation is an essential component of any underground mine, playing a vital role in ensuring the health and safety of workers, and a mine’s continuous operation. At a time when mining companies are increasingly having to move to deeper underground operations in pursuit of high-grade ore-bodies, the search is on for more efficient ventilation systems that will allow mining to be carried out at even deeper levels whilst ensuring the protection of workers and the maximisation of productivity through temperature management and the lowering of energy costs. Mining companies today are looking for innovative ways to deliver new technologies and procedures to enhance their mine’s profitability. Energy consumption by mine ventilation systems is higher than ever due to stringent specifications of underground equipment (primarily combustion engine emissions), air quality standards and mining at deeper levels which all require more powerful ventilation systems. With energy costs associated with operating ventilation systems being a mine’s second-highest cost of production after labour, finding the optimal ventilation solution is critical to a mine’s performance. Proper fan design remains a major factor in reducing capital expenditures (CAPEX) and operational expenditures (OPEX), which means that there are compelling reasons for making use of comprehensive factory testing at full power before fans are dispatched to site to simulate the mine’s current and future design requirements, and thus verify the fan’s effectiveness in ‘real’ conditions.INTRODUCTION A primary mine fan is considered the heartbeat of the entire mine ventilation system, drawing fresh air from the surface and providing a safe environment for miners. A ventilation system’s lack of performance often leads to a reduction in acceptable air quality levels for underground working operations and can potentially have an adverse impact on production rates."

Jan 1, 2019

By J. H. C. Scrimgeour, T. Toong, R. E. Hamilton

"The principles involved in the use and application of mathematical models as an aid to the development of advanced process control computer systems are described briefly. This is followed by a brief survey of known models of this kind for the simulation of mining industry processes.The main part of the paper describes a dynamic model of the flotation process developed by Canadian General Electric. Using flotation rate constants for each species of mineral and gangue, the model provides a numerical solution of the differential equations describing cell behaviour. The cell mode] is used repeatedly as a subroutine in the •over-all-plant model. The features of the cell and plant models are described.Simulation runs from the plant model show stream .assays and other indications of plant behaviour printed typically in 1-to 10-minute steps for several hours of •Operation following typical disturbances such as changes in feed rate or reagent addition rate. The simulation can :Show expected behaviour for both uncontrolled and computer-controlled plants."

Jan 1, 1970

By Terence M. Gordon, Mati Raudsepp, Gregory M. Dipple

Four methods of measuring mineral abundance in a rock are examined for their potential in assaying for high-tech industrial minerals. One method uses X-ray powder-diffraction data and the other three rely on whole rock chemical data and information on mineral assemblages and mineral compositions. All four methods were employed to estimate wollastonite content in diamond drill core of skarn collected as part of an exploration program and are compared to visual estimates of wollastonite content from core logs. These techniques for assaying wollastonite span a considerable range ofaccuracy and expense, and combined, define a non-linear relationship between these variables. Accuracy increases rapidly relative lo expense up to total costs of about $50 per analysis. Assay methods in the $50-100 per analysis range have associated errors of 5-10% relative and probably suffice for most exploration programs. Improvements in accuracy above this level require a much larger investment. The most expensive assay technique (-$300 per analysis) yields the most accurate measurement of grade (relative error -1%). Its application may best be limited to periodic checks on other assay techniques and for fine-tuning ofmineral separation procedures.

Jan 1, 2001

By M. B. Kime

"Discrete-element method (DEM) modelling is a powerful tool for studying particulate systems within the mineral processing industry. DEM simulations were conducted to investigate the power draw, load behaviour, and impact energy profile of an experimental ball mill under different milling conditions. The variables considered were mill rotational speed (percent critical speed), ball size, and lifter face angle. The simulation results indicated that the grinding efficiency would be enhanced by using 80% critical speed, 30 mm ball diameter, and 45° lifter face angle. These findings can be useful in guiding actual ball milling tests involving an ore sample.RÉSUMÉ La modélisation par méthode des éléments distincts (MED) est un outil puissant qui permet d’étudier les systèmes particulaires au sein de l’industrie de traitement des minerais. Des simulations par MED ont été menées de façon à étudier le profil de la consommation énergétique, du comportement de la charge et de l’énergie de rupture d’un broyeur à boulets expérimental dans diverses conditions de broyage. Parmi les variables prises en compte figuraient la vitesse de rotation du broyeur (vitesse critique en pourcentage), la taille des boulets et l’angle de coupe de la cornière élévatrice. D’après les résultats de la simulation, on pourrait améliorer l’efficacité de broyage en utilisant une vitesse critique de 80 %, un diamètre de boulet de 30 mm et un angle de coupe de 45 ° de la cornière élévatrice. Ces résultats peuvent se révéler utiles pour les essais concrets de broyage à boulets impliquant un échantillon de minerai.INTRODUCTIONComminution is a very energy intensive process. It consumes approximately 5% of the electricity produced worldwide and more than 50% of the total energy used in mineral processing plants (Pokrajcic, 2010). Among all the comminution stages, ball milling is one of the most energy intensive processes. In ball mills, rotational movement provides the rise of the load and the media that are projected and impact on the mill shell at lower angular displacement, resulting in particle breakage. Ball mills are able to reduce particle size over a relatively wide range of particle sizes. This explains their wide applicability in research laboratories and the mineral processing industry."

Jan 1, 2017

By C. R. Larsen, R. G. Bradburn, A. L. Mular, B. C. Flintoff

"Following the acquisition of grinding- circuit data at Brenda Mines Limited for simulation purposes, various methods to mass balance the circuit were evaluated. Unfortunately, different answers were obtained for different balancing methods. A data-adjustment procedure was therefore developed. The procedure assumes that all ""best-fit"" criterion. A search is conducted with the minimum set of water masses and narrow size ranges of solids around the circuit (called search variables), which permit the computation of any of the measured data points. Search variables are used to calculate measured values for an objective function of the form: [ ] where W, is a weighting factor•, M1 is a measured value and M. is a corresponding . value calculated from search vanables. The best values of M, are those which minimize R. The above method is compared with others that have been utilized for mass balancing circuits."

Jan 1, 1976

By J. Cayouette, . Blatter, P. Cousin

The Laronde mill was commissioned in 1988 and has been treating the Laronde Perim ore since 2000. The Laronde plant, situated in the Abitibi region of Quebec, has experienced mill expansions to accommodate 7500 mtpd and to recover gold and silver as well as important amounts of base metals (Cu, Zn, Pb). Ten sequential metallurgical and environmental processes are responsible for metals recovery and process viability. Over 200,000 ounces of gold, 4,5 million ounces of silver, 7000 tonnes of copper, and 78,000 tonnes of zinc are produced annually. In 2008, the Goldex plant began trucking high wade (35-45 Wt Au) pyrite sulphide concentrate (TCGO) for gold extraction at a newly constructed treatment plant, increasing gold output at Laronde by 40,000 ounces. In 2009, the high gold wade Lapa ore processing facilities were annexed to the Laronde plant increasing output by 120,000 ounces of gold. TCGO and Lapa productions are forecasted until 2018 and 2015 respectively, with known reserves of each mine. Today, up to 140 permanent employees run and optimise the Laronde plant operation. As a result, Laronde has intricacies intrinsic to a large and varied operation. The paper will outline the metallurgical highlights, challenges, and future outlook related to the treatment of each ore type (Laronde, TCGO, and Lapa)

Jan 1, 2011

By E. Swartzman

This paper presents a general re-view of the various methods of briquetting coals, with and without the aid of a binder, with special reference to the production of a suitable briquette from Nova Scotia 'fines' for re-blending with industrial coal. From the economic and technical viewpoints, either small stoker-sized briquettes made with about 4 per cent asphalt in standard low-pressure double-roll presses, or briquettes made without binder in high-pressure double-roll presses, appear to be the most reasonable solution at present.

Jan 1, 1959