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By D. Krippner, C. Nexhip, D. George-Kennedy, P. Gebski, R. Kaur, W. L. Ying

ABSTRACT Water-Cooled Tapblocks Are Essential Components Of Modern Smelting Furnaces. Uninterrupted Operation Of A Tapblock Is Critical For The Optimal Operation Of A Furnace. This Critical Function, Together With Exposure To Extreme Conditions, Drives The Need For An Efficient And Reliable Means For Tapblock Monitoring. The Main Objective Of Tapblock Monitoring Is To Help Optimize The Life Of The Tapblocks By Better Scheduling Inner Refractory Relining And Protecting Operators By Preventing Sudden Deterioration Of The Tapblock. A Taphole Acoustic Monitoring (TAM) System Was Developed To Meet The Above Requirements. This Paper Describes The Principles Of The TAM System And Selected Case Studies.

Jan 1, 2013

By D. E. Deegan, G. Holcroft, T. P. Johnson

"The rising cost of extracting metals from existing traditional deposits, increasingly stringent environmental regulations and a greater awareness of corporate social responsibility issues are all factors in stimulating the examination of mine tailings and small-scale alluvial deposits as a potential source of new raw materials. Furthermore, despite tougher economic times the demand for commodities remains strong, in no small part as a result of the growth of the world’s emerging economies.This combination of social and economic factors looks set to continue in the long term which will encourage greater recovery of materials from previously ignored sources such as mine tailings and ores from alluvial deposits.An expansion in the recovery of useful materials from mining-related activities is likely to require the use of robust and innovative techniques that have a built-in degree of future-proofing; DC plasma technology is one such technology.As a result of its ability to separate the valuable metal and minerals from the waste material while destroying hazardous compounds, Tetronics’ DC arc technology offers an alternative approach to resource recovery from a wide range of mine ores. Harmful cyanide compounds and the vast quantities of water used in conventional hydrometallurgical processing are avoided when plasma processing is adopted. DC arc technology also brings additional benefits, including: the extremely effective destruction of organic materials, the conversion of the inorganic material into a re-useable aggregate and the high tolerance of the process to fine and dusty materials. This paper presents details of Tetronics’ DC arc technology as one of the key pyro-metallurgical solutions available for the recovery of valuable materials from traditional mine ores and tailings, as well as giving specific examples of how the technology has been successfully employed in the recovery of enriched slags, ferroalloys and other metals."

Jan 1, 2016

By J. J. Jonas, G. R. Stewart, N. Pokutylowicz, S. Yue, R. Varano, A. Elwazri

Differing thermal histories in and around a weld can lead to differences in grain size, phase composition and morphology of precipitates; mechanical properties will vary accordingly. Hardness testing gives limited information and the machining and testing of tensile and/or impact specimens that would reveal these variations (which may occur over very small distances) is not practical. Therefore, in this investigation, shear punch testing was applied to measure the variation in the room temperature mechanical properties of a welded pipeline steel.

Jan 1, 2005

By W. B. Morrey

This paper deals with the development of the new cap-sensitive slurry explosives. The history and special features of these explosives are outlined, and recent field trials are described.

Jan 1, 1973

By A. C. Stevenson

"There are many critical application issues that affect all AC drives, but there are several that are absolutely mandatory for pulse width modulated (PWM) AC drives. If these rules are not followed, the drive system will have insulation, bearing EMI or noise problems. Pulse Width Output VoltageFigure 1 shows the output current of a typical pulse width modulated (PWM) drive. This is, of course, not a clean sine wave thus will have a lot of very significant harmonics. In fact, the harmonic spectrum is directly related to multiples of the carrier switching frequency plus side bands related to the basic output frequency. A typical spectrum for a PWM source bridge switching at 5 kHz is shown in Figure 2. Notice that the spectrum has multiples of the 5 kHz switching frequency and the number of side bands gets larger as the harmonic number increases.IGBT Switching TransientsWhenever we have PWM inverter switching, voltage transients are formed that propagate (usually at about half the speed of light) down the power cables to the motor just like in a radio frequency transmission line. If we do not terminate these transmission lines (motor cables) properly, the voltage pulses will be reflected when they reach the motor end and will be transiently increased up to twice their original amplitude.This transient voltage rise, shown in Figure 3, is important for three reasons:1. Insulation Voltage Stress — Higher voltage stress in the motor connecting cables and motor insulation will lead to a shorter insulation lifetime. If any of the voltage transient peaks exceed the insulation corona discharge level (partial discharge level), the insulation will gradually degrade with each voltage pulse. When it has been sufficiently degraded, it will then fail.Most new “inverter rated” motors have triple layer insulation which has a 1600 to 2000 volt partial discharge level. This will make them suitable to withstand the double voltage peak transient from a 600 volt inverter. It is wise to make sure of this fact, since a “standard” induction motor will only withstand about 1200 volts. Use of a standard motor in this application would shorten its life drastically. This can sometimes be as little as a matter of hours."

Jan 1, 2000

By Victor F. Hollister

Elemental sulphur occurs as aformational sedimentary deposit in Upper Devonian Wabamun evaporites near Coronation, Alberta. The deposit developed in a stratigraphic jacies-change lrap; it is assumed that petroleum reacted with anhydrite to form sulphur, calcite, hydrogen sulphide and other reaction products. The deposit contains about 362,800 tonnes of sulphur and lies at a depth of 1200 m. The Coronation deposit is expected to be geologically typical of such other native sulphur deposits as may be found in Wabamun Group sediments. Widespread sour gas sulphur production f rom the Wabamun suggests the possibility that additional native sulphur deposits will ·be found.

Jan 1, 1984

By J. Pontt

Gearless mill drives (GMD) offer high performance for torque and speed control for grinding mills and have been applied successfully in modern concentrators for wet grinding with mill diameters from 34 to 40-feet. It is considered a mature technology. However, recently, some large GMD?s have presented unexpected failures in stator and rotor subsystems. The phenomena involved in such failures has shown a complex nature and surprised users and manufacturers. The manifestation of such failures has been observed as mechanical damages to certain components of ring motors. This paper presents a discussion on the electromagnetic forces that can generate stresses in the electrical ring motor that can produce failures and outages. Guidelines for further research and contributions to improved reliability of GMD?s are proposed.

Jan 1, 2012

By Donald S. Macdonald

"I AM thankful for this opportunity to address the Toronto Branch of The Canadian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy. The Members of your Institute can have a great influence on the direction in which the mineral policies of Canada will evolve, and to assure that optimum benefits from our country's vast mineral resources will accrue to the nation as a whole and to all its citizens. Today, I want to: (1) offer an outlook on the mineral industry for 1973; (2) talk briefly about the role of minerals in the total economy; and (3) outline some of our thinking with respect to a national minerals policy for Canada."

Jan 1, 1973

By F. Doxey

Introduction Numerous papers have been written dealing with the construction and functions of, and the environmental conditions created by, Diesel locomotives. Therefore, it is not my intention to attempt to deal with these phases of Diesel transportation other than to make reference to them in ?relation to and in connection with actual operation. The rapid expansion of industry during recent years and the necessity of products being made available at competitive prices in home and world markets has made the demand for cheaper coal a very serious factor for the coal industry. This condition has meant each coal producing country looking into ways and means whereby greater productivity and reduction in cost could he achieved. Surveys made show that, in addition to face mechanization, savings, in some cases substantial, can be made in transportation. Ventilation The most efficient mines are in-variably the well ventilated ones, for it is true that, where there is good ventilation, there are usually good roads. These combined factors are very essential where Diesel locomotives are used. Good roadways and track allow speed, and good ventilation dilutes rapidly any disagreeable exhaust gases. Locomotive Development In the older types of auxiliary rope haulage, coal hauled per haul-age hand is usually very low.

Jan 1, 1951

By L. O. Thomas

THE Alaska Highway, in its course through British Columbia, traverses parts of two great physiographic divisions of Canada which are also distinctive geologically-the Cordillera in the western section and the Interior Plains in the eastern. The Cordilleran region in the portion of the Province with which this paper deals can be divided into four major northwest systems, known respectively from west to east as Coastal, Plateau, Cassiar-Omineca, and Rocky Mountains. The Coastal system consists solely of the Coast range except in the extreme northwest, where a part of the St. Elias range is included. The Coast range, characterized by mountains of great ruggedness,. is made up of an igneous complex of granitic rocks intruded chiefly as a great batholith. In places, spurs of these rocks extend into the Plateau heft, a partly mountainous tract largely occupied by quartzites, quartzose mica schists and their gneissic phases, and crystalline limestone with interbands and broad areas of chlorite, _hornblende, and sericite schists and bodies of intrusive granite gneiss-an assemblage of rocks known as the Yukon group. The Cassiar-Omineca system marks the divide between the Pacific and Arctic drainages. Its eastern boundary is well defined in the south by the Rocky Mountain Trench (see p. 229). The rocks of the system are, miainly, highly altered Palaeozoic sediments, but there are also Precambrian and Mesozoic rocks, the latter largely volcanic. The core of the system is granitic and there is evidence (see p. 221) to support the belief that it is of such a length as to constitute a batholith comparable to that of the Coastal system.

Jan 1, 1944

By H. A. Wilson

Introduction Salt (sodium chloride) occurs naturally either in the solid state as rock salt or in solution as a component of natural brines. It is the major saline constituent of sea water, which contains about 4 percent salt-roughly 164 million tons, or enough to meet world salt demands for five years, per cubic mile. The great rock salt deposits of the world are generally regarded as having been formed by the evaporation of sea water over long periods of rime in wholly, partially, or periodically cut-off bays of ancient oceans. History and Occurrence of Salt in Canada We can speak today of the vastness of Canada's salt resources, but it was not always so. Settlement of our Atlantic seaboard and the Sr. Lawrence valley began in earnest in the early 1600's. The first small commercial salt works in Canada did not come into operation until 1866. Thus, for some two and a half centuries, the inhabitants of this growing country were entirely dependent on foreign sources for every pound of salt they consumed. The record shows that from at !east 1800 onward, the need for a domestic salt industry was clearly recognized by the governments of the day. It was during the Western Ontario oil-boom of 1866 that the initial discovery of rock salt in Canada was made, not far from Goderich, at a depth of 1,000 feet. A salt company was promptly organized, and with their operations there began the gradual and still uncompleted conquest of the Canadian salt market by the Canadian salt industry. Over the next thirty years many holes were drilled into the Salina formation both in Ontario and Michigan, and encountered rock salt. A vast salt-basin was disclosed, approximately outlined, and given the name Ontario-Michigan Salt Basin. The Ontario portion of the basin extends over at least 3,500 square miles, is met with at a depth varying between 800 and 1,600 feet, and has a thickness of 50 to 250 feet. No attempt has ever been made, so far as we know, to calculate the total salt reserves of this basin, but the minimum indicated in the Ontario portion by the figures just cited is just under thirty-five cubic miles. The specific gravity of rock salt is 2.2. From these data, those so inclined may calculate the tonnage.

Jan 1, 1947

By J. S. DeLury

Introduction The problems of metallogenesis are largely related to those concerning the origin of igneous rocks, which, in turn, are involved with the question of crustal mechanics. Many ore-bodies are genetically related to associated intrusive and there is an equally close association apparent between igneous intrusion and crustal deformation. The problem of ore-deposition is concerned, therefore, with the fundamental problems of geology. For a long time speculations regarding crustal movements rested largely on the contraction theory and its associated conceptions. Vertical movements were considered to be all important and horizontal movements secondary to them. Magmas were pictured as rising more or less vertically in the crust and were believed to form in vertically disposed magma-chambers or reservoirs. The principle of magmatic differentiation seemed to offer the best explanation of the origin and association of diverse rock types and it seemed also to require the existence of quiescent magma-chambers for the admittedly slow process of differentiation. Accumulating evidence of the importance of horizontal movement in the crust, has, along with other considerations, discredited the contraction hypothesis and many of the inferences that go with it. The same evidence may require some change in the prevailing conception of the origin of the various types of igneous rock and of the mechanics of intrusion. Geologists are now at sea concerning some of the vital and fundamental problems of the crust, and the field is open for speculation. The writer is developing a hypothesis which seems to permit an explanation and? a correlation of earth structures and phenomena. If it rests on a firm foundation, the hypothesis, because it is fundamental, is certain to have a profound bearing on the problems of economic geology. It is for this reason that an outline of the hypothesis is offered at this time. Only a few of its economic bearings are foreseen at this time and these will be indicated.

Jan 1, 1932

By Arthur Grounds

Historical In the course of a paper which is necessarily limited in length, such as the present one, it is obviously impossible to describe in detail the history, development, and present position of coal preparation in Western Europe. Great Britain has been blessed with large deposits of excellent coal of nearly every type, ranging from the high-grade anthracites of South Wales, which are characterised by their very low ash and volatile con-tents, to the superb coking coals of South Wales and Durham -probably the finest in the world -with their low ash and sulphur contents, the latter constituent often well be-low l per cent. Gas coals abound in Lancashire and Yorkshire, while coals from the East Midlands, Northumberland, and Scotland are excellent for steam-raising and other industrial purposes. The excellent quality of these various coals has, in years gone by, ensured ready .sales abroad and it is not surprising, therefore; that methods of coal preparation were largely developed on the Continent in an endeavour to upgrade the inferior fuels found there, so that the prepared product could compete with British coals on the European market.

Jan 1, 1951

By G. F. Vander Voort

Over the past twenty years, steelmakers have introduced improved practices for reducing the inclusion content of steels. The success of these practice changes can be monitored in a variety of ways. Chemical analysis of the bulk sulphur and oxygen contents provides a relatively simple means to assess the impact of these changes. However, microscopical test methods are still needed to assess the nature of the inclusions present. Traditional chartbased measurement methods have wide acceptability, and their data are well understood by both purchaser and producer for heat acceptance purposes. However, these methods do have inherent weaknesses which limit their usefulness for quality control, SPC, and database applications. Image analysis-based chart measurements are an improvement over manually generated chart ratings, but the data still do not lend themselves to databases and statistical comparisons. ASTM Committee E-4 on Metallography has developed a stereologicallybased image analysis standard test method, E 1245, which provides the necessary data in a form which is easily databased and analyzed statistically. This paper describes E 1245 and shows how data from different heats and melting practices can be compared statistically to ascertain valid test differences.

Jan 1, 1998

By H. C. Cooke

This paper will discuss two comparatively unrelated subjects; first, a general review of the advances made at the more important properties in the last year; and second, a statement of the conditions controlling the deposition of the copper ores in the Rouyn area, as determined by last summer's field work. FIRST PART Development has been very rapid since I stood before the Institute one year ago to discuss this same subject. Then, there were many properties on which gold had been discovered, any of which might develop into a mine. Further work has eliminated the most of them as possible mines, or at least has shown that before they can attain that status further discoveries must be made on them. Then, all gold veins held forth much the same promise; now the indications are that one particular type of gold vein is of greater prospective value than others. Then, all eyes were turned toward gold as the metal of prime economic importance; now copper has taken the centre of the stage, and gold is distinctly in the background.

Jan 1, 1926

By K. H. Concannon, K. I. Hindle

"The use of simulation modeling in the primary metals industry (including mining, smelting, and metals processing) is expanding as significant cost-benefits can be realized by companies employing capital intensive processes. The economic scale and complexity of operations found in this industry is well-suited to applications using this ""what-if' computer modeling technique, ranging from proof-of-concept projects to testing facility design or configuration, and determining resource requirements. More recently this technique is being used to support on-going planning and scheduling for operations using the simulation as the engine to derive the best schedule. With increased computer processing capability, deterministic models are now being developed to capture the workings of a production system or conversion process, allowing real-time monitoring and scheduling of these operations. This paper presents a sample of some recent discrete-event simulation modeling applications that demonstrate the capability and benefits of this technique in the primary metals industry. These include the use of simulation to support the long-range planning of underground mining operations; the modeling of a metals supply chain network that employs a multi-modal distribution system; the scheduling of a metals coil finishing process using a deterministic simulation model; and a more detailed description of the use of simulation to model furnace and converter aisle activities within a smelter operation in Northern Canada."

Jan 1, 2007

By A. O. Dufresne

Introductory At the Annual Meeting of the Institute, held two years ago, I had the privilege of presenting a paper on Recent Mineral Discoveries in Western Quebec. In it were pointed out the areas favourable for prospecting in that section of Quebec adjoining the mining camps of northern Ontario; the discoveries that ?had been made were recorded; and some of the developments up to that date were reviewed. Since then, two full years have elapsed, during which a considerable amount of serious work has been performed with such results that western Quebec has today six properties about ready to mine commercial ores of gold, copper, and zinc. These results have been brought about after large sums of money had been invested to bring the district to a producing stage. A smelter has been built, and is already producing copper; two railways have extended their lines into Rouyn; and the Provincial Government has shown faith in the future of the district and has spent large sums of money in the building of highways and for other public works. The purpose of the present paper is to review the developments of the last two years, and the work that has been performed in various spheres of activity in that section on western Quebec covering the county of Abitibi and the northern part of the county of Temiscamingue.

Jan 1, 1928

By Andrew Hickinbotham

"A water well represents not only a significant investment but also is a key to making a living or sustaining a reasonable lifestyle. This naturally makes the water well a precious possession that needsto be protected.This paper describes the challenges that TransAlta Utilities Corporation faced and how it responded to the concern of residents that open pit coal mining would affect their water well supplies.BackgroundWells have a certain mystique. Tum on the silver tap and water flows at your command without you knowing how it got there and whether it will continue to flow.Each well is different and has a story to tell. Some wells have a lot of history and are described fondly and with pride (""Grandad built this place 50 years ago and she hasn't failed us yet""). Some are passed on from father to son, some are part of the pride of good farming, some wells are famous for tapping that huge underground stream or have been mysteriously witched or have been part of a rip-off by an unscrupulous well driller. Some have to be babied so that the cows can be watered, the children can have showers and the dishes can be done. All wells represent a significant $5,000 to $10,000 investment and is a key to making a living or sustaining a reasonable lifestyle.Most wells continue to provide water faithfully - until there is a problem. For those people living next to a mine, there is the additional concern that mining has or will affect their water well supplies. Water well problems reported to the mining company have to be dealt with promptly and responsibly. The mining company's groundwater specialist must gain the trust and confidence of well owners living in the area ."

Jan 1, 1992

By Bruce A. McFarlane

"I WOULD LIKE TO SAY how honoured I am that I have been invited to participate in this panel discussion. I have taken the liberty of narrowing my topic somewhat so that instead of speaking on the Sociology of Professions as a whole I will speak on one aspect of it, that is, on Manpower Problems in the Minerals industry of Canada, with some reference to a new social role for the professionals engaged in this industry. This probably means that I will be encroaching on areas covered or to be covered by other speakers, but I hope that when I do so I will do so from a slightly different vantage point. That is, from a sociological perspective rather than from a historical, industrial, business or professional perspective. I plan to divide my discussion into three areas, namely: (i) problems of ownership and control; (ii) environmental problems; and (iii) manpower and recruitment problems. I do not plan nor am I able to provide clear-cut solutions to the various problems I raise under these three headings. Rather, I hope that my discussion of the problems may form the basis for an extended discussion here and elsewhere. Because of the limitations of time, I will only briefly discuss the first two problem areas noted above – (i) ownership and control and (ii) environmental problems - and I plan to concentrate on the manpower issue."

Jan 1, 1972

By Richard D. Moffett

The MineSight® Implicit Modeler arms geologists, engineers and surveyors with a better approach to 3D modeling. Use the tool to quickly retrieve a 3D wireframe from drillhole data and onscreen interpretation. Generate faster and more informed decisions to guide future work and improve reproducibility of results. Implicit Modeling is a mathematical surface fitting method that interpolates points to give a smooth and realistic fit. Control results by mixing planar, sectional and non-orthogonal polygons or polylines, as well as drillhole information to create solids or surfaces. The outcomes are particularly valuable to identify ore body trends, generate 3D contours of drillhole intercepts, or produce cut-off 3D maps. MineSight Implicit Modeler (MSIM) is fully integrated in MineSight?s robust and versatile suite of products, allowing you to interpret, interpolate and calculate while moving between applications. It connects seamlessly with the MineSight Torque SQL database, offering access to extensive filtering options. MSIM makes modeling much faster, allowing geologists more time to analyze data and test theories. The presentation will reveal how MSIM complements MineSight?s geomodeling workflow.

May 1, 2013