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By G. Van Weert, O. Wang

ABSTRACT: When exposed to microwaves, rocks containing sulphides adsorb energy preferentially over barren gangue and quickly become warmer with minimal energy consumption. This effect makes subsequent machine sorting of ore from waste rocks or overburden possible using infrared sensing. This paper reports on the 2450 MHz microwave response of a variety of sulphide minerals by mesh size and spatial distribution, as they might occur in ore rocks. The implications for infrared ore sorting are discussed.

Jan 1, 2011

By G. Van Weert

ABSTRACT When exposed to microwaves, rocks containing sulphides adsorb energy preferentially over barren gangue and quickly become warmer with minimal energy consumption. This effect makes subsequent machine sorting of ore from waste rocks or overburden possible using infrared sensing. This paper reports on the 2450 MHz microwave response of a variety of sulphide minerals by mesh size and spatial distribution, as they might occur in ore rocks. The implications for infrared ore sorting are discussed.

Aug 1, 2011

By A. S. Baillie

THE subject of taxes appears to engage our attention altogether too lightly. At least it would seem that, notwithstanding the increase in the cost of government, and its concomitant increased taxation, little constructive work is being done with a view to solving the problem of increased taxes. I believe that the inattention of the public generally to the subject of increased taxation is due largely to the fact that shareholders are not advised of the amount of taxes paid by industry. Were companies to advise their shareholders the amount of monies paid or payable out of each year's earnings for taxes in one form or another, and were such amounts compared with the amounts available for distribution to shareholders, the effect would be a general demand for more equitable taxation methods. While I am not unmindful of the burdens and inequities in taxation confronting industry generally, I believe that the mining industry in this Province does not fully appreciate the burden represented by the costs of taxation. My reason for this belief is based partly upon1the fact that no serious effort has so far been made to devise some means By which the mining industry in British Columbia might protect itself against the ever-increasing burden of taxation. In addition to this fact the widely diverse nature of mining in British Columbia makes the accumulation of comparable data a problem which, so far as I can ascertain, has never been attempted in a manner which would be authoritative. It should not be necessary to cite the effects of this burden upon any one mining company or upon any branch of the mining industry, such as coal mining, placer mining, base-metal mining, or the precious-metal mines. In my opinion, the operation of our mines by large corporations is conducive to the payment of taxes with much less protest than would be the case were the taxes being taken out of the earnings of just a few partners or a very few shareholders. We appear to be too unmindful of the taxes, paid by mining companies, of a kind that are not so prominently brought to our attention as are the taxes which are calculated upon the taxable income of the company at the end of its fiscal year. British Columbian mining companies pay many other taxes besides those which are calculated upon taxable income. Among these are school taxes, property taxes, gasoline taxes, mineral taxes, coal royalty, to say nothing of fuel-oil tax, sales tax, and excise taxes.

Jan 1, 1935

By T. W. Bingay

The production of both lead and zinc in Canada has steadily increased during recent years until today Canada ranks among the world's leading producers of both of these metals. The high prices which they have commanded have led to an energetic search for new deposits and also to an investigation of abandoned properties which, under the present conditions of better prices and more efficient methods of treatment, offer chances of commercial success. It is confidently expected that during the next few years success in both these lines of activity will further increase Canada's lead and zinc output, giving her a still higher ranking among the world's producers. In 1926, approximately 140,000 tons of metallic lead was produced from ores mined in Canada, and of this, 125,000 tons was refined in Canada at Tadanac, B.C. During the same year the production of metallic zinc from Canadian ores amounted to 68,000 tons, of which 62,000 tons was refined at Tadanac. History Of Lead and Zinc in Canada The production of lead in Canada is much older than that of zinc. The chief source has always been the interior of British Columbia. As earl y as the 'eighteen twenties', Indians and Hudson's Bay Company's trappers had discovered an outcrop of lead ore on the site of the present Blue Bell mine on the east shore of Kootenay lake, but it was not until1865 that active prospecting for lode deposits began. In the early nineties the activity of the silver-lead-zinc region of the Slocan reached its culmination and a steady production has been maintained down to the present time. Up to the end of 1924 the Slocan area produced over 38 million ounces of silver, nearly 300 million pounds of lead, and almost 122 million pounds of zinc.

Jan 1, 1927

By Jean Scott, G. A. Collins, G. W. Hodgson

WHILE it is well known that trace metals in crude •oils and distillates have been a matter of deep concern to refining engineers because of the damage done .by the metals to cracking catalysts and refractories (8, 5), the trace metals in crude oils may be of great benefit in correlation studies and in origin studies. During the geological processes in which the oil is formed from •animal and vegetable life, the hydrocarbons are subjected to a host of inter-related reactions, both physical and chemical. It has been well demonstrated that the lighter materials, certainly the short-chain paraffin hydrocarbons, are degradation products of the heavier molecules, and it might be concluded that for correlation studies it would be advisable to direct attention as much as possible not to the degradation products of the large molecules but to the large molecules themselves. Be this as it may, the methods at •hand to conduct the study are not particularly precise and, in the past, attention has centred on the simpler small molecules, as evidenced by the great mass of work involving distillation and chromatography with painstaking separation of the simpler 'front-end' hydrocarbons.

Jan 1, 1954

By K. N. Subramanian

Previously reported work on total oxidative leaching of chalcopyrite concentrates ha s shown that high copper extractions are obtained at 210°C and 0.4 MPa oxygen pressure. A simple integrated flow sheet using pressure leaching, solution treatment involving precipitation with a calcium base, and electrowinning to produce wire-bar-quality copper is described. Reagent and energy requirements developed from this work indicate that the process could be attractive for small operations where a smelting-refining complex cannot be justified.

Jan 1, 1978

By Krishna Parameswaran

In this paper, we attempt to answer an often asked question, how can metal mining be compatible with the principles of sustainable development. Starting with the classic Brundtland Commission definition of sustainable development as "development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs," we make the case that mining is or should be sustainable, using examples of sustainable practices at ASARCO LLC, an integrated U.S primary copper producer. These examples cover the entire mining cycle starting with exploration, mining, beneficiation, smelting, refining, closure and post-closure and post-mining land use. It is hoped that the presentation will challenge the mining industry to even greater innovation as future mineral development projects are planned.

Jan 1, 2015

By Peter McGoldrick

This Talk ?Australian deposits in world context ?Geological setting: the importance of the basin fill ?Key deposit features using HYC (McArthur River) and Century as examples ?The difference between Aussies & Canuuks(that is between Australian & Canadian sedexdeposits!) ?Timing of mineralization ?Sources for metals and ore fluids ?What makes a super giant sedexdeposit?

May 1, 2006

By T. Grammatikopoulos, SGS Canada Inc.

"The Nechalacho rare metal deposit, located in the Northwest Territories, Canada, is currently being taken through Feasibility Study by Avalon Rare Metals Inc. QEMSCAN analysis and supplementary electron microprobe analysis were utilized to identify and quantify the mineralogy of the deposit, and determine REE distribution among the minerals. QEMSCAN mineralogy was performed to provide textural information on the mineralization, determine the variability of the ore and identify REE domains, and the liberation and association of the REE minerals. The sample matrix consists predominantly of silicate minerals. The REE minerals include allanite, monazite, synchysite, columbite, fergusonite, and bastnaesite. Zircon is present in considerable amounts and is a REE carrier. Fergusonite and zircon account for most of the HREE, and monazite, allanite, synchysite and bastnaesite the LREE. QEMSCAN mineralogical data is extremely valuable in assessing the mineralogy of the ore. The data are implemented to define the mineralogy of the ore body, support metallurgical test work, and predict recoveries and grades.INTRODUCTIONThe term rare earth elements (REE) is used to describe the 15 lanthanide elements or metals and, more recently, the metals yttrium and scandium, which display similar physical and chemical properties.Economic and potentially economic REE deposits form two main groups, a more commonly occurring “light rare earth element” (LREE) group containing lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium, neodymium, and samarium and a less commonly occurring “heavy rare earth element” (HREE) group which, in addition to the LREE, contains elevated concentrations of the more valuable REE, europium, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, holmium, yttrium, erbium, thulium, ytterbium, lutetium and scandium. The first group is hosted primarily by carbonatites and the second by highly alkaline (Na + K > Al) silicate igneous rocks. The LREE are produced mainly from bastnaesite, monazite, etc., while HREE are produced almost exclusively from low-grade secondary ion adsorption clay deposits in which the REE are adsorbed onto the surfaces of kaolinite and halloysite, clay minerals produced by the weathering of granite and sediments. HREE are also found in fegusonite, zircon, xenotime, etc but are not produced presently from these minerals. China is responsible for 97% of the World’s production of the REE, mainly from the giant Bayan Obo, carbonatite-related deposit and from the clay deposits mentioned above.Quantitative automated mineralogy is increasingly being applied to ore deposits. It helps users to understand and improve mineralogical parameters for geological and metallurgical purposes. Data include textural characterization, to quantification and distribution of ore and gangue minerals, liberation and association of the REE minerals. The data can be used to define mineralogical domains and predict the metallurgical response of the ore (Gunning, de Souza, & Grammatikopoulos, 2009)."

Jan 1, 2012

By V Dolmage

In 1957 and 1958, ten topographically suitable damsites were investigated along the Peace river between Finlay Forks and Hudson Hope, B.C. Of these, three were eliminated after a reconnaissance survey indicated that the geology was unsuitable for the 650-ft.-high dam contemplated. ?After extensive drilling, five other sites were deemed unfeasible because of geological factors and, in 1959, the two remaining sites were designated as being suitable, one for the high dam and the other for a low dam downstream. The sites are located in the Peace River canyon, on the west and the south? side of Portage mountain, west of Hudson Hope. The site for the large dam, the Portage Mountain dam, has since been investigated by surface mapping, thousands of feet of diamond drilling, a seismic survey, laboratory rock tests and on-site grouting tests in order to establish the possible effect on the dam of all facets of the foundation rocks. Three diversion tunnels, 50 ft. in diameter and 2,200 feet in length, have been driven through massive sandstone and shale, and an intake cut, 500 ft. in length, 200 feet in width and 200 feet in depth, has also been excavated in rock.

Jan 1, 1963

By B. A. Strathdee

An arsenical ore containing both pyrite and arsenopyrite was heated to a temperature at which decomposition and distillation took place. The condensate consisted of metallic arsenic and arsenic disulphide, although the analysis of the ore showed that volatile arsenic and sulphur were present in proportion to produce a condensate of arsenic trisulphide and sulphur. Distillation tests on the mineral arsenopyrite also produced a condensate of metallic arsenic and arsenic disulphide. This arsenic sulphide gave a distinct x-ray diffraction pattern which was not listed in the A.S.T.M. data file. This same sulphide can be produced by heating a mixture of arsenic and sulphur in vacuo. Its chemical analysis corresponds to As2S2. The dissociation pressures of arsenopyrite and the vapour pressures of arsenic disulphide and arsenic metal were measured, using a quartz "spoon" gauge. The dissociation pressures of arsenopyrite were compared with the published data for the dissociation pressures of pyrite to account

Jan 1, 1961

By B. C. Legg, G. L. Tiley

"Many of the ore bodies presently being developed are in remote locations and are, or will be, served by electrical power supply systems of limited capacity.The largest single components of the electrical systems of an underground mine are usually the production hoist drives; the power demands of these drives vary continuously throughout each hoisting cycle.Before 1970mine hoists were driven by either wound rotor induction motors or DC motors in conjunction with motor generator sets.Static Power conversion equipment now costs less to purchase and install and is claimed to be more efficient than motor generator sets. On the debit side, however, it can adversely affect the hoist motors, it operates at relatively low power factors, and it produces harmonic currents.This pa per discusses the effects of static equipment on both DC motors and AC power systems, and evaluates the relative consumption of the three classes of drives."

Jan 1, 1993

By Sarah Bélair, Denis Beltrami, Valérie Weigel

"Mabounié is a polymetallic deposit in Gabon containing niobium (1.2%), tantalum (0.03%), rare earth elements (REE) (1.4%) and uranium (0.03%) that are mostly carried by Pyrochlore minerals. Classical route for niobium recovery is a pyrometallurgical process that consists in pyrochlore flotation, dephosphorization of the niobium concentrate and aluminothermy to obtain ferro-niobium. Pyrochlore concentrates can also be treated by a hydrometallurgical process with a mixture of sulfuric and hydrofluoric acid leaching followed by solvent extraction to separate niobium and tantalum. However, the first process does not allow recovering REE and the second one is not environmentally friendly because of the use of HF.ERAMET is looking for new opportunities on strategic metals market and has recently developed a hydrometallurgical process for the recovery of all these metals based on a sulfuric acid treatment of the ore. After solubilisation of the valuable elements, niobium / tantalum are precipitated as a concentrate (12% w/w Nb and 0.3% w/w Ta) while REE (2.7 g L-1) and uranium (90 mg L-1) remain in solution. Nearly 90% of REE are recovered from the solution by conventional REE double salt precipitation [NaREE(SO4)2.xH2O) method but some REE still remain in solution as this method does not allow to quantitatively recover medium (Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy) and heavy (Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu, Y) rare earth elements. From the different process routes studied (solvent extraction, precipitation, ionic exchange etc.), an innovative method has been developed and patented to recover REE residual concentration in solution. This is based on an aluminum removal step followed by precipitation of REE as REE phosphate concentrate (REEPO4) by phosphate addition into solution. The phosphate concentrate is then purified according to the conventional monazite treatment, i.e. caustic conversion and REE solubilisation in acidic media."

Jan 1, 2016

By Charlie Harper

Open Pit Mining of Golden Band Resources? EP Gold Deposit Golden Band Resources Inc. (GBN:TSX-V) is Saskatchewan's newest Gold Producer. Located in the La Ronge Gold Belt of northern Saskatchewan, GBN has over 875 km2 of claims with 12 known gold deposits and 4 former producing mines. Production has begun at the Roy Lloyd Mine (Bingo Deposit), to be followed initially by our EP and Komis properties. Development of the underground infrastructure at the Roy Lloyd Mineis continuing and on schedule. Production from these deposits will feed our centrally located and 100% owned Jolu mill. We have our provincial environmental permits in place, and we have an established infrastructure including a 400 tonne-per-day mill, year-round road access, and access to grid power. Construction of the grid power line and the above ground tailings facility are now complete.

Nov 1, 2011

By Ed McConaghy, P. LaRochelle

The Ambatovy Nickel Project comprises the development of mine, hydrometallurgical processing facilities and necessary infrastructure in Madagascar, positioning Ambatovy as one of the world’s largest producers of nickel and cobalt from lateritic ore. SNC-Lavalin successfully provided comprehensive Engineering, Procurement, Construction Management (EPCM) services for this major capital project which, apart from its sheer size, scope, and engineering design, represented significant location, infrastructure, labour, environmental and climatic challenges. Today, the project has reached 90% of its nameplate capacity and is in its final performance optimization stage. This paper will discuss the significant project management effort that was required to successfully address the complexity of this major project. It will cover the main project management control systems and the engineering tools and processes used during the detail engineering, procurement, and construction phases to achieve optimum project execution.

Jan 1, 2015

Outline ?Red Lake Gold Mines ?Red Lake Seismic System ?Applications of Seismic System at Red Lake Mine ?Seismic System Analysis and Customization ?Seismic Software ?Array Design ?Calibration and Source Mechanism ?Auto Picking Optimization ?Acquisition Groups ?Conclusions Goldcorp?s Red Lake Gold Mines ?One of the largest gold producers in Canada ?The operations comprise the former Campbell and Red Lake underground mines, now integrated as the Red Lake Gold Mines (RLGM) ?There are a total of 4 shafts with one internal winze and two main declines beginning at the 21st level ?Daily production approximately 2,600 tons

Aug 1, 2013

By R. A. Campbell

The electric smelting of five lowgrade Canadian manganese ores has been investigated at the Mines Branch, Department of Mines and Technical Surveys, Ottawa. Ferromanganese, silkomanganese, and spiegeleisen were produced 1by special smelting processes from these ores since the latter were too low grade to be treated by conventional smelting methods. In one case the results were considered to be sufficiently promising to justify the construction of a pilot plant, by the Company concerned, for the further development of the process.

Jan 1, 1956

By D. W. Davis, P. Landais, L. J. Robb

Abstract -Nodules of carbonaceous matter have been observed in several Archaean peraluminous granites adjoining the gold- and uranium-bearing Witwatersrand Basin. These nodules, which resemble solid bitumen, usually replace uraninite or uranothorite and are paragenetically late. They show many similarities to kerogen seams and nodules associated with the conglomerate horizons in the Witwatersrand Basin, including composition, maturation, intimate association with uraninite, and a late paragenesis. U-Pb isotope ratios for granite-hosted and Witwatersrand kerogens define a single, albeit somewhat diffuse, Pb-loss discordia suggesting an upper intercept age of circa 2300 Ma. Carbon isotope analysis indicates lighter ?13C values for the granite-hosted nodules than for the sediment-hosted kerogen seams. Raman spectroscopy indicates that granite-hosted kerogen is more highly ordered than Witwatersrand seam kerogen. A model is presented which links the granitoid­ and sediment-hosted organic matter to an event of oil generation in the Witwatersrand Basin circa 2300 Ma ago. Light hydrocarbons migrated through the sediments and into underlying/adjacent granitic rocks, undergoing polymerization and accumulation in response to radiation accompanying the presence of high-uranium phases.

Jan 1, 1994

By A. Makinen

There is an increasing trend between increasing consumption of water and the production of metal concentrate. Along with this trend we see that ore grades are declining and getting more complex to concentrate around the world. This will not only complicate processing but also generate new requirements for the management of water and waste streams on mining sites. The mining industry is a large user of water and its water consumption is growing rapidly. The processing of lower quality ores requires greater volumes of water. For these reasons, the need for efficient use of water and water management at mine sites is becoming more urgent. The perception of water in the mining industry has changed from thinking about it only in terms of "water treatment" to actually seeing it as a valuable resource, a resource that needs proper management. This resource management needs to involve various aspects, such as optimizing water usage of the entire mine or concentrator site, minimizing fresh water usage, minimizing or eliminating waste generated in water treatment and implementing practices for water reuse and water recycling. This paper presents trends and new developments relating to waste and water management in the mining industry.

Jan 1, 2015

By R. C. A. Thurston

"The lack of notch ductility in structural steel in general, and in ship plate in particular, has been the object of widespread attention in the metallurgical world since the spectacular collapse of the ill-fated S.S. Schenectady in 1943. Numerous investigations have been carried out, many new tests have been developed, and a vast amount of useful data has been published, with the result that our knowledge is now far more advanced than it was at the time of this disaster. Interest has focused largely on the medium strength steels, and the various factors which cause a normally ductile steel to behave in a brittle manner in the presence of a notch and at relatively .low temperatures have been thoroughly studied.The literature available on high-tensile steels, however, is less extensive and the present paper is intended to supplement this information. Notch toughness tests have been carried out, at the request of the R.C.N., on a high-tensile manganese steel in the form of commercial ship plate. One of the newer tests, the tear test, and the Charpy V-notch impact test, were used to examine the characteristics of plate for the construction of an ice-breaker. About 250 plates, mainly in the thickness range from 11,4 in. to 1 % in., were tested. An an-alysis of the results obtained is presented, certain aspects of the tear test are discussed, and the correlation between the two types of test is studied. On the basis of information available from casualty ships, the plates, with few exceptions, were considered to be satisfactory."

Jan 1, 1959