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By N. W. Johnson

"Two analysis tools which have been applied to problems in industrial flotation processes are the application of kinetics and detailed mineralogical or liberation data, both on a size-by-size basis. This paper describes practical examples of the application of kineticsto examination of the entrainment recovery mechanism, the retardation of valuable minerals at the commencement of flotation sections and the resolution of problems related to valuable species with reduced rate constants at the end of sections. Examples of the usefulness of size-by-size liberation data for monthly composite samples of products from a concentrator are also described.IntroductionMuch of the published industrial flotation data on the behaviour of minerals in various size fractions have been obtained from specially conducted surveys with a duration of several hours. Such data are very valuable and provide a record of the behaviour of the entire flotation plant or sections during the interval of the survey. Some examples from the literature can be cited Cameron et al. (1971), Lynch et al. (1981), Frew (1982). Less attention has been given to the value of complementary sized data derived from compositing shift or daily inventory samples over an interval of one or several weeks with repetition of the procedure at the completion of each interval. Mineralogical point count data of the size fractions of such samples and data interpretation are rare in the literature.Kinetic data on the behaviour of valuable and gangue minerals in various size fractions have been reported often for flotation banks. In the experience 0 f the writer, there has been a tendency among operating metallurgists to ascribe problems in the flotation process to rate constant values for gangue minerals which were believed to be unsatisfactorily high. Less attention has been paid to the value for the rate constant for the valuable mineral over the length of a particular bank.Examples of the types of data which were mentioned previously have been obtained from the lead-zinc concentrator at Mount Isa Mines Limited. The various types of data have been collected to evaluate their worth in order to provide relevant information for both research and operational aspects of the plant."

Jan 1, 1987

By M. M. K. McCrank

"PRACTICAL SAMPLING TECHNIQUESIt is important to achieve reliability when sampling heterogeneous materials where there is a difference in composition, and non random distribution of the constituent particles. Throughout the design, construction and installation of sampling systems it must be borne in mind that the sampling point must be capable of:-allowing each particle in the stream an equal opportunity to be sampled.-accepting and collecting as large a volume or mass of material as necessary to satisfy the requirements of particle counting statistics.-establishing a sampling plan so that the sample is representative of the whole to a defined standard of accuracy.Design ConsiderationsFactors that may influence the design of the sample point include:-the mass, or volume flow rate of the material being sampled-the size and shape of the material or flowing stream-the physical condition of the material being sampled (i.e. temperature, wetness, size consist, density).-the chemical composition of the material being sampled -the location of the sample point and the space available for installation, extraction, reduction where necessary, secondary sampling, and return of the sample rejects downstream.-whether the process to be sampled is in an existing plant or one yet to be designed and built.-ease of access for servicing and maintaining the equipment.-whether the sampled material must be collected continuously or intermittently.-whether an existing sampling method is likely to be adequate or whether a new technique has to be developed."

Jan 1, 1989

By Benjamin A. Allou

La seule production de columbo-tantalite réalisée en Côte d?Ivoire est effectuée dans les éluvions et alluvions du gisement d?Issia, localisé au Centre- Ouest de la Côte d?Ivoire. Même si un lien direct avec les roches granitiques est suspecté, aucune attention particulière n?a été accordée à l?étude de la minéralisation primaire en relation avec l?évolution des granites et des pegmatites associées. Ces granites, qui sont en intrusion dans les roches sédimentaires du Protérozoïque inférieur, comprennent : le granite orienté à deux micas (Lobo), le granite orienté à muscovite dominante (Bitapia) et le granite porphyroïde non orienté à muscovite dominante (Issia). Les résultats de cette étude indiquent que les pegmatites à Nb-Ta-Be-Li sont liées au granite de type Issia. Les observations de terrain et les analyses sur roche totale des granites montrent que: (1) les trois principaux granites de la région sont de type- S et peralumineux dans leur composition, (2) ils ont été formés pendant la période tardi- à post-Éburnéenne, (3) le granite d?Issia fut le dernier à se mettre en place. Les pegmatites liées au granite d?Issia ont été classées en quatre types : Apegmatites stériles; B- pegmatites à Be; C- pegmatites zonées à Nb-Ta-Be; et Dpegmatites zonées à Be-Nb-Ta-Li. Les pegmatites zonées comprennent les zones suivantes: I- zone à aplite; II- zone graphique; III- zone à albite, microcline, béryl et columbo-tantalite; IV - zone à microcline massive; V- zone à quartz. Ces pegmatites présentent une zone d?altération métasomatique externe. La minéralisation de Ta, Nb et Be est liées à la zone III des pegmatites de types C et D, et celle de Li est associée aux greisens qui peuvent être observés n?importe où dans les pegmatites de type D. Les données de terrain et de laboratoire indiquent que le granite d?Issia est la roche parentale des pegmatites à éléments rares de la région. Les pegmatites minéralisées sont distribuées seulement autour du granite d?Issia et les patrons des terres rares des granites et ceux des pegmatites à éléments rares sont très similaires. Les analyses de la composition totale montrent un lien génétique entre le granite d?Issia et les pegmatites à éléments rares. Il est suggéré que les pegmatites ont été formées durant le transport et la cristallisation fractionnée du magma.

May 1, 2003

By E. Henry, C. Mayer, H. Rott

Hangingwall deformation monitoring at Kiruna mine is a major concern for Luossavaara- Kiirunavaara AB (LKAB) since underground production is deepening toward the town of Kiruna. In the quest for more effective monitoring techniques, LKAB decided to evaluate the ability of satellite-borne synthetic aperture radar (SAR) interferometry to monitor ground subsidence by generating continuous deformation maps from satellite radar images. While adopted by other geoscience-related industries, SAR interferometry is still relatively untested in the mining industry. This paper describes the basic principles of SAR interferometry and describes how subsidence is monitored at Kiruna mine. The encouraging results are discussed as well as the benefits (continuous deformation mapping, low cost, fast, etc.) and limitations (sensitivity to snow and vegetation cover) of the technique.

Jan 1, 2004

By G. R. Rawsthorne

"The Con-Rycon mine is located on the north shore of Great Slave Lake in the Northwest Territories within the present city limits of Yellow-knife. Development work on the Con property started in 1936, resulting in a mine-mill complex which produced its first gold brick on September 5, 1938. Since that date 5,000,000 tons of ore have been mined yielding 3,000,000 ounces of gold. At present there are 220 employees at the mine.MineThe mine has 1.22 miles of vertical shaft, 41 miles of level development and 10 miles of inclined raises. There has been 1,000,000 feet of diamond drilling in search of ore. The temperature at the 4900 level (4400 feet below sea level) is 68 deg. F.The present mining method is cut and fill. The majority of the ore mined today passed through an internal winze before reaching the main shaft. The long haulage and double handling will be eliminated with the completion of a new shaft presently under construction to the 5800 level.MineralizationThe ore treated today is from the Campbell shear 1vhich is characterized by lenses and veinlets of coarse textured quartz containing some carbonate, sulphides and finely disseminated as well as visible gold. At the lower levels of the mine the arsenopyrite content in the ore is de-creasing with a~ increase in the levels of chalcopyrite and pyrrhotite."

Jan 1, 1974

By A. Sheikh, S. Hardcastle

"Various methods of leaching are being used by Denison Mines Ltd. Uranium Operations. This study was designed to investigate the flood leaching operation of two parallel inter-connected stopes contained by pressure bulkheads. The teaching muck piles, created from large scale uppers production blasts, are aerated by compressed air lines laid beneath the pile prior to blasting.A SFr, tracer gas, injection technique has been employed to determine the post-blast integrity of the single-ended air distribution system. SF6 was injected into the compressed air line feed to the stopes and collected at borehole exhausts from the stopes in grab-sampling bags. Analyses of the air samples were performed with a gas chromatograph.The system was designed to give a sufficiency of oxygen to sustain bacterial activities used to enhance the leaching recovery in the muck piles. The results obtained indicated that there is a minor anomaly in the distribution system that may not be critical to the operation. Compared to an idealized case, the over-all efficiency of aeration throughout the muck is estimated at over 85%."

Jan 1, 1988

By F. Rosenblum, P. Spira

"Techniques were developed to determine the oxygen demand of sulphide ore pulps in the laboratory and in concentrators. The effect of variables which influence oxygen demand was studied, and it is shown that the oxygen demand is a measure of the degree of oxidation of the sulphide surfaces. It is suggested that in investigating the significance of oxygen in flotation, the oxygen demand of the pulp is a more suitable parameter than the dissolved oxygen content.Oxygen demand measurements are being carried out with a view to determining the effect of aeration on mill metallurgy and devising improved methods of predicting aeration requirements of sulphide ores.The importance of pulp oxidation in the flotation of massive sulphide ores has long been recognized. At the Noranda concentrator, chalcopyrite could not be floated satisfactorily without a pre-flotation aeration step because the necessary dissolved oxygen was consumed by the large amount of pyrrhotite in the ore. With aeration, pyrrhotite and pyrite were depressed by surface •oxidization, and the resulting thiosulphate level in solution gave a good indication of the end of useful aeration. 1'he present study was prompted by the need to find an alternative criterion for cases where recycled mill water may contain a relatively high concentration of thiosulphate. Preliminary experiments suggested that the rate of oxygen uptake by the pulp -its oxygen demand -might be a practical measure of the end point of aeration as well as a significant parameter in the flotation of massive sulphide ores.Although it has long been realized that oxygen is an important variable in flotation, analytical difficulties precluded detailed plant investigations. Measurements of' dissolved oxygen in mill pulps were first reported by Ralston(i) in 1929. A titration method was used, and because of the delay occasioned by the preparation of clear solution samples, the values obtained were believed to be low. It was quite evident, however, that pulps in the grinding circuit had a lower oxygen content than in flotation. More recently, Woodcock(2,3) used a polarographic probe to carry out oxygen surveys in six Australian concentrators and he generally observed a similar pattern. A large number of other solution parameters were monitored, such as pH, redox potential, reducing power, and reagent and metal concentrations, with the aim of detecting correlations among the measured variables. A few potentin.lly useful relationships were found ""or specific operations in certain plants."

Jan 1, 1974

By A. H. Mumin, A. K. Somarin, K. S. Oran

"Synvolcanic structures played a fundamental role in the genesis, morphology, and siting of volcanogenic massive sulfide ores and associated hydrothermal alteration in the Archean South Sturgeon Lake caldera complex. The most voluminous and persistent hydrothermal venting and massive sulfide deposition occurred along synvolcanic rifts and grabens associated with faults and tectonic fissures that created permeable fracture zones deep enough to access the underlying hydrothermal reservoir. The type of fracturing is highly variable and changes with the composition, competency, degree of consolidation, and alteration of host rocks. Synvolcanic structures and fracture styles also vary according to the amount and type of tectonic movement, including extension-related collapse, shearing and faulting perpendicular to the principal direction of extension, and orthogonal faulting and shearing. Permeable conduits were created by tension fracturing along fault zones, brittle deformation at the intersections of orthogonal faults, and by extensional fractures in stockworks. In texturally uniform footwall rocks, the distribution of alteration zones was controlled by the morphology of the structural conduit. In rocks with vertical and/or lateral facies, permeability, and competency changes (e.g., Lyon Lake graben), there was an additional stratigraphic control over fluid migration. Some crosscutting synvolcanic structures, alteration zones, and intrusions appear as stratiform units at the present erosion surface due to regional deformation and the present attitude of the volcanic stratigraphy.Hydrothermal mineral assemblages (e.g., quartz, carbonates, chlorite, pyrite, chalcopyrite) infilling structurally induced fractures provide good evidence of fluid migration pathways. However, mineralogy can vary significantly according to the fluid characteristics, host rock geochemistry, and subsequent metamorphic history of the area.Clearly, one of the best methods for locating volcanogenic massive sulfide deposits is to delineate the attitudes of synvolcanic structures, and explore those that show evidence of associated high-temperature hydrothermal mineral assemblages. Excellent exploration targets occur where synvolcanic structures with hydrothermal alteration intersect paleo-seafloor horizons."

Jan 1, 2007

By R. Scheepers

"Abstract -Mineral deposits and prospects of the Pan African Saldanian orogenic belt in the south­ western Cape Province South Africa, are reviewed. Despite the entire absence of operating base or precious metal mines in the area, this study has established at !east four metal associations that offer enticing exploration potential .The poly-phase deformed, low-grade metamorphosed volcano-sedimentary Malmesbury Group constitutes a complex, poorly understood supracrustal sequence that has been loosely subdivided into the Tygerberg, Swartland and Boland tectono-stratigraphic terranes by northwesterly trending fault zones. Syn- and post-tectonic granitoids of the Cape Granite Suite selectively intruded these terranes. Early S-types preferred the Tygerberg terrane whereas the later I-types dominate the remaining areas. Anorogenic A-type granites, however, occur in all three domains. Known metallization is directly or indirectly related to the intrusives, yet syngenetic deposits are conspicuously absent from the supracrustals. Four metal associations have been identified.•,Cassiterite-wolfrarnite (± Au, Cu, Mo, Fe-sultides) in quartz and quartz/aplite veins hosted by tourmalinized and locally greissenized S-type granite. Similar exo-granitic veins occur in proximal metamorphites.•,Juxtaposed disseminated, stockwork, breccia and vein style Cu-Mo-Fe-(Au)-sultide mineralization hosted by matie to intermediate intrusives of high K calc-alkaline, 1-type affinity.•,Cu-Mo-Au-sultides hosted by hydraulic breccia pipes, stocks and veins occurring in anorogenic A-type alkali feldspar granites and amphibole quartz syenites.•,Scheelite with minor Cu-Mo-sulfides and Au-associated with endo- and exo-skarns spatially related to I-type monzogranite, granite and alkali feldspar granite .The first three associations occur along the Yzerfontein-Helderberg-Zone, a 180 km lineament in the Tygerberg terrane, a zone exploited by syn-, late- and post-tectonic intrusives and their related mineralization. The fourth association is typical of the Boland terrane. The spatial and temporal relationships between the various metal associations is interpreted as the result of sequential intrusion of relative early high level S-type, followed by intermediate level I-type and finally anorogenic A-type granitoids during the evolution of a contracting continental margin arc and its inner arc. This plate tectonic setting suggests subduction in an easterly direction underneath the Kalahari craton. The spatial configuration of the various terranes at the present erosional levels is the result of rifting and significant differential vertical displacement following cessation of subduction, a terminal tectonic event possibly synchronous with intrusion of the A-type granitoids.Near surface preserved roof zones and cupolas of both S- and I-type granitoids in the Tygerberg and Boland terranes, respectively, render these areas extremely prospective for Sn, W, Mo and Au mineralization. The presence of intermediate to mafic volcanics, a diversity of calcareous lithotypes and favorable plate tectonic setting of the Malmesbury Group suggest potential for the thus far elusive VMS, MVT and Sedex base metal and minor precious metal deposits."

Jan 1, 1994

By A. A. Holland

Introduction The world's largest known deposits of natural sodium sulphate (Glauber salt), generally termed 'alkali ' throughout western Canada, are located in the Province of Saskatchewan: reserves are estimated to exceed 200,000,000 tons. These are surface deposits resulting from the recent or present-day natural evaporation of brines, in which respect they are similar to those occurring in certain other parts of the world, as in semi-arid sections of the United States, Russia, Germany and Austria. In some areas, underground deposits formed hundreds of thousands of years ago have been _encountered in drilling, and indications are that they also were formed under arid or semi-arid conditions. The master key to the formation of deposits of natural sodium sulphate, wherever they occur, is a climate, either past or present, under which evaporation exceeds precipitation over a considerable period of time. Commercial development of the Saskatchewan deposits began about thirty years ago. Previously, the demand for sodium sulphate had largely been met by salt cake produced as a by-product in the manufacture of hydrochloric acid from common salt. The rapid increase in the production of Kraft paper and, more recently, the development of synthetic detergent materials, have caused a marked increase in the market for sodium sulphate. This chemical gives the extra toughness to Kraft paper and is used in detergent compositions in proportions as high as 75 per cent. Saskatchewan now has six commercial plants producing natural sodium sulphate. Production from each in the fiscal years 1947 and 1948 is shown in Table I. The newest and latest plant is that of Saskatchewan Minerals, at Chaplin, which 1s designed to produce up to 150,000 tons of salt cake, 98.5 to 99.5 per cent pure, yearly. This is equivalent to about 24 percent of the total United States production of crude commercial salt cake for 1947.

Jan 1, 1949

By Paul Gauthier

Aujourd?hui, avec un faible prix de l?or sur le marché, les opérateurs miniers doivent revoir leur façon de faire. La méthode de minage «Eureka» permet de réduire les coûts de production et d?accélérer la mise en production des chantiers. Les principales étapes du cycle de minage et les problématiques associées à l?utilisation de cette méthode à la Mine Bousquet y sont décrites.

Oct 1, 2001

By C. R. Edwards, J. R. Smith

"INTRODUCTIONThe purpose of this paper is to give an overview of the ALSANDS PROJECT, with emphasis on the approach taken in the design of the Primary Extraction and Froth Treatment Plants.The Alsands Consortium (Table 1) is a Joint Venture of 9 companies formed in 1978, with its prime objective to obtain governmental approval and concomitant suitable commercial terms to build and operate a third oil sands mining and upgrading facility in the Athabasca Oil Sands Deposit.Alsands Energy Limited is the Consortium Manager.The Alsands Project will provide about 10 percent of Canada's forecast crude oil production by 1990, which will be 20,700 cubic metres per day (130,000 barrels/day) of synthetic crude oil plus 1,100 cubic metres per day (7,000 barrels/day) of liquid petroleum gases. To construct Alsands the time required by construction labour, field non-manual and engineering support personnel as well as those trades involved in project-related urban development will total approximately 100,000,000 manhours or 50,000 man years. During regular operations, 4,800 people will be employed by Alsands.Approximately $13 billion will be spent to design, construct and start up the plant by the scheduled 1988 completion date."

Jan 1, 1982

By P. Choquet, F. Miller

"The development and testing of a simple low-cost gauge for measurement of tension in a cable bolt grouted in a borehole are presented. Its principle is based on a resistance wire which is wound on a 70 cm length into the spiral grooves of the wire strand cable bolt. Readings are then taken by a robust automatic data logger with a several day autonomy or by a portable readout. In order to have a complete profile of tension along the cable bolt, a number of tension gauges can be installed along its length.This paper provides a description of the development and laboratory calibration of the tension gauge and addresses the two modes of loading for a cable bolt in a rock mass, namely pure tension and shearing at a joint location.In the second part of the paper, four field tests in underground and open pit mines are reported. The first test was used to substantially modify both the gauge and the readout unit principles while the other tests which are still on-going show a very satisfactory behaviour of the modified version of the tension gauge. IntroductionCable-bolting is often used as ground support in Canadian mines for a variety of applications. In underground mines, cable bolts can be installed vertically at the back of cut and fill stopes or in an inclined fashion in the walls of large open stopes. Alternatively, cable bolts at Mines Gaspe (Noranda Inc.) are used in a fan-shaped pattern from a drill drift to stabilize the inclined roof in 25 m wide open stapes. This new application oriented our research efforts toward the design of a novel instrumentation to monitor the efficiency of most commonly used 5/8-inch cable bolts."

Jan 1, 1988

By T. A. Kirk

"The Linatex Dewatering System is a compact, low capital and maintenance cost matched set of processing equipment suitable for solids recovery, dewatering and desliming sand-like materials in the range 3/8"" to 325 mesh ( 1). Since its introduction to North America in the early 1970s, various elements of the system have been successfully installed in a variety of applic11tions both in Canada and the U.S.A. Examples are chosen from the coal, fine aggregates, iron ore and industrial minerals industries.II. Elements of the Linatex Solids Recovery System(A) The Linatex Separator (See Fig.I)The Linatex Separator, which is the heart of the system, is a specialized type of hydrocyclone designed to give a self regulating rope discharge product. It has the familiar cyclone geometry of cylindrical and conical section, tangential inlet, apex and vortex finder. The apex is enclosed in a unique patented automatic underflow regulator consisting of a collapsible rubber sleeve, and the overflow line is a siphon-leg, with a controlled air bleed valve. The siphon leg is adjusted so as to balance the internal negative pressure acting as a closing force on the underflow regulator against the mass of slurry pressing down on it from the cone section of the Separator. With correct adjustment the underflow regulator will close drip-tight on a water only feed. As solids accumulate in the apex of the cone the weight of solids counterbalances the vacuum and cat1ses the underflow regulator to open and discharge classified material at a controlled density."

Jan 1, 1978

By W. H. Patterson

The history and experience of early companies in the Islands is illustrated by the typical transactions of Trans-Western from 1959 to date. Trans-Western had entered into farmout agreements with companies strong enough to carry out at least the required minimum exploratory work and then such development as might be warranted. The farmee companies were required to make deposits to guarantee work performance during the first period of validity, i.e. the first 3 years of the 12-year life of the permits, and at the rate of 5 cents per acre. At that time, a good deal of geology was available, as a result of extensive exploration that had been carried on by the Geological Survey of Canada and other geological enterprises, with field parties travelling over and camping on all of those Islands. Trans-Western's farmees then selected, from Trans-Western's priority on 13.5 million acres, what they believed were the lands most prospective of producing large oil and gas discoveries, and, having the right to trim off acreage which they considered less prospective, thereby reducing the acreage of Trans-Western and its farmees to in excess of 5.5 million acres. The farmees then commenced a 3-year program carrying out geological exploration to the required minimum of 5 cents per acre, and with some permanent and many mobile camps.

Jan 1, 1969

By L. C. Bird, N. T. L. Landgren, M. W. Mikhail

"Through funds made available in 1972 by the Nova Scotia Department of Mines and Energy (DME) and the federal Department of Regional Economic Expansion, a program was initiated to recover saleable coal from mine waste dumps adjacent to the existing Acadia wash plant in Stellarton, Nova Scotia.Following evaluation of these dumps in 1972, the Acadia wash plant was modified to treat high-ash material. The first production was recorded in late 1974. By the end of 1979, a total of 738,202 t of dump material had been processed, yielding a total of 205,212 t of thermal-quality coal.The successful Stellarton operation led to considering the possibility of recovering thermal coal from other dumps. Evaluation of the Westville dumps indicated total recoverable reserves of 1,346,617 t averaging 53.8OJo ash.Parameters for plant design were defined from the washability characteristics of the dump material and the results of a bulk test. Two options were proposed; one was to use the existing plant with some modifications, the other was to build a modular mobile plant that could be used at future dump sites in the province after Westville. At the 25% ash level, the potential recovery of coal from the dump was estimated at 41% yield (by weight) or 549,679 t."

Jan 1, 1981

By R. A. Ozerkevich, R. J. Voisey

"SherrGold's MacLellan V ne is located about five miles south east of Lynn Lake immediately to the east of the Keewatin River. (Figure # 1)The property is accessible by an all weather road, leading north from the provincial highway 391, which links Lynn Lake with the Town of. Leaf Rapids and the city of Thompson to the south.The MacLellan Mine (formerly the Agassiz property) was discovered in the early 1950's and optioned from Comiesa Corporation in 1979 by Sherritt. SherrGold Inc. was formed in September 1985. Sherritt then transferred the MacLellan Mine, 15 other gold prospects in the Lynn Lake area and the old Lynn Lake nickel-copper mill to SherrGold. At the same time Sherrgold entered into a management agreement with Sherritt whereby Sherritt would develop and operate the MacLellan Mine and conduct SherrGold's exploration activities.The ore body as outlined in the original feasibility study is expected to produce in excess of 300,000 ounces of gold and 450,000 ounces of silver over the next 5 years. However the deposit is open to depth and exploration is continuing on and around the main zone and the many satellite deposits.The start of construction of the MacLellan mine and mill was scheduled to phase in with the closure of the Fox copper-zinc mine located 30 miles west of Lynn Lake. The majority of the employees from the Fox Operation were either employed at the MacLellan mine or relocated to Sherritt's Ruttan Operation."

Jan 1, 1987

By K. Szafran, R. E. L. Seal, M. Tansey

Conversion of hydraulic equipment to fire resistant fluids has been hampered by less than satisfactory component performance and in some cases, catastrophic equipment failure. Concern over identifying possible causes to these problems led to a joint research project between the Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan Mining Limited and the University of Saskatchewan. This paper summarizes some of the results and conclusions derived from this joint project. In this study, the research was limited to evaluating the effects of potash contamination on the performance of hydraulic equipment. Two separate types of tests were conducted in order to provide a basis upon which trends could be established. This study concluded that the presence of potash dust in the hydraulic fluid can induce severe wear over relatively short periods of time. It was also deduced that a contaminant free fluid combined with proper fluid maintenance could extend the performance of hydraulic components using fire resistant fluids even under very severe operating conditions, such as elevated pressures and temperatures. Recommendations as to how to achieve this goal and the practicality of doing so are presented.

Jan 1, 1988

By O. P. Garg

"The Iron Ore Company of Canada (IOC) operations in Labrador and Quebec, in Canada, is among the largest openpit mining complexes on a world wide basis. Since the 1981-82 recession, IOC has embarked on a comprehensive cost reduction and productivity improvement program in order to survive in the world iron ore market.This paper will outline the approach used in prioritizing the cost reduction items.IntroductionMuch of the mining industry in North America is in a crisis state. Most producers are operating at production levels well below capacity, some have been merged or sold, while others have been mothballed or closed permanently. For many of us still operating, the future is uncertain. Despite the many cutbacks and closures, there is still an abundant supply of minerals in the world market and there is almost no hope for any relief on price pressures on most mineral commodities in the near future. The Iron Ore Company of Canada (IOC) operates an iron ore mine, a concentrator and a pellet plant known as the Carol Project located in Labrador City, Newfoundland. This concentrator and the pellet plant have the annual capacity to produce 20 million and 10 million tons respectively. A company owned and operated railway links this operation with the dock terminal facilities in Sept-Iles, Quebec.In the past decade the Iron Ore Company of Canada has been one of the largest producers of iron ore products in the world. Its pellets and concentrates as well as natural ores were sold in North America, Europe and the Far East. In 1981-82, sales, particularly in North America, went into a serious decline. For almost 30 years, the gospel IOC preached to employees was ""production, production!"" There were many innovations, and millions of dollars were spent on the biggest and best equipment, on research and development, on training and developing employees."

Jan 1, 1987

By E. Douglas, V. M. Malhotra

"This report presents the results of a laboratory study undertaken to evaluate ground granulated blast-furnace slag from Algoma Steel Corporation, as a replacement for Portland cement in cemented mine backfill. The evaluation was based on the results of compressive strength tests performed on cylinders cast from mixtures made with a granulated blast-furnace slag and tailings from four different mines in the Sudbury basin. Various percent¬ages of slags and various binder to tailings ratios were used.Tests results show that, in terms of compressive strength, the slag performs as well or better than Portland cement as the binding agent in cemented mine backfill. Lime was found to be a poten¬tially good activator for ground granulated slag in mine backfill applications.A field test was conducted at one of the mines, consisting of placing a mixture of 95.5% ground granulated slag and 0.5% lime into a stope, and inspecting the floor slab as it hardened. The slag performed as expected, considering the backfill mixture proportions used and the preparation of the test site."

Jan 1, 1989