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By C. Beaudry

Outline ? General Geology of Frieda River Project Area ? Exploration History ? Geology of Porphyry Deposits ? Porphyry Resource ? Update of Nena Deposit and High-Sulfidation Mineralization ? Nena Resource

May 1, 2006

By Stephen B. Hearn

The SLon Vertical Ring and Pulsating High Gradient Magnetic Separator was developed to overcome multiple disadvantages associated with traditional horizontal type Wet High Intensity Magnetic Separators (WHIMS) which have been in service for many decades for recovering iron ore and other minerals. Proven successful, with hundreds of units now upgrading low-grade iron ores and maximizing recovery of fines throughout China, the technology is now being tested in the Western world. This paper will discuss the drawbacks of traditional WHIMS, explain the operation of the SLon, and illustrate its practical use in processing hematite ores.

May 1, 2007

By Bill Dupley

We believe that the inability of employees to effectively manage information has reached an epidemic problem throughout the corporate world. ? All the available knowledge in the world is accelerating at a phenomenal rate. ? The whole world's codified knowledge base (all historical information in library books and electronic files) doubled every 30 years in the early 20th century. ? By the 1970s, the world's knowledge base doubled every seven years. ? Information researchers predict that by the year 2010, all the world's codified knowledge will double every 11 hours.

May 1, 2003

By B. Hoare, H. M. Hill

"SYNOPSISTailings volumes, disposal systems, effects of dam failures, construction materials, and concentrator process water volumes are discussed. Earth dams and tailings dams are discussed in detail. Some of the fundamentals of soil mechanics relating to earth dams are presented. Brief notes on optimization are presented. The development of a triplex meter for earth dam instrumentation is described. The advantages of the hydro-cycloned dam over the spigotted dam are outlined. INTRODUCTIONThe realistic and responsible recognition of the pollution problem, combined with the grossly increased volumes of waste material from large modern mining operations, has emphasized the demand for safe tailings dams at minimum cost.Tailings may be defined as the waste material from a mining operation after the process of concentration in which the minerals have been extracted for commercial use. The present revenue from the Canadian Mining Industry is slightly over $4,000,000,000 per year and it is estimated that the quantity of tailings produced exceeds 300,000,000 tons annually. In many instances, the volume of tailings from a mining operation is greater than the volume of crude ore mined on account of the small quantity of valuable mineral recovered during concentration, and on account of the ""swell factor"" resulting from the processes of drilling and blasting, crushing, and grinding of the crude ore. Some of the larger mine tailings deposits contain over 200,000,000 cubic yards and the associated tailings dams are among the largest man-ma.de structures in the world."

Jan 1, 1970

By R. Carpenter, H. Muntanion, P. Kleespies, E. Flood, M. Tansey

Abstract - BHP Minerals discovered the Archean lode gold ULU deposit on the western margin of the High Lake Volcanic Belt in 1989. The greenschist to amphibolite facies mafic volcanic and sedimentary rocks on the property are folded into a 5 km-long anticline. There is a close spatial association of Au-As zones to the trace of this F2 ULU anticline. The largest of these auriferous zones, the Flood zone, is localized at the core of the fold. The southeast-trending Flood zone consists of several anastomosing lenses that have been traced for 435 m on surface. Overall, it dips steeply (70° to 80°) to the southwest and has been intersected to depths below 600 m. The hosting high-iron tholeitic basalt displays a lower amphibolite mineral assemblage of ferrohornblende + plagioclase + ilmenite with accessory quartz and epidote. Alteration minerals include biotite, chlorite, hornblende, actinolite-tremolite, and potassium feldspar (microcline) with minor calcite, epidote, tourmaline, and titanite. The highest gold values occur where brecciated basaltic wall-rock clasts are replaced by acicular arsenopyrite + quartz + K-feldspar. BHP Minerals completed 54,783 m of both exploration and resource development drilling before selling the ULU property to Echo Bay Mines in 1995. Development of ULU as a satellite deposit to Echo Bay’s Lupin mine began in 1996. A -15% ramp was extended to the 155-meter level, and 16,011 m of underground drilling were completed before the decline in gold prices forced a suspension of activities at ULU in August 1997. The current owners, Wolfden Resources Inc., drilled 18,569 m in 2004 to increase confidence in the resource blocks. Following this drill program, a revised resource calculated by an independent consultant determined that the ULU deposit contains an inferred/indicated mineral resource of 1,130,000 t grading 11.34 g/t gold (373,748 oz) to the 360-m level. The portal was re-opened in 2005 and a prefeasibility study is underway.

Jan 1, 2004

By C. Dragusanu, J. Sims, J. Connolly

Based on a statistical analysis of the categorical and numerical data from the established geological model, a geochemical classification of mineralization has been shown to be objective in nature and correlated to the envisioned metal extraction process. Multivariate chemical classification has the potential to discriminate within a combined response from different types of alteration and metal abundances. Distinct domains of chemical response determined by clustering analysis were used as a validating criterion for a geologically driven metallurgical testing program. The groups established are spatially linked to the geological process responsible for their genesis, providing clarity in geometallurgical and resource modeling.

Jan 1, 2011

By Doug Ashbury

Diamond Miners? Challenges ? Remote ? 300 kilometres from Yellowknife ? Sub-Arctic conditions ? permafrost, climate ? No power ? No all-weather roads ? Ore bodies difficult to find ? Caribou, fish of special concern ? Communities with low education, little experience, but high expectations ? Major investment required ? Diavik C$1.3 billion

Apr 1, 2005

By Doug Barnstable

"Quinsam Coal Ltd. is assessing the potential of developing a thermal coal deposit near Middle Quinsam Lake on Vancouver Island. The coal reserve outlined is classified as a high-volatile, bituminous ""A” steam coal and is composed off our separate seams of varying quality within the Late Cretaceous Comox Formation.Open-pit mining methods will utilize a walking dragline and a truck / shovel module as the primary stripping tools. Following washing and mechanical drying in a Baum jig preparation plant, the coal will be transported to the proposed dock at Campbell River for shipment via 55, OOO-DWT vessels to world markets. The paper will outline the development and status of the project to date. IntroductionQuinsam Coal Ltd. is a joint venture of Weld wood of Canada Ltd. and Luscar Ltd . The participants propose to develop a thermal coal mine in the Middle Quinsam Lake area, 17 miles inland from Campbell River on Vancouver Island (Fig. I). By acquiring all the assets of Canadian Collieries in 1962, Weldwood also came to own the coal rights of the area proposed for development. Luscar Ltd . ha s been designated as project manager until completion of construction and thereafter will act as operator of the mine.Surface mining methods will be used to produce approximately 1.0 million short tons of coal annually from the Quinsam property. Seven separate mining pit s will be developed along with the supporting minesite facilities, including a proper paration plant. Transportation routing to Campbell River and the establishment of docking facilities will be required. The initial economic life of the mine is 12 years, with the provision to extend this in the future by developing higher-ratio, auger or underground reserves."

Jan 1, 1980

By Q. Han

Irradiation of high energy ultrasonic vibration in metals and alloys generates oscillating strain and stress fields in solids, and introduces nonlinear effects such as cavitation, acoustic streaming, and radiation pressure in molten materials. These nonlinear effects can be utilized to assist conventional material processing processes. This article describes recent research at Oak Ridge National Labs (ORNL) and Purdue University on using high intensity ultrasonic vibrations for degassing molten aluminum, processing particulate reinforced metal matrix composites, refining metals and alloys during solidification process, welding, and producing bulk nanostructures in solid metals and alloys.

Jan 1, 2014

By I. Farr, H. Wittens

"In 1989 and 1990 abnormally high levels of arsenic in ore from the Thompson Open Pit Mine threatened Manitoba Division's electro-nickel production. The paper will discuss our development of a flotation process to separate pentlandite and gersdorffite (the prime nickel and arsenic bearing minerals).The presentation will focus on the development of the process from conception, through lab and plant test work, to plant optimization and full scale production. The paper will conclude with the benefits and cost of the completed project.INTRODUCTIONRejection of arsenic from nickel sulphide ores was not a primary concern in the Manitoba Division until 1989. At that time increased production in the Thompson Open Pit mine, which contains high arsenic ore zones, resulted in excess amounts of arsenic in the Thompson Refinery affecting electro-nickel quality. This problem was resolved through extensive efforts by Mill personnel. The purpose of this paper is to familiarize the reader with- the Thompson Mill.- the mineralogy of the Thompson orebody.- the evolution of Ni/As separation in the Mill.- the metallurgical impacts of the separation on the Mill.- the importance of the separation to the Manitoba Division."

Jan 1, 1991

By I. A. Cameron

In 1979, John Peacey and William (Bill) Davenport published The Iron Blast Furnace Theory and Practice billed as "An up to date and comprehensive treatment of blast furnaces from fundamental principles to modern operations" (back cover). As a 1979 graduate of McGill University’s Metallurgical Engineering program, I belonged to the last "beta" student group which completed the prescribed blast furnace course work before The Iron Blast Furnace Theory and Practice was published. As my career developed, I become an international blast furnace consultant and have worked with blast furnace operators and raw material suppliers on 5 continents. The blast furnace is the dominate iron making process responsible for 70% of global steel production. Blast furnace engineers have implemented many improvements by manipulating the blast furnace process metallurgy using the principles presented by Peacey and Davenport to reduce coke consumption and increase oxygen usage and blast furnace productivity. This paper briefly summarizes some key principles presented by Peacey and Davenport (1979), describes process improvements made by blast furnace operators over the 35 years since The Iron Blast Furnace Theory and Practice was published and outlines important future developments in blast furnace technology.

Jan 1, 2014

By L. Bichler, C. J. Verdon

In this work, the effect of doping yttria stabilized zirconia (YSZ) with 5, 10 and 15 mol% erbium oxide (Er2O3, erbia) was investigated using spark plasma sintering (SPS) technique. Sintering was carried out at 1300°C with 30 and 60MPa uniaxial pressures and a 5min hold time. Densification kinetics were studied using displacement response from the SPS machine. As-sintered microstructure characterization was carried out via scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques, while chemical composition was characterized by energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). The results suggest that sintering carried out at 60MPa produced high density composites even though erbia dopants were found to inhibit material densification and grain growth during sintering. 5, 10 and 15mol% erbia- YSZ had cubic crystal structures, as verified by XRD analysis.

Jan 1, 2014

By Desmond M. Levins

"Australia has almost twenty per cent of the Western World's low-cost uranium reserves, located mostly in the Alligator Rivers region of the Northern Territory. At present, only one uranium mill is operating in Australia, but a number of new mills are planned for the early 1980s.Details are given of Australian uranium mining and milling proposals and the measures taken to minimize their environmental impact. Major factors affecting environmental impact are discussed, including treatment of liquid wastes, water management, control of radon and other airborne releases, and disposal of tailings. IntroductionAustralia is entering a new phase in uranium mining and milling activity . In the first phase of operations, between 1954 and 1971, about 10,000 tonnes of yellowcake was produced at five locations. Most of the production came from the mines at Rum Jungle in the Northern Territory and Mary Kathleen in Queensland. In the 1960s, the demand for uranium slumped, and much of the yellowcake produced at Rum Jungle was stockpiled by the Australian Atomic Energy Commission. The early uranium processing operations in Australia were typical of overseas practice at that time. Environmental problems were generally given low priority and pollution control measures were unacceptable by today's standards. There was little or no recycling of process water, acid waste streams were not neutralized and tailings dams were poorly designed. At Rum Jungle, oxidation of sulphides in waste heaps, tailings dumps and ore stockpiles subsequently led to destruction of vegetation and heavy metal pollution in a nearby river.In the early 1970s, major uranium deposits were discovered in the Alligator Rivers region of the Northern Territory. Significant orebodies were also located in the Great Artesian Basin in South Australia, in calcrete formations in Western Australia and at several locations in Northern Queensland. According to latest available estimates. Australia has about 160/0 of the Western World's uranium recoverable below $US 80 per kg U. Mining these orebodies will require pollution control measures more stringent than practised previously in Australia."

Jan 1, 1980

By J. Jankovic

Numerous advantages have been recognized for solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) operating at temperatures of 500-700°C. However, there are several issues related to low temperature SOFCs, such as high electrolyte resistance and high electrode polarization. One of the routes to enhance the electrode performance, particularly for the cathode, is to use new materials with optimized microstructure. In this work, the plasma-spraying technique, recognized to have several advantages over presently used deposition techniques, was used to deposit cathode materials onto ceramic and stainless steel substrates to obtain highly porous structures. Cathode materials with composition of Lao 6Sr0.4Co02Fe0 8O3 (LSCF) were employed in the powder form. The LSCF was prepared from powder precursors with different pore formers and binder levels, or from already produced, single-phase LSCF. The (La0.8Sr0.2)0.98MnO3 (LSM) cathode material was also processed for comparison purposes. The deposition process was developed to obtain coatings with good bond strength, porosity, film thickness and residual stresses. The phase and microstructure of deposited materials were characterized using XRD and SEM.

Jan 1, 2005

By A. Uribe-Salas, J. A. Finch, B. J. Huls

Froth depth or interface level is an important control variable in column flotation which can influence both grade and recovery. A common method of locating the level is based on sensing the hydrostatic pressure at one or more points along the column. The level indicated can be in considerable error, largely because of variations in froth and collection zone bulk densities. A portable conductivity probe has been developed to detect the position of the interface from conductance measurements across the interface. The location of the interface corresponds to the position where a large change in conductance is observed, which is primarily a consequence of the difference in gas holdup between the collection and froth zone. This probe detects the position of the interface to an accuracy of ± 5 cm. The probe can be used while the column is in operation, which allows for on-line recalibration of the level detection system. Results obtained in its application in a pilot-scale column (0.91 m in diameter) are described.

Jan 1, 1990

By M. C. Villeneuve, P. A. Siratovich

We present an integrated analysis of laboratory-based thermally induced fracturing and results of numerical models to give insight to the role of thermal shock fracture on geothermal reservoir rocks. Thermal stimulation is a reservoir permeability enhancement technique applied to commercial geothermal reservoir rocks to enhance fluid injection capabilities for spent power plant working fluids. The process is well known to enhance permeability but the thermodynamic and physical constraints of the process are less certain. In an attempt to constrain the interaction and the ideal conditions that lead to permeability enhancement, experimental procedures were carried out to mimic the conditions that a reservoir rock would experience during a thermal stimulation using temperature differentials ranging from 50-300°C. Samples underwent such thermal gradients under controlled laboratory conditions and were characterized for the changes to permeability, porosity, ultrasonic velocities, dynamic elastic moduli and petrological changes. The thermal stimulation was simulated in a FLAC2D thermal numerical model to investigate the nature of the thermally induced changes in the sample. The development of this model also allows us to investigate the relationship between geological characteristics and the ability to thermally stimulate any type of rock. The results indicate that numerical thermal shocking experiments are corroborated by laboratory-based results. The implication of this study is that the refined numerical models present an insight to the conditions and constraints under which thermal stimulation can prove to enhance permeability that could not be gained through purely laboratory-based studies.

Jan 1, 2015

By T. R. Yu, D. B. Counter

"In an effort to increase productivity, the use of fly ash as a binder for consolidated backfill was studied. From laboratory and underground tests f or its cementitious properties and environmental effects, it was found that a portion of Portland cement could be replaced by the same amount of type ""C"" fly ash to produce an acceptable consolidated rockfill product for use at Kidd Creek.The environmental concerns in terms of dust control and emanation of radon gas were unfounded from measurements. The dust count was comparable to the use of Portland cement only, or with ground blast furnace slag, and the radiation readings were low, averaging one-seventh the regulation level.Since May 1984, a total of over 100 000tonnes of fly ash has been consumed as a binder blended with Portland cement, producing over four million tonnes of consolidated rockfill. To date, the fill in the stopes has performed very satisfactorily, while yielding considerable cost savings.IntroductionThe Kidd Creek minesite, located 27 km north of the city centre of Timmins, Ontario, produces 4.5 million tonnes of base metal sulphide ore annually. The mining method for both No. I and No .2 mines is mainly sub-level blasthole stoping with delayed backfilling.No. 1 mine was developed with a shaft to a depth of 930 m in 1973 to recover the ore between the floor of the open pit at the 216 m horizon, and the 792 m horizon. Stopes are normally 18 m wide, 22 m to 65 m long, with heights varying from 90 m to 135 m. Vertical rib pillars between stopes are typically 24 m wide and sill pillars are 30 m thick.Pillar recovery is implemented after the consolidated rockfill placed in the mined stopes has cured for a period of at least three months. This allows a maximum recovery of the ore with a minimum of dilution, while also maintaining safe working conditions.No. 2 mine was developed from a second shaft, sunk to a depth of 1530 m in 1978, for the recovery of ore beneath the No. I mine. Sub-level stoping in No .2 mine is similar to No.1 mine in methodology, yet differs in sequencing, as no rib pillars are left."

Jan 1, 1988

By R. P. Taylor

"This paper covers the development of the property to its present production level of20,000 tonnes per day from the Valley Mine. It will also review the analysis of various case studies for the expansion of the project to its full potential, and discuss the impact of the recent structural change in the copper market on the development of a large low-grade deposit such as Valley.IntroductionIn 1964 Cominco participated, along with a number of other companies and individuals, in the formation of Valley Copper Mines Ltd. This company was formed in order to facilitate exploration on a large number of mineral claims held by these parties in British Columbia's Highland Valley, approximately 400 km northeast of Vancouver (Fig. I). Cominco 's ownership of Valley Copper was gradually increased over the years bot h through shares gained for exploration expenditures and through shares purchased on the open market. By the mid- 1970sCominco' s interest in Valley Copper exceeded 80%.ExplorationExploration from 1964 to 1969 led to the discovery of a massive porphyry copper depo sit now known as the Valley orebody. A claim boundary divided the deposit with 80% of it on Valley Copper claims and 20070 on claims held by Bethlehem Copper which was already mining adjacent copper orebodies. During the period when the Valley ore body was discovered, exploration by other companies resulted in the discovery of the large Lornex and Highrnont deposits nearby. The stage was now set for the Highland Valley to become an important copper-producing area (Fig. 2)."

Jan 1, 1986

By M. G. Lipsett

General Challenges for Mining & Mineral Processing Operations ? Capital-intensive industry ? Ongoing cost pressures ? Remote locations ? Workforce demographics ? Dynamic, unstructured, rugged environment

May 1, 2008

By Y. Long

The deep-hole surface blasting technique is a prime method of iron ore mining. Blasting fragmentation is one of the important economic indicators that measures the blast method to obtain the iron ore. To improve the efficiency of the blasting method and further reduce the cost of the subsequent processing of iron ore, this paper summarizes measured data gained from a certain amount of blasting test conducted in an iron ore mine in Guangdong province, China. According to the data analysis, there are differences on iron ore blasting fragmentation by different indicators of deep-hole blasting, such as decoupling coefficient of charge, contact state between charge and borehole wall, and change of detonation position in charge. These factors were compared in terms of relevance and impact. Research shows: under certain rock conditions, the decoupling coefficient of the charge has a best range related to blasting fragmentation. Since the detonation position in charge determines the direction of propagation of the explosion stress wave through ore and rock, bottom initiation and mid initiation will help to improve the iron ore blasting fragmentation in joints fractured rock and ore. The research conclusions have important application value for program design of iron ore surface blasting and to guide other types of rock surface blasting.

Aug 1, 2013