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By L. D. Roper

"This paper introduces novel comminution flowsheet concepts involving a novel apparatus, eccentric-high-pressure-centrifugal-comminution (eHPCC), and forthcoming advantages to the international mineral processing community. eHPCC is one-machine synergising high-pressure-rolling surfaces, high-intensity-attrition and centrifugal classification. eHPCC has demonstrated: an absorbed power- intensity of 4 MW/m3; receipt of lump feed whilst producing 80% of product particles less than (p80) 120 µm (choke-fed, dry, open circuit without grinding media; an inert comminution environment); tramp metal tolerance, and a minimum embodied-free-energy saving of 15% as compared against conventional comminution (this comparison withstanding 133-times difference in throughput). Furthermore, this paper introduces: process design and operating characteristics of eHPCC (wet, dry, with and without grinding media); reline considerations (vertical-lift without confined-space). The international mineral processing community is invited to consider eHPCC as an alternative to conventional comminution circuits and/ or complimentary so as to enhance existing process flow sheets.INTRODUCTIONEccentric-high-pressure-centrifugal-comminution (eHPCC) was conceived in 2013 (Patents pending) and has the potential to eliminate the in-efficiencies and complexity of conventional tumbling mill circuits. During the development and testing phase eHPCC demonstrated improved energy efficiency and sustainability offsets.eHPCC will compliment any upstream feed source, be it run-of-mine (ROM), primary crushed rock, or any other conventional comminution stream such as tumbling mill oversize. Another novelemerging technology, Conjugate Anvil-Hammer Mill (CAHM) (Nordell and Potapov, 2011), receiving ROM, will be a complimentary open-circuit feed to eHPCC for very high throughput flow-sheets.eHPCC may compliment downstream process requirements through selective mineral liberation. Selective mineral liberation is entirely feasible as the ore is comminuted upon itself (autogenously) in the high pressure zone caused by the synchronous rotating components."

Jan 1, 2016

By W. Geslin

Backward extrusion process is a metal forming process, which limits the manufacturing?s extra thickness when compared with classical die forging technique. Because of a lack of alloy?s mechanical behavior knowledge, the basic strategy of design is as follow: ?Definition of a small scale blank ?Performing experiment in order to get useful process data ?Improvement finite element simulation conditions ?Development of the full scale blank forming process (design of tools,...) using the finite element simulation A comparison between the result of modeling and the experimental data has been done to validate the finite element simulation.

Aug 1, 2010

By P. K. Kaiser, D. D. Tannant

"A support system for large ground convergence conditions or burst-prone ground must contain holding elements (rockbolts, cable bolts, etc.) that are strong yet capable of sustaining large deformations, i.e., they must absorb as much energy as possible. Steel wire rope anchored in a borehole by a friction bolt provides these desired yield characteristics if the frictional anchorage is placed deep enough into the rockmass, i.e., in non-yielding rock or beyond the expected depth of rock ejected during a rockburst. Pull-out tests were conducted on wire ropes anchored by inflated Swellex bolts to assess the feasibility of this support concept. The test results demonstrate that a Swellex bolt generates a frictional anchorage that allows the wire rope to slide at high loads and to absorb significantly more energy than either a Swellex bolt alone, or a cement-grouted cable.The rope/friction bolt combination can be engineered to provide the desired energy absorption and allowable deformation by varying the installed lengths of the friction bolt and the rope. For yielding rope support, the contact length between the rope and Swellex bolt must be short enough to ensure that the rope can slip well before its tensile capacity is reached. A safe maximum overlap length is about one metre for the wire rope used in this testing. When used as support in the backs of drifts, a swaged button on the ropes end must be used to ultimately mobilize the full rope capacity thereby protecting against gravity-driven falls of ground."

Jan 1, 1995

The introduction consists of back-ground information, of an historical and statistical nature, relating to the Thompson mine. The geological presentation is based on illustrations that are intended to provide a progressively closer look at the ore occurrence. The illustrations consist of an index map, a geological map of a 15-by 85-mile area including the Thompson mine, a series of four maps dealing with the geophysics and geology of a 6-by 4\f.j-mile area at Thompson, a mine level plan and corresponding section, two sto11e 11lans and corresponding sections, and photo-graphs and photomicrogra11hs of the various one types. T HE Thompson mine is located about 400 miles due north of Winnipeg. The ore deposit was dis-covered in February, 1956. Five years later on March 25, 1961, the Thompson production facilities were officially dedicated with the shearing of the first nickel produced at the Thompson refinery. Full production, at an annual rate of more than 75,000,000 lbs. of refined nickel, was attained later in the year.

Jan 1, 1963

By H. R. Manouchehri

"It is well understood that, apart from particle hydrophobicity, the flotation process is strongly influenced by the cell hydrodynamics. Once the chemical conditions were optimized and fixed, the flotation rate is essentially determined by impeller speed and the air flow rate.The collection efficiency in flotation is a product of collision, attachment and stability/detachment efficiencies. The collision efficiency for a given particle diameter is increased by decreasing the bubble size and bubble velocity as well as increasing the power input to the cell. The attachment efficiency, however, is defined by bubble size and its velocity. The detachment/stability depends on the relative magnitudes of the attachment force between the bubble and particles and the detachment force acting on the bubble-particle aggregates. For the particles having specific contact angle, the stability decreases as the energy input increases. Therefore, there must be an optimum energy dissipation to maximize recover of defined size fraction.A comprehensive laboratory study was devoted to determine the effect of power input in recovery of finely grind Cu-Ni bearing ore. Several flotation tests were conducted to define the hydrodynamic parameters for a laboratory scale Runge cell under different impeller speeds. An increase in flotation recovery of finely ground ore was observed when the impeller speed was increased from 450 to 1,200 rpm. The experimental results have shown increasing in water recovery and improving in flotation kinetics of fines by increasing the power input to the flotation cell. Implementation of the Wark flotation model to the experimental data revealed a good correlation between the experimental data and the model. For the particles having enough hydrophobicity the flotation rate increases by increasing the impeller speed due to a higher value for collision efficiency within the cell."

Jan 1, 2016

By Anthony P. Makuch

Dynatec Corporation is an integrated mining services company, providing mine development, operations management, engineering, drilling and metallurgical services to the North American mining industry. Dynatec was the contract operator of the Ken Snyder Mine in Midas, Nevada from start of production in January 1999 to September 2001. This paper summarizes Dynatec?s experience and approach to the use of longhole stoping methods for mining to widths of 1.3 to 2 metres in a steeply dipping narrow vein orebody.

Oct 1, 2001

By C. Jay Hodgson, Adrienne C. L. Larocque

Abstract -The Mobrun VMS deposit in northwestern Quebec does not fit the classic Noranda­ type model, but exhibits characteristics more consistent with a Mattabi-type deposit. The orebodies are underlain by fragmental volcanic rocks indicative of explosive volcanism in shallow water. Felsic volcanic rocks are more abundant than mafic rocks. Alteration assemblages comprise chlorite, carbonate, sericite, and quartz. Broad semi-conformable alteration occurs high in the footwall to the 1100 lens. Mobrun occurs higher in the stratigraphic sequence than most of the other deposits in the Noranda camp. In this part of the stratigraphy, zones of pervasive carbonatization may be more useful guides for exploration than zones of silicification.

Jan 1, 1993

By T. C. Chudy, C. C. Hamilton, G. R. Lane

The selection and provision of mineralogical services to assist in developing a GeoMetallurgical program for a Cu Porphyry Mine in South America is covered in this paper and presentation. The objectives of the study were to provide a rapid mineralogical scoping protocol to support and confirm results of sequential Cu leach data and to provide detailed mineralogical analysis of four composites and products on which locked cycle test-work were performed. Results showed good reconciliation was achieved between measured chalcopyrite and secondary Cu mineral contents with leach data using a linear intercept mineralogical procedure by TIMA (Tescan Integrated Mineral Analyser), as well as a generally positive correlation between pyrite and Cu-sulphide grain size. Size-by-size analysis of Composite feeds and test products was used to outline comparisons between feeds on a mineralogical basis and provide liberation and association data with which to diagnose and better explain performance. Identifying key mineralogical drivers to Cu recovery and concentrate grades using these results, a greater understanding of the role of chalcocite and pyrite on metallurgical performance was established. INTRODUCTION As a global supply of copper, porphyry copper deposits are typically very large, often in excess of a billion tons of ore (Keeney, Walters, & Kojovic, 2011; McMillan & Panteleyev, 1980) with grades typically between 0.2 and 1.2% Cu, and up to 2% Cu in places. They are also a source of gold. The complexity of copper porphyries arises from their classically zoned nature, the type of host rock, as well as whether or not they have been overprinted by oxidation, weathering and supergene enrichment (Sillitoe, 2011). Zones of alteration and other geological attributes give rise to varied mineralogy, ore mineral textures and material properties, all of which result in different processing characteristics. Due to the interdependencies of geological and processing characteristics, it is vital to study links between the geology at the macro-scale and mineralogical features down to millimeter and micrometer scale (mineral content and texture) and their influences on mineral processing behaviour (Cropp, Goodall, & Bradshaw, 2013). The growing field of GeoMetallurgy aims to provide an Orebody Knowledge framework by which to gather such information as it pertains to: (1) Understanding and predicting likely flotation response; (2) Guiding relevant test work to investigate and validate links, interdependencies, theories and data interpretation/evaluation; (3) Populate a block model with relevant information and; (4) Implement and refine the model for ongoing optimization and control. Specific questions addressed by using mineralogy often include flotation diagnostics as aids to interpretation, causes of dilution and losses to tailings, as well as guidance to sampling for test work (Cropp et al., 2013).

Jan 1, 2019

By H. Helmstaedt, P. Thurston, R. Harrap

"Evolution of the continental lithosphere over Earth’s 4.6 billion year history is one of the fundamental questions of geoscience. Much of the Earth’s present-day continental crust formed during the first 2 billion years, the Archean eon, of the planet’s lifetime and thus, Archean processes of lithospheric formation must be studied in order to address this question. Until recently, the processes of Archean lithospheric evolution were thought to be fundamentally different from present-day plate tectonic processes. However, subsequent evidence suggests that the growth of Archean continents may be explained in terms of modern tectonic accretionary tectonics similar to those presently operating in the southwest Pacific region. The evidence supporting this hypothesis was compiled largely by Canadian geoscientists working in the Superior Province of the Canadian Shield in northwestern Ontario, over the past 15 years. Study of Archean rocks is also economically important because the Archean rocks of the world, although comprising only a relatively small fraction of the exposed continental crust, contain much of the world’s mineral wealth, including more than half of the world’s gold, as well as significant base metal reserves. Furthermore, the vast majority of primary economic diamond deposits are derived from the lithospheric roots beneath Archean cratons.The LITHOPROBE Western Superior Transect is located within the western part of the Superior Province in northwestern Ontario (Fig. 1). The Superior Province is the largest and best exposed Archean crustal block in the world and forms the nucleus of the North American continent. The internal structure of the Superior Province records a history of the processes that formed the earliest lithospheric elements of the Earth into cratons, thus providing an ideal laboratory for investigating early crustal evolution. The Western Superior Province is characterized by a regional pattern of alternating, 100 km to 200 km wide geological belts (Fig. 2). The observed geologic relationships between and within these subprovinces have been explained in terms of a modern tectonic model of terrane accretion. Oceanic floor, volcanic island arcs, oceanic sediments and continental fragments were accreted successively from north to south against the southern margin of a cratonic nucleus (North Caribou terrane, Fig. 2) which grew steadily in size with the arrival of new terranes through geologic time. If this model is correct, it suggests that the tectonic processes operating today have been active without major variation over the past 3 billion years."

Jan 1, 1998

By E. H. Henderson

MR. R. V. NEILY stated that he had at one time operated at Goldenville. The practice and results are much the same now as in the olden days. Inside plates were then found to be a source of trouble and had been removed. At the Libbey mine, Queen's county, the sulphides carried considerable gold, and $45.00 to $60.00 per ton had been recovered from the concentrates by roasting and chlorinating. Later, concentrates were treated with bromocyanide. Following that practice, a cyanide leaching plant was installed, which did not require concentration of the tailings. Cyanidation brought a recovery of around 95 per cent, with but $300 worth of plant. In Nova Scotia, the ore of each locality presents an individual problem of its own as to treatment required. Ma. W. B. Timm stated that, in the majority of Nova Scotia gold ores, more than 75 per cent of the gold content is free-milling and, naturally, stamps are most efficient for collecting and amalgamating this gold. In Ontario and the West, they had got away from stamps, and perhaps the main reason was that the supply of battery-men, who came from Nova Scotia, had died off. Ball-mills had been installed, which required smaller space and handled large tonnage, even though, as far as amalgamation goes, the stamps were probably more efficient. If concentration is to be done, ore from stamps is usually in better shape for recovery in passing over the tables, as there is no slime. With the ball-mill, flotation is necessary. The better practice, undoubtedly, is to take out what gold is possible before it is all smashed up, as in the ball-mill, though recent developments in the ball-mill make it possible to trap and take coarse gold directly from the mill. In this way, cyanidation is speeded-up, due to saving of the time the coarse gold would take before going into solution. PROFESSOR A. E. FLYNN found it unusual in these days to read anything in favour of the stamp mill, and thanked Mr. Henderson for the excellent paper in which he upholds the stamps and backs his opinion with facts from actual operations. For the typical Nova Scotia ore, containing coarse gold, stamps are un¬excelled. It used to be said that the virtue of stamps is that they brighten the gold for amalgamation. Although this saying is almost classical, it is not true, for gold is never brighter than in the native, untouched state. Any hammering that gold gets makes it more difficult to amalgamate.

Jan 1, 1935

By J. D. Allan

"IntroductionThe purpose of this paper is to present a general picture of the Lynn Lake nickel area of northern Manitoba. The geology of the area will not be discussed in great detail, nor will the mining op; rations presently being conducted. Both subjects will be treated briefly and, in addition, mention will be made of some of the problems encountered in mapping in the area. some of the questions which still remain unanswered, methods of prospecting that have been applied and the future possibilities of the area.For present purposes, the Lynn Lake area will be considered as extending from west of Lynn lake to east of Barrington lake. Thus, more correctly, it should be termed the Lynn Lake-Barrington Lake area. It comprises five 15-minute map-areas, or a total of 800 square miles, in a block 47 miles east-west and 17 miles north-south.Lynn lake itself is about 120 miles north of Sherridon, Manitoba, the closes t rail terminal. The area is part of the Granville Lake sheet which was mapped by the Geological Survey of Canada in 1932, 1933, and 1935, the results being published in Summary Report 1933. Part C, and as Maps 343A and 344A on a scale of four miles to o.ne inch. In 1940, the McVeigh Lake area was mapped by the Geological Survey of Canada on a scale of 1,500 feet to 1 inch and a map was issued in 1945."

Jan 1, 1950

By J. F. Wright

Gold-bearing quartz veins and replacement chalcopyrite deposits are the two important types of metallic mineral deposits of the east central Manitoba mining district. The gold-bearing veins occur along Manigotagan valley, northwest for 25 miles from Beresford lake, and the copper deposits along Oiseau valley, between Oiseau lake and the east end of Lac du Bonnet. Lithium-bearing minerals of possible commercial value have recently been discovered in pegmatite along Winnipeg river about 10 miles east of Point du Bois. There are also prospect pits with showings of galena, sphalerite, cobaltite, pentlandite, nickeliferous pyrrhotite, arsenopyrite, pyrite, molybdenite, cassiterite, and other minerals, but the various occurrences of these minerals, as exposed, are small. The bedrock and mineral deposits of this mining district are Precambrian and resemble in many respects the formations and mip.eral occurrences of western and northern Ontario. Although prospectors visited eastern Manitoba at intervals during the last fifty years, effective prospecting did not begin until 1913 or 1914, and not until 1923 were skilfully directed, systematic explorations undertaken. It is true, that between 1913 and 1923 considerable sums were expended in a number of attempts at mining and milling the gold-quartz ore, but these enterprises failed partly through poor management or attempts to develop veins that were too small or too low-grade to be worked at a profit under the existing conditions of transportation and power supply.

Jan 1, 1925

By E. A. Hart, J. E. Gill

"The property of Arntfield Mining Corporation, formerly Arntfield Gold Mines, Limited, covers an area of 2,110 acres and lies in Beauchastel township, western Quebec. The Francoeur mine lies to the west, and to the east are the West Wasa and Wasa Lake properties.The property was staked in September, 1923, by the late F. S. Arntfield. The early surface work was concentrated in the west part of the property along the Francoeur-Arntfield shear zone. The zone was opened by No. 1 shaft, which was sunk for an inclined depth of 250 feet. A series of silicified lenses were discovered farther east, where No. 2 shaft was later raised to the surface. A third shaft explored a shear zone about 1,900 feet to the east, where No. 3 shaft orebodies were developed.The mill was built at No. 3 shaft and production commenced in July, 1935, at 125 tons a day. This was increased to 280 tons by 1938, and later to 350 tons. The mine continued operations on this scale until April, 1942, when the exigencies of war necessitated closing. The Company was reorganized in 1944 and underground development was resumed in June, 1945. The total value of gold and silver produced to April, 1942, was $2,011, 755 from 529,987 tons of ore.ROCK TYPESThe area is underlain by highly deformed and altered Keewatin volcanics overlain by little deformed Cobalt sediments along the south boundary. The lavas in the vicinity of the mine workings are rhyolite, trachyte, andesite, and a flow breccia of intermediate composition. The fragmentals range from fine, well-bedded tuffs to coarse agglomerate in which acidic and basic horizons can be distinguished.The intrusive rocks are diorite and quartz-feldspar porphyry in the form of stock and sills, and narrow dykes of mica lamprophyre and syenite porphyry."

Jan 1, 1954

By Oscar F. Tangel

This paper outlines Canada's current status in world iron ore markets, and evaluates t he prospects for the future. Estimates for the production, export and consumption of iron ore are given. Canada's major market will continue to be the United States, with the European Common Market countries, Japan and the United Kingdom also forming important outlets. The advantages held by Canada's major competitors in these latter three market areas are briefly discussed

Feb 1, 1966

By J. C. Roy, S. Couture, C. Barbeau

The chemical composition of the asbestos tailings from different mines in the Eastern Townships of Quebec are fairly uniform in composition. The serpentine minerals antigorite and chrysotile form about 85 to 90 per cent of the total. Iron oxides add another 7 to 10 per cent; magnetite represents about 70 per cent of the oxides. Chromite is present in amounts of about 0.5 per cent. The average contents of elemental magnesium, iron and nickel are 23, 6 and 0.25 per cent respectively.

Jan 1, 1972

By Carlos Palacios M., Brian K. Townley

"Abstract - The mainland Aysén region of Chilean Patagonia (44°15' - 47°30'S) is a representative segment of the South American active continental margin, distinct with respect to northern and central Chile. Mineralization consists mainly of polymetallic deposits, with important Zn-Pb mines and more recently discovered Au-Ag deposits, unlike the central Andes, which are dominated by Cu mineralization. On a regional scale, rocks may be grouped in four main map units: 1) the Paleozoic metamorphic basement; 2) upper Jurassic-Cretaceous calc-alkaline volcanic and marine sedimentary rocks; 3) the Patagonian batholith, and 4) upper Cretaceous to Miocene basalts and marine and continental sedimentary rocks. The upper Jurassic-Cretaceous rocks and the Patagonian batholith formed in a volcanic arc and back-arc setting superimposed on the Paleozoic metamorphic basement.Based on geographic location and geologic and tectonic setting, ore deposits in this region are assigned to three groups, from south to north: El Faldeo, Fachinal, and El Toqui. The El Faldeo group (south of 47°05'S) includes upper Jurassic Zn-Pb skarn and associated polymetallic massive sulfide vein deposits locally overprinted by Au-rich epithermal mineralization, hosted by volcanic and sedimentary rocks and/or by rocks of the metamorphic basement. The Fachinal group (46°05' - 47°05'S) consists of volcanic-hosted lower Cretaceous Au-Ag epithermal deposits, except for the Mina Silva and Manto Rosillo deposits, which are metamorphic basement-hosted Zn-Pb skarns. The El Toqui group (44°30' - 46°05'S) comprises lower Cretaceous Au-rich Zn-Pb skarns and associated polymetallic veins, as well as Au-Ag-rich epithermal deposits, hosted by volcanic, intrusive, and marine sedimentary rocks. Galena lead isotopic signatures for each deposit group indicate a decreasingly radiogenic trend from south to north, suggesting different lead sources or differences among underlying crust. Three metallogenic provinces and two metallogenic epochs are proposed for the Aysén region: the El Faldeo metallogenic province of Late Jurassic age; and the Fachinal and El Toqui provinces of Early Cretaceous age. Résumé - La partie continentale de la région d’Aysen (Patagonie chilienne, 44°15' - 47°30'S), est unsegment représentatif de la marge continentale active d’Amérique du sud, différent des segments du nordet du centre du Chili. La minéralisation, qui consiste essentiellement en des dépôts polymétalliques, avec d’importantes mines de Pb-Zn, et des dépôts d’Au-Ag récemment découverts, différe de celle des Andes centrales où domine la minéralisation cuprifère. A l’échelle régionale, les roches peuvent être regroupées en quatre unités cartographiques principales : 1) le socle métamorphique paléozoïque, 2) les roches volcaniques calco-alcalines et les sédiments marins du Jurassique supérieur-Crétacé, 3) le batholite patagonien, et 4) les sédiments marins et continentaux ainsi que les basaltes du Crétacé supérieur-Miocène. Les roches du Jurassique supérieur-Crétacé et le batholite patagonien, formés dans un contexte d’arc volcanique et d’arrière-arc se superposent au socle métamorphique paléozoïque.Fondé sur la localisation géographique ainsi que sur le cadre tectonique et géologique, les dépôts de minerais de cette région se répartissent en trois groupes, du sud au nord, El Faldeo, Fachinal et El Toqui. Le Groupe El Faldeo (sud de 47°05'S) contient des skarns à Pb-Zn du Jurassique supérieur associés à des veines de sulfures massifs polymétalliques, localement recoupées par des minéralisations épithermales, riches en Au, et contenus dans des roches sédimentaires et volcaniques et/ou dans des roches du socle métamorphique. Le Groupe Fachinal (46°05' - 47°05'S) consiste en des dépôts épithermaux Au-Ag, se trouvant dans des roches volcaniques du Crétacé inférieur, excepté pour les dépôts de la Mine Silva et Manto Rosillo, où des skarns à Pb-Zn, se trouvent dans le socle métamorphique. Le Groupe El"

Jan 1, 1999

By D. A. Barr

"The Galore Creek copper deposits are situated in the Stikine River district, 640 miles northwest of Vancouver, British Columbia. The deposits are primary cupriferous replacements localized in highly fractured zones lying in altered sedimentary, extrusive and intrusive rocks near the contacts of a potash-rich syenite porphyry complex which forms the core of a structural dome in Upper Triassic volcanic and sedimentary rocks. Ten deposits are distributed over an area of 3.5 by 2 miles and through an elevation range of 4,000 feet. The deposits share many of the characteristic features common to both the porphyry copper type of mineralization and pyrometasomatic deposits.Primary mineralization includes chalcopyrite and bornite, and is associated principally with pyrite and magnetite. The daminant alteration products are hydrothermal biotite and potash feldspar. Gypsum, anhydrite, garnet, chlorite and carbonate are commonly associated with sulphide minerals. Copper oxides, al-though present, are quantitatively of minor importance. The distribution of certain of the primary minerals reveals hypogene zoning characteristics.The results of stream sediment surveys, and airborne magnetic, ground magnetic and induced polarization surveys show important relationships to geologic structure and mineral deposits."

Jan 1, 1966

By M. Labrie, H. L. Gibson, G. Doiron, J. J. Watkins, D. H. Watkinson

Abstract -The Corbet deposit is one of 17 proximal Cu-Zn massive sulfide deposits located. within the Noranda Cauldron which occurs within the core of the Noranda Volcanic Complex. The deposit is located at the top of the F1avrian Formation, the lowermost formation of the 3000 m thick Mine Sequence; the deposit has yielded 2.75 M tonnes of ore grading 30Jo Cu, 0.96% Zn, 2.06 g/t Ag and 1.0 g/t Au. The multi-lens Corbet deposit formed within a 250 m wide crater that occurs within a localized breccia pile. The Corbet breccia pile was constructed by explosive magmatic and hydrovolcanic eruptions localized along the south flank of a larger andesitic shield volcano that formed during the waning stages of F1avrian volcanism. The breccia footwall of the deposit allowed unfocused and widespread hydrothermal discharge that resulted in the development of a large area of chlorite and fringing sericite alteration that exceeds, by six times, the size of the sulfide lenses and represents a significant exploration target.

Jan 1, 1993

By G. A. Bezuidenhout, J. Davis, S. M. Bradshaw, J. P. T. Kapusta, D. K. Chibwe

"This research work forms part of an assessment to complement the feasibility of implementing high pressure sonic injection into relatively small (2.25 m I.D by 3.66 m I.L) Peirce-Smith converters (PSC) used at Lonmin Plc. Work has been carried out to characterize the fluid dynamics of three-phase (air, matte and slag) fluid flow in these converters using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations. The investigation has been done to study the flow pattern of the three phase system at high air pressure injection achieving sonic velocity at the tuyere exit into the converter. The 2-D and 3-D simulations of the three phase system were carried out using the volume of fluid (VOF) and realizable k -e turbulence models to account for the multiphase and turbulence nature of the flow, respectively. These models were implemented using the commercial CFD numerical code FLUENT. A detailed study of the flow pattern has been presented in the form of contour plots and the results obtained are useful for understanding plume extension and velocity distribution, shear wall stress distribution, and phase distribution characteristics in the system. The results provide a basis for further development of sonic injection technology into relatively small industrial Peirce-Smith converters with the ultimate objective of achieving lower energy consumption, improved process efficiency and increased throughput of the converting process. INTRODUCTIONPeirce-Smith converters (PSC) have been used in copper (Cu) and nickel (Ni) making smelters for more than a century for the purpose of removing iron (Fe) and sulphur (S) chemically associated with copper-nickel mattes through exothermic oxidation reactions. This process is commonly referred to as conversion. In principle, conversion is a submerged injection process, where typically air (or oxygen enriched air), at subsonic velocity (typically < 150 m/s), is laterally blown into liquid matte (Cu-Ni-Fe-S system). Oxygen preferentially reacts with Fe and S to produce iron oxide (FeO), which is slagged off, and sulphur dioxide (SO2), which reports to the process off gas."

Jan 1, 2012

By S Romanchuk, V N. Macvkiw, D. J. I. Evans

The paper describes the processes developed and piloted by Sherritt Gordon Mines Limited for recovering copper, in the form of specification copper powders, from Lynn Lake sulphidic copper concentrates and Fort Saskatchewan Refinery by-product copper sulphides. The process includes ammonia pressure leaching and hydrogen reduction from solution. Nickel and cobalt present in the con-centrates dissolve in the leach solution and a method was developed for separating these metals from the cop-per. Methods are described for con-trolling the physical properties of the copper powder produced in the reduction vessel. The chemistry of the process is briefly discussed and the effects of some of the more important process variables are described. SHERRITT Gordon Mines Limited have developed and proven on a pilot plant scale, a process (I) for the production of copper powder

Jan 1, 1961