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By P. Favreau

This paper describes the progress accomplished at the Noranda Technology Centre in the field of three-dimensional computer-aided underground blast design. Traditional methods of laying out underground blasts are reviewed, and the new computer-aided approach is described. Time savings achieved through the use of BLASTCAD can be advantageously used to better engineer blasts, using models and blast vibration analysis. Future work involving the attachment of blast models directly to the system is also addressed.

Feb 1, 1993

By L. T. Pasiechnyk

After a brief review of the various hydrocarbon storage methods currently being utilized and statistics on underground hydrocarbon storage, this paper will briefly describe the technology involved in solution mining salt to create caverns of engineered shape and size and briefly discuss the economical and environmental advantages of hydrocarbon storage in solution-mined salt caverns. Other possible uses of salt caverns will be mentioned.

Jan 1, 1978

By Ben C. McLellan, Philip J. Bangerter, Andrew Murphy, Glen D. Corder, Damien Giurco

Sustainability now forms a critical part of metallurgical plant design. In addition to compliance with requirements and corporate principles, design engineers must also consider how community and societal responses to the metallurgical industry affect the way they design and build plants. Three broad areas to consider are: the design engineer’s contribution to sustainability through the design process and the relationship to the social license to operate (SLO)—the unwritten license communities give companies to safely and responsibly operate the plant and equitably share benefits; the realization of sustainability goals through methodologies emerging in the design activities; and the integration of design frameworks into a contemporary project design context and its investment objectives. This chapter explores sustainability in metallurgical plant design in the context of SLO, design tools and frameworks, and community and societal influences.

Jan 1, 2015

By J. B. Kitchin

"The design of conveyor belting for use in mines poses problems to the manufacturer that are unique. The challenge to be met is that of the production of a conveyor belt which can withstand use and misuse in an environment that may differ vastly from one country to another, and even between one mine and its neighbour.The development of a product to meet such varying requirements necessitates a protracted program of trials, both in the laboratory and in the field; a new successful development, the only criterion, can be said to have been achieved only after very long-term usage under actual, deliberately chosen, arduous mining conditions.New developments in conveyor belt construction can never stop, no more than can developments in new and advanced mining techniques. A new problem is set-an answer must be found. Some of the problems are noted here, and answered where possible, in what must after all be little more than an excursion into a very comprehensive and detailed subject."

Jan 1, 1967

By J. L. Jambor, E. J. Reardon, E. C. Appleyard, J. A. Cherry

Abstract- Since the 1957 initiation of deposition of mill tailings at the Heath Steele mine, New Brunswick, periodic detailed studies of the tailings geochemistry and mineralogy have been con­ ducted, thereby providing a unique opportunity to examine the geochernical evolution of a sulfide- rich mine-tailings impoundment. When deposited, the tailings contained about 85 wt% sulfide minerals, 1 wt% to 3 wt% carbonate minerals, and 12 wt% to 14 wt% aluminosilicate minerals. Mineralogical examination of samples of the tailings from deep in the impoundment indicates that little oxidation occurred prior to tailings deposition. The mill process-water deposited with the tailings was neutral to slightly basic and contained low concentrations of Cu, Pb, Zn and As. Sampling of the tailings five years after deposition indicated that sulfide-oxidation reactions, occurring near the tailings surface, had decreased the tailings-water pH and increased the concentrations of Fe, SOi-, Cu, Zn and Pb (up to 10 000 mg/L, 25 000 mg/L, 2.5 mg/L, 200 mg/L, and 4.5 mg/L, respectively) . In 1975, ten years after decommissioning, the tailings could be divided into three zones: an upper oxidation zone in which sulfide oxidation is actively occurring, a hardpan layer, 15 cm to 20 cm thick, composed of tailings cemented by secondary Fe minerals, and an underlying reduction zone in which the tailings are relatively tinoxidized (Boorman and Watson, 1976). Chemical analyses indicated the presence of low-pH waters containing very high concentrations of SO42- , Fe, and other metals (up to 63 600 mg/L SO42-, 28 600 mg/L Fe, 10 mg/L Pb, 600 mg/L Cu and 4000 mg/L Zn), suggesting that there was a period of intense sulfide oxidation between five and ten years after tailings deposition. More recent sampling, conducted some 20 years after the end of tailings deposition, indicates that relatively little change has occurred in the last ten years, thereby suggesting that the hardpan layer has provided an impediment to the downward movement of dissolved constituents . Analyses of the tailings solids show increased accumulations of many metals at or near the depth of the hardpan layer. Evaluations of the long-term evolution of the tailings can be enhanced by comparison of descriptions of the tailings with descriptions of the gossan that overlay the massive­ sulfide orebody prior to mining. At Heath Steele, this comparison suggests that many of the mechanisms controlling the distribution of metals in the tailings will probably persist over geologic time.

Jan 1, 1992

By J. Cueto, M. Torres, J. Fernandez, J. Nuñez, C. Salgado, G. Zarate

Anglo American has used the extractant M 5640 in all the Divisions, which is an aldoxime modified with TXIB formulation, except in Los Bronces, where an aldoxime modified with tridecanol (TDA) formulation is used. It is a well-known fact that the aldoxime degrades while the modifier does not. With time the aldoxime/modifier ratio decreases significantly depending on the operating conditions of each plant. In order to evaluate the effect of this increasing modifier content in the organic of the plant, especially in the organic losses, a complete metallurgical test work program was started at laboratory and pilot plant scale. Results showed that the addition of aldoxime without modifier does not affect the chemical performance of the organic phase, but there is a significant decrease in the viscosity and density of the organic phase. Based on the results obtained in the metallurgical program, it was decided to run plant scale tests at both SX plants, Mantos Blancos and Mantoverde. In these tests, instead of adding the usual formulation of aldoxime modified with TXIB to maintain the organic inventory, CuPRO MEX™ 3406 which is an aldoxime without modifier is going to be added until the original aldoxime/modifier ratio is reached. The plant tests started in April 2013 at Mantos Blancos and in June 2013 at Mantoverde and will last 18 months. The results obtained at the laboratory and pilot plant scale, together with the preliminary plant test results, are discussed in this paper.

Jan 1, 2014

"5.1. IntroductionThe sample preparation requirements for bulk analyses of platinum-group elements (PGE) are different from the requirements for ore microscopy and in-situ analyses. It is necessary that the initial sample collection results in as representative a sample as possible for both types of analyses. Ingamells (1980) believes, however, that sampling is always imperfect and that there is no such thing as a truly representative sample. Once collected, the usual low content and irregularly dispersed nature of the PGE require that samples for bulk analyses be made as uniform as possible, whereas in samples for ore microscopy and in-situ analyses the PGE must be concentrated. Because of the generally high specific gravity of platinum-group minerals (PGM), certain precautions must be taken, such as mixing the sample material in the bags prior to opening.5.2. Preparation forBulk Analytical MethodsThe principal factors that determine the size of the sample required for a bulk analysis are grade, heterogeneity and grainsize. Initially, the grade and sample heterogeneity can only be estimated and a sampling methodology is developed with experience. It is essential at all times, however, that the assayers have information about the source of the sample and the purpose for the analysis. Information on the grain-size, which can only be obtained through mineralogical analysis, is also very important for PGE analyses, but, unfortunately, is often ignored.5.2.1. Samples fromUnconsolidated DepositsConcentrations of PGE may occur in eluvial deposits as well as in a large variety of alluvial deposits, including those of fluvial and glaciofluvial origin. These deposits are often difficult to map and sampling is further complicated by the wide range, from sand-size to boulders, of the non-POE-bearing constituents, and by the irregular distribution and shape of the ""pay streaks"". PGE concentrations in unconsolidated deposits are largely composed of resistant Pt-Fe and Os-Ir-Ru alloys (cf. Cabri and Harris, 1975 and Raicevic and Cabri, 1976), thus making comminution to the usual-150 to -200 mesh somewhat unreliable, due to the malleability of these alloys."

Jan 1, 1979

By C P. Gravenor

In 1953, a deposit of sedimentary oolitic iron ore was discovered in the Clear Hills area of northwestern Alberta. Since that time, detailed drilling has outlined reserves in excess of 200 million tons of ore grading 30 to 35 per cent iron. Attempts to physically beneficiate the ore to meet blast furnace or direct reduction feed specifications have been, in general, unsuccessful. In 1960, Premier Steel Mills Limited and the Research Council of Alberta jointly sponsored a pilot-plant test at the R-N Corporation at Birmingham, Alabama. About 5,000 tons of ore were treated, and briquettes containing 90 per cent Fe were produced, with 83 per cent recovery. At the same time that the R-N tests were being made, the Research Council initiated a program to produce high-purity powders by chemical methods. Several purification techniques were investigated; hydrochloric acid dissolution of reduced ore was finally adopted. Briefly, the steps involved in this acid process are as follow

Jan 1, 1964

By C. H. B. Leitch

"The Bralorne-Pioneer deposit produced more gold than any other deposit in British Columbia over its 70 years of operation (130 kg or 4 million oz of Au, from 7 million tonnes of 18 glt ore). Mineralization is related to a suite of late Cretaceous albitite dykes of 85 to 90 Ma age. It thus occurred long after and is genetically unrelated to the Early Permian (275 Ma) Bralorne diorite and soda granite.The major veins strike about 110 degrees and dip north at 70 degrees, with slickensides plunging 45 degrees east that indicate last movement was reverse. Major ore shoots in the veins occupy somewhat less than 20% of the vein and plunge steeply west, roughly perpendicular to the slickensides. The structures that contain the veins probably formed at around 95 to 90 Ma during a strike-slip episode with easterly directed maximum compression.Disseminated pyrite, pyrrhotite, and minor chalcopyrite occur within envelopes up to several metres from the veins. Arsenopyrite is confined to vein selvages. Local sphalerite and galena appear to correlate with gold-rich portions of the veins. Traces of tetrahedrite and stibnite have been observed but tellurides have not. Gold is found principally as thin smeared flakes of the native metal in the black sulphidic septae of the strongly ribboned veins. Hydrothermal alteration envelopes around the veins grade outwards from intensely foliated quartz - ankerite - sercite (±fuchsite) to less sheared calcite - chlorite - albite to unsheared epidote -calcite.Open-space vein filling textures found in the deep (mesothermal) environment at Bralorne can be explained by a fault- valve model. High-angle reverse faults may have acted as fluid-pressure activated valves on geopressured reservoirs, causing large cyclic fluctuations in fluid pressure that promoted mineral deposition in an episodic fashion . The faults that were mineralized were reactivated sub-vertical former strike slip faults, oriented at a high angle to the northeast-directed stress in a compressive regime."

Jan 1, 1990

By Horace Freeman

The sulphur consumed in Canadian pulp mills and acid plants is worth approximately three million dollars annually and amounts to one hundred and fifty thousand long tons, all of which is imported from the United States. Concurrently with a decline in the value of newsprint there has been a gradual increase in the price of this raw material. Most pulp mills in Canada are situated within reasonable distance of domestic pyrite deposits; nevertheless it has not yet been found possible to mine these deposits and utilize the contained sulphur in competition with the imported material. It is the purpose of this paper to elucidate the reasons therefor, and to describe? a commercial-scale experiment undertaken with the object of introducing a native raw material into the Canadian pulp industry on the purely economic basis. Reasons for the Preferred use of Sulphur The known sulphur deposits in the United States are very large, so that at least a twenty-year supply of this material is assured. It is recovered cheaply and in pure condition. Although large deposits of pyrite are known in Canada, nothing has yet been developed to compare in size, cost of mining, or purity with the United States material. It has been necessary to handle and transport more than two tons of pyrite to equal a ton of sulphur.

Jan 1, 1930

By W G. Forbes

SOME 20 years ago, upon finishing second year at the University of Manitoba, I was faced with the choice of whether I wanted to be a geologist or a chemist. Accordingly, I sought out Professor Brownell, Head of the Department of Geology, to ask him what a geologist did. His reply contained the statement that following graduation one went out into the field in northern Canada for 5 to 15 years to reduce to practice what had been learned at university. To a young man, very socially conscious, even one year, let alone 5 to 10, in a small mining community sounded like being banished to a monastery in the Himalayas and thus I turned to chemistry. Moving to the present, last month I asked a geologist, and then a mining engineer, what does the fresh graduate in their field do these days? The reply was: usually serve an apprenticeship for an indeterminate period either underground or in the field learning the job.

Jan 1, 1965

By A. L. McAllister

"MASSIVE sulphide deposits are found in two areas of New Brunswick, the St. Stephen area and the Bathurst-Newcastle area. In both, the geology in the immediate vicinity of the sulphide bodies is largely inferred from drilling results as outcrop is not plentiful and is, in fact, almost lacking in most places. With few exceptions these deposits have not been explored by underground methods. Consequently much of the. detail on the geology will only become known over a period of years as economic conditions make mining feasible.Much of the information contained in this paper has been supplied directly by company geologists. As a result of the number of contributors, some confusion of nomenclature bas to be anticipated. Cross-sections and plans of the individual deposits are, in most cases, as supplied by the companies concerned. Most of the interpretations are the responsibility of the author."

Jan 1, 1960

By D. W. Hayley

The rapid expansion of exploration drilling with anticipated production facilities for oil and gas in the Mackenzie Delta region of the Northwest Territories has created a demand for granular construction materials. This paper discusses the technique adopted and experience gained by the authors from several major resource evaluation programs in this remote area. The first part of the paper describes a methodology for deposit identification, logistics of helicopter and ground-based drilling operations and the sampling difficulties which are unique to permafrost: soils. The second part describes the exploitation of a large glaciofluvial deposit at YaYa Lake on Richards Island. Granular construction material is sparse in the delta region relative to projected demand. Exploitable sources of granular materials for aggregates or construction borrow are found in glaciofluvial deposits of Pleistocene age or in outcrops of Paleozoic bedrock. Glaciofluvial landforms can be located by reference to published surficial geology maps coupled with airphoto interpretation. Preliminary assessment of these features in a large region is most economically carried out during the summer months with a drill that is transportable by helicopter. Once prospective borrow pit sites are identified, a detailed ground-based winter drilling program must be undertaken to establish aggregate quality and quantity, and to provide information on natural features which could affect development. The glaciofluvial terrain has been highly modified by the formation of massive ground ice within the gravel deposits. This presents some unique pit development problems which are not encountered in a normal bedrock quarry operation.

Jan 1, 1977

By MacDonald W. L. F. C. A.

IN accordance with the usual approach to a participation in a panel discussion, this paper is, in some respects, intentionally controversial. I would suggest, how-ever that there is more than a grain of truth in many of the comments made. Before dealing with a particular problem. It is appropriate to set out a few of the more significant objective of an: accounting system: (1) The provision of historical data <•concerning past events, for the information of shareholders, tax authorities, etc. This data can also be used as a tool to predict the future. (2) The provision of a record to safeguard the company's assets and to form the basis of any claim for insurance or other damages. (3) The provision of an accounting framework in making an economic study of a proposed course of future action such as the development of an orebody or the outlay of a substantial sum for new equipment. ( 4) The

Jan 1, 1962

By David A. Edgecombre

This paper discusses modern practices in the extrusion of steel. Particular emphasis is given to a description of the Ugine Sejournet method of extrusion, involving the use of glass as a hot work lubricant. Other methods are also mentioned. A brief history of extrusion is presented; present practices in the quality extrusion of tubing and solids are described; and the future potentials of the) process as a tonnage producer are briefly discussed. The advantages of extrusion and the reasons for the use of a glass lubricant, as well as the various methods of using glass, are given. The process, as described, is being used in the manufacture of large commercial quantities of stainless steel tubing and sections. This extrusion process is an essential and unique means of forming such atomic-age materials as titanium, zirconium, molybdenum and other super alloys all of which are materials required in the creation of nuclear installations.

Jan 1, 1963

By S. N. Dixon

"Maximizing the value of each tonne of processed ore is the goal for all operations. Cyanidation processing of gold-copper ores has been challenging since its first use in 1889. The current practice treats a bleed or the total flow of mill solution to recover copper as copper sulfide (by sulfidization, acidification, recycling, and thickening), or to recover the cyanide (by acidification-volatilization neutralization). The process presented uses the adsorption of copper cyanide by carbon and the selective elution of copper from carbon to concentrate copper into a smaller stream. Copper contained in the smaller stream is precipitated as copper cyanide.RÉSUMÉ Toutes les exploitations ont pour objectif commun d’optimiser la valeur de chaque tonne de minerai traité. Depuis sa première utilisation en 1889, la méthode de traitement par cyanuration des minerais aurifère et cuprifère s’est révélée complexe. La pratique actuelle traite la saignée ou le débit total d’une solution de traitement du concentrateur pour récupérer le cuivre sous la forme de sulfure de cuivre (par sulfuration, acidification, recyclage et épaississement), ou pour récupérer le cyanure (par acidification, volatilisation et neutralisation). Le procédé présenté dans cet article utilise l’adsorption sur charbon actif de la solution de cyanure de cuivre et l’élution sélective du cuivre depuis le charbon pour concentrer le cuivre en un plus petit jet. Le cuivre contenu dans ce plus petit jet est précipité sous forme de cyanure de cuivre.INTRODUCTIONProcessing gold-copper ores by cyanidation has been a cost-control challenge since the cyanidation process was first used in 1889. Copper cyanide is stable only in the cuprous state, not the cupric. This factor results in the oxidation of a mole of cyanide per mole of nonchalcocite copper extracted. Each mole of copper extracted forms a cyanide complex with a minimum of 3 mol of cyanide. This cyanide-to-copper mole ratio is required to dissolve gold. The oxidation of cyanide and copper complexation with cyanide results in high cyanide consumption for copper-gold ores, which is a significant operating cost.One challenge in processing gold-copper ore is the cost of cyanide related to the extraction of copper. Processing 10,000 t/d of ore containing 1,000 mg/kg copper and 10% copper extraction yields 1,000 kg/d of copper. Currently, processes to remove copper from cyanide leach solution treat either the total flow of the barren or a bleed of the barren. The two processes used for copper-gold ores are sulfidization, acidification, recycling, and thickening (SART), which produces a copper sulfide product for sale; and acidification- volatilization-neutralization (AVR), which recovers the cyanide from a gas and produces a low–cyanide content solution. This low–cyanide content solution can be recycled to the process or might require additional treatment before being disposed from the operation."

Jan 1, 2017

By Xiu-Xiang Tao

This study investigated bio-liquefaction of lignite and its model compounds of thymol, bezioc acid and quinoline by a fungus, Hypocrea lixii AH. It analyzed, during bio-liquefaction, enzyme activity of oxidase, LiP, Lac, MnP and polyphenol oxidase, and degradation products by UV-Vis, FTIR, 13C NMR and GC-MS. The results showed that the bio-liquefaction percentage (by mass) of lignite was up to 44.86 %. The bio-liquefaction products of lignite were mainly aniline, amide, ether, carboxylic acid ketone and ester. The aromatic ring number was 1-3 with an aromatic carbon ratio of 0.328, which indicated rings opening, bonds breaking and oxidation reaction. By considering with the enzyme activity analysis results, it showed that LiP and Lac catalyzed reactions to open aromatic cycles and to break bonds; esterase to break ester bond; and peroxidase in oxidation reaction.

Aug 1, 2013

By J. Ouellet

The design of hydrostatic liner for a deep potash mine shaft in Saskatchewan poses tremendous technological challenges. Technology has evolved to a point where one could consider a new innovative approach to hydrostatic liner design. But there is still a place for conventional technologies such as cast iron tubbings. As will be discussed in this paper, improvement to manufacturing process, installation procedures and even new materials can bring this technology to an excellent level of performance. With the spur of new projects in the potash industry of Saskatchewan, the authors worked in various shaft liner designs from the conceptual stage through to the construction phase. They were either directly leading the design work on some of these projects or acting as an external reviewer on others. Most of these shaft liner designs involved cast iron tubbing technology and ground freezing. The major challenge in sinking potash shafts in Saskatchewan is to go through a water-bearing ground formation under high pressure, known as the Blairmore or Manville fm. The only proven stabilizing technology for these formations is ground freezing. For a potash shaft, dry shaft conditions are highly desired, so a fully waterproof hydrostatic liner is required. All the existing potash mine shafts in Saskatchewan, except for two with composite steelconcrete lining, used the cast iron tubbing technology. Two new shaft tubbing liners have been constructed recently, one in the Athabasca Basin and one for a potash mine in Saskatchewan. When the authors began working on these new projects, what became quickly evident is that the technological knowhow for designing and constructing tubbing liners was no longer available within Canada and that the past construction methods used to sink tubbing lined shafts was obsolete. The tubbing liner for the shafts sunk in the sixties were designed either by German or British companies. In both of these countries only few tubbing lined shafts were sunk in last 40 years and the technology used in the sixties was not improved. There are only few countries where tubbing is routinely produced and installed: China, Russia, Ukraine and Poland. Out of these countries Poland is the one where this technology is the most advanced. The authors, working in close collaboration with engineers from Poland, attempted to rebuild this knowledge for the mining industry in Canada. This process involved thorough analysis of old technical reports, literature review and study of current polish design and construction practices as well as site visits of existing shafts. Through actual construction experience, some lessons were learned as well as ideas for improvements. In this paper, the authors will present a succinct review of design and procurement process. But, the practical aspects of the construction and installation methodology will be treated with more emphasis, more specifically the practice leading to good liner performance. Some of the poorly understood technical aspects of tubbing installation will be discussed more thoroughly and some currently accepted myths dispelled.

Aug 1, 2013

By J. Lee

As the usage of BIM increased in the construction industry, some construction owners started exploring the use of BIM for maintaining their facilities. Construction Operations Building Information Exchange (COBIE), a spreadsheet data format suggested in 2007 to manipulate building information, is considered as one of the solutions that would facilitate the process of transferring information from BIM to applications for facilities management. Several BIM and Computer Aided Facilities Management (CAFM) applications offer functions to export or import the COBIE data. To facilitate the process of generating the COBIE data out of Building Information Model, some add-in applications, such as COBIE Toolkit for Revit, also were developed. However, most of these applications handle a limited amount of COBIE data. Professionals using these add-in applications therefore sometimes end up spending a significant amount of time to add additional data manually to the COBIE data file. To automatically get a data-rich COBIE file, we developed a prototype application that extracts information from Revit, which is one of the BIM authoring tools, stores them in an external database, and then produces the COBIE file using information stored in the database. We applied our application to a pilot project and produced 8 COBIE worksheets automatically, which demonstrated a significant amount of time saving. This paper presents how our prototype application produces 8 COBIE data sets automatically. It also addresses our attempt to handle more COBIE data sets.

Aug 1, 2013

By W. G. Campbell

"The region discussed comprises approximately eight million acres spreading across the Arctic Circle in Yukon and North West Territories.Encouraged by four years of surface geological and geophysical work, which strongly suggested that suit-able conditions existed for the entrapment of oil and gas, a decision was reached to drill. In due course two holes were drilled; Eagle Plains No. 1 drilled to 9589 in 1957-8 and Western Minerals Chance No. 1 spudded in 1959 is being deepened this year.Thick sections of sedimentary rocks occur on both sides of the Richardson Mountains, however, most of our activities have been concentrated to date on the west side in the Eagle Plains basin. Here are found stratigraphic units ranging from Precambrian to Tertiary age. The drilling of the two exploratory wells proved the presence of these strata at depth and have confirmed the presence of promising structures. A geological cross-section across Eagle Plains presents an interpretation of these conditions.Physical and engineering aspects of exploration in the northern Yukon and North West Territories are de-pendent largely upon seasons and transportation. Reconnaissance gravity and surface geologic mapping by air presents no serious problems. However, seismic operations on the ground are greatly affected by the season, presence of permafrost and mobility of equipment.The actual drilling of the hole may well be the simple part of a wildcat undertaking once equipment and supplies are on location. Over-all planning, assembling supplies, transporting equipment and personnel seems to be the real job. Serious consideration must be given to per-ma-frost effect in the drilling pro-gram and on surface installations as well.Programming for -the various exploration activities should be under-taken well in advance of the actual doing. Considerable extra costs may be the results of crash programs. Costs are high, and the rewards uncertain. Economic evaluation is based •on the long term outlook."

Jan 1, 1960