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By John R. Sullivan, Real Daigneault, Mathieu Piché, Jayanta Guha, Gilles Bouchard

"RESUMELa stratigraphie du camp minier de Matagami se résume a la présence de deux groupes volcaniques: le Groupe du Lac Watson et le Groupe de Wabassee qui le surmonte. Les gisements de sulfures massifs volcanogènes sont situés au sommet du Groupe du Lac Watson. Ces roches sont déformées par l'anticlinal de Galinée dont l'axe, orienté E-W, plonge vers l'ouest. Le cœur de cette structure est occupé par le Complexe de la Rivière Bell.Les roches volcaniques du flanc sud de l'anticlinal sont peu déformées et pendent à 45° vers le sud. Les gites qui s'y trouvent présentent la morphologie typique des gisements de sulfures massifs volcanogènes. Ceux-ci se situent le long d'un horizon repère cherteux et sulfure, appelé ""Tuffite Clef', et leurs cheminées d'altération rejoignent, en profondeur, une zone d'altération stratiforme d'étendue régionale.Les roches du flanc nord ont été transposées tectoniquement en écailles chevauchantes, de dimension kilométrique, a l'intérieur d'un couloir de failles anastomosées d'orientation est-ouest. A l'intérieur: le ce couloir, les gites de sulfures sont déformes et sépares de leur héminée d'altération sous-jacente par des failles.Les gites de sulfures situes sur les deux flancs de l'anticlinal de 'Galinée se seraient mis en place dans un mime environnement volcanique. Leur position stratigraphique est identique puisqu' ils se 'rouvent au sommet de la rhyolite porphyrique du Groupe du Lac Watson. lis se seraient constitués au cours d'une pose volcanique recédant 1'éruption du basalte du Groupe de Wabassee. Le Complexe de la Rivière Bell est perçu comme la source de chaleur responsable de la circulation des fluides hydrothermaux qui sont à ""origine des gisements de sulfures massifs volcanogènes."

Jan 1, 1990

By Bevan. P. A.

The general location, topography and climate are discussed briefly, together with an historical record of the deposit. General geology, grade control and ore reserves are covered at some length, and reasons are given for the operation being placed on a salvage basis.

Jan 1, 1973

By Peter N. Blakey, Jean-Paul Paquette, Barton A. Thomson

"FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE PIT, it was known that the surface mining method had a projected life of about ten years, and that the ore extended to depths recoverable only by underground mining. When serious consideration was given to underground mining in 1968, it was realized that tremendous advantages could be gained by starting the underground mine as early as• poss1ble. These included: 1. The availability of underground ore for grade control, which would become more difficult as the pit deepened. 2. The need to develop new systems, equipment and skills to take full advantage of the technological revolution in underground mining. 3. Early knowledge of rock behaviour through trial mining on a small scale prior to finalizing plans for major blocks. In addition, the pit would be available to guarantee the mill supply if problems were encountered. 4. With sufficient time and early mining experience a much better job could be done on all mine planning. Because ample reserves of economic underground ore were virtually assured, the desired underground mining capability became a function of two restraints: first, the time required to excavate and construct the permanent headframe, shaft and ore-handling facilities necessary to handle large volumes of stope ore; second, the time for lateral and stope development on at least one level which would normally follow shaft sinking. The decision made was to move immediately on the permanent hoisting installations and at the same time embark on the planned ramp from surface, which would allow much stope preparation to be completed prior to .bringing the shaft on stream. Both projects were placed on an urgent basis early in 196S' and the following decisions made shortly thereafter."

Jan 1, 1974

By H. C. W. Bosman

"Over the past five years, contributions from geologists and mining engineers were instrumental in the successful development of MEPS. It is a system of FORTRAN programs specifically designed to be used by mining personnel to solve geological and mining problems. MEPS is a flexible keyword-driven system. Extensive error editing procedures significantly reduce the time required to proceed from problem recognition to solution. Possibly the most attractive feature of MEPS is that computer solutions may be guided or selectively modified to obtain desired solutions. Some highlights of MEPS are:1. Vocabulary that is familiar to mining people.2. Geological data storage and retrieval.3. Statistical analysis and variograms.4. Contour maps of assays and geological horizons.5. Trend surface analysis with residual evaluation.6. Ore reserve calculations.7. Open-pit mine design.8. Marginal profitability calculations on pit walls.9. Production scheduling.10. Vertical cross-section plots indicating pit outlines, ore grade contours and selected geological horizons."

Jan 1, 1973

By T. C. WEBB

In New Brunswick, significant potash deposits are intimately associated with rocks of the Lower Carboniferous Windsor Group. To date, two deposits high in sylvinite, up to 20 m thick, have been confirmed at depths between 490 and 1,035 m below surface near Plumweseep and Salt Springs. These areas are currently under development by the Potash Company of America and the Denison-Potacan Potash Company respectively. A third area, near Lower Millstream, is also known to contain potash-bearing evaporites and is now being explored by BP Exploration Canada Ltd. All three areas are situated in the western half of the Moncion Subbasin and are within 25 km of Sussex. Numerous similarities in stratigraphy, thickness, mineralogy and structure suggest that deposition of evaporites throughout much of southern New Brunswick was contemporaneous and extended over a considerable area. Future opportunities for potash exploration in the province thus seem excellent. A number of large unexplored areas remain in the Moncion and Cumberland Subbasins and in parts

Jan 1, 1984

By Ian E. Efford

The paper gives an assessment of Canada's energy supply-and-demand position, the current situation and projections into the future, as well as a review of some alternative energy futures for Canada. The main elements of Canada's energy strategy for the period 1977-1990, with particular reference to the role of energy conservation, are discussed, leading in to the development of the national energy conservation program.

Jan 1, 1977

By Martin P. O'Connell

"IT IS INDEED A PRIVILEGE to address a group representing a sector of the Canadian economy so important as is the mining sector. Important, not only today, but certainly of great importance for the future development of Canada, for employment, for our trade balance and indeed, when one looks at what we are calling increasingly an industrial strategy, for the future. Surely mining will have a very significant role to play in fulfilling that. It's of special interest to me, as the Minister of Labour - and I ought to confess at the very beginning that I am just two months into this function - of special interest for me to know that you are giving such attention to labour-management relations. I think it is timely that, from my point of view at least, you do this, because for the first time in twenty four years major revisions of the Canada Labour Code as it relates to industrial relations and disputes settlements are currently in the House of Commons going through their second reading, after an easier introduction and some changes which I would be very pleased to describe later this morning. It is very timely too, I think, that we should be looking at this area because public interest is certainly at a high level. It is not only at a high level but it expresses a good deal of irritation with the current status and procedures and results in collective bargaining and there is some urgent search for more sophisticated or modified procedures for settling differences in labour-management relations. The public wants different kinds of results. I think that is apparent to all of us. They want results in terms of justice and equity on both sides. And it means that a Minister of Labour and certainly governments who often are representing, or are the third party in discussions, have a very important and complex role to play in attempting to create a balance as these two parties come to contracts and come to agreements."

Jan 1, 1972

By P. Shibley, P. R. Clarke

Since this was an interim report of the initial operation of a long term project it is not available for publication. It is expected when the project is completed a full report of the work will be published.

Jan 1, 1968

By Matt Manson

Diamonds in Canada: Recent Advances in Exploration Methodology and Advanced Stage Assessment 1. Exploration Methodologies ? Prospectivity Mapping ? Surficial Geochemistry ? Geophysics 2. Advanced Stage Assessment ? Petrology and Diamond Paragenesis ? Micro/Macro ratios and Macro grades ? Value Sampling and Modeling

Apr 1, 2005

By W. Dingley, G. R. Hoey

"AbstractWear of six types of grinding balls was compared with and without corrosion inhibition in grinding Ni-Cu sulphide and hematite ores in laboratory ball mills. Forged steel balls (Rc 60 to 65) and three types of white cast iron balls (Rc 50 to 65) were susceptible to corrosive wear and two types of stainless steel balls [AISI Type 440C (Rc 65) and AISI Type 302 is; 35)] were relatively immune. The relative wear rates of the five types of hard balls (Rc 50 to 65) were dependent on the corrosivity of the ore. Ranking of the hard balls with respect to wear resistance was consistent for the sulphide and hematite ores in the presence of corrosion inhibition, whereas their ranking was different for the two ores in the absence of inhibition.The electrochemical potential of the grinding balls was measured during grinding and was found to be a useful measurement for assessing the susceptibility of an alloy to corrosive wear. Reduction of ball wear for forged steel and white cast irons with corrosion inhibition was concomitant with a shift of ball potential to less active values. Ball potentials in the presence of inhibition were indicative of non-corroding metal surfaces.IntroductionA PREVIOUS STUDY by the authors (1) showed that corrosion inhibitors - sodium nitrite, sodium chromate and sodium metasilicate - reduced wear of forged steel grinding balls by up to 49% in grinding Ni-Cu sulphide ore. Although the mechanism of wear reduction was not elucidated, it was concluded that corrosion must play a significant role in the wear of grinding media. Remark and Wick (2) of Battelle Pacific Northwest Laboratories have also evaluated corrosion inhibitors for the reduction of metal wear using abrasive and n on- abrasive te sting procedures. Their research was sponsored by 16 companies throughout the world. Preliminary results indicated that anodic inhibitors prevent from one-fourth to one-half of the loss due to corrosion."

Jan 1, 1977

Mineral engineering is defined as those engineering activities that relate to the discovery, development and utilization of mineral resources. Using petroleum engineering as an example, it is shown that the breadth of the field to be studied is a major educational problem. Breadth of field is aggravated by the rapidity with which technological demands may change. At present, special short courses serve to update engineering education. Recent experience suggests an increased rate of change for the future. The fact that engineers have typically human needs and goals, and the fact that engineers respond to these in our free society, introduces a third class of problems. One approach to the solution of these problems is the unified engineering curriculum based on a core of subject mat-ter common to all engineering. Experience suggests that the unified curriculum is an effective method to minimize the importance of the first two problem areas presented, and shows a degree of success in handling some problems within the third area. Perhaps, for the good of all segments of society, it is best to have both career-oriented and unified curricula represented by educational institutions of high quality.

Jan 1, 1963

Up to thirty years ago, coal preparation in western Canada, except at four plants, had not included actual coal washing. The exceptions were at Nanaimo and Royston, B.C., where tub washers and wet tables were in use; at Hosmer, B.C., using. Robinson cones; and at Leitch Collieries, Passburg, Alta., using a feldspar jig. The two last named collieries had a short life and were not operating in 1920. The industry was divided, as at the present day, into two sections, steam (bituminous) coal and domestic (largely sub-bituminous) coal, the first generally supplying industrial needs and the second householcl and other heating requirements. The two sections overlap to some small degree today as prepared sizes, chiefly stoker, and briquettes, from steam coal are shipped for house-hold use, and domestic slacks are used in certain industrial plants. The .domestic operator, for reasons shown later, was not primarily concerned with actual coal washing as a phase of coal preparation, and bent his efforts to improvement of screening and loading plants, with hand-picking of coarse sizes. The bituminous operator, on the other hand, felt it necessary by 1920 to consider coal washing. When the mines were comparatively young, coal quality could be controlled to a considerable degree by selective mining, by leaving behind some of the seam or by-passing districts in a mine where the coal was of inferior quality to that in other districts. This obviously had its limitations, and so the next step was coal washing.

Jan 1, 1952

By A. H. Lang

"IntroductionMUCH PROSPECTING, exploration, and development work was done for uranium in Canada in 1952, chiefly in northern Saskatchewan and in the Great Bear Lake region of the northwest Territories. The outstanding feature of the year was the great amount of work done in preparing for production at the Ace mine of Eldorado Mining and Refining, Limited, in the Goldfields region . of Saskatchewan. Many private companies and prospectors were also active in this region. Most of the other parts of Canada where uranium has been found received less attention than during the last few years, partly because so much interest was taken in the Goldfields region.In presenting this short summary of the year's activities now, the writer is handicapped because the season is not yet over; some discoveries have probably not yet been announced, and there has not yet been time to digest the numerous reports that have been sent in by companies and prospectors. In any case it would be impossible to give details for most of the discoveries and properties, because that would require a long report, and because that information is classed as confidential until released by the discoverers and companies concerned. It is only possible, therefore, to give a few generalizations, a brief out-line of the activities in northern Saskatchewan, even briefer ,accounts of the work in other parts of the country, and a few details that property owners have informed the writer he may publish or that have already been published by the owners."

Jan 1, 1953

By Michael L. Wayman

Native copper is copper which exists in nature in elemental, metallic form, rather than being chemically combined as is the case with the more usual oxides, sulphides, carbonates, etc. Several other metals, including gold, silver and platinum also occur in native form as do, rarely, iron, lead and mercury; a few naturally occurring native metal alloys, notably electrum (gold-silver) and tumbaga {gold-copper or gold-silver-copper) are also known. An analysis of the relative availabilities of native metals as nuggets in a useful size range111 shows native copper to be by far the most abundant of the native metals, exceeding both gold and silver by at least two orders of magnitude. While such an estimate is crude, it serves to illustrate why copper was one of the first metals to have been used by ancient peoples. Native copper is known to occur on all inhabited continents, although its exact occurrence and abundance in ancient times cannot be unambiguously determined because many surface deposits may have been totally exploited and are therefore no longer identifiable. It is clear, however, that native copper does or did occur in all areas inhabited by the early metal-using cultures, for example in the Andes, in Central America and in the Near East. It is remarkable that most of the world's native copper occurs in the deposits of the Lake Superior region, primarily on the Keweenaw Peninsula of northern Michigan and on Isle Royale, an island in Lake Superior some 50 miles north of the Keweenaw deposits. Canadian deposits of native copper are found in Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Quebec, Ontario, British Columbia, the Yukon and the Northwest Territories (on Victoria Island, Bathurst Inlet and the Coppermine River area). It was to locate the latter deposits that the explorer Samuel Hearne was sent overland from Hudson's Bay in 1770; they were also surveyed by Sir John Franklin's expeditions in the 1820s.

Jan 1, 1999

By K. M. Mayhew, G. D. Barr, T. M. McCoy, C. T. Knilans

"Teck Resources Limited (“Teck”) has developed and extensively tested on a continuous basis the CESL Technology hydrometallurgical process for treating copper and nickel sulphide concentrates, including bulk copper-nickel concentrates. Copper, nickel and cobalt are leached efficiently into solution, utilizing CESL process conditions. Total precious metals including gold, silver, platinum and palladium are recovered from the residue stream via sulphur flotation. This paper describes the CESL Technology testwork on a bulk copper-nickel concentrate derived from Twin Metals Minnesota?s (TMM) deposits within the Duluth complex and evaluates the economic benefits (increased cash flow, increased revenue certainty) and investment criteria (capital cost, payback and cash flow) of incorporating CESL Technology into the staged development of TMM?s deposits.INTRODUCTION Mineral Processing and the Role of Hydromet in the Duluth Complex The Duluth Complex in northern Minnesota, United States (US), represents one of the largest undeveloped accumulations of copper, nickel, gold, and platinum group metals (PGMs) in the world, ranking second in copper and PMs and third in accumulation of nickel. The figure below identifies some of the larger known deposits within the Complex (see Figure 1). Copper, nickel, PM and PGM mineralization within the Duluth Complex is hosted by mafic to ultramafic intrusive rocks that are part of the overall intrusive complex.One of the mineral processing challenges of Cu-Ni-PM-PGM deposits in this Complex is the complicated, polymetallic nature of the mineralization1: copper occurs primarily as chalcopyrite and cubanite with minor occurrence of talnakhite; nickel occurs as pentlandite and refractory nickel oxide/silicates; iron sulphides are present as both pyrrhotite and troilite; and PMs/PGMs occur in both the sulphide matrix as well as discrete minerals. An additional challenge for the Duluth Complex is the ratio between copper and nickel; in most of the identified deposits, copper grade is three to four times greater than the nickel grade, which precludes the production of a simple bulk concentrate due to the lack of a traditional smelting market for a bulk concentrate of this character."

Jan 1, 2017

By D. Maddocks

"IntroductionThe greater part of the iron ore industry in Canada is located along the Labrador-Quebec border on a geological formation known as the Labrador trough. The Labrador trough is a 700 · mile long geosynclinal segment composed of folded and faulted Proterozoic sediments, volcanics and intrusives, extending from Gagnon, Quebec, to the north west tip of Ungava Bay. This geosyncline can be divided into three parts (Fig. 1).The northern unmined part, extending from southern to northern Ungava Bay, is a low grade metamorphosed iron formation.The iron deposits of the central region, represented by Schefferville, are hematite-limonite ores formed by oxidation and leaching of an unmetamorphosed taconite formation. Average iron content of the ore is greater than 540Jo for direct shipping and 50% for plant feed.The deposits of the southern section (Carol Lake, Wabush, Mt. Wright, Gagnon) extend from just north of Carol Lake to Gagnon and is a metamorphosed silica-iron oxide (specular hematite and magnetite) formation averaging plus 30% iron.The mineral wealth of this area was first observed by Father Louis Babel about 1870 and again by Dr. A.P. Low of the Geological Survey of Canada in 1894. However, the remote location hindered development until after 1945. First production of direct shipping ore from Schefferville was in 1954. Production at Carol Lake commenced in 1962.This area now accounts for sixty million long tons (61 Mt) per year of processed iron ore products as follows:This chapter will concentrate on pelletizing and agglomeration as experienced at the Iron Ore Company's Carol Lake operation. However, whenever possible, reference will be made to alternate methods, procedures, equipment, etc."

Jan 1, 1989

By Walter Greaves

THIS paper describes a series of tests performed at the Hollinger mill during the past four years, in which both metal and rubber-lined pumps were used for pumping sand and slime. While conditions will not be the same at other mills, it is felt that the information gained from the tests should be of value to other operators and of assistance to them in selecting the most efficient size of pump and kind of lining for economical operation. For the successful operation of pumps with rubber linings there are certain conditions, which, if recognized at the outset, will save the operator a good deal of work and trouble. First is the necessity of keeping sharp pieces of steel, or anything that might cut the lining, out of the pumps. This can be effected by placing screens in the proper locations. Second is to recognize the fact that the rubber lining of the shell, and the rubber cover of the impeller, are subjected to very different conditions. The shell lining, :being at rest and well supported by the metal case, has a relatively easy job compared ? with the impeller covering, which is subjected to centrifugal force and has a tendency to tear itself away from the metal core. Also, the pulp travels through and past the impeller at a high velocity. These two factors, centrifugal force and velocity of the pulp, would appear to set a limit to the speed at which, for a given set of conditions, it is economical to run a rubber-covered impeller. Therefore, a pump should be large enough for the work to be done. To get the best mechanical efficiency, it must be operated somewhere near the limit of its capacity, but this may not give the best overall cost, because the saving in power, due to the high efficiency, may easily be lost through excessive wear on the lining. It would appear that this condition is more critical in a rubber-lined pump than in one lined with metal.

Jan 1, 1939

By J. M. Cummings

The importance of controlled sand properties to the production of quality castings has been recognized by foundry men for many years, but the maintenance of requisite standards results in a relatively high sand consumption, which in steel foundries, for instance, may range from half a ton to over one ton of sand per ton of finished casting. During the war, obtaining and maintaining adequate sand supplies became a serious problem in many foundries, owing to increased wartime production and serious 'bottlenecks' in transportation. As a result, considerable interest was aroused in the possibilities of various sand reclamation systems by which up to 85 or 90 percent of discarded sand may be returned to a usable condition. During the past five years or so, a number of sand recovery installations have been made by both ferrous and non-ferrous foundries in Canada and the United States, and have resulted in substantial reductions in sand costs in every case. The possible benefits of sand reclamation are particularly apparent in British Columbia where no suitable sands for steel and heavy iron foundries occur naturally, and where freight costs on imported sands are considerably higher than initial selling prices. This is well illustrated by the fact that silica sand, which sells for about $2.00 per ton at pits in Illinois, is laid clown in British Columbia for around $11.00 or $12.00 per ton. The operating costs quoted for certain of the reclamation schemes, i.e. $0.25 to $1.50 per ton, may actually be no higher than the cost of waste sand disposal in city-located foundries. In view of the foregoing considerations, the British Columbia Research Council has undertaken a study of the possibilities for sand reclamation, with particular attention directed to its application in local steel foundries. No commercial occurrences of silica sand are known in the Province, and, with this in view, the Council previously investigated the possibility of recovering silica sand from local impure sands. Results were definitely encouraging, but it was felt that the present market is too small to permit economical production by the method developed.

Jan 1, 1947

By V. I. Ryaboy, S. A. Kondratyev

"The paper describes influence of desorbed species (DS) of a number of xanthates and higher dialkyldithiophosphates on the collective ability of these reagents. Adsorbed on mineral DS of the reagents in the form of products of non-stoichiometric interaction between xanthates and heavy metal salts can pass to the gas–liquid interface and remove liquid from the layer between mineral particle and water surface. A high-speed video recording displays the process of spreading of DS of xanthates and dialkyldithiophosphates over water at the moment of local rupture of the water layer. Expansion of “dry” spot on the mineral surface after DS of xanthate capture and displace liquid from the layer has been proved with video images. The comparative analysis of collecting ability and dynamic surface activity of dialkyldithiophosphates shows that these characteristics are in good correlation. The forces exerted by spreading film of the reagent’s DS on liquid in the water layer are evaluated, and the water flow rate from the layer is determined. The line of the reduction in thickness of the water layer behind the front of spreading film of DS of dialkyldithiophosphates and xanthates coincides with the line of the increase in their dynamic surface activity. Their force on the liquid volume in the water layer characterizes collecting ability of the DS film of xanthates and dialkyldithiophosphates. It has been supposed that the collecting ability of DS of a reagent is a part of its overall flotation activity, conditioned by surface tension of solution and, thus, defined by the structure of hydrocarbon fragment of the reagent.INTRODUCTIONIt is believed that collecting ability and selectivity of collecting reagents is mainly governed by adsorption of a reagent at the solid–liquid interface. A few studies have shown that activity of collecting reagents at the gas–liquid interface may have deep influence on their collecting capacity and selectivity. Experimental researches have revealed correlation between surface pressure in a carboxylic acid film on liquid’s free surface and floatability of useful components (Kulkarni & Somasundaran, 1975; 1980; Quast, 2006). According to Quast (2006), it is not always that surface pressure of a reagent film influences collecting ability of carboxylic acid. For instance, pH range of adsorption of tetradecanoic acid on hematite does not coincide with pH range of high surface pressure. So, surface properties of this acid contribute little to flotation efficiency.The correlation between reagent film surface pressure and mineral floatability has been reveled for quartz and cationic reagents, too (Bleier, Goddard, & Kulkarni, 1977). Finch & Smith (1973) showed that combination of adsorption of ion–molecular amine complexes on mineral surface and high surface tension of “fresh bubbles” was favorable for flotation performance. The use of bubbles with reduced surface tension resulted in a decrease in quartz floatability."

Jan 1, 2016

Building off the enthusiasm generated by Credit Suisse First Boston on the potential benefits of an industry-wide effort to market gold jewellery, a group of gold producers, led by Randall Oliphant, CEO of Barrick Gold, decides to investigate the long -term impact of launching a significant marketing initiative to stimulate demand for gold jewellery. The group establishes an international Steering Committee representing producers of differing sizes, members and non-members of the World Gold Council. This Committee comprises representatives from AngloGold, Barrick, Gympie Gold, Kinross, Randgold, and Sons of Gwalia and is supported by the Australian Gold Council, the Gold and Silver Institute, and CSFB. The Steering Committee hires McKinsey to assist it by conducting an independent review of whether investment in a large-scale marketing initiative for gold jewellery would be effective in increasing demand for gold, and ultimately of significant economic benefit of the gold industry. Based on McKinsey?s review* and its own discussions with key stakeholders across the industry, the Steering Committee strongly believes the case for marketing is compelling and sufficiently proven to persuade the industry to undertake a major initiative over the next few years. The Steering Committee, supported by McKinsey, conducts briefings with a range of gold producers to share its findings and to understand producers? perspectives on an industry-funded marketing campaign. The Steering Committee is asking for your support to bring this industry-funded marketing campaign to life.

May 1, 2002