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By John H. Schloen

"The object of this paper is to review electrolytic copper refining as it was in 1954(1), as it is now in 1984, and to comment on the many improvements which have been made in the last thirty years.In 1954, and even in 1984, the ASTM specification B 115 for cathode copper was 99.90% minimum copper plus silver content and 100% minimum electrical conductivity, IACS standard. However, to meet competition and to satisfy the requirements of the fabricators and the electrical industry, the electrolytic refinery must supply a product of 99.95% to 99.96% minimum copper content, and 101fJlo minimum electrical conductivity.The range of cathode impurities reported by 20 major copper refineries in 1954 are given in Table I.The much more rigid British Specification, DD 78, for high-purity cathode copper, specifies individual elements, as well as groups of elements, as shown in Table 2.The Svenska test has been replaced by a similar procedure which uses 2.r mm diameter wire. The ISO test is the one listed in the DD 78 specification. In Table 3, corresponding values for the Svenska and ISO test s are given for various wire bar coppers."

Jan 1, 1986

By G. E. Norman, R. E. Michelutti

"One of the major objectives of Falconbridge has been and continues to be, to minimize the impact of its operations on the environment around its Sudbury operations.The approach to achieving this objective and the results, are discussed under the following topics .I . Sulphur Dioxide Emission Improvements.2. Effluent Treatment Improvements .3. Effect of the Envrionmental Improvements.Sulphur Dioxide Emission ImprovementsHistoryThe rejection of pyrrhotite in the concentrators is one method of reducing the amount of sulphur to the smelter and therefore the sulphur dioxide emissions. In the 1950s and 1960s, Falconbridge developed the capability to remove 54% of this pyrrhotite. Numerous attempts were made to increase this amount by treating the pyrrhotite for recovery of nickel and in some cases elemental sulphur. Processes tested and operated were: hydrometallurgical pilot plant, roast-leach commercial operation and nickel-iron refinery. None of these processes proved to be commerically successful for both technical and economic reasons. Falconbridge therefore redirected its efforts to reducing sulphur emissions by improving its smelting process under The Smelter Environmental Improvement Project. A major component of this project was the installation of a sulphuric acid plant to recover the S02 in the roaster off-gases."

Jan 1, 1984

By D. Mraz

"In certain instances, rocks around underground excavations behave as a plastic mass. This paper offers several solutions to predicting the mode of plastic flow around cavities and designing mining pillars where plastic conditions exist.IntroductionWhen stresses around underground cavities exceed yield limits of the host rock, the material often behaves as a plastic mass. The best example of this phenomenon is the behaviour of salt rocks in deep salt and potash deposits (more than 500 m deep).However, many other soft rocks exhibit similar properties. For example, Jeremic(1) described certain types of coal yielding plastically under high pressure. Alder suggested that granulated rock behaves plastically.The object of this paper is to propose a de sign procedure for mining pillars exhibiting plastic flow due to the combination of rock properties and in-situ stresses.Prandtl(3) mathematically defined a concept of a generalized, perfectly plastic substance, not possessing the property of strain hardening (Fig. I). He had in mind, a solid with a quasi quasi-isotropic , polycrystalline structure having a well defined yield point, and he postulated that its material elements start and continue to deform plastically when the maximum shearing stress ""'MAX"" reaches a sharp limit, dependent on the mean value of the sum of the major and minor principal stresses:"

Jan 1, 1984

By F. Lambert

"Amok Ltd./Cluff Mining operates a uranium mine at Cluff Lake in northern Saskatchewan. The project consists of one open pit and one underground mining operation along with a full-scale milling installation.The underground stoping operations are of the narrow vein type and are done between two levels 50 m apart. The mining method is undercut with concrete backfilling. Cuts are 3.5 m in height and can be as narrow as 1.4 m in width.Stoping operations are mechanized utilizing a CT-500E electric Microscoop marketed in Canada by Teledyne. The machine is only 85 cm in width and does all the mucking in stopes. Ore passes are provided in stope roughly every 40 m to 50 m.This paper describes the utilization of the CT-500E Microscoop in the company's underground operations and provides performance data related to the experience.IntroductionThe Amok Ltd ./Cluff Mining operation is located in the northwestern corner of Saskatchewan. The project started in 1980 with open pit mining and milling operations. In 1983, an underground mining operation began production . Today, the Amok Ltd./Cluff Mining installation produces 800 tonnes of uranium per year , which originates from both the open pit and the underground mine at about the same proportion."

Jan 1, 1990

In the leaching and recovery of gold from copper containing gold ores using cyanidation, some copper minerals also dissolve which can have a detrimental effect on the process efficiency and economics. There are also environmental concerns with current operations discharging cyanide and copper cyanide species into tailings dams, and strict regulations prohibit this for greenfield plants. Cyanide destruction however is not an economic option for new plants treating copper-gold ores. This paper evaluates a potential recovery process to overcome the copper cyanide problem. Despite gold dissolution occurring in copper cyanide solutions having no free cyanide, gold recovery from ores is lower compared to free cyanide. Thus, cyanide addition has to be optimised to maximise the gold recovery whilst endeavouring to eliminate free cyanide at the completion of leaching (CN:Cu less than 3:1). Subsequently, copper cyanide can be recovered using activated carbon. The loaded copper cyanide is easily recovered from the carbon with a cyanide soak and distilled water wash such that the eluted CN :Cu ratio is less than 4:1. The copper could be recovered efficiently by electrowinning, by decreasing the pH of the eluant to 5. The remaining cyanide solution, after electrowinning, is then neutralised to form NaCN and recycled.

Jan 1, 2005

"In the past year, mining at the Doyon Mine has shifted entirely from open pit to underground. The mine produced 234 692 ounces of gold in 1989 and is expected to produce 225000 ounces in 1990. The Doyon Mill has been running slightly above design capacity, and recovery has increased 3%.IntroductionThe Doyon Mine is located 25 miles east of Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec (Figure I).It is a joint venture owned by Lac Minerals and Cambior, with each holding a 50% interest. Lac Minerals operates the mine under the direction of a management committee.Production at the Doyon Mine began in 1980 with the start up of the Main Zone pit. Shortly thereafter the Doyon Mine became the largest open pit gold producer in Canada.In 1983, a ramp leading to the fourth level and exploration drifts were driven. Results were very encouraging, therefore the decision was made to sink a 2150-foot deep shaft, which was completed in 1986.In mid-1986, production began in the West pit, while underground mining of the West Zone started shortly thereafter, at the end of the same year.In 1987 the mill capacity was increased to 3300 tons per day and the Main Zone underground operations commenced."

Jan 1, 1990

By A. Gourlie

"This paper describes the performance properties of a new 95 ksi minimum yield strength, oil well casing grade designed specifically to resist hydrogen sulphide stress corrosion cracking, SSCc. The new grade, Soo-95SS, demonstrates NACE Tensile threshold values greater than 90% specified minimum yield strength, SMYS, and NACE Bent Beam values in excess of 12.7 x 1()4 psi. The new Soo-9588 grade also exhibits superior collapse and notch toughness values. IntroductionIn recent years, a trend toward casing grade specialization has resulted in the introduction of numerous proprietary grades designed specifically for particular production environments, In response, Algoma Steel has developed, as part of a "" grade for service"" philosophy, two new 95 ksi minimum yield grades. The two grades are Soo-95, High Collapse (HC), and Sour Service (SS). This paper describes the development of Soo-95 Sour Service.Four main objectives were established:1. Definition of the steelmaking and continuous cast processing practices2. Determination of the acceptable maximum and minimum levels for all chemical elements3. Definition of special processing requirements4. Definition of the physical characteristics and ranges of the product properties.This paper provides a description of the experimental approach, followed by a presentation and discussion of the trial results . Finally, a number of conclusions are given."

Jan 1, 1988

By V. Itkin

"Three methods were tested for the beneficiation of aluminum scrap, generated by heavy medium separation of non-ferrous automobile scrap residue. These were: crushing in a shredder followed by screening; grinding in a ball miff followed by screening; and eddy current separation. The best results were obtained with the grinding-screening method. IntroductionThe usual method of aluminum alloy reclamation from non-ferrous automobile scrap residue consists of a two-step heavy medium separation to remove materials lighter than and heavier than aluminum. The resulting aluminum scrap still contains over 15% impurities such as stones and glass, heavy rubber, insulated copper wire , plastics and heavy metals entrapped by macerated aluminum piece s, composite fragments, etc.(2). Upon melting, these impurities create difficulties and yield a low ingot recovery-65% to 70%, hence small foundries avoid this material.There are a number of ways to improve the quality of aluminum scrap such as:(1 ) crushing of the scrap, which powders the brittle content , a major impurity component, followed by screening out of the dust(2) eddy current separation , which removes metals from the material flow, and(3) implement better methods for density separation.The eddy current separation and two variants of the comminution-screening technique were studied by Intermetco Ltd., Hamilton , Ontario."

Jan 1, 1986

By M. Fairman

The effect of welding speed on the microstructure of friction stir processed (FSPed) AZ31B-H24 magnesium alloy was studied using light microscopy, image analysis, and microhardness tests. The grain size of the magnesium alloy was observed to increase after FSP from about 3.5 µm in the base alloy to about 8 µm in the stir zone. The aspect ratio decreased from 1.60 to 1.55 towards the center of the stir zone. The changes in the grain size and shape caused the microhardness of the samples to drop significantly across the FSPed region from 75 HV in the base alloy to below 55 HV in the stir zone. Decreasing the welding speed increased the grain size due to a greater input of heat energy. The faster heating rate due to the lower welding speed caused a deeper penetration of the annealing effects of FSP. It was also observed that the annealing effects caused by FSP were less pronounced with increasing distance from the interface between the sample and pin tool shoulder. The Hall-Petch type relationship of the micro-indentation hardness as a function of the grain size was observed to hold true after FSP.

Jan 1, 2007

By R. Pot

"IntroductionTHE PURPOSE of this paper is to discuss briefly the main logging and testing devices presently at our disposal, to point out some of their limitations, and to suggest possible improvements of the techniques.Some of the more important devices .are those that are used in:(1) Coring(2) Formation testing(3) Electric well logging(4) Radioactive well logging(5) Measuring of bottom hole pressures(6) Sampling of reservoir fluidsThe first four of these procedures are concerned with the well while it is in the process of drilling. The last two are carried out as soon as possible after a well has been brought into production and .at intervals during its life. My remarks will be concerned mostly with certain aspects of formation testing. The reservoir engineer is dependent on the information derived from these operations in order to obtain a clear picture of the conditions in a reservoir and to enable him to assess and forecast its future behaviour.Since any calculation is no better than the data on which it is based, not enough emphasis can be placed on the necessity for the testing and logging equipment to be of the highest quality and for the analysis of the results obtained to be thorough."

Jan 1, 1952

By Stanley Davidson

"This description of the structural geology of the Beattie mine has been condensed from a more comprehensive paper published previously (4).The property is in western Quebec, a short distance east of the Ontario boundary on the extension of the so-called Porcupine belt into Quebec.According to the geological surveys of the Dominion and Provincial Governments the regional structure in the vicinity of the mine is an easterly pitching, overturned syncline with several thousand feet of Timiskaming sediments in the centre surrounded by Keewatin volcanics (1, 2, 3).The mine lies on the north limb of the syncline, and the Keewatin series in this locality is, with few exceptions, overturned, dipping steeply north and facing south.The mineralization is closely related in space, and possibly genetically, to a body of syenite porphyry intruded into the Keewatin series along the north limb of the syncline. No ore has been found very far from the syenite or related lath-porphyry dykes, and the largest orebodies are composite, consisting of bleached and brecciated volcanics ( primarily tuffs) adjacent to altered syenite porphyry, both silicified and mineralized with very fine pyrite and arsenopyrite. In addition there are important ore shoots following a fracture zone within the syenite."

Jan 1, 1954

By W. A. Jones

THE Ross mine, a subsidiary operation of Hollinger Consolidated Gold Mines, Limited, is situated near the north end of lot 1, concession 2, Hislop township, Ontario. The property comprises the north half of lot 1, concession 2, and the south one-third of lot 1, concession 3. It is readily reached by a good motor road from the village of Ramore, 7.5 miles to the southeast on the Temiskaming and Northern Ontario railway. The-mine has been developed to a depth of 900 feet and the current daily production rate is about 260 tons. From the inception of operations in March, 1935, until December 31st, 1942, 455,720 tons of ore with a total value of $4,169,-316 have been milled. The silver to gold ratio of 1.48 to 1 is unusually high for Ontario gold mines. The deposit is interesting because the relationship between hydrothermal metamorphism and three successive stages of fracturing and mineralization is marked with considerable clarity. During the past seven years, detailed geological maps of the mine have been kept up to date, many thousands of feet of diamond-drill core have been logged, and numerous thin and polished ore sections have been studied. The present paper describes the structure and mineralogy of the orebodies.

Jan 1, 1944

By P. Woo, N. Brodusch, R. Gauvin, H. Demers

The scanning electron microscope (SEM) was primary developed for imaging applications. With the introduction of the Si(Li) energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS), simultaneous imaging and x-ray microanalysis became possible. However, long working distance and high current were needed because the position and small solid angle of the EDS detector. The high spatial resolution is generally obtained at short working distance with a SEM. Unfortunately x-ray microanalysis is never performed in the best imaging conditions. The annular silicon drift detector system is inserted below the objective lens which gives a higher solid angle (up to 1.3 sr). In consequence, a lower working distance and probe current can be used. An improved spatial resolution becomes possible during x-ray microanalysis. With this x-ray detector installed on a cold-field emission scanning electron microscope, quantitative x-ray microanalysis with high spatial resolution at low beam energy and low current becomes possible with the possibility of using the various different type of imaging at the same time. Also, since the count rate can be as high as 1,500 kcps, which lowers significantly the detection limit of elements as well as the minimum feature sizes of different phases that can be distinguished.

Jan 1, 2014

By J. E. Lee

"This paper describes the current practices and experiences, and discusses design parameters concerning slurry pumping at Inco Metals Company in the Sudbury District. It deals mainly with the long tailing and concentrate lines. Subject matter is arranged under the following headings: pumps, lines, instrumentation, system design, operation.IntroductionThe Inco Metals Company is the mining and processing section of INCO LIMITED. In the Ontario Division, it operates 13 mines, 5 mills, a smelter, an iron ore plant and 3 refineries, all engaged in the mining and recovery of nickel and copper. This paper describes the slurry pumping practices in the mills of the Ontario Division.The PumpsWe have in our Sudbury area mills most of the available types of slurry pumps, in sizes from one inch up to twelve inches, a total of about 400 pumps. The rubber-lined, horizontal shaft pump is; most numerous. However, for certain applications, the hard-metal pump is essential, and is becoming more popular for general mill service. Two types of vertical shaft pumps are used. There are a few diaphragm pumps on small thickeners, but the larger thickeners have centrifugal pumps either directly connected to the under-flow or with one pump handling several gravity underflows. We have not used piston or plunger pumps in our mills."

Jan 1, 1978

By M. P. Tibbs

An autonomous spray application system for a structural Thin Spray-on Liner (TSL) is targeting productivity and safety on underground coal continuous miners by potentially replacing steel mesh, and has broader applications as surface support and confinement in metalliferous mines and civil tunnelling. Polymer chemistry, coating formulation, geotechnical assessment and the autonomous application system are being developed as an integrated package as part of a continuous miner automation project. This polymer-based TSL system has significant benefits over conventional steel mesh skin confinement, including being more automatable by spray application, providing complete skin confinement and active skin reinforcement as a fast-curing composite with substrate, and having effective fire retardant properties for the polymer and the underlying coal. This paper presents a preliminary assessment of distance sensing systems that would enable autonomous adaptation of a nominal spray path to spray a consistent thickness of TSL (nominally 5mm) over an irregular topography. Two alternate sensors are assessed; firstly, a 2D LIDAR mounted on a linear axis is used to produce a 3D surface profile for generating an adapted spray path; and secondly, a robot end-effector-mounted ultrasonic sensor is assessed for wall following techniques to dynamically adapt a nominal spray path.

Aug 1, 2013

By Walter Koellner

Today?s large electric mining shovels are significant users of power and represent peak loads of more than 3.5 MW to a mine?s distribution system. The power swings during normal operation can influence the line voltage at the Point of Common Coupling (PCC). The static converters for the shovel?s motions also create voltage and current harmonics which are fed back into the mine?s power grid. In addition, shovels themselves are affected by the power quality of the mine?s distribution system. This paper introduces the use of active IGBT rectifiers, also called Active Front Ends (AFE), as alternative to conventional, line commutated SCR thyristor rectifiers. The AFEs convert the AC line input into a controlled DC-link voltage. This DC voltage is then used as input to IGBT inverters, which power the AC motors of the shovel?s Hoist, Propel, Crowd, and Swing motions. The introduction of AFEs creates the following operational improvements: i) reduction of the Harmonic Current Distortion THDi from more than 40% to less than 4%; ii) full regenerative operation; iii) the potential for line voltage stabilization at the PCC; iv) high tolerance for line voltage fluctuations; v) improved dynamic performance, and, as result vi) higher availability and productivity of the shovel.

May 1, 2001

By M. S. Hedley

"The Lucky Jim mine is at Zincton in Slocan mmmg division; on the Kaslo-Nakusp branch of the Canadian Pacific railway. It is owned and operated by Zincton Mines; Limited; a subsidiary of Sheep Creek Gold Mines; Limited. The mine is far in the lead in the production of zinc in the Slocan. Its recorded production from concentrates and shipping ore was 102; 260; 191 pounds of zinc to the end of 1945.GENERAL GEOLOGY With the exception of acidic dykes the rocks near the Lucky Jim mine belong to the Slocan series, which is Triassic in age and consists principally of argillaceous rocks. It disconformably overlies greenstones of the Triassic Kaslo series about 3 miles to the northeast, and is cut by granitic rocks of the Nelson batholith 5 miles to the southeast.The sedimentary rocks in this area are best referred to on the whole as slates. They lie within the more fissile basal part of the Slocan series. The term 'slate belt' conveniently distinguishes this area of rocks characterized by slaty cleavage from the more massive argillites that are more characteristic of the Slocan as a whole. The contact between the slaty and massive argillites lies ½ mile southwest of the mine."

Jan 1, 1954

By S. F. LEAMING

Jade occurs with alpine-1ype serpe111iniIes in a be// of middle Paleozoic to Triassic rocks extending from southern British Columbia in10 Yukon Territory. Most known deposiIs are in BriIish Columbia and are associa1ed wi1h the Cache Creek Group. Jade deposits are generally small len1icular masses 1ha1 lie along con1acIs beIween serpenIinites and various countIy rocks; some are 1ec1onic inclusions wi1hin se1pen1ini1es. Qualify and quan1i1y of 1he jade varies widely. Deposi1s occasionally, but rarely, reach 3,000 /Onnes. The ma1erial may be rendered non-commercial by .frac1ures, impuriIies, inferior colour and poor IexIure. Because unit value of jade can approach $80.00 per kg, greaI incen1ive exisIs 10 exploi1 1his resource. Successful commercial operations, however, depend on large- *A more detailed version of 1hi paper occur in Leaming (1978). PHOTO I . Sawn blocks of nephrite ready for shipping. 270 volume sales, for which $6.00 to $15.00 per kg is more realistic. Many undiscovered jade deposits undoubtedly remain in the Canadian Cordillera.

Jan 1, 1984

By J. K. Van Beek

The Deep Underground Science and Engineering Laboratory (DUSEL) is a scientific facility that will be placed in the deeper reaches of the Homestake mine, Lead, SD. Our team of geologists and engineers is carrying out the first scientific project awarded to the site ? Towards a Transparent Earth. Taking advantage of the thousands of open exploratory and sand-line holes, we are installing the beginnings of a seismic observatory. Each installed station consists of a 3-D accelerometer package and a 1 nanoradian 2-D tilt meter. In order to allow for a variety of monitoring and characterization studies, the array instruments are sensitive over the frequency bandwidth of 0.2 - 1 KHz. Three, three component accelerometer stations are currently installed ? in a 140 m deep bore beneath the slurry pump house, and in 12 m deep bores on the 2000-foot level, 800 and 400 m from the Ross shaft. There is a tilt-meter installed at each 2000 level station. These installations are in 150 mm diameter sand-holes. From the currently installed tilt sensors we are investigating solid earth deformation as a response to tidal potential. The accelerometers are being used to locate and characterize events associated with mine dewatering and rehabilitation.

May 1, 2009

By Nancy E. Wilk

In 2015, more than 1.2 million deaths annually were estimated to be caused by occupational risks (WHO, 2018). In 2021, this estimate increased with the publishing of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Labour Office (ILO) Joint Estimates of the Work-related Burden of Disease and Injury based on data from 2000 to 2016 (WHO/ILO, 2021). These global estimates reported that each year 1.9 million people die from exposure to occupational risk factors, 81% of these fatalities resulting from non-communicable, occupational diseases. WHO/ILO notes that the health-related risk factors with the largest number of attributable deaths were exposures to long working hours followed by workplace exposures to particulate matter, gases, and fumes. The health outcome with the greatest work-related burden of deaths was chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, followed by stroke and ischaemic heart disease. In considering the 2021 data published by WHO/ILO, it is likely that the estimates are low and underestimate the true burden of occupational disease and injury. In support of that position, more recently the ILO estimated that “2.3 million women and men around the world succumb to work-related accidents or diseases every year; this corresponds to over 6000 deaths every single day” (ILO, 2022).

Jan 1, 2023