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By Neil Westoll

Extensive Global Network ?Working together, AECOM provides clients with a unique blend of global reach, local knowledge, innovation and technical excellence. ?43,000+ team members worldwide ?450+ offices ?100+ countries ?6 continents The Changing Climate ?Climate change is ?official??IPCC 2007 ?Climate change will create instability, change and opportunities ?Companies that are resilient and adapt will survive and evolve ?CO2/GHG emissions will be curbed by legislation ?How will this affect the mining industry? ?How can the mining industry adapt to the new realities?

May 1, 2009

By Nathalie Gauthier

Bien que le système de ventilation du Puits Penna soit de taille imposante et que plus de $30M y seront engloutis pour son développement, aucun budget spécifique n?avait été préalablement consenti pour refroidir l?air acheminé aux places de travail dans la partie profonde de la mine. Le système de ventilation a été conçu en deux étapes distinctes : le réseau du haut de la mine lequel dessert jusqu?à 1550 m de profondeur et le réseau du bas de la mine (de 1550 m à 2200m) qui a été créé ultérieurement. Le réseau inférieur a été imaginé de façon à acheminer l?air frais directement au gisement et de permettre l?évacuation aux extrémités afin de rejeter l?air chaud immédiatement après l?avoir utilisé. Au total, lorsque le réseau de ventilation sera complété, plus de 670 m3/s d?air sera véhiculé dont jusqu?à 495 m3/s pour la partie inférieure de la mine considérant une capacité totale maximum de 710 m3/s en utilisant la mine adjacente.

May 1, 2003

By C. Andrews

Fuel cell testing requires fully automated operation, on-site configuration of tests, and real-time monitoring for performance and failures. Balancing the flexibility and programmability of a test station with reliability, cost, and user interface can be a daunting challenge to the test equipment engineer. Endurance testing of fuel cells requires the highest level of reliability for test stand hardware and software without compromising automation capabilities or users interface. Techniques for implementing an ultra-reliable test platform addressing hardware limitations, sophisticated watchdog monitoring to prevent inadvertent shutdowns, and software limitations (e.g., balancing a highly-functional graphical users interface with reliability) are presented.

Jan 1, 2005

By M. D. Evans

"Note: The views expressed herein are those of the author, not of the Government of CanadaThe mining industry has a significant opportunity to capitalize on past learnings to build better social relationships. The industry’s relationship with society is critical and under pressure. Rising levels of public opposition and social conflict are already having material impacts on operations around the world. The industry has an opportunity to shape the future direction of this social engagement, build public trust, and proactively respond to a material risk to operations, but first it needs to better understand the nature of the challenges and the urgency of addressing them.RÉSUMÉ L’industrie minière a actuellement une excellente occasion de tirer profit de ses expériences antérieures pour établir de meilleures relations sociales. Les relations entre l’industrie et la société sont critiques et elles subissent de grandes pressions. L’escalade de l’opposition par le public et les conflits sociaux ont déjà des impacts physiques sur les opérations partout à travers le monde. L’industrie a l’occasion de façonner la future direction de son engagement social, d’accroître la confiance du public et de répondre de manière proactive à un risque matériel aux exploitations, mais elle doit tout d’abord mieux comprendre la nature des défis et l’urgence de les traiter."

Jan 1, 2015

Overview of Presentation Why Enter Agreements with First Nations Making it Win-Win ?The Principles The Process Making the Process Work Resource Agmts Defined Resource Agreements are legally binding agreements between a resource company and the First Nation(s) whose Aboriginal or Treaty rights may be impacted by the activities of the proposed project

May 1, 2009

By Patrick Chabot

Ce document présente une méthode hybride de long trou favorisant une méthode de minage initiale par chambre-magasin et complétée par une méthode de minage long trou. Cette méthode a été adaptée suite à plusieurs facteurs tels qu?une géologie complexe, une rareté de mineur d?expérience et un haut taux de roulement de main d?oeuvre spécialisée. Cette méthode a permis d'excellents résultats par rapport à la dilution. De plus, la récupération de pilier à haute teneur par forage long trou sera expliquée. Cette méthode permet aussi de récupérer le minerai qui est resté accroché dans les chantiers chambre-magasins. Introduction : La mine Géant Dormant est une mine filonienne d?or située à environ 80km au nord de la ville d?Amos au Québec. Elle est en opération depuis 1988 et à la fin de 2007, elle a produit près de 885 000 onces d?or à partir d?environ 2 400 000 tonnes de minerai pour une teneur moyenne d?environ 11,5g /t Au. Cette mine est la propriété d?IAMGOLD Corporation depuis l?acquisition de Cambior par cette dernière au mois de novembre 2006. Elle emploie 151 employés permanents et environ 41 entrepreneurs.

Feb 1, 2008

By Isabelle Demers, Audrey Jalce

L’industrie minière génère chaque année une quantité considérable de rejets miniers, principalement sous forme de stériles ou de résidus de l’usine de traitement. Les stériles sont des roches sans valeur économique, excavées pour atteindre la roche minéralisée. Ils sont usuellement empilés en surface formant des haldes à stériles. Les résidus miniers sont des roches finement broyées, mélangées avec de l’eau, résultant du traitement du minerai. Ils sont généralement pompés et entreposés en surface dans des parcs à résidus. Cependant, leur stockage peut être sujet à des instabilités géotechniques, mais également géochimiques, pouvant entrainer des problèmes environnementaux majeurs, tels que le drainage minier acide (DMA). Le DMA se produit lorsque des minéraux sulfureux, contenus dans ces deux types de rejets, s’oxydent au contact de l’eau et de l’oxygène [1]. Le DMA se caractérise par une solution acide (pH inférieur à 6) riche en métaux, contaminant les eaux souterraines et de surface et représentant alors un danger pour la faune, la flore et la santé humaine [2]. La remise en état et la fermeture des sites miniers doivent donc être pensées dès la phase d’étude du projet d’exploitation, afin de proposer une méthode de gestion des rejets qui permettra de limiter les impacts environnementaux pendant et après l'exploitation.

May 2, 2024

By Denis Bois

La Bolivie est un pays en développement qui compte une tradition minière qui précède même l?établissement espagnol en Amérique. Pendant toutes ces années, l?exploitation minière s?est faite sans grands égards pour l?environnement. Au cours des dernières années cependant, le gouvernement bolivien a modifié ses lois afin de rendre nécessaire la prise en compte de l?environnement dans le processus d?exploitation d?une mine. Dans le cadre d?un projet MRN-ACDI1 visant à renforcer le secteur minier en Bolivie et ses retombées pour la population, l?URSTM2 a été mandaté pour développer et mettre en place un programme académique de gestion environnementale minière, basée sur l?expertise canadienne. Ce programme vise à renforcer les institutions académiques boliviennes responsables de la formation en environnement minier en Bolivie ainsi que les ministères et agences gouvernementales concernées.

May 1, 2001

By M. Doucet

The introduction of high-nickel anodes to CCR in 2006 resulted in an increase of nickel in anodic slimes. Removal of the nickel in these slimes to below 3.0% is necessary in order to prevent slag viscosity problems in the subsequent pyrometallurgical step. A lower specification of 0.5% was chosen in order to minimize Ni losses to the slag and to recover this nickel as NiSO4. A 2-stage autoclave process, which was patented by CCR in 1992, was chosen to treat the high nickel slimes. Laboratory and plant?scale tests were performed in 2004 in order to validate the results of this process with the present slimes. These results along with corrosion tests were used to design two brick-lined autoclaves. These autoclaves were installed in October 2006 and successfully commissioned within 8 weeks. A "Design of Experiment" test program was performed in 2006 on an alternative autoclave process that reversed the cycles in the patented process. The effects of temperature and acid content were modeled using the results. The alternative process will be validated with the new autoclaves.

Jan 1, 2007

By Arthur Lieu

The mill effluent treatment circuit (Bulk Neutralization (BN)) in the Cameco Key Lake Operation was modified in 2008 to enhance the removal efficiency of selenium (Se) and molybdenum (Mo) from the mill process water. This modification was completed in part due to increased knowledge of the effects these elements have on biota. In addition, legacy effects from the historical operation of the Key Lake mill in regards to Se and Mo were shown to have an effect on the regional biota in the downstream receptors. This was a challenging initiative as there was no off the shelf technology available and the removal process had to be incorporated into an existing (brownfield) process. These modifications have resulted in significant reduction in the concentration of these elements in the Key Lake mill effluent. The removal efficiency for Se and Mo in the modified circuit has increased to 95% and 75%. As a result, concentrations of Se and Mo are now consistently less than 0.4 mg/l and 0.02 mg/l. In addition, the Se and Mo precipitates formed were extensively studied to ensure long-term geochemical stability in the Key Lake in-pit tailings facility. This presentation will provide additional detail on the hydrometallurgical removal mechanisms and process modifications required in the Key Lake BN circuit to remove these elements to trace levels.

Aug 1, 2010

By M. Boussuge

Ceramics and refractories have many common constituents and consecutively exhibit several analogous properties. For example, concerning the thermomechanical properties this paper will focus on, the type of creep that can be observed in both materials is often the same (kinematic hardening). Changes in microstructure (phase transformation, dehydration, sintering, crystallisation,...), induced by heating and/or cooling, can also drastically modify the mechanical behaviour of ceramics and refractories. But the coarse granulates, the porosity and the impurities contained in industrial refractories may lead to specific responses of this material to thermal and/or mechanical loadings. In particular, some differences can be observed with technical ceramics in the main type of damage observed in service : diffuse damage in refractories (microcracking) and localised damage in ceramics (macrocracking). In this paper, the possibilities of transferring a part of knowledge from ceramics to refractories will be discussed, in the field of thermomechanical properties : experimental characterization techniques, mechanical behaviour models. Finally, some problems caused by scale effects and by the integration of thermomechanical properties of refractories in the numerical simulation of industrial structures will be evoked.

Jan 1, 2004

By S. Knapp

Inconel 600 pipes welded to Carbon-Steel are used in CANDU nuclear reactors. Fracture of these welded tubes would have important consequences in term of safety, and therefore their mechanical properties need to be better understood. In this study, the weld region was analyzed at various length-scales using optical microscopy, micro hardness testing, small and large scale tensile testing and digital image correlation (DIC). Large grains were observed in the weld region and smaller grains in the Inconel and carbon steel base metals. Micro-hardness profiles showed variations across the weld and through thickness and were justified in terms of residual stresses in the sample. Large tensile samples were extracted from the welded pipe and were used to identify the material in which fracture initiates. In addition, the local strains in each material were obtained using digital image correlation. Local stress-strain curves were built from the DIC data and compared to stress-strain curves obtained from miniature tensile samples extracted from the carbon steel, Inconel and weld regions. The results demonstrate the advantage of using DIC for extracting local material properties in dissimilar weld systems. Variations in the materials stress-strain curves thought thickness are also presented and emphasize the need for obtaining a complete map of the mechanical properties in the weld region for predictive models to be accurate. Preliminary fracture studies will also be presented.

Jan 1, 2011

By Donald A. Cranstone

Donald Cranstone holds B.Sc. (Honours) and M.Sc. degrees in Geology from the University of Manitoba and a Ph.D. in Economic Geology from Harvard University. He has worked as a mine geologist, a provincial geological survey geologist and as a senior exploration geologist. He joined what is now the Minerals and Metals Sector of Natural Resources Canada in 1971, where he has been a commodity specialist for gold, for copper and another 28 metals. He is a senior mineral economist, currently engaged in analysis of mineral exploration and discovery success in Canada and of the future of the Canadian mining industry. Abstract This paper examines the history of Canadian non-petroleum mineral production. The outlook over the next 25 years, for mining in Canada and in each province and territory, is reviewed. The outlook for mining in Canada and in most provinces/territories is favourable, but problems seem likely in a few jurisdictions unless new orebodies are brought into production. In terms of exploration potential, Canada consistently ranks among the top three countries in the world. Over the last eight years, Canada has consistently been second only to Australia as a destination for exploration investment. For the first time, Canada is ranked in terms of total mineral production, including coal and construction materials, relative to all the countries of the world including countries of the former communist bloc.

May 1, 2001

By F. Filzwieser, K. Gamweger

The process of gas purging in molten aluminium has been an industrial practice in Europe for many years. The advantages are a reduction in the hydrogen content and impurities in the melt, as well as a homogenisation of the temperature and chemical analysis in the molten metal. Formerly used lances or impellers are being replaced by porous plugs which are installed at the bottom of the furnace. This special product of RHI Refractories has proven its efficiency in primary melting as well as in die cast, sheet and extrusion plants.

Jan 1, 2004

By M. Fainerman-Melnikova

The use of strong base ion exchange resins for the extraction of uranium was pioneered in the 1950?s. Ion exchange technology is applicable to dilute leach solutions such as those obtained from in-situ, heap leaching or in-plant processing of low grade ores. A further advantage of ion exchange processes is that fluidised bed technology allows for treatment of solutions with a relatively high concentration of suspended solids and resin-in-pulp technology can treat leach slurries. However, the extraction of uranium with strong base resins is severely affected by the presence of chloride ions in solution. In areas where high quality water is not readily available, the use of saline water as process water would extend the potential application for ion exchange in uranium processing. Our research program has studied the effectiveness of a wide range of commercially available ion exchangers in uranium extraction from saline solutions. In the present work, we examine the impact of salinity (ranging from chloride concentrations found in groundwater to those present in sea water), on the uranium extraction with weak base anionic resins (WBA). The effect of pH and the presence of the competing impurities are also discussed.

Aug 1, 2010

By G. Couture

In the introduction to this presentation, we will cover the market of motorized recreational products. We will introduce the public to what is produced and sold worldwide, what is the nature and general behaviour of the customers for such products. We will cover the evolution of this market and put in evidence how drastic must be the changes in the manufacturers organizations in order to, in one hand, constantly adjust to the customer demand, and in the other hand, react to the competitors' offensives on the market.

Jan 1, 2006

By Murray D. Fredlund

The consolidation of soil material is central to many types of engineering analysis. Problems such as the building of highway structures, landfills, or buildings over saturated soft clays require application of such theory. It has been found in industry that the application of consolidation theory has lagged significantly behind the theory which has been developed some time ago. The application of small-strain saturated consolidation theory was first proposed in a 1D form by Terzaghi. Although this theory has been available for some time it?s implementation into software packages in 2D and 3D forms has been slow due to inherent complexities in the coupling equations. The flow and stress equations are also inherently somewhat unstable and this further complicates software implementation. Of particular interest in the mining industry is the consolidation of uranium tailings. One such disposal method that has been utilized is the subaqueous deposition of uranium tailings in large pit structures. When performing such deposition the calculation of consolidation rates is central to determining final pit capacity and expected life. Consolidation software can be successfully used in such cases in order to determine pit filling rates. The primary complexity, however, is that tailings are typically deposited in slurry form and therefore the potential deformations are large. Large-strain consolidation theory is therefore required in order to properly solve the deformations over time. This paper presents the use of a large-strain consolidation analysis in order to predict long-term filling rates in a uranium tailings pit.

Aug 1, 2010

By . A. C. Atenas

Control of arsenic in the Potrerillos' Refinery electrolyte has been obtained by withdrawing a bleed stream of circulating electrolyte and ensuring the ratio of [O]/[As] in the cast anodes is maintained between 0.9 and 1.0. In order to achieve this control the anode oxygen must be adjusted, depending on the arsenic level in the cast anodes. It has been necessary to modify the time of the reduction step in the anode furnace refining process. Control of this ratio has permitted electro refining of anodes with high levels of arsenic, up to 3000 ppm, while minimizing the volume of electrolyte that must be removed for impurity control so as not to affect the copper concentration in the electrolyte. However this control strategy is not useful when the arsenic concentration in the cast anode is too high, because it is limited by the maximum oxygen concentration allowable for a good quality anodic. Costs have been reduced in anode furnace refining because it is no longer necessary to use alkaline flux injection to remove the arsenic in cast anodes.

Jan 1, 2007

By Robert D. Brown

"Important tax changes, many of them of direct interest to the mining industry, were contained in the budgets brought down by federal and provincial finance ministers across Canada this spring. This month, Tax Notes presents a brief summary of important tax changes introduced at the federal and provincial levels in the last few months.IntroductionIn the March 1980 issue of the CIM Bulletin, Tax Notes surmised that the short-lived 1979 budget proposals of the former Conservative government offered a unique glimpse of budgetary changes that might be unfolded in 1980. Scene II of this ""now you see it-now you don't"" drama opened on April 21, 1980, when Finance Minister Allen MacEachen, in an ""economic statement""' reintroduced a selection of tax proposals taken from the ill-fated Conservative' budget of December 11, 1979, but refused to bring forward major new proposals in tax and finance.Mr. MacEachen proposed a 5% surtax on federal corporation income tax to apply in the 2 years from January 1, 1980 to December 31, 1981, as a slightly modified version of the same surtax proposed by former Finance Minister Crosbie in his December budget address. Mr. MacEachen also reintroduced a number of technical amendments which would affect the taxation of mining income in certain instances. In addition, a large number of other tax proposals suggested in the previous Conservative budget were also reintroduced, although there are some notable omissions."

Jan 1, 1980

By C. Pawlik, R. T. Jones

Cobalt occurs together with copper in the southern African copper belt, and a large portion of this cobalt ends up in copper smelting slags, mostly dissolved in oxide form. It is possible to achieve high recoveries of cobalt by reductive smelting of the copper slags, using some form of carbon as a reducing agent in an electric furnace. For example, a 40 MW DC arc furnace was operated at Chambishi Metals in Zambia from 2001 to 2008, and demonstrated cobalt recoveries of around 80% from slag to an iron-rich alloy containing copper and cobalt. The alloy was atomized prior to leaching. With the recent increase in demand for cobalt (and the resulting high metal prices), there has been increasing interest in this process route. There is also an alternative hydrometallurgical process for recovering the valuable metals from the slag. The choice between these process options requires a trade-off between capital and operating cost and environmental acceptability. This paper examines the potential for cobalt recovery from slags, and outlines various process options. INTRODUCTION Cobalt has had a number of important uses in society since antiquity, and its principal use has changed dramatically over time. Since at least 2250 BC, cobalt-based pigments (cobalt blue) have been widely used to colour manufactured goods such as glass and pottery. Later, cobalt became known for its magnetic and wear-resistant properties and high-strength alloys, and most of the cobalt produced was consumed in the production of cobalt-based superalloys. The greatest recent growth in cobalt demand is due to it being essential to the rechargeable lithium-ion batteries used in consumer electronic devices and increasingly to drive electric vehicles. Cobalt is usually produced as a by-product of copper or nickel. The copper belt in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Zambia supplies most of the world's cobalt production. In 2018, the DRC was expected to produce 90 000 tons of the world total of 140 000 tons of cobalt (Shedd, 2019). This paper focuses on the southern African copper industry, and specifically the cobalt that is able to be produced as a co-product from this. A BRIEF HISTORY OF SOUTHERN AFRICAN COPPER SMELTING Copper deposits in South Africa have been documented since at least 1685, when the Cape governor, Simon van der Stel, ‘discovered’ the 'Copper Mountain' at Springbok. South Africa's first public commercial mining company (imaginatively called the 'South African Mining Company') was established in Cape Town in 1846, to exploit the rich copper resources that were believed to exist in Namaqualand.

Jan 1, 2019