Search Documents

By Redhead Robert J.

"In 1991, the Canadian Council of Ministers for the Environment (CCME) charged its Waste Management Task Group with developing a nationally coordinated strategy to measure, monitor, and achieve the objective of decreasing the generation of waste (solid and hazardous) by50% from 1988 levels by the year 2000.With the encouragement of the CCME, which viewed hazardous waste as largely an industry problem, a committee, the “Industry Action Group”, representing eleven industry trade associations with a strong interest and involvement in hazardous waste was recruited.The Municipality of Markham, Ontario was also recruited (Appendix 1)."

Jan 1, 1996

By C. Stapel, P. D. Roberts, D. G. Jones, W. G. Macdonald, R. J. De Meijer

"Abstract-Measurement of natural radioactivity has been used in both a qualitative and a quantitative way in mineral exploration, particularly in the search for uranium. In the last five years, the Kernfysisch Versneller Instituut (KVI) and British Geological Survey (BGS) have designed, built and tested a new detector system that greatly improves quantitative applications in mineral exploration, especially on the seafloor and in the nearshore zone. The new system is an enhancement of an earlier BGS design. The major improvements comprise the use of a highly sensitive ?-ray detector, together with new data processing, from which concentrations of natural radionuclides may be deduced in real time. After laboratory analysis of samples, these concentrations can be converted into mineral percentages. Once the mineralogy of an area has been characterized, this conversion can also be done in real time.Thus far the system has mainly been used to map heavy-mineral concentrations in coastal subtidaland intertidal sediments. For such work the multi-sensor detector probe is towed on the seafloor and various parameters are recorded continuously. The probe contains, in addition to the gamma-ray detector, a water-pressure sensor (giving water depth) and an acoustic device to measure bottom roughness. The system, when used together with high-precision positioning systems such as D-GPS, enables the production of detailed maps of bathymetry, bottom roughness, and seafloor radioactivity or mineral distribution. These maps allow mineral concentrations to be readily correlated with seabed topography and sediment type. In the same way, ?-ray detectors could be used advantageously during dredging operations to provide on-line assessment of the mineral content of the dredged sediment as well as to guide the direction of dredging. Additionally, the same technique could be used to monitor the subsequent fate of a dredge spoil after dumping on the seafloor.Natural radioactivity arising from potassium and the thorium and uranium decay series has potential use for the fast and reliable assessment of siliciclastic and phosphatic impurities in limestones. Detection of such impurities may preclude the use of the limestone for chemical or cement production.Apart from its use in exploration, the technique has significant potential in mineral processing, particularly of heavy minerals. It can be applied as on-line quality control in dry and wet separation processes and for process control, by using decisions based on the results to control valves and other instrumentation. In addition, it can also be used in environmental monitoring of waste arising from mineral extraction and processing. In conclusion, the technique described has a diversity of applications in exploration, mining and mineral processing."

Jan 1, 1997

By C. Stapel, P. D. Roberts, D. G. Jones, W. G. Macdonald, R. J. De Meijer

"Measurement of natural radioactivity has been used in both a qualitative and a quantitative way in mineral exploration, particularly in the search for uranium. In the last ?ve years, the Kernfysisch Versneller Instituut (KVI) and British Geological Survey (BGS) have designed, built and tested a new detector system that greatly improves quantitative applications in mineral exploration, especially on the sea?oor and in the nearshore zone. The new system is an enhancement of an earlier BGS design. The major improvements comprise the use of a highly sensitive ?-ray detector, together with new data processing, from which concentrations of natural radio nuclides may be deduced in real time. After laboratory analysis of samples, these concentrations can be converted into mineral percentages. Once the mineralogy of an area has been characterized, this conversion can also be done in real time.Thus far the system has mainly been used to map heavy-mineral concentrations in coastal subtidal and intertidal sediments. For such work the multi-sensor detector probe is towed on the sea?oor and various parameters are recorded continuously. The probe contains, in addition to the gamma-ray detector, a water-pressure sensor (giving water depth) and an acoustic device to measure bottom roughness. The system, when used together with high-precision positioning systems such as D-GPS,enables the production of detailed maps of bathymetry, bottom roughness, and sea?oor radioactivity or mineral distribution. These maps allow mineral concentrations to be readily correlated with sea-bed topography and sediment type. In the same way, ?-ray detectors could be used advantageously during dredging operations to provide on-line assessment of the mineral content of the dredged sediment as well as to guide the direction of dredging. Additionally, the same technique could be used to monitor the subsequent fate of a dredge spoil after dumping on the sea?oor.Natural radioactivity arising from potassium and the thorium and uranium decay series has potential use for the fast and reliable assessment of siliciclastic and phosphatic impurities in limestones. Detection of such impurities may preclude the use of the limestone for chemical or cement production.Apart from its use in exploration, the technique has signi?cant potential in mineral processing, particularly of heavy minerals. It can be applied as on-line quality control in dry and wet separation processes and for process control, by using decisions based on the results to control valves and other instrumentation. In addition, it can also be used in environmental monitoring of waste arising from mineral extraction and processing. In conclusion, the technique described has a diversity of applications in exploration, mining and mineral processing."

Jan 1, 1997

By S. N. Aliferova, E. I. Afonina, S. N. Titkov, A. Ju. Bondareva, N. N. Panteleeva

"Potash ore is mainly processed using the method of cationic flotation. Potash ore deposits of the CIS, namely: at Upper Kama river, Gremyachinsk (Russia), Starobin (Belarus), Tubegatan (Uzbekistan) are characterized by relatively low KCl impregnation (1.0 – 1.5 mm) and contain up to 10% of waterinsoluble impurities (WII). Water-insoluble impurities are presented by aluminosilicate, silicate, carbonate (calcite, dolomite) minerals and anhydrite. In the process of milling the ore to a flotation size there are released and dispersed the insolubles impurities actively sorbing the cationic collector, i.e. aliphatic amines C16 – C22. In this regard there is carried out a preliminary desliming of the ore.Currently grinding the ore to a flotation size (1.5 mm or less) is carried out in rod mills along with forming of a large number of fine-grained ore fractions having the size under 0.25 mm, which results in the increased KCl losses with halite slime waste and reduction in the quality of finished product. There has been developed the technique for processing of potash ores with a high content of water-insoluble impurities (10 – 12%) containing, in different ratios, silicates, carbonates and anhydrite. The technology involves the use of the ore dry grinding to the flotation size and subsequent reagent activation of the processes for sludge removal and sylvite flotation.INTRODUCTIONCurrently there are being developed the potash ore deposits in the CIS countries, namely: at Upper Kama river and Gremyachinsk deposits (Russian Federation), Starobin deposit (Republic of Belarus) and Tubegatan deposit (Uzbekistan). Potash ores are a mixture of sylvite and halite and contain water-insoluble impurities of silicates, carbonates and anhydrite. The content of water-insoluble impurities (WII) reaches up to 10%, disseminated (impregnated) sylvite does not exceed 1.5 mm and in connection with that the ore is crushed to a particle size under 1.5 mm. Ore grinding is performed by wet process in rod mills with producing a significant amount of fine-grained mineral fractions and sludge, which are actively sorbing a cationic collector, i. e. primary aliphatic amines C16 - C22. The ground ore is deslimed and the slime product is directed to a sludge depot (pits)."

Jan 1, 2016

By G. J. Simandl, H. -L. Jacob, S. Paradis, G. Valiquette

"Nos travaux de terrain dans le Grenville, effectués dans le cadre d'un projet d'inventaire des gîtes de wollastonite, ont démontré qu'il existe un secteur exceptionnellement favorable à l’exploration pour la wollastonite. Ce secteur s'étend de la municipalité de Grenville jusqu'au pare du Mont-Tremblant (nord de St-Jovite). D'autres secteurs favorables a 'exploration pour la wollastonite ont été délimités dans les regions du Lac-Saint-Jean, de Shawinigan et de la Gatineau. Neuf categories litho-structurales de gites de wollastonite furent identifiées. L'importance d'un système ou vert pour la formation des gîtes de hautes teneurs fut établie. Un guide de prospection pour la wollastonite propre à la province tectonique de Grenville fut développé. Plusieurs des indices sont prometteurs et mériteraient des travaux de raise en valeur afin de determiner s'ils représentent une source de wollastonite exploitable à profit. Lac-Saint-Jean, Shawinigan and Gatineau areas. Deposits may be classified into nine categories depending on their relationship to intrusive rocks, discordant or concordant contacts with the host rocks, morphology, and major structural controls. Deposits consist mainly of wollastonite, calcite and clinopyroxene. They may contain one or several of the following minerals: feldspar, scapolite, quartz, titanite sulphides, zoisite, clinozoisite, garnet, idocrase and prehnite. Wollastonite content may reach over 70%. Some deposits are associated with graphite veins. Better understanding of the geology, combined with the proposed classification provides new exploration guide for wollastonite. Several deposits have grades of economic interest. Further work is needed to determine if any of these deposits can be exploited for profit."

Jan 1, 1990

By W. G. Brown

"Review of prototype testing of two types of three-phase, argon stabilized reactor/furnace indicates specialized advantages for both, as compared with existing metallurgical furnace technology. They are: the direct-arc, plasma-torch furnace (Knipp); and the indirect, plasma extended-arc reactor (PEAR), developed at the University of Toronto.IntroductionA unique type of three-phase AC, plasma extended-arc reactor, (PEAR), shown in Figure la with gravity feed, has been undergoing development at the University of Toronto, during the past fifteen years: argon gas, introduced axially through drilled-holes in ordinary graphite electrodes, increases the length of indirect arcing and improves electrical stability while decreasing electrode consumption as compared with the performance of AC electric arc furnaces (EAF 's). Meanwhile and independently, a three-phase, transferred arc plasma furnace (Fig. 1b) has been developed by the Krupp Research Institute in Germany, using argon-stabilized, water- cooled plasma-torches with thoriated tungsten electrodes.Accordingly, the two types of furnace are similar as to both three phase and stabilized operation, but otherwise they differ in several respects, ranging from indirect versus direct-arcing to principal intended application and current state of practical development. Between them they raise questions: (I) of their present or fore seeable economics in comparison with existing processes they are intended to replace , (see Heinke and Neuschutz, 1986, for a review of the merit s of AC and DC plasma-torch furnaces); and (2) of the state of development and accessibility of their plasma theory-in-common."

Jan 1, 1991

By Kurt D. Mitchell

"This paper discusses general application for A C variable frequency drives in the mining industry. A review of induction motors characteristics, adjustable frequency controller fundamentals, and three commonly used controllers is presented. General application guidelines for the three different types of controllers; variable voltage input , current source input and pulse width modulated are then reviewed in detail, and an example of the economic benefit of this technology is discussed. IntroductionSoon after static DC variable speed drives were well established in industry, a need for static AC variable speed drives was seen. The first technical papers describing possible systems appeared in the mid-1960s, with commercially available units arriving in the early 1970s. Without exception, static AC drives are substantially more complex than their DC counterparts, but they have some very desirable properties. As compared to DC motors, AC motors are less costly, physically smaller, more reliable, require less maintenance , easily sealed, have good load regulation, are able to run at higher operating voltages, and have little danger of over-speed runaway . These properties are particularly desirable in explosion-proof, submersible or difficult accessibility applications.Variable speed AC drives are now a proven technology. available in packages from Sub-horsepower to hundreds of horsepower, from 115VAC to 4160 VAC. This paper covers the principles of operation of three common types of controllers, application criteria, motor consideration and finally an example of how an AC variable speed drive can pay for itself in terms of energy savings."

Jan 1, 1986

By A. Mellek, M. Pischtschan, M. Perrucci

ABB has received an order for one of the most challenging mill drive projects in its history. With one SAG mill and one ball mill to be added at an iron ore mine in Sweden, the customer’s plant managers wanted to have the most efficient solution for driving their mills but had the budget limitations typically faced by the majority of mining companies during periods of market downturn. To find the best balance between cost of acquisition and highest performance throughout the lifetime of the plant, ABB was selected to deploy a synchronized bypass solution, in which only one drive system is used for two different mills in series. However, being one of the first grinding mills in the world with such a solution was not the only challenge the ABB team faced: The inclusion of some mill application functions - e.g., frozen charge protection, automatic positioning and creeping mode - brought the demands on the engineers to another level. With only one frequency converter and one mill application controller available, the configuration logic and interlocks had to be meticulously designed and thoroughly tested to ensure a smooth and safe startup. The solution offers a footprint reduction and more operator flexibility at a reduced investment as each mill can be run in both directions, and wear on the mechanical components can be greatly reduced due to ABB’s premium ring-geared mill drive (RMD). This paper will describe the details of the project, the configuration developed and the tests performed to guarantee correct software functionality. Mill startup is scheduled for January 2016.

Jan 1, 2016

By G. J. Desroches

"In order to improve zinc plant productivity, areas of low efficiency were identified. As a result, solution purification was improved, additional dust precipitator capacity was made available and a new zinc casting plant was installed. The effects of these and other changes are discussed and the expenditure and benefits reviewed. HistoryThe operation of the Flin Flon metallurgical complex including an electrolytic zinc plant commenced in October 1930. The design of the zinc plant was based on that of the Commonwealth Mining and Smelting Company at Trail, British Columbia, the Anaconda Great Falls Montana Plant and the Electrolytic Zinc Company plant at Risdon, Tasmania.The plant began with a design capacity of 60 tons per day and currently produces 255 tons per day. Since plant start-up, approximately 3.5 million ton s of zinc metal have been produced, most of it exceeding special high-grade specifications.IntroductionThe facility incorporates the basic process steps of roasting, leaching, purification, electrowinning and casting. Figure I details the flowsheet. During the late 1970s, management recognized that in order for the zinc plant to continue operating, it was necessary to introduce cost-effective practices.Study groups, consisting of design engineers and operations personnel, were formed to investigate the details of plant revisions.The objectives were to improve productivity by reducing manual labour, reducing energy usage, increasing zinc recovery, increasing metal output and reducing costs.This paper details the changes made during the period 1979to 1986 and shows how these changes have affected the productivity and economics of the zinc plant operation."

Jan 1, 1988

By C. W. Davis

AN inclined shaft is usually more difficult to sink than a vertical shaft, yet it is often chosen because of the subsequent saving in cross-cuts required to reach an inclined ore body. This paper briefly discusses the factors which led to the choice of an incline and then describes the operations involved in the preparatory work and in the sinking. These operations included a programme of mining out the underground facilities and installing the structures required for a hoist-room, cable-raise, waste-pass, ore pass, two sets of skip dumps, and a collar station equipped with counterbalanced drop-rails. The shaft was sunk 1,000 feet and four stations were cut, each with loading pockets. As the sinking progressed, the rock changed from hard porphyries and dense cherts to blocky limestones and earthy rubble. These conditions called for a change in methods and it is to the red it of the shaft-sinking crew that they overcame the new difficulties as the shaft progressed, while maintaining a satisfactory monthly advance. The section mined out was nine feet six inches by seventeen feet overall. This gave room for three compartments: two skip compartments four feet three inches by five feet nine inches inside the timber, to handle two-ton skips, and a manway three feet six inches by five feet nine inches. The sinking began on December 16th, 1941, and was completed on February 15th, 1943.

Jan 1, 1945

By W. E. Uren

The Dominion Coal Board was created by Statute passed on July 17th, 1947, and was brought into effect by proclamation on October 21st, 1947. It is, consequently, a comparatively young body, having been in existence for only eighteen months. Before dealing with the constitution and duties of the Board, it may be well to answer the unspoken question of why it has been considered necessary to single out coal as one specific mineral requiring the continuous attention of a specially created permanent Board. In Canada, coal has been the neglected sister of the more spectacular minerals and it comes as a surprise co many to note that in 1948 the value of the coal produced in Canada was higher than that of any other mineral with the one exception of gold. Coal touches upon our daily lives in many different places of which the public are not generally conscious. As household fuel, it is a necessity of life in this northern climate; as a source of steam, it provides the heat for most of our industries; it is the food of the 'iron horse' chat shuttles our persons and our goods across the land; it is the source of power in many parts of the country; it is the chemical reducing agent chat, in our furnaces, transmutes the metallic oxides to the virgin metal. Coal is, in fact, the indispensable mineral chat forms the corner-stone of our present structure of industrial civilization. Is it, then, such an odd thing that the provision of an adequate supply of coal should be a matter of national interest or that measures should have been taken by government co provide for a constant watch, by a permanent Board, on the supply of co al? ? The Board is the result of the recommendations of the Royal Commission on coal which made a long and detailed study of the Canadian coal problem. It is composed of a permanent Chairman and six part-time members, most of whom have had intimate contact with various phases of the industry.

Jan 1, 1949

By D. Gorc, T. M. Fraser, Z. T. Nikic, R. Pesalj

"Mount Polley is an alkalic porphyry copper-gold deposit of Lower Jurassic age within the Quesnel terrane in south-central British Columbia. The silica-saturated Mount Polley intmsive complex is assumed to be coeval with volcanic rocks of similar composition in the Nicola Group in which it was emplaced. Other intmsions and some of the volcanic rocks in the Mount Polley area are silicaundersaturated and contain feldspathoids.The Mount Polley deposit is characterized by multiple intrusions that vary from diorite to crowded plagioclase porphyry to monzonite. Intmsion breccias are associated with some of the intmsive phases. Abundant hydrothermal breccias occur on the margins and above plagioclase porphyry intmsions. These breccias provide the main host for mineralization and are associated with the highest concentrations of copper and gold. The breccias are subdivided into four distinct types based on the dominant hydrothermal mineral in the matrix. Actinolite breccia is developed in an elongate zone within the core of the Central zone and grades laterally and vertically into biotite breccia to the southeast. Magnetite breccia is irregularly distributed and is relatively sparse throughout the deposit and albite breccia is dominant in the West zone. Pervasive and vein-related alteration correlates with the breccia types. The core of the hydrothermal system at Mount Polley is subdivided into three zones: actinolite, biotite and K-feldspar-albite. The margins of the core zone are overprinted by a discontinuous zone of calc-silicate minerals. This intermediate zone passes outward into propylitic alteration. Mineralization is most prominent within hydrothermal breccias and is generally present as disseminations, blebs within the matrix and abundant veins. Mineralization is associated with a chalcopyrite-magnetite-bornite assemblage in the core of the deposit passing out into magnetite-pyrite-chalcopyrite. Relatively constant copper to gold ratios suggest that both metals were precipitated under similar conditions.Hydrothermal breccias are genetically related to the emplacement of the crowded plagioclase porphyry melt. Crystallization of the melt was probably accompanied by volatile/aqueous exsolution, forming a water saturated carapace. Decompression of the chamber in response to magma withdrawal, fracture propagation and possible fault movement allowed hydrothermal brecciation to occur at the apex and margins of the intmsion. Alteration and mineralization appears to have been controlled by fluids migrating away from the plagioclase porphyry."

Jan 1, 1995

By F. Habashi

In the period 1970-1995, a number of hydro metallurgical processes to treat copper concentrates to overcome the pollution problem due to S02 emission in smelters were developed. Pilot and commercial scale plants were built and operated for some time, but eventually all were abandoned a few years later. It is constructive to examine why these processes were abandoned after so much expenditure of funds and effort, so that errors should not be repeated in the future and lessons from the past are learned.

Jan 1, 2007

By D. G. Eskin

"It is well known that it takes some time for the solid phase to completely dissolve upon melting, especially inside the defects of insoluble particles, e.g. oxides. Until then the oxides remain active solidification substrates in the case of subsequent solidification. It is also known that ultrasonic melt treatment causes grain refinement through activation and dispersion of solidification substrates (one of the mechanisms) and also accelerates the dissolution of solid metal in the melt. In this study we combine these effects and demonstrate that the introduction of an alloy rod into the matrix melt of the same composition results in significant grain refinement, this effect being increased by the ultrasonic vibration of the rod. The achieved grain size is comparable to that obtained by a standard Al–Ti–B grain refiner. All samples were cast using a standard TP-1 mould to enable correct comparison. The effect of the temperature range of the rod introduction, as well as the effect of ultrasonic vibrations are discussed.INTRODUCTION The fact that by introducing solid metal into the melt one can achieve structure refinement is rather well known. As early as in the 1930s–1950s a series of papers and patents have been published, showing the benefits for grain refinement when dissolving solid metal in the melt before solidification (Danilov and Neimark, 1938; Scheil, 1956). Later on this way of structure refinement was developed further and dubbed “suspension casting” or introduction of “internal chills” (Madyanov, 1969; Zatulovsky, 1981). The solid metal was added in a form of cut wire, cut sheet, or powder, with the resulting grain refining, elimination of columnar grain structure in ingots and castings of steel, copper and aluminium alloys. The underlying mechanisms have been suggested as (1) rapid cooling of the melt due to the latent heat consumption upon melting of the solid metal with the resultant melt undercooling and (2) introduction of many solidification substrates in the form of crystal fragments and active non-metallic inclusions (Danilov & Neimark, 1938; Balandin, 1973). A number of patents have been filed where either the same solid alloy or a master alloy with additions (e.g. Ti for Al alloy) is introduced in the amounts up to 50% (typically less than 10%) into the melt close to the liquidus temperature (Schmidt, 1966; Talbot & Soller, 1973, Krupp, 1974; Bondarev, 1979). The main reason that this technique is not widely used in industry is the possible incomplete dissolution of the solid parts introduced into the melt with ensuing inhomogeneous as-cast structure and potential defects. Also the selection of the temperature range where the technology works the best is not clear."

Jan 1, 2018

By A. Saki, P. Gebski, W. Ying

Industrial smelting furnaces are subjected to significant structural changes and deterioration caused by the conditions under which they operate. The current methods for the structural assessment of furnaces include visual inspections, analysis of thermal data, acousto ultrasonic-echo (AU-E) of the refractory lining and surveying of the key structural elements. Acoustic Emission (AE) non-destructive testing (NDT) technique has proven its capabilities for continuous monitoring of industrial installations and structures. Recently, Hatch Ltd. has been successful in applying acoustic emission for monitoring furnace tapblocks, and expanding the scope of the acoustic emission monitoring to the structural integrity of the entire furnace. The capability of detecting emissions related to the fracture development in the furnace shell, movement of the refractory, electrode arcing, combined with efficient source location algorithms makes an acoustic emission system a comprehensive tool for the real-time furnace integrity monitoring. In this paper the concept of such state of the art system for structural integrity assessment is presented. The initial results of the acoustic emission monitoring together with data analysis techniques are discussed.

Jan 1, 2011

By G. M. Brownell

A DEPOSIT of hematite occurs on Black island, lake Winnipeg, at a point known locally as Red Rock, on the south shore of the island directly across from Clements point. The mail boat from the Canadian Pacific Railway terminus at Riverton, crossing the lake to Manigotogan twice weekly, passes near Red Rock and provides a convenient means of transportation to this part of Black island (Figure 1). HISTORICAL The occurrence of hematite on Black island has been known for a long time. Dowling's report of 1898 states(1): "An iron-ore deposit on the south side has been known' for many years, and on Jeffrey's map of 1762, showing Canada and northern part of Louisiana, Iron island is shown a short distance south of the narrows, evidently the same as the Black island of today".

Jan 1, 1945

Uranium mining remains controversial in many parts of the world, especially in a post-Fukushima context, and often in areas with significant uranium resources. Although nuclear proponents point to the relatively low carbon intensity of nuclear power compared to fossil fuels, opponents argue that this will be eroded in the future as ore grades decline and energy and greenhouse gas emissions (GGEs) intensity increases as a result. Invariably both sides fail to make use of the increasingly available data reported by existing uranium mines through sustainability reporting ? allowing a comprehensive assessment of recent trends in the energy and GGEs intensity of uranium production, as well as combining this with reported mineral resources to allow more comprehensive modelling of future energy and GGEs intensity. In this study, detailed data is reported for numerous uranium mines around the world, including production, energy and GGEs intensity and reported mineral resources. An important aspect included ? arguably unique and never before published ? is the relationship between ore grade and recovery, which is crucial in future projections of uranium mining. Overall, the paper shows the importance of continuing to improve reporting by the uranium sector as well as the ability to analyse key trends and future projections in energy and GGEs intensity of uranium production.

Aug 1, 2013

By T. Krumins, L. Zunti, R. Frischmuth

Mercury is known to occur in sulphide-bearing refractory gold deposits in the form of sulphide minerals or elemental inclusions. These deposits typically require an oxidative pre-treatment process, such as pressure oxidation or roasting, to achieve economic gold recovery. However, these processes also have the potential to liberate mercury, a portion of which may then be released to the environment through gaseous emissions. Mercury emissions from mine processing operations have been of particular interest in recent years, as governments impose lower emission targets and organizations adopt better industry practices to reduce the environmental and health aspects of releasing mercury into the environment. This paper describes various mercury removal technologies with respect to pressure oxidation gas handling circuits, with a focus on key design variables and technology selection criteria.

Jan 1, 2014

By R. H. Schonewille

One of the many challenges in developing new metallurgical processes is choosing the best option for validating process design parameters and establishing the process operating window. Historically this has been achieved by constructing pilot or demonstration plants of considerable size and complexity, to enable integrated operation of all key process units for a significant duration. While this would appear to be the best option for minimizing technical risk, it is often impractical from a perspective of cost, schedule, resources or bulk sample acquisition. Such an undertaking can even provide a false sense of security, as the optics of running a complete scaled-down version of a commercial plant suggest a high level of process understanding, regardless of the challenges encountered during operation. Xstrata Nickel has undertaken numerous process development and improvement projects over the past 15 years to support green field project development and continuous improvement in existing operations. The approaches used have included; computer simulation, cold flow modeling, construction of pilot test units in third party facilities, commercial plant referencing and the more conventional construction of integrated test plants. Regardless of the strategy employed, the keys to success have included; managing stakeholder expectations, involving the commercial plant design engineers in the planning stage, anticipating subsequent data and sample requirements and most importantly, constructing and operating complex demonstration plants only as a last resort. This paper provides examples of various process development approaches used by Xstrata Nickel and discusses the rationale specific to each project.

Jan 1, 2011

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