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In several European countries, including Russia, it has become economically attractive to utilize peat as a fuel for power generation, the production of metallurgical coke, the production of fuel briquettes for the domestic market and low-Btu gas. Although the economic base and availability of energy supplies in Europe is much different than it is in Canada, regional economics here may warrant the development of peat as an alternative source of energy. Canadian peatlands cover several thousands of square miles and have historically been considered as waste land. Now, with the increasing costs of other energy sources, it is apparent that fuel peat should be re-evaluated as a potential energy resource. A nation-wide inventory of peat deposits has been prepared and reserves evaluated for some of these areas where field surveys have been carried out. The paper describes alternative mining methods developed to meet some of the various conditions encountered on virgin peatland . These mining techniques are generally based on current peat technology exercised in other parts of the world and would be applicable in some of the peat regions of Canada. Cost estimates have been prepared for peat production in regions of Canada, and the socio-economic aspects of a large-scale fuel peat operation are discussed. Several potential utilization schemes have been described, with particular emphasis on electric power generation. The paper makes recommendations for steps to be taken in the development of a fuel peat industry in Canada.

Jan 1, 1978

By P. D. R. Maltby

This paper describes the background and markets for calcium carbonate and silica sand in Canada, as well as the results of recent test work carried out at the Ontario Research Foundation. Tests on sericite, tremolite, vermiculite, barite and graphite are also mentioned.

Jan 1, 1979

By J. B. McKay

It is the purpose of this paper to present an initial report on the construction and operation of the Fluo-Solid roaster at the property of Campbell Red Lake Mines, Ltd., Balmertown, Ontario. The roaster prepares for subsequent cyanidation the bulk flotation concentrate obtained from four hundred tons per day of gold ore. The mill flow-sheet 'includes jigging and amalgamation; flotation; cyanidation of flotation tailing; and roasting followed by cyanidaition of flotation concentrate plus amalgamation tailing. Overall mill recovery for the year 1950 was 90.2 per cent. Recovery possible by straight cyanidation of this ore would not exceed 80 per cent. The ore contains considerable arsenopyrite and pyrrhotite as well as pyrite, with lesser quantities of nickel, zinc, and copper minerals. The mineralization is for the most part extremely fine. The roaster first went into operation on August 7th, 1949, and at the end of 1950 it had roasted 10,916 tons of concentrate. The average recovery of gold from calcine during that period was 94.86 per cent in the primary stage of calcine cyanidation. The average assay of calcine residue from primary cyanidation for the entire period was 0.37 oz. per ton. Both laboratory tests and plant metallurgical balance calculations indicate a further recovery of approximately 10 per cent of this 0.37 oz. when the calcine residue is again cyanided, in the flotation tailing cyanidation circuit.

Jan 1, 1951

By A. Oja, M. Lahtinen, P. Salonen, B. Saxen

Most of the secondary and low grade zinc raw materials cannot be treated successfully by either conventional roasting - leaching - electrowinning (RLE) process or even by atmospheric direct leaching process. The problems arising especially from high impurity content of these raw materials can be effectively solved by implementation of the solvent extraction process. The utilization of solvent extraction process has been demonstrated by Outotec with raw materials like Waelz oxide, crude zinc oxide and zinc containing concentrator tailings. Based on batch and continuous test work it has been shown that SHG quality zinc can be produced even from the lowest grade raw materials. Impurity control in the solvent extraction process has been examined. The solvent extraction process is the key feature of the whole zinc plant for such raw materials. However, design of the entire zinc process including neutralization and bleed treatment is important for optimization of investment and operation costs of the plant. Very careful evaluation of the zinc process with modern simulation tools is essential. The optimized Outotec zinc process ensures a sustainable and profitable process containing minimal effluent and requiring little residue treatment.

Jan 1, 2014

By John Loop, W. A. Gibbins, Donald D. Hogarth

"Introduction Background The Frobisher voyages of 1577 and 1578 were organized by the Cathay Company for the express purpose of finding and mining gold ore. Since publication of the Baffm expedition of Charles Francis Hallill, the location of Kodlunarn or Countess of Warwick Island, the headquarters of Frobisher's third (1578) voyage, and focal point of the largest Arctic voyage of all time, has been known to the world. Through Hall we also know the location of the Countess of Warwick Mine on Kodlunarn Island. However, the exact locations of the other mines are not known. Of the ""ore"" we know little. Pieces of the original ""black stone"", once as large as ""a half-penny loaf' have now disappeared altogether. Specimens collected at random from the repository of shipments in England and from loose rock on Kodlunarn Island were termed, respectively, ""hornblende pyroxenite"" and ""amphibolite"" and from a locale about 200 yards from Kodlunarn as (hornblende) ""pyroxenite""121. However, it is uncertain whether these specimens are representative of Kodlunarn or of the other mines, although Blackadar131 notes that, in the northern trench of Kodlunarn, biotite gneiss contains lenses and bands of amphibolite. The ""gold"" itself is even less well defined. It has long been accepted that gold was virtually absent in Frobisher's ore. The ""gold"" has been termed pyrite, biotite and both biotite and pyrite together. Even t h e word "" marquesset"" , which appears and reappears in contemporary descriptions, is nebulous and is defined as ""a stone participating in the nature of some metal, yet in so small quantity, that the metal cannot be melted from it"" (0.E.D., definition of 1616)."

Jan 1, 1999

By S. R. Noble, F. R. Harris, E. T. C. Spooner

"The Logtung deposit discovered in 1976, is an example of large tonnage (162 million tonnes), low grade (0.13% WO3 and 0.052% MoS;) W(scheelite)-Mo mineralization related to multiple felsic intrusions. Because mineralization is predominantly fracture-controlled (> 95 %) rather than disseminated, Log tung is not a skarn deposit. Metamorphism of the Logtung country rocks (interbedded calcareous shale and graphitic quartizite) to a series of competent reaction skarns (quartz-diopside-garnet calc-silicate, biotite quartzite and wollastonite-vesuvianite calc-silicate) clearly precedes W-Mo mineralization. Hence mineralization was related to permeability created by hydraulic fracturing and not replacement processes.Logtung shows a theme of several phases of mineralization (4) related to multiple intrusions (>2) which is similar to that of the Climax and Urad-Henderson Mo systems. The earliest quartzmolybdoscheelite vein system, which consists of a typical ""porphyrystyle"" crackle-breccia of thin (0.5 mm to 4 mm) quartz-garnetdiopside- molybdoscheelite veins, is related to a high Si02 (approx. 76%), seriate-porphyritic monzogranite stock (approx. 2 km by 0.5 to 1 km) of Cretaceous age (118 ±2 Ma [2u]; Stewart, 1983). Later quartz-pyrite scheelite (fluorite-KINa-feldspars-molybdenite) veins, with prominent green, hornblende-bearing alteration selvages, and quartz-molybdenite (-pyrite-jluorite-scheelite) veins are related to a quartz-feldspar-spessartine-rich garnet porphyritic felsic dike complex approximately 500 m across. Both intrusive phases have anomalously high Wand Mo concentrations of about 100 ppm and 50 ppm respectively, which Stewart (1983) attributes to a primary enrichment. The final stage of mineralization consists of a prominent 4.5 km by 1 km zone of 1 em to 1 m wide polymetallic sheeted veins centred on the felsic dike complex. The system is zoned from quartz scheelite-molybdenite-pyrite-blue-green beryl-jluoritebismuthinite veins in the core to Pb-Zn-Ag veins with abundant arsenopyrite and minor Sn (approx. 0.1%) in the northeast. The focus of recurrent intrusive and hydrothermal activity was located above a flank or nose of the monzogranite stock.The distribution of WO3 and MoS2 grades within the approximately 750 m (across) by 300m (evaluation depth) mineralized zone is a result of the variable superimposition of the four separate vein systems each with different W:Mo ratios. Well-defined Wand Mo ore, shells such as those at Climax, Henderson and Mt. Emmons did not develop at Logtung. The upper surface of the mineralized zone, as shown by the 0.03% MoS2 contour defines an elongate dome with an apical region approximately coincident with the felsic dike complex. Hydrothermal alteration occurs as well-defined vein selvages, and not as pervasive zones.The Logtung deposit shows many similarities to porphyry Mo deposits in the western Cordillera and may be identified as a porphyry W(scheelite)-Mo deposit, with a W:·Mo ratio of 3.3:1. The principal reasons are: (1) mineralization is spatially associated with porphyritic granitic intrusions and (2) much of the scheelite and molybdenite occurs in typical ""porphyry-style"" vein stockworks"

Jan 1, 1995

By The Staff

IT is a high compliment to be invited to present a pap::r on the subject of "Mining in the National Economy". To cover it adequately would need the knowledge of the economic geologist and of the technical mining engineer, together with the arts of the statistician and of the economist in general, allied with generous psychic powers. Further, one should embellish the tale with a touch of drama. It is comforting that the subject is so broad that whatever may be said within the compass of a paper like the present, can hardly be criticized as going beyond the terms of reference. A conventional approach would be to begin with the noteworthy statistics of the mining industry of yesterday and today. But in the present company this would be "carrying coals to Newcastle"-or to give the venerable metaphor local colour, "nickel to Sudbury". Such statistics are available in all their stimulating detail in our official publications. Let us tackle at once, therefore, as a less hackneyed theme, the relationship of mining to other phases of the Canadian economy. RELATION TO TOTAL PRODUCTION While mining occupies a position of less importance than manufacturing or agriculture in Canada, its relative contribution has greatly increased during the post-war period. Due to the fall in wholesale prices, the net value of production in Canada has shown a decrease averaging about 1.5 per cent per year during the post-war period, though its volume of course has gone up. Mineral production on a value basis, on the other hand, showed a gain of 2.8 per cent per year. Mineral production was only 5.14 per cent of the net value of production of all kinds of commodities in 1919, bur from 1929 to 1936 the proportion rose steadily rill it reached no less than 12. 76 per cent in the latter year.

Jan 1, 1937

By A. Flemming

"As the next century draws near, new mine properties must be brought into production to replace existing operations that are approaching their economic life. This paper presents some of the critical technical issues being addressed by Manalta Coal Ltd. as they strive to bring the Telkwa Coal Project near Smithers, BC into production during the year 2000. The mine is planned to produce between 1.0 to 1.5 million tonnes per year of medium volatile coal for export to overseas thermal and PCI markets. IntroductionManalta Coal Ltd. (Manalta) is proposing the development and operation of a surface coal mine and associated infrastructure approximately six kilometres southwest of the village of Telkwa, British Columbia (Fig. 1). The infrastructure consists of a coal washing facility, tailings disposal area, clean coal haul road, access road and rail loadout facility. Over a 25-year period, the mine is expected to produce between 25 and 37 million clean tonnes of coal primarily for the export market.To achieve public and governmental approval for the development, the project will be reviewed under British Columbia’s Environmental Assessment Act. Manalta entered the formal Assessment process in February 1, 1997 with the submission of an Application for a Project Approval Certificate for the Telkwa Coal Project."

Jan 1, 1997

By A. H. Anderson

THE travelling grate coking process was developed by Shawinigan Chemicals, Limited, at their Shawinigan Falls plant. The first production unit went into operation a month prior to the outbreak of the war. Since then a substantial part of the coke used in the manufacture of calcium carbide has been produced by this process. In the following will be given a short account of the development work, a description of the process and the equipment, a discussion of the properties of the coke, the economics of the process and its future possibilities. EXPERIMENTAL WORK The carbide industry is a large consumer of coke, one ton of commercial carbide requiring for its production 1,200 lb. This coke must meet certain specifications in order to be acceptable. It should have a low ash content, preferably below 8 per cent, and the sulphur and phosphorus content must not be above specified limits. The size of the coke is also important. If it is too large it has to be crushed before it can be used in the furnaces, and if it is too fine it may have to be screened and briquetted. In addition, it must be dry. Although it was generally possible to purchase coke, including petroleum coke, and coke fines, in the quantities required, it became increasingly more difficult as time went on to obtain coke of a suitable quality at an attractive price. It was therefore natural for us to look to coal carbonization as a means of basing the supply of the fundamental raw material for carbide manufacture on something more solid than the shifting conditions of the coke market.

Jan 1, 1944

By D. KEYS, D. E. Gemmell

The portion of the earth's surface covered by peatlands has been conservatively estimated at over 420 million ha (Kivinen and Pakarinen 1980). It is estimated that there are about 170 million ha of peatland in Canada. New Brunswick contains about 140,000 ha. Harvesting of peat for horticultural purposes has been carried out in New Brunsiwck since 1942. This industry, and the potential for using peat for energy purposes, indicated the need for an accurate assessment of the resource. In 1975, therefore, the New Brunswick Department of Natural Resources began a detailed peatland inventory. Assistance from the Canada Department of Regional Economic Expansion permitted acceleration of this program and field work was completed in 1982. Information gathered by the program will form the basis for a management plan for future use of the resource.

Jan 1, 1984

By D. M. Hendrick, D. K. Fountain

Since the discovery by conventional prospecting of the Horne deposit in 1920, the Noranda area has produced 82 million tons of copper-zinc-gold-silver ore from sixteen massive sulphide bodies. Recent exploration in the area has consisted of systematic studies employing geology, geophysics and geochemistry. Due to the depth of the deposits being sought, surface geo-physical surveys are limited in their effectiveness as DIRECT indicators. However, because of the geological environment, surface geophysical methods, and the Induced Polarization method in particular, can be success-fully employed as INDIRECT indicators of ore deposits. Examples of survey results from various properties in the Noranda area illustrate the advantages and limitations of the Induced Polarization method as an exploration tool in this area.

Jan 1, 1971

By J. H. McMillan

Most of the recent papers read before the Institute have dealt with purely scientific matters, or with experiences in the various phases of mining operations. Very little, if anything, has been said concerning the part played by the human element in the industry. It is now opportune to consider this vital factor if we are to cope with the complex work of the present-day miner and, at the same time, meet the demands of the executive for greater efficiency. It is time we made an inventory of our knowledge to determine if we are absorbing the information so essential to modern mining practice. We must keep in close touch with all new ideas and developments in our chosen field and keep ourselves up-to-date in regard to everything pertaining to mining operations in general. The man who ceases to study ceases to advance. There are men who on attaining an executive chair give up all study, because they think they have reached the pinnacle of success. Modern industrial business, and coal-mining is no exception, demands that executive officers shall be 'live wires' -- men who are not only well-informed as to their immediate duties, but who are closely in touch with all matters of importance affecting the industry as a whole. We may be graduates of schools and colleges, but the training we receive in these institutions is only the foundation for our later work. Certainly no executive officer can know too much concerning the work he is engaged in, and the more he knows the more pleasure he will get out of his work.

Jan 1, 1925

By H. J. Chalmers

THE H.B. MINE and concentrator are located in the Nelson Mining Division of British Columbia, on the north side of the Sheep Creek valley about seven miles southeast of the town of Salmo. It is an operation of The Consolidated Mining and Smelting Company of Canada, Limited (Cominco), which has its metallurgical plants at Trail, about 25 miles west. The property was originally staked about 1907 by Horton and Benson, whose names are commemorated in the designation "H. B." Up until 1927, a considerable amount of development work was done in the upper levels by various companies. Cominco purchased the ?property in 1927 and carried out intermittent work until 1946. Following this, an extensive surface diamond drilling programme and a subsequent underground exploration were undertaken. Sufficient ore was outlined 'to warrant the construction of a 1,000: ton concentrator. This was started in April, 1952, and completed by the spring of 1953. However, because of adverse base metal market conditions, operation was deferred until May, 1955.

Jan 1, 1957

By J. J. . BRUMMER

Kimber/ires are intrusive rocks whose main constituenr, olivine, has been altered entirely or almosr enrirely ro serpentine. Texture usually is porphyritic, superimposed upon a brecciared one. Diamonds are found only in kimberlites, and are present in economic quantities only in about I% of all kimberlites known. Two glacial drift diamonds, one near Peterborough and one near Timmins, both in Ontario, have been found in Canada and are believed to have been eroded and rransporred from their original source by glaciers. Many more glacial drift diamonds have been found sourh of rhe Great Lakes in the United States, parricularly in Indiana, Illinois and Wisconsin . There are nine known kimberlire occurrences in Canada. Diamonds have been located in rwo of rhem: on lie Bizard near Monrreal and on Somerset Island in the Northwesr Terrirories. The lie Bizard occurrence comprises three kimberlire diarremes; samples of rhe largest one revealed JO riny diamonds totalling 0.0537 carars. The Somerset Island kimberlites are rhe mosr significant yet discovered in Canada. Ar leasr 19 separare kimberlite occurrences are known on rhe island. Testing by Diapros Canada Lim ired, however, revealed only "a few small diamonds". fr is likely rhar, wirh enough time and funds, additional kimberlires, possibly bearing economic quanriries of diamonds, will be found in Canada.

Jan 1, 1984

By F W. Irwin

In recent years, a number of significant developments have occurred in the steel industry which are no-table and of general interest. This paper is confined to the steel-melting phase of the business. The development of high production rates on Stelco's Basic Open Hearth furnaces is chronologically summarized. Al-though various aspects of this subject have been presented previously, this paper summarizes the developments in high fuel rates, the usage of basic refractories, low and high oxygen rates and hearth maintenance. Background T HE interest which has been shown in steelmaking techniques in the past few years has been due, primarily, to the extremely high production rates obtained. Upon further study of the facilities and techniques employed to generate this steel at record rates, tonnage oxygen appears as the common factor. It can be stated that tonnage oxy-gen has revolutionized steelmaking techniques to a degree never before encountered. It was only about ten years ago that the use of large amounts of pure oxygen in a steelmaking

Jan 1, 1965

By L. H. Cole

Introduction The increasing importance of the gypsum industry in Canada is evidenced by the fact that the production has increased from 473,129 tons valued at $809,632 in 1909 to 1,205,846 tons valued at $3,622,007 in 1928, an increase of over 155 percent in quantity, and of 347 percent in value, in the 20-year period. Although the export trade in crude gypsum still forms a large proportion of the industry, it is gratifying to see that the home consumption is steadily increasing, and while the percentage of the crude gypsum mined that is manufactured into the calcined products in the country is only 16.8 per cent, its value is practically 50 per cent of the total gypsum production of the whole country. It is to be hoped that each succeeding year will see an increase in the amount manufactured in Canada, and, with the steady growth of the country and a serious endeavour to capture a part at least of the world market in gypsum products, the outlook for the industry is decidedly promising. The value of gypsum as a commercial commodity has been known from the time of the early Egyptians; in fact its value for certain purposes has been known so long chat the date of the discovery of its peculiar properties is unrecorded.

Jan 1, 1930

By H. Bouzahzah

The field of quantitative mineralogy has evolved significantly through the development of image analysis techniques and information technology. Quantitative mineralogical characterization can now be routinely conducted for determining ore compositions and understanding the behaviour of minerals within mineral separation processes. The characterization of mine tailings is another important application of quantitative mineralogy. The estimation of acid and neutralization potential as well as the interpretation of kinetic leaching test results are often based on quantitative mineralogical knowledge (mineral abundance, texture, metal distribution amongst minerals, etc.). The objective of this paper is to determine and compare the accuracy of four mineralogical characterization techniques that are often used for environmental sample analysis: (1) X-ray diffraction, (2) normal analysis from chemistry analyses, (3) normal analysis from specific gravity measurements and (4) SEM-EDS image analysis. For this purpose, three artificial samples were assembled by mixing pure minerals in proportions often observed in mineral processing plant tailings. BILMAT, a statistical data reconciliation software, was applied to reconcile the chemical analyses with the results of other mineralogical analysis techniques and to estimate the acid and neutralization potential of actual mine tailings samples. The acid mine drainage was qualified from the acid potential and neutralization potential equilibrium as determined through quantitative mineralogical analysis. The statistically reconciled data made it possible to predict the metal deportment as a function of their bearing minerals and therefore, in the case of neutral contaminated drainage, to assess metal leaching potential.

Jan 1, 2016

By G. Harper

"AbstractThe Suetut. Copper deposit, 230 miles northwest of Prince George, B.C., was discovered in August of 1971. Subsequent exploration has included 56,417 feet of surface diamond drilling in 139 holes. The deposit occur in gently dipping volcanic rocks of the Upper Triassic Takla Group, which out crops as rugged mountains.The general Mesozoic sequence comprises some 20,000 feet of green and red basaltic to andesitic rocks. The Lower Formation is characterized by subaqueous basalt, andesite and augite porphyry flows with interbedded breccias. They were rapidly deposited in tectonic depressions of limited extent and steep gradients. Facies changes are abundant. The Middle Formation. consists of volcaniclastic rocks made up of fragments from the underlying formation. Two cycles are discernible , both with basal turbiditic, tuffaceous sandstone and shale units overlain by massive, volcanic conglomerates exhibiting graded and cross bedding. A broader, shallower-water basin is indicated. The top of the uppermost unit was subaerially deposited. The Upper Formation is a variable sequence of volcanic sedimentary rocks. Detritus was supplied from a wide source area and included multiple reworked fragments of the lower formations and material from other rock groups known in the region. Zeolite facies metamorphism is recognized throughout: the entire sequence. Epidote is particularly abundant in the Middle Formation, demonstrating the results of metasomatism.The mineralized zone is approximately concordant with the strata over 100-200 feet of the Middle Formation succession . It lies just below the zone of transition from subaqueous to subaerial deposition in the top unit. Hematite, chalcocite, pyrite, bornite, chalcopyrite and native copper are disseminated throughout all sizes of lithic fragments and matrix. Concentration into the specific zone is believed to be due to upward leaching of copper during lowgrade metamorphic and metasomatic reaction. Precipitation occurred in the zone of hydration characterized by prehnite-pumpellyite below the oxidized subaerial rocks."

Jan 1, 1977

By V. Ushakov, P. Bogdan

Daily production scheduling in a highly dynamic smelter environment has always been a great challenge for the operation management due to a significant amount of uncertainties. Planned and unexpected equipment failures, various energy outages, inaccuracies in flow and mass balancing, manpower availability conflicts and other constraints make the job of daily production planning exceptionally difficult. This paper discusses a general scheduling approach utilized by the production management of the Phelps Dodge Miami Smelter (the Smelter). It also describes logical assumptions and some practical software solutions that have been exploited by the Smelter managers to assist the front line supervisors in dealing with daily planning activities for several years.

Jan 1, 2007

By J. J. Denny

IN a preliminary paper (1) it was shown that the addition of small quantities of metallic aluminium powder almost completely inhibited the solubility of siliceous material in the beaker. Six rabbits exposed to quartz dust for six months all showed well developed silicosis. Seven rabbits exposed to quartz dust plus 1 per cent metallic aluminium powder for the same period did not develop silicosis. At that time, we were not in a position to state either the manner in which metallic aluminium reduced the solubility of siliceous material, or, from the animal experiments, whether the aluminium was acting locally or systemically, or for what period after the cessation of dusting it would continue to act. This paper reports the further progress of this investigation. CHEMICAL EXPERIMENTATION The technical details pertaining to the various substances used in the experiments are given in an appendix which is on deposit with the American Documentation Institute, Washington, D.C. For lack of space, it is not printed here. The term 'solubility' is used to indicate the concentration of silica in the solution under the conditions as noted, determined colorimetrically (2), and expressed as parts per million (p.p.m.). The term 'reduction in solubility' indicates the difference between the solubility of the .silica in the presence of the aluminium powder and its solubility in the absence of aluminium powder. It will be noted that the solubility figures for different samples of quartz with no added aluminium vary considerably. The figures do not refer to an equilibrium solubility of silica but to the actual amount of silica dissolved from a given sample in a given time at a given temperature. In view of the fact that quartz dissolves extremely slowly, it is evident that the actual figures in any case will depend upon the surface exposed, i.e., fineness of grinding of the different samples.

Jan 1, 1939