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By Ralf M. Kleine

THE property of Consolidated 1 Discovery Yellowknife Mines Limited, (Figure I) is situated in the Northwest Territories, approximately 50 air miles north of the town of Yellowknife. The mine is reached by a shaft which extends from surface to a depth of 4,000 feet, with working levels established at 1 50-foot intervals. Stopping operations are carried on throughout a vertical range of 2,000 feet, with both shrinkage and cut and fill methods being used, depending on the ground conditions. Production started in 1950 and milling is done in a 1 65-ton per day cyanide plant. During ten months of the year, the property is serviced entirely by air, utilizing charter aircraft from Yellowknife. A 4,000-foot runway near the mine was constructed from mill tailings. This strip is adequate to receive Bristol freighter planes carrying heavy loads. Other servicing is done by Otter aircraft, equipped with skis or wheels for winter and with pontoons for summer operations.

Jan 1, 1962

By Shigeomi Nishigaki

This paper presents quantitative indexes to evaluate operator?s bearing, difficulty in a task, and machine operability when an operator remotely controls a backhoe, and reports the use cases. The quantitative indexes would give her/him the opportunity to reflect on her/his works, and enable us to gain in-depth insight into the teleoperation, and furthermore give us with promising hints to improve it.

Aug 1, 2013

By K. Duckworth

"AbstractA new electromagnetic depth sounding technique was applied to the measurement of salt thickness above the workings in the Central Canada Potash Mine at Colonsay, Saskatchewan. The initial tests indicate that this new technique can measure salt thickness and that the technique possesses operational feature s which make it possible to monitor trends in salt thickness throughout the mine. The technique can be applied using existing equipment, but the tests do indicate the desirability of developing equipment with features specially suited to the mine environment.IntroductionTESTS were conducted in the Central Canada Potash Mine at Colonsay, Saskatchewan during 1974 and 1975 to determine if a new technique in electromagnetic depth sounding could provide a convenient means of measuring salt thickness above the workings. This new technique, which was described by Duckworth (1975), offers operational features which appear to be advantageous in this particular situation.The problem requires that soundings be made upward from the mine workings to the base of the second red shale. This shale forms an impermeable seal on top of the Prairie Evaporite. A knowledge of this salt thickness is of interest due to the need to avoid any possibility of the workings rising to cut the red shale. Another desirable objective is the detection of any disruptions of the red shale. Ideally, this should be done ahead of the workings in order that such areas of disruption may be avoided."

Jan 1, 1977

By T. Xue

429 As part of Inco's S02 abatement project for its Sudbury operations, a weak acid treatment plant (W ATP) was commissioned at the Copper Cliff smelter in August of 2004 to treat the weak acid streams generated by the flash furnaces, the MK reactor and the fluidized bed roaster (FBR) gas cleaning plants. The W ATP process was developed by Inco Technical Services Limited (ITSL) by means of laboratory and mini-pilot plant programs. In the W ATP process, the feed solution containing arsenic, sulphur dioxide, iron and other impurities is treated by oxidation and neutralization to form a stable precipitate for disposal in Inco's tailings impoundment area. During the commissioning of the WATP, a team of operations, maintenance, engineering, project and R&D personnel was formed, and the designed capacity was achieved in less than a month. Since then, the W A TP has been operating smoothly and the impurities, specifically arsenic, in the Copper Cliff smelting process have been effectively removed.

Jan 1, 2006

By R. Simon, A. Khosravi

"Tensile strength of rock samples is measured by direct and indirect tensile tests in accordance with standard guidelines. Due to the difficulties in performing direct tensile test, the indirect tensile (Brazilian) test is conventionally carried out to obtain the ultimate tensile strength. A limited number of studies have been conducted to investigate the role of sample size (length to diameter ratio = L/D) in the stress distribution of the Brazilian test using numerical and analytical methods. These investigations showed that the tensile stress distribution along the loading diameter is not uniform. They also indicated that the difference between the tensile stress at the middle part and at the sides of the sample with higher L/D ratio is greater than that in the other samples.The objective of this study is to show the effect of tensile stress distribution on the fracture surface created by the Brazilian test from a morphological point of view on the samples with different L/D ratio. Hence, a series of fracture surfaces created using the Brazilian tests on the rock samples with L/D of 0.5, 0.75, 1, 1.25 and 1.5 were investigated.In this study, all fracture surfaces were scanned by a 3D laser profilommeter. A number of roughness profiles parallel and perpendicular to loading axis have been selected from the samples with different L/D ratio and spacing of 1 mm. The results show that the roughness of the profiles perpendicular to the loading axis increases with an increase of L/D ratio, while the roughness of the profiles parallel to the loading axis decreases. Furthermore, some roughness profiles parallel to the loading axis were chosen and divided into three segments. The results revealed that the segment in adjacent to the upper loading platen possesses higher roughness than the other segments."

Jan 1, 2015

By A. K. Debnath

The water resource is key to survival of the mankind and this resource is now becoming critical in many parts of globe including India. As per an assessment of Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) of India, a huge shortfall of about 58 billion m3 of water is anticipated by the year 2050. In order to counter this shortfall, there is thrust from Government of India to adopt water conservation measures. National Environment Policy, 2006 of Government of India also stresses upon the need to take up water conservation measures for water security of the country. The coal mines in India provide an excellent opportunity to take up water conservations measures therein. The mine water is not acidic unlike western countries and it conforms to the prescribed regulatory standards. This nature?s gift is utilized in Coal India Limited by allowing mine voids to get filled with mine water. The net recharge potential of the opencast mining area is found to be about 5% in comparison to 2% in non-mining area offering good prospects for ground water recharge. The seasonal rainwater is also diverted into mine voids left at the end of mining operations which act as huge reservoirs/ pit lakes for storage of the water. They also serve as surface water bodies for recharging of water table in the surrounding areas. The area and space left from where coal has been extracted completely in underground mines and will not be entered by any man or machinery after the extraction, called goaf, are also potential source of water conservation. These additional water resources created are being utilized for meeting the industrial, domestic, irrigation and other requirements of the projects and local communities eliminating the need to tap other fresh water resources including ground water. Presently, 75% of the water demand of the coal mining project is being met from the water stored in the mine pits. In future, CIL is likely to create about 3.3 billion m3 of water resource, on an average, in its opencast mines alone. In the mine closure plan of opencast mines, the last cut is proposed to be developed into water body for recharge of ground water and creating additional water resources. A clean potential source of potable water is thus developed after mine closure. This will ensure water security of the country.

Aug 1, 2013

By C. Tissot, R. Palmer

"Due to the low concentrations of gold, direct measurement of gold concentration in ore on belt has not been seriously considered to now. Pre-concentration or sorting strategies have largely consisted of particle sorting based on secondary characteristics such as colour, which can be successful in select cases. CSIRO has produced sample measurement results using gamma activation analysis of ~300 gm samples with accuracies of around 30 ppb at best. With this encouragement, a feasibility study into gold ore measurement on belt for the purpose of sorting pods of gold ore has been undertaken. The study described here included, prototype design options with existing industrial Linacs, extensive Monte Carlo modelling of measurement sensitivity and shielding, further sample measurement, a study of the interaction of target measurement accuracy and sorting efficiency, and a rough estimation of potential economic benefit. The projected model sensitivity of around 0.1-0.15 ppm (1 standard deviation) in 10 seconds for 1 ppm average feed result in good bulk sorting performance and intriguing economic potential.INTRODUCTION Pre-concentration or sorting strategies for gold ores have largely consisted of particle sorting based on secondary characteristics such as colour or density, which can be successful in select cases (Klein, 2010). No method is available to measure gold content for sorting in particles or even in bulk on belt, principally due to the low concentrations of gold present. In fact, in many cases it is difficult to do rapid bulk grade measurements of base metal ores with concentrations many orders of magnitude higher. By a fortunate quirk of nature gold is particularly amenable to gamma activation analysis (GAA). CSIRO has performed extensive work in GAA of samples of crushed ore (Tickner, 2017). This has resulted in the Photon AssayTM technique that is currently being commercialised through the CSIRO spinoff company Chrysos. The technique relies on the recent availability of industrial high intensity X-ray sources such as Linacs which are currently being used in industry for security, medical and sterilisation applications. This development has led to CRC ORE funding a feasibility study to determine whether on-belt measurement of gold concentration is possible at a rate and accuracy sufficient to be useful for bulk sorting, where pods of ore are diverted rather than individual rocks. The study in the first instance is based on Monte Carlo modelling that has successfully predicted the performance of the sample based gold measurements. As well as the measurement feasibility consideration was also given to the likely heterogeneity of gold ores and hence the degree to which useful separation could be achieved. This is then tied to a back of the envelope evaluation of the order of magnitude economics of bulk sorting in an example deposit."

Jan 1, 2017

By Russell McIntosh

"The Madsen mine is in the southeastern part of Baird township, in Red Lake area, Ontario. It lies about 6 miles southwest of the town of Red Lake, with which it is connected by an all-weather road.The Madsen Red Lake Gold Mines Company was formed in March, 1935, to take over the holdings of the Falcon Gold and Jomac Gold syndicates. During 1935 an4 the early part of 1936 No. 1 shaft was sunk and drifts driven on four levels, all on a narrow quartz vein in a granite dyke.In July, 1936, the Austin zone was discovered about half a mile north of No. 1 shaft by Austin McVeigh, a prospector employed by the Company. Diamond drilling showed that the zone included an orebody worth development, and in 1937 No. 2 shaft was sunk, three levels opened up and sufficient ore outlined to justify the installation of a mill. Milling commenced in August, 1938, at the rate of 300 tons a day, which was later increased to 400 tons a day.The total production from 1938 to 1946 was 1,116,307 tons from which gold and silver having a value of $9,949,010 were recovered. The gold produced ranged from a minimum of 0.1910 oz. a ton in 1939 to a maximum of 0.2827 oz. in 1944. The average grade in 1946 was 0.2345 oz. to the ton."

Jan 1, 1954

By H. R. Banks

SHORTLY after the commencement of operations at the Sullivan concentrator, the use of a pilot table was instituted in order to present a visual control of various products by showing the amount of galena still present in the tailing from several stages of flotation. Among the products so treated, the final tailing was later included. It was sratifying to note that very little free galena was escaping, but a fine streak o a whitish mineral appeared at the concentrate zone. This mineral was identified as cassiterite. The amount was small and the newly recognized component in an already complex ore was considered primarily as of academic interest. However, the problem of recovering a usable metal was intriguing and, as opportunity presented itself in temporary lulls in research on Sullivan and other ores, the concentration of tin was a useful 'bit of knitting' to go on with. It was recognized from the start that the bulk of the mill tailing would have to be floated and the residue subjected to gravity treatment. Since one of the predominating features of Sullivan concentration operation has been the necessity of fine grinding, the problem of gravity concentration was thereby intensified. Several batch runs were made, and sufficient pulp was treated to produce about one ton of final tin concentrate assaying 67 percent tin. The overall recovery was under 30 percent and the estimated profit at full tonnage was only marginal. Testing was resumed several years later, when the price of tin again appeared attractive, in an attempt to develop a more compact plant with better recovery of tin. The weakness of the original plan of concentration was the large number of tables required to treat a feed so low in tin.

Jan 1, 1941

By E. Gaucher, D. C. Gagnon

"The paper refers to methods and concepts used in the computer treatment of banks of geophysical, geochemical and geological data, relating to the exploration of massive sulphides. In particular, a data bank of 400 drill holes on independent conductors can be used to calculate probability levels of intersecting a certain quantity of sulphides according to the characteristics of the conductor. Inversely one can, using the data bank and some cost assumptions, simulate and optimize the cost of intersecting a certain quantity of sulphides by selecting drill targets among conductors according to conductivity, magnetism or gravity. Problems of noise, inherent in any simulation, are illustrated in this paper by the results of a study of the nomenclature of volcanic rocks of 27 drill holes by forty geologists. Compilations of data banks are long and timeconsuming, and it would help to standardize to allow exchange of data. We believe that such efforts may result in the discovery of more mineral deposits and at a lower cost. The present study is supported jointly by SOQUEM The New Jersey Zinc Co. and Cominco Ltd."

Jan 1, 1973

By T. Guan, G. Fu, X. Zhou, L. Deng

"One kind of tailings from gravity separation of polymetallic mine contains 0.5–0.8% SnO2. The proportion of –0.037 mm size fraction of the tailings is 37.12%, and the distribution rate of SnO2 is 60.32% in it. For this tailings, two processing technology was carried out. One was felt-shaking table gravity separation in which the concentrate with a grade of 30% SnO2 at a recovery of 10% was obtained. Another was flotation-gravity separation in which the concentrate with a grade of 51.20% SnO2 at a recovery of 51.69% was obtained, but the dosage of collectors was as much as 990g/t. Therefore, the experimental research on the influence of grain size composition on the cassiterite recovery were conducted. The results show that: (1) the flotation recovery of the cassiterite distributed in +0.043 mm size fraction is only 10%, flotation recovery is not suitable for it; (2) a portion of cassiterite distributed in –0.01+0.005 mm size fraction could be recovered by flotation, but the tin flotation performance will be worsened rapidly and the dosage of collectors will be increased due to the increase of the content of –0.010 mm size fraction; (3) flotation processing is not suitable for –0.005 mm size fraction of the tailings. According to the results, a new technology has been carried out, that is discarding tailings by gravity separation-hydrocyclone desliming-flotation-gravity separation processing flow. The processing index is close to that of the flotation-gravity separation processing flow, and the collector dosage is decreased to 360 g/t by this processing technology. And, it has been achieved that the cassiterite slime is recovered economically and reasonably.INTRODUCTIONAs the density of cassiterite is higher than that of gangue, gravity separation is considered to be a low cost, pollution free, and effective process for cassiterite recovery (Wills, 2009). However, cassiterite is a kind of fragile mineral, over crushing is easy to take place and a large amount of slime is inevitably produced in the crushing and grinding of cassiterite. For the cassiterite slime exists in –0.043 mm size fraction, the efficiency of gravity separation decreases sharply. The production practice shows that, for the fine cassiterite, the recovery of tin exists in –0.043 mm +0.010 mm size fraction is about 13% through shaking table gravity separation, and the tin exists in –0.010 mm size fraction is almost impossible to be recovered by gravity separation. If flotation is adopted to recover fine cassiterite, the problems of high reagent dosage, high cost, environmental pollution, and poor economic benefit would take place. Therefore, the recovery of cassiterite slime is a worldwide problem. A key way to increase the utilization of tin resource and increase the economic benefit of tin mines is developing suitable beneficiation process for fine cassiterite."

Jan 1, 2016

By L. Zeng, Q. Feng, Z. Qiu, L. Ou, Central South University

It is well-known that the use of nanobubbles can significantly improve the flotation efficiency of ultra-fine particles. However, this is mainly focused on coal and phosphate rock flotation. In the field of nonferrous metal processing, the related research is few. In this paper, a small laboratory mechanical cell associated with a specially-designed nanobubbles generator was used to investigate the effects of nanobubbles on enhancing ultra-fine scheelite flotation. Nanobubbles were created and based on the hydrodynamic cavitation principle through Venturi tubes. Comparative flotation tests were performed using different tubes to evaluate the nanobubbles impact on the ultra-fine scheelite particle flotation recovery. In order to better understand the nanobubbles enhanced ultra-fine scheelite flotation, nanobubbles potential and size distribution were measured. The effect of nanobubbles on the particle aggregation and scheelite particles potential were also studied through the turbidity tests, microscope tests and zeta potential measurements. According to the results, the mean size of nanobubbles was about several hundred nanometers, and the surface of nanobubbles was of highly negative charge in alkaline conditions. The flotation recovery of ultra-fine scheelite particles was increased in the presence of nanobubbles. The zeta potential measurements indicated that the repulsive forces between scheelite particles decreased when nanobubbles existed. Through the turbidity tests and microscope tests, the promotion effect of nanobubbles on particle coagulation could be verified more directly. The existence of nanobubbles in flotation system promotes the particle aggregation, thus increasing particles apparent size and particles capture by bubbles, which may be the fundamental reason why nanobubbles enhance ultra-fine scheelite flotation.

Jan 1, 2016

Vast quantities of cosmic material, ranging in size from fine dust to large meteorites and planetoids, have been colliding with and accumulating on the earth since its origin 4.5 billion years ago. There are less than twenty well preserved meteorite craters and Jess than thirty fossil craters or astroblemes on the present face of the earth. On the moon, there are approximately 200,000 craters on the visible face alone -the largest crater being 132 miles in diameter and attaining a depth of 16,000 feet. Making allowances for the different physical conditions on the moon and assuming that these lunar features are of impact origin, the indifference is that, since primeval time, large numbers of celestial objects have also encountered the earth, but that both the topographic expression of the impact and the objects themselves have been destroyed by weathering and erosion. It may be reasonable to suggest that additions of cos-mic bodies have materially altered the chemistry of the earth's crust from place to place and that the impact of large meteorites and asteroids has created zones of weak-ness in the crust that could be the center of magmatic intrusion and mineralization.

Jan 1, 1965

By R. Kumar, A. K. Verma

"In this paper, an anisotropic shear behavior of rock joints is investigated under constant normal load condition (CNL). The natural rock joint roughness is transferred to artificial rock samples using room temperature vulcanizing (RTV) silicon rubber. Artificial cylindrical rock joint samples (90 mm diameter and 50 mm height) are made by mixture of cement, sand, and water in the ratio of 1:1.5:0.45 (by weight). Direct shear tests are conducted on these samples in twelve directions at 30º apart at four different normal stresses (250kPa, 500kPa, 1000kPa, and 1500kPa). Thus, 48 samples are tested in laboratory. Test results shows that the peak shear strength (?) of rock joints is anisotropic in nature due to change in morphological features in particular shearing direction. Joint roughness coefficient (JRC) is determined in each shearing direction by trial and error method using Barton’s model (1973). Further, cohesion ( c) and angle of friction ( ? )of joint surface in each direction is determined. Finally, a relationship between angle of friction ( ? ) and joint roughness coefficient (JRC) is developed. Experimental shear strength and Barton’s shear strength is compared and it is found that effect of anisotropic decreases with increasing normal stress. INTRODUCTIONRock mass is generally composed of discontinuity which refers collectively to joints, faults, bedding plane and folds etc. ISRM (1978) defined joint as a line of break of geological origin along which there is no visible displacement. Joint is three dimensional discontinuity which composed of two matched/mismatched surfaces. The presence of joints in rock mass plays an important role to define its overall shear strength, deformability behavior, in-situ stresses and hydro-geological properties. The shear strength of rock joints is important in the design of near surface/ deep geotechnical works (mining excavation, dam foundation, power plants, underground caverns, and slopes).In last 40 years, many constitutive models are developed to predict shear strength of rock joints under CNL conditions (Patton 1966; Landanyi and Archambault 1969; Barton 1973; Goodman 1976; Barton and Choubey 1977; Plesha 1987; Desai ad Fishman 1991; Amadei and Saeb 1992; Maksimovic 1992; Wibowo et al. 1993; Huang et al. 1993; Amadei et al. 1998; Indraratna 2000; Homand et al. 2001; Wang et. al. 2003; Samadhiya et. al. 2008; Asadollahi and Tonon 2010; Ghazvinian et al. 2012). These constitutive models have limitations to predict shear strength of rock joints in one direction. Till date, among all constitutive models, Barton (1973) model is widely used in practice due its simplicity. It includes parameters such as joint roughness and joint compressive strength (JCS) to quantify joint surfaces."

Jan 1, 2015

By K. Dinh

The Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) has been studied for a long time as a non-destructive evaluation (NDE) technology for inspection of concrete structures. Currently, the most widely used technique for interpreting GPR data of concrete bridge decks is the one that based on the amplitudes measured at various interfaces such as asphalt-concrete, top rebar, or slab bottom. The assumption behind this technique is that a sound concrete deck should have the same reflection amplitude at these interfaces while any low number would indicate some sign of deterioration. Unfortunately, this assumption is not completely valid in most cases. As a consequence, the reported test results usually do not reflect real condition of concrete bridge decks in question. The main goal of this paper is therefore twofold: (1) to discuss the limitations of the amplitude analysis method, and (2) to propose a new model that interprets GPR data of concrete bridge decks. The model methodology is based on the comparison of GPR A-scans between two inspections, using the so-called correlation analysis. The results, indicated by the correlation coefficients, are then employed to develop a contour map that estimates different levels of deterioration. The model is then implemented to a case study in order to illustrate its methodology.

Aug 1, 2013

By Leon J. Perrier

The paper describes the equipment in use, haulage grades, road conditions, tire sizes, tire performance and related problems. Various types of failures and causes, corrective action taken, tire records and reporting for control are also discussed.

Jan 1, 1977

By M. Nakai, G. Itoh, R. Yamada, A. Kurumada

In order elucidate the mechanism for poorer fatigue properties of 7000 series aluminum alloys than those of 2000 series alloys, the effect of the test environment on the fatigue crack growth of the two series alloys was investigated, considering the relationship to hydrogen embrittlement. Two 7075-type and four 2024-type alloys were T6-tempered and T4-tempered respectively, and subjected to fatigue crack growth tests in moist and dry environments. When tested in moist air, fraction of intergranular crack path was higher in the 7075-type alloy with coarse equi-axed grains than in the 2024-type alloy with similar microstructure. This was in accord with the larger crack growth rate in the 7075-type alloy. Both the intergranular crack path fraction and the crack growth rate were decreased by changing the environment to the flow of nitrogen gas. Thus, the large fatigue crack growth rate of the 7075-type alloy is attributable to hydrogen embrittlement.

Jan 1, 2015

By T. R. Kostecki, J. Hirschi

"Analytical engineering design is based upon a trial-and-error iterative and deterministic process. Within this process, the engineer obtains some estimated values, plugs them into de facto closed-form equations, and receives output, which is expected to be a single number that serves as the basis for the design. This number is typically a factor of safety, or some other equivalent strength-stress ratio. This provides the engineer with a quick and relatively quantitative design methodology. This can create problems however, because in mining applications, the actual in situ system is highly variable, complex and often chaotic, which can lead to potentially incorrect conclusions that result in unsafe designs. A more appropriate and reliable approach is a probabilistic analysis for engineering design. This process is used widely in civil and other engineering disciplines, but is often overlooked for applications in coal mine design. Additionally, it seems the amount of past studies using this approach, especially in coal mine design, are rather limited. Considering how the probabilistic approach can account for uncertainty in parametric values and how unpredictable a mining design can be, the authors believe that this approach has potential in mining. This paper will focus on a summary of past studies related to probabilistic analysis in coal mine pillar design and provide recommendations for future work that could improve design reliability. INTRODUCTIONFeasibility and fundamental design procedures for excavations often start with an assessment of mine openings, pillar design, and the surrounding structure by using a deterministic approach with closedform solutions (ex. Bienawski, Obert-Duvall). These are reliable methods, but designers know that the inputs in these closed-form solutions are estimates at best and do not incorporate any degree of uncertainty. This is therefore not an optimal design procedure.A more appropriate design should incorporate some uncertainty because of the chaotic and variable nature of geology and mining conditions in general. In an attempt to account for uncertainty, a probabilistic approach can be adopted, which accounts for deviations in variables and provides a more optimum design solution. By applying a probabilistic approach, a designer can look at multiple failure scenarios at the same time instead of using the same deterministic design over and over."

Jan 1, 2015

By T. G. Ewart

INTRODUCTION FOR THE purpose of this paper, western bituminous coal is defined as steam coal produced in Alberta and southeastern British Columbia for sale primarily to railways and industries. Before examining present and future markets of this industry, it is proper to review briefly financial and operating conditions within the industry. The report of the Royal Commission on Coal, 1946, supplies financial data from which some conclusions may be drawn. In 1944, the industry as defined above had share capital of $24,886,696. In the fifteen years 1930 to 1944, inclusive, the industry produced: 44,364,211 tons of coal. The profit on this tonnage amounted to $4,678,382.58, which represented 10.6 cents per ton of production. Miscellaneous earnings increased the amount available for dividends to shareholders to a total of $8,487,952.41, which is equal to, 19.1 cents per ton of production. Dividends actually paid in this fifteen-year period amounted to $12,332,040.64, which represented an annual average rate of 3.40 per cent on share capital. It is worthy of note that, in 1944, the net current position of the industry, including investments, was $8,753,874.51. The writer believes that the financial position of the industry with respect to capital, current financial position, and net earnings, has not significantly changed from the fifteen-year period out-lined above. The figures quoted indicate the following situation: (1) The western bituminous coal industry is adequately financed. (2) The industry has followed a conservative dividend policy and has accrued funds for contingencies. (3) The industry has sold its production at very reasonable prices as evidenced by its moderate earnings per ton of production.

Jan 1, 1951

By W. J. Weymark

"The Gregg River project is located 40 kilometres southwest of Hinton, Alberta, adjacent to and east of Jasper National Park. This metallurgical coal mine has been developed as a joint venture between Gregg River Coal Ltd. (a subsidiary company of Mana/ta Coal Ltd.) and seven Japanese companies. This 200-million dollar project consists of a conventional truckshovel open-pit operation and a coal preparation plant rated at 2.14 million tonnes of clean coal per year. Mining operations started in October 1982 with plant start-up following in April 1983. Introduction This paper is an overview and update of the Gregg River project, a metallurgical coal mine being developed as a joint venture between Gregg River Coal Ltd. (a subsidiary of Manalta Coal Ltd.) and seven Japanese companies. The Gregg River Coal leases cover 3440 hectares and are located 40 kilometres south of Hinton, Alberta, adjacent to and north of Cardinal River Coal Mine (Fig. 1). This 200-million dollar project consists of a conventional truck-shovel operation and a coal preparation plant rated at 2.14 million tonnes of clean coal per year. A total of 31.5 million tonnes of clean metallurgical coal will be sold to the Japanese over a fifteen-year term. At present, mining operations are ahead of schedule and the plant started up on schedule in April 1983. Access and Climate An all-weather road, Highway 40, connects the minesite with Hinton (the nearest commercial centre) and a Canadian National Railway (C.N.R.) spur line connects the minesite with the C.N.R. main line in Edson. Hinton is accessible by road chartered airline and rail. ' ~h~ rug~ed and varied topography in the area creates large vanations m temperature and precipitation over short distances. The region is characterized by precipitation throughout the year long cold winters and short cool summers. The mean temperatur~ of the area range from a low of -14°C in January, the coldest month, to a high of 12°C in July, the warmest month. Long-term precipitation data indicates a mean yearly precipitation of 870 mm of which 620Jo occurs during the summer months."

Jan 1, 1985