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By Roger Payne, John R. Goode, Feng Gao, James Brown

The Eco Ridge deposit is located in the Elliot Lake mining camp in Northern Ontario, Canada. Between 1955 and 1996, the area produced more than 138,000 t (300 million pounds) of U3O8 and very significant amounts of thorium and heavy rare earths. Based on the NI 43-101 Preliminary Economic Assessment by Roscoe Postle Associates (RPA) dated June 2012, and the economic review by RPA as announced in Pele Mountains’ Press release dated September 12, 2013, the Eco Ridge Mine Project would extract and process 46 Mt of material to produce about 19,000 t (42 million pounds) of U3O8 and about 65,000 t of rare earth oxide (REO) over a 14-year life. This paper discusses process optimization studies including beneficiation and hydrometallurgical testwork. The proposed modified flowsheet includes the flotation and processing of 1) a pyrite concentrate, 2) a dominantly light rare earth elements (LREE) concentrate, 3) a concentrate containing most of the balance of the uranium and heavy rare earths (HREE), and 4) a relatively inert tailings.

Jan 1, 2014

By Phillip J. Mackey, Gerardo R. F. Alvear F.

It is now 38 years since the publication of the first edition of "Extractive Metallurgy of Copper" by Professor W.G. Davenport and the late Professor A.K. Biswas. The text book would be issued in a total of five editions, soon became the standard for students and those in industry. Interestingly it was published at the onset of great change in the industry. This was a time when sulphur dioxide controls in the USA were introduced, and almost simultaneously, world oil shocks caused significant increases in the cost of fuel - all leading to efforts to adopt new technology and move away from the reverberatory furnace, which had no potential for sulfur capture and required large amounts of fuel. At the time of publication of the book, new processes such as the Noranda Process and the Mitsubishi Process were in their infancy, while flash smelting (which was first commercialized in 1949 at Harjavalta, Finland) had made significant in-roads in boosting copper output, with some 22 new flash smelters licensed by 1976. Computer technology and associated process control techniques were rudimentary compared to systems today, available physico-chemical data remained largely in tabulated format and needed to be manually entered into the main frame computers of the era, while modeling techniques common today had not yet been developed. The copper industry has therefore seen immense changes since the time of this textbook: world tonnage of smelted copper has risen from 7.34 million tonnes/year in 1976 to 16.7 million tonnes/year in 2012, over a two times increase. Technologies such as the El Teniente Process, or Top Submerged Lance technologies, typified by the ISASMELTTM, not commercialized at the time, now treat large tonnages of copper concentrate in a single furnace. Advanced heat and mass balance software and thermochemical modeling are now used extensively to examine chemical and physical characteristics for process design and to support process optimization. These changes in the industry have been chronicled in subsequent editions of the book. This paper looks at the issues and problems seen in 1976 and over the intervening years, and compares this with the challenges facing the industry with the available tools and technologies today. Some ideas looking into the future are also discussed in the paper.

Jan 1, 2014

By Fernando Altamirano

El presente trabajo refiere la prevención de incendios en los campamentos mineros metalúrgicos a través de un programa de formación de brigadas. Los principales objetivos del programa son identificar los riesgos de incendio para asi corregir las condiciones inseguras mediante las inspecciones de rutina, aplicar los medios de control y extinción de fuegos de que disponga el minero y la educación al personal en la prevención de incendios para adiestrarlo en la respuesta inicial y calificada.

Oct 6, 1999

By Michel Massé

Eleonore Project- Agenda ? Purpose and Technical Overview ? SmartEXEC Control Capabilities ? SmartEXEC System Archetecture ? SmartEXEC System Advantage Eleonore Project- Purpose and Technical Overview ? Control air quality while maintaining target production levels at minimum energy operating cost ? Improve safety, work place conditions and operation flexibility ? Reduce energy consumption and green house gases footprint

Aug 1, 2013

By G. O. Allard, A. Gobeil

The Chibougamau area is the eastern segment of the MatagamiChibougamau greenstone belt. The Archean rocks of the area consist of two mafic-to-felsic volcanic cycles ( Roy Group) overlain by a sedimentary-volcanic sequence (Opemisca Group). The Roy Group volcanics are intruded by many coeval and comagmatic differentiated gab bro sills. The Supracrustal rocks of the Roy Group and Opemisca Group have been folded about north-south axes, refolded isoclinally about east-trending axes and metamorphosed to the greenschist facies. The same lithologies have been identified east of the Grenville Front at amphibolite grade. The first volcanic cycle consists of 3000 metres of porphyritic pillowed basalts and comagmatic gabbro sills (0batogamau Formation) overlain by a thin sequence of felsic pyroclastics, porphyritic dacites, and iron formation (Waconichi Formation). The Dore Lake Complex is a sill-like layered complex intruded in the upper part of the Waconichi Formation. The second cycle consists of 3600 metres of pillowed basalts and gabbro sills (Gilman Formation) overlain by a volcanosedimentary assemblage less than 1000 metres thick (Blondeau Formation). The Cummings Complex consists of the Roberge sill (dunite and peridotite) at the base, the Ventures sill (gabbro) and the Bourbeau sill (leucogabbro and quartz ferrodiorite) at the top. It is emplaced within the Blondeau Formation. The Opemisca Group sediments and minor porphyritic K-rich andesites (Stella, Hauy, and Chebistuan Formations) form narrow belts preserved in the synclines of the area. The Proterozoic rocks of the Chibougamau area consist of conglomerates, arkoses, and argillites with dropstones of the Chibougamau Formation. North of Chibougamau, the Mistassini Basin forms an elongate northeast-trending basin filled with sediments of the Mistassini Group. Conglomerates, sandstones, argillites, dolomites, stromatolitic dolomites, and iron formation are the principal sediments within the basin.

Jan 1, 1984

By G J. A Dewar

The Australian Corporations Law generally requires Independent Expert Reports to be presented in support of capital raising or in defence of mergers and takeovers. The introduction of the VALMIN Code in 1995 (and its recent revision issued as the VALMIN Code, 1998) made Assessment and Valuation Reports in these circumstances much more comprehensible than before because of its key requirements for transparency and materiality. By forcing the Independent Valuer to provide an explanation of the reasoning behind the estimation of a particular resource asset, VALMIN allows the reader to clearly see any error or illogicality in the valuation methodology used and to seriously question or even reject the resulting value. Even though many elements of resource asset valuation practice are undeniably subjective, there must be some basis of objective rationality to it. Independent resource asset Valuers are the essential link between mineral explorers/miners on the one hand and brokers/analysts/fund managers/investors on the other. The minerals and financial industries both expect them to not use inappropriate or invalid valuation methods and illogical steps within these methods. This paper examines some of the less sensible ways in which some of the main techniques that Valuers commonly use to assess the fair market value of mineral properties have been applied in recent instances. The authors hope to discourage the adoption or perpetration of the æWhat-number-did-you-have-in-mind?' approach. It is MINVALÆs view that as many methods as possible should be used in any resource asset valuation. If any of the resulting estimates are in approximate agreement (particularly if they were derived using the less subjective of the available methods), ie if they cluster, they are probably more persuasive as being the Preferred Value of the asset than outlier values within the Valuation Range.

Jan 1, 1999

By Sergei Decterov, Peter Hayes, Evgueni Jak, Taufiq Hidayat, Denis Shishin

Copper smelter operations around the world are under sustained pressure to reduce costs and increase output. Through the provision of reliable data on fundamental properties of the chemical systems the opportunities for improvements of industrial copper production can be identified. Experimental and modelling studies on phase equilibria, thermodynamics of copper slag/matte/metal/gas systems have been combined into an integrated research program undertaken at PYROSEARCH. Experimental phase equilibria studies involve high temperature equilibration in controlled gas atmospheres, rapid quenching and direct measurement of compositions of equilibrium phases with electron probe X-ray microanalysis (EPMA). Thermodynamic databases development and modelling is undertaken using the computer package FactSage in conjunction with advanced models used for complex solution phases. Progressive development of these research methodologies has brought significant advances in characterisation of these complex systems, including a new optimised thermodynamic database for the copper-containing slag system Cu2O-Al2O3-CaO-FeO-Fe2O3-MgO-S-SiO2.The new data and models can now be applied to assist in improvements of the processes. The effects of changes to chemistry and process conditions within the smelting reactor can be examined. Several examples of new descriptions of the phase chemistry of the Cu2O-CaO-SiO2 and Cu2O-FeO-Fe2O3-SiO2 systems in equilibrium with metallic copper showing calculated and experimental data are presented.

Jan 1, 2014

By C Thompson, D Connelly

The history of mill liners has evolved over time and this paper tracks the changes and development of liner technology. It provides an overview of the primary types of liners, the design and the materials of construction. The design of a mill liner is driven by application, materials of construction, casting technology and handling issues. The choice of solid steel, grid liners, rubber or composites and magnetic liners is based on many factors.The methods used for monitoring wear and predicting eventual change out time are many and varied. The contribution of discrete element modeling (DEM) analysis in predicting wear profile is discussed.Mill trajectory and DEM software programs are used with great effect to predict the effect of lifter height, face angle, high low lifters or mill speed. In the field, trial and operational experience is used or improvements/design concepts at one operation are applied to another. Broken mill lifters, accentuated wear and other problems can be better understood using hardness testing, chemical analysis and photo micrograph analysis of pearlitic or martensitic structure along with fracture face observations. This forms a part of the typical root cause analysis. However given correct and sound liner and lifter, feed and discharge design media selection, and materials of construction, the majority of premature liner or bolting failure is normally attributed to incorrect operational methods such as excessive high ball to feed ratio, incorrect mill speed relating to lifter ball throw, incorrect media selection, "tramp" material entering the mill charge from upstream or recirculating process and understanding the specific mill operation in question.It is hoped that this paper will benefit mill operators who are faced with challenges of improving wear life and at the same time optimizing mill throughput and performance.CITATION:Connelly, D and Thompson, C, 2013. The selection design and application of mill liners for large wet grinding mills, in Proceedings MetPlant 2013 , pp 133-140 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Jul 15, 2013

By Hugo Julien

According to OSHA 29 CFR Part 1910.119 (Process safety management of highly hazardous chemicals), Canadian Provincial Safety Standard Acts or Federal laws, the owner of stationary equipment (Boilers, stacks, piping, pressure vessel, etc.) should follow a complete inspection plan and follow an Integrity Operating Windows (IOW’s) adapted for each of them. Some important variables shall be included in the inspection plan such as specific damage mechanisms versus alloy used in the original design, process conditions, etc. Some North American’s standards exist, like the one listed in ASME PTB-2-2009, to help owner to create such inspection program. The new API RP 584, Integrity Operating Windows (IOW’s) can guide Mining & Metals owners to find out their specific IOW’s. Inspection frequencies are often described in the Jurisdiction Safety Acts such as the British Columbia B.C. Reg. 104/2004, etc. but often left in the owner representative responsibility (Bill C-21, federal Act to amend the Canadian Human Rights Act). Every deficiency should be repaired according to recognized Codes such as ASME PCC-2, etc.. If flaws not conforming to the original Code of construction are found, this article will introduce the Fitness-For- Service assessment principles to be able to accept it without any repairs.

Jan 1, 2014

About MAC ? The national organization of the Canadian mining industry ? Mining, smelting and refining of base and precious metals ? Mining of iron ore, diamonds, uranium, oil sands, coal and industrial minerals ? Many associate members ? www.mining.ca

Aug 1, 2013

By H. Mischo, R. Ellmies

Uranium has been mined in Namibia since the 1970s. The worldwide increasing need for energy in the early 2000s has led to the development and opening of a second uranium mine in 2007 and has triggered an increased interest in uranium exploration, often referred to as “the Namibian Uranium Rush.” In all, four mining licenses have been granted by the Namibian Government, which currently has two mines in operation, a third undertaking trial mining and the fourth in project finance negotiations. In addition, highly intensive prospecting activities at additional deposits are at an advanced stage. The finalization of the strategic environmental impact assessment (SEA) on uranium mining in 2010, the first of its kind and scale in the world, has enabled the Namibian government to assess this uranium rush and its tremendous legal, socioeconomic and environmental impacts and to prepare for the different future scenarios conceivable when this article was written in 2011, including both a skyrocketing and a complete breakdown of demand scenario. The Fukushima disaster and plans of the Namibian government to significantly increase royalties and company taxes in 2011 have threatened the market situation, forcing investors to reevaluate Namibian uranium mining projects. However, with the tax and royalty increase initiative since withdrawn, most projects are back on track at this point in time.

Jan 1, 2012

General economic conditions continued to improve in the second quarter of 1984 as real gross national product advanced at an annual rate of 7.5 percent (table 1). This followed an even larger first quarter annual rate increase of 10.1 percent. The slower second quarter growth was greeted as a sign that the economy is not over-heating. The signs of slowed growth in some sectors suggest that the recovery may continue well into 1985 without the inflation symptomatic of a rapid recovery. Most of the slowdown in growth was absorbed by business inventories, personal consumption of durable goods, and residential fixed investment. Business inventories grew by only 68 percent as much as in the first quarter, personal consumption for durable goods grew by 58 percent of the first quarter rate, and residential fixed investment slowed to only 44 percent of the first quarter growth. Sectors with accelerated growth in the second quarter included personal consumption of nondurable goods and of services, which increased at annual rates of 9.6 percent and 3.8 percent, respectively, and Federal purchases of goods and services, which increased at an annual rate of 47.9 percent.

Jan 1, 1984

By Hernán Parra

Las pruebas cerradas de flotación (ICFT) son necesarias para el diseño de plantas a niveles de prefactibilidad y factibilidad, ya sea en proyectos greenfield o brownfield. Estas pruebas se realizan después de haber hecho un estudio previo de flotación batch y se usan para simular un circuito continuo. En este trabajo se reseñan los estudios sobre el tema, se busca establecer la manera adecuada de ejecutar la práctica de laboratorio y de evaluar los resultados experimentales, con el propósito de introducir mejoras en el diseño de plantas.

Aug 30, 2017

By Ian Thomson

The Social License to Operate ? We are operating in an era where social license in the resource industry is as important ? if not more important ? than mineral potential ? Concept proposed by Placer Dome executive Jim Cooney in 1997 as essential requirement for the future survival of the mining industry ? ?You don?t get your social license by going to a government ministry and making an application or simply paying a fee? It requires far more than money to truly become part of the communities in which you operate.? Pierre Lassonde, President of Newmont Mining Corporation (2003). What it is ?Granted by the local community ? Intangible, informal, non-permanent ? Has to be earned and then maintained ? Defined as ? Ongoing Acceptance (a lower level) ? Ongoing Approval (a higher level) ? Expression of the quality of the ?relationship?

Aug 1, 2013

By Patrick Cloutier

Presentation objectives ? Introduce discrete-event 3D computer simulation as a tool to design, improve and optimize construction projects: ? Describe a real typical construction project planning issue. ? Present an applied use of simulation to solve this issue. ? Detail benefits of using simulation versus traditional planning methods.

Aug 1, 2013

By Wittenberg J. C, Reid A. F

A method is described for the rapid and effective production of polished section mounts of ore and mineral particulates to the standards required for automated image analysis. This requires mounting without segregation of particles by mass or density, and it is also preferable to avoid having particles in contact so that they can be recognised as individuals. To achieve this, the particle samples are first split to an appropriate degree in a rotary riffle, and the sub-sample mechanically diluted and thoroughly mixed with an inert filler of the same size range as the particles. Just sufficient epoxy resin is added to make the mixture fluid. During setting, the ore particles are mechanically supported by the inert filler particles, thus maintaining the particles in a random three-dimensional distribution. A rapid two-stage grinding process, based on the successive use of 600 mesh silicon carbide and 1200 mesh (10 um) corundum on cast iron plates, is followed by three stages of mechanical diamond polishing on cloth laps. Hand polishing is entirely avoided, as is the use of papers.

Jan 1, 1984

By B. Das

Hematite floatability from two low grade banded iron ores of India, namely banded hematite quartzite (BHQ) and banded hematite jasper (BHJ) using fatty acids and amine as the collectors is investigated under identical physico-chemical conditions. The results indicated that hematite present in BHQ ore is easy to float using both the collectors, compared to BHJ ore. The difference of flotability between the two banded iron ores is that quartz grains are coarser and well liberated below 100 micron size in case of BHQ compared to BHJ ore. In case of BHJ ore, fine hematite and quartz grains are intimately inter-grown and are dispersed in thick jasper bands leading to liberation problems. Besides that, dusty jasper particles coat over hematite surface in case of BHJ ore during the process of grinding, which hinders specific adsorption of collector on hematite or quartz surfaces. This is substantiated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The flotation studies have indicated that it is possible to achieve ~64% Fe with ~67% recovery from a BHQ ore using both anionic and cationic collectors from a feed containing around 38% Fe. In contrast, the hematite recovery in BHJ ore was poor. Differences in the ore characteristics that affect the flotability of hematite present in both the ores are compared. Keywords: Banded hematite quartzite, banded hematite jasper, flotation, oleic acid, dodecylamine, QEMSCAN, Scanning electron microscope

Feb 27, 2013

Studies of coal reserves have shown that the total augerable reserve base for the United States is estimated to be five billion tons under the current state of mining technology; the potential reserve base at 850-ft penetration is estimated at 20 billion tons. It is with the idea of improving coal recovery, a basic objective of Project Independence, that new concepts, such as modifications and improvements in current machines and development of ways to recover pillars left by current augering, are required. Unless recovery is improved, these potential reserves amount to lost coal.

Jan 1, 1975

"The mining industry uses many types of mineral and metallurgical plants to produce saleable product from ore mined. Plant design history has left current operations with a mixture of manual operation and various forms of automated process controls. Consequently, we typically see high variability in the continuous operations together with a shortfall in the attainment of full capacity, or higher utilisation of consumables.At a level of best practice, ‘Operational Performance Excellence’ focuses on process control, using automation and control systems to deliver process optimisation. This more sophisticated delivery is a great deal more difficult than the first stage of equipment selection / installation. It includes the appropriate selection of the right instrumentation, control system, key process knowledge, individuals with a solid control engineering background / experience, and the essential backing / support of the operations management team together leading to higher value delivery. Robust solutions can be realised, considerably minimising process variation, thus leading to process optimisation. This approach results in an easier, efficient and safer process while providing considerable returns for the plant owners.How variable are your processes, and do you maintain optimised process performance with dedicated resources, modern instrumentation, ‘best practice’ control systems and performance monitoring tools? In this paper, these questions and their possible answers are discussed."

Jan 1, 2014

By Adam Powell, Matthew Earlam

INFINIUM, Inc. is scaling up a new molten salt electrolysis process for producing rare earth metals. Instead of conventional carbon anodes, this process uses Pure Oxygen Anodes™ which employ a stabilized zirconia solid electrolyte between the molten salt and anode. This eliminates two problems with today's rare earth metal production technology. First, it eliminates carbon anodes and contamination of the product by carbon and its impurities, enabling 10-100 times larger batch size than current practice, and lower labor costs. Second, it eliminates emissions of perfluorocarbons (PFC) such as CF4 and C2F6, which are very problematic greenhouse gases with 6000+ times the global warming potential of CO2. The zirconia also enables a sealed vessel with no LiF emissions, creates a reducing environment enabling use of low-cost welded steel vessels, and either produces a high-purity oxygen by-product or can use natural gas to reduce the necessary electrical energy with no HF production. This paper will describe the technology and its current status for rare earth metal production.

Jan 1, 2014