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By Mory Ghomshei

Pebble Creek Geothermal Power project is associated with a massive recent volcanic eruption in Southwestern British Columbia Canada. Slim holes drilled to depths 1100 m in the prospect area, show very high temperature gradients around 80?100?C/km. The temperature and chemistry of the Pebble Creek hot springs indicate the possibility of a steam reservoir in the prospect area. In addition to high temperature gradients, presence of host rocks with high permeability, along with abundance of recharge waters (from the Lillooet River) provides clear signature of a high-grade geothermal power reservoir at depth 2000 to 3000 m. Data show that over five hundred Megawatt of green power can be generated from the prospect area in a commercially viable manner. The generated power will be base-load, which in comparison with large hydro has the advantage of lower capital costs and a significantly smaller footprint. The final hurdle to overcome, before starting the development phase, is deep exploratory drilling for resource confirmation. This paper is a summary of the data available on the Pebble Creek geothermal power prospect, presented in the context of viability of the resource for large-scale commercial power generation.

Aug 1, 2013

By G. D. Bateson

"The Low NOx/SOx (LNS) Burner is a technology which, in pilot-scale tests, significantly reduces acid rain-forming emissions from the burning of coal. The precursors of acid rain are nitrous oxides (NO) and sulphur dioxide (SO:;) . TransAlta is currently planning two demonstration projects.Esso Resources Canada and TransAlta are undertaking a project to demonstrate how coal can be burned cleanly for steam raising in heavy oil operations by using TransAlta's LNS Burner on a steam generator at Esso's Cold Lake Production Project. The $10.7 million project started up in mid-J990, with testing to be completed in mid-I99J. The province of Alberta and Western Economic Diversification Canada, along with other private industry, are contributing funding to the project.The other demonstration project that has been selected for funding under the United States Department of Energy's Innovative Clean Coal Technology Program is a retrofit of LNS Burners to a 33 MW cyclone unit at Southern Illinois Power Cooperative's Marion generating plant. The US$13.6 million project is scheduled for completion 18 months after final funding arrangements are made.TransAlta believes that these demonstrations will lead to the development of a commercial ""clean coal"" technology. Other demonstration projects being planned will further broaden the base of applications.IntroductionTransAlta has recognized an increasing concern worldwide for the environment, and in particular the acid rain problem. Increasing public concern and the need to meet either current or possibly more stringent emission regulations have prompted them to explore various emission reducing technologies - despite the low sulphur content of its coal.The flue gas desulphurization (FOD) and selective catalytic reduction (SCR) technology currently available to reduce sulphur and nitrous oxides from coal burning power plants is very costly. Having to incorporate FGD technology, or ""scrubbers"", greatly adds to the cost of producing power. Having to add such high costs to electric customers' bills is something TransAlta is striving to avoid.There are many research programs now underway which are evaluating ways to provide electricity from coal in a clean manner. TransAlta has been observing or participating in a variety of these programs. However, there is one new technology which the company has identified as having the potential to control acid rain causing emissions at a fraction of the cost of conventional systems. That technology is called Low NOx/SOx, Burner - or LNS Burner."

Jan 1, 1990

By I. I. Bethcherman

Introduction 1.-lmportance of Physical Nature of Condensates The metals of commercial interest which have reasonably high vapour pressures below 1,200° C. are mercury, cadmium, sodium, zinc, magnesium, lithium, and calcium. With the exception of mercury, these metals occupy high positions on the electrochemical series and form compounds with very high negative free-energies of formation. It is highly desirable that such metals should not be produced in a form which is finely divided, on account of their reactivity with atmospheric gases. Powders of magnesium, calcium, and even zinc (blue powder) are dangerous to handle and cannot be coalesced by simple melting techniques. Vaporization in vacuo forms a convenient method of handling and purifying the alkaline earth metals in particular and a previous paper by the authors dealt with some of the factors controlling the separation of metals by this technique (12). An essential part of the operation is the condensation of the vapour to produce a massive deposit which may be conveniently melted and handled by established metallurgical techniques. This investigation sought to determine the conditions affecting the nature of solid condensates.

Jan 1, 1951

This document presents estimates of future "total cash cost per ounce" and "minesite cost per tonne" that are not recognized measures under United States generally accepted accounting principles ("US GAAP"). This data may not be comparable to data presented by other gold producers. These future estimates are based upon the total cash costs per ounce and minesite costs per tonne that the Company expects to incur to mine gold at the applicable projects and do not include production costs attributableto accretion expense and other asset retirement costs, which will vary over time as each project is developed and mined. It is therefore not practicable to reconcile these forward-looking non-GAAP financial measures to the most comparable GAAP measure. A reconciliation of the Company's total cash cost per ounce and minesite cost per tonne to the most comparable financial measures calculated and presented in accordance with US GAAP for the Company's historical results of operations is set forth in the notesto the financial statements included in the Company's Annual Information Form and Annual Report on Form 20-F, for the year ended December 31, 2009, as well as the Company's other filings with the Canadian Securities Administrators and the SEC.

May 1, 2011

By W. J. Przybylowicz, V. M. Prozesky, D. de Bruin

"The common style of gold mineralization in the Basal Reef and other auriferous conglomerates of the Witwatersrand Supergroup comprises clusters of gold grains occurring interstitially to quartz and pyrite pebbles as well as gold accumulations attached to the surface of and infilling hairline cracks and fractures in round, compact, detrital pyrite. The latter textural association is generally interpreted as a result of remobilization of originally detrital gold during regional metamorphism and related hydrothermal fluid circulation. There is general agreement that, although gold solubility was low, ore modification occurred during the metahydrothermal event, but uncertainty exists about the magnitude and scale of gold remobilization.Micro-textural and chemical investigation of compact round pyrite and associated gold accumulation has established that gold is preferentially deposited on chemically heterogeneous pyrite surfaces. Combinations of alternating high- and low-As zones in pyrite result in mixed np-type conductivity accompanied by electron exchange and the reduction-driven deposition of gold at the cathode. This model does not explain gold accumulations which are not immediately linked to chemical heterogeneities and it is inferred that an additional control on the deposition of gold was exerted by physical defects which lead to zones of increased charge density and/or areas of focussed conductivity. The inferred precipitation mechanisms suggest that submicrocopic physical and chemical controls are the important factors that determined the sites of gold nucleation and that precipitation mechanisms based on physicochemical changes of the hydrothermal system were not involved. The Basal Reef contains on average close to 5OJo of round, detrital, chemically zoned pyrite which provides a large number of electrochemically active pyrite surfaces. The extremely effective electrochemical precipi- . tation mechanism together with the low solubility of gold in Witwatersrand fluids is the main reason for the spatially restricted remobilization of gold in the conglomerate reefs."

Jan 1, 1994

By W. H. Moore

It seems necessary, at times, that we should reconsider some of the more obscure causes that lead to explosions of gas and coal-dust in mines, in the hope that a recapitulation will keep before us that old and true saying "eternal vigilance is the price of safety". This explosion, while not extensive (resulting in only two much to be regretted deaths) enlarged our vision as to the possibility and probability of other explosions with more disastrous results. As this is only a partial report I shall have to omit many things that are generally included in describing a mine explosion. The mine was worked exclusively with electric cap-lamps -only firebosses and other officials carried safety-lamps. All shots were examined and fired by firebosses with a small hand-battery. Monobel was used exclusively for blasting, and clay for tamping. The system of haulage iri use was main-rope and winches, horses being employed for gathering. Compressed-air was the motive power for all winches and pumps, excepting the pumps at the shaft-bottom which were steam-driven. The mine was wet with practically no dust anywhere, except what was being made at the coal-face in the getting of the coal. Gas was found occasionally, generally in the brushing, especially where the brushing was carried up to a small seam, 2 to 6 feet above the main seam. The place where the explosion took place was known as Leigh's heading, which was being driven to the rise, immediately inbye of the siding (off No. 1 left, off the new slope) and was about 90 feet up from the level.

Jan 1, 1926

By Les F. Sawatsky

Surface drainage, particularly mine closure drainage, must be properly considered during all stages of mine planning because it presents constraints that are critical to economic mine operation, minimizing environmental impacts and ensuring compliance with government regulations. Deficient mine site drainage increases costs of operation, causes unnecessary environmental impacts and may result in regulatory violations. The scope of this paper includes stream diversions around mine areas, drainage systems within the mine disturbed footprint, and closure drainage works to control surface water, ground water, erosion, sedimentation, and seepage discharges following mine operations. Developing selfsustaining drainage facilities upon mine closure, requires a mine plan that develops appropriate topography and constructed drainage courses that replace the function of pre-disturbance drainage systems without aggravated erosion and deterioration. Drainage criteria, particularly closure drainage criteria, represent important constraints on mine planning and are best considered by integrating drainage features into the mine plan well in advance of mining activities. Integrated mine planning by a multi-disciplinary team is recommended to achieve closure objectives at minimum cost and maximum effectiveness The geomorphic approach to channel design is an effective means of providing a drainage system that has the appearance, function and longevity of natural systems. By incorporating this technique into closure drainage planning, mine operators can construct sustainable (walk-away) drainage systems that require little or no maintenance in the long-term. This paper presents a process by which drainage criteria and associated mine plan constraints can be integrated into the mine planning process. This paper outlines the process for detailed design of drainage facilities, particularly closure drainage systems that are designed by the geomorphic approach.

May 1, 2009

By ManhKha Trinh, Neal Pyke

Dofasco was the first company to adopt oxygen steelmaking in North America in 1954, two years after the first LD vessel installed and operated successfully in Linz, Austria. Since then, Dofasco has investigated and implemented several strategies to maximize hot metal usage and minimize overall cost. Some key strategies -low hot metal silicon, combined blowing conversion, vacuum degassing tank upgrade and BOF slag carryover control - are discussed. Post combustion, scrap preheat, carbon injection trials along with current operating philosophies are described.

Jan 1, 2004

By J. R. Morris

"A hoisting plant design should satisfy two basic requirements:1. to provide the necessary materials handling capacity, including ventilation where applicable, while meeting the requirements of good practice and, as a minimum, government regulation; and2. to optimize the economics of the project. Selection of hoisting equipment to meet the first objective is a complex but logical engineering process. The necessary calculations of payloads, accelerations, speeds, rope strength, hoist size, and power requirements are very readily carried out on computers or programmable calculators. A variety of hoist options can be quickly examined to assess the effects of changes in design parameters.Meeting the second requirement involves balancing the costs of various hoist arrangements and shaft designs, together with the time cost effects of differing shaft sinking rates and potential advances to be gained by concurrent level development. The proposed mine layout is significant here, as is the possibility of future shaft deepening and/or production increase. The availability of used equipment may be significant, both as regards first cost and delivery time. The factors are interactive, with their relative effects .varying from project to project. This paper sets out the primary factors to be considered."

Jan 1, 1990

By Magdy Ibrahim

Detailed as-built project schedules are necessary to close out construction projects, benchmarking, forecasting, dispute resolution, and improving cost estimates of future projects. Manual procedures for developments of as-built documentation is time consuming, involves numerous interfaces and human interventions. This paper presents computational framework that encompasses automated site data acquisition and generates schedule updates utilizing commercially available project scheduling software. The work is carried out collaboratively with a Hydro Quebec team. The site data is captured employing mobile computing using iPad® type computers and Wi-Fi. The information is directly compiled in a centralized database server. The synchronization tool is a bi-directional application and is used on servers to communicate with iPad® computers deployed onsite. The captured data is stored in Microsoft SQL® relation database that consists of 63 entities. Computer software application has been developed in Microsoft Visual Basic® (vb.net) environment for extracting the collected site data, linking the database to the as planned schedule, and generating the actual, also known as as-built schedule. The development can be utilized in automated progress reporting, evaluating future bids, generating master schedules and a wide range of efficient EVM applications.

Aug 1, 2013

By V. Chatain

The environmental assessment of historical mining sites contaminated with various inorganic species, as also the determination of remediation targets require a better knowledge of pollutant-bearing phases. The objective of this paper was to investigate the operational fractionation of arsenic (As) in an As contaminated (ca. 3 wt%) soil collected from a gold mining site in France, where mining activities and smelting processes of gold ores took place until 2004. Single and sequential chemical extraction procedures were performed to evaluate the potential mobility of As according to the fractions to which it was associated in the contaminated soil, and also the part of As sorbed onto soil particles. These procedures used provided information on the nature of As fixation processes in the mining soil studied. Results showed that As appeared mainly sorbed (ca. 72%) with iron on the soil particles, in particular amorphous iron oxyhydroxides. These results confirmed a potential risk of arsenic mobilization under acidic and/or reducing conditions, which frequently occur in mining environment. This research evidenced the importance of the knowledge of As-bearing phases to better predict the mobility of this pollutant and in turn improve the management of As contaminated sites.

Aug 1, 2013

By C. Zangerl, W. Fellin, M. Holzmann, B. Hofer, S. Perzlmaier

"Four deep-seated rockslide systems were investigated and are under surveillance by TIWAG (Tyrolean hydro-electric Company) since the mid-1960s after impoundment of Gepatsch reservoir began. These rockslide systems consist of several individual sliding masses (slabs) which show variable activity from zero to a few centimetres per year. The focus in this paper will be on the findings for the transient deformation behaviour of the Hochmais slab which is part of the “Hochmais-Atemkopf” rockslide system.The rock mass has slid over moraine deposits in the last post-glacial period and was in equilibrium (or slow to extremely slow moving, respectively) until the filling of the reservoir began. During the initial reservoir filling in summer 1964 considerable movements had been observed over a length of 1000 m accompanied with an activation of the Hochmais slab. Geological investigations, additional surface and subsurface measurement showed that the sliding mass is characterized by an en bloc movement and the deformation accumulates within a several metre thick shear zone located within the moraine. In contrast to the deformation characteristics for the first impoundment process (1964 – 1966) where the magnitude of deformation occurred during impoundment, the maximum amount of deformation since 1967 occurs during the drawdown of the reservoir. Based on long term measurement it can be shown that the magnitude of deformations per year correlates with the minimum storage level in the reservoir. Other external influences such as precipitation and snowmelt have no observable impact on the deformation characteristic of the landslide. On the basis of long-term data series it was possible to determine the factors of influence and to elaborate a conceptual mechanical model which describes the transient deformation behaviour of the Hochmais slab induced by the drawdown of the reservoir. The mechanical model considers the reduction of uplift forces in the highly fractured and permeable rock slab during drawdown as well as increasing seepage forces in the less permeable moraine material."

Jan 1, 2015

By Mike Broczkowski, Laura Dewhirst, Kieran Large, Angelo R. Fernando, Heather Daigneault, Jim Johnson, Randy Wiens

The radioactive isotope radium 226 is a contaminant of potential concern in effluent waters from metal mining operations in Canada. Acceptable release levels of radium 226 are governed by Metal and Diamond Mining Effluent Regulations. Since radium is invariably present as a companion element in uranium ore, monitoring and controlling of radium 226 is a must for uranium mining operations. Measurement of radium 226 is traditionally carried out through a radiochemical technique involving selective co-precipitation of radium with barium sulphate followed by alpha spectroscopy for quantification. As of 2010, Cameco has also been using an ICP-MS based radium analysis method developed in collaboration with a research team at Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario. This method, which is highly automated and requires significantly less sample handling, with improved turn-around-times, is being used by Cameco site laboratories at the McArthur River and Cigar Lake mines as well as the Port Hope Conversion Facility. This paper compares the benefits and drawbacks of this new method, compared to the traditional alpha counting procedure drawing from almost ten years of field experience.

Jan 1, 2020

By C. D. Smith

Numerous studies have shown the potential of air rate profiling to significantly improve the flotation performance of a bank of cells. To date many profiles have been implemented; balanced, increasing, decreasing and combinations of these. Previous work has typically shown using an increasing air rate profile, where the air rates are increased proportionally to each cell down the bank, yields a higher grade for a given recovery compared to other profiles. Air rate profiling can then be thought of as having two distinct components; determining the correct distribution of a given volume of air and, perhaps more importantly determining the correct total volume of air to add to the bank. To date no method for this second component has been established. In an alternative technique the air rate to each cell is adjusted in order to optimise the air recovery from that cell. Air recovery is the fraction of the inlet air which overflows the weir of a cell as unburst bubbles. The peak in air recovery (PAR) is a robust measurement that indicates optimal performance for the operating conditions in the cell, and sets the PAR air rate. By doing this for each cell in the bank, the optimal total air rate to the bank and the optimal distribution of that air can be simultaneously determined. In this study plant trials evaluated different air rate profiles, and profiling based on PAR. The total air rates to the bank for all profiles tested were approximately equal, allowing direct comparison. The results showed that the highest cumulative mineral recovery was achieved by operating at air rates which gave the PAR for each cell down the bank. Different distributions of the same total air rate to the bank gave the same cumulative upgrade ratio, but lower cumulative recoveries. In this study, the increase in cumulative mineral recovery, at the same upgrade ratio, was more than 33%. Peak in air recovery (PAR) based optimisation of air rates to banks of cells and to the individual cells has been shown to significantly improve flotation performance as it simultaneously determines the optimal air rate to the bank, and the optimal distribution of that air.

Jan 1, 2009

By A. Varma

Successful technology commercialization occurs when a company is focused on creating shareholder value by providing a reliable product at a price point attractive to the market, while at the same time maintaining strict control of its internal cash burn rates. Developing a technology platform and a market platform are equally important in the commercialization of new technologies such as fuel cells. This paper will discuss some of the key barriers that may prevent successful market entry for emerging and disruptive technologies, such as: R&D priorities, supply chain / manufacturing issues, materials, cost reduction strategies, customer needs, developing a market pull strategy, institutional barriers such as existing regulatory/approvals processes and/or current design/purchasing practices, product reliability and resilience, and finding the right path to market. SDTC is an arms length foundation that aims to financially support the successful market entry of emerging and disruptive technologies that can provide significant environmental benefits to Canada. The fuel cell industry, which represents one such technology, is at a critical point in its evolution where market receptivity and the technology platform are converging to potentially create significant customer advantages for fuel cell products being developed today. Since its inception in 2001, SDTC has received over 850 business cases from which it has identified successful strategies to overcome the noted barriers to commercialization. While maintaining commercial confidentiality, the SDTC database will be mined to: Identify specific success stories that have overcome various barriers and discuss their strategy; Identify specific fuel cell related industry experiences that hinder successful market uptake. The general attributes and trends of successful technology developments identified in this paper will hopefully provide guidance to technology developers and prepare them to successfully tackle the next set of hurdles on the path to commercializing their technology, once they have proven their technology works in the laboratory.

Jan 1, 2005

By T. H. Chuang, Y. Y. Shiue

"Rapid whisker growth was significantly alleviated in a Sn-58Bi alloy doped with 0.5 wt.% La. Experimental results showed that many thin, plate-form intermetallic phases appeared in the solder matrix. The absence of tin whiskers was correlated to the shape effect of RE-containing intermetallic plates. After reflowing, Cu6Sn5 intermetallic compounds appeared at the solder/pad interfaces of Sn-58Bi and Sn-58Bi- 0.5La packages with OSP pads, which grow linearly during the aging at 75 and 100? for various times ranging from 100 to 1000 h. In addition, the interfacial intermetallics layers in Sn-58Bi-0.5La solder joints were also observed thinner than those in undoped Sn-58Bi joints. However, RE-containing interfacial intermetallic compounds in Sn-58Bi-0.5La solder joints led to lower bonding strengths in both ball shear tests (0.4 mm/s) and high speed ball shear tests (2000 mm/s). All the reflowed and aged solder joints of both packages were ruptured through the solder balls indicating brittle characteristic INTRODUCTIONIt has been widely reported that solder alloys doped with rare earth (RE) elements reveal many beneficial effects, such as higher strength, lower melting point, improved wettability, and longer creep life (Wu et al., 2004; Ma et al., 2002; Chen et al., 2002). In addition, Dudek et al. reported that the alloying with 0.5 wt.% La in Sn-3.8Ag-0.7Cu solders resulted in an increase of rupture strain, up to 150% over undoped solders (Dudek et al., 2006). However, Chuang and Yen observed that a large amount of long, fiber-shaped tin whiskers were extruded out of the oxidized CeSn3 intermetallic clusters in the matrix of a Sn-3Ag-0.5Cu-0.5Ce solder air-stored at room temperature for several days (Chuang & Yen, 2006). Furthermore, many coarse hillocks appeared around the CeSn3 clusters in the RE-doped alloy after storage in an air furnace at 150? for several minutes. Chuang proposed a mechanism for the phenomenon of rapid whisker growth, which the predominate oxidation of CeSn3 intermetallics in Sn-3Ag-0.5Cu-0.5Ce solders induced compressive stress and extruded the tin atoms out of the specimen in the form of tin whiskers (Chuang, 2007). However, further investigation showed that Sn-9Zn-0.5Ce solders, after long term exposure at room temperature and 150?, were immune to the whisker growth; the immunity was attributed to the refining of the CeSn3 intermetallic phase in the alloy (Chuang & Lin, 2008). The inhibition of tin whiskers through the refining of rare earth containing intermetallics was further observed in Sn-3Ag- 0.5Cu-0.5Ce solders doped with 0.5 wt. Zn (Chuang & Lin, 2009). In addition to the size effect, the thin plate shape of intermetallic compounds was also shown in this study to inhibit the whisker growth on the surface of Sn-58Bi-0.5La solders."

Jan 1, 2012

By N. Dufresne

"The evolution of mining methods at Brunswick Mining and Smelting shows that, in the case of a large deposit, technology must adapt itself to changing conditions. As problems are encountered, management must modify their approach if they hope to meet production quotas. This search for new and better ways started with the opening of the No. 12 orebody and is still going on today.From large-scale open stoping, the Brunswick Mining and Smelting operation went to transversal cut-and-fill, then to longitudinal cut-and-fill, which is the main mining method now employed. However, to solve certain problems experimenting with Avoca methods was initiated. Rebar grouting and prepinning have also made significant contributions toward securing relatively poor ground in the hanging wall and holding badly fractured backs in wide stoping areas. Introduction In 1952, M.J. Boylen had incorporated Brunswick Mining and Smelting Corporation Limited to develop his recently found No.6 and No. 12 orebodies near Bathurst, New Brunswick. Between 1953 and 1957, St. Joseph Lead Company was brought in to try and initiate mining . During those years, St. Joseph Lead sunk two shafts at No. 12-No. 1 to 425 feet below surface and No.2 to 982 feet. They also developed the 200 and 350 levels to sample the ore at depth and operated a 100-tpd pilot plant at the No.6 mine. However, due to low recoveries and depressed metal prices. the project was shut down in 1957.A group including M.J. Boylen. K.C. Irving. Maritime Mining Corporation and Patino Corporation reacquired the property from St. Joseph Lead Company in 1961. New financing was arranged involving La Societe Generale des Minerais, S.A . of Belgium and Engineering Consultants Limited of Saint John. New Brunswick. During the years 1962 and 1963, construction of surface and underground facilities progressed rapidly."

Jan 1, 1981

By D. P. McDonald

"IntroductionTHE PURPOSE of this paper is to present .a summary of the evidence given before the Petroleum and Natural Gas Conservation Board in support of applications to it for permits to export natural gas from Alberta.I will attempt to be objective in my statements, despite the fact that my main interest in the hearings before the Board was to advance the interests of my own clients, the Westcoast Transmission Company, Limited.The hearing of the export applications •commenced before the Board in January, 1950, with the .application of the Westcoast Transmission Company. Joint hearings were commenced in September, 1950, and completed on December 14th, 1951. The Board heard evidence in support of six applications for export, one application to build a gathering system in Alberta, and three interveners, the .latter being the City of Calgary, the local gas companies, .and the coal interests, including both operators of coal mines and the Unions.The evidence comprised better than 8,400 pages, over two million words, and occupied 92 days before the Board.The Interest in Natural GasThe natural gas industry is one of the newer industries. It is not yet twenty years •old. In the United States, the expansion •of pipeline facilities has been phenomenal in the last fifteen years, and particularly in the last three years, when a total of over two billion dollars was invested in pipeline facilities. There are approximately 250,000 miles of gas transmission pipelines in the United States at this time, with additional lines constantly being pressed."

Jan 1, 1952

By A. Pawelczyk, D. Hreniak, E. Zych, W. Strek, K. Grabas, A. Ostrowski

"Nowadays recycling became an important rare earth elements (REE) source, which allows to reduce their demand for extraction from natural deposits. At present, the used fluorescent lamps and old type TV or computer monitors kinescopes are selectively collected and undergo processing in the system of recycling. It has been estimated, that utilization of such waste would be sufficient to cover the REE demand for the next 5-8 years. In the developed process, the luminophores were separated from the electronic and electronic waste materials, and processed by hydrometallurgical methods to obtain concentrated REE in form of oxides. INTRODUCTIONInternational Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) defines the rare earths as a set of seventeen chemical elements, specifically the fifteen lanthanides plus scandium and yttrium. They are considered the most important indicators of the developed technologies and techniques. Rare earths are used, amongst others, for the production of magnetic and superconducting materials, ceramics, lighting, catalytic converters, advanced electronics and alloys. The demand for RE continually increases, similarly to many other primary raw materials. Globalization, the growing demand for limited resources of raw materials, the policy of the countries controlling the raw material market and the economic crisis became a spur for new programs of socio-economic development of the European Union (EU), with particular regard to EU safety for commodities in intermediary as well as long-term horizons (COM 2008), COM 2011).EU countries import most of metallic and chemical raw materials important for their economy. In 2008 a detailed program named Raw Material Initiative was announced. The increase in demand for most raw materials having special importance for the development of technology, and access to of raw materials security of supply affect the future economies of the UE member states and other developed countries."

Jan 1, 2012

By Rod Abbott

High Definition Scanning (laser scanning) is a proven technology that is accurate to within 6mm in 50m (¼? in 150?). It can capture in excess of one million 3D point measurements in an average 2 hour scan. It has numerous applications including brown-field retrofits, bridge measurement and analysis, verifying as-built conditions, and crime scene investigation. We most commonly use it for plant design to capture current site conditions, so as to prevent interferences and problems before construction begins. All vital information is captured in the first site visit, which limits the need for extra field trips.

Oct 1, 2010