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By Brian G. Pewsey

Located in the northern part of the Province of British Columbia, the Cassiar Mine started development of its asbestos orebody in 1952, and is currently producing 105.000 tons of asbestos fibre annually. The townsite is nestled in a beautiful valley and supplies more than average facilities. The fibre is shipped to more than 40 countries and is used in many industrial products.

Jan 1, 1978

By Takayuki Takasugi, Naoya Masahashi, Yasuyuki Kaneno, Satoshi Semboshi, Yusuke Kadoi

Cu–Ti alloy wires doped with and without a small amount of Ni were fabricated by over-aging and using intense drawing procedures. For both the Cu–Ti alloys with and without Ni doping, the over- aged microstructure was occupied fully with a coarse lamella of Cu solid solution and β-Cu4Ti plates precipitated discontinuously by grain boundary reactions. The full-lamellar microstructure was developed much more rapidly by aging in multi steps at 873 K to 723 K rather than by isothermal aging at 723 K. Ni doping in Cu-Ti alloy was also effective to accelerate the formation of the lamellar microstructure. When drawing the over-aged alloy with inferior hardness but superior electrical conductivity, the strength increased steadily and eventually exceeded that for the wires drawn from the peak-aged alloy. In addition, the electrical conductivity of the wires drawn from the over-aged alloy was always much greater than that from the peak-aged alloy. Eventually, the procedure of over-aging, followed by intense drawing, could enhance both the strength and electrical conductivity of Cu-Ti alloys, whichever they contain a small amount of Ni or not, rather than the conventional peak-aging and drawing process. INTRODUCTION Cu-based alloy wires, which have an excellent combination of strength and electrical conductivity, have attracted extensive attention for highly mechanically stressed electrical devices, such as conductive lead wires and wires in suspension springs. Cu-Be alloys are widely used for such electrical components owing to their combination of strength and electrical conductivity among industrial Cu-based alloys. However, since beryllium is potentially toxic and also a rare element, substitute materials for Cu-Be alloys have been searched for several decades. Age-hardenable Cu–Ti based alloys have been proposed as candidates because their mechanical and physical properties are comparable to those of Cu-Be alloys; however, their electrical conductivity is inferior (Datta & Soffa, 1976; Soffa & Laughlin, 2004). In order to satisfy the requirement of downsizing and streamlining electrical devices, further improvement of the mechanical and electrical properties of Cu–Ti alloy wires is needed. Age-hardenable Cu–Ti alloys, which contain approximately 3 to 6 at.% Ti, are typically prepared using a solid solution treatment above 1100 K and then aging at a moderate temperature of 700 K to 800 K. It has been revealed that the microstructural events during aging progress as follows (Soffa & Laughlin, 2004): (1) compositional modulation of the parent supersaturated Cu solid solution in an initial aging stage (Laughlin & Cahn, 1975), (2) continuous nucleation and growth of fine needle-shaped precipitates of metastable β’-Cu4Ti with a tetragonal structure in a peak-aged stage, and (3) discontinuous precipitation of cellular components laminating the plates of a terminal Cu solid solution and stable β-Cu4Ti with an orthorhombic structure at the grain boundaries in an over-aging stage. It has been also accepted that the highest number density of dispersed fine β’-Cu4Ti needles should contribute to maximal strengthening. On the other hand, decease of the strength in the over-aging stage occurs due to the replacement of the fine β’- Cu4Ti needles with cellular components containing coarse β-Cu4Ti plates, while the electrical conductivity is significantly enhanced due to the depletion of solute Ti in the Cu matrix. This suggests that a combination of strength and electrical conductivity for age-hardenable Cu-Ti alloys is in a trade-off relationship, and that innovative improvement of both properties might be limited to tuning the aging conditions.

Jan 1, 2019

By V. I. Lakshmanan, I. G. McColl

"Heap leaching of gold ores in permafrost conditions is feasible provided certain criteria are met. These criteria include relatively short heap leach residence time and the availability of waste heat.This paper describes the conceptual design of such a system for a mining operation in the North West Territories of Canada. The design includes the concept of continuous countercurrent leaching in enclosed ore heaps.Indicative capital and operating costs are given.INTRODUCTIONIn April 1984, Acres Davy McKee Engineering Inc. (ADM Eng.) in association with Ontario Research Foundation (ORF), was invited to carry out a preliminary design, cost estimate and financial analysis to assess the viability of gold heap leaching in a permafrost region in North West Territories, Canada.An orebody was being explored which could, by nature of its mineralogy, be upgraded substantially by crushing and screening in the size range of 1/4 in. to 3/4 in. It was proposed to process the screen undersize through an existing gold mill on site and to treat the oversize material in a heap leach facility to be constructed adjacent to the existing mill.Despite the formidable challenges imposed by isolation, permafrost and harsh winter conditions, the heap leach project was considered worthy of examination because of the relatively high grade of the heap leach material (> 0.1 oz/ton), very short leach times (in the range of 1 to 4 days) and the availability of substantial quantities of waste heat from the diesel generating station on site.Design challenges included the necessity to maintain the permafrost in frozen condition, to prevent freezing of ore and leach solution, to limit size of construction materials to that which could be carried in a Hercules freight plane and to contain water usage at an absolute minimum level."

Jan 1, 1987

By L. R. Bower

"This paper describes a highly versatile variable speed unit with a torque multiplication feature as a direct replacement for a fluid coupling .The unit is comprised of a modulating clutch with torque converter and lock-up options.The UCD does not start or stop the motor. This is carried out in the normal manner.The UCD continually monitors and rapidly regulates the output speed to the requirement of a set point demand from input signals or a pre-set program with full manual override.The pre-set program can include start and stop ramps, top speed and minimum speed regulation and also mid-speed set point with security for man-riding, etc. Speed variation is from zero to 100% on a constant duty basis.The input signals can be from any source, e.g. belt weigher. load profile bunker probes, mine monitoring system, etc.The UCD when fitted with a torque converter has a torque multiplication feature which automatically provides a starting torque up to two and a half times greater than the full load torque without exceeding the normal motor power levels.IntroductionIt is common practice in the mining industry to drive conveyors, whether they be belt or chain, through a transmission system incorporating a fluid coupling between the driving motor and gear-box .However, there are drawbacks and in an effort to attain a better degree of drive and control, two-speed motors - inverters cycle- converters - hydrostatic drives, etc ., have been introduced."

Jan 1, 1986

By van der Meer. F. P.

High Pressure Grinding Roll (?HPGR?) technology is applied in a broadening range of minerals processing applications for relatively wet or moist materials. HPGR grinding of dry material or involving drying and air classification is more common, for example in cement manufacturing. A number of minerals processing plants are also operating with dry material, either due to process reasons, such as considerations of preceding or subsequent process stages, or as dictated by local conditions of arid areas and scarcity of water. The present world-wide expectation of decreasing availability of water supply urges us to look for alternatives that minimize water consumption. Recently established and envisaged future HPGR applications with dry ores have indicated that the technology of dry crushing and classification as practiced in cement and limestone grinding can be applied in minerals processing. Moreover, dry technology could very well be applied for generating a final fine product at sizes near or below 100 microns, as may be required for beneficiation by, for instance, flotation, magnetic separation or tank leaching. Dry HPGR grinding requires special attention in maintaining suitable process economics, when considering power input in grinding, drying and classification. In some cases, HPGR capacity and roll surface wear life may be negatively affected by a lack of moisture in the feed. This publication summarizes some of the features of, and experiences in dry HPGR applications. This includes design aspects of the classification system and discussion of the wear protection of the roll surfaces. The paper also includes examples of operational experiences of dry practices in minerals processing and cement plants.

Jan 1, 2012

By Sunil S. Gandhi

Magmatic-hydrothermal deposits rich in magnetite and/or hematite form a broad group that includes monometallic Fe deposits and polymetallic (mainly Cu and Au) deposits. They show a considerable variation in deposit characteristics, but share the genetic processes of magmatic differentiation and related hydrothermal activity in intermediate to felsic melts, and in some cases involve brines and/or meteoric waters during mineralization. They include several world-class deposits. They range in age from Proterozoic to Recent, and form important metallogenic districts in Scandinavian, Canadian, Brazilian and Australian Shields, Circum-Pacific regions, and in China, Iran and Turkey. Monometallic deposits have been important sources of iron in the past and still contain significant resources of the metal, e.g., the Kiirunavaara deposit in Sweden. The giant Olympic Dam Cu-Au-Ag-U-REE deposit was discovered in 1975, and since then explorationists have focussed on search for analogues worldwide. This has brought to light a number of economically important new deposits and prospects, including examples in Canada. The discoveries have in turn prompted considerable research on individual deposits and the group as a whole. This short paper is an attempt to summarize the main aspects of the group from the literature cited in Gandhi and Bell (1996), and from the papers published recently in two milestone volumes on these deposits, edited by Porter (2000 and 2002).

May 1, 2003

By Yongjie Bu, Wei Sun, Zhiyong Gao, Yuehua Hu, Hongbiao Tao, Runqing Liu, Central South University

"The flotation behavior of O-isopropyl-N-ethyl thionocarbamate (IPETC) and pH for chalcopyrite and galena was studied through pure mineral test, adsorption quantity determination, solution chemistry calculation and Materials Studio simulation. The results show that the recovery differential value of chalcopyrite and galena is about 20% when pH of the pulp 9.5 and IPETC is 7×10-4 mol/L, the flotability differences of the two minerals is significant. There is competitive adsorption between OH? and IPETC on mineral surfaces, it lead to galena flotability is lower than chalcopyrite flotability. IPETC can remove the hydration layer on mineral surface and adsorb on active sites for collector adsorption, minerals have a better hydrophobicity.INTRODUCTIONCopper and lead are two of the most widely used metals in industrial and living, their applications include building construction, various metal alloys, heat and electricity, machine manufacturing (Zhang et al., 2014). Chalcopyrite and galena are the major source of copper and lead, normally they associated with each other. With the growing use of these resources, high grade and dissemination large particle sizes minerals are less and less, the use of low grade and complex dissemination minerals have to be paid more attention (Chen, Ye, & Li, 2010; Liu, Sun, Hu, & Wang, 2009). As the special properties and complex composition of copper-lead sulfide ore, flotation separation of chalcopyrite from galena effective is a research emphasis and difficulty point in mineral processing (Bruckard, Sparrow, & Woodcock, 2011).In the separation process of chalcopyrite and galena, it is rather important to choose effective collector (Huang, Wang, & Liu, 2014). Enlarging and using the two mineral flotability will be a good basis and start in flotation (Reyes-Bozo et al., 2014). Qin et al. (2013) made a great deal of research on flotation separation of copper/lead concentrate, collector O-isopropyl-N-ethyl thionocarbamate (IPETC), butyl xanthate (BX) and ammonium dibutyl dithiophosphate (ADTP) were investigated, BX and ADTP floated both chalcopyrite and galena well, specific adsorption appeared in the surface of mineral, the problem was the collectors were not selective enough, however IPETC showed better selective."

Jan 1, 2016

By Jerry M. Whiting, Neil J. Duncan

"Does Canada need a mining industry? Isn't it a chronically depressed collection of businesses that pollute the air and water and tear up the countryside? Wouldn't it be better if Canada's investors devoted their attention to high-technology endeavours, tourism, and other relatively pleasant tasks?Probably the answer to whether Canada needs a mining industry in the 21st century is to look at the real mining industry that is in operation today. The facts indicate that mining is a very important contributor to Canada. It has certainly encountered some challenging times during periods of recession, and it face s severe and continuing problems of cost and competition in world markets. However, uneconomic mines have been closed, others suspended, and productivity has risen dramatically with employment at 77 000, down from 101 000 in 1981. The country's metal and non-metal mines, metallurgical plants and semi-fabricated metals industries employed an estimated 378000 workers in 1986, and paid wages than any other sector of the Canadian economy. This effort resulted in the production of 60 different metals, non-metals and structural minerals valued at $13.5 billion.The trade aspects of the mining industry are of paramount importance. If there is a reason for this situation to change during the next century. it eludes the authors. Canada has the well-developed expertise to discover, evaluate, develop, operate and profit from existing and new businesses based in an enormous area endowed with a nearly unbelievable variety of mineral resources. Many countries throughout the world must rely on producers like Canada, if they are to maintain and/or improve their standard of living."

Jan 1, 1988

By K. H. Singh, J. N. Szuck, J. A. Riddell

"Hydraulic rock drilling equipment has been in use at Falconbridge over the past two years in both production and development situations. This paper deals with the experience gained in the application of hydraulic drilling in the company's mines and discusses the benefits and problems encountered during their use. The paper primarily focuses on technical, operating, maintenance and economic aspects of the machines, and does not attempt to compare the performances of different machines from the various manufacturers.IntroductionThe Sudbury Operations of Falconbridge Nickel Mines Limited are comprised of five operating mines and two mines under development. All the production comes from underground mines, mostly at depths below 1000 metres. The company, faced with increases in operating costs and difficult mining conditions, has continued to seek solutions with the help of new mining technology.The development of electric-hydraulic drilling machines in Europe had been pursued with great interest and, in 1979, a decision was made to test these machines to prove their technical and economic viability under operating conditions. Since then, a number of electric-hydraulic machines have been evaluated in different situations and currently nine hydraulic machines are being used in the company's various mines. These machines are comprised of two-boom drilling jumbos for development, one-boom machines for longhole drilling and a large-hole-diameter drilling rig for blasthole drilling. One hydraulic jumbo has also been used in a cut-and-fill stope."

Jan 1, 1982

By Baochun Wang, Hongli Jia, Zhaolian Wang, Fengliang Liu

"Promote and apply a new beneficiation technology and equipment effectively processing the refractory and medium-fine grained weak-magnetic minerals. HUATE® Forced-oil Cooling Vertical Ring WHIMS adopts the transformer oil cooling technology to cool excitation coils, solving the easily generated scaling problem resulting from water cooling, thereby to eliminate the demineralized water system. With <25 temperature ?raise, its magnetic field is stable. Wrapped by outer magnetic armor, it can generate a background intensity 1360kA/m. It effects very well in 1) wet preseparating the weak-magnetic coarse grains, like hematite, manganese ore, ilmenite, and purifying the concentrate; 2) removing the ferrous impurities and purifying the non-metallic minerals, like quartz, feldspar, kaolin; 3) enriching and recovering tailings from non-ferrous metals, like copper, lead, cobalt, molybdenum, thereby to greatly improve the mine resource utilization. It has applied 14 relative patents in China, and the invention patent in 56 countries, like Russia, USA, Australia, via PCT international organization. HUATE® WHIMS has been applied and accepted in more than 100 mines in and out of China. Compared with water cooling vertical ring WHIMS, it’s energy-saving and water-saving, and avoiding generating the scale. While compared with JONES WHIMS under the same separation indexes, it’s featured of more space-effective, lighter, lower costs, higher gradient, higher efficiency, larger processing capacity and wider grain application scope. Greatly promoting development of mineral processing technologies, HUATE® WHIMS is the equipment to reduce costs and improve efficiency urgently needed by the mine enterprises now.INTRODUCTIONAt present, influenced by the price and production factors, the international market demand for the grade of iron ores is increasing continuously. Restricted by the ore occurrence state, the beneficiation technology level and product economic value, every year the stope strips the stockpiling and discards hundreds of millions of tons of waste rocks containing iron, especially the weak magnetic hematite and limonite with <20% Fe%. The utilization technological bottleneck of these waste rocks makes their concentration ratio as high as 5-6, which leads to the huge wastes of energy, materials and beneficiation reagents and the increase of production costs. The effective solution is to improve the selected Fe% of the waste rocks like hematite. With the successful application of HPGR technologies in Chinese large iron mines, the mill feeding size has been reduced to 6-0 mm or 3-0 mm from the original 15-0 mm in the crushing system with 3 stages of crushing and 1 stage of closed circuit. This creates the conditions for the wet separation and recovery. While for the medium-fine grained weak-magnetic minerals, it lacks of the effective separation and recovery equipment in the world, which’s badly in need of R&D of the medium-fine grained high gradient wet strong magnetic preseparation equipment."

Jan 1, 2016

By Ann Lamontagne

Le parc à résidus de l?ancienne mine Dunraine contient des résidus générateurs de drainage minier acide. Le concept proposé pour la restauration du site est d?utiliser le fort potentiel alcalin des boues rouges, résidus d?aluminerie, afin de neutraliser les résidus miniers. En appliquant une certaine quantité de boues rouges à la surface du parc, on provoquera une neutralisation de l?acidité. De plus, les alcalis contenus dans les boues rouges vont provoquer la précipitation de minéraux stables (sulfates tel la jarosite). La précipitation de ces minéraux provoquera la formation d?une couche indurée qui rendra difficile la circulation de l?oxygène et de l?eau. Bien que ce concept ait été vérifié en laboratoire, ce sont là des hypothèses qui restent à vérifier dans des conditions réelles d?exposition. Les principales questions soulevées par l?utilisation des boues rouges, mis à part le contexte géochimique, est le contexte technico-économique. En effet, le transport de quantité importante d?un matériel argileux humide présente un défi économique important. Outre le défi économique, la manipulation et l?épandage de ce produit sur des parcs à résidus constituent également un défi important. Cet article présente les conclusions d?une étude technique sur le transport, la manutention et l?épandage de boues rouges sur un parc à résidus situés en Abitibi : le site de Dunraine.

Nov 1, 2002

By G. D. Just

"Extensive mechanization of underground mining operations, improvements in blasting technology and the development of simulation models for systems evaluation has now made it feasible to optimize rock fragmentation and materials handling operations. Methods of achieving these objectives are described in this paper, with particular emphasis on the need to obtain precise field data measurements. Techniques are illustrated with reference to the sub-level open stoping system of mine production. IntroductionThe primary objective to be achieved in any mining system is to deliver a specified grade of ore to the mineral processing plant at a planned delivery rate and at the minimum total mining cost. Design and management of such a system is complicated by the large number of unit operations and the often unknown inter- relationships between the different unit processes. This particularly applies in underground mines, where planning restrictions and unit costs are much greater than in comparable tonnage sur face mining operations. These difficulties can often be resolved by the application of judgment based on extensive experience, but the costly trial -and-error methods required for new technology discourage innovation.Most modern medium- and large-scale mines are now extensively mechanized. Consequently, the performance of each unit operation by individual items of equipment should be predictable for a given set of conditions. An essential prerequisite is that quantitative performance data are available from field measurements. Such information can then be used to optimize the design and management of the complete mining system to achieve the minimum tot al mining cost. One of the most significant factors influencing all unit costs is the degree of rock fragmentation. The importance of this variable is indicated by the fact that opt imization of rock fragmentation implies minimization of tot al mining system costs."

Jan 1, 1980

By R. Stach, S. Gola, P. Zgrzebski, K. Soroko

"The future of Polish copper mines KGHM Polish Miedz S.A. will be associated with mining at depth. At present, technologically advanced measures are being introduced to minimize the adverse influence of the environmental hazards on people working underground. Polkowice-Sieroszowice mine is the only mine in Poland where mining takes place in copper and salt deposits. On the basis of the current and anticipated methods of ventilation of a selected ore deposits the paper will analynze a number of solutions enabling planned mining of copper ore deposit, while minimizing the impact of natural aerological hazards in working areas. INTRODUCTION The future of copper ore mining, carried out by KGHM Polska Miedz S.A., will be based on mining from continuously greater depths (Butra, 2015). It is forecast that this will be accompanied by an increasing climatic hazard, resulting from an increase in the original temperature of rocks of more than 45°C as well as gas and geodynamic hazards (Soroko, 2015; Andrusikiewicz, 2015). Due to the safety of underground teams, a need arises to develop methods eliminating the adverse impact of the natural hazards, down to a level enabling the mining activity to be carried out on an industrial scale while maintaining favourable economic parameters. Current depths of the copper ore deposit being developed are effectively verifying the technical methods and measures employed to date for eliminating the natural aerological hazards. Amounts of air supplied to mining areas, with lengthy transport routes, are becoming insufficient for miners’ temperature safety, whereas increasing the power of cooling air-conditioning stations for cooling the air undermines the economic legitimacy. However, along with the temperature hazard, a significant problem at the current depths is an increase in gaseous occurrences in the headings’ areas. The concentrations of natural harmful gases found, even with the values below the permissible concentrations, in the case of limited amounts of air and/or low airflow rates, may pose a considerable danger to the workers. The hazards referred to are currently the major factors determining the advance of headings, above all in mining sections, being the outcome of geological structure and depth of lying of a deposit. However, at the current depths of mining minerals from deposits, room-and-pillar mining systems employed also have a decisive impact on the increase in natural aerological hazards."

Jan 1, 2019

By F. J. Reichhardt

Abstract -The Molopo Farms Complex is a major, layered ultramafic/mafic, early Proterozoic intrusion which is totally covered by sediments of the Karoo and Kalahari Formations and situated in southern Botswana and northeastern South Africa. The approximately 3000 m thick, generally fine- to medium-grained ultramafic and mafic cumulates are intrusive into equivalents of Transvaal Supergroup sediments and lavas. Multiphase deformation resulted in tilting and segmentation of the Complex into individual tectonic blocks. Sr isotopes document at least two chemically distinct parental liquids which interacted in a complex manner to form an approximately 1000 m thick rhythmically layered succession which straddles the ultramafic/mafic boundary. Repeated mixing resulted in a complex cryptic layering pattern and numerous sulfide-enriched layers which contain significant PGE +Au concentrations.

Jan 1, 1994

By K. J. Fair, G. Van Weert, J. E. Schneider

"IntroductionCyanidation is the principal process for extracting gold from ores . Many primary gold ores, however, are partially or totally refractory in the conventional cyanidation process.Considerable success has been achieved with new gold leaching techniques, such as intensive cyanidation, pressure cyanidation, carbon-in-leach cyanidation, etc. These techniques however, do not offer substantial gains in gold extraction from refractory pyrites.The more drastic pretreatment processes such as roasting, chemical oxidation, autoclave oxidation, and bacterial oxidation all utilize oxidation to break down the structures of pyrite and arsenopyrite. This generally renders the gold amenable to cyanidation.Comparative cost studies indicate that the oldest commercial pretreatment method, i.e. high temperature roasting, is currently the least expensive option if the sulphuric acid can be sold. It operates with air at atmospheric pressure and is characterized by fast reaction rates. For an alternative hydrometallurgical con centrate treatment method to be competitive, it too should operate with air at atmospheric pressure and with fast reaction rates. The NITROX process meets these conditions."

Jan 1, 1986

By Paul-Henri Girard

La Mine Agnico-Eagle division Laronde situé à Cadillac, est un producteur d?or, d?argent, de cuivre et de zinc. Cette propriété est situé dans les cantons Bousquet-Cadillac le long d?une des ceintures géologiques les plus productives au monde. La mine Laronde a débuté la production en octobre 1988 à un rythme de 1360 tonnes par jour. Ensuite, elle a augmenté son rythme de production successivement à 1800 TPJ en 1990, 3300 TPJ en janvier 2000 et 4500 TPJ en octobre 2000. Agnico-Eagle, fondé par feu Paul Penna, a toujours eu comme politique la participation des employés aux décisions de la compagnie pour le déveleppement de celle-ci. Cet écrit va permettre de mieux comprendre la façon dont la division fût développé.

May 1, 2001

By H. Mindivan

In the present study, the feasibility of recycling AA6061 Al alloy chips by a combination of ciyomilling, cold compaction and hot extrusion processes was investigated. Furthermore, the effect of Al powder addition to the recycled Al alloys chips on the mechanical properties was investigated. The characterization of recycled Al alloys was made by structural examination and mechanical tests (hardness, compression and dry sliding wear tests). The results indicated that by increasing wt. % of Al powder added to the recycled Al alloy chips the studied properties (the density, hardness, compressive strength and wear resistance) increased due to reduction of porosity in the recycled Al alloys.

Jan 1, 2011

By Chi Zhang, Junyi Wu

"The use of permanent stainless steel cathodes for electrorefining and electrowinning of cathode copper had been introduced to the market long time ago and now is a well-accepted technology worldwide. During the last decades, the Chinese copper refinery industry had been growing rapidly and many large scaled production plants had been built. In the modern refineries, permanent stainless steel cathodes are introduced and used instead of traditional starter sheets. The most common steel grade used is austenitic stainless steel S31603 (316L/1.4404), while both S30403 (304L/1.4404) and N08904 (904L/1.4539) have been used depending on the actual working conditions, especially with regarding corrosion environment. While 316L permanent cathode functions well in many plants, different kind of problems, such corrosion and deformation, have been reported. There is therefore an increased need for more suitable material. New stainless steels, such as duplex stainless steels, with better properties have been tried and introduced into the application of permanent stainless steel cathode with satisfied results. The article introduces first the Chinese copper refinery industry and properties of duplex stainless steel in general, and then describes the development of using permanent duplex stainless steel cathode, including the actual working conditions, production of cathode sheets as well as the experiences of application in details. After more than one year’s usage, the advantages of permanent duplex stainless steel cathodes are clear seen.INTRODUCTIONChina has become a major player in the international copper market, accounting for around 40 percent of global refined copper demand. Despite the slowdown of the Chinese economy, the consumption of copper products will still increase, but with a medium and/or low growth which will be the new situation for the coming years. The average growth rate is expected to be around 5 percent per annual. In the coming Five-Year plan for National Economic and Social Development a number of initiatives will be finalized which will require massive amounts of copper. In 2015, the expected consumption of copper products will be over 9 million metric tons. The main driver of the consumption is the electric power industry which accounts nearly the half of the total consumption; followed by cooling application with 15% and transportation with nearly 10%, see figure 1."

Jan 1, 2016

By Matthew R. Ward

This paper aims to describe the reasons and methods to extend enterprise networks into underground mines. Currently mines use a number of communication networks for telephones, PLCs, two-way VHF radio and computer networking. Each system can have different wiring, protocols, converters and interfaces all which require expansion and maintenance. The convergence of voice, video and data using Ethernet and TCP/IP has the very real benefit of one ?wire? for underground networks. Now that the majority of underground equipment can communicate using TCP/IP, network convergence can offer reduced network expansion and maintenance costs. Cost savings are good, but the truly exciting aspect of network convergence using Ethernet is the low-cost, high speed wireless networking now available . These wireless networks offer an opportunity to facilitate mining automation even on a small budget. How would mine operators change they way they operate if they could gather vehicle location and data in real time? What about controlling equipment remotely? The list of applications is long and includes traffic control, dispatching, real-time ore blending, tele-operation, automated production reporting, vehicle health monitoring, elimination of paper forms and immediate network access for surveyors and geologists. An ideal converged network for underground mining would be robust, inexpensive, easy to expand, enable fast and secure connections while keeping voice communication performance equivalent or better than what is now provided by VHF radio

Apr 1, 2005

By B. McKevitt, P. Abbasi

The ion exchange process (IX) is applied in the mining industry for the removal of impurities from process streams, treatment of waste solutions prior to disposal and the recovery of valuable metals. Extensive studies have been performed with the goal of modeling of IX for the case of a single metal loading onto iminodiacetic resin in the hydrogen form. However, in a real system, a resin may be saturated by impurities (iron, calcium, magnesium, manganese), which are then displaced by the metal of interest. The present study provides an insight into the Fe2+ loading process onto iminodiacetic ion exchange resin under the infinite solution volume condition. The study involves the measurement of iron loading under a variety of experimental conditions as well as an attempt to model the loading process using the hybrid correlation advanced by McKevitt (2012). The importance of the experimental and modeling work are discussed in the context of resin in pulp recovery of nickel.

Jan 1, 2014