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By P. T. Craddock, H. V. Paliwal, L. K. Gurjar

The Indian cultural heritage of mining, smelting and the use of minerals and metals dates back to ancient times. Although the exact date of the commencement of such activities in India is not certain, Indians are known to have been familiar with gold, silver, copper, tin and lead and to a lesser extent with iron at least since the Vedic period (Table 1).

Jan 1, 1999

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 A. H. A. Robinson

Until quite recently-practically up to the present time-all but an insignificant amount of the copper produced in Canada was shipped abroad in the form of ore, matte, blister, etc., there to undergo the further treatment necessary to bring it to the refined state in which it is required by fabricators of copper. Consequently, Canadian manufacturers were forced to import nearly all the copper required in their business; and a considerable portion of the ultimate value to be derived from a Canadian raw material was lost to the country of its origin. In the early days of Canadian copper mining, when both the production and consumption of copper in Canada were much smaller than now, such a condition of affairs was perhaps economically unavoidable, and, in any case, was not a matte~ of sufficient importance to attract general attention. Later on, however, when there had been large and rapid increases both in the production and consumption of copper in Canada, it formed the basis of much adverse criticism, deserved or not, of producers of Canadian copper-criticism that became intensified during the war and subsequent years. Happily, the chief grounds of complaint have now been removed, and there are today copper refineries in Canada, either operating or under construction, that are capable, in the aggregate, of turning out amounts of refined copper greatly in excess of any indicated Canadian consumption.

Jan 1, 1931

By George Hope, Brigitte Lacouture

"The Red Dog Mine has increased mill throughput for most years since startup. Although flotation equipment has been added over the last 10 years, the Red Dog metallurgical performance has been restricted by a lack of adequate flotation capacity. Two reduced tonnage trials conducted in 1997 as well as numerous SAG relines have consistently indicated the potential to significantly increase both zinc concentrate recovery and grade with additional flotation capacity. Late in 1999, a new circuit was designed with increased flotation capacity while simplifylng the current circuit, providing for three stages of dilution cleaning, and creating a retreat section. The purpose of the retreat section is to target the more complex particles and allow the chemical environment to be fine tuned for improved iron depression. In total, twentyone (21) Outokumpu OK50 mechanical flotation cells and four (4) 3.66m dia. column cells will be added to the current flotation circuit. The VIP (Value Improvement Program) Mill Optimization project is also addressing thickening, water treatment and power issues and has a total budget of $US105 M. Startup of equipment will be phased in to minimize the impact on current operations and is expected to be complete by the end of Q3-2001.INTRODUCTIONRed Dog Operations started production in November 1989. The mine is located above the arctic circle in northwest Alaska. It is linked by an 80 km road to a port-site facility where the concentrate is stored. Concentrate is shipped to markets throughout the world during the one hundred (100) days of open seas. Typical of sedimentary exhalative deposits, the metallurgy proved to be challenging and coupled with many mechanical shortcomings, the initial few years were very difficult. The start-up issues were slowly resolved and in 1998, a major grinding expansion, the PRI (Production Rate Increase) project, was completed. The project was designed to allow a 40% increase over the 1995 throughput. In 2000 mill throughput was 3,050,000 tonnes to produce a total of 960,000 and 140,000 dry tonnes of zinc and lead concentrates respectively, making Red Dog the largest zinc concentrate producer in the world. To address a shortage of flotation capacity remaining from the PRI grinding expansion, a project designated as the VIP (Value Improvement Program) Mill Optimization project was initiated. The mill optimization project is targeted to produce 1,100,000 tonnes of zinc concentrate at 56% zinc grade and 87% zinc recovery. The project will add twenty-one (21) Outokumpu OK50 (50m3) flotation cells, four (4) 3.66mO column cells and address water treatment, thickening and power generation capacities."

Jan 1, 2002

By P. R. Geoffoy, T. Koulomzine

"The discovery of the Mogador deposit concealed by 100 feet of overburden was the result of combined application of geological reasoning, ground geophysical surveys, studies of glacial float and extensive diamond drilling. The ground was acquired because it lay on the projected intersection of the Manville and Laflamme River faults. Systematic ground prospecting led to discovery of mineralized floats. A first unsuccessful exploration campaign lasted several years and consisted of 137 drill holes.In 1951 the boulder nests were reexamined and an associat'on of the mineralized float with boulders of a granodiorite, unknown in outcrops of the district, was established. Consequently, ground magnetic surveys were extended and re-interpreted, and a large anomaly interpreted as corresponding to a batholith was outlined. The existence of the batholith was immediately confirmed by drilling and the Mogador deposit discovered in third hole of new drilling programme in a zone of fractured volcanics paralleling southern contact of batholith.The Mogador deposit is a complex replacement of silicified volcanics by pyrite, pyrrhotite, sphalerite, chalcopyrite and galena carrying values in silver and gold. A total of 1,230,000 tons has been indicated, most of it now classified as fully developed proven ore."

Jan 1, 1960

By R. H. Pemberton

"THE Mattagami district of Quebec has, during the past few years, experienced intense exploration by virtually every mining company operating in Canada. As a result of this activity, a number of well-mineralized zinc-copper bearing bodies have been found, some of which will almost certainly go into production. Much of the area has undergone what is now termed ""Saturation Prospecting"" or intense and detailed geological and geophysical surveying, followed by the drilling of nearly all possible bets. Considering only the airborne geophysical surveying, some blocks of ground have been flown by virtually every geophysical instrument which has to date been installed in an aircraft. A list of these different geophysical instruments would include: l. Fluxgate-type total field magnetometers 2. Vertical field magnetometer ,3. Nuclear-precession magnetometers 4. Single-frequency out-of-phase electromagnetometers 5. Dual-frequency out-of-phase electromagnetometers 6. Horizontal component measuring electromagnetometers 7. In-phase and out-of-phase electromagnetometers8. Dip-angle measuring electromagnetometers."

Jan 1, 1961

By V. Aprahamian, T. Cheng, M. Tangen, R. Beauprie

The Royal Canadian Mint has implemented significant process additions since 2005. Installation of a whole new highly automated silver refining circuit has allowed recovery of physical silver from gold and silver dorés . To complement this change, a small Top Blown Rotary Converter has been in operation. On the gold refining side, a new hydrometallurgical process to recover precious metals from Miller Chlorination slag has been developed. Finally, new systems have been put in place to improve treatment of waste water, wet and dry fume and dust.

Jan 1, 2011

By H. D. B. Wilson, W C. Brisbin

The Thompson-Moak Lake nickel belt lies along the root of a Precambrian mountain range of the island-arc or alpine type. This range coin-. cides with the boundary between the Superior and Churchill blocks of the Canadian Precambrian shield. The nickeliferous peridotites and nickel ores occur along a negative gravity strip, which also coincides with strong thrust faulting and the axis of greatest deformation of the mountain range. Similar structures and highly nickeliferous peridotites occur in present-day island arcs. Much of the belt is covered by Paleozoic rocks, but a length of 270 miles may be explored by present-day methods. Nickel deposits have been located along 60 miles of the belt. The length of the favorable structure and the size of the known deposits suggest that this will be one of the world's major nickel regions. The regional gravity anomalies, which consist of a branching negative strip bordered by two positive strips, are best explained by major warps of a crust consisting of a granitic and basaltic layer. The ore deposit

Jan 1, 1961

By Edwin G. Sharp, Frank S. Gaunce, George M. Freeman, Denis J. Kemp, Eric Dulson, Paul Salmon, Ernest R. Hamilton, Carl E. Parden

"THE ECSTALL ZINC PLANT was built for the treatment of the Kidd Creek zinc sulphide concentrates. Construction proceeded throughout 1970-71, with operations beginning in April 1972. The two concentrate types treated differ principally in minor impurity and precious metal contents. Processing flexibility was required to allow efficient recovery of the by-products, especially cadmium, copper and silver. The conversion of the zinc sulphide concentrates to end products follows a sequence of operations that are common to most electrolytic zinc plants and typical of the ""Tainton- Jephson"" flowsheet.1. Roasting in air at an elevated temperature to convert the metal sulphides to soluble metal oxides (calcine) and sulphur dioxide. The sulphur dioxide is converted to sulphuric acid in a contad plant and shipped by train to market.2. Leaching of the calcine in spent electrolyte to effect extraction and recovery of zinc as zinc sulphate solution, leaving an insoluble residue.3. Purification of the clarified zinc sulphate solution by cementation with metallic zinc dust to remove impurities detrimental to the electro-deposition of zinc or detrimental to product purity. The solids from cementation are the starting materials for secondary metal recovery.4. Electrolysis of the purified zinc sulphate solution to reduce the zinc to the metallic state while coincidentally regenerating the sulphuric acid for recycle to the leaching step."

Jan 1, 1974

By N. R. Paterson, D. G. MacKay

"The geology of the Mattagami mining camp, while of particular economic significance, is unfortunately obscured by a very thick mantle of overburden. For this reason geo-physical methods have been relied upon heavily in exploring the area. Geophysical data over five important sulphide discoveries show how targets are selected for drilling and how effective geophysics has been in assisting subsequent development programs."

Jan 1, 1960

By R. A. McIvor, R. Levac

"The Stobie No. 7 shaft, 14 ft diameter, double- drum skip hoist, was installed at the INCO Limited Frood Stobie Complex in 1942. Figure 1 shows the hoist layout. The hoist was originally equipped with babbitted journal bearings on the main drum shaft and pinion gears. In 1990, the hoist was modernized with a new braking system, two new 2000 hp D.C. drive motors, a thyristor armature supply and a PLC control system. The new drive motors were connected to the drive pinion gears with a gear type flexible coupling. The pinion gear journal bearings were refitted during the refit in 1990 as the existing babbitted bearings showed signs of wear. The pinion gear journal bearings had always run warm and had external cooling applied during the warm summer months. Figure 2 shows the journal bearings on the pinion shaft. The skip hoist main bull gear and two pinion gears were replaced in 1997 because of cracked bull gear spokes. New drive couplings were installed on the pinion gears and the pinion journal bearings were modified to allow some self-aligning properties to try to reduce the heating and wear on the babbitt. The modifications did not significantly reduce the heating problems and a decision was made in the spring of 1998 to convert the bearings to self-aligning, anti-friction-type bearings.The traditional roller bearings used on double helical pinion drive gears in hoist applications has always been double-row spherical roller bearings due to their high load-carrying capacity and misalignment allowances.Unlike single helical gears, double helical arrangements do not exert axial thrust on the pinion gear bearings, therefore, both bearings in the pillow blocks must float easily with any pinion displacement. Drum misalignment, thrust bearing end play and a multitude of other influences causes continuous axial displacement of the pinions when in operation. This constant displacement or “hunting” of the pinion gear to maintain its centre on bull gear often exceeds the axial clearance limits of spherical roller bearings thus resulting in a continuous sliding motion of the bearing outer rings against the housing seats. With time, the housing fit eventually wears, creating an out-of-round condition for bearing housing (maximum allowable cylindricity tolerance is IT4/2). When this happens, the pillow block housings must be replaced or re-machined to specification. Premature bearing wear and overheating will occur if a housing out-of-round condition is encountered."

Jan 1, 2001

By Arthur R. Rattew

In conjunction with the research study of the Coronation Mine recommended by the National Advisory Committee on Research in the Geo-logical Sciences and coordinated by the Geological Survey of Canada, Canadian Aero Service Limited per-formed a detailed, low-altitude air-borne survey over a block of ground encompassing the .Coronation Mine. The in-phase/out-of-phase air-borne electromagnetic data are com-pared with "horizontal-loop" ground data with reference to: size and nature of conductors detected; criteria in selection of targets for drilling. In-formation provided by Hudson Bay Mining and Smelting Company on their drilling of the numerous conductors in the area is employed in this comparison. The merits of combining a sensitive airborne magnetometer with an air-borne electromagnetic unit are discussed. The magnetic data are considered very important in assessing conductors as prospects for commercial sulphida deposits in this area of numerous electromagnetic anomalies. The "Coronation" survey illustrates

Jan 1, 1962

By C. J. Sullivan

"The outlook for supplying the world's metal needs in the next twenty-five years is good, although in several cases basic costs are likely to increase with rising demand. Metal prices calculated at a constant dollar from 1900 to the present show that for nickel, copper, silver, lead, zinc and tin, prices -and presumably production costs -fell from 1900 to the early 1930s. Since then, they have generally risen, apparently reflecting some depletion in relation to demand. This tendency has been accentuated since the post-World War II adoption of managed, full-employment, growth economics, which have resulted in a sharp escalation in world demand for metals. (Abandonment of such policies, apparently now under consideration in North America, would, of course, affect the pre-dictions of this paper.) Nevertheless, metal prices generally are still below those prevailing in 1900. Exploration potential exists for disseminated ores of many metals still thought of as characteristic of lode and vein deposits. These include uranium, silver, gold, tin and nickel and, to a lesser extent, lead and zinc. Considering the discovery potential for some principal metals in relation to expected demand and prices, I would tend to rate them as follows: molybdenum, zinc, lead, uranium, silver, gold, tin, nickel and copper."

Jan 1, 1970

By Nicholas J. Grant

It is the purpose of this paper to examine a number of the recent developments in powder metallurgy, being most concerned with those which are yet to prove themselves rather than those which have achieved commercial maturity. Such developments include the production of very much coarser and very much finer powders, down to the near-micron size range. Also considered are activated sintering, direct powder rolling and extrusion (both hot and cold), brazing and welding, hydrides of reactive metals, oxide dispersion strengthened alloys and theoretical evaluations. Introduction T HERE surely can't be very much argument with the fact that powder metallurgy has made large advances on many fronts during the past ten or more years (1). These advances have taken place in raw materials, in processing, in product development and in a better understanding of many of the phenomena which occur in the various steps involved in powder metallurgy. It should be clear, in view of such growth, that it will not be possible to highlight all of the new developments in the present paper. Many of these developments,

Jan 1, 1965

By J. Gotor, C. Frias, E. Delgado

The Iberian Pyrite Belt (IPB) is one of the world's largest reserves of primary sulphides containing base metals (Cu, Zn, Pb), precious metals and some special metals such as indium. Estimated resources are over 1,500 million tonnes of volcanogenic massive sulphide ores. From 1980´s Europe lives the decline in its mines mainly motivated by the low price of the metals. One aspect that contributed equally to this was the ecological disaster produced by the discharge of more than seven million tonnes from the tailings dam of Boliden-Apirsa (Aznalcollar) in 1998. Today the situation is different; the companies present in the IPB have given evidence that it is possible to reconcile mining projects and care on the environment, and the regional authorities are opening a public tender to re-start Aznalcollar mine. A new challenging era has been started at this Spanish/Portuguese mining area. This paper presents the results and preliminary economics of a project devoted to IPB primary sulphides processing through different technology approach, e.g. conventional selective flotation against bulk flotation or mixed metals flotation combined with hydrometallurgical processing.

Jan 1, 2014

By James G. Lyons

All machines vibrate and make noise. An increase signals impending trouble. Vibration and noise analysis allows the condition of the machine to be determined without costly interruption in service for disassembly and physical inspection.

Jan 1, 1977

By K. J. R. Ford, Botz. M. M.

Porphyry copper ores are frequently a source of low-grade gold ore, but gold in these ores is often associated with significant levels of cyanide-soluble copper. Cyanide leaching of such ores increases flowsheet complexity and operating costs, and requires thorough planning to satisfy environmental requirements for tailings disposal and mine closure. This paper presents a review of the chemistry of cyanide leaching of gold-copper porphyry ores, carbon adsorption phenomena and means of removing base metals from leach solution. The primary economic drivers behind the processing of such complex ores are also analyzed.

Jan 1, 2011

By E. O. Abrokwah

Directionally solidified (DS) Rene 80 Superalloy was tested in thermo-mechanical fatigue (TMF) over the temperature range 500-900°C and plastic strain levels from 0.2 to 0.8% using a DSI Gleeble thermal simulator. Thermo-mechanical testing was carried out on the parent material in the conventional solution treated and aged condition (STA), as well as gas tungsten arc welded with an IN-738 filler, followed by solution treatment and ageing. Comparison of the base TMF unwelded alloy with that of the welded and heat treated alloy showed that varying crack initiation mechanisms, notably oxidation either by stress assisted grain boundary oxidation, or associated with grain boundary MC carbides fatigue crack propagation along grain boundaries and creep deformation were operating, leading to different "weakest link" failure initiation points.

Jan 1, 2011

By Phillip I. Merritt

"IntroductionDuring and since• the war, it has been my privilege to work closely with those in Canada who are responsible for the vital raw materials needed in our co-operative atomic energy programme. The understanding which has developed between our two groups in this all-important enterprise has been a great source of pleasure. We in the United States are aware of the importance of the contribution made by Canada to this project, and we look forward to continuing our mutually advantageous relationship.The impact of World War II, and the decision by Canada, Great Britain, and the United States to join in a programme for the development of atomic weapons, created a sudden and immense demand for uranium minerals. Early in the raw materials programme, it was evident that sufficient raw materials to fulfill war-time atomic weapon requirements could be secured from three sources: the rich pitchblende deposits of the Eldorado , mine at Great Bear lake; the Shinkolobwe mine in the Belgian Congo; and as a by-product of the vanadium industry of the Colorado Plateau in the United States. In the early part of the programme, therefore, our joint efforts were directed toward obtaining immediate maximum production from these localities. The contribution made by Eldorado Mining and Refining (1944), Limited, both in supplying and refining raw materials, was and continues to be of vital importance.In addition, it was also obvious from the first that in this programme, as in any mining enterprise, exploration activities directed•toward the discovery and development of new sources of uranium ore were essential if production were to be maintained over an extended period of time. In order to satisfy obvious security requirements during the war, it was necessary to proceed with this exploration programme, both in Canada and the United States, as secretly as possible. With the end of the war, and the revelation that an atomic weapon had been developed, however, secrecy in exploration was no longer required. The important thing was to get on with a broadened exploration programme."

Jan 1, 1950

By Jacek Paraszczak

L?exploitation rentable des gisements de type filonien constitue un problème important dans le contexte actuel de l?industrie minière québécoise. Les études effectuées depuis 1994 ont indiqué, que la technologie d?abattage mécanique utilisant l?outil hydraulique appelé « éclateur radial-axial » constitue une alternative intéressante par rapport aux méthodes conventionnelles par le forage et sautage. Les essais du prototype de l?éclateur ont prouvé qu?il est en mesure d?abattre les roches dures dans un environnement minier, mais sa performance dans les termes de masse du roc abattu dans une unité de temps a soulevé certaines doutes. Pour cette raison, une étude de préfaisabilité de l?éclatage en tant qu?une technologie d?excavation souterraine a été réalisée. Cet article présente quelques résultats des travaux effectués dans le cadre du contrat octroyé à l?Université Laval par le Ministère des ressources naturelles du Québec. Leur objectif principal consistait à comparer, pour les conditions des gisements filoniens, la productivité et les coûts des méthodes d?exploitation souterraine utilisant l?éclatage par rapport à celles conventionnelles. Deux variantes proposées de cette méthode ont été comparées avec la méthode conventionnelle sur le plan du coût (par tonne de minerai) et de la teneur de coupure de minerai d'or. Les études ont démontré que l?application de l?éclatage représente un potentiel de réduire ce coût, surtout dans les situations où l?abattage sélectif pourrait avoir lieu. Pour le cas de base on a trouvé, qu?il serait possible de réduire la teneur de coupure par la marge d?environ 16 ? 26%. Toutefois, les études de sensibilité ont démontré, que le coût dépend de façon important de la productivité d?éclatage, qui, pour sa part, varie beaucoup en fonction de paramètres du massif rocheux devant être abattu.

Oct 1, 2001