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By R. Minto, W. G. Davenport

The slag removed from the reverberatory furnaces of copper smelters contains significant copper values. A serious financial loss is involved, as further recovery operations are not normally carried out. This paper describes the factors affecting physical transport of matte into slag by gas bubbles, and the subsequent entrapment and flotation of matte drops. Three distinct patterns of transport behaviour have been identified from studies of a number of liquid/liquid systems, including liquid metal and liquid matte systems. A theoretical approach is proposed to explain these behaviour patterns, and to predict transport and entrapment behaviour in matte/slag systems. The concepts of "Film Coefficient" (ø) and "Flotation Coefficient" (?) are introduced. The effects of smelting process variables on the physical loss of copper matte in slag are also discussed.

Jan 1, 1972

By S. H. Logan

Mr. B. Neilly: A week or so ago the Secretary was good enough to forward me an advance copy of this paper by Mr. Logan and it was suggested that I comment on it at this meeting. At that time I was not very certain that I would be here, so I committed my thoughts to paper. As a matter of courtesy to Mr. Logan, I sent him a copy of my proposed remarks and I would like to give you just what I sent to him. Appreciating fully Mr. Logan's ability and many sources of information, one naturally hesitates to question anything seriously set forth as his considered opinion. Neither does one of my political stripe like to accuse him of being too 'conservative.? However, in places his paper reminds me of another general manager of a Canadian bank. While I was still Secretary of the Ontario Mining Association, this general manager wrote asking for our forecast on the current year's mineral production, stating that he proposed to refer to such production figures in his annual address to his shareholders. The request was considered very complimentary to the Ontario Mining Association and, in my opinion, justified a great deal of serious study and effort. Finally, the estimate was prepared and forwarded, showing a modest increase over the previous year's total. Picture our surprise and chagrin on reading his address to find that he predicted not an increase but, if you please, a decline of over $10,000,000. Before I cooled off I wrote asking the basis of such a prediction and got a reply to the effect that men in his position had to be ultra conservative in picturing the future.

Jan 1, 1931

By Robert J. Uffen

YOU will likely recall the accomplishments of the International Geophysical Year of 1957, with its polar expeditions, the discovery of the Van Allen radiation belts and the spectacular launchings of the first artificial earth satellites. Our know ledge of the exterior of the earth was greatly increased by this international, friendly, cooperative scientific investigation. The Inter-national Union of Geodesy and Geo-physics has now been joined by the new International Union of Geological Sciences in sponsoring a similar study of the earth's interior. The program will extend from January, 1962 until December. 1964, and is known as the International Upper Mantle Project. During the T.G.Y studies of the interior of the earth were relatively neglected, even though the same international •Cooperation in obtaining simultaneous world-wide observations, by similar instruments, is required to locate and study earth-quakes, for example, as it is to study the earth's upper atmosphere. The upper mantle is 1•emote from man, as it extends from a depth of about 10 km. to perhaps 1000 km., but its practical importance is great.

Jan 1, 1962

By Y. Zedan

Cutting fluids play important roles during machining, including the reduction of friction and temperature. Using a cutting fluid, however, degrades the quality of the environment and increases machining costs. The aim of the present research work is to study the effect of cutting fluids and their interactions with cutting parameters on the quality of holes during the drilling of 6061-T6 aluminum alloys. The lubrication types and modes investigated are dry machining, flood lubricant machining and minimum quantity lubrication machining (MQL), while the part quality criteria include the surface finish, the dimensional accuracy, and burr forms and sizes. A scanning electron microscope (SEM) was used to investigate the formation of built-up edges (BUE) in the drill flutes as well as the surface texture of drilled holes. It was found that dry machining and MQL machining can produce parts having quality levels comparable to those obtained in wet machining, when using the optimal cutting conditions.

Jan 1, 2011

By S. J. Prout, J. M. Lang, D. Lascelles, K. Sarinas

"There is a growing demand for ore characterization methods to support metallurgical development programs from a true geometallurgical perspective. Today, there are multiple automated mineral analysis systems on the market, many of which are based on conventional mineral liberation data. However, liberation data can be limited when assessing the floatability of a mineral to predict its recovery as it doesn’t consider the surface area available for collector absorption and bubble attachment; whereas mineral exposure measurements can. Using the First-Order Rate equation to predict the recovery versus time of variously exposed particles, a model has been developed to predict the recovery of copper sulphides at a particular grind size. This model provides the opportunity for the prediction of copper recovery and grade from multiple, small-scale samples. These predicted values can be imported into resource modeling software, and guide the domaining of geometallurgical units within the ore body. Data has been analyzed from various global copper porphyry systems and compared with actual flotation testwork.IntroductionAs part of the development of a mining project, resource estimation primarily focuses on the definition of the quantity and grade of the ore in the deposit; as the project evolves from preliminary economic assessment through to feasibility, the geological model is usually further populated with hardness and recovery data.The CIM Definition Standards (2011) identifies measured mineral resource as the part of a mineral resource for which quantity, grade or quality, densities, shape, and physical characteristics are estimated with confidence sufficient to allow the application of “modifying factors” to support detailed mine planning and final evaluation of the economic viability of the deposit as an asset. The modifying factors include, but are not restricted to, mining, processing, metallurgical, infrastructure, economic, marketing, legal, environmental, social and governmental factors.With market fluctuations, many investors in the mining industry have become more and more risk averse which has increased the demand for more reliable data to support these modifying factors. This has led to the widespread use of geometallurgy and statistical analysis to better inform the resource estimation. Geometallurgy is used to characterize ore variability and is especially useful for highly variable or strongly zoned deposits, several close deposits that will be milled together, projects requiring complex or new metallurgical approaches, brownfields or sight-of-mine exploration, expansion projects that exploit new, deeper or adjacent reserves, and projects with significant legacy drill core that are being re-evaluated due to new economic circumstances."

Jan 1, 2018

By K. Hawboldt, J. E. Halfyard, C. Bottaro

The removal of sulfur from leach residues has been practised in the zinc industry using a combination of flotation and hot melt filtration. The process is highly dependent on the nature of the concentrate and the subsequent residue. When the mineral constituency of the residue alters, the process can encounter significant operational challenges. An alternate method of converting elemental sulfur to water-soluble polysulfides was applied to leach residue from Vale's nickel demonstration plant in Argentia, Newfoundland. Reaction parameters, sulfur purity and other key indicators are discussed as is the potential commercial application.

Jan 1, 2011

By Roger M. Jones

This paper comments on developments in bulk shipping which will be of direct interest to those who are considering the shipment of dry bulk minerals out of Nova Scotia by water. Various conveying systems, and the slurry system of loading, are considered, and the role of deep water ports as a catalyst to other industries is stressed.

Jan 1, 1971

By J. M. Ríos

"Without conscious effort and understanding, a number of factors unique to mineral exploration often hinder building sustainability in host communities. These include the episodic and transitory presence of an exploration team in the community and the inherent uncertainty of outcomes— most projects fail from an exploration perspective. Experience in rural communities across Mesoamerica, however, has shown that it is possible to go beyond pragmatic philanthropy and infrastructure improvements to promote positive, sustainable outcomes in communities. Examples are provided of lessons learned and proven practices that improve quality of life and support a strong social license to operate.RÉSUMÉ Sans une compréhension et un effort réfléchis, de nombreux facteurs uniques à l’exploration minérale nuisent souvent à l’établissement d’un développement durable dans les communautés d’accueil. Ces facteurs comprennent la présence épisodique et transitoire d’une équipe d’exploration dans la communauté et l’incertitude inhérente des résultats – la plupart des projets échouent après l’étape de l’exploration. L’expérience dans les communautés rurales à travers la Méso-Amérique a toutefois démontré qu’il est possible de dépasser la philanthropie pragmatique et les améliorations des infrastructures pour promouvoir des résultats positifs et durables dans les communautés. Des exemples qui améliorent la qualité de vie et soutiennent un solide permis social d’exploitation sont présentés; ils sont tirés de leçons apprises et de pratiques éprouvées."

Jan 1, 2015

By A. G. Eccles

"INTRODUCTIONWestern Mines' copper-lead-zinc operations are located in Strathcona Provincial Park, near the geographic centre of Vancouver Island. This park includes Buttle Lake, which flows into the Campbell River water system. The latter provides domestic water for the Town of Campbell River, approximately fifty-eight miles from the mine site.Operation of the concentrator commenced in December 1966, at which time the tailings were discharged into a small tailings pond near the plant. On May 8, 1967 Permit No. 185 was granted to the company, allowing discharge of the tailings, through a submerged outfall, to the bottom of Buttle Lake.Needless to say, the concept of operating a mine within a park, and the discharge of tailings into Buttle Lake generated considerable controversy. However, this has all but been eliminated over the years by the proven effectiveness of Western Mines' pollution control program. In 1973 this program was further upgraded with the addition of an alkaline chlorination plant. Effluent treatment by this method became necessary as a result of process modifications, and has been effective in maintaining the levels of characteristics in the tailings within the ever increasing pollution control requirements imposed on the industry."

Jan 1, 1977

By N. O. Lotter

The connection between mineralogy and metallurgical performance in a plant was recognised long ago (Gaudin, 1939; Petruk, 1976; Petruk and Hughson, 1977; Cabri, 1981; Petruk and Schnaar, 1981; Kinloch, 1982; Peyerl, 1983, Baum et al 1989 for example). The modern toolbox that we now routinely use for flowsheet development took decades to develop (Lotter et al., 2002; Baum and Lotter, 2004; Lotter, 2011 for example). Many workers contributed considerable time and effort to this overall mission of connecting sampling, mineralogy and mineral processing to integrate the flowsheet development activities. Certain key milestones marked this journey, such as Gy’s treatise on the sampling of particulate materials in 1979, which was later added to by François-Bongarçon, Pitard, Minnitt, and Holmes for example. The development of QEM*SEM by Gottlieb et al. of the MLA by Gu et al. constituted a huge leap forward in accuracy and mineral measurement capacity, as well as a reduction in standard errors of mineral characterisation. The advancement of the microprobe to an automated platform made a significant difference to detailed compositional mineralogy. This led to a strong position from which to draw meaningful processing implications from the mineralogical data. Reproducible flotation testing and reliable plant survey material for characterisation was dealt with by, amongst others, High Confidence Flotation Testing ( Lotter, 1995: Runge, 2010, and Bradshaw, 1997); and Statistical Benchmark Surveying (Lotter, 2005), with earlier prototypes which were steadily improved (Lotter, 1994; Restarick, 1976). The sterling work of Napier-Munn in engaging sound statistical methods with mineral processing led to the successful design and use of methods that could identify and quantify small recovery gains in plant scale trials. This history and present capability are reviewed, including leverage into asset management.

Jan 1, 2018

By Graham Walker

A new Code of Practice for the brake performance of off -highway vehicles was established in Alberta in 1976. Vehicles loaded to gross vehicle weight must be capable of stopping with mechanical brakes five times in quick succession on a grade of 10 per cent from a speed of 28 miles per hour. Comparative trials of various brake systems have been carried out and some combinations capable of meeting the Code are identified. Some problem areas in truck braking are reviewed and potential developments indicated.

Jan 1, 1977

By F. Barriga-Ordonez, J. A. Finch, L. Calzado, S. R. (Ram) Rao

Sludge, formed by lime treatment of acidic drainage and stored in tailing ponds of the Sudbury region, contains 5-7% Ni, mostly in a mix of hydroxides with Fe (~ 10%), Mg (~ 10%) and Cu (-0.5%), and Ca (-3.5%) as sulphate. Investigations were conducted to recover nickel by a 2-stage process. In the first stage, the sludge was leached with sulphuric acid at pH 3.2. About 90% of the nickel was extracted, producing a solution, which contained mainly nickel (2 g/L) and magnesium (3.7 g/L). In the second stage, nickel was separated by treating with ozone which recovered 99% of the nickel in the Ni(III) oxidation state as -85% pure nickel oxide-hydroxide (NiOOH) precipitate. The oxide settled and filtered readily. A potential use of the product in battery making is suggested. The leach residue contained 0.5% Ni making it less toxic for disposal. Some physical properties of nickel oxy-hydroxide and process parameters including ozone consumption will be discussed.

Jan 1, 2005

By P. K. Kaiser

3-D virtual reality (VR) visualization has opened new opportunities for complex 3D (x, y, z), 4D (x, y, z, t) or even nD data interpretation. The integration of common earth models (3D geologic data), mine models (3D excavations and stress), extraction models (1D time sequencing or mine sequencing) and nD monitoring data (e.g., seismic event parameters) into a common mining process model provides a platform for experts in various fields to better design, evaluate, monitor and modify mine plans throughout a mine?s life; from feasibility, through operation, to closure. Viewing seismic data in a stereoscopic VR environment within a mining process model offers data interpretation processes previously unavailable at lower dimensionality. MIRARCO has developed data analysis and viewing processes specifically designed to enhance microseismic and seismic data interpretation in a collaborative, immersive VR environment; bringing mine personnel and expert consultants together to evaluate data and make strategic decisions for cost effective and safe mining. Seismic events cause immediate hazards (rockbursts) and microseismicity causes gradual hazards through its cumulative effect in rockmass degradation. The focus of this paper is on understanding seismicity from a mine safety and mine planning perspective; in particular, how seismic migration patterns relate to the rockmass response to mining. The benefits of innovation in seismic data interpretation are significant, e.g., for hazardous work area identification, allowing better formulation of re-entry policies and workforce allocation planning, as well as allocation of effective support systems to strategic areas of elevated risk. Better understanding of the overall response of a mine to extraction also facilitates mine planning and design, assisting in reducing production costs and thus in enhancing profitability.

Apr 1, 2005

By W. B. Agocs

"IntroductionWITH THE DISCOVERY of natural radioactivity at the end of the 19th century, and the design of equipment for the detection of this phenomenon, radioactivity surveys bad their inception. Early in the 20th century it was found that almost all rocks are radioactive to a certain degree. This radioactivity is due to the nuclear disintegration of six naturally radioactive elements: potassium, thorium, uranium, rubidium, samarium, and lutecium.The radioactivity of these elements manifests itself by the emission of some concentration of alpha, beta, and gamma 'rays'. Of these, the alpha and beta 'rays' are, respectively, helium atoms and electrons, while the gamma 'rays' are short wave length x-rays generated in the nuclear disintegration by the transformation of mass into energy.The alpha and beta rays, being particles of matter, are stopped ve• easily by material barriers, but gamma rays are extremely penetrating and they will pass through a foot or more of rock or several inches of lead.The radioactivity may be detected by the causing of ionization by the radiation. The radiation detectors may be divided into four classes: ionization chambers, proportion al counters, and Geiger counters, all of which use gas for ionization, and scintillation counters, in which a solid is ionized. The basic principle of all these detectors is the same; the difference lies in the method used to measure the degree of ionization produced by the rays. Currently, the scintillation counter is displacing, the other instruments in radioactivity surveying."

Jan 1, 1955

By Scott Honan, Tassos Grammatikopoulos, Mike Johnson, Kelton Smith, Niels Verbaan, Ernesto Bourricaudy, Eric Larochelle, Rick Sixberry

"NioCorp is developing the niobium/scandium/titanium Elk Creek carbonatite resource deposit. The carbonatite phase contains significant niobium (0.71% Nb2O5), titanium (2.68% TiO2) and scandium (72 g/t) and is composed predominantly of calcite, dolomite and ankerite. Niobium is mostly (80%) contained in the pyrochlore and the balance in various Fe-Nb-Ti oxides, which also host most of the titanium. Scandium is distributed homogeneously throughout the ore mineral assemblage. The process flowsheet recovers separate niobium, titanium and scandium products. Scandium is extracted from whole ore hydrochloric acid leach solutions through solvent extraction, and is further refined through a re-leach and precipitation process. Scandium leach residues are treated with sulphuric acid to recover separate niobium and titanium precipitates. Both hydrochloric acid and sulphuric acid reagents are recycled within the flowsheet. This paper will discuss key bench and pilot test results (focusing on the scandium flowsheet) and will present a conceptual flowsheet developed by the project team for NioCorp at SGS Minerals.INTRODUCTION NioCorp is developing North America's only niobium/scandium/titanium project. The Elk Creek project is located near Elk Creek, Nebraska, and is the highest grade niobium project in North America and the largest prospective producer of scandium in the world. These elements are unique and valuable superalloy materials that are strategic and critical to many industries and national defense technologies. The project includes the Elk Creek Carbonatite (the Carbonatite) that intruded older Precambrian granitic and low to medium grade metamorphic basement rocks. Both the carbonatite and Precambrian rocks are interpreted to be unconformably overlain by approximately 200 meters (m) of Paleozoic marine sedimentary rocks of Pennsylvanian age. As a result of this thick cover, there is no surface outcrop within the Project area of the carbonatite, which was identified and targeted through magnetic surveys and confirmed through subsequent drilling. The available magnetic data indicate dominant northeast, west-northwest striking lineaments, and secondary northwest and north oriented features that mimic the position of regional faults parallel and/or perpendicular to the Nemaha Uplift."

Jan 1, 2017

By J. M. Livingstone

"This paper covers some of the problems confronted by Canada's railways in moving bulk materials from their source to the dock-site. The ""cost center"" concept is presented, and hypothetical examples of its use given. Also discussed are systems design, the unit train and pipelines.INTRODUCTIONCANADA LIVES BY RER EXPORTS and the Port of Vancouver by the exports of the Mountain and Prairie Empire at her back. The most recent estimates of off-shore shipments of bulk from the Port of Vancouver rise to 35.8 million shipping tons in 1985 and deep-sea general cargo estimates, in and out, are estimated at 7.6 million shipping tons for the same year. This compares to 7.67 and 2.87 million shipping tons, respectively, in 1965."

Jan 1, 1968

By M. W. Gilmore, J. Ndlovu, T. Sepoloane, Anglo American Platinum, L. R. Nelson, R. N. Varty, L. J. Bryson, B. Peyper, J. P. Hagemann

"As part of Anglo American Platinum’s Rustenburg Base Metals Refinery (RBMR) expansion, a new Nickel Electrowinning Tank House, with a nameplate capacity of 32 400 tons per annum, was constructed. Commissioning of the new electrowinning technology, which involved world first full deposit plating, commenced in 2011.The old nickel electrowinning process at the RBMR used starter sheets which, along with a divided cell configuration, was very labour intensive and exposed operators to high levels of aerosols that contained both nickel and acid. To overcome this problem two key design intents of the new technology are aerosol abatement and minimising labour in the electrowinning cell environment, with a design target to reduce the nickel occupational exposure limit (OEL) to half the legislated limit of 0.1 mg.m-3.Commissioning of the new technologies adopted to achieve mist abatement is described, together with a review of technical and operational challenges relating to the titanium blank edge strips, blank roughness and sandblasting optimisation, blank quality control, electrode spacing, polyconcrete cell dimensional stability and cell top furniture. The impact of these on process performance is presented and the development of fault checking and rectification methods, to maintain high process performance, is explained.INTRODUCTIONThe expansion of Anglo American Platinum’s Rustenburg Base Metals Refinery necessitated the construction of a new Nickel Tank House to achieve two primary objectives, namely increasing the nickel electrowinning capacity from 22 500 tons per annum (tpa) to 32 400 tpa nickel, and a design to reduce the nickel aerosols to 0.05 mg.m-3 as a time weighted average over 8 hours, which is half of the legislated occupational exposure limit (OEL) of 0.1 mg.m-3."

Jan 1, 2016

By Christopher Riley

A relatively unexplored lead zinc deposit lies about 12 miles northwest of Revelstoke, B.C., in the highly metamorphosed Monashee Group of rocks of the Shuswap Terrane, Precambrian in age. Host rocks are of sedimentary origin and consist of gneisses, schists, marbles and quartzites with intermediary types. The marbles and quartzites provide good horizon markers. Using these it is possible to interpret the controlling structure which is a syncline overturned to the north, dipping south at about 45°, and plunging east at about 12°. The syncline is truncated at about halfway of its length on a peak on the west side of which a partial cross section together with superimposed minor folds may be seen. The quartzites and the two marble beds may be traced over much of the structure. There are two lodes, above the marble and below the quartzite, which converge eastward and which are the exposed edges of the same host bed -an impure limestone.

Jan 1, 1961

By C. C. Li

The D bolt is a new type of energy-absorbing rock support element recently developed in Nor-way. The D bolt is not only able to accommodate large rock deformations, but can also provide a load-bearing capacity as high as that of rebar bolts. Furthermore, the anchoring quality of the D bolt is similar to rebar bolts because of its multi-point anchoring design.

May 1, 2009

By G. E. Viens, R. A. Campbell, G. N. Banks

A survey of the literature reveals wide differences in the procedures used in making iron ore pellets and in the properties of the pellets obtained. In this paper, the methods of production and the properties of pellets, as reported in the literature, are examined in an effort to determine what correlations exist between them. An attempt is also made to determine the levels of the properties of pellets which are considered acceptable and desirable in modern practice. M UCH has been written regarding the important changes which have been taking place recently in the iron ore industry. As the demand for ore has increased and the supply of direct-shipping ore has dwindled, tl1e problems associated with the utilization of lower grade ores ha\•e been intensely investigated and important advances in both beneficiation and agglomeration techniques have taken place. In particular, there has been a great deal of activity in connection with the pelletizing method of agglomeration. The superiority of pellets over raw ore has been demonstrated in blast furnace tests

Jan 1, 1962