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"4.1. IntroductionThis chapter reviews the geochemistry of the platinum-group elements (POE) in sulphur-poor silicate rocks, and the limited data on POE in silicate, oxide, sulphide, arsenide and sulpharsenide minerals. The earliest geochemical studies of POE in silicate rocks, minerals and meteorites were carried out mainly by Goldschmidt, the Noddacks and their co-workers, and are reviewed in Crocket (1969). These researchers established the siderophile character of the POE, emphasized the common association of the group with sulphides in ultramafic-mafic rocks and suggested that very low concentrations of POE are typical of sulphur-poor silicate rocks and minerals. Much of these data were for Pt and Pd only and are more than 50 years old. Because of the poor sensitivity typical of the available analytical methods, few reliable data were obtained on silicate rocks in these early studies. Surveys of POE geochemistry demonstrate that the data base for sulphur-poor silicate rocks is very restricted, although considerable highquality data for Pd and Ir have been accumulated (Wright and Fleischer 1965, Yushko-Zakharova eta/., 1967, Mertie 1969, Crocket 1969, 1979, Keays 1981).Two recent publications, Vol. 71, No. 7 (1976), of Economic Geology (An Issue Devoted to Platinum-Group Elements) and Vol. 17, Part 2 (1979), of The Canadian Mineralogist (Nickel-Sulphide and Platinum-Group-Element Deposits), are of special interest. These volumes are clear testimony to the impressive progress made in the last decade toward describing the mineralogical and geochemical aspects of POE ore deposits, but at the same time demonstrate the constraints in modelling POE ore genesis due to our meager knowledge of the. POE content and distribution among minerals in the source rocks of ultramafic and mafic magmas. It is clear that the phases hosting POE in mantle source rocks are poorly understood. Nevertheless, Naldrett and Duke (1980) have shown that the absolute and relative concentrations of POE in magmatic sulphide ores are related to the degree of partial melting of mantle peridotites, and subsequent processes of batch equilibration and fractional segregation of sulphides."

Jan 1, 1979

By E. Wraith, W. W. Culver, B. Wesstrom, P. J. Mackey

Electrodeposited copper of the 1860s was of unprecedented purity, although the profound significance of this achievement was not fully realised until the dawn of the electrical age a decade or so later. By the 1870s there were three somewhat large (4 to 4.5 tonnes Cu/day) electrolytic copper refineries in Germany based on J. B. Elkington’s process, first patented in the United Kingdom in 1865. More such refineries were planned throughout Europe. At the same time, copper output in the U.S.A. was starting to expand and with the spread of European electrolytic copper refining technology across the Atlantic, the door opened to major increases in North American output. The technology was first taken up in 1879 by James Douglas at the Chemical Copper Company in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, where he was Superintendent. Douglas was assisted in this pioneering work by Edward Weston. The copper refinery at the Chemical Copper Company was small, not unlike the first plants in Europe. The present authors contend that the electrolytic copper refinery at the Chemical Copper should be regarded as the first copper refinery in the United States. The Balbach Copper Refinery in New Jersey, which commenced operations in 1883 with an initial production of about 2 tonnes Cu/day, has been erroneously considered as the “first commercial refinery”; it rightly belongs in second place. The early developments at these plants are discussed in this paper. INTRODUCTION In the mid-1800s, the main uses for copper were as sheathing on the wooden sailing ships of the day to protect from marine growth, boiler components in locomotives and steam engines, along with some construction uses. Copper ores were generally smelted, and further fire-refined for market. The recovery of gold and silver, if present in payable amounts, was a slow and relatively expensive step. This situation regarding copper would change by the 1870s with advances in the generation and use of electricity. The introduction of the dynamo led to major developments in electrorefining. First demonstrated in principle by Faraday in 1831 (Faraday, 1832), the dynamo was subsequently adapted and further developed by J.S. Woolrich for electro-metallurgical applications in 1842 (Woolrich, 1842; Napier, 1845). It provided a new source of power with the unprecedented potential to significantly change the scale of metal production by electrometallurgy. Interestingly enough, copper would be needed for the electrical age just beginning. By 1869, advances in dynamo design offered relatively reliable large machines, which enabled J. B. Elkington in the United Kingdom to use the dynamo in the radically new Pembrey copper electrorefinery — the first copper electrorefinery in the world (Wraith, 2013). Initial production at Pembrey was small — in the range of 1 to 2 tonnes/day — while gold and silver were recovered more readily by the treatment of the slimes than with methods used hitherto.

Jan 1, 2019

By Pritii Tam Wai Yin, Tony Leong, Neetu Bansal, James Vaughan, Amiel Boullemant

Mercury is a toxic element that is associated with many industrial activities including the Bayer process. Mercury is known to enter the Bayer process with the bauxite feed material and has the potential to accumulate as the process solution is recycled. This paper explores the speciation of mercury in Bayer process streams. The process parameters considered are the oxidising-reducing potential, basicity and temperature. The results of a refinery circuit survey are presented and compared with the thermodynamic predictions. Electrochemical measurements on relevant synthetic systems are also included.

Jan 1, 2014

"8.1. IntroductionThe stoichiometry of most named platinum-group minerals (POM) is known (cf. Cabri, 1981b, in Chapter 7), but, because these minerals are subject to a wide range of element substitutions, representative analyses require treatment in a separate chapter (section 8.2). The analyses, in all cases done by electron microprobe, are grouped in sections according to the principal platinum-group element (POE) for each POM, and then follow sequentially with increasing amounts of the principal POE starting with the ideal composition, when known. In order to facilitate reference to specific POM by name, an alphabetical listing is also given (Table 8.1). A range of compositions, in addition to one or several ""representative"" analyses, is given for some POM when more than one analysis has been reported for a particular locality. The tables of POM analyses (Tables 8.2 to 8. 76) include at least one analysis for every locality for which data have been published, to the best of the authors' knowledge. All analyses are referenced for locality and publication source, and include several unpublished analyses (all but one done at CANMET). Most analyses have been rounded off to one decimal place for amounts more than one per cent and their formulae calculated on the basis of an even number of total atoms. In all tables, ''n.d.'' stands for elements sought for but not detected and a dash signifies elements not sought, or when these haven't been specificed in the publication source.Section 8.3 contains tabulated analyses and, in some cases, also includes a critical assessment of POE-bearing minerals in which the POE occur in trace or minor quantities. The organization of the data in this section is by mineral groups; e.g., sulphides, sulpharsenides, silicates, etc. Some of these data are also discussed in Chapter 4 by Crocket (1981) and are discussed briefly in Chapter 6 by Crocket and Cabri (1981)."

Jan 1, 1979

By C. E. Rodgers

WHEN I was asked to prepare, for presentation at the 1938 Annual Meeting of the Institute, some data concerning low-discharge grinding at the Sylvanite mill, it seemed entirely reasonable to expect to have at my disposal the results of at least four full months' operation after the last unit, as then proposed, was installed. Delays in delivery of equipment, nevertheless, shortened the interval, as will be shown herein. In submitting the data contained in this discussion, I wish distinctly to state that the intention is not to claim that final conclusions can be reached at this time concerning our operation. Test periods, in certain instances at least, have been too short for this purpose, although some, where so stated, have been extended through March and April. It is hoped, however, that an advantageous trend in practice can be shown and that the experience related may be of interest to others who are now operating, or who are considering the operation of, low-discharge grinding mills. In the plant under review, four mills are in use: one primary and three secondary. Present mill capacity (grinding, as shown by screen test, about 99 per cent through-200-mesh and approximately 88 to 89 per cent minus-325-mesh with infrasizer giving about 90 per cent of the latter) averages about 525 tons per day. A brief description of each unit will be given and comments will also be made relating to operation. This will be followed by certain test data from which, in conclusion, operating results are summarized.

Jan 1, 1938

By William H. McCracken, William G. Holroyd

"The People's Republic of China could very well be considered the largest untapped mineral and metal resource in the world. The proven reserves of antimony, barite, bauxite, fluorspar, graphite, lithium, magnesite, mercury, molybdenum, phosphate, pyrite, rare earths, talc, tin, titanium, tungsten, vanadium and zinc are among the largest in the world.Any company involved in the purchase or supply of industrial raw materials has undoubtedly followed the phenomenal growth of some of the Chinese mineral commodities, where growths in production of more than 200010 have occurred during the past ten years, for commodities like barite, cement, gold, gympsum silver and talc. Others, like bauxite and phosphate, experienced production increases in one year alone of over 45%, from 1986 through 1987!A popular rationale in the United States during the past two years has been the acknowledgment by Professor David Calleo, of Johns Hopkins School of Advanced Studies, that ""America is not sinking-the rest of the world is rising"". While we recognized this rise to be that of economic power for Japan, Korea, Brazil, Taiwan and, more recently, the newly-combined Germanies, China has also successfully completed her own modern five year development binge. But with each boom there is also a bust, and the start of the 1990sfor China shows signs of economic distress. China posted a budget deficit equivalent of US$1.9 billion in 1989 coupled with official inflation at 18010. Projections for 1990 are for US$1.8 billion deficit and inflation as high as 24%. However, government spending in the first seven months of the year climbed 16.4%, outpacing an 11.6% rise in revenue. Spending increases have been related to the government policy to keep prices on domestic goods artificially low, through subsidies, and to bailout inefficient state companies."

Jan 1, 1991

By Maureen Jensen

For mining companies looking to establish a strong North American presence, raise their profile or finance and position themselves for future growth, there is no other destination in the world that can offer a mining company the same opportunities as Canada whether you are an established blue chip or promising junior. Despite historically poor world commodity markets and shaky investor sentiment towards junior explorers caused in part by fallout from the high profile Bre-X fraud, Canada continues to shine as the undisputed mining finance capital of the world. Our natural riches and mining history go a long way to explain Canada's international prominence in mining finance. Canada has actively created and maintained one of the most integrated national frameworks to support mining ventures of all kinds. Our diverse industry, from one-person grass-roots explorers to mining industry giants, is one of our main strengths whether your company is Canada-focused or internationally active. The mining industry continues to be a vital contributor to the Canadian economy, contributing $26.2 billion in 1997 or 3.8% of national GDP, and is the second largest earner of foreign exchange. Industrial mineral companies are a very important part of this strength. These companies require a continuing access to capital to ensure that they can continue to compete and the globalisation of the Canadian mining industry has affected this industry just as much as it has affected every other industry in Canada.

Jan 1, 2001

By Ross Gallinger

In 1997 a group of Canadian mining companies met to review the Mine Environment Neutral Drainage (MEND) program and to consider future activities. They concluded (i) that Canadian industry and NRCan should fund a small secretariat in Ottawa to support technology transfer in Canada and (ii) that it was important for industry to continue the momentum of MEND on an international scale. The need for INAP (International Network for Acid Prevention) was strongly endorsed by company, university, consultant and government experts from Australia, Canada and the U.S. who were convened in Vancouver in February 1998. The initial focus was the development of a solid knowledge base covering the collective experience of INAP's members to promote the dissemination of successful practices, the identification of knowledge gaps and the formulation of effective research proposals. The sharing of information on past successes and failures alone was viewed as sufficient justification for the formation of INAP. INAP was officially launched in October 1998, and is now an effective, industry based initiative to globally coordinate research and development in the management of sulfide mine waste. Significant improvements in the management of sulfidic mine materials through knowledge sharing, research and development of technology by INAP will reduce liability associated with acid drainage. This paper will explore the international efforts and activities of INAP.

May 1, 2002

By Newell G. Alford

COAL companies are definitely becoming conscious of the need for better organization. Mechanized mining and the intricate preparation of coal have brought with them the demand for better trained and more highly skilled mining personnel. Refinement in coal mine management is increasing the demand for young graduate engineers to start in the lower grades of the reorganization and prepare themselves to meet rapidly increasing coal mining responsibilities. The interest is wide in scope and extends from self-helps, extension work, and management study at the mines to stimulation of interest in coal mining amongst undergraduate mining students, leading to their permanent employment after graduation. Data by the United States Bureau of Mines show the total annual value of coal production (bituminous and anthracite in the U.S.) through the past 22 years as being more than 38 per cent of the combined value of all ocher mineral industry products. Natural-gas production has gained rapidly on coal since 1916; petroleum exceeded coal beginning with 1934 (see Figure 1). For this 22-year period, the Committee on Student Interest in Coal Mining, in the A.I.M.E., made a survey of the mining schools in Canada and the United States to show the approximate absorption of young graduate mining engineers by the coal industry. In 1938, 232 mining engineers were graduated as compared with 42 in 1918 (a war year) and 180 in 1923. From 1923 to 1929 the graduates declined to another low of 90, but from there on there was a rapid annual increase in the graduating output, reaching a total of 232 in 1938 and continuing upward to a maximum of over 325 graduating this present month.

Jan 1, 1940

"IntroductionNOTE.-All figures on the supply and consumption of coal in Canada cited in this paper were collected and reported by the Dominion Bureau of Statistics. The friendly and efficient co-operation of the officials of the Bureau. is the foundation upon which it has been my privilege to rely in the preparation of this and two earlier papers ( 1). My thanks are due also to our own staff on the Dominion Coal Board, who spared neither time nor effort in helping to prepare this paper.STATISTICS are comparatively dull and, to many people, coal statistics are duller than most. Coal is, however, the one basic mineral upon which our whole way of life depends and it may be well if attention is drawn to this fact by an occasional statistical review of the coal position in Canada. The recent furore over the oil and gas discoveries has so obscured the basic position of coal in many minds that a little basic coal information may be useful. It is for this reason that, for the third successive year, a factual survey of the coal position is being presented.In the previous papers (1) explanations have been given of the basic considerations in the preparation of these reports and some special phases of the overall picture have been examined. For these explanations, the earlier papers may be consulted."

Jan 1, 1952

"7.1. Glossary of the Platinum-Group Minerals7.1.1. IntroductionA glossary of the platinum-group minerals (POM) serves as a useful introduction to a chapter on their mineralogy. Earlier glossaries (Cabri, 1972, 1976) were prepared for different purposes and composed in a different manner. As for most mineralogical textbooks, from Dana's System of Mineralogy, 3rd Edition (1850) , to Fleischer's Glossary of Mineral Species (1980), this glossary is primarily a chemical classification, arranged here in two tables. Table 7.1 groups the mineralforming compounds of the six platinum-group elements (POE) according to their essential anion(s) or according to the nonPOE element in intermetallic compounds. Table 7.2 is a similar listing for the native metals and alloys of the POE. Both tables include unidentified POM considered to be bona fide new minerals requiring additional study for complete characterization and recognition (see Chapter 9*). Some information on the chemistry of the POM is given in the sections on X-ray data (7 .2) and ore microscopy (7 .3). Because the overwhelming majority of POM have been characterized by the electron microprobe, a more detailed account of representative analyses is given in Chapter 8**. The total POM listed in Tables 7.1 and 7.2 is about 100, after deleting some which would not qualify as discrete species if found today, but which are still recognized on historical grounds; e.g. iridosmine, osmiridium, platiniridium. Tables 7.1 and 7.2 also include 28 unnamed POM; included because they are considered to be probably new species (Cabri 1981 b). The referral scheme for unnamed minerals is the same as in Chapter 9. There are considerably more palladium minerals known than other POM; the proportion of total species (listed in Tables 7.1 and 7 .2) for the POE is: Pd 48%, Pt 21 o/o , Ru and Ir 9% each, Rh 8% and Os 5%. These proportions are in marked contrast to the estimated cosmic abundance, as compiled for average type C1 chondrite by Naldrett and Duke (1980): Pt 29%, Ru 20%, Pd, Ir and Os 15% each, and Rh 6%."

Jan 1, 1979

By A. van As, J. McGaughey, M. J. Mol, R. Tosen

Geotechnical monitoring is a key element of the successful management of a block cave mine. The interrelationships between production and various monitoring datasets are often not realized due to a lack of data integration and appropriate 3D visualization. Timely delivery of information to ensure best cave management practices is only possible with an integrated cave management system. At Rio Tinto, a state-of-the-art cave management system (CaveCAD) has been designed and developed in cooperation with Mira Geoscience to integrate and analyze vast datasets and report this as instructive information regarding the current \u201cstatus\u201d of the cave.

Jan 1, 2014

By Engineering Staff

"This paper briefly describes the surface mining operations at Smoky River Coal Limited (formerly McIntyre Mines Limited, Coal Division) near Grande Cache, Alberta. Geology, mining methods, equipment, manpower and reclamation and environment topics are discussed. Introduction Smoky River Coal Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of McIntyre Mines Limited of Calgary, Alberta, produces a high quality, low sulphur, low volatile bituminous coking coal from its minesite located at west central Alberta, approximately 20 km from the town of Grande Cache and 360 km west of Edmonton (Fig. I). Most of the coal property is contained within a 30 km long by 20 km wide block lying in a northwest-southeast direction in mountainous terrain. Elevations vary from 920 m above sea level ·at the plant·site on the Smoky River to 1,600 mat the upper levels of current and proposed mining operations. A total of 11 coal seams have been identified. Only two seams, No. 4 Seam and No. 10 Seam are currently considered of major commercial value. These seams are recovered by both surface and underground mining. Approximately 650Jo of the plant feed coal is obtained from a conventional shovel/truck surface mine; the balance is mined underground by room-andpillar methods. Background In 1921, McIntyre Mines Limited acquired some 26,300 hectares of coal leases at Smoky River. Since then the leases were explored intermittently by different companies including McIntyre. In the mid-l 960s exploration activities increased and several feasibility studies were completed. Development of the area was undertaken by McIntyre in 1968 and, in August of the same year, a long-term contract was signed with a consortium of Japanese steel mills for delivery of 2 x 106 t of clean coking coal for 15 years commencing in 1970. Production was focussed on underground mining, using longwall methods."

Jan 1, 1985

By S. Kline

The compositions of metamorphic minerals of the south limb of the Dore Lake Complex have been determined by microprobe techniques. Mineral assemblages typical of the greenschist facies occur in Mg-rich bulk compositions, but in Fe-rich rocks albite-epidote amphiboli te facies assemblages occur. Low oxygen fugaci ties and a general paucity of metamorphic fluids prevailed in most of the complex, but a higher oxygen fugacity is indicated near the Chibougamau Pluton, and a local abundance of C0z and Cl in fluids near the pluton is suggested by the presence of scapoli te. The metamorphic gradient overprinted on the complex near the Grenville Front is apparent in mineral chemistries as well as by the appearance of garnet. Chlorite becomes richer in Mg, and iron is fractionated more strongly into hornblende. The amphibole also increases in Alz03.

Jan 1, 1984

By Bird. M.

As the Cadia mill was the first 40ft diameter SAG mill, commissioned in 1998, its performance, liner and discharge design attracted considerable international attention. Twelve years on, the liner design and the control philosophy are being readdressed to further improve the mill?s performance. A comprehensive series of 3D liner scans, over life of the liner, have been used to calibrate liner mass loss and progressive changes in the liner profile. This data is being used to provide true charge mass and mill filling, plus progressive trajectory profiles over life of liner. This information, along with measures of mill performance over liner life, is being used to select the optimal operating conditions as the liner wears, and hopes to inform future liner design.

Jan 1, 2012

By Luc Harnois, Gabriel Voicu, Marc Bardoux, Robert Crépeau

"Abstract-Detailed petrographical and geochemical studies have been carried out on the igneous and sedimentary rocks in the Omai area, part of the Paleoproterozoic Barama-Mazaruni greenstone belt, Guyana. The stratigraphic succession at Omai begins with basalts, associated with mafic-ultramafic intrusives and poorly-sorted conglomerates; these are overlain by andesites and quartzfeldspar porphyries, with pelites and tuffaceous sediments at the top. The volcanic-sedimentary succession was intruded by a quartz-monzodioritic stock (Omai stock) and granophyric rhyolite dikes. Several generations of mafic dikes were intruded discontinuously from the Mesoproterozoic to the Permo-Triassic. Volcanic rocks range in composition from subalkaline basalt to high-silica rhyolites, with a gap between 60% to 70% SiO2, which suggests the suite is bimodal. Major, trace, and rare earth element criteria were used to subdivide the rocks into tholeiitic and calc-alkaline types. The tholeiitic rocks are characterized by flat to moderately sloping chondrite-normalized REE patterns. On the basis of immobile trace-element ratios, the tholeiitic mafic rocks from Omai have characteristics of immature intra-oceanic island arcs, or of E-MORB basalts affected by a strong arc signature, as is commonly reported for back-arc basin basalts. The andesites, quartz-feldspar porphyries, rhyolites and quartz monzodioritic stock are calc-alkaline, with strongly sloping REE patterns, enrichments in the large-ion lithophile elements, and depletions in the heavy REE and high-field-strength elements, features which are typical of more mature island-arc settings.At Omai, two types of gold-bearing veins can be distinguished: vein sets (± stockworks) and tension veins, both post-dating the regional metamorphic peak at the level they were emplaced. The relationship between the gold mineralization and its host lithologies does not seem to be genetic. Rather, the emplacement of mineralization was strongly influenced by the rheological contrasts between the intrusive/subvolcanic bodies and the volcanic/sedimentary country rocks. These contrasts helped to focus the regional stress upon the more competent intrusive subvolcanic bodies, resulting in brittle fracturing, and therefore in greatly enhanced permeability to hydrothermal fluids. The Omai gold mineralization can be classified as late tectonic, with its emplacement controlled by the last brittle to brittle-ductile stages of the Trans-Amazonian orogeny."

Jan 1, 1997

By Gabriel Voicu, Harnois Luc, Marc Bardoux, Robert Crépeau

"Detailed petrographical and geochemical studies have been carried out on the igneous and sedimentary rocks in the Omai area, part of the Paleoproterozoic Barama-Mazaruni greenstonebelt, Guyana. The stratigraphic succession at Omai begins with basalts, associated with ma?c-ultrama?c intrusives and poorly-sorted conglomerates; these are overlain by andesites and quartz-feldspar porphyries, with pelites and tuffaceous sediments at the top. The volcanic-sedimentary succession was intruded by a quartz-monzodioritic stock (Omai stock) and granophyric rhyolitedikes. Several generations of ma?c dikes were intruded discontinuously from the Mesoproterozoicto the Permo-Triassic. Volcanic rocks range in composition from subalkaline basalt to high-silicarhyolites, with a gap between 60% to 70% SiO2, which suggests the suite is bimodal. Major, trace, and rare earth element criteria were used to subdivide the rocks into tholeiitic and calc-alkaline types. The tholeiitic rocks are characterized by ?at to moderately sloping chondrite-normalized REE patterns. On the basis of immobile trace-element ratios, the tholeiitic ma?c rocks from Omai have characteristics of immature intra-oceanic island arcs, or of E-MORB basalts affected by a strong arcsignature, as is commonly reported for back-arc basin basalts. The andesites, quartz-feldspar porphyries, rhyolites and quartz monzodioritic stock are calc-alkaline, with strongly sloping REE pat-terns, enrichments in the large-ion lithophile elements, and depletions in the heavy REE and high-?eld-strength elements, features which are typical of more mature island-arc settings.At Omai, two types of gold-bearing veins can be distinguished: vein sets (± stockworks) and tension veins, both post-dating the regional metamorphic peak at the level they were emplaced. The relationship between the gold mineralization and its host lithologies does not seem to be genetic. Rather, the emplacement of mineralization was strongly in?uenced by the rheological contrasts between the intrusive/subvolcanic bodies and the volcanic/sedimentary country rocks. These con-trasts helped to focus the regional stress upon the more competent intrusive subvolcanic bodies,resulting in brittle fracturing, and therefore in greatly enhanced permeability to hydrothermal ?uids.The Omai gold mineralization can be classi?ed as late tectonic, with its emplacement controlled by the last brittle to brittle-ductile stages of the Trans-Amazonian orogeny."

Jan 1, 1997

By J. A. Bos, Z. Dai, P. Quinn, A. Lee

A flowsheet is being developed for processing Thompson ultramafic low-grade nickel ores. This type of ore is characterized by high content of serpentinized magnesium silicates which generate slimes during comminution. Flotation of this type of ore proves difficult due to problems associated with the slimes. The flowsheet, based on extensive laboratory and miniplant flotation tests, consists of two key components: desliming by hydrocyclones prior to flotation and using soda ash for pH control in flotation. Satisfactory metallurgical results have consistently been achieved in laboratory full circuit simulation and miniplant tests.

Jan 1, 2009

By W. Torres Pino, L. Mariscal Samaniego

The Ilo Smelter has been continuously operating since 1960 with Reverberatory furnaces and Pierce Smith converters producing blister copper. The original installed capacity of 1.134 tons per day of concentrated was expanded in 1976. A process of modernization started in 1995 and 1998 with the installation of an El Teniente Converter, a sulfuric acid plant and an oxygen plant to reduce the gaseous emissions to the atmosphere. With the official approval of the Environmental Compliance and Management Program (Programa de Adecuaci6n y Manejo Ambiental - PAMA) in January 1997, Southern Peru Copper Corporation made a commitment to capture 91. 7% of the S02 generated at the smelter by January 2007. After an evaluation of six different technologies, the ISASMEL T process was selected because it can be easily adapted to the present operation, has a lower capital cost and it is a simple process. The fast learning curve to reach the total capacity will allow to fulfill the PAMA commitment in time. The project construction is in process and SPCC is prepared for a successful start-up and transition of the current operations at the end of year 2006. This paper outlines the factors considered by SPCC in its choice of ISASMEL T technology and describes the construction and the start-up activities of the new facilities.

Jan 1, 2007

By George W. Bain

Summary During the last three years the discovery of gold in the belt of volcanic and sedimentary rocks extending eastward from the Porcupine and Kirkland Lake gold-fields has caused a great deal of excitement in mining circles. The area is heavily drift covered, and every aid to the location of veins is eagerly grasped. A knowledge of the physiographic history of the area is of the utmost importance in the application of many of these aids. Evidence is presented to show that glacial erosion has lowered the general elevation very little below the pre-glacial level, and that many glacial erratics have been carried less than three miles southward. Probably a knowledge of the general geology of a: region was never more necessary to the understanding of the distribution and continuation in depth of the mineral veins than in this area. Four distinct granites occur in the region, and gold-bearing veins are genetically associated with only one of these. Two types of quartz-feldspar porphyries have been found, only one of which has any bearing on the locus of the mineral veins. Many other examples of this complexity of associations might be cited, but everyone goes to show that in most cases the economic importance of the deposits can be realized only after the regional geology is understood. A series of sandstone, limestone and shale intruded by granite lies unconformably below the Keewatin lavas. The latter are intruded by a gneissoid granite and are overlain unconformably by the thick series of Timiskaming greywackes and silts. These are intruded by carbonated syenites and syenite porphyries which have since been rendered somewhat schistose.

Jan 1, 1927