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Drilling is a common process in mining and petroleum engineering applications which have different objectives. For example, drilling deep boreholes in tight gas formations and gas shales is becoming more popular in the oil and gas industry. By contrast, drilling deep small sized holes for mineral exploration in hard rocks is performed to obtain samples for grade analysis purposes. In both applications optimising the drilling process includes using the most effective operating parameters such as rotation speed and weight-on-bit in order to maximise the rate of penetration. Obtaining the optimum drilling parameters requires sensitivity analysis over a range of data, which would be costly and time consuming during real field operations. Therefore, conducting several experimental simulations in the lab would be very beneficial before field operations begin. A drilling rig was designed and developed to simulate various drilling scenarios. The rig works in conjunction with an existing true triaxial stress cell (TTSC) which is in use for different petroleum related applications. The rig allows drilling into a cubic rock sample of up to 300 mm size. Three independent stresses can be applied to the sample to simulate real in-situ field stress conditions while the sample may be saturated with fluid. A significant feature of the rig is its ultra-high speed rotation which can rotate up to 8000 rpm: this is to simulate hard rock drilling for mineral exploration applications where large weight-onbit could damage the bit cutters. With the proposed design, a drilling fluid of any type can be circulated in the simulated borehole similar to the real situation, to study its effect on drilling performance. The TTSC drilling lid is equipped with torque and drag measurement systems which are two important drilling parameters to be recorded during drilling operation. It is believed that this new drilling rig will open opportunities for performing major new applied research in the area of more efficient drilling in both oil and gas bearing formations and mineral exploration applications.

Aug 1, 2013

By STEPHEN V. FORGERON

The Loch Lamond celestite properties in central Cape Breton Island were mined by Kaiser Celestite Mining Limited from 1970 until 1976. Poor market conditions in J976forced operations to cease. Kaiser holdings included the Lake Enon, MacRae and A mac prospects. A total of about 272,000 tonnes of raw celestite have been mined. Celestite deposits are situated in the Loch Lamond Basin, specifically in Lower Windsor sedimentary rocks. Of the five formations in the Lower Windsor Group, celestite is found in the upper four. Celestite in the Enon Formation occasionally replaces shale that separates stromatolitic dolomite columns; elsewhere in the formation it occurs in association with siltstone and gypsum. Jn the B2 Limestone Formation celestite fills pores or grades between limestone and gypsum. It replaces both limestone and silty limestone conglomerate in the Loch Lamond Formation; this limestone is of unusually high grade (60 to 70% SrSO,J for the area. Evidence indicates that the Uist Formation may hold important celestite reserves. Original celestite mineralization probably resulted from evaporation of seawater on mudflats or 'sabkhas'. Secondary mineralization also may have occurred. Strontium ions could have been leached from pre-existing concentrations and overlying gypsum, moved downdip in groundwater and combined with sulphate rich waters to deposit as celestite in porous B2 limestones.

Jan 1, 1984

By Michael Bowker

Au/TiO2 catalysts were prepared by incipient wetness impregnation and tested for the room temperature photocatalytic reforming of methanol in aqueous solution. These catalysts proved to be more active, on a molar basis, than Pd/TiO2. The dependence on loading of gold was different from that of palladium, showing a double maximum in yield at 0.1 and 2 wt. % with low rate below 0.01% and above 10%. A model is proposed for the reaction involving band gap excitation of titania electrons which are used to oxidise the methanol via adsorbed CO. With palladium, photoreforming of CO and water can be achieved, but this is much less effective on gold, presumably due to the much weaker bonding of CO on Au.

Oct 1, 2003

By L. H. Thorleifson

Demand for both gem and industrial diamonds is very strong. Synthetic production supplies industrial uses, but synthetic gems remain inferior and expensive, so the large gem market is supplied by mining. Several major mines have been depleted, and the market is receptive to new sources of high quality gems. Canada's Precambrian terrane, extending across the Canadian Shield and under the Phanerozoic cover of the Plains and Hudson Bay, has excellent potential for diamonds, but exploration conditions are difficult due to recent glaciation. Early world exploration relying on recognition of diamond in alluvial sediments was adequate to launch pre-1900 production from India, Brazil, and Africa. Exploration success in Canada, as was the case in Russia and other more recently discovered sources, however, had to await large investments in effort supported by advanced science and technology. Canadian exploration in many ways is similar to that in other regions, relying on analysis of tectonics, indicator minerals, geophysical surveys, and multiple stages of drilling and sampling. Very different from other regions, however, is Canada's surficial environment, in which recent glaciation has caused fresh indicator minerals to be transported hundreds of km. Exploration accelerated in Canada after 1960, first in Ontario and the Arctic Islands, then in Saskatchewan in 1988, and most importantly after the Chuck Fipke - Stew Blusson discovery at Lac de Gras, Northwest Territories, in 1991 that led to the billion-dollar BHP - Dia Met Ekati Mine that opened in 1998. In 2003, production from Ekati is expected to be supplemented by that from the similar and nearby Diavik Mine of Rio Tinto and Aber, currently under construction. These mines will bring Canadian output to over 10% of world supply, and will position Canada with Botswana and Russia as world leaders in production of high quality gem diamonds. There could be other mines as well, as sites across the Arctic and in the south from Alberta to Québec are being explored by an array of companies, including De Beers, other majors, and several juniors.

May 1, 2001

By C. G. McLachlan

Professor H.E.T. Haultain: To me from time to time the urge comes to say the agreeable thing as well as the disagreeable in commenting on the work of others. It is a prerogative of age. I don't apologize. To myself I justify my action as based on a long experience of the matters with which I deal, and I like to tell myself that I have a certain responsibility in such matters on account of my detached position. This Noranda article is a very fine contribution concerning Canadian milling, and I am surprised that no word of commendation or thanks has appeared concerning it in the BULLETIN. There is altogether too much written in these days by men rushing into print, concerning laboratory work, that has not been tied into, nor has resulted in application in the field. The authors of this paper have not rushed into print. The preparation of this paper was evidently an uncongenial task. If the authors had been that way inclined, it could have spread over several lengthy papers. It is an important article because it represents an enormous amount of work in the laboratory and the mill, extending over a period of sixteen years, and resulting in fine metallurgical and economic results with a very difficult and involved problem. It is a fine article because it is so well prepared and presented. It deals with an unusual ore condition, but there is much in it of use to every cyanide millman. It leaves very little room for criticism, though there may be differences of opinion in regard to some of the chemistry phases with which I am not conversant. I am struck by the enormous amount of persistent, painstaking, conscientious research work involved, and in the careful, sincere way in which the methods and difficulties have been described. Persistence and sincerity are the key note of the effort. It should have a good educational effect on the rising generation of millmen, and it should continue for long as a work of reference, and a spur to others. There has been an important by-product, the training and development of the young men engaged in the work. Three of them became superintendents of important mills. One was sought for important work in Africa, another has joined a large research organization in the United States.

Jan 1, 1946

By M. B. M. Monte, M. L. Torem, E. R. Pecanha, A. G. Merma

The recent literature has unveiled the potential use of microbial strains in mineral bioprocessing. This study presents the use of a Gram-positive bacterium (Bacillus subtilis) as bioreagent for hematite flotation. The bacterium presents the ability to modify the properties of mineral surface (electrophoretic mobility and hydrophobicity). It was studied the electrokinetic behavior of hematite particles, before and after the interaction with the bacterial cells. The results revealed a shift of the isoelectric point (IEP) of the hematite after interaction with bacterial cells, suggesting a chemical adsorption mechanism. Moreover, after bacterial conditioning, the zeta potential curve of hematite presented high values in the alkaline pH range. The hematite and the bacterial surfaces presented contact angle values around 27.4° and 41.0°, respectively. According to the results, the B. subtilis strain was capable of modifying the hematite surface, and after interaction the hematite surface presented a contact angle value around 46.0°. The flotation tests were carried out in a modified Hallimond tube. The experiments revealed a significant increase in hematite flotability using the Gram-positive strain as bioreagent. The tests pointed out a maximum recovery of hematite in the presence of 600 mg/L and pH 5. Therefore, the results from this study showed the potential use of the B. subtilis strain as a biocollector for hematite flotation, and its possible application in the mineral flotation industry.

Jan 1, 2016

By Warwick D. Bullen

Gold mining in the Yellowknife area of the Northwest Territories started long before the concept of sustainability entered the academic literature and by the time the term enjoyed widespread public acceptance, the Yellowknife gold mining industry was in its sunset years. Nevertheless, the city of Yellowknife will long outlive the gold mines that it was founded on, demonstrating that not only can mining build sustainable communities, but that sustainable mining as a concept is an entirely valid precept. To this effect, the authors examine the complex economic and social aspects of the gold mining industry in the Yellowknife area over the last 70 years.

May 1, 2004

By Matej Petružálek, Václav Vavrycuk, Tomáš Svitek, Tomáš Lokajícek

The most common type of waves used for probing anisotropy of rocks in laboratory is the direct P wave. Information potential of the measured P-wave velocity, however, is limited. In rocks displaying weak triclinic anisotropy, the P-wave velocity depends just on 15 linear combinations of 21 elastic parameters, called the weak-anisotropy parameters. In strong triclinic anisotropy, the P-wave velocity depends on the whole set of 21 elastic parameters, but inversion for 6 of them is ill-conditioned and these parameters are retrieved with a low accuracy. Therefore, in order to retrieve the complete elastic tensor accurately, velocities of S waves must also be measured and inverted. For this purpose, we developed a lab facility which allows the P- and S-wave ultrasonic sounding of spherical rock samples in 132 directions distributes regularly over the sphere. The velocities are measured using a pair of P-wave sensors with the transmitter and receiver polarized along the radial direction and using two pairs of S-wave sensors with the transmitter and receiver polarized tangentially to the spherical sample in mutually perpendicular directions. We present an inversion method for elastic parameters describing general triclinic anisotropy. We demonstrate on synthetic tests that the inversion becomes more robust and stable if the S-wave velocities are included. This applies even to the case when the velocity of the S waves is measured in a limited number of directions and with a significantly lower accuracy than that of the P wave. Finally, we analyze velocities measured on a rock sample from the Outokumpu deep drill hole, Finland, including the error analysis for several levels of confining pressure.

Jan 1, 2015

By George Efremidis, Markos Avlonitis, Elias C. Aifantis, Avraam Konstantinidis

"Nowadays, there is an increasing interest for realistic spring-block models capable of addressing precursor phenomena in catastrophic earthquake-induced landslides. By pre-defining the constitutive law between externally applied stress and induced local strain increments, the dynamic behaviour of the rock/soil slope can be studied by means of the distribution of slip events at the interface between the soil and the bedrock. It is shown that by relaxing the assumption of constant of externally applied stress rate and local strain increments, a robust 2D spring-block model can be formulated for studying triggered landslides. A cellular automaton is built in order to examine the dynamic behaviour and the stability of rock/soil slopes during the initiation of a landslide. The type and nature of the failure plane, as well as the triggering mechanism is studied. The different dynamic evolution modes of the slope can be mapped to specific shape parameters of the corresponding distributions of the incremental displacements. The proposed spring-block model can be used in order to understand, predict and minimize the impact of catastrophic landslides triggered by earthquakes.INTRODUCTIONEarthquakes have long been introduced as one of the major cause of landslides. Earthquake induced landslides are of great importance because they can cause considerable damage and life casualties. Existing analyses can provide landslide concentration, i.e. the number of landslide sources per square kilometer of surface area, as well as the distance from the earthquake source, which is related to the strength of shaking, the slope steepness, which is connected to shear stress, and finally the rock type, which is referred to material strength (Keefer, 1984). In spite of their great importance in social and economic life, earthquake-induced landslides are still considered as an open geotechnical problem. The dependence of the number and distribution of landslides on earthquake magnitude and ground shaking intensities is a crucial factor for the description and determination of the phenomenon. The hazardous types of earthquake-induced landslides, the most susceptible geologic materials and the reactivation of landslides originally triggered by nonseismic activity are some important topics for areas affected by landslides. Most of these areas present an irregular and asymmetric shape with respect to epicenters and fault ruptures, and also show a strong correlation with magnitude (Keefer, 1984, 2000). The number of landslides caused by an earthquake generally increases with increasing earthquake magnitude. Keefer (1984) presented a magnitude scale in order to quantify the number of earthquake-induced landslides. Malamud et al. (2004) have proposed an independent landslide-event magnitude scale on the earthquakes, based on the logarithm of the total landslides number associated with an event. The aforementioned studies try to relate the landslide magnitude scale to the visible effects of the triggering mechanisms."

Jan 1, 2015

By R. A. Kipp

THE dry concentration of ores and minerals is a subject on which there is very little engineering literature available. With the advent of flotation, practically all milling research was turned to this development as it held the answer to large-scale economic operations. However, there are many concentration problems that can be more adequately and economically handled by the dry methods that have been developed, and, consequently, I believe it is very advisable for mining men to become fully 'conversant with just what can be done in the dry state. Therefore, today, I should like to give a brief summary of the processes that are available and, in a general way, how they can be a p-p lied. I shall confine my remarks mainly to two dry processes: THE Am FLOTA'l'ION TABLE AND THE ELECTROSTATIC SEPARATOR Dry Magnetic Separators should probably also be included, but I am

Jan 1, 1961

By Richard K. Komarek, Antonios Zavaliangos, Roman T. Dec

Current industrial compacting and briquetting practices are largely based on trial-and¬error techniques. This paper introduces a two dimensional finite element model of compacting/briquetting process in the roller press. Compared with other modeling techniques used in the past, finite element method offers the most versatile approach because it incorporates adequate information about powder behavior, geometry and frictional conditions and offers predictions for the density distribution, velocity field, stress distribution, roll force, roll torque and other important process variables. More over, when the model includes elasticity, it offers predictions on the internal stress state in the briquet after its exit from the pressing zone. This enables to perform realistic computer experiments which are helpful for establishing the pressing system design, forming cavity geometry and process conditions necessary to produce compacted or briquetted product with the desired properties.

Jan 1, 2004

By S. Kursunoglu

The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of Ascorbic (C6H8O6) Acid (AA), Activated Carbon (AC) and Guar Meal (C6H12O6) (GM) as a reductant for the simultaneous complete dissolution of zinc (Zn) and manganese (Mn) from a spent and mixed Zinc-Carbon (Zn-C) and alkaline battery powders in sulphuric acid (H2SO4) leaching. AA was tested previously as a reductant by other researchers while AC and GM were tested as a reductant for the first time in battery recycling. The effects of H2SO4 concentration, AA/AC/GM dosages, reaction temperature and leaching time on the Zn and Mn dissolutions were investigated according to 2k full factorial experimental design and Central Composite Design (CCD) technique; then, a simple optimization study was carried out for comparing the reductants. The optimum reductive acid leaching conditions for AA were determined at 3 hours leaching time, 70°C leaching temperature, 0.5M H2SO4 concentration, 13 g/L AA dosage, 1/20 g/mL solid/liquid (S/L) ratio and 200 rpm stirring speed. Under these conditions, the dissolution efficiencies were 99.9% for Zn and 99.3% for Mn. The best reductive acid leaching conditions for AC were determined at 3h leaching time, 80oC leaching temperature, 1M H2SO4 concentration, 3 g/L AC dosage and 400 rpm mixing speed. Under above conditions, Zn and Mn dissolutions were not complete. At 2M H2SO4 concentration, 10 g GM dosage, 700C leaching temperature, 200 rpm stirring speed, 1/20 g/mL solid/liquid (S/L) ratio and 3 hours leaching time, full dissolution of both Zn and Mn was achieved. As a result, three different reductants were evaluated in this study for complete simultaneous Zn and Mn dissolutions. This paper also compared present test results with previous spent battery recycling studies for Zn and Mn dissolutions. Full valuable metals dissolutions from spent batteries were achieved at low H2SO4 concentrations with AA and high concentrations with GM. Selective precipitations of Zn and Mn from acid solutions were carried out using NaOH and KOH. Using 3M NaOH as precipitating agent at room temperature and at pH 8; 95.4% of Zn and at pH 10; 93.7% of Mn were precipitated from the leach solution. Under the same conditions, using 3 M KOH at pH 8; 91.6% of Zn and at pH 10, 96.4% of Mn were precipitated. Based on the experimental results obtained, an appropriate flow sheet was proposed to recover both Zn and Mn.

Aug 1, 2013

By M. J. A. Ruszala

Aggregates production is a huge global industry which uses an enormous amount of energy and produces a massive amount of unsalable fines. Reducing the amount of energy used per tonne of product and/or the amount of fines produced, would make a quarry more efficient. This reduction would make the quarry more environmentally friendly and profitable. This research looks at modelling Mountsorrel Quarry, a granite quarry in the United Kingdom (UK), using JKSimMet and Split-Desktop software packages in conjunction with the European Union (EU) project, EE-Quarry. Samples submitted to drop weight tests confirmed Mountsorrel Quarry granite as an extremely hard granite. Rock fracture data (t10) and energy of comminution (ECS) data were obtained from analysing the results. Split-Desktop image analysis software was utilized to determine the particle size distribution (PSD) of the primary crusher feed, as it contains particles too large to screen manually. It was also found that <1% of the feed is fines, which at Mountsorrel Quarry are classed as particles smaller than 5 mm, and that no particles were larger than 3,810 mm. JKSimMet was used to create a flowsheet of Mountsorrel Quarry. The crusher product PSDs were simulated and found to have strong correlations with experimental data, calculated by screening samples from conveyor belts, especially in the fines region, with a mean difference of 1%. The simulated primary crusher product PSD showed that it contains ~6% fines. A simulation over the entire quarry showed the product to be within the size range produced at Mountsorrel Quarry, and with a simulated fines content of 13%. When the CSS on the primary crusher was altered from 165.1 mm (the operating size on site) to 100.0 mm, it increased the overall percentage of fines produced by 3%, increased the power draw by 140.6 kW, but reduced the overall plant production percentage of fines by 2%. Two blasts were analysed on adjacent rock faces. They had identical blast designs, but the order of deck detonation varied; the first blast detonated the bottom deck before the top and vice versa in the second blast. For each blast, measurements of the feed PSD to the primary crusher, the number of particles that required secondary breakage on the quarry floor, acoustic levels and vibration readings were measured. No significant difference was identified between the two blasts in any of the parameters measured. In conclusion, a working model of Mountsorrel Quarry has been made in JKSimMet that has been validated against data from site and Split-Desktop has been used to simulate the primary crusher feed PSD, something that was previously unknown. The effect of reversing the order of deck detonation in a two deck blast was also analysed but with no significant difference between the two blasts found.

Aug 1, 2013

By Siavash Zamiran, Abdolreza Osouli

"One of the most concerns of room and pillar mining system is subsidence of the ground surface due to coal mining particularly in room and pillar mines. Subsidence of ground surface is a result of floor, pillar, or roof failure of the mine. At the same, due to many difficulties associated with surface disposal facilities of coal refuse, some mining companies are trying to use underground space as a disposal storage place. In this study, stability and subsidence analyses of an underground coal mine located in the Illinois Basin are conducted. This room and pillar mine was abandoned and later on was used as a storage place to accommodate the coal fine refuse with slurry backfilling method. The geological stratigrophy and geomechanical properties of the mine floor and roof were collected. Floor and pillar stability analyses were conducted for areas with various extraction ratios. The stability of the mine was evaluated both prior and after slurry backfilling. The floor and pillar stability analyses results of the mine due to moisture exposure after slurry backfilling are discussed. The subsidence potential due to mine failure is also evaluated.INTRODUCTIONA typical lithology of coal seams in the Illinois Basin consists of weak underclay stratum. The immediate weak underclay causes frequent floor instability problems in Illinois underground coal mines. There are two different stages in assessing floor stability of the mines where slurry backfilling is planned. The first stage is during the mining operation when weak underclay layer squeezes under pillar stress and results in punching or bearing capacity failure. The second stage is after slurry backfilling. During this stage, the slurry material soaks non-durable floor layers and causes strength reduction in floor material. Pillar stability conditions should also be taken into account during both the operational period and after the slurry backfilling."

Jan 1, 2015

By O. G. Olvera, D. G. Dixon, E. Asselin, L. S. Quiroz

Dissolution rates of chalcopyrite (CuFeS2) were calculated using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The calculated dissolution rate decreased by a factor of 3.2 after the electrode was passivated. The results presented in this work indicate that the reduction of Fe3+ was the rate-controlling step for fresh CuFeS2 electrodes while the transport of cations within the passive film limited the dissolution rate for the passivated electrode. The transfer of cations at the electrode/electrolyte and passive film/electrolyte interfaces did not affect the dissolution rates of the fresh and passivated CuFeS2 electrodes, respectively. The catalytic effect of pyrite (FeS2) on the dissolution of CuFeS2 continued after the passivating treatment. The contact of fresh and passivated CuFeS2 electrodes with different FeS2 particles resulted in increased dissolution rates, due to an increase in the reduction rate of Fe3+.

Jan 1, 2014

By L. St-Georges

In aerospace and transportation industries, severe problems are related to fatigue failure. Aluminium is frequently used in these industries to optimize the solidity and minimise the weight of the structures. Nevertheless, the fatigue life of aluminium alloys is limited and specific efforts have to be made to reduce the vibratory stresses in the mechanical parts. When riveted, the life of the sheet metal structures can be increased compared to welded structures, due to the energy dissipated by the friction between the rivets and the sheet metal and the sheets themselves. In the past decade, a new tool was developed to assemble aluminium structures; the friction stir welding. With this new technique, fatigue life of the aluminium welded joints can be increased by a factor from two to ten. However, less energy can be damped by the friction between the components and increased vibratory stresses may occur. In this investigation, the potential of the friction stir welding to create damped aluminium sheet metal structures is evaluated.

Jan 1, 2006

By Chunfeng Zhao, Chong Bao, Cheng Zhao, Jiashen Tian, Matsuda Hiroshi

"Based on digital image correlation (DIC) method and self-developed code, the global strain field changing and failure properties of rock-like materials with pre-existing double flaws are experimentally studied under uniaxial compression. By theoretical analysis with linear elastic fracture mechanics (LEFM), the strain approach proves to be practicable to investigate cracking process. Thus, two types of process zone are defined to discuss the specimen’s coalescence evolution at different loading stages. Crack initiation, propagation, and coalescence is a process of zone development and nucleation. DIC strain field results are studied on a meso-level using a strain approach. In the shear coalescence mode, the SPZ (shear process zone) in a bridge area coalesces with each other, while the TPZ (tensile process zone) grows independently. In general, the paper tries to establish the link between microscopic mechanical mechanisms and macroscopic mechanical responses in flawed rock. Further research should be done to study the cracking process and its effect on rock strength in detail by the DIC method.INTRODUCTIONNatural rock contains discontinuities including pores, fractures, inclusions or other defects. The existence of these discontinuities in the rock can decrease the strength and stiffness of the rock and they are a source of initiation of new discontinuities which may in turn propagate and link with other cracks and further decrease the strength and the stiffness of the rock (Sagong & Bobet, 2002). Lots of theoretical, experimental and numerical researches have been done in studying crack initiation, propagation and coalescence in rocks (Hoek & Bieniawski, 1965; Kranz, 1983; Reyes & Einstein, 1991; Park & Bobet, 2009; Gonçalves & Einstein, 2013). But when it comes to multiple pre-flaws, the issue that how the preexisting flaws affect each other becomes complicated and uncertain. The stress field around the tips of flaw can either enhance the impact of single flaw or weaken it. According to the observations have been done before, it is found that the way and function in which these cracks propagate and coalescence depends on the geometric arrangements (Bobet, 1997; Bobet & Einstein, 1998; Wong & Chau, 2001)."

Jan 1, 2015

Palabora Mining Company (PMC) processes a multi-component ore body using a circuit consisting of two AG mills in parallel, closed with vibrating double deck screens and hydrocyclones. The bottom screen undersize feeds the hydrocyclones, but the screen oversize products can be treated in a variety of ways. The top deck screen pebbles can be crushed and then combined with the bottom deck oversize and recycled to the AG mill. Alternatively both the top and bottom deck screen oversize can by-pass the recycle crusher and be recycled directly to the mill. A full tap-off is a configuration when both the top and bottom deck screen oversize streams are stockpiled. The other configuration is when the bottom deck screen oversize is recycled to the mill while the top deck screen oversize is stockpiled - termed partial tap-off. This article reports the findings from the surveys performed to evaluate the performance of the PMC auto mill circuit when operated under the four different configurations discussed. Ore characterisation tests were performed to assess the deportment of the key ore components for the different configuration.

Jan 1, 2012

By M. Drozd, M. Somppi, Z. F. Yamak

"Activated carbon is used to recover gold in solution from various gold circuit designs including carbon-in-pulp (CIP), carbon-in-column (CIC), and carbon-in-leach (CIL) processes; however, the characteristics and durability of the activated carbon can vary. Handling this medium poses challenges when fine carbon losses occur in the CIP, CIC, and CIL circuit discharge. Additionally, adsorbed gold on carbon fines can be lost to the discharge. The studies in this paper aim to standardize laboratory methods for testing activated carbon qualities specific to the gold industry. The investigation focused on size distribution, platelet content, wet attrition resistance, gold kinetics, and gold loading. The results demonstrate that a 96 h attrition test and a gold loading test form a basis for ranking carbon samples based on expected economic performance of the plant. ¦ KEYWORDS Activated carbon, Carbon attrition, Carbon ball-pan hardness, Carbon evaluation, Carbon fines loss, Carbon turnover RÉSUMÉ Le charbon actif sert à récupérer l’or en solution dans diverses conceptions de circuits de broyage d’or, notamment les procédés de charbon en pulpe (CIP, de l’anglais carbon-in-pulp), de charbon en colonnes (CIC, de l’anglais carbon-in-column) et de lixiviation au carbone, ou charbon au lixiviat (CIL, de l’anglais carbon-in-leach). Toutefois, les caractéristiques et la durabilité du charbon actif varient. La manipulation de ce milieu pose des problèmes dès lors que se produisent des pertes de carbone à grain fin dans la décharge des circuits CIP, CIC et CIL. Par ailleurs, l’or adsorbé sur les fines de charbon peut se perdre durant la décharge. Les études réalisées dans le cadre de cet article visent à normaliser les méthodes de laboratoire pour tester les qualités du charbon actif spécifiques au secteur de l’exploitation aurifère. L’étude portait sur la composition granulométrique, la teneur des plaquettes, la résistance au frottement humide, la cinétique de l’or et l’adsorption de l’or, à savoir la capacité du charbon actif à adsorber l’or sur une période spécifique. Les résultats ont montré qu’un test de frottement de 96 heures et un test d’adsorption de l’or constituaient le fondement d’un classement des échantillons de carbone du point de vue économique en vue de trouver l’échantillon générant le meilleur rendement des usines. ¦ MOTS CLÉS charbon actif, dureté de la batée des billes de carbone, évaluation du carbone, perte de fines de charbon, renouvellement du carbone, résistance au carbone INTRODUCTION The use of activated carbon for gold extraction is among the most common processes in modern gold-milling plants. Although gold losses are inevitable in the milling process, operators often focus on reducing gold loss to tailings. One focus area that is important in gold recovery is optimizing the use of activated carbon and examining potential changes to realize improved economics for carbon-in-pulp (CIP), carbon-in-column (CIC), and carbon-in-leach (CIL) processes. Granular activated carbon (Figure 1) is widely used for gold extraction from slurries containing gold-cyanide complexes. This activated carbon—produced from charred coconut shells—is well suited because of its adsorption kinetics, gold-loading capacity, attrition resistance, and ability to be reactivated. The extraction process using activated carbon technology involves adsorbing gold from an aqueous leachate; the gold is dissolved using a cyanide salt and consequently a dicyanoaurate(I) ion (Au(CN)2–) is formed, as noted in equation 1."

Jan 1, 2019

By William Skinner, Jim Pae Lem, Massimiano Zanin

It is well known that the specific density of minerals has adverse influence on the classification performance of a hydrocyclone, particularly when liberated high density minerals such as gold or uranium are present in sulphide ores. These liberated heavy minerals often misreport to the underflow and recirculate to the system. Such phenomena does result in serious issues in a closed-grinding circuit, such as overgrinding, leading to production of flaky particles (as in gold) or ultrafines, in addition to increased energy inefficiency. In plants which present gold liberated at coarser size, loss of gold due to cyclone inefficiency is sometimes prevented by incorporating gravity concentrators into the grinding circuit to recover the gold. The work reported in this paper looks at whether the effect of density will prevent successful rejection of liberated U-bearing minerals in the –10µm size range of a plant re-cleaner feed, which is necessary to minimize penalty U accumulation in a copper concentrator. The study was carried out using a cyclone rig with spigot diameter of 0.25 inches in combination with batch flotation. It was found that the density effect is almost negligible at particle sizes below 10µm. Consequently, the liberated U-bearing particles finer than 10 µm were successfully removed in the overflow stream as rejects and hence U grade in the copper concentrate remarkably reduced, by 16 ppm. Based on the results, de-sliming of the re-cleaner feed was recommended for plant trial and implementation.

Jan 1, 2016