Search Documents

By A. P. Fletcher, K. Croteau

The intent of this paper is to cover some aspects of preventive maintenance methods which have come into wider usage in recent years as a means of increasing operating efficiencies. Particular emphasis is placed on lubrication and related servicing.

Jan 1, 1967

By Robert P. Dufresne

Electrolytic cells are used in electrowinning (EW) and electrorefining (ER) of non-ferrous metals such as zinc and copper, and are a critical part of the purification process. The cell is a large basin and has an electrolyte or aqueous solution, an anode and a cathode, an insulator, and incoming high amperage. Cells are exposed to unfavourable internal and external factors that have a direct impact on their lifespan. Their deterioration can be caused by incorrect polarity, insufficient magnitude, their construction, tension stress, thermal shock, corrosion and other, and their maintenance and replacement can be time-consuming, costly, difficult and environmentally unsafe. Occupational health hazards and dangers posed by the maintenance and removal of the cell should also be taken into consideration. Modifying the design and fabrication method of the cell, using chemical-resistant reinforcement, and increasing tensile and mechanical strength will defer maintenance for a very long time. This can be achieved by a double hull system that comprises full-length composite reinforcement, polymer concrete reinforced with fiberglass pultruded rods and rebars, fiberglass structural layers, and special resin matrices. This will provide protection against thermal shocks, corrosion, leakage, cracks. The design of this cell incorporates a lifting system that will afford quick and easy install without having to move a great number of cells in close proximity, since it is strong enough to stand on its own and not have to be bonded to adjacent cells. As well, the cell can be anchored with ease as it remains stable. This is especially important because space is limited to lift and manoeuver between the cell and the double-girder overhead travelling cranes. The lifting system can also prevent electrocution and loss in product quality, while increasing efficiency and safety in the workplace. Considerable savings in terms of production downtime are also part of the equation. INTRODUCTION Maintenance and replacement of electrolytic cells in electrowinning and electrorefining are operations that pose many challenges, health and safety concerns, and give rise to substantial operational costs. These problems have existed since time immemorial. Electrolytic cells are made of conventional concrete or polymer concrete, and because of the very nature of their composition and their exposure to severe and environmental conditions, their lifespan is short. Although polymer concrete is composed of high-quality materials, and has good thermal stability and resistance to chemicals, nonetheless, maintenance is frequently required in order to maintain the integrity of the cell and to ensure the quality of refined metals. Repairing concrete is a non-permanent solution as cracks will reappear, and every repair weakens the integrity of the cell a bit more, until it reaches a knock- down point and the structure is compromised. The cell needs to be replaced, otherwise the cell will collapse.

Jan 1, 2019

By M. I. Kalashnikova, Y. M. Shneerson, E. E. Zhmarin, Y. V. Degtiarev, E. M. Vigdorchik

Separation of a magnetic fraction from nickel concentrate following matte flotation, and its treatment in a separate circuit enable reduces precious metals losses. The magnetic fraction is treated in two stages of oxidative leaching: atmospheric and pressure leaching. A study of the atmospheric stage, using mathematical modelling, is described in this paper. The mathematical model and experimental data were used to carry out industrial process calculations. The model enabled extrapolation of the results of batch laboratory test to industrial-scale continuous processing and the selection of optimal process conditions and large-scale equipment. In December 2004, commercial oxidative leaching tests were performed on the magnetic fraction at the Severonickel Plant (Monchegorsk, Russia). A comparative analysis of the mathematical modelling results and the actual process parameters is presented.

Jan 1, 2005

By A. F. Beck

Abstract Canada has opened up a geological province in ?Western Canada which offers a new .stimulus to oil exploration geophysics. The problems of instrumental technique, interpretation, and logistics involved in the exploration of this new territory are presented in this paper and some of the efforts being undertaken to overcome them are discussed. The scope of this programme, its possible trend and extent, especially when viewed .against the background of the exploration effort in the United States, is touched upon. Introduction The science of earth physics was first applied to the search for oil on this continent some twenty-five years ago when torsion balance and refraction seismic methods were initiated in the Gulf Coast area of the United States. Since that time advances in the various branches of the science have been sporadic as new fields for their use opened up in the search for deep salt domes as well as less well-defined geological structures; in the application to well logging as part of the exploitation of petroleum; and in underwater surveys, aerial surveys, etc. In the present paper, attention has been concentrated only on the Western Canada plains area because of the recent remarkable growth of geophysics as an oil finding technique in this region. The other prospective oil areas of the West Coast and the Eastern Provinces of Canada are at present of minor importance, although they will undoubtedly receive increasing consideration in the future as accessibility to markets becomes a major factor and more improved geophysical and geological techniques are developed. A vast province in Canada, covering some 655,000 square miles of prospective oil territory (approximately one-half of the prospective oil area in the United States), has provided the new sphere of activity for geophysics (see Figures 1 and 2). Included in this area are immense inaccessible, uninhabited frozen regions which pose a new problem in logistics and operational techniques.

Jan 1, 1950

By H. W. Fleming

In 1955, the results of a regional, geological interpretation of the northern portion of New Brunswick were used as a basis for selecting, for intensive exploration, three areas in which structural and stratigraphic conditions were believed to be favourable. Airborne electromagnetic work, in one of these areas, provided the justification for acquiring the Murray group. Even though the initial results were discouraging, this geological interpretation, combined with the fortuitous discovery of cop• per-bearing float, was sufficient reason for carrying out further work using geochemical methods. This work finally resulted in the discovery of the Murray massive-sulphide deposit, after about eighteen months of coordinated exploration on the property. While this deposit is a typical New Brunswick-type base-metal occurrence, extensive leaching has produced a fossil gossan that rendered it an elusive target for exploration techniques of limited penetration Full credit for localizing the target area is given to the geochemical techniques, but geophysical surveys were needed to provide the necessary

Jan 1, 1961

By J. K. Atherton

If the metals sector is to contribute successfully to sustainable consumption we must adopt principles and practices which address the entire life cycle of the materials we produce. Progress must be founded on a sense of shared responsibility for the resources we utilize and the materials we create - it is this integrated approach which lies at the heart of materials stewardship. Materials stewardship means mining and metals companies producing materials in a responsible manner and then working with others, beyond their site, to ensure that the downstream material flows and applications are managed properly to create maximum societal value. In September 2006 ICMM published 'Maximizing Value: Guidance on implementing materials stewardship in the minerals and metals value chain'. This document takes a practical view presenting structured guidance as well as good practice case studies. In the publication, materials stewardship is described in terms of the range of activities that can be undertaken to ensure that all parties work collectively toward the responsible use of metal and mineral resources. This paper introduces the materials stewardship concept as set out in `Maximizing Value' and describes the business case for implementation as well as the ICMM framework for promoting materials stewardship.

Jan 1, 2007

By L. Van Wyk, J. Fernandez, J. Suarez, L. J. Diaz, A. Uria, D. Breeuwer

"Ventilation is an essential component of any underground mine, playing a vital role in ensuring the health and safety of workers, and a mine’s continuous operation. At a time when mining companies are increasingly having to move to deeper underground operations in pursuit of high-grade ore-bodies, the search is on for more efficient ventilation systems that will allow mining to be carried out at even deeper levels whilst ensuring the protection of workers and the maximisation of productivity through temperature management and the lowering of energy costs. Mining companies today are looking for innovative ways to deliver new technologies and procedures to enhance their mine’s profitability. Energy consumption by mine ventilation systems is higher than ever due to stringent specifications of underground equipment (primarily combustion engine emissions), air quality standards and mining at deeper levels which all require more powerful ventilation systems. With energy costs associated with operating ventilation systems being a mine’s second-highest cost of production after labour, finding the optimal ventilation solution is critical to a mine’s performance. Proper fan design remains a major factor in reducing capital expenditures (CAPEX) and operational expenditures (OPEX), which means that there are compelling reasons for making use of comprehensive factory testing at full power before fans are dispatched to site to simulate the mine’s current and future design requirements, and thus verify the fan’s effectiveness in ‘real’ conditions.INTRODUCTION A primary mine fan is considered the heartbeat of the entire mine ventilation system, drawing fresh air from the surface and providing a safe environment for miners. A ventilation system’s lack of performance often leads to a reduction in acceptable air quality levels for underground working operations and can potentially have an adverse impact on production rates."

Jan 1, 2019

By K. Ogawa, T. Yokoyama

Hydraulic fracturing technique, an applied technique to cause tensile fractures to rock by injecting water pressure to a certain closed section of the borehole, is a measurement method of in-situ rock stress. This technique has the highest track record for techniques used in sub 1000 meter. A feature of this technique is comparatively simple and easy for in-situ stress measurement, because the measurement is applicable when a drilled borehole is available. The predominant advantage of this method is that elastic constants such as Young’s modulus and Poisson’s ratio are not required for determining the value and direction of initial stress. The factors to determine the stress state are the water pressures of re-opening and shut-in of fractures around the borehole wall and its directions. With conventional methods, however, the accuracy of the derived stress states from the observation equations was often adversely affected by the lack of consideration of the remaining water pressure in fractures and insufficient stiffness of the pressurization system. We have developed a new hydraulic fracturing system based on a new test method concept overcoming these defects, and applied to a 300 meter deep borehole in granite. The most important improvement of the new system is an employment of a syringe pump which enables an accurate flow control of fluid with less than 1ml/min in the pressure of 30MPa. Therefore the new test system has a quick response for pressurising in the interval zone, and the measured data was confirmed extremely accurate.

Jan 1, 2015

By G. O. Prickett, P. Somasundaran

An application of the statistical and computer techniques in basic mineral processing research is illustrated by means of a case history involving the study of starch adsorption on calcite. Multi-factorial experimental designs and computer techniques were used for determining the effect of different system variables, such as solution pH, sodium oleate concentration and starch concentration, and to obtain a mathematical model of the response. Response maps enabled the investigators to see the effects clearly and to predict the results of changes in factor levels within the design region. Use of time-shared computers and plotters made data processing and analysis efficient and relatively inexpensive.

Jan 1, 1973

By G. Szilvay, P. Kinnunen, J. Salminen, V. Miettinen, O. Salmi, J. Mäkinen

This paper demonstrates experimental studies on bioprocessing of different waste streams. In Part I of this paper three tailings from mining industry were bioleached with mixed acidophilic culture in order to solubilize valuable metals, like copper, nickel, zinc and manganese to leaching liquor. Bioleaching resulted in > 70 %, > 85 %, 100 % and > 70 % leaching yields for Cu, Ni, Zn and Mn, respectively. However, contaminants like arsenic and chromium were not leached efficiently and they will cause challenges in residual solids and sometimes also in metal recovery from leaching liquor. Bioleaching resulted in 99 % leaching yield for copper. Part II demonstrates mine water treatment and also gold recovery from process liquids with biosorption method. The novelty of biosorption was finding that certain fungal species were able to be cultivated to self-immobilized systems, which are easier to operate than traditional suspended biomass methods. Biosorption resulted in more than 90 % removal for all contaminants, but was also seen to be gold selective.

Jan 1, 2014

By Fred W. Snow

THE mines of the Consolidated Copper and Sulphur Company, consisting of the Eust1s, the Albert, and the Capel mines, are situated w Ascot township, Quebec, about ten miles southeast of Sherbrooke, on the main line of the Quebec Central railway. Of these mines, only the Eustis is now producing, and it has been operated almost continuously for the past seventy years. Mining methods have been improved in recent years but are still old fashioned when compared with those employed in more modern and up-to-date mines. The ore is of milling grade and is mined for its copper and sulphur con-tent. Silver is present in small quantity, together with a trace of gold. The ore is mined by the shrinkage stope method. Pillars are frequently left as supports for the hanging-wall to prevent serious dilution of the ore and are sometimes recovered after the ore is drawn from the stope. Occasionally, small blacks of ore in close proximity to the shaft are mined by a cut-and-fill method. HISTORY ALBERT AND CAPEL MINES: The Albert and the Capel mines, originally known as the Capelton mine, were discovered in 1863 by George Capel (1). By the end of 1866 the Albert shaft had been sunk to a depth of 121 feet on an incline of about 30 degrees where a vein five feet thick was encountered. In 1879, these mines passed into the hands of G. H. Nichols and Company, by whom they were operated practically continuously until 1907. When mining operations ceased in that year, the shafts had reached depths on the incline of approximately 2,300 feet and 1,000 feet, respectively. These mines have been allowed to cave and fill with water and have been inaccessible for many years.

Jan 1, 1936

By T. Xu

"The CTL-500 centrifugal extraction machine, which was independently developed by Baotou Shibo Rare Earth Extraction & Equipment Co., Ltd., is presented in this article. The machine is based on centrifugal extraction principle and has been used in P507-HCl-RECl3 extraction system. Automatic control has been utilized in the system. In this paper, a comparison is made between centrifugal extraction and conventional mixer-settler extraction and satisfactory results are shown. INTRODUCTIONCentrifugal extraction is a fast and efficient liquid-liquid extraction method. The process includes solute transfer and separation of the two liquid phases. In the CTL-500 machine, the organic and aqueous phases individually enter a lower mixing chamber in certain proportions and are mixed and dispersed and solute thereby transferred from one phase to the other. The mixed phases pass into a rotating drum and the two liquid phases are separated under centrifugal force. As it flows upward, the aqueous phase, which has a higher specific gravity, flows away from the rotating drum centre towards the drum wall and the organic phase flows towards the drum center. The two liquid phases enter into collection chambers through independent weir plates and are discharged from the machine.The centrifugal extraction machine has been widely used in liquid-liquid separation, either without solid or with small quantities of solids (Chen, Zhang, Zhuo, Chen & Li, 2008; Duan, Jing, Zhu & Chen, 2007; Duan, Zhou & Zhou, 2006). Examples of the use of the centrifugal contactor include the separation of water from crude oil, treatment of heavy oil and diesel to eliminate water and salt; the extraction of penicillin, garlic oil, malathion, and interferon; the hydrometallurgy recovery of nickel, copper and uranium; extraction of edible oil, spice, refined oil and food color; treatment and recycle of print and dyeing wastes; treatment of hydroxybenzene-contaminated sewage by multistage extraction and separation of water from oil in ship sewage."

Jan 1, 2012

By A. L. Irwin

THE problem of compensation for labour is probably the oldest and most complicated one in history. The wage that a man receives is possibly the most concrete thing he gets out of his job and, rightly or wrongly, is generally considered by him to be the most important item in connection with his daily work. How today workers in an equitable way has been the study of industrialists for many years, and a great number of ideas have been tried out in an effort to arrive at a reasonable solution of the question. The idea of establishing a measuring stick for various types of work has intrigued industrial management for a long time and, after considerable study, the principle of Job Evaluation has taken form unti1, at the present time, it is becoming increasingly useful to industry at large. Job evaluation is a plan which is used to determine the relative worth of occupations by means of arbitrary measuring scales. These scales are developed for individual industries and are generally 'tailor made' for each particular case. There are as yet no absolute methods of measuring the work done by human beings and, as a result, one has to depend on comparative values to arrive at conclusions. However, job evaluation has provided us with a basis of negotiation for wage rates which is more satisfactory than mere guess work or persona! opinion. It supplies a common ground for discussion which is understandable by all taking part and ensures that thinking with regard to wage setting is carried out along standard lines.

Jan 1, 1943

"The ventilation-related risks from mines with elemental sulphur include dust explosions, spontaneous combustion with emission of heat and toxic sulphur dioxide or hydrogen sulphide gases, reactions with nitrates, corrosion, acid water, and pyrophoric reactions with naked iron or other metals. Elemental sulphur will form explosive mixtures in air at lower dust concentrations and at lower ignition temperatures than coal or sulphide dusts. Potential controls include primary ventilation circuit design, control of dust deposition and static discharges, enclosing steel surfaces, inert stone dusting, FRAS ducting, humidifying the air, alternate stench gas, self-contained self-rescuers with goggles, careful siting of underground infrastructure, controls on explosives formulations and procedures, mining method selection, controls on surface temperatures and protection of equipment, careful materials selection for ventilation seals and changes to worker clothing and training.INTRODUCTIONSulphur (“Brimstone” in biblical times) is one of the world’s most important industrial feedstocks and is used in a wide range of chemical processes and industries. Until the early 20th Century, most of the world’s production of sulphur came from ‘conventional’ underground mines in Sicily (Demetra produzioni, 2006; Bellia, 2006). This was a hazardous activity. The Frasch solution mining process replaced traditional underground mining of sulphur until the late 20th Century. Most of the world’s production of elemental sulphur is now as a by-product from sour gas produced in petroleum refineries and natural gas installations (Anon, 1993). As such, there is considerable experience in understanding and managing the hazards of elemental sulphur in chemical plants and surface transport.Whilst rare, underground mines with high elemental sulphur contents (as a gangue mineral) create an unusual range of mine design and operational issues, including many ventilation-related ones. The key hazards from elemental sulphur include: primary and secondary elemental sulphur dust explosions, fires and burning (with emission of heat and sulphur dioxide or hydrogen sulphide gas), reactions with nitrates used in explosives, corrosion of steel and other metals, generation of acid water (especially at higher water temperatures), and pyrophoric reactions with naked iron (e.g., ground support, ladderways or underground fixed plant) or other metals including silver and copper (e.g., used in electrical components and equipment)."

Jan 1, 2019

By H. W. McGerrigle

The St. Lawrence Valley of Quebec lies in an earthquake danger zone, the main centers of which appear to be Murray Bay, Montreal and Quebec City. This paper compares conditions in this "earthquake zone" with those of other, currently more active, earthquake zones of the Earth, deals briefly with the mechanics of earth movements and outlines the means by which earthquakes are re-corded. An account is then given of the earthquakes which have occurred in the Province of Quebec -from that of 1534-35 to the earthquake of 1925. A 50-year frequency cycle is implied. The general conclusion is that the 11robability of future earthquakes should be given more consideration in the construction of buildings in the St. Lawrence Valley region.

Jan 1, 1966

By R. B. Taylor

"The Delnite mine is in the northwest part of Deloro township, Cochrane district. The property consists of 307 acres on the so-called 'South Break' in the Porcupine camp. The Company was formed in 1934 to take over the holdings of La Roche Mines, Limited. Gold has been produced continuously since June 1, 1937. The value of the gold recovered to date (December 31, 1946) has been $7,456,000, and the average grade of ore $6.81 a con.The ore at the Delnite occurs in relatively narrow, persistent, quartz-ankerite veins, which generally contain tourmaline and have a ladder-like structure. The gold occurs in the free state, and in association with pyrite and arsenopyrite, the two chief sulphides. The host rock is fine-grained, highly carbonatized andesite of Keewatin age."

Jan 1, 1954

By K. Schimann, H. D. Knipping, J. P. Fouques

"The Cigar Lake uranium deposit, in the Athabasca area of north Saskatchewan, was discovered in May 1981 by Cogema (Canada) Ltd., as operator of the Waterbury Lake Joint Venture.The deposit, which is devoid of direct surface expression, is located at the unconformity between the Lower Proterozoic (Aphebian) Wollaston Group meta-sediments and the Middle Proterozoic (Helikian) Athabasca sandstone, at a depth of 410 m to 450 m below surface.At the end of 1984, the deposit had been defined by 105 mineralized holes over a length of 1800 m and a width of between 25m and 105m. It has the shape of flat-lying /em 5 m to 30m thick and shows a remarkable longitudinal and lateral continuity from the information obtained to date. A well defined bulge of the unconformity underlies the mineralized zone over its entire length.The deposit appears to be controlled by an east-west trending structure within which a particular rock facies (""augen gneiss'') has developed in the graphitic metapelites of the Wollaston Group. It is surrounded by a strong alteration halo affecting both sandstone and basement, characterized by extensive development of Mg-AI rich clay minerals (illite-chlorite). The mineralization is hosted principally by the Athabasca sandstone, and consists mainly of uraninite and sulfa-arsenides of nickel and cobalt. Numerous geochemical and geophysical surveys have been carried out in the Cigar Lake area, and although no specific geochemical or geophysical anomaly can be directly associated with the mineralized body, there may be locally a good coincidence.However, a combination of several methods proved extremely useful in interpreting the regional geology and defining the drilling targets within the favourable areas.Although the Cigar Lake deposit shows many similarities with several classical deposits of the Athabasca region, it is characterized by the intensity of its alteration processes and the presence of massive, extremely high grade mineralization.At the end of 1984, the global geological reserves estimated by geostatistics on the main mineralized ""pod"" of the deposit amounted to 110,000 metric tonnes of uranium at an average grade of 12.2% U, with a precision of 25% at the 95% confidence level."

Jan 1, 1986

By Deborah McCombe

"By now, most geologists and engineers in the Canadian mining industry are familiar with National Instrument 43101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (NI 43-101) and the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM) Definition Standards for Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves, which are incorporated by reference in NI 43-101. In recent years, significant progress has also been made in establishing standard reporting practices internationally that recognize the globalization of the industry and enable investors to compare projects anywhere in the world and make informed investment decisions. This article is part of a series that will summarize the background and development of international resource and reserve reporting standards by the Committee for Mineral Reserves International Reporting Standards (CRIRSCO), highlight its current activities and provide insight into international mineral reserve and resource reporting issues. CRIRSCO was formerly the Mineral Definitions Working Group of the Council of Mining and Metallurgical Institutions (CMMI), an organization representing professional bodies in all of the major mining and mining investment countries. In 2002, CMMI disbanded and CRIRSCO continued as a volunteer committee with limited funding from those professional bodies and increasingly from other sources, such as mining companies and regulatory bodies. CRIRSCO was adopted as a Task Force of the International Council of Mining and Metals (ICMM) in 2007. The ICMM is an influential industry body representing all of the major mining companies and many junior companies through its associated members, such as the Minerals Council of Australia, the Chamber of Mines of South Africa and the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada. CRIRSCO now has funding to pursue its objectives."

Jan 1, 2003

By T. Ediz

Sarkuysan Electrolytic Copper holds three competitive technologies namely Outokumpu, Southwire (SCR®) and CONTIROD® under the same roof. After more then thirty years experience of Outokumpu Upcast ® in producing oxygen free wire- rod, and twenty years of SCR® experience, in 1999 it was decided to introduce the CONTIROD® process to the customers with a chance and advantage to test capabilities of each process in order to fulfil their requirements, expectations, and turn this know-how to their benefit. After reviewing the milestones of Sarkuysan's evolution in Turkey as global wire-rod producer, this paper will briefly present the modernization and expansion activities in the CONTIROD® plant consisting of the different phases following the first start-up, and the results of these activities. It will highlight the gains and improvements of some operational parameters within this period.

Jan 1, 2007

By Donald S. Macdonald

"I AM thankful for this opportunity to address the Toronto Branch of The Canadian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy. The Members of your Institute can have a great influence on the direction in which the mineral policies of Canada will evolve, and to assure that optimum benefits from our country's vast mineral resources will accrue to the nation as a whole and to all its citizens. Today, I want to: (1) offer an outlook on the mineral industry for 1973; (2) talk briefly about the role of minerals in the total economy; and (3) outline some of our thinking with respect to a national minerals policy for Canada."

Jan 1, 1973