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By M. A. Roche

The property of the Hudson Bay Mining & Smelting Company, Limited is located at Flin Flon lake, 85 miles northwest of The Pas, Manitoba, on the Manitoba-Saskatchewan boundary. The area is at latitude North 54°, and is approximately 1,000 feet above sea level. The ore-body occurs in amygdaloidal greenstones, which are to be referred to the earliest basic volcanic flows in the district. It was discovered in an outcrop on a point of land jutting into Flin Flon lake, and subsequent diamond drilling proved that it extends under the lake both to the north and south of the point of discovery. After the taking of soundings from the ice during the winter months, it was estimated that l,000,000 tons of overburden, mainly mud and clay, would have to be removed to expose the underlying ore. Flat diamond-drill holes indicated that the ore-body was separated into more or less independent lenses by horses of unmineralized greenstone, and that in places the overall width, including horses of waste, reached 450 feet. These several] conditions were the main factors influencing the management in their decision to adopt an open-cut method for the mining of the upper portion of the ore-body. Before it was possible to commence stripping operations, it was necessary to dam-off the eastern portion of Flin Flon lake, instal pumps, and de-water the dammed-off area. Dams for this purpose were constructed of mine waste rock and clay filler from nearby hillsides. Material for the bottoms of the dams was taken across Flin Flon lake in hopper-bottom barges. Trestles were then built on the dam bottoms and dams were complete by the time trackage was available. De-watering commenced in April, 1930, and was completed by the latter part of May of the same year. Estimated pump output for the period was roughly four billion gallons. Two Morris 10-inch dredging pumps were used, direct-connected to 250 h.p. electric motors. Individual pump capacity was rated at 3,000 g.p.m. against a 150-foot head. Average head for the operation was 50 feet, which increased the total output considerably. The pumps were mounted on floating barges in cribbings of piling driven at the lowest points in the lake bottom.

Jan 1, 1933

By G. F. Flaherty

THE property of Tashota Goldfields, Limited, in the Lake Nipigon area, Ontario, is located about 4 miles west of Onaman lake and 16 miles by winter road south-southeast of Tashota station on the transcontinental line of the Canadian National railways. The mine, formerly developed to a limited extent under the name of Tashota Gold mine, has, since late in 1933, been under the management of Minefinders Limited, who, in 1935, brought it into production on a 60-ton per day basis. During the winter of 1934-35, the writer was geologist at the property. The geological structure in the immediate vicinity of the mine workings lends itself well to analysis on the basis of the mechanical principles of folding. Since structure is of prime importance in the localization of the ore-shoots and of the host shear-zones at the property, the correlation of all structural details and their mechanical interpretation forms a working hypothesis of structural control for the direction of exploration and development work. It is believed that the structural relations here set forth may be found applicable in part, or at least suggestive, in working out the relations of ore-shoots to structure in the Sturgeon River area to the south, and in the Little Long Lac area to the southeast (Figure 1).

Jan 1, 1936

By K. M. Ed

MR. J. C. NICHOLSON: The author has discussed his subject in a very thorough manner. One difficulty is the tendency to regard a 'permitted' explosive as a 'safe' explosive. There is no such article as a safe explosive; any explosive is only as safe as the man who handles it. In making up the primer, the method illustrated in the paper is alright for the ordinary explosive but not so for the sheathed explosive, for the sheathing would be punctured. MR. T. L. McCALL: I fee! quite certain that there would be little, if any, trouble from flame shots or misfires if the author's suggestions were carried out. There is a tendency on the part of the shot-firer to over-shoot, so as to bring clown more coal for the miner, and frequently a shot has not sufficient burden imposed upon it. Shooting one hole may not only lessen the burden on an adjacent hole, but may practically release it altogether, in which case the second hole should be fired with a very small charge, or perhaps it might not be necessary to shoot it at all. While the paper refers to shooting in the coal only, it should be under-stood that the instructions given are equally applicable to brushing shots. I do not wish to bring up any contentious point, but would the author say a word on cushioning with air gaps and on multiple shooting? Single shooting in rock might open up a feeder of gas which could be ignited by the ?second shot.

Jan 1, 1940

By Zhong Zhang, Xijia Wu, Prakash C. Patnaik

"The integrated vehicle health management (IVHM) aims to provide life cycle management decisions for military platforms and their propulsion systems with reduced life cycle cost and increased operational readiness and safety. Among all the issues of IVHM, understanding the physics of failure and predicting lifetimes of the critical components are at the core: the decision makers have to know when and how components may fail in order to plan ahead. The difficulties to tackle failure problems lie in determining the material response to cyclic and dwell loading in a hot and/or corrosive environment, which all combined to induce multiple deformation and damage mechanisms, resulting in mix-mode failures. Decisions on component replacement (material substitution) and mission planning must be based on quantitative knowledge of the failure physics to mitigating the risk. This paper addresses the critical failure issues including creep, low cycle fatigue (LCF), thermomechanical fatigue (TMF); and presents a mechanism-based approach to life prediction. The mechanism-based approach, by its physics, is widely applicable over the entire operational spectrum of both structures and engines, and therefore is suitable for IVHM purposes."

Jan 1, 2015

By S. C. Robinson

"IntroductionALTHOUGH most uranium deposits of the Canadian Shield lie along its western and southern margins, those of the Lake Athabasca region extend easterly along the north shore of the lake and beyond to Charlebois lake. The western end of this belt of deposits, in the vicinity of Goldfields, is 80 miles from the Palaeozoic contact, and its eastern end, at Charlebois lake, is 240 miles from the nearest Palaeozoic rocks.Deposits in this belt may be grouped in four districts, which are, from west to east:(1) The Goldfields district, an area approximately 20 miles square, centred on Beaverlodge lake and extending eastward from St. Joseph's point to Moose channel.(2) A small area in the vicinity of Sucker bay, which is about l0 miles east of Fond du Lac.(3) An area including Middle lake to the northwest shore of Black lake at the Nisto mine.(4) A fairly large area extending northward from the eastern end of Black lake, through Charlebois lake to Spreckley lake.HistoryThe region has stimulated interest in mining circles since the reconnaissance survey of J. B. Tyrrell of the Geological Survey of Canada in l893, who reported concentrations of iron along the north shore of lake Athabasca. The deposits were staked and re-staked up to the early 'twenties' but are too lean to form ore."

Jan 1, 1952

By R. S. Boorman, H. G. Ansell

"Poor separation of lead from a copper concentrate of a major base metal producer was thought to have resulted from copper (0.2-0.4%) in the galena which caused it to float with chalcopyrite. No inclusions of copper mineral were detected which could account for the flotation of galena. The tendency for copper-bearing galena to float with chalcopyrite was confirmed by Hallimond-tube experiments in which the floatability of copper-doped synthetic galena (0.1-0.4% Cu) was approximately four times as high as copper-free galena. The difference in the cell edge (5.9338 ± 0.0003 A, Cudoped galena; 5.9361 ± 0.0002 A, Cu-free galena) indicated that the copper was lattice-bound and did not occur as submicroscopic mineral inclusions."

Jan 1, 1973

By W. M. G. Heeley

In the province of Alberta the coal measures dip at so many different angles, between the horizontal and the vertical, that many different systems of haulage are in use. I will, however, only touch briefly upon the general -systems in use, and devote the major portion of this paper to a discussion of endless-rope haulage and its adaptibility to various conditions in coal mines; dealing in particular with the endless-rope haulage that was installed at Brule during the month of August 1923. In coal seams that are approximately level, and newly opened, hand-putting or tramming from the face is the cheapest, but when the mine is further developed tramming is out of the question, and the use of ponies is the next consideration. The time arrives, however, when mining reaches a point where the economical haulage of coal by horses cannot be done profitably, and then some system of mechanical haulage must be installed. The installation of any system should be carefully considered before any particular type of haulage is adopted, because a great deal depends upon the grade or dip of the seam. Motor haulage is impossible to operate profitably on a grade of over 6 per cent and, while it is possible to use ponies, on short runs, up to 9 per cent, some other means of main and secondary haulage must be installed when a 9 per cent grade, is exceeded. I will, therefore, deal first with secondary haulage, because even though a main haulage is established, secondary haulage can be used to feed the main haulage.

Jan 1, 1925

By J E. McMynn

The development of the Granduc mine presents a number of problems which are peculiar to its location and surrounding terrain. Because the development tunnels portal onto an area which is covered by an extensive glacier, and the mountain-side is subjected to dangerous snow slides, it was decided to construct an underground powerhouse to supply the necessary electric power and compressed air. This paper deals with the special problems inherent in the design and -construction of an underground plant. It involves the installation of diesel-electric generating equipment having an aggregate capacity of 1,050 kw.,and of air compressors with a total capacity of 2,400 cfm. Items dis-cussed include the selection of equipment to meet site conditions, the ventilation and cooling of the underground room, and the protection of personnel and equipment from explosions and fire. A short discussion on the automatic supervisory and alarm installation is also included. THE Granduc mine is located 135 miles north of Prince Rupert and 25 miles north of Stew-art. This seems quite accessible, mileage-wise, but, due to mountains,

Jan 1, 1963

By J. W. Meier, J. O. Edwards, R. C. Bell

"IntroductionTHE DIE CASTING industry .as we know it today is the direct result of the invention and development of die casting machines during the nineteenth century and of reliable alloys in the twentieth. The early machines were designed to cast low melting point metals such as lead .and tin, and their alloys.It was inevitable that, as these die castings were put into service, the demand should arise for stronger materials. Zinc alloys, often containing lead, tin, copper, and aluminum as major constituents, were relatively easy to cast and stronger than the lead and tin alloys. However, it became apparent after a number of years that these zinc alloys tended to become brittle, distort, and corrode, particularly if kept in warm, humid atmospheres. Thus, considerable quantities of zinc-base .alloys were in use before the trouble was realized and effective measures could .be taken to determine the cause of the instability.The deleterious effect of certain metallic impurities on the properties of zinc •die casting .alloys has now been known for about thirty years. Brauer .and Peirce, and, later, other research workers of the New Jersey Zinc Company such as Anderson and Werley, discovered the pronouned effect of lead, cadmium, and tin on the stability of zinc-alloys."

Jan 1, 1952

By Barbara Kirby

Mining Industry HR Challenges Mining industry needs to hire approx. 100,000 workers by 2020 Attraction and retention of talent in all occupations Mobility of skilled workers between mine sites 70 percent of employers expect labour shortages over the next 5 years. Largest shortages: -physical sciences and engineering occupations -trades and ?undesignated? occupations ?Undesignated? Occupations ?Undesignated? Occupations -eg. mill operators, production / development miners and heavy equipment operators More than 20,000 workers will be needed by 2020 in the undesignated occupations and another 11,500 tradespersons Turnover rate for trades and undesignated occupations at mines is high: 8.3% compared to 5.6 % for all other occupations There is no system to recognize the skills of high-demand undesignated occupations

May 1, 2010

By D. N. Thurston

Luscar Stereo commenced construction of the mine at Coal Valley, Alberta, in August, 1976. It is designed to produce approximately 2.5 million clean short tons of steam coal annually - 2.0 million tons per year being committed to Ontario Hydro and 0.5 million tons per year being committed to Neptune Terminals for sale on the export market. The project involves constructing a heavy-media coal preparation plant, erecting a 42-cubic-yard dragline, constructing a shop/office complex, and developing three surface mining zones and associated facilities. As there were no existing facilities in the Coal Valley area, it was necessary to establish access roads, an airstrip, temporary utilities, fuel supplies, a construction camp, rail upgrading and communication services.

Jan 1, 1978

By Larry M. Southwick

There have recently been executives at major metals companies who have recommended that Greenfield Projects not be pursued. Greenfield includes not only new geographical locations, but also new technologies and new types of feed materials. In the middle part of the 20th Century, two such projects were successfully commercialized to recover nickel from Cuban lateritic ores. One project (at Nicaro) used the Caron ammonia-ammonium carbonate leach and the other (at Moa Bay) a high pressure acid leach. How both of these projects dealt with these Greenfield issues will be reviewed, based on the original reports that described the research and development of the plants. This study will include a review of the critical ore characterization and sorting issues, as well as the extractive metallurgical, product recovery and equipment selection and sizing problems and how they were solved at each stage of project development, from laboratory through one or more pilot scale plants to start up and operation. In one case, a major revision of the plant was made after several years of operation to correct operating, equipment selection and materials of construction problems that hindered economical operation. These descriptions will provide a guide through the complicated and critical issues that in recent times have caused many companies to give up on similar development. Even with the more advanced analytical and computational tools available to today’s mineralogists, engineers and metallurgists, the basic concepts with which these projects successfully addressed their sets of problems are still required. In addition, upper management, now perhaps further removed from hands-on experience than was common then, will see how complicated problems require intense and detailed effort to avoid failure in the field and capital blowouts. Build it and we will make it run, kicking the can down the road and borrowing operating and design concepts incorrectly on technological issues, or nine year olds on a sugar high making financial decisions are not philosophies by which to succeed with Greenfield Projects.

Jan 1, 2014

By E. R. Lea

The B. M. & S. orebodies, consisting of the No. 6 (Brunswick) and the No. 12 (Anacn Leadridgz, have the distinction of being the first major 1base metal ore deposits to be found in the Province of New Brunswick. They are massive sulphide de-posits consisting of pyrite (pre-dominantly) and base metal sulphides, and they carry values in lead, zinc, copper, and silver. These orebodies are localized within favourable drag fold structures believed to be related in their origin to external forces set up in the area subsequent to the primary regional folding. Both orebodies are characterized by the presence of magnetite 'iron formation' which, in certain 'Portions of each orebody, may be found as relics within the massive sulphides. Studies show the magnetite to be the first metallic mineral within the ore ?zones, followed by pyrite, Sphalerite, galena, and finally chakopyrite. The shape of these massive pyritk orebod:es as well as the distribution of values within them is controlled to a large degree by the ore-ore drag fold structures. A possible relationship is discussed between the basic intrusives in the area ?and the magnetite deposits. It is suggested that a large portion of ?the iron content of the massive suplhedes has been derived from the earlier magnetite. Intermittent movements in the area during the sulphide mineralization are believed to belong to the last stages of deformation in the area. These late movements may have been caused by the intrusion of the granite into the area. The granite may have a genetic relationship to the B. M. & S. orebodies.

Jan 1, 1958

By W. E. Selnes

Introduction In 1938, a survey conducted by the Ontario Mining Association revealed a rather startling fact. Injuries incurred in chute pulling were more numerous than those from any other single cause. This report prompted Mr. W. B. Paton, then Inspector of Mines for Manitoba, to make a similar survey of the mines of his Province. It indicated that, in Manitoba mines, chute accidents ranked second only to those from falls off roofs and sides. Why has the mining industry been so slow to recognize the dangers of chute pulling? A partial answer may be the lack of any systematic classification of accidents according to their real cause. The result has been to attribute to other causes injuries which were a direct outcome of chute pulling, and, indeed, has made it difficult to analyze accidents in the industry as a whole. Perhaps, too, because chutes are generally located in the comparative safety? of the drifts, there has been a tendency to consider the occupation as not very hazardous. Not until enough statistics were obtained on this particular task could it be appraised correctly. The Mining Association's survey has been most helpful, and latterly the industry has done a great deal toward analyzing the causes of chute accidents and toward determining an effective means of overcoming them. Much, however, remains to be done. An effort will be made in this paper to outline methods which have been found successful in materially reducing the number of injuries. Qualifications of the Chute Puller First of all it must be realized that chute-pulling is a specialized occupation. The men require proper training for the job, just as in other mining operations. Care must, therefore, be taken to choose persons whose qualifications fit them for the job. Chute-pulling is an integral part of the general mining operation and cannot be considered as isolated from the tasks of other workers. One of the essential qualifications of a chute-puller is a sufficient knowledge of mining operations to appreciate the effect his work will have on the safety of others in the vicinity. He must take the necessary precautions, by verbal warnings, by placing barricades and signs, or by personally guarding the chutes, to prevent accidents to fellow workers.

Jan 1, 1947

By Lyall J. Lichty

THE property of New Calumet Mines, Limited, is on Calumet island, in the Ottawa river, about sixty-six miles northwest of Ottawa. Lead and zinc orebodies were discovered here in 1893. A gravity concentration plant was built in 1912 but was not a success metallurgically, and the plant was later destroyed by fire. A programme of diamond drilling on the property, started in 1937 and continuing to 1942, indicated ore reserves amounting to 1,300,000 tons averaging 2.75 per cent lead, 8.82 per cent zinc, and 0.041 oz. gold and 6.24 oz. silver per ton( l ). These orebodies have been developed underground by cross-cutting and drifting from a three-compartment vertical shaft, sunk to a depth of 745 feet. 'The ore is a contact metamorphic deposit occurring in rocks of the Grenville series, on or near the contact between biotite gneiss and an overlying calcareous amphibolite(2,3). It consists chiefly of iron-bearing sphalerite, galena, pyrrhotite, pyrite, and minor amounts of chalcopyriteand argentite. The gangue minerals closely associated with the ore are calcite, quartz, and various lime-silicate minerals.

Jan 1, 1945

By James A. H. Church

This paper is in the nature of a protest against the dangerous propaganda afoot for the prevention of new mining undertakings and which is based on the imaginary 'blue ruin' conditions supposed to exist in the industry. An article by Mr. G. R. Pratt, A.M.E.I.C. in the first issue of the Western Canada News, February 2nd, 1925, and entitled "Review of Coal Mining in Alberta", is an excellent example of this type of propaganda. The article is a tissue of misstatements, faulty deductions and erroneous conclusions. For instance it contains the statement that some coal measures in Alberta are mined at great depth - whereas we all know that there is no coal mined at great depth anywhere in the province; another error is the classification of all mines under one head irrespective of whether they are mining prospects, 'country banks', or pukka mines equipped with railway facilities; and I believe that suppressio veri is tantamount to suggestio falsi. The bulk of his article hinges on a Table 1, which shows the details of coal produced in Alberta during 1923. Studying this table Mr. Pratt, in the manner of a conjurer producing rabbits from a hat, offers the following for the confusion of the public:- (1) "Waste effort, want of capital, waste of coal resources which result from unrestricted development"; the fact being that the waste is due to the failure of the Department of the Interior to exercise the powers which are inherent in the form of lease.

Jan 1, 1925

By R. O. Burt

"IntroductionThe introduction to this section on gravity concentration indicated the wide range of equipment types that exist for the concentration of minerals, in what is the broadest size range of any concentration process.The equipment described in this chapter includes jigs, tables and sHme plant equipment. In contrast to the equipment described in the two succeeding chapters, this range of equipment, in nearly every instance, superimposes a mechanical movement on the fluid motion to effect separation of the valuable mineral from the waste mineral. The motion may be vertical Gigs), reversing (tables), or rotary (slime plants): however, in common they ""dilate"" the bed of particles to allow preferential settlement of the heavier particles.Description of Process UnitsJiggingJigging is the sorting of different minerals by stratification, based on the movement of a bed of particles relative to a fluid in a vertical plane.The basic construction of a jig is shown in Figure 1. Essentially it consists of an open tank filled with a fluid, normally water, with a horizontal jig screen at the top and with a spigot in the ""hutch"", or bottom compartment, for removal of heavies. The jig beri consists of a layer of coarse heavy particles (ragging) on the jig screen. This ragging is of a specific gravity between that of the minerals it is intended to separate.In operation the bed is made fluid by a pulsating current of fluid to provide stratification. On the upward or pulsion stroke the bed of ragging and slurry is normally Hfted as a mass, then as velocity of the upcurrent decreases it dilates, loosening the whole mass. On the downward or suction stroke it closes slowly again. The ideal is to control this dilation of the bed of material so that the heavier and smaller particles penetrate the interstices of the bed, while the larger heavies fall under a condition akin to ""hindered"" settling."

Jan 1, 1989

By N. Melnyk

IN the past, the Cadomin Coal Company has opened four mines, all in the same coal seam or its folds. Three of these were opened from river level by horizontal entries or rock tunnels, and the fourth, the present working mine, by vertical shafts. This paper deals largely with some operating phases of this fourth mine, with which the writer has been associated. The seam worked here is a thick, steep, bituminous seam, and the writer feels there is a paucity of published data on the mining of such seams. Possible reasons for this are that such seams do not !end themselves to intensive development or mining, there is little chance to mechanize because of the extreme pitch, and operations are fraught with many problems. In addition, the present operations in this particular seam are being carried on at a level below the former workings, introducing new problems, not en-countered on the upper level. Coal will, without question, long continue to be an important factor in the national economy, and some of the best coal is to be found in thick, steep seams. But with the exhaustion of the easily-mined coal near the outcrops, future coal will have to come more and more from lower levels. At Cadomin there is still considerable coal on the second level, below the old river-workings, and there is a possibility that, in the future, still lower levels will be worked. It is the purpose of this paper to indicate some phases of such lower-level operations and to invite discussion.

Jan 1, 1942

By J. M. Hollicky

The economical processing of wet and sour natural gas presents a problem due to the seasonal demand for natural gas. The plants must be sized to handle the peak loads but may only operate at half capacity on the average, in which case the sales value of sulphur and hydro-carbon liquid by-products cannot support the operating and capital costs of the plant. This must result in an increased price for the gas. This problem was solved by Pacific Petroleums and Westcoast Transmission in the design of their pipeline and plant facilities now operating in the Peace River area, where there are both wet and dry gas fields. By .building a plant to process sufficient wet gas to pro-vide the base load requirement, and by drawing on the dry gas fields for peak loads, an optimum economic operation was ?possible. The sulphur, L.P.G., and gasoline produced not only are able to support the operating and capital costs of the pro-cessing plant, but were instrumental in the sharp drop in retail prices of these commodities in the area. The sour gas and condensate is gathered from the fields in the area and transmitted in a two-phase gathering system to the gas processing plant at Taylor, B.C. The condenrnte is knocked out in inlet scrubbers. Hydrogen sulphide and carbon dioxide are removed in an amine scrubbing unit. The hydrogen sulphide is stripped from the amine and is sent to the Jefferson Lake Sulphur Company's plant which produces sulphur by the partial oxidation of the hydrogen sulphide. The natural gas, now sweet, is processed in an absorption unit to recover additional liquids, before being de-hydrated to remove water. It is then sent to Westcoast's main c8mpression station. The condensate recovered in the inlet scrubbers and the liquid re-covered in the absorption unit are fractionated to remove fuel gas, used in the plant, and to produce pro-pane, butane, and naphtha. The pro-pane and butane are scrubbed with caustic soda to remove hydrogen sulphide. The naphtha is treated with hydrogen in a unifiner unit to re-move sulphur compounds completely, and is split into a light and heavy naphtha. The heavy naphtha is .catalytically reformed to produce a high-octane blending-component. These fractions are blended with components produced from crude oil at the Dawson Creek refinery to produce a high-quality balanced gasoline with special attention being paid to volatility for ease of starting, warm up, and engine cleanliness, and octane for power and ?performance.

Jan 1, 1958

By F. L. Casey

"Part 1 – Published Papers Baria, G., and Boshkov, S., ""Insights into Undercuttingin Block Caving"", Proc. 5th Rock Mech. Symp.,Mines Br. - Information Canada, 41-58, 1970.Barron, K., Coates, D. F., and Gyenge, M., ""ArtificialSupport of Rock Slopes'', Mines Branch ResearchReport R228, July, 1970.Barron, K., ""Criteria for Brittle Fracture Initiation inand Ultimate Failure of Rocks and Their Applicationto Fracture Zone Prediction"", Proc. 2ndCongr. Int. Soc. Rock Mech., Belgrade, 1970, 3-37.Bauer, A., and Calder, P. N., ""Projectile Penetration inRock"", Proc. 5th Rocle Mech. Symp., Mines Br. -Information Canada, 157-170, 1970.Bauer, A. M., ""Site Development and Rehabilitation ofPits and Quarries"", Canadian Mining Journal,Vol. 91, No. 7, 77, July, 1970."

Jan 1, 1971