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By C. Liu

Zeta potentials and settling rates of an oil sands tailings sample taken from Syncrude Canada Ltd's Aurora Stacker Pilot Operation were studied. Two clay minerals, kaolinite and illite, were also studied since these are the major constituent minerals in the fine oil sands tailings. Process water, decanted water as well as distilled water were used. It was observed that the zeta potentials of the tailings solids showed maximum negative values in process water at pH 8-10, which coincides with the pH of commercial hot water bitumen extraction process. The settling rates of the tailings sample were very low, at 0.008 m/hr in decanted water and 0.04 m/hr in process water. The rates were increased to 1.0 m/hr in decanted water and 0.13 m/hr in process water at an addition of 50 g/t Ciba AF1235. Although the settling rate was higher the supernatant was cloudier in decanted water than in process water. Further increase in the dosages of Ciba AF1235 did not increase the settling rates in decanted water but gradually increased it in process water, reaching 0.46 m/hr at 100 g/t. The results indicated that lower concentrations of Ca2+ and Mg2 (in decanted water) benefited settling rates but did not benefit supernatant clarity. Test results also indicated that Ciba AF1235 caused selective flocculation of the tailings sample, since the top sediments had higher illite and lower quartz contents than the bottom sediments.

Jan 1, 2006

By V. I. Peresypkin, A. Y. Lein, N. S. Bortnikov, Yu. A. Bogdanov

"Abstract - The lipid component in hydrothermal deposits of the Logachev vent field, at 14°45_N of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge (MAR) and Broken Spur vent field, at 29°N of the MAR, was studied. Biochemical, gas chromatographic (GS), and molecular mass methods (GC-MS) research established the mixed nature of the organic matter (OM) including phytoplanktonogenous, chemosynthesized lipids, and lipids of questionable origin. Specific local conditions around the sulfide ores of the black smokers (absence of free oxygen and presence of reduced copper, which prevents OM degradation) facilitate the preservation of biogenic material, including bacteria. The main differences between the lipid compositions of the hydrothermal deposits of these two vent fields relate to the variable nature of hydrothermal circulation systems.At the 14°45_N vent field, high-temperature hydrothermal fields are forming due to the reaction of sea water with upper mantle ultrabasic rocks during serpentinization (a deep hydrothermal circulation system). High pressure and temperature (>400°C), a reducing environment and the presence of various metal oxides are favorable for the abiogenic synthesis of CH4 and oil hydrocarbons (HC). At the Broken Spur vent field, hydrothermal deposits are forming above axial crust magma chambers due to the interaction of sea water and basalts (an axial hydrothermal circulation system). Abiogenic synthesis of HC also occurs in this situation, but to a considerably lesser extent."

Jan 1, 1999

By Steven R. McCutcheon

"The Bathurst-Newcastle district, a subcircular area approximately 50 km in diameter, contains 37 massive-sulfide Zn-Pb-Cu deposits that have defined tonnages, and has 58 additional significant occurrences. The largest deposit is Brunswick No. 12, with total reserves (including past production) of 148 million tonnes grading about 12.5% combined Pb-Zn. The deposits/ occurrences are spatially associated with a felsic volcanic pile that contains a significant sedimentary component. In the vicinity of the Brunswick deposits the pile is divisible into lower and upper sequences. The lower is characterized by megacrystic rhyolite (QFAS) and coarse- to fine-grained quartz (± feldspar) wackes and/or tuffites (QAS); the upper sequence is characterized by aphyric to sparsely porphyritic rhyolites (HWR), micro-breccias, and acid hyaloclastites with interbedded dark gray sedimentary rocks. A greenish gray to dark gray siltstone (GGS) separates the two sequences and hosts the sulfide deposits. Lithogeo chemistry of least altered samples shows that the QFAS and HWR have an igneous character, whereas the QAS and GGS have a sedimentary signature. The two types can be distinguished on the basis of total alkalies (Na2 + K2O) versus SiO2/Al2O3 and Ti02 versus Fe/(Fe +Mg). Some trace elements, such as Sr and Y, also help differentiate the two types. The QFAS differs from HWR by having higher La/Yb ratios but lower Zr and Th. The Bathurst deposits do not show a close spatial association with rhyolites but rather are stratiform bodies Oacking clastic textures) within fine-grained sedimentary rocks. The scarcity of barite and other sulfates indicates that there was little mixing between the metal bearing fluids and cold seawater. High Fe/(Fe+Mg) ratios in chlorites also indicate the fluids did not contain a significant seawater component. These features and the large size of many deposits suggest that the deposits formed from metal-rich pore waters that were released catastrophicallyfrom an acquifer in the footwall stratigraphy."

Jan 1, 1992

By P. Shibley, P. R. Clarke

Since this was an interim report of the initial operation of a long term project it is not available for publication. It is expected when the project is completed a full report of the work will be published.

Jan 1, 1968

By M. G. Lipsett

General Challenges for Mining & Mineral Processing Operations ? Capital-intensive industry ? Ongoing cost pressures ? Remote locations ? Workforce demographics ? Dynamic, unstructured, rugged environment

May 1, 2008

By Dawei Yu, Kinnor Chattopadhyay

In the nickel industry, molten slags produced from a Pierce-Smith converter contain significant amounts of valuable metals in the forms of oxides and physically entrained matte droplets. A slag cleaning step, which takes places in an electrical slag-cleaning furnace, is therefore required to recover the valuable metals as a common practice. Utilization of a waste material from aluminum industry (i.e. spent potlining) as a flux to improve the slag cleaning in terms of both the metal recovery and the operation efficiency was studied by simulation with FactSage program. Results show that the addition of SPL could substantially reduce the slag viscosity due to its fluoride values, thus accelerating the settling of matte droplets. The carbon value in the SPL could also help increase the metal recovery by reducing the valuable metal oxides followed by settling.

Jan 1, 2015

By D. E. Barnett

"Paramount to sound aggregate resource management is an awareness of what resources exist. For the past six years, New Brunswick has been conducting granular aggregate resource inventories in and around urban centres as a means of documenting, both qualitatively and quantitatively, these resources.These aggregate studies require extensive ground truthing due to the often small nature of the surficial feature s as well as extensive foliage. Approximately 35% of the province's land mass has been mapped at a 1:50,000 scale as part of this on-going program. Reports are published annually and include data on size analysis, lithology soundness, abrasion and absorption.Aggregate deposits in New Brunswick frequently reflect the local bedrock lithology and, whereas much of New Brunswick is underlain by soft, friable sandstone of Pennsylvanian age, it is necessary to transport aggregate for higher-specification use considerable distances. Alternatively, the construction industry must turn to crushed stone as a source of asphaltic or concrete aggregate.Over 40% of New Brunswick's land mass is owned by the Crown, and aggregate resources are managed under the Quarriable Substances Act. Under this legislation, permit applications are reviewed by a Land Management Advisory Committee which consists of representatives from the various government departments involved.IntroductionSurficial materials either directly or indirectly form the basis of much of our economic activity, whether it is the field of agriculture, forestry, manufacturing, construction or other. Although sand and gravel have been produced and used since the day s of early settlement, the economic significance attached to such materials has only recently been recognized by both government and the general public."

Jan 1, 1982

By R. J. Rotzinger, K. W. Major

The Gibraltar Mine and Mill facility were commissioned in 1972 by Gibraltar Mines Ltd utilizing a flowsheet consisting of two stages of crushing followed by a rod mill / ball mill grinding circuit. During operations a number of opportunities were evaluated to expand the mill capacity; however, the economics of the day did not allow any of these projects to proceed. The mine continued to operate until late 1998 when it was shutdown and put on care and maintenance due to low commodity prices. Taseko Mines acquired Gibraltar in 1999 and in 2004, with the improvement in the metal markets, made the decision to restart operations. During the restart planning a number of opportunities for mill improvements and upgrades were identified and, after operations were successfully restarted, the decision was made to once again review expansion opportunities for Gibraltar. Taseko evaluated various expansion alternatives eventually deciding to install a SAG Mill, convert the existing rod mills to ball mills and distribute the SAG discharge to the resultant six 6 parallel ball mills. This paper discusses the design, implementation and commissioning of the SAG mill grinding circuit.

Jan 1, 2012

By J. R. Porter, C. Panaou

"A significant effort is expended on preparation of the capital estimate for feasibility studies. The development of the operating cost estimate is usually allocated a significantly smaller budget and less emphasis is placed on ensuring the accuracy of the operating cost. This paper presents a comparison of capital and operating costs of hydrometallurgy processing plants in order to demonstrate the importance that variations in operating costs have on the overall life-of-mine costs. The analysis is supported by a case study on the operating costs of a water treatment plant at an existing Australian hydrometallurgy facility at the feasibility design level. INTRODUCTIONDetermination of the economic validity of a minerals processing project is a critical outcome of a feasibility study. In many cases, the financial results of the feasibility study will determine if the project should proceed to execution. Ensuring that these results are reliable and built upon sound engineering practices allows companies to make informed decisions on resource opportunities and the selected technology.The methodology for developing a capital cost estimate at the feasibility level is well established. Specialist engineering estimators use budget quotations, first principle estimation and rules-of-thumb to develop an estimate with an accuracy of typically -10% to +15%. Cost reporting software packages are used to methodically build up the estimate from design information supplied by the engineering disciplines. Risk analysis and capital expense workshops are carried out to identify potential deficiencies in the estimate. It is widely recognized that in order to successfully produce a feasibility level capital estimate with an appropriate level of accuracy, a rigorous development process is necessary.The development of the operating cost estimate is typically less rigorous than the capital cost estimate. The operating cost is normally derived by the process engineering discipline and rarely are specialist estimators used to support the development. The allocated budget for producing an operating cost is usually smaller and less emphasis is placed on ensuring the accuracy and contingency reflect the most likely operating cost scenario."

Jan 1, 2012

By Seunghoon Lee

The increase in the number of higher and larger buildings is expected to require the buildings' outer wall maintenance process, which includes cleaning, painting and monitoring, still depends on manpower. In this study, we proposed the robotic building maintenance system and aimed to reduce the jerk effect through the motion control of the system, improve the performance of the maintenance task, and ensure longer life and safety by improving the stability of the building structure and robot system. Through the results of the motion control and field-test with the proposed system, in specific, horizontal sliding module (HSM) showed that the jerk oriented by impact force was significantly reduced, feasibility of the proposed method was verified, and the robotic challenges were explored.

Aug 1, 2013

By Pingchao Ke, Zhihong Liu

"To overcome the problem that scoroditeis not stable in neutral and alkaline solutions, we proposed and investigated a synthesis method of scorodite coated in-situ with hydrated ferric oxide in the Fe(II)-As(V)-H2O system at the initial Fe(III)/As(V) molar ratios larger than 1.0.The synthesis was carried out at 90?,pH 1.5 under atmospheric pressure. During the synthesis, oxygen gas was conducted and bubbled into the system to oxidize Fe(II) ions into Fe(III)ions, and Na2CO3aqueous solution as neutralizing agent was added controllably into the system for keeping the pH constant at 1.5. In this study, three samples of scorodite were synthesized at the controlled initial Fe(II)/As(V) molar ratios of 1.0, 2.0 and 3.0, respectively. The characterizations of the samples by HRTEM, TEM/EDX, and chemical composition indicated that the particle surfaces of scorodite synthesized at the initial Fe(II)/As(V) molar ratio of 2.0 and 3.0 were coated in situ by a film of hydrated ferric oxide with the thickness of several nanometers, while the sample synthesized at the initial Fe(II)/As(V) molar ratio of 1.0 was uncoated scorodite. The TCLP and long-term leaching for the toxicity characteristic of the samples showed that scorodite coated in situ with hydrated ferric oxide was stable in a wide pH range from 3.0 to 10.0, with the arsenic concentrations in the leaching solutions less than 1.0mg/L. Nevertheless, uncoated scorodite was unstable under the conditions from weak acidity to alkalinity, with the arsenic concentrations in the leaching solutions larger than 5.0 mg/L.INTRODUCTIONArsenic pollution is a challenge for environment and health and has been an important issue for scientists (Hopkin, 1989).Arsenicis commonly associated with ores or concentrates of nonferrous metals, mainly as independent arsenic bearing minerals such as arsenopyrite (FeAsS), tennantite(Cu12As4S13), enargite (Cu3AsS4), cobaltite (CoAsS), and gersdorffite (NiAsS), realgar (As2S2), orpiment(As2S3), etc.(Matschullat, 2000; Mandal & Suzuki, 2002; Long & Peng, 2012). In the nonferrous metallurgical processes, arsenic is enriched mainly in such arsenic bearing materials as various flue dusts, residues, and anode slimes, which results in the accumulation of arsenic in the system owing to the circulation of those arsenic-bearing materials back to the system and the pollution to the environment (Harris, et al, 2003).In addition, the utilization of arsenic is limited and has been decreasing owing to its toxicity and carcinogenicity. Therefore, arsenic has to be removed from those arsenic-bearing materials and discarded safely (Dutrizac & Jambor, 1988; Monhemius & Swash, 1999; Drahota & Fillippi, 2009).In this case, how to immobilize arsenic has become a difficult problem which must be solved. Among the methods of immobilizing arsenic which have been proposed and investigated, immobilizing arsenic into a stable mineral to fix it, has been realized as a promising method and becomes a research focus(Dutrizac et al, 1987; Dutrizac & Jambor, 1988; Demopoulos et al, 1995; Fujita et al, 2008a; 2008b).Scorodite has been known as one of the best minerals for immobilizing arsenic, owing to its high stability under weak acidic condition, the arsenic content as high as 32wt%,and good crystallinity benefiting the separation of solid to liquid(Daivid et al, 1999; Zhu & Merkel, 2001). Scorodite can be synthesized from arsenic containing solutions under both hydrothermal and atmospheric conditions, and a lot of work has been done on the synthesis of scorodite and its leaching stability characterization (Filippou & Demopoulos, 1999; Gomez et al, 2011).Two plants for the immobilization of arsenic as scorodite have been putin to operation in Chile and Japan, respectively (Filippou & Demopoulos, 1999; Amir et al, 2016)."

Jan 1, 2017

By H. Kalsi

"IntroductionRoyal Oak Mines Inc. is currently operating the Parnour No.1 mine located 10.5 miles east of Tinunins, adjacent to Highway No. 101. The operation produces gold ore at a rate of 3300 tpd. A variety of mining methods including bulk open stopes with ITH drilling, narrow vein panel, longhole and open pits contribute to produce 1.2 rnillion ore tons annually. The milling process requires water at an average rate of 1 rnillion gallons per day (700 U.S. gpm). The Pamour No.1 mine has historically had two major problems with regard to water control. The flfSt is the underground pumping system's inability to handle excess inflows of water generated from spring thaws. When the thaw takes place over a short period of time, large inflows of water are created which quickly migrate underground and sometimes result in the loss of the lower loading pocket. During the spring runoff the pumps at Parnour No.1 work continuously for 24 hours at a rate of 1200 U.S. gpm. The system was further taxed in 1991 when the Hoyle mine was connected to the Parnour No. 1 mine and whatever excess capacity the pumping system had for the spring runoff was taken up handling the inflow of mine water generated by the Hoyle.The second problem facing the mine was the lack of water for the mill during the severe cold winter months and dry summer months. At those periods inflows of water into the mine decline and the underground water normally pumped to the mill is severely decreased. In times of dry spells mill personnel increase the water diversion from the Three Nations Lake in order to meet water demands and maintain tonnage throughout. In essence, the mine was going through an annual ""feast or famine"" situation and a solution was needed.A number of options were considered but were narrowed down to the two most practical. The first was to modify the existing pumping system and increase its capacity in order to handle the excessive runoff during spring thaw. This involved a heavy capital expenditure and would have caused additional operating costs (i.e. increased hydro). The option chosen by the management was to divert the spring runoff into an unused section of the mine called The West End. A bulkhead placed at the 2400 level would provide an ultimate underground water storage potential of 150 million gallons. This would also cut down the load on the existing pumping system, save electric consumption in pumping and provide water storage which could be used for milling during the two dry spells. Pumping stored water from the mine could be scheduled for off peak hours to take advantage of lower power rates. To meet these objectives an underground bulkhead capable of withstanding high water pressure up to 2000 ft head (866 psi) was constructed in the spring of 1992. The bulkhead site was at the 2400 level at the Pamour No.1 mine. A major consideration was the requirement to construct a safe bulkhead and to minimize water leakage from the bulkhead.Figure 1 shows the bulkhead location."

Jan 1, 1994

By G. J. Simandl, H. -L. Jacob, S. Paradis, G. Valiquette

"Nos travaux de terrain dans le Grenville, effectués dans le cadre d'un projet d'inventaire des gîtes de wollastonite, ont démontré qu'il existe un secteur exceptionnellement favorable à l’exploration pour la wollastonite. Ce secteur s'étend de la municipalité de Grenville jusqu'au pare du Mont-Tremblant (nord de St-Jovite). D'autres secteurs favorables a 'exploration pour la wollastonite ont été délimités dans les regions du Lac-Saint-Jean, de Shawinigan et de la Gatineau. Neuf categories litho-structurales de gites de wollastonite furent identifiées. L'importance d'un système ou vert pour la formation des gîtes de hautes teneurs fut établie. Un guide de prospection pour la wollastonite propre à la province tectonique de Grenville fut développé. Plusieurs des indices sont prometteurs et mériteraient des travaux de raise en valeur afin de determiner s'ils représentent une source de wollastonite exploitable à profit. Lac-Saint-Jean, Shawinigan and Gatineau areas. Deposits may be classified into nine categories depending on their relationship to intrusive rocks, discordant or concordant contacts with the host rocks, morphology, and major structural controls. Deposits consist mainly of wollastonite, calcite and clinopyroxene. They may contain one or several of the following minerals: feldspar, scapolite, quartz, titanite sulphides, zoisite, clinozoisite, garnet, idocrase and prehnite. Wollastonite content may reach over 70%. Some deposits are associated with graphite veins. Better understanding of the geology, combined with the proposed classification provides new exploration guide for wollastonite. Several deposits have grades of economic interest. Further work is needed to determine if any of these deposits can be exploited for profit."

Jan 1, 1990

By Ian L. Price

Description of the Springhill Coal Field The Springhill coal basin, which lies in the approximate centre of Cumberland county, Nova Scotia, is of Carboniferous age, and forms a syncline plunging to the westward at an angle of 32° at the outcrop but gradually flattening to the dip. It contains several workable seams of varying thicknesses, a generalized section of the measures in descending order from the surface being: [] The 1,114 feet of strata is composed of shales and sandstones, and all of the coal seams mentioned, with the exception of No. 4 and No. 5, have been mined commercially. The coal is said to be the best steam and domestic coal in the Province of Nova Scotia.

Jan 1, 1946

By G. A. Davidson, P. G. Williams

"New developments in centrifugal slurry pump technology are discussed in relation to their importance for improving pump operation and reliability.Experimental data obtained by measuring the velocity of liquid flows in a slurry pump casing using Laser Doppler Velocimetry are presented. This demonstrates the importance of selecting pumps with the proper hydraulic design to provide optimum efficiency, maximum part life and minimum operating cost.The paper also discusses the use of new wear resistant materials, such as ceramic/metal composites, which can significantly improve the life of parts exposed to abrasive media. The results of laboratory attrition tests are presented. IntroductionCentrifugal slurry pumps are of primary importance for the hydro transport of abrasive and corrosive media in the mineral processing industry. As for all process equipment, slurry pumps must be carefully selected and operated to provide optimal performance. To achieve this, it is necessary to select equipment which will provide efficient and reliable operation for the specific service conditions and incorporates the best materials available to obtain maximum parts life.Abrasive wear of liquid end components is the most important aspect that distinguishes the design and application of slurry pumps from other types of pumps. It is therefore necessary to have a fundamental understanding of the mechanical interaction between pump components and the media being handled, as this will impact significantly on hydraulic design, mechanical reliability and selection of wear resistant materials. Recent advances in computational approaches'» have greatly improved the prediction of wear rates in pump casings by facilitating the solution of complex equations which describe the wear mechanisms mathematically. In conjunction with this, new experimental techniques allow researchers to measure flow fields in pump casings using non-invasive devices such as Laser Doppler velocimeters."

Jan 1, 1992

By W. Curlook, L. M. Pidgeon

THE PURPOSE of this investigation was to study part of the ternary system Co-Fe-S. Jensen ( 1) established the solubility limits of sulphur in pyrrhotite. The compound with 61.7 per cent Fe, corresponding to a formula Fe12S13, was found to melt congruently at l,192°C. Hulsmann and Weibke(2) determined the Co-S phase diagram from O to 35.2 per cent S. The solubility limits of sulphur in the com-pound Co(l-x)S were not determined. The initial object of the present in-vestigation was to determine the composition at which the compound Coci-xiS melted congruently. Once this was ascertained, it was decided to investigate the ternary system Co-Fe-S from the region of 100 per cent Co(1-x) S to the region of 100 per cent Fe12S13.

Jan 1, 1953

By B. S. W. Buffam

"The property of Aunor Gold Mines, Limited, is in Deloro township, Ontario, about 3 miles southeast of Timmins. It consists of a group of eleven claims between the Buffalo Ankerite and Delnite mines.In the autumn of 1909, two brothers, John A. and W. S. Mitchell, joined the 'gold rush' to Porcupine. By the time they arrived the township of Tisdale, in which the Hollinger and Dome discoveries had been made, was staked solid but they managed to locate four claims in the northern part of Deloro township. Sufficient surface work was performed to bring the claims to patent in 1915. Following the Porcupine fire the Mitchells left the north to follow the oil developments in southwestern United States. In 1935 because of the rise in the price of gold and the successful development of the l3uffalo Ankerite and Delnite mines, they returned to Timmins and organized Augite Porcupine Mines, Limited, which combined the original four claims in Deloro and two adjoining claims controlled by Montreal River International Silver Mines, Limited. There were few rock exposures on the property, and as the overburden was generally deep surface exploration was impracticable. A programme of diamond drilling was, there; fore, undertaken in an endeavour to locate the western extension of the orebearing formation of the Buffalo Ankerite mine. This drilling was started in August 1936, and 5 months later ore was intersected at a depth of 500 feet on the south boundary of the property."

Jan 1, 1954

By J. C. Thornley, H. L. J. Drummond

"Fifty years of wear on the original carbon steel shaft of this hydro turbine necessitated repair operations in 1980. Both austenitic and martensitic stainless steels have been used individually as journal materials in separate trials on an80-inch long and 22-inch diameter radial bearing but neither one nor the other has been successful.The wear and cracking problems of the stainless steels leading to the present abandonment of both classes of stainless steel are described. In particular the dependence of the toughness of type 410 stainless steel on its tempering temperature and the susceptibility of that steel to quench cracking are highlighted because problems have been caused by both of these metallurgical factors.IntroductionAs part of a desire to improve the efficiency of a fifty-year old hydro-electric generating station on the Saint John River, the decision was made to change the journal and bearing material for the shaft bearings, which are stave-type bearings. For the initial fifty years of operation the bearings had been wooden (lignum vitae) and had run on the carbon steel shaft directly. For one of the four unit s at this station the performance of this combination has been truly excellent, and the remaining three sets of bearings had performed well. However there had been shaft wear on the units and the wear had made the shafts somewhat elliptical when a decision was made to install some sort of new journal on to three of the old shafts. [In addition to the wear on the carbon steel journals it was found that one shaft was significantly softer in the bearing area than it was immediately above the bearings (180 Vickers in comparison with 230 to 250 Vickers)] ."

Jan 1, 1985

By J. C. Kurnia

Presence of fine dust in air causes serious health hazard for mine operators resulting in such serious problems as coal workers? pneumoconiosis and silicosis. Major sources of dust appear of course along the mining face where the minerals are extracted. Proper control and management are required to ensure safe working environment in the mine. Presented here is the use of a computational fluid dynamic (CFD) approach to investigate the flow and dust behaviour in mining tunnels. The objective of this study is to propose and examine various strategies to mitigate dust dispersion from the mining face and reduce dust concentration to a safe level for the operator. In a companion study, the authors investigated various methods for mitigating dust dispersion from the mining face to ensure safe dust concentration levels in the mine tunnel. Among the examined methods, implementation of brattice to direct the flow from the main airway to the mining face is the most effective method to disperse dust particles away from the mining face. The installation of brattice, however, will limit the movement of mine operators and vehicles in the tunnel. Hence, application of a hybrid brattice which is a combination of a physical brattice along with suitable directed and located air curtains is proposed and examined. Based on the CFD simulation results, over a range of parameters of interest, it was found that the physical brattice blocks the ventilation air and directs it to the mine face while an air curtain located along the brattice outlet offers flexibility in keeping the dust away from the operator allowing more freedom for the operator and the equipment. Results of the modelling over a range of parameters of interest are presented and discussed with the goal of managing dust concentrations within safe limits for the operator.

Aug 1, 2013

By S. N. Bhatnagar, S. K. Haldar

"Mineral exploration is an expensive speculative venture and calls for optimization of sampling. Exploration is generally planned in grid pattern to be conducted in phased manner. The objective of any such campaign is to assess the quality, quantity and its reliability. The traditional estimation methods are unable to provide a means of calculating the degree of reliability. Application of mathematical models can quantify the precision of estimation and bring forth decision-making criteria at any stage.In this paper three statistical and geostatistical models, viz., Frequency, Probability, and Semi-variogram, have been employed to evaluate sequential exploration data of RampuraAgucha zinc-lead deposit. The optimization in exploration for a specific objective has been highlighted.IntroductionAny exploration campaign demands heavy resource investment starting from the collection of the first sample to the production of the first ton of ore. The best estimation would be if the entire orebody is taken out and sampled. However, this is neither possible, nor desirable. Drilling is the primary tool of geological sampling. It shares the major portion of the investment and, thereby, warrants critical analysis at every stage during the ongoing exploration projects.The exploration program should be conducted as a well planned scheme based on a sequential evaluation approach in a phased way to achieve a specific objective. It would then be possible to evaluate exploration data at the completion of each phase by employing computer-based mathematical techniques to quantify the precision of the estimate for fulfillment of objectives. The subsequent drilling program should be modified accordingly."

Jan 1, 1987