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By W. Cholewa, T. S. Golosinski, J. Wedzicha

"Power requirements of belt conveyor drives are usually estimated based on the calculated belt tension which equals the sum of unit resistances to motion which the belt has to overcome. In most situations, the value of various unit resistances can be accurately predicted using published information (5,6,8,12). A simpler approach calls for use of standard formula and tabulated values of related factors which reflect various features of both the conveyor and the transported material (2,3,7) . None of these approaches is reliable when materials with unique properties are conveyed, nor if applied to conveyors working in extreme climatic conditions. Such is the case of oil sand mines in northern Alberta.There the bitumen content of oil sand causes it to behave in a unique manner. Furthermore the conveyors operate year around, with winter temperatures often lower than - 40°C. It was the objective of presented investigations to quantify the power requirements of conveyors, and related resistance to motion for the conveyors used in oil sand mines during winter operations.The other objective was to quantify the drive power requirements of oil sand conveyors during start-up. These requirements are usually much higher than those during norm al operation, and their quantification is of paramount importance for operation of large conveyors."

Jan 1, 1992

By L. Freitag

"The Dollard oil field in southwestern Saskatchewan is a stratigraphic trap of irregular shaped perimeter. The reservoir is a low-angle monoclinal structure with a dip of approximately 100 feet in 5 miles from west to east across the long axis of the reservoir. Production of. 23° API gravity crude is obtained from a Jurassic sand referred to as the J-2-A, at an approximate depth of 4,500 feet. Reservoir studies and fluid analyses revealed that the crude is highly undersaturated, having a solution GOR of approximately 130 cubic feet of gas per barrel, that the reservoir has no definable water table, and that it appears to be of a closed-boundary type. Oil production was marked by a rapid pressure decline and it was soon evident that the greatest ultimate recovery would be best obtained if the natural driving energy of the reservoir were augmented by some artificial energy source. In support of a pressure maintenance programme, studies were conducted on flood-pot recoveries of large-diameter cores, and a potentiometric model study of the field was made. These studies indicated that a successful water flood would be obtained. The Dollard field was unitized in 1955 and pressure maintenance started in March 1956."

Jan 1, 1959

By M. Fairman

The effect of welding speed on the microstructure of friction stir processed (FSPed) AZ31B-H24 magnesium alloy was studied using light microscopy, image analysis, and microhardness tests. The grain size of the magnesium alloy was observed to increase after FSP from about 3.5 µm in the base alloy to about 8 µm in the stir zone. The aspect ratio decreased from 1.60 to 1.55 towards the center of the stir zone. The changes in the grain size and shape caused the microhardness of the samples to drop significantly across the FSPed region from 75 HV in the base alloy to below 55 HV in the stir zone. Decreasing the welding speed increased the grain size due to a greater input of heat energy. The faster heating rate due to the lower welding speed caused a deeper penetration of the annealing effects of FSP. It was also observed that the annealing effects caused by FSP were less pronounced with increasing distance from the interface between the sample and pin tool shoulder. The Hall-Petch type relationship of the micro-indentation hardness as a function of the grain size was observed to hold true after FSP.

Jan 1, 2007

By A. W. Jacobs

SHORTLY after Denny, Robson, and Irwin(l) published their first paper, in 1937, on the prevention of silicosis by metallic aluminium, experiments were begun on the practical application of the discovery. It was thought at that time that aluminium powder, to be effective in aluminium therapy, would have to be intimately admixed with siliceous dust at the latter's source. There followed several years of experimental work underground, during which the application of aluminium powder was tested in: (1) Shakers on machine columns, vibrated? by drills (2) Vials placed in drill holes to be blasted (3) Both homogeneous and heterogeneous. mixture with explosives ( 4) Packages with tamping (5) Compressed-air lines (6) Special compressed-air ejectors for use while drilling and after blasting (7) The discharge of ventilation fans (8) The filters of respirators It was concluded from this research that any adequate method of introducing aluminium powder into a mine atmosphere would require too much extra gear, supervision, and aluminium powder, and would interfere unduly with underground routine. Later, animal experiments by Denny, Robson, and Irwin(2) showed that aluminium powder provided effective therapy when inhaled independent of silica dust. Therefore, some means of surface treatment was deemed more practical.

Jan 1, 1944

By W. L. Ott, J. E. Hawley, C. L. Lewis

"IntroductionTHE APPLICATION of spectrochemical analysis to metals of the platinum group was advocated by Harvey (3) as follows: ""The spectra of the platinum group metals have been studied less than many of the more common metals. The rarity of occurrence of these elements makes the analysis relatively unusual. Potentially, the analysis of this group is an excellent application of spectrographic methods, particularly in contrast to the tedious chemical procedure"".Wichers (8) divides platinum-metal analysis into three broad divisions as follows :( 1) The detection and estimation of these metals in other materials, e.g., ores, where the amounts present are very small.(2) The detection and estimation of impurities in the refined metals themselves ....(3) The analysis of alloys of the platinum metals .....The present paper deals with the second division: analysis of refined rhodium.Research on spectrochemical techniques for determination of trace contaminants in refined platinum metals was begun at Queen's University in 1949, under the supervision of Professor J. E. Hawley. Since 1953, the work has been continued in the Metallurgical Laboratories of Falconbridge Nickel Mines, Limited. Techniques for spectrochemical analysis of refined platinum and palladium have been published ( 4, 5). A technique for analysis of refined iridium has been developed but not yet published."

Jan 1, 1955

By K. Niboucha, M. Zergoug, S. Brick-Chaouch, H. Houali

"Corrosion is an electrochemical process that causes degradation and deterioration of various steel works (pipelines, drains, cisterns) whether they are buried, immersed, or not. Worldwide, we estimate that corrosion destroys a quarter of the annual production of steel at a rate of 5 tons per second. Several techniques are used to protect against corrosion. Among these processes, Cathodic protection, which is regarded as the best technique to assure the protection of steel, works against this phenomenon. This is achieved either by a system of reactive anodes, or by the technique of impressed current protection or other techniques. Before any installation of cathodic protection, a preliminary study and pre-evaluation of certain parameters must be made. In the present work, we will present an example of dimensioning of an installation of cathodic protection by imposed current of a pipeline using solar energy, where we discuss the following items:•,Evolutions of the potential as well as current along the pipeline and their respective expressions deduced from the laws known as telegraphists;•,Range of protection (potential of protection along the pipeline);•,Influence of the isolation resistance of the coating on the range of protection;•,Effect of the aging of the coating and its influence on the current of protection."

Jan 1, 2005

By H. Houali

Corrosion is an electrochemical process that causes degradation and deterioration of various steel works (pipelines, drains, cisterns) whether they are buried, immersed, or not. Worldwide, we estimate that corrosion destroys a quarter of the annual production of steel at a rate of 5 tons per second. Several techniques are used to protect against corrosion. Among these processes, Cathodic protection, which is regarded as the best technique to assure the protection of steel, works against this phenomenon. This is achieved either by a system of reactive anodes, or by the technique of impressed current protection or other techniques. Before any installation of cathodic protection, a preliminary study and pre-evaluation of certain parameters must be made. In the present work, we will present an example of dimensioning of an installation of cathodic protection by imposed current of a pipeline using solar energy, where we discuss the following items: ? Evolutions of the potential as well as current along the pipeline and their respective expressions deduced from the laws known as telegraphists; ? Range of protection (potential of protection along the pipeline); ? Influence of the isolation resistance of the coating on the range of protection; Effect of the aging of the coating and its influence on the current of protection

Jan 1, 2005

By Dan Currie, Tom Lamb, J. Coady Marsh, Gary Landry

"This paper describes the Cape Breton Development Corporation's experience with the Lovat M-300 tunnel-boring machine at the Donkin-Morien Mine. Between January 3 and December 21, 1984, the 7.6 m (25 It) diameter TBM advanced 3350 m (10 990 ft) . The authors will describe experiences with the machine and highlight the implications of tunnelling machines to underground coal mine development in Canada. IntroductionThe Cape Breton Development Corporation (CBDC) has recently completed the drivage of a 7.6 m (25 ft) diameter tunnel, 3.5 km (2.2 miles) in length , to access the Harbour Coal Seam at the Donkin-Morien Project. The tunnel was successfully driven with the first Canadian rock tunnel-boring machine (RTBM or TBM), designed and built by Lovat Tunnel Equipment, Inc. The initial mine development consists of the drivage of two tunnels to the first major coal seam. Future plans are proposed for the development of a 4 million tonne-per-year mine (Marsh et al., 1983, Gillman, 1982), which will require the drivage of a further two tunnels and could access up to four coal seams. The tunnel cross-sectional areas were designed to provide sufficient ventilation area and access for a production of 4 million tonnes per year."

Jan 1, 1986

By Z. Zhang

Aluminum boron carbide particulate reinforced composites have found new applications in nuclear industry due to their special capability to capture neutrons, Recently, Alcan successfully developed a liquid metal mixing process to fabricate Al¬B4C metal matrix composite instead of powder metallurgical technology. In the process, titanium is added into the composites to control interactions between boron carbide particulates and aluminum matrix, To understand the effects of titanium on the composites, the solidification microstructure of Al-16%B4C without or with titanium was examined by optical and electron microscopes. The results show that titanium can improve the uniformity of the particulate distribution within aluminum matrix if the titanium content in the composites is more than 0,5%, Furthermore, it is found that the layer with rich titanium on the surface of the particulates can limit the formation of AlB2 type compounds, which may greatly deteriorate the fluidity of the composites, In addition, it is also found that the amount of the reaction products in the composites increases with the increase of holding time. However, the rate of the increase is mitigated by the increase of the content of titanium in the composites. Besides, a procedure was proposed and implemented for the evaluation of uniformity of particulate distribution within aluminum matrix.

Jan 1, 2005

By C. A. Petch

Abstract - The High Lake polymetallic deposit is located in the northern Slave province, 40 km south of Coronation Gulf, Nunavut. The main zone, the AB zone, hosts an estimated resource of 3.56 Mt grading 5.0% copper, 1.1% zinc, 0.06% lead, 1.7 g/t gold, and 18.2 g/t silver. Archean felsic metavolcanic and metavolcaniclastic rocks are the dominant rock type and are associated with lesser mafic metavolcanic and carbonate-rich metasedimentary rocks. The sequence strikes north-northeast, dips steeply to the west, and is truncated to the west by a large granodioritic intrusion. The mineralization at the AB zone is comprised of massive and stringer chalcopyrite-sphalerite-pyrrhotitepyrite± galena. At the core of the mineralized zone, intensely chlorite-altered rocks are locally metamorphosed to form distinctive zones of anthophyllite-magnetite-cordierite-altered rock. Peripheral to the mineralized core, alteration consists of sericitization, silicification, and weaker chloritization. Primary morphology and facing direction of the zone are difficult to interpret in part due to poor primary metal zonation of the deposit. However, the irregular shape of the mineralized zone and the erratic zones of zinc enrichment at the fringes are consistent with the interpretation that the zone was formed by the replacement of a porous volcaniclastic pile.

Jan 1, 2004

By L. I. Kiss, S. Perron, D. Toulouse, S. Poncsák, A. Perron

Bubbles play an important role in many industrial processes. In a Hall-Heroult cell, used for aluminum production, bubbles contribute to induce flow in the cell. The induced flow is important for the thermal balance of the cell as well as for the distribution and dissolution of the alumina. The existence of the bubble layer does not have advantages only. It increases the voltage of the cell and causes deformation along the cryolite-molten aluminum interface. The role of the anode inclination in the behaviour of the bubble layer as well as in the hydrodynamics of the bath is not clearly understood. In this work, the effect of the anode inclination angle on the bubble driven flow is studied in an industrial scale air-water model. The inclination angle is varied up to 5° from the horizontal. The instantaneous flow field is captured by Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) system. The mean velocity fields were calculated by ensembleaveraging the instantaneous velocity fields measured at different time. The existence of the counter-flow in the interpolar space and the vortex in the side channel has been confirmed. Furthermore it has been observed that the effect of anode slope on the velocity field is weak.

Jan 1, 2006

By Hongpu Kang

The fully mechanized top coal caving mining method has been the main mining approach for thick coal seams with high output and efficiency in Chinese coal mines. The gateroads for the top coal caving mining faces should be driven along the floor of the thick coal seam with a part of the seam as roof. The support of the gateroads is commonly difficult because of the low strength and broken structures of the coal seams, and the increasingly large section of gateroads meeting the need of greater and greater face coal output. Based on the analyses on the geomechanics properties and production conditions of the top coal caving mining, the influences of the top coal caving mining parameters on the stability of gateroads, including mining thickness and face length, are studied. The deformation and damage features of the rock mass surrounding the gateroads with the top coal seam as roof are investigated, the interaction of the support with the surrounding rock mass, the support theory are studied. The bolting design method and criteria, bolting forms and parameters for the gateroads with the top coal as roof are put forward. The rock bolting components, including bolt bars, face plates, cable tendons, meshes, and steel straps, are introduced. Finally, the gateroad bolting effects are evaluated through a typical case study on the basis of field monitoring data, such as the displacement of surrounding rock mass and the forces along bolts and cables.

Aug 1, 2013

By F. Lambert

"Amok Ltd./Cluff Mining operates a uranium mine at Cluff Lake in northern Saskatchewan. The project consists of one open pit and one underground mining operation along with a full-scale milling installation.The underground stoping operations are of the narrow vein type and are done between two levels 50 m apart. The mining method is undercut with concrete backfilling. Cuts are 3.5 m in height and can be as narrow as 1.4 m in width.Stoping operations are mechanized utilizing a CT-500E electric Microscoop marketed in Canada by Teledyne. The machine is only 85 cm in width and does all the mucking in stopes. Ore passes are provided in stope roughly every 40 m to 50 m.This paper describes the utilization of the CT-500E Microscoop in the company's underground operations and provides performance data related to the experience.IntroductionThe Amok Ltd ./Cluff Mining operation is located in the northwestern corner of Saskatchewan. The project started in 1980 with open pit mining and milling operations. In 1983, an underground mining operation began production . Today, the Amok Ltd./Cluff Mining installation produces 800 tonnes of uranium per year , which originates from both the open pit and the underground mine at about the same proportion."

Jan 1, 1990

By Dwayne D. Tannant

The Fox Pit at EKATI Diamond Mine reached a depth of approximately 150 m as of September 2005. The pit is designed with 11 m wide benches excavated using a double benching technique leaving 30 m high bench faces. A series of blasting tests were conducted to improve catch bench reliability and increase the percentage of benches that meet an 11 m catch width. The design changes focussed on reducing damage to the bench crest because maintaining the bench crests is the most important factor in achieving good bench reliability. The most significant improvement was obtained by raising the bottoms of the lower trim blastholes by 0.5 m. This change decreases the depth of broken rock below the final bench elevation, and consequently reduces damage to rock that forms the bench crest below. Another improvement was the use of smaller diameter (165 mm vs. 270 mm) blastholes in the A and B rows for the upper trim blast. This change reduces the charge per delay during detonation, reduces the powder factor slightly, and reduces the energy affecting the final pit wall and crest. As mining and the blast testing progressed, the portion of the bench with crest achievements (>11 m) increased from 57% to 75%.

May 1, 2006

By James D. Hall

THE Dome ore-bodies are more or less isolated and are mined. by shrinkage stoping. An interwoven system of veins is mined at Hollinger '.1.nd requires close filling. Deep mining is the problem at McIntyre. Dome ore contains a large amount of free gold, which is recovered on blankets. An all-cyanide flow-sheet is \lSed in the Hollinger mill. Flotation concentration is an important feature of McIntyre mill operation. Therefore, these three mines afford an unusual opportunity to compare gold mining and milling methods. The purpose of this paper is to describe the conditions existing at the Dome, Hollinger, and McIntyre mines and to outline the mining and milling practice at each property. Figures 3, 4, 5, and 7 are reproduced from the Canadian Mining ]011rna/, September, 1935 (Young, A. W., Mining at Hollinger), and Figures 8 to 11 from the Engineering and Mining Journal, November, 1933 (Keeley, D. E., Development and Mining at McIntyre). The photographs (Figures 6, 12, and 13) are by The Canadian Government Motion Picture Bureau. Diagrams of the several mill flow-sheets, which formed a part of the original paper, are not reproduced here. They will be found in Dorr's Cyanidation and Concentration of Gold and Silver Ores.

Jan 1, 1938

By G. Plascencia, C. López, J. González, D. Jaramillo, M. A. Barrón

Air jet and molten matte interaction within a Peirce - Smith converter is analyzed during the first stages of blowing using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), by means of the Large Eddy Simulation and Reynolds Stress turbulence models. Jet velocities ranging from 5 to 150 mis, which involve the bubbling and open jet regimes, were considered in 2 and in 3-D numerical simulations. As a result of the computer simulations, it was found that low velocities results in gas bubbling in the molten copper, whereas higher gas velocities results in well defined plumes. The consequence of such different behaviours results in an increment in the rate of refractory wear or in copper splashing respectively. The analysis of the results may lead to improve the design of the tuyeres currently used in copper converting. Bottom blowing of air is also explored in this work. Numerical results show a strong non-linear parabolic behaviour of the jet velocity on the average velocity of copper; which means that beyond certain jet velocity, the copper de-accelerates thus reducing its velocity. This may be due to the open nature of the jet, which prevents the momentum transfer from the injected gas to the molten copper.

Jan 1, 2007

By R P. Douglas

During 1955, Cominco commenced an exploration pro-gram in northern New Brunswick; in the following year, what is now the Wedge mine was discovered. The mineralization is mainly pyrite, with associated chalcopyrite and minor amounts of sphalerite and galena. The property was brought into production at 750 tons per day in early 1962. The ore is trucked 10 miles to the Heath Steele concentrator, where a copper concentrate grading about 19.5 per cent is produced and shipped to the Japanese markets through the port of Dalhousie, New Brunswick. Introduction THE Wedge mine, owned by The Consolidated Mining and Smelting Company of Canada Limited (Cominco), is located in the Newcastle-Bathurst area of New Brunswick. It is 42 miles by road northwest of Newcastle and 37 miles southwest of Bathurst (Figure 1). The mine is located on the north side of the Nipisiquit river in one of the more mountainous areas of the Province, the local relief rising to 1,500 feet above sea level. There is an almost complete forest cover of mixed hardwoods and conifers -the val-leys and hillsides being covered by balsam, spruce and pine, the swamps by cedars and black spruce and the highlands by mixed hardwoods.

Jan 1, 1965

By C. Bourgoin

"The limited development and application of new technologies to narrow-vein mining is currently impeding progress in the industry to a point where productivity, working conditions and operating costs have reached a critical stage in many Canadian mines.In an effort to foster the emergence and application of new technologies, Université Laval, together with other organizations, has carried out a R&D project focussed on the need of identifying new development pos5ibilities and of facilitating the transfer of technology in matters related to underground mining methods and machinery.The first phase of the study consisted of an in-depth assessment of current practices and problems in narrow-vein mining. The second phase was a state-of-the-art survey of mining methods and equipment, together with proposed modifications and innovations. The third phase of the project concerns the experimental development as well as the principal application of various proposed technologies.This paper presents an overview of the organizational, technical and strategic considerations which guided the University group and it serves as well to introduce a newly-published brochure, entitled ""Underground Mining Techniques of Vein Deposits"", which summarizes such work to date. More specifically, a perspective of technological developments applicable to narrow-vein mining is presented."

Jan 1, 1994

By M. S. Hedley

"The Lucky Jim mine is at Zincton in Slocan mmmg division; on the Kaslo-Nakusp branch of the Canadian Pacific railway. It is owned and operated by Zincton Mines; Limited; a subsidiary of Sheep Creek Gold Mines; Limited. The mine is far in the lead in the production of zinc in the Slocan. Its recorded production from concentrates and shipping ore was 102; 260; 191 pounds of zinc to the end of 1945.GENERAL GEOLOGY With the exception of acidic dykes the rocks near the Lucky Jim mine belong to the Slocan series, which is Triassic in age and consists principally of argillaceous rocks. It disconformably overlies greenstones of the Triassic Kaslo series about 3 miles to the northeast, and is cut by granitic rocks of the Nelson batholith 5 miles to the southeast.The sedimentary rocks in this area are best referred to on the whole as slates. They lie within the more fissile basal part of the Slocan series. The term 'slate belt' conveniently distinguishes this area of rocks characterized by slaty cleavage from the more massive argillites that are more characteristic of the Slocan as a whole. The contact between the slaty and massive argillites lies ½ mile southwest of the mine."

Jan 1, 1954

By J. E. Lee

"This paper describes the current practices and experiences, and discusses design parameters concerning slurry pumping at Inco Metals Company in the Sudbury District. It deals mainly with the long tailing and concentrate lines. Subject matter is arranged under the following headings: pumps, lines, instrumentation, system design, operation.IntroductionThe Inco Metals Company is the mining and processing section of INCO LIMITED. In the Ontario Division, it operates 13 mines, 5 mills, a smelter, an iron ore plant and 3 refineries, all engaged in the mining and recovery of nickel and copper. This paper describes the slurry pumping practices in the mills of the Ontario Division.The PumpsWe have in our Sudbury area mills most of the available types of slurry pumps, in sizes from one inch up to twelve inches, a total of about 400 pumps. The rubber-lined, horizontal shaft pump is; most numerous. However, for certain applications, the hard-metal pump is essential, and is becoming more popular for general mill service. Two types of vertical shaft pumps are used. There are a few diaphragm pumps on small thickeners, but the larger thickeners have centrifugal pumps either directly connected to the under-flow or with one pump handling several gravity underflows. We have not used piston or plunger pumps in our mills."

Jan 1, 1978