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By G. M. Brownell

A DEPOSIT of hematite occurs on Black island, lake Winnipeg, at a point known locally as Red Rock, on the south shore of the island directly across from Clements point. The mail boat from the Canadian Pacific Railway terminus at Riverton, crossing the lake to Manigotogan twice weekly, passes near Red Rock and provides a convenient means of transportation to this part of Black island (Figure 1). HISTORICAL The occurrence of hematite on Black island has been known for a long time. Dowling's report of 1898 states(1): "An iron-ore deposit on the south side has been known' for many years, and on Jeffrey's map of 1762, showing Canada and northern part of Louisiana, Iron island is shown a short distance south of the narrows, evidently the same as the Black island of today".

Jan 1, 1945

By H. A. Hamza, J. Visman

"This is a report on the combined application of ""long-chain"" flocculants and classifier cyclones in the field of slimes treatment, with emphasis on the simultaneous thickening and clarifying of industrial effluents, at low cost. The principle of the process described below involves: (1) the formation of small floes of relatively great strength, by sequential dispersion and conditioning, with average floe size of about 1501 microns; (2) the floes being of sufficient strength to withstand the shearing forces operating within a cyclone and consequently behaving as solid particles with an equivalent diameter (Stokes) that exceeds the size cutpoint of the classifier cyclone; (3) the removal of flocculated solids by means of a classifier cyclone the size cutpoint of which permits effective separation of these solids from the water. Results of test work to date indicate that a broader use of cyclones in industry is possible with the above types of flocculants because the submicron particles and colloidal material are readily collected and clear water is produced, with the attendant advantages of compact construction and low cost that are characteristic of centrifugal separation. The process generally permits classifier cyclones of medium throughput capacity (e.g. 12-in. diam.) to be used for clarifying effluents that contain minus 10-micron particles."

Jan 1, 1973

By R. P. Kofluk

The nickel-cobalt sulphides produced from limonitic laterite ores by Moa Nickel S.A. in Cuba are refined at the Corefco nickel-cobalt refinery in Canada. Significant economic implications are associated with the refining of precipitated sulphides containing elevated iron contents. The Moa Nickel S.A. operations encompass laterite mining, high pressure acid leaching (H PAL), and ultimately, precipitation of a mixed sulphide product. These processes are reviewed as they pertain to the control of iron and the formation of a mixed sulphide containing nominally 55% Ni, 5% Co and 1% Fe. The contributors to the iron content of the mixed sulphide product are reviewed; the major contributors are the HPAL operation and sulphide precipitation. The precipitation of iron during sulphide precipitation is influenced by the solution acidity, the iron and copper concentrations in the feed solution, and the presence of laterite leach solids. The significance of the copper concentration of the sulphide precipitation solutions is manifested by both physical and chemical modifications of the sulphide precipitates, presumably through the formation of fine copper sulfide seed particles.

Jan 1, 2006

By J. W. Sanger

The establishment of a central steam-heating system in Winnipeg and its inauguration in October, 1924, has attracted a considerable amount of attention. Not only does it excite the curiosity of the engineer, but it has stirred financial and civic bodies throughout Canada to such a degree that there is now a much keener general interest in this particular type of public utility than has been shown heretofore. This does not mean that we may expect a mushroom growth of central-heating systems in all our larger Canadian cities in the near future, but it does mean that the pioneer work which Winnipeg is now doing will undoubtedly be used to guide others in their judgment as to the feasibility of similar projects elsewhere. The success of the municipal hydro-electric system in Winnipeg, and the low rates for electricity resulting therefrom, was without a doubt the most important factor influencing the citizens of Winnipeg to venture into this new field. The events which led up to the central steam-heating proposal in Winnipeg are interesting.

Jan 1, 1926

By G. M. Brownell

Introduction Within the past year a new deposit of gypsum has been opened up and brought into production in the Province of Manitoba. Until 1930, Manitoba's entire production came from Gypsumville, northwest of Winnipeg, at mile 161 on the Gypsumville branch of the Canadian National railway. However, during 1930 a gypsum bed was opened up at a point one mile south of the village of Amaranth, forty miles north of Portage la Paririe, on the west side of lake Manitoba (See Figure 1). Although no exposure has yet been discovered, the presence of gypsum below the surface in that district has been known for many years as the result of drilling for water. In 1929, J. R. Spear (1), of Winnipeg, interested some local capital in the possibility of .finding commercial deposits of gypsum, and, after some exploration work in the area with a well drill, the Amaranth deposit was located. Sixteen holes were put down at intervals of 400 or 500 feet, all of which encountered what appeared to be a continuous bed of gypsum, about thirty-eight feet thick, at a depth of 92 feet. The extent of the deposit has not yet been determined.

Jan 1, 1931

By H. -L. Heikkilä, E. Peuraniemi

"Boliden Harjavalta Oy has a long tradition in the Finnish metal industry starting from the 1930's. The Smelter consists of copper and nickel flash smelting lines. Off-gases are captured in the acid plant to produce sulfur products. During the early years of production, the surrounding environment suffered from high SO2 and dust emissions. The first acid plant started in 1947, a few years after commissioning of the smelter. The flash smelting method was developed and commissioned in 1949. This created the basis for today’s environmentally sound metal production. Recent air emission reductions are related to treating lean ventilation and granulation gases. Emissions from the stacks are monitored with continuous measurement devices. SO2 and PM10 concentrations are also measured from the residential area and reported online in cooperation with Harjavalta community and other local industry.INTRODUCTIONProductionBoliden Harjavalta Oy smelts copper and nickel concentrates and refines copper in the western part of Finland. The copper concentrates come from external copper mines mainly in South America and Europe. Concentrates are unloaded at the Pori harbor and transported to Harjavalta by train from a distance of about 60 km. Boliden Harjavalta Oy has operations in Harjavalta and Pori. The smelter in Harjavalta produces copper anodes that are transported via railway to the copper refinery in Pori. The anodes are electro-refined into copper cathodes and by-products like Se, Ag, Au and Pt/Pd concentrate. In the Harjavalta smelter SO2 containing gases are delivered to a sulphuric acid plant where sulphuric acid and liquid sulphur dioxide are produced.Our nickel smelter smelts nickel concentrates on a tolling basis to produce nickel matte for customer needs. SO2 containing off-gases are delivered to the sulphuric acid plant for sulphur capture and modification into products.All our operations are certified according to the Quality, Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety Standards ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001. Boliden Harjavalta Oy was the first company in Finland operating in the metal and technology industry to be certified according to the Energy Management Standard EN 16001, currently this certification is done according to ISO 50001."

Jan 1, 2012

By R. Matusewicz

The key drivers for the copper smelting industry are a complex mix of economic and "human" factors which combine to drive technology in new directions and can provide a strong indication of future industry trends. Recent examples have been the drive to achieve increased scale of production and resultant cost efficiencies by using a single furnace high intensity smelting vessel, and the broad acceptance of Top Submerged Lancing (TSL) technology for this duty. The development and adoption of continuous converting processes to counter the increased pressures faced by the Peirce Smith converting process is another example of the need for innovation. This paper discusses the merits of the continuous converting process, describes how the Ausmelt TSL batch converting process has been adapted to the new Ausmelt Continuous Copper Converting (C3) process in response to these industry trends and examines the Ausmelt continuous converting flowsheet options available to the end user.

Jan 1, 2007

By R. D. Prettie

Wood preservation may be defined as the art of protecting wood from decay. In its broadest sense, however, it includes a much wider field. It might be more properly de-fined as the art of protecting wood from destructive agents, such as decay, insects, marine borers, mechanical wear, etc. The earliest data on record for the preservation of organic bodies is found in Egyptian manuscripts. The bodies which we call mummies were impregnated with antiseptics, of which the principal were natrum (sodium sesqui-carbonate), sodium chloride, and sodium sulphate. After being steeped in the solution, they were subjected to either a boiling or baking process in a bituminous preparation. The first attempts in Europe to preserve timber were made by the Greeks and Romans. They extracted essential oils from the juniper and cypress trees, and either rubbed these oils into the wood they wished to preserve, or bored thousands of small holes in the wood and poured the preservative oil into the holes. The famous statues of Jupiter and Diana were carved out of wood. The ceremony of pouring in the preservative oil by the High Priests was a religious pageant of great importance, of which there are many records.

Jan 1, 1926

By R. L. Bruening, R. M. Izatt, N. E. Izatt, S. R. Izatt

"Molecular Recognition Technology (MRT) is a simplified, green chemistry process with applications in selective separations of Ni(II), Co(II), and platinum group metals in primary ore beneficiation processes and secondary recovery operations from spent products, scrap, and environmental waste solutions. Simplification in MRT processes is achieved by non-use of solvents, reduced space requirements, and a simple separation system involving columns packed with metal-selective SuperLig® resins. Minimal waste is generated and metal recovery is achieved at 99% levels from g L-1 to <mg L-1 concentrations. MRT systems are attractive technologically and economically compared with solvent extraction, ion exchange, and precipitation separation processes. Commercial examples of MRT use include removal of impurity metals Cd, Cu, Ni. Fe, and Pb to mg L-1 or lower concentration levels from Co streams to produce battery-grade Co. Highly purified Co is required for optimal function of lithium ion rechargeable batteries and superalloys associated with aerospace and gas turbine operations. Impurity metals are recovered for reuse or proper disposal rather than being discarded to landfill. Green chemistry processes, such as MRT, are needed in metal separations going forward into the 21st century to achieve global metal sustainability in processing of native ore and treatment of secondary sources.INTRODUCTION Maximizing efficiencies of metal separations and optimizing metal recovery rates during separation processes are important goals on the road to achieving metal sustainability. Achievement of these goals is consistent with stated principles of green engineering (O'Connor, Zimmerman, Anastas, & Plata, 2016) and green chemistry (Anastas & Eghbali, 2010). Molecular Recognition Technology (MRT) separation processes using SuperLig® resins have a 25-year record of performing competitive, commercial metal separations with metal recovery rates approaching 100% (Izatt, Izatt, Izatt, Krakowiak, & Bruening, 2017). SuperLig® resins are characterized by high selectivities for specific metals over concentration ranges from g L-1 to mg L-1 or lower. MRT systems use no solvents and are simple in design and operation resulting in reduced capital and operating expenses."

Jan 1, 2017

By Knud Sinding

Mining firms are widely criticised for their adverse impacts on the environment. At the same time many firms in the industry devote extensive resources, both financial and managerial, to the reduction or elimination such impacts. Very considerable improvements have been made, although these are sometimes overshadowed by a few high-profile accidents, such as the occasional collapse of a cyanide-containing tailings dam. In parallel, much effort is also directed at projecting a positive environmental image, as witnessed by extensive environmental reporting, both on paper and increasingly through web-platforms. Mining projects today almost invariably involve some form of environmental protection. In industrial countries regulations in this area are extremely stringent, as is enforcement. In less well developed countries, regulation and enforcement may be weaker, but firms are in many cases and for a number of reasons committing themselves to high levels of environmental protection, even if they might get away without doing so. Research in the area of environmental performance of mining firms has so far paid much attention to concepts such as sustainability indicators and the sustainability of individual firms. Given the still raging debates about the appropriate way to determine the degree to which any given firm is sustainable (Welford 1995) as well as the usefulness of what will in the final analysis be a value judgement, anyone on the sidelines of the debate will come back to the fundamental issue, how is knowledge that a particular firm has been judged ?sustainable? going to be made use of. This issue remains unresolved, which may explain the lack of progress in formulating a useful definition of a sustainable firm The question addressed in this paper is not so much about what firms are doing on the ground or in any particular case of environmental protection, but more in the subsequent use of these efforts - and by extension - on the overall direction of corporate environmental strategy. The fundamental problem facing all mining firms is that they cannot easily benefit from unilaterally reducing their environmental impact. The firm can of course avoid liability and keep a variety of stakeholders happy and hence experience lower costs of obtaining the [input] resources they need (in a broad sense, not just minerals), but this represents only part of the opportunities available form pursuing an environmental strategy (Reinhardt 2000). The other part, which may have an enormous potential, involves the concepts of competitor management and product differentiation. The logic of keeping stakeholders happy has been most forcefully argued by Pfeffer and Salanchick (1978) who link the behaviour of firms in all domains to their ability to obtain the resources they need, at a cost that is lower than it would otherwise be (Pfeffer & Salanccik 1978). Several varieties of strategy can be included under this heading, including cost reduction and risk management. The alternative logic is to convince customers that they want to pay more for minerals supplied by mining firm X or directly attributable to mine Y, or by making all mineral users pay more. These two strategies, which may be referred to as product differentiation and competitor management, respectively (Reinhardt 2000) are related to the demand side of mineral supply, whereas cost reduction and risk management are related to the supply side. Mining firms have not pursued the demand side very much, if at all. This is probably due to the extreme difficulty of moving mineral products, bulky and unglamorous as they are, away from their

May 1, 2003

?Four-wheel, skid-steer, rover developed for CSA ?U-chassis for payload accommodation ?Passive geometric suspension ?Max speed 13km/hr ?Remote workstation ?275kg payload capacity ?On-board processor, IMU, motor encoders ?5.2kW-h battery capacity

May 1, 2013

By P. deH. Eastcott

The paper summarizes a slide presentation made during the CIM Mechanical-Electrical Operators&apos; Conference, held at Sudbury. Ontario, January 25-27, 1977. Its scope has been limited to a few specific aspects of modern Canadian hoisting plant practice that are likely to be of interest to operating personnel. It is intended to serve as a brief review of established methods discuss in more detail the present state-of-the-art and suggest trends that will appear as products during the next few years.

Jan 1, 1977

By H. Gharahbagheri, S. Shafiei Zadeh, H. Hassan Nejad, Reza Roostaazad

In this paper, dissolution of vanadium from mining residue, in which vanadium is associated intimately with magnetite ore, was investigated via both bacterial ( aerobic and anaerobic) and fungal activity. Although bacterial activity was tangible, it could not reduce and dissolve vanadium in both aerobic and anaerobic experiments. However, in fungal leaching, after 30 days about 36.9% and 29.7% of vanadium was dissolved for a pulp density of 10 and 30 g/l, respectively. At the end, the concentration of metabolites usually produced by fungal activity was optimized and oxalic acid was chosen as the main agent for the leaching process.

Jan 1, 2014

By S. Constantinides

"A major use for many of the rare earths is in permanent magnets. While alternate technologies are in research or already exist, rare earth magnets are unlikely to be supplanted as a major input to clean technologies and high efficiency consumer and industrial devices. We’ll examine where and how the magnet rare earths are utilized and the size of the market. Market growth forecasts based on global markets will be presented. A brief explanation of materials research in the US completes the material.INTRODUCTIONRare earth magnets, first commercialized c.1969, have become essential for a wide range of consumer, industrial and military devices. They are used in the speakers and vibrator motors of cell phones. Rare earth magnets spin the hard discs within the drives and rare earth magnet voice coil motors position the read/write head over the spinning platter. Rare earth magnets are the heart of motors and generators used on airplanes – they are smaller and lighter weight than alternative materials/devices. Now rare earth permanent magnets are being introduced into electric vehicles and wind power generation.Rare earth minerals are difficult to extract from the ores and to separate from one another. The increase in use of rare earth magnets has placed a severe strain on established sources of supply. The establishment of new mines and processing facilities is costly and requires upwards of 15 years to become productive. The combination of rapid rise in use of rare earth minerals coupled with supply shortages has caused rapid price increases and threat of non-delivery of product. The result of this disruptive situation has been a profound response at several levels: corporate, industry-wide and governmental. Let’s learn more about why rare earth magnets are so important to modern society."

Jan 1, 2012

By E. Nejati, S. Khoshkooei, V. Firouzdor, M. Akbari, F. Khomamizadeh

In this study the effects of Si content on mechanical and thermal fatigue properties of Al-Si casting alloys were investigated. Repeated heating and cooling cycles were applied on the samples at 230°C to develop thermal fatigue cracks. Crack growth mechanisms and microstructural influences were investigated by optical and scanning electron microscopy. Thermal fatigue behaviors were improved successively by increasing of silicon content up to 7wt%. However, addition of more than 9wt% silicon decreased the thermal shock resistance of the alloy. Silicon contents of about 9wt% presented the best mechanical and thermal fatigue resistance in the alloy.

Jan 1, 2006

By Phil Molloy

"In March, 1968, Skega Ruh her Liners were used to reline the shell of an 8' x 12' Allis Chalmers ball mill.This mill is used to regrind the cyanided pulp from 58i -200 mesh to 92% -200 mesh prior to this pulp passing to the flotation circuit, at approximately 450 tons per day.Before the use of rubber liners, the regrind ball Mill shell had been lined with single wave ni-hard liner!'. These liners had an average life of five years. Ni-hard end liners were used both prior to and during the use of rubber liners, as the life of the ni-hard end liners was about seven years, and it was thus felt that little economic benefit would be realized by lining the ball mill ends with rubber.The rubber lining used has a thickness of 57.15 millimeters and the square shaped lifter bars which are spaced at 14~ inch centres, have a 4"" x 4"" cross-sectional dimension.With the use of ni-hard liners, the consumption of 1 1/4 forged steel balls averaged 1.062 pounds per ton, Using rubber liners the consumption of l~"" forged steel balls increased to 1.368 pounds per ton. Also the level of the ball load which previously had been kept at approximately 18 inches below the mill discharge, had to be increased to approximately 8 inches below the mill discharge in order to effect the same grind.The initial gri4ding performance of the newly relined mill was also poor, until the leading edge of the rubber lifter bars, which were square shaped in cross-section had been worn to a rounded profile. These lifter bars were replaced after 4 years and 3 months of operation.The advantages of rubber liners in our opinion is as follows:"

Jan 1, 1974

By C. Gosselin, M. Rheault, M. Benoit, Y. Bouroubi, V. Sarago

The last three decades have seen significant mining development in northern regions of Canada, where the freeze and thaw cycle of permafrost and the corresponding surface subsidence and heave represent a significant challenge to the design and maintenance of infrastructures. Identifying areas at risk is of great assistance to reduce the impact of this issue. Over the past ten years, Synthetic Aperture Radar Interferometry (InSAR) has been widely used to monitor ground surface deformation. With this technique, changes in phase between two SAR acquisitions are used to detect centimeter to millimeter surface displacements over a large area and with high spatial resolution. InSAR can be used as a tool to assist the siting and design of new infrastructure as well as highlighting the risk to existing structures in areas of unstable terrain. This paper presents the results of a project carried out by Effigis, which made use of SAR interferometry in the context of monitoring terrain and infrastructure stability in a northern mining environment that is affected by permafrost seasonal and long term changes. TerraSAR-X images acquired during two periods, August to November 2012 and March to October 2013, were used to measure the deformations and/or movement of ground surface, infrastructure and stockpiles caused by seasonal changes in permafrost extent in and around a mining site located in Nunavik, Quebec. The results showed that spatial and temporal distributions of surface displacements are in accordance with scientific and terrain knowledge. Some displacements were observed in loose soil areas while, as expected, none were detected in bedrock and rock outcrop areas. The areas most affected by active layer changes showed surface subsidence in the thaw settlement period. This study confirms that SAR interferometry has a great potential for operational applications related to risks induced by surface deformation in mining environments. It shows that this technique can be used to produce reliable maps of surface movement and monitor the vertical displacement of important infrastructure.

Jan 1, 2015

By Fiona Campbell

"Modern history is full of breakthroughs in technology, all striving to increase productivity and efficiency. What are the elements that should be taken into consideration in the design and implementation of modern automation systems in a control room? Both industry and international standards are now demanding that Human Factors be considered as part of the design of control rooms to maximize efficiency and minimize the potential of human error which can lead to downtime and a loss of profit as a result of interruptions in production. As the current workforce ages and the younger generation matures, this is also becoming a key element when planning a control room. New standards are helping to address some of these challenges that are facing the mining industry today. With an increased focus on the operator, an intelligent and ergonomic workspace can both mitigate risk and optimize production. Optimization is money. We will examine how to analyze and implement innovative control room planning to maximize mineral processing production and minimize risks that can impact overall production and profit.INTRODUCTIONIn this day and age, optimization of production in an industrial environment is becoming more and more of a challenge. With ever changing technology as well as other external factors, this can be especially daunting. There are several key elements that may not be immediately obvious when planning a control room design or renovation, most notably the role of the human in this environment. Fatigue, stress, distraction, reaction times and situational awareness are all critical in a 24/7 environment. With the growing need to include human factors when considering and designing an optimal work and production environment, it is becoming even more important to design a control room that can address as many of today’s challenges as possible.The standard definition of the word “optimization” is “an act, process or methodology of making something (as a design, system, or decision) as fully perfect, functional or effective as possible.” (www.merriam-webster.com). If we apply this to business, what it really means is finding the most cost effective way to achieve the highest level of performance while considering constraints, both external and internal, by maximizing the desired factors and minimizing undesired ones. Sometimes, however, we can get caught up in the day to day processes, without taking a moment to step back and objectively review what it is we need to achieve, and more importantly, the steps that can facilitate our success."

Jan 1, 2016

"5.1. IntroductionThe sample preparation requirements for bulk analyses of platinum-group elements (PGE) are different from the requirements for ore microscopy and in-situ analyses. It is necessary that the initial sample collection results in as representative a sample as possible for both types of analyses. Ingamells (1980) believes, however, that sampling is always imperfect and that there is no such thing as a truly representative sample. Once collected, the usual low content and irregularly dispersed nature of the PGE require that samples for bulk analyses be made as uniform as possible, whereas in samples for ore microscopy and in-situ analyses the PGE must be concentrated. Because of the generally high specific gravity of platinum-group minerals (PGM), certain precautions must be taken, such as mixing the sample material in the bags prior to opening.5.2. Preparation forBulk Analytical MethodsThe principal factors that determine the size of the sample required for a bulk analysis are grade, heterogeneity and grainsize. Initially, the grade and sample heterogeneity can only be estimated and a sampling methodology is developed with experience. It is essential at all times, however, that the assayers have information about the source of the sample and the purpose for the analysis. Information on the grain-size, which can only be obtained through mineralogical analysis, is also very important for PGE analyses, but, unfortunately, is often ignored.5.2.1. Samples fromUnconsolidated DepositsConcentrations of PGE may occur in eluvial deposits as well as in a large variety of alluvial deposits, including those of fluvial and glaciofluvial origin. These deposits are often difficult to map and sampling is further complicated by the wide range, from sand-size to boulders, of the non-POE-bearing constituents, and by the irregular distribution and shape of the ""pay streaks"". PGE concentrations in unconsolidated deposits are largely composed of resistant Pt-Fe and Os-Ir-Ru alloys (cf. Cabri and Harris, 1975 and Raicevic and Cabri, 1976), thus making comminution to the usual-150 to -200 mesh somewhat unreliable, due to the malleability of these alloys."

Jan 1, 1979

By A. Plugatyr, C. P. Baxter

"Bessemer matte iron content is a critical process parameter that needs to be closely monitored and controlled in order to achieve optimal Ni/Cu smelter returns. Current process control practices during Ni/Cu converting often rely on visual observations and typically involve matte sampling to confirm that target composition was reached. A high-level techno-economic analysis study was carried out to evaluate potential direct benefits of advanced process control during the final stages of Ni/Cu matte converting. The results indicate that the magnitude of direct benefits will largely depend on matte iron control practices already implemented as well as matte iron set point. Preliminary assessment suggests that under the assumptions used in this study, implementation of advanced process control can potentially result in additional revenues ranging from several hundreds of thousands to tens of millions of US dollars per year per converter producing about 200 tonnes of Bessemer matte per day based on Ni, Cu, and Co metal recoveries alone.INTRODUCTION Real-time measurement of molten metal elemental composition, arguably, remains one of the key unresolved issues impeding full automation and real-time optimization of pyrometallurgical operations in different industrial areas, including non-ferrous metals and ferro-alloys. In particular, current process control practices during Ni/Cu matte converting often rely on visual observations and typically involve matte sampling in order to confirm target matte composition. In addition to being time consuming, this approach relies heavily on operator experience and diligence, and, therefore, requires continuous performance and quality control efforts. For instance, the need to improve quality of the Bessemer matte (BM) at the Copper Cliff smelter has prompted an impressive staff engagement and training campaign that was carried out by Vale’s team in the late 2000’s (Zanini, Wong, & Cooke, 2012). This training exercise was executed to address the compounded effect of several operational challenges, namely demand for higher throughputs, changes in the feed concentrate composition, increased feed variability, loss of process knowledge and expertise due to retirement, as well as lack of a comprehensive approach to improving the overall performance of the flowsheet rather than meeting production targets for intermediate products. Although the campaign was very successful and has resulted in significant improvements in the Bessemer matte quality, it has also highlighted the need to move away from “the-art-of-converting” and develop analytical tools that would enable real-time process monitoring."

Jan 1, 2018