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By Chantale Doucet

L?utilisation du remblai en pâte dans les exploitations en vrac est de plus en plus importante. Puisque la technologie existe pour fabriquer du remblai en pâte sans construire une usine coûteuse, il est maintenant possible d?élargir le domaine d?utilisation du remblai en pâte pour y inclure des gisements filoniens où le besoin annuel de remblai est moindre. Dans certains cas, l?utilisation du remblai en pâte pourrait permettre de réaliser d?importantes économies telles que la réduction de la dilution, la stabilité des ouvertures, la récupération d?une plus grande partie du minerai par la réduction de la taille des piliers et l?entreposage de moins de résidus à la surface. L?ampleur des économies est parfois difficile à chiffrer mais il est tout de même important d?en tenir compte lors de la décision d?utiliser du remblai en pâte puisque ce sont souvent ces économies qui seront déterminantes. Différentes méthodes d?extraction avec remblai en pâte appliquées aux mines filoniennes seront présentées. Des défis et les solutions reliés à l?utilisation du remblai en pâte à la Mine Doyon seront discutés.

Oct 1, 2001

By D. J. Zuliani

A mass and energy balance for a modern electric arc furnace ("EAF") indicates that about 70% of the process energy losses are contained in the off-gas as chemical energy in the form of uncombusted CO and H2 and as thermal energy. Given the magnitude of the off-gas energy losses, improved EAF energy efficiency needs to focus first on controlling furnace practice to maximize "in-EAF" energy utilization and second, on recovering residual energy in the off-gas existing in the fume system. This paper focuses on the application of off-gas analyzers, sensors and process models to control and optimize "in-EAF" energy utilization efficiency. The paper will also discuss the application of heat recovery technology to EAF steelmaking.

Jan 1, 2015

By W. T. Robson

Introduction Ground failure, violent or otherwise, is a problem to be contended with wherever underground operations are carried out. The character and extent of the failure, whether superficial or of more serious proportions, is determined by a number of factors, among which might be mentioned: the depth and dimensions of the underground workings; the types and distribution of wall rocks; structural features of the ore and enclosing rocks; the degree of metamorphism; the dip of the orebody; concentration of mining operations; the rate of mining; the history of the excavations made on the orebody in question. This last factor implies the consideration of such points as the arrangement and distribution of stoping both past and present, the current sequence of scoping, the type and effectiveness of the support used in old and current workings, and the amount and distribution of unmined parts of the lode. With such a variety of conditions, it is only natural that the situation at one place in a mine will not be the same as that obtaining in another part of the same mine and, more than likely, will be quite different in another property.

Jan 1, 1946

By Joseph J. Larry

In hard siliceous sandstone strata overlying coal seams, roof bolting is often the bottleneck in the coal production cycle. In the past, these strata have been drilled by pneumatically operated stopers. Although slow drilling is cumbersome and uncomfortably noisy, the stoper was the most effective drill in these harder strata. However, because of the (U.S.) Coal Mining Safety Act, which limits noise levels for operating drills, FMC Mining Equipment developed the water-through-the-drill-steel method of drilling high-compressive-strength strata. Although water-through-the-drill steel had been developed earlier, the real impact of wet drilling techniques surfaced when the dual-boom roof drilling machines were installed at the Virginia-Pocahontas Division, Keen Mountain, Virginia, in 1974. This paper covers some of the technical details of the water-through- the-drill-steel design and its application.

Jan 1, 1979

By K. G. Davies, M. J. Royea

"A major program of pillar recovery at the Sullivan mine has been assisted for the past several years by a concerted series of rock mechanics investigations. The object of these investigations is to measure the parameters of rock behaviour which influence pillar mining. This quantitative information is then used in the design of mining methods appropriate for various conditions.Instrumentation to measure absolute rock stress, changes in rock stress and the gross deformation of rock masses has been developed. Various instruments are described, as are instrument evaluation procedures and typical test results. The data from underground measurement projects have been used to modify pillar extraction sequences along re-treat fronts. Rock mechanics information from individual pillars has been incorporated into the design of mining methods to suit particular circumstances."

Jan 1, 1968

By Alan Galley, Tom Hynes, Michel Plouffe

"Mining in Canada’s economy• Employs 320,000+ workers; Wages 30-60% above other sectors• Operates 220 producing mines, 33 smelters and refineries• Paid $8.4B in taxes and royalties to governments in 2010• Invests about $30B in capital projects annually • Largest private employer of Aboriginal Canadians 2• Core supplier to clean-technology sectors• Attracted 18% of world exploration spending in 2010• Efficient TSX processes - 1400 mining companies listed, ~50% of mineral projects are outside Canada• Estimated 1000 Canadian companies in 100 countries• Minerals account for 21% by value of Canada’s goods exports• Top 5 World Producer in uranium, potash, nickel, platinum, aluminum, diamonds, zinc, met coal"

Jan 1, 2012

By R. W. Boyle

"The concept of using chemical methods in prospecting dates back at least to the middle of the 16th century. Modern methods of geochemical prospecting, however, based on secondary haloes and utilizing trace-element techniques, were first practised in the U.S.S.R. and the Scandinavian countries in the 1930's. After 1945, methods based on soils, stream sediments and vegetation were rapidly developed in the U.S.A., the United Kingdom, Canada, France and other countries.The modern methods of geochemical prospecting owe their rapid development in the 20th century to the following:1.-Recognition of the primary and secondary dispersion haloes and trains that are associated with all mineral deposits. 2.-Development of accurate and rapid analytical methods utilizing the spectrograph and the various specific sensitive colorimetrie reagents, especially dithizone. 3.-Development of polyethylene laboratory ware of all types and the development of resins. This permitted greater freedom of field analyses and reduced the incidence of contamination.4.-Development of gas chromatography. This permitted the rapid and accurate determination of hydrocarbons in petroleum prospecting.Future research in geochemical prospecting should be focused on the following tasks: 1.-Definition of geochemical provinces and their relation to mineral deposits. 2.-Development of methods for discovering large low-grade deposits. 3.-Development of methods for discovering deeply buried deposits. 4.-Further development of methods to outline primary haloes. 5.-Eiucidation and formulation of techniques to relate the size and intensity of anomalies to the grade of the deposits. 6.-Development and refinement of biogeochemical methods, especially those based on indicator plants, chlorotic or toxic effects, and microbiological techniques. 7.-Definition of the types of primary and secondary haloes associated with accumulations of oil and gas."

Jan 1, 1967

By Claude Hubert, Alex C. Brown, Pascal Marquis, D. M. Rigg

"Numerous studies of the Bousquet mining district, Abitibi, Quebec, mainly following the successive discoveries of new gold deposits over the past two decades, have led to a broad range of genetic hypotheses for their gold deposition. A compilation of petrographic, structural, and geochemical data indicates that the gold deposits are composed chiefly of pyritic schists derived from felsic and mafic volcanic and volcaniclastic protoliths, and of auriferous massive pyrite hosted by pyritic schists of felsic affinity. The deposits are typically located within zones of local pyrite enrichment and advanced-argillic alteration which are in turn enclosed within much larger zones of disseminated pyrite included in regional-scale, commonly anastomosing, zones of sericitic alteration.Overprinting relationships between three sets of folds and foliations indicate that the host-rocks of the gold deposits have retained the imprint of three successive generations of ductile deformation resulting from regional dynamothermal metamorphism. Sericitic and advanced-argillic alteration, together with massive sulphide deposition, are interpreted to have taken place prior to the onset of the ductile deformation, based on observations 1) of altered fragments of wallrocks which are enclosed within massive sulphide bodies and were thus preserved through regional metamorphism, 2) of the syntectonic deformed pyrite, and3) of the syn-tectonic porphyroblasts of andalusite, garnet and plagioclase. The orebodies are oblate to prolate, and the pyrite-gold mineralization is typically vein-type, distributed in foliation-oblique and foliation-parallel veins. The gold-bearing structures postdate all foliations, and are associated with retrograde alteration assemblages that are pseudomorphic after pea~-metamorphic porphyroblasts in host-rocks, and with cataclasticfabrics that overprint syn-metamorphic pressure-solution features and annealing fabrics in pyrite.Retrograde gold-bearing assemblages indicate a chemical disequilibrium between the ore-forming fluids and their host rocks. This disequilibrium rules out the possibility that gold was remobilized from its own host, and suggests, instead, that the ore-forming fluids and their metal contents had an allochtonous source. Stable and radiogenic isotope analyses indicate that the fluids had a metamorphic origin, and that the associated alteration took place after the culmination of the Kenoran orogeny."

Jan 1, 1990

By Paul E. Lamoureux

Introduction The Author As the pail of smoke and wartime destruction gradually rises from the surface of the earth, from all countries, statesmen assemble to discuss and prepare pacts and treaties which are designed to, once more, bring people of all nations to understand each other and live in harmony. Scientists and engineers throughout the world are also undergoing a drastic reconversion in their ideas and objectives. No longer do they think only in terms of destruction and twist their brains to develop more devastating weapons or to surpass production records of war machinery. They have turned their eyes and ambitions to more pleasant tasks and are taking stock of wartime developments in materials, fabricating procedures, and equipment, many of which had been carefully shrouded with a veil of secrecy, and are applying their new knowledge to the fabrication or improvement of the tools of peace. The next few years will see the gradual elimination of scores of substitutes and makeshifts, expedients which the constantly changing law of supply and demand' under wartime stress necessitated. The universal search for satisfactory substitutes, however, has resulted in a general awakening of plant engineers to the possibilities of materials with which they were relatively inexperienced, with the result that, in many instances, what was considered a substitution at the outset turned out to be more satisfactory than the original material, and, in reality, can be considered a worthwhile development. Not only have materials been explored, but existing fabricating processes have been reviewed, and others, built around the properties and characteristics of new materials, created.

Jan 1, 1947

By J. A. Pigott, R J. Hall

The International Nickel Company of Canada, Limited operates five underground mines on the rim of the Sudbury Basin in the northern part of the Province of Ontario. Four of the mines, the Frood-Stobie, Creigh-ton, Murray and Garson, are located on the south range of the basin with-in a radius of IO miles of the centre of the city of Sudbury. The fifth mine, Levack, is on the north range about 30 miles northwest of the city. The ores are mined primarily for nickel and copper, and the principal minerals are pentlandite, chalcopyrite and pyrrhotite. In 1960 the total ore production was in excess of 16 mil-lion tons, 95 per cent of which was produced from the five underground mines and the balance from the Frood-Stobie Open Pit. Mining at this open pit is nearing completion and underground production has been expanded to replace the open pit tonnage.

Jan 1, 1961

By B. Yu, S. Kelebek, C. Gibson, M. Aghamirian

There are a number of high grade niobium deposits worldwide which have been deemed untreatable by flotation due to the very fine grained nature of the in situ pyrochlore, the primary niobium bearing mineral. A known method of recovering extremely fine particles is through the use of chelating reagents such as hydroxamic acids which have a strong affinity for transition metals. However, one of the major issues in the flotation of niobium bearing minerals using hydroxamic acids is the corresponding recovery of other transition metal gangue minerals including magnetite, hematite, and pyrite. In order to better understand the differences in behavior of niobium and iron bearing minerals in flotation with benzohydroxamic acid (BHA) and sodium hexametaphosphate (SHMP) at a range of pulp temperatures, a Box-Behnken experimental design was employed. Regression models for the global recovery of iron indicated that iron mineral recovery was significantly influenced by both BHA and SHMP dosage. Upon examinination of flotation products by semi-quantitative XRD, it was observed that recovery of iron oxide and sulphide minerals (hematite, magnetite, goethite, and pyrite) was problematic at high benzohydroxamic acid dosage, while sodium hexametaphosphate was mainly helpful for carbonate mineral depression. Iron rich carbonates (likely an iron rich dolomite) largely reported to the tails with increased SHMP dosage.

Jan 1, 2015

By J. Lapointe, S. Leger, D. Proulx

"Une méthode non-électrolytique est utilisée pour plaquer au cuivre la fibre d'amiante chrysotite. En variant les paramètres de placage du bain, on détermine les conditions optimales du taux de deposition du cuivre . Une analyse par diffraction aux rayons-X permet une comp araison relative des résultats de placage et de précipitation d'oxyde cuivreux dans Ie bain. Le traitement de placage a pour but d'assurer une adhésion suffisante de la fibre dans une matrice métallique Iors de la fabrication éventuelle de materiaux composites.IntroductionCette communication se veut un compte-rendu de nos travaux sur Ie placage au cuivre de la fibre d'amiante chrysotile, en vue de I'incorporer éventuellernent dans une matrice métallique. La fibre d'amiante est constituée de fib rilles élementaires d'un diamètre d'environ 0.02 um qui ont une résistance en tension de I'ordre de celie de la fibre de verre ou de carbone(1). Pour être efficace, la fibre de renf'ort d'un matériau composite doit d'une part, avo ir des propriétés mécaniques intrinsèques élevées, et d'autre part, adhérer solidement â la matrice pour que Ie transfert de charge s'effectue sans qu'il y ait décohésion entre les composantes du matériau.La fibre d'amiante étant naturellement soyeuse, il faut la traiter superficiellement pour que l'adhésion avec la matrice soit suffisante. Ainsi, on recouvre la fibre de phénol-formaldéhyde(2) ou de silane(3) lorsqu'elle est employée avec une matrice polymere. Dans Ie cas d'une matrice métallique, ces dépôts organiques ne peuvent resister aux températures de mise en oeuvre, d'où l'intérêt de plaquer les fibres par un dépôt métallique.Dans cette étude, nous rapportons les résultats relatifs à la methode utilisée pour plaquer au cuivre la fibre d'amiante chrysotile. Une analyse par diffraction aux rayons-X permet de comparer les différentes conditions de placage non-électrolytique."

Jan 1, 1985

By Thomas H. Heine

"The Rabbit Lake uranium deposit is located at 58° 11’00”N.. 103°42'36""W., close to the west side of Wollaston Lake, and approximately 800 km north of Saskatoon. The orebody is hosted by Aphebian Wollaston Group rocks, initially deposited as a series of shallow-water marine sediments consisting, in part, of carbonates and possible saliferous petites. Metamorphism during the Hudsonian Orogeny, peaking at about 1850 Ma, recrystallized the sediments to upper amphibolite grade paragneisses. This was accompanied by partial anatexis. The waning stages of Hudsonian orogenesis appear to be marked by minor granitic intrusive activity.The post-Hudsonian period was marked by a long interval of physical and chemical erosion, resulting in the unroofing of the Wollaston metamorphic complex. The entire region underwent extensive lateritic weathering under tropical to subtropical conditions. Carbonates were especially vulnerable and, in the Rabbit Lake area, suffered extensive solutioning with accompanying formation of collapse breccias. Old zones of weakness also underwent periodic reactivation.It was during this period that uranium was leached from the surrounding meta-sediments by oxidizing meteoric waters, and transported into the karsted and fractured rocks of the Rabbit Lake doline.Athabasca Group sediments eventually covered the deposit, their diagenesis taking place at about 200 °C and 900 bars. This allowed the partial to complete recrystallization of the initial mineralization, resulting in a minimum age of 1281 ± 11 Major ""first""-generation pitchblende. Periodic fault/fracture reactivation modified the hydrologic regime within the deposit, resulting in episodic mobilization and recrystallization of pitchblende and other uraniferous species. This is clearly shown in the open pit at the present time: uranium is being mobilized and recrystallized on damp pit walls as bayleyite and liebigite due to the modification of the hydrologic system by mining activities.The uranium mineralization occurs mainly as fracture fillings, coatings, and impregnations within breccia zones and intensely altered metasediments. Lesser mineralization is intimately associated with phyllosilicates which form the matrix of a carbonate-col/apse mega-breccia. The primary ore mineral is pitchblende, consisting of five generations, and from which a large suite of secondary uraniferous minerals have formed. On a gross scale the metal content of this deposit appears to be simple, consisting almost exclusively of U, but minor Ni, As, Cu, Se, Fe and Co are also present. The eastern limit of the mineralization is defined by a vertically-dipping microgranite dyke - breccia complex, containing high-grade uranium values. The orebody is truncated to the west and at depth by the Rabbit Lake reverse fault. Minor mineralization occurs as fracture fillings in unaltered plagioclasite in the footwall of the ore body. Precipitation of uranium from solution could have taken place by a number of processes. A mobile reductant (methane, carbon dioxide, etc.) may have been generated from graphite present in some of the host rocks of the orebody. Sulphides are also a common accessory and may have aided in the formation of a reducing environment. Phyllosilicates may have acted as adsorbants for uranium, allowing for its fixation. This metal has also been incorporated into the phyllosilicates themselves."

Jan 1, 1986

By Pritii Tam Wai Yin, Tony Leong, Neetu Bansal, James Vaughan, Amiel Boullemant

Mercury is a toxic element that is associated with many industrial activities including the Bayer process. Mercury is known to enter the Bayer process with the bauxite feed material and has the potential to accumulate as the process solution is recycled. This paper explores the speciation of mercury in Bayer process streams. The process parameters considered are the oxidising-reducing potential, basicity and temperature. The results of a refinery circuit survey are presented and compared with the thermodynamic predictions. Electrochemical measurements on relevant synthetic systems are also included.

Jan 1, 2014

By J-F. Turgeon, Y. Pépin, G. Hudon

The high temperature hydrochloric acid leaching of titanium slag in the QIT upgraded slag process (UGS) creates a harsh environment for materials of construction. Because of their excellent chemical and heat resistance, furan mortars are a key component in the lining system of the UGS pressure leach reactors. Similar products coming from different manufacturers have however shown unequal performances in service. In some cases, cracking of the brick lining has occurred during curing of the mortar. This study was initiated to investigate the impact of the curing conditions on the properties of carbon filled furan mortars. Laboratory tests were conducted to assess the effects of temperature and exposure to water and HCl solutions on mortar shrinkage and mechanical properties (tensile, compressive and bond strength). Three commercial furan mortars that have been used in the UGS leach reactors were thus characterized. Mortar properties were found to vary significantly among the products tested. Moreover, the curing conditions were shown to have a significant impact on mortar shrinkage and mechanical strength. The experimental findings provide explanations for the unequal performances of the mortars in service and for the problems of brick lining cracking that occurred in the UGS leach reactors. This study demonstrates that excessive mortar shrinkage compromises the integrity of a brick lining system.

Jan 1, 2004

By J. M. Réjean Gagnon

"Quebec Cartier Mining Company is currently mining a low-grade iron ore deposit in northeastern Quebec. The Company is producing some 8,000,000 dry gross tons of concentrates per year, grading about 66 per cent iron. The pit, which is located on the keel or hinge line of a fold, will eventually be about 1,000 feet deep with a surface area of 8,000 by 2,600 feet. The most significant structural discontinuities in the mine are the natural bedding planes and secondary perpendicular joints. The exposed walls are subjected to a sub-Arctic climate and heavy blasting occurs approximately six times a month.QCM utilizes design and operating techniques to control rock fall. Steps are also being taken to analyze the ultimate over-all pit slope stability."

Jan 1, 1968

By Burns Sutherland

Although some mine hoisting systems incorporating steel wire ropes on drum hoists experience completely dependable performance on the hoist ropes for many years, other rope records illustrate an erratic behaviour pattern and, as such, become a source of concern to the operator. This paper describes the causes of the difficulties most commonly encountered and incorporates methods of providing preventative or corrective maintenance. When such a program is utilized wisely, within the allowable limits of shaft time available, it can be the means of avoiding many unforeseen circum-stances and of reducing operating costs, as well as rope costs, to a mini-mum.

Jan 1, 1970

By W. Roy Dunbar

"The Porcupine area is in northern Ontario at the intersection of N. Lat. 48° 30' and 81° W. Long. It is 125 miles due north of the Sudbury nickel range. Practically all the mineral production of this area has come from the townships of Tisdale, Deloro, Whitney, and Ogden, in order of importance. The accompanying map of the Porcupine area and its extensions to the east and west (Fig. 4) has been included to show what I consider to be an essential objective of this paper, a perspective for exploration.The discovery of gold ore in the Porcupine area at such an early date resulted from the extension of the Temiskaming and Northern Ontario railway and exploratory survey lines north into unexplored territory, for the early history of Porcupine is inextricably tied to the exploration along Niven's survey lines and the extension of the railway north from Cobalt to Nellie Lake. The following are the more significant events leading to the discovery of gold in Porcupine.1896-E. M. Burwash, employed by the Ontario Bureau of Mines, examined the country along Niven's base line and noted quartz veins that carried traces of gold. He was attached to Niven's survey party.1899-The late W. A. Parks reported on the geology of the portage route from Mattagami river to Night Hawk lake, for the Ontario Bureau of Mines. He noted the occurrence of gold in quartz veins and reported “I regard the region south of the trail to Porcupine lake as giving promise to the prospector"". He also was attached to Niven's survey party.1901-Charles Camsell, while prospecting for the Algoma Central railway, did some work on a vein occurrence carrying low gold on ground now known to be part of the Hollinger mine (3).1907- Extension of the Temiskaming and Northern Ontario railway to Nellie Lake.1909- Bannerman followed up Indian story about occurrence of coal, and found iron formation. He remained to prospect and found the gold-bearing vein of the Scottish Ontario property."

Jan 1, 1954

By K. G. Baxter, D. G. Dixon

The Sepon process plant utilises an autoclave to oxidize a flotation concentrate containing pyrite, residual copper minerals, and sulphur. The concentrate is produced from the residue of a preceding atmospheric copper leaching circuit. The function of the autoclave is to provide iron and acid for that atmospheric copper leaching circuit. The key issues in the operation of the autoclave are to maximise the production of acid and ferric ions and to avoid scaling issues related to sulphur balling in the autoclave. Scale control in the autoclave was examined using various dispersants and residue recycle without success. Operation of the autoclave at high temperature and high acidity addressed the scale issue through rapid oxidation of the sulphur and produced a ferric sulphate precipitate in the residue that could be re-leached to provide ferric iron. This paper presents the development steps followed, through batch and continuous piloting that resulted in an autoclave circuit design that addressed the above process requirements. Following definition of the process design basis, modelling of the autoclave operation was carried out to assist with engineering design. The model included thermodynamics and kinetics of oxidation of pyrite, elemental sulphur and covellite and also considered gas/liquid mixing, oxygen solubility as a function of temperature and solution composition, ferrous to ferric oxidation, gangue reactions with acid and precipitation/re-dissolution of basic ferric sulphate and alunite.

Jan 1, 2004

By A. W. Davis

Sapping and mining have constituted an important part of siege operations ever since powder came into general use in Europe. Before this period, famine was the main weapon in the hands of the besiegers, and the history of the middle ages is replete with accounts of sieges lasting two and three years. With the advent of explosives, a position impregnable to assault might be readily won by mining under, and blowing up, its defences. The natural offensive against this method of attack is to countermine and stop the attackers underground before their objective is reached. Thus developed the art of military mining. The French and British, in the Peninsular war, were adepts at this method of warfare, and the explosion of a mine and the formation of a breach were the usual preludes to the general assault of a position. In the Crimea, at Sebastopol, the British and Russians did a lot of underground fighting, as the old maps of their galleries, now in the museum at Chatham, will testify. In the siege of Port Arthur, in still later times, the Japanese and Russians were hard at it as well.

Jan 1, 1926