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In this study, flotation of fine galena, chalcopyrite and pyrite was performed after grinding with different extent of oxidation-reduction condition adjusted by grinding media. Sodium dithionite and iron ions were added in mill to simulate pulp potentials and iron oxidation species produced by grinding media, respectively. The types and quantities of the metal oxidation species on mineral surfaces were determined by EDTA extractions, while the surface electrical properties of minerals and interaction of different types of metal oxidation species were studied by zeta potential measurements. It was found that the nature and concentration of the absorbed metal oxidation species were dependent on oxidation atmosphere controlled by the iron amount of grinding media. These species interacted with each other and had an important role in determining flotation of fine galena and chalcopyrite as well as activation of fine pyrite by lead and copper.

Jan 1, 2006

By B. C. Legg, G. L. Tiley

"Many of the ore bodies presently being developed are in remote locations and are, or will be, served by electrical power supply systems of limited capacity.The largest single components of the electrical systems of an underground mine are usually the production hoist drives; the power demands of these drives vary continuously throughout each hoisting cycle.Before 1970mine hoists were driven by either wound rotor induction motors or DC motors in conjunction with motor generator sets.Static Power conversion equipment now costs less to purchase and install and is claimed to be more efficient than motor generator sets. On the debit side, however, it can adversely affect the hoist motors, it operates at relatively low power factors, and it produces harmonic currents.This pa per discusses the effects of static equipment on both DC motors and AC power systems, and evaluates the relative consumption of the three classes of drives."

Jan 1, 1993

By Sukumar Bandopadhyay, Arunapuram Sundararajan

"Unique production and environmental problems are associated with multiple seam mining where dragfines are used for overburden and interburden removal. On the production side, the problems are decreased dragfine efficiency in chopdown operations, the general need for spoil rehandle, complications in sequencing stripping and coal handling operations, and potential stability problems in highly stacked spoil. Many variations of dragline methods have been reported in the literature to encounter these problems. Because of the physical properties and peculiar hydrology of sub-arctic region mining of multiple seams in such areas probably could not be done with the methods used in temperate regions.The properties of thawed material would make spoil hard to place in a stable manner and thus would influence the mini sequence. For instance, multiple seam mining which requires some rehandling of spoil and prolonged exposure of overburden and interburden material might be precluded by the instability of thawed spoil and therefore mining techniques have to be modified. Since the deployment and operation of a dragline in modes different from conventional schemes will affect productivity, it will be necessary to study the effects on production of changing the dragfine operational schemes. This paper presents a heuristic simulation model of multi-seam dragline operation of a sub-arctic mine that can be used to analyze the handling of overburden and detailed study of the dragfine performance."

Jan 1, 1986

By G. Harper

The Sustut Copper deposit, 230 miles northwest of Prince George, B.C., was discovered in August of 1971. Subsequent exploration has included 56,417 feet of surface diamond drilling in 139 holes. The deposit occurs in gently dipping volcanic rocks of the Upper Triassic Takla Group, which outcrops as rugged mountains. The general Mesozoic sequence comprises some 20,000 feet of green and red basaltic to andesitic rocks. The Lower Formation is characterized by subaqueous basalt, andesite and augite porphyry flows with interbedded breccias. They were rapidly deposited in tectonic depressions of limited extent and steep gradients. Fades changes are abundant. The Middle Formation consists of volcaniclastic rocks made up of fragments from the underlying formation. Two cycles are discernible, both with basal turbiditic, tuf-faceous sandstone and shale units overlain by massive, volcanic conglomerates exhibiting graded and cross bedding. A broader, shallower-water basin is indicated. The top of the uppermost unit was subaerially deposited. The Upper Formation is a variable sequence of volcanic sedimentary rocks. Detritus was supplied from a wide source area and included multiple reworked fragments of the lower formations and material from other rock groups known in the region. Zeolite fades metamorphism is recognized throughout the entire sequence. Epidote is particularly abundant in the Middle Formation, demonstrating the results of metasomatism. The mineralized zone is approximately concordant with the strata over 100-200 feet of the Middle Formation succession. It lies just below the zone of transition from subaqueous to subaerial deposition in the top unit. Hematite, chalcocite, pyrite, bornite, chalcopyrite and native copper are disseminated throughout all sizes of lithic fragments and matrix. Concentration into the specific zone is believed, to be due to upward leaching of copper during low-grade metamorphic and metasomitic reaction. Precipitation occurred in the zone of hydration characterized by prehnite-pumpellyite below the oxidized subaerial rocks.

Jan 1, 1977

By Yongquan Zhu, Zhengguo Zhu, Zhichun Liu, Chao Kong, Xinqiang Gao

"The aim of the study is to have a good understanding of the change in the seepage field during and after the tunnel excavation in weathering alteration rock. Field tests are used to monitor the changes of the water table and the numerical model is used to analysis the influence of the seepage filed with different operation conditions during and after the tunnel excavation. Results indicate that the depth, diameter and pumpage of precipitation well are the main factors that have a great influence on the drainage effect. Results also indicate that different operation conditions had various effects on the decrease in water yield during tunnel construction and the recovery in groundwater level after construction.INTRODUCTIONAs a potential disease during tunnel construction, Gushing water not only affected construction schedule, increased construction cost, as well as affected tunnel stability and safety during operation, but also decreased ground-water level. What’s more, the fall of water table caused by gushing water in tunnel would have influenced surrounding residents’ living water, agricultural water and ecological environment around tunnel. In recent years, enough emphasis has been paid to the influence on environment due to the construction of tunnel as a result of the reinforcement of people’s environmental protection awareness.As a result of water collection and drainage after excavation, groundwater was discharged into the tunnel, which caused a loss of water resources in the adjacent mountain mass. Furthermore, during tunnel operation, it was difficult for groundwater level to resume its original condition, which caused a bad ecological environment, because drainage system during tunnel construction destroyed its original hydrologic dynamic balance.In order to study whether decreased groundwater level resulting from tunnel construction could be restored during operation to its original condition, this paper gave a field monitoring on tunnel displacement during construction and simultaneously, generalized model of regional hydrogeology was created according to field hydrogeology to carry out a calculation of stable seepage flow and draw comparisons between recovery conditions of various water levels."

Jan 1, 2015

By W. B. Boggs

Part 1 Originally, the copper produced at the Noranda ?smelter was shipped in the form of blister bars to the Laurel Hill refinery of the Nichols Copper Co., New York. In 1930 a refinery was built at Montreal East for the purpose of refining Noranda copper and copper from the Hudson Bay Mining and Smelting Co., at Flin Flon. After investigation of the probable costs of making anodes at Noranda and at Montreal, it was decided to make them at Noranda rather than to continue to make blister bars there. Fuel is a major item of expense in making anodes: and since less fuel would be required in making anodes from molten copper than in making them from blister bars, a lower anode furnace cost could be expected at Noranda than at Montreal. Further, the expense connected with making blister bars at Noranda would be eliminated. The cost of treating anode and wire bar furnace slags is a serious item in a refinery, and it was found that the cheapest method would be to ship such slags back to Noranda. With the anode furnace at Noranda, much less anode furnace slag would be made at the refinery. Against these savings which would be effected by making anodes at Noranda must be set the high operating cost of an anode furnace at Montreal, using only tank-room scrap and the Flin Flon copper. This furnace would be handling a comparatively small tonnage and would have a high cost per ton. The usual equipment for making anodes from. liquid copper consists of either a stationary reverberatory furnace or a tilting Tacoma-type furnace together with an anode wheel of the Clark or Walker type. The reverberatory type of furnace has been developed from the furnace used in the old Welsh process of smelting and refining copper, while the tilting furnace is a development of the holding furnace, which is essentially a Peirce Smith converter without tuyeres and provided with burners.

Jan 1, 1932

By Matt Manson

?? Current Exploration and Assessment ?? Overview of Potential Development ?? Infrastructure ?? Opportunities and Challenges ?? Renard? 1-10 kimberlite pipes and ?Lynx-Hibou? kimberlite dyke system within ?Foxtrot? property ?? 50/50 Joint Venture between Ashton (a subsidiary of Stornoway) and SOQUEM ?? Discovered 2001-2003 ?? Québec is routinely assessed as one of the top mining jurisdictions in the world ?? Agnico-Eagle Mines Ltd. Is Stornoway?s largest shareholder and a leading mine developer in Québec

May 1, 2008

By V. Schwinn, P. Fluess, N. Cauderlier, J. Bauer

From a strategic and economic point of view, the development of fine grain high strength steels for long distance pipelines is intensified world wide to satisfy the demand for natural gas in the future.The project related property profiles based on strength, toughness, crack arrest and sometimes resistance against HIC at defined design temperatures require an effective structural refinement using advanced steelmaking and processing in the rolling mill. The microstructure of modern line pipe steels ranges from ferritic pearlitic to ferritic-bainitic and structures where bainite is the dominant component, possibly upgraded by secondary phases. This paper illustrates microstructures and properties of recent orders on line pipe steels both for onshore and offshore application using different processing routes in the plate mill. Examples will be given for SAWL 485 offshore grades, X65 HIC and X70 HIC onshore grades, respectively. Finally, production results of a recent X80 order will be presented.

Jan 1, 2005

By B. Stuckert, P. Sheehan, J. Balfour, B. (Manas) Das, D. Fawcett

"With the growth of large scale surface mining operations, waste disposal and stability of waste dumps pose a challenging problem to engineers. Vibrations due to blasting operations proximal to these dumps further complicates dump design. Many dumps which are statically stable may become unstable due to the effects of blasting vibrations.A joint project between CANMET and Smoky River Coal Ltd. has been initiated to study the dynamic stability of waste dumps. The study involves development of an analytical algorithm combined with field monitoring to assess dump performance.Another objective of the study is to provide baseline data for a vibration attentuation relationships for sedimentary rock (coal) environments: most studies to date are for base metal mines. The effect of dump thickness on vibration response is also addressed.The key objective of the study is to present a methodology for assessing the dynamic stability of waste dumps. Implicit in this methodology are a number of assumptions concerning vibration attenuation in sedimentary rock environments, and response of the dump material to induced vibration. Where possible, these assumptions have been compared with monitoring data as a check on their validity."

Jan 1, 1989

By G. Wilson

"Satisfactory hydraulic performance of a centrifugal slurry pump is not the only design criterion. If abrasive wear exists the severity of any damage can be reduced and the life of the wearing parts prolonged by selecting the correct pump to suit the conditions of service. This paper is concerned with the design and construction of centrifugal pumps for handling abrasive solids. The wear phenomena due to the slurry being pumped and the materials used to combat abrasive, wear are outlined. The hydraulic design of the impeller and casing and their relationship to wear and the hydraulic radial and axial unbalance are discussed. The prediction of abrasive wear in pumps can not be precise, as many factors are involved - and this is the object of current research."

Jan 1, 1973

By Stanley G. Hutton, Robert Brubaker

"It has long been recognized that mining workers subjected to high levels of hand-transmitted vibration may suffer from vibration-related complaints. Prolonged exposure to whole-body vibration may also result in adverse effects. In this study, the effects of vibration on mining workers are examined. Previous work documenting the occurrence of vibration-related disease is reviewed. From this work, it is apparent that operators of hand-held pneumatic rock drills are exposed to a significant risk of developing vibration disease. Vibration levels recorded on the rock drills now in use are presented and shown to exceed levels recommended by a proposed ISO standard.IntroductionThe possible harmful effects of exposure to excessive vibration levels have long been recognized, particularly among operators of hand-held tools. Numerous cases have been reported of a vasospastic disorder commonly known as vibration white finger disease (VWFD), which was a term coined by the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council in Scotland in 1970(1 ), Those suffering with the disorder have frequent vasospastic attacks in which the fingers, hand and, in advanced cases, the lower arm turn white and numb, usually after a cold stimulus. Advanced stages of VWFD have been reported in which the skin becomes ulcerated and gangrenousm. The incidence of the disease has been particularly serious in the forest industry due to the extensive use of chain saws. However, in recent years, the introduction of antivibration saws has resulted in a significant reduction in the occurrence of the disease.In a recent report for the Canadian Department of Supply and Services - Energy, Mines and Resources, Hutton & Brubaker considered the effects of vibration on workers in the mining industry. In this report, the physiological and medical effects of vibration were considered, relevant vibration standards were discussed, previous vibration measurements were documented and field measurements carried out. In the present paper, the results recorded in this study will be summarized, together with results that have been previously published relating to vibration levels existing in the mining industry."

Jan 1, 1982

By F. K. McKean

Abstract A discussion of the difficulties involved in the production of a clean molybdenite concentrate introduces the paper. There is a brief description of the various methods for producing molybdenite that will fit marketing specifications, and it is shown how these methods are nor suited to the milling of ores containing small quantities of bismuth and copper. A process that was developed in the ore testing laboratories of the Bureau of Mines at Ottawa for the La Corne mill of the Molybdenite Corporation of Canada is described in derail and some results from pilot plant operation of this milling scheme are tabulated. A description of the La Corne mill, where the writer supervised the introduction of the process on a commercial scale, adds to the interest of the paper. In conclusion, there is a review of the conditions necessary for proper operation of the flowsheet. An attempt is made to show how the process might be satisfactory in other problems similar to that at the La Corne mill. Introduction The production of a molybdenite concentrate, free from impurities and high in grade, has been a difficult task when milling some types of ore. Whereas ordinary flotation techniques will produce acceptable concentrates of the baser sulphides, in many cases they will not serve in the treatment of molybdenite, for this mineral must be of optimum grade and purity to bring the best prices, or to find a market at all . Faced with the necessity of meeting stringent specifications, the mill operator has been forced to employ expensive processing methods, and to be satisfied with low recoveries, in order to make grade with his product. The most objectionable and common impurities found with molybdenite are: (a) gangue minerals and iron sulphides, which lower the grade; and (b) copper, bismuth, or antimony, which are deleterious in the final uses of the molybdenite products. It is difficult, and sometimes impossible, to market a concentrate with over 0.5 per cent of any of the latter impurities, or with a grade much below 90 per cent MoS2. Various methods, which have been highly successful in specific applications, have been developed to meet the problem of producing a suitable concentrate. All of them, however, have certain defects precluding their use when treating ores of a nature different from the one for which they ? were designed. The writer has developed a process for molybdenite ores having an objectionable impurity content. A description of the procedure involved, and of the La Corne mill of the Molybdenite Corporation of Canada, where the process has been adopted, should be of interest to flotation operators.

Jan 1, 1947

By M. Ghiani, P. Carbini, R. Ciccu, C. Del Fà

"This paper is concerned with the problems inherent in the efficient and economical processing of the fine fractions of a coal from the Sulcis basin (Sardinia, Italy) whose characteristics are typical of low-rank coals occurring in the Mediterranean region. Three different techniques, based upon surface properties, are examined. Flotation can be very efficient from both a technical and economic point of view, provided care is taken in the modulation of the flotation pulp. Interesting results have been obtained with oil agglomeration and this method could be economically feasible. Finally, electrical separation has proven a viable technique, although it entails preliminary drying.Besides discussing the problems encountered in the experimental research, some significant results of general validity are also given. They demonstrate that cleaned products can be obtained with fairly interesting recoveries, thus opening the way to advanced research aimed at setting up the most suitable technique for industrial application. IntroductionAs a result of the oil crisis, which caused a major upset in world energy supplies, the last ten years have seen a revolution in the energy policies adopted.In particular, the status of coal, which seemed destined to decline in view of the availability of liquid fuel, has had to be re-examined. The need to meet energy demands under improved reliability conditions and controlled prices through a broader and more flexible diversification of sources of supply has evoked, especially in highly industrialized countries, a renewed interest in coal. The result has been a consistent increase in demand and production as well as investments in new mines and the reinforcement of the infrastructure.This turn of events has also lead to a re-evaluation of young low-rank coals, hitherto considered uneconomical and thus neglected, because of their low heat value. In fact these coals, which have a high ash content, may also be relatively highly contaminated with sulphur. The above drawbacks, which still today preclude the widespread use of these coals, are bound to create even greater problems in the future as increasingly restrictive environmental control imposes, without exception, recourse to cleaner fuels."

Jan 1, 1986

By Alf Hartling

"Most of the Paleozoic section of the Williston Basin is a thick accumulation of numerous carbonate to evaporite, shallowing upward, cyclic sequences. These sediments were deposited in broad epeiric seas, and the deposition of the evaporite facies marked the final stage of each cycle. Many of the sequences display a pervasive replacement dolomite in the uppermost portion of the carbonate units. This secondary dolomitization is, at least in part, an early diagenetic event, synchronous with evaporite deposition.The inception of evaporite precipitation resulted in the seepage of a dense, Mg-rich brine into the underlying sediment. The heavy brine moved down the gentle regional dip displacing the more normal marine interstitial pore fluid and dotomitized the primary calcitic sediments en route. The supply of Mg-ions decreased away from the source, and correspondingly, the degree of dolomitization decreased and larger crystals formed because of slower nucleation at fewer sites.The seepage refluxion of dolomitizing brines gave rise to the frequently observed textural variation of cryptocrys talline, impervious dolomite grading into a finely sucrosic, permeable dolomite down-dip. This diagenetic facies change provides the critical up-dip barrier for potential hydrocarbon reservoirs. The lateral pool boundaries are controlled by either structural relief or a similar diagenetic facies change. The reservoirs are capped by the tight evaporites.Hydrocarbon production is attained from diagenetic traps in the Mississippian Oungre Zone and the Ordovician Red River 'C' Zone . Reservoir creation and the pooling mechanism are the result of dolomitization by the seepage refluxion of dense, Mg-rich brines beneath restricted, hypersaline lagoons. When formulating an exploration/ exploitation program for these oil prone horizons, it is essential to understand the complete geological history in order to establish where the reservoirs will be found and to define the areal extent of each accumulation."

Jan 1, 1984

By T. H. Patching, M. W. Mikhail

"The gas sorption and emission characteristic of coals are important to the planning and conduct of mining operations. Methane drainage from coal strata can also provide a supply of fuel in certain circumstances. Gas emissions have also created hazards during the handling and transport of coals and the release of gas also appears to be related to the yield of fine sizes during mining and processing operations.This paper summarizes studies at the University of Alberta on the permeability and gas emission of certain bituminous coals. Permeability of 'solid' samples was found to be drastically reduced by confining pressure. An emission index, .P, which has been related to outbursting behaviour of coals, has also been related to the proportion of fine s in cleaning plants. Gas sorption isotherms are dependent on temperature, moisture content, the gas involved and the type of coal and can be approximately expressed by the Langmuir or the Freundlich equations. Sorption values in sections taken across a given seam were similar but considerable differences were found in . P indices in the different coal layers of a seam.IntroductionThe emission of gases, especially of methane, from coal has been a subject of great interest (and sometimes a matter of life and death), to those who dig and handle coal since it was first mined from underground pit s. Many studies and investigations have been carried out on gas occurrences and emissions but our knowledge of the precise mechanisms of gas sorption, desorption and flow from coal is still incomplete. It is the purpose of this paper to review the principal factors involved in these processes and to briefly rep ort some of the results that have been obtained by studies in the laboratories of the Department of Mineral Engineering, University of Alberta, and Coal Research Laboratory, Edmonton, CANMET"

Jan 1, 1986

By Q. Liu, P. Katsabanis, J. A. Meech

A thermohydrodynamic computer code has been used to simulate dust explosions. For sulphide dusts, the thermodynamic predictions are used to investigate the effect of dust concentration, mineral content and inert materials as well as the quantity of sulphur dioxide produced. It was found that the amount of oxygen available for the explosion is very important and that the dust concentration which gives maximum explosion pressures is obtained at zero or slightly negative oxygen balance values. The sulphide minerals were found to have the following explosibility sequence: pyrrhotite, pyrite, chalcopyrite, sphalerite, covellite, chalcocite and galena, which is in agreement with mine experience. The results show that theoretical calculations can be used to predict explosion pressures and toxic gases produced by a dust explosion and therefore they can assist in the design of protective measures .

May 11, 1988

By Kosta Fytas, Nour-Eddine Chaouai

"Selection of the appropriate kriging plan during indicator kriging estimations is of a paramount importance to the precision of ore reserve estimation. However, very little is known on the sensitivy of indicator kriging results when changing the kriging plan parameters (mainly search distance and number of samples). This paper evaluates the effect of the search distance and number of samples on indicator kriging results using a gold deposit as a case study.IntroductionBlock estimation using kriging is based on the autocorrelation function (variogram) on one hand and on the kriging plan on the other. As far as the variogram is concerned it is more or less subjectively adjusted and this is reflected on its parameters (range, sill, nugget effect and anisotropy). The effect of a poor estimation of these parameters on the kriging variance of ordinary kriging has been proven very important (Brooker, 1986). Choosing a kriging plan is generally a difficult matter depending on the estimation type (global or local). Generally there is not a unique kriging plan be cause there is not a unique structural analysis (variogram). There are no rules or dogmas in choosing a kriging plan but it is rather a function of the sampling pattern (David, 1982).Structural analysis requires the hypothesis of quasistationarity but very often either the data available within the zone of quasi-stationarity are too many so that the search distance is reduced during kriging or the data are too few to satisfy a stationary kriging system (Journel and Huijbregts 1978). As a rule, the larger the neighbourhood, the more precise the estimates should be , but for large neighbourhoods the hypothesis of stationarity does not always hold (Rivoirard 1987; Armstrong and Champigny 1989)."

Jan 1, 1991

By Leslie McHattie, Sadek E. EI-Alfy

"The Maintenance Engineering Department at Carol Mining and Concentrating is currently in the process of introducing reliability concepts such as failure analysis, rework elimination, predictive maintenance, computerized maintenance history analysis, etc. to improve the over-all maintenance function in the mine and concentratormaintenance areas. Some current initiatives include:• Implementation ofan infrared thermographic scanning program.• Ultrasonic inspection of shafts for all critical equipment in the mine and concentrator areas.• Non-destructive testing of all major welds done by maintenance personnel.• Development of an effective vibration monitoring and analysis program for the production equipment in the mine (shovels, drills, haulage trucks, locomotives).• Failure analysis performed by maintenance engineers to identify the root cause of component failures on critical production equipment.• Computerized breakdown analysis to identify the recurring component failures which contribute significantly to high maintenance costs and production loss.• Implementation of a computerized maintenance management information system.This paper will outline the planned implementation ofthese initiatives, and others, and will also cover the status and results obtained to date."

Jan 1, 1992

By R. F. Engler

"IntroductionThe Coal Branch region of west-central Alberta has been the focal point for unprecedented exploration and development activities over the past ten years prompted by the renewed markets for high-quality thermal coal. Although mines were developed and operated extensively throughout the region from 1910 until 1960, information relating to the detailed stratigraphy of the coal measures and their areal distribution tended to be localized to individual mine sites. Continuity along trend was impaired by a paucity of outcrop restricting geologic mapping to stream bank and roadside exposures. Recent studies and subsequent publications by Jerzykiewicz and McLean of the Geological Survey of Canada (1978, 1980) have established a detailed sedimentological model and defined the stratigraphic nomenclature for the region . The term Coalspur Beds has been adopted to describe the coal-bearing sequence between the overlying Paskapoo Formation and underlying Brazeau Formation. Complete sections of the Coalspur Beds have been compiled from sub-surface borehole data and published by Manalta Coal Ltd ., Dentherm Resources Ltd. and Luscar Stereo Ltd. This paper is an attempt to correlate this information on a regional basis to illustrate trends within the Coalspur Beds."

Jan 1, 1986

By Vincent H. Hartung

The process of estimating tailings deposition for a given basin is a relatively tedious process without dedicated software tools. The amount of time required to generate a tailings surface for a given set of conditions tends to limit the number of design alternatives that can be considered for a particular project. Recent innovations in the Surpac Vision mining software include the widely used scripting language TCL (Tool Command Language) that brings with it the ability for non-programmers to extend the software functionality beyond mining applications alone. A software tool was developed using the Surpac Vision scripting language to take advantage of 3D visualization and create a flexible tailings modeling solution. The result is an application that removes much of the drafting overhead required to produce a tailings surface. It provides the means for reviewing alternatives and performing sensitivity analysis with variables such as pond elevation, dam or spigot location and height without a significant increase in overall time for a project.

May 1, 2001