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By Robert C. Stanley

The prominence of her mineral resources makes Canada a most fitting place in which to hold the Second Empire Mining and Metallurgical Congress, since in all probability the Dominion has more diversified mineral wealth than any other part of the British Empire. This paper is concerned with nickel, an important factor of Canada's mineral production. The richness and quantity of her nickel ores have made Canada the world's most important source of supply of the metal. Its history and diversified uses are, therefore, particularly interesting at this meeting. Early History Probably the first use of nickel by man was in the fashioning of implements, and later swords, from nickel-bearing meteorites, masses of metal that have fallen from time to time at many points on the earth's surface and which consist normally of iron carrying substantial amounts of nickel. Meteorites were perhaps the first metal known to man. The falling star, sought out with fear overborne by curiosity, was found to be a better stone than the earth-given, truly a boon from the gods. Archaeologists tell us there is good evidence that the ancient oriental peoples learned at an early date to make these stones into useful implements. The invincible blades of the great warriors of old, in China, Persia, and in northern Europe, were Heaven-sent, a fable which sounds significant of meteoric iron. Probably some of the ancient swords of Khorassan and of Damascus were of meteoric nickel-bearing iron.

Jan 1, 1927

By T E. Tibbetts

This paper deals with coal sampling in general and with mechanical coal sampling in particular. The necessity of obtaining representative samples is emphasized. Other sections of the paper are devoted to the design and selection of automatic samplers, with a consideration of the three main types, and the testing, operation and maintenance of these samplers. The cost of the installation of an automated sampling system must be related to the value of the material to be sampled, to the volume of coal involved, and to the savings in labour and economy which can be achieved. Introduction T HE Committee?:; on Coal Sampling of the Coal Study Subsection, Thermal Power Section (Eastern Zone), Canadian Electrical Association, was established in November, 1963, to "study the various problem areas of coal sampling." The first undertaking of the Committee was to at-tempt to survey the problem areas of coal sampling through an evaluation of coal sampling difficulties as experienced at both the plant design and operational levels within the electric utilities represented on the Committee. The results of this enquiry indicated that satisfactory answers to almost any conceivable

Jan 1, 1965

By R. Luchese de Moraes, J. A. Matthews, C. Feliciano Bruzual

The role of biomass char in blast furnaces has been re-examined by scientists worldwide, as a feasible option to reduce the carbon intensity of ironmaking. This contribution makes a technical and economic analysis of the ferro gusa industry in Brazil, with the last 172 charcoal-Blast Furnaces operating in the world. A key strategic question is presented: what is the current status and future prospects of biomass use in Blast Furnaces? Findings provide significant implications to metallurgists: while ferro gusa from charcoal is regarded as carbon neutral iron with low impurities, there are limiting factors that hinder the further proliferation of charcoal-BFs: biomass generation requires vast extensions of arable land and aggregates have low production capacity. Additionally, most of the charcoal is presently generated in beehive kilns with low yields. These elements combined make charcoal-hot metal expensive in price. With respect to the future prospects of biomass, the injection of small biochar particles through the PCI rigs in BFs (here coined Bio-PCI) and iron ore sintering may offer a practical alternative to significantly reduce the CO2 emissions in the ironmaking process.

Jan 1, 2015

By E. C. W. Perryman

Materials research and development has played an important role in the commercial success of the CANDU- PHW nuclear reactor and in the production of heavy water. Both capital investment and energy conservation demand very high component reliability in such systems. The interactions among reliability, plant performance and economics will be discussed in relation to materials research and development. Likely materials requirements for the nuclear industry over the next twenty five years will also be discussed.

Jan 1, 1977

By G. M. Carr-Harris

"THE SUBJECT of permanent molding has received a great deal of attention in the technical press as illustrated by the many excellent articles in the bibliography which follows. In general, this covers the period 1940-1958 and is merely representative of what is available. Numbers in •brackets refer to items in the bibliography.It may be desirable at the outset to give a few definitions covering those terms directly related to this subject. The following is a definition of permanent-mold casting as given by J. W. Meier in a paper, ""The Non-Ferrous Metals and Alloys"", read before the Ottawa Valley Chapt.er of the American Society for Metals:""Permanent Mold Casting is used where a large number of castings of the same part are required and higher mechanical properties, greater density and closer tolerances are essential. Since metallic mold s are very expensive, the number of castings must be sufficient to, defray, at least partially, the added expense. Molds are usually made from a good quality cast iron, 1but other mold materials, such as the aluminum and copper alloys, graphite, ceramics, etc., are being used in certain cases. Important factors in permanent mold casting are the mold temperature; the proper mold dressing; and, as in all other casting methods, the mold geometry, that is to say, the design of spruces, gates, risers and vents""."

Jan 1, 1960

By A. Alwasel

Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) threaten the wellbeing and livelihood of a large number of construction workers incurring a significant cost to society. We present a new method to monitor and diagnose MSD risks in the workplace. The sensing unit of the system is an optical encoder encompassed within a non-intrusive exoskeleton to measure the joint angle of interest. This sensor can be applied to ball-and-socket and hinge-type joints of the human body, such as the shoulder, elbow, and knee joints. The system is contactless and does not require markers or cameras. Angle measurements are acquired directly without mathematical post-processing, thereby avoiding numerical noise and drift challenges. The system is a simple, robust, and deployable, but it currently lacks resolution of parallel degrees of freedom.

Aug 1, 2013

By R. Roufail

Mineral exploration is in a race to employ drilling technology that can perform the exploration and drilling investigation in a fast and inexpensive manner. After an extensive study of the available drilling technologies in the market, coiled tubing was chosen as a tool to be employed for mineral exploration due to its flexible mobility and ease of operation with a minimum number of personnel. Since coiled tubing technology is primarily used in the oil and gas industry, it was important to re-design the coiled tube rig to drill hard rocks in a fast and feasible manner. The main requirements were to drill the smallest feasible hole diameter and go as deep in the ground as possible, in the shortest reasonable time. The drilled rock particles, cuttings, are to be collected and analysed at the surface for their metal mineral contents. The process also needs to be repeated multiple times at different locations for mapping, without the need to change the tube on the rig due to failure or potential failure. The focus of the new designed coiled tube, for drilling and mineral exploration, is three fold. First is to increase the rate of penetration in drilling by designing a small high speed turbo motor. Second is to determine the controlling parameters of cuttings transport to effectively lift the cuttings to the surface for analysis and third is to minimize the overall weight of the rig for manoeuvring and prolong the life span of the coiled tube string. In this paper, a small downhole turbo motor, 5cm outer diameter, is designed to achieve a rotation speed of up to 10,000 rpm to fit on a small bit, coiled tube drilling assembly. The motor design utilised multiple finite volume and finite element analysis softwares for fluid flow study and fluid structural interaction analysis. The paper is also introducing the concept of a flow slurry loop that is designed to lift the cutting particles to the surface for mineralisation analysis. The controlling parameters of the cuttings transportation are the particle?s physical properties such as size, density, concentration and shape, as well as the rheological properties of the carrying fluid, drilled hole angle, as well as the fluid flow rate and flow dynamics within the annulus gap between the coiled tube and drilled hole. Such parameters are addressed via experimental work as well as numerical analysis. The paper is also presenting the selection and testing procedure of the material type for the coiled tube string. The tube needs to be light in weight for overall rig weight and its transportability. The tube is also required to drill several dozens of investigation holes before failing due to fatigue. A fatigue bending machine is designed to test the endurance limit of candidate materials for coiled tube strings and a performance index methodology is followed for material selection of the optimum material. The coiled tube rig is designed to be light in weight for transportation and relocation. It is also required to speed the drilling operation with the minimum footprint and reclaim the drilled rock particles for mineral composition analysis at the surface.

Aug 1, 2013

By J. S. Vanderploeg

I WILL begin this presentation by citing the annual per capita use of copper in Canada. This is best calculated by taking refinery domestic sales, plus imports of the products of foreign fabricating mills (very little refinery copper is imported), and deducting the exports of Canadian mills. No attempt has been made to estimate the copper content of imports or exports of machinery, motors, etc., but the trade balance here is probably against Canada. In any event, we find that, though varying somewhat since the war, the estimated yearly per capita figure has reached a high of 18 pounds. This is practically on a par with the United States. The rest of the world uses an average of about 2 pounds per capita, yearly, though this includes some countries, such as Sweden, Germany and England, which consume much better than average quantities. It looks, therefore, as if the Canadian copper industry has not (as has been generally charged) been asleep after all.

Jan 1, 1962

By Walter F. Atkins

Fair market value, in the legal sense , is the price which a prudent and knowledgeable buyer and a prudent and knowledgeable seller, acting without constraint or compulsion , will agree upon to exchange an asset. In the ordinary commercial or engineering usage, the term may imply simply the market value or a reasonable and equitable price. The engineer evaluator who is called upon to express an opinion about the fair market value of an asset may be able to base his estimate on the sale price of similar assets or on the market values of stock. Frequently such indicators of value are not available and the evaluator must devise other means of appraisal. Mineral resource properties may be thought of as having value by virtue of the existing or potential ability to produce at a profit. Conventional procedures permit the computation of the present value of future revenues having due regard for the time value of money and the risks attendant upon the realization of the venture. Such computations have gained wide acceptance as a basis for the estimation of fair market value.

Jan 1, 1977

By Michael P. Amsden

"THE ECSTALL CONCENTRATOR is situated adjacent to Highway 101 and the Ontario Northland Railroad, 15 miles east of Timmins, Ontario. Ore is delivered to the concentrator by rail from the mine, which is 17 miles northwest of the plant. Power and fuel are obtained from the hydro and natural gas lines which pass close to the plant site. Water is obtained from the Frederickhouse River, 6 miles east of the concentrator. The main concentrator building is a large structure 500 by 640 feet by 90 feet high and contains facilities for fine crushing, crushed ore storage, grinding, flotation, tin recovery, concentrate handling and reagent handling. Located in the same building are the machine shop, warehouse, metallurgical laboratory, pilot plant, men's change room, sample preparation area and an assay laboratory. The general concentrator layout is shown in Figure 47. Originally designed to handle 9,000 tons per day, the concentrator now treats 10,000 tons per day. Two different ore types are processed by selective flotation in three individual circuits to recover copper, lead and zinc concentrates. In 1973, another circuit was added to recover pyrite and tin concentrates from the combined zinc tailings of the three main circuits."

Jan 1, 1974

By Arthur R. Rattew

In conjunction with the research study of the Coronation Mine recommended by the National Advisory Committee on Research in the Geo-logical Sciences and coordinated by the Geological Survey of Canada, Canadian Aero Service Limited per-formed a detailed, low-altitude air-borne survey over a block of ground encompassing the .Coronation Mine. The in-phase/out-of-phase air-borne electromagnetic data are com-pared with "horizontal-loop" ground data with reference to: size and nature of conductors detected; criteria in selection of targets for drilling. In-formation provided by Hudson Bay Mining and Smelting Company on their drilling of the numerous conductors in the area is employed in this comparison. The merits of combining a sensitive airborne magnetometer with an air-borne electromagnetic unit are discussed. The magnetic data are considered very important in assessing conductors as prospects for commercial sulphida deposits in this area of numerous electromagnetic anomalies. The "Coronation" survey illustrates

Jan 1, 1962

During the hydrometallurgical processing of the major base metals Cu, Zn, Ni and Co, the presence of iron is normally a serious complication, and iron separation from the pay metals usually constitutes one of the main challenges for the metallurgist. There are many instances, however, where the presence of iron is beneficial, or is even required. Two cases are presented where iron is required during the processing of base metals. The first example deals with the use of ferric sulphate to oxidize sulphides, more particularly copper and zinc sulphides, under atmospheric conditions. The results presented confirm that ferric ion leaching is efficient, particularly when the oxidant is regenerated during the process. The second case is the use of iron to solubilise refractory cobalt oxide minerals; examples, including pilot plant results, are presented for various ores from Africa and Central America. In both cases, this paper reviews the basic concepts involved and provides details of their application.

Jan 1, 2006

By D. A. Barr

High-grade gold-silver mineralization associated with electrum and argentite was discovered in a quartz vein at the Chappelle property, 273 km north of Smithers, B.C., in 1969 following a regional geochemical reconnaissance program in the Cassiar-Omineca Mountains. Subsequent exploration resulted in the discovery of numerous quartz veins with associated precious-metal values in a belt 17 by 3 km in area centrally located within Toodoggone Group volcanic and sedimentary rocks of Lower to Middle Jurassic age and a window of Takla Group volcanic rocks of Upper Triassic age. More detailed investigations, consisting principally of 5677 m of surface drilling in 57 holes and crosscutting, drifting and raising on Chapelle Vein A, has outlined a high-grade gold-silver-bearing shoot with a strike length of 200 m, an average width of about 3 m and extending to an average depth of about 40 m below surface.

Jan 1, 1978

By Theodore H. Boggs

The battle of the gold standard is not limited to one country alone, or even to a single group of countries. It is being waged merrily in many important commercial and industrial quarters. Though it is not always a practical issue calling for immediate attention, it is none the less, quite widely, engaging the thought of bankers and other students of finance. The controversy arises, in the last analysis, because of the desire of men to secure a stable currency. There are two ways of restoring a reasonably stable currency system: (1) the re-establishment of the gold standard, or (2) the deliberate and artificial management of a paper currency. Both systems are well known. The gold standard was in use prior to the war in the principal commercial countries. A currency of inconvertible paper has been at times employed in the past in various countries; for example in Britain from 1797 to 1821, and in the United States from 1862 to 1879. The gold standard, as all are aware, implies the selection of gold as the standard of value. The unit of value is a fixed weight of gold and, so long as the standard remains unimpaired, all other means of payment are maintained at a parity with standard gold coins. And gold coins alone constitute the standard money, inasmuch as their value as bullion equals their value as coins. Under the gold standard this would not be true of any other form of money, although all other varieties of money, including bank notes, government notes and silver coins would be freely convertible into gold money. Strictly speaking, the gold standard also implies that the gold money in turn shall itself be freely convertible, through melting, into gold bullion and freely exportable.

Jan 1, 1925

By L. D. Smith

Net Present Value Impact of Discount Rate The Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) method of valuations is universally used and accepted. The main criticism of the method is that it does not recognize the value of projects long life projects. This can be seen in the preceding graph where the present value of cash flows in later years are small for discount rates over about 10%. This graph covers a project that has a 25 year operating life. It is clear from the low height of the NPV bars at 10% and 15% in the last years of the project that an additional 25 years would add almost no value to total project NPV. As an example of this effect, an colleague undertook the evaluation of a pulp and paper project. The plant could be justified, but it was not possible to justify planting the trees as they took too long to grow and so had not appreciable NPV. The plant had to purchase wood to feed the plant.

May 1, 2013

By Karl J. C. Harries

"12.1. NO DEPRECIATION/GAAPAll calculations and computations relating to the Royalty shall be carried out in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied to the extent that such principles are not inconsistent with the provisions of this Schedule and the agreement attached hereto, it being specifically agreed that nothing herein contained shall permit, or be construed to permit, the Operator to deduct any amount for depletion, depreciation, amortization or any deduction that represents a non-cash outlay.Comment: In cases like net profit royalties where recoupment of prior expenditures is permitted, care should be taken to avoid any implication that depreciation may also be taken. It is only logical and equitable that Property Owners should not be permitted an apparent ability to “double dip” with respect to deductions. A provision like this example should accomplish the task. It will be noted that the example specifically contemplates that the negotiated arrangements will prevail over any requirements of GAAP. Accordingly, if the parties agree to an unusual formula for recoupment, it will not be set aside to accommodate GAAP requirements. Under GAAP, revenues and expenditures are accounted for on an accrual basis. In addition, it specifically prohibits the taking of non-cash deductions, which is in keeping with the concept of recoupment.Although in some ways the example states the obvious and could be considered redundant, its presence, especially in provisions contemplating recoupment, makes it clear to the financial people that there may well be some variations from normal practices dictated by GAAP, while at the same time confirming the availability of GAAP to fill any voids.The accounting profession often makes the caveat that application of GAAP is an “art”, not a “science”. GAAP do not provide a cure-all and can create problems that will have to be addressed. For example, GAAP contemplate that asset costs are to be reduced by investment tax credits, which can cause a problem for a payor with more than one mine."

Jan 1, 2003

By W. M. Williams

The Canadian steel industry is now in many ways a mature one, having achieved many technical successes during its hundred-year history. It is interesting to look back over this period, to learn something of the histories of the different producers and of the people and forces that shaped their development. The following article provides a thumbnail sketch of the Canadian steel industry as it exists today. It is intended for the general reader, not for the specialist who will want to consult the several books and theses written on the development of the industry during the last hundred years. The famous Les Forges du Saint-Maurice, an important iron producer for a century and a half, provides a natural historical starting point for a look at the four major players - Dosco, Algoma, Stelco and Dofasco - who have provided most of the hundreds of millions of tonnes of steel, in every form from horseshoes to tinplate, needed in the twentieth century. The smaller companies which have sprung up in the last 20 or 30 years are dealt with briefly - but only because their history is so recent. Not so long ago the mini-mill, based on scrap rather than on the blast furnace, was thought to be specially suited to the economies of the smaller developing countries of the Third World. However, recent history has made it evident that the small plant, specializing in a few basic products (e.g. reinforcing bar) or taking advantage of special circumstances, can successfully compete with the large blast furnace/primary steel producers.

Jan 1, 1999

By G. S. Crawford

Forecasts prepared by the B.C. Research Council for the National Harbours Board suggest that mineral shipments through B.C. Lower Mainland port facilities will increase more than four-fold, from 6 to about 25 million tons, during the decade 1965 to 1975. The longer term outlook is for a six-fold increase to about 35 million tons by 1985. In 1967, minerais accounted for more than one-third of the total deep-sea traffic tonnage, nearly as much as grain. By 1975, the minerals' share will be about half the total. The principal items are exports of potash from Saskatchewan, and of coal and sulphur from Alberta and British Columbia. Additional exports include copper and other mineral concentrates and propane. Imports are chiefly salt and phosphate rock. Coastal traffic in such items as cement, sand and grave!, and limestone totalled 3.3 mil-lion tons in 1967. They will continue to be of major importance, but do not have the spectacular growth potential of the deep-sea traffic.

Jan 1, 1968

By Joanna LaForte

"In response to “Arctic Mineral Wealth —Equitable Participation with Aboriginal Landowners – A slow or fast process?”, this author’s impression is one that, to her, seems obvious — this is definitely going to be a slow process. To question this issue seems ridiculous, unless the mining industry is considering following the same patters of the past, thereby adding to the suppression and injustices to which the aboriginals are so accustomed. To make genuine progress, where trust and good communication has been achieved with time as a factor in proceeding, the author feels, without a doubt, that the triangle of industry, government and aboriginals will seriously have to be restructured or eliminated. Anytime you mix government with progress, along with other problems, you are looking at bureaucracy, and that takes time. Issues such as the settlement of land claims have not been resolved, and in all likelihood could take forty years to finalize. Aboriginals have been suppressed for centuries by governments and industries with ethnocentric ideologies, and now that they are in a position to reclaim their lands, attain their own economies and government, and truly secure a wealthy, self-sufficient legacy for their descendants, how can anyone imagine they’ll move quickly? This author also strongly disagrees to some sections of Mr. Wakefeld’s article and will expand on her objections.We question whether aboriginals under-stand the process of mine development. If we encounter an electrical problem in our home, o we not call an electrician without having to learn the trade ourselves? This comparison seems simplistic, but does convey a point. As cited, “there are now over 100 000 aboriginals who have completed post-secondary education.” Are the numbers revealed in Mr. Wakefeld’s paper there to scare us? Is he suggesting that without the industry’s haste, the aboriginal’s new found intelligence could pose a problem to the mineral explorer. While it is true that not all are highly educated, the aboriginals have specialists in market fluctuations, feasibility studies and the needed skills. They have specialists, such as their representative organization of COPE 1984, (the Committee for Original People’s Entitlement), who under-stand their cultures, language and desires. Their education should expedite the negotiations and end the power struggles equitably. Aboriginal people are not stupid. Once they have reason to be proud, regain their communities and know the direction that they’re headed, their self-determination will return."

Jan 1, 1996

By C. H. Hopper

DIAMOND drills have played an important part in the development of mines for many years. Recently. they have also entered the production field arid the use of diamond drills m the primary breaking of ores has become a big branch of the industry. The writer has estimated roughly that the total diamond drilling in Canada during 1942 was 5,625,000 feet, of which 2,250,000 feet, or 40 per cent, was for blast-holes. This accounts for 6,750,000 tons of ore broken, using the conservative factor of 3 tons per foot of hole. Many consider that the use of diamond drills for blast-holes is the most important advance in mine practice of the past decade, and the industry owes a great deal to the staff of Noranda Mines, Limited, for the pioneering they have done in the development of long-hole mining methods and for publishing their results. A great many mines have followed Noranda's lead. At the Waite-Amulet, Aldermac, Flin Flon, Canadian Malartic, Hoyle, and Matachewan Consolidated mines, most of the ore is broken by long-hole blasting. While the mines were developing new methods, the diamond-drill industry was developing mechanically-set bits and better machines. Through the effective use o smaller, cheaper diamonds, as well as more efficient setting, bit costs per foot are only one-half what they were ten years ago. Few people realize that a diamond bit is relatively inexpensive. The common EXT coring bit, for example, contains some 200 small diamonds, weighing altogether about 2.70 carats which, at $3.40 per carat, cost $9.20. After use, the equivalent of about 100 of these diamonds may be recovered. Therefore the true cost of the bit is only $7.00, made up of $4.60, the cost of the diamonds lost, $2.00 for setting, and $0.40 tax. The trend in machines has been toward specialization for the different classes of rock in blast-hole work. Light, high-speed machines have been developed for soft ores and higher powered machines for hard ores.

Jan 1, 1943