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The Nak?azdli First Nation and the municipality of Fort St. James are located in the Stuart Lake/Nak?al Bun area and are not unfamiliar to mining. These northern British Columbian communities have been associated with the historic Pinchi Lake Mercury mine and today are closely linked with British Columbia?s newest mine, the Mt. Milligan mine. Prior to the construction of Mt. Milligan, community health and social service providers were concerned about potential impacts that would occur from new mineral development activities. This concern has led to a partnership between the above communities and researchers with expertise in the area of mining and health. This paper describes: the current mining and health environment with a focus on British Columbia; mining trends in the Stuart Lake/Nak?al Bun area; the current community-based health research project funded by the Vancouver Foundation and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, and; a suite of community-based health recommendations to mining companies on key issues to consider when developing projects near municipalities and Aboriginal communities in Canada, based upon one of the newest mines under development in Canada.

Aug 1, 2013

By S. Homulos

"Introductory and GeneralTHE Northwest Territories comprise all that region -of Canada lying between Yukon Territory and Hudson bay and north of the 60th parallel of latitude. For purposes of mine .administration the Territories are divided into three districts: Yellowknife, McKenzie, and Arctic and Hudson Bay. Mining recording offices for the respective districts are maintained at Yellowknife, Fort Smith, and Ottawa. The mine inspection for the entire area, and also for Yukon Territory, comes under the Federal Department of Resources and Development. Two mining inspectors are responsible for these inspections: the Chief Inspector of Mines, with headquarters in Ottawa, who makes trips into the north at least twice a year, and a Resident Inspector, stationed in Yellowknife.The Resident Inspector is constantly making inspections of active properties. This involves a considerable amount of air travel as the region is large and properties are widely scattered.Although there has been prospecting and staking of claims in each of the three districts of the Northwest Territories, actual mining has been conducted only in the Yellowknife district, and for purposes of this paper we are solely concerned with that district."

Jan 1, 1952

By F. A. Forward

"NINETEEN sixty-six is a year of unusual significance in our Institute and in our country. It marks two-thirds of a century of service by the Institute to the people of the mineral industry and two-thirds of the century that Sir Wilfred Laurier said ""belongs to Canada."" As we meet here today within the historic walls of Canada's oldest city, a city that looks back on three hundred and fifty years of progress, I am reminded that it is almost a third of a century ago -in April, 1934 -that here in Quebec I first attended an Annual General Meeting of the Institute. It occurred to me that it might be appropriate to examine briefly the change that the middle third of this century has brought in the affairs of the mineral industry and, with some trepidation, to consider the prospect for the third that lies ahead.Opinions differ as to the relative importance of factors that have been responsible for the expansion and growth of Canada in its first hundred years. Some will say that it has been due to the abundance and fertility of agricultural land, others to the early enterprise of the railroads, and financiers believe that the banking system has been a major factor; -the fisherman -the forester -the teacher -each has his own view. I suspect, however, that most of us here would subscribe to the thesis of T. A. Rickard -miner, author, imperialist -who wrote, a gene-ration ago, ""Trade follows the flag, but the flag follows the pick,"" and thus agree that the finest contribution to progress, to wealth, to extension of frontiers and to inter-national trade has been provided by the mineral industry."

Jan 1, 1966

By E. De Souza

The instrumentation and monitoring of rock behaviour have played an important and necessary role in the practice of potash, rocksalt, gypsum, trona and coal mining. The art of rock instrumentation applied to soft rock and coal mining has progressively evolved over the past years and will surely continue to advance at a faster pace in the future as a result of the technological revolution we experience today. The development of sophisticated mine-wide data communications systems is being used for instrumentation and sensor automation, and laser, sonar and geophysics technology are being continuously adapted for rock monitoring purposes. In this paper, the author provides an overview of typical rock instrumentation used today and offers some views of the progressive evolution in rock mechanics instrumentation sophistication and design.

Jan 1, 1998

By R. J. Enkin

Modern mineral exploration depends on multidisciplinary 3-dimensional integration of geological and geophysical data. Identification of the geological sources of geophysical anomalies requires knowledge of the physical properties fingerprint of rock types, formations and their alteration products. Understanding how and why rock physical properties vary within the Earth's subsurface ensures that appropriate geophysical exploration methods can be chosen, and allows for more efficient and effective surveys to be designed. Physical properties knowledge is integral to geophysical modeling - measured data or values estimated based on geological understanding are used to produce realistic forward calculations and to constrain inversion models. Mira Geoscience and the Geological Survey of Canada, in collaboration with industry and academia, are building a Rock Properties Database System (rpds.mirageoscience.com). It compiles the most valuable physical properties for mineral exploration (density, porosity, magnetic susceptibility and remanence, electrical resistivity and chargeability) linked with location and lithological metadata. A critical knowledge gap, addressed in this study, concerns the dependence of physical properties on alteration and mineralization processes. We report on the results of a collaborative University of British Columbia - Geoscience British Columbia project, ?Integrated Geological & Geophysical Porphyry Models: Adding Value to Geoscience BC Geophysical Data?. As part of the QUEST and QUEST-West geophysical initiatives, Geoscience BC focused detailed geophysical surveys on a suite of six known porphyry deposits: Mount Milligan, Endako, Huckleberry, Bell, Granisle, and Morrison. Physical properties for a set of 269 samples of characteristic host rocks and their altered equivalents were measured. The causes of physical properties variations were investigated through their correlations with ore and alteration mineralogy determined from thin-section observations and X-ray diffraction analyses. Physical properties of variably altered host-rocks and intrusive rocks vary significantly between different BC porphyry deposits. No specific unifying geophysical model exists that can be uniformly applied during exploration. Knowledge of local background geology and local physical properties variations is necessary as host-rocks and intrusive rock compositions vary depending on magmatic affinities, and alteration styles will vary reflecting host-rock compositions, crustal depth and influence of meteoric water. A district-scale exploration strategy requires location of intrusive bodies, which are commonly magnetic, resistive and low in density. Correlations should not be expected between density and magnetic susceptibility, because alteration may lead to magnetite destruction or to secondary magnetite development. Deposit-scale ground geophysics might image potassic alteration zones that can be magnetic in both alkalic and calcalkalic systems. Low magnetic susceptibilities, resistivities and densities might aid in locating the typically more porous phyllic and argillic zones. All geophysical data must be interpreted with background knowledge of local rock types and in light of the expected deposit model and associated magmatic and hydrothermal processes. The most effective means to building physical properties knowledge prior to geophysical investigation remains collecting rock physical properties measurements. The cost of rock properties data collection is low, relative to the overall costs of running a mineral exploration program, and can provide an important framework for design of geophysical surveys, survey method selection, geophysical modelling, and data interpretation.

Aug 1, 2013

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

By J. Pontt

Gearless mill drives (GMD) offer high performance for torque and speed control for grinding mills and have been applied successfully in modern concentrators for wet grinding with mill diameters from 34 to 40-feet. It is considered a mature technology. However, recently, some large GMD?s have presented unexpected failures in stator and rotor subsystems. The phenomena involved in such failures has shown a complex nature and surprised users and manufacturers. The manifestation of such failures has been observed as mechanical damages to certain components of ring motors. This paper presents a discussion on the electromagnetic forces that can generate stresses in the electrical ring motor that can produce failures and outages. Guidelines for further research and contributions to improved reliability of GMD?s are proposed.

Jan 1, 2012

By H. E. Miard

"IntroductionIT HAS BEEN SAID, with good reason, that the future of the coal mining industry, in our mountainous regions at least, depends on ability to extend operations successfully to depths greater than those reached until now. However, at many points, Nature has given definite hints that trespassing there could be fraught with very un-pleasant possibilities, unless the intruder be governed by a series of rigidly observed principles. In the coal mines of British Columbia, so far, bumps have taken place only at the Coal Creek colliery, but there they gave ample evidence of the extent to which they can hamper underground operations. Some of these manifestations have also been experienced at the McGillivray Creek colliery, in Alberta, at Carbonado, in Washington, and at Sunnyside, in Utah.Cognate phenomena, known as 'air blasts', have been experienced also in some deep metalliferous mines in British Columbia. Such occurrences were responsible for three fatal accidents at the Le Roi and War Eagle mines, near Rossland, in 1916 and 1917.In more or less disturbed coal fields, another form of stress release, equally detrimental, has been still more generally experienced than have been the bumps. Coal outbursts have taken place at Morrissey and Coal Creek, in the Crow's Nest Pass district, and at Cassidy, South Wellington, and the Nanaimo Reserve colliery, on Vancouver island. Manifestations of this kind have been made the subject of intensive study in European countries where they occurred on a really impressive scale, which must not be construed as meaning that some of our own outbursts did not approach a comparable magnitude."

Jan 1, 1953

By J. R. Johanson, A. W. Jenike

"A solid flows out of a bin provided that the outlet is sufficiently large so that stable obstructions to flow do not develop. The geometry and surface finish of a bin and the construction of the feeder determine the type of flow pattern which then develops within the bin. The pattern, in turn, affects the uniformity and consistency of the stream, segregation, caking, degradation, live capacity and the action of level measuring devices.In most bins now in operation, material flows toward the feeder through a channel which forms within the stationary solid. This is referred to as funnel flow. If the hopper of the bin is sufficiently steep and smooth and the feeder capable of drawing material across the whole area of the outlet, all the solid flows whenever the feeder is in operation; this is referred to as mass flow. Mass-flow bins are usually far superior to funnel-flow bins; their initial cost is also usually higher.The paper describes the design criteria used in deter-mining the minimum bin outlet needed for flow and the bin geometry needed for mass flow."

Jan 1, 1970

By J. Lee

A monolithic caisson is one of the major structural components commonly used in the construction of docks, breakwaters, and container terminal quay walls. Since the structure of monolithic caissons is typical and somewhat simple, its design process is also typical and repetitive, but still time consuming. To reduce the total time and enhance productivity, we developed a parametric model in Revit to automatically generate a 3D model of a monolithic caisson. It is designed to generate the Revit model of a caisson with concrete body and reinforcing bars. The size of caisson, the number of reinforcing bars, and the space between reinforcing bars are automatically changed when users update parameters. This paper presents how we developed this parametric family in Revit for monolithic caisson design and how it would enhance its design process.

Aug 1, 2013

By George E. Cole

"It is a truism that the metals, and particularly the precious metals tend to monopolize the attention of those interested £n the mineral industry. This is a tendency to be mildly, but actively and continuously combatted if we are to have a well-rounded mineral development." There are in the province of Ontario a number of industries centred about the non-metallic minerals. Too little is heard of the part these play in our industrial life. It is with the intention of showing what the gypsum industry is doing in Ontario that this paper is written. The writer lays no claim to any originality in the discussion and merely offers some material in an endeavour to assist in bringing about that 'well-rounded mineral development' sought for Ontario. M. Y. Williams in his "The Silurian Geology and Faunas of Ontario Peninsula and Manitoulin and Adjacent Islands"1 in discussing the industries dependent on the Silurian rocks of south-western Ontario points out that "the splendidly ordered gypsum mine at Caledonia, formerly owned by the Alabastine Company of Paris, and now owned by the Ontario Gypsum Company, is a revelation to the average man, who disconnects mining entirely with this part of Ontario". This region is better known as one of the richest and most thickly settled agricultural areas in Canada.

Jan 1, 1925

By D. B. Dreisinger, D. G. Dixon, G. Nazari

"The kinetics of chalcopyrite leaching in acidic ferric/ferrous sulfate media under atmospheric conditions in the presence of pyrite has been investigated. It has been found that pyrite samples from different sources affect the rate of chalcopyrite leaching differently. A strong correlation between the amount of silver associated with the pyrite and its effectiveness has been noted. In this study, improvement of the catalytic properties of pyrite such that all pyrite samples accelerate the rate of copper extraction regardless of their sources is demonstrated, and a detailed discussion of the mechanisms involved in the process of chalcopyrite leaching in the presence of silverenhanced pyrite is presented. INTRODUCTIONIt is well known that chalcopyrite resists leaching in sulfate media. It has been proved that pyrite facilitates the leaching of chalcopyrite (Berry et al., 1978; Dixon et al., 2008; Mehta and Murr, 1983; Muñoz et al., 2008; Nowak et al., 1984, Tshilombo, 2004). Considering the catalytic effects of pyrite on accelerating the kinetics of chalcopyrite leaching, Dixon and Tshilombo (2005) have developed a new process, known as Galvanox™, which has several advantages over other hydrometallurgical processes. Galvanox™ runs under atmospheric conditions, so it requires only low-cost leaching tanks. The sulfur yield at this temperature is high (>95%) which leads to low oxygen consumption and low sulfuric acid generation. The operating temperature is below the melting point of sulfur which eliminates the use of surfactants. This process also does not require fine grinding. Reaction 1 shows the overall leaching reaction in the Galvanox™ process.CuFeS2 + O2 + 2 H2SO4 = CuSO4 + FeSO4 + 2 S0 + 2 H2O (1)Complete copper recovery from the Galvanox™ process can be achieved at a considerably higher rate than other atmospheric ferric sulfate leaching processes (Dixon et al., 2008). Recycling pyrite and recovering copper from tailings with the Galvanox™ process have also been evaluated in continuous pilot leaching campaigns (Dixon et al., 2007)."

Jan 1, 2012

By C. D. Williams

The following paper deals with some of the aspects of the law as it relates to the oil and gas industry in the Province of Alberta, but it should be stated here that consideration of this large subject will be confined to discussion of only those laws, rules, and regulations which affect actual exploratory operations. The paper will not touch on those branches of the law which deal with such matters as income tax, customs, and other kind red subjects which are of a highly technical nature and which are more properly the field of the specialist. Generally speaking, any system of law consists of certain major components. There must be, firstly, a national authority capable of ensuring the existence of the state itself and of maintaining the stability and continuity of its institutions; secondly, a philosophy of government covering the relationship of the state to the individual and of the individuals to one another; thirdly, a body of law to effect the purposes of the philosophical principles; and, fourthly, a judiciary to arbitrate any disputes that may arise from such relationships. All of these components and the system itself are, of course, subject to a varying degree of modification with the changing times and with the influence upon them of other systems of law. Now. while it is true to say that all systems of law comprise these similar basic features, it is apparent that the end result of any two systems of law in their impact upon the individual may be quite different.

Jan 1, 1951

By Louis Frost

"Dominion No. 17 Colliery, of the Dominion Coal Company, Limited, is located in the district of New Victoria, N.S., at the entrance to Sydney harbour.This Colliery was opened in 1882 to work a submarine area of the Harbour seam (see Figure 1). It was closed in 1921 and the mine, which has a make of water of approximately 250 gallons per minute, was allowed to fill.No. 18 Colliery, situated almost a mile to the east, was opened in 1938 to work the Phalen seam in this area with the intention, later, of driving a cross-measure tunnel to mine the section of the Harbour seam lying between No. 17 Colliery and the Princess Colliery of the Nova Scotia Steel and Coal Company, Limited.In 1945 it became necessary to open this area in the Harbour seam and a cross-measure tunnel was driven from the existing workings of No. 18 Colliery in the Phalen seam, which underlies the Harbour seam at a depth of 500 feet.The tunnel was started in 1946 and completed in 1948. The cost of opening this section, which contained only 6 1/2 million tons of coal, made imperative the recovery of all the available coal and precluded the maintenance of the large barriers that had been left in No. 17 Colliery for impounding the water, especially as the maintenance of these barriers would have meant the loss of 885,000 tons of coal, or 12.3 per cent of the whole tonnage available. Therefore, a study was made to determine the best means to dewater the 250 million gallons of water lying in the old No. 17 Colliery."

Jan 1, 1952

By A. P. Fletcher, K. Croteau

The intent of this paper is to cover some aspects of preventive maintenance methods which have come into wider usage in recent years as a means of increasing operating efficiencies. Particular emphasis is placed on lubrication and related servicing.

Jan 1, 1967

By Brian G. Pewsey

Located in the northern part of the Province of British Columbia, the Cassiar Mine started development of its asbestos orebody in 1952, and is currently producing 105.000 tons of asbestos fibre annually. The townsite is nestled in a beautiful valley and supplies more than average facilities. The fibre is shipped to more than 40 countries and is used in many industrial products.

Jan 1, 1978

By Robert P. Dufresne

Electrolytic cells are used in electrowinning (EW) and electrorefining (ER) of non-ferrous metals such as zinc and copper, and are a critical part of the purification process. The cell is a large basin and has an electrolyte or aqueous solution, an anode and a cathode, an insulator, and incoming high amperage. Cells are exposed to unfavourable internal and external factors that have a direct impact on their lifespan. Their deterioration can be caused by incorrect polarity, insufficient magnitude, their construction, tension stress, thermal shock, corrosion and other, and their maintenance and replacement can be time-consuming, costly, difficult and environmentally unsafe. Occupational health hazards and dangers posed by the maintenance and removal of the cell should also be taken into consideration. Modifying the design and fabrication method of the cell, using chemical-resistant reinforcement, and increasing tensile and mechanical strength will defer maintenance for a very long time. This can be achieved by a double hull system that comprises full-length composite reinforcement, polymer concrete reinforced with fiberglass pultruded rods and rebars, fiberglass structural layers, and special resin matrices. This will provide protection against thermal shocks, corrosion, leakage, cracks. The design of this cell incorporates a lifting system that will afford quick and easy install without having to move a great number of cells in close proximity, since it is strong enough to stand on its own and not have to be bonded to adjacent cells. As well, the cell can be anchored with ease as it remains stable. This is especially important because space is limited to lift and manoeuver between the cell and the double-girder overhead travelling cranes. The lifting system can also prevent electrocution and loss in product quality, while increasing efficiency and safety in the workplace. Considerable savings in terms of production downtime are also part of the equation. INTRODUCTION Maintenance and replacement of electrolytic cells in electrowinning and electrorefining are operations that pose many challenges, health and safety concerns, and give rise to substantial operational costs. These problems have existed since time immemorial. Electrolytic cells are made of conventional concrete or polymer concrete, and because of the very nature of their composition and their exposure to severe and environmental conditions, their lifespan is short. Although polymer concrete is composed of high-quality materials, and has good thermal stability and resistance to chemicals, nonetheless, maintenance is frequently required in order to maintain the integrity of the cell and to ensure the quality of refined metals. Repairing concrete is a non-permanent solution as cracks will reappear, and every repair weakens the integrity of the cell a bit more, until it reaches a knock- down point and the structure is compromised. The cell needs to be replaced, otherwise the cell will collapse.

Jan 1, 2019

By M. I. Kalashnikova, Y. M. Shneerson, E. E. Zhmarin, Y. V. Degtiarev, E. M. Vigdorchik

Separation of a magnetic fraction from nickel concentrate following matte flotation, and its treatment in a separate circuit enable reduces precious metals losses. The magnetic fraction is treated in two stages of oxidative leaching: atmospheric and pressure leaching. A study of the atmospheric stage, using mathematical modelling, is described in this paper. The mathematical model and experimental data were used to carry out industrial process calculations. The model enabled extrapolation of the results of batch laboratory test to industrial-scale continuous processing and the selection of optimal process conditions and large-scale equipment. In December 2004, commercial oxidative leaching tests were performed on the magnetic fraction at the Severonickel Plant (Monchegorsk, Russia). A comparative analysis of the mathematical modelling results and the actual process parameters is presented.

Jan 1, 2005

By H. A. Wilson

Introduction Salt (sodium chloride) occurs naturally either in the solid state as rock salt or in solution as a component of natural brines. It is the major saline constituent of sea water, which contains about 4 percent salt-roughly 164 million tons, or enough to meet world salt demands for five years, per cubic mile. The great rock salt deposits of the world are generally regarded as having been formed by the evaporation of sea water over long periods of rime in wholly, partially, or periodically cut-off bays of ancient oceans. History and Occurrence of Salt in Canada We can speak today of the vastness of Canada's salt resources, but it was not always so. Settlement of our Atlantic seaboard and the Sr. Lawrence valley began in earnest in the early 1600's. The first small commercial salt works in Canada did not come into operation until 1866. Thus, for some two and a half centuries, the inhabitants of this growing country were entirely dependent on foreign sources for every pound of salt they consumed. The record shows that from at !east 1800 onward, the need for a domestic salt industry was clearly recognized by the governments of the day. It was during the Western Ontario oil-boom of 1866 that the initial discovery of rock salt in Canada was made, not far from Goderich, at a depth of 1,000 feet. A salt company was promptly organized, and with their operations there began the gradual and still uncompleted conquest of the Canadian salt market by the Canadian salt industry. Over the next thirty years many holes were drilled into the Salina formation both in Ontario and Michigan, and encountered rock salt. A vast salt-basin was disclosed, approximately outlined, and given the name Ontario-Michigan Salt Basin. The Ontario portion of the basin extends over at least 3,500 square miles, is met with at a depth varying between 800 and 1,600 feet, and has a thickness of 50 to 250 feet. No attempt has ever been made, so far as we know, to calculate the total salt reserves of this basin, but the minimum indicated in the Ontario portion by the figures just cited is just under thirty-five cubic miles. The specific gravity of rock salt is 2.2. From these data, those so inclined may calculate the tonnage.

Jan 1, 1947

By J. K. Atherton

If the metals sector is to contribute successfully to sustainable consumption we must adopt principles and practices which address the entire life cycle of the materials we produce. Progress must be founded on a sense of shared responsibility for the resources we utilize and the materials we create - it is this integrated approach which lies at the heart of materials stewardship. Materials stewardship means mining and metals companies producing materials in a responsible manner and then working with others, beyond their site, to ensure that the downstream material flows and applications are managed properly to create maximum societal value. In September 2006 ICMM published 'Maximizing Value: Guidance on implementing materials stewardship in the minerals and metals value chain'. This document takes a practical view presenting structured guidance as well as good practice case studies. In the publication, materials stewardship is described in terms of the range of activities that can be undertaken to ensure that all parties work collectively toward the responsible use of metal and mineral resources. This paper introduces the materials stewardship concept as set out in `Maximizing Value' and describes the business case for implementation as well as the ICMM framework for promoting materials stewardship.

Jan 1, 2007