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By R. Jackman, D. Koningen, G. Wilcox

"Gowest Gold Ltd. is in the process of developing the Frankfield East gold deposit located along the largely undeveloped Pipestone fault northeast of Timmins, Ontario. In addition to resource development and environmental permitting work the company has had an ongoing program of metallurgical and engineering studies aimed at evaluating options for processing the Frankfield East ore. Mineralization at the Frankfield project contains arsenopyrite and pyrite as the major sulphide minerals. Bulk flotation of all sulphides results in extremely high gold recovery. However, the gold is almost entirely associated with the arsenopyrite fraction of the ore and is refractory in nature requiring preoxidation treatment. Selective flotation was investigated to recover a gold-arsenopyrite concentrate thereby reducing the mass which would be subjected to further gold processing. As part of this work, a pyrite concentrate low in arsenic content was also recovered that would be suitable as a source of sulphur for a smelter (or other pyrometallurgical facility). Production of separate arsenopyrite and pyrite concentrates is frequently examined but rarely adopted due to the distribution of gold between the two products or the inability to achieve adequate separation. Several flowsheet options were investigated in the study. The best results were achieved following a sequential flotation flowsheet. The flowsheet configuration was key to meeting the targets for the two products. In this paper, the various options investigated are reviewed and the results of the final flowsheet are presented. The overall plan by Gowest was to evaluate all process options to bring the Frankfield East deposit into production. The ability to effectively separate the arsenopyrite and pyrite components in the ore provides Gowest with added opportunities to pursue both short and long term production scenarios."

Jan 1, 2012

By W. J. Mitchell

During the months of April and May 1992, the Phelps Dodge Hidalgo smelter underwent a major turnaround. This was the third such turnaround in the life of the facility which was commissioned in 1976. During the third furnace campaign, the smelter processed 5.2 million tons of concentrate producing 2.6 billion pounds of anode copper over a 7.5 year period. The critical path on the fifty-nine (59) day turnaround schedule was the reconstruction of the Outokumpo flash furnace which integrated some modifications with standard rebuild practices. Modifications included incorporation of horizontal cooling jackets throughout the furnace settler as well as the installation of castable refractory in the reaction and uptake shafts.

Jan 1, 1993

By M Saghaeian, V Sheikhzadeh, R Hejazi

Mining dilution is one of the most important factors affecting the economy of mining projects. Instead of quantifying dilution in mining studies, it is common to assume a general dilution such as 5 per cent for massive deposits. Dilution increases the operating costs in the plant by increasing the tonnage of material to be milled. It prolongs the mine life by reducing plant’s effective capacity. It also reduces the feed grade. In most cases, lower feed grade means lower plant recovery. Dilution also increases the cut-off grade, which in turn reduces the overall ore utilisation of a mine. In this study has been investigated applying pre-concentration by dry magnetic separation for decreasing of dilution impact on reserve estimation and open pit design in low-grade iron ore mine. Based on the preliminary open pit design and assumption 3 per cent as dilution factor, the mineable ore in life-of-mine (measured + indicated) has been estimated with Fe = 25 per cent, SiO2 = 49.7 per cent. Based on the experimental test work on the ore, by dry low intensity magnetic separation of dry HPGR product grinding circuit, it is possible to remove diluted waste material and liberated gangue before concentrate plant, so that around 34 per cent rejected and Fe grade increase from 25 per cent to 33 per cent and by weight recovery 66 per cent. The results of the test work showed that this methodology could decrease largely the impact of dilution in the feed to the plant. It also slightly effect on the reducing of dilution factor impact for open pit design and optimisation and leads to increase the mineable tonnage in the low-grade magnetite iron ore mine.

Aug 24, 2022

By N. Demirel, O. Gölbasi

Draglines are massive machines extensively utilized in opencast mines for overburden stripping. The demanding working environment induces fractures, wear and tear, and fatigue failures in dragline components and eventuates in extended maintenance, lengthy downtimes, and loss of production. The bucket is the main source of external loads on the machinery, since interactions with ground materials take place in this region. This study aims to develop a generic finite element model of the stress on an operating bucket. This entails (i) three-dimensional modelling of a dragline bucket, (ii) analytical estimation of resistive forces in the bucket movement, (iii) three-dimensional simulation of the moving bucket using finite element analysis (FEA), and (iv) sensitivity analysis to examine the effect of formation characteristics on stress variation. Simulation results imply that the drag hitch and digging teeth are the elements of the bucket that are most prone to failure. In addition, sensitivity analysis indicates that internal friction angle of the formation is the dominant parameter leading fluctuations in stress values. Changes in stress level are least influenced by formation density.

Jan 1, 2015

By T. Majcherczyk

Shaft lining reinforcing analysis of two shafts under construction has been presented in this study. The first shaft was driven from the surface, while the second was deepened. Mining and geological conditions have been studied with respect to the lining capacity. The improvement of shaft stability comprised two elements, i.e. reinforcement of the shaft lining capacity and improvement of the strength properties of the rock mass. In both tested cases, the particular hazard was connected with non uniform loadings of the lining, which could generate shearing stresses within lining structure. Thus such elements as armored concrete with high strength properties, bolting and injection sealing of the rock mass, and the use of special ring reinforcing the shaft lining have been used in order to reinforce the shaft-rock mass system. Practical conclusions related with new technological solutions, allowing the rock mass and shaft lining reinforcement, have been included for the present study. Practical conclusions related with new technological solutions, allowing for rock mass and shaft lining reinforcement, have been also included to the present study.

Aug 1, 2013

By R. J. Burgess

During World War II the shortage of ore revived interest in eastern iron deposits, among which -!2..c "Ile Massachusetts and Connecticut limonites. The Cheever mine, in the Richmond-Salisbury area of Massachusetts, was formerly a large producer of limonite ere. The Bureau of Mines investigated the lateral and downward extensions of the Cheever ore body, which was mined from about 1850 to 1892, by ap open cut 1,000 feet long and also by underground workings. even holes aggregating 1,723 feet, were drilled by the Bureau during the winter of 1943-44. They comprised three diamond-core drill holes, two churn-drill holes, and two rotary-drill holes. A geophysical survey of the Cheever mine area and adjoining ground was made in conjunction with the drilling program. Although this survey did not locate the limonite ore beds, the data were of considerable assistance in locating the limestone contact which forms the footwall of the ore beds. Drilling disclosed two beds of limonite with a heavy overburden of glacial till.

Jan 1, 1949

By K. Fagerlund, L. Rosenback, T. Mäkinen, Y. Anjala

This paper deals with the nickel smelter and refinery concepts Outokumpu has applied at Harjavalta and several other plants. Also other process routes and modifications developed and tested by Outokumpu during the recent years are highlighted. Outokumpu started nickel production in Harjavalta in 1959. Until 1995 the Flash Smelting - Peirce-Smith (PS) converting route was applied. High grade nickel matte from the converting step was further refined by means of leaching and electrowinning to produce cathode nickel. In 1995 the nickel production capacity was increased from 17 000 t/a to 52 000 t/a based on the Direct Outokumpu Nickel Smelting Process (DON). In the DON process PS converting is eliminated and high grade nickel matte with low Fe-content is directly produced in the flash smelting furnace (FSF). Metal values from the smelting slag are recovered in the electric furnace (EF) as iron containing Ni-matte. The DON process can be operated with either two matte concept, where high grade FSF matte and EF matte are produced, or a single matte concept, where EF matte is recycled to the smelting furnace and thus only one type of high grade matte is obtained. The additional refinery capacity at Harjavalta is based on hydrogen reduction producing.

Jan 1, 2005

By P Rubie, B Morgan, J Russell, C Stewart

The relationship between efficient liner exchange, concentrator availability and concentrator profitability is well documented. Russell Mineral Equipment’s (RME) relationship with OZ Minerals’ Prominent Hill site personnel enabled sound collaboration between the two parties. Both parties worked together to identify the sources of productivity and efficiency loss and developed solutions to reverse them.This paper chronicles the identification of production inefficiencies and the resulting removal of mill relining from the critical path through the materialisation of mill relining optimisation strategies. Furthermore, this paper outlines other recent mill relining optimisation strategies developed by RME and tested at Prominent Hill, to demonstrate and achieve further productivity, efficiency and safety improvements.CITATION:Rubie, P, Russell, J, Morgan, B and Stewart, C, 2017. Mill relining optimisation – a story of collaboration, in Proceedings MetPlant 2017, pp 335–345 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).

Sep 11, 2017

By Turgut Yalcin

"High-grade concentrates are achieved in flotation columns primarily due to the use of thick froth layers and wash water, both of which facilitate the drainage of hydrophilic minerals from the froth. However, conventional columns employ tall, non-agitated recovery sections for bubble-particle attachment that require high headroom and special gas spargers as well as imposing particle size limitations. These disadvantages can be all alleviated by carrying out the recovery part of the process in a mechanical or pneumatic cell which generate froth more conveniently and efficiently.This paper describes the combining of mechanical and column flotation in a single unit and discusses the influence of various parameters on the performance of the system.INTRODUCTIONIn a flotation process, some of the minerals lifted up to the froth phase may drain back to the pulp due to various reasons such as weak attachment of particles to air bubbles, bursting of air bubbles, agitation of froth, etc. Weakly floating and entrained hydrophilic minerals drain at a faster rate than the strongly floating minerals, and effective exploitation of such differential drainage can lead to cleaner concentrates.For a given mineral, if the rate of flotation from pulp to froth is k1 (min·1) and the rate of drainage from froth to pulp is k2 (min""1), then the net (overall) flotation rate of the mineral, k (min-1 ), will be [Lynch et al., 1981 ]:"

Jan 1, 1997

By S. H. Ash

THIS REPORT covers the third in a series of five projects into which the Conowingo tunnel system has been divided for geographical and practical reasons. It outlines the work constituting Project No.3 that consists principally of the following: (a) To sink the No. 15 shaft and extend the Alden, Sugar Notch, Baltimore No.2, and Laflin shafts from their present depths to tunnel level; (b) to drive a tunnel off these shafts to connect with the western end of the tunnel in Project No.1 (Lackawanna) and to a point 1 mile south of the No. 15 shaft; (c) to construct an emergency pumping plant at the No. 15 shaft, complete with 3 centrifugal pumps of 200-cubic-foot-per-second (c. f. s.) capacity each, and a discharge-water shaft and a discharge tunnel for conducting the water from the pumping plant into the Susquehanna River; and (d) to construct a lateral tunnel 1 mile long off the main tunnel in the vicinity of the No. 15 shaft, to be known as the Wyoming lateral. The project, as outlined, is a self-contained drainage unit that will permit unwatering inundated mines and safeguarding active mines in the Wyoming Basin of the Northern field and also will handle the water in the Lackawanna Basin, thus permitting the temporary pumping plant provided in Project No.1 to be discontinued. The pumps installed in the temporary pumping plant provided in Project No.1 can then be moved to the emergency pumping plants recommended in Projects Nos. 2 and 3, to be installed as the third or standby unit.

Jan 1, 1955

By Robert Harris, David Duncan

The Samira Hill gold mine represents the first commercial gold project for the landlocked country of Niger in West Africa. It began production in October 2004 as the result of over 10 years of exploration and development work. There were several administrative, social and technical challenges that had to be overcome to realize the successful development of the project. The Samira mine is located on the geological structure known as the ‘Samira Horizon’ which is developing as a promising district for additional discoveries and other mine developments.

Jan 1, 2005

By Jerry T. Shelby

Surface and underground mining operations require equipment with high power output ratings. Haul trucks, loaders, dozers, and other equipment need increasing horse-power to meet production demands. To get more horsepower out of the engines driving the equipment, most manufacturers use turbocharging. Detroit Diesel puts the number at about 90% turbocharged, while Caterpillar estimates 75% to 80% of all its equipment is turbocharged. Turbocharging increases the power output and overall engine efficiency. But it presents some maintenance and operational problems that were not factors when only naturally aspirated engines (nonturbocharged) dominated the scene. A turbocharger is an exhaust-driven air compressor. Using the waste energy in the engine exhaust, a turbine wheel is driven. This wheel is connected by a common shaft to a compressor wheel. The shaft is supported by two plain bearings, or bushings. As the turbine wheel is rotated, the compressor wheel continually compresses the intake air to the cylinders. Compressing the intake air means that more air can be put into the cylinder to burn more fuel. The more fuel the engine can completely burn or combust, the more horsepower the engine can produce. Even though the turbocharger is a relatively simple device, it is a sensitive engine component. It requires special consideration at engine start-up and shutdown. Being freewheeling and exhaust driven, turbochargers can experience temperatures of 540°C 1000°F) and rotational speeds of more than 100,000 rpm. Due to those temperatures and speeds, lubrication is critical to the operation and life of a turbocharger. The turbo is located high on the engine, with the oil supply running through an external line from the sump. The recommended practice is to start the engine and allow it to idle for a few minutes before any revving or loading. This allows the oil to reach the turbo and properly lubricate the bearings before high rotational speeds are seen. Turbo oil supply lines can be as long as 1.5 m (5 ft). Depending on ambient temperatures and oil viscosity, it can take as long as 30 seconds for oil to reach the spinning turbo. However, as little as five seconds without oil can damage the turbo's bearings, reducing its life and overall efficiency. Lubrication problems seen at shut-down can also significantly affect turbo life and efficiency. Manufacturers recommend an idling period of five to seven minutes before engine shutdown. This allows the turbo to slow down and cool off somewhat to help prevent oil coking and bearing damage. When the engine stops, so does the oil supply. There is very little oil left on the bearing surfaces and in the turbo oil supply passages. The immediate heat transfer from the turbine wheel to shaft, bearings, and turbo body literally cooks what is left. This high heat without oil flow can cause bearing deformation by actually melting some of the bearing material. The rapid oil oxidation and coking will restrict oil passages, damage bearings and shaft. Besides heat soaking, there is another problem. If the turbo is spinning at high speeds when the engine is shutdown, the turbo must spin-down to a stop without oil flow. With the large size of turbos used on mining equipment, this spindown time without oil can be for as long as 10 to 20 seconds. Fortunately, lack of lubrication at start-up and shutdown and the subsequent bearing damage can be prevented by oil injection devices. These devices hold a reservoir of engine oil. The oil is injected to the turbocharger bearings immediately on start-up and for several minutes after shutdown. Oil injection devices are spring loaded, hydraulic accumulators. They are actuated at start-up by a solenoid wired to the starter motor. Engine oil pressure charges the accumulator during normal operation. Upon shut-down and loss of oil pressure, the device provides oil to the turbo for about two or three minutes. With an oil injection device, the engine can be started and immediately driven without fear of turbo damage. Also, an abrupt shutdown will not damage the turbocharger since the device will continue to lubricate for two or three minutes. A word of caution. Be sure the oil injection device provides positive oil displacement (pressurized oil flow). Do not use a gravity-flow device. Unless it is a true accumulator, the device could starve the turbo for oil on start-up, Ask for start-up and shut-down pressures and delivery times before considering installation. Keep the oil clean, and follow the manufacturer's recommended oil change intervals. These intervals are usually shorter than with naturally aspirated engines. Use oil with a CD rating designed for diesel applications. A multiviscosity oil is preferable. Use a synthetic engine oil, such as Mobil's Delvac 1, Gulf's Super Duty II, or Chevron's Sub-zero Fluid. Synthetics have much better flow properties at low temperatures. They also have greater oxidation stability (they can take the high heat of turbo-bearing lubrication. And they produce fewer deposits because they are more thermally stable. But synthetic oils do cost more - two or three times more. One additional point - maintain the air intake system. Since all mining is usually in a dusty environment, air filters should be changed regularly and intake systems should be checked for leaks. All intake air passes through the turbo. Any dirt or abrasives entering the turbo will damage the unit and shorten its life. While mining is a heavy duty business with severe operating conditions, you can get the life from your turbocharger that you expect by following a few simple steps: • equip the turbo with an oil-injection device to provide lubrication on start-up and shutdown; • change the oil and filters regularly; and • use the proper oil-synthetic, if possible.

Jan 3, 1987

By Sachihiko Tokunaga, Hirofumi Taguchi, Kenji Maruyama, Hidenori Takahashi, Yoshiyuki Morikawa

"Abstract The present study proposed a new liquefaction countermeasure to improve sandy ground and conducted a trial execution. The new method is a floating-type and lattice-shaped cement treatment method, where cement-treated soil is not fixed to a non-liquefiable stratum. A fixed structure such as treated soil should be formed at the side of the floating-type treated soil to reduce its lateral displacement. In the study, one-dimensional dynamic response analyses were first conducted to confirm the mechanism of the new method. Then, a series of centrifuge model tests were performed to demonstrate the effect under a stress condition at the prototype scale. The analyses and model tests confirmed the effect of the liquefaction countermeasure. Finally, trial executions were carried out to confirm high-quality vertical execution.INTRODUCTIONLiquefaction induced by an earthquake generates sand boiling and ground settlement. Other problems have also been reported, including a decrease in bearing capacity and an increase in the horizontal earth pressure against retaining walls. To prevent these problems caused by liquefaction of the ground, various countermeasures have been proposed, such as cement deep mixing and high-pressure jet mixing methods. These methods have the big advantage of being applicable to ground that contains soil with a fine-grain fraction. Furthermore, the unnecessary displacement caused by the construction can be reduced. In Japan, a lattice-shaped cement-treatment method has frequently been used at many construction sites to prevent liquefaction, where cement-treated piles are intersected to form a lattice, as shown in Fig. 1. The lattice-shaped walls can reduce the shear stress generated by an earthquake, restricting the liquefaction at that location. However, the construction cost of the cement treatment is relatively high compared to other methods such as the sand compaction pile (SCP) method, and needs to be reduced. In particular, the cost of the high-pressure jet mixing method, which can be applied to the liquefiable ground under existing structures, is significantly high. Therefore, decreasing the total volume of the cement treatment is necessary to reduce the construction cost."

Jan 1, 2014

In 1992, the United States economy grew at a rate of 2%. The Gross Domestic Product rose to $5,946 billion. With 257 million people - 635,000 in mining including petroleum - the United States has more than 100 million dwelling units and more than 190 million licensed motor vehicles. New private housing starts rose I 1 % to 1.2 million units. New car production rose 4% to 5.7 million units. Truck and bus production rose 20% to 4 million units. The rate of inflation was 3.5% and the prime rate of interest was 6.25%. The Producer Price Index (1982 =100) was relatively unchanged from 1991 as follows: fuels and related products and power 80, metals and metal products 119, chemicals and allied products 126 and nonmetallic mineral products 117. Energy Imports of crude and refined petroleum, costing $50 billion, rose 3% to 455 Mm3 (2.9 billion bbl). Domestic petroleum production fell 1 % to 582 Mm3 (3.5 billion bbl). Petroleum supplied about 41 % of US energy, natural gas 24% and coal 23%. Coal production, 60% from surface operations, rose 1 % to 914 Mt (1 billion st). About 78% was used to generate electricity and 3% was coked. Exports valued at $4 billion included 57 Mt (63 million st) of metallurgical coal and 39 Mt (43 million st) of steam coal. Ura¬nium mining, including recovery from phosphates, fell 18% to 3 kt (3300 st) U308.

Jan 1, 1993

Minerals processing needs a step change in energy efficiency. While the search for new technology breakthroughs is important, huge gains are still available by better using existing research outcomes. This potential remains untapped due to a combination of organisational 'silos', inappropriate performance measurement, and poor science in some areas. It is time to see the elephant in the mill.

Sep 13, 2010

Certain information contained herein regarding Champion Minerals Inc., including management?s assessment of future plans and operations, may constitute forward-looking statements under applicable securities law and necessarily involve risks, including but not limited to risks associated with mining exploration, operating costs, production costs, volatility of share prices, currency fluctuations, imprecision of resource and reserve estimates, environmental risks and ability to access sufficient capital from internal and external sources. As a consequence, actual results may differ materially from those anticipated in any forward looking statements. Plans, intentions or expectations disclosed in any forward-looking statements or information should not be read as guarantees of future results or events, and will not necessarily be accurate indications of whether or when or by which such results or events will be achieved. Except as required by law, Champion Minerals Inc., expressly disclaims any intention and undertakes no obligation to update any forward looking statements or information as conditions change. The historical mineral resources mentioned are strictly historical in nature and are non-compliant to National Instrument 43-101 mineral resources and mineral reserves standards, and should therefore not be relied upon. A qualified person has not done sufficient work to upgrade or classify the historical mineral resources as current National Instrument NI-43-101 compliant.

May 1, 2011

An examination is made of some of the consequences of a magmatic gas phase developed during a late stage of differentiation of an acidic magma. Elements possessing halides with high partial pressures (Sn, Mo, W) may be removed from the magma by distillation into gas bubbles in the manner suggested by Fenner (1933). The common chalcophile elements are not affected by this mechanism, but form sulphides which may become attached to rising gas bubbles by one of three distinct mechanisms. The gas bubbles may then carry the sulphides upwards and concentrate them in some favourable locus, giving rise to an ore-forming fluid. The process would operate selectively upon different sulphides and is capable of providing an explanation of the paragenetic succession observed in ore deposits as well as other important geological criteria of ore genesis.INTRODUCTIONThere is a widespread belief among contemporary geologists that a large and important class of ore deposits is genetically related in some way·to acidic igneous rocks. This class includes the tin-tungsten-molybdenum-bismuth type of mineralization as well as a variety of sulphide deposits.A basic problem confronting explanation of the genesis of these deposits is the manner in which trace elements which were originally widely dispersed in granitic magmas were segregated therefrom and concentrated into economic mineral deposits.The principles underlying the formation of one group of minerals deposits (pegmatites) related to granitic magmas ate reasonably well understood, largely due to the labours of Goldschmidt and his school. However, many geologists have noted that there appears to be some sort of fundamental discontinuity between pegmatite formation and the origin of the more common hypogene ores, particularly sulphides.Accordingly it has been suggested that these ores...

Jan 1, 1956

The Tennant Creek goldfield is situated in the Northern Territory, 360 miles north of Alice Springs, or a tot~l distance of 1,300 miles north of Adelaide, and 600 miles south of Darwin. The auriferous area extends 20 miles north and south by 50 miles east and west. The overland telegraph line and the AIice Springs-Darwin road pass through the centre of the field.HISTORY, PRODUCTIONThe country comprising the goldfield was traversed by J. MacDouall Stuart between 1859 and 1861 in the course of his last three exploring expeditions, which terminated respectively at Attack Creek, Newcastle Waters and at the mouth of the Adelaide River. The explorer named Tennant Creek and also Mount Samuel, on which mining operations are now in progress. The overland telegraph line was completed in 1872 and a relaying station established eight miles north of the site of the present township. There was no other settlement in the adjacent country prior to the opening up of the goldfield.Gold was discovered in 1926 on what is known as the Great Northern lease, three miles north of the township. The field was remote; the nearest plant at which gold ore could be treated was at Peterborough, in South Australia, 1,186 miles distant, and it was not until 1932 that the development of the field actively commenced.The production of the field from its inception to December 31, 1939, was 57,895 QZ. of gold, valued at £522,000, recovered from 61,793 long tons of ore, won from 98 mines. In 1940 seven of these mines had reached depths between 100 ft. and 230 ft., the workings of the majority being less than 60 ft. below surface.TOPOGRAPHY, WATERThe country is traversed by parallel and sub-parallel lines of hills trending east and west and rising to altitudes varying from 50 ft. to 100 ft. above the intervening valleys. The low ranges and isolated hills owe their survival to the resistance offered by their indurated, harder rocks to erosion which has removed the softer intervening formations. Their elevation and area depend to a considerable extent upon the presence of; and, the size of, the more or less exposed haematite formations, or are due to the influence of extensive siliceous dykes which traverse the locality.Watercourses head from the hills and either flood out on the flats within a short distance, or in a few cases follow longer courses to the northward. In the channels of the larger creeks billaoongs, which form important water storages for a considerable part of the year, -are to be found. Tennant...

Jan 1, 1942

By Grant P. Cordon

Our subject, "Safety, Legal, and Contracting," is a range of topics which covers a broad spectrum, but is obviously Intended to focus our attention upon certain particular aspects of tunnel problems. These are all fascinating and complex subjects, and others are much more qualified to discuss to discuss the fine points involved. Put after some 45 years' involvement as an inspector, engineer, contracting officer, and especially for the last 22 years as a contractor's estimator and manager, I have developed some strong and definite convictions to share with you. I hope it will serve to get you started thinking. My first tunnel experience was in a soft ground tunnel which was dug by hand, literally. The crown or arch back was taken out, a pebble at a time, by bare hand. The face was constantly breast-boarded, and the mucking was all done by hand shovel. My first rock tunnel was drilled by hand held drifters from the muck pile. Since then, most tunneling techniques have improved greatly. The jumbos, booms, muckers, and moles have taken over many of the back-breaking chores, and reduced the manpower requirements.

Jan 1, 1974

By S. Bargigli, S. Ulgiati, M. Raugei, F. Cherubini

Metallic magnesium is mostly used in lightweight alloys in order to decrease fuel consumption in automotive applications. Several different production processes are currently used worldwide, and the magnesium production scenario is changing rapidly, with Chinese production increasingly dominating the world market. For the purpose of this paper, a novel approach to Life Cycle Assessment was applied, in which Material Flow Accounting and energy-based methods (Embodied Energy, Exergy and Emergy Analyses) are integrated and complemented, with a detailed description of the environmental hazards associated with emissions from all the different processes.

Jan 1, 2005