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By C. Nikolic

A process utilizing ozone for the precipitation of cobalt from nickel sulphate liquors containing ammonium sulphate has been developed. Best results were obtained using nickel carbonate to maintain solution pH at 5.0 to 5.5. Work was performed both in column and stirred-tank reactors. Variables studied included neutralizer type and concentration, NH4+ concentration, temperature, Ni++ and Co++ concentration, per cent O3 in the O2 carrier gas, O3 input rate and agitation. The over-all rate of cobalt rejection increased sharply with increasing agitation and ozone concentration in the gas phase, reflecting relatively slow transfer of ozone from the gas to the liquid phase.

Jan 1, 1978

By J. Tuzo Wilson

"AT ANY TIME, it is a pleasure to me to be invited to address The Canadian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy because it represents an industry and men with whom I have been happily, if peripherally, associated continuously for forty years. This year, it is a particular pleasure because I believe that an important subject has arisen which I propose to discuss.This is a major discovery in the earth sciences, first fully revealed this winter, but already widely accepted. The basis of this revolution, for it is no less, is that measurements of three different features of the earth all change in exactly the same ratios. These ratios are the same in all parts of the world. The results from one set are thus being used to make precise numerical predictions about all the sets in all parts of the world. No such accurate correlations and predictions have ever been found before in geology or areal geophysics. The whole subject of earth science has thereby been radically altered.The first of these measurements is that of the direction of magnetic polarity in lava flows. When piles of young lavas are examined with the aid of a pocket compass, it is noted that some flows are magnetized in the direction of the earth's field and some in the reverse direction (Figure 1). By accurately dating enough flows, a time scale of the dates of reversals has been established. During the past four million years, nine reversals have occurred synchronously all over the world (Cox, Darymple and Doell, 1967, McDougall and Chamalaun, 1966) (Figure 2). It appears that the scale can be extended back to Precambrian times (McMahon and Strangway, 1967). This time scale is the first of the 'three identical ratios."

Jan 1, 1968

By M. E. Holter

"Five main lignite seams occur in the Tertiary Ravenscrag Formation in the Eastevan area, at depths of 100 feet or less. They are named, in ascending order: the Boundary, Estevan, Souris, Roche Percee and Short Creek seams. A total sequence of approximately 250 feet is represented by the coal beds and interstratified clays, silts and sands. Strata dip to the southeast at 25 feet per mile or less and trike northeast. Large areas underlain by coal seams at shallow depths are delineated. Reserve calculations are dependent on detailed information on seam thicknesses and feasible stripmining depths. The stratigraphically higher seams are thinner on the average than lower seams and this, together with the increase in elastic size fractions in higher strata, suggests a retreat of a Tertiary marine margin to the south during the closing depositional history of coal seams and associated strata."

Jan 1, 1972

By M. Sengupta, A. A. de Gast

"With rapid deterioration in the urban environment caused by air pollution, the possibility of chemical reaction between dimension stone and the industrial waste gases present in the ambient atmosphere remains. The chemical reaction can cause expensive damage to building stone; it is essential that a stone evaluation for use in construction should assess the possibility of this type of decay. This paper endeavours to develop testing procedures for evaluating stone decay in polluted environments. Such tests can accompany other standard tests used in dimension- stone evaluation."

Jan 1, 1972

By Steve Scott

Outline of Talk Seafloor Massive Sulfides (SMS) and Seafloor Sedimentary Sulfides (SSS) Ocean mining of SMS (Nautilus Minerals) Environmental issues Summary

May 1, 2013

By A. L. Valdivieso

"The correlation obtained by plotting pH of maximum adsorption of dextrin versus the isoelectric point of involved metal hydroxides can be used to predict the depressing effect of dextrin on flotation in ""pure"" sulfide mineral systems. Sulfides are strongly depressed by dextrin whenever their surfaces are coated by the corresponding metal hydroxide. The efficiency of dextrin as a depressant is affected by the adsorption of the sulfhydryl collector. Hydrolyzable cations modify this relationship in flotation of sulfide ores. This type of deviation of the real-life systems from the predictions based on the behavior of the pure systems shows the possible ways that could be followed to further improve the obtained correlations. Advances in Mineral Processing Science and Technology Proceedings of the 48th Annual Conference of Metallurgists ofCIM Sudbury, Ontario, Canada Edited by"

Jan 1, 2009

By J. Elderton

"The combination of A C induction motor and flu id coupling, of either the fixed or variable filling type, constitutes a simple, low cost, highly reliable drive unit, with many applications in the mining field.The paper will, however, concentrate on the variable filling fluid coupling in three principal applications-conveyor starting, infinitely variable speed control for slurry and slimes pumping and dewatering pumps for deep mines. Fluid couplings can be used with standard or custom-built control gear equipment, ranging from the most simple, time-based open loop types, to those having the latest microprocessor techniques.IntroductionThe first industrial applications of fluid couplings included their use in the mining field as hydraulic slip regulators for flywheel generating sets. These installations, usually rated at around 1700 to 2500 hp, were located at mine shafts where the electrical grid transmission lines were not strong enough to cater for the peak power demands of the cage winding cycle. In Canada, the first two significant examples of variable filling fluid couplings for mining were on conveyor drives, at Steep Rock Mines Limited, closely followed by the major iron ore handling term inal on the St. Lawrence River at Sept-Iles. Successful and reliable operat ion of the fluid couplings at these two sites set the pattern for use on many subsequent mining projects throughout the Canadian Continent."

Jan 1, 1986

By J. N. Hilton, D. Moffett, E. Barnes

"A recent pilot-plant program carried out at Rio Algom's Quirke uranium mine at Elliot Lake, Ontario is described. The goal of the research was the production of tailings basin effluents which were low in total radium-226. The process tested involved precipitation of radium with barium chloride and sedimentation in plastic-lined settling ponds. Adjustment of the tailings basin overflow from its normal value of pH 9.5 by addition of sulphuric acid to about pH 7.5 was found to give approximately a five-fold improvement in total radium-226 removal. A five-month demonstration test resulted in an effluent with a mean total radium-226 activity of44 pCi/L after 2.5 days settling time and 29 pCi/L after 5 days. The results from the demonstration program are used to propose a schedule of achievable total radium-226 activities where precipitation and sedimentation are employed. The maximum suggested values for 5 days nominal settling time are: 30 pCi/L in an annual mean, 45 pCi/L in a monthly mean. 60pCiIL in a weekly mean and 80 pCi/L in any single grab sample.IntroductionRadium-226 has been removed from effluents at the Elliot Lake uranium mines since the introduction of the first barium chloride treatment system in 1965. Current practice, which has changed little over the years, consists of radium-barium sulphate precipitation by the addition of a low do se of barium chloride to the clear overflow from the tailings basin(l·2l. Provision is made for the precipitate to settle in large natural or constructed ponds and lagoons. The residence time in these ponds, which depends on the site, ranges from 3 to 35 days, with varying degrees of efficiency being achieved."

Jan 1, 1981

By K. Turgeon, D. Larivière, L. Whitty-Léveillé, J. -F. Boulanger, C. Bazin

"The processing of ore containing rare earth elements leads to the production of an impure solution of these elements. The separation of the rare earths from the impurities and the production of individual elements is usually carried out by solvent extraction. The effectiveness of the extraction conditions and of the reagents is generally tested in the laboratory. This paper deals with the processing of results from solvent extraction laboratory tests planned to generate data redundancy. A method is proposed to take advantage of the data redundancy by accounting for the pH variation during the extraction. The parallel processing of several tests also allows estimating the equilibrium constants for the extraction. The proposed method produces equilibrium constants that are more reproducible than values estimated using conventional approaches. The method is illustrated with solvent extraction tests conducted on synthetic solutions of rare earth elements.INTRODUCTIONThe processing of ores containing rare earth elements (REE) usually includes the production of a concentrate of the minerals carrying the REE. These minerals, for instance monazite and bastnäsite, contain the 14 elements from La to Lu plus yttrium and scandium. As an example monazite has the general formula of (La,Ce,Pr,Nd,Sm,Eu,Gd,Tb,Dy…Lu)PO4 with a typical lanthanum content of 20-26%, cerium content of 40-50%, praseodymium of 4-6%, neodymium of 16 to 20%, and decreasing concentrations of heavier elements (Gupta & Krishnamurthy, 2005). During the processing of a REE mineral, it is generally not possible to isolate and separate a single REE from all the rest. The mineral molecules need to be broken (usually via a heat treatment followed by leaching with a base and/or an acid) to produce an aqueous solution of the REE of the ore. After purification of the solution, the REE can be precipitated as a bulk concentrate and sold to a refinery that separates the REE into particular groups of REE such as the light versus heavy REE or into individual elements such as lanthanum, neodymium, or europium oxides to yield value-added products."

Jan 1, 2016

By P. -M. Tardif, S. Outalha, R. Le

"This paper proposes a new direction to implement an underground mine communication system. It presents actual underground communication systems and discusses their technological limits. A new system based on a wireless local area network (WLAN), together with its main systems characteristics, is then proposed. This paper also presents an experimental protocol for radio frequency propagation measurements. Finally, the paper describes the projected implementation of a WLAN in an experimental mine. IntroductionDuring the last decade, a number of Canadian mining companies have invested in modern communications systems in order to automate processes and reduce operational costs. Safety of miners is also a concern, regulated by health and safety regimes.Underground communication systems rely mainly on analog technology (especially the leaky feeder). Digital upgrades have been made to modernize this technology using a coaxial or fibre optic cable to transmit voice, documents, commands, controls, and video. Therefore, all wired equipment can benefit from an increase in efficiency from the digital technology.However, when it comes to mobile equipment, the only medium was, and is, still radio waves. With the advent of the wireless local area network (WLAN) standard, one can use a technology similar to that of the cellular phone to connect transparently different equipment. WLAN enables the transmission at rates higher than 2 M bits of voice, documents, commands, controls, identification, and of course, digital video. This technology was developed with inbuilding use in mind. Now, one can try to adapt it to underground mines."

Jan 1, 2000

By James D. Hall

THIS essay deals with the materials and methods used in the waste filling of scopes in Canadian mines, with especial reference co the methods used at the Sullivan mine, Kimberley, B.C. The author would like to thank members of the staff of the Sullivan mine for information obtained, and acknowledges material from the following publications: Waste Filling of Stopes: Information Circular 6816, U.S. Bureau of Mines. Mining Methods and Practices at Lake Shore, by Leslie S. Weldon; Trans., C.I.M. & M., Vol. XXXIX, 1936, pp. 142-202. Development and Mining (at the Mcintyre Mine), by D. E. Keeley; Eng. & Min. Journal, November, 1933. INTRODUCTION Although mining in Canada is a relatively youthful industry, many of our mines have reached a stage of extraction which requires waste filling, both as a means of support and co make possible the winning of ore that would otherwise have co be left in the mine. Fill may be used at regular intervals as one of the cycle of operations, as in cur-and-fill and square-set scoping; or it may be introduced into a completed stope co provide permanent support for overlying rock formations, and co permit mining of pillars of valuable ore. Waste fill is sorted in resuing, which is a form of cut-and-fill scoping employed in narrow veins.

Jan 1, 1937

By Horatio Sam-Aggrey, Margot Hurlbert

Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) have been touted as having the potential to spearhead a nuclear renaissance. Proponents of this view cite the relative advantages of SMRs over larger nuclear plants as reason for their optimism. Some of these merits include potential economies of mass production deriving from modular factory production, enhanced safety features, the ability to locate reactors in remote areas, and reduced requirements for technical workforces to install and maintain SMRs. Despite the optimism surrounding SMRs, nuclear power is still a contentious issue for many Canadians. The growth of nuclear power remains adversely affected by concerns over issues such as: the health and safety consequences of nuclear power generation, environmental impacts, proliferation of nuclear materials, terrorism, and radioactive waste disposal (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA), 2010). Personal values, past nuclear accidents, and lack of trust in the industry are other factors influencing attitudes toward nuclear energy (IAEA, 2005). In Canada, three main areas where SMRs could be used have been identified. These include: a. Traditional, on-grid power generation, especially in provinces looking for zero-emissions replacements for CO2-emitting coal plants. B. Remote off grid communities that currently rely on diesel or fuel oil power generation. There are 279 off-grid communities in Canada, many of them being Aboriginal communities (NRCan, ND). Notably, all communities in each of Canada’s three territories qualify as remote. C. Resource extraction sites, such as mining and oil and gas extraction sites. Many of Canada’s principal producing mines and active mineral exploration projects are located within close proximity of Aboriginal communities. Any proposed implementation of small nuclear plants would, require the support of the local population, which is largely Indigenous in the northern regions. The possible deployment of SMRs raises important issue relating to consultation and accommodation of Aboriginal concerns regarding potential SMR deployment. This is especially pertinent given Canada’s pending implementation of the provisions of UNDRIP. One of the provisions of UNDRIP that has attracted a lot of attention is the one on Free Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC). Drawing on previously published information, this paper discusses some of the challenges posed by FPIC for the deployment of SMRs. The next section outlines the provisions of FPIC and its implementation in the Canadian context. Section 3, details some of the challenges posed by FPIC to the deployment of SMRs, while Section 4 provides some concluding comments.

Jan 1, 2020

By Craig Haase

A. Introduction

Jan 1, 2003

By W. H. Patterson

The history and experience of early companies in the Islands is illustrated by the typical transactions of Trans-Western from 1959 to date. Trans-Western had entered into farmout agreements with companies strong enough to carry out at least the required minimum exploratory work and then such development as might be warranted. The farmee companies were required to make deposits to guarantee work performance during the first period of validity, i.e. the first 3 years of the 12-year life of the permits, and at the rate of 5 cents per acre. At that time, a good deal of geology was available, as a result of extensive exploration that had been carried on by the Geological Survey of Canada and other geological enterprises, with field parties travelling over and camping on all of those Islands. Trans-Western's farmees then selected, from Trans-Western's priority on 13.5 million acres, what they believed were the lands most prospective of producing large oil and gas discoveries, and, having the right to trim off acreage which they considered less prospective, thereby reducing the acreage of Trans-Western and its farmees to in excess of 5.5 million acres. The farmees then commenced a 3-year program carrying out geological exploration to the required minimum of 5 cents per acre, and with some permanent and many mobile camps.

Jan 1, 1969

By Rodgers Peale

The Waite mine, as it is locally termed, is situated in the Rouyn district, in the townships of Duprat and Dufresnoy, Quebec, and lies about 340 miles north of Toronto. Due to the impetus given prospecting in the Rouyn district by the discovery, some years ago, of copper-gold ore on the Horne claims, many exploration parties were put into the field. Early in 1925, J. H. C. Waite, C. H. Ackerman, and T. Montgomery staked the claims which now comprise the mine beating their names. Trenching and diamond drilling soon disclosed an ore-body of commercial size and grade, and by the end of 1928 a shaft had been sunk 300 feet and the mine was producing 150 tons of direct-smelting copper ore a day. In the summer of 1925, Dr. H. C. Cooke, of the Geological Survey, made a reconnaissance survey of the property (1), and since that time work of the same nature has been done by several others. MacGregor has published some interesting data on the Amulet mine (2). Using as a background a summer's work on the Horne claims at Noranda, the writer spent the summer of 1929 at the Waite.

Jan 1, 1931

By Michael Samis

Conventional project valuation techniques, such as discounted cash flow (DCF) method, are more frequently being criticised for the manner in which they consider the interacting effects of uncertainty and project structure (including management flexibility) on project value. Modern asset pricing (MAP; often called ?real options valuation? when applied to the analysis of flexibility) is a more general valuation framework that corrects many of the shortcomings of common valuation methods. Previous mining applications of MAP have tended to treat the ore deposit as a homogenous entity. While useful for demonstration purposes, this is inadequate for practical application in industry. This paper presents a MAP valuation example that allows for the heterogeneous nature of an ore deposit. It shows that deposit structure may increase the complexity of the mine planner?s decision so that results of a standard DCF analysis, or a simple MAP analysis that ignores the details of deposit structure, are misleading. In the example, a management is considering the development of an adjacent low-grade zone while mining operations in a high-grade zone are ongoing. If the low-grade zone is developed before high-grade reserves are exhausted, the proposed development will include both low-grade zone development and a capacity expansion to handle additional low-grade reserve production. If development of these reserves is delayed until the high-grade reserves are depleted, then the low-grade reserves can be developed without a capacity expansion. A typical DCF analysis would reduce the management?s decision problem to three alternatives: 1) continue mining only in the highgrade reserves, 2) immediately develop the low-grade reserves and expand capacity, and 3) delay low-grade zone development until the high-grade reserves are exhausted. The model presented here allows the management to reconsider the development and capacity expansion decision on a discrete half-year basis. It delineates price regions, for given levels of high-grade zone reserves, in which it is optimal to develop the low-grade zone, defer low-grade zone development and abandon the mine irrevocably. The model presented here extends the ability of mine planners to describe actual project structure while using the MAP valuation framework that is already noted for its capacity to combine project uncertainty and risk insights with a dynamic project description.

May 1, 2001

By W. R. Hargrave

"Mining OperationsOre will be mined by open pit techniques. Because of the high grade of the deposit and the low strip ratio, mining rates are small relative to most other open pit operations.The ore deposit is located in the valley of the main fork of Red Dog Creek. The bulk of the deposit is located on the southwestern flank of the creek, but mineralization does traverse the creek in both the north and east directions.Erosion has exposed the orebody in a number of locations, and has resulted in oxidation of the mineralization closer to the surface. Although much of this oxide material is very high grade, it leaches readily and, at least in the initial phases of the operation, will be stockpiled and not treated in the concentrator.During construction, 2.3 million mt. (2.5 million st.) of overburden and waste will be stripped from the orebody to expose ore for initial operations. Competent non-mineralized waste will be used to build roads and waste dumps, but the bulk of material removed consists of oxide or ice-rich soils and weathered rock which is not suitable for construction.The annual ore mining rate will be 1.9 million mt. (21. million st.). The strip ratio will start off at 1.2 to 1, falling to 1.0 to 1 by year 5 and ultimately to 0.8 to 1.Bench heights are set at 7.6 m (25 ft). Pit slopes will vary depending on the material present in the wall. The slope, through competent waste and the sulphide package, was set at 45 degrees. This is flattened to 26 degrees (i.e. 2: 1) through overburden and Upper Kivalina shales. The Kivalina Shales are an ice-rich shale whose carbonate matrix has been leached out and which exhibits little or no strength as it thaws. In addition, a 100 ft containment berm will be left in the wall below overburden and Kivalina."

Jan 1, 1989

By John Taylor

"The Highvale Mine in Alberta is owned by TransAlta Utilities Corpora/ion and operated by Mana/fa Coal Lid. It is the largest coal mine in Canada and in 1982 supplied 8.6 million 1onnes of sub-bituminous ""B"" coal to TransAlta's Sundance Ceneraling Plan/. Annual produclion is scheduled to increase in 1983 when the firs/ unit of the new Keephil/s Generating Plant comes on stream and is expec/ed to exceed 11 million tonnes by 1985 when the second unit is commissioned. Coal is mined from several pits in a multi-seam operation. Comprehensive maintenance, drainage and environmental programs form a major part of the operation.IntroductionThe Highvale Mine is located eighty kilometres west of Edmonton, Alberta on the south shore of Lake Wabamun (Fig. I). The mine is owned by TransAlta Utilities Corporation (T.A.U.) and is operated by Manalta Coal Ltd. In 1982, 8.6 million tonnes of coal were supplied to T.A.U.'s 2100 MW Sundance Generating Plant, making it the largest producing coal mine in Canada. By 1985, with two 375 MW units on line at T.A. U .'s new Keephills Generating Plant, annual production is estimated to exceed eleven million tonnes. The generating plants accept crushed unwashed coal from the mine via the coal handling plant system conveyor belts. The coal is classified as sub-bituminous ""B"" and has an average heating capacity of 18.6 MJ I kg.HistoryPrior to 1943 only small scale mining took place in the Highvale area. Between 1943 and 1961 two strip mining companies, Mount Royal Collieries and Continental Collieries operated on the present mine site. Both operations excavated coal along the south shore of Lake Wabamun."

Jan 1, 1985

By Gary S. Anderson

Rajant Corporation is the global leader in mining communications systems implemented a vision to develop a wireless network that is rapidly deployed, self-powered and managed, for portable or fixed configurations ? Mobile, Portable, Self-Powered, Secure and High Bandwidth. The network configures itself allowing for very rapid deployment without the time delay and personnel typically required for set-up and configuration. Rajant?s proprietary technology ?InstaMesh®? is incorporated in a device called a BreadCrumb®. Rajant has filed several patent applications on its proprietary technology and has received trademark protection on its brand names. The BreadCrumb® uses technology which allows mining, military and first responders to easily establish internet connections at remote sites or situations where existing internet communications has been disrupted. The BreadCrumb® products are standards-based Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g compliant, ruggedized, lightweight, portable; self-meshing and the system can be established by just turning on several of the BreadCrumb® units. The Rajant Network has evolved in the ?One Network? philosophy and has been deployed by both the military and homeland defense organizations. With multiple radios, transmitting on multiple frequencies as the same time, bandwidth is doubled, the speed of the network is enhanced, management is simplified, and manageability is made easier. Rajant has partnered with world class integrators and partners, including ten CAT dealers, a world-wide mining technology company, a mining and construction software company and leading technology innovators in mining automation and operations. Recently, Rajant provided a significant network to Rio Tinto?s Iron Ore of Canada Mine in Labrador City, Newfoundland, Canada, Kennecott Utah Copper Mine, and is currently the wireless standard at Peabody Energy and several mines in Australia. These networks range from 20-250 BreadCrumbs®. The result is a meshed mobile broadband network capable of operating in a vast open pit active mining space. Simultaneous applications currently running on these BreadCrumb® networks in the mining sector consist of Caterpillar?s VIMS?s, CAESultra grade control and Aquila Drill Management Systems, Carlson Grade Control systems, Jigsaw Technologies and Modular Mining fleet management system, Ground Probe Radar, an Automatic Train Operation and various video and VoIP applications. All vendor applications have been turned off and all applications are running on Rajant?s ?One Network?.

May 1, 2010

By A. Bezama

For over a decade European countries have addressed contaminated sites by developing technologies for managing both polluted soil and groundwater. This development has not only been driven by health and environmental aspects, but also because of economic pressures, as the remediation and redevelopment of derelict areas can be a meaningful alternative to undeveloped areas for the establishment of new industrial, recreational, housing and service locations. In most developing countries, however, the subject of contaminated sites is a new environmental issue that authorities have recently started to deal with. Among these countries, Chile has just started to prepare the country's legal context as well as to foster the formation of research and investigation groups that will deal with the exploration, investigation and management of contaminated sites. That requires a comprehensive technical, scientific and legal support in this stage. Goal of this article is to present the state-of-the-art technologies for site remediation currently applied in industrialized countries, in order to identify the most interesting approaches that can be implemented within the Chilean situation, especially considering the influence of the copper mining industry on the soil and groundwater quality of the environment surrounding their production facilities.

Jan 1, 2007