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By E. H. Mulligan

THE ERRINGTON B-I mine is located on the Errington orebody of Steep Rock Iron Mines, Limited, at Steep Rock Lake, Ontario. In 1946, this orebody entered the shipping lists of the Lake Superior iron ranges as an open-pit operation. During the period 1946 through 1953, the mine produced a total of 9,000,000 tons of iron ?ore. In 1950, as the mine approached the economic limits for open-pit operations, ground was broken for an underground development to exploit the deposit at depth. The mine is designed for an ultimate production of 1,500,000 tons per year by the block-caving system of mining. The initial shaft is 1,200 feet deep and will produce or-e from the 700 and the 900 levels. The 1,100 level will be used as a drainage level and as a haulageway for waste rock, which is hoisted to surface by skip. Ore from the two production levels moves by a system of ?ore passes to a crushing plant located below the 900 horizon and is hoisted from this point to surface by conveyor belt. At the present time, all material handling on the levels is by tramming, but as tram distances increase conveyor haulage will probably be installed. The initial stage of the Errington B-1 development is expected to produce 6,000,000 tons of ore over a period of four years. The second stage will require deepening of the shaft and development of lowe1? production levels. The conveyor hoisting plant will be extended to serve these new levels. We visualize the mining of this orebcdy down to 2,500 feet by these methods.

Jan 1, 1956

By B. Van den Bogaert, K. Binnemans, T. Van Gerven

Europium is one of the most critical rare-earth elements due to the limited supply of this element combined with a high demand for red lamp phosphors. Therefore, the recycling of europium from end-oflife lamp phosphors has become increasingly important. Photochemical reduction of europium(III) to europium(II) and subsequent removal from rare-earth mixtures by precipitation as EuSO4 is a very selective and efficient method to recover europium from binary europium/yttrium solutions. It is shown that full separation of europium and yttrium is feasible from laboratory prepared non-equimolar Eu/Y mixtures up to a ratio of 1/20, which reflect the composition of red lamp phosphors. Optimal conditions were determined at pH 4 with isopropanol as a radical scavenger, which is a less harmful and toxic compound than the commonly used formic acid scavenger. Europium removal efficiencies of more than 95% were achieved, with a purity of 98.5% of the EuSO4 precipitate. The irradiance of the used light source, expressed in mW/cm2, has a large impact on the illumination time needed to remove europium from the solution. It is observed that higher irradiance results in a shorter induction time, i.e. a period during which virtually no europium is removed, and a faster removal rate once the induction time has passed. The photochemical separation technique was applied to recover europium from leached industrial red lamp phosphor (YOX) powder, with a Eu/Y ratio of 1/30. Europium recovery of 50% was reached with a purity of 96%, proving the feasibility of this method for the recycling of europium from end-of-life lamp phosphors.

Jan 1, 2016

By R. Niechcial

As populations grow and industry expands, the limited fresh water resources available are increasingly under stress. This situation creates conflict between communities and industry; and the sustainability of both is threatened. The symbiotic relationship between community and industry highlights the need to develop innovative solutions to these water shortages. The sea may hold the key to providing the resource to permit the development of industry, the sustainability of communities, and the protection of the dwindling legacy water resources around the world. Desalination technologies have developed to where it is now economically viable to create industrial and potable water quality from seawater. Nowhere is this development more important than in the arid region of Northern Chile, where high copper prices have encouraged a boom in mine development.

Jan 1, 2007

By László Guczi1

Nanosize model gold particles with varying size were fabricated by deposition of a 10 nm thick gold film onto SiO2/Si(100) substrate by electron beam evaporation followed by modification using low energy Ar+ ion bombardment. The change in particle size were monitored by the Au 5d valence band states determined by ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy (UPS). The gold/iron oxide interface was studied by iron oxide deposition on gold. It was found that the energy profile of Au 5d valence band states are strongly redistributed with decreasing the gold particle size mostly affecting at the lowest and at the highest binding energies. The size effect in the UPS spectra can be interpreted by the energy redistribution rather, than by narrowing the 5d states. The iron oxide deposition increases the catalytic activity in CO oxidation whether it is on gold nanoparticles or on a continuous 80 nm thick gold film. The activity enhancement is significantly larger in case of gold nanoparticles. The interface interaction is operative in enlargement of the catalytic activity even if gold particles are not exposed to the surface, but they are located below the iron oxide layer.

Oct 1, 2003

By Samuel Frimpong

Green house gases have become a major concern within the international community over the last two decades due to their potential link to global warming. Carbon dioxide (CO2) is the principal greenhouse gas. In the Kyoto Agreement, Canada has committed to reduce emissions by 6 % below 1990 levels by 2012. This presents a serious economic challenge to Canada and Alberta. Over the next decade, oil sands production expansion, population and industry growth and energy demand will increase CO2 emissions. Current and future CO2 emissions and their economic implications in Alberta will be critical in formulating a comprehensive and balanced policy for dealing with concerns in this area. Disposal of carbon dioxide (CO2) in land aquifers is a potentially viable option for Alberta in dealing with long-term CO2 emissions. Studies have confirmed the existence of appropriate aquifers in the Alberta Basin for CO2 storage over a long geological period. Carbon dioxide is an ideal candidate for aquifer disposal because of its high density and solubility in water at relatively high pressures. In this study, the authors develop a computer simulation model of a scaled aquifer disposal system. The scaled model consists of an injector well, aquifer environment with dominant Ca++ and Mg++ cations. Liquefied CO2 is injected at an appropriate pressure and concentration through an injector well model. The injected CO2 migrates from the point of contact between the injector well and the aquifer domain to the main regime of the latter. The rate of migration is a function of porosity, permeability, cations, aquifer fluid flow regime and CO2 injected pressure. These models are validated using flue gas data from the 546 MW Wabamum Power Plant in Alberta. The total energy requirements for aquifer CO2 disposal system are distributed between a minimum of 105 MW and a maximum of 172 MW, with a mean of 132 MW and a coefficient of variation of 10%. The results show that there is significant variability in all the energy requirements for the CO2 disposal system. The total energy requirements for the disposal system as a fraction of the total power generated by the Wabamum plant of 546 MW could be between 0.19 and 0.32. This is a very significant energy requirement and thorough analysis must be carried out to reduce this variability and energy requirements.

May 1, 2001

By H. A. Kee

In the mining industry, as in other business, one of the more satisfactory results of sincere but cheerful effort lies in the proper completion of undertakings and problems, which, to be successful, must continually hold the interest of all concerned in the work. In most undertakings, genuine interest and satisfaction is largely dependent on the proper appraisal of opportunities presented, and the opportunity to associate ourselves with sinking operations at McIntyre central shaft, from the surface to a depth of 4,133 feet, was genuinely appreciated. This opportunity was made possible by the previous persistent and successful leadership of Mr. J. P. Bickell, President, with the assistance of his associates, and of the general manager, Mr. R.J. Ennis, in the development of the McIntyre Porcupine mine, and I beg to state that any success in this sinking operation was very largely due to the congenial co-operation and splendid workmanship of Captain Martin C. Horne, his shift bosses, leaders, and all those who worked with us . Our slogan throughout was " Safety First for Pleasant and Efficient Workmanship," and this general policy made it possible to sink and timber 2.,123 feet during the first year without a serious accident.

Jan 1, 1928

By The Mill Staff

Professor H.E.T. Haultain: Table 4, on page 131 of this paper, gives the assays of sized mill products. I am sure that there are many others besides myself who would be very interested to learn how the sizes 0-3 and 3-13 microns were obtained. * * * Mr. Del Davis, Mill Superintendent, Flin Flon Concentrator, on behalf of the authors of the paper, has kindly sent us the following information in reply to Professor Haultain's enquiry. Sub-Sieve Sizing by Sedimentation Procedure (As used by R. J. Digney & J. E. Ryan, 1940) Fractionation of Sub-Sieve Sizes General Method: A 1,050-gram sample of the material was pulped to 3 liters; 10 c.c. of sodium silicate and 0.2 grams of Na2C03 was added and thorough agitation given for two hours previous to settling. The material was assumed to consist wholly of particles of the same density as the most abundant particles. The time required for a particle of the upper limit of the lowest size-range to be separated, to fall a specified distance was calculated according to Stokes Law. The pulp was poured into the settling apparatus and, when the calculated time had elapsed, the suspended material was drained. The settled sediments and the process repeated until no more suspended material was obtained. The next larger size fraction was obtained in a similar manner, using the settled sediments which had been stripped of all smaller sizes as above. The fractions were arbitrarily set at 0-3, 3-13, 13-23, 23-33, and 33-43 microns (43 microns = 325 mesh).

Jan 1, 1946

By S. Banisi, M. Maleki-Moghaddam

Direct observation of charge shape and its motion in industrial mills is not possible; therefore, a combination of analytical and physical studies is used to determine charge trajectory. Software packages, which predict charge motion consider only the outermost layer of charge (single ball) and ignore the charge and the interactions of grinding elements. In the new version of the GMT (Grinding Media Trajectory) software, the effect of liners specification and bulk load on charge shape and trajectory are considered. The charge trajectory was measured in a laboratory mill with the diameter of 100 cm and length of 21.5 cm with the transparent end and compared with that of the old version of GMT. Four types of polyurethane rings were accurately machined to scale down the liners arrangements at two industrial mills. The model mill was operated at 55, 70 and 85% of the critical speed for five levels of mill filling (10, 15, 20, 25% and 30% by volume). The experiments indicated that the end walls effect was negligible for the model mill with the length of 10.8 cm and beyond. The proposed relationships to correct the trajectory and charge shape were validated by using the new liner of the Gol-E-Gohar iron ore company AG mill. The positions of shoulder, toe, toe departure and impact points were predicted with the relative errors of 5, 0.7, 2 and 0.2%, respectively. The GMT software was updated with the new relationships. The results of GMT simulation indicated that when the lifter face angle increased from 7 to 30°, the distance between the charge impact point and the toe decreased from 40.1 to 11.2° for 30% filling. The change in the position of the impact point meant increasing the probability of charge impacting the toe, not the liner which favored more efficient comminution practice.

Jan 1, 2016

By J. B. Evans

"NORMALLY the duties of the exploration engineer and geologist cover the initial, and possibly, the most important phase of mining property evaluation; that phase being the presentation of an opinion of the property's ore reserve potential in terms of tonnage and grade. The prime objective of this pa-per is to outline one method of bridging the wide gap that lies between a know ledge of a property' s tonnage and grade potential and an appreciation of the value of that property in dollars and cents.THE PRESENTATION OF PROPERTY EVALUATIONThe engineer engaged on a mining property evaluation, regardless of whether he be an independent consultant, or a company employee, has as his goal, the presentation of his appreciation of the property's potential value or worth within terms of reference acceptable to his principal.To furnish a complete evaluation report, the evaluator must firstly study all aspects pertaining to the particular property under consideration, then present his appreciation of the property's worth in some tangible form. The ultimate presentation is one giving a Present Value of the pro pert y in terms of monetary exchange. Such an idealistic presentation is not always possible; typical preventives being -insufficient reliable information, limited time, Jack of ability and absence of definite direction."

Jan 1, 1960

The dissolution of chalcopyrite has received a significant amount of attention. The predominant paradigm of investigation is that its rate of dissolution is limited or passivated by a surface coating or film of material. The common candidates for such a passivating coating are numerous: polysulfide coating, metal deficient layers, copper sulfide coating, bornite layers, jarosite precipitates, and elemental sulfur films. While this line of explanation, that is, the explanation based on passivation, seems to have won some form of consensus with researchers, there is another explanation for the results that can account for all the results observed. Crundwell (1988) proposed that the solid state properties of chalcopyrite, in particular, the semiconducting properties, are responsible for the observed behaviour of chalcopyrite. The purpose of this paper is to outline the semiconductor mechanism of dissolution, and to show how this mechanism accounts for all the observed phenomena recently reported in the literature. The paper outlines the semiconductor mechanism of dissolution, shows how this mechanism accounts for the dissolution

Jan 1, 2014

By L. Fernandes

A two level factorial study was undertaken to investigate the relative impacts of factors affecting the kinetics of polytetrafluoroethylene, PTFE, assisted pressure oxidation of chalcopyrite. A copper flotation concentrate, principally composed of chalcopyrite, was leached in 850 mL of leach solution under conditions similar to those of the CESL process. The factors manipulated were: the amount of 1/8" PTFE beads added (100 g or 650 g), oxygen pressure (690 kPa or 1030 kPa), and concentrate addition (10 grams or 65 grams). Copper extraction data, which indicated complete leaching under certain conditions, were fit using a shrinking core model from which rate constants were estimated and further used to generate a statistical model containing only the factors of significance and their interactions. Results indicated a strong positive effect of PTFE addition and a strong negative effect of increasing pulp density. A weak negative interaction between increasing PTFE addition and pulp density was attributed to PTFE/concentrate agglomeration.

Jan 1, 2014

By K. E. Prince, S. Burling, R. J. Ring, M. K. Maley, W. R. Taylor

Vanadium occurs as a component of carnotite, which commonly occurs in calcrete type ores, and in association with uranium in some sandstone-hosted deposits. Increasing demand for vanadium, which is used in high-strength steel and Vanadium Redox Flow Batteries (VRFBs), is offering some uranium producers a potential option for by-product vanadium recovery to improve project economics at a time when uranium prices are low. This paper presents the results of recent optimisation studies on the Bigrlyi deposit for the recovery of both uranium and vanadium. The impact of carbonate leaching conditions on uranium and vanadium extraction from a range of carnotite-in-calcrete ores is also examined, with vanadium extraction limited by the proportion of non-carnotite vanadium present in the ores. The findings are particularly relevant to developing projects as results show that elevated vanadium content in ore does not necessarily equate to a high vanadium extraction in leach.

Jan 1, 2020

By O. Hall

DISCUSSION AT QUEBEC MEETING MR. A. V. CORLETT: With drill holes radiating from a common point, is loading carried to the collars, and do you undertake to distribute the powder evenly? MR. R. V. PORRITT: When the collars of the holes, particularly the diamond-drill holes, are close together, two out of three holes are loaded only to within six or seven feet of the collars, and the intervening holes are loaded close to the collars. When the collars are farther apart, the holes are loaded close to the collars. No spacers are used, and the holes are filled solid with powder, this applying particularly to the diamond-drill holes, except, of course, where the collars are close together and some holes are not loaded close to the collars. MR. J. G. L. McCREA: I would like to enquire in respect to the various efforts made to reduce the cost of diamond drilling to the lowest point, what is. the relative cost of the solid bit to the standard bit? It would seem that the solid bit has the higher cost. MR. PORRITT: The non-coring or solid bit gives a slightly lower diamond cost than the coring bit. With the coring bit, the greatest diamond loss is on the inside stones, apparently due partly to vibration, but mainly to the core blocking against these stones. This condition, of course, does not apply with the non-coring bit. Our experience is that the non-coring bit, which drills out a much greater area, has a diamond consumption slightly less than the coring bit. The non-coring bit is sturdier, and is far less liable to damage in starting holes and in drilling through cracked or broken ground.

Jan 1, 1939

By M. Fall

The progressive depletion of ore available at shallow depths in several underground mines around the world means that underground mining operations would increasingly be carried out at greater depths and therefore at higher temperatures. However, our understanding of the effect of hot temperatures on the response (mechanical, economical, environmental) of cemented paste backfill (CPB) is still limited. Hence, an extensive laboratory investigation was conducted to study the performance of young and aged CPB, in response to deep mine temperatures. Several CPB samples with different compositions, cured at different temperatures (20 to 50°C) and different times (7 to 160 days) were tested regarding their mechanical properties, economical performance (binder consumption) and microstructural properties. The results show that hot temperatures significantly affect the performance properties of CPB at young and advanced ages. An increase in the curing temperature leads to a considerable improvement of the rate of gain of CPB strength and also to a significant increase of the strength of CPBs studied. CBP samples cured at hot temperatures show lower binder consumption and finer pore structure. Results of this study could serve as background information for the development of optimal mine backfill design procedures.

May 1, 2007

By K. Shen, A. J. Sinclair, N. Champigny

"Fluid inclusion studies from the Cinola deposit indicate low salinities and low C01 contents of the ore fluid. This supports a suggestion that the mineralizing fluids originated from pore water in the fluviatile host rock (mid-Miocene Skonun Formation). Bimodal distribution of filling temperatures suggests the existence of at least two temperature regimes centred on 160°C and 270°C during mineral deposition. Independent age and stratigraphic evidence indicates that depth of mineralization is between 1.1 and 1. 8 km, corresponding to a hydrostatic load of between 110 and 170 bars.RESUMELes donnees sur les inclusions fluides du gisement Cinola indiquent de basses salinites et basses teneurs en C01 . Ceci confirme que les fluides mineralisants ont ete derives de l'eau interstitielle prise dans les sedimentsfluviatiles hates. La distribution bimodale des temperatures d'homogenisation implique !'existence de deux regimes de temperature concentrees vers 160°C et 270°C pendant Ia mineralisation. La profondeur alaquelle le gisement s'est forme est evaluee d'etre entre 1.1 et 1.8 km a partir d'informations stratigraphiques independantes: ceci correspond a des pressions hydrostatiques de 110 a 170 bars."

Jan 1, 1982

By Jean-François Doyon

Les aspects environnementaux des activités minières d?exploitation réalisées sur le territoire québécois sont encadrés par divers cadres légaux, réglementaires ou autres (directive, politique, guide) tant au niveau provincial que fédéral. Ces cadres s?appliquent à l?un ou l?autre des trois grandes étapes du projet, soit lors de l?étude d?avant projet, pendant l?exploitation ou à la cessation des activités d?exploitation. Comme la réglementation environnementale est de plus en plus nombreuse, ces dernières années, cette présentation vise à exposer les principaux cadres provinciaux et fédéraux actuellement en application au Québec pour le secteur minier et à en dégager les particularités. ABSTRACT The environmental aspects of mining activities carried out across Quebec fall within the scope of various legal, prescribed or other frameworks (directives, policies, guides) at provincial and federal levels. These frameworks apply to one or another of the three major steps of a project: preliminary design, mining and closure. As the number of environmental regulations has greatly increased during the past few years, the object of this presentation is to state the main provincial and federal frameworks currently applicable in Quebec for the mining sector and to identify their special features.

Nov 1, 2002

By J. B. McKenzie

Since connnencing underground prcxiuction in 1979, the Ruttan Mine has been prone to secon:iacy sulphide dust explosions. Al though infrequent during the early years of prcxiuction, these occurrences did result in major damage and lost time injuries. 'As the mine exparrled and developed to further depths, sulphide dust explosions occurred on a more frequent basis. Incomplete ventilation se:rvices, required to exhaust the affected areas, caused frequent delays resulting in lower prcxiuction rates due to the time required to ventilate the affected areas of the mine. CUrrent procedures to minimize the effects of secon:iacy dust explosions evolved from practical suggestions arrl examining methcx:ls other mines have developed to cope with the problem. Procedures and regulations to protect errployees from exposure to hazards of sulphur dioxide are time consuming, expensive and counter prcxiuctive in their present fonn. This paper describes the history of secon:iacy sulphide dust explosions at the Ruttan Mine and the methcx:ls and proced.ures currently in place to minimize and contain the effects of dust explosions.

May 11, 1988

By R. Baker

A novel electrochemical half-cell and corresponding working electrode were designed to evaluate the electro-catalytic activities of catalysts in an environment close to that of an operating proton exchange or polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEMFC). Cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) techniques were employed using the novel cell to characterize various methanol electro-oxidation parameters that contribute to the overall reaction on a fuel cell anode. The effect of temperature on methanol oxidation kinetics was examined in the potential range of 0.31 to 0.65V (vs. NHE). The data was collected in the temperature range of 20 to 80°C. Based on the experimental analysis and literature data, an equivalent circuit model (ECM) for methanol oxidation was proposed and was used to fit the EIS experimental data. The experimental data and ECM electrochemical data was used to extract electrochemical kinetic parameters for methanol oxidation such as the exchange current density, Tafel slope, and energy of activation for the reaction. Kinetic data, especially at different temperatures, is very limited in the literature.

Jan 1, 2005

By M. H. Kotze, V. Yahorava

A gold-selective ion exchange resin, containing tributylamine groups, was developed by Mintek for the recovery of gold from cyanide leach solutions. The Dow Chemical Company and, more recently, Purolite commercialized the production of this gold selective resin for use in the gold mining industry, and it is marketed as Dow XZ-91419.00 and Purolite A194 respectively. A novel application of this resin is the selective recovery and separation of AuCl4 - f rom p latinum group metals (PGMs) in chloride and nitrate solutions. The current paper describes potential benefits of this type of resin for selective recovery and upgrading of gold from low grade chloride or nitrate waste streams, and the possibility of gold separation from PGMs during their refining in chloride media.

Jan 1, 2014

By S. Yadav, T. G. Murthy, C. Saldana

"An experimental study has been carried out in order to study the deformation of porous brittle materials under plane strain indentation. Gypsum, which is well known model system for understanding the behaviour of soft rocks, is used in this study. The effect of wedge angle is investigated in this research through this series of experiments, using wedges of 3 different apical angles. High-speed, high-resolution images are captured using a CMOS camera during the experiment. The images obtained are analyzed using a Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) algorithm in order to obtain the evolving velocity, strain-rate and strain fields.INTRODUCTIONThe problem of indentation, which is usually referred to in the context of hardness testing is ubiquitous as a material characterization technique for a large class of solids. Mechanical properties of materials such as yield stress, flow stress, fracture toughness, elastic moduli etc. can be related to the hardness of a given solid. The indentation problem involves a given material or solid (whose properties are to be determined) indented by a relatively harder material (indenter) allowing the solid to undergo plastic deformation, which is then related to the yield stress of the material. The problem of indentation and its variants see many applications ranging from mining and petroleum industry, infrastructure industry, manufacturing, and biomedical sectors. Indentation has been extensively studied in metals, with accurate measurement of deformation parameters, stresses and comparison with analytical solutions. On the other hand, understanding of indentation in other class of solids such as cellular solids, porous solids, rocks, and soft solids is still nascent. In case of rocks, a comprehensive understanding of the indentation problem is very crucial because of the obvious applications in mining, petroleum and infrastructure sectors. The inherent porosity, the brittle nature of the rocks, adds to the complexity of indentation in these porous brittle solids. Various theoretical models with degrees of simplifying assumptions have been proposed to study the indentation in rocks. The most common model used in the study of indentation in rocks is a cavity expansion model, wherein a blunt indenter indenting into a rock is approximated with the expansion of cylindrical or spherical cavity in an elastic-plastic material. Complementary studies in understanding fracture initiation and propagation due to indentation has been largely based on the studies of traditional brittle materials such as glass."

Jan 1, 2015