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By G. O. Prickett, P. Somasundaran

An application of the statistical and computer techniques in basic mineral processing research is illustrated by means of a case history involving the study of starch adsorption on calcite. Multi-factorial experimental designs and computer techniques were used for determining the effect of different system variables, such as solution pH, sodium oleate concentration and starch concentration, and to obtain a mathematical model of the response. Response maps enabled the investigators to see the effects clearly and to predict the results of changes in factor levels within the design region. Use of time-shared computers and plotters made data processing and analysis efficient and relatively inexpensive.

Jan 1, 1973

By B. Haneman, J. A. Gorst, W. Slabbert

"The Bayer process involves the digestion of bauxite in caustic liquors at high temperature and pressure. Typically the digestion section of the plant involves the heating of liquors up to the digestion temperature followed by flashing of the digestion product to atmospheric pressure with the flashed steam used to pre-heat the incoming cold slurry. Despite the heat recovery, the digestion process is a high consumer of energy. The application of tube digestion technology in such plants has resulted in significant improvements in refinery energy efficiency with associated benefits of process simplification and refinery flow sheet capital cost reduction. This paper reviews the potential application of this technology to other metals within the non-ferrous industry.THE BAYER PROCESSA typical Bayer flow sheet is shown in Figure 1. The raw feed material bauxite (containing aluminium hydroxide as gibbsite Al(OH)3 and boehmite AlO(OH)) is digested in caustic liquors (caustic soda is the solvent) at high temperature and pressure. This process extracts the alumina and silica and any carbon present on the ore. The slurry is then flashed down to atmospheric condition allowing for heat recovery from the flashed vapour and producing slurry supersaturated in alumina.Following the digestion process the mud is removed via thickening and then pressure filtration to remove fine particulate and produce a clarified liquor with dissolved alumina in solution. The resulting pregnant liquor is then cooled allowing the alumina in solution to precipitate as aluminium trihydrate Al(OH)3. The precipitated hydrate is then filtered and washed and classified into fine and coarse fractions. The fine material is returned to the precipitation process as seed while the coarse fraction is calcined at high temperature to produce alumina. The filtrate from the filtration process (spent liquor) is then heated by the incoming pregnant liquor before being fed to an evaporation process which produced the strong caustic liquor required in the digestion process. Finally, the mud from the thickening process is washed to recover caustic and then fed to tailings ponds. The washer overflow is then mixed with the digester product to increase super-saturation."

Jan 1, 2012

By D. W. Boydell

The response of reclaimed gold tailings to acid leaching was investigated in the laboratory, followed by a pilot-plant program in which the operations of CCD, CIX and SX were tested with plant feed material. These results formed the basis for the design of the extension to the existing uranium plant at Blyvooruitzicht Gold Mine, commissioned in July 1977. This circuit consists of slimes-dam reclamation by bucket-wheel excavator at a rate of 100,000 t solids per month, acid leaching in pachucas, a five-stage CCD washing section, two parallel C1X absorption columns and two elution columns, SX and an ADU precipitation section. Barren solution is recycled to the CCD section as wash and to the repulper at the slimes dam. The performance of the plant during the first year of operation is compared with the predictions on which the plant design was based. Rated capacity was achieved within three weeks of start-up at a nominal dissolved uranium recovery in the ion-exchange section of around 98%. Owing to recycle, the over-all recovery in the ion-exchange and solvent extraction sections is somewhat higher than this figure.

Jan 1, 1979

By W. B. Paton

Introduction For several reasons the accident history of Flin Flon has been quite unlike that of any other mine in northern Canada, and very much unlike that of the average American metal mine. Towards the end of 1928, the mining project that is now Flin Flon, and that is now in the very: forefront of Canada's big producers was launched; but, metaphorically, it was launched in a tempest of mining troubles. Each branch of the mammoth enterprise was beset with extraordinary difficulties, and the Safety Department had its relative share. Difficulties in Accident Prevention The unusually rugged contour of the plant site made roads, and even moderately safe pathways, out of the immediate question. The project established an industrial outlet for depression-stricken areas which hitherto had been essentially agricultural; but through that outlet poured labour whose working atmosphere had been the bald prairie, labour that knew nothing of safety consciousness, labour that had to be moulded to industrialism, labour in the raw. A considerable length of the ore-body lay under the eastern section of Flin Flon lake. Open-pit methods were adopted to work the upper limits of the ore-body, and consequently the eastern section of the lake had to be dammed and pumped dry. The subsequent difficulties and hazards created by silt deposit cannot be fully visualized. And, finally, there was a geographical hindrance: the ore-body was partly in the Province of Manitoba and partly in the Province of Saskatchewan. The workmen's compensation problem became intricate. Insofar as accident prevention is concerned, Flin Flon's young industrial life may be conveniently divided into three distinct periods, namely: (a) Construction (Nov. 1928-June 1930) (b) Tuning up, and production till the strike (June 1930-June 1934) (c) Production from the strike till the present time At the peak of construction, due to the usual labour fluctuations of big jobs, there was a weekly turnover of about a hundred men. A very large percentage were Central Europeans, most of whom could neither read nor write English. Consequently, an organized safety programme was out of the question.

Jan 1, 1935

By Andre Panteleyev, Charels S. Ney, John M. Anderson

"Sam Goosly prospect, 22 miles southeast of Houston, B.C., was discovered in 1967 through geochemical reconnaissance. Soil sampling interpreted with respect to an east-to-west ice movement led to drilling targets.Mineralization is in a window of rocks thought to be Hazelton Group surrounded by Tertiary volcanic rocks and intruded by two stocks separated by about one mile. A westerly quartz monzonite stock is dated 61.1 m.y. and an easterly gabbro-monzonite complex is dated 52.5 m.y. The Tertiary volcanics are trachyandesites shown by the B.C. Department of Mines and Petroleum Resources to be in part extrusive equivalents of the gabbro, and they overlie Hazelton rocks uncomformably. Copper-molybdenum mineralization is sparsely developed in the westerly stock. Silver-copper mineralization forms an elongate west-dipping slab between the stocks in Hazelton rocks, which are continuously pyritized. The gabbro stock is not mineralized, but some dikes related to it are slightly so. Tertiary rocks are pyritized, but are not known to carry copper-silver mineralization. Hazelton rocks are divided into a lower conglomerate, an intermediate pyroclastic unit and an upper mainly sedimentary unit. They form a west-facing homocline. Coppersilver mineralization resides in the pyroclastic unit, mainly in a massive dust tuff through which are lenticular units of lapilli tuff. Well-mineralized rock is typically a breccia of light fragments in a dark chlorite-sulphide matrix. Sulphides are pyrite, chakopyrite and locally pyrrhotite, with very minor tetrahedrite, s phalerite and other sulphosalts. Rock alteration is predominantly a pervasive pyrite-sericite type, with widespread tourmaline, scorzalite, gypsum, ankerite and traces of fluorite. The most evident control of the copper-silver mineralization is the gross parallelism, over a strike length of 1.5 miles, to Hazelton strata, particularly a massive dust .tuff unit. In detail, mineralization crosscuts bedding and there is no appreciable banding within sulphides . A strictly syngenetic origin is untenable, but some initial concentration in a volcanogenic environment with subsequent modification by thermal processes seems likely."

Jan 1, 1972

By D. Moffat

Rio Algom Limited has mined uranium at Elliot Lake, Ontario for 20 years. The production of this energy-generating element results in the need to dispose of low-level radioactive solid wastes and liquid effluents. Because of the wet-temperate climate at Elliot Lake, the liquid effluents are of particular importance. Radium-226 is the isotope which requires most attention, and the current practice for its control is by addition of barium chloride and retention of the resultant precipitates in large settling ponds. Analyses of typical effluents and waste streams are discussed and typical levels of radium-226, thorium-230, thorium-232, thorium-228, lead-2iO, polonium-2iO, and uranium isotopes are presented.

Jan 1, 1979

By John A. C. Fortescue

Details of the interactions between the environment and the growth of terrestrial plants may be complex and difficult to study. This paper focusses attention on some of these complexities by means of six examples, each of which provides information on an aspect of the interaction between the growth rate of plants and the chemistry of the environment. The relationships which exist between the information obtained from these examples and the concepts of "holism" and "transfer rate problems" are pointed out and the importance of long-term biog•eochemical studies in Canadian environments is stressed.

Jan 1, 1971

According to the principle of similarity, the physical and chemical configurations of a system can be defined by ratios of magnitudes within the system and do not de-pend on the size or nature of units of measurement. In the present work, the similarity principle was utilized in evaluating the reducibility of various iron ores in a rotary batch furnace under optimum operating conditions. It was then used successfully to extrapolate the results, first to the operation of a 20-ft. pilot-plant kiln and then to an industrial-size 80-ft. kiln. By means of this systematic analysis of kiln operation, it was possible to increase the production capacity of the kiln considerably. T HE kilns used by the Strategic-Udy process for the partial reduction of iron ores are, in most aspects, similar to conventional calcining kilns. Iron ore is fed continuously in the upper (feed) end of the kiln and, as the latter rotates

Jan 1, 1964

By Gordon G. Duncan

Historical Sketch Occurrences of native copper have been known along the Arctic coast of Canada, especially in the vicinity of the. Coppermine river, since the early part of the eighteenth century (See map, Figure 2, insert). In 1769, Samuel Hearne, a clerk of the Hudson's Bay Company at Fort Churchill, was sent to explore the 'copper mines' from which natives had been reported to secure copper for tools, fishing spears, etc. After two successful attempts, he reached the Coppermine river in 1771, accompanied by Indian guides. This hazardous trip was indeed a remarkable feat when one considers the vast distance covered, a great deal of which was barren lands. At Bloody falls, (See Figure 1) on the Coppermine river, Hearne's Indians swooped down on a party of sleeping Esquimaux, who gathered there each summer to fish, and murdered the entire band encamped on that side of the river. Hence the name of the falls. Hearne's knowledge of minerals was undoubtedly limited. He reported having seen the copper mines from which the natives were securing the copper, but he failed to prove the economic possibilities of the copper occurrences or to give an accurate description of any deposit. Sir John Franklin visited the area in 1821. He and other members of his expedition, namely, Richardson, Back, Kendall, and Hood, reported native-copper float to occur in the vicinity of the Coppermine river and Bathurst inlet.

Jan 1, 1931

By M. Bouchard, B. Cadieux et F. Goutier

Five phases of ice movement were r es pons ible f or glacial dispersion in t he study area. I ce fl ow directi on changed prog r es s ively from SE to SSW and then to the S. All observed glacial sed iments are associated with a south-southwest to south movement; t hey are grouped, on the basis of their texture, structure, morphology and composition, into four distinct lithofacies. A lithological study of the coarse-grained fraction (4-128 mm) of these lithofacies shows systematic compositional differences. These are: 1) variations in the proportions of local bed rock fragments; 2) variations in the horizontal displacement of the maximum abundance peak of a given lithology relative to its source area, and 3) variations in the length of dispersion trains associated with each lithofacies. Although dispersal trains can obviously be mapped without differentiating li thofacies, studies based on the consideration of lithofacies should give more reliable results than conventional methods.

Jan 1, 1984

By N. M. Steven, J. M. Moore, J. L. Kuyper

Abstract - Mineral exploration and research has led to the identification of four types of tungsten mineralization in the NE-trending, largely ensialic, inland branch of the late Proterozoic/early Paleozoic Pan-African Damara Orogen. The mineralization (mainly scheelite) occurs in a terrane (the Central Zone) that is characterized by multiple deformation, greenschist/amphibolite-facies metamorphism and numerous peraluminous S-type granitic and pegmatitic intrusions. The four major types of scheelite mineralization are (in ascending stratigraphie order of host rock): (1) thin (5 cm to 2 meter) quartz+ plagioclase+ diopside ± scapolite cale-silicate granofels with finely disseminated scheelite (scheelite-bearing granofels; SBG) developed as discontinuous intercalations within the cale-silicate rocks of the Khan, Spes Bona, Oberwasser and Kuiseb Formations (Nosib and Swakop Groups); garnet+ pyroxene ± vesuvianite + scheelite ± fluorite replacement skarns hosted by Okawayo, Karibib and lower Kuiseb Formation marbles in the aureoles of late tectonic, unmineralized leucogranites; metaturbidite-hosted scheelite- (and possibly wolfrarnite-) bearing tourmalinites, both stratiform and crosscutting, in the Kuiseb Formation located in the 'cleavage fronts' of late tectonic granitoids; scheelite-bearing vesuvianite +quartz+ garnet skarnoid rocks (several hundred meters in length) in the calcareous metaturbidites of the upper Kuiseb Formation. These scheelite occurrences were discovered by the follow-up of a large number of tungsten anomalies located during a regional stream sediment sampling program. Detailed mapping, ultra-violet surveys and rock sampling proved to be the most effective surface exploration techniques for locating mineralization; soil sampling and geophysics were of almost no use. The largest, continuous scheelite-bearing skarn of economic interest, Otjua, has a drill-indicated reserve of 250 000 tonnes at 0.53 wt% W03 and 8 wt% CaF2.

Jan 1, 1994

By M. Seyed Ahmadi

This study investigates the role of nitrogen gas injection in the dissolution rate of Si into liquid Al. A unique revolving liquid metal tank was used, with a capacity of 50 kg of liquid Al. Experiments without gas injection have shown that the dissolution of Si increases as the bath superheat and the tangential velocity of the liquid Al increase. When injecting nitrogen gas at flow rates between 0-5 lit/min in the vicinity of the solid Si, results so far clearly show greater dissolution. In addition, results on the role of the gas flow rate relative to the position of the nozzle are presented and analyzed.

Jan 1, 2011

By Donald F. MacDonald

METAL PRICES RISE WITHIN the past nine months, the mining industry of the world has been revivified by a spectacular price advance for the metals. ln fact, practically all geological raw materials have been marked up during this period. Reviving industry started the price rise, but the armaments race among the nations has intensified it. These factors, coupled with our decided building shortage, which must be made up, will probably maintain metal prices at decidedly favourable levels over the next two or three years, or longer. OUR MINERAL CIVILIZATION It is interesting to recall that in the past hundred years, while the white population of the world increased some three ta three and a half fold, the consumption of minerals increased seventy-five fold. In other words, ours is a mineral civilization. If we disregard short slumps, which we will occasionally experience, it seems certain that the bread upward trend in mineral consumption will be maintained for many decades into the future. Nations without reasonably abundant and diverse mineral deposits will eventually become nations without much power. Canada is blessed with a splendid store of minerals. Its mineral industry is now facing an exceptionally rosy future. What of the mineral industry of Nova Scotia? GEOLOGICAL RESEARCH ALLOWED TO LAG RN NOVA SCONA Many years ago, when geological science was in? its infancy, much geological study was carried on in Nova Scotia. In 1827, Francis Alger began work on the iron ores in the Bay of Fundy region. In 1886, E. R. Faribault began his series of remarkable papers on Nova Scotia geology. Between these dates, many others published papers on the geology of the Province. The most outstanding of this early group of geologists was Sir William Dawson, whose published works on Nova Scotian geology extended over the period from 1845 to 1891.

Jan 1, 1937

By R. I. Kraydenko, A. N. Dyachenko

"The possibility of SiO2 5N production by staged purification of ammonium hexafluosilicate (NH4)2SiF6 is discussed. High-purity silicon dioxide can be obtained with fluoridation of quartz concentrate by solid NH4F at 100 °C, with further sublimation of the product at 320 °C, its dissolution, ammonia hydrolysis, filtration and drying of SiO2•nH2O. This is accompanied by regeneration of the processing reagent - NH4F.INTRODUCTIONProduction of high-purity silica-5N (SiO2 content over 99.999%) is an important and urgent task of the modern chemical industry. This material is used in the manufacture of optical glass, optical fibers for internet cables, silicon for solar power and electronics.Quartz concentrate is raw material for the production of silicon dioxide. The existing technologies of synthetic silicon dioxide were introduced in the mid-twentieth century. These methods are energy-consuming, multi-step and do not meet stringent environmental requirements. In fact, as some conventional technologies became obsolete; it became necessary to develop new methods for the production of synthetic silica. We believe that the fluoride technology of processing of quartz materials by ammonium fluoride is the most promising direction.In industry, silicon dioxide marked ""Silica White"" is obtained by liquid-phase method. The method consists of the precipitation of amorphous silica from sodium silicate solutions with acids. The resulting product is filtered, washed and dried. Depending on the deposition conditions and nature of the coagulant the ""Silica White"" is acidic, neutral or alkaline. The dry product is subjected to grinding. The degree of dispersion and porosity of the particles of Silica White depends on the nature of decomposition agent (a substance that decomposes the silicate) and coagulant, conditions of sedimentation, filtration and drying. During the drying process the silica particles are sintered into aggregates of a few millimeters."

Jan 1, 2012

By D. C. Crothers

"What is new in air compressors? A good deal - the designers have been keeping pace with technical developments in related fields and also contributing new techniques of their own. Plant reliability no longer requires bulky slow-speed machines. Even the reciprocating machines, which still provide the most efficient method of compressing air, have been greatly reduced in size and installation cost for a given capacity rating. New materials and fabrication techniques are being used, by most manufacturers, to produce less costly plants in total. Many packaged plants are available, which generally means a more complete assembly for shipment. This type of construction offers savings in handling and erection costs at the site. A warning is in order, however - the extent of packaging in any given plant should be investigated carefully to determine what is included and just what field costs can be realized. A suggested specification has been offered for consideration when studying comparative costs. Rotating machines intrigue many because of their potential as regard fewer wearing parts, higher speeds and hence smaller units, utilizing less expensive drivers, and lack of contamination of the compressed air by lubricants. The inherent shortcomings of these machines - lower •efficiency and capacity control - have been much improved lately, and this type of plant is now becoming quite popular. Noise control, of much concern to everyone, is another development that has received considerable attention.Systems for efficient capacity control and continuous monitoring of compressor operation offer additional reliability and low-cost operation of the modern compressed air plant. Accessory equipment and its effect on over-all plant operation is also considered."

Jan 1, 1972

By G. E. Rowan

"DURING the dark ages, the cherished dream of chemists was to find a process for converting base metal into gold. Many a wealthy-but-gullible patron lost a fortune in the search. Men who work with metals today are a bit more realistic. I haven't heard of a metallurgist who expects to develop any one alloy that will resist all corrosive media. In the field of stain-less steels, there are about forty different types of alloys that are used where corrosion is a •problem.A stainless product is ordinarily selected because it offers one or more of the following qualities:(1) Resistance to corrosion (2) Resistance to oxidation at high temperatures (3) Good mechanical properties at room temperature (4) Good mechanical properties at high or low temperature (5) Attractive appearance (6) Ease of maintenanceToday we are interested in discussing the stainless steel family of alloys because of their .ability to resist corrosion. We• will not try to explain the Theory of Corrosion. Let us assume that, when surface potential and oxide formations are properly controlled, iron will resist attack in various chemi.cal solutions. The addition of alloying elements to iron does this for stainless steels. The principal stainless alloys used by various Canadian industries are listed in the accompanying Table."

Jan 1, 1959

By A. Garnier, K. Tremblay-Bouliane, B. Gaillet, S. Moineau, D. Tremblay

"A heptapeptide library displayed on M13 bacteriophages (phages) was screened to identify peptide sequences able to selectively bind to gold, chalcopyrite, sphalerite, pyrite, and silica ores, and to evaluate phage potential as bioflotation reagents. Many peptide sequences were isolated through biopanning and differed from known sequences. Adsorption isotherms were determined and a receptor/ligand interaction model was identified and used to compare affinity of peptide sequences toward ores. Some phage sequences have slightly lower affinity to sphalerite than other sulphides. Adsorption was higher on sulphides than on silica. Induction time measurements suggested filamentous M13 phages lower hydrophobicity of the ore surface.RÉSUMÉ Une librairie d’heptapeptides présentés sur des bactériophages M13 (phages) a été criblée afin d’identifier les séquences peptidiques affinitaires à des minerais d’or, de chalcopyrite, de sphalérite, de pyrite et de silice et d’évaluer le potentiel de ces phages en tant que de bio-réactifs de flottation. De nombreuses séquences peptidiques ont été isolées par bio-criblage et différenciées d’autres séquences connues. Des isothermes d’adsorption ont été déterminées et un modèle d’interaction récepteur–ligand a été identifié et utilisé pour comparer l’affinité des séquences peptidiques par rapport aux minerais. Certaines séquences de phages possèdent une affinité légèrement inférieure pour la sphalérite comparativement aux autres sulfures. L’adsorption sur les sulfures était plus élevée que sur la silice. Des mesures de temps d’induction suggèrent que les phages filamenteux M13 diminuent l’hydrophobicité de la surface des minerais."

Jan 1, 2016

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 R. Heikkilä

In this paper the utilisation of building information models (BIM) and construction automation on building sites is discussed. A lot of research has been carried out to develop new applications for using BIM to assist construction site planning, different operations and logistics. The methods of production control and management on site utilize BIM together with machine control and navigation systems. In Finland machine control systems and the automation of construction equipment is widely used in infrastructure construction. Recently similar methods have been introduced also in building construction. This paper describes some latest Finnish examples where BIM-software is used for the planning, execution and control of building construction operations. University of Oulu has studied methods and technologies to capitalize BIM-models. The research has been mainly in infrastructure construction but the activities have recently been extended to building construction. In this paper a BIM-based tower crane operation and control system is discussed as a case study. The aim of this study was to highlight the potential areas were automation can increase the crane productivity and improve site operations and logistics. The construction site managers and tower crane operators interviewed in this study were experienced in using BIM-models on site.

Aug 1, 2013

By Geo. E. Cole

A GREAT deal of time and energy is now being devoted to the study of post-war reconstruction and rehabilitation, in spite of the fact that as yet we have not won the war in which we are presently engaged. If you feel that the study of post-war problems takes our thought away from the problem immediately before us, you may well query, "Well! What has all that to do with winning the war, our most urgent problem today?" The answer has been given by Principal James of McGill University, Chairman of the Cabinet Committee on Reconstruction: "Reconstruction is something which must be thought of in advance, partly for the purpose of recognizing exactly the influence of war-time activities, controls, and regulations on the post-war Canadian scene. Many people are acutely interested in this great problem. It is not that they are not interested in the war itself, or epochal events that are taking place from day to day. They have a vision of that future which they hope will be Canada's, and this vision inspires them to even greater efforts at the present time". The trend of events would indicate that changes, economic and industrial, after this war will be greatly out of line with those that followed previous wars in history, for the present struggle has involved every nation in the world. In the peace that will come, every engineer will have a task in bringing the most desirable order out of the most distressing chaos. We certainly are living in a changing world; we are witnessing geo-graphical and economic readjustments that no other generation in world's history has ever witnessed. And there is an opinion gaining strength in our Dominion, as in other lands, that after this war we shall live in a world in which our process of thinking and our very way of life will have to undergo drastic changes to cope with the new order of things. Sadly our world of today has had to revise the sublime vision that nation shall not lift up sword against nation, while salvage operations continue to beat ploughshares into tanks and the peaceful pruning-hook into a weapon for the deviltry of the commando.

Jan 1, 1943