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By R. Blosser

Phelps Dodge introduced a process improvement model known as Quest for Zero in 2001. In 2004, the focus of Quest for Zero shifted from corporate-led initiatives to projects led by site personnel. The Hydrometallurgical Division at Morenci focused on two (2) significant process improvements: reducing electrolyte bleed and organic losses. In September 2004, Morenci kicked off a bleed reduction project to reduce electrolyte bleed by 45%. By the end 2005, electrolyte bleed was reduced by 55% through understanding and reduction of variance. Significant process changes made during this time period include changes in acid-addition strategy, reduction of uncontrolled bleed, and optimization of bleed placement. In April 2005, the organic reduction project began with the goal of reducing losses by 15%. Operational improvements during this project included improved organic recovery systems, mixer speed optimization, and picket fence installation. By the end 2005, this project reduced organic losses by 35% and current losses are 48% lower than at the start of the project. These projects and smaller Questfor Zero projects have resulted in sustainable annualized savings of $13 million in Morenci hydrometallurgical operations. Through the use of Six Sigma tools, process variances can be controlled and reduced.

Jan 1, 2007

By J H. Dressel, J. E. Williams

This paper presents a brief review of what coal gasification is, procedures that are available today and processes that may be available in the future. Examples are given as to how the process might be used in power plant applications, the effect on pollution level and power costs, and some thoughts on the added burden that might be placed on mining and coal preparation.

Jan 1, 1973

By P. R. Warner

This paper reviews the development of certain aspects of the electrical specifications of Anglo American?s suite of specifications for gearless mill drives (?GMDs?). These specifications are based on experiences in both Anglo American?s and others? operations, benchmarking against large hydro generators, the advice of industry and university experts, and continuous close co-operation with OEMs. To achieve a step change in availability additional final testing and electrical protection have been implemented, insulation requirements have been specified for machines to be operated at high altitude and clean area and access control systems have been developed.

Jan 1, 2012

By H. C. Gunning

Introduction The invitation to contribute a discussion on some of the broader features of the mineral deposits of our Cordillera seemed acceptable enough when presented several months ago. More mature consideration has impressed upon me the difficulty of making any constructive or very helpful contribution in the short time available and with my limited inspiration. Dr. Lang deserves our real gratitude for his general paper of nineteen pages at the beginning of the Volume. Into it, with the help of two diagrams and seven tabular summaries, he has packed a lot of useful information and has analyzed along several lines the data of the Volume's twenty-eight detailed papers on our mines and camps. He has added additional facts from his own knowledge of the region. I am sure that, like myself and the whole fraternity, he feels especially grateful to the eleven company geologists who found time to contribute detailed descriptions of mines they have studied. The Regional Situation With the Jubilee Volume and two recent publications of great value from the Geological Survey, we are more up-to-date on Cordilleran geology than we have ever been. But I would like to emphasize that we still have but fragmentary information. Brief study of G.S.C. Map 932A will illustrate this. Our knowledge of the Rocky mountains is limited to two narrow sections along the main railway lines, a somewhat larger area from the border north along the Mesozoic coal-bearing basins, and some reconnaissance along Peace river and the Alaska highway. There is some additional information on old maps, particularly those by G. M. Dawson, but it is very much of the 'exploratory' type. The other mapped areas are chiefly in the accessible region south of 'fifty-one', in the central part adjacent to and spreading north, recently, from the Canadian National railway, and along the edges of the Coast Range.

Jan 1, 1950

By John Drew Ridge

"Over the years, ore geologists have made innumerable observations as to the relationships of certain kinds of ore deposits to particular types of rocks and to the types of primary and secondary structures that these rocks contain. On the basis of these, the places in which to look for new are deposits are more clearly defined than they would be in an exploration program based largely or solely on concepts of ore genesis. This paper discusses the affinity of certain rock types and structures for such ore deposits as: (1) tin-tungsten associated with granitoid rocks; (2) lead-zinc of simple mineralogy in carbonate rocks; (3) massive base-metal sulphides in sedimentary or volcanic rocks; (4) massive base-metal sulphides and oxides at, or near, contacts with igneous rocks; (5) gold or gold-uranium in, or adjacent to, conglomerates; (6) shale- or sandstone-hosted copper; and (7) porphyry coppers. Additional varieties could be considered, but it appears that these examples are sufficient to demonstrate the validity of the suggestion that the use of observational characteristics is far more useful in mineral exploration than that of theories of ore genesis.As by-products of the theory of plate tectonics, many concepts have been put forward to explain how ore deposits of different kinds have been formed. Most, if not all, of these theories seem to be as valid as present-day information permits. However, do these ideas add to the ability of the ore geologist to find ore deposits? I doubt it, and offer reasons as to why I think so.To produce maximum results in any exploration program, the one that makes the greatest use of information produced about the geologic environment of the area being investigated is the one that will provide the greatest return in deposits found for the sponsors of the program. Such exploration is best designated as total exploration, and it certainly is the most effective way of uncovering such new deposits as may exist in the area being studied in particular and of adding to the sum total of nonfuel minerals deposits available to the industrial world in general."

Jan 1, 1983

By J. S. Redpath, W. R. Dengler

"A description of the equipment used and the electrical-mechanical problems encountered in sinking a deep shaft is given. This shaft is currently being sunk to a depth of 7,115 feet. Some of the features of the sinking plant are a 6,500-hp double-drum hoist, a Blair stage hoist, special high-capacity mucking gear, a Galloway stage, high-tensile stage suspension ropes and 12-ton sinking buckets.INTRODUCTIONIN THE EARLY FALL OF 1965, a contract was let, by The International Nickel Company of Canada, Limited, to Shaft Sinkers (Canada) Limited -J. S. Redpath Limited -Joint Venture, • to sink and equip the Creighton No. 9 shaft at their Creighton Mine proper-ty in Ontario. This paper describes the electrical and mechanical equipment used by the contractor on this project, and details various problems that were en-countered.The shaft itself is circular in section and is lined with monolithic concrete. Upon completion, it will feature twin skip compartments, a cage compartment, counterweight compartment, manway and pipe compartment. The finished diameter of this opening will be 21 feet and the shaft will bottom 7,115 feet below the collar. The present depth of the shaft (April, 1968) is 5,400 feet. The opening is concrete lined as excavation takes place and the steel will be placed in the shaft upon completion of sinking. Hoisting is done on rope guides which are part of the stage suspension system."

Jan 1, 1968

By V. Gregoire

THE DEVELOPMENT by the Iron Ore Company of Canada of the Quebec-Labrador mining project, which eventually led to 'Iron Ore in 1954', involved, from the start, several distinct undertakings. Among them, the most important were: The construction of a 360-mile railway, linking Knob Lake with Seven Islands. The erection of a railway terminal, and harbour facilities, at Seven Islands itself. The building of an entire townsite at Schefferville (formerly Knob Lake) The construction of two hydroelectric plants; and, finally, The development of a sufficient number of orebodies to enable a production of 10 to 15 million tons of ore a year. Since these phases of the project have already been the subject of previous discussions, this paper will not elaborate further on them but will rather concern itself with a brief outline of the Company's current mining practices.

Jan 1, 1958

By Juliana Parreira

The past decade shows record increases in global demand for minerals and metals with an accompanying significant decline in skilled personnel. Mining companies today are examining new technologies to maximize production, reduce costs, and create safer work conditions to deal with this shortfall. Automation of an open-pit mine haulage system is receiving attention as a beneficial option since it provides more consistent and efficient operation of mining equipment, it removes workers from potential danger, it reduces fuel consumption significantly reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and it can help optimize vehicle repairs and equipment replacement because of more-predictable and better-controlled maintenance. This paper describes a simulation model under development using the EXTENDSIM software package to examine scale-up issues and constraints of autonomous vehicles in comparison to a manual system. The software can predict and manage Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), such as productivity, safety, cost, equipment failures, fuel consumption, and tire wear under different road and load conditions. By breaking-down the various systems of an autonomous haulage truck and simulating the overall haulage system using a Monte Carlo approach, the model becomes a flexible and powerful tool to use within a mining organization. Direct comparison to a manuallyrun system can be done to show the cost and operational benefits of automation. Project managers can use this tool to guide decision-making about possible application of autonomous haulage trucks at a specific mine site.

May 1, 2010

By R. J. Mitchell

"A lest apparatus has been developed for obtaining the relations among confining stress, porosity and percolation rate for hydraulic sand backfills. The apparatus can also be used to evaluate internal drainage characteristics and the effects of partial saturation on percolation rates. The test apparatus, test procedures and typical test data are presented in this paper.IntroductionAlthough the standard percolation test has become an accepted method of evaluating the drainage characteristics of hydraulically placed tailings backfill, it is recognized that the test results require considerable interpretation due to the following factors: (I) The results can be markedly influenced by varying sample preparation procedures, which vary the amount of material segregation in the sample . In particular, a thin layer of slimes on the top of a sample can control the flow of water into the sample. Wall edge effects can also affect the test results. (2) The in-place porosity of the backfill is not duplicated in the test sample and empirical formulae must be used to estimate the variation of percolation rate with porosity. (3) Internal drainage characteristics and the percolation rate of partly saturated fill cannot be evaluated in the standard percolation test.In addition to eliminating these problems, the compression percolation test apparatus also provides additional data on the mechanical properties of the backfill. Compressibility (or bulk modulus) is measured at different stress levels during the course of a test and this information can be used in evaluating the usefulness of the fill in providing ground control and in limiting ground subsidence. The engineering design of mine backfill is becoming an important part of the over all design of underground mine operations. The design problems are sufficently different from conventional civil engineering soil mechanics problems that new test methods and design procedures are required."

Jan 1, 1981

By W. M. Goodwin

The gold district of northwestern Quebec, though it has attracted such widespread attention during the past year, is still in the prospect stage throughout, and one must preface any remarks about it with the plain statement that its capacity to produce gold commercially is still subject to proof. However, this proof may be forthcoming any day, and from widely separated localities. Consequently it is of interest to note some of the features of the region and of the prospects now being developed. First I shall note the relation of this mining development to the province of Quebec and to the Dominion; then will follow a brief resume of the known geological facts; and finally I shall describe briefly some of the more advanced prospects developed during the past twelve-month. Those that have followed closely the fortunes of the new gold-field will find little that is new in what follows, but it may serve a useful purpose for others by bringing together scattered items of information and presenting them as a whole. GOLD MINING AND AGRICULTURE First let us consider the gold belt in its relation to the province of Quebec. Apart from the world-renowned asbestos camp south of the St. Lawrence, it is the only mineral development of major importance the province has experienced. It is the first important development in the province's vast area of Precambrian rocks, most of which remains as yet totally unexplored and unprospected. The relative importance of this first mining camp in northern Quebec cannot as yet be gauged, but it is bound to stimulate an active interest in the other mineral-bearing areas now known to exist, and in the vast unexplored spaces.

Jan 1, 1924

By R. K. Collings

"This paper summarizes research that was done at the Mines Branch, Ottawa, to evaluate samples of phosphogypsum for gypsum products manufacture. The samples were from phosphate fertilizer facilities at: Port Maitland, Ontario ; Valleyfield, Quebec; and Fort Saskatchewan and Redwater, Alberta. All samples were wet-screened, washed, filtered and calcined in a laboratory kettle at atmospheric pressure. Tests were also made at higher pressures in a small autoclave. The gypsum and resulting hemi-hydrate, being acidic, were treated before, during and after calcining with various bases. The hemi-hydrate products were checked for time of set, compressive strength and bond to gypsum wallboard paper. The results of this study indicate that phosphogypsum from each of the sources investigated has potential as a substitute for mined gypsum in gypsum products manufacture. Pilot-scale testing is recommended to confirm that the product would be satisfactory for the manufacture of plaster products on a commercial basis."

Jan 1, 1972

By Frédéric Flament

The aim of this paper is to present the development of a data validation software as component of a commercial mass balance package. Data reconciliation through mass balance is basically an optimization problem constrained by the law of mass conservation. As any optimization problem solved with a modern and robust software application, erroneous information or starting point will always lead to a solution, whether it is realistic or not. Moreover, good information wrongly weighted by an incorrect error model will lead to the same bad ending. In an industrial context where competition requires accurate information, data reconciliation without validation can be disastrous and calls for data validation before and after reconciliation. The challenge in automated data validation resides in the development of general theoretical solutions. Until now, none has been presented and only partial solutions are available. The development presented in this paper incorporates some of these partial solutions. The integration of human knowledge into the application paved the way to a more general solution. The combination ?theoretical validation ? human expertise? proved to be flexible and reliable enough to be integrated in a commercial data validation package. Numerous examples though industrial applications are presented. These applications demonstrate the validation of raw measurements, user support in the development of error models and validation of reconciled measurements.

May 1, 2001

By C. H. van Eendenburg

"Installation of a 3.6 km long raw coal conveyor in the Balmer open pit was undertaken to improve over-all haulage efficiency. This paper covers the rationale behind this project, system design and construction aspects and initial operating experiences. The majority of the construction work was performed by our own personnel. Where feasible, used equipment was installed to reduce capital cost and facilitate a tight construction schedule.BackgroundWestar Mining Ltd's Balmer Mine is located in the British Columbia Rockies, just outside of the town of Sparwood in the southeastern corner of British Columbia. The open pit mine, which has been in operation since 1969, currently produces about 6 million clean tonnes of coal per year, mostly for the metallurgical coal export market. Run-of-mine coal tonnages total between 9 and 9.5 million annually and waste removal volumes exceed 30 million bank cubic metres.The mine is a truck/shovel operation; loading equipment includes nine electric shovels, five front-end loaders and a hydraulic backhoe. The truck fleet consists of 40 units of 154-tonne, 181-tonne and 315-tonne capacity. The newer 154-tonne trucks are used for coal haulage for which they have been equipped , with tailgates to maximize their coal carrying capacity."

Jan 1, 1990

By Manqiu Xu, Songtao Yang, Zongfu Dai, Robert Pelton

Five years ago, VALE Base Metals (then INCO), approached Pelton's group at McMaster and described a challenging mineral separations problem. The McMaster group has a strong track record in colloids, polymers, and chemical additives for papermaking; however, they had no experience in mineral processing. They proposed employing hydrophobic nanoparticles to replace conventional low molecular weight, water-soluble flotation collectors. Over the last five years, Vale, together with the Ontario Government (OCE) have funded two graduate students at McMaster who have worked closely with flotation experts at Vale. Experiments involving both very clean model mineral suspensions at McMaster and complex ores at Vale, have shown that hydrophobic nanoparticles do indeed function as collectors. Key nanoparticle properties and mechanisms have been identified and the technology has been protected in patent applications. Efforts to commercialize the technology are on-going. We believe that this project is a good case study demonstrating the advantages of industry-university collaboration and the use of outside experts, who may come up with novel solutions to complex problems.

Jan 1, 2011

By H. S. Wilson

"The property owned by the Lamaque Mining Company comprises a group of forty-four claims and fractions occupying an area of about 2,458 acres, in west-central Bourlamaque township, Abitibi county, Quebec. It is on ,the outskirts of the towns of Bourlamaque and Val d'Or, about 70 miles east of Noranda, near the eastern end of the belt of greenstones of Keewatin and Timiskaming age that extends eastward through Kirkland Lake into northwestern Quebec, terminating in Haig and Jurie townships 40 miles to the east.The claims on which the orebodies occur were first staked in 1923; No. 3 vein was discovered the following year. The original discovery was made by R. Clark in 1923. This was a small quartz vein containing a pocket of coarse gold on the north side of a hill near the northwestern corner of block 3. It is said that all the gold was removed in one shot in blasting into the vein; elsewhere it was barren. A picket line was then run west along the strike of the vein, which occupied a narrow shear zone, and about 2,000 feet west, in prospecting on either side of the picket line, a large boulder of quartz and tourmaline containing visible gold was found. This led to more intensive prospecting by trenching in the vicinity with the result that the No. 3, or 'float' vein, about 250 feet north of the boulder, was found. Due to low ground this vein was exposed in only one trench. The only other important vein found on the surface was the No. 1, or H, vein, which was exposed in several places by stripping and trenching, but it did not carry appreciable amounts of gold."

Jan 1, 1954

By Peter Moon

THE mineral industry of Canada relies heavily upon the talent of its technical men. It is vital to the well-being of the industry that its supply of young, trained men be adequate. At the present time, the industry is acquiring only 200 new graduates a year. The shrinking supply is far below present and future requirements. Other industries and research organizations are competing for engineers and scientists. Dr. J. B. Mawdsley (1), Past-President of the Canadian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, has recently outlined a program designed to attack the problem. Dr. J'. C. Sproule (2), another former President of the Institute, has stated that: "The need for selection of trainee material is commonly recognized, but little is done about it." The following paper contains a short discussion of occupational interests, and outlines research, using psychological knowledge and measuring techniques, aimed at the identification of desirable recruits for the mineral industry.

Jan 1, 1963

By F W. Irwin

In recent years, a number of significant developments have occurred in the steel industry which are no-table and of general interest. This paper is confined to the steel-melting phase of the business. The development of high production rates on Stelco's Basic Open Hearth furnaces is chronologically summarized. Al-though various aspects of this subject have been presented previously, this paper summarizes the developments in high fuel rates, the usage of basic refractories, low and high oxygen rates and hearth maintenance. Background T HE interest which has been shown in steelmaking techniques in the past few years has been due, primarily, to the extremely high production rates obtained. Upon further study of the facilities and techniques employed to generate this steel at record rates, tonnage oxygen appears as the common factor. It can be stated that tonnage oxy-gen has revolutionized steelmaking techniques to a degree never before encountered. It was only about ten years ago that the use of large amounts of pure oxygen in a steelmaking

Jan 1, 1965

By Andrukaitis. E.

The increasing use of electronic equipment by the Canadian Forces has increased the importance of electric power. A power source that is packed with energy and yet light, small and durable is the common request of military users. However, this needs to be achieved while also addressing the requirements of safety, reliability and low temperature performance. The potential use of fuel cells in a military environment has become a possibility in several areas in the 21st century. Some examples of power source requirements and the materials related R&D required to give better, higher energy power systems in the future will be discussed.

Jan 1, 2005

By M. W. Grabinsky, J. H. Curran

"Characterizing the spatial distribution of rock stresses is a challenge, especially in the geologically complex environments typically found at most metalliferous mines. Therefore, instead of focusing, specifically, on the task of making stress measurements, the engineer should instead attempt to develop a better understanding of the interaction between stress, mining geometry and rock mass behaviour. This paper demonstrates such an approach using a Canadian Shield hardrock mine case study, in which geomechanical models are used to relate stress, mining geometry, and rock mass properties to observed excavation response, and numerical modelling is used to better quantify this interaction.IntroductionUnderstanding how the mine geometry, field stresses and rock mass interact to produce the observed rock mass response to mining can be a significant challenge. Consider our present ability to quantify the basic geomechanical design input data. Mine geometry is normally quantified in more detail than is required for analysis purposes. Our understanding of rock mass strength and stiffness is far from complete, but established procedures do exist to obtain estimates of these parameters based on index and laboratory testing data and field mapping. Our ability to quantify field stresses is probably the most limited, in part because stress measurements are difficult and expensive to carry out, and in part because the stresses vary to an unknown degree from point to point within the rock mass. The engineer must, therefore, consider whether or not stress measurements are justified and, when they are, where the average stress state needs to be quantified and how many of which type of measurements will be required to determine the average stresses.Such was the case at Ansil mine, a massive sulphide deposit in hard rock located at a depth of more than one kilometre in the northern Québec portion of the Canadian Shield. The Ansil orebody was relatively rich, but small, with the potential for significant stress-related problems. As a result, geomechanical design had to be done carefully from the start – there would be little opportunity to modify the mining strategy once production had begun, and the economic consequences of stope dilution and rock mass instability would be severe. An extensive stress measurement campaign was carried out, but the determined stress magnitudes were unexpectedly low. The designers were, therefore, faced with a dilemma:"

Jan 1, 1997

By Rodney R. Koch

The phys ica l properties of gold should faci li tate its detection. However, the average concentration of gold in the ea rth's cru st precl udes the ability of geophys ical methods to detect the metal directly. In order to effectively pursue geophys ical detection and location of gold mineralization there must also be geological input - i.e. a model. This will lead to the selection of the appropriate geophy ical techn ique(s) in the fo llow-up programs. Interpretation of the fie ld survey data is of con iderable importance in expl oration geophys ics. Analytical techniques such as cont inuation, fi ltering, and spectral analys is, are now routinely empl oyed in the analys is of survey data to aid the interpretation process. The uccessful application of geophysical methods and the use processing techniques is demonstrated by two recent Saskatchewan discoveries. The first, the Star Lake 21 Zone, with reserves of 230,000 tons grading bener than 17.14 git Au associated with a disseminated sulphide quartz-bearing shear zone yielded geophysical anomalies that were distinctive, obvious, and would have lead directly to its discovery. The econd , the Laurel Lake Prospect, with ore grade intersections of 28.0I git Au and 52 .46 git Ag· over 5.49 m, resulted in numerous geophysical anomalies. However, none of these anomalies demonstrated association with the mineralization until processed results indicated that structural features crosscuning regional trends were important cont rol mechanisms for the mineral ization.

Jan 1, 1986