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By J. A. Russell

"UNTIL the last few years, the collieries of the Dominion Coal Company, Limited, while highly mechanized as to the cutting and transportation of the coal, still relied on the hand-loading of coal from the seam onto face conveyors. In these circumstances it was possible to assure that no large proportion of extraneous materials would be loaded with the coal, and the product could be quite well cleaned for the market by screening and hand-picking.Within the past few years, however, the Company has introduced an intensive programme of mechanization which will result in the virtual elimination of hand-loading .of coal. It has been the experience of other producers that mechanical loading inevitably leads to a very large increase in the amount of impurities in the product. This is occasioned by the fact that, at least up to the present, all types of loading machines have relied on the coal being broken from the seam by under-cutting and shooting. In this operation, a certain amount of roof and pavement material inevitably becomes mixed with the coal and, since selective loading is impossible with a loading machine, all this foreign material is loaded out with the product."

Jan 1, 1952

By M. J. Bennett

"The Quemont mill is primarily a differential flotation plant in which copper, zinc ·and pyrite concentrates are recovered. Native gold and silver are associated in the form of very small particles with all the minerals contained in the ore: chalcopyrite, sphalerite, pyrite, pyrrhotite and even with the gangue rock.The proportion of the precious metals associated with chalcopyrite is such that the best recoveries we can obtain in our copper flotation concentrate are about 68 percent of the gold and 51 percent of the silver in the ore. In order to improve the total recoveries of precious metals it is necessary for us to float a pyrite concentrate and treat it by cyanidation for the extraction of whatever gold and silver we can obtain in this manner. In spite of the fact that we regrind this concentrate to 75 percent minus 325 mesh, it is difficult to extract much more than half of the gold and silver present in the pyrite concentrate by cyanidation, due to the extremely fine association of the precious metals with the pyrite.In 1963 we produced 86, 853 ounces of gold by flotation alone, and 14, 581 ounces by cyanidation. These amounts are equivalent to 67. 74 percent and 11. 37 percent respectively of the total gold in the mill heads. Comparable figures for silver are 325, 598 ounces by flotation and 99, 448 ounces by cyanidation; and 51.37 percent and 15.69 percent respectively.The total annual value of these metals (ie. $4, 000, 000) qualifies Quemont as a precious metal producer of some note. On the other hand, it is evident that by far the greater proportion of our gold and silver production is contained in copper flotation concentrates. When the income from our copper and zinc values is also considered, the much greater importance of flotation compared with cyanidation in our operation may be appreciated. This explains why most of our work on controls has been carried out in our flotation mill, rather than in our cyanide plant. Some of the controls installed there could, of course, be employed in either type of operation."

Jan 1, 1964

By G. Vibert Douglas

"Gold occurs in Nova Scotia in three ways, saddle reefs, fissure veins, and fossil placers. Of these the saddle reefs are the commonest. They have been the source of most of the gold and have also been the subject of most of the literature on the gold occurrences.The Meguma or Gold-bearing series of Nova Scotia is a conformable succession of quartzite's and slates, possibly Precambrian in age, which have been folded into a number of anticlines and synclines that strike (Fig. 1) roughly east and west. This folding has been termed Acadian and is probably a westward continuation of the Caledonian revolution in Britain. It may have started in the Ordovician and continued through the Silurian and into the Lower Devonian. It was followed by the intrusion of the great Devonian granite batholiths. It is thought that the mineralization is connected with the late phases of the cooling of the granite. As the name saddle reef implies, the veins form on the crests and flanks of the anticlines, possibly in the synclinal troughs as well. The beds favoured by the solutions are the slates. The reason for this is apparent when it is realized that in order to fold over 30,000 feet of sediments (the thickness of the Meguma according to E. R. Faribault) through p radians of arc it is necessary to have a differential movement between the top and bottom beds of p times the thickness of the sediments. In the case of the Gold-bearing series, in which strong quartzite beds lie between incompetent slate beds, most of this differential movement was taken up in the slates. The evidence for this is the remarkably fine drag folding and the intense shearing and comminution of some of the beds of slate (Fig. 1). The quartzites exhibit some shearing and faulting, but there is little doubt that the greater permeability lay along the incompetent slate beds. The mineralizing solutions followed these beds and also passed from one slate bed to another through a joint or fault in the intervening bed of quartzite. These joining veins are called angulars in Nova Scotia. Within the veins the gold is in shoots and the real problem is to find out what controls the position and extent of the shoots."

Jan 1, 1954

By R. P. van Hille, A. W. van Zyl

The BIOX® culture, aiding liberation of arsenopyrite/pyrite occluded gold, is inhibited by thiocyanate (SCN > 1 mg/L); precluding the recycling of tailings water up-stream of the bioleaching circuit. The activated sludge tailings effluent remediation (ASTERTM) process is a biological process that was developed to facilitate water recovery and treat waste water on-site (to achieve a SCN concentration < 1 mg/L) to be recycled or disposed of. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of changing temperature and SCN loading on the SCN degradation ability of the mixed microbial population clue to seasonal temperature changes and fluctuations of SCN concentration in the waste water.

Jan 1, 2011

By I. Yarita

Magnesium alloys have the lowest density among the metals in practical use, and have properties such high specific strength, electromagnetic interference shielding and good vibration damping. Thus, there are many applications of these materials in automotive and electric parts. However, there is a little use of the products of metal forming of these materials because of poor plastic deformability in the normal temperature range and their high cost of production. To expand the range of application of products manufactured by metal forming, rolling technology for producing thin sheets having good mechanical and surface qualities is required. In this study, hot-rolled Mg-alloy sheets are experimentally rolled with or without lubrication in the temperature range from 293 K to 523 K. Rolling force, plastic deformability and surface quality are investigated, and the grain structures and their uniformity are observed. The effect of friction between the roll and the deforming material on the uniformity of the grain structure is discussed. Moreover, rolled materials are annealed and their mechanical properties are investigated by the tensile test and compared with those of as-rolled materials. The effects of the rolling conditions on the mechanical properties are discussed.

Jan 1, 2006

By Lionel C. Kilburn

"This geological engineering method is based on jour main characteristics of mineral properties, viz; location: inclusion of valuable mineralization; inclusion of geophysical and/or geochemical targets; and inclusion of geological targets. These are subdivided into a total of 19 subcategories, which are used to determine the value of the property.The nineteen subcategories are prioritized and assigned relative value factors from 1.3 to 10. Value of each mineral claim unit is determined by applying the appropriate subcategory factors to a base value of $400per 16.2 hectare unit. Property value is calculated by totalling the values of such individual claim-units.The boundary between ore grade and sub-ore grade must be estimated for each property under valuation, thereby making the method sensitive to mineral commodity prices.A clear and disciplined sequence of decisions based on personal experience forms the basis of this method. The method utilizes all factors normally used to value a mineral property.IntroductionIt is generally accepted in the exploration industry that valuation of exploration properties is a subjective rather than objective process (Roscoe, 1986; Lawrence, 1988; Lawrence, 1989; Woodcock, 1985), and that it is greatly influenced by the experience and qualifications of the person who is doing the valuation. However, the significantly low degree of objectivity in mineral property valuation at this point in time invites effort to achieve a more quantitative engineering basis.Value of a mineral property depends basically upon metal prices, recoverable grades, mining and metallurgical practices, commodity supply and demand , and political-economic conditions, all of which vary with time. Therefore, any valuation is valid for only that point in time when it is made. Mineral deposits can decrease as well as increase in technical value with time."

Jan 1, 1990

By Douglas Lay

Attention has been drawn in the publications of the Department of Mines to the view that veins of two different ages occur in the Cariboo district, namely, those of Jura-Cretaceous age and those of pre" Mississippian age. It has been further pointed out that while there is doubtless a wide distribution of veins of pre-Mississippian age in and about the Barkerville and Stanley areas, and in the vicinity of Round Top mountain and Yank&apos;s peak, there is no such wide distribution of veins carrying gold values of commercial significance. Veins of the latter type discovered to date occur almost exclusively within one or other of two comparatively narrow zones, both trending northwest and southeast, the one extending from Island mountain co Round Top mountain, and the other from a point somewhat north of Stanley co Yank&apos;s peak. In addition, there is some evidence of a third zone trending northwest from Spanish mountain, at or near the contact of the pre-Cambrian and Mesozoic rocks. In short, all the evidence from prospecting and lode-mining operations to date indicates that values are mainly restricted co zones having marked directional distribution. Moreover, it can be demonstrated that the placer deposits resulting from the erosion of the pre-Mississippian veins have a similar directional distribution, allowance being made for modifications due to glaciation. The observations offered in this paper are of the nature of a generalization which seeks to explain certain anomalies both in the vein-mineralization and in the -important auriferous-pyrite replacement deposits in limestone which have recently been discovered. For the sake of brevity, the Island Mountain-Round Top Mountain zone will be referred to as Zone No. 1, and the Stanley-Yank&apos;s Peak zone as Zone No. 2.

Jan 1, 1936

By R. Mariano

"The ability to optimise a concentrator from mill feed to final products requires a process simulator that integrates comminution, classification and separation stages. A key part of any such integrated process simulator is the inclusion of a model of mineral liberation in comminution to predict the particle composition distribution of the comminution products. This need was recognised by Gaudin (1939) who proposed a model of liberation based on the cubic fracture of a mineral texture composed of cubic grains of two minerals.This paper describes the development of a texture-based model of mineral liberation that builds on the method proposed by Gaudin. The approach described here, termed the JK-Gaudin Random Liberation model (JK-GRLM) uses as its basis the measured, volumetric mineral texture data that can be quantified for a given ore using X-ray micro-tomography. The textural data required as inputs for the JK-GRLM include the mineral grain size distribution. While the Gaudin model (in common with other existing liberation models) is a two-mineral (or two-phase) system, the JK-GRLM extends the approach to multimineral systems of up to 15 individual minerals, making it more widely applicable.An example of the application of the JK-GRLM to a base metal sulphide ore is provided. In the example the JK-GRLM is used to simulate the breakage of the measured ore texture and the particle composition distributions of the simulated progeny particles are compared to the measured particle composition distributions of ore that has been physically broken.The ability to calibrate this mineral liberation model with measured ore texture will allow it to be applied in greenfield situations where geometallurgical programs measure texture and in brownfield applications as a key part of integrated process simulations. The development of this model enhances our ability to simulate mineral processing operations as an integrated system."

Jan 1, 2016

By R. L. Armstrong, C. I. Godwin, V. M. Kruan

"The Scheelite Dome tungsten-bearing skarn property, central Yukon Territory, is in metasediments in contact with a quartz monzonite intrusion. Contact metamorphism to biotite-muscovite- andalusite hornfels and calc-silicate hornfels is superimposed on low-grade regionally metamorphosed rocks represented by quartz-mica pelitic schist and muscovite-biotite pelitic schist.Metasediments are likely Precambrian in age, even though Rb-Sr whole-rock analyses indicate an early Paleozoic age (511±41 Ma); this apparently too young radiometric age is due to partial loss of radiogenic strontium during regional metamorphism. The minimum age of the quartz monzonite intrusion is Cretaceous at 90.4±2.6 Ma (K-Ar on biotite) and its initial 87Sr/86Sr ratio is 0.7121. The high initial ratio of the intrusion is due to the addition of radiogenic strontium from the metasedimentary country rocks and perhaps an underlying older basement.Scheelite-pyrrhotite-chalcopyrite mineralization occurs in diopside-zoisite skarn pods within the calc-silicate hornfels near the quartz monzonite intrusion. The source for lithophile tungsten is probably the same as for the granitic magma, namely Precambrian sialic basement.IntroductionThe Scheelite Dome tungsten skarn property is within the Mc-Questen map-area (NTS: 115P/16),28 km northwest of Mayo, Y.T., at latitude 63°47&apos; north and longitude 136°15&apos; west. The property can be reached by helicopter or by four-wheel- drive vehicle from Mayo.This paper summarizes the geology of the Scheelite Dome property, which has been described in a general way by Little (1959) and Cathro (1969). Geological mapping and sampling were done by the first author (nee Steffler) during June 1979. Field work was supplemented with detailed work at the Department of Geological Sciences of The University of British Columbia during 1979 and 1980 (Steffler, 1980). Whole-rock chemical analyses were done by Cominco Ltd."

Jan 1, 1982

By Andrew Hickinbotham

"A water well represents not only a significant investment but also is a key to making a living or sustaining a reasonable lifestyle. This naturally makes the water well a precious possession that needsto be protected.This paper describes the challenges that TransAlta Utilities Corporation faced and how it responded to the concern of residents that open pit coal mining would affect their water well supplies.BackgroundWells have a certain mystique. Tum on the silver tap and water flows at your command without you knowing how it got there and whether it will continue to flow.Each well is different and has a story to tell. Some wells have a lot of history and are described fondly and with pride (""Grandad built this place 50 years ago and she hasn&apos;t failed us yet""). Some are passed on from father to son, some are part of the pride of good farming, some wells are famous for tapping that huge underground stream or have been mysteriously witched or have been part of a rip-off by an unscrupulous well driller. Some have to be babied so that the cows can be watered, the children can have showers and the dishes can be done. All wells represent a significant $5,000 to $10,000 investment and is a key to making a living or sustaining a reasonable lifestyle.Most wells continue to provide water faithfully - until there is a problem. For those people living next to a mine, there is the additional concern that mining has or will affect their water well supplies. Water well problems reported to the mining company have to be dealt with promptly and responsibly. The mining company&apos;s groundwater specialist must gain the trust and confidence of well owners living in the area ."

Jan 1, 1992

By D. A. MacFadyen, J. J. Brummer, C. C. Pegg

The early identification of a kimberlite dyke and the occurrence of pyrope garnet grains along a section of the Munro Esker north of Kirkland Lake encouraged the search for kimberlites. Subsequent exploration using data from aeromagnetic surveys completed for the Kirkland Lake Initiatives Program (KLIP) resulted in the discovery of five kimberlite diatremes in the area north of Kirkland Lake and another one to the south. These are only a portion of the cluster of pipes found so far that probably occur in the area. Recovery of the diamonds present in four of the pipes yielded 16 stones, the largest being 0.17 carats. Unfortunately evaluation of the pipes is a problem due to the cover of glacial drift, up to 92 m in thickness, which makes it difficult to obtain an adequate bulk sample. A study of their ages, mostly from drill hole samples, suggest that the kimberlite diatremes and other alkaline ultramafic rocks were emplaced along a northwesterly zone of rift structures. These alkaline ultramafic rocks cut across all earlier rock types and have ages ranging from 121 Ma to 173 Ma. The zone of deformation, along which these rocks occur, has been named the Lake Timiskaming Structural Zone (LTSZ), a modification of Lake Timiskaming Rift Valley (LTRV). Ultramafic intrusions which were emplaced along the LTSZ can be traced from the James Bay Lowlands in the northwest to past Belleville on the north shore of Lake Ontario in the southeast, a distance of about 1070 km. As the emplacement of these rock types become known more are certain to be found by drilling selected aeromagnetic anomalies. The project has demonstrated that aeromagnetic surveys can be used successfully to identify covered kimberlite targets.

Jan 1, 1992

By Marc Tardif

"The way alarm information is provided to an operator can make a huge difference in the minutes following an upset. Process alarms are often looked at as a way to help avoid catastrophic failure and serious accidents. But knowing that mineral processing is so energy consuming and that raw material is not consistent, all small upsets should also be seen as a catastrophe because they can have significant impact on product cost and quality.This paper will demonstrate how it is possible to use data from process alarms to provide operators with real time, value added information that will help them take the right decision at the right time and in turn, reduce unplanned downtime by 20 to 80% and incidents by up to 50% (number and cost),and optimize energy and capacity usage.In the era of Big Data, living in a world where we are submerged with information, one of the biggest challenges is to find the right information at the right time.Alarm rationalization projects will often focus on alarm quantity, but alarm quality is also very important. It is possible, by following a simple 6-step process to turn “alarms” into truly valuable information for operators. Based on known standards (ANSI/ISA 18.2 and EEMUA 191), this process will capture the knowledge of the best and most experienced operators and process engineers, and make it readily available to everyone, right on time, when it matters the most.INTRODUCTIONWhen spending some time in a modern control room, it is easy to notice the huge quantity of information that is available to the operator. Modern operation stations feature multiple screens with HD capability. These screens display information like process display, history trends, alarms and events list, maps with geo-located information, images from live cameras, etc. However, it is harder to assess whether all this information is really helping operators: Is all the information relevant? Are process screens overcrowded? Is the information easy to understand? Does the operator know what to do with all the information? Are there too many alarms?"

Jan 1, 2016

By Wengui Su, Qi Zhang, Junce Wang, Zhijun Ma, Xingyuan Weng

"Mesoporous materials with large specific surface area, pore size, and pore volume have been widely used in many fields such as ion exchange, gas separation, adsorption, and catalysis. Mesoporous materials prepared using natural zeolite have the advantages of both acid and alkali resistance. In this work, mesoporous materials were prepared using natural zeolite as the starting material and diethylenetriamine (DETA) as a template. The resulting samples were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and N2 adsorption-desorption experiments. The influence of the crystallization temperature and crystallization time on the specific surface area, pore volume, pore size, and morphology of the resulting mesoporous materials are also discussed. Our results show that for an increase in both the crystallization temperature and time, the average pore size first increases then decreases, while the specific surface area first decreases then increases. Based on this work, we concluded that the optimal crystallization temperature was 2003 and the optimal crystallization time was 60 h. These conditions gave an average pore size of 17.93 nm, a pore volume of 0.048 cm3g-1, and a specific surface area of 16.48 m2g-1.INTRODUCTIONMesoporous zeolite, as the name implies, is a highly porous crystalline zeolite. This material is of interest due to its high hydrothermal stability, its adsorption and diffusion properties for macromolecules, and its excellent selectivity and activity as a catalyst. In recent years, it has become a hot spot among research of porous catalytic materials and has been widely used in petroleum and natural gas processing, fine chemical processing, various adsorption and separation tasks, and other uses (Carvalho & Urquieta- Gonzalez, 2015; Teh, Triwahyono, Jalil, Mukti, Aziz, & Shishido, 2015)."

Jan 1, 2016

By J. Bigu, M. G. Grenier

"Dust size distribution and aerosol size distribution measurements have been carried out in several Canadian underground uranium mines. In addition, dust samples have been analyzed for long-lived radioactive products of the U-238 and Th-232 natural decay chains using ex-spectroscopy and -y-spectroscopy techniques.From the data collected one may summarize: (a) most airborne particulates are of size below I u-m and 50% by mass are found above 1 u-m; (b) dust clouds are bimodal; (c) preferential deposition of radon (thoron) daughters takes place on airborne particulates in the sub -micron range at about 0.1 u-m; (d) deposition of radon (thoron) daughters is proportional to particle surface area; and (e) ex-spectroscopy and -y-spectroscopy of dust samples reveals the presence of U-238, Ra-226 and some of their short-lived and long-lived decay products.IntroductionExtended inhalation of airborne radioisotopes poses a potential health problem to occupational workers. Because of this, monitoring of radiation and dust levels for dose exposure calculation purposes is not only recommended but in most cases mandatory.CANMET (Energy, Mines a nd Resources Canada) has long since been engaged in a comprehensive monitoring program aimed at determining dust concentrations in the respirable size range, aerosol concentration in the sub-micron range, and in the radioactivity associated with these particulates in underground uranium mines. Measurements have been carried-out with gravimetric dust samplers, dust size selectors (including a horizontal elutriator , a fineparticle spectrometer and Nuclepore* filters of different pore sizes) and a condensation nucleus counter(1 – 6). Inactive and active working sites have been monitored according to some typical mining operations. A summary of these data has been given elsewhere(3- 5)."

Jan 1, 1984

Ni and samaria-doped ceria (Ni-SDC) cermet are desirable materials for making a solid oxide fuel cell anode working at intermediate temperature (800°C or lower) due to its good ionic/electronic conductivity at the reduced operating temperature. An advantage of the use of a Ni-SDC anode is the enlargement of the effective reaction zone in the interfacial area between the anode and the electrolyte. As a result of the mixed ionic/electronic conductivity of the anode, the electrode reaction rate is enhanced. Investigations into the properties of the ceria-based anode reveal that the performance of the anode is closely related to its microstructures, which are dependent on the composition and fabrication conditions of the ceramics. In this paper, a method for quantitative characterization and correlation of Ni-SDC cermet microstructures to the performance of an anode is investigated. A series of Ni-SDC anode samples are prepared by screen-printing (SP) and spin-coating (SC) techniques, and different microstructures of the samples are obtained through controlling the SP or SC conditions and the sintering temperature. Individual phases (Ni, SDC and pore) in the tri-phase boundary (TPB) microstructures in the electrode are differentiated and segmented from each other in optical and SEM images based on the differences in refractivity and atomic contrasts among the phases. The geometric properties of the segmented phases are characterized using image analysis methods, so that a quantitative skeleton illustrating the TPB microstructures of the Ni-SDC electrode is obtained. Statistical analysis of the distribution of the three phases in the TPB microstructures is performed and the relationship of the microstructures with the optimum electrode is interpreted in terms of the microstructure analysis data.

Jan 1, 2005

By Ayako Iwakoshi

Highly concentrated pastes of gold nanoparticles were successfully produced by use of a special kind of protective polymer and a mild reductant. Solid part of the pastes consists of up to 85wt% of gold nanoparticles, 10~30 nm in diameter, and residual protective polymer. This component can be diluted by any kinds of solvent at arbitrary rates. Electronics, optics, catalysts, colorants and surface metal coatings are possible application fields. 1. Introduction Noble metal nanoparticles are of interest in a variety of fields ? such as colorants, metal coatings, electronics(1), optics(2), and chemical catalysis(3). Especially, in the color field, the gold nanoparticle has been known as an aesthetic red colorant for stained glass and fine glassware, such as Venetian glass. The mechanism of coloring is attributed to surface plasmon absorption of gold nanoparticles(4,5). The gold nanoparticle in stained glass shows very clear red color, which is very durable for hundreds years. On the other hand, the red color of organic pigment in paint films often fades away within several years. We intended to reproduce the elegant and stable coloring of stained glass in paint films. In order to color a very thin, 20~50?m, paint film like stained glass, production of highly concentrated dispersion of gold nanoparticle is necessary. To achieve this, there were two issues to be overcome. One is how to prevent the coagulation of gold nanoparticles in highly concentrated solution. So far, several methods to prepare gold nanoparticles(6,7) were reported. But only a few methods succeeded to stabilize the gold nanoparticle dispersion at higher concentration than ppm order. The other is controlling of the particle size, this is because the color of gold nanoparticles is very sensitive to the particle size. Only when the particle size lies around 10 nm, the suspension exhibits red color like stained glass.

Oct 1, 2003

By Hammenm R., J. Hammen, C. Hammen

"The production of salable Rare Earth Element (REE) products necessitates a sequence of chemical separation steps between the mine and market commodities. The effectiveness of the chemical separations that purify REE salts is critical to the success of the producer, as the purity of REE salt products affects their market price. This is due to the fact that impurities in REE salts, even at low levels, can be deleterious to the function and usability of the end product. The purification of REE by removal of low levels of contaminant has been referred to as "product polishing". The technologies commonly in use for product polishing, solvent extraction (SX) and ion exchange (IEX) are challenged by the availability of separation chemistries to separate the contaminant from the desired REE salt. In simple terms, if a product specification is 99.9% purity, the SX or IEX separation reagents need to have at least a 999:1 selectivity ratio. Significant testing has been carried out on the use of solid phase extraction (SPE) columns to extract low-level impurities such as aluminum or zinc from REE product streams. The SPE columns are nano-composite materials that have rapid equilibration kinetics with the solutes being processed by the columns. The SPE matrices have been modified with chelating ion exchange ligands that bind the contaminating ion with great selectivity in residence times of a few seconds. Thus, REE streams with 1 to 2% of contaminating aluminum ions, have been polished to >99.99% purity. In this paper, results are presented on the removal of aluminum impurity from a didymium (neodymium+praseodymium) product stream using SPE technology. The selection of the SPE medium and the process steps to treat the feed solution for aluminum removal and ultimate stripping and recycle of the solid phase extractant are discussed."

Jan 1, 2014

By G. Armand, A. Noiret, D. Seyedi, J. Morel

"Clay formations in their natural state exhibit very favorable confining conditions for repository of radioactive waste because they generally have a very low hydraulic conductivity, small molecular diffusion and significant retention capacity for radionuclides. Nevertheless, one concern regarding the hydromechanical behavior around drifts in such claystone is the associated pore pressure field disturbance during excavation works. In the short term, the very low permeability leads to an almost “undrained” condition, meaning that the stress change due to face advance will create volumetric strains leading to an increase or decrease of pore pressure. If the effective stresses reach the failure level, the induced damage around these excavations might change the favorable properties of such formations. To demonstrate the feasibility of a reversible deep geological disposal of high-level and intermediate-level long-lived radioactive waste (HLW, IL-LLW) in the Callovo-Oxfordian claystone (COX) formation, the French national radioactive waste management agency (Andra) started in 2000 to build the Meuse Haute-Marne underground research laboratory (M/HM URL). The present paper illustrates observed pore pressure changes during excavation of drifts (˜5 m diameter), of micro tunnels (˜0.7 m diameter) and a borehole (˜0.15 m diameter). All these openings are parallel to the major horizontal stress at the main level of the M/HM URL. In drifts parallel to the major stress (i.e., when the initial stress field in the drift section is quasi-isotropic) an important increase followed by a drop of pore pressure is observed in the horizontal plane at the drift wall. These observations emphasize the impact of the in situ stress state and rate of excavation on the pore pressure and provide important insight of the hydro mechanical behavior of the COX claystone and the relationship between pore pressure and excavation induced fractures zone."

Jan 1, 2015

By C. Juers

Laboratory chromate coating was applied on AM50 and AZ91D alloys and compared to phosphate-permanganate one. Evaluation of the corrosion behaviour was performed using electrochemical DC and AC methods in ASTM water D1384-87. This electrolyte was chosen because it was moderately aggressive and found to give generally good correlations with long period exposure results in atmospheric conditions. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy was used to determine more accurately the corrosion rates from the analyses of the high frequency capacitive loop. Anodic polarization was applied in order to evaluate the pitting resistance of the different coatings. These results were correlated with weight loss data evaluated from experiments performed by immersion tests in ASTM water D1384-87 and climatic cyclic chamber tests.

Jan 1, 2006

By S. M. Bulatovic, D. M. Wyslouzil

"This paper presents the results of a study of the effect of flowsheet configurations on metallurgical results and describes a general method for developing and optimizing flowsheets used in the treatment of massive sulphide ores. The flowsheet configuration can have a significant effect on recovery and selectivity between valuable minerals and gangue minerals. Placing of intermediate products within the flowsheet, positioning of various pretreatment units, such as conditioners or regrinding mills, and the ability of the flowsheet to cope with wide swings in the feed grade and composition are the major parameters that determine the optimum flowsheet configuration. The complexity of the flowsheet is largely a function of the ore itself and of the number of final, marketable products that have to be recovered from the ore. INTRODUCTIONTechnological ExpansionThe trend of past decades has been towards larger equipment and a better understanding of the chemistry of the flotation process. Despite appreciable progress in these areas little attention was given to the study of the actual configuration of the flowsheet, although the arrangement of the flotation equipment significantly affects the overall performance of the circuit."

Jan 1, 1989