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By Toivo Toivanen

The paper begins with a brief history of the nickel industry in Finland, and then deals with the introduction of the flash smelting process. The main part of the paper is devoted to nickel refining, which is studied under four main headings -grinding, leaching, electrolyte precipitation, and nickel electrowinning. Flowsheets are illustrated, and the equipment used is described. Analyses of the material in the various stages, from concentrate to high-grade nickel matte, are also presented. N ICKEL made its appearance in the Finnish mining industry forty years ago, when a nickel deposit was discovered at Petsamo in Lapland. Mond Nickel Co. received the concession for this deposit from the Finnish Government, and the Petsamon Nikkeli Company constructed a mine and a nickel smelter (1), the completion of which was prevented by the 1939 Winter War. The mine and smelter were, however, completed soon afterwards in spite of World War II,

Jan 1, 1964

By Liu Liu

In the recent 10 years the rapid development of Chinese steel industry has attracted the attention of the world. The technological progress of converter steelmaking has played an important role in this process. First of all, slag splashing has been extensively adopted by Chinese steel companies in various sizes of converters from largest to smallest ones, and even including those using special hot metal containing V and Ti. Remarkable metallurgical results have been achieved. Up to now the average converter campaign life has reached nearly 10,000 heats, and the longest exceeds 30,000 heats in three melt shops. Based on this process, the long-life combined-blowing converter steelmaking technology has been developed. Slag splashing has been used to form a gas permeable "slag mushroom" on the top of bottom nozzles to protect the nozzles. In order to keep the effective bottom blowing, furnace bottom thickness control technique has been developed to prevent the furnace bottom growth. It makes the service life of bottom nozzle the same as the converter campaign life (average 10,000 heats and longest > 30,000 heats). The complete combined blowing was ensured through out the furnace campaign. Concentration product [C][0] is in the range of 0.0023 ~ 0.0030%, the T.Fe in the slag is lowered by 4 ~ 6%, and the [0] in steel is decreased by 100 ~ 250 ppm.

Jan 1, 2004

The JKRBT (JK Rotary Breakage Tester) is a newly developed impact breakage testing device for rapid ore breakage characterisation, and has recently been commercialised after a three year comprehensive validation study, involving five major mining companies and six industrialised JKRBT units deployed worldwide. Comparisons of breakage mechanisms and characterisation data between the JKRBT and the Drop Weight Tester (DWT) indicate that, despite the differences in the breakage modes, the JKRBT can provide statistically similar A*b parameters, by using a data reduction procedure which takes into account the difference in the number of contact points, strain rate and potential for secondary breakage. Feedback from the validation sponsors has indicated higher productivity and better repeatability of the JKRBT compared with the DWT. This better precision, combined with the JKRBT?s wider particle size capability and wider specific energy range, provide a more powerful tool, ideally suited to rapid mapping of ore hardness in geometallurgical and comminution applications.

Jan 1, 2012

By Michel L. Bilodeau, Brian W. Mackenzie, Dallas W. Davis

"The paper formulates an evaluation procedure for examining the effects of location on the economics of developing mineral deposits. This methodology is applied to assess locational aspects of Nova Scotia's competitive position f or mine development relative to other Canadian regions and provinces. The appraisal concerns two representative mine development opportunities, a medium-size open-pit tungsten deposit, and a small underground gold deposit. The influence of regional economic conditions is initially assessed. Then, the consequences of taxation are isolated. Finally, the combined impact of regional and taxation conditions is examined. SettingThe economic potential of mining may be assessed in a number of ways. One approach, increasingly used for both corporate planning and government policy purposes, is to evaluate the competitive position of an actual or potential mineral producer in the international marketplace relative to other suppliers.Such examinations of competitive position vary from cost league comparisons of breakeven costs for operating mines, through the assessment of medium-term costs associated with developing new mine capacity, to long-term evaluations of the economics of mineral supply from the start of exploration. The complexity of the analysis increase s with the scope and timeframe of interest. Many factors are involved. One component of competitive position is the quality of the mineral resources available. Other key factors include existing technology, wage and salary rates, labour productivity, the cost of capital, infra structure requirements, distances from sources of materials supply an d to mineral markets, management attributes, organizational efficiency, government mineral policies (particularly taxation), and inflation and exchange rates. The paper fits within this competitive position framework.The variable economic conditions which exist within Canada have a direct bearing on the viability of mine development and, thereby, on mineral exploration potential. The paper examines locational aspects of Nova Scotia 's competitive position."

Jan 1, 1986

By G. O. Oniyide, H. Yilmaz.

"This paper presents the result of the research done on the effect of temperature on the dilatancy of rocks from the Bushveld Igneous Complex (BIC), where the South African Platinum mines are located. The BIC has higher virgin rock temperature (VRT) than the gold mines of the ‘Witwatersrand Basin Complex’. If the platinum mines advance to ultra-deep levels as the gold mines, since the Merensky Reef has been reported to extend beyond 5km, then the virgin rock temperature at 5 km below surface would be approximately 140oC. Hence, there is a need for the investigation of rock behaviour at high temperatures. Five different rock types (norite, leuconorite, mottled anorthosite, pyroxenite and chromitite) were tested in a 2600 kN servo-controlled multi-purpose triaxial testing machine. The tests were done at a constant strain rate of 5 x 10-1 S-1 and a confining pressure of 10 MPa within temperature range of 20 °C (ambient temperature) to 140 °C. The results show a general strength reduction and increasing dilation angles with increasing temperatures. The results also demonstrate that dilation angle is close to the internal friction angle at lower temperatures; however, they are greater at higher temperatures.INTRODUCTIONMany challenges are faced with increasing depth of mining in underground mines. The most obvious are heat, in-situ stresses and those associated with logistics. Issues related to underground heat have mainly focused on the side effect of heat on workers' health, increasing production costs as a result of higher cost of ventilation. The effect of increasing temperature with increasing depth on the behavior of rock has not been given much consideration. Generally, gold mines in South Africa are deeper than the platinum mines but the latter have higher temperature gradient, which makes the platinum mines to be warmer at similar mining depths. Although the study of the effect temperature on the behaviour of rock can be beneficial to both gold and platinum mines, the focus of the research is limited to the platinum mines because of their higher temperature gradient. Donoghue (2004) stated that the virgin rock temperatures (VRT) and air temperatures increase with depth, due to the geothermal gradient and auto-compression, that is, compression of air by its own weight."

Jan 1, 2015

By S. A. Luciani

"In 1957, an asbestos orebody was discovered in the northern sector of the Ungava Peninsula of the Province of Quebec, an area now identified as Asbestos Hill. The deposit is situated on a plateau 1700 feet above sea level and 42 miles inland from Hudson Strait. It is a bleak, iso. lated location of typical arctic environment. Fifteen years were to pass before the first shipment of ungraded fibre was made in 1972. These years we1•e occupied with field surveys and investigations, diamond drilling, engineering design, evaluation of investment and operating costs, and construction. The problems normally associated with mine development were further complicated by location, isolation, and the extreme cold and permanently frozen ground of the arctic regions. Unique to an isolated arctic operation are the organization of support facilities and services, procurement and retention of personnel, construction of access roads and airports, and scheduling of product out and supplies in during the short summer period of sea navigation."

Jan 1, 1976

By M. Pelegrin Rodríguez, J. Castellanos Suarez, R. Causse Miyares, A. Mosqueda Martínez, Rubén Aja

"This paper will describe the methods and the results of studies to integrate polymetallic nodule extractive metallurgy methods into existing and operating technologies or plants with the aim of reducing the capital cost of deep-sea mining challenges and to streamline the supply chain of raw materials where such opportunities exist (Moa Bay and others). It will also assess the possibility to carry out pre-industrial processing operations with productivity corresponding to pilot mining operation in the Clarion Clipperton Fracture Zone (5–10% of assumed annual production) with the use of existing facilities. The present study shows the results of high pressure acid leaching of polymetallic nodules (PN) mixed with laterite non-commercial ore. It also presents PN processing in the presence of ammoniacal tailings obtained from the Caron process. The experiments were carried out according to 24 full factorial design. The regression equations were determined for extractions of Ni, Co, Cu, Zn, Fe and Mn. The obtained results show that increasing temperature, the acid/ mineral ratio and the leaching time have a positive and significant effect on extraction of all the studied metals. However, increasing the tailings addition favors the extraction of the Co, Zn and Mn. The extraction of Fe diminishes, while the extraction of Ni is not affected. In the following conditions; 180 min, 260°C, 0.5 kg acid /kg minerals and 2.5 kg PN/kg tailing; the following extractions were achieved; 96% Ni, 90% Co, 97% Cu, 99.9% Zn, 43% Mn and 26% Fe."

Jan 1, 2017

"5.1. IntroductionThe sample preparation requirements for bulk analyses of platinum-group elements (PGE) are different from the requirements for ore microscopy and in-situ analyses. It is necessary that the initial sample collection results in as representative a sample as possible for both types of analyses. Ingamells (1980) believes, however, that sampling is always imperfect and that there is no such thing as a truly representative sample. Once collected, the usual low content and irregularly dispersed nature of the PGE require that samples for bulk analyses be made as uniform as possible, whereas in samples for ore microscopy and in-situ analyses the PGE must be concentrated. Because of the generally high specific gravity of platinum-group minerals (PGM), certain precautions must be taken, such as mixing the sample material in the bags prior to opening.5.2. Preparation forBulk Analytical MethodsThe principal factors that determine the size of the sample required for a bulk analysis are grade, heterogeneity and grainsize. Initially, the grade and sample heterogeneity can only be estimated and a sampling methodology is developed with experience. It is essential at all times, however, that the assayers have information about the source of the sample and the purpose for the analysis. Information on the grain-size, which can only be obtained through mineralogical analysis, is also very important for PGE analyses, but, unfortunately, is often ignored.5.2.1. Samples fromUnconsolidated DepositsConcentrations of PGE may occur in eluvial deposits as well as in a large variety of alluvial deposits, including those of fluvial and glaciofluvial origin. These deposits are often difficult to map and sampling is further complicated by the wide range, from sand-size to boulders, of the non-POE-bearing constituents, and by the irregular distribution and shape of the ""pay streaks"". PGE concentrations in unconsolidated deposits are largely composed of resistant Pt-Fe and Os-Ir-Ru alloys (cf. Cabri and Harris, 1975 and Raicevic and Cabri, 1976), thus making comminution to the usual-150 to -200 mesh somewhat unreliable, due to the malleability of these alloys."

Jan 1, 1979

By Charles G. Kemsley

IN view of the truly remarkable development of special steels for special purposes, the mining industry has for years looked forward to a time when steel makers would come forward with a product which would be an improvement over the straight carbon steel which has always held the field for drilling rock. In order to avoid making changes in conventional shop practice, the industry has perhaps been too insistent upon obtaining a water hardening steel which could be handled in the blacksmith shop by long established methods. As early as 1932 or 1933, an oil-hardening tool-steel of the one per cent carbon, plus chrome, plus molybdenum type was applied to hollow drill steel. It was known as a hard as well as a tough steel, and one that, theoretically, should give a good account of itself as a rock drill, if properly heat-treated; and so it has proved in actual trials. There were numerous deterrents which retarded adoption of this steel. For several years there has been a constant improvement in the drilling qualities of the straight carbon steel, and, considering the higher unit price ? of the alloy, there has been considerable doubt in the minds of some mining? men as to what advantage there might be in the use of alloy over straight carbon for hollow drill steel. The alloy being an oil-hardening steel, its adoption meant having two kinds of steel in the mine, for a time, and that spelled trouble, unless some positive means of identification was adopted. The hardening and forging ranges of alloy steel being narrow also made necessary much closer control over these operations if poor results were to be avoided. These thoughts undoubtedly prevented its use becoming wide-spread, for, as a matter of actual record, less than fifteen per cent of all the hollow drill steel used in Canada today is alloy.

Jan 1, 1942

By P. Belley

Prior to 2006, the filtration unit for leached sludge treatment (filter press) permitted the filtration, washing and drying of cake to 17% (w/w) moisture. That year saw moisture content abruptly increase to 20% (w/w), drastically changing the rheological properties of the cake. The cake became sticky and agglomerated. This led to major disruptions of operations and plant capacity (cake release and cake conveyor problems, complicating the subsequent steps of the process). The conditions for the filtration, washing and drying, were simulated to ease cake unloading without aggravating dust emissions (moisture about 17% (w/w)). All of the laboratory tests yielded a moisture content above 17% (w/w). Therefore, we concluded that the moisture problems were not due to a recipe change in primary material, but to an operational problem in the filter press. Through the laboratory results, the filter press operating conditions (washing ratio, drying pressure and drying time) were optimized to enable a reduction in cake moisture to 17% (w/w).

Jan 1, 2007

By M. Sharafodin, A. A. Hassanipak

Abstract - The essential aims of additional borehole drilling are to improve the reliability of grade and tonnage estimates in each reserve class and to increase ore tonnages. The "GET" function presented in this paper considers strategies for achieving both of these goals simultaneously, and therefore is advantageous for selecting sites for additional boreholes. The "GET" function is either a linear or a non-linear product of three variables G, E, and T: f(G,E,T,) = G??E??T??where the values of any or all of the exponents ?, ?, and ??may differ from unity at the discretion of the user. G and E are the average estimated block grade and the average estimation error for ore blocks in one vertical column, and T is the compounded ore thickness within the column. To illustrate its utility, the GET function has been used for determination of the most advantageous sites for additional drilling in the Shah-Kuh Pb-Zn deposit in west central Iran.

Jan 1, 2004

By H. J. McQueen

The irregular history of Mg wrought products is briefly described. The temperature and strain rate dependence of microstructural evolution, flow stress and ductility of Mg alloys in hot working, are described. The flow curves rose rapidly to a peak stress which was lower as temperature T rose and strain rate e declined and above 300°C the curves extended into plateaus until failure. Clearly grains not oriented for slip undergo mechanical twinning in the initial stages (a 0.15) at all temperatures. Basal slip proceeds in suitable grains and in the twins. The stress concentrations at grain and twin boundaries lead to slip on non-basal systems and to the formation of subgrains with greater dynamic recovery (DRV) at higher T or lower e. With increasing strain, misorientation builds up resulting in dynamic recrystallization (DRX) first at twin intersections and later at grain boundaries which have become quite serrated. Even after extensive straining at high temperatures, the new grains are found mainly along the boundaries of the original grains, leaving their centers with only basal slip except when nucleation at twins leads to completion of DRX throughout a grain. Despite similar shear modulus and melting point to Al, hot mechanical forming behavior of Mg alloys differ due to differences in crystal slip systems, twinning, and second phases. Moreover, the influences on forming of alloy additions (solutes, segregation in casting, dispersoids, precipitation) and impurities are not as well catalogued as for Al. Despite the benefits from dynamic recrystallization, varied grain orientation effects, heterogeneous substructures and the resulting stress concentrations result in considerably lower ductility for Mg alloys at the same stress level as for Al materials. Application of these theories to extrusion, rolling and forging and the effects on product properties are surveyed.

Jan 1, 2006

By Neo Molelekeng, Jocelyn Bouchard, Rebecca Monnapula, Martin Émond

"Xstrata Alloys – Eland Platinum concentrator (South Africa) has recently been commissioned and is now initiating a challenging optimisation program encompassing the entire operation. Process control improvements are key elements of the program and initial results have demonstrated how leveraging from current assets can bring significant improvements through overall reduction of variability. This paper gives a brief overview of the operations and details how Eland is striving to become a top tier leader with advanced regulatory control strategies recently implemented. Results reveal that what can be achieved in a standard control system (PLC or DCS) should not be underestimated as the first interventions led to a steadier operation of the primary ball mill circuit. Following the improvements, significant and sustained reductions of standard variation were observed for key process variables around their set-point: primary ball mill feed rate (72 %), rougher feed density (58 %), and rougher feed flow rate (47 %). A path forward has been identified to tackle further opportunities around the primary grinding circuit: water balance management, throughput optimisation as well as charge and power draw control.INTRODUCTIONThere are numerous approaches to mineral processing plant optimisation. As the benefits of determining the right reagent types, mix, dosage and addition points, or the proper charge of grinding media in a mill are fully appreciated, there is still nowadays some misunderstanding and misconceptions about process control in general and how it can contribute to the whole optimisation process. The confusion between the various disciplines involved, i.e. instrumentation, control system programming, automation and process control, certainly does not serve the best interest of the industry with this regard."

Jan 1, 2010

By A. Zangooi, J. A. Finch

"A frother analysis technique based on the formation of a colored solution with UV-VIS absorbance proportional to frother concentration over a certain range has been developed. The calculation of concentration requires the comparison of the sample absorbance at a selected wavelength with a linear calibration (frother concentration vs. absorbance) constructed with values collected from solutions of known concentration (standards) at the same wavelength. It has been found that concentration ranges for preparation of standards can vary widely. An integration of our experiences into a databank can offer some guidance on the selection of standard concentrations. The databank includes results from the analysis of 37 chemical reagents, commercial frothers, and natural oils used in research work or at industrial sites. Grouping frothers by similar chemical structure or origin provides a good basis for selecting the standards to approach the maximum absorbance range for the spectrophotometer in use.INTRODUCTIONA technique to determine frother concentration on samples of industrial milling streams based on formation of a colored solution with UV-VIS absorbance proportional to frother concentration has been developed. The concentration is determined by comparison of its absorbance, at some selected wavelength, with those obtained by processing a series of solutions of known concentration (standards), at the same wavelength. It is desirable to have linear calibration (frother concentration vs. absorbance) over the widest concentration range. The upper concentration can be restricted by the instrument, as there is a maximum detectable absorbance (minimum transmittance), which can be reliably sensed by the UV-VIS detector (in most cases maximum absorbance is 3)."

Jan 1, 2016

By M. H. Allan

SASKATCHEWAN POWER CORPORATION is a Provincial Crown Corporation responsible for the production transmission and distribution of electric power and natural gas in the Province of Saskatchewan. Through the electric power responsibility, we became interested in the coal reserves in Saskatchewan, which, although still somewhat of an "orphan fuel" in the early and mid 1950's, gave the promise of providing a low-cost source of energy for electric generation. Coal in Saskatchewan, a lignite with an "as-received" heating value of from 5000 to 6500 Btu's per lb and up to 40% moisture, was first recorded in 1853 . By the end of the 19th century, many small mines were in operation in the Estevan, Coronach and Shaunavon areas supplying local inhabitants with a cheap source of heat. These small mines, some of them prosperous, some of them not, continued operation right up to the late 1940's, when oil replaced coal in the market place. The year 1930, however, saw the introduction of the new technique of strip mining in the Estevan area. This technique revolutionized coal mining. It was now possible to use large machinery to uncover the coal and cast the overburden to one side instead of burrowing through thin seams of coal varying from 2 to 10 feet thick. The overburden cast aside by these large mechanical shovels, or later draglines, created heaps of spoil which at that time, during the depression, were a sure sign of prosperity and the welcome news that people had jobs. By the late 1940's, coal production had dropped off, but the spoil piles remained and were now labelled by some as "scars on the landscape", even though there had been some natural succession of grasses. In addition, some people had planted trees in experimental plots and even some aerial seeding had been done.

Jan 1, 1978

By B. St. Pierre

"The alchemists' symbol for antimony is a diamond with a dot in the centre. The latin name ''stibium'' gives this mineral its chemical symbol ""Sb"" and the name to the principal ore containing antimony. This is Stibnite, a sulphide of antimony, and the valuable mineral at the Consolidated Durham operations. Stibnite chemically pure contains 71.69% antimony metal.Antimony is used in many forms, as an alloy in the production of metal products and as chemical compounds of oxides and sulphides. In Biblical times, antimony was used as a medicine and as eyebrow makeup.Today, the largest single use of the metal is as a hardener and strengthener of lead, and corrosion inhibitor in storage batteries. New applications for antimony in its oxide form as fire retardants are broadening the overall demand especially in the chemical, plastic and fabric industries. Other users include the Military for such things as tracer bullets, shrapnel, smoke screens and flame throwers. An unusual property of the metal is that it contracts when heated which has made it a valuable alloying metal in the printing industry, for heat shields on re-entry vehicles used in the space programmes, and also for the manufacture of bearings."

Jan 1, 1977

By W. Torres Pino, L. Mariscal Samaniego

The Ilo Smelter has been continuously operating since 1960 with Reverberatory furnaces and Pierce Smith converters producing blister copper. The original installed capacity of 1.134 tons per day of concentrated was expanded in 1976. A process of modernization started in 1995 and 1998 with the installation of an El Teniente Converter, a sulfuric acid plant and an oxygen plant to reduce the gaseous emissions to the atmosphere. With the official approval of the Environmental Compliance and Management Program (Programa de Adecuaci6n y Manejo Ambiental - PAMA) in January 1997, Southern Peru Copper Corporation made a commitment to capture 91. 7% of the S02 generated at the smelter by January 2007. After an evaluation of six different technologies, the ISASMEL T process was selected because it can be easily adapted to the present operation, has a lower capital cost and it is a simple process. The fast learning curve to reach the total capacity will allow to fulfill the PAMA commitment in time. The project construction is in process and SPCC is prepared for a successful start-up and transition of the current operations at the end of year 2006. This paper outlines the factors considered by SPCC in its choice of ISASMEL T technology and describes the construction and the start-up activities of the new facilities.

Jan 1, 2007

By Fr. -W. Bach

In the past years the enormous weight saving potential of magnesium sheet has been demonstrated by various research projects all over the world. It has been shown magnesium flat products can benefit automotive, aviation, machine tool and consumer electronics industries. Major material problems such as poor formability, corrosion resistance and high production cost still inhibit the application of magnesium sheets in large scale production. The present contribution outlines achievements in casting and rolling technology. The authors developed an adapted strip casting process in which near-net-shape rolling feedstock of several wrought alloys has been produced. During the rolling process, various parameters were varied in order to modify the microstructure and surface quality of sheet. Several temperature cycles, strains, lubricants, roll surface structures and roll coatings have been analyzed. The sheets were examined and tested in deep-drawing experiments. Suitable rolling schedules have been developed for standard and modified wrought alloys. The study concludes with an overview of current industrial solutions and an estimation of the potential cost savings that might result from the adaptation of the process that has been developed.

Jan 1, 2006

By John A. Hansuld

Geochemical dispersion of metals under various environmental conditions is discussed within the frame-work of Eh (oxidation potential) and pH (acidity). In general, two aspects are considered -(1) the oxidation of certain primary sulphides in the outcrop or sub-outcrop environment, and (2) the movement of metals in different dispersion media. Practical applications of each are illustrated by means of exploration case histories representing environmental conditions in the Canadian Shield, the southwestern United States and the Caribbean.

Jan 1, 1966

By George R. Elliott

Introduction The pages that follow present a brief chronological survey of views which have been held, and of legislation enacted, for the regulation of the natural gas and oil industry in the Turner Valley field, especially as regards conservation of the natural gas. To provide a necessary background for an adequate understanding of the progress of events in western Canada, there is included also a compilation, from technical and legal authorities, of some of the more important measures which have been adopted for the regulation of the oil and gas fields of the United States, where these measures have had, or are likely to have, a bearing on the course of our domestic industry. Owing to exigencies of space, it has been possible to refer only to the most outstanding proposals and legislation, and to these in the briefest possible form. Although, so far as Canada is concerned, the data presented are restricted almost entirely to the Turner Valley field, it is the hope of the writer that the paper may prove of value for purposes of reference: for any similar gas and oil fields discovered in western Canada will certainly revive and intensify the problem of the proper steps to be taken for the conservation of the gas. Definition of 'Conservation The term conservation has been so misunderstood and misrepresented that, to many persons in Alberta, it means little more than closing-in wells. In the light of the definition of Charles E. Hughes, that 'True conservation of a raw material is its economical use', the subject of natural gas conservation is inseparably involved with the study of the function of the -gas and with the development of the principles of unit operation.

Jan 1, 1934