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By G. P. Demopoulos

The solubilities of calcium sulfate in HCl-CaC1z-H20 solutions up to 100°C were successfully modelled with the aid of OLI software after bringing proper modification to it. Modelling, more specifically, was carried out with the help of the Environmental Simulation Program, V-6.6.0.4 (www.olisystems.com). New model parameters were obtained by regressing the solubility data. A private databank was established by adding the newly defined model parameters and the calcium sulfate hemihydrate phase that is not included in the original OLI database. The McGill-modified OLI software was successfully applied not only to modelling solubilities but also the transformation of the various CaS04 phases, namely dihydrate, hemihydrate and anhydrite. In this paper, the modelling methodology will be discussed along with a comparison of the capabilities of the newly developed model vs the original OLI model.

Jan 1, 2005

By F. Nava-Alonso, E. Pérez-García, A. Uribe-Salas, J. C. Fuentes-Aceituno, A. A. González-Ibarra, E. N. Castillo-Ventureño

"Precious metals cannot easily be recovered from tellurides by the standard cyanidation process. This work assesses the cyanidation of synthetic samples of precious metals tellurides and explores some alternatives for the leaching of these species (i.e. cyanidation in presence of lead nitrate and thiosulfate leaching). For this purpose, three chemical systems were studied: (1) cyanidation of silver telluride and the effect of lead (II) nitrate addition, (2) cyanidation at high alkalinity and high cyanide concentration of a gold-gold telluride sample containing tellurium and tellurium dioxide, and (3) thiosulfate leaching of silver telluride employing cupric sulfate as oxidant and EDTA as complexing agent for copper. Results showed that standard cyanidation dissolves 10.5% of silver from silver telluride in six hours, while with the addition of 100 mg/L lead increased the silver dissolution up to 100% in the same time. The standard cyanidation of the gold-gold telluride sample dissolves only metallic gold in six hours, while when cyanide concentration and pH were increased, gold and gold telluride were simultaneously dissolved. Finally, thiosulfate leaching dissolves 43.1% of silver from silver telluride in six hours.INTRODUCTION Precious metals tellurides are classified as refractory ores due to the difficulties associated with processing them by the standard cyanidation method. The increasing presence of gold/silver tellurides in some deposits around the world, specifically in Sonora, Mexico, requires new approaches to the cyanidation process, or the development of new leaching techniques. Treatments have been proposed for the recovery of gold and silver from their tellurides, including roasting, preoxidation, cyanidation with lead nitrate, and the use of leaching agents other than cyanide (Zhang, et al., 2010; Ellis and Deschenes, 2016). This work presents preliminary results of three options to recover precious metals from pure tellurides: the cyanidation of gold telluride at high cyanide concentration and high alkalinity, the addition of lead nitrate to the standard cyanidation process, and the use of sodium thiosulfate as leaching reagent."

Jan 1, 2017

By J. Mcdvcka

Sustainable development has become a driving imperative for the resource industry as it is for the rest of the global business world. Being unsustainable is a risk no business can afford. Yet implementation of sustainable development practices beyond satisfaction of compulsory reporting is still sporadic. The current standard approaches to problem analysis and decision making are too narrow to capture the complexity of the issues at stake. Hence it is necessary to develop innovation in thinking and in doing. Those who search for ways to implement sustainable development use concepts such as Whole Systems Thinking and Eco-efficiency as well as tools like Life Cycle Analysis. Others develop their own instruments. In their effort to innovate they face both resistance and support within their organisation as well as within the industry or the wider context. This paper explores the factors that support, hinder and shape the sustainable development drive of the industry and proposes a comprehensive decision-making framework that links the goal of sustainability with the tools of sustainable development. This exploration is illustrated by a case study used in a doctoral research conducted on an engineering firm providing services to our industry.

Jan 1, 2007

By C. H. Bertoni, A. Vachon

The Corner bay copper deposit is the first significan discovery on the south limb of the Dore Lake Complex, located at the eastern end of the Detour Lake-Chibougamau greenstone belt, Quebec. The deposit was discovered in March, 1981, after 26 years of intermittent work in the area. Mineralization is found in a shear zone cut ting rocks ranging in composition, from gabbroic anorthosites to anorthositic gabbros which have been intensely altered and deformed by at least two tectonometamorphic events. Both the copper-bearing shear zone and its host rocks are cut by a large NE-striking gabbro dyke. Most of the known mineralization is found east of the dyke, but two deep exploration holes have shown that the down dip extension is present to the west of the dyke. The mineralized shear varies from one to 15 metres in width, strikes around 010° and dips from 70° to 80° to the west, and has been tested for a length of 700 metres. The wall rocks are usually chloritized and silicified. Mineralization is characterized by chalcopyrite, pyrite, molybdenite, magnetite, and sphalerite occurring mainly as the matrix to quartz-carbonate breccias in the "main" shear zone. The predominant sulphides are pyrite and chalcopyri te as crystals or fragments. The brecciated mineralized shear shows evidence that there was at least one remobilization of the shear and it is suggested that copper-bearing fluids invaded the shear during its remobilization. The exact timing and source of mineralization are not known. Up to February 1984, 38 holes had been drilled to outline indicated reserves to a depth of 450 m of 1,5 million tonnes grading approximately 4% copper, 0.34 gm, gold and 13.71 gm silver per tonne. It is believed that there is considerable reserve potential in the block west of the gab bro dyke, the down dip extension of the main zone.

Jan 1, 1984

By Adam Powell, Matthew Earlam

INFINIUM, Inc. is scaling up a new molten salt electrolysis process for producing rare earth metals. Instead of conventional carbon anodes, this process uses Pure Oxygen Anodes™ which employ a stabilized zirconia solid electrolyte between the molten salt and anode. This eliminates two problems with today's rare earth metal production technology. First, it eliminates carbon anodes and contamination of the product by carbon and its impurities, enabling 10-100 times larger batch size than current practice, and lower labor costs. Second, it eliminates emissions of perfluorocarbons (PFC) such as CF4 and C2F6, which are very problematic greenhouse gases with 6000+ times the global warming potential of CO2. The zirconia also enables a sealed vessel with no LiF emissions, creates a reducing environment enabling use of low-cost welded steel vessels, and either produces a high-purity oxygen by-product or can use natural gas to reduce the necessary electrical energy with no HF production. This paper will describe the technology and its current status for rare earth metal production.

Jan 1, 2014

By K. Sugawaral, W. Tongampl, K. Hiruta, Takasaki Y., A. Hosoi, T. Katol, A. Shibayamal

Printed circuit boards of discarded personal computers, televisions, mobile phones and so on contain a significant amount of valuable metals. For the recycle of valuable metals contained in the printed circuit board wastes (P CB W), the effect of temperature on chlorination-volatilization of metals under chlorine gas flow was studied. The experimental sample used was powder of two types: crushed PCBW (Sample 1) made from PC and industrial machines, and crushed-combusted PCBW (Sample 2) made from Sample 1. The principal element in Sample 1 and Sample 2 was copper, about 13 wt% and 20 wt% respectively. Sample 1 was composed of pure metals such as copper, tin and lead. In comparison, Sample 2 consisted of oxide metals such as copper oxide, tin dioxide and silicon dioxide. The two samples were heated at predefined temperatures (ranging from 300 °C to 900 °C) in chlorine gas. The chlorine gas flow into the furnace was set at a rate of 100 mL/min. As a result, copper in Sample 1 began to volatilize at 600 °C and completely vaporized at 700 °C. While in Sample 2, copper started to volatilize at 600 °C and reached 100% vaporization at 800 °C. For Sample 1, zinc finished volatilizing at 500 °C, while for Sample 2, zinc volatilization reached only about 80% (maximum). Also, lead, nickel and titanium showed similar results. Consequently the volatilization rate of Sample 1 is higher than Sample 2 and the temperature dependency was verified for copper, lead, zinc, nickel, antimony, titanium and chromium. In fact, the volatilization rate of these metals increased with the temperature. This result reflects the difference between pure metal and metal oxide, as Sample 2 was combusted before the chlorination-volatilization test. Moreover, the chlorination reaction may be accelerated by a reductive atmosphere because Sample 1 contains carbon. In this study, the volatilization behavior of some valuable metals in PCBW by chlorine gas was observed. Further improvement in the rate of volatilization can be achieved by optimizing the experimental conditions.

Jan 1, 2011

"Some of the tools developed for the processing of nickel laterite ore by resin-in-pulp (RIP) may be applicable to the remediation of metalliferous mine drainage (MMD). In both cases, recovery of metal value and production of a stable waste stream appropriate for long term storage is desired. MMD typically has the additional challenge of management of toxic low-value metals. Seen in this light, innovations in RIP reactor configuration, selective elution strategies and novel synthetic ion exchange resins become useful tools for taking on the MMD challenge in a way that maximizes both environmental and economic benefit. INTRODUCTIONAcid mine drainage (AMD) is a common problem in any country with significant past mining activity. When sulphide containing minerals, tailings or slag are exposed to water, oxygen and sulphur oxidizing bacteria, AMD will result. Abundant and reactive iron sulphide minerals leach first, providing acidity and the ferrous/ferric couple that can enhance the oxidation kinetics of other minerals. If this runoff contacts encounters acid consuming carbonates or silicates, the acidity may be neutralized, but certain heavy metals remain in solution and can continue to be an environmental hazard (Gray, 1997). For this reason, the remainder of this paper will refer to the broader term metalliferous mine drainage (MMD) rather than acid mine drainage. In either case, such drainage, containing high heavy metal concentrations and often significant acidity, is toxic to aquatic life and can lead to significant damage to ecosystems and to public watercourses. MMD is a problem most commonly associated with now defunct sulphide mineral mines, but similarly toxic streams can result from many types of waste, such as poorly stabilized leach tailings, slag heaps, and coal flotation tailings (Johnson and Hallberg, 2005; Lee et al., 2002; Sainz et al., 2002; Schüring et al., 1997). In any case, the management and remediation of MMD is an important ongoing problem for the resource industry, particularly for the many mines in Canada closed before the advent of more stringent environmental standards. MMD remediation represents a significant long term expense for the resource industry. Multi-disciplinary efforts to understand and mitigate this problem range from creation of artificial wetlands (Poulin and Lawrence, 1996; Sheoran and Sheoran, 2006) to sophisticated biochemical reactors and precipitation processes (Hatami, 2010). Certain remediation technologies such as ion exchange offer methods to make a saleable product by recovering valuable dissolved metals. This paper will show how these technologies can help defray the cost of remediation, and offer potential to turn a dangerous waste stream into a useful product."

Jan 1, 2012

By D. W. Hendriks, C. Daoust, K. V. Konigsmann

"The concentrator of Mattagami Lake Mines Limited commenced operation in 1963. It had been designed with instrumentation proven at that time. New control techniques were added in subsequent years.An on-stream X-ray analyser was installed in 1968. It provided circuit analyses for six years without the aid of a computer. In late 1974, control of the flotation circuit by computer was incorporated into the system. Flotation efficiency improved considerably, zinc"" recovery increased by one percentage point and concentrate grade by four-tenths of a percentage point. Reagent costs decreased modestly through reduction of copper sulphate consumption."

Jan 1, 1976

By Hannu J. Häkkinen

Metal clusters exhibit unique size-dependent physical and chemical properties that differ from those of bulk materials or large particles. Here we discuss recent theoretical investigations of the catalytic properties of free and MgO-supported gold clusters. The catalytic activity of gold clusters depends sensitively on the environment, charge state, and chemical composition of the catalyst. Relativistic bonding effects stabilize large planar structures for gas-phase gold clusters, and non-compact ?quasiplanar? structures are present as important isomers also for surface-supported clusters. The hybridization of the atomic 5d and 6s states is significantly enhanced by the relativistic effects, and large spatial variations in the nature of the local electronic structure make the low-coordinated gold atoms preferable adsorption sites for oxygen molecules. The adsorbed oxygen molecules are activated to superoxo- and peroxo-states via charge-transfer from gold, and Eley-Rideal and Langmuir-Hinshelwood reactions with CO proceed via low-barrier formation of intermediates, which do not require O-O dissociation as precursors. This facilitates the low-temperature (below 300 K) activity of gold nanocatalysts in CO oxidation. Other gold nanostructures, such as mono-atomic gold nanowires, may also become important prototype systems in chemical sensing and nanocatalysis; here we show that they are active promoters of hydrogen dissociation.

Oct 1, 2003

By H. M. Woodrooffe

IT IS WELL KNOWN that chrysotile asbestos from various occurrences exhibits varied physical properties and certain differences in chemical corn position, both of which conditions may have an important bearing on the industrial utilization of the fibre. The usefulness of a harsh fibre in the manufacture of asbestos cement products and of low-iron fibre for certain electrical uses are examples. It is also .possible to obtain a fibre with a texture too harsh and brittle to be of economic value. Much research into the structure of the mineral and to a lesser degree observations relating the water of combination to certain physical properties have ?been reported. This paper is an attempt to show that the pyrolysis of ?chrysotile takes place in three stages and that the conditions of pyrolysis are peculiar to the fibre and may afford some clue to the variations in physical properties of asbestos fibres which affect their utilization.

Jan 1, 1956

By D. M. Doyle

A study of the various components contributing to energy costs and their relationships to generally trended operating data, such as tonnage, operating costs, etc., over progressively shorter time periods provides information for an energy audit. A study of annual data gives some insight into the importance of various energy components. As the time frame of the study progresses through monthly, daily and, finally, into quarter hourly data, the variations become more evident and, most important, strategies develop to minimize energy costs. The results of an audit conducted during the summer of 1978 at Wesfrob Mines Limited are reported to illustrate this important phase, prerequisite to a meaningful energy cost avoidance program. The balance of the paper deals with the energy conservation program at Falconbridge Nickel Mines Limited's Sudbury operations, the metering and control equipment, the commitment, the new energy accounting practices and, lastly, the policies. Examples of successful energy conservation endeavours include automatic peak electrical load control, waste heat recovery from mine air and compressor cooling water, energy reductions resulting from lower building temperatures and curtailment of idling loads. The use of pulse meters to measure the flow of gas, steam, compressed air and electrical energy, with their signals interfaced to process computers, allows monthly, daily and, if necessary, immediate reporting of energy and energy per unit of production information The program so reported at Falconbridge's Sudbury Operations is credited with an annual cost avoidance of .9 million dollars in a 14.0-million-dollar annual energy account

Jan 1, 1979

By A. McLean, L. Gao, Z. Shi, Y. D. Yang, K. Chattopadhyay, G. F. Zhang

Levitation melting of metals is one of the emerging applications of magnetic and electric fields in liquid metal refining. The varying magnetic field generates induced current inside the metal droplet and leads to the Joule heating effect and Lorentz force against gravity. This contactless process can avoid contamination from the crucible and can be used to produce high-purity materials. Visualization of the levitation melting process is difficult, and thus generally investigated by mathematical modeling. In the present study, a three-dimensional mathematical model of metal levitation was developed using finite element method for proper understanding of the levitation process. The effects of harmonic magnetic field frequency, coils power input, and sample size on levitation nickel droplet were investigated. Temporal evolution of temperature fields were predicted directly though the model. Levitation and balance condition of the droplet were investigated as well.

Jan 1, 2015

By C. R. Ross

"The purpose of this paper is to review the activities of international organizations concerned with the problem of dust hazards in mines and to indicate the extent of Canadian participation in these activities. The work of the International Labour Office in sponsoring conferences and reports on the appraisal and control of dust hazards and in the development of standard radio-logical classifications is considered in some detail. Also discussed are the role of technical societies, such as the American Conference of Government Industrial Hygienists, in the development of proposed standards for dust exposure and the functions of international committees concerned with particular hazards, such as the U.I.C.C. (Inter-national Union Against Cancer) Committee on Asbestos and Cancer."

Jan 1, 1969

By D. E. Salman, R. R. Maclachlan, R. J. Barclay

"There is a considerable resource of data for spherical charge cratering, both as single charges and in row-of-charge geometr(1). The data are. however, based on cratering performance to a single free planar surface.In practice. the more common circumstance involves an angular surf ace geometry. such as occurs at the toe of a bench or the wall of a stope. It is for the purpose of investigating this circumstance that the described test work was conducted.The test objectives were: (1) to observe the change in single-charge cratering performance between planesurface and angle geometry; (2) to identify the optimum performance of single charges cratering to a plane surface. cratering from a bench sub-grade position and cratering from a condition of zero sub-grade or stope wall geometry; and (3) to observe the performance of row-of-charges cratering to an angular surface at various row burials and spacing. The row charge burial and spacing dimensions were to be expressed in simple numerical multiples of single-charge depth-of-burial data."

Jan 1, 1981

By A. Ghasemi

An alumina-silica coating was deposited on a nickel substrate by sol-gel process, and the structures and composition were evaluated, The sols were made from aluminium and silicon alkoxide, and an acid catalyst including HCl, To produce adherent silica coatings on nickel, various additives such as surfactant, viscose additive and drying control chemical additives were introduced to the system, and appropriate drying and firing cycles were applied after dipping in solution. The hot corrosion and oxidation resistance of the coating at different temperatures were investigated, The structure and uniformity of the coatings were examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), The results indicate that a uniform coating of alumina silica can be produced on a nickel substrate by optimizing the composition and process variables of the sol. Coatings can protect substrates from oxidation and hot corrosion at different temperature up to 1000°C, but is not very effective for hot-corrosion resistance at 1000°C.

Jan 1, 2005

By Mark Liskowich

When is it the proper time to initiate engagement with various stakeholders, including Indigenous communities? This paper will demonstrate what stage of a project’s evolution is the appropriate time to initiate a stakeholder engagement plan. It will look at aspects to consider when identifying the communities to involve. It will describe the contents of a Stakeholder Engagement Management Plan as well and touch on how tried and true options analyses, such as a Multiple Accounts Analysis can be used to inform the results of the engagement, guide the development of your project and clearly document the engagement process. It will illustrate the benefits of initiating engagement at the appropriate point in your project’s schedule, and the limitations of doing so too early and at later stages of the project engineering. The benefits of this approach can be realized within any legislative Jurisdiction including the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act 2012 and Canada’s new Impact Assessment Act.

Jan 1, 2020

By John R. Hawley

"This paper is intended as a review of the progress that has been made in the Province of Ontario in the field of acid drainage waste treatment technology.Three years ago, at the Third Annual Meeting of the Canadian Mineral Processors, we presented a paper entitled ""The Problem of Acid Mine Drainage in Ontario"". At that time I was working for the Ontario Water Resources Commission. The paper turned out to be the very beginning of the Commission's acid mine drainage control program. In the intervening three years, the Ontario Water Resources Commission has been amalgamated with other government groups and has evolved into the present Ontario Ministry of the Environment. Today the Ministry is involved in running one of the most advanced acid mine waste control programs in the world.As a part of its mining program, the Ontario Ministry of the Environment has published three major reports which deal directly and specifically with the industrial waste disposal problems that may arise at a mining operation. In order of publication, these reports are as follows:(1) ""The Problem of Acid Mine Drainage in the Province of Ontario"".This 338-page report covers all aspects of the problem of acid mine drainage and includes detailed sections on acid flow detection, acid flow chemistry and acid flow treatment.(2) ""The Use, Characteristics and Toxicity of Mine-Mill Reagents in the Province of Ontario"".This report, 244 pages in length, gives the chemistry and toxicity of nearly all of the chemicals that find common use in the Canadian mining industry. Most of the toxicity figures quoted are the result of a comprehensive bioassay program that was initiated by the Ministry."

Jan 1, 1974

By Tom C. Palangio

The mining industry has come to rely on imaging devices to monitor and record all kinds of activities. We use them to measure, improve the process, ensure security, increase production and automate machinery. Cameras can be installed in locations most people wouldn?t want to live and be our ?eyes? to record the events at that location. This paper discusses digital imaging, the equipment, methods, techniques and information that can be learned from digital devices used in mining operations. The guy who said ?a picture is worth a thousand words? probably understated it. Images are the perfect way to document conditions before, after and even during mining activities. Today?s wide choice of cameras, camcorders and other digital devices allow us to record most activities and events. The technology is advancing at a high rate. Digital cameras and camcorders are marvels of technology with high resolution optics, compact size, automatic time and date stamp, great battery life, shutters to freeze motion and computers to auto focus and eliminate jitter (image stabilization). Add to this the economical price and ease of use and everyone in this industry should be aware of the possibilities.

Oct 1, 2010

By A. Alfantazi, E. Asselin

"The corrosion of commercially pure titanium (CP-Ti) was studied from room temperature up to medium temperature (~160°C) under conditions relevant to medium temperature chalcopyrite leaching processes. The corrosion rates were measured by immersion and electrochemical tests in sulfuric acid. The influences of chloride, cupric and ferric ions on the corrosion rate and behavior were also investigated. Corrosion of the CP-Ti did not account for the total current density measured by linear polarization tests. The corrosion rates of CP-Ti under medium temperature leaching conditions were surprisingly high. The corrosion rate measured in ferric containing solution at 160°C was approximately 20 mm/yr.INTRODUCTIONTitanium exhibits excellent corrosion resistance in many aggressive environments because of the formation of a very chemically stable, highly adherent, and protective oxide film on its surface (Mitsuo et al., 2002). Because titanium is the only metal available at a reasonable cost that resists the high temperature corrosive slurries in many leaching processes, it is often chosen as autoclave liner material where it is subjected to severe conditions of acidity, temperature and pressure (Grauman and Say, 2000).A number of distinctly different hydrometallurgical processes for the pressure leaching of chalcopyrite have been developed and patented by various companies and they can be classified into low, medium and high temperature regimes (McDonald and Muir, 2007). For example, chalcopyrite concentrate may be processed at medium temperatures (115-175°C) and pressures of 800-2200 kPa (Dreisinger, D., 2006; Sahu and Asselin, 2011). The lixiviant may contain 20 to 55 g/L sulfuric acid, 8 to 12 g/L chloride ions, 10-25 g/L Cu2+ (Jones, 1995, 1997, 1999), and less than 1 g/L Fe3+ (Defreyne et al., 2005). The amount of these additions is determined by the grade of the ores and details are shown in Table 1."

Jan 1, 2012

By L. D. Snyder, J. K. Russell

"The Lower Jurassic Iron Mask batholith intrudes Upper Triassic Nicola Group volcanic rocks in the Quesnellia terrane of southcentral British Columbia and hosts Cu-Au mineralization. The batholith comprises three mappable intrusive phases, including: Pothook gabbro to diorite, Cherry Creek monzodiorite to monzonite and Sugarloaf diorite. The Iron Mask hybrid forms a fourth mappable unit that makes up to 45% of the areal exposure in the batholith. It is highly variable in texture and composition and subdivided into three types; Type I and II have abundant (partially digested) xenoliths, many of which are derived from the Nicola Group, whereas Type III is xenolith-poor and shows extreme outcrop-scale textural diversity.Pothook and Cherry Creek rocks are similar in texture, mineralogy, whole rock and mineral composition and style of alteration. Contacts between the two can be intrusive or gradational. Rocks collected from these two suites have compositions that are permissive of a single magma batch, although simple crystal fractionation does not explain all chemical variations within and between the two suites. The Sugarloaf unit comprises a diverse group of amphibole-phyric rock types and is texturally and mineralogically distinct from Pothook and Cherry Creek suites.The Iron Mask hybrid represents progressive stages of physical and chemical interaction between Nicola Group country rocks and Pothook magma. Magmatic assimilation (selective or partial) is supparted on the basis of field relationships, petrographic observations, and REB compositional data. Thermal dehydration and partial assimilation of Nicola Group rocks by Pothook magma is shown to be a valid means of promoting early and extensive volatile saturation in the Iron Mask batholith."

Jan 1, 1995