Search Documents

By Brandt Porter, Lawrence K. Nordell, Alexander Potapor

"Improving comminution efficiencies with better machine geometries and motions, improved nip angles, rock movement control, and voids regulation among rocks are some of the next steps to better machine performance. Recent gains (~30%) using high pressure grinding rolls (HPGRS) and vertical roller mills, in theory and practice, are based on Prof. Klaus Schönert’s academic studies (1979–1996) on rock breakage physics. More recently, University of British Columbia Prof. Bern Klein’s studies (2006–present) via the Ph.D. thesis of Z. Davaanyam (2015) further validate theory with practice from laboratory measurements used in this paper.They demonstrated ideal rock compression breakage, within HPGR and vertical roller mill machines using a piston-die apparatus. Similar rock size range is used. The piston-die confine rock breakage behavior. However, these studies do not extend to larger rocks (> 75 mm), and do not demonstrate the influence of rock voids among bifurcation of rocks during comminution. Further, machines fed with larger rock sizes, such as gyratory, jaw, and cone crushers, are not designed or evaluated for geometry nip angle efficiency.Herein we illustrate a performance gain of a new comminution machine, the conjugate anvil-hammer mill (CAHM), first presented at SAG 2011 (Nordell, 2012). The CAHM machine digests rock sizes 400% larger than HPGR, improves rock grip/nip geometry, better improves rock voids, improves surface wear life > 500%, and improves rock containment and slippage during compression. In all, the CAHM machine shows 22 potential improvements over the HPGR. Most importantly, CAHM shows a 50% kWh/ton improvement compared to the HPGR. Our studies use an advanced Discrete Element Method (DEM) computer program called ROCKY. ROCKY simulates moving boundaries, surface wear mechanics, and incorporates rock breakage physics based on the fundamentals of JKMRC T10 protocol [×] with tuned A × b breakage parameters.We calibrate rock breakage in our DEM code to mimicking both UBC laboratory piston-die and HPGR comminution measurements. We then model CAHM with these known ore and machine properties. Differences are illustrated using DEM techniques on each machine, including key points of when each: use geometry; initiate bifurcation breakage; provide a map of particle size distribution by location; illustrate the importance of controlling voids to minimize agglomeration after breakage; machine performance limits; and kWh/ton benefit."

Jan 1, 2016

Red Chris Project Project Status ? Tahltan, Iskut First Nations MOU ? Bankable Feasibility Study ? BC Environmental Assessment Certificate ? CEAA (Federal Environmental) ? EPCM contracts LOI?s ? US$110 million Project Debt Financing(credit approval pending) ? 1st5 years concentrate production sold ? 99,150 m of drilling in 371 holes First Nations Participation Agreement ?Advanced stage negotiations

May 1, 2006

By Tom Setterfield

Conclusions ?Canada is a prospective place to explore for IOCG deposits ?Time distribution of IOCG mineralization in Canada mimics that in the rest of the world ?Canada may have been the first country to start mining IOCG deposits ?Production from newly discovered IOCG deposits in Canada may start soon

May 1, 2006

By Kenichi Fujino

Severe disasters have struck Japan in recent years. Following these disasters, construction robots have played important roles in investigation and restoration work in the disaster regions. To be applied in this way, construction robots require many functions according to the purpose of their use in each case. There are clear differences in the functions and usage conditions required by investigation robots and those required by execution robots. These differences will be important when designing and operating construction robots in the future. This report introduces a volcano exploration robot and unmanned execution system as examples of construction robots used for investigations and executions respectively. Based on this, the report organizes important characteristics of construction robots and explains differences in the concepts of disaster investigation robots and disaster restoration robots. Because they are used in harsh natural conditions and do not have any execution functions, efforts are made to clarify the fact that investigation robots have to overcome many problems such as mobility. When a construction robot is used, the scenario of the operation of the construction robot (execution plan) is extremely important, and in addition, it is necessary to clearly define the way it will be used according to the purpose of its use and specification conditions. In a plan for an unmanned execution system, it is possible to mitigate several strict prerequisite conditions by proposing a well-constructed execution plan. For example, the execution efficiency of an unmanned execution system can be improved by effectively using a temporary road.

Aug 1, 2013

By E. You

The concentrator at Kennecott Utah Copper currently has 4 lines with a configuration of one SAG mill feeding two ball mills. The slurry that reports to each ball mill will vary resulting in an unequal load of material. This configuration contains two separate sumps that receive material from a distribution box relying solely on natural slurry flow to feed each sump. The unequal split to each mill results in one mill receiving a greater amount of material. This will result in the equipment on one mill reaching limitations that may affect product quality and the operation of the equipment near maximum. The parallel mill in this condition will often have additional capacity that can be used but cannot be utilized due to the unequal split. The major consequences of this issue result in reduced throughputs and metal recovery. To resolve this condition an advanced control strategy was implemented to control the split in April of 2002 using equipment that was in place.

Jan 1, 2007

By D. M. Ramsey

HIGH-INTENSITY magnetic separation as now practised in the commercial treatment of a large variety of industrial minerals is a com-paratively recent development, having had its practical beginning about ten years ago when it became necessary to devise more effective methods for the purification of the electric furnace abrasives and refractories-silicon carbide and fused aluminium oxide. The fundamentals of magnetic separation are, of course, very well under-stood; bur while very, very old in principle, the process has, in recent years, been developed to a point of far greater usefulness than heretofore. In fact, until the development of the high-intensity process,. magnetic separation was limited largely to the removal of tramp iron? with magnetic pulleys and the removal of the very highly magnetic portions of industrial minerals by means of horizontal conveyor-belt-type separators. All magnetic separation processes depend for their success on the fact that various materials are kinetically influenced to a greater or lesser degree by the force that we speak of as 'magnetism'. We have now come to regard 'magnetic separation' and 'high-intensity magnetic separation' as two different and distinct methods. However, both depend upon the reaction of a particle when placed in a magnetic field. The common types of magnetic separators quite generally operate on the principle that a magnetic particle can be lifted by a powerful magnetic force from a stream of material moving on a belt or other type of conveyor. The application of the force removing magnetic material by this scheme is directly opposed to the force of gravity and is, therefore, limited to sub-stances of a relatively high order of magnetic susceptibility, such as metallic iron and magnetite. Until a few years ago, one very important principle was almost entirely overlooked. Practically every substance is susceptible to some extent, at least, to magnetic attraction, and by the application of a magnetic force great enough, and properly applied, separations of materials heretofore considered 'non-magnetic' can be accomplished.

Jan 1, 1937

By John C. Loretto

"The paper identifies two of the main problems encountered in recent hydrometallurgical plants for the recovery of gold and silver: firstly, the plant recovery is lower than anticipated from the testwork; secondly, the metallurgical accounting figures cannot be reconciled.The principal reasons for the plant recovery being lower than the testwork are discussed, together with solutions that can minimize these problems both during the design stage and during the plant operation after the problems have manifest themselves.The reasons for the difficulties in metallurgical accounting are analyzed by reviewing the various components of the plant figures. Recommended solutions are given for minimizing this problem and the realities of obtaining accurate figures are discussed.IntroductionThe start-up over the last few years of new hydrometallurgical plants for the recovery of gold and silver has brought to the surface again a number of problems. Most of the problems have existed for some time and they manifest themselves mainly in two ways. Firstly, the plant results do not agree with the metallurgical testwork figures; secondly, the metallurgical accounting figures do not balance.Metallurgical TestworkThe plant results not agreeing with testwork figures are mainly due to:a) testwork samples not representative of the eventual plant feed;b) misinterpretation or misunderstanding of testwork ;c) plant losses;d) plant design not allowing testwork results to be achieved;e) operating deficiencies."

Jan 1, 1982

By W. D. Sinclair, R. J. Cathro, E. M. Jensen

"The Cash is one of the largest porphyry copper-molybdenum Deposits found in Yukon to date. It is 80 km northwest of Carmacks, within the unglaciated portion of the Dawson Range, and is associated with the Big Creek fault, an important tectonic feature. Part of the mineralized zone is blanketed by up to 70 m of alluvial drift . The remainder is covered by a relatively thin residual soil layer. The mineralized zone, however, was not detected by conventional stream-sediment sampling because pathfinder elements, such as Cu and Mo, have not been geochemically dispersed into the main drainage system. The deposit was discovered by a combination of soil analysis and inspection of rock fragments from small pits.Twenty widely spaced, shallow drill holes have outlined an areaover 2700 m long and 550 to over 1000m wide that grades more than 0.1% copper equivalent (% CuE = % Cu + (5 x % MoS2)). Two smaller zones grading over 0.4% copper equivalent occur within the larger area. The limits of the widest end of the deposit have not been delineated.The Cash deposit is fairly typical of high-level, calc-alkaline porphyry copper-molydenum occurrrences in the Canadian Cordillera {cf, CIM Special Volume 15) and is representative of most prospects in the Dawson Range. It is associated genetically with a subvolcanic complex of small, irregular stocks and dykes of feldspar porphyry and related breccias of Late Cretaceous age. Copper and molybdenum sulphides occur along fractures, in quartz veinlets and disseminated in feldspar porphyry and in older metasedimentary and intrusive rocks. Higher-grade zones of copper and molybdenum have associated potassic alteration. Phyllic alteration is, in part, superimposed on potassic alteration. Argillic alteration occurs locally.This paper describes the history of the discovery and the geochemical and geophysical characteristics, together .with the regional geology, and the nature and distribution of the host rocks, hypogene mineralization and hydrothermal alteration."

Jan 1, 1981

By D. A. Livingstone

"INTRODUCTORY REMARKS BY PANEL CHAIRMAN - D. A. LIVINGSTONEThe mining industry has progressed significantly from the dusty mines and mills of decades past to the modern processing complexes of today, and improved technology has made great strides in eliminating debilitating lung discuss. More recently, the public's environmental awareness is also working to enforce more stringent regulations and controls in tl1e matter of dust in working places.There are numerous excellent texts and handbooks outlining the principles of collection of dust produced in the various unit operations entailed in the crushing, screening and the transport of ore. However, it is painfully obvious that dust emanating from belt return idlers and scrapers, take-up pulleys, skirting, larger and deeper chutes, clean-up operations, etc., which I choose to refer to as fugitive dust, presents some seemingly unmanageable difficulties, or at least difficulties inordinately costly to correct. Possibly static electricity is adding to the difficulties. In my view, these problems are magnified in many of our B. C. operations where ore from open pit mines in cold climates is frequently crushed in unheated buildings, thereby precluding the simple and obvious use of water sprays for dust suppression.It is hoped that the presentations and discussion which follow will emphasize some of these unusual problerr.s and suggest corrective measures, either tried or planned."

Jan 1, 1976

By G. Begin

"The expansion undertaken at Selbaie in 1985 necessitated an adaptation and expansion of the equipment maintenance system. This paper relates briefly the stages of transformation of the maintenance administrative structures, work methods and tools. The maintenance in a mechanized mine requires an expenditure level in the order of 20% of the total operating cost of the enterprise. Thus, the maintenance organization was modified to apply more computerized planning and follow-up, and the role of preventative maintenance was further advanced.IntroductionAs far as maintenance is concerned at Selbaie, the scenario described herein is a resume of the current situation. Although positive results have been obtained, this outline is in no way a detailed account of a fail-proof maintenance system.Once zone A-I was put into production, the expansion the mine experienced in 1985 had a direct impact on the equipment maintenance system. As centralized as it was in the beginning, the system is now partially decentralized.The over-all changes to the maintenance department demonstrate the flexibility required by organizations in new situations. In spite of the exceptional results obtained before the expansion, it became evident that both the maintenance and production sectors would have to be combined. In doing so, a more appropriate coordination of maintenance work could be obtained and the maintenance staff would obtain a more detailed knowledge of the equipment in each sector. In addition, by keeping the general and specialized departments centralized, it was possible to offset the negative effect s of a decentralized system, namely too much manpower."

Jan 1, 1990

By L. O. Thomas

BROADLY, Yukon is divisible into three physiographic provinces which are extensions of the similar divisions in British Columbia that are there known as the Coastal system, the Interior system, and the Rocky Mountain system. South of Yukon to about the 50th parallel of latitude, the Coastal system consists solely of the Coast range, which, in Yukon, passes behind the St. Elias range and for the remainder of its course constitutes the most easterly portion of the Coastal system. The extension, in Yukon, of the Interior system of plateaus and mountains of British Columbia is commonly referred to as the Yukon plateau, and the extension of the Rocky Mountain system as the Mackenzie Mountains system. The Coast-Range province is largely made up of granitic intrusives; the Mackenzie Mountains province of folded sediments; and the intervening Yukon Plateau province of ancient metamorphic rocks, folded sedimentary rocks, volcanics, and intrusives. Almost the entire area dealt with in this article was subjected to glaciation and, in those parts where its full effect was experienced, the valleys were invaded by vast masses of ice which transported and scattered the stream gravels, with their gold content, so that, even where gold still remains in the old stream channels, it has become so buried under boulder clay and other glacial accumulations that it is, in most places, difficult to find, and, when found, may prove very expensive to mine. Most of the present rivers have done little more than cut new channels in the glacial debris, touching only here and there upon the subjacent rocky floor. The territory in Yukon adjacent to the section of the Alaska highway between Watson and Teslin lakes is for the most part unknown both topographically and geologically. From Teslin to Kluane, the highway travels a fairly well-mapped part of Yukon, but beyond that point, until White river is reached, the geology of the adjacent country has, largely, yet to be determined, particularly on the north side of the highway.

Jan 1, 1943

By George J. Simandl, Suzanne Paradis, Kirk D. Hancock, Jana Simandl

Traditional prospecting and boulder tracing are the two most important field techniques used in exploration for magnesite deposits hosted by sedimentary rocks. Consequently, success depends largely on the prospector's ability to identify magnesite. A density agent called sodium polytungstate (3Na2W04·9WOj'HPJ was successfully used to determine the presence of magnesite in sedimentary carbonate rocks of southeastern British Columbia. A rapid field method was developed and tested. This method permits discrimination between limy dolomites, dolomites, magnesite-bearing dolomites and magnesite-rich rocks.

Jan 1, 1993

By Geo. D. Furse

"The information that has accumulated regarding the geology of the McIntyre mine is the result of work by several geologists and, as might be anticipated, their conclusions have varied. The writer has been at the mine only a few years and due to wartime conditions has not been able to study and review the mine's geology as thoroughly as his predecessors. Where the writer's conclusions differ from those of previous authors, it should be noted that he has been unable to re-map all the workings in which flow contacts are exposed, but has endeavoured to describe the structure as indicated by the evidence he has been able to observe. He wishes to thank H. G. Skavlem and H. S. Robinson for their constructive criticism of this paper, and McIntyre Porcupine Mines, Limited, for permission to present it. A list of references is appended.The McIntyre mine is in the central part of the Pearl Lake section of the Porcupine gold area. It includes the ""bed of Pearl lake, twenty-two claims to the north of the lake, and the Platt Vet lot to the southeast. It is bordered on the west by the Hollinger and on the east by the Coniaurum property. The chief ore-bearing veins on the upper levels lie very close to the north shore of the lake, but some occur under the lake, and others of lesser importance are found to the southeast. The most important veins are Nos. 3, 5, 7, 10, and 25. Some of the veins extend into the Hollinger. on the west and others cross the east boundary into the Coniaurum. The total production since the commencement of milling in 1912 to the end of March 1947 has been $168,448,218 in gold and silver from the milling of 17,690,963 tons of ore."

Jan 1, 1954

By B. Coupal, F. D'Hennezel

Sorption measurements show that peat moss has much stronger affinity for oil than straw, which is currently used. Microscopic studies of peat moss show a highly porous and fibrous material, and this property, associated with the phenomenon of selective absorption, had been used to absorb oil. Laboratory experiments show that peat moss absorbs up to eight times its weight of oil. Field tests have proved that peat moss can be an effective absorbent and can be used on a large scale.

Jan 1, 1972

By C. Barnett

"A description of the Geco orebody has been given by W .L. Brown and R.C.E. Bray (1). The mill flowsheet and equipment were described by M.J.S. Bennett, D. Wild and C. Lawton (2). Mill capacity is now 4, 150 tons per operating day of copper, silver, zinc and lead ore. A recent flowsheet has been published in the - Canadian Mining Manual (1966).Soon after the start of production in September 1957, it became apparent that large tonnages of sand would be required by the mine for backfill pruposes. Initial experimental work on the preparation of sand fill from the flotation tailings was begun in late 19 59. Cyclones of local manufacture, in a variety of sizes, were tested quite successfully. There were, however, several obvious advantages with some of the custom-built cyclones and a recommendation was obtained from the Techniquip Company. A single Krebs D-10-B cyclone was tested experimentally in 1960.INITIAL TESTWORKExperimental results showed that with our relatively coarse grind (in the order of 53 % minus 200 mesh) 75 - 80% of the flotation tailings could be recovered as backfill sand with one stage of treatment. Percolation rates of four inches per hour were obtained with cyclone inlet pressures in the range of 20 - 25 psi and feed densities of 20 - 23% solids."

Jan 1, 1968

By Y. W. Pan, Y. R. Liu

The disturbed natural rock mass tends to equilibrium state accompanying with non-equilibrium evolution process which has significant influence on the long-term stability of engineering structure. The deformation development in the non-equilibrium evolution is determined by two intrinsic processes, trend to equilibrium and damage development, which can be illustrated by evolution of excavated tunnel. Thus the creep and damage must be taken into account in study of non-equilibrium evolution process. Within Rice’s irreversible thermodynamics with internal state variable (ISV), the conjugate force function which equals to zero is a convex surface which divide the stress space into two parts, called equilibrium and nonequilibrium stress space respectively. The concept of effective stress of non-equilibrium has been proposed, in which the stress difference (d - d ) are the effective driving forces of non-equilibrium evolution process with hardening and damage effective. The formulations of inelastic strain rate and energy dissipation rate have been recast in the form of effective stresses. The inelastic complementary energy (ICE) is proposed to measure intensity of non-equilibrium evolution of material system. The specific equations of conjugated forces and kinetic equations of internal state variables are presented. The ICE and rate of energy dissipation are all calculated to be used to evaluate long-term stability of geo-engineering. The results show that rate of energy dissipation may be more convenience and flexible than ICE for internal state variable constitutive equation of rock mass.

Jan 1, 2015

By Simon Hanner

November 2005 Memorial University Newfoundland and Labrador Mines and Energy Review of Activities Exploration and Mining New Brunswick ?Université du Québec a Montréal McGill University 2005 Manitoba Mining and Minerals Convention Université Laval Quebec Exploration 2005 Saskatchewan Open House December 2005 University of Calgary University of Alberta 'Laurentian University 'Queen's University 'University of Toronto 'Ontario Prospectors Association January 2006 Mineral Exploration Roundup, BC March 2006 Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada Convention April 2006 University of Ottawa Carleton University

May 1, 2006

? Élaboration de la Directive 019 (1982) ? Objectifs: ? Protection de l ?environnement ? Procédure administrative pour analyse et évaluation environnementale ? Officialisée en 1989 ? pas eu de modifications depuis ce temps Contenu de la Directive 019 ? Requête d ?autorisation ? Gestion des eaux ? Traitement des effluents ? Gestion des déchets et des résidus miniers ? Suivi environnemental Directive 019 Exigences environnementales ? Effluents miniers ? As, Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn, Fe, CN, MES, pH, toxicité aiguë ? Suivi environnemental annuel ? Effluent ? Réseau hydrographique ? Restauration

May 1, 2001

Eagle Plains Resources? Exploration in the Northern Cordillera ?Eagle Plains Resources Ltd. (EPL) is actively exploring for Zn-Pb deposits in the northern Cordillera in both carbonate-hosted and shale-hosted (sedex) environments. ?This presentation will review some of the significant carbonate-hosted Zn-Pb showings occurring in the Mackenzie Mountains, NWT and make limited comparisons with sedexdeposits in the adjacent Selwyn Basin.

May 1, 2006

By Graham E. Brown

Since the beginning of time, people later to be known as engineers and architects have strained to create methods whereby they could improve technology to assist them in their various fields of endeavour. Some of these improvements would be the change from linen paper, french chalk and ink pens to drafting film , mylar an d pencil for the production of drawings, the drafting machine in lieu of the tee and set squares, even tap e to attach drafting media to the board instead of thumb tacks and man y, man y more. All of these taken individually are insignificant but combined evolve to the current state-of-the-art in the computerized engineering environment. Ten years ago the major topic o f conversation was the hand-held calculator which for a cost of around $150 would give most trigonometric functions. Today the equivalent calculator can be purchased for around $25, is about one third the size, and if inflation were included over the last ten year s the item should cost around $550 in today' s dollars, it can be seen that tremendous advances not only in the technology but also the cost saving. The following paper is intended to outline some o f the significant aspects o f the latest technology in the computerized engineering office namely Interactive Graphics Systems.

Jan 1, 1985