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By J. L. Huisman, G. Schouten

After pyrometallurgy and hydrometallurgy, bio(hydro)metallurgy is the latest development in the ongoing search for efficient and economic metal winning processes. In addition to bioleaching, other biotechnology-based applications are getting more and more accepted. In this paper a number of proven and commercial processes will be presented that can be applied for nickel and cobalt recovery and refining. These processes are based on the ability of biomass to convert the redox state of sulphur compounds under ambient conditions. They can be applied to recover sulphate from effluents or SOx from off gases and convert it to H2S or dissolved sulphide that can be reused in production or effluent treatment. Not only does this minimize the costs on resources but it also reduces waste production and improves the quality of discharges even to the point where reuse becomes feasible.

Jan 1, 2005

By Donald F. MacDonald

METAL PRICES RISE WITHIN the past nine months, the mining industry of the world has been revivified by a spectacular price advance for the metals. ln fact, practically all geological raw materials have been marked up during this period. Reviving industry started the price rise, but the armaments race among the nations has intensified it. These factors, coupled with our decided building shortage, which must be made up, will probably maintain metal prices at decidedly favourable levels over the next two or three years, or longer. OUR MINERAL CIVILIZATION It is interesting to recall that in the past hundred years, while the white population of the world increased some three ta three and a half fold, the consumption of minerals increased seventy-five fold. In other words, ours is a mineral civilization. If we disregard short slumps, which we will occasionally experience, it seems certain that the bread upward trend in mineral consumption will be maintained for many decades into the future. Nations without reasonably abundant and diverse mineral deposits will eventually become nations without much power. Canada is blessed with a splendid store of minerals. Its mineral industry is now facing an exceptionally rosy future. What of the mineral industry of Nova Scotia? GEOLOGICAL RESEARCH ALLOWED TO LAG RN NOVA SCONA Many years ago, when geological science was in? its infancy, much geological study was carried on in Nova Scotia. In 1827, Francis Alger began work on the iron ores in the Bay of Fundy region. In 1886, E. R. Faribault began his series of remarkable papers on Nova Scotia geology. Between these dates, many others published papers on the geology of the Province. The most outstanding of this early group of geologists was Sir William Dawson, whose published works on Nova Scotian geology extended over the period from 1845 to 1891.

Jan 1, 1937

By Ian R. Morrison

"Abstract - The Izok Zn-Cu-Pb-Ag volcanogenic massive sulfide deposit is located 265 km south of Kugluktuk (Coppermine), Nunavut Territory, Canada, in the west-central Slave structural province. The Izok deposit is owned 100% by Inmet Mining Corporation and represents one of the largest undeveloped zinc-copper resources in North America. The Izok deposit is hosted within and near the top of a thick sequence of predominantly felsic pyroclastic rocks of late Archean age. The hanging-wall stratigraphy includes additional felsic volcaniclastic rocks, andesitic and basaltic flows, thin sulfide-rich iron formations, and turbiditic sedimentary rocks. The felsic volcanic rocks are intruded by intermediate dikes and sills, followed by gabbroic dikes and sills. Both intrusive suites are interpreted to be volcanic feeders to the overlying flows. All lithologies are subsequently cut by younger, irregular, granitic pegmatite and diabase dikes. The volcanic and sedimentary rocks are regionally metamorphosed to pyroxene hornfels grade. The massive sulfides occur within a large (kilometer-scale) Na-depleted sericitic alteration zone. The immediate footwall and hanging-wall rocks to the deposit are characterized by zones of muscovite- biotite-sillimanite, lesser chlorite-biotite-cordierite, and locally intense silicification and sodium metasomatism. All lithologies have been affected by younger Ca-metasomatism. As currently defined, the Izok deposit comprises a cluster of five complexly zoned composite lenses: the Northwest, North, Central West, Central East, and Inukshuk lenses. The first four lenses are amenable to open-pit mining, whereas the Inukshuk lens will require underground development. The total indicated mineral resource presently stands at 16.5 million tonnes with a grade of 2.2% Cu, 11.4% Zn, 1.1% Pb, and 60 g/t Ag. Inmet Mining Corporation is presently reviewing the economic feasibility of developing the property."

Jan 1, 2004

By V I. McCallum

In 1954, Falconbridge Nickel Mines Limited began the program of deepening the Falconbridge mine workings for 2,000 feet below the bottom, or 4025, level in order to provide twelve new levels for production. Involved in this program were a production-sized internal shaft, .crushing, pumping and hoisting installations, the integration of the new shaft operations with those of existing shafts, and considerations of ventilation requirements and ground support at depth. This paper describes the major items of equipment, and the depth development of No. 9 shaft as a whole, and also emphasize the planning phases of the program. The factors involved and reasons for the equipment and layouts chosen are given. Introduction and History THIS paper describes the planning and development of that portion of the Falconbridge mine between the 4025 and 6050 mining levels. This mine, the oldest of several being operated by Falcon-bridge Nickel Mines Limited in the Sudbury district, has been a continuous producer for over thirty years.

Jan 1, 1964

By W. E. Segsworth

Introduction By far the largest part of the money raised for mining is raised by honest and legitimate means; but a not inconsiderable amount is raised by fraudulent sales methods. It will be conceded without argument that the greatest menace to the mining business is the fraudulent promoter. The sale of worthless mining stocks to the public by high-pressure. salesmen, house to house canvassers, telephone campaigns, fraudulent use of the mails, fraudulent statements, and reloading, has seriously prejudiced the public against even legitimate mining. A very small percentage of the funds raised by such fraudulent means is ever spent on the property, but instead is absorbed by the promoter in illegitimate' profits, enormous commissions, high office rents, and other expenditures, and is just so much subtracted from the fund which the legitimate developer needs to bring new mines to the point of production. The mining fraternity has been at fault in that, while they recognized this situation, they made no adequate attempt to rectify it. They knew that these fraudulent practises were conducted by parasites who attached themselves to the mining business in boom times and claimed to be part and parcel of it, but who were merely professional salesmen and promoters who, when there was not a mining boom, were selling sky-line real-estate, worthless oil stocks, or fraudulent securities which happened to be popular with the public. While mining people had this distinction well in mind, the public did not differentiate between the crooked promoter temporarily selling fraudulent mining stock and the honest promoter who made mining finance his life work; and we did little to make this distinction clear to the public or to sweep these money grabbers out of our house. The historic boom of 1927-8 and '29 brought with it the usual crop of crooked mining promoters, and the scandals resulting from their operations forced the Governments into the enactment of laws to attempt to protect the gullible public against the operations of these meanest of thieves and to appease public clamour.

Jan 1, 1934

By Donald F. MacDonald

THE cement plant nearest to Nova Scotia is not far from Montreal. Cement is a heavy product which, because of its relatively low value, cannot stand a high freight charge without unduly enhancing its cost. This is one reason why cement costs are high in Nova Scotia. The regular retail price per bag (8772 lb.) in Antigonish is 85 cents, which would be $3.40 per Canadian barrel of 350 pounds, or $3.65 per American barrel of 376 pounds.It is said that the lowest wholesale price in Halifax is 65 cents per sack, which would be $2.60 per Canadian barrel or about $2.80 per American barrel. According to U.S. Bureau of Mines statistics, the average factory price for cement in 1937 was $1.48 per American barrel, which is practically the same as the value per barrel indicated in Dominion statistics for the Canadian output during that year. The difference between $3.40 and $1.48 is $1.92. It is evident that the average user of cement in the Mari-times pays a stiff premium because Maritime cement raw materials have not been developed. Rock-wool, the manufacture of which is rapidly increasing in Ontario and the United States, is much needed for building insulation in the cold climate of Nova Scotia.

Jan 1, 1939

By S-E. Vandat

The goal of this work was to select an appropriate electrode for dummy load of diesel engine in fully salt-water in the DESA factory. The electrochemical corrosion rate of general structural steel, commercial pure aluminum and cathode copper calculated as weighting, volumetric and commercial in fully salt-water by city power. After several tests and then applying the fuzzy logic method, it was determined that general structural steel is the best selection for this purpose.

Jan 1, 2005

By Donald E. Wakefeld

"The pace at which mining will occur in Northern regions and Arctic lands will depend on the answers to a number of questions. Who are the local aboriginal participants? What land uses are they pursuing? What are their objectives? What is their understanding of the process of mining development? This paper will focus on the last question, communicating the process of mineral development to local aboriginal communities.IntroductionIn the environmental impact hearings for the BHP-DiaMet diamond mine, the smaller Dene Treaty 8 Nation argued for the settlement of its Land Claims as a pre-condition to development. However, the larger Dene Treaty 11 Nation were prepared to permit the mine to proceed on the basis that their people would receive benefits during the construction and operation of the mine.Wherever mining is the significant basis for tax revenues and economic development expectations may be encouraged beyond the realities of the situation. Izok Lake has been known for several decades as a significant mineral deposit but because of its size and the transportation costs involved, it is now a “frozen” ore body. The extent of its mineralization at current metal prices will not support the mining and processing costs without substantial government support for infrastructure and roads. At the opposite side of Canada, Voisey’s Bay clearly satisfies all technical criteria but, nonetheless, two Inuit groups, the Innu, and Métis, have all made LandClaims relating to the mine area.Contrasting the mineral deposits at Voisey’s Bay and Izok Lake emphasizes that the timing of production is dependent on factors such as the grade and amount of reserves, their market price, location and availability of government support. Nonetheless, it is this author’s thesis that given an economic orebody the next most important factor is good communications. It is his view that Arctic mineral development will occur quickly only where good communication has resulted in the trust and mutual respect necessary to implement the mammoth cultural changes required."

Jan 1, 1996

By Staff, G. M. Hogg

"The eastern portion of the Late Precambrian geosynclinal structure known as the Labrador Trough comprises a 16,000-square-mile sulphide-bearing belt of good potential as a base metal exploration area. Hollinger and Hanna mining interests have carried on exploration in the region since 1953, with encouraging results. This program has been considerable in terms of both effort and expenditure, and has resulted in an apparently successful primary evaluation of the entire belt.Much detailed work remains to be done in the area. Exploration to date has been largely of a reconnaissance nature, employing various methods in common use in Canada today. In the course of this work, several deposits of promise, containing near-economic quantities of copper, zinc, nickel and other metals, have been located. A broad classification of these deposits is proposed.Exploration in the sulphide belt was started on the basis of partial control of the area under mineral exploration concessions. This was necessary to justify operations in an area of difficult access and high operating costs. The results of this now-terminated arrangement are regarded as being of benefit to those directly concerned as well as to the mineral industry in general."

Jan 1, 1966

By M. U. Oko

"Monitoring of all the waste streams from Falconbridge's Sudbury Operations to determine whether they meet the required standards, has been performed for many years. By 1969, however, the number of samples being collected had become so large that a complete revision of the existing systemwas necessary. Sites previously designated by name only, were numbered, clearly marked on the ground and on maps which were circulated to all concerned. The types of pollutants analyzed were determined and specified for each sampling location and a chemical analysis report form was designed. The sampling schedule has been computerized to produce a periodic listing of the samples to be taken and the analyses required.An area map showing sampling sites, chemical analysis report form, spill report and a computer print-out example are shown and explained.EVOLUTION OF FALCONBRIDGE'S WASTEWATER. MANAGMENT SYSTEMFalconbridge Nickel Mines employs some 4500 people, operates nine mines, four mills and a smelter in the Sudbury basin. The operations are geographically fragmented into four widely separated locations, the Falconbridge operations east of Sudbury and the Onaping operations in Levack Township being the two largest of the four. The Lockerby area located to the west and the Lindsley Mine just north of Sudbury are now under development. The magnitude, the diversity and nature of the operations are such that constant vigilance is needed to prevent inadvertent damage to the environment. The purpose of this paper is to describe the information system used to monitor and control waste-water disposal on Falconbridge's properties to help ensure the maintenance of effluent standards satisfactory to the Ontario Water Resources Commission (OWRC) and to the Ontario Department of Health."

Jan 1, 1971

By M. E. Grimes

"The future of the uranium industry in Canada during the next twenty years will be very dependent on political and social issues on a world scale. Technology, as such, will tend to be of lesser importance. Nonetheless, some technical changes can be anticipated.This paper deals with milling of uranium ore, leaving further processing and nuclear power production to specialists in these fields. An attempt has been made to look at uranium production technology in Canada in relation to that in other countries, and to draw interference regarding future changes that seem probable in the Canadian context. In particular, recent advances in mill equipment are considered.The chemistry of uranium and its relatively low concentration in most ores has been responsible for a completely hydrometallurgical approach to mill processing, and this should continue. In spite of little commercial success to date, pre-concentration of lower grade ores will be researched further in order that these ores can compete with higher grade deposits in Canada.The discovery of the relatively high-grade ores of the Athabasksa region will undoubtedly influence choice of mill processes and equipment. The potential effect on innovations is discussed"

Jan 1, 1986

By E. W. Garner

THE greatest problem confronting business managers in modern times is not production, but distribution. It would be easy to expand productive output, but it is difficult to find markets for all that is produced. The fundamental source of economic difficulty, in the view of many observers, is a lack of proper balance between productive capacity and consumptive capacity. The studies conducted by the Brookings Institution on the general subject, "The Distribution of Income in Relation to Economic Progress", have led to conclusions of far-reaching significance, which may be summarized briefly as follows: (1) We have never lived beyond our economic means or capacity. (2) We have not been suffering from general overproduction. (3) We have not as yet reached a stage in our economic evolution at which it is possible to provide adequate standards of living for everybody. ( 4) It would require less than a 25 per cent increase in purchasing power among the masses to absorb our full productive capacity. (5) Production-curtailment programmes-whatever their merit in meeting temporary maladjustments-can only lead to national impoverishment. (6) Our inability to find markets adequate to absorb the full output of our productive establishments is explained by the unequal distribution of income and consequent restricted flow of purchasing power through consumptive channels. (7) The slow rate of growth of consumptive demand serves to retard the rate at which new capital is constructed, and hence the rate of economic progress. (8) The primary need is a rapidly expanding total income, and a broader diffusion of this income among the masses of the people. (9) A broader diffusion of income can best be achieved by reducing prices as rapidly as increasing efficiency will permit. That is to say, the benefits of technological progress, mass production, and low unit costs must be promptly passed on to consumers in the form of lower prices-giving more for each dollar.

Jan 1, 1936

By Arthur Barnes, Mika Muinonen, M. J. Lavigne

"The carbothermic reduction of chromite ore to produce high carbon ferrochromium is among the most energy intensive metal extraction processes performed, due not only to the highly endothermic nature of the reduction reactions but also the very high operating temperatures required for the smelting operation to separate the chrome-containing alloy from the discard slag.KWG Resources and XPS have collaborated over the last 3 years in developing a patented (Winter) processing alternative to the traditional smelting operation in which all processing takes place in the solid state at temperatures many hundreds of degrees lower than those required for liquid processing. Amongst the attractions of the process are much lower capital costs, as well as reduced operating costs, particularly of energy.A techno-economic study on the new process identifies a reduction in overall energy consumption of 70% against conventional processing and approximately 40% lower than the current best practice. By utilising more natural gas than coal based energy sources, the KWG process is able to show an overall 50% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions compared with the most energy efficient current practice. The impact of the new process on future processing is therefore regarded as highly significant, with global energy reductions equivalent to the effect of completely eliminating energy demand from a country the size of Italy.The study concluded that the potential for this process to completely revolutionise the global ferrochrome industry should not be underestimated. Its impact reaches far beyond exploitation of a regional natural resource."

Jan 1, 2015

By A. W. Jolliffee

ANY attempt to forecast the mineral resources of a largely unknown region is hazardous and, in the case of the Northwest Territories, such a task is even more hazardous than usual. This is not merely because of the immense territory involved (over a million and a quarter square miles), only a small fraction of which has ever been explored or prospected, but also be-cause both the geology and mineral deposits thus far examined show many unique features, and, finally, because the region is being actively prospected at the present time. However, in view of the present widespread interest in Canada's mineral resources, a brief compilation of what is known regarding mineral occurrences and geology in the explored parts of the far north seems timely. From these assembled data, a few inferences are warranted as to future mineral production from this region. HISTORY The story of mineral discovery in the Canadian northwest is a fascinating one. As well, it abundantly illustrates the importance of mineral occurrences in indicating future mining possibilities. The same sequence of events has repeated itself too often to be merely fortuitous.? In most cases, the dis-covery of a mineral deposit of possible economic value has been foreshadowed by the finding of the valuable mineral or an associated mineral in the same district, generally in small quantity, by an early explorer or traveller. Thus, John Franklin reported oil seepages from the base of Bear Rock, near Nor-man, at almost the very spot where oil was struck nearly one hundred years later. Again, some would-be Klondikers, deterred by the hardships of the route, remained to prospect around Great Slave lake, and were the first to report the Pine Point lead-zinc occurrences there and the gold-bearing veins on Yellowknife bay. Sporadic prospecting followed at the latter locality for over thirty years before the recent rich strikes were made. Similarly, in 1847, Dr. John Rae picked up a boulder of copper ore south of Rankin inlet, on Hudson bay. More than eighty years later, a body of copper-nickel sulphides carrying values in platinum metals was found at this locality. Also, the report of cobalt bloom on the east coast of Great Bear lake brought back by a Geological Survey of Canada party in 1900 was a factor in the events leading to the discovery of silver and radium there in 1930.

Jan 1, 1937

By Allan F. Lawrence

"I AM SURE you do not expect from me any learned dissertation on the problems and opportunities of the mining industry. Y our program committee must have recognized my limitations when issuing the invitation to speak to you, because they very thoughtfully left the subject wide open.With the leeway thus granted, I hope that you will bear with me for a few minutes while I try to clarify the impressions of the mining industry that I have gained in the very short time I have held the Mines portfolio and some of the parts that government bas or should have in furthering its development.As I see it, it is the duty of the Mines Department, as an arm of the provincial government, to balance the proprietary rights of all the people against the interests to whom the privilege of developing our resources are, in a s e n s e, leased. To strike a fair balance is not always easy, nor is it possible always to satisfy both sides. Still, under the free enterprise democratie form of government to which I think we al! subscribe, no better way of handling the problem has yet been discovered."

Jan 1, 1968

By John G. Ayttes

"The following is a review of the advance of raise boring and its current position. The viewpoint presented is that the mining industry, through its worldwide acceptance of raise boring, has acknowledged the success of the method in general. Acceptance, however, does not imply complete satisfaction with either the equipment or current operating costs. Therefore, a brief review of how boring costs are being r educed is presented, citing examples. Recent raise borer applications of special interest are presented to show adaptability of current equipment, and some special projects in the planning stage are highlighted."

Jan 1, 1972

By A. L. Irwin

THE problem of compensation for labour is probably the oldest and most complicated one in history. The wage that a man receives is possibly the most concrete thing he gets out of his job and, rightly or wrongly, is generally considered by him to be the most important item in connection with his daily work. How today workers in an equitable way has been the study of industrialists for many years, and a great number of ideas have been tried out in an effort to arrive at a reasonable solution of the question. The idea of establishing a measuring stick for various types of work has intrigued industrial management for a long time and, after considerable study, the principle of Job Evaluation has taken form unti1, at the present time, it is becoming increasingly useful to industry at large. Job evaluation is a plan which is used to determine the relative worth of occupations by means of arbitrary measuring scales. These scales are developed for individual industries and are generally 'tailor made' for each particular case. There are as yet no absolute methods of measuring the work done by human beings and, as a result, one has to depend on comparative values to arrive at conclusions. However, job evaluation has provided us with a basis of negotiation for wage rates which is more satisfactory than mere guess work or persona! opinion. It supplies a common ground for discussion which is understandable by all taking part and ensures that thinking with regard to wage setting is carried out along standard lines.

Jan 1, 1943

By McNeely DuBose

INTRODUCTORY PROSPECTING for aluminum has always been, and still is, a peculiar combination of the technical with the physical approach, and 1 want to explain my conception of the term 'prospecting' when applied to aluminum, which differs in some respects from the ordinarily accepted idea of prospecting. In the early days of gold mining, prospecting was a search in the hills and the river beds for the metal, not for its chemical combinations. And so it was in the early days of aluminum, with the difference that the search for the metal was carried on, not in the hills and dales, but in chemical laboratories. Aluminum is never found in the elemental state and at that time the metal bad never been seen, but scientists of that day bad forecast that such a metal must exist and in 1807 Sir Humphrey Davy went so far as to give this unseen metal a name, aluminum, from the Greek word alumen. This word applies to our alum, and it was from alum that Davy sought to produce the metal. It is strange to think that, in laboratories throughout England and on the continent, prospecting for aluminum was busily under way by men who had never seen the metal they were searching for. Their situation was something like that of the fisherman and the 'big one' that got away. They could describe the metal, give its exact weight, and even name it, but they could not produce visual evidence of its existence. Eventually, however, the efforts of the scientist 'prospectors' were rewarded and in 1826 the metal was actually produced, possibly first by Wohler, though Oerstedt, a Danish chemist, is usually credited with the achievement.

Jan 1, 1951

By R. K. Jonas

"Pressure leaching and pressure oxidation in autoclaves are important alternatives in the extractive processing of gold, copper and nickel ores. The application of advanced control to pressure leach and pressure oxidation autoclaves could achieve significant benefits as has been shown in alumina pressure leaching. This paper compares and contrasts alumina digestion autoclaves to other mining autoclaves with respect to advanced controls. The application of advanced control in alumina with over 30 units controlled worldwide, and its benefits will be reviewed. The design and potential benefits from advanced control for pressure oxidation and leaching will be presented.INTRODUCTIONIt is this author's position and the purpose of this paper to propose that advanced control could be effectively applied to autoclaves in the nickel, gold, and copper mining processes. This is based on the proven effectiveness of advanced control on autoclaves used in the alumina industry for pressure leaching of bauxite ores. Incremental, but significant increases in production could be realized by applying advanced control to autoclaves, as evidenced by the alumina industry, and this not being implemented in other autoclaves in the mining industry.In addition, today the mining industry is being challenged to improve their production methods. In some markets like nickel, there is pressure to improve productivity and reduce the cash cost per ton. While in other markets like copper and gold, demand is vigorous with favourable pricing, and there are advantages to increase production and productivity given limited plant capacity. Advanced control has proven its capability to improve mineral processing operations through increases in throughput, recovery, as well as reducing variability. In today's mines, autoclaves are being used to a much larger scale and with much larger importance, thus it would be beneficial to improve operational performance through the use of advanced control.Accordingly, it is the author supposition that an opportunity exists in the mining industry to use a proven advanced control technology to improve the operations and financial performance of mines using autoclaves."

Jan 1, 2012

By Sophia Wong

Nickel is used in a wide variety of applications from consumer goods to industrial uses. In many of these uses, nickel contributes to the environmental attributes of the product. The challenge, however, is measuring that contribution, comparing it to the environmental cost of production, and communicating the role of nickel to the customer in a way that is easy to understand. This paper presents the Nickel Institute?s approach to climate change as a global commodity industry association, and discusses where we stand with regard to some of these key questions. It also identifies issues for the nickel industry moving forward ? challenges that are likely to be common to other commodities.

May 1, 2009