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By J. Mackintosh Bell

External trade strongly influences the well being of all nations. In the modern economic mechanism, no country is so well endowed that it has not to import commodities from others and to export its products in turn to make good its deficiencies, to rectify or improve its financial structure. From the standpoint of international commerce, Canada is strategically well placed. On the south she is bounded by the richest country in the world. On the east she faces the Atlantic, on the west the Pacific. On both coasts there are fine harbours to which lead great lines of railway that span the continent. Canada is now fifth among the exporting nations of the world. For disposal abroad, she has enormous quantities of primary commodities and substantial amounts of manufactured goods as well. But she is far from being self-sustaining. She is unusually dependent on foreign trade, not only because of the commodities she has to sell but because of the lack of many essential articles she does not or cannot produce. To Canada, external commerce is vastly more important than internal trade. The wealth of nations is decided by their ability to produce more than they need, to sell more than they buy, and to build up favourable balances resulting from trade or services. With few countries, however, are returns perennially satisfactory. Fruitful periods are followed by leaner years. In times of prosperity foreign credits are increased, monetary systems strengthened, reserves accumulated to withstand recurring days of strain. Today, the foundations of financial systems are being re-examined, "dogmas hitherto accepted as canonical are being questioned" . It is not only in Europe and America that men search for illumination in problems arising from monetary restrictions.

Jan 1, 1933

By P. Cheung, J. Gulyas, R. Clary

Over the past 50 years, the use of autoclaves in the metallurgical industry has evolved from final metal recovery (hydrogen reduction) and purification (sulphide precipitate oxidation) to treating whole ores and concentrates. Recent process developments, such as the use of autoclaves for laterite leaching, have necessitated higher temperature and pressure operations, which in turn have seen marked advancements in technology and manufacturing capabilities to keep in step with process demands. This paper will discuss the advances in technology in terms of design, materials and construction of autoclaves and liners, typical dip tube design and geometric layout. This paper will also address specific auxiliary equipment, such as acid and steam injection systems, and components, such as agitator seal systems.

Jan 1, 2004

By Jacque Trottier, Marcel Vallée, Gratien Gélinas

"Mineral exploration in Canada traditionally has gone from boom to bust in cyclical pat-terns following market and discovery cycles, but other endemic factors related to exploration financing and performance have contributed to the amplitude and recurrence of these fluctuations. In view of these problems, junior exploration is reviewed here in a marketing perspective, looking at the 4 Ps: Product, Price, Placement and Promotion.In the 1980s, MEDA incentives gave the shares of junior and mining companies significant price and promotion advantages, and contributed to excessive exploration funding. Many were thus led to minimize the basic values needed for continued investor interest: appropriate levels of product quality, sustained share value and customer satisfaction. Basic changes are needed to improve the marketing of junior mineral exploration in the future, with or without improved fiscal incentives. To be successful, the required improvements must come from the technical participants, but the financial partners also need to be involved.Exploration in Canada must be marketed with vigour, both in Canada and internationally. Exploration, mine development and mine production are essential to our economy. They are environmentally acceptable and they are welcome in Quebec and in most Canadian provinces and territories. Canadian exploration and mining are entrepreneurial industries that must take better advantage of their strengths and achievements and remove the shortcomings that hinder them: nobody can do it for them!"

Jan 1, 1996

By Andrew Matyas

"During the summer of 1968, the author was employed in the Research Department of Dominion Foundries and Steel, Limited, Hamilton, Ontario. Over the years, Dofasco has been conducting a program for developing more efficient control of its basic oxygen steelmaking process. The author was thus able to obtain a variety of viewpoints from both research engineers and furnace operators. He also had access to extensive literature dealing with BOF control schemes underway at other major steel producers. This paper describes the present state of developments in BOF steelmaking control.The necessity for efficient BOF control is pointed out. To appreciate the variables to be controlled, a brief outline of process fundamentals is included. Technical aspects of present methods of practical control are examined in detail; the relative merits of dynamic over static control models are emphasized. Finally, it is shown how an effective dymic-optimizing control scheme serves as the basis for closed-loop computer control of the process."

Jan 1, 1970

By Primak. George J.

"In the development of a new product as well as during its introduction on the market, it is very important to give due consideration to problems involving patents, licenses and trade marks. At the very beginning of the research and development program, it is obviously essential to ascertain, through a suitable patent search, that the product in question will not infringe any patents which are still in force. Then, a possibility of achieving one's own patent or proprietary position on the product or the process of its manufacture should be carefully explored. Licensing arrangements that one may reach with respect to patents and know-how covering such new product may, in the final analysis, determine its over-all success or failure. If one can count on licensing revenues or some favourable cross-licensing arrangements with respect to a newly developed product, this may go a long way to achieving profitability and success. The selection of a good trade mark is probably one of the most important acts that one has to perform once the product is developed, as customers will identify the new product by such a trade mark. In many instances, successful marketing and widespread acceptance of a product are largely due to its appealing name or trade mark, accompanied by proper promotion and advertising. Once the trade mark has been adopted, it should be registered in the Trade Marks Office to provide the protection afforded by federal statute. If the product is to be manufactured, sold or licensed in some other countries, similar considerations should be made with regard to each such country."

Jan 1, 1973

By S. L. Chen

The Kumera Technology Center developed a unique type of steam dryer for drying copper concentrate in the mid 1990s. The dryer has been chosen in several copper smelter projects since 1999. To expand production capacities, the Norddeutsche Affinerie smelter, the Pirdop smelter of Cumerio, the Toyo smelter of Sumitomo Metal Mining and the Tamano smelter of Hibi Kyodo Smelting have carried out projects in which Kumera Steam Dryers were installed. The capacity of a single steam dryer varies from 70 t/h to 160 t/h. This article summarizes the latest operation results of the Kumera Steam Dryers in these smelters and introduces the progress of the ongoing projects in Yanggu Xiangguang Copper, Guixi smelter of Jiangxi Copper, Jinlong Copper, Boliden Harjavalta, and Onsan smelter of LS-Nikko Copper.

Jan 1, 2007

By Juliana Parreira

The past decade shows record increases in global demand for minerals and metals with an accompanying significant decline in skilled personnel. Mining companies today are examining new technologies to maximize production, reduce costs, and create safer work conditions to deal with this shortfall. Automation of an open-pit mine haulage system is receiving attention as a beneficial option since it provides more consistent and efficient operation of mining equipment, it removes workers from potential danger, it reduces fuel consumption significantly reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and it can help optimize vehicle repairs and equipment replacement because of more-predictable and better-controlled maintenance. This paper describes a simulation model under development using the EXTENDSIM software package to examine scale-up issues and constraints of autonomous vehicles in comparison to a manual system. The software can predict and manage Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), such as productivity, safety, cost, equipment failures, fuel consumption, and tire wear under different road and load conditions. By breaking-down the various systems of an autonomous haulage truck and simulating the overall haulage system using a Monte Carlo approach, the model becomes a flexible and powerful tool to use within a mining organization. Direct comparison to a manuallyrun system can be done to show the cost and operational benefits of automation. Project managers can use this tool to guide decision-making about possible application of autonomous haulage trucks at a specific mine site.

May 1, 2010

By C. S. Parsons

Introduction Up to the present, the operation of small mills for the treatment of gold ores has not been favoured in Canada to the extent that it has in other countries. For instance, a list of the operating properties in Southern Rhodesia, published in The Rhodesian Mining Journal of November, 1934, shows for the month of September, 1934, that there were over 500 small mills treating less than 50 tons per day, and the majority of these between 5 and 25 tons. They are operated by individuals, syndicates, and small mining companies. It is presumed that the operations are profitable, although from the published figures of the tonnages treated and the yields, it is difficult for one familiar with Canadian operations to understand how this can be possible, in the majority of cases. Most of these small mills employ stamps with plate amalgamation and with, occasionally, tables to produce a concentrate. Enquiries have been received from many parts of the world respecting milling practice suitable for small gold mines and the type of plant used in Canada. The tenor of these enquiries leaves the impression that the majority of the writers assume that the practice would be similar at all small properties. This, of course, is not the case. Conditions vary widely, and what would be a suitable mill for a typical Nova Scotia ore would not necessarily be wholly adaptable to many ores in Ontario, Quebec, or British Columbia. This paper has been written with the intention of inviting discussion, and it is hoped that, by such discussion, the subject will be more fully dealt with than has been possible in the time at the disposal of the writer. Only more or less standard principles and practices have been dealt with, and, purposely, no reference has been made to plants using mills of the Hadsel, the Nutt, or the Gibson type. As there is available but little reliable information on the costs of installation and operation of small mills, it is also hoped that those contributing to the discussion of milling practices for small mines will be in a position to give these data for the benefit of those contemplating the erection of small plants in Canada. Although it is difficult to generalize, it can be said that there are three types of gold mills commonly used at small mines: (1) Amalgamation and Gravity Concentration; (2) Amalgamation and Flotation; and (3) Cyanidation.

Jan 1, 1935

By J. Visman

"SummaryThis paper is presented as part of a programme to show the steps taken by industry and others interested in supplying a solid fuel of constant quality to 'satisfy a consuming market. The paper deals with the general principles underlying quality control in coal preparation plants, namely, constant quality and close adherance to acceptance limits. It also describes how control of ash content is ""generally hampered by the problem of coal sampling .and the long duration of the ash analysis and how these difficulties may be overcome.Quality control can be effected in several ways. Thorough blending wll reduce variations appreciably, except those of long trend. The latter can be detected by automatic sampling and quick ash analysis. At present, under favourable conditions, a system of half-hourly ash determinations with an accuracy of 0.5 to 1.0 per cent can be realized, to the effect that trends with a 'wave length' of more than two hours cu be eliminated within the limits of accuracy of the ash figures. The general solution of the problem is a combination of blending, accurate sampling, quick ash determination, and statistical analysis of the pattern of ash distribution.The use of statistical methods of analysis, such as the t test and F test, is •discussed at some length in order to emphasize the importance of the correct evaluation of observational data if there is to be confidence in the validity of test results.General ConsiderationsCOAL, as a fuel, is too cheap for a long haul across the country. The limiting distance depends on the price of the local competitive fuels, and, as the price depends to a great extent on quality, so does quality, to the same extent, command the market."

Jan 1, 1952

By K. Turgeon, D. Larivière, L. Whitty-Léveillé, J. -F. Boulanger, C. Bazin

"The processing of ore containing rare earth elements leads to the production of an impure solution of these elements. The separation of the rare earths from the impurities and the production of individual elements is usually carried out by solvent extraction. The effectiveness of the extraction conditions and of the reagents is generally tested in the laboratory. This paper deals with the processing of results from solvent extraction laboratory tests planned to generate data redundancy. A method is proposed to take advantage of the data redundancy by accounting for the pH variation during the extraction. The parallel processing of several tests also allows estimating the equilibrium constants for the extraction. The proposed method produces equilibrium constants that are more reproducible than values estimated using conventional approaches. The method is illustrated with solvent extraction tests conducted on synthetic solutions of rare earth elements.INTRODUCTIONThe processing of ores containing rare earth elements (REE) usually includes the production of a concentrate of the minerals carrying the REE. These minerals, for instance monazite and bastnäsite, contain the 14 elements from La to Lu plus yttrium and scandium. As an example monazite has the general formula of (La,Ce,Pr,Nd,Sm,Eu,Gd,Tb,Dy…Lu)PO4 with a typical lanthanum content of 20-26%, cerium content of 40-50%, praseodymium of 4-6%, neodymium of 16 to 20%, and decreasing concentrations of heavier elements (Gupta & Krishnamurthy, 2005). During the processing of a REE mineral, it is generally not possible to isolate and separate a single REE from all the rest. The mineral molecules need to be broken (usually via a heat treatment followed by leaching with a base and/or an acid) to produce an aqueous solution of the REE of the ore. After purification of the solution, the REE can be precipitated as a bulk concentrate and sold to a refinery that separates the REE into particular groups of REE such as the light versus heavy REE or into individual elements such as lanthanum, neodymium, or europium oxides to yield value-added products."

Jan 1, 2016

By B. K. Gorain

"As mining has evolved over a century, so are the challenges associated with mining. Mining of complex ore bodies at greater depths is a major challenge requiring high capital and operating costs due to remote locations, high energy costs, water quality and complex environmental issues. In addition, the stakeholder expectations are growing along with challenges associated with highly complex mine permitting processes and changing demographics of mining jurisdictions. The dynamic metals market adds to these challenges impacting the long term development and sustainability of mining projects.These challenges are compelling mining companies to look at various innovations with an integrated approach focusing on meeting the needs of various stakeholders. Mining companies are slowly tapping into some successful concepts that have transformed other industries such as manufacturing, chemical, pharmaceuticals along with oil and gas.This paper provides an overview of various innovations and technology developments in mineral processing that have shaped the current mining industry. A glimpse of the present and future challenges in mining is also presented. An integrated approach to problem solving involving various stakeholders is gaining momentum and this has been reflected in this paper. Various developments that are being pursed in mineral processing focusing on a change in the existing mining paradigm are also presented in this paper.INTRODUCTIONAs mining is evolving, so are the challenges associated with mining. Some of the key challenges are complex ore bodies at greater depths, high capital and operating costs, water scarcity and quality issues, high energy costs, complex environmental issues including tailings management, worldwide constraints on resource availability, more and more elaborated regulations in emerging economies impacting the permitting processes, increasing stakeholder expectations, changing demographics of mining operations with ever-changing cultural or community expectations and the urgent need for a better assessment of project viability, this in very dynamic metals markets impacting the dynamics of mining projects development and sustainability."

Jan 1, 2016

By L H. Warren

The types of equipment available for generating a plasma have been reviewed. The efficiency and potential of the plasma generating equipment used in performing extractive metallurgical reactions have been determined. A general classification of the reactions that might be per-formed in a plasma has been proposed. Experimental work done on extractive metallurgical plasma reactions, heat transfer between the plasma and solids, and the quench of the products of plasma reaction has been summarized. From the preliminary results it appears that the high-intensity are or the transpiration-cooled anode plasma torch offer the most promising areas for further research. C ONSIDERABLE world-wide research effort is currently being devoted to the development of processing technologies which employ the new high-temperature generating devices that have appeared over the past few years. The plasma flames produced by these devices offer the potential for subjecting materials to any single gas or mixture of gases at temperatures up to 20,000°K. With these conditions available, many reactions in extractive metallurgy,

Jan 1, 1965

By A. Carbonari

In order to gain competitiveness and compete at a global level, construction companies should improve their efficiency. The problem is even more relevant in the construction field, whose work processes find it hard to evolve towards new automated methods and techniques in the management field. For that reason, this paper suggests how construction companies could apply new technologies to implement automated management of environmental hazards. Based on a survey regarding the environmental risks presently experienced in construction sites, noise and dust were considered two of the main hazards. So in this paper a networked system for real time remote monitoring of the spatial distribution of dust in construction sites was developed. Such a system would relieve builders from the commitment of on-site surveys, allowing for a continuous monitoring of the site conditions and of the real exposure of each worker and pass-by to the pollutants generated by construction works. The main system requirements considered are: easy to deploy, reliable, as accurate as needed to be able to send real-time warnings and store a good estimation of the real exposure to which involved people have been subject to. So far the research produced a prototypical hardware for dust monitoring made up of wireless sensors which can be easily deployed on site. The sensors were calibrated by means of laboratory tests, where their measurements were compared with those collected by means of highly accurate instruments, which were taken as a reference. Thanks to these experiments, calibration curves for the sensors were worked out, showing also the measurement range of the sensors.

Aug 1, 2013

By Owen Matthews

Introduction For the past year and a half, the mill of Cochenour Willans Gold Mines, Limited, McKenzie Island, Ontario has been roasting arsenopyrite-gold concentrates, prior to cyanidation, by means of a roaster employing techniques that are new and novel. The roaster is known as the Dorrco 'fluo-solids reactor', and the technique as 'fluidization'. The reactor has demonstrated its ability to roast a flotation concentrate containing arsenopyrite, pyrite, stibnite, small quantities of other sulphides, and some lime silicates and carbonates, yielding a calcine consisting mainly of porous iron oxide, plus the gold values. This calcine is readily amenable to cyanidation. Bulk shipments of concentrates to a distant custom smelter, as practised prior to this installation, has thus been eliminated, with appreciable savings in smelting charges, freight costs, and interest losses during shipment and smelting. This is the pioneer installation of fluo-solids roasting at a Canadian mill and up to the present performance results have not been published. It is the purpose of this paper to present the information now available for the benefit of other millmen who may be confronted with identical or similar problems to those encountered and solved at Cochenour Willans.

Jan 1, 1949

By W. A. Lang

Introduction That the coal industry has entered a new phase in its development is now evident. Coal, besides being the chief source of heat and power, has become a potential raw material for many industries. Rapid progress has been made in the methods used in the mining and preparation of coal, and in the equipment for the burning of coal. Data of a fundamental nature relating to the composition of coal and to its transformations? during combustion and processing have also been revealed. Research, the key which has opened this new era, has already accomplished much, but it has only begun to show what it may and should be able to do. New developments of coal burning equipment, super-power plants, carbonizing and briquetting plants, hydrogenation and synthetic chemical processes, will undoubtedly have a marked influence in the post-war years on the economic welfare of many coal producing countries. Until comparatively recently, however, there has been in many branches of the coal industry a tendency to regard research as something abstruse and something which had little or no value to those managing such branches. But the fact that coal has suffered as a source of heat and energy through inroads of oil, natural gas, and water power, has made it plain to the industry that, if it is to maintain its present markets in this competitive world, much less increase them, the whole industry must be willing to follow the example of other industries and plan for the future.

Jan 1, 1946

By John Plecash

This paper comprises a general outline of all of the developments, including the history, geology, mining, milling, power and transportation installations, at the gold mining operation of La Luz Mines Limited and the copper mining operation of its wholly-owned subsidiary, Rosita Mines Limited, both located in north-central Nicaragua. The low-grade, gold-bearing ore-bodies of La Luz Mines, contained in highly fractured and folded Lower Cretaceous sedimentary rocks, were from 1909 to 1928, mined and treated by primitive methods by the La Luz and Los Angeles Mining Company. The abandoned property was acquired by La Luz Mines Limited in 1936, and was equipped with modern machinery and put into production in 1939. Between 1939 and 1948, the daily rate of production was in-creased from 300 tons per day to 2,-000 ton per day. The ore reserves available for open-pit mining were depleted in 1954. Since then, the entire production has come from under-ground operations.

Jan 1, 1963

By W. M. Armstrong

This paper compares research on development efforts in various countries, consideration being given to gross expenditures, manpower involved, source of funds, sector of performance and type of activity. The Canadian R & D activity is then reviewed, particularly as applied to the industrial sector, the problems of applied research in Canada are discussed and some remedies are suggested.

Jan 1, 1968

By T. Orser

In 2010 Newmont made the decision to purchase a 42 foot (ft) Semi-Autogenous Grinding (SAG) mill from Metso and a 28 Mega-Watt (MW) Gearless Mill Drive (GMD) from ABB for the Conga Project in Peru. The test and study work showed that a single line 42 ft SAG mill circuit gave the most favorable project economics in comparison to an equivalently powered single line 40 ft SAG mill circuit. This paper does not address the process design or the project economics, but instead focuses on the key aspects of the SAG mill design, GMD design and the associated component manufacturing. This paper also addresses, where applicable, the potential reliability differences between the initially proposed 40 ft SAG mill and the finally accepted 42 ft SAG mill.

Jan 1, 2012

By E. L. Martheleur

The use of electricity in coal mines dates almost from the time when it was realized chat it could be used to produce mechanical power. The first motor put in service underground was installed to drive a small pump nearly 40 years ago, and since then the use of electricity in mines has reached an extent undreamed of at that time. We now find its universal adoption in all the mining countries of the world. Great progress has been made in the development of mining electrical apparatus in the last decade, and excellent and adequate material is now available for the use of electricity underground. Although mining accidents, due to the use of electricity, are not frequent, the miner is justified in demanding chat all electrical apparatus for installation below ground be constructed with a greater degree of safety than that used on the surface. That this view is shared by the authorities of the different mining countries is evidenced by governmental regulations relative to the use, erection, and maintenance of electrical apparatus below ground. Those with which we are specially concerned are the regulations for the installation and use of electricity in the coal mines of Nova Scotia. The potential dangers of electricity in coal mines are: Shock or burns by contact from live parts. Shock or burns by contact with parts which, although normally dead, have become accidentally alive. Fire. Explosion of gas or coal-dust Explosion of apparatus.

Jan 1, 1928

By Brian Raymond

This paper will outline the problems and solutions of the new generation washeries, as well as the recent technological advances which are being considered for future coal preparation plants. The subjects to be covered will include: - reasons for considering coal preparation plants; - raw coal crushing and handling systems; - types of coal cleaning equipment being used versus new equipment being considered; - fine coal circuit sizing; - clean coal centrifuging and dewatering; - thermal dryer problems and changes; - fine refuse dewatering systems; - clean coal storage problems and changes; - materials handling within the plants; and - control systems for preparation plants. The design and integration of the various circuits that form a modern coal preparation plant have led to the creation of an exciting new field of industrial research. As the need for energy sources increases, efficient methods of preparing coals for specific markets will become more important.

Jan 1, 1979