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By A. Suzue, T. H. Okabe, Y. Taninouchi

Methods for the physical separation and enrichment of platinum group metals (PGMs) from autocatalyst scrap were studied in order to develop an environmentally friendly and efficient recycling process. In general, an autocatalyst has a honeycomb-structured ceramic substrate that is coated with a catalyst layer containing platinum (Pt), palladium (Pd), and rhodium (Rh). Therefore, physical separation of the PGM-containing catalyst layer directly from the ceramic substrate is favorable for upgrading the autocatalyst scrap. In this paper, the authors present a scrap-upgrade process consisting of electroless iron plating and magnetic separation techniques. Iron was plated on the surface of a catalyst sample used to represent an autocatalyst, which was then crushed and magnetically separated. The Pd in the catalyst sample was successfully extracted and concentrated in the magnetic powder. Under certain conditions, the process increased the Pd concentration by a factor of 4 and recovered 89% of the Pd in the autocatalyst sample.

Jan 1, 2014

By Norman Lecuyer, Jacque Nantel

"The Chadbourne Project, located within the limits of the town of Noranda, Quebec, will make use of backfill materials to fill the voids left by the mining of stopes and pillars. A series of tests were conducted on different mixtures of slag and pyrrhotite tailings materials to evaluate their properties. The tests are described and some pertinent results are given in the paper.IntroductionThe Chadbourne Project is located in the centre of the Town of Noranda, Quebec, with houses as close as 120 m from the blasting operations. The ore is mined using the vertical crater retreat method. The voids left by mining activities will be filled. A program of pillar recovery will follow.Considering the proximity of houses and the need to recover pillars, the backfill program must be carefully laid out. No subsidence can be tolerated on surface.With these objectives in mind, a test program was undertaken by Nantar Engineering Limited and Queen's University to evaluate the possible ba ckfilling alternatives available to Chadbourne. One of the possibilities retained was the use of a backfill composed of broken slag material from the Horne Smelter and pyrrhotite tailings deposited on the Horne's pond a number of years previously.The back fill used at the Horne Mine until the mine closed in 1975 was composed of a mixture of 97% granulated slag and 3% pyrrhotite tailings. The tests leading to its use underground at the Horne Mine were described by Patton in 1952. The structural properties of the Horne backfill were ""intuitively"" known; it was agreed by all at the Horne Mine that the backfill was behaving remarkably well. Some were labeling it ""the best backfilling material in the world"". Its strength was said to be that of a weak concrete. All of the preceding indicate that the Horne backfill had never had its structural and other properties determined in the laboratory."

Jan 1, 1983

By N. Dahata

B206 aluminum?copper alloy has a potential for wider use in the automotive industry due to its light weight and relatively superior mechanical properties as compared to aluminum-silicon alloys. The possibility of casting this alloy via Lost Foam Casting (LFC) has not been investigated in detail. Therefore, the effects of foam types (T170B standard untreated EPS and T175-brominated EPS), coating types (Styro Shield 5553 and Styro Shield 5554), copper level (4.5 wt % and 5.0 wt %) and titanium levels (0.5 wt % and 0.25 wt %) were related to fillability, microstructure and microporosity. The metal velocity in T175 EPS pattern was higher than that in T170B EPS pattern. For T175 EPS pattern, the total solidification time was 3% higher and the loss of temperature for decomposition of EPS was lower than those in the case of T170B EPS pattern. The grain size, porosity level and maximum pore size were quantified using Light Optical Microscopy (LOM) and image analysis. The casting with T175 EPS pattern showed larger grain size relative to that with T170B EPS pattern. The porosity level and the maximum pore size decreased significantly when the titanium level was increased from 0.05 wt % to 0.25 wt %.

Jan 1, 2007

By Marco Lombard, Paulus Kapolo, Christopher J. Greet

"The conversion of a concentrator from one grinding media type to another is a major undertaking in terms of both financial and technical risk. So, a strategy of completing sufficient laboratory and field tests to mitigate this risk, and give the operation confidence that advancing to plant trial will give a high probability for success.The objectives of this paper are twofold: to provide the reader with a strategy for mitigating risk prior to undertaking a plant trial; and to provide a statistical basis for analysing plant trial data. That is, when employing an electrochemically inert grinding media in the primary grinding circuit it is possible to change the pulp chemistry of the system and improve the metallurgical response of the ore.This paper tracks the changes in pulp chemistry and metallurgical performance of Rosh Pinah Zinc Corporation’s silver/lead/zinc concentrator as the primary ball mill was converted from forged steel grinding media to high chrome grinding media. The changed in metallurgical performance are correlated to the shift in pulp chemistry.INTRODUCTIONTheoryBruckard et al (2011) recently published an article describe the effect of the grinding environment on the flotation of copper sulphides. While this paper confined its discussion to copper sulphides the arguments presented apply equally to other sulphide mineral systems. Broadly, these studies indicate that most sulphide minerals are more noble than the grinding media used during comminution. Therefore, the sulphide minerals are cathodic with respect to the forged steel grinding media, and the following reactions apply:Cathode (sulphide mineral): ½O2 + H2O + 2e- ? 2OH- (1)Anode (grinding media): Fe ? Fe2+ + 2e- (2)A galvanic couple between the grinding media and the sulphide mineral(s) exists, which increases the corrosion rate of the forged steel media. The corrosion products of the grinding media, iron oxy-hydroxide species, invariably precipitate on to the surfaces of the sulphide minerals thereby affecting their floatability (Johnson, 2002).The application of more electrochemically inert grinding media to “real” ore systems at an industrial level to improve metallurgical performance has not gained universal acceptance. The aim of this paper is to provide a protocol for conducting laboratory and plant test work that clearly demonstrate that metallurgical benefits are not only possible, but measureable, by way of example. In this case, the work conducted at Rosh Pinah Zinc Corporation in Namibia is described."

Jan 1, 2013

By James F. Archibald, H. Jame Hackwood

"Research was performed to assess the feasibility of barrier membrane substances, for use within mining or associated high risk environments, in restricting the diffusion transport of radon gas. Specific tests were conducted, both within laboratory and in situ environments, to determine radon gas concentration ratios across a barrier of interest and emanation rate variation resulting from application of such materials. Several materials have been demonstrated to be effective in restricting the emanation of radon gas into initially radon-free environments. One liquid material shows particularly good promise upon consideration of ideal radon barrier criteria.IntroductionIt has long been known (I.2.3) that inhalation of the short-lived, alpha particle-emitting daughters of radon gas can result in irradiation of lung tissue with the potential for causing lung cancer. Control measures are necessary to maintain concentrations of airborne contamination at a minimum to protect miner health and safety. Typical control practices in mines have been through the application of systematic ventilation and backfilling of excavated opening. As mines become deeper, however, and additional workings become exposed, increased ventilation capacity requirements are needed. As an alternative to other radiation control measures, the use of sealants to prevent radon migration from walls into mine atmospheres may provide a suitable engineering alternative."

Jan 1, 1987

By J. Coffin, M. Muinonen, D. Fragomeni, R. Multani, C. Deredin

"Rejection of pyrrhotite from pentlandite is of critical importance to the economics of nickel concentrate production and the main goal of the Strathcona milling operations. A joint team of XPS, Glencore Technology and Strathcona Mill personnel executed a comprehensive program of work to develop and implement strategies for increased Po rejection with focus on challenging ores containing high feed Po/Pn ratios (> 7) and significant hexagonal Po content (> 40% of total Po). This paper describes the team results including minerology, bench-scale flotation tests, and plant validation tests and modeling that have defined the path forward to improving the metallurgical performance and economics of the mill operation. Techniques to quantify hexagonal and monoclinic pyrrhotites were developed at XPS to assess the differences in their metallurgical behavior since their flotation responses are quite different. Mineralogical tools including QEMScan were extensively used to determine mineral liberation, associations, optimum grind size, and nickel deportment into pentlandite, pyrrhotite and non-sulphide gangue. Several reagents/strategies were evaluated during bench-scale flotation testing to significantly increase Po rejection. A significant shift in the Po-Pn selectivity and grade recovery curves was achieved using several strategies including the use of DETA and sodium metabisulfite, and regrind of the rougher concentrate and rougher cleaner/rougher tails.INTRODUCTION The Strathcona Mill is owned and operated by Glencore Nickel – Sudbury Integrated Nickel Operations and has been processing Ni-Cu ores from the Sudbury Basin since 1968 (valuable sulphides: pentlandite (Pn) – (Ni,Fe)9S8 and chalcopyrite (Cp) – CuFeS2). Currently Strathcona Mill receives ore mined from two main sources in the Sudbury area and produces two concentrate streams – a nickel-copper concentrate that is shipped to the Sudbury Smelter and a copper concentrate that is sent to the Fonderie Horne (Glencore Copper, Rouyn-Noranda). The general flowsheet currently used at Strathcona is displayed in Figure 1. It is highlighted by separate feed circuits for regular grade Ni ores and high grade copper ores. The copper circuit has a preflotation stage prior to a rougher-scavenger stage, a copper-nickel separation circuit, and a pyrrhotite (Po) rejection circuit."

Jan 1, 2018

By R. C. Rowe

THIS paper is an endeavour to analyse the ideal and practical functions of government technical mining services, and their relationship to the National Domain, as well as to one another. its spirit is not critical, even though at times it may appear to besoin fact. It is a serious effort to divert a trend in public thought which delights in calling itself practical whereas it is really merely short-sighted. The author refers particularly to the idea that governmental research is a luxury which should be curtailed in the interests of economy, and turned over to private enterprise or the provinces. In order that we obtain the proper perspective of the question, it is advisable to indulge in a little history. In the year 1842, the Geological Survey of Canada was formed under the guidance of William (later Sir William) Edmund Logan. The literature on the founding and history of the Geological Survey of Canada is extensive, and therefore it is unnecessary to go into detail here regarding it. It might be mentioned, however, that the Geological Survey of Canada is only seven years younger than the Geological Survey of Great Britain (founded in 1835), and is only exceeded in age on the American continent by the State Geological Surveys of New York, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and Michigan, which were founded between 1833 and 1836. In 1877, the Geological Survey became a permanent government institution as a branch of the Department of the Interior. It should be noted, however, that the Director of the Survey ranked as a Deputy Minister and reported direct to the Minister. This continued until 1907. In 1886, the Mineral Resources and Statistics Division of the Geological Survey was formed. Some years later, the Canadian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (then the Canadian Mining Institute), backed by the mining press, began to agitate for the establishment of a Dominion Department of Mines, and in 1907 such a department was founded by the Geology and Mines Act of that year, with a separate Cabinet portfolio for the position of Minister of Mines.

Jan 1, 1939

By J. Gao, H. O. Gekonde, S. V. Subramanian

"The functional role of inclusions at low cutting speeds is to promote ductile fracture in chip formation process, whereas the role of inclusions at high cutting speeds is to prevent tool crater wear by suppressing the tribological phenomenon of seizure at the tool-chip interface. Glassy oxide inclusions are engineered into the workpiece to form a viscous layer in-situ at the tool-chip interface at high cutting speeds. The viscous layer lubricates the tool-chip interface to prevent the seizure. In comparison with the large volume fraction of inclusions needed for promoting ductile fracture at low cutting speeds, the amount of inclusions required for lubricating the toolchip interface at high cutting speeds is very small and is in the range that is typical of clean steels. The chip fracture process at high cutting speeds is aided by strain rate hardening of the matrix, which facilitates chip disposal of relatively clean steel.Inclusion engineering for high speed machining involves the control of the rheology and composition of inclusions to meet target viscosity at the tool-chip interface. The application of thermodynamic models in controlled production of inclusions in steels designed for high speed machining is discussed."

Jan 1, 1998

By Corby G. Anderson

"Laboratory testing using industrial electrowinning solutions was performed to determine the best Faradic cell efficiency for copper cathode recovery. The variables tested were solution flow rate, recycle ratio, reagent addition combinations of guar and thiourea, and addition amount of acid mist suppressant CAL FAX DBA-70. The ideal flow rate was determined to be 37.85 litre/min. Additionally, the ideal recycle ratio was determined to be 10:1. The reagent addition scheme from testing which showed the highest efficiency was with 680 g/tonne guar of cathode copper won and with 135 g/tonne thiourea of cathode copper won. These values for reagent addition only reflect the best efficiency and should not be assumed to be the best reagent concentration for copper purity. The amount of foaming agent that showed the best efficiency was the test with 2 ppm of foaming agent. Again this amount of reagent is based on efficiency and should not be taken as the amount of reagent that does the best acid mist suppression. Additional proprietary surface characterization work indicates these additives may have enhanced the cathodic reduction surface morphology of some noble minor impurities. Subsequently, these operating parameters were introduced into the plant operation and proved successful after their implementation.BACKGROUNDCopper electrowinning has become a dominant technology for the production of marketable high grade copper cathode products. The literature is robust with applications, optimizations, additives and developments in this field (e.g., Classens & Harris, 1990; Pfalzgraff, 1999; Tozawa, Su, & Umetsu, 2003; San Martin, Otero, & Cruz, 2005; Houlachi, Edwards, & Robinson, 2007; Romero, Avila, Fester, & Yacher, 2007; Marsden, 2008; Beukes & Badenhorst, 2009; Vainio & Weatherseed 2009; Bender, 2010; Joy, Staley, Moats, Perkins, Uhrie, & Robinson, 2010; Khouraibchia & Moats, 2010; Moats, 2010; Rutledge & Anderson, 2015).Tests of forty hours duration and at room temperature were performed for this project using samples of actual industrial electrowinning solutions. These industrial solutions were comprised of 60 g/L Cu plus 65 g/L Ni, 3 g/L Fe, and 30 g/L free sulfuric acid. Other confidential minor impurities were also present including some solubilized precious metals. The testing apparatus utilizing stainless steel anodes and cathodes is illustrated in Figures 1 and 2."

Jan 1, 2016

By Victor F. Hollister, Robert W. Hodder

"The petrology and mineralogy of porphyry copper deposits are thoroughly described in recent literature and cited as the definitive characteristics for this type of deposit. The magmatic-hydrothermal aspect of genesis is also dealt with in detail. However, descriptions of their internal structure and regional setting are not as rigorous, and the genesis of this structure is simply stated as the release of high fluid pressures in a cooling magma emplaced along large fault zones. Genetic relationships between internal structure, regional setting and the tectonic evolution of continents has been alluded to infrequently in the past, but can now be considered together within the developing concept of orogeny at the margins of drifting crustal plates.Tensional structures, on both local and regional scale, and a Triassic to Tertiary age are described for porphyry copper deposits. We contend that such structure and age are distinct and unifying characteristics for this type of deposit and are genetically related to major crustal movements. British Columbia has porphyry copper deposits contemporaneous with plutons 180 to 200 million years old and 40 to 60 million years old. The former age group correlates with early stages of the continent's westward drift, and the latter group with a change in tectonic style during late development of the Canadian Cordillera. Hence, one can in British Columbia reflect on the genesis of a deposit's structure in the broader context of tectonic evolution. Such consideration should lead to more definitive criteria for area selection in exploration."

Jan 1, 1972

By F. Y. Hsiao, H. C. Kao

Underground excavation in hard rock is normally stable at shallow depth except for wedge failure. However, the excavation depth is rapidly increasing recently. In high overburden stress condition, the integrity of rock would be destroyed with degrading rock strength. Therefore, understanding both the peak and the post-peak strengths of hard rock are necessary to assess the tunnel stability at depths. The characteristic of the post-peak strength is seldom studied in Taiwan in the past. Various estimation methods for the post-peak strength degradation were briefly reviewed in the paper. Based on the Geological Strength Index (GSI) system is widely used in the determination of the rock mass strength, the quantitative residual GSI system was adopted to estimate the possible strength degradation for a hydraulic tunnel in Taiwan. The Mohr-Coulomb model (no strength degradation) and the post-peak strength degradation model (strain softening model) were used to simulate the excavation of the case tunnel at different depths. The analyses demonstrate that the tunnel is in stable condition at 600m of depth. And the effect of the postpeak strength degradation on tunnel deformation is progressively significant with increasing tunnel depth. Approximate 3-5 times of increase in crown settlement and horizontal convergence would occur when post-peak strength degradation are considered at 2400m of depth. Severe tunnel deformation may endanger the tunnel stability. Modeling results reveal that the post-peak strength degradation has a great effect on tunnel stability under high overburden stress condition, which should not neglect in deep tunnel design.

Jan 1, 2015

By S. Bergquist

In this paper, it is investigated how different types of automation would affect the safety for workers in asphalt paving. The risk for the workers on road construction sites is consistently high in comparison to the average risk of the working population. Automation has been suggested as an alternative for improving the safety in roadside construction assuming that removing workers will inherently eliminate the risk of them being injured. In this paper, the potential for improving the safety using automation is analyzed in detail. By investigating accident statistics and understanding the type of accidents that appear, several different automated functions for increased safety are proposed and described. Based on available statistics, it is possible to estimate the safety benefit, as the reduction in fatalities, for several of the proposed functions. The highest safety benefit would be achieved by automating the road traffic driving through the work zones. This has the potential of reducing the total number of road worker fatalities with over 30 %. In addition, it would decrease the number of road traffic accidents in work zones. Automation of construction machinery and dump-trucks also has the potential to increase the safety.

Aug 1, 2013

By Nick Poushinsky

OVERVIEW OF PRESENTATION ?Stantec?s Northern Presence ?Challenges for Northern Development ?Environmental Approval Challenges ?History/Expectations ?Baseline Data ?Consultation ?Regulatory Processes ?Extra ?Regulatory ?Keys to Success

May 1, 2009

By J. D. Nye, I. A. Farr, W. J. D. Stone

"A unique deposit of barite exists near Brookfield, Nova Scotia. The crystals are extremely fine and the whole deposit virtually free of heavy metals. The deposit size was not large enough for conventional uses, such as the production of barium carbonate and drilling mud. In an effort to obtain maximum utilization, a program was begun to determine if U.S.P.-grade pharmaceutical barium sulphate for X-ray diagnosis could be produced. Early work was sufficiently encouraging to institute a development program under the federal Program for Advancement of Industrial Technology. This has been very successfully completed. Canadian and U.S. process patents have been issued, clinical trials have been successful, a production plant has been designed and the plant’s production sold. The processing plant will include magnetic separation for the removal of iron minerals, fine grinding by paddle milling to minus one micron and acid leaching. The process is unique in that at no time is the barium taken into solution.Information is given on the deposit, process, markets, use, plant capital and operating costs, and projected profits. The initial production plant will have an annual capacity of 2,000 tons per year of end product. Capital cost is $850,000 and annual turnover more than $1.5 million. As this capacity only represents approximately 15% of the North American market, rapid plant expansion is foreseen."

Jan 1, 1980

By Glenn Kosick, John Starkey, Glenn Dobby

"A practical new test has been developed for SAG hardness determination. Using two kilogram samples of minus one inch diamond drill core or crushed muck samples, the Starkey SAG Test has been shown to give accurate predictive information which directly relates to on-stream SAG mill performance. Typical results and test criteria are discussed in the paperAchievements to date include:• Identification of hardness profiles and the location of hard and soft zones in a large ore body.• Accurate prediction of the hardness of a bulk sample by using an adjacent diamond drill hole.• Derivation of a plotted curve relating pilot plant power to laboratory relative hardness.• Demonstration that for every test done to date, the Starkey SAG Test produced a product size distribution identical to that produced in a pilot plant or full scale plant SAG operation.This test can now be used for blast hardness monitoring and short term control of mine production in existing plants and for identifying the proper locations for bulk samples in new projects. In addition, new SAG mill design can now be rationalized in a low cost way to eliminate unforeseen production shortfalls.IntroductionThis paper is presented to introduce the Starkey SAG Test, a practical new laboratory tool for measuring the relative hardness of small ore samples in a semi-autogenous grinding (SAG) environment. The test was first designed for use on diamond drill core samples during the prefeasibility stage of new mining projects, to provide new information about the ore body at reasonable cost. It is a new tool and does not replace existing pilot plant test requirements.The test will also be useful for throughput prediction in existing SAG plants by assisting in short and long term mine planning, where forecasting of metal grades and milled tonnage is used to control mine profitability. Because in-plant hardness testing has previously been unavailable on small samples, this test offers exciting possibilities for SAG mill operations where hardness variation is or could be a problem.The Starkey SAG Test provides the following benefits to the mining industry"

Jan 1, 1994

By Oy Leuangthong

Red Dog mine is the world's largest Zn producer. The deposit consists of sulphide ore zones in sedimentary exhalative (sedex) deposits, and is characterized by the presence of multiple metals and multiple ore types. The objective of the case study is to characterize seven different minerals, Zn, Pb, Fe, Ba, sPb, Ag and TOC, within eight different rock types. Geostatistical models were constructed for each variable within the eight rock types, and subsequently assembled to give 40 realizations for six 25ft benches. The stepwise conditional transformation was used to account for the complex multivariate relations. In addition to reproducing the input data, histogram and variogram, the resulting models also respect multivariate relations locally and globally. This paper documents the methodology to construct these models. A thorough validation procedure was implemented. Comparisons with blasthole data show that the conditional simulations and the long-term models agree in expected value. The main advantages of the conditional simulations are (1) the explicit accounting of multivariate relations between the data in model construction, and (2) the ability to quantify variability and uncertainty at any scale. A small exercise comparing the profit from a kriged and a simulated model is also examined. Results show that the simulation approach showed a 3% increase in profit, relative to the conventional estimation approach.

May 1, 2004

By P. H. Riordon

ONE OF the major sources of the world's supply of asbestos lies in a belt of ultrabasic rocks stretching through the Eastern Townships of Quebec where chrysotile asbestos has been mined continuously since 1878. The productive portion of the belt extends from the town of Asbestos in Shipton town-ship northeastward some 60 miles to the eastern edge of Broughton town-ship. (See map). Twelve mines, currently treating an aggregate of over 60,000 tons of rock daily, produce more than one million tons of asbestos :annually. An equal number of mines are now dormant, having for the most part exhausted their reserves. It is evident from the past and present activity, in this belt that it can look forward to at least half a century or more of large scale production. The host rock to the asbestos de-posits is essentially a peridotite which originally contained I 0 to 15 per •cent pyroxene. The peridotite, associated with dunite, pyroxenite

Jan 1, 1962

By Lyne Côté, Jose Adante

"The Caribou underground mine, 50 km west of Bathurst, the Restigouche open-pit mine, another 30 km west and the concentrator located at the Caribou mine site resumed operations in July 2007 after a nine year shutdown. The Caribou operations achieved commercial production on Jan 1. By June, 2008, all metallurgical targets had been achieved or surpassed with the production of lead and zinc concentrates assaying approximately 50% Zn and 45% Pb respectively with recoveries exceeding 80% for Zn and 70% for Pb.The deposit features very fine-grained massive sulphide mineralization, which in the past has proven difficult to process. ISA Mill Ultra Fine Grinding Technology in combination with conventional flotation technology is used to process these complex oresSeveral modifications arising from experience gained from past operations, an extensive research project at Lakefield Research and post startup flow sheet and reagent alterations have been employed to achieve this break through performanceThis paper describes the design, start up and optimization of the Caribou operations including the many challenges faced including the flotation of mineral particles with K80s ranging from 35µm to 8µm.HISTORICAL BACKGROUNDThe Caribou massive sulphide deposit was discovered by Anaconda geologist Cam Cheriton in 1959. Anaconda initiated an extensive underground exploration and discovered a super gene copper blanket which was developed into a small open-pit mine-mill operation that ran from 1970 until the depletion of the copper ore in 1974. East West Minerals, an Australian public company, purchased the mine in 1986 and operated for only seven months producing a single bulk lead-zinc concentrate. In 1995, Breakwater acquired the Restigouche Open pit and Caribou underground deposits. Breakwater began milling operations in July 1997 but Caribou Mine failed to commercialize production, and the company decided to shut it down in August 1998, because of declining metal prices. The mill was plagued by mechanical and design problems, but deficiencies in metal recoveries prevented the operation from reaching desired levels."

Jan 1, 2009

By S. Tuttle, R. Sisson

"Suncor Energy Inc. has proposed a 2.2 billion dollar expansion to the current oil sands operation, which will more than double the productive capability of the facility. As part of the application for this expansion, a comprehensive closure plan had to be developed and filed.Closure planning includes a systematic evaluation of the area to be developed, the development activities planned, the goals and objectives of the corporation in re-establishing landforms and ecosystems at the same time as running an effective operation. As early as is practical during the mine development, surface contouring is completed, soil is reconstructed, and vegetation, surface drainage and wetlands are re-established. Once active reclamation is complete and vegetation has been re-established, Suncor monitors maturation of landscapes and ecosystems to provide the submission basis for reclamation certification"

Jan 1, 1999

By M. S. Badollet

"DURING the past five years, production of asbestos fibers has increased in all countries that list asbestos as one of their mineral resources. Despite the many small mines that have been opened in Canada, United States, Mexico, South America, Italy, South Africa, Australia, Yugoslavia, and Rhodesia, the supply still does not meet the demand. It is estimated that total 1952 world production of asbestos fibers of all varieties approximated 1,600,000 tons, with Canada supplying 966,382 tons (I), or 60 per cent of all fiber mined.Asbestos fiber brokers continually are offering odd-lot samples of chrysotile, amosite, crocidolite, tremolite, and anthophyllite fibers to manufacturers, •quoting fantastic prices for tonnages •varying from just a few to 50 or more in a month. In many cases, the samples are not properly graded and contain quantities of rock impurities and finely ground dust.When vendors submit samples of asbestos fibers, the manufacturer should consider• them in terms of price, quality, quantity, and as possible substitutes for fibers currently used in his products.Grading of these odd-lot fibers in most cases has been poorly done, with resultant non-uniform fiber lengths. In some instances, a number of miscellaneous lots of fibers have been .blended for sale. This blending produces a fiber that is difficult for the manufacturer to accept as a substitute for the well-standardized Canadian fibers."

Jan 1, 1953