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By A. Desbiens, R. del Villar

"This two-part paper summarizes the design and implementation of a distributed PIbased control strategy installed at the B grinding circuit, at the Kidd Creek Division of Falconbridge Ltd. Part I details the design of the control strategy using a grinding circuit dynamic simulator (DYNAFRAG). The first step consisted of sampling campaigns and data processing to calibrate DYNAFRAG. Then, several control alternatives were designed and tested with the simulator. The main feature of these strategies is their ability to regulate or keep within an upper and lower limit five output variables (circulating load, rod mill density, cyclone feed and overflow densities and pump box level) with only three manipulated variables (rod mill water, pump box water and rod mill tonnage). By simulation on DYNAFRAG, it was possible to discriminate among several control structures. The preferred control strategy uses a saturation algorithm, which allows the adequate regulation of two measured variables with only one actuator. Controllers located in interacting loops are appropriately tuned, taking into account the existing process coupling. Part II will present the implementation of the selected control strategy.IntroductionSteady state simulators are used to predict the stationary state of a given process under specific operating conditions. Tradi - tionally, steady state simulation has been applied for process flowsheet design, for evaluating process modification benefits or for determining key operating parameters in process operation optimization. Dynamic simulators add a new dimension to process simulation since they allow the prediction of the process transient behaviour, resulting from the application of a different set of operating conditions and/or from natural disturbances or equipment failure. Dynamic simulators can also be used for the training of new operators or for the design of control strategies."

Jan 1, 1997

By J. J. Denny

IN a preliminary paper (1) it was shown that the addition of small quantities of metallic aluminium powder almost completely inhibited the solubility of siliceous material in the beaker. Six rabbits exposed to quartz dust for six months all showed well developed silicosis. Seven rabbits exposed to quartz dust plus 1 per cent metallic aluminium powder for the same period did not develop silicosis. At that time, we were not in a position to state either the manner in which metallic aluminium reduced the solubility of siliceous material, or, from the animal experiments, whether the aluminium was acting locally or systemically, or for what period after the cessation of dusting it would continue to act. This paper reports the further progress of this investigation. CHEMICAL EXPERIMENTATION The technical details pertaining to the various substances used in the experiments are given in an appendix which is on deposit with the American Documentation Institute, Washington, D.C. For lack of space, it is not printed here. The term 'solubility' is used to indicate the concentration of silica in the solution under the conditions as noted, determined colorimetrically (2), and expressed as parts per million (p.p.m.). The term 'reduction in solubility' indicates the difference between the solubility of the .silica in the presence of the aluminium powder and its solubility in the absence of aluminium powder. It will be noted that the solubility figures for different samples of quartz with no added aluminium vary considerably. The figures do not refer to an equilibrium solubility of silica but to the actual amount of silica dissolved from a given sample in a given time at a given temperature. In view of the fact that quartz dissolves extremely slowly, it is evident that the actual figures in any case will depend upon the surface exposed, i.e., fineness of grinding of the different samples.

Jan 1, 1939

By R. C. Wallace

Since the time when Canada's East and West were joined by the railway, and communication was established into the interior, settlements grew on the southern fringe of the great Precambrian area that formed the northern protaxis of the continent during its vicissitudes of growth. They clung precariously to the fringe of that ancient land, for the Precambrian is not generous to those who wish to live by the fruits of the soil, except in those limited areas where the Pleistocene ice-sheet has been profuse in its gifts of clay to cover the hard surface of the Precambrian rock. Later settlements spread westwards over the expanse of Cretacean plains that now form the wheatfields of the Canadian West; but there still remained in northern and western Ontario, in eastern and northern Manitoba, a pioneer race, to whom agriculture had attractions only in so far that it provided the wherewithal to lay siege to the riches of the Precambrian. And they had a vision beyond their time. More than they knew, they had seized the fact that for the complete rounding out of Canadian national life, a8 well as for the establishing of the necessary contributions towards the economic stability of Canada and its provinces, an industry in mining sh01.dd be well and truly built in the hinterland of the central provinces. Failing the winning of mineral from the rocks, and timber from the forests, there would remain between the East and the West an enormous barrier of unproductive country which would not only be an incubus to the agricultural people in their struggle for economic liberty, but would effectively, and for all time, remain an un-populated void across which the aspirations of East and West would be unable to unite.

Jan 1, 1924

By Yujing Jiang, Xuezhen Wu, Bo Li, Tomomi Iura, Gang Wang

"Yielding bolt has been widely used for rock reinforcement in mining and civil engineering in high stress conditions. However, the interaction mechanism of yielding bolt and matrix mass is still not clear at present, and no analytical model is available to predict its reinforcement effect quantitatively. In this paper, the mainstream yielding rock bolts were reviewed firstly. After that, a coupling model is proposed to account for the interaction between yielding bolt and matrix mass. Based on the plane strain axial symmetry assumption and the incremental theory of plasticity, equilibrium equations and compatibility equations of matrix mass, and also the response of yielding rock bolt are deduced theoretically. The proposed method was programmed in Visual Basic development environment, and a semi-analytical solution for the coupling model is achieved. The reinforcement mechanism of yielding bolt in conventional tunnelling is clearly demonstrated through an illustrative case study. The reinforcement effect of yielding bolt is estimated quantitatively, and the distribution of axial force along the bolt is presented. In addition, the validity of proposed method is verified by numerical simulations. INTRODUCTIONHigh stress in surrounding rock mass can cause serious stability problems such as massive squeezing in soft rock and rock burst in hard rock. It is observed that many conventional rock bolts failed when experiencing large displacement, which implies that they are too stiff to sustain large deformation and dynamic conditions (Stillborg, 1994; Hoek et al., 1995). Yielding bolt, which can also be called energy-absorbing bolt, has been widely used for rock reinforcement in mining and civil engineering for these conditions (Neugebauer, E., 2008). This paper focuses on the static reinforcement effects of the yielding bolts with analytical method and numerical simulations."

Jan 1, 2015

By Warnett Kennedy

"GENUINE CONCERN for the environment is a built-in attitude of mind. If you do not have it by age 40 you probably never will. Some people speak the jargon of 'environment' and 'ecology' for political reasons, others because it feeds their need and bias toward attitudes of moral indignation or dissent. Others pay lip-service for purely business reasons. Complete reactionaries equate conservationists, ecologists and environmentalists as either 'commies' or 'pinkos'. Their real credo is the old saying, ""Where there's muck there's brass."" Those who have genuine concern for good environment are not only romantics like Thoreau but realists who sense the danger to our planet if human greed is rampant and unchallenged. The cities are in real trouble. Almost 75 per cent of the population already live in and around cities. Even mining men live in cities or bring up their children in the new 'instant' towns. The ecology of cities is the concern of all. Our distinguished guest Stewart Udall, in his book ""The-Quiet Crisis,"" quoted Thoreau in 1859 as having written ""each town should have a miniature wilderness park, a primitive forest of five hundred or a thousand acres where a stick should never be cut for fuel, a common possession forever."" Mr. Udall will be glad to know that this advice was taken in at least one instance known to me. I refer to Stanley Park in Vancouver. It is a primitive forest of 1000 acres right inside our small downtown peninsula. It remains unmanicured. This month we celebrated the completion of a seawall of 4%, miles along its perimeter. The construction of this wonderful walkway started in 1910. We are very, very proud of our park."

Jan 1, 1972

By G. W. Brooks

This short article is quite different to the general run of papers that are presented to the Institute, but no apology is offered because I consider that first-aid and mine-rescue work are of equal importance to many other subjects that are dealt with in our Transactions. Members of the Institute should be as much interested in the safety of persons engaged in the mining industry as they are in the practical methods of modern mining. We must not only do our best to conserve life and property by adopting every known device to that end, but we must also prepare ourselves so that we may take prompt and effective action when life is in danger, or when property is subject to loss. The need for such preparation in Alberta is perhaps greater than in most places where mining is carried on, and we must spare no effort to assemble at every mine men who are well trained in first-aid and mine-rescue work. The large area over which the mines are distributed renders central training stations out of the question, hence the need for local rescue-teams. Hospitals with skilled staffs, close enough to the mines to be convenient, also seem to be out of the question; therefore the greater need of a high standard of first-aid training for the people in our mining camps. The Government mine-rescue cars are supplied with the equipment necessary for training persons in this essential work and also for dealing with disasters should they occur. The question then arises: are there a sufficient number of men who are trained ? If so we can rest assured that what is possible to be done will be done. But if a sufficient number of trained men are not available much loss of life and damage to property is likely to result.

Jan 1, 1925

By R. P. Nicholson

On September 3rd, 1947, the Acadia Coal Company put into operation a central coal preparation plant. This plant was designed to process all coals mined by this Company in the Pictou County coal field. The problem, briefly, was to make a three-way separation of the raw coal fed into the plant. It was desired to remove all stone, metal, and wood from the marketable coal and to produce a splint coal from the raw material which would be suitable for making power. This splint coal product is belted directly to the power plant which is adjacent to the wash plant. To attain this object it was therefore necessary, first, to wash the raw coal, removing all splint, stone, metal, and wood. The stone, metal, wood, and highest-ash splint had then to be removed by a second washing in order to obtain the lower-ash splint for use in the power plant. The plant is on the east side of the Allan colliery, in the town of Stellarton (see accompanying photograph). It is of steel frame construction with wood siding, covered on the exterior with corrugated galvanized iron. Considerable concrete had to be poured for the foundation piers as the plant site is largely 'fill' ground. This necessitated the construction of extremely heavy footings containing a large amount of reinforcing steel. In all, 884 cu. yds. of concrete were poured for the various pits, tanks, and foundations; its average test was about 3,500 lb. per square inch. At the time the plant was constructed, the steel shortage in Canada and the United States was acute and, in order to obtain steel for the structure which is four stories high- an unused part of the Allan bankhead was torn down. Enough steel was obtained from this demolition to fabricate the new plant.

Jan 1, 1948

By W. R. Lindsay

Considerable attention has of late been given to the blasting of large amounts of ore in one operation, on account of the saving in labour and explosives and consequent low cost per ton, and also on account of the additional safety to employees. The blast here described, at the Hidden Creek mine. at Anyox, B.C., is not necessarily unique either in size or methods employed, but some interesting p10blems were encountered and the solutions of these may be of interest to others engaged in similar work. The ore consisted mainly of old scope-bottoms and sill pillars, although there also were some braces and parts of vertical pillars included. Some of the stope-bottoms were overlain by caved waste, and one of the problems was to break them in such a manner that the maximum amount of ore could be recovered without serious dilution with waste. The ore blocks, designated as the 385 silt and the 7 A-103 blocks, were under preparation for blasting for over a year, as conditions permitted. This work consisted in drilling long machine drill holes, varying in length from 14 to 20 feet. These holes were drilled with the Numa detachable bit, made locally, starting at 2~-inch diameter and bottoming at 2 inches for the longest length. The long hole drilling was used in the thinner sections of the area. For the stronger, thicker portions, powder drifts (3 ft. by 4 ft. in section) were driven for the powder charges. Reference to the plan and sections (Figures 2 co 8 inclusive) show the relative location of these, as well as the long drilling. The amount of explosives used in the powder drift charges averaged 0.25 pounds per ton of estimated burden, varying from 0.2 to 0.3 pounds per ton.

Jan 1, 1934

By Daniel B. Leznoff

The cyanoaurate anions [Au(CN)2]- and [Au(CN)4]- are shown to be useful building blocks for synthesizing supramolecular coordination polymers. For the gold(I) unit, aurophilic interactions often increase the structural dimensionality of the system and can impart increased thermal stability to the metal-polymers produced. A series of polymers of the form M[Au(CN)2]2(Ligand)x have also been prepared and show large colour changes upon changing the ligand, thus illustrating a sensor-type application. Both building blocks can mediate significant antiferromagnetic and ferromagnetic interactions between transition-metal centres in the polymers. For the gold(III) unit, no metal-metal interactions are observed, although weak Au-N(cyano) interactions control the intermolecular packing. Several structural examples of cyanoaurate-based coordination polymers are presented, including 2-D and 3-D arrays and a supramolecular square.

Oct 1, 2003

By Fathi Habashi, Ernesto Bourricaudy, Fouad Kamaleddine

Ilmenite occurs in black sand at the mouth of great rivers as in India, or as massive deposits like in Quebec Province in Canada. It is unsuitable for processing into pigment or for metal production because of its high iron content and its low grade. Pyrometallurgical and hydrometallurgical methods have been developed to cope with this problem which resulted in the production of two commercial products that became known as synthetic rutile and Sorelslag. Attempts are also underway to produce TiO2 pigment directly from ilmenite. This report presents a newly developed process called the Magpie process, which enables the production of high-grade synthetic rutile (over 95% TiO2) from low grade ilmenite (10-12% TiO2). Naturally, if such process is applied for low-grade ore it can be applied with advantage to high grade material as well.

Jan 1, 2014

By Nadarajah Nanthananthan

Mine backfill has been widely used as a means of ground support. While proper design of backfill is important to ensure ground stability, understanding the failure mechanism and the various influencing factors in a filled block is essential. This paper presents a modified sliding failure model of a confined backfill block. The model considers both the gravity load of the backfill itself and the overlying load from fragmented ore or backfill on the top. A series of new equations were derived and the relationships between factors such as factor of safety, friction angle, cohesion and the exposed stope height were developed. This modified model will be a very useful tool in backfill design, for example, to optimize the design of backfill for a given stope geometry or to determine the maximum backfill height for a particular type of backfill.

May 1, 2007

By A. P. E. Dirige

In order to maximize the recovery of ore and to save on costs in undercut mining, backfill of low cement content is used to fill the mined out excavations. This backfill mass is supported by a sillmat structure cast from cemented backfill of very high strength. The stability design of sillmats must be carefully studied to provide very effective, safe and economic mining operations. This paper presents a methodology and procedures for sillmat design based on three engineering modeling approaches: analytical, numerical and centrifuge modeling. Application of the design approach is demonstrated from a design study conducted for an underground gold mine, aimed at minimizing backfill binder content and at producing cost efficient paste fill recipes for sillmat construction. Application of the engineering design recommendations was projected to result in substantial annual cost savings to the mine operation.

May 1, 2007

By S. Dallaire

With the attainment of high temperatures it becomes possible to process any kind of material (particularly ceramics) in their liquid state. In the plasma spraying process, the material to be sprayed is rapidly heated until it is molten and is propelled by high velocity gases onto a surface where it adheres, to give protective coatings for a wide range of applications. The method could be considered as one of the most versatile and rapid to build up thick deposits (of plastics, metals, ceramics, cermets) and also free-standing artifacts for particular requirements without resorting to lengthy forming and sintering studies. Although plasma spraying is at the production stage in industry, advanced processes have also been developed for economically producing a wide range of new materials. This paper illustrates the benefits of the process and evaluates the challenges it represents.

Jan 1, 1987

By A. McIntyre, L. R. Plitt

Both the Bond and the Hardgrove grindability tests are widely used in the mineral industry to measure the ease of the comminution displayed by a material. The Hardgrove test is mainly used for coals, whereas the Bond grindabifity test is mainly applied to hardrock minerals. The Bond grindability has the advantage that it can be empirically related to the energy required for comminution (work index), whereas the Hardgrove grindabifity test has the advantage of being easier to perform. In an effort to establish a valid correlation between work index and Hardgrove grindability, a series of parallel grindability tests were carried out on a wide variety of rocks and minerals. The standard Hardgrove test was modified to allow for materials with a higher density than coal. A new, satisfactory relationship was established which permits rapid estimation of work index from Hardgrove test data.

Jan 1, 1980

By Jef M. van der Zel

The idea of veneering rich yellow gold alloys with a low-melting, high expansion porcelain, has been a driving force for metal-ceramic research in dentistry. Since 1990, with the advent of the Carrara System (1), a low firing temperature veneering ceramic allowed the use of gold alloys with a lower content of platinum and palladium than the traditional gold-platinum ceramic alloys and thus a richer yellow color. The earlier high gold-platinum ceramic alloys contained at least 12 percent platinum group metals to allow for dimensional stability when firing the relatively high melting traditional ceramics. This amount of platinum group metals gave the alloys a greyish tinge which made them unattractively steel colored and difficult to present as ?high gold alloys?. In the 90?s the new generation universal low-melting, high expansion gold alloys gained market share at a steady rate, starting in Germany, and have now for a great part replaced the traditional gold-platinum alloys (Fig. 1). The first alloys contained 75 wt-% gold and up to 9 wt-% platinum or palladium. They provided a metal-ceramic system in which a gold alloy having an aesthetic yellow colour is fired on with a dental porcelain tailored thereto. The tailoring is meant in respect of compatible coefficients of thermal expansion, and compatible melting or softening points of metal and porcelain. The major concerns in the beginning were with thermal stability during firing, the thermal expansion coefficient of the alloy against the porcelain (compatibility) and the yellow color. In a later stage, alloys with gold contents in the range of 50-60 wt-% gold were developed in analogy with the pale yellow gold-reduced alloys that were formerly used for crown & bridge work and the white gold-reduced alloys used for metal veneering where gold was substituted in part by palladium.

Oct 1, 2003

By B. Misra, B. S: Sastry, Kollu S. Rao

"This paper reports the results of a finite element study of the geothermal heatflow into dry mine airways. For isotropic and unsteady state conditions the heatflow into mine airways is studied for a range of surface heat transfer coefficients between rock and air, and age of the airway. Dimensionless temperature gradient values are presented in tables for different values of Boit and Fourier numbers and the results are compared with Starfield tables and Gibson algorithm. It is found that Starfield tables have consistently over-predicted the G values with errors ranging from 2% to 10%. The differences between results obtained from the finite element study and the G values calculated from Gibson's approximation method are mapped. The small error values over a large range of Fourier and Biot numbers confirm the suitability of Gibson's algorithm to rapidly calculate G values for estimating the heat transfer from surrounding rock to mine air.IntroductionIn many underground mines heat is a major problem, and the provision of acceptable working conditions requires considerable expenditure on ventilation systems. The rational design and operation of these systems depend upon an understanding of the various sources of heat in the mine. The natural source, i.e. geothermal heat, contributes up to 80% of total heat added to mine air and it is difficult to analyze and predict the heat owing to a number of influencing variables. The problem of geothermal heat flow has been studied by many investigators (Goch, 1940; Starfield, 1966; Hemp, 1987; Amano et al., 1982; McPherson, 1986).The primary concern of this paper is to develop a better ready reference dimensionless transient temperature table for estimating heatflow at any stage of mine airway life."

Jan 1, 1994

By Robert B. Parsons

"""I would be a rich man if I had a dime for every man hour spent by the bureaucracy on changing tax legislation."" Anonymous.The mind of a cynic might very well conjure thoughts about ""change for the sake of change"", given the protracted saga of federal sales tax reform in Canada. The latest chapter unfolded this summer when the Commodity Tax Review Group released its important report. Whatever sales tax changes, if any, are finally adopted will have profound effects on many aspects of doing business. The capital-intensive mining industry will not escape these effects.IntroductionThe Federal Sales Tax Review Committee, established by the Minister of Finance earlier this year, has published a report that is sharply critical of the government proposals to shift the incidence of federal sales tax from the manufacturer level to the whole sale level (sales to retailers). The Report recommends a continuance of the present manufacturer's tax, for the present, but with significant changes that would increase the tax cost on certain imports, smooth the administrative machinery and make appeals and determinations more open and equitable. For the longer term, the Report recommends a shift of the tax base to the retail level.Reform of the federal sales tax system has been under consideration for several decades. Briefly the history is as follows: 1940 Report of Rowell-Sirois Commission-proposed the eventual elimination of federal sales tax1956 Report of Federal Sales Tax Committee-proposed a shift in tax from manufacturer to wholesaler level1966 Report of Carter Commission-proposed shift to a retail tax1975 Discussion Paper on Federal Sales and Excise Taxation-concluded that retail tax conceptually best but provincial agreement/administrative problems present a major hurdle-proposed wholesale tax as best practical approach1977 Report of Commodity Tax Review Group"

Jan 1, 1983

By D. A. Garland, A. D. Jackson

"Alanx ceramic/metal composites are proprietary products developed by Lanxide Corporation who joined with Alcan to form Alanx Products L.P. in 1988. Alanx ceramic/metal composites are composed of silicon carbide in a combined alumina and metallic aluminum matrix. In laboratory slurry wear tests conducted by Alanx ceramic/metal composites have shown to perform well against other wear resistant materials. At the Kidd Creek Concentrator Alanx CG896 ceramic/metal composite was tested in two pumping applications, the primary cyclone feed pumps and the filter feed pumps. In both instances the wear rates of the parts made of Alanx CG896 were far less than the gum rubber parts traditionally used. As of year to date September 1992 the unit cost to repair primary cyclone pump parts has dropped 58% from 1991 figures. For the filter feed pumps the unit cost to maintain the pumps has dropped by 33% as compared to 1990 figures. The total savings represented by implementation of Alanx wear parts, based on projected year end unit costs for 1992, as compared to 1991 costs for primary cyclone feed pumps and 1990 figures for filter feed pumps, is $166,753. INTRODUCTIONAt the Kidd Creek Concentrator the cost to maintain the primary cyclone feed pumps and the filter feed pumps was a constant concern. Rubber wear part consumption was quite high and the manpower required was considerable. For 1991 the total cost to maintain five primary cyclone pumps was $244,062. The cost to maintain the filter feed pumps in 1990 was $72,076. A wear material was needed that would increase the time between repairs and that would increase the reliability of these pumps between scheduled shut downs."

Jan 1, 1993

By T. Güyagüler, U. Y. Önder

"This study investigated the psychrometric properties of ventilating air in GAL coal mines. Related measurements were done in underground openings and have been arranged as input data for computer programs prepared for ventilation network and psychrometric analysis.Results obtained from network analysis have been used for psychrometric analysis of ventilating air. Changes in heat and moisture content of air in two major path s between entry and discharge of ventilating air have been investigated. Psychrometric processes occurring in the mine were determined and are shown graphically in Figures 1 and 2. Special attention has been given to determine the changes in psychrometric properties and processes involved in the faces. Results are outlined in this paper.IntroductionThe psychrometric properties of mine air are important factors to mine productivity and efficiency. Therefore, psychrometric analysis should be made for all underground mines; any undesired situation observe d could be corrected by taking the necessary precautions.The analyses were done as a case study for GAL mines, the only mechanized lignite coal mine in Turkey. In this mine, workable reserve is about 300 million tons of coal and yearly planned production is 2.2 million tons. Production is continuing from a coal measure-bed having two coal seams with average thicknesses of 1.52 m and 1.72 m respectively. A 0.85 m shale band exists between these two seams.Two full y-mechanized faces, approximately 220 m long, usually work simultaneously. All measurements, including mine gases and air velocity, are done by sensors connected to a control room by a monitoring system.In the analysis, a line diagram is utilized to described the mine on which every junction and branch is numbered."

Jan 1, 1992

By R. D. Clark, Heinz Althoff

"The advantages and disadvantages of a mobile crushing plant with a belt conveyor system compared to a stationary crushing plant with haulage by heavy trucks are described. The capital expenditure and operational expenses are compared and the individual cost factors are explained.Every open-pit mine or quarry, however, is different and has to be assessed and analyzed individually in order to find the optimum and most economical solution. Due to the high truck haulage costs, many open-pit mines tend to the more economical solution with mobile crushing plants and continuous belt conveyor operation. IntroductionFor the material haulage within an open-pit mine the heavy truck is the most flexible means of transportation. However, due to the high fuel consumption, wear and labour costs, it is also the most expensive one. Therefore, many open-pit mines are looking for alternative solutions for the material transport A mobile belt conveyor system is most likely to meet the requirements because it is efficient and economical with regard to the power consumption. The material , however, has to be crushed at the mining face to lumps which are suitable for conveyor operation. For this purpose a mobile crushing plant is required.In some open-pit mines the crusher is also used to crush the material to lumps of smaller particle sizes in order to save crushing costs in the preparation plant.Although a cost comparison between a system with stationary crusher and truck haulage and a system with mobile crusher and belt conveyors favours in most cases the belt conveyor system, up till now only a few open-pit mines and quarries benefit world-wide from the advantages of the mobile crushing plant with continuous belt conveyor operation."

Jan 1, 1986