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By H. Ishimoto

It always has been a serious issue to improve safety in mine sites, demolition work sites, and civil engineering work sites. Especially, collision accidents caused by construction equipment damage not only the productivity of operations but also the health and life of workers in those work sites. To solve this problem, a variety of worker auto-detection means are developed so far, but they have not still become widely used in actual worksites. There have been two controversial points in the prior methods. One is that they were not enough in respect of the detection accuracy and certainty, and the other one is that the information of the detection results was not comprehensible to the operator of equipment. In this paper, the functional requirements of the obstacle detection system in earth moving work site is redefined at first, and then, it is proposed to apply a stereo vision to the obstacle detection system for an excavator. The system consists of horizontally arrayed two digital cameras with low distortion lens, an image processing controller, and a monitor for an operator in the cab. Stereo vision calculates the depth image from images of two cameras and detects the presence of obstacles, its distance, direction, and dimensions. Sensed obstacles are informed to the operator in the monitor image. Preliminary experiments are conducted with a stereo vision system mounted on a real equipment in a demonstration site. The result shows that two controversial points of the conventional technologies are improved, and that the applicability of this system is validated.

Aug 1, 2013

By Stopford Brunton

For many years it has been accepted as axiomatic that the greater number of 'veins' or 'leads' in the gold districts of Nova Scotia are of the 'interbedded' type. The corollary to this hypothesis is that the vein or lead will have a continuous hanging-wall of one kind of rock, and a continuous footwall of the same or another kind of rock; but the essential point is that the foot and hanging walls are, according to this theory, both continuous and of uniform composition throughout; and that the vein or lead conforms to the bedding of the adjacent strata. With regard to the deposition of the gold in the rocks, the probability is that the key of the problem is contained in a statement by E. R. Faribault, of the Geological Survey of Canada: "The combined effect of cleavage, jointing, and stratification is to cause the rocks, especially the quartzites, to break into rhombohedral blocks". It is essential to comprehend that the rocks of the Province are no doubt folded into anticlines and synclines; but also it must be fully realized that the gold deposits and pay-shoots do not depend so much upon these as upon the fractures resulting from the disturbance caused by the intrusion of granite masses, and controlled by the combined effect of cleavage, jointing, and stratification. These fractures would form the channels through which the ore-bearing vapours and solutions would rise, and at the junctions of these fractures, where the fracturing was greatest, the easiest passages would be afforded to the ore carriers, with the result that the ore-shoots would be found at or near the intersections of fractures. It is a significant fact that in at least thirteen different districts throughout the Province, operators have at various times remarked upon the occurrence of rich ore at the intersection of 'leads,' 'veins,' 'beds,' etc.

Jan 1, 1928

Presentation Topics ? Low and Intermediate Level Waste ? Project Location and Site ? Geological Setting ? Key Features ? Project Overview ? Licensing and EIS ? Next Steps DGR Waste Package Inventory Approximately 50,000 packages over 35 years: ? ~40,000 packages or 80% of inventory are LLW Bins ? ~7,000 ILW Shields (concrete boxes) ? ~2,000 resin liner packages

Oct 1, 2010

By G. D. Garland

The influence of natural electric currents, induced in the earth by changes in the earth's magnetic field, on the electric logging of boreholes has not always been recognized. Measurements made with fixed electrodes of changes in the vertical potential gradient in a hole near Calmar, Alberta, have indicated the effect of earth currents related to magnetic disturbances. It is found that appreciable errors in self-potential logging could arise during periods of magnetic storms, but the precise pat-tern of disturbance in any area seems to depend on the local structural conditions. As the amplitude of the natural earth currents increases toward the auroral zone, it is suggested that periods of magnetic disturbance be avoided, if possible, when electric logs are taken in the northern part of the western sedimentary basin. NATURAL electrical currents flow continuously near the surface of the earth, apparently as a result of electromagnetic induction

Jan 1, 1962

By Robin Perry, Claude Bazin

"Discrete transfer functions which use the grinding circuit feed tonnage to predict mass flowrates at reagent addition points in a flotation circuit were calibrated using a dynamic grinding/flotation circuit simulator. Predicted mass flow values are multiplied by reagent addition ratios to obtain actual reagent flow. The transfer functions are currently integrated into the distributed control system of Les Mines Selbaie.IntroductionThe development of adequate tools for the control of flotation processes is a continuous challenge. Since the early 1970s there have been numerous publications dealing with practical aspect of control of flotation processes. Most plants use a combination of feedback and feedforward controls to reduce the effect of the following flotation process disturbances (McKee, 1991):• changes in throughput;• changes in feed grade;• changes in particle floatability (size, liberation, surface oxidation ... ); and • deliberate changes of setpoint;Feedforward control manipulates variables such as reagent and/or air flow rate to attenuate the effect of disturbances such as changes of feed rate and mineral content. The feed forward strategy is driven by measurements of these disturbances. Feedback control is used to maintain process variables to targeted set-points of concentrate or tails grades. The feedback control action is driven by deviation from the set-point, caused by a deliberate change of set-point or disturbances.This paper proposes a method to improve feed forward control schemes by the addition of a simple model for solids transportation. The feedforward strategy considered in this paper is the ratio type, in which the manipulated variable is changed according to a predefmed ratio between this variable and the measured disturbance. A typical example is the ratio of the reagent addition to mass flow of ore.The paper reviews the state of the art in feed forward control strategy applied to flotation processes and describes the method used for predicting mass flow rates. The last section shows an application of the method in the Les Mines Selbaie flotation circuit."

Jan 1, 1994

By Philippe Henry

HYDROMETAL is using suitable technology to reintroduce lost metal units into the industrial cycle, thereby saving resources and energy while keeping the environment cleaner. Hydrometal is treating on average 60000 t per year of complex materials through a unique hydrometallurgical recycling concept. Zn, Cu, Sn, and Pb are the most important in volume, but in the last 15 years, Hydrometal has also developed a few specific recycling treatments for the minor metals including Ge, In, Co, etc. In 2010, Hydrometal commenced the recycling of RE (Rare Earths) from wastes generated by the RE refining industry in Europe and has decided to initiate new recycling projects for the RE recovery from the magnet or glass industries. Two case studies of recycling of materials in our integrated hydrometallurgical facility (Hydrométal) in Belgium are discussed: recycling of cerium from polishing sludges; and recycling of Ni- Co from cement produced in the zinc industry.

Jan 1, 2014

By R. E. Molnar, P. A. Riveros, V. M. McNamara

"This paper describes some recent research done at CANMET in the areas of ion exchange and A VR (Acidification- Volatilization Reneutralization), as applied to the recovery of gold and cyanide, respectively. It also discusses the ways in which these two technologies may be combined in order to minimize the environmental impact of gold milling operations and optimize reagent usage. IntroductionGold milling operations can essentially be divided into those that carry out a liquid/solid separation after leaching and those that recover gold directly from a leach pulp. The former produce a barren solution which may contain considerable amounts of cyanide, either free or cornplexed with metals. The latter produce a similar solution but this is now part of a slurry rather than a clear stream. Due to its toxicity, any excess cyanide must be destroyed before the effluent is discharged into the environment. Ideally, this should be (and sometimes is) accomplished by natural degradation. However, in many cases natural degradation alone cannot remove the last traces of rnetallocyanide compounds from the effluent and , as a result, most Canadian gold producers utilize a supplementary chemical oxidation system. This not only increases the operating costs, but concerns have also arisen in recent years about the formation of ammonia as a result of the chemical oxidation of cyanide (via CN--CNO--HCNO-NH3) ·"

Jan 1, 1993

By Réal Marcotte

L'industrie minière représente un apport économique important pour le Québec ; cette production est très diversifiée et répartie dans plusieurs régions. Hormis les forges du St- Maurice au XVIIe siècle, l'industrie minière québécoise commence en 1862 dans la Beauce avec l'exploitation de placers aurifères dans les affluents de la rivière Chaudière; à la même époque, on met en production les mines de cuivre Eustis, Albert et Capelton, près de Sherbrooke1; à partir de 1881, les mines d'amiante et de chromite au voisinage d'Asbestos et de Thetford commencent à voir le jour. Dans les années ?20, l'extraction de métaux précieux et usuels débute en Abitibi- Témiscamingue; durant les années '50, le fer et l'ilménite de la Côte Nord, ainsi que le cuivre de Murdochville et Chibougamau, commencèrent à être mis en valeur. Plus récemment, soit durant les années '80, le sel des Iles-de-la-Madeleine et le graphite des Hautes Laurentides s'ajoutèrent aux produits que nous commercialisons. Finalement, soit en 1998, le Québec devenait un important producteur de nickel avec le démarrage de la mine Raglan, au Nunavik. L'exploitation d'une mine peut nécessiter l'extraction de grandes quantités de roches stériles, particulièrement lorsque la production se fait à partir d'une fosse à ciel ouvert. De plus, étant donné que les minéraux et les métaux mis en marché ne constituent qu'une fraction du minerai extrait, il faut le concentrer : on se retrouve alors avec des proportions plus ou moins importantes de résidus finement broyés. Ces deux types de rejets totalisent bon an mal an environ 100 millions de tonnes. Lorsque cela est possible, ceux-ci sont, soit valorisés comme matériaux de construction ou retournés dans leur lieu d'origine afin de soutenir les murs des excavations. Toutefois, une bonne partie est accumulée en surface dans des aires aménagées spécifiquement à cette fin ; comme le montre la figure 1, la superficie utilisée à cette fin a progressé parallèlement aux booms miniers que nous venons de mentionner pour atteindre actuellement environ 15,600 hectares, dont environ la moitié sont situés sur des aires encore en activité.

Nov 1, 2002

By D. W. I. Griffiths, J. C. Bélanger

"La Division Matagami de Minéraux Noranda inc. a profité de la construction de sa nouvelle mine (Isle-Dieu) pour continuer sa modernisation.L'utilisation d'automates programmables (PLC) s'est intensifiée pour contrôler et automatiser de plus en plus d'équipement dans ses minessouterraines, au concentrateur, dans les atelierset bureaux.Tous les PLC comrnuniquent entre eux et les IBM PC sont utilisespour exterioriser l'information et faire Ie lien entre Ie personnel et les automates. Le système Central IBM 36 emmagasine les donnees traitees par lesPLC (a travers les PC). Ces donnees sont transmisesau programme d'entretien de chaque equipement et compile les heures, cycles, tonnes, etc., fait imprimer automatiquement les feuilles d'entretien préventif ', etc.Les principales realisations adate et en progrès pour la mine Isle-Dieu sont:• automation complète du système de remblayage du concentrateur ala mine Isle-Dieu situee a2 km de la mine principale;• automation du fonctionnnement des ventilateurs qui comprendra la position des portes de ventilation, Ie chauffage, Ie débit, etc.;• automation des pompes, surveillance des sous stat ions électriques, concentration des gas (CO, SO2) à chaque niveau en tout temps et du propane à l'entree d'air frais;• tonnage et cycles par Ie treuil; et• contrôle d'autres équipernents à differénts niveaux. D'autres travaux furent egalement effectues par les employes, tels que:• la conversion d'un Scooptram ST5A de diesel à électrique;• I'installation complete de systèmes de depoussierage a I'eau (scrubber) pour le concassage secondaire;• I'installation d'un marteau hydraulique avant les concasseurs coniques;• la rénovation des cellules de flottation ; et• l'installation d'un système de gardiennage par caméra. D'autres projets seront effectués ou étudiés:• automation d'un Scooptram"";• automation d'un marteau hydraulique;• récupération de Scooptrarn; téléguidé:• gestion de l'énergie, contrôle de la demande, surveillance et contrôle de l'équipernent de machines fixes(compresseurs, boulloires, pompes à vide, génératrices, débits et pression d'air, eau pour diagnostiquer les problémes, analyser les coûts;• concasseur portatif pour fabriquer de la pierre concassée pour utiliser dans les chemins sous-terre, et• utilisation de micro-ondes pour transmettre les images captées par camera."

Jan 1, 1990

By G. Lafont

Aug 1, 2013

By D. Assmus, S. Daly

"Poor fragmentation, high toe areas, excessive shovel wear and tear and frequent re-drilling and blasting of certain tough waste rock zones in the Lomex pit in the early 1980snecessitateda better understanding of these zones.A combination of geotechnical mapping, penetration rate data, toe elevation contouring and observations on shovel and drill performance were used to determine the character and extent of these zones. This complementary information was brought together by the geotechnical mapper and the explosives supervisor.Distinct zones with particular geological characteristics were determined. A classification system with three types of blast and dig-ability was developed for the Lomex pit and later applied to the Valley pit, with considerable success. The three blast zone types are called ""poor"", ""f air"", and ""good"". This system will be described in detail.The explosives supervisor adjusted the blasting parameters to each zone, in particular, pattern spacing and burden. The resulting powder factors showed considerable variation between the poor, fair and good zones within each pit as well as between the two pits. Pattern geometry and length of collar were also adjusted to improve fragmentation. Cost savings resulted from less re-drilling and less wear and tear on drills and shovels in the poor zones and more efficient use of explosives in all the zones. An annual estimated cost savings of well in excess of $1,000,000 is realized at Highland Valley Copper. A by-product of the mapping was the determination of unstable structures and water flowing zones. Blasting was then adapted to this information for enhanced slope stability."

Jan 1, 1992

By P. Reyes

The Codelco Chile El Teniente Division Caletones Smelter has an objective to smelt 1,250,000 tonnes per year of copper concentrate. This is a great challenge for the smelter facilities and particularly for the acid plants. The analysis ensuring that there are no obstacles to achieve the production capacity was of great importance. Therefore a series of activities were undertaken as well as studies dedicated to reach the target. This paper presents work focused on a fluid dynamic study, translated in an operation methodology of integrated handling of the smelting and converting gases with the objective to optimize the gas flow and S02 concentration. The optimization should be done employing the current installations, equipment and instrumentation and/or minor modifications. In the first part of the work the condition of the instrumentation involved in the gas handling was checked, improvements determined and the corresponding corrective actions were carried out. The proposed operation method consists of operation of the Cleaning Gas Plant 2 (TC' s gases) and operation of Gas Cleaning Plant 1 (the remaining gas plus the gases from CPS). The implementation of the operation method involves the modification of the valve of the gas into the duct to plant 1 from On to Off to modulate flow. After modification a three days test was carried out. To evaluate the tests, a "Sulphur Capture" indicator was used. During the test the behaviour of the effluent treatment plants was closely examined. No problems or unusual operating conditions were observed. The reduced flow of gas to Gas Cleaning Plant No. 1 permitted the start up of the 2nd test day treating most of the gas received by Gas Cleaning Plant No. 2. The operation was carried out with the limitation not to increase the effluent pond level, which was maintained constant.

Jan 1, 2007

OVERVIEW OF PRESENTATION ? What is LMI ? Who uses LMI and how? ? Value of LMI to the Mining Industry ? Mining Industry Workforce Information Network (MIWIN) ? The Challenge: Forecasting the future in uncertain times ? Results: Hiring requirements in the next decade ? Results: Occupational information ? Next steps

May 1, 2009

By G. H. Hope

"Pamour Porcupine Mines of Timmins, Ontario operates two 3,000 ton per day concentrators which receive ore from eight to ten mines in the area. The area milling concept was adopted by Pamour in 1971 and has been used successfully since then. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the advantages and the problems of area milling. Pamour Porcupine Mines Limited operates two 3,000 ton per day concentrators which receive ore from eight to ten mines in the Porcupine region. The area milling concept was adopted as the route to survival for Pamour and has worked successfully. HISTORICAL BACKGROUNDProduction of gold from the Porcupine region in Northern Ontario started in the early 1900's and has been continuous since that time. Some of the major operators were companies such as Mcintyre, Hollinger, Dome, Pamour, Paymaster and the list goes on. An underground survey would reveal hundreds of miles of drifts and raises. The main group of mines extends from South East of Timmins to the Pamour Mine, 15 miles to the east. During the lean years of the sixties when gold prices were low, labour costs were rising rapidly, and ore grades were dropping, many of the area mines closed down their operations."

Jan 1, 1981

By John D. Smith, Robert J. Mitchell

"There is a world-wide trend toward underground bulk mining methods employing hydraulically placed backfill. This trend is recent and therefore there is little in the literature to assist an operator in the design of backfill properties, the design of drainage facilities, the calculation of the operating forces on a bulkhead, and the control procedures considered necessary before, during and after pouring. This paper presents recommended procedures that are based on over to years of experience in the various aspects of backfilling large openings. Free-draining timber or concrete block bulkheads are shown to be a viable alternative to massive reinforced concrete bulkheads for the containment of backfill pours. Hydrostatic pressures cannot develop in backfills provided adquate drainage facilities are installed.IntroductionThe increasingly adverse relationship between mining costs and mineral values has led mining companies to develop more productive, lower-cost, bulk mining methods. This has led to the increasing use of large, more or less continuous, hydraulically placed backfill pours to enable the recovery of a higher proportion of pillar ore. The success of any bulk mining method depends on the degree of stability maintained during the stoping operations with reference to the mining rate, the performance of the backfill with respect to the per cent extraction of pillar ore, and the control of the mine structure with respect to safety and productivity. One such method has been previously described(I) where a steeply dipping orebody is being mined with a sub-level method that employs large, hydraulically placed tailings pours for delayed pillar recovery. The paper describes the rock mechanics analysis undertaken to establish the stope and pillar geometry and the approach taken to establish backfill strength requirements to prevent dilution during pillar recovery. Production with this method started in 1970 and because few, if any, large bulk pours had previously been used in- this way (judging by the lack of information in the literature), design data and criteria were needed for several aspects of the work. Methods to establish backfill quantities and pertinent ""in-place"" fill properties are described in 2, 3 and 4 in the list of references. Results of field measurements taken to establish fill pressures for bulkhead design purposes are described in 5 and 6. Laboratory large-scale model tests undertaken to confirm a fill strength design equation, which takes into account fill arching, have recently been completed. A paper describing these tests and the results will be forthcoming in the near future."

Jan 1, 1982

By P. K. Naik, B. Das

Flotation studies were carried out to recover carbon values from blast furnace flue dust containing ~30.34% carbon, 4.6% volatile matter (VM), and 65.03% ash. The variables chosen for the experiments were dispersant (sodium hexametaphosphate), pH, collector (diesel oil), and frother (MIBC). The experiments were designed according to a 24 full factorial design method and regression equations for the recovery of carbon and product grade were determined from the data. Experiments were performed to optimize recovery and grade using the steepest ascent method. The maximum recovery of carbon was 90.0% with a concentration of 56.5%, whereas the maximum obtainable grade of carbon was 66.35% with 50.45% recovery.

Jan 1, 2005

By P. A. Riveros, W. D. Gould, R. Molnar, D. W. Koren, P. Bédard

This paper reports the results of the field demonstration campaign of a new process for removing and destroying ammonia from mining/ metallurgical effluent solutions. The 50-day campaign was carried out at a uranium plant in Saskatchewan, Canada. The process was developed by adapting and integrating two well established technologies: zeolite adsorption/ elution to extract the ammonia from the effluent stream and to produce a concentrated ammonia eluate; and conversion of the ammonia in the eluate to innocuous nitrogen by applying bacterial nitrification-denitrification (NH3 = > NO3 - => N2). The data show that reasonable target criteria were met, under very challenging operating conditions. Problem areas and possible causes for poor performance are identified. Preliminary and generic cost estimates of the process are also presented.

Jan 1, 2003

By N. Shi, T. G. Joseph

The design of dippers for cable shovels has essentially remained unchanged for the last 100 years. In the past 10 years, shovel manufacturers have started taking another look at dipper design, resulting in changes that have borne models from major manufacturers that address some of the wear conditions and material retention problems that dominate maintenance and operational costs. However, with the exception of added lateral curvatures to the front and corners of the dipper, the geometry is essentially unchanged. This paper looks at the criteria that have resulted in the first new cutting dipper design in a century. The design is based on kinematic considerations, reflected in a revolutionary geometry that matches the range of motions of the shovel, designed to minimize wear, impact loading and power required to dig, thus maximizing productivity for a minimum energy requirement. The shape configuration is such that the weight of the dipper is reduced through wall thickness, enabling a larger capacity dipper to be conceived for the same shovel. Benefits are reflected in reduced operational and maintenance costs and increased productivity.

Jan 1, 2006

By Alain Dorval

"''Purification of marine sands from Les Iles-de-la-Madeleine''This paper presents the results of the work that has been done at CRM pilot plant for «Les Silices du Golfe Inc.». Essentially the purpose of this piloting was to demonstrate, on a semi-industrial scale, the process of purification of marine sands from Les Iles-de-la-Madeleine; that had been developed by CRM Process Development Service. This purification is necessary to produce silica suitable for the glass sand and the foundry sand markets.Introduction«Les Silices du Golfe Inc.» is a company who intends to dredge marine sands around the «Les Iles-de-la-Madeleine» coasts. The material will be transported to Gaspesia where electricity, water supply, and a convenient site is available to treat it. A high purity silica intended for glass sand and foundry sand markets will be produced. The objectives of this purification process are to remove organics, calcium, feldspars and iron.Material ReceivedCRM received 50 tons of sand with Si02 varying between 80,6 and 99,3 % (see Figure.1). The highest variations in impurities were the calcium and lost on ignition. We notice direct relation between% SiO2, % CaO and % L.O.I. as you can see on the following Figures 2, 3 and 4."

Jan 1, 1994

By D. R. Spink, G. L. Rempel, C. O. Gomez Bueno

"A morphological and chemical study of the Great Canadian Oil Sands Ltd. (GCOS) fly ash has been carried out. Extensive scanning electron microscopy, as well as light microscopy, showed that the GCOS fly ash consists of two fractions, one composed of unburnt or partially burnt irregular-shaped carbon particles and an ash fraction composed of transparent and opaque, often coloured, glassy spherical particles-some of them cenospheres (hollow spheres) and the others plerospheres (hollow spheres packed with smaller spheres). Microcrystals (0.1 to 0.3 um long) growing on the inner and outer surfaces of some of the spheres were also noted and found to contain more Fe, Ti, Ni and V than the spheres.The carbon-free GCOS fly ash particle size follows a lognormal distribution, with a geometric median particle size (by count) of3.8um and a geometric standard deviation of 1.84. IntroductionCanada's current energy situation strongly suggests that oil from the Alberta tar sands deposits will probably be recovered more extensively in the future. Today's commercially proven technology to recover oil from the Athabasca tar sands, as practised by Great Canadian Oil Sands Ltd. (GCOS), involves two major operations, namely: separation of the bitumen from the sand and upgrading of the bitumen to refinery oil; the production of significant amounts of petroleum coke and sulphur during the bitumen upgrading process. The bulk of the petroleum coke is burnt in boilers to fulfill the energy requirements of the entire operation. The boiler ash, which contains appreciable amounts of metals, such as vanadium, nickel, titanium, iron, aluminum and other elements, is collected in the boiler hoppers and cyclones of the petroleum coke-fired steam generation plants. Thus, as well as representing a petroleum resource, the tar sands represent a resource for vanadium and possibly other metals providing that metal recovery processes can be developed."

Jan 1, 1980