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By Marc R. Laflèche, Suzanne Paradis, A. Shirley Péloquin, Harold L. Glbson, Robin Potvin, Pierre Verpaelst

"The Archean Blake River Group is best known from a central volcanic complex in Rouyn-Noranda. This volcano-tectonic depression, delimited by the Hunter Creek fault to the north and the Horne Creek fault to the south, is interpreted to be a cauldron approximately 20 km in diameter. Its western and eastern boundaries are the Flavrian Plutonand the D'Alembert shear zone respectively. The complex has an exposed stratigraphic thickness of 10.5 km. Two cycles, composed of andesitic units overlain by bimodal, andesite - rhyolite units, are observed in the area, and are, in turn, overlain by an andesitic unit interpreted to be the lower part of a third cycle.The southern sector of the Blake River Group, south of the central volcanic complex, is considered to be outside the limits of the cauldron, but partly contemporaneous with it. The maximum stratigraphic thickness exposed in this area is 4 .6 km. At least two cycles occur in this sector. The oldest unit, a pre-cauldron andesitic to basaltic unit, occurs only in the southern part of the sector. In the north, two partial andesite - bimodal cycles, interpreted as contemporaneous with the cauldron volcanism, are observed.The eastern sector of the Blake River Group, east of the central volcanic complex, apparently overlies the complex. Two units are observed in this sector: a lower bimodal unit and an uper andesitic unit. The bimodal unit is coupled with the uppermost andesitic unit of the central volcanic complex to form a cycle, and the andesitic unit is considered to be the uppermost unit of the Blake River Group. The total exposed stratigraphic thickness in the sector is 2.5 km.The western sector of the Blake River Group, north and west of the central volcanic complex, is interpreted as the lateral equivalent of the complex. Three andesite - bimodal cycles are exposed in this sector, giving a total stratigraphic thickness of9 .5 km. The two lower cycles correspond directly to the central volcanic complex cycles; this correlation is facilitated by two stratigraphic marker units observed on either side of the Hunter Creek fault: the Fish-roe rhyolite flow, east of the Flavrian pluton, and a spherulitic rhyolite lapilli-tuff, west of the Flavrian pluton.Many of the volcanogenic massive sulphide deposits found in the central volcanic complex are spatially and temporally associated with synvolcanic faults, and felsic domes and feeder dykes that are the sites of felsic volcanism in the bimodal units. However, these features also occur outside the central volcanic complex, and the similarities recognized in this work between the complex and the surrounding area suggest that such deposits need not be restricted to the central volcanic complex. The presence of volcanogenic massive sulphide deposits outside the complex confirms this."

Jan 1, 1990

By D. B. Dreisinger, M. Mokmeli, B. Wassink

Dissemination of selenium and tellurium in sulphide minerals results in the contamination of pregnant leach solutions and electrolytes in the hydrometallurgical treatment of sulphide ores and residues. The selenium and tellurium content of the copper sulphate-sulfuric acid solution may be reduced into insoluble precipitates of copper selenides and tellurides using cuprous ion. This study presents the use of the thermodynamics and kinetics for the removal process of selenium and tellurium in real life application. Dominant species of selenium and tellurium in acidic copper sulfate solutions were identified and the reduction rates of species were compared. The findings were applied to industrial conditions by modeling the Vale’s CRED (Sudbury, Canada) plant’s selenium and tellurium purification circuit. Rate reducing factors on selenium and tellurium removal were identified and discussed.

Jan 1, 2014

By M. F. Ameur, M. Habak, H. Aouici, M. Kenane

Present study interest by aluminium alloy (Al 7175-T5173) drilled without cooling fluid. The influence of the machining parameters (spindle speed and feed rate) on the holes quality was analyzed. Drilling tools are made of carbide (WC); high speed steel (HSS) and TiN coated carbide (WC-Ti).The Experiment design was reinforced by the application of statistical analysis of variance (ANOVA).The results show that the thrust force is influenced principally by the spindle speed and feed rate. Though, both feed rate and tool materials have statistical significance on the surface roughness. In addition, the objective of correlations between spindle speed and feed rate with the evolution of the machining parameters was established. These correlations were obtained by quadratic regression using the response surface methodology. Finally, useful to select optimum values of drilling parameters, that would minimize thrust force, torque, cutting temperature and surface roughness.

Jan 1, 2015

By W. N. Hamilton

As a result of a test-drilling program conducted by the Research Council of Alberta in 1968, a gypsum deposit averaging 30 feet in thickness, with a chemical purity of 84 per cent gypsum, has been proven to underlie the Clearwater River valley for a distance of 18 miles at depths ranging from near-surface to 300 feet. This and other subsurface deposits in the vicinity of Fort McMurray, Alberta are the product of local hydration of anhydrite beds believed to be the water-insoluble remains of the leached Prairie Evaporite formation of Middle Devonian age, the thick salt section of which is preserved down dip. The effects of salt solution are seen in the disturbed bedding and the intermixture of greyish green shale with gypsum in the core, the shale content being responsible for the rather low chemical purity of the deposit. A similar gypsum deposit, but probably of higher purity, is postulated to occur beneath the Athabasca River valley about 60 miles north of Fort McMurray.

Jan 1, 1969

By Enrique I. Acuña

Creighton Mine is part of the mining history of Sudbury with more than 100 years of operation. Currently the deeper levels of the mine are reaching the 8000 ft level without implementation of mechanical refrigeration system as a result of the use of the Natural Heat Exchange Area (NHEA) over the past decades. The NHEA of Creighton Mine is part of an old block caving area divided into 4 blocks of trenches that were used to extract the ore. Currently, it is used year round to condition the outside temperature before the airflow enters the fresh air system of the mine. As the mine is progressing deeper, underground temperatures in the lower levels are starting to approach the limit of Vale?s guidelines for working in heat. This paper presents the study developed to improve the management of the NHEA to obtain cooler temperatures at the intake of the ventilation system and outlines the impact to the mine in terms of the additional level(s) that could be operated underground without the use of mechanical refrigeration. This is another of the efforts currently under development for energy conservation and to reduce the capital and operational costs of Creighton Mine while extending the expected life of the mine.

Oct 1, 2010

By Don A. Toth

Until recently, the fire protection systems used to protect mining equipment were based on generically designed, off the- shelf concepts. These systems were reliant on single agent approaches and were generally comprised of a series of small twenty or thirty pound chemical canisters that would discharge their contents when triggered by thermal detection means. As the equipment grew in capacity, the logic used to increase the protection was to add more chemical canisters to the system. Hydraulic excavators and large-scale mining trucks grew dramatically in size into the 1990?s and beyond; with this growth came the increase in major losses due to fire. This was evidenced throughout this period, and continues to be of great concern today. During this presentation you will learn of the significant changes that have come about as a result of this history. Today, dual-agent products, infrared detection and unit-specific, engineered systems are the primary phrases used when discussing how to best protect this equipment from fire loss. This session is a must for anybody looking to optimally protect their equipment assets and for those looking to renew and/or secure new insurance for high value equipment in the future.

Apr 1, 2005

By F. H. Samuel, J. E. Gruzleski, S. Valtierra, H. W. Doty, N. Andrade

In this work, the age-hardening behavior of cast Al-Si base alloys was investigated. It was found that multiple aging peaks are present in the age-hardening curves of Al-Si-Cu-Mg alloys. TEM observations reveal that the age-hardening behavior is related to the precipitation sequence of the alloy. For the Al-Si-Cu-Mg alloy, the first aging peak is the result from the high-density GP zones, while the subsequent are from metastable phases. The transition from GP zones to metastable phases may be the main reason of the formation of multiple aging peaks.

Jan 1, 2006

By Matthew A. Perras

With growing populations, infrastructure projects are utilizing underground space to expand transportation networks, water supply and sewer disposal systems and hydropower facilities. These new projects require large diameter tunnels to meet the growing demands. As the tunnel diameter increases, not all rock mass properties are scalable and precedent experience becomes less reliable. One such non-scaleable property is lamination thickness. Numerical modelling was conducted to determine the influence of lamination thicknesses on a 16 m diameter tunnel. Five different areas of excavation response were found to exist for laminations ranging between 0.16 to 16 metres in thickness. For this tunnel diameter, critical lamination thicknesses of 6 metre and 1 metre were found to exist. Above 6 metres the excavation response was similar to isotropic models. Below 6 metres the stresses and yield are channeled by the lamination boundaries, increasing plastic deformation. Below 1m multiple lamination units become unstable and the displacements increase significantly and the shape and extent of the yield zone size changes dramatically. The yield zone is controlled by bed deflections and bed parallel shear. As the lamination thickness decreases tensile failure first begins in the haunch area and progressively extends above the crown until a self-limiting plastic yield zone shape is reach at lamination thicknesses below 0.4 metres. Conclusions drawn from observations at the Niagara Tunnel Project are those of the authors.

May 1, 2009

By J. Y. Hascoet, M. Marya, S. Marya

Additive manufacturing (AM) brings disruptive changes over the ways parts and products are designed, tested, qualified, assembled, inspected and marketed. With these changes come real technical challenges, therefore, concerns that mainly stem from the maturity and diversity of today’s AM processes, the feedstock materials, and the interactions between the numerous process parameters. Additive manufacturing is somewhat similar to laser and electron-beam conduction-mode welding and involves a multitude of dynamic physical events between projected feedstock and moving heat source that influence process robustness, thus deposit properties. For this paper, a simple air vent, selected for its size, thin-wall, hollow geometry and materials (specifically 316L) was made using a laser-based powder blown technology (Construction Laser Additive Direct or CLAD) and systematically inspected by optical microscopy, microhardness indentations, and electron-back-scattering diffraction (EBSD). This exemplary part is first analyzed to broadly discuss metallurgical phenomena in additive manufacturing, particularly solidification and texture development. The paper then expands to other alloys and continues correlating metallurgical observations to process parameters and part properties, also borrowing from past experience with the same 3D printing CLAD system.

Jan 1, 2014

By F. Chiesa

Experimental results on thin and thick castings poured in aluminum A356 and magnesium AZ91E by the low pressure permanent mold process have been compared to the result of filling simulations for thin and thick castings. If the results of modeling is reliable when the liquid remains above the liquidus temperature, this is no longer the case when partial solidification occurs. The visco-elastic behavior of a partially solidified liquid is difficult to put into equation as it depends on the amount of shear it has been been subjected to. Attempts to predict misruns with a commercial software has been proven to be very difficult if not impossible; divergence of the numerical solution has been observed unless prohibitively long computing times are used. In order to overcome these difficulties from a practical standpoint, a simple method is proposed which consists in tracking the temperature of the advancing liquid metal front so as to make sure it will always be above so-called `Misrun Critical Temperature' (MCT) determined experimentally for thin and thick aluminum A356 and magnesium AZ91E castings. If the liquid metal front falls below this temperature, a cold-shut or misrun is likely to happen at this location. The values of MCT for thin and thick in aluminum A356 and magnesium AZ91E were determined experimentally on misrun castings of extreme geometries (a thin 2.5 mm wall cover and a 6mm to 25 mm thick bell housing). MCT was found to be lower for magnesium AZ91E and for the thicker castings.

Jan 1, 2011

By Y. M. Zhao, C. L. Duan, Z. F. Luo, X. L. Yang

"Fine coal beneficiation in a dry way is considerably imperative for the efficient utilization and conservation of coal resource in drought regions, especially for China. In this study, a continuous vibrated gas-fluidized bed separator was established and developed based on the results of laboratory batch separation results. The fluidization behavior and the effects of several main parameters including superficial air velocity, vibrational parameters, bed height and separating time were systematically investigated. The results showed that the bed expansion increased linearly with the superficial air velocity and theoretically, higher bed expansion benefited the hindered settling process of fine coal particles. However, larger superficial air velocity would induce intense fluctuation in bed surface and a poor performance of density segregation. The conveying velocity of particles was mainly determined by the vibration angle and a predicted model was established by the nonlinear regression analysis. A theoretical model of bed height distribution was established and this model fitted the measured value well. The beneficiation performance of this separator was evaluated by separating -3+1 mm Wuhai fine coal. The results showed that the probable error, E, is 0.225, indicating a continuous vibrated gas-fluidized bed separator could achieve a satisfactory performance.INTRODUCTIONFine coal beneficiation in a dry way is considerably imperative for the efficient utilization and conservation of coal resource in drought regions, especially for China. Meanwhile, it is also conducive to environment protect and low-carbon, green development of coal sector. In recent years, the increasing academic interest in the field of fine coal dry beneficiation has been aroused in most of big coal countries. In summary, recent processes of fine coal dry beneficiation are, according to their processing principles, mainly classified into two categories: dense medium beneficiation (Dong et al., 2015; Fan, Chen, Zhao, & Luo, 2001; Luo et al., 2008; Macpherson, Iveson, & Galvin, 2011) and improved pneumatic beneficiation (Patil & Parekh, 2011; Yang, Zhao, Luo, Song, & Chen, 2013; Yang, Zhao, Luo, Song, Duan, et al., 2013; Zhao, Zhao, Chen, & Luo, 2015). The former deploys artificial dense medium, such as magnetite powder and fine sand, to form a stable gas-solid suspension with certain density under the function of the upward fluidizing air flow and in some case, the external force field like vibration and magnetic field. Generally, it is believed that the process of air dense medium fluidized bed (ADMFB) is suitable for separation of coarse coal (-50+6 mm) and can't obtain a satisfactory result for fine coal separation (Luo, Chen, & Zhao, 2002; Luo et al., 2008). However, some recent laboratory efforts (Patil & Parekh, 2011; Zhang et al., 2014) attempt to find an improved performance for fine coal beneficiation in ADMFB with some modifications. The point of these works is to use a comparatively shallow bed and finer magnetite powder with appropriate size distribution. It is known that fluidization of finer magnetite powder is prone to arouse adverse fluidization properties such as channeling and slugging. Thus, the external force is introduced to an ADMFB in order to improve the fluidization quality of a magnetite powder bed. Some recent literature on air dense medium magnetically stabilized fluidized beds (Fan et al., 2001; Luo, Zhao, Chen, Fan, & Tao, 2002; Song, Zhao, Luo, & Tang, 2012), air dense medium vibrated fluidized beds (Luo et al., 2008) and Reflux Classifier (Macpherson, Iveson, & Galvin, 2010) reports that the separation efficiency, namely the probably error E value, of dense medium separation of fine coal ranges from 0.066 to 0.07, indicating a good separation performance. But, the main unresolved problems of dense medium beneficiation are located in the processes of product purification and medium recovery and are urgent to be solved befor"

Jan 1, 2016

By Joseph D. Martinez

"The benefits of modern technology can readily be identified with energy availability. A clear correlation has been established between per-capita energy consumption and the GNP for various nations. The United States is an outstanding example of a nation which has benefited from vast energy reserves. The nation is now challenged, how¬ever, by dwindling reserves and the need to develop new sources consistent with the preservation of environmental quality. The development of new, virtually inexhaustible and environmentally acceptable sources cannot be expected for several decades. Meanwhile, we will have to depend on coal, nuclear energy and/or rigorous conservation measures.The net effect of environmental considerations has been to delay and perhaps ultimately eliminate the nuclear energy option as a national energy alternative. This forces a more positive move toward coal as the next major source of electrical power. Our coal resources are large, but the use and production of coal is also a threat to the environment. Thus, we seem to be moving from one major accessible source to another due to environmental concern only to face the probability that the alternative is also environ¬mentally unacceptable.Controversies revolving about energy choices must be resolved by an analysis of the relative benefits and impacts of these two sources and others. The pattern of changing energy sources is not new. We have moved from wood to coal to oil and gas in the past and must learn to adapt in the future. Rational decisions must be made relative to the utilization of intermediate energy sources pending development of promising future approaches. A collapse of current levels of energy supply could threaten our technological society and the means to develop a new energy base."

Jan 1, 1976

By J. Paquin, P. Doiron, G. Proulx, P. Champoux

After nine years on a 36 hour schedule and two programs of creeping, the Alcoa Deschambault Potroom of faced the necessity of changing its organization for many reasons: the anodes butts were too small, the anode schedule was unbalanced, the iron content in the metal trends had increased, the metal tapping volume did not convene with crucible capacity and the liquid measurement task was delayed by tapping activities. A kaizen activity inspired the Potroom department to improve the organization. A team of 15 people including the process engineer, the process technician, team supervisors and Potroom operators developed a scenario, which would permit flexibility to creep pots if energy is available and an increase of added value production.This paper will describe the systematic approach, the communication method, the trials, the changes, and our success, along with the problems experienced by the team during the adaptation of Alcoa Deschambault Potroom organization over a 20 month period. Aluminium 2006 45th Annual Conference of Metallurgists ofCIM Montreal, Quebec, Canada Edited by

Jan 1, 2006

By F G. Cooke

"This paper describes a medium-sized copper mine's results in making innovations and changing operational practices to combat increasing expenditures due to higher labour and supply costs, extended workings, scarcity of experienced manpower and problems created by deteriorating ground conditions.OPEMISKA COPPER MINES (QUEBEC) LIMITED is located at Chapais in the Chibougamau area, in central eastern Quebec, approximately 300 miles north of Montreal and 150 miles north west of Lake St. John. The latter area, developed by lumbering and farming, has supplied the majority of the employees, who, with training and experience and a desire to work and improve themselves, have become the backbone of the Company's 600 personnel.Opemiska began production in 1954 at a rate of 400 tons per day, using diesel power and road transportation. The rate was progressively increased and, by 1959, with hydro-electric power and rail transportation, the mine had reached its present production rate of 2,000 tons per day. It has produced concentrates containing over 430 million lbs of copper."

Jan 1, 1968

By Tassos Grammatikopoulos, Vladimiros Papangelakis, Douglass Duffy, Cheryl Washer, Srinath Garg

Flotation operations in Sudbury, Ontario, seeking to separate pentlandite and chalcopyrite from mixed sulphide deposits, produce pyrrhotite tailings that have been disposed of in tailings ponds for over 50 years. These reactive tailings are viewed as waste, despite containing ~0.8 wt% Ni, and represent an environmental liability because of their acid mine drainage (AMD) potential. Given the large quantities of pyrrhotite currently stored in Sudbury, and declining ore grades elsewhere, these tailings have shifted from being viewed as a waste to a potential resource. Recent advances in the bioleaching of low-grade sulphide ores have raised the prospect of bioleaching as a potential low-cost processing option. However optimization of this proposed process requires a thorough understanding of the mineralogy of the pyrrhotite tailings that would be leached. The work presented here addresses the characterization of two distinct Sudbury pyrrhotite tailings, namely from the Vale and Glencore operations, using electron microprobe, XRD and QEMSCAN analysis. Particular focus is given to how the mineralogy may affect bioleaching as a processing option, through the deportment of nickel and the various phases present

Jan 1, 2015

By T. Fekete, D. L. Flocks, R. T. Hart

The plugging effect of bacteria was investigated by injecting various concentrations of dead bacteria cells though sandstone cores. Pressure profiles along the cores were recorded periodically during the injection cycles. The plugging effect was analyzed using a plot of the ratio of reduced permeabilities to the initial permeability versus input volume. Results indicated that Tock permeability has little effect on plugging, but that the concentration of bacteria in the injection water has a significant effect on plugging characteristics. The pressure profile curves showed that bacteria penetrated several inches through the core but that the greater portion of the bacteria accumulated at the in-put end of the core.

Jan 1, 1960

By Dart Wantland

"AbstractThe scope of geophysics in civil engineering and the nature of exploration geophysics are briefly discussed. Engineering problems amenable to geophysical attack are illustrated by specific examples. The various methods available, accuracy of results, and costs are treated. The possibilities of new uses of geophysical techniques are pointed out.IntroductionTHE SCOPE of geophysics in engineering is different than in oil or mining exploration. In civil engineering, geophysics solves specific problems; as for example, what is the depth to bed-rock along the axis of a proposed dam? The area to be surveyed is of limited extent, and the subsurface information .sought is relatively near the surface. The engineering geophysicist is not called upon to investigate geological basins or extensive mineralized areas or to probe for data to thousands of feet in depth. The geophysical tools employed in the three fields are, however, quite similar; the differences are mainly in the objectives.The Natural Geophysical ExplorationThe terms geophysics and geophysical exploration have been used heretofore and will .be employed in what follows. The question is, therefore, What is geophysical exploration?Geophysical exploration is a line of field work where measurements are made at the ground surface with special instruments to get geological subsurface information. Briefly stated, geophysics is a form of exploration that supplements geological work. It is a blend of physics and geology since physical measurements are made •at the surface of the ground that can be interpreted in terms of subsurface conditions."

Jan 1, 1953

By P. A. Distin, Jr. da Silva

The history of commercial processes for zirconium/hafnium production and separation is reviewed. A new technology is then proposed as a potential alternative for zirconium/ hafnium separation in a simpler, cleaner way than achieved with current processes. Primary sources of zirconium always contain small amounts of hafnium that must be removed during production of zirconium metal for nuclear applications. This separation is usually carried out by a solvent extraction process, developed in the 1950s, that selectively extracts hafnium, as a thiocyanate complex, using methyl isobutyl ketone (MIBK). Environmental problems inherent to this process are the high aqueous solubility and low flash point of MIBK, and possible gaseous contaminants formation generated by the decomposition of the thiocyanic complexes in hydrochloric acid medium (H2S, HCN, mercaptan’s formation). The present work shows how these problems could be avoided by using organophosphorous extractants that were unavailable when the MIBK process was developed.

Jan 1, 1998

By S. Averill, B. Schreiner, V. Sopuck

The La Ronge. Kisseynew, Glennie Lake and Flin Flon domains. the main focu for gold exploration in the southeast part of the Saskatchewan Shield, were subject to continental glacial ice advances from the northeast during the Quaternary. Based on forty-four auger hole along with surficial mapping, the general Quaternary stratigraphy in this area is observed to be composed of a lower till unit , an overlying stratified unit of glaciofluvial sand and gravel and/or a glaciolacustrine silt-clay unit. an upper till. and an upper tratified unit. The lower till is commonly found throughout the geological domains except where it has been eroded in glaciofluvial or fluvial channels. Glacial Lake Agassiz fo rmerly covered most of these prospective domains. The lacustrine deposits associated with the lake impede surficial geochemical surveys including soil. lake sediment. and biogeochemical surveys. The approximate extent of clay cover can be predicted from beach elevations. For instance. in the Waddy Lake area. clay i not known to occur above about 1,400 feet (425 m) elevation. Exploration techniques are hampered by clay in at least one third of the volcanic belt. Thi s influence is indicated by the fact that nearly all gold prospect found to date are located above 1,400 feet (425 m) while the area of clay cover is vi rtually unexplored. The upper till i related to a minor ice readvance. This till is the medium often sampled during soil surveys in the area . lts value as a geochemical ampling medium is dependent on the extent of erosional contact with bedrock highs on the lower till. Those areas which are relatively free of lacustrine and fluvial deposits are those where surface geochemical methods work best. In the Waddy Lake volcanic belt approximately 25-50% of the area may be suitable for surficial surveys. The area of the Star Lake prospect occurs above the 1,500 foot (460 m) elevation and was not covered by Lake Agas iz. The effectivene of till sampling as a surface sampling medium was tested in those areas above the clay level. Till orientat ion surveys were carried out at the Star Lake property and the Tower Lake prospect (Waddy Lake area) within the La Ronge Domain . Gold grain counts and analy es of heavy mineral concent rate from 7 kg surface ti ll samples were used to delineate dispersion trains down-ice from mineralization. In addition, the clay fraction and a 30 g (-80 mesh) subsample from the same till sample, were analyzed for gold . In the Star Lake area, ice direction is subparallel to the strike of several narrow northeast trending auriferous structures. arrow dispersion trains down-ice from known

Jan 1, 1986

By Luis Castelli, Aldo Bonomelli, Giselle Schifferli, Claudio Zamora

"This paper introduces the operational concept and the description of a multi-site Remote Support Center for knowledge management and long-term process performance improvement.This centralized Support Center provides real-time monitoring of open-platform process automation systems, and on-line access to process data and control applications information for multiple sites.Considering that process automation is a key enabler to business performance improvement, sustaining effective performance benefits over time becomes essential. Unfortunately, changes in manufacturing process dynamics, technology obsolescence and in plant operational practices cause the control strategies to lose their effectiveness over time unless their performance is periodically evaluated, and if required, tuned to the new process conditions.A new concept in process automation is proposed through the addition of a new control loop based on performance analysis methodology which is intended to feedback process and automation operation information to system and process specialists, allowing for continuous manufacturing process improvement and sustainable production benefits through effectual control strategies.A remote support center can play a key role in the delivery of such services, by providing the base platform from which a comprehensive process overview and a centralized knowledge database can be executed and additionally, as an enabler for plant operational practices change.INTRODUCTIONA Benchmark on Automation Level in Copper Concentrators conducted by AMIRA in 2004, reported that the Codelco divisions scored below their peers in several categories.Codelco had thereafter been looking for a new automation concept, and had focused on process automation as a key enabler for process manufacturing and business performance improvement. The final decision was to create a strategic alliance with a world-class automation technology provider.The traditional approach based on isolated automation solutions/projects, showed that the control strategies benefits were decreasing progressively over time, because of the on-going need to adapt the control models to the ever-changing process conditions and different plant operational practices. Another consequence of this traditional approach was the wide variety of technologies and automation systems deployed in the different plant sites, with no common automation standards, and with low opportunities to transfer knowledge or practices."

Jan 1, 2010