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By S M. Roscoe

Relationships of Noranda sulphide deposits to volcanic rocks are reviewed and chemical variations within the volcanic sequence are described. The assemblages of minor elements in the pyrites and pyrrhotites of the Noranda and l\llatagami deposits are similar and are characterized by a high content of cobalt, tin and other elements. Isotopic compositions of lead, other geochronological data and stratigraphically disposed zonal distributions of sulphides and minor elements indicate that the deposits were formed prior to folding and metamorphism. Lead isotope data indicate that the Matagami deposits, and several others, were probably formed about 2.95 x 109 years ago and that the Noranda deposits may be about 50 million years younger. The volcanic sequence at Noranda is younger than the thick sequences bordering it on the east and on the west. The relationships are consistent with the hypothesis that these strata-bound sul1>hide de-posits are coeval with their associated volcanic rocks. T HE writer has been engaged in a metallogenic study of the region between Sault Ste. Marie and Chibougamau. An essential objective of this study is the classification of mineral deposits with regard to their composition, form, geological

Jan 1, 1965

By J B. McConnell

The Thompson smelter has three unique features which form the basis ~f its design: fluid bed roasters which treat nickel concentrate filter cake from the mill, as well as the flux, in order to achieve partial desulphurization; the use of electric furnaces for the smelting of the partially desulphurized, preheated roaster product; and the disposal of slag by water granulation and slag slurry pumping. The installation consists of three fluid bed roasters, each feeding an electric furnace. Nickel concentrate is received at the smelter via pipe line. It is thickened and filtered, and the filter cake, together with siliceous flux, is fed through rotary bin feeders and reciprocating double-gate seals into the fluid bed roasters. Air injected into the roasters through club-head tuyeres oxidizes part of the sulphur and associated iron in the concentrate. The heat of reaction dries and heats the charge. Roaster product is recovered from the gas stream in cyclones and from the roaster bed through automatic valves.

Jan 1, 1963

By Mike Dry, Mani Manimaran, Mykolas Gladkovas, Mariam Melashvili, Chris Fleming

Development of a new hydrometallurgical flowsheet requires quantitative description and optimisation of all chemical processes in each step in the process, as well as mass and energy balances across a fully integrated circuit incorporating all the unit operations. This paper covers steps leading to early modelling of a gold processing plant based on a bromine/bromide lixiviant. Research conducted at SGS Lakefield in collaboration with Albemarle provided the data that were used in the development of this model. A previous investigation in this series described the leaching behaviour of various mineral types in Stabilized Bromine reagent. This paper is concerned with the gold recovery operations associated with a conceptual bromine leaching process. The recovery of gold by different types of resin and activated carbon was studied, along with various methods of stripping the gold from the extractant. The circuit is closed by electrolysing the spent leach liquor to oxidize some of the contained bromide back to bromine that would allow recycling the regenerated leach solution back to the leach step in the process.

Jan 1, 2015

By F. Chevarin

The reaction of O2 with the carbon anode is considered as the main parasitic chemical reaction affecting Hall-Heroult process anodes. The current study aims at investigating the influence of the microstructure of baked anode on its overconsumption. Samples were removed from different positions of an industrial anode. Density, porosity, Lc and BET specific surface area were measured. The anode reactivity was evaluated based on the weight losses for the samples resulting from the reaction of anode with air at 550°C after 7h. The essential parameters determined to control the air reactivity are closed porosity, Lc and pores with a pore entrance radius of 1.5, 8.5 and 12 p.m. The knowledge of effects of these parameters allows better understanding of the reactivity of anodes and consequently reduction of their overconsumption in electrolysis bath.

Jan 1, 2011

By Ian R. Muirhead

Over the past year or so, a number of mining companies have been meeting to examine the role of research in surface mining and, in particular, how to establish a collaborative research effort for the surface mining industry. A review has been completed which has identified the topics that are of interest to the surface mining companies for undertaking collaborative research. This has identified key subject areas such as Operations & Equipment; Maintenance; Environment & Reclamation; and Stability. Specific research projects for the initial research effort have been selected which include Wireless Data Communications, Analysis and Management; Application of GPS in Mining; and Tires for Heavy Haulers. In addition, attention has also been focussed on finding a suitable low cost, but effective, organization to coordinate and manage the collaborative research. The recently formed CONRAD Organization (Canadian Oilsands Network for Research and Development) appears to be a suitable candidate and discussions are ongoing with that group. This paper provides a summary of the review of surface mining research needs and of the status of the establishment of a collaborative research body for surface mining.

Jan 1, 1996

By G. D. Bysouth, G. Y. Wong

"The Endako molybdenum deposit is located 160 km west of Prince George, British Columbia. It occurs within the main body of the Francois Lake Intrusions, a composite batholith consisting of early, middle and late intrusive phases. The ore deposit is confined to Endako Quartz Monzonite, a middle phase intrusion, which is bound on the north by Carey Alaskite and on the south by Francois Granite, both late stage intrusions. In the mine aretz, the Endako Quartz Monzonite has been intruded by pre-ore dikes of quartzfeldspar porphyry and porphyritic granite, and by post-ore dikesof basalt.The Endako deposit forms a west-northwest trending body that has a strike length of 3360 m and an apparent width of 370 m. It consists of four structurally distinct zones: Endako East, Endako West, Denak East and Denak West. Principal sulphide minerals of the deposit are pyrite and molybdenite, accompanied by magnetite and minor chalcopyrite. Galena, associated with wulfenite and bismuthinite, occurs in some ores of Endako West and Denak as minute inclusions in molybdenite. The sulphides and associated minerals are hosted by quartz veins which occur principally in vein systems. Hydrothermal alteration accompanying ore mineralization has pervasively kaolinized the quartz monzonite host rock, and has locally produced K-feldspar and quartz-sericite-pyrite envelopes on quartz veins.Primary structural controls of the deposit are southwesterly dipping vein systems which strike 110° in the Endako zones, 110° to 130° in Denak East and 170° in Denak West. Secondary structural controls are northeasterly striking vein systems that dip northwesterly in Endako East and southeasterly in Denak. Domal uplift accompanying the rise of latest stage magma is considered to have caused intense dilatant deformation along older west-northwest trending shear zones, producing an elongated structural host for ore deposition."

Jan 1, 1995

By E. S. Allen, P. R. Kruesi, J. L. Lake

An electrochemical process is described for converting concentrates of base-metal sulphides to the corresponding pure metals and elemental sulphur. The application of the process to chalcopyrite is discussed. The process is also of potential interest in processing copper-nickel sulphides, and laboratory data concerning this potential are presented. The process creates neither air nor water pollution.

Jan 1, 1973

By R. Thierbach, W. Kahnt, Oberthür. T., D. Eisenburger, V. Gundelach

ABSTRACT: The ground penetrating radar (GPR) method was used in a platinum mine in Zimbabwe by members of the Federal Institute for Geosciences and Mineral Resources (BGR). The measurements were carried out in boreholes and drifts. Electromagnetic re?ections from a fault that consistently trends parallel to the mineralization zone permitted the mapping of the economically minable parts of the deposit. An introduction is given to the geology of the studied area and the application of the GPR method. The electrical parametres of the rocks are measured in situ, the GPR measurements are displayed with radargrams, and the visible structures are explained in illustrations.

Jan 1, 2010

By V Dolmage

Copper Mountain is the third largest copper mine in British Columbia, and is now producing close to 20 million pounds of copper per year, with which is recovered also 4,000 ounces of gold and. 13,800 ounces of silver. After a long and checkered career, during which the ownership and management changed several times, this deposit finally came into the possession of the Granby Consolidated Mining, Smelting and Power Company in 1923. It was not, however, until the end of 1925 that the mine, under the management of Charles Bocking and C. H. Smith, was successfully placed on a basis of profitable production. It is a low-grade deposit of the contact-metamorphic type, with refractory ores consisting of chalcopyrite and bornite in a gangue of altered andesitic and basaltic breccia. The ore is concentrated to a product carrying over 30 percent copper, which is smelted in Tacoma. The deposit is 12 miles south of the town of Princeton, which is on the Kettle Valley railway, 150 miles east of Vancouver and 40 miles north of the International Boundary line. Princeton is served also by a branch of the Great Northern railway, which leads clown the Similkameen, Okanagan, and Columbia valleys. Copper Mountain mine and camp are connected to Princeton by a good mo tor road extending up Wolf Creek valley, while the haulage level of the mine, which emerges on the steep side of the Similkameen valley 1,000 feet below the camp, is connected with Princeton by a spur of the Kettle Valley railway leading up the Similkameen canyon and passing en route through Allenby, where the concentrator is situated.

Jan 1, 1929

By Michael S. Moats, Prashant Bagri

"In recent years with increasing concerns about energy consumption in hydrometallurgical processing, there is an ongoing attempt to use Catalytic Titanium Anodes (CTAs) for copper electrowinning. For this work, anodes with IrO2 - Ta2O5 coatings were prepared in the laboratory with the same total coating loading but varying the number of layers by changing the speed of withdrawal in dip coating. A second set of CTAs were fabricated on niobium, Ti Grade 1, Ti Grade 7 and Ti Grade 36 metal substrates. All the anodes prepared in the laboratory were characterized using standard electrochemical techniques and subjected to accelerated life testing. It was found that the coating would not adhere to the niobium substrate, the grade of titanium had a minimal to no effect on the life of the anode, and it is observed that as the coating speed slows, there is an increase in the electrochemically active surface area of the coating which seems to directly contribute to an increase in the Tafel slope of the anodes. There was inconclusive evidence on the effect of coating speed on anode lifetime.INTRODUCTIONLarge scale hydrometallurgical extraction of copper has become widely practiced over the last 40+ years. The hydrometallurgical route entails leaching, solvent extraction and electrowinning. With the increasing desire to process refractory sulphides like enargite and chalcopyrite through the hydrometallurgical route, use of hydro-processing of copper is expected to remain high.In conventional electrowinning, copper is deposited on the cathode and an inert anode is used for oxygen evolution. Presently, the most common anode material is rolled lead-calcium-tin and the cathode is 316L stainless steel (Robinson et al., 2013). This lead alloy is fairly inexpensive and is robust, providing lifetimes typically of 4+ years. The main drawbacks of lead alloys are their relatively high oxygen evolution overpotential, the need for cobalt in the electrolyte to reduce their corrosion, the contamination of cathode product by lead, and the generation of harzardous by-products (Hiskey, 1999)."

Jan 1, 2016

By A. Mosqueda Martinez, L. C. Trytten, R. P. Kofluk, J. J. Budac

The Corefco ammonia leach nickel refinery treats Ni-Co mixed sulphides from the high-pressure acid leaching of Moa Bay nickel laterite. Due to the low iron content of the feed, the ammonia leach process generates a leach residue with ~10% Ni+Co. Since commissioning a leach residue pressure filtration circuit in 2002, this residue has been stockpiled, dried, and sold commercially. For several years, the residue was sold to nickel smelters overseas. In 2014, re-processing of the residue in the high-pressure acid leach was tested. Lab test work was completed showing excellent extraction of the contained nickel and cobalt, and additional beneficial effects in the high-pressure acid leach circuit. A plant test in Moa confirmed the results, and preparation for shipment of the valuable leach residue for re-processing has begun. This paper outlines the test work and results, and some commercial considerations.

Jan 1, 2015

By A. C. Hitchins, C. N. Orssich

The Eagle zone is a gold-bearing, sheeted, quartz vein porphyry deposit hosted by the Cretaceous Dublin Gulch biotite granodiorite stock, located in central Yukon, 50 km north of Mayo. The deposit occurs at the western end of the stock and has been drill tested over a 1000 m by 500 m area, to a depth of 150m. Mineralization consists of 1 cm to 2 Cm wide, parallel, grey and white quartz veins with accessory gold, arsenopyrite, pyrite, pyrrhotite, chalcopyrite, native bismuth, bismuthinite, and scheelite. Vein densities range from two to fifteen veins per metre and average approximately five per metre. The majority of the veins have potassic and or phyllic alteration envelopes. Alteration of the granodiorite becomes pervasive as vein densities increase. Mineralization outside of the Eagle zone, but spatially related to the Dublin Gulch stock, includes: (i) scheelite bearing sheeted quartz vein zones within the east-central portion of the stock; (ii) a swarm of gold-bearing quartz-sulphide veins up to a metre wide in a zone along the northern contact of the stock and extending 7 km further west; (iii) the Mar scheelite skarn located on the south side of the stock; and (iv) cassiterite-bearing breccias located 2 km north of the stock. A geological potential resource of 64.5 Mt tonnes at a grade of 1.03 g/t Au has been estimated for the Eagle zone from widely spaced core and reverse circulation drill holes. Mineralization is open at depth, on strike to the west and beneath the hornfels to the north.

Jan 1, 1995

By John D. Godfrey

A brief account of economic developments in and around northeastern Alberta is presented and mention is made of mining and industrial developments currently of interest in the area. Planned and projected operations are briefly discussed for this region. The history of geological surveys and mining activities in the Shield area of Alberta and the adjoining parts of Northwest Territories and Saskatchewan is traced. Reassessment of the presently-known economic picture of northwestern Canada in conjunction with some recent information on Precambrian structures of northeastern Alberta points to some interesting mining possibilities, particularly in and around that province.

Jan 1, 1960

By P. Clinton Milne

Uranium mines in Washington State include the producing Midnite and Sherwood mines and several mined-out deposits, the most productive of which was the Daybreak mine. The Midnite mine is generally classified as a hydrothermal deposit consisting of tabular orebodies in Precambrian pelitic and calcareous metasedimentary host rocks. The host rocks occur as roof pendants in a Cretaceous porphyritic quartz monzonite intrusive; the quartz monzonite averages 12 ppm U308 The uranium deposit appears to have undergone a complex genesis, involving a series of depositional and enrichment stages. The Sherwood uranium deposit, approximately 4 miles south of the Midnite mine, occurs near the bottom of a basal Late Cretaceous to Paleocene arkosic conglomerate. The conglomerate lies nonconformably on the porphyritic quartz monzonite that is associated with the Midnite deposit. The Sherwood and Midnite uranium deposits may have had a similar genetic history linked by a common uraniferous pluton source, ground-water action, and/or leaching of uranium-rich ash flows from now-eroded, overlying, Eocene volcanics. The Daybreak deposit, in northeastern Spokane County, consists entirely of secondary uranium mineralization (metaautunite) in a quartz monzonite pluton. Mineralization is confined to a low-angle fault zone and is most highly concentrated at the intersection of primary and secondary shears. Both hydrothermal and ground-water origins are feasible. Besides the Midnite-Sherwood area, 14 other areas in the western Okanogan Highlands physiographic province and Cascades region have favourable characteristics for uranium potential. Criteria include the existence of uranium occurrences, Tertiary basin sediments with intercalated volcanic and volcaniclastic rocks, favourable geochemical data, alkaline plutons associated with uranium occurrences or borders of Tertiary basins, and structural controls.

Jan 1, 1979

By A. R. House, G. W. Shepherd

Newmont USA Limited owns and operates the Phoenix Mine near Battle Mountain, Nevada, USA. The existing milling facility has operated since 2006 (House, 2010). Following the startup of the milling operation, and coupled with the upswing in the copper market, Newmont realized that Phoenix had no process option to treat transition and oxide copper ores. This meant that potentially revenue generating ore would be mined as waste. With no system in place to treat the transition and oxide copper, work began to determine the most feasible approach. After evaluating multiple options, the flow sheet was set for a runof- mine (ROM) heap leach pad and solvent extraction/ electrowinning plant (L-SX/EW). This paper will discuss the eight years of successes and challenges with developing the copper L-SX/EW plant and achieving commercial production of copper cathode.

Jan 1, 2014

By Terence M. Gordon, Mati Raudsepp, Gregory M. Dipple

Four methods of measuring mineral abundance in a rock are examined for their potential in assaying for high-tech industrial minerals. One method uses X-ray powder-diffraction data and the other three rely on whole rock chemical data and information on mineral assemblages and mineral compositions. All four methods were employed to estimate wollastonite content in diamond drill core of skarn collected as part of an exploration program and are compared to visual estimates of wollastonite content from core logs. These techniques for assaying wollastonite span a considerable range ofaccuracy and expense, and combined, define a non-linear relationship between these variables. Accuracy increases rapidly relative lo expense up to total costs of about $50 per analysis. Assay methods in the $50-100 per analysis range have associated errors of 5-10% relative and probably suffice for most exploration programs. Improvements in accuracy above this level require a much larger investment. The most expensive assay technique (-$300 per analysis) yields the most accurate measurement of grade (relative error -1%). Its application may best be limited to periodic checks on other assay techniques and for fine-tuning ofmineral separation procedures.

Jan 1, 2001

By Balakrishnan Nanthakumar, Marek Pawlik, Dennis Grimm

"The anionic flotation of a high-iron phosphate ore from Agrium - Kapuskasing Phosphate Operations was investigated through batch flotation tests in the presence of soda ash. The flotation data were supplemented by titration of the flotation pulp with soda ash, analysis of process water chemistry, and determination of the mineralogical composition of the ore. The results of lab tests were applied to the flotation circuit design allowing the flotation plant to efficiently process problematic ores. Process control measures (pH, conductivity) were also developed.Calcium cations and sulfate anions were identified as the dominant ions present in the process water when the difficult-to-process ores are beneficiated in the flotation plant. The concentrations of calcium and sulfate ions were consistent with the presence of a small amount of a calcium sulfate mineral in the ore although an oxidation/weathering process of iron sulfide minerals present in the ore could also be responsible for the observed water chemistry and subsequent flotation problems with the ores. The latter possibility suggests that the long-term stockpiling of such ores may have a highly negative impact on the flotation process.The role of soda ash in the flotation circuit is to precipitate metal cations from the pulp thus allowing the tall oil-based collector to selectively interact with the phosphate components.INTRODUCTIONPhosphorus minerals are the main source of this element for the production of fertilizers, and the froth flotation process is the most important technology for beneficiating phosphate ores. The flotation concentrate from Agrium-Kapuskasing Phosphate Operations (KPO) is transported to Redwater Fertilizer Operations in Alberta (also operated by Agrium) where the phosphate concentrate is converted into a phosphate fertilizer and other important chemical products. The KPO phosphate ores differ widely in mineralogy and phosphate grades, and are broadly divided on-site into three classes. The easy-to-float A-type ores do not pose any major flotation problems, but the B-type and “marginal” ores, which are quite common in the KPO igneous phosphate deposit, are not always readily-floatable using the current reagent suites and process parameters (pulp density, feed particle size, pH). In fact, marginal ores are presently considered impossible to process by flotation. A-type ores contain normally more than 15% P2O5 and less than 8% ferric oxide equivalent (Fe2O3). B-type ores are approximately of the same P2O5 grades as A-type ores but their iron content may reach 30% Fe2O3. Any material containing less than 15% P2O5 is rejected as waste rock."

Jan 1, 2008

By S. Leong

This paper reports on research examining disclosures from mining companies regarding their water usage in the Macquarie and Lachlan catchment areas, both parts of the Murray-Darling Basin in New South Wales, Australia. The objective of the research was to assess whether this disclosure is sufficient to allow communities to determine whether mining companies are complying with mining conditions of consent and abiding by the requirements of their water licencing agreements. These requirements are then compared to the water reporting requirements of the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) and the Water Accounting Framework for the Minerals Industry (WAFMI). Communities are concerned about whether the mining industry?s use of water will have impacts on their livelihoods and lifestyle and thus require information concerning the quantity of water that will be extracted, how much water will be left for other stakeholders and whether the mining will affect water quality. This is an archival study. It has involved examining relevant publically available information released by mining companies and government regulators and determining if this is sufficient to meet the needs of the local communities. Additionally, it has involved looking at information indirectly provided by mining companies, via the use of intermediaries. Further, information availability concerning basic water accounting and regulatory breeches and whether such information is available at the mine site level has been considered. It is found that while NSW legislation places very little reporting requirements on mining companies, the development consent conditions for new projects and extensions to existing projects are quite significant and should be sufficient to meet the needs of local catchment residents though such information is not always easily accessible for the layperson.

Aug 1, 2013

By J. B. Mawdsley

Introduction The writer was instructed to visit the Chibougamau region during the field season of 1927 and report on the mineral discoveries that had been made there since 1911. lt was deemed advisable to obtain detailed information regarding the rocks underlying the area in the vicinity of these recent discoveries. Accordingly an area 60 square miles in extent was mapped. The outcrops were studied along the water courses and along bush traverses spaced at half-mile intervals between these water courses. The completion of the rest of the summer's programme allowed only three weeks for this work. lt is from this small, mapped area, and this necessarily cursory survey, that the material for this paper was obtained. Location And Means Of Access The name Chibougamau district is applied loosely to an ill-defined area of about 1,000 square miles lying mostly north and west of Chibougamau lake in the Province of Quebec. The lake is approximately half way between lake St. John and James bay. It lies 150 miles north of the Canadian National railway and 40 miles south of Mistassini?lake.

Jan 1, 1928

By J. F. Wright

INTRODUCTION Eighteen years ago about half a dozen experienced prospectors moved from northern Ontario to northwest Manitoba to prospect 'greenstone' areas shown on geological maps of .parts of northern Manitoba prepared by J. B. Tyrrell, D. B. Dowling, and Wm. Mclnnes. Gold-bearing quartz was soon discovered by these men in this new field, and in succeeding years many more prospectors entered the district. A number of the pioneers are still prospecting, and since 1913 mineral deposits have been discovered each year in widely separated areas of the large district extending 150 miles eastward from the 102nd meridian and 60 miles north of latitude 54°30'. The majority of the discoveries, however, have been made near Schist, Elbow, Wekusko, and Kississing lakes. One hundred or more mineral occurrences of some merit are known, the main types being sulphide replacement bodies containing nickel-copper or copper-zinc and gold-bearing quartz veins. Some underground exploration or diamond drilling has been completed on 25 or more of the prospects. Up to the present, three ore-bodies, namely, Flin Flon, Sherritt-Gordon, and Mandy, have been proved. Of these, Flin Flon, the largest, is estimated to contain from 16,000,000 o 19,000,000 tons of copper-zinc ore carrying some gold, silver, and lead. Next in importance in regard to tonnage is Sherritt-Gordon, with a calculated reserve of nearly 5,250,000 tons of copper-zinc ore carrying less than $1.00 combined gold and silver.

Jan 1, 1931