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By F. L. Wideman

Output of ore and waste from metal and nonmetal mines in the United States continued an upward trend and established a new high. The tonnage of ore handled increased 6 percent over that moved in 1964 and the tonnage of waste rose almost 10 percent. Earth moving by these two activities exceeded 3.2 billion tons, an increase of 7 percent over the 1964 total. Crude material from which metal or nonmetal products were derived continued to be about 75 percent of the total material handled. In 1965, surface mining methods were used to produce about 93 percent of the ore, 99 percent of the waste, and 95 percent of the total material handled. These percentages have remained almost constant since the beginning of this decade.

Jan 1, 1966

Australia today is one of the leading countries in the fields associated with the mineral industry, an industry which accounts for over 50% of overseas income and revenue to government. This is no accident. In order to be competitive in what was recog- nised very early in the country's history as a highly profitable busi- ness, the Australian mineral industry (mining, extractive and refining metallurgy) has traditionally been very innovation con- scious, a characteristic which has been evident from the begin- ning of the industry or very nearly so: Australia's geographic isolation and the dispersion of the mineral industry over wide distances made an exchange of ideas difficult and often impossible. One needs only to look at the inaugural address given by Sir Henry Ayers, the first president of the then Australasian Insti- tute of Mining Engineers, in Adelaide on 4th April, 1892 (1) "There is probably no other pursuit which depends more on its productive development and profitable results than in the extent and application of the scientific and mechanical knowledge possessed and exercised by its manager." and "Having in view the value of the mining industry of Austral- asians, they should be urged to apply their best skill with all the scientific and mechanical knowledge obtainable to its future development."

Jan 1, 1988

By P. S. Rao

In 1951, Tata Steel became the pioneer in Asia by setting up its first ever washery in West Bokaro Colliery. The first beneficiation plant used to produce clean coal of 19% ash with chance cone. Feed size of chance washers were -75 mm to +6 mm. The fine coal (-6 mm) were used directly. With change in technology,in 1986,chance cones were replaced by DM cyclones and coal was washed in two circuits. In the coarse circuit -13 mm to +0.5 mm coal was washed in two stages while the fine coal of -0.5 mm was treated in froth floatation cell. With further improvement in the process the higher ash raw coal was feed to produce clean coal of 13% ash. In 1998, DSM cyclones were replaced by scrolled Evolute design cyclone which has Ep of 0.020 to 0.025 ranges resulting in increase efficiency of separation. With the increase in demand of clean coal, lower seam proportion has increased in raw coal production. The washability studies of individual seams indicated large difference in the seam characteristics in terms of washability and specific gravity cut points of the individual seams. So washing all seams together had resulted in frequent change in the character of coal and warrants frequent changes in the operating parameters of the plant in which the separating efficiency comes down and ultimately resulted in yield loss initially. With increase in knowledge and experience in coal washing the solution to this problem was achieved by adopting, seam-wise washing which is enabling process engineers by keeping set point for longer periods there by to enhance the separation efficiency. Keywords: coal processing, froth floatation, steam washing

Sep 1, 2012

By Robert L. Stephens

"It can be argued that one of the most important property of any material is cost, since this property detennines the applications for which a material can be considered. Despite growing demand and production for commodity metals such as copper, nickel, zinc, lead, and tin, the cost of these metals has been steadily decreasing in real terms. The only way that metal miners and producers can remain financially viable in the long term is by continuing to lower their cost curve through the implementation of new metals production technologies. This paper reviews technological developments in the production of copper, nickel, zinc, lead, and tin that have or threaten to redefine the cost curves for these metals.DisclaimerThe opinions expressed in this paper the author's, and are not necessarily those held by the author's employer, Cominco Ltd.IntroductionThis meeting will discuss many novel technologies and processes for producing metals and materials with specific properties that will enhance the applications ranges for the material or will allow entirely new applications to be developed. However, in every real-world case, the cost of the new material or process is an important property that determines which applications the material or process can be used in. Other properties that are important depend on the applications.A recent press report (1) discussing the potential replacement of aluminum radiators with copper radiators in pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles provides an interesting example to reinforce the importance of cost in materials selection. In this case, the displacement of aluminum by copper is being considered because of the more favorable heat dissipation characteristics of copper. Heat dissipation has become more important due to the development of hotter-burning V-8 and V-6 engines. For this application, engineers also consider cost, weight, size, durability, and manufacturing process. The report stated that the development by the International Copper Association (ICA) of the ""CuproBraze"" manufacturing process for heat transfer products was an important development. This technology produces 845 radiators that weigh less, are more uniform in quality, and are potentially more compact. They are also expected to cost less in high production quantities than copper units produced in the past, last three to four times longer than soldered copper radiators, and the process also eliminates the use of lead solder from the manufacturing process."

Jan 1, 2000

By A. M. Lovelace

Introduction One area of engineering utilization of materials in which the requirements are especially rigorous and demanding is that of aerospace systems, including aircraft, helicopters, missiles, and space satellites. Materials used in these systems must reliably perform many critical functions in a broad range of adverse environments. Some of the most critical functions are performed by polymeric nonmetallic materials such as elastomers (rubber), coatings, fibrous materials, and reinforced plastics. These types of polymeric materials have some common characteristics that make them attractive to aerospace system designers: light weight, corrosion resistance, and relative ease and low cost of processing and fabrication. Each type also has its own special characteristics that enable it to perform certain required functions better than other competing materials can (Table 1). The desirable properties of polymeric materials, which in some applications make them the only practical candidates, are partly offset by their principal limitation, which is degradation by exposure to high temperature. [ ]

Jan 1, 1971

By Patrick M. Y. Waye

As mines utilise more automation in mining operations to improve efficiency and safety, a corresponding increasing demand is placed on the transport of information. Some of the recent technological advances in underground telecommunications are described for various data, voice and video applications. In particular, two new innovative underground communication systems are described, one with high speed data at 30 Mbps and the other for mine wide evacuation and safety applications. The high speed data system incorporates stateof- the-art data networking technologies and the existing leaky cable narrow band radio channels. The new system provides over the same basic infrastructure the high speed data network at 30 Mbps TCP/IP Ethernet with 100 Base-T interconnection, plus 32 narrow band radio channels. The second system is a system for mine wide evacuation with "through the earth" communication infrastructure. Emergency situation can be communicated to and from all the miners within seconds through a central control location. The technology involved does not require leaky cable or any other similar transmission media installation. Many applications are possible, including warning miners of emergency situations, mine rescue operation to communicate with trapped miners, regular reporting from miners working alone.

May 1, 2001

By P. M. Y. Waye, R. Yewen

"As mines utilize more automation in mining operations to improve efficiency and safety, a corresponding increasing demand is placed on the transport of information. Some of the recent technological advances in underground telecommunications are described for various data, voice and video applications. In particular, two new innovative underground communication systems are described, one with highspeed data at 30 Mbps and the other for minewide evacuation and safety applications.The high-speed data system incorporates state-of-the-art data networking technologies and the existing leaky-cable, narrow-band radio channels. The new system provides over the same basic infrastructure — the highspeed data network at 30 Mbps TCP/IP Ethernet with 100 Base-T interconnection, plus 32 narrow-band radio channels.The second system is a system for minewide evacuation with “through-the-earth” communication infrastructure. Emergency situations can be communicated to and from all the miners within seconds through a central control location. The technology involved does not require leaky cable or any other similar transmission media installation. Many applications are possible, including warning miners of emergency situations, mine rescue operation to communicate with trapped miners, and regular reporting from miners working alone."

Jan 1, 2002

By Robert P. Dufresne

Electrolytic cells are used in electrowinning (EW) and electrorefining (ER) of non-ferrous metals such as zinc and copper, and are a critical part of the purification process. The cell is a large basin and has an electrolyte or aqueous solution, an anode and a cathode, an insulator, and incoming high amperage. Cells are exposed to unfavourable internal and external factors that have a direct impact on their lifespan. Their deterioration can be caused by incorrect polarity, insufficient magnitude, their construction, tension stress, thermal shock, corrosion and other, and their maintenance and replacement can be time-consuming, costly, difficult and environmentally unsafe. Occupational health hazards and dangers posed by the maintenance and removal of the cell should also be taken into consideration. Modifying the design and fabrication method of the cell, using chemical-resistant reinforcement, and increasing tensile and mechanical strength will defer maintenance for a very long time. This can be achieved by a double hull system that comprises full-length composite reinforcement, polymer concrete reinforced with fiberglass pultruded rods and rebars, fiberglass structural layers, and special resin matrices. This will provide protection against thermal shocks, corrosion, leakage, cracks. The design of this cell incorporates a lifting system that will afford quick and easy install without having to move a great number of cells in close proximity, since it is strong enough to stand on its own and not have to be bonded to adjacent cells. As well, the cell can be anchored with ease as it remains stable. This is especially important because space is limited to lift and manoeuver between the cell and the double-girder overhead travelling cranes. The lifting system can also prevent electrocution and loss in product quality, while increasing efficiency and safety in the workplace. Considerable savings in terms of production downtime are also part of the equation. INTRODUCTION Maintenance and replacement of electrolytic cells in electrowinning and electrorefining are operations that pose many challenges, health and safety concerns, and give rise to substantial operational costs. These problems have existed since time immemorial. Electrolytic cells are made of conventional concrete or polymer concrete, and because of the very nature of their composition and their exposure to severe and environmental conditions, their lifespan is short. Although polymer concrete is composed of high-quality materials, and has good thermal stability and resistance to chemicals, nonetheless, maintenance is frequently required in order to maintain the integrity of the cell and to ensure the quality of refined metals. Repairing concrete is a non-permanent solution as cracks will reappear, and every repair weakens the integrity of the cell a bit more, until it reaches a knock- down point and the structure is compromised. The cell needs to be replaced, otherwise the cell will collapse.

Jan 1, 2019

By R. R. Bhappu

The metallurgical processing industry is in the midst of a hydrometallurgical revolution with mining companies looking for low cost, energy efficient and environmentally friendly technologies for processing sulfide ores and concentrates. The Intec Copper Process is one of the most advanced of these technologies and has the potential to greatly change the way copper concentrates are treated in the future. Specifically, the Intec process has the ability to be built on a small scale and at mine sites while being much more economic than conventional smelting. Intec Copper has constructed a I tonne of copper per day demonstration plant in Sydney, Australia designed to verify metallurgical and operational performance. This paper will describe the process in more detail and provide preliminary results of the process based on the plant's performance. It will also compare the Intec Copper Process with a few of the competing technologies and evaluate the relative economic merits of Intec.

Jan 1, 1999

By Laurent Cohen

Since the 1970s, Solvent Extraction (SX) in hydrometallurgical processes has been a key enabling technology in the production of high-purity metals. Examples include copper, rare earth oxides, uranium, cobalt and nickel. Notwithstanding incremental improvements in extractant formulations, few breakthroughs can be recounted in this industry outside of the initial amine-, oxime- or phosphine-based reagent chemistries. However, the advent of lithium-ion batteries and their stringent requirements for critical materials (lithium, cobalt and nickel) offer new challenges and opportunities for SX. Solvay recently introduced a new extractant for lithium, CYANEX® 936, and developed unique modeling software capabilities in cobalt/nickel separation using CYANEX® 272, zinc SX using DEHPA® and rare earth separations using CYANEX® 572. This paper discusses trends in SX and provides insight on processing of critical materials essential to energy sources. It also summarizes the technical and economic benefits based on extractant selection and advances in modeling.

By Flanelson Maciel Monteiro, Marcondes Mendes de Souza, Mauro Froes Meyer

This research is based on a bibliographical review of a field work that was done in the municipality of Parelhas / RN. The area explored, in turn, is known for its richness of mineral resources that are present in pegmatitic rocks. The general objective of this research is to characterize the main properties of the pegmatites and quartzite, in order to verify the heterogeneity of the elements, to raise a possible viability of extraction for economic purposes. The quartzite also presents a siliceous chemical composition. This rock is a source of bricks and silica refractories used in the steel industry and for the preparation of the blast furnace bed, ornamental rock used in different ways (rustic, carved, polished, among others). However, this research resulted in preliminary data, but it would be interesting to be more detailed in order to evaluate the economic viability of these rocks.

Oct 3, 2019

By Marcos Vieira, Gil Vilela, Wanderson Silvério, Livia Faustino, Pierre Fernandes

New global industry standards and regulatory changes regarding mining tailings management are driving installation of tailings filtration plants to decommission existing tailings dams and implement dry stacking. Target of this project was to reduce ultrafine slime tailings deposition. Previous investigation at Samarco concentrator has showed a 35% decrease in tailings filtration throughput when feeding a mix of 95% flotation tailings with 5% slime tailings (compared with 100% flotation tailings), also worsening geotechnical aspects such as material workability during dry staking. Industrial trials using a proper filter aid at tailings filtration plant feeding a mix of 94% flotation tailing and 6% slime tailing (equivalent to 30% of total slime generation) have provided filtration performance maintenance (throughput and cake moisture), and dry stacking the dewatered material. Results achieved will enable life expansion of existing slime disposal structures, as well as potential life of mining extension. Furthermore, reagent chemistry influence is discussed by the light of geotechnical aspects, which has been showing improved KPIs, such as workability, compressibility and permeability.

Feb 1, 2025

By C. Bourgoin

"The factors constraining productivity in the mining of narrow vein ore deposits are numerous and often interdependent. This paper concerns mining techniques capable of reducing some of these constraints in the case of vein deposits whose dip is less than 45 degrees. Modifications of conventional mining methods as well as suggested new developments are presented, as are matters pertaining to the mechanization of operations as a mean of increasing both productivity and work safety. IntroductionThe mining of vein deposits, whose width (thickness) is generally less than 2 metres and whose dip is often variable, calls for the use of varying stoping procedures as well as appropriate infrastructure and equipment. In the case of intermediate dips (15 degrees to 45 degrees), it is generally conceded that the degree of mechanization is limited and that ore removal via gravity is impossible. This paper proposes certain innovations in matters of equipment use and stoping methods, together with certain technical data pertaining to the application of these new procedures Stoping MethodsTo mine vein deposits, one must choose a method that can adapt to irregular ore limits and allow, as well, for good ore recovery with as little dilution as possible. In addition, it is important to minimize development work in waste rock. In principle, one selects a method that is both safe and profitable; this method will be defined mainly by the nature of the vein deposit and its dip, by the competency of the rock formations and by certain technical considerations. Moreover, the stoping procedure in a given deposit may well change with time as a function of new layouts or new equipment."

Jan 1, 1994

By Tatyana Alexandrova

The problem of processing refractory (rebellious) gold ores is important for all the countries involved in recovering precious metals from ores. Technological aspects of processing precious metal ores are examined in two respects: enhancing gold recovery from double refractory ores; and using carbonaceous ores on a production scale. The dispersed carbonaceous matter (DCM) present in concentrates causes the adsorption of [Au(CN)2]- complex on their surface during cyanidation process. Depending on the degree of graphitization and the organic carbon content in DCM (including kerogens and bitumen), the technology used to recover precious metals varies considerably. The problem of processing refractory (rebellious) gold ores is important for all the countries involved in recovering precious metals from ores. Depending on the degree of graphitization and the organic carbon content in DCM (including kerogens and bitumen), the technology used to recover precious metals varies considerably. The possibility of rare metals recovery, including rhenium, from black-shale rocks, has been examined. Comparative assessment of analytical methods of rare metals detecting has been carried out. It has been proved that neutron activation analysis is a promising technique. It has been shown that colloid-salt fraction (nanofraction) with particle size less than 1000 nm makes up to 3 wt% of black shale samples and is extracted by water under special conditions. The use of water instead of chemically active reagents provides insolubility of the mineral matrix and fully reflects the colloid-salt element of the samples. To sum up, the justification of the choice of technology for processing of carbon-bearing ores is based on examining the type of carbonaceous matter and its adsorption behavior. When the content of carbon of high degree of metamorphism is considerable, it is possible to recover platinum group elements and rare elements from this type of ores. The obtained results predetermine the general guidelines for creating new methods and techniques of processing carbonaceous material for integral development of solid minerals in the mining and oilfield areas of Russia.

Jan 1, 2016

By J. J. Sammarco

Light emitting diodes (LEDs) are emerging as viable replacements for incandescent-based cap lamps used in mining. The photometric and energy characteristics of these light sources differ in important ways. The present paper describes the performance of LED and incandescent sources in cap lamps in terms of correlated color temperature, color rendering, light output, electric power, ambient temperature and airflow, and light source aging. Importantly, these characteristics can influence a miner?s ability to spot mining hazards thus impacting safety. Secondly, some of these characteristics interact with the operating life of the cap lamp?s battery power, such that differences between LED and incandescent sources can be magnified toward the end of a 10­hour battery discharge cycle. Empirically, we have determined that after 8 hours at an ambient temperature of 25 °C, the average light output of an incandescent cap lamp can decrease to about 69% of its initial value when powered by a lead-acid battery and it can decrease to about 65% of its initial value when powered by a nickel-hydride battery. An LED-based cap lamp using a constant current drive circuit can maintain about 96% of its initial value when powered by a nickel-hydride battery. Real-world tests addressing the effects of ambient temperature and airflow on the light output of an LED and incandescent cap lamp were conducted in the NIOSH Safety Research Coal Mine (SRCM). The LED cap lamp yielded a vertical average illuminance improvement of approximately 9.5% and the INC cap lamp yielded a vertical average illuminance degradation o f approximately 4%. The differences between LED and incandescent cap lamps were further quantified by the calculation of ?mesopic luminance? data that indicated for the same photopic luminance (i.e., as measured using a conventional light meter) the LED cap lamp could be up to 38 % more efficient than the incandescent cap lamp with a lead-acid battery at the end of the 10-hour driving cycle. Lastly, accelerated life tests were used to empirically determine light output depreciation as the incandescent light source age approached its useful life. There was about a 35% decrease in light output. This is quite considerable, especially given that the light output will decrease an additional 30% to 45% over the period of a 10-hour shift. The implications of the differences between LED and incandescent sources are discussed. This information is crucial in determining how visual performance could be affected for real-world conditions where batteries discharge during the work shift and as the light source ages. To date, only idealized conditions have been used for LED and incandescent cap lamp visual performance research.

Jan 1, 2008

By John J. Sammarco

Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are emerging as viable replacements for incandescent (INC)-based cap lamps used in mining. The photometric and energy characteristics of these light sources differ in important ways. This paper describes the performance of LED and INC sources in cap lamps in terms of correlated color temperature, color rendering, light output, electric power, ambient temperature and air flow, and light source aging. Importantly, these characteristics can influence a miner?s ability to spot mining hazards thus impacting safety. Second, some of these characteristics interact with the operating life of the cap lamp?s battery power, such that differences between LED and INC sources can be magnified toward the end of a 10-h battery discharge cycle. Empirically, we have determined that after 8 h at an ambient temperature of 25 ?C, the average light output of an INC cap lamp can decrease to about 69% of its initial value when powered by a lead-acid battery, and it can decrease to about 65% of its initial value when powered by a nickel-hydride battery. An LED-based cap lamp using a constant current drive circuit can maintain about 96% of its initial value when powered by a nickel-hydride battery. Real-world tests addressing the effects of ambient temperature and air flow on the light output of an LED and INC cap lamp were conducted in the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Safety Research Coal Mine. The LED cap lamp yielded a vertical average illuminance improve­ment of approximately 9.5%, and the INC cap lamp yielded a vertical average illuminance degradation of approximately 4%. The differences between LED and INC cap lamps were further quantified by the calculation of ?mesopic luminance? data that indicated for the same photopic luminance (i.e., as measured using a conventional light meter) the LED cap lamp could be up to 38% more efficient than the INC cap lamp with a lead-acid battery at the end of the 10-h driving cycle. Lastly, accelerated life tests were used to empirically determine light output depreciation as the INC light source age approached its useful life. There was about a 35% decrease in light output. This is quite considerable, particularly given that the light output will decrease an additional 30% to 45% over the period of a 10-h shift. The implications of the differences between LED and INC sources are discussed. This information is crucial in determining how visual performance could be affected for real-world conditions where batteries discharge during the work shift and as the light source ages. To date, only idealized conditions have been used for LED and INC cap lamp visual performance research.

Jan 1, 2009

By A. F. S. Schoukens

The Mintek Thermal Magnesium Process (MTMP) was successfully demonstrated in November 2004. The pilot plant was operated continuously for 8 days, during which about 30 tons of magnesium producing recipe was smelted in a DC (direct-current) arc furnace at a feed rate of 525 kg/h. The furnace was operated at power levels of 700 to 850 kW, resulting in slag tapping temperatures of 1600 to 1700°C. Magnesium extraction averaged 77 per cent and was as high as 85 per cent during good extraction periods. The furnace generated 70 to 85 kg/h magnesium vapour that was delivered to the condenser where the temperature was controlled at 680 to 720°C. The novel condenser captured the magnesium in a liquid state, which was tapped periodically as required. In total, 15 magnesium-tapping operations were carried out, proving that online magnesium tapping can be consistently performed without any major difficulty. About 3500 kg of crude magnesium was produced with a quality that was similar to, if not better than, that of the Magnetherm?s crude metal. The condensation efficiency averaged 85 per cent, and peaked at 87 per cent, which exceeded the target of 80 per cent set for the pilot scale. A brief magnesium market study was also carried out. Magnesium demand is expected to keep on growing by 6 to 8 percent over the next 10 years and could reach 2 million tons by the year 2020. The growth will be mainly in the die-casting sector for light-weight automotive applications. China is likely to remain the dominant supplier of primary magnesium but competitively priced non-Chinese magnesium producers will be needed to sustain the anticipated growth of 6 to 8 per cent over the next 10 years. In addition, a prefeasibility study was undertaken for a commercial plant. The study confirmed the relatively low capitalcosts of the MTMP process, as well as the competitiveness of theoperating costs, as compared to the industrial electrolytic process.

Jan 1, 2006

By N. R. Shoko, J. Chirasha

Zimbabwe Alloys has been producing Low Carbon Ferrochrome since 1953. A number of operational and technical advances have been made since then. Some of these advances improved production significantly. Process control, however, remained a challenge not only in the production process itself but also in the handling of finished product. In addition the handling of the slag created an environmental problem. Process control issues were addressed by Zimbabwe Alloys Limited and Japan Metal & Chemicals (JMC) entering into a Technical Transfer Agreement. The aim of the technical transfer was to improve production, alloy quality and, thereby, the financial performance of Zimbabwe Alloys. In addition, the Low Carbon Ferrochrome production process was made environmentally friendlier by modifying the final slag handling methodology. The aspects that are covered and discussed in this paper are, ladle refractory lining changes, improved control of the process, changes in the alloy casting methodology and granulation of the final slag. The improved control of the process was enhanced by the conversion from ladle duplexing to argon purging, introduction of on-line sampling and introduction of second stage process. The combined effect of the above was a significant improvement on on-grade material production, production efficiencies, unit cost of production and a cleaner working environment.

Jan 1, 2004

By André Bérubé

Since the disappearance of Les Forges du Saint-Maurice at the end of the last century, many historians have taken an interest in the lengthy past of this enterprise. They considered the political, socio-economic, administrative and anecdotal aspects of the industry, but barely dealt with the elements of technology. The purpose of this article is to try to fill this gap (1). Les Forges du Saint-Maurice was an integrated industrial concern, specializing in the production of semi-finished wrought iron and finished cast iron that operated almost without interruption between 1734 and 1883. Les Forges first came into being in 1729, when Montreal merchant Franc;ois Poulin de Francheville submitted to the King of France a request for the right to exploit the bog iron ore deposits on his seigneury of Saint-Maurice. This request, agreed to in 1730, was one of a long series of attempts, previously unsuccessful, to establish a local iron industry in the colony. Several such proposals were held up by a lack of capital from promoters or a too rigid application of the mercantilist policy by the metropolis. In 1730, however, the French minister Maurepas favoured a more liberal policy which would encourage private enterprise. The benefits of an iron industry to the naval construction industry was a factor that caught the attention of administrators. The choice of the site for Les Forges was based on the following factors: - the abundance of surface deposits of bog iron ore in the Saint-Maurice region; - the presence of a vast supply of hardwood and conifers needed in large quantities by this industry; - the proximity of sandstone and limestone deposits, md1spensable materials for the construction and operation of the blast furnace; - the presence of a water stream, with sufficient flow to provide the hydraulic power needed for the operation of the machinery.

Jan 1, 1999

By André Bérubé

"IntroductionSince the disappearance of Les Forges du Saint-Maurice at the end of the last century, many historians have taken an interest in the lengthy past of this enterprise. They considered the political, socio-economic, administrative and anecdotal aspects of the industry, but barely dealt with the elements of technology. The purpose of this article is to try to fill this gapru.Les Forges du Saint-Maurice was an integrated industrial concern, specializing in the production of semi-finished wrought iron and finished cast iron, that operated almost without interruption between 1734 and 1883. Les Forges first came into being in 1729, when Montreal merchant Francois Poulin de Francheville submitted to the king of France a request for the right to exploit the bog iron ore deposits on his seigneury of Saint-Maurice. This request, agreed to in 1730, was one of a long series of attempts, previously unsuccessful, to establish a local iron industry in the colony. Several such proposals were held up by a lack of capital from promoters or a too rigid application of the mercantilist policy by the metropolis. In 1730, however, the French minister Maurepas favoured a more liberal policy which would encourage private enterprise. The benefits of an iron industry to the naval construction industry was a factor that caught the attention of administrators. The choice of the site for Les Forges was based on the following factors:• the abundance of surface deposits of bog iron ore in the Saint-Maurice region;• the presence of a vast supply of hardwood and conifers needed in large quantities by this industry;• the proximity of sandstone and limestone deposits, indispensable materials for the construction and operation of the blast furnace;• the presence of a water stream, with sufficient flow to provide the hydraulic power needed for the operation of the machinery."

Jan 1, 1983