Search Documents

By Roger J. Goodman, Don Riva

"IntroductionCrows Nest Resources Limited (CNRL), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Shell Canada Resources Limited, is nearing completion of its first coal project, located in southeastern British Columbia. CNRL shipped over 700,000 tonnes of thermal coal to foreign markets in 1982. With the completion of the metallurgical coal plant in December, 1982, shipments of both thermal and metallurgical coal will increase substantially in 1983 and will approach the anticipated operating capacity of 3.0 million tonnes in 1985. The Line Creek Mine lies some 25 kilometres north of Sparwood in southeast British Columbia (Fig. 1). The open-pit mine is located on top of Line Creek Ridge, with coal being hauled 16 km to the thermal and metallurgical coal preparation plants, situated adjacent to the already existing Canadian Pacific Railway. Most of the coal is moved by 108 car unit trains by CP Rail to coal ports in Vancouver, where it is loaded onto vessels destined for overseas markets. Some smaller scale car load shipments are moved by rail to contiguous markets in the Pacific Northwest. History The southeastern British Columbia area, known as the East Kootenays, is steeped in a rich coal mining heritage, dating back to the latter part of the nineteenth century. Predecessors of Crows Nest Resources Limited were instrumental in developing the rich coal reserves in the area. In 1887, William Fernie, a pioneer-cum-prospector recognized the potential of coal deposits in the East Kootenays. Spurred by the relentless push west of the Canadian Pacific Railway through the Crows Nest Pass area, Fernie recognized that it was just a matter of time before the steam locomotives provided him with his required market. That time arrived in 1897 when Fernie helped to form the Crows Nest Pass Coal Company and coal mining commenced at Coal Creek, near his namesake town of Fernie. During its almost 70-year history, this company produced over 48 million tonnes of steam coal and 8 million tonnes of coking coal. In 1965, the Crows Nest Pass Coal Company was re-named Crows Nest Industries, to better reflect its expanded interests into forest products, and it is the latter company which Shell Canada Resources Limited acquired in 1978. The extensive coal resources of Shell, in both Alberta and British Columbia, were rationalized into one group with the birth of Crows Nest Resources Limited to manage and develop the coal holdings."

Jan 1, 1985

By R. W. Raymond

On the Manchuria. SOMEWHAT fatigued with excess of enjoyment and strenuous continuity of movement on the trip to and through California, the members and guests of the Institute party embarked Tuesday, Oct. 17, on the Pacific Mail S. S. Manchuria for a further journey to and through Japan. The good ship displayed the flag of the Institute (blue cross-hammers on a white ground), together with the Stars and Stripes and the ensign of the company. Uninterrupted fair weather and smooth water attended the passage to Honolulu. The Manchuria proved herself most commodious, comfortable and clean ("A sweeter steamship never sailed," quoth President Hunt) ; Captain Dixon and his officers were most agreeable, as well as most efficient; the passenger list comprised many congenial people besides ourselves-among them a score of missionary folk, and also Mr. M. H. de Young, Vice-President of the Panama

Jan 1, 1912

By W R. Adamson

"Optimisation of drill and blast design and engineering can deliver a significant positive impact on the profitability of any mining operation; however, true engineering of the blasting process is less common than might be thought. The paper that follows explores this gap and suggests a process control-based approach to the challenge.The concept of applying modifications to drill and blast designs in order to achieve efficiency improvements in downstream mining processes is far from new. However, the author suggests that the practical application has become less than rigorous in a number of different sectors of the mining industry in a wide range of countries.There is a common tendency for the design process to become simplified to the point where the objective is merely the communication of instructions to field implementers (drillers, explosive suppliers, blasters, etc). In effect ‘design’ often degrades to ‘cut and paste’ with consequences that vary from mild to critical, with respect to the profitability of the business.Engineering of the drill and blast process involves the design function, not on a one-off basis but rather as a component of a more complete cyclical process that includes a statement of objectives, a design based on a suggested hypothesis, field measurement of results, comparison with the target ‘set point’ and the application of control measures followed by new measurement, including interpretation of the results in financial terms.When applied in this fashion, engineering provides practitioners with the means to optimise the drill and blast impact on the full spectrum business result of the mining activity.These concepts are discussed with reference to a surface gold mining operation applying run-of-mine heap leach extraction. Engineering optimisation by adapting process control and measurement techniques is demonstrated to be a key component of the solution set applied to generate enhanced operations productivity and stakeholder value. It is shown that a combination of rigorous measurement, model calibration and hands-on quality assurance/quality control facilitates the creation of a road map to profitability, stressing the need to consider economic trade-offs between operational expense (investment) and measurement of enhanced value (return on investment).The process, however, does not cease at this point. Implementation of true design practices, incorporating innovation and discipline in implementation or execution can drive the process to deliver demonstrable, technically validated outcomes. Furthermore, these technical results can be related to financially quantifiable impacts. However, this accomplishment does not guarantee that these gains or savings will reach the bottom line of those mining, quarrying and construction companies that begin the process with such high hopes.CITATION:Adamson, W R, 2015. Application of engineering discipline and a full-process optimisation focus – productivity to profitability without profuse pruning, in Proceedings 11th International Symposium on Rock Fragmentation by Blasting, pp 3–12 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne)."

Aug 24, 2015

By Albert H. Fay

This glossary is published by the Bureau of Mines as a contribution to the mining literature in the belief that it will fill a long-felt need. It contains about 20,000 terms; these include both technical and purely local terms related to metal mining, coal mining., quarrying, petroleum, and natural gas, and metallurgical works; names of useful, important, and common minerals and rocks; and geological terms. It presents in one comprehensive volume the available standard, technical terms relating to the mining and mineral industry, as well as provincialisms that have been or are now in use in English-speaking countries. The glossary also includes many terms relating to ceramics and. the clay industry, glass making, foundry practice, railway and building construction, electrical installation and power-plant equipment, and chemical terms relating to metallurgical practice. Complete lists of terms for each of these allied industries are beyond the scope of this glossary. Paleontological terms, although closely associated with geology, are far removed from mining and metallurgical operations, and for this reason have been omitted.

Jan 1, 1920

By Donald B. Lindsay

This report presents the findings of an investigation into the characteristics of a number of techniques for cleaning ambient air with special emphasis on their applicability to the removal of the short-lived radioactive decay products of 222-radon, the so-called " radon daughters" that have been identified with the induction of lung cancer in underground uranium miners. The purpose of the study was to review the requirements for control of radon daughter concentrations in mine air, and to examine all techniques whose feasibility has been demonstrated in principle and which in our judgment would be capable of meeting those requirements. The study has included a review of all pertinent literature, both technical and proprietary, on the subject of the control of miner exposure to the radon daughters and in the area of potentially applicable air cleaning technology. Information about the nature of the problem and about the experience of the uranium mining industry in applying air cleaning methods to its solution was obtained by visiting mines where such methods are in use, and by written correspondence and telephone conversations with other industry sources. Information on performance characteristics and costs of applicable air cleaning methods and equipment was obtained from the experience of our own engineering staff and by visits, interviews, and correspondence with manufacturers of industrial air cleaning equipment.

Jan 1, 1978

By M. Bergerman

Sossego was the first Vale SAG mill operation to process copper-gold ore. It is located in Para state, south east of Amazon region in Brazil. The comminution circuit was designed to treat 41 000 metric tons per day comprising primary crushing, one 11.6 m SAG mill operating in closed configuration with cone crushers, followed by two 6.7 ball mills. In the first three years of continuous operation Vale investigated alternatives for obtained improved performance of the circuit by investigating operating conditions, mainly focusing on SAG mill. A number of actions were then implemented, which resulted in significant increase in overall production. Vale then decided to further assess the performance of the comminution circuit as a function of ore characteristics. A comprehensive ore characterization program was then conducted, together with the calibration of mathematical models on the basis of surveys carried out at the industrial circuit. The simulator was then used to predict the production level associated to each ore type, as well as to establish the optimized circuit configuration and tailored operating conditions. The ongoing validation program is planned to consolidate the selected strategy, as well as showing the benefits in adopting such indices in mine planning, as opposed to rather simplistic approaches. This paper describes in detail the main aspects of optimizing the industrial circuit performance, as well as the successful method for predicting the production as a function of ore characteristics.

Jan 1, 2014

The 1963 Lignite Symposium was held on the University of North Dakota campus, Grand Forks, N. Dak., April 30-May 1, 1963, under the cosponsorship of the University of North Dakota and the Bureau of Mines. This symposium, the third in a series, had as a general objective the dissemination of information concerning advances in technology and utilization of solid fuels, with emphasis on lignitic coals. Approximately 150 representatives of industry, government, and educational institutions from 21 states and 3 Canadian provinces were present at the symposium. Those attending were welcomed by Marling J. Ankeny, Director of the Bureau of Mines, representing the Bureau, and Dean T. H. Clifford, Vice President of the University, representing the University.

Jan 1, 1964

The 1963 Lignite Symposium was held on the University of North Dakota campus, Grand Forks, N. Dak., April 30-May 1, 1963, under the cosponsorship of the University of North Dakota and the Bureau of Mines. This symposium, the third in a series, had as a general objective the dissemination of information concerning advances in technology and utilization of solid fuels, with emphasis on lignitic coals. Approximately 150 representatives of industry, government, and educational institutions from 21 states and 3 Canadian provinces were present at the symposium. Those attending were welcomed by Marling J. Ankeny, Director of the Bureau of Mines, representing the Bureau, and Dean T. H. Clifford, Vice President of the University, representing the University.

Jan 1, 1964

By H. C. George

This bulletin deals with prime movers, power-transmitting machinery, and the surface equipment and methods used to pump oil wells. It does not discuss geological problems nor the methods and equipment used in drilling or at flowing oil wells. Much of the presentation is by photographs and drawings which are described in the text. Underground equipment and methods for pumping oil wells will be discussed in a later publication of the Bureau of Mines.

Jan 1, 1925

By G R Ryan

Dissatisfied with conventional wet processing methods for alluvial deposits, Resource Trend Pty Ltd of Cairns set out to develop a better process. After comprehensive investigation of existing dry techniques the principals have now developed a rotary dry concentrator that can handle the fine-grained fraction of alluvial deposits as well as the coarse. Four of these units have been mounted on an integrated towable treatment plant which has been in successful commercial operation for four years in northern Queensland. A second plant is now under construction for use in the United States. Grades of less than 0.2 g/lcm have been profitably mined at throughputs of about 80 cubic metres per hour and 85 per cent availability. The operation runs round the clock with an establishment of four. Major benefits, apart from lower capital and operating costs, are environmental. Ore is picked up, treated, and replaced in its original mixed condition within 25 m of its initial location. Rehabilitation is completed almost immediately behind the plant as it advances, leaving no slimes dams, coarse stockpiles, or haul roads. In 1993 the company won a Premier's Award for Environmental Excellence in the Queensland Mining Industry. The principal disadvantage is moisture, and the company is now actively seeking deposits in the deserts of the world. In Queensland mining is normally possible only for six months of the year.

Jan 1, 1994

By Kenneth K. Humphreys

INTRODUCTION What is automation? Why automate? Webster's New Collegiate Dictionary defines automation as "the automatically controlled operation of an apparatus, process, or system by mechanical or electronic devices that take the place of human organs of observation, effort, and decision." This definition gives an implied answer to the second question, "Why automate?" Automation, automatic control devices, and process control equipment receive their justification in supplementing or replacing manpower, which results in decreased operating costs. In the past, processes were operated with the minimum amount of instruments needed merely to guide operators. Processes were manually con- trolled by the operator on the basis of simple temperature, pressure, flow, and level indications on a panel. Today the tendency is to design a new plant to operate in a fully automatic manner according to a preset pro- gram utilizing a minimum of manpower. In addition to this direct cost reduction in manual labor, increased equipment capacity results from uniformity of flow and uniform control of process variables. This control eliminates or minimizes surges and permits equipment to be operated at or near its ultimate capacity and, for a given material throughput, permits the use of smaller process equipment. Automatic control, therefore, be it in the field of coal processing or in any industrial field, is simply a problem of economics. Control equipment is justified in terms of its contribution toward increasing productivity, increasing profit margins, or producing a new and salable product at a profit. Instruments and control devices can be divided into two general groups: (1) units which measure and (2) units which both measure and control a process variable.

Jan 1, 1979

Research 83 highlights significant studies conducted during the past fiscal year at Bureau facilities and offices. Readers who want more information about the projects and studies summarized here can contact the researchers whose names and locations appear with each summary, General information on Bureau of Mines programs is available from the Office of Technical Information, 2401 E Street, NW., Washington, DC 20241. A listing of principal officials, a location map of field facilities, and a selected bibliography of publications and patents issued on Bureau developments during the past 3 years are provided.

Jan 1, 1983

It had been more than a decade since this many booths were occupied at an SME Annual Meeting, but at the 2010 meeting in Phoenix, AZ 630 booths were sold to 470 vendors from the entire spectrum of the mining and minerals industry. Exhibitors such as Metso, FLSmidth, West-Tech, ABB, NIOSH, Eriez and Resource West took their usual prominent places on the exhibit floor and were joined by newcomers such as tunnel boring machine manufacturer Herrenknecht AG, Frontier Kemper, the International Society of Explosive Engineers and more than 100 other first-time exhibitors. On the floor, one could find everything from a new pair of boots to a new career in the recruitment pavilion where some of the biggest companies in mining (Barrick Gold, Freeport-McMoRan, Newmont Mining, etc..) set up shop. The following is a look at some of the companies and products that were on display at the 2010 meeting. For information about displaying at the 2011 annual meeting in Denver, CO, Feb. 27 to March 2, contact exhibits@smenet.org.

May 1, 2010

By A. H. Harvey, M. Delangen, A. D. Fernie

"A large-scale expansion to Pacific Coast Bulk Terminals Ltd. has now been completed and placed in operation. The original plant, built approximately eight years ago, consists of the direct rail-car to ship transfer of bulk commodities. The extension includes additional rail-car unloading, a transfer house system for directing commodities to storage or ship, major storage and reclaim facilities, a second shiploader and a second deep-sea berth. In addition to the facilities for overseas shipments, a wood-chip loader and a barge berth have been installed for domestic shipments of wood chips and, occasionally, for other local commodities. The design considerations imposed by the nature of the products to be handled are covered in this paper."

Jan 1, 1969

By IPMI Educational and Scientific Foundation

It is with great pleasure that we announce the availability of this fourth issue of the IPMI Journal, a publication of the International Precious Metals Educational and Scientific Foundation. This digital peer reviewed publication has been created as a vehicle for the sharing of technical information related to the science and technology of precious metals. Since 1976, the International Precious Metals Institute has championed the exchange of information of critical importance to the precious metals scientific and commercial communities through its various communications vehicles. This has included instructional videos, annual conference symposia, special topic committee meetings, regional seminars, and professional and student achievement awards. Due to the breadth of important topics related to all aspects of precious metals, it has been the vision of the IPMI to provide a publication available to the general public that would become a key source of pertinent topics containing high quality publications by experts in their fields of study. Historically, the IPMI has attracted world renowned experts in many fields (including Nobel Laureates Henry Taube, Ei-ishi Negishi, Robert Grubs, Professor Ben Feringa, and David MacMillan) in the dissemination of discoveries, inventions, and industry proven practices. Such information has a total value greater than the sum of its parts as seemingly unrelated innovations from distinct focus areas can be adapted to solve problems. Because of this important characteristic of information exchange, we have decided to create a digital journal, available to the general public, that will not only communicate state of the art discoveries and sound practices, but will also review historical communications from the IPMI’s archives that have value and use even in today’s environment. On behalf of the members and leaders of the IPMI, we hope you will find value in this new publication.

Dec 1, 2022

By Colleagues from Process and Operation departments, Guy Chevalier

"QCM's pellet plant, located in Port-Cartier, Quebec, produces up to 8.6 million tons of iron ore pellets annually. Four different types are produced: three for blast furnace operations and one for direct reduction furnaces. The paper presents the scientific approach that led to the installation of new process equipment to improve the reducibility of direct reduction pellets (DR pellet). The findings, the equipment selection and some post start-up modifications are presented.This low silica DR pellet is used in Midrex and HyL shaft furnaces. A good DR pellet has to meet strict chemical, physical and metallurgical specifications. An important metallurgical property is its ability to release oxygen when exposed to reducing gases. Considering that the market for DR pellets is expanding and being aware that reducibility is critical for our clients, a program to improve the latter was undertaken. Test work showed that one factor which has a negative effect on reducibility is the proportion of particles larger than 75 microns. Knowing that the best way to reduce the amount of coarse particles was to close our open grinding circuits, we began evaluating the most suitable classification equipment applicable to our process operations. We settled on hydro-classifiers based on their very sharp cut and their low operating costs. In light of the hydro-classifiers performance it was also decided to replace the hydro-cyclones of an already closed circuit.INTRODUCTIONAt the Québec Cartier Mining pellet plant, continuous improvement programs are aimed at increasing levels of consistency and improved chemical, physical and metallurgical properties. This is being accomplished while still maintaining pellet plant production volumes to satisfy market demands.QCM produces three types of pellets for blast furnace use: acid pellets, designated as ""BHF"", fluxed pellets, designated as ""BAF"", and low silica fluxed pellets, designated as ""BSA"". For direct reduction, a low silica acid pellet or DR pellet, designated as ""BBS"" is produced. This low silica DR pellet is used in Midrex and HyL shaft furnaces.The demand for DR pellets has been increasing during the last few years and is believed to continue so in the future. Wanting to be present in this growing market QCM found that it would be essential to work at improving its DR pellets quality. Efforts have been focused on improvements in three areas: SiO2 reduction, elimination of sticking and increasing reducibility. Improvement programs have begun with laboratory research followed by plant trials and full-scale implementation as a cooperative effort among QCM, COREM, and key customers."

Jan 1, 2002

By JAMES BRADLEY

THE Spanish mine is in Nevada County, California, 21 miles northeast of Nevada City by road, and 3 miles north of the town of Washington. The mill and surface buildings are on Poorman's Creek at an ele¬vation of 3,000 ft. About 35 men are employed at the property, which is producing 50 tons of ore per day. Electric power, purchased from the Pacific Gas and Electric Co., is brought in from Alleghany, seven miles away. In the early days the mine was operated by F. W. and P. R. Bradley. Between 1883 and 1899 the production was approximately $900,0)0 in gold. The ore treated during; that time yielded an average of 60 cents per ton and was mined and milled at a profit. The surface, oxidized, ore deposit was 30 to 100 ft. wide and was mined by the glory-hole method. The milling-plant at first consisted of a Blake crusher an-1 a small Huntington mill; later three large Huntington mills were added to the plant. In 1893 a new mill was built at a lower adit- It consisted of 10 stamps and four Huntington mills. The gold was secured by amalgamation, the recovery being about 50 per rent.

Jan 1, 1931

By H. M. Breza

Recovery of phosphate concentrate has received increased attention as the existing mine and plant production capacity limitations of the Texasgulf Inc. Aurora, North Carolina Mine are reached. Improved mining techniques and mineral processing of waste streams offer a potential to increase overall phosphate production without major expansion of the Mining facility. Innovative processes have been or are being identified to maximize pit mining recovery and to minimize losses in waste streams, resulting in more effective use of the valuable phosphate natural resource. This paper will describe the various continuous recovery improvement programs being implemented to achieve this goal.

Jan 1, 1994

Mine drainage and mine reclamation are topics of major interest to the mining industry, federal and local governments, and the general public. This publication and its companion three volumes are the proceedings of a conference held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, April 24-29, 1994. There were twelve sessions (69 papers) that dealt with mine drainage, including modeling, geochemistry, prediction, treatment, control strategies, characterization, hydrology, and case studies. These sessions comprise volumes 1 and 2. The six sessions (34 papers) that dealt with reclamation and revegetation of disturbed lands are included in volume 3. Volume 4 includes the six sessions (34 papers) that dealt with such topical issues as fires at abandoned mine sites, subsidence, hydrology, mine wastes, and policy. Poster session presentations are represented by 49 papers and 92 abstracts that have been placed in the back of volumes 2, 3, and 4, consistent with the subject of that volume.

Jan 1, 1994

By M. D. Aldridge

The results of a four-year research effort aimed at developing a practical and effective electronic system for monitoring safety conditions throughout a coal mine by displaying, at a central location, remotely measured parameters are described. This document reports on the design details of the sensor packages and the data processing program used in an experimental monitoring system. The results of special ventilation monitoring experiments and several sub-system considerations are also described.

Jan 1, 1974