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By Descarreaux. Jean

"The Abitibi volcanic belt was sampled along a cross section extending from Matagami to a point east of Rouyn. A few samples were also collected in Louvicourt township, Quebec. The major elements were determined for 344 samples, and rock names were defined using normative minerals. The analytical data were studied by means of variation diagrams. The Abitibi volcanic belt is characterized by rocks belonging to both the tholeiitic and calc-alkaline magmatic series, but they show some differences as compared to some typical reference series, particularly those from Japan. Basalt is the predominant rock type and accounts for 44 per cent of the sampled outcrops. The volcanic rocks are relatively poor in K2O and TiO2. Regionally, the volcanogenic copper-zinc mineralization is associated with the calc-alkaline volcanic sequences. Locally, within such sequences, some types of abnormal deviations from the averages are recognized only in association with the copper-zinc mineralization. The anomalies are ascribed to hydrothermal alteration consisting of the introduction of MgO and removal of N a20; enrichment in K20 is also observed where zinc mineralization predominates. Examples of such anomalous zones show that, in places, this alteration phenomenon can be quite extensive. Petrochemical characteristics can be used as geochemical ore guides in exploration programs."

Jan 1, 1973

By Laird Crocker

A goal of the Federal Bureau of Mines is to minimize the undersirable environmental conflicts and impacts associated with mineral processing operations. To help reach this goal the Bureau operated a citrate-process pilot plant for the removal of sulfur dioxide from lead smelter sintering machine waste gases to test the process. The process uses a carboxylate solution such as citric acid to absorb sulfur dioxide from waste gases. The absorbed sulfur dioxide is subsequently reacted with hydrogen sulfide to precipitate sulfur and regenerate the solution for recycle. Nominal capacity of the pilot plant was 1,000 scfm of 0.5 vol-pct sulfur dioxide gas. The pilot plant was operated for over 5,400 hr and produced about 55 net tons of sulfur. The operation demonstrated that (1) 99 pct of the sulfur dioxide could be removed from lead smelter sintering machining waste gases containing from 0.1 to 0.6 vol-pct sulfur dioxide, (2) sulfur precipitation and solution regeneration with hydrogen sulfide in conventional stirred vessels was readily controlled, (3) precipitated sulfur could be continuously recovered as a 99.S-pct-pure product by flotation and melting, and (4) 78 dry-vol-pct hydrogen sulfide gas could be produced from pilot-plant product sulfur, natural gas, and steam.

Jan 1, 1979

By Edgar T. Gregory

A quiet revolution has taken place in the conveyor belt industry, Man-made materials, improved production facilities, better splicing techniques and emphasis on repair and maintenance have all contributed substantially to lowering material handling costs for the mining industry, It wasn't too many years ago that the rubber industry had only cotton for a belt carcass and tree grown rubber for the protective cover. Then came the development of monofilament rayon. This material had desirable elongation and elastic properties and was the first synthetic fiber to be used in place of cotton. But wet strength and other limitations restricted its use, and the conveyor belt industry turned to nylon. Initially, nylon was considered suitable only for the cross threads or filler threads of a belt carcass. Then technical advancements in heat setting and fabric weave created a major change in belt construction. As a result of these advances the industry was able to take advantage of the full tension strength of nylon cord. Another breakthrough in the use of synthetics was the tremendous increase in adhesion resulting from a chemical bond, rather than the limited physical bond available with cotton. But the advantages of nylon had a more Car-reaching effect, We were able to design a two-ply nylon belt that did the work of a four- or five-ply cotton or rayon belt. A six-ply nylon belt now replaces a twelve-ply cotton elevator belt. Arid nylon resists moisture, acid and mildew, It also has excellent resistance to impact and can be produced with controlled elongation and elastic properties that work to great advantage in reduced-ply belt constructions.

Jan 1, 1971

By J. Paraszczak

Metal mining at great depths presents a number of serious challenges for mine operators. Among them is the high demand for fresh air required to cool down mine openings, evacuate noxious gases and contaminants and provide sufficient amounts of oxygen for miners. At the same time, modern mechanized mines extensively use diesel-powered load-haul-dump (LHD) machines, trucks and other mobile equipment. These vehicles not only emit exhaust gases and diesel particulate matter (DPM), but constitute an additional source of heat. As mine regulations get steadily more stringent with regard to air quality, the use of diesel engines has an additional adverse impact on ventilation costs. In this context, the present paper examines possible alternatives for diesel power trains, both those commercially available and those in development. They are reviewed with regard to their principles, required infrastructure, stage of technology development and progress. The questions of their flexibility, practicality and economic viability are also addressed. Finally, their possible benefits and potential for implementation in the conditions of deep metal mines are discussed. The paper concludes with short- to medium-term predictions concerning promising drive alternatives for vehicles destined to operate in deep metal mines.

Jan 1, 2009

By A Scrase, J Brereton

The Latrobe Valley is located approximately 150 kms east of Melbourne. Within a very small area there are 3 large brown coalmines and associated power stations, 3 large towns, and numerous smaller towns in the vicinity. The mines have been generating power for Melbourne and surrounds for the last 100 years, with two of the mines being owned and operated by the Victorian Government (State Electricity Commission of Victoria) prior to privatisation in the 1990s. All three mines were privatised with the expectation that the mine voids would be filled with water to become pit lakes, as the final landform/rehabilitation solution (Hazelwood Mine Fire Inquiry, Teague and Catford, 2016). It could be argued that until relatively recently, this was largely expected, by government and industry, to be the rehabilitation solution for managing the two key risks associated with the sites:  The geotechnical stability of the mine pits.  The prevention of fire – through covering coal batters with water. Transitioning away from mining economies requires collaborative, regional, innovative thinking with a multitude of stakeholders, from a wide range of government departments, industry, First Nations people and broader community. Closure planning and rehabilitation activities require a range of skills and experience, such as, closure planning, various scientific and engineering disciplines (pit water quality modelling, geochemical modelling, cover design, landform design, contaminated site etc), civil engineering, demolition etc. Some of these skills are similar, such as financial modelling, stakeholder engagement, contract and project management. But the majority are different to those required during the operational phase of a mine. These closure skills can also be lacking within government, with Departments more familiar with monitoring and compliance activities associated with operational facilities. Some key aspects that appear to be critical to planned successful closure are:  Collaborative regional and localised planning, with industry, government, community, First Nations and other industry, business leaders and entrepreneurs all involved in providing a smooth transition away from mining.  Well-defined and known regulatory pathways to achieve mine licence relinquishment assists in encouraging investment.  Appropriately skilled and experienced government and industry personnel.  Mining companies, who are committed to closure planning and provisioning from the earliest point in project planning.  Mine employees who are appropriately skilled and experienced in mine closure planning and implementation with access to all the relevant technical expertise required for the project. Areas like the Ruhr Valley in Germany provide good some examples of smooth processes that facilitate mine economies transition into new economies (World Resources Institute (WRI), 2021).

Aug 2, 2023

By James Pennington

[The Mining and Metallurgical Divisions of the Bureau of Mines, Region V, conducted an investigation in 1950-51 of the iron sulfide deposits in Aitkin and Carlton Counties, Minn. Twelve diamond-core-drill holes, aggregating 2,347 feet, were drilled in secs. 14 and 15, T. 46 N., R. 25 W., Aitkin County, to increase reserves of iron sulfides known to exist 2 miles southwest in secs. 28 and 29, T. 46 N., R. 25 W. Three diamond-core-drill hobs, totaling 561 feet, were drilled in Canton County, sec. 7, T. 46 N., R. 2 0 W., to check reports of the presence of a large sulfide deposit in that area. Mineral-dressing tests were made on cores from 10 holes drilled in Aitkin County. These included core from hole 21 drilled in sec. 28 and submitted by the Glen Development Co.]

Jan 1, 1953

By C. H. Bertoni, A. Vachon

The Corner bay copper deposit is the first significan discovery on the south limb of the Dore Lake Complex, located at the eastern end of the Detour Lake-Chibougamau greenstone belt, Quebec. The deposit was discovered in March, 1981, after 26 years of intermittent work in the area. Mineralization is found in a shear zone cut ting rocks ranging in composition, from gabbroic anorthosites to anorthositic gabbros which have been intensely altered and deformed by at least two tectonometamorphic events. Both the copper-bearing shear zone and its host rocks are cut by a large NE-striking gabbro dyke. Most of the known mineralization is found east of the dyke, but two deep exploration holes have shown that the down dip extension is present to the west of the dyke. The mineralized shear varies from one to 15 metres in width, strikes around 010° and dips from 70° to 80° to the west, and has been tested for a length of 700 metres. The wall rocks are usually chloritized and silicified. Mineralization is characterized by chalcopyrite, pyrite, molybdenite, magnetite, and sphalerite occurring mainly as the matrix to quartz-carbonate breccias in the "main" shear zone. The predominant sulphides are pyrite and chalcopyri te as crystals or fragments. The brecciated mineralized shear shows evidence that there was at least one remobilization of the shear and it is suggested that copper-bearing fluids invaded the shear during its remobilization. The exact timing and source of mineralization are not known. Up to February 1984, 38 holes had been drilled to outline indicated reserves to a depth of 450 m of 1,5 million tonnes grading approximately 4% copper, 0.34 gm, gold and 13.71 gm silver per tonne. It is believed that there is considerable reserve potential in the block west of the gab bro dyke, the down dip extension of the main zone.

Jan 1, 1984

By Frederick W. DeVries

The following charts were presented at the Randol Gold & Silver Forum 2000, held at the Hotel Vancouver (Vancouver, B.C.) from April 18-21, 2000. It must be borne in mind that the "facts" stated and con­clusions drawn by the author were not as the result of a rig­orous technical investigation, but rather as a member of a journalistic team seeking a rapid view for presentation as news to a TV audience. Since the author's visit, some retrenchment on the part of the operators on estimating the cyanide content of the spill seems to have occurred. This does NOT alter the conclusions that (a) the spill was an intolerable embarrassment for the world mining industry, nor (b) the potential damage to future mining investments, should prompt action not be taken: 1. to understand the reasons for the dam failure, and 2. to draw up firm concepts of how to avoid future fail­ures of dams at mining properties containing materials that are toxic, environmentally unfriendly, or with as highly dis­comfiting a profile as cyanide.

Jan 1, 2000

By W. M. Aubrey

The use of solid fuel in shaft furnaces to indurate iron ore pellets was originally considered a necessary evil, which the industry worked long and hard to eliminate. Since then changes have taken place in furnace design and operating practices that have led us to our suggestion that solid fuel additions could again be used. In essence, what has happened is that the developments which made it possible to operate without solid fuel have also created new operating conditions favorable to the effective use of solid fuel. Because these new conditions* were brought about in part by the desire to eliminate solid fuel and because the development was a gradual one, the industry failed to reassess its position and for years neglected the possibility of returning to solid fuel.

Jan 1, 1967

The role of a project metallurgist is diverse and covers input into the resource definition, mining studies, metallurgical test program development, process engineering and plant design, cost estimate preparation and financial analysis aspects of project feasibility studies. Mining project schedule and cost overruns can often be attributed to cutting short metallurgical test work, engineering and cost estimating leading up to commitment to development. In a significant number of cases this may result from the lack of understanding and commitment by the project proponent to the requisite metallurgical and processing studies required during the various pre-commitment stages of a mining project. Metallurgical test work, process development, engineering and cost estimating requirements for each stage of pre-commitment development are described together with a summary of the ongoing role of the project metallurgist during detailed engineering and commissioning of a process plant.

Jan 1, 2008

Frank Clemes Smith, Deadwood, 8. D. (communication to the Secretary): The reading of Mr. Chance's interesting paper suggests a few ideas relative to his discussion of certain Black Hills gold-ores. Mr. Chance refers to his examination, in 1897, of " the (Carboniferous) limestone plateau-country which encircles the central area of the Black Hills," and says that " it had been generally assumed that the mineralization of this formation was confined to the northern area;" further, that he "found, however, a general mineralization, extending in zones or belts throughout the region," and that the ores, being more or less specially

Jan 1, 1900

By Augustus Locke

WHY should I, a geologist, be coming before you to talk about finding ore? Certainly, the great discoveries of the past have not been made by geologists, but by men of very different tastes and training. If, in the year 1800, the course of ore discovery could have been foreseen, there would have been no reason to put it into the hands of geologists or other men of technical preparation. It was not geologists but explorers, Indian fighters, prospectors, manual laborers, and hardy financiers, who initiated the American mining industry. Then why this association of geological technique with ore finding? Why this feeling that the way to find ore is to apply to the problem what we call geo- logical principles? Well, to put it broadly, the old method has run out on us. It no longer works. Or, to put it another way, the cost of finding ore by the old method has mounted so high that one old district after another has become, practically speaking, dead, and various other old districts that are still going apparently at full strength are actually beginning to limp, and, with the cost of discovery mounting yearly, to fear, more than they will acknowledge, that the end is approaching.

Jan 1, 1926

By Bernard Lallement

INTRODUCTION Geostatistics have been used for five years at the B. R. G. M. to compute the ore reserve estimation. At present this technic is also used at the beginning of the exploration project to determine the best way to prove the orebody. The best way is a compromise between the cost of the exploration and the precision of the estimation. It is clear that geostatistics cannot be used without any data, but very often an exploration project is decided on an orebody which has already been drilled. Old data can therefore be used. This was the case this year for two orebodies: an iron deposit and a lead deposit. The iron deposit was explored by drifts and has now to be proved. We used geostatistics to determine the best drilling pattern. The variograms computed with these old data showed that an anisotropy existed between the two directions of the orebody, which meant that the drill pattern had to be rectangular. The lead deposit was explored by drill holes and a short drift in part of the orebcdy. The problem was to choose between a regular pattern of drill holes or a long drift and some added drill holes. The case of this study will be exposed afterwards. On the other hand, if the orebody is completely unknown, the exploration project generally forecasts two exploration steps (the first step

Jan 1, 1977

By Bruce A. McFarlane

"I WOULD LIKE TO SAY how honoured I am that I have been invited to participate in this panel discussion. I have taken the liberty of narrowing my topic somewhat so that instead of speaking on the Sociology of Professions as a whole I will speak on one aspect of it, that is, on Manpower Problems in the Minerals industry of Canada, with some reference to a new social role for the professionals engaged in this industry. This probably means that I will be encroaching on areas covered or to be covered by other speakers, but I hope that when I do so I will do so from a slightly different vantage point. That is, from a sociological perspective rather than from a historical, industrial, business or professional perspective. I plan to divide my discussion into three areas, namely: (i) problems of ownership and control; (ii) environmental problems; and (iii) manpower and recruitment problems. I do not plan nor am I able to provide clear-cut solutions to the various problems I raise under these three headings. Rather, I hope that my discussion of the problems may form the basis for an extended discussion here and elsewhere. Because of the limitations of time, I will only briefly discuss the first two problem areas noted above – (i) ownership and control and (ii) environmental problems - and I plan to concentrate on the manpower issue."

Jan 1, 1972

By J. A. Brusset

Introduction The West Canadian Collieries, Limited, operate three bituminous coal mines in the Crowsnest Pass district of Alberta. Two seams are worked; their thickness varies from 10 to 20 feet and their pitch from 10 to 45 degrees. The Bellevue mine was opened in 1903, the Greenhill in 1914; both are gassy and dusty, and at both the haulage is a problem, as the workings are spread over distances of several miles. Compressed-air locomotives are used at Bellevue, rope-haulage at Greenhill, both of which solutions of the haulage problem are costly in installation an operation, and lack flexibility. In 1943, the Adanac mine was opened; and the question soon arose as to which system of haulage should be selected. Compressed-air locomotives and ropes were rejected on the ground of high cost. Since, under the Alberta Mines Act, the use of trolley locomotives underground in coal-seams is not permitted, the choice lay between storage battery locomotives and Diesel locomotives. The preference of the author, who had had experience with both in French gassy coal mines prior to 1930, was for Diesel locomotives, due to lower cost of installation and greater flexibility and reliability. However, Regulation No. 13 of the Mines Act of Alberta reads: 'No gasoline-driven engines shall be used underground in any mine, and no internal combustion engine shall be used underground in any coal mine, except only when authorized by the Chief Inspector in writing, and on such terms as he may prescribe"

Jan 1, 1948

By Claudia Gasparrini

"The ore microscope and electron microprobe, two common instruments for academic research, have not been used to full advantage in the Canadian mining industry, perhaps because they are not readily available to most mining companies.The present paper gives a description of the two instruments and of the manner in which, when used together, they contribute to the identification and description of mineralogical and metallurgical samples, and reviews the applications, to . date, in the mineral industry.The metallurgical applications can assist in determining the best separation technique for a particular metal or other economically important element, can provide explanations for poor recovery and/or liberation, can be used to determine theoptimum concentrate grade and can indicate environmental problems that may arise from the extraction process.In certain cases, the use of the two instruments may assist in the evaluation of new mineral deposits and in the determination of the origin of mineralization.IntroductionThe ore microscope and electron microprobe, two widely used instruments in universities and other research institutions, have not been exploited to their full potential by the Canadian mining industry.High-magnification, high-resolution ore microscopes, owned by most Canadian universities and government mining branches, are not widely used by mining organizations. The situation is very much the same with the microprobe. The geology departments of several major Canadian universities have easy access to this instrument. Fifteen of them, to the author's knowledge, own one and a few have already acquired or are planning on acquiring a second and later model. The mining branches of the Canadian Government have similar easy access to microprobes, as at least four of these instruments are available to them in Ottawa alone. The mining companies, on the other hand, except for the few larger ones which have their own research laboratories, have not been able to take advantage of electron microprobes in the past.This failure to exploit good ore microscopes and electron microprobes has been mainly due to a lack of expertise in the use of the two instruments for the study of metallurgical problems related to ore mineralogy. Government institutions providing research and test work to the industry are few in number, and are not always equipped with these instruments or are not geologically-oriented. Information provided on a consulting basis by universities and by government mining branches is normally limited, and frequently is not oriented to the needs of the mining company."

Jan 1, 1980

THE Institute of Metals Division of the American Institute of Mining and Metallurgical Engineers appointed a Research Committee in 1925 to de-termine what could be done by the Division to promote research work in the United States on non-ferrous metals. It was recognized that a considerable volume of use-ful research work in this field was being carried on by individual industrial companies as well as by the uni-versities and other research institutions, such as the Bureau of Standards. One need only refer to the recent research literature on non-ferrous metals in the TRANS-ACTIONS of the A.I.M.E., and elsewhere, to be con-vinced of healthful research activity in this field. The appointment of the Committee, however, voiced the impression that what was being done was, however excellent, inadequate for the needs of the industry. It was felt that the Division could usefully devote some of its time and effort in stimulating activity in this field. The deliberations of the Research Committee have not failed to develop wide differences of opinion even on the simple questions: (1) whether the Division can aid in any practical manner in this cause and (2) what the features of such aid might be. However, it was clear that there was only one type of research activity with which it could be very usefully concerned, viz., that on subjects of fundamental interest and general application. It was obvious that research work having special objects and more immediate commercial appli-cation should best be left to the industry itself.

Jan 1, 1927

By L. B. Phelps

This paper focuses on the use of an integrated mine planing software package entitled "REMINE" which was constructed to provide a project evaluation tool for analysis of remining projects. Coal remining constitutes the affecting of sites which have had a past history of mining and have a pre-existing pollutional discharge. Such sites require a Best Professional Judgement (BPJ) analysis. The program was written to provide such an analysis with flexibility in the mine plans which can be analyzed. The process required for a BPJ analysis will be detailed and mine plan simulation performed to demonstrate the analysis.

Jan 1, 1990

By Stephen D. Cramer

The Bureau of Mines conducted a study in which the magnetic fraction of urban refuse was used as melting stock in the preparation of high-strength, low-alloy and carbon steel. Product steels, made from incinerated steel can scrap, nonincinerated-nondetinned steel can scrap, nonincinerated-detinned steel can scrap, and dilutions of these scraps with No. 1 heavy melting scrap, were used in continuing tests in industrial, rural, and marine environments to determine the effect of residual elements and atmospheric pollutants on their atmospheric corrosion resistance. The respective commercial steels were exposed at the same time to establish baseline corrosion data for the test sites. Weight-loss data are reported for atmospheric exposures of 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, and 3.8 years. The marine environment was the most corrosive; the industrial environment was the least corrosive. The atmospheric corrosion resistance of the carbon steel was improved 25 pct by using incinerated scrap and nonin-cinerated-nondetinned scrap in the steelmaking process. In no case was the atmospheric corrosion resistance of carbon steel degraded by using the magnetic fraction of urban refuse as melting stock. The presence of sulfur in the corrosion film was the most important factor affecting the corrosion resistance of the steels. With increasing sulfur concentration, the rate of the corrosion reaction was reduced and the corrosion film became more protective. The residual elements in the product steels most responsible for improving corrosion resistance were copper and tin. These elements tended to increase the concentration of sulfur in the corrosion film. At the levels present in the product steels, Cr, Ni, and Pb had no observable effect on the corrosion resistance of the steels.

Jan 1, 1980

By Richard D. Miller

This publication contains routine analyses and related source data for 434 gas samples from 16 States. These samples were collected during calendar year 1961 as part of the continuous survey for the occurrence of helium in natural gas conducted by the Helium Activity of the Bureau of Mines. The analyses herein were made by mass spectrometer and Frost helium apparatus. The most important helium resource discovery made during 1961 was the Table Mesa field in San Juan County, N. Mex. This field, Which has an estimated recoverable helium reserve of 850 million cubic feet, is now supplying gas containing approximately 5.4 percent helium to the Bureau of Mines Navajo Helium Plant at Shiprock, N. Mex.

Jan 1, 1964