Project Description Exploration and development of the project by Rio Algom Ltd. began in 1981. Feasibility and design studies were ongoing in the 1980’s culminating in a decision to develop an open pit mine, a heap leaching facility and an SX-EW plant capable of producing 60,000 tonnes of fine copper per year. Construction began in … Read more
Air-sparged hydrocyclone (ASH) flotation is one of the new promising technologies. Numerous applications have been successfully tested since its conception; nevertheless, research and development efforts have continued to provide for further improvements with respect to operating conditions and design considerations. Bubble size is always of interest in the analysis of flotation separations. Many researchers believe … Read more
Rock fragmentation by explosives is presently the most inexpensive process available to the hardrock mining industry. The challenge remains, however, to control the explosive energy to optimize fragmentation produced by blasting and minimize the deleterious effects associated with the use of explosives. These harmful effects are often simply stated as damage, which regroups damage to … Read more
The centrifuge modeling technique is a powerful tool for geotechnical engineering in general. It has been used for over sixty years to model soil behavior. Regarding phosphatic clays, centrifuge research has been actively conducted in the last decade by several investigators to predict the field consolidation of these clays. In this technique, a physical model … Read more
This powerful CN- detoxification agent is prepared by mixing concentrated sulfuric acid and concentrated H2O2. H2O2 + H2SO4 → H2SO5 + H2O The formation of Caro’s acid is instantaneous and is accompanied by the evolution of heat, primarily due to the heat of dilution of sulfuric acid. Because of it’s tendency to decompose to oxygen and … Read more
To remain competitive, the domestic metals industry must not only make advances in mining methods, but also in ore processing. One processing advancement under investigation is the development of nonconventional solvent extraction (SX) stripping techniques such as hydrogen, hydrolytic, and precipitation stripping. Solvent extraction selectively removes a metal from an aqueous solution into a solvent … Read more
Batch Autoclave Laboratory Procedures: The vessel used for the laboratory pressure oxidation process was a two-liter Parr titanium autoclave with dual impellers. It was heated and cooled externally and was pressurized with commercial-grade oxygen. A positive bleed of offgas was maintained in each test; the rate was measured in the offgas after the steam was removed … Read more
An exploration process is normally consisted of four major phases: regional reconnaissance, detailed mapping, sparse drilling, and infill drilling. Regional reconnaissance focuses on promising areas for a given type of ore deposit by using geological, geochemical, and geophysical data. Once one or more areas are selected, a detailed mapping program will be enacted in order … Read more
The objective for this U.S. Bureau of Mines (USBM) research is to evaluate construction and completion methods and costs for vertical in situ copper mining wells to depths of up to 1100 m (3600 ft). Appropriate construction materials and costs have been determined for well equipment, casing, drilling, cementing, and completion. A “deep” single ore-zone … Read more
Conventional Magnetic Separator: An Eriez conventional high gradient magnetic separator (HGMS), model EL 20-4, with a 0.058 m canister diameter and a total volume of 1030 cm³ was used. The matrix was a fine grade stainless steel wool. The canister was packed to a 6 percent density with the matrix. The tests followed the recommended Eriez … Read more