Comminution and Mineral Separation—Geological Input to Metallurgy

SEG Discovery ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 28-41
Author(s):  
David Way ◽  
Don McKee ◽  
Joe Pease
Keyword(s):  
Mineral Exploration ◽  
Mineral Deposit ◽  
Early Career ◽  
Processing Plant ◽  
Plant Design ◽  
Work Requirements ◽  
Mineral Separation ◽  
Technological Advances ◽  
Metallurgical Characterization ◽  
Mine Development

Editor’s note: The aim of the Geology and Mining series is to introduce early-career professionals and students to various aspects of mineral exploration, development, and mining, in order to share the experiences and insight of each author on the myriad of topics involved with the mineral industry and the ways in which geoscientists contribute to each. Abstract Communication and collaboration during mine development and operation are essential if the maximum value of a mineral deposit is to be realized, since there are many links between the geology and mineralogy of an orebody and the complex task of an effective plant design. This is only achieved when geologists, metallurgists, and mining and environmental engineers jointly assess the results of metallurgical characterization. This requirement is examined here, albeit for only two of the three metallurgical ore-processing activities—comminution and mineral separation. Wealth is not captured (i.e., is destroyed) unless the most efficient and effective methods for comminuting and separating the mineral(s) of value in a deposit are identified. Benchmarking metallurgical test work requirements for the next mine development based solely on past experience does not address the variability that is unique to the mineralogy of each mineral deposit. Metallurgists are now slowly advancing from using a few (so-called) representative samples to assess the processing characteristics of a deposit to applying metallurgical testing to tens, or hundreds, of samples, with the increase in number of samples allowed by technological advances. More still needs to be done. Identifying the characteristics of different mineralization types of a deposit and grouping it into domains are crucially important. These steps simplify processing by separating ore into relatively few (4–6) types with similar expected metallurgical performance. Understanding what metallurgical tests are measuring and how representative the samples and tests are of the orebody domains are essential considerations for a testing program. No knowledge is bad; some is better or more useful than other. Testing for penalty elements (As, Bi, Hg, F, etc.) and, more importantly, for penalty-element minerals allows their effects to be mitigated during design of the processing plant; this should start during the early exploration stage. Continued evolution of orebody knowledge and confidence in processing ores will lead to better performance of the processing plant, thereby reducing investment risk.

Geology and Mining: Narrow-Width (Vein) Mining and the Geologist

SEG Discovery ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 25-36
Author(s):  
Adrian Pratt
Keyword(s):  
Rock Mass ◽  
Value Chain ◽  
Underground Mining ◽  
Mineral Exploration ◽  
Surrounding Rock ◽  
Early Career ◽  
Open Pit ◽  
Team Members ◽  
Narrow Width ◽  
Mine Development

Editor’s note: The Geology and Mining series, edited by Dan Wood and Jeffrey Hedenquist, is designed to introduce early-career professionals and students to a variety of topics in mineral exploration, development, and mining, in order to provide insight into the many ways in which geoscientists contribute to the mineral industry. Abstract Mining narrow deposits presents a discrete set of additional challenges to those common to most mining. Some challenges arise from the deposit’s width, its geometry—dip and planar continuity—and its interaction with the surrounding rock mass. The geology of the surrounding rock mass and associated physical properties of its geologic units and structures influence the application of mining method and mine design for both surface (open-pit) and underground mining. Successful mine development is the product of teamwork and depends on the collaboration, coordination, collective experience, and confidence of the team. Above all, it relies on relationships shared by the team members along the value chain. These relationships are extremely important, since miscommunication, misunderstandings, missing data, etc., can result either in lost opportunities to develop a better mine, or will load the project with unnecessary risk. This article is focused on underground mining of narrow-width deposits (veins) and the role of economic geologists in the definition and development of these deposits. The crucial importance of recognizing potential for value creation early in the life of a narrow-width mine project is highlighted, when an economic geologist is often a project’s key proponent. This role as the key proponent may change as a project progresses toward development, but early geologic contributions provide the foundation for narrow-width mine development.

Mineral exploration with 3-D controlled-source electromagnetic method: a synthetic study of Sukhoi Log gold deposit

2019 ◽  
Vol 219 (3) ◽  
pp. 1698-1716 ◽  
Author(s):  
M Malovichko ◽  
A V Tarasov ◽  
N Yavich ◽  
M S Zhdanov
Keyword(s):  
Finite Difference ◽  
Gold Deposit ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Mineral Exploration ◽  
Mineral Deposit ◽  
Hydrocarbon Exploration ◽  
Contraction Operator ◽  
Inversion Algorithm ◽  
Controlled Source ◽  
Regularized Inversion

SUMMARY This paper presents a feasibility study of using the controlled-source frequency-domain electromagnetic (CSEM) method in mineral exploration. The method has been widely applied for offshore hydrocarbon exploration; however, nowadays this method is rarely used on land. In order to conduct this study, we have developed a fully parallelized forward modelling finite-difference (FD) code based on the iterative solver with contraction-operator preconditioner. The regularized inversion algorithm uses the Gauss–Newton method to minimize the Tikhonov parametric functional with the Laplacian-type stabilizer. A 3-D parallel inversion code, based on the iterative finite-difference solver with the contraction-operator preconditioner, has been evaluated for the solution of the large-scale inverse problems. Using the computer simulation for a synthetic model of Sukhoi Log gold deposit, we have compared the CSEM method with the conventional direct current sounding and the CSEM survey with a single remote transmitter. Our results suggest that, a properly designed electromagnetic survey together with modern 3-D inversion could provide detailed information about the geoelectrical structure of the mineral deposit.

An Integrated Low Cost System for Treatment of Potato Processing Wastewater Incorporating Anaerobic Fermentation and Phosphorus Removal

1982 ◽  
Vol 14 (6-7) ◽  
pp. 675-687 ◽  
Author(s):  
J G Parker ◽  
B J Lyons ◽  
C D Parker
Keyword(s):  
Wastewater Treatment ◽  
Removal Efficiency ◽  
Phosphorus Removal ◽  
Anaerobic Fermentation ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Full Scale ◽  
Processing Plant ◽  
Low Grade ◽  
Plant Design ◽  
Potato Processing

The pollution load from a modern potato processing plant represents a substantial wastewater treatment and disposal problem with considerable potential for process innovation. With continued increase in energy costs, recent developments in treatment of industrial organic wastes by direct anaerobic fermentation rather than conventional energy intensive aerobic processes, offer considerable cost savings for wastewater treatment in the potato and other food processing industries. The development, through pilot plant investigations, of a low cost, integrated system incorporating anaerobic fermentation and phosphorus removal facilities is described. Details of full scale plant design, performance and costs, including aspects of utilization of treatment plant by-product biogas, and land disposal of residual phosphorus sludge as low grade fertilizer, are presented. Operating data obtained since commissioning of the full scale plant in January, 1980 demonstrates consistent achievement of an overall B.O.D.5 removal efficiency of 90% and an overall phosphorus removal efficiency of 93%. Total annual treatment cost is $A0.15/kg B0D5 removed (1981 costs).

Making exploration of underground flooded mines a reality - the UNEXUP solution

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Márcio Pinto ◽  
Norbert Zajzon ◽  
Luís Lopes ◽  
Balazs Bodo ◽  
Stephen Henley ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Raw Materials ◽  
Mineral Exploration ◽  
Business Case ◽  
Primary Objective ◽  
Economic Feasibility ◽  
Mineral Deposits ◽  
Self Awareness ◽  
Design Development ◽  
Horizon 2020 ◽  
Mine Development

<p>The UNEXUP project, funded under EIT Raw Materials, is a direct continuation of the Horizon 2020 UNEXMIN project. While in UNEXMIN efforts were made towards the design, development and testing of an innovative exploration technology for underground flooded mines, in UNEXUP the main goal is to push the UNEXMIN technology into the market, while further improving the system’s hardware, software and capabilities. In parallel, the aim is to make a strong business case for the improved UNEXUP technology, as a result of tests and data collection from previous testing. Improvements to the UX-1 research prototypes will raise technology readiness levels from TRL 6, as verified at the end of the UNEXMIN project, to TRL 7/8 by 2022. A "real service-to-real client" approach will be demonstrated, supporting mineral exploration and mine surveying efforts in Europe with unique data from flooded environments that cannot be obtained without high costs, or risks to human lives, in any other ways.</p><p>The specific purpose of UNEXUP is to commercially deploy a new raw materials exploration / mine mapping service based on a new class of mine explorer robots, for non-invasive resurveying of flooded mines. The inaccessibility of the environment makes autonomy a critical and primary objective of the project, which will present a substantial effort in resurveying mineral deposits in Europe where the major challenges are the geological uncertainty, and technological / economic feasibility of mine development. The robot’s ability to gather high-quality and high-resolution information from currently inaccessible mine sites will increase the knowledge of mineral deposits in Europe, whilst decreasing exploration costs – such as the number of deep exploration drillholes needed. This can potentially become a game changing technology in the mining panorama, where the struggle for resources is ever increasing.</p><p>On the technical side, a fourth robot, modular in nature, will be added to the current multi-robot platform, providing additional functionalities to the exploration system, including better range and depth performance. Hardware and software upgrades, as well as new capabilities delivered by the platform will greatly extend the usefulness of the platform in different environments and applications. Among these: rock sampling, better data acquisition and management, further downsizing, extended range, improved self-awareness and decision making, mature post-processing (such as the deployment of 3D virtual reality models), ability to rescue other robots, and interaction with the data will be targeted during the next years. Upgrading the overall technology with these tools, and possibly additional ones, will allow the system to operate with more reliability and security, with reduced costs.</p><p>These added functions arise from different stakeholders’ feedbacks from the UNEXMIN project. UNEXUP targets parties from the mining, robotics and mineral exploration sectors, as well as all other sectors that have any kind of underwater structure that needs to be surveyed – caves, underground reservoirs, water pipelines and fisheries are among them. For the purpose of exploitation of the technology, a joint company was founded, “UNEXMIN GeoRobotics Ltd”, which is part of the UNEXUP consortium, and is responsible for selling the service to the market.</p>

The thickness of Neogene and Quaternary cover across the central Interior Plateau, British Columbia: analysis of water-well drill records and implications for mineral exploration potential1This article is one of a series of papers published in this Special Issue on the theme of New insights in Cordilleran Intermontane geoscience: reducing exploration risk in the mountain pine beetle-affected area, British Columbia. 2Geological Survey of Canada (GSC) Contribution 20100036; Mineral Deposit Research Unit (MDRU, Department of Earh and Ocean Sciences, The University of British Columbia) Contribution p-261.

2011 ◽  
Vol 48 (6) ◽  
pp. 973-986 ◽  
Author(s):  
Graham D.M. Andrews ◽  
Alain Plouffe ◽  
Travis Ferbey ◽  
James K. Russell ◽  
Sarah R. Brown ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
British Columbia ◽  
Mountain Pine Beetle ◽  
Mineral Exploration ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Research Unit ◽  
Mineral Deposit ◽  
Basic Knowledge ◽  
Data Sets ◽  
University Of British Columbia ◽  
Water Well

Analysis of over 10 000 water-well records has been used to produce new depth-to-bedrock maps for areas around five cities on the central Interior Plateau of central British Columbia: 100 Mile House, Prince George, Quesnel, Vanderhoof, and Williams Lake. Hitherto, exploration for mineral and hydrocarbon resources has been hampered by a lack of basic knowledge of the thickness of Neogene and Quaternary lithologies. Interpretation of these new maps provides first-order constraints on the localization of thick drift in pre-Late Wisconsinan bedrock paleovalleys, some of which are now buried. Basalt lavas of the Chilcotin Group are restricted to erosional remnants of previously extensive sheets emplaced onto an older peneplain. Our results confirm that the Neogene and Quaternary cover is primarily controlled by paleotopography and is generally thin and patchy across much of the region. Increased understanding of the three-dimensional distribution of cover produces a corresponding increase in the utility of geological, geochemical, and geophysical exploration techniques, and a reduction in the risk for future mineral exploration activities, especially when combined with more sophisticated data sets.

OIL SPILL CONTINGENCY PLANNING FOR MAJOR TERMINALS AND SENSITIVE AREAS

1990 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 413
Author(s):  
C. Jones ◽  
J. P. Hartley
Keyword(s):  
Oil Spill ◽  
Staff Training ◽  
Oil Spills ◽  
Primary Objective ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Response Strategy ◽  
Plant Design ◽  
Technological Advances ◽  
Resource Levels ◽  
Spill Control

The BP Exploration approach to oil spill control can be summed up as prevention and preparedness. In all cases our primary objective is to prevent oil spills occurring. However despite careful attention to plant design, staff training, auditing etc., oil may sometimes be spilled.For any operation, effective oil spill ontingency planning depends on having a sound understanding of the local ecological and environmental sensitivities, physical conditions and the nature, size and risks of potential spills. This information allows the definition of response strategy and appropriate resource levels (equipment and personnel). However the mere provision of resources is insufficient; equipment maintenance, staff training, oil spill exercises (planned and unannounced), agreement of responsibilities with external authorities and periodic reviews are regarded as essential to ensure adequacy of response.The implementation of these principles is demonstrated using the development and continued evolution of the oil spill plan for Sullom Voe, a major North Sea oil terminal handling ca 1 million barrels of crude per day. Changes have been made to the plan to take account of technological advances and the lessons learned from actual spills in Sullom Voe, Port Valdez and elsewhere.Oil spill contingency arrangements for onshore and nearshore exploration drilling are also considered, illustrated with recent English (on and offshore Wytch Farm) and Scottish west coast examples. The principles adopted for spill planning at oil terminals have been found to apply equally to E & P operations in sensitive areas.The paper concludes with a brief comparison of the relative costs of efforts to prevent spills with the costs of spill cleanup and damages.

Understanding Geologic Uncertainty in Mining Studies

SEG Discovery ◽  
2019 ◽  
pp. 21-29
Author(s):  
Roderick Carlson
Keyword(s):  
Feasibility Study ◽  
Mineral Exploration ◽  
Feasibility Studies ◽  
Early Career ◽  
International Standards ◽  
Measurement Technology ◽  
Data Types ◽  
Social License ◽  
Geologic Uncertainty ◽  
Geoscientific Data

Editor’s note: The Geology and Mining series, edited by Dan Wood and Jeffrey Hedenquist, is designed to introduce early-career professionals and students to a variety of topics in mineral exploration, development, and mining, in order to provide insight into the many ways in which geoscientists contribute to the mineral industry. Abstract The role of geology in advanced mining studies, such as feasibility studies, is commonly dwarfed by the technical inputs from mining, metallurgical, and social license issues. Understanding and planning for geologic risk in the feasibility process is often overlooked for the higher-profile aspects required to establish an ore reserve. If the geologic model of a deposit cannot be reliably forecast, then there will be lower confidence in many of the modifying factors (which include mining, processing, environmental, social, governmental, and economic factors that influence the conversion of identified mineral resources into economic reserves). Understanding geologic risk requires characterization of all the chemical, physical, and spatial properties of mineralization and waste that form part of the mined material. It is essential to understand the scope of the professionals who use geoscientific data in order to assist the outcomes of the study, with the data types first identified, then collected in a comprehensive manner, and finally interpreted at the appropriate time to contribute to the outcomes of the study. If the study is not comprehensive, remedial collection of data is required at a cost to development timeline and budget; a worse scenario is that the development fails economically after it is built. Developing projects to a construction stage after a mining study typically involves international standards of assessment and verification, although the standards of geoscientific data collection differ between companies and countries. For this reason, recent efforts by international bodies such as the Committee for Mineral Reserves International Reporting Standards (CRIRSCO) are assisting many countries to work toward a standardized terminology in a feasibility study. There are many examples where the mining outcomes have not met the feasibility study forecast, with variable causes for a failure to deliver to plan; geoscientific data shortfalls often contribute significantly to these negative outcomes. Examination of case histories, knowledge of international standards for risk reporting, advances in measurement technology, and an understanding of the end users of geoscientific data will help geologists to better prepare the scope of a feasibility study for a potential mine, in order to deliver a product with lower risk related to geologic uncertainty.

Mine Planning and the Crucial Role of Geology

SEG Discovery ◽  
2019 ◽  
pp. 16-27
Author(s):  
Ed Holloway ◽  
Scott Cowie
Keyword(s):  
Best Practice ◽  
Corporate Strategy ◽  
Planning Process ◽  
Mineral Exploration ◽  
Mining Operation ◽  
Early Career ◽  
Mine Planning ◽  
Driver Model ◽  
Mine Closure ◽  
Mining Operations

Editor’s note: The Geology and Mining series, edited by Dan Wood and Jeffrey Hedenquist, is designed to introduce early-career professionals and students to a variety of topics in mineral exploration, development, and mining, in order to provide insight into the many ways in which geoscientists contribute to the mineral industry. Abstract Mine planning is the process that determines the way in which an ore deposit will be mined over the life of a mining operation. It necessarily draws on everything that planning engineers believe will determine the ultimate success of the proposed mine and uses as its foundation all of the geology-related data on the deposit. It is both a strategic and a tactical process that first considers a longer-term horizon based on strategic considerations, followed by more detailed shorter-term planning processes, in this order; the latter are the result of tactical considerations. This structured process may also be referred to as integrated mine planning, and it is driven by a broader corporate strategy or set of objectives. As such, it is much more than the mining engineering section of the mine development process. It has to include inputs from all related disciplines, by combining all of the measured properties of the deposit with mining-associated parameters. This results in the planning process incorporating a significant number of interrelated parameters. If these parameters are not used diligently and accurately or are not well aligned, or if the underlying data are deficient in either quantity or quality, the project or operation is unlikely to achieve its potential, by virtue of failures in the planning process. Best-practice integrated planning incorporates relevant inputs from all mining-related fields: geology, geotechnical, geochemical, hydrogeological, hydrology, mining operations, minerals processing, marketing of product, waste management, tailings, environmental, social science, mine closure, etc. It includes all interfaces in the business-value driver model, from exploration drill holes to the mine closure plan. The planning process cannot be completed successfully by mining engineers working in isolation from professionals in other key disciplines. Because geology provides the foundation on which the mine plan is built, the quality and accuracy of the geologic data provided to planning teams by exploration geoscientists is crucial.

The Social Dimensions of Mineral Exploration

SEG Discovery ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 16-28
Author(s):  
Sarah Mackenzie ◽  
Jo-Anne Everingham ◽  
Pam Bourke
Keyword(s):  
Case Studies ◽  
Local Community ◽  
Social Performance ◽  
Mineral Exploration ◽  
Early Career ◽  
Strategic Investment ◽  
The Social ◽  
Negative Impacts ◽  
The Many ◽  
Positive Engagement

Editor’s note: The Geology and Mining series, edited by Dan Wood and Jeffrey Hedenquist, is designed to introduce early-career professionals and students to a variety of topics in mineral exploration, development, and mining, in order to provide insight into the many ways in which geoscientists contribute to the mineral industry. Abstract Geoscientists are often the first point of contact a local community has with a company conducting mineral exploration. The behavior of the geoscientists and the interest they take in understanding the local community and stakeholders will have ramifications well beyond their direct exploration activities. This article highlights some of the positive and negative impacts exploration can have for local communities (in part drawing on interviews with experienced geoscientists and others involved in exploration). The article explores the increasing complexity of deposits in terms of environmental, economic, social, and political parameters and the increasing scrutiny by local stakeholders and the international community. We argue that, although geoscientists are not social performance specialists, they still need the awareness, tools, and capabilities to understand and manage the social aspects of their exploration activities commensurate with the stage and resourcing of the project. We propose three interrelated aspects of social performance that can be applied during mineral exploration: meaningful and positive engagement, acquiring and documenting a social knowledge base, and strategic investment in the community. Two case studies provide cautionary examples of failure to do so and two case studies highlight how, through careful engagement and strategic collaboration, mutually beneficial and positive relationships can be built from early exploration.

Harnessing the Power of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in Mineral Exploration—Opportunities and Cautionary Notes

SEG Discovery ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 19-31
Author(s):  
Jon Woodhead ◽  
Mathieu Landry
Keyword(s):  
Artificial Intelligence ◽  
Machine Learning ◽  
Mineral Exploration ◽  
Target Selection ◽  
Full Range ◽  
Early Career ◽  
Substantial Impact ◽  
Core Logging ◽  
Exploratory Data ◽  
Heterogeneous Multiscale

Editor’s note: The aim of the Geology and Mining series is to introduce early-career professionals and students to various aspects of mineral exploration, development, and mining in order to share the experiences and insight of each author on the myriad of topics involved with the mineral industry and the ways in which geoscientists contribute to each. Abstract Artificial intelligence (AI), and machine learning (ML) have emerged in the last few years from relative obscurity in the mineral exploration sector and they now attract significant attention from people in both industry and academia. However, due to the novelty of AI and ML applications, their practical use and potential remain enigmatic to many beyond a relatively few expert practitioners. We introduce this subject for the nonexpert and review some of the current applications and evolving uses. For the most traditionally minded geologist, we argue that ML can be an invaluable new tool, contributing to topics that range from exploratory data analysis to automated core logging and mineral prospectivity mapping, such that it will have a substantial impact on how exploration is conducted in the future. However, ML algorithms perform best with a large amount of homogeneously distributed clean data for a well-constrained objective. For this reason, the application to exploration strategy, especially for optimizing target selection, will be a challenge where data are heterogeneous, multiscale, amorphous, and discontinuous. For the more tech-savvy geologist and data scientist, we provide notes of caution regarding the limitations of ML applied to geoscience data, and reasons to temper expectations. Nonetheless, we project that such technologies, if used in an appropriate manner, will eventually be part of the full range of exploration tasks, allowing explorers to do more with their data in less time. However, whether this will tip the scales in favor of higher discovery rates remains to be demonstrated.

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