A study was conducted to evaluate the properties and processes influencing the rate and magnitude of volume decrease and strength gain for oil sand fine tailings resulting from a change in bitumen extraction process caustic versus non-caustic) and the effect of adding a coagulant to caustic fine tailings. Laboratory flume deposition tests were carried out …
Tag Archive: Mining
Mar
11
Optimal Drainage Area and Surface Pad Positioning for SAGD Development
The optimal allocation of drainage areas and surface pads for SAGD development is challenging because of several surface and subsurface constraints. It becomes more complex due to uncertainty in reservoir properties. This Thesis presents a heuristic methodology to maximize the recovery of bitumen by optimal placement of drainage areas and surface pads. Multiple realizations of …
Mar
09
Prereduction and magnetic separation of low grade manganese ore
Because of intensive mining of high-grade manganese ores for a long time while leaving behind the low-grade ores, the utilization of the latter has become necessary. There are several physicochemical differences among the components in manganese ores, which can be used for the enrichment of manganese. In particular, the abundant low-grade manganese ores, which contain …
Mar
08
Evaluation de la dessiccation, du retrait et de la fissuration de materiaux silteux peu plastiques
Fine-grained soils are often characterized by a tendency to shrink when subjected to a high suction. The decrease of the specific volume is related to a water content reduction, and this may result in the formation of desiccation cracks. Tailings from hard rock mines are fine-grained materials that tend to interact with the environment when …
Feb
25
Simulation of a large multi-pit mining operation
With rising mining costs, mine management must make operational decisions to improve systems with limited knowledge. Mining production systems are difficult to alter in reality. Simulation provides a tool that can provide insight into a mine production system. A simulation tool provides an environment where experiments can be performed and the results analyzed without altering …
Feb
21
Electromagnetic Characterization of Cemented Paste Backfill in the Field and Laboratory
Cemented Paste Backfill (CPB) is a relatively new backfilling technology for which a better understanding of binder hydration is required. This research uses electromagnetic (EM) wave-based techniques to non-destructively study a CPB consisting of tailings, sand, process water and binder (90% blast-furnace slagļ¼ 10% Portland cement). EM experiments were performed using a broadband network analyzer …
Feb
21
Surface forces in foam films
Fundamental studies of surface forces in foam films are carried out to explain the stability of foams and froths in froth flotation. The thin film pressure balance TFPB) technique was used to study the surface forces between air bubbles in water from equilibrium film thickness and dynamic film thinning measurements. The results were compared with …
Feb
16
An investigation of copper recovery from a sulphide oxide ore with a mixed collector system
Current copper deposits contain significant amounts of secondary non-sulphide minerals and newly discovered deposits are increasingly complex. As a result, research into the improvement of sulphide-oxide copper ores processing through the use of mixed collector systems has surged. The flotation of a natural porphyry copper ore with bornite and malachite was investigated via fundamental work …
Feb
16
Structures in the continental pit: A porphyry copper-molybdenum deposit, Butte, Montana
The goal of this thesis was to map discontinuities in the highwall of the Continental pit, a porphyry Cu-Mo deposit located within the Butte mining district, Montana. The Continental pit is currently being mined by Montana Resources LLP. This work was performed in an effort to identify vein and joint sets, locate major faults, and …
Feb
11
Failure mechanisms of orebodies under shear loading
Experience at the Geomechanics Research Centre in studying three orebodies loaded with major far-field stresses oblique to strike over the last ten years showed several characteristic problems that differentiate them from orebodies having major the far-field stresses perpendicular to strike. Orebodies loaded with major far field stresses oblique to strike are subjected to both compressive …