The preconcentration of metal bearing ore through the rejection of coarse, barren waste material is not a new concept. However, the approach has not found wide application in the industry due to several common misconceptions about the principles and potential benefits of the approach. The University of British Columbia (UBC) has been involved in a strategic research programme into mine–mill integration and more specifically ore preconcentration since 1999. From the research it has been concluded that ore preconcentration, either by sorting, or other coarse particle separation methods such as dense media separation, is particularly indicated for improving the economics of heterogenous sulphide mineral deposits through the rejection and disposal of barren waste before milling. These benefits can be maximised through the integration of the technologies into the underground environment. This paper presents the outcome of a comprehensive study by UBC into the application and benefits of the concept at Xstrata Nickel's Sudbury Operations.
WrightF.: Proc. Canadian Mineral Processors AGM, Ottawa, Canada, January 1971, Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum Engineers (CIM), 78–83.
2.
MunroP. D., SchacheI. S., ParkW. G. and WatsfordR. M. S.: Proc. XIV Int. Min. Proc. Congr., VI-6, 1–20; 1982, Toronto, International Mineral Processing Council.
3.
Lion Ore: Selkirk Scoping Study Indicates Potential for a Large New Nickel Deposit at Tati Nickel, Lionore International Press Release, SEDAR Ref 00000589E, 6 March 2006.
4.
SalterJ. D. and WyattN. P. G.: Miner. Eng., 1991, 4, (7–11), 779–796.
5.
KinverP.: Anglo Platinum's Western Bushveld Operations, Anglo Platinum Annual Facility Visit Presentation, March 2002.
6.
de JongT. P. R.: The Economic Potential of Automatic Rock Sorting, University of Delft Research Paper, 2005.
7.
HindeA. L., FrankenhauserR. M. and KramersC. P.: Proc. SAIMM Int. Conf. on ‘Gold’, Johannesburg, South Africa, January 1986, South African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (SAIMM), 333–345.
8.
McCulloughW. E., BhappuR. B. and HightowerJ. D.: Copper Ore Pre-concentration by Heavy Media Separation for Reduced Capital and Operating Costs, Proceedings Cobre99, 1999.
9.
WotrubaH.: Proc. Symp. on ‘Sensor-based sorting’, Aachen, Germany, April 2006, RWTH Aachen.
10.
LloydP. J. D.: Proc. 11th Int. Commonwealth Mining and Metallurgy Congr., Hong Kong, September 1978, IMM.
11.
LloydP. J. D.: J. SAIMM, 1979, 79, (1), 135–148.
12.
PetersO., ScobleM. and SchumacherT.: Annual General Meeting, Can. Inst. Min. Metall., Calgary, Cananda, 1999, CD ROM, 9 pages.
13.
KleinB., DunbarW. S. and ScobleM.: CIM Bull., 2002, 95, (1057), 63–68.
14.
BamberA. S., KleinB. and ScobleM. J.: Proc. 39th Annual General Meeting of the Canadian Mineral Processors; 2006, Ottawa, Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum Engineers (CIM).
15.
BrewisT.: Mining Magazine, 1995, 2, 78–87.
16.
EdwardsC. R.: CIM Bull., 2004, 97, (1078), 105–114.
17.
BamberA. S.: ‘Development of an integrated underground mining and processing system at INCO'sMcCreedy East Mine’, Unpublished MASc thesis, University of British Columbia, 2004.
18.
BamberA. S., KleinB., MorinM. and ScobleM. J.: 2004, Proc. IV CANMET Int. Symp. on ‘Narrow vein mining techniques’, Val d’ Or; 2004, Quebec, Canada Centre for Minerals and Energy Technology (CANMET).
19.
BamberA. S., KleinB., MorinM., ScobleM. J.: Proc. IX MPESCAMI Int. Conf. on ‘Mine planning and equipment selection’; 2005, Banff, MPES.
20.
BamberA. S., KleinB. and StephensonM.: Proc. XXXIII Int. Mineral Processing Congress (IMPC 2006), Istanbul, Turkey, September 2006, International Mineral Processing Council.
21.
BamberA. S., WeatherwaxT. W., PakalnisR. and KleinB.: Proc. 2nd Int. Conf. on ‘Deep and high stress mining’; 2006, Quebec, Universitie Laval.
22.
WeatherwaxT. W., BamberA. S., PakalnisR. C. and KleinB.: Proc. 9th International Symposium on ‘Mining with Backfill’, Montreal, 29 April–2 May 2007, Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum Engineers (CIM).
23.
BojcevskiD., VinkL., JohnsonN.W., LandmarkV., JohnstonM., MackenzieJ. and YoungM. F.: Proc. Mine to Mill Conference, Brisbane, Australia, October 1998, AIMM.
24.
SivamohanR. and ForssbergE.:, Miner. Eng., 1991, 4, (7–11), 797–814.
25.
MularA. M., PoulinR. and RedpathJ. S.: Estimating the Preproduction, Capital and Operating Costs for Small Underground Deposits, CANMET Publication # 23111, 1986.
StephensonD. M.: Sorting Testwork Results for Pipe II Ore, UBC Report to INCO Ltd, March 2006.
28.
TalbotA. N. and RichartF. E.: The Strength of Concrete — Its Relation to the Cement Aggregates and Water, Univ. Illinois Engineering Experiment Station BulletinNo. 23, 11–16, University of Illinois, October 1923.
29.
BaxterA. and ParksJ.: ‘The examination, valuation and evaluation of mines’, 4th edn, 107, 139, 142, 145, 268–283; 1957, Addison Wesley.
30.
WinsenJ. K.: Proc. MinVal ’94, Aus IMM, 1994.
31.
AltunN. E.: Bond Work Index of Xstrata Ores and their Preconcentrates, UBC Mining Internal Report, November 2007.
32.
BamberA. S., KleinB. and WeatherwaxT. W.: Proc. 10th Int. Symp. on ‘Environmental issues and waste management in energy and mineral production’, December 2007, Bangkok, Thailand, MPES-CAMI.
33.
PenswickD.: Design Criteria for INCO Pipe II Deposit, INCO Ltd Internal Report, April 2007.
34.
BlowerS. and KiernanJ.: Review of Musselwhite Mine Operations, Ontario, AMEC Report U961-A, Prepared for Kinross gold Corporation, April, 2003.
35.
CoatsC. J. A. and SnajidrP.: Ontario Geological Survey Special Volume 1, 1984, 325–345.
36.
NaldrettA. J.: Ontario Geological Survey Special Volume 1, 1984, 309–325.
37.
FragomeniD.: Mineralogical Comparison using SEM of the Fraser Cu Ores with Footwall Ore of Nickel Rim South, Falconbridge Process Support Internal Report, March 2006.
38.
ProudfootD. and BamberA.: Operational Parameters for Xstrata Nickel Mines, UBC Mining Research Memo, May 2007.
39.
BamberA. S. and HoulahanD.: Induction Balance Sensor, Canadian Intellectual Property Office Provisional Patent Application #2629408, May 2008.
40.
BuksaH. and PaventiM.: McCreedy East 153 OB Rock Sorting Investigation, INCO Mines Research Internal Report, March 2002.
41.
BrechtelC. E., HardyM. P., Baz-DreschJ. and KnowlsonJ. S.: in ‘Handbook on mine fill’, (ed. Y. Potvin et al.), 105–106; 2005, Australian Centre for Geomechanics.
42.
KuganathanK. and SheppardI. A.: Proc. 7th Int. Symp. On ‘Mining with backfill’, (ed. D. Stone), 27–41; Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration (SME).
43.
MayneD.: MINE 577 Internal Report, University of British Columbia Department of Mining Engineering, January 2005.
44.
BinneyP.: 2007, Onaping Depth Development Plan, Xstrata Nickel Venture Group Presentation, May 2007.
45.
SwanG. and CampbellJ.: Proc. 15th Mine Operators’ Conference; 2001, Sudbury, Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum Engineers(CIM).
46.
DeredinR.: ‘RQD's at Craig Mine, Email from Rick Deredin, Ground Control Officer, September 2007.
