CONFERENCE OVERVIEW

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CONFERENCE OVERVIEW

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 CONFERENCE OVERVIEW

Sunday, January 21st 18:00 - 20:00 Ray MacDonald Hockey Challenge

Carleton University
8:00 - 17:00 Short Courses, Westin 4th Floor
21:00 - 24:00 Chairman’s Reception
8:00 – Registration and breakfast
Governor General Ballroom I
9:00 – Full day courses start
 Workshop on National Instrument 43-101 – Wednesday, January 24th
Room: Alberta
 Bulk Solids Handling: How to Avoid Being a 7:00 - 8:15 Authors’ Breakfast
Statistic – Room: New Brunswick Quebec Room, 4th Floor
 Advances in Sensor Based Sorting -
Room: Newfoundland/Nova Scotia 7:30 - 15:15 Registration
4th Floor Westin Hotel
12:00 – 1:00 Short course luncheon
8:30 - 16:45 Technical Program
 Quebec room
Confederation Ballroom
Monday, January 22nd
11:30 - 13:00 Wednesday Luncheon and Annual
Business Meeting
8:00 - 17:00 Short Courses, Westin 4th Floor
Governor General Ballroom
8:00 – Full day course registration and breakfast
18:00 - 19:30 Executive Reception
9:00 – Full day courses start
Suite 22, 22nd Floor - Invitation only
 Screening Theory & Practical Considerations
in Operating Screening Equipment 18:30 - 19:30 Banquet Reception
Efficiently – Room: Nova Scotia 4th Floor, Ballroom Foyer
 Gold Gravity Concentration – Room: Alberta
19:30 - 22:00 Annual Banquet
12:00 – 1:00 Short course luncheon (Quebec Rm) Confederation Ballroom, 4th Floor

12:00 – Half-day courses start (includes lunch) 22:00 - 24:00 Post Banquet Reception
 Mineral Processing Plant Debottlenecking: Governor General I, 4th Floor
Tools/Methodology – Room: New Brunswick
 Thickener Operation – Use of Instruments Thursday, January 25th
to Optimize Thickener Performance – Room:
Newfoundland 7:00 - 8:15 Authors’ Breakfast
Quebec Room, 4th Floor
8:30 - 14:00 Board of Directors Meeting
Colonel By Suite, 23rd Floor 7:45 - 15:15 Registration
4th Floor Westin Hotel
9:30 - 21:00 Conference Registration
4th Floor Westin Hotel 8:30 - 16:00 Technical Program
Confederation Ballroom
19:00 - 23:00 Welcome Reception
Governor General I, 4th Floor 11:30 – 13:00 Student Luncheon - Invitation Only
Governor General I, 4th Floor
Tuesday, January 23rd
15:15 – 17:30 Closing Reception
7:00 - 8:15 Authors’ Breakfast Confederation Foyer
Quebec Room, 4th Floor
19:00 – 22:00 Board of Directors Dinner
7:00 - 15:15 Registration Daly’s, 3rd Floor
4th Floor Westin Hotel
Friday, January 26th
8:30 - 16:45 Technical Program
Confederation Ballroom 8:30 - 12:00 Board of Directors Meeting
Colonel By Suite, 23rd Floor
12:05 - 13:35 Tuesday Networking Luncheon
Governor General Ballroom

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WELCOME LETTERS

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WELCOME LETTERS

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 WELCOME LETTERS

CHAIR’S WELCOME

Welcome to Ottawa and the 50th Annual Meeting of the Canadian Mineral
Processors! On behalf of the CMP Executive it is my pleasure to welcome
all delegates to this very special year at the conference as we look back
at our past, and ahead to our future. This conference provides an
opportunity for members of our mineral processing community to
exchange and engage in a balanced technical and social program
covering all aspects of mineral processing.

First things first, you may have noticed our new logo! The logo is simple
but provides homage to the past through the shapes and colours. The
stand-alone design can be used for branding and with the optional
accompanying wording is fully bilingual. In coming years there will be
increasing bilingual content and we will be looking for feedback on this
approach as we move forward.

Brian Danyliw, this year’s first Vice Chair, has put together an excellent
technical program for this celebratory year, with 35 delegate papers
plus a plenary presentation by Jan Nesset titled 50 Year of Innovation
by Canadian Mineral Processors. To commemorate this occasion, Jan and his team have compiled the stories
of many of the important innovations by Canadians and Canadian technology providers over the past 50
years. These stories have been published as a hard cover volume that is provided to all delegates as part
of the conference registration, and constitute an important historical record of our industry and the role of
the CMP.

In addition, there are two panel discussions that I am sure will be full of thought-provoking discussions. On
Tuesday afternoon the first one will be on Innovation and Collaboration and the second on Wednesday
afternoon will be on Energy Efficiency through Ore Sorting. This year we have continued the tradition of a
Short Course Program, with a variety of courses covering a range of subjects led by industry experts. I
would also like to invite you to participate in this year’s social program which includes a 50th Welcome
Reception on the Monday evening starting at 7pm, which is open to all registered delegates, the networking
lunch Tuesday, the Chairman’s Reception Tuesday evening, the business meeting lunch on Wednesday, and
finally the banquet and reception on Wednesday evening. As well, on Tuesday evening the CMP hosts the
annual East vs. West Ray MacDonald Memorial Hockey Game to whom the famed Kilborn Cup will be hoisted
in triumph. The entire CMP community has continued to be very active in the industry throughout 2017.
Our ten regional branches have been active with annual technical meetings, short courses, social activities
and student support with over 1000 delegates attending the various meetings around the country.

This year we are piloting National CMP working with the regional branches to solicit applications for young
engineers in the first 5 years of their career to request funds to attend this National CMP conference. We
are hoping that this will allow more young engineers from operations to attend the conference and raise
the profile of the value of our conference within their companies.

For those feeling up to it, or needing some fresh air on Wednesday morning you are welcome to join
Stephanie Vo, Paul Blatter and myself for a short jog in and around Ottawa (rain, snow, cold, it’s a go!). As
well, Berge Simonian is organizing a squash club again this year!

Enjoy the Conference!

Johnna Muinonen
CMP 2018, Chair

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 WELCOME LETTERS

MESSAGE FROM CIM

On behalf of the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and

Petroleum (CIM) I welcome you all to this year’s Conference in
Ottawa. This year we celebrate two anniversaries, the Canadian
Mineral Processors (CMP) 50th and the CIM’s 120th. Both were
created from humble beginnings by forward thinking individuals
and reflect the important role mining has played in the history
of this great nation.

In 1968 the Canadian Gold Metallurgists (CGM), at an annual

meeting in Ottawa, invited the base metal mines to form CMP.
This was followed by the iron industry invited to join in 1971 and
in addition, CMP expanded to invite technical personnel to
participate who were directly connected to processing gold, base
metals and ferrous ores in Canada. The tradition of holding the
annual meeting in Ottawa continues to this day. The origins of
CGM were modest. Three gold mill superintendents, Messrs.
Carter, Gordon and Sullivan, met in the Timmins, Ontario region
to discuss common issues and challenges in 1957. Six years later,
representatives of 27 of the 40 gold mills in Canada decided to
officially form the CGM. It should be noted that CanmetMINING and its predecessors in Ottawa have
played an important role in supporting CMP.

In January 1981, CMP members voted to become a “society” within CIM. CMP today is one of the
larger thriving organizations of the nine societies and twenty-five Branches of CIM. For me personally,
when I emigrated from Southern Africa in 1980, it was membership in CMP that offered me a way into
the mining community. I have fond memories of the CMP conferences and am proud as CIM President
to give back what I have learnt over the years, to CMP and CIM.

CIM was created in 1898 just 21 years after Confederation. CIM consolidated various Provincial mining
associations, one of which even pre-dated Confederation. The objective was to have a national voice
and network over the vast Canadian landscape. So, as we gather to celebrate 120 years, we are also
doing our part to serve that original purpose.

Today Canada produces 60 minerals and metals and is among the world leaders in many of these. In
2015 mining contributed 3.5% to national gross domestic product and directly employed 380,000
personnel and if we include service providers and vendors that number exceeds one million.

So, enjoy and celebrate the CMP 50th anniversary with the knowledge that we, “mining folk”, make a
significant contribution to Canada’s people.

Kenneth (Ken) G. Thomas

CIM President

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 WELCOME LETTERS

MESSAGE FROM CANMET

It is my great pleasure this year again to provide my full support

to the Canadian Mineral Processors and especially on the
celebration of its 50th anniversary.

Fifty years ago CanmetMINING, then known as the Mines

Branch of the Department of Mines and Technical Surveys, was
instrumental in bringing together operators from Canada's gold
industry to form the Canadian Gold Metallurgists – now known
as the Canadian Mineral Processors (CMP). The first meeting
took place at Camsell Hall, on Booth Street Complex in Ottawa,
on the Mines Branch Campus (now Natural Resources Canada -
NRCan) in 1964.

NRCan, through its CanmetMINING research facilities, continues

to actively support the Canadian Mineral Processors serving as
the Secretariat for the 3000+ member organization through
management of CMP’s national office. In addition to filling two
executive positions, CanmetMINING is also the organizer for the
annual operators’ conference. The organizing committee is a
very small and efficient team and includes the following CanmetMINING current and retired employees
– Wesley Griffith, Rory Cameron, John Chaulk, Al Kuiper, Dave Hardy, Louise Madaire and Janice Zinck.

The symbiotic relationship between the CMP and CanmetMINING is mutually beneficial, bringing value
to both organizations for over fifty years and long into the future to advance innovation in mineral
processing.

The annual CMP conference is internationally recognized as one of the premier conferences and one
of the largest gatherings of mineral processing professionals in the world and is the place to find
experts who can develop innovative technologies and solve challenging problems.
It is my great pleasure this year to assure you that CanmetMINING will continue its on-going support
to CMP and will continue to contribute to the achievements of its strategic objectives.

Regards,

Dr. Magdi Habib, Ph.D.

Director General of CanmetMINING
Lands and Minerals Sector
Natural Resources Canada

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 WELCOME LETTERS

MESSAGE FROM THE TECHNICAL PROGRAM CHAIR

On behalf of the CMP Executive Committee, I would like to thank

you for your interest in the 50th Annual Meeting of the Canadian
Mineral Processors, a Technical Society of the Canadian Institute
of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM). This publication has
been compiled to provide a permanent record of the technical
papers presented at the conference.

The Meeting continues in its tradition of providing an unsurpassed

experience with our successful Student Program, social events,
multiple short courses and the well-attended Technical Program
and offers an expanded experience to commemorate our 50th
year which includes two round table panel discussions on topics
most relevant to the mineral processing industry in Canada and
an expanded program of social events.

Our sponsorship program for this 50th Canadian Mineral

Processors Conference was expanded to allow for additional
opportunities. The response to this expanded sponsorship
program has been overwhelming and allows us to not only offer the expanded social program to our
delegates but also allowed us to create and publish a commemorative look back at 50 years of
innovation in mineral processing in Canada which every delegate will receive. Sponsorship also allows
us to once again sponsor students from across the country to attend the conference and I encourage
every conference delegate to engage with and interact with these future leaders of mineral processing
across Canada and the world.

This year’s technical program response has been outstanding with papers on new operations,
operational improvements, process optimisation, and process control across several commodities with
once again exceptional comminution, gold processing and flotation sessions. We have also included
two round table panel discussions in this years program and I would like to thank the panelists who
have volunteered to participate in the discussion on Collaboration and Innovation in Mineral Processing
as well as Ore Sorting. Thank you to the many operations and companies that support the mineral
processing industry for sharing their talent and experience and providing an interesting and
informative technical program for us. Taking the time to prepare the technical papers within their
busy schedules and sending delegates to our conference is greatly appreciated.

Finally, I’d also like to thank all those involved in the preparation of technical program which includes
those who submitted excellent abstracts, CANMET and the 2017-2018 CMP Executive Committee
(Scott Martin, Johnna Muinonen, Stefanie Vo, Rory Cameron, Wesley Griffith and Janice Zinck). I hope
you enjoy the conference.

Regards,

Brian Danyliw
CMP Technical Chair
January 2018

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 CMP 2018 – ABSTRACTS

TUESDAY, JANUARY 23rd 09:30 - PAPER 2

Grinding Media Sizing Studies: Past, Present and
Morning Session Future
W. Conger – ME Elecmetal
07:30 - CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST – PROVINCES J-F. Dupont – Detour Gold Corporation
BALLROOM R. McIvor – Metcom Technologies Inc.
T.P. Weldum – Cleveland Cliffs Iron Company
08:30 – Opening Remarks
Johnna Muinonen, Chair CMP 2018 These studies address the relationship between mill
media sizing and its grinding efficiency. Starting with
PLENARY PRESENTATION the results from a review of the literature, the issues of
initial media sizing for a new ball milling circuit, and
08:45 - PAPER 1 then optimal media sizing for an existing milling
50 Years of Innovation by Canadian Mineral operation, were studied. The Functional Performance
Processors parameters “Mill Grinding Efficiency” and cumulative
J. Nesset – NesseTech Consulting Services Inc. “Mill Grinding Rates” from both plant and test-scale
equipment were used, and provide valuable new insight
The past 50 years have been a golden era, not just for into this topic. A plant media sizing diagnostic tool is
the CMP but also for the development and success of presented, as are newly developed testing equipment
Canadian technologies in the field of mineral and evaluation methods, and recent case studies.
processing. The CMP has played a critical role of
technology transfer agent, and the success of these NOTES:
technologies is also linked to the success of the CMP
itself. The presentation will cover, in brief, the growth
of the CMP from its origins as the Canadian Gold
Metallurgists in 1964, with some 39 attendees, to the
present day when the annual meeting sees 500 and
more from a dozen countries. Also covered will be
selected technology success stories from the 50th
anniversary volume to be given to all
delegates ‘Canadian Contributions to Mineral
Processing Technology 1968-2018’. The volume
itself highlights some 40 technologies that have been
divided into five categories; process water treatment
and minesite environment, technology innovations,
innovations in operations, technology providers and
university contributions. Some international
perspectives will also be shared.

NOTES:

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 CMP 2018 – ABSTRACTS

09:55 – PAPER 3 10:50 – Paper 4

Mount Isa Mines Necessity Driving Innovation Using Operational Readiness and Plant Trials to
V. Lawson, H. DeWaal, G. Heferen, N, Aslin, P. Successfully Implement a Process Flowsheet
Voigt, and M. Hourn – Glecore Technology Change
A.J. Taylor, C.H. Buck, and J. Hall – Vale
Mount Isa Mines (MIM) acquired a reputation for the
successful application of R&D to develop break-through In 2015 Vale’s Clarabelle Mill began the process change
technologies for the mining industry starting in the to enable a higher degree of Cu separation. The
1978’s through until the early 2000’s. The flowsheet modification was part of a complete divisional
ISAPROCESSTM tank-house technology has been flowsheet change being implemented in Vale’s Sudbury
licensed to copper refineries throughout the world, and Operations. This paper will centre on some of the
a significant per cent of the world’s copper is refined Operational Readiness (OR) work, culminating in the
using this technology. Since development in the late commissioning of the circuit in March 2017. The
1980’s more than 20 ISASMELTTM copper and lead emphasis will be on the implementation of an
smelting furnaces are now installed in countries around integrated test plan to prepare for the process flow
the world. Jameson Cell flotation technology developed change through the mill.
jointly by Mount Isa Mines and Professor Graeme
Jameson is widely used in the Australian coal mining NOTES:
industry and increasingly in the base-metal and gold
industry. The IsaMillTM’s developed at Mount Isa and
McArthur River made it possible to develop the
McArthur River and George Fisher orebodies and has
been successfully implemented into base metal fine
grinding applications around the world. The most
recent commercialised innovation is the atmospheric
leach Albion ProcessTM with its supersonic
HyperSpargeTM gas sparger, is being adopted as a
solution to the increasing complexity of orebodies.

MIM’s contribution to the industry was significant given

the size and the remote location of its operations with
Townsville Copper Refineries more than 1350 km and
Mount Isa 1800 km from the nearest state capital of
Brisbane. This paper will briefly discuss the
development of each of these technologies and why
MIM – now owned by Glencore - was so successful
innovating and developing such technologies over a
period of nearly 40 years.

NOTES:

10:20 BREAK – PROVINCES BALLROOM

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 CMP 2018 – ABSTRACTS

11:15 – PAPER 5 11:40 – PAPER 6

Two Generations Later: Industrial Modelling and The Development of Modern Flowsheeting Tools
Optimization of Gold Cyanidation for Mineral Processing – Integrated Process
M. Wilson, F. Bélanger, and P.A. Fournier – Mineralogy: Decades in the Making
Detour Gold Corporation N.O. Lotter – Flowsheets Metallurgical
Consulting Inc.
Modelling and optimization techniques used in the
operation of the Detour Lake Mine leach circuit are The connection between mineralogy and metallurgical
contrasted to a 1973 review of contemporary performance in a plant was recognised long ago
techniques used by a major gold producer. The leach (Gaudin, 1939; Petruk, 1976; Petruk and Hughson,
circuit at the Detour Lake Mine was modelled using a 1977; Cabri, 1981; Petruk and Schnaar, 1981; Kinloch,
full factorial Design of Experiment of stirred tank 1982; Peyerl, 1983, Baum et al 1989 for example).
reactor leach tests using circuit feed. Contour plots of The modern toolbox that we now routinely use for
extraction were applied in the plant to optimize flowsheet development took decades to develop (Lotter
addition rates of cyanide and the newly-commissioned et al., 2002; Baum and Lotter, 2004; Lotter, 2011 for
lead nitrate system. Contour plot sections were used example). Many workers contributed considerable time
to understand the impact of sulphur in circuit feed at and effort to this overall mission of connecting
different operating dissolved oxygen concentrations. sampling, mineralogy and mineral processing to
The 1973 review paper offers insight into industrially- integrate the flowsheet development activities. Certain
applied modelling and optimization techniques. In key milestones marked this journey, such as Gy’s
particular, a mathematical model of plant data was treatise on the sampling of particulate materials in
developed using multilinear stepwise regression 1979, which was later added to by François-Bongarçon,
analysis. The model was presented using graphical Pitard, Minnitt, and Holmes for example. The
representations available at the time and applied to development of QEM*SEM by Gottlieb et al. of the MLA
optimize the rates of cyanide addition. Off-the-shelf by Gu et al. constituted a huge leap forward in
software solutions of today allow mineral processors to accuracy and mineral measurement capacity, as well as
quickly and easily visualize data, allowing them to re- a reduction in standard errors of mineral
allocate time and resources spent processing data to characterisation. The advancement of the microprobe
generating raw data and extracting actionable to an automated platform made a significant difference
information. to detailed compositional mineralogy. This led to a
strong position from which to draw meaningful
NOTES: processing implications from the mineralogical data.
Reproducible flotation testing and reliable plant survey
material for characterisation was dealt with by,
amongst others, High Confidence Flotation Testing (
Lotter, 1995: Runge, 2010, and Bradshaw, 1997); and
Statistical Benchmark Surveying (Lotter, 2005), with
earlier prototypes which were steadily improved
(Lotter, 1994; Restarick, 1976). The sterling work of
Napier-Munn in engaging sound statistical methods
with mineral processing led to the successful design
and use of methods that could identify and quantify
small recovery gains in plant scale trials. This history
and present capability are reviewed, including leverage
into asset management.

NOTES:

12:05 NETWORKING LUNCH – GOVERNOR

GENERAL BALLROOM

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 CMP 2018 – ABSTRACTS

TUESDAY, JANUARY 23rd 14:00 - PAPER 8

Improving the Flotation Circuit Performance
Afternoon Session using Empirical Simulation at Nunavik Nickel
Concentrator
13:35 - PAPER 7 L. Ebacher, J. Bouchard, and A. Clapperton –
Using QEMSCAN Mineral Exposure to Predict Université Laval
Flotation rougher Recovery N. Singh – Canadian Royalties Inc.
J.M. Lang, S.J. Prout, D. Lascelles, and K. R. Araya – Consultant Mineral Processing
Sarinas – SGS Minerals
N. Redman – Teck Resources Ltd. Canadian Royalties Inc. owns and exploits the Nunavik
Nickel project: a copper and nickel deposit in Nunavik,
There is a growing demand for ore characterization Quebec. Froth flotation is used to produce nickel and
methods to support metallurgical development copper concentrates. As is the case at other operations,
programs from a true geometallurgical perspective. the presence of magnesium is detrimental to the
Today, there are multiple automated mineral analysis flotation products. In the past year, the exploitation of
systems on the market, many of which are based on a new deposit has increased magnesium in the feed.
conventional mineral liberation data. However, Thus, it has been challenging to meet the required ratio
liberation data can be limited when assessing the in the final nickel concentrate.
floatability of a mineral to predict its recovery as it
doesn’t consider the surface area available for collector In search for a consistent solution for this problematic,
absorption and bubble attachment; whereas mineral an empirical flotation simulator making use of
exposure measurements can. Using the First-Order selectivity curves was developed. The circuit was
Rate equation to predict the recovery versus time of expressed as a system of linear equations, which
variously exposed particles, a model has been considered the distribution of copper, nickel and
developed to predict the recovery of copper sulphides gangue minerals in the different streams. The relative
at a particular grind size. This model provides the quantities of each mineral are given by the separation
opportunity for the prediction of copper recovery and efficiency curves of the various banks in the circuit.
grade from multiple, small-scale samples. These Three sources of data were used to calibrate the
predicted values can be imported into resource simulator: historical plant data (metallurgical balance),
modeling software, and guide the domaining of infinite dilution bench-scale flotation tests, and direct
geometallurgical units within the ore body. Data has sampling of flotation cells. The calibrated separation
been analyzed from various global copper porphyry curves were used to predict the recovery of the
systems and compared with actual flotation testwork. different species based on a single mineral recovery.

NOTES: Validation of the simulator showed good fit for the

valuable minerals. The simulator was then used to infer
the optimal operating conditions of the flotation circuit
to optimise magnesium oxide content of the nickel
concentrate. Simulation of two re-arrangements of the
circuit gave a promising solution with a Fe:MgO ratio
2.42 times higher than the minimum value.

NOTES:

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 CMP 2018 – ABSTRACTS

14:25 - PAPER 9 14:50 - PAPER 10

Reagent Selection at the Gibraltar Mine for Resolving Detrimental Seasonal Effect on the
Improved Process Performance Flotation Processes at Niobec
F. Chachula and A. Molinaro – Gilbralter Mines J-S. Marois, D. Downey, G. Matton, and Y.
Ltd. Dodier – Niobec Inc.
D. Miller – Chevron Phillips Chemical Company F. Cappucitti – Flottec LLC

Sulphide mineral flotation operations continuously The flotation processes of the Niobec Mine have been
strive for a balance between mineralogy, mineral affected by a seasonal loss of recovery and a significant
liberation, circuit conditions and reagent solutions to increase in reagent consumption over the past few
maximize the production rate and recovery of payable winters. This paper discusses the problem-solving
metals. The Taseko Gibraltar copper – molybdenum methodology that was used to identify the root causes,
mill operations underwent an extensive project to develop solutions and to implement changes that
focusing on the fundamentals to identify the effects of resolved the problem to restore the process to
process conditions and mineral liberation to improve summer-like conditions year-round. Mainly, it was
the bulk circuit copper – molybdenum recovery found that the process water was contaminated by
efficiencies in the bulk flotation circuits. This discussion phosphates ions, which adversely affected the
will provide process data that demonstrates; 1) carbonate pre-flotation, and caused detrimental effects
fundamental relationship between mineral liberation to on the subsequent niobium flotation. The phosphate
recovery and grade, 2) flotation circuit condition testing ions were being generated by the process itself, but
and optimization, 3) reagent combinations resulting in were consumed by algae in summer conditions. It was
efficient/economical mineral recovery, and 4) the determined in laboratory studies that concentrations as
development of a xanthate free reagent solution. The low as 5 ppm were enough to affect the circuit and that
data presented and discussed will also touch on the multiple additions of process water throughout the
flotation parameters including pH, retention time, circuit was worsening the effect. Also, temperature was
kinetics and the effect on bulk circuit recovery found to have an impact on the reagent performance.
performance. The performance of the plant was restored by
implementing a natural treatment of our process water
NOTES: with a simple cost-free rearrangement of our circuit
streams. In addition to that, our extensive
geometallurgical program was used to provide ore to
the plant restricting phosphate generation in the
process. Also, a modification of the collector was
developed and introduced in the carbonate pre-flotation
that provided improved performance during the periods
of low pulp temperature.

NOTES:

15:15 PRE-PANEL RECEPTION – PROVINCES

BALLROOM

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 CMP 2018 – ABSTRACTS

15:45 – Panel Discussion WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 24th

Discussion Collaboration and Innovation in
Mineral Processing – Forging Canadian Morning Session
Leadership
Panelists: Jean Robitaille, Agnico Eagle, Simon 07:30 - CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST –
Hille, Goldcorp, Janice Zinck, CanmetMINING, PROVINCES BALLROOM
Dominic Fragomeni, XPS Consulting and Test
Work, Nathan Stubina, McEwen Mining, Erin
Bobicki, University of Toronto, Rob Stephens, 8:30 – PAPER 11
Teck Corp. The Otjikoto Gravity Circuit: Test Work, Design,
Moderator: Scott Martin Commissioning, and Operation
E. Barnard, J. Tero, S. Mbalamba, and A.
NOTES: Nashitati – Otjikoto Mine
N. Avenido and J. Rajala – B2GOLD
Corporation
M. Fullam – FLSmidth Ltd.
J. Carrillo – Consep Pty Ltd.

The Otjikoto mining and milling complex is 90% owned

by B2Gold Corporation, and began commercial
operation on February 28, 2015. The milling circuit
operates at a throughput 3.3 million tonnes per annum,
with an average reserve gold grade of 1.28 g/t. The
ore is high in Gravity Recoverable Gold (GRG), which
varies between 73-91%, depending on ore type.
Overall gold recovery since start-up is 98.2%, with
about 63.5 % coming from the gravity circuit as doré.
2016 cash operating costs, and all in sustaining cost
(“AISC”) were $361 and $604 per ounce, respectively.

During design, three ore types were tested for GRG

content, and based on the high GRG value of all three
ore types, the decision was made to treat the full ball
mill circulating load by gravity. Once operating, the
gravity circuit performance was characterized by
performing a detailed gravity audit, which included the
ore, cyclone classification, Knelson concentrators, and
the Consep Acacia intensive leach system. The deeper
ores contain significant pyrrhotite, and this created
some unusual challenges that had to be overcome.
This paper presents the gravity circuit design process,
the circuit commissioning, and the audit results and
ongoing improvements.

NOTES:

Session

21:00 CHAIR’S RECEPTION – GOVERNOR

GENERAL BALLROOM

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 CMP 2018 – ABSTRACTS

08:55 – PAPER 12 9:20 – PAPER 13

SART Implementation at Heap Leach Operations Carbon Scout – Automating Carbon Measurement
in Mexico and Control in CIP/CIL Circuits
D. Kratochvil – BQE Water G. Rasmussen and W.P Staunton – Gekko
D. Salari – D.E.N.M. Engineering Ltd. Systems
T. Avilez - M Metallōrum México W. Lodge – Gold Technology Group

The economics of developing gold deposits containing The carbon-in-pulp (CIP) process has been the
elevated levels of cyanide soluble base metals is often dominant gold recovery technology since the 1980s.
challenged by high cyanide consumption and increased During all this time carbon measurement, and control
operating costs. SART is a chemical process that of the carbon transfer pumps has been largely manual
enables cyanide consumed by base metals to be in nature. Such manual operation inevitably limits
recovered and recycled for gold leaching. The process process efficiency, potentially resulting in higher gold
also provides concurrent recovery of the base metal to solution losses, and higher cost of circuit operation.
generate incremental revenue from the sale of high- Based on the authors’ experience, average plant
grade base metal sulphide concentrates. Although solution loss is in the range of 0.02-0.03 ppm Au, as
SART was developed and successfully piloted by opposed to the general industry target of 0.01 ppm Au
Lakefield Research and Teck Corporation in the late or less. Gekko Systems, in conjunction with Curtin
90’s and is now a public domain technology, the University’s Gold Technology Group, has developed a
adoption of SART has been relatively slow due to carbon concentration meter, the ‘Carbon Scout’ meter.
concerns about implementation costs and the reliability The meter automatically measures carbon
of metallurgical performance. Through extensive concentration in all tanks, providing more frequent and
experience in selective metal sulphide precipitation more precise data. Combined with SIMCIL, a CIP
applied to mining wastewater since 2007, BQE Water circuit process model which is used to determine the
has provided process know-how, design along with optimum set points for the circuit, the meter should
operations and maintenance experience to a number of ensure lower gold solution losses, and more efficient
projects involving the integration of SART into various operation of the carbon circuit. This paper will review
metallurgical flowsheets on an industrial scale. This they critical factors for good carbon management, the
paper presents the commissioning experience and development of the meter and results from the first
operating data from a SART plant treating up to 500 plant installation. Additional benefits of the Carbon
m3/hr of leach solution at a heap leach operation in Scout, including improved health and safety and the
Mexico opportunity to measure other key variables in the
leach/adsorption circuit from one central location will
NOTES: also be described.

NOTES:

09:45 – BREAK – PROVINCES BALLROOM

16
 CMP 2018 – ABSTRACTS

10:15 - PAPER 14 10:40 - PAPER 15

Organic Carbon Mitigation at Peñasquito Optimizing the Carbon Circuit at the Yound-
P.J. Lind and M.A. Tomlinson – Goldcorp Inc. Davidson Mine using CIP/CIL Modelling
J. Awmack – Goldcorp Peñasquito Mine T. Crary, C.A. Fleming, and M. Ounpuu – SGS
Canada Inc.
Peñasquito is a complex polymetallic deposit containing P. MacPhail – Consulting Metallurgist
gold, silver, lead, zinc, and copper and is one of the M. Tiedtke – Alamos Gold Inc.
largest producers of gold in Mexico. Mining activity is
currently transitioning to a second open pit, Chile The SGS carbon-in-pulp (CIP) / carbon-in-leach (CIL)
Colorado, which will be mined concurrently with the model was used to evaluate and optimize the carbon
existing open pit, Peñasco. The ore bodies are located circuit at Alamos Gold’s Young-Davidson Mine. Plants
within diatreme pipes and into the surrounding samples (pulp and carbon) were tested in a series of
sediment formation. In the coming years, mining will small scale batch experiments to determine rates of
be carried out in more sedimentary zones, which are gold leaching and adsorption on carbon from a
significantly higher in organic carbon content. Organic combined flotation concentrate/tailing product. The
carbon in the feed influences both flotation and testwork data, along with existing plant data were then
leaching operations. used to model the performance of the existing CIL
plant and optimize the circuit to improve performance
Several changes are being implemented to the and overall recovery. The primary purpose of the
Peñasquito flowsheet to mitigate the effects of modelling exercise was to determine the most cost
increased organic carbon in the plant feed. These effective way to lower solution losses at the plant. The
include the use of alternate reagent schemes, modelling was also used to learn how the various
construction of a carbon pre-flotation circuit, parameters in the CIL circuit affect solution losses and
implementation of a pre-leach flotation circuit ahead of the gold inventory tied up on the carbon. This resulted
pyrite leach, and evaluation of a tertiary process for in recommendations for minor changes in the CIL
separation of carbon and precious metal minerals. flowsheet, which were successfully implemented in the
plant. The approach, results and plant changes are
NOTES: presented

NOTES:

17
 CMP 2018 – ABSTRACTS

11:05 – PAPER 16 WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 24th

Best-practice Considerations for Bullion Handling
Z. Yamak and M. Somppi – Goldcorp Inc. Afternoon Session
Gold producers invest significant effort in mining,
processing, and creating an intermediate gold doré 13:00 – PAPER 17
product. Nonetheless, equal effort should be extended Sustainable Comminution? Giving Mining Clients
to the final handling and processing of the doré bar, What They Need, Expect and Deserve
and managing the high-purity gold produced at the J. Starkey – Starkey & Associates Inc.
fine-gold toll refiner. This detailed attention to bullion
handling and refining provides rigor and confidence A comminution circuit in recent history, is one of the
that the mine site is achieving, through fair and most difficult parts of a mineral processing plant to
controlled methodology, the most appropriate value for design with confidence. It is usually the most costly
the final product. With the above in mind, the part of a plant to build, and it can consume up to half
following study explores the importance of preparing a or more of the energy used on a mine site. To suggest
set of site best-practices for bullion handling and that comminution energy usage is sustainable in the
specifically, detailing the peculiarities of sampling long term is not possible at this time. What we have to
methodologies and the impact on assays. choose from today, based on more than 50 years of
experience, does include the best available technology,
NOTES: and the best way to design it. There is controversy in
the industry as to how to properly approach the subject
of comminution design, with many of the optional
solutions requiring a level of training and expertise
beyond the ability of a non-specialist engineer. Semi-
autogenous grinding technology in particular, has not
been properly appreciated because of many recent
mistakes in its application and design, which have
blurred the positive perception about what SAG
technology is, how it can be used, and how it needs to
be designed and built. In order to change this, mine
owners and senior managers need to take responsibility
for, and learn to understand the fundamental
challenges that a comminution circuit poses to the
project, to the design process, to the operators who
use the equipment, and to the resulting metallurgy.
This address is intended to summarize these challenges
and offer fundamental engineering solutions, which are
clear, specific and in a format which is directly
applicable to the mining and mineral engineering
community.

NOTES:

11:30 ABM LUNCH – GOVERNOR GENERAL

BALLROOM

18
 CMP 2018 – ABSTRACTS

13:40 – PAPER 18 14:05 – PAPER 19

Simulation for Ball Mill Sizing: The Path to a Multi Stage HPGR Circuits – Increasing the
Successful Plant Start-up Benefit Across the Comminution Flow Sheet
A. Berton and H. Gilbert-Tremblay – Soutex F.P. van der Meer – WEIR Venlo
A. Rousselet – Ressources Robex
HPGRs operate in a wide array of applications in mining
Robex Resources interrupted production at the and minerals . These range from relatively coarse
Nampala Mine in September 2014 following throughput crushing of copper and gold ores at one end of the
and gold recovery results which were below spectrum to the processing of fine iron ore pellet feed
expectations during the first months of operation. After and fine industrial mineral products at the other.
a thorough plant audit, an important brainstorming Traditionally these circuits involve the treatment of
took place in order to identify an economical path to relatively moist materials in pre-grinding circuits; using
resume production. It was clearly identified that a single stage HPGRs in open circuit or as a closed circuit
significant investment was necessary at the operation with screening or partial product recycle.
concentrator prior to restarting the plant, namely the More recently, HPGR is increasingly deployed in dry
addition of a ball mill and a new elution system. grinding in combination with air classification.

The mineral processing simulation software USIM PAC The high throughput demonstrated by larger HPGRs
was used in order to simulate the grinding circuit in has stretched the application towards coarser size
design. The simulations’ outputs allowed the ball mill reduction duties for a number of new projects. At the
characteristics and the surrounding classification same time, the basic principle of inter-particle crushing
devices to be designed with more accuracy. Many ball for generating a product with a high fines proportion
mills available from second hand retailers were gives ground to investigate applying the technology
therefore studied in the simulated circuit. The chosen further towards finished product duties.
ball mill, which was in perfect condition, had the
advantage of being available for rapid delivery on site. The advantages that HPGR brings are clear. Multi Stage
grinding enables energy efficient size reduction across
The paper first describes the ball mill sizing method in more of the comminution circuit. Primary HPGR serves
comparison with the conventional Allis Chalmers for a coarse grinding duty, whereas a secondary HPGR
method. It then describes the phase 2 concentrator is geared towards generating a fine product for
start-up (that took place in 2016) with the downstream processing or even a finished product.
commissioning of the ball mill, the classification circuit,
the gravity concentration, the four (4) new carbon-in- This publication summarizes some of the features of
leach (CIL) tanks, and the Zadra elution system (The staged HPGR circuits and discusses some examples of
phase 1 start-up took place in 2014). It finally provides operating and projected applications.
production data compared to expected simulation data,
as commercial production was reached in January NOTES:
2017.

NOTES:

19
 CMP 2018 – ABSTRACTS

14:35 – PAPER 20 15:30 – PAPER 21

Canada Fluorspar (NL) Inc. St. Lawrence Pyrrhotite Rejection at the Strathcona Mill
Fluorspar Project – Flowsheet Development R. Multani, G. Marrs, M. Muinonen, and
E. Legault-Seguin – SGS Canada Inc D. Fragomeni – XPS
M. Stogran-Baker – Canada Fluorspar (NL) Inc. C. Deredin and J. Coffin- Glencore Sudbury
Integrated Nickel Operations
Fluorspar mining in the St. Lawrence area of V. Lawson – Glencore Technology
Newfoundland and Labrador began in the 1930s and
ended in the mid-1980s. In 2013, Canada Fluorspar Rejection of pyrrhotite from pentlandite is of critical
(NL) Inc (CFI) discovered a new ore body, the AGS importance to the economics of nickel concentrate
vein, which proved amenable to more economic open production and the main goal of the Strathcona milling
pit mining methods and began developing this operations. A joint team of XPS, Glencore Technology
resource. and Strathcona Mill personnel executed a
comprehensive program of work to develop and
This paper discusses the flowsheet development of the implement strategies for increased Po rejection with
AGS vein deposit. Testing at SGS began in 2009 with focus on challenging ores containing high feed Po/Pn
samples from other deposits in the area. The testwork ratios (> 7) and significant hexagonal Po content (>
included pilot-scale dense medium separation (DMS), 40% of total Po). This paper describes the team
laboratory-scale flotation tests to develop the flowsheet results including minerology, bench-scale flotation
and a flotation pilot plant. The more recent work that tests, and plant validation tests and modeling that have
is presented here has been devoted to the AGS vein, defined the path forward to improving the metallurgical
and included a variability testing program that gave performance and economics of the mill operation.
tremendous insight into the metallurgical drivers of Techniques to quantify hexagonal and monoclinic
processing the deposit. pyrrhotites were developed at XPS to assess the
differences in their metallurgical behavior since their
The ore was found to be fairly variable in terms of flotation responses are quite different. Mineralogical
fluorite grade, but also gangue mineralogy, which had tools including QEMScan were extensively used to
greater implications on the DMS performance. The determine mineral liberation, associations, optimum
gangue mineralogy was also found to significantly grind size, and nickel deportment into pentlandite,
impact the grindability characteristics of the DMS pyrrhotite and non-sulphide gangue. Several
product. reagents/strategies were evaluated during bench-scale
flotation testing to significantly increase Po rejection. A
This paper will detail the testing conducted and the significant shift in the Po-Pn selectivity and grade
mitigating steps which were identified for the recovery curves was achieved using several strategies
operation. including the use of DETA and sodium metabisulfite,
and regrind of the rougher concentrate and rougher
NOTES: cleaner/rougher tails.

NOTES:

15:00 BREAK – PROVINCES BALLROOM

20
 CMP 2018 – ABSTRACTS

15:55 – PAPER 22 16:20 – PAPER 23

Advanced Iron Endpoint Control During Benchmarking Performance of the Two-Stage
Nickel/Copper Matte Converting: A Techno- StackCell™ with Conventional Flotation for
economic Analysis Study Copper Sulfide Applications
C.P. Baxter and A. Plugatyr – National E. Wasmund and L. Christodoulou – Eriez
Research Council of Canada Flotation Division Canada
M. Mankosa and E. Yan – Eriez Manufacturing
Bessemer matte iron content is a critical process
parameter that needs to be closely monitored and Rougher flotation in sulfide ore applications is typically
controlled in order to achieve optimal Ni/Cu smelter performed using conventional flotation machines. The
returns. Current process control practices during Ni/Cu trend over the last 100 years has been for these cells
converting often rely on visual observations and to become larger in volume with cells reaching sizes of
typically involve matte sampling to confirm that target 600 m3 and in some cases even larger. The associated
composition was reached. A high-level techno- foundation loadings, transport and installation
economic analysis study was carried out to evaluate requirements along with building size have also
potential direct benefits of advanced process control increased. In an economic environment where projects
during the final stages of Ni/Cu matte converting. The must be executed with dwindling capital supply, bigger
results indicate that the magnitude of direct benefits is not always better. More recently, industry is being
will largely depend on matte iron control practices challenged to identify new technology that allows for
already implemented as well as matte iron set point. improved flowsheets and financial returns through
Preliminary assessment suggests that under the efficiency gains. To meet this challenge, a novel high-
assumptions used in this study, implementation of intensity two-stage flotation system known as the
advanced process control can potentially result in StackCell™ was tested to potentially achieve
additional revenues ranging from several hundreds of installation volume and required retention time gains
thousands to tens of millions of US dollars per year per when compared to conventional flotation circuits. The
converter producing about 200 tonnes of Bessemer results from on-site pilot scale work conducted on
matte per day based on Ni, Cu, and Co metal typical copper concentrator rougher flotation feed
recoveries alone. showed retention time gains on the order of 6 to 9
times when compared with conventional flotation
NOTES: equipment. This finding has the potential of reducing
capital demands for rougher flotation circuit designs
when incorporating the StackCell. The results from test
work will be discussed in this paper showing
comparative test data generated with a Denver bench
batch test, pilot StackCell and large conventional cells,
all receiving the same feed.

NOTES:

6:30 BANQUET RECEPTION – BALLROOM

FOYER

7:30 BANQUET – CONFEDERATION BALLROOM

21
 CMP 2018 – ABSTRACTS

THURSDAY, JANUARY 25th 8:55 - PAPER 25

Evaluation of Cave-to-mill Opportunities at the
Morning Session New Afton Mine
S. Nadolski, B. Klein, and D. Elmo – NBK
07:30 - CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST – PROVINCES Institute of Mining Engineering
BALLROOM M. Samuels – New Gold Inc
C.J.R. Hart – MDRU-Mineral Deposit Research
Unit
8:30 – PAPER 24
Yamana Chapada’s Optimisation of a Copper/Gold
Block and panel cave mining methods are being
Plant
increasingly proposed as they allow massive, deeply
F.C.F. Batista, R.de S. Almeida, L.de Á. Silva,
situated ore-bodies to be mined economically at a time
and T. Banerjee – Yamana Gold Chapada
when discovery rates of significant near surface
D. Gudgeon – Woodgrove Technologies
deposits are declining. Cave-to-Mill, a mine-to-mill
approach for block cave mines, defines ore block
Yamana Chapada’s mine is one of the larger copper-
models with respect to both mine and mill
gold mines in Brazil. The mine is located in Goiás state,
performance. A cave-to-mill study for the New Afton
in the central part of Brazil. The mine has estimated
block caving operation focused on identifying value
Mineral Reserves of 4.1 million ounces of gold and 3.2
opportunities related to fragmentation and sorting for a
billion pounds of copper as of December 31, 2016.
future lift as development progresses deeper. The lack
While gold and silver are significant, Chapada’s process
of selectivity and potential for dilution associated with
flowsheet is configured closer to that of copper
the block cave mining method results in many caving
facilities. This includes a SAG/Ball configuration for
operations having to mine and either dispose of or
grinding followed by flotation. In the case of Chapada,
process material that is below cut-off grade at certain
the mineralogy results in higher-than-normal
stages of production.
complexity, notably a significant circulating load both in
the grinding and flotation circuits. From an operating
As an outcome of the study, the variation in cave
perspective, the complexities are controllable, but
fragmentation size and the sensitivity of mill
require careful attention to ensure that circulating loads
throughput to feed size was examined. To evaluate the
are effectively managed and gold is not lost to tailings.
amenability of bulk and particle sorting, Prompt
Chapada created an automation roadmap in 2016
Gamma Neutron Activation Analysis and X-Ray
designed to increase plant performance (tonnage,
Fluorescence sensors were tested. A conceptual bulk
recovery and efficiency). Based on strong potential,
and particle sorting flowsheet is presented. Grade data
the project was fast tracked and within 4 months
from regular underground sampling was used to predict
instruments were installed, control algorithms
the performance of a bulk sorter. A heterogeneity
implemented, and training sessions took place to
analysis of material reporting to drawpoints helped to
ensure sustainability at site. This paper will follow the
identify areas of the extraction level that experience
Chapada journey from identifying the opportunities
high variations in grade and thereby stand to benefit
through to implementation and testing.
from dedicated ore and waste material handling
systems should underground bulk sorting be
NOTES:
implemented

NOTES:

22
 CMP 2018 – ABSTRACTS

09:20 – PAPER 26 10:15 – PAPER 27

Canada Fluorspar (NL) Inc. St. Lawrence Silica Removal from Uranium Process Streams by
Fluorspar Project – Project Description Polyethylene Glycol Coagulation
M.A. Stogran-Baker and S. Cole – Canada L. Verhelst and B. Dyck – Cameco Key Lake
Fluorspar (NL) Inc. Operations

Fluorspar mining occurred in the St. Lawrence area Colloidal silica in Key Lake’s Solvent Extraction (SX)
from the 1930s until the mid 1980s. In 2013, CFI feed solutions has presented an operational problem for
discovered a new ore body, the AGS vein, which proved the mill throughout its history. The colloidal silica
amenable to more economic open pit mining methods. stabilizes aqueous continuous emulsions, resulting in
A new mill was designed to produce 200,000 tonnes elevated solvent losses and operational downtime.
per year of high quality, acid-grade fluorspar Through the years, many attempts have been made to
concentrate. The simple mill flowsheet includes solve this problem, but no viable solutions were found.
crushing, dense medium separation (DMS), grinding, By revisiting an idea dating back to the 1979 feasibility
sulphide flotation, pulp thickening, fluorite flotation, study and re-evaluating it under current operating
thickening, and concentrate filtration. The type of conditions, a practical solution was achieved.
flotation cell used is being installed for the first time in
North America. Site clearing commenced in the spring This paper discusses Key Lake’s history around colloidal
of 2016, followed by mill building erection completed silica removal, starting with coagulation using a
by the fall of the same year. Civil and mechanical polyethylene oxide polymer (PEO), and ending with
installation as well as site-wide construction was coagulation using a polyethylene glycol (PEG) polymer.
completed by the end of September 2017. The results of a mill trial using POLYSIL® RM1250
Commissioning commenced, and at the time of paper introduced at doses up to 300 ppm into the counter
submission mill production is on track to ramp up to full current decantation (CCD) circuit to clarify SX feed
capacity by the beginning of 2018. This paper will solutions are discussed with a focus on the benefits to
focus on the use of fluorine NMR analysis applied to SX.
fluorite and the development of on-stream analysis,
flotation cell selection and the decision to install the NOTES:
new cells, and the water control program designed to
maintain process control with the least possible
environmental impact.

NOTES:

09:45 BREAK – PROVINCES BALLROOM

23
 CMP 2018 – ABSTRACTS

10:40 – PAPER 28 11:05 – PAPER 29

Evaluation of On-line Particle Size Distribution APC at LaRonde: The Progressive Control
Measurement for Oil Sands Tailings Treatment Approach
D. Schwartz, B. Komishke, and R. Heffel – Teck Y. Dumais and R. Lemire – Agnico Eagle
Resources Limited LaRonde
L. Koresaar – Outotec (Finland) OY T. Banerjee and H. Weitz – Woodgrove
E. Sharifi – Outotec (Canada) Ltd. Technologies

The oil sands resources in Canada are one of the Agnico Eagle LaRonde produces over 300,000 ounces
world’s largest hydrocarbon deposits. Processing of oil of gold annually, along with silver, zinc and copper by-
sands uses hot water to extract bitumen. The process products. The LaRonde plant consists of a conventional
generates tailings slurry that must be settled for final SAG and Ball mill circuit, followed by flotation. Load
deposition. The tailings contain fine material, with poor management is imperative for maintaining stability in
water release characteristics which makes water grind size and ensuring consistency of the flotation
recovery challenging. Polymer flocculants are added to feed. In flotation, the mass pull profiles of the cells and
assist in settling and dewatering the fine tailings. The reagent dosage rates need to be managed to maximize
amount of polymer addition is dependent on tailings recovery, while maintaining product quality. This is
characteristics, including the particle size distribution achieved by controlling the air, level and reagent
(PSD). If the PSD of the tailings is unknown, an excess addition set-points across the circuit. However,
amount of polymer needs to be added in the disturbances such as feed size distribution, ore
dewatering stage to flocculate the particles. Over hardness and mineralogy make it challenging to
flocculation also has a detrimental effect on the water maintain efficient control using traditional control
release characteristics. techniques. LaRonde therefore worked to develop a
progressive control strategy, targeting stability and
Measuring the particle size distribution using an on-line optimization. This started with a year-long
analyzer could have major benefits over common instrumentation upgrade campaign, focusing on
laboratory methods as it provides online and fast optimizing the performance and reliability of plant-wide
insight into the process enabling the operators to instrumentation. The process was then optimized,
implement required changes to minimize the reagent leveraging AwaRE advanced controllers running in
consumption, while achieving optimal flocculation. closed loop with PARC modules embedded within the
Online measurement of PSD using laser diffraction has PLC. The installation of 8 PFC cameras in flotation
long been used in base metals beneficiation processes. changed the flotation operation from a level and air
A series of test work using Outotec PSI500® particle control based strategy, to one that controls mass pull.
size analyzer on oil sands samples from different This new control philosophy has allowed the plant to
operations have been conducted. Tests were performed effectively manage mill load, improving grind size and
by recirculating the slurry in closed circuit to simulate providing increased throughput with better flotation
real plant conditions. This paper presents a summary of performance.
the results.
NOTES:
NOTES:

11:30 – LUNCH BREAK (not provided)

24
 CMP 2018 – ABSTRACTS

THURSDAY, JANUARY 25th 13:25 – PAPER 31

Ore Pre-concentration by Bulk Sorting using Real
Afternoon Session Time Elemental Analysis
H. Kurth and L. Balzan – Scantech
International Pty Ltd
13:00 – PAPER 30
Evaluating the Effects of Sensor Based Sorting on Conveyed coal flows have been diverted on the basis of
Lithium Processing and Mine Economics using real time ash analysis since the 1980s. Many coarse
Advanced Process Simulation Software particle separation methods are available through
J. Rohleder, A. Remes, and M. Talikka – screens, jigs, heavy media separation, particle sorters,
Outotec (Finland) Oy to name a few, however bulk diversion requires a
M. Myllymäki and P. Lamberg – Keliber Oy representative, continuous analysis to ensure diversion
decisions can be made with confidence. Sensors also
Pre-treatment of mill feed in a minerals processing need to be able to provide measurements at useful
plant enables for higher production efficiency per ton of time increments so that small tonnages can be diverted
product, reduction of consumables and diverting for maximum selectivity. Particle separation typically
mineral feed types. Sensor based particle sorting allows requires high capital costs and there are limitations
for pre-concentration of the run-of-mine (ROM) either in throughput tonnage or particle size or both.
material prior to other concentrating process. Various Few techniques are able to provide robust and
sensors provide different responses from the minerals representative analysis of conveyed flows in a useful
in measured particles. The capability of “accepting” or time basis. Prompt Gamma Neutron Activation Analysis
“rejecting” particles based on sensor responses is provides multi-elemental analysis of conveyed bulk
investigated in specific test work for each project. materials and has been proven in the minerals industry
Modern sorting machines use pneumatic actuators to since 2003. This paper outlines the success of this
divert the reject particles from the material stream. technology in minerals applications in iron ore,
phosphate rock and most recently in copper-gold ores,
This paper discusses the incorporation of ore sorting including its use in bulk diversion.
test work in processing and plant design. When taking
the effects of a sorting circuit into account early in the NOTES:
process planning phase, the downstream process can
be adequately sized and impacts evaluated. Potential
benefits include but are not limited to increased head
grade, lower tonnage to the mill, increased mining
operations, removal of deleterious elements and
changed properties in the process feed.

In a case study we present the Keliber lithium project

in central Finland. The plant will produce 9000 tons of
lithium carbonate per year from a spodumene ore. Ore
sorting and flotation tests were carried out in
laboratory and pilot scale. Process models were
designed and simulations performed using Outotec’s
HSC Chemistry Simulation software. Changes in the
flotation performance (grade, recovery, impurity levels)
were simulated with and without the pre-concentration
of the ROM material. The metallurgical performance
and mine economics of the different operational
scenarios were evaluated using the Ore-Met optimizer
module of the simulation software.

NOTES:

25
 CMP 2018 – ABSTRACTS

13:50 – PAPER 32 14:15 – PAPER 33

Waste to Ore: A Goldcorp Story The Premise of Profit RecoveryTM and Applied Ore
K. Murray, T. Ward, and K. Shah – Goldcorp Sorting Examples
Inc. B. Hilscher and C. Tong - Sacré-Davey
Engineering
The mining industry is processing deposits with ever
decreasing grade at ever increasing operating costs Sensor based ore sorting is being rapidly adopted by
while margins are under constant pressure by material the mining industry. The ability to boost mill feed
substitution and recycling. We are reaching the point grade by rejecting waste grade rocks early in the
where building it bigger just isn’t good enough as social process has proven revolutionary for some operations.
and environmental constraints become more intense.
In response to the growing demands on our industry, This paper briefly reviews the current position of ore
Goldcorp has embarked on a journey to increase sorting in the industry, as well as abridged results from
resources by converting Waste to Ore. Gravity pre- specific operations such as Barrick, McEwen, New Gold,
concentration and sensor sorting testwork has been and two others. The paper also introduces the concept
completed on samples from our Canadian operations in of “Profit Recovery™”, the measuring of recovery based
order to determine the amenability of our mineralized on rock profitability rather than just metal content.
waste to sorting and upgrading. As expected some
material was amenable to sorting and a review of the NOTES:
economics supported demonstration plant testing. The
ability to economically sort mineralized waste into ore
and barren rock is being demonstrated by Goldcorp. It
has been made possible by leveraging the experience
mineral sizer manufacturers have gained in the oil
sands and hard rock applications, seeking more energy
efficient screening machines and embracing the
advancements that ore and recycling sorter suppliers
have achieved. The paper will discuss the testwork and
results achieved to date from both the lab and
demonstration plant.

NOTES:

14:40 PRE-PANEL RECEPTION – PROVINCES

BALLROOM

26
 CMP 2018 – ABSTRACTS

15:15 – Panel Discussion

Ore Sorting; Will Sorting Provide the Gains
Expected in Grinding and Energy Efficiency
Panelists: Kevin Murray, Goldcorp, Johnna
CALL FOR PAPERS
Muinonen, RNC Minerals, Brent Hischer, Sacre- CMP 2019
Davey, Harold Klein, Scantech, Lutke von
Ketelhodt, Steinert US, Paul Staples, Ausenco,
Bern Klein, University of British Columbia,
Andrew Bamber, MineSense
Moderator: Paul Blatter

NOTES:

51st Annual Canadian Mineral

Processors Operators Conference

January 22 to 24, 2019

Westin Hotel, Ottawa, Canada

The Canadian Mineral Processors Conference

is one of the world's premier operators'
conferences with a distinguished history of
providing a fertile venue for the exchange of
ideas on all aspects of mineral processing.

Please submit technical papers from the full

spectrum of subjects in mineral processing
for all commodities. We are specifically
soliciting papers from new and operating
plants describing plant design, start-ups and
improvements, application of new
technologies, ore characterization and
process mineralogy in optimization and
design, precious metals recovery, tailings
handling and management.

Please submit a ~200 word abstract for

consideration before June 15th, 2018 to:

Stéfanie Vo, 1st Vice Chair CMP2018

[email protected]

Your notice of acceptance will be granted on

or before August 1st, 2018.

Authors selected will be required to produce a

written paper by Oct 6, 2018 and present a
twenty-minute technical presentation to the
conference.
16:15 CLOSING RECEPTION
CONFEDERATION FOYER

17:30 CONFERENCE CONCLUDES

27
 CMP 2018 – AUTHORS, PUBLICATIONS, CMP SPONSORED STUDENTS

CMP PUBLICATIONS 50th ANNIVERSARY OF THE CMP

Past proceedings, compilation proceedings on

CD, and other mineral processing related
books are available for purchase at the
registration desk. CMP is in the process of
transferring all past proceedings papers to
OneMine. Free to access with your CIM
membership.

The CMP 50th Anniversary is commemorated

METALLURGICAL PLANT DESIGN by this volume, which highlights Canadian
contributions to mineral processing technology
Great reference book the over the past 50 year. As much as possible,
design process of a the stories have been written by those
properly functioning individuals closely involved with these
metallurgical facility. This developments, include environmental, and
book fills the information water management, innovative technologies,
gap. innovations in operations, technology
providers and universities that have conducted
Available at the registration research of significance to our industry. The
desk book is provided to all delegates. Extra copies
can be purchased for $55 (+ tax).

28
 CMP 2018 – AUTHORS, PUBLICATIONS, CMP SPONSORED STUDENTS

CMP 2018
SPONSORED STUDENTS* AND
STUDENT AWARD WINNERS

School/Award Student(s)
Tani Tho
CEGEP de L'Abitibi-Temiscamingue
Nicolas Royer
University of Alberta Vitalii Dodonov
Cameron Weatherhead
British Columbia Institute of Technology
Carlos Martinez
Names not available at the time of
University of British Columbia
printing
Stephany Saroka
Cambrian College
Umang Grover
Megan Magie
Dalhousie University
Angus MacDonald
Haileybury School of Mines, Northern Krisma Charlton
College Phillip Manseau
Kyle Watkins
Lakehead University
Quinten Ilkka
Alexandre Drolet
Laurentian University
Ryan Ayerst
Université Laval Léa Ebacher

Hillary Williams
McGill University
Chan Woo (Robin) Jeong
Names not available at the time of
Memorial University
printing
Rachel Watts
Queen's University
Connor Large
Tom Specht
University of Saskatchewan
Austin Legacy
Corine Simard
CEGEP Sept-Iles
Marc-André Ringuet
Marie Cloutier
CEGEP de Thetford
Jean Nicolas Tremblay
Names not available at the time of
University of Toronto
printing

Technical Report Winner Bailee .M. Johnson

Andre Laplante Scholarship Winner Alex Thivierge

Byron Knelson Scholarship Winner Douglas Kao

* Our gracious sponsors (see back cover) provide the funding necessary to send
two students from each of the Canadian mineral processing colleges and universities
to the annual Canadian Mineral Processors conference all expenses paid

29
 CMP 2017/18 – EXECUTIVE, REGIONAL and COMMITTEE REPRESENTATIVES

CMP EXECUTIVE
Chair Johnna Muinonen, RNC Minerals, [email protected]
1st Vice-Chair Brian Danyliw, ChemTreat, [email protected]
2nd Vice-Chair Stèfanie Vo, Hatch, [email protected]
Past Chair Scott Martin, Progressive Rubber Industries, [email protected]
Secretary Rory Cameron, CanmetMINING, [email protected]
Treasurer Wesley Griffith, CanmetMINING, [email protected]

REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVES
Atlantic – Vacant
Côte Nord-Labrador - François Lavoie, Québec Iron Ore, [email protected]
Quebec-Montreal-Ottawa – Caroline Voilleau, Soutex, [email protected]
North Eastern Ontario – Tim Edwards, Glencore, [email protected]
Southern Ontario (Toronto) - Rob Raponi, TR Raponi Consulting Ltd., [email protected]
North Western Ontario - CCC Chemicals, [email protected]
Central Ontario - Andrew Taylor, Vale, [email protected]
Manitoba / Saskatchewan - Lorne Schwartz, Wood PLC, [email protected]
Alberta/NWT/Nunavut - Dragan Pejic, Stellar Engineering Inc., [email protected]
British Columbia/Yukon – Irma Gabric Burk, Thermo Fisher, [email protected]
Regional Coordinator - Donald Leroux, Woodgrove Technologies, [email protected]

DIRECTORS
John Starkey, Stuart McTavish, Ernie Marcotte, Paul Blatter

REPRESENTATION ON CIM and CMP COMMITTEES

CIM Council Representative Pierre Julien, DRA, [email protected]
Publications/Technical Journal Michael Sue, Outotec, [email protected]
Education René del Villar, Laval, [email protected]
International Relations Pramod (PK) Kumar, Polycorp Ltd., [email protected]

LOCAL ORGANIZING COMMITTEE

Carlyn Attwell
Rory Cameron
John Chaulk, Audio-Visual
Wesley Griffith, Registrar
Dave Hardy, Students
Al Kuiper, Photography
Louise Madaire
Janice Zinck, Planner

30
 CMP 2018 – HOCKEY, SQUASH AND RUNNING

CMP SQUASH AND RUNNING CLUBS

In addition to the ‘Ray MacDonald Memorial

Hockey Game’ CMP delegates can also remain
physically active by participating in the CMP
squash club by contacting Berge Simonian
[email protected] or take part in the
Wednesday morning Rideau Canal run -contact
Stéfanie Vo [email protected].

CMP HOCKEY PLAYERS AND

SPECTATORS!!!!

The Southern Ontario Branch of the Canadian

Mineral Processors (CMP) is pleased to once
again organize the CMP East versus West
Hockey Game as a part of the social program
of the annual CMP meeting in Ottawa.

To honour the late Ray

MacDonald, who was
instrumental in getting this
annual event started, the game
has been renamed the ‘Ray MacDonald
Memorial Hockey Game’. The winning team
will be awarded the ‘Kilborn Cup’.

The 2018 game will be played on Tuesday

January 23rd, 2018 at 6:00 pm at Carleton
University. Bus transportation to/from the
Ottawa Westin Hotel will be provided for all
players and spectators. The bus for players
and spectators will depart the Westin hotel at
4:30 pm.

The hockey game is open to all registered

members of the conference. Players (men and
women) of all ages and skill levels are
encouraged to participate in this great event
of networking, recreation, and fun. Full hockey
equipment including a helmet is required.
Participants will also be required to sign a
waiver form. Slap shots and body contact are
not permitted. If interested in participating in
this game, please contact Mark Griffiths at
[email protected] (289-321-1814).

31
 CMP 2018 - AWARDS AND AUTHORS

CMP 2018 AWARDS

NOMINATION INVITATION

The Executive of the Canadian Mineral

Processors Society invites nominations from
the membership for the CMP 2018 Awards
under the following five categories.

CMP Award Recognizing ...

Mineral Outstanding results
Processor of recently achieved by an
the Year active CMP member while
tackling significant
mineral processing
challenges.
Lifetime Outstanding
Achievement results/influence achieved
by a retired CMP member
throughout his/her career
in mineral processing.
Bill Moore Outstanding results
Special achieved by an active CMP
Achievement member throughout the
early part of his/her
career in mineral
processing. AUTHORS AND SESSION CHAIRS
A.R. Outstanding results
MacPherson recently achieved by an Authors and session chairs must register as
Comminution active CMP member while conference delegates. A speaker's breakfast
tackling comminution will be provided starting at 7:00 am on the
challenges in mineral day of their presentation/session in the in the
processing plants. Quebec Room. Authors, please contact John
Chaulk [email protected] for
Ray Exceptional volunteer
presentation information.
MacDonald contribution to the
Volunteer Canadian Mineral
Processors Society

Awards are in the form of an engraved

medallion and a framed certificate and will be
presented during the Awards Banquet on
Wednesday evening.

Nominations for the 2019 CMP awards open on

January 25, 2018. Nomination applications
should be sent to Johnna Muinonen,
[email protected] CMP Past Chair
(2019) by November 15, 2018.

Guidelines for nominations, award categories,

selection criteria, and information on past
awards are available at www.cmpsoc.ca.
Please take the time to recognize your mineral
processing colleagues and peers.
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 CMP 2018 – LINKEDIN STORIES

In celebration of CMP’s 50th anniversary How the CMP Began...

Scott Martin asked some of the ‘regulars’
to share their CMP experiences. Ernie Marcotte shares his story this week on the
roots of the CMP:

In 1957 a group of gold mill superintendents,

metallurgists and mill foremen, in the Timmins
(Porcupine) area, began meetings to discuss
Phil Cancilla Remembers His First CMP methods of improving gold mill operations. The
meetings proved to be very beneficial and
"I remember coming to my first CMP Ottawa in resulted in many operating costs and
the late 1980s. The third floor restaurant metallurgical improvements for the respective
seemed to be the unofficial meeting place for mills. Likewise, gold mill superintendents in the
the movers and shakers of the conference. Kirkland-Larder, Malartic-Val d'Or and Red Lake
There was a special table just inside the areas soon formed similar groups of their own.
restaurant entrance that was always crowded The overall groups adopted the name Canadian
with the whose/who and never a seat available Gold Metallurgists (CGM). A meeting attended
unless you were asked to join. At that time I by about 25 gold mill superintendents from
was a newbie and didn’t know what to do and across Canada was held in Ottawa at the Mines
how to get inside the circle. As time went on I Branch, Extractive Metallurgy Division in
realise that these people were just like me just January 1962. This meeting was so successful
a little older or a little hair next thing I knew, I it was decided to hold another meeting in
was one of them. That’s what I have learn to January, 1963.
love about the CMP we take in all that are new
to the industry or to the conference and make
them feel part of our family. People in the circle
and sometimes are the table were the likes of :
Bert Huls, Gord Agar, Colin Chapman, Godfrey
MacDonald, Lud Strah, Klaus Konigsmann, Eric
Cunningham, Jim Gowans, Paul Semple, Ernie
Marcotte, these are just a few but there are
many more that I can call more than just
friends. All those around the table, I knew
would teach me a lot once I met them. Over the
years I made a point to meet them all and many
more that’s what I thank the CMP for"

Thus, began the series of successful operators'

conferences, which have continued every
January to date. Managers and Mill
Superintendents at base metal mines soon
learned of this vibrant, proactive group of gold
metallurgists and the many improvements that
occurred in the gold mills. They asked to be
invited to the meetings and become part of the
group. In 1968, at the annual CGM meeting, it
was decided that mill representatives from the
base metal mines join the Gold Metallurgists to
form the Canadian Mineral Processors (CMP).
The first annual meeting of CMP was held in
Ottawa in January, 1969.
33
 CMP 2018 – LINKEDIN STORIES

From Student in 1997 to CMP Chairwoman

in 2017-2018

Current Chair, Johnna Muinonen, shares

experiences from her first CMP and advice for
current students:

“My first CMP was in 1997. I attended as one of

the CMP A/V Students. In those days, students
actually had to flip transparencies or advance
the slide projector! The students all flipped in
fear that they would get blamed for the
presenters having an upside down or
backwards slide! I had some experience in
industry from my student jobs so I knew a few
people, but not many. It was very intimidating,
seeing all these people come together and greet
each other. Not just as colleagues, but as
friends and family. I had no idea how to meet
people and network! But in the end, several
friendly people introduced themselves. Two of
them stand out in my memories, Stuart
McTavish and Paul Semple. We spent a bit of
time talking (them mostly talking and us mostly
listening) over a drink (or two). To this day, I
remember their advice (paraphrased) “Find the
smallest town you ever could consider living,
and work in an operation there as a young
engineer. Work there for 5 -10 years and then
find somewhere larger. You will get more
opportunity and experience sooner in a smaller
operation”.

I look back on that now, 20 years later, and

think how great that advice was, how relevant
it was to my career and how that is the advice
I pass on to other students when they ask how
my career has been shaped by the choices I
made. Also, 20 years later, while unfortunately
Paul is no longer with us, I still count on seeing
Stuart at CMP events and consider him a
mentor and friend. That is a unique benefit of
the CMP conference!

34
 CMP 2018 – LINKEDIN STORIES

CanmetMINING and the Canadian Mineral

Processors: A Golden Partnership

Janice Zinck shares a story on a golden

partnership: A Story on the Benefits of the CMP

Fifty years ago CanmetMINING, then known as John Starkey shares with us his memories of
the Mines Branch of the Department of Mines past CMP's and how CMP has helped him grow
and Technical Surveys, was instrumental in his company:
bringing together operators from Canada's gold
industry to form the Canadian Gold The CMP 50th anniversary is a good time to
Metallurgists – now known as the Canadian step back and realize some of the benefits that
Mineral Processors (CMP). The first meeting accrue to the mining industry that relate to the
took place at Camsell Hall on the Mines Branch CMP organization. In my case, I have had the
campus (now Natural Resources Canada - good fortune to be part of the CMP Executive
NRCan) in 1964. and Board for about 15 years, first as Chair of
the Toronto Branch, then as Chair of the
NRCan, through CanmetMINING, continues to National CMP and finally for the past 10 years
actively support the Canadian Mineral as a member-at-large on the Board of
Processors serving as the Secretariat for the Directors. Starkey & Associates Inc. (Starkey)
3000+ member organization through has supported the Student Program for this
management of CMP’s national office. In period because I believe that the future of our
addition to filling two executive positions, industry is directly related to how we treat our
CanmetMINING is also the organizer for the students and to the opportunities that are
annual operators’ conference. The organizing created by them being part of this annual
committee is a very small and efficient team conference.
and includes the following CanmetMINING
current and retired employees – Wesley In many ways, the success that Starkey has
Griffith, Rory Cameron, John Chaulk, Al Kuiper, enjoyed, directly relates to the CMP, because
Dave Hardy, Louise Madaire and Janice Zinck. three academically strong, well equipped young
The symbiotic relationship between the CMP engineers were hired specifically because I met
and CanmetMINING is mutually beneficial, them at the CMP as students, learned of their
bringing value to both organizations for over achievements and subsequently hired them to
fifty years and long into the future to advance work at Starkey. First was Paul Scinto in 2009,
innovation in mineral processing. followed by Spencer Reeves in 2010 and then
by Jenna Hedderson in 2012. Paul was with us
for 3 years. Spencer came as a Co-op student
in 2011 and returned full time in 2014 after
earning a Master’s degree at Queen’s, while
Jenna joined in 2012 after completing three co-
op work terms at the Williams Mine in Marathon
ON, not far from her alma mater, Lakehead U,
in Thunder Bay. Jenna is now our first 5 year
veteran at Starkey.

During the past 8 years these three engineers

have been instrumental in completing the
development work on SAGDesign, SAG
Variability and Bond Variability testing, and in
CMP Organizing Committee making the company viable. Thank you Paul,
Spencer, Jenna and CMP!

35
 CMP 2018 – LINKEDIN STORIES

History of the CMP Hockey Game (Now the

Ray MacDonald Memorial Hockey Game)

Pierre Julien shares with us how the Ray

MacDonald Memorial Hockey Game started:

Another story from “The Table”!! At the

entrance of the Landmark Bar there was a
coffee table, a small couch and room for 3-4
chairs. This table was the epicenter of where all
great, and not so great ideas originated, and
where Lud Strah could be regularly be found
regaling his mineral processing disciples. At this
table, at CMP 2000, was where the idea of the Phil Cancilla and Aymerie Lefebvre hoisting the
of the CMP Hockey game was hatched and first trophy at the first CMP Hockey Game
where the format and draft rules were January 24, 2001
formulated by Maurice Tagami, Greg Romain,
Heikki Laurila, Paul Semple, Phil Cancilla and
myself. My apologies if I have forgotten
anyone.

The first idea to be tabled was a game of shinny

on the canal. As the libations flowed the ideas
got bigger and with Mr. Paul “Go big or stay
home” Semple as the visionary leader we had
gone from a game of shinny to playing at the
Corel Center (home of the Senators)!! None of
us were really keen to play outdoors in the cold,
so the Corel Center made a lot of sense. We
established that this should be and East vs.
West game and Maurice was appointed at the
GM of team west. Decision on the draft was
made quickly, East gets Finland, West gets the Team Eastern Canada at first CMP Hockey
rest of the world. Maurice didn’t seem too Game
excited to be getting Chile, Mexico, Australia
and South Africa, emerging hockey powers!
The CMP Toronto Branch stepped forward to
provide the seed funding to purchase the first
set of Jersey’s. Ray McDonald volunteered to
organize the rink and Phil Cancilla took on the
critical role of organizing the beer and the
transportation – something he still does to this
day. The following January, the first CMP
Challenge Cup (now Ray McDonald Memorial)
was played and Team East victoriously hoisted
the first Kilborn Cup. The rest is history!!!

Team Western Canada at first CMP Hockey

Game

36
 CMP 2018 – LINKEDIN STORIES

A Student's Perspective...

Veronica Knott shares with us her memories

from CMP 2017:

Last year was my first time attending the

National CMP Conference in Ottawa as a
sponsored student and it was an amazing
experience. There were two things that really
stood out for me. First, the mentorship at CMP
was unlike any other conference I’d attended.
Instantly, I felt welcomed and that the entire
CMP community was involved in my learning
and interest in a metallurgical career. Second,
the academic papers presented showed a really
interesting insight into the current mineral
processing work going on in Canada. I loved the
passion behind each of the presenters and the RAFFLE FOR OTTAWA SENATOR TICKETS
impressive innovations that are going on in the
industry currently. Who would have thought a
presentation on choke feeding a secondary
crusher would have a conference room full of
people laughing!
Five pairs of tickets to see Ottawa Senators
I walked away from my first conference excited vs Boston Bruins on January 25th at 7:30pm
to join the career of mineral processing and will be given out Thursday January 25th.
with the feeling of a full community of support Transportation to/from the game provided.
behind me. I think this program is a fantastic
way of showing students what their
opportunities are in the industry and what the FEEDBACK
different paths their career could take.
We welcome your feedback. Please contact us
at [email protected]. Thanks.

Pictured Left to Right: Joel Yue, Veronica

Knott, Jon Ladyman, Ian Hengemuhle,
students at 2017 CMP Conference.

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CMP 2018 – LINKEDIN STORIES

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CMP 2018 – LINKEDIN STORIES

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WESTIN FLOOR PLAN

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ADDITIONAL NOTES

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